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Two of Canada's trusted brands come together to offer more value and convenience for Canadians

TORONTO and CALGARY, AB, May 3, 2023 /CNW/ - Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited ("CTC") (TSX: CTC) (TSX: CTC.A) and Petro-Canada, a Suncor (TSX: SU) (NYSE: SU) business, today announced a new partnership that will enhance the customer experience at their fuel stations across the country. The partnership will drive additional value for millions of loyalty members, establish a competitive fuel source for CTC and long-term fuel supply arrangement for Suncor, and increase the presence of Petro-Canada branded stations across the country.

The partnership consists of three core areas that will drive value within CTC's and Petro-Canada's respective networks:

"Through this new partnership, Canadian Tire Corporation will expand the reach of our Triangle Rewards program from over 200 gas stations to a network of more than 1,800, driving enhanced value for Canadians at the pumps by providing more opportunities for members to earn CT Money in a high-frequency category," said Greg Hicks, President and CEO, Canadian Tire Corporation. "This is yet another way we're creating valuable relationships through the power of Triangle, which is a key component of our growth strategy."

"This partnership is a tangible example of our commitment to optimize our retail network and expand strategic partnerships for Petro-Canada. It brings together Petro-Canada, the leading and most trusted gas station brand in Canada, with Canadian Tire Corporation, an iconic Canadian retailer," said Rich Kruger, President and Chief Executive Officer, Suncor. "This will provide long-term value to our shareholders by securing a long-term supply relationship for our refineries, while continuing to build on our brand."

Canadians can expect to see the launch of the loyalty partnership in the fall of 2023. Gas+ retail fuel stations will be rebranded over the next several years.

Legal Advisory Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws.

Forward-looking statements are based on Suncor's current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions that were made by the company in light of its information available at the time the statement was made and consider Suncor's experience and its perception of historical trends. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to Suncor's expectations, timing and plans regarding the partnership between Suncor and CTC, including the expectation that it will provide long-term value to its shareholders by securing a long-term supply relationship for its refineries while continuing to build on its brand. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, some that are similar to other oil and gas companies and some that are unique to Suncor. Suncor's actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by its forward-looking statements, so readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on them. Suncor's Annual Information Form, Annual Report to Shareholders and Form 40-F, each dated March 6, 2023, and other documents it files from time to time with securities regulatory authorities describe the risks, uncertainties, material assumptions and other factors that could influence actual results and such factors are incorporated herein by reference. Copies of these documents are available without charge from Suncor at 150 6th Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta T2P 3E3; by e-mail request to invest@suncor.com; by calling (800) 558-9071; or by referring to suncor.com/FinancialReports or to the company's profile on SEDAR at sedar.com or EDGAR at sec.gov. Except as required by applicable securities laws, Suncor disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

The forward-looking statements contained herein provide insights regarding CTC management's current expectations and plans regarding the partnership between CTC and Suncor. Readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. Although CTC believes that the forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information, assumptions and beliefs that are current, reasonable, and complete, such statements are necessarily subject to a number of business, economic, competitive and other risk factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from management's expectations and plans as set forth in such forward-looking statements. For information on the material risk factors and uncertainties and the material factors and assumptions applied in preparing the forward-looking statements that could cause CTC's actual events or results to differ materially from such expectations and plans, refer to section 11.0 (Key Risks and Risk Management) of CTC's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the Fourth Quarter and Full-Year ended December 31, 2022 as well as CTC's other public filings, available at http://www.sedar.com and at https://investors.canadiantire.ca. CTC does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by it or on its behalf, to reflect new information, future events or otherwise, except as is required by applicable securities laws.

Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited, (TSX: CTC.A) (TSX: CTC) or "CTC", is a group of companies that includes a Retail segment, a Financial Services division and CT REIT. Our retail business is led by Canadian Tire, which was founded in 1922 and provides Canadians with products for life in Canada across its Living, Playing, Fixing, Automotive and Seasonal & Gardening divisions. Party City, PartSource and Gas+ are key parts of the Canadian Tire network. The Retail segment also includes Mark's, a leading source for casual and industrial wear; Pro Hockey Life, a hockey specialty store catering to elite players; and SportChek, Hockey Experts, Sports Experts and Atmosphere, which offer the best active wear brands. The close to 1,700 retail and gasoline outlets are supported and strengthened by CTC's Financial Services division and the tens of thousands of people employed across Canada and around the world by CTC and its local dealers, franchisees and petroleum retailers. In addition, CTC owns and operates Helly Hansen, a leading technical outdoor brand based in Oslo, Norway. For more information, visit Corp.CanadianTire.ca.

Petro-Canada, a Suncor business, operates more than 1,500 retail stations and 300 Petro-Pass wholesale locations nationwide, including 61 marketing arrangements with Indigenous communities. In 2019, Petro-Canada opened Canada's Electric Highway, a coast to coast network of electric vehicle chargers. In 2020, the Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundationwas launched to help support Canadian caregivers. Petro-Canada's retail loyalty program, Petro-Points, provides Canadians with the opportunity to earn and redeem rewards. Petro-Canada is proud to be a National Partner of the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic committees, supporting Canadian athletes, coaches and their families for more than 25 years.

Suncor is Canada's leading integrated energy company. Suncor's operations include oil sands development, production and upgrading, offshore oil and gas production, petroleum refining in Canada and the United States and the company's Petro-Canada retail and wholesale distribution networks, including Canada's Electric Highway, a coast-to-coast network of fast-charging EV stations. Suncor is developing petroleum resources while advancing the transition to a low-emissions future through investment in power, renewable fuels and hydrogen. Suncor also conducts energy trading activities focused principally on the marketing and trading of crude oil, natural gas, byproducts, refined products and power. Suncor has been recognized for its performance and transparent reporting on the Dow Jones Sustainability index, FTSE4Good and CDP. Suncor's common shares (symbol: SU) are listed on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges.

SOURCE CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION, LIMITED

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Maryland Gov. Wes Moore talks to reporters during a media availability on April 27, 2023 in Annapolis. Moore said he is planning to sign gun-control legislation approved by the Maryland General Assembly earlier this month. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)

ANNAPOLIS Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said Thursday he is planning to sign gun-control measures approved by lawmakers in response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year.

The high courts ruling in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen ended a requirement similar to a Maryland law for people to demonstrate a particular need to get a license to carry a concealed gun in public.

Were going through and checking on the constitutionality now, but, yes, I plan on signing them soon, Moore, a Democrat, said.

One of the measures removes the good and substantial reason language from Maryland law that the court found unconstitutional in the Bruen case. But the Maryland General Assembly, which is controlled by Democrats, also tightened gun laws in other respects. For example, lawmakers passed a bill that would prevent someone from carrying a concealed handgun in certain areas.

One, the Bruen decision by the Supreme Court was wrong full stop, Moore said.

The bill generally would prohibit a person from wearing, carrying, or transporting a handgun in an area for children or vulnerable individuals or in a special purpose area.

Under the bill, a person could not carry a handgun in a preschool or prekindergarten facility, or on their grounds, or in a primary or secondary school, or in a health care facility.

A special purpose area is defined as a location licensed to sell or dispense alcohol or cannabis, a stadium, museum, racetrack or casino. The bill also prohibits a person from wearing, carrying, or transporting a firearm in a government or public infrastructure area if the area displays a clear and conspicuous sign at the main entrance indicating that it is not allowed.

Moore, who spoke during a media availability with reporters at the Capitol, said more needs to be done to address the issue of violence in our society.

And we have to address the ease in which people are able to get firearms because we know how much that is impacting the basic freedoms of every single Marylander, and that is something that is not going to stand as long as Im the governor, Moore said.

A person also would not be able to bring a firearm onto someone elses property, unless the owner has either posted a clear and conspicuous sign indicating that it is permissible or has given the person express permission. The provision would not apply to law enforcement officers, correctional officers or members of the military.

