Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - January 17, 2025, Winnipeg, Manitoba FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2025 B4 ● WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM NEWS I CANADA / WORLD Giuliani and Georgia election workers reach settlement NEW YORK — Rudy Giuliani and two Georgia election workers reached a settlement Thursday in a federal case to determine whether he would be forced to give up World Series rings, his Florida condominium and other assets as part of a US$148 million defamation judgment against him, according to both sides. A federal trial on the matter was scheduled to begin Thursday involving Giuliani, a former New York mayor and personal attorney to Donald Trump, and election workers Ruby Freeman and Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, a mother and daughter. Freeman and Moss were included in a false election fraud nar- rative presented by Giuliani and other Trump advocates after the 2020 presi- dential race Trump lost to Joe Biden. Giuliani led Trump’s election re- sults-related legal challenges that were found to be baseless by judges around the country. Giuliani did not appear in court Thursday before U.S. District Court Judge Lewis J. Liman, and no details were discussed in open court. Law- yers went in and out of the courtroom and held several private conferences throughout the morning and early afternoon. The court document did not provide details about the settlement. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the terms, which they said included Giuliani keep- ing his homes and other assets that he risked losing because of the defamation judgment. Giuliani’s lawyer, Joseph Cammarata, said outside the Manhattan courthouse that a settlement had been reached, and a one-page document was posted in court indicating that the parties had come to an agreement. As is common in civil settlements, the agreement was not made public. “After long negotiations over the last 72 hours going well into the wee hours of the night, all parties reached a reso- lution in this case that is satisfactory to all parties,” Cammarata said before reading a statement from his client, whose son Andrew was by the lawyer’s side. Giuliani’s statement did not concede wrongdoing and suggested he has also suffered. “No one deserves to be subjected to threats, harassment, or intimidation,” Giuliani said in the statement read by Cammarata. “This litigation has taken its toll on all parties. … I and the Plain- tiffs have agreed not to ever talk about each other in any defamatory manner, and I urge others to do the same.” It was not immediately clear what amount of compensation Freeman and Moss expected to receive as part of the deal. Cammarata declined to say whether Giuliani obtained financial as- sistance to satisfy the multimillion dol- lar civil judgment issued after a Geor- gia jury found in favour of the plaintiffs in late 2023. The plaintiffs said in a statement that Giuliani has agreed to stop making false claims about them, a promise that could terminate a federal court pro- ceeding in D.C. regarding his repetition of those claims that were already deter- mined to be defamatory. Freeman and Moss issued a state- ment describing the past four years as a living nightmare that included restor- ing their reputations and proving that they did nothing wrong during the elec- tion. “Today is a major milestone in our journey,” the statement said. “We have reached an agreement and we can now move forward with our lives. We have agreed to allow Mr. Giuliani to retain his property in exchange for compen- sation and his promise not to ever de- fame us.” Giuliani had been ordered in October to place his assets into a receivership controlled by attorneys for Freeman and Moss. Those lawyers have de- scribed a constant struggle for co-oper- ation from Giuliani, while Giuliani has contended that some assets are either not available to him or not subject to the transfer order. The trial was expected to focus on narrow issues, including whether Giu- liani’s Palm Beach, Fla., home is his main residence that he should retain rights to, and whether he had posses- sion of World Series rings that were gifted to him by the Yankees when he was mayor of New York from 1994 to 2001. Giuliani has been found in contempt of court recently in two federal courts — in New York and Washington, D.C. — for violating orders related to the handover of assets and for repeating defamatory claims. Lawyers for Freeman and Moss have accused Giuliani of repeatedly skirting his legal obligations. Giuliani wanted to keep control of some property and has insisted that the rings have already been passed onto his son Andrew, who was frequently seen at Yankee games with his father when he was a child. — The Washington Post SHAYNA JACOBS Indigenous leaders want in on Canada-U.S. talks OTTAWA — Three national Indigenous leaders say Indigenous Peoples should be at the centre of any discussions on how the country should respond to in- coming U.S. president Donald Trump’s threats on tariffs and Canada’s territor- ial sovereignty. National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Ne- pinak, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami Presi- dent Natan Obed and Métis National Council President Victoria Pruden made that pitch during a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday morning. Those same leaders were barred from a meeting with premiers that happened just after, which Obed called a “regressive imagination” of what makes up Canadian governance. “If we’re trying to unite against an external threat, the idea that provinces, territories and the federal govern- ment are the sum total of governance in this country is just an outdated and wrong-headed approach,” he said in an interview with The Canadian Press Thursday, adding the decision for their exclusion laid with the premiers them- selves despite Trudeau advocating for their inclusion. Trump has