CTV National News for Wednesday, April 22, 2026: Canada-U.S. trade talks heat up as both sides exchange barbs

A war of words between Canada and the U.S. over trade 'irritants' ahead of CUSMA talks, with PM Carney saying Canada has concerns too; Air Transat, Air Canada, WestJet, and Lufthansa trim flight schedules as war-fueled oil spikes disrupt travel and raise costs; and a new U.K. tobacco bill targets a smoke-free generation but faces enforcement questions. 

Mike Le Couteur breaks down the panel that includes familiar faces from politics, along with union leaders, industry representatives, and titans of finance; Adrian Ghobrial has the latest on the mass shooting at a popular tourist destination in Mexico that claimed the life of a Canadian woman on Monday; Kathy Le looks at a new report that found roughly 20 YouTube channels working in a coordinated effort to spread misleading content about Alberta separation.

Judy Trinh reports on the court case of a former undercover RCMP officer, accused of working with Beijing to coerce individuals to return to China; Witnesses describe the chaos after Mexico shooting; Inflation rises to 2.4 per cent as energy crisis drives up fuel and food costs; Canada’s Armed Forces are seeing a rise in enlistment, as global instability and increased defence spending fuel interest; and more.

Despite the second round of peace talks set to start, U.S. President Trump has made new threats against Iran’s energy and power plants; PM Carney’s new address covered U.S. relations and ‘forward guidance,’ but the message didn’t land with certain Conservatives; Sudanese refugees living in Canada are calling on the federal government to call for peace in the region; and more.

Confusion and tensions rise as Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz just one day after it was allegedly partially re-opened; residents in the Ottawa-Gatineau region are building sandbag walls with hopes to minimize flooding in their homes; Health Canada warns against unregulated and unverified peptide sales as consumers flock to get the product online; and more.

Adrian Ghobrial reports on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and what the next steps are as negotiations continue between Iran and the U.S. to end the war; Andrew Johnson explains how the posthumous portrayal of actor Val Kilmer in the upcoming movie ‘As Deep as the Grave’, blurs the lines between reality and AI; Omar Sachedina sits down with Canadian men's national soccer team head coach Jesse Marsch in the first of 12 profiles.

Adrian Ghobrial looks at the impact heavy rains have had on parts of Ontario and Quebec, prompting one Ontario town to declare a state of emergency; Judy Trinh has more on a Canadian man's firsthand experience being detained by ICE and what happened behind the scenes to aid his release; Mike Le Couteur reports on the potential opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge following controversy involving U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this year.

CTV News confirms that two Canadians are detained at a Florida immigration centre. Douglas Dixon, arrested in February, is now being deported back to Canada; Two Royal Canadian Navy members face multiple charges after a probe into a petty officer’s death. The incident occurred near Halifax last year, and questions arise over platforms letting users bet on politics, sports, and the economy. However, it's not available in Canada yet, and critics hope it stays that way.

After yesterday's byelection wins, PM Mark Carney announced a temporary pause of the federal gas tax starting Monday; Byelection victories secured a majority for PM Mark Carney and the Liberals, while raising concerns about declining Conservative support under Pierre Poilievre and advocates rally in Toronto for 'Equal Pay Day', calling to end pay discrimination and expand access to affordable childcare across Canada. 

Doly Begum’s win showcased the Liberals drawing support from both NDP and Conservatives to secure a majority, as the Liberals not only won in Scarborough-Southwest but the Liberals also retained University–Rosedale, with Danielle Martin securing a decisive victory.