Opponents have said the legislation violates the Second Amendment, and they have pledged to challenge the legislation in court.

Mark Pennak, president of Maryland Shall Issue, said he planned a swift challenge to the measure that spells out particular areas where handguns would be banned.

Well be challenging SB1 almost immediately after its signed, Pennak said of the bill.

Pennak said the legislation infringes on the Second Amendment rights of permit holders by violating a general right to carry a handgun for self-defense in public outside of the home, which was specifically upheld by the court.

The court could not have been clearer, and what they have respectively done with the enactment of SB1 is truncate that right far beyond what the Supreme Court had permitted in Bruen, Pennak said.

A separate bill also has provisions opposed by advocates for Second Amendment rights. One of them would raise the age for qualifying for a handgun permit from 18 to 21, which is already being challenged in other parts of the country, Pennak noted.

Pennak also criticized disqualifying factors for handgun permits in the bill. For example, he said the bill creates a disqualifier for getting a handgun permit for misdemeanors that potentially do not include jail time.

The measure also increases the fee for an initial application for a handgun permit from $75 to $125. The fee for renewal or subsequent application for a handgun permit increases from $50 to $75, and a fee for a duplicate or modified handgun permit would go from $10 to $20.

Brian Witte reports for The Associated Press.

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MD politics: Wes Moore says he plans to sign gun control bills - Maryland Daily Record

According to author Michael Wolff, on the night of the 2020 United States presidential election, when the Fox News Decision Desk was seeking Rupert Murdochs approval to call Arizona for Joe Biden, the mogul had a simple view of how to manage any fallout from Donald Trump: Fuck him.

Murdoch biographer Paddy Manning could not confirm that quote, but it certainly aligns with other assessments from Murdoch in the wake of the election that saw the worlds No.1 narcissist vanquished, fairly and squarely, at the polls.

The sentiment is contained in dozens of internal Fox News and News Corp communications, unearthed during the discovery process and subsequent depositions as part of Dominion Voting Systems legal case against Fox News. Dominion was asking for $US1.6 billion in damages in what promised tobe the defamation case of the century.

That was until the Murdochs, apparently fearful of what more their testimony in open court would reveal, retreated and settled for $US787.5 million an eye-watering sum for normal people but a fleabite for the biggest and most influential media empire the democratic world has ever seen.

The same fear seems to have driven their retreat from the brink of Lachlan Murdochs defamation case against Crikey here in Australia, where he was the claimant.

In the US, Trump has been Murdochs red meat and potatoes for more than seven years seven years that saw Fox Newss ratings, profit and influence soar due to slavish support for a man who did more damage to American democracy and public confidence than anyone since Jefferson Davis more than 150 years earlier.

Rupert clearly hoped that, having served his purpose for the Murdoch empire, Trump would fade away. That was wishful thinking. Just as soon as Trump lost office it became clear to the Murdochs that ending Fox Newss support for this narcissistic mouthpiece for false grievance and fake news was having a serious impact on the networks ratings, revenue and influence.

So they changed tack. Four days after Trump lost, then leading host Tucker Carlson sent a text complaining about a Fox News reporter who had said there was no evidence of voter fraud. His motive was absolutely clear: Please get her fired . It needs to stop immediately, like tonight. Its measurably hurting the company. The stock price is down. Not a joke.

Stop it largely did. As recently as March6, Carlson was telling his millions of Fox News viewers: Taken as a whole, the whole video record does not support the claim that January 6th was an insurrection.

Carlson is the kind of influential, secular, televangelist demagogue that Sky News Australias Paul Murray and Rowan Dean aspire to be, with far less success. He was sacked this week by Fox News, the fall-guy sacrifice on the altar of Murdoch family reputation, offered up to appease some of the disgruntled shareholders.

But if it wasnt an insurrection, what was it?