threatened to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian goods shipped to the U.S. on his first day back in office next week and has quipped Canada should become the 51st state, along with floating the idea of annexing Greenland — part of the Inuit home- lands. Obed, whose organization is a mem- ber of the Inuit Circumpolar Council which represents Inuit in Canada, Al- aska, Greenland and Russia, said Inuit have largely mobilized at times like these to support each other, and that he also expects to work closely with Greenlandic and Alaskan Inuit to en- sure they act collectively. “We are ready to play as significant as a role as we possibly can (in Can- ada-U.S. relations) to articulate the pos- itions of Canada and, ultimately, that’s where we want this story to land,” Obed said. “From a diplomatic sense, we want to ensure that the Government of Canada is taking this threat seriously and that our interests are fully articulated and met.” Woodhouse Nepinak called Trump’s rhetoric “outlandish” and “disrespect- ful” and said the territorial rights of Indigenous Peoples on both sides of the border are recognized by international law and predate the founding of both countries. “First Nations lands hold the key to much of Canada’s wealth, critical minerals and energy resources that are pivotal to domestic prosperity and trade with the United States,” she said in an interview. She said First Nations should be at the heart of any decisions the prime minister and premiers might make on economic development and trade. After the meeting with Woodhouse Nepinak, Obed and Pruden, Trudeau met with premiers from each province and territory to debate strategies to deal with Trump’s threats. Woodhouse Nepinak said that while she welcomed the private meeting with the prime minister to discuss cross-border mobility for First Nations peoples and other areas of concern, First Nations leaders should also have been at the table for the meeting with the premiers. “It’s unfortunate,” she said. “There’s been lots of statements made from the president-elect towards our country, and I think one thing’s clear: we all have to stand together and be strong, but work together and make sure that we’re building relationships here in this country.” In a statement issued Thursday, Matawa First Nations, an advocacy body representing eight First Nations in Ontario, questioned comments by Ontario Premier Doug Ford on critical mineral supplies. The Ontario government floated the idea of an “Am-Can Critical Mineral Security Alliance” on Thursday that would build out critical mineral supply chains — resources found in Matawa territory. “Ontario public interest and recon - ciliation requires progressive leader- ship at the premier and ministerial levels. As such, the (Matawa Chiefs Council) urges caution to the Ontario public relying on one-sided views held by the Ontario government related to the rights and interests of the Matawa region,” the group wrote. “The Matawa Chiefs Council call on the premier of Ontario to reconsider the colonial approach underway and meet with us collectively as a matter of priority.” Woodhouse Nepinak said the premiers need to recognize that First Nations “can’t be left to the sidelines anymore.” “When we go to court, we win,” she added. “We’ve won over and over again in the provinces.” The Métis National Council, com- prised of the Métis Nation of Ontario and the Métis Nation of Alberta after the departure of three other regions, took part in Wednesday’s meeting with Trudeau. The Manitoba Métis Federation, which represents descendants of the Red River Métis, did not participate in the meeting. An unsigned statement released af- ter the meeting says the Métis Nation- al Council stressed that tariffs and retaliatory measures will negatively affect Métis peoples and businesses, Indigenous economies and the supply chain at large. “Together, we must stand united to protect the livelihoods of Indigenous peoples and ensure the strength of the world’s most successful economic rela- tionship,” it reads. “The Prime Minister acknowledged the important role the Métis National Council plays in these efforts, calling on us to support Team Canada’s ap- proach for the betterment of all Can- adians and the Métis Nation.” Obed said he raised with Trudeau the impact potential tariffs from both the U.S. and Canada would have on Inuit territories — areas that already see a significantly higher cost of living than other regions in the country. “If there were tariffs placed on top of that, it would make many of the healthy food options in our communities diffi- cult, if not impossible, to purchase,” he said. “We worry that those who are already at risk would have almost no way of dealing with the added repercussions.” — The Canadian Press ALESSIA PASSAFIUME Many Republicans don’t know Trump’s plans for tariffs, energy minister says W ASHINGTON — Exactly what president-elect Donald Trump plans to do with his tariff threat remains a mystery to Canadian officials and most Repub- licans, Energy and Natural Resour- ces Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said Thursday. Wilkinson spent several days in Washington, D.C., this week meet- ing with congressional Republicans as his government tries to limit the damage from Trump’s promise to sign an executive order Monday to hit Canada with 25 per cent across- the-board tariffs on all exports to the United States. Wilkinson said a very small group of officials is crafting Trump’s plans for executive orders. “Even Republican senators and congresspeople and others who are quite close to the administration do not have a good read on exactly what the nature of a tariff might look like,” Wilkinson told reporters on the final day of his trip Thursday. Wilkinson and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly are the latest Canadian officials to travel to Wash- ington to meet with Republicans who could persuade Trump not to target Canada with tariffs. Wilkinson