This week on Off The Record, Ontario Premier Doug Ford  praised Prime Minister Mark Carney, calling him "Santa Claus" after the First Ministers’ meeting.

B.C. Premier David Eby later threw cold water on Alberta’s hopes for a pipeline through B.C., shattering the consensus among premiers only a day later.

Ford’s praise came despite rising U.S. tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel, which are set to hammer Ontario manufacturers. Ford’s government also faces a $14.7-billion deficit, raising questions about his fiscal credibility as a self-described conservative.

In Ottawa, Carney’s government suffered its first defeat as Parliament passed a Conservative motion demanding a spring budget.

The non-binding motion underscores growing opposition to Carney’s plan to add $225 billion to the federal debt over four years — even more than Trudeau was set to spend.

Meanwhile, Air Canada faced backlash over promoting its first all-LGBTQ flight. The airline had to disable comments on its post after widespread criticism that identity politics are being prioritized over basic service and safety.

Finally, a True North exclusive revealed that an Ontario school board trained staff that the term “family” is “harmful” and “racist.” The training sparked outrage over the spread of divisive critical race theory in Canadian schools.

Join Kris Sims, Isaac Lamoureux, and Noah Jarvis for these stories and more on Off The Record!