This question has resonance in Australia, specifically in regards to the absurd finding of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) that Sarah Fergusons description of the Capitol Hill rioters as a mob in her 2021 Four Corners report about Fox News was emotive and strident.

Huh?

Four people in the crowd died that day. Some of the rioters set out to kill then house speaker Nancy Pelosi and vice president Mike Pence. How was this not a mob?

If anything demonstrates how out-of-date and failing the regulations surrounding Australias media are, this is it.

Australia is not immune from what is happening in the US. Our toothless, largely voluntary and, in the case of the Australian Press Council, predominantly Murdoch-funded regulators are not fit for purpose in an integrated media industry, with its immensely powerful players and their penchant for conspiracies that drive profit.

Our fourth estate is one of the cornerstones of our democracy. Our private media should be a public good, acting in the public interest. It needs to be profitable, of course, but not at the expense of trust and, more to the point, truth.

Attempts to update the public responsibilities of our media, notably the Finkelstein inquiry of 2012 and senate inquiries established by the Greens Sarah Hanson-Young, have foundered amid scare campaigns that the government should not regulate privately owned media, especially not print.

So we have a free-for-all, with something close to zero accountability.

The Ferguson example is just one that demonstrates the way in which ACMA is no longer up to the job. In fact, its effectiveness as a regulator of journalistic standards is a joke.

The Australian Press Council shows that self-regulation has become an oxymoron: Kerry Stokes Seven West Media is no longer a member; nor is Australian Community Media, which controls 140 rural and regional outlets; The Guardian has never been. The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, the union that represents journalists, has announced its withdrawal.

The press councils complaints process is bureaucratic, painfully slow and so ineffective as to deny natural justice to complainants as, for that matter, are similar structures at the public broadcasters.

So, if public regulation is off the table, what is to be done?

A more effective and universal form ofself-regulation may be the answer.

There are examples from other democracies Ireland and Finland spring tomind.

In Finland, the countrys major news outlets and the journalists union have been members of the Council for Mass Media since the 1960s.

It is 75 per cent funded by news companies and 25 per cent by the government, but the news industry controls it and there are no strings attached to the public funding.

It is entirely voluntary, but about 95 per cent of all Finnish journalists are members of the council and subject to its complaints processes newspapers, websites, radio and television stations and the public broadcaster.

Decisions made by the council are not legally binding, but, according to former ABC editorial director Alan Sunderland, their rulings are universally respected and followed.

Notably, 69 per cent of Finns trust their news media, compared with just 41 per cent in Australia.

It is a somewhat similar story in Ireland.

The lessons for Australia are clear: if we have a chance of restoring public faith in our media, we need a system of accountability that readers and viewers can trust.

All this has implications for Attorney-General Mark Dreyfuss overdue drive to update our privacy laws.

If there is to be a carve-out for public interest journalism, as media organisations are demanding, there must be an accepted standard to decide who is or is not a journalist and a respected body to make that determination.

Finland and Ireland are showing us theway.

As an independent MP on a crossbench that does not hold the balance of power, the question is: what can be done to advance a priority of profound importance to the community, for all those concerned about faith in democracy and the quality of our political culture?

The answer is persistent persuasion, engaging with ministers and MPs across parliament, as I have been doing assiduously for nearly a year now, with some small but significant success.

Labor backbenchers are uneasy about the current state of our media, but none of them was prepared to go as far as supporting my motion to establish an independent inquiry into media diversity, even as they acknowledged it to be a problem.

As another US president John F. Kennedy famously said: we choose to do things not because they are easy, but because they are hard.

This article was first published in the print edition of The Saturday Paper onApril 29, 2023 as "Dominion over the animals".

For almost a decade, The Saturday Paper has published Australias leading writers and thinkers.We have pursued stories that are ignored elsewhere, covering them with sensitivity and depth.We have done this on refugee policy, on government integrity, on robo-debt, on aged care,on climate change, on the pandemic.