met with Republicans Kevin Cramer, Ted Cruz, Bruce Westerman and Chuck Fleischmann, as well as Democrat John Hicken- looper. Joly’s office confirmed she had a meeting with Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Thursday evening. She also met with Republicans Lindsey Graham and James Risch, as well as Democrat Jeanne Shaheen. Joly was scheduled to confer with Secretary of State Antony Blinken later Thursday. Wilkinson said he’s heard of three tariff options being considered: 25 per cent tariffs, 10 per cent tariffs and a lower duty that ratchets up over time. Trump initially said the tariffs were being imposed in response to drugs and illegal immigration cross- ing the shared border. Ottawa responded with a $1.3-bil- lion package to beef up the border, but Trump has since pivoted to citing the United States’ trade deficit with Canada. “In terms of what more he wants, I am not even sure that the president himself … fully knows exactly what he wants,” Wilkinson said. “I think President Trump is somebody who is a proficient negotiator. I think this is about creating leverage.” There’s been much debate across Canada on how the country should respond, but Wilkinson said the fed- eral government will need to wait and see what tariffs are ultimately imposed. Also on Thursday, Prime Minis- ter Justin Trudeau formed a new 18-member Canada-U.S. relations council to support the federal gov- ernment in dealing with the incom- ing administration. Trudeau met with premiers in Ot- tawa Wednesday and almost all of the assembled leaders emerged with a commitment to a “Team Canada” approach in response to Trump. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith broke from the pack by refusing to sign a joint statement. She posted on social media that Alberta will not agree to export tariffs on its energy or other products and will “take whatever actions are needed to protect the livelihoods of Albertans from such destructive federal poli- cies.” On Thursday, she posted on X again to propose “a real Team Can- ada approach,” demanding immedi- ate construction of pipeline projects and a repeal of federal production caps and electricity regulations. “Stop threatening the livelihoods of tens of thousands of Albertans and Canadians via an energy export tax or ban,” Smith wrote. Speaking to reporters at a press conference in Windsor, Ont., Trudeau said it was important for premiers to have the chance to express their interests. He said he doesn’t blame Smith for speaking up for the energy industry. “But every single premier other than Danielle Smith then chose to put Canada first,” he said. He added that “Canadian taxpay- ers bought the TransMountain pipe- line expansion” and said the Alberta government is “making billions of dollars” in revenue from the project. Trudeau also said he’s “put aside the partisanship to a large degree” to fight for Canada in his remaining time as prime minister. His resigna- tion takes effect after the Liberals choose a new leader on March 9. “(Conservative Leader) Pierre Poilievre, who wants to be prime minister for all Canadians, has a choice to make. Either he stands up to fight for all Canadians alongside all premiers and the federal govern- ment that are doing that, or he choos- es to stand with Danielle Smith, Kevin O’Leary and, ultimately, Don- ald Trump,” Trudeau said. During a Dec. 27 appearance on the Fox News program America’s Newsroom, Canadian businessman Kevin O’Leary spoke about Trump’s apparent interest in making Canada a U.S. state and claimed that “more than half of Canadians … want to know more.” At a press conference of his own in Delta, B.C., Poilievre repeated his demand for a federal election to put in place “a strong, stable nation- al majority government that would stand up for all Canadians, all indus- tries, in all provinces.” “I think the first thing President Trump will do when he takes of- fice is to send a bouquet of flowers to the Liberals — Freeland, Carney and Trudeau — who have weak- ened and divided our country and given him the upper hand,” he said, name-checking Liberal leadership hopefuls Chrystia Freeland and Mark Carney. Poilievre refused to say whether he supports including energy prod- ucts in Canada’s retaliatory meas- ures, whether through export taxes or a ban on exports. He said the Liberal policies on pipelines have “forced Canadians to sell 100 per cent of our oil and gas to the Americans at discount prices” and said that if he were prime minis- ter he would quickly approve energy projects to send Canadian energy to the rest of the world. “I will also unite our country,” he said, accusing the Liberals of trying to divide provinces “right at our mo- ment of weakness.” While the extent of the threat- ened tariffs remains unclear, B.C. Premier David Eby’s government released a preliminary estimate on Thursday suggesting a trade war would cost the province a cumula- tive $69 billion if it lasts throughout Trump’s term. The estimate also suggests B.C. could lose 124,000 jobs by 2028 and see unemployment rise to 7.1 per cent next year as a result of what Eby called Trump’s “declaration of economic war.” Wilkinson said conflicting mes- sages from Canadian leaders are causing confusion among American legislators and industry at a time when they need to receive a clear argument from Canada. He called Smith’s Wednesday statement unfortunate and criticized NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s pro- posal to end critical mineral exports to the U.S. Wilkinson said “the NDP leader honestly doesn’t know what he’s talk- ing about.” “To be honest with you, Mr. Singh is not helping the cause of Canada by saying things like that publicly.” — The Canadian Press KELLY GERALDINE MALONE NATHAN DENETTE / THE CANADIAN PRESS Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks at a steel product manufactured for a United States client as he tours the Anchor Danly steel manufacturing company in Windsor, Ont., on Thursday. ;