CTV National News for Tuesday, July 21, 2026: Canada weighs next moves as U.S. escalates trade dispute

After the latest U.S. tariff threats, PM Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to intensify trade talks; A virtual address from Prime Minister Mark Carney shifted the agenda as premiers respond to the latest U.S. trade demands; Some premiers want American alcohol back on store shelves, while others say Canada should not give in.

U.S. President Donald Trump is imposing a new 50 per cent tariff on a variety of Canadian goods; Heather Wright examines whether Canada's wildfire policies need improvement and if criticism over the flow of smoke is backed by the facts; Alex Karpa reports from Elma, Man., where wildfires are threatening homes, forests and the local economy. Gas prices brought inflation down in June, though higher food costs continue to squeeze household budgets. 

TSN’s Matthew Scianitti says Spain ‘controlled the game’ to win the World Cup against Argentina; CP24’s Andrew Brennan reports on the passionate fans not only rooting for Spain to win, but also rooting for Argentina to lose; and more.

U.S. President Trump is just one of the officials blaming Canada for the wildfire smoke spreading throughout the States; Ontario Premier Doug Ford dismisses ongoing criticism that the province wasn’t properly prepared for the severity of the wildfires; honeybee farmers say the insects, essential to the ecosystem, are feeling the negative impacts of climate change, forest fires; and more.

Nearly 900 wildfires burn across Canada, with smoke spreading across much of North America, as Northern Ontario faces evacuations; Wildfire smoke continues to impact the GTA, with air quality warnings in effect as millions on both sides of the border try to cope; Canadian wildfire smoke has blanketed parts of the U.S., prompting U.S. President Donald Trump to threaten new tariffs; Floods, hail, and tornadoes have damaged 300,000 hectares in Manitoba, leaving farmers struggling through a difficult growing season. 

First Nations from northwestern Ontario have had to evacuate to Thunder Bay as wildfires consume their homes; Doctors encourage vulnerable populations to stay inside as much as possible as Toronto ERs see an increase in breathing difficulties; and, investigators suggest that steel tracks expanding due to heat may have contributed to a frightening train derailment in Quebec.

Dozens of wildfires in northern Ontario have spread an enormous blanket of smoke, giving Toronto the worst air quality in the world; Out-of-control wildfires in northern Ontario have forced many, especially remote communities, to flee to safety in Thunder Bay; and, home insurance premiums have gone up a staggering 45 per cent since 2019 due to the frequency of extreme weather-related claims.

From torrential downpours in Quebec to roads warping under high heat in Winnipeg, weather across the country is unstable; Gas prices have shot up five to 10 cents per litre across Canada in the past 24 hours. Adrian Ghobrial explains who is being squeezed the hardest; and, advocates and public health leaders are cautiously optimistic as B.C. opioid overdose deaths have dropped by more than 50 per cent.

Following a deadly shooting at a Toronto festival, many are calling for harsher punishments on illegal guns and tighter security at events; A new Canadian Medical Journal report is raising the alarm about the spread of anaplasmosis, a tick-borne disease that can be fatal; and, Jared Gross, 17, and his friends intentionally ditched their smartphones for flip phones. Kathy Le reports on what scans of their brains revealed to researchers.

Two people are dead after a horrific shooting at Salsa on St. Clair, Canada’s largest Latin street festival; PM Carney addresses separatism concerns in a conversation with CTV News during his visit to the Calgary Stampede; more and more Canadian companies are moving their production and manufacturing to the U.S. to avoid dealing with harsh tariffs; and more.