All our journalism is fiercely independent. It relies on the support of readers.By subscribing to The Saturday Paper, you are ensuring that we can continue to produce essential,issue-defining coverage, to dig out stories that take time, to doggedly hold to accountpoliticians and the political class.

There are very few titles that have the freedom and the space to produce journalism like this.In a country with a concentration of media ownership unlike anything else in the world,it is vitally important. Your subscription helps make it possible.

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The Fox decision and Australian media control - The Saturday Paper

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 24: A person walks past a First Republic bank branch in Manhattan on April 24, 2023 in New York City. The U.S. bank will reveal its latest financial results but concerns over small and medium-sized banks persist following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in March. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Spencer Platt | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading.

First Republic, JPMorgan Chase First Republic shares and were halted after JPMorgan Chase acquired the ailing bank and most of its assets after regulators seized control. JPMorgan shares rose 2.1%.

General Motors The automaker gained 1.3% after Morgan Stanley upgraded General Motors to overweight from equal weight and called the stock oversold.

Norwegian Cruise Line The cruise company jumped 8.9% after on better-than-expected quarterly results. Norwegian Cruise Line also boosted its full-year profit forecast amid strong travel demand.

Exxon Mobil Shares shed 3.1% on the back of a Goldman Sachs downgrade to neutral from buy. The firm said the oil giant was less attractive after its multiyear run.

PacWest, Zions Bancorp. Regional bank stocks were volatile on Monday as investors reacted to the seizure and sale of First Republic Bank over the weekend. Shares of PacWest fell nearly 1.1% after rising earlier in the session. Zions Bancorp. fell more than 3.7%, while Western Alliance dipped about 3%. The SPDR S&P Regional Bank ETF (KRE) was down 2.8%.

SoFi Technologies The student loan refinancer fell more than 12.2% despite posting better-than-expected quarterly results. The company reported a loss of 5 cents per share and revenue of $460.16 million against consensus estimates of 7 cents and $441 million, according to Refinitiv. However, management said on the company earnings call Monday that demand for loans originating from the fourth quarter would see a lower monetization level due to higher interest.

Comcast The media stock gained 0.6% after Bank of America upgraded the media stock to buy from a neutral rating following its recent quarterly results. Analysts view Comcast as well positioned for a "strong turnaround."

Teradata The cloud database company jumped 6% after Guggenheim Partners upgraded the stock to buy from neutral. The Wall Street firm said Teradata is poised to outperform expectations for customer retention and grow revenue in its cloud sector. Its price target of $62 implies 60% upside.

On Semiconductor On Semiconductor jumped 8.9% after beating first-quarter earnings and revenue expectations. The chip firm reported per-share earnings ex-items of $1.19, greater than consensus estimates of $1.08 per share, according to FactSet. It posted revenue of $1.96 billion, greater than the expected $1.92 billion.

Scotts Miracle-Gro Shares rose 5.5% after Stifel upgraded Scotts Miracle-Gro to buy from hold and set an $80 price target, implying near-20% upside from Friday's close. Stifel analyst W. Andrew Carter said the maker of consumer lawn, garden and pest control products has an "attractive near-term set-up for the shares with a margin recovery enabling outsized EPS growth."

Global Payments Global Payments shares tumbled 8.6% despite a revenue and earnings beat for the recent quarter as the payments technology company announced a new CEO effective June 1.

Logitech Logitech shares gained 2.6% after Morgan Stanley upgraded the company to equal weight from underweight, citing a "more balanced catalyst path" ahead.

Disclosure: Comcast owns NBCUniversal, the parent company of CNBC.

CNBC's Sarah Min, Alexander Harring, Brian Evans, Jesse Pound and Yun Li contributed reporting

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Stocks making the biggest moves midday: JPMorgan Chase, General Motors, Exxon Mobil & more - CNBC

WASHINGTON -- It's a new year, a new team and a new head coach for the Washington Mystics. But as a new season begins, there's a lot of familiarity between the new boss Eric Thibault and his 2023 squad.

