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Democrats Win U.S. Congress: What It Means for Canadian Tariffs and Your Wallet

  Canadian Money Brief • Wednesday, November 4, 2026 Democrats have won control of both the U.S. House and Senate, including seats in states Donald Trump carried by double digits two years ago. For Canadians, the big question is simple: does this end the tariffs? The short answer is not yet. What happened The Associated Press and major U.S. networks called the Senate for Democrats late Tuesday night and the House early Wednesday. Democrats flipped seven Republican-held Senate seats, according to Forbes’ tally of AP calls, including Maine, North Carolina, Iowa, Ohio and Texas. In the House, roughly 75 races were still undecided at last report, and the new Congress does not take over until 2027. Democratic leaders framed the result as a call for change, while news outlets widely described it as a rebuke of President Trump. Trump told the New York Times he was “absolutely willing” to accept the results and said Republicans would work with Democrats. Why it matters in Canada Democrati...

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Israel Approves New Parcel of West Bank Land for Settlement

 

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has declared 800 hectares in the occupied West Bank as state land. This move aims to facilitate the use of the ground for settlement building. The announcement comes on the same day that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Israel for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Despite growing international opposition, the Israeli government remains determined to press ahead with settlement construction in the West Bank.

The designation of 1,976 acres of land in the Jordan Valley as state land follows a similar decision regarding 300 hectares (740 acres) in the Maale Adumim area of the West Bank. The latter area is crucial to the Palestinians’ vision of a future independent state.

Last month, the United States stated that Israel’s expansion of settlements in the West Bank was inconsistent with international law, aligning with the global consensus that considers these settlements illegal. Israel, however, disputes this view, citing historical and Biblical ties to the land. Meanwhile, the Palestinians view the expansion of settlements as a deliberate Israeli policy aimed at undermining their aspiration for an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned this latest move, describing it as “a continuation of the extermination and displacement of our people from their homeland.”

Despite the controversy, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s declaration underscores the government’s commitment to settlement building in the West Bank. The situation remains highly contentious, with implications for regional stability and peace efforts.

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