Not only is he taking over a team that he's been an assistant with for 10 seasons, but this version of the team is quite acquainted with the 35-year-old. Of the 17 players entering training camp - which includes new camp signee Emily Engstler - there are 10 who played a game last year in D.C.

The two big off-season additions, Brittney Sykes and Kristi Toliver, already have a rapport with Thibault. Sykes back from when she was in college (Thibault was a graduate assistant at St. John's and she was recruited to play at Syracuse) and Toliver from her first stint with the Mystics (2017-19). That's 11 players, many of which will make up a majority of the opening-day roster, who'll ease the transition into Thibault's first season.

That familiarity has generated confidence up and down the roster to continue the standards that have become synonymous with the Mystics franchise. While many coaching changes come at pivotal times for teams, this coaching move was one to ensure stability and keep the Thibault name at the helm.

"Eric has been here for 10 years. So I know that people are a little fearful or can be doubtful in a lot of senses of the move or the change but he's been a part of every success that this team has had," Natasha Cloud said on media day. "Every single player that is in this locker room has been recruited by him and [general manager Mike Thibault]. So he has had his hands into everything that makes the Mystics what they are."

"The last two, three years, whether we've acknowledged it or not, you guys aren't gonna see it from the media, he runs our practices the last two, three years, he comes into the huddles, he draws up our plays. He's in control of our offense and what it looks like and how it is. So just because we don't speak on those things doesn't mean that those things weren't real. So now this transition is very seamless to us because we've seen it the last two, three years within our practices"

By no means is Eric the master architect of what made the Mystics great in their two-year run to the WNBA Finals and winning the team's first championship in 2019. But you'll be hard-pressed to find someone within the organization who would take that type of credit. Mike Thibault has positioned his former assistants for success in new roles. Eric's development over time has been a natural process and no different than assistants before him.

The locker room is already comfortable with Eric being in charge. And that's because in many ways he already stepped into some head coaching roles prior to this change.

But if you step away for a year or two or three like two-time WNBA champion Toliver did with her second tenure with the Los Angeles Sparks, there are differences you can notice.

"I haven't been here very long but I think the first thing, and I noticed this not even just with [Eric], but with my former teammates and now teammates again, everyone seems so much more mature," Toliver said. "They seem more poised, they seem more in control. Listening to [Eric], it's like he's got his big boy pants on if that makes sense. Like, he's speaking things with his chest, because he's the boss. He's our leader. And now he understands the responsibility and the task at hand."

That task is guiding a team back to the WNBA Finals, which Washington has not done in three seasons. And the pressure will be on him right away to step up. Whether fairly or not, there's a big shadow cast over the role that his father, Mike, held and how Eric holds up.

One, because Mike Thibault is the winningest coach in WNBA history, and the second reason being the criticism that may exist when the former coach's son gets one of 12 coveted coaching positions in the best women's basketball league in the world.

But while Eric tries to live up to the standard set forth (by his dad, the franchise's former head coach and now general manager), he's just going to get his nose dirty and let the work speak for itself.

"I'm going to let other people be the judge of [what I bring as a coach] a little bit," Eric Thibault said. "I'm going to be myself... But we changed things year to year as it was. So to say like I didn't have any hand in anything the past 10 years, I don't want to say that was all on [Mike] and now this is all on me. That's not how we work. So everybody had a voice previously. Everybody on staff will have a voice now and we'll see what what a team looks like. But it won't be an Eric Thibault team. It'll be a Mystics team."

All that's left for Eric is to go out and get the job done. He has the trust of the locker room, the credibility that comes with his career resume and the relationships he has with his players. Monday, he went through his first media day as the head coach. Friday will be his first game, without an interim or placeholder tag, when preseason action kicks off. And soon, he'll have to make his first roster cuts.

"I think he's gonna do a great job," Toliver said. "I think he has a room full of women that are excited and are ready to play for him and, make him look good and he wants to make us look good."

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New head coach Eric Thibault starts his first camp with familiar faces - NBC Sports