Seriously? Bail Given to Vicious Antisemitic Attacker

News Release

Man Charged with Advocating Genocide and 28 other charges in Hate Crime Investigation,
Willowdale Avenue and Parkview Avenue

 

The Toronto Police Service Hate Crime Unit has charged a man with 29 criminal offences, many of which are alleged to have been motivated by hatred toward the Jewish community.

With the consent of the Ministry of the Attorney General, two of these charges include Advocating Genocide and Wilful Promotion of Hatred—offences rarely laid in Canada.

All of the incidents are alleged to have occurred between April 26, 2024, and January 3, 2025.

Due to a court-imposed publication ban, we are unable to provide further details in this release.

On January 11, 2025, Amir Arvahi Azar, 32, of Toronto, was arrested. He has been charged with 29 criminal offences:

1. Advocate Genocide
2. Wilful Promotion of Hatred
3. Public Incitement of Hatred
4. Five counts of Arson
5. Two counts of Mischief Under $5000
6. Seven counts of Mischief to Cultural Property
7. Utter Threats
8. Criminal Harassment
9. Three counts of Possess Restricted or Prohibited Firearm Knowingly not holding a licence and registration certificate
10. Possess Firearm with Altered Serial Number
11. Possess Prohibited Device
12. Two counts of Possess Prohibited Weapon
13. Possession of Proceeds of Crime Over $5000
14. Possession of Credit Card Data
15. Possession of Forgery Instrument

The accused has been released following a bail hearing with several conditions imposed. He appeared at the Ontario Court of Justice, 10 Armoury Street, on Monday, March 17, 2025, at 10 a.m.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-3500, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.

Toronto Police Service 

Toronto police say Amir Arvahi Azar was charged for 29 criminal offences following a months-long investigation by the centralized hate crimes unit. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press)

"[The Toronto Police Service was able to lay these charges] because of the meticulous work of our centralized Hate Crime Unit."

"I would like to thank all of our members who worked tirelessly on this investigation over the span of many months."

"We know that these charges are very serious and that people are concerned. I want to assure everyone that we will continue to do everything we can to keep our communities safe."

TPS Deputy Rob Johnson

 A rare hate crime charge has been laid by Toronto Police Service against an accused synagogue attacker who had been caught with three loaded handguns and had been accused of an eight-month crime spree of vicious antisemitism. Toronto has been assailed, as has Montreal, Vancouver and other Canadian cities, with a series of vandalism against Jewish-owned businesses; synagogues have been fire-bombed, Jewish parochial schools have been shot at, and one of the criminals involved in these activities has been caught and charged. And then released on bail.

 

Charged with 29 criminal counts, 32 year old Amir Arvahi Azar has also been charged with "advocating genocide", a charge "rarely laid in Canada", Toronto police noted, under a section of the Criminal Code. Azar stands accused of five incidents of arson targeting Toronto Jewish sites, along with breaking windows, making telephoned threats, and posting a trail of online threats that met the threshold for criminal hate speech. 

Damage to Pride of Israel synagogue in Toronto on June 30, 2024 that was allegedly part of an antisemitic hate crime spree by Amir Arvahi Azar. B'nai Brith Canada

The property crimes he was responsible for, all occurring during the last eight months of 2024 -- were among an uptick unprecedented in the city's history in vandalism, arson and shooting attacks that targeted Canadian Jewish sites following the October 7 Hamas-conducted terrorist massacres in southern Israel that slaughtered 1,200 people, and abducted 250 infants, women and men for use as pawns in a later exchange of innocent civilians for Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli jails for criminal acts against Israelis.

 

Most notably, Azar stands accused of breaking large front windows of the Pride of Israel synagogue on June 30; one of two antisemitic attacks he perpetrated over the long Canada Day weekend. The other was windows broken at Kehillat Shaarei Torah Synagogue. From both sites security footage recorded a man on a motorcycle, his identity hidden by a full-face helmet. Kehillat Shaarei Torah had been targeted by vandalism, graffiti or arson in eight separate events since October 7. 

The general vicinity of a perennial anti-Israel demonstration at Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue attracted many of Azar's attacks, as an intersection thought of as the heart of the Toronto Jewish community. The gatherings at the intersection were rife with chants for 'intifada', and on one occasion a demonstrator cosplayed as Yahya Sinwar, former leader of the Hamas terrorist group in Gaza.

 

Along with charges for arson, criminal harassment, threats and mischief, Azar was charged with multiple gun charges including two counts of possessing a prohibited weapon. Materials for forging illegal credit cards were also found in his possession by police. Yet, despite the seriousness of these charges, more specifics of the case could not be provided as a result of a "court imposed publication ban", the police statement revealed, concluding that Azar "has been released following a bail hearing with several conditions imposed".

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks at a news conference at the Pride of Israel Synagogue in Toronto a few months after it was the target of vandalism, Oct. 10, 2024. Photo by Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press/File

"The First Step In A Movement To Peace"

"[This is the first step in a] movement to peace."

"Both leaders agreed this conflict needs to end with a lasting peace." 

"The blood and treasure that both Ukraine and Russia have been spending in this war would be better spent on the needs of their people."

White House statement

 

"We have received signals from the United States that we are talking about the ceasefire on energy facilities, so not to attack energy infrastructure, and we are also talking about the civilian infrastructure facilities."

"We talked only about one power plant, [Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in south Ukraine] which is under Russian occupation."

"[I had] felt no pressure [from Trump]. It was a fruitful conversation, perhaps the most fruitful we have had, the mood was positive."

"We instructed our teams to resolve technical issues related to implementing and expanding the partial ceasefire."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said he had ‘a positive, very substantive’ conversation with the US president. Photograph: @ZelenskyyUa/X

 

"The need to halt arms supplies to Kyiv was discussed during Putin and Trump’s conversation."

"[Ceasing military aid would be] high on the agenda in negotiations between Russia and the US, but the topic will not be discussed publicly."

Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov

 

"It’s a very strange demand, of course. He [Vladimir Putin] wants Ukraine to give up its army, to give up security guarantees, to give up its right to be in alliances, and to give up on various territories."

"This is what he’s been fighting for for three years, and he couldn’t do it militarily …"

"And now that’s what he wants from the negotiations process."

Zelenskyy aide Mykhailo Podolyak

During a lengthy telephone call on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to seek a limited ceasefire against energy and infrastructure targets in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, an agreement that the White House felt would eventually include a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, and ultimately, a full and lasting end to the fighting between Russia and Ukraine. 

A statement by the White House added plans for negotiations to "begin immediately" on those steps, to take place in the Middle East, though it was not clear whether Ukraine is in agreement with the phased ceasefire plan. A limited ceasefire covering the Black Sea and long-range missile strikes and the release of prisoners was what Ukrainian officials envisaged at their meeting with the U.S. delegation this month in Saudi Arabia.

 

Mr. Putin, on the other hand, according to the Kremlin, welcomed President Trump's calls for the maritime ceasefire and felt confident enough it "agreed to begin negotiations to further work out specific details of such an agreement".  Russia and Ukraine were preparing to exchange 175 prisoners of war on each side the day following, according to the Putin-Trump conversation. Russia planned to hand over to Ukraine in addition, 23 badly wounded soldiers.

 

During the 90-minute conversation, Mr. Putin called on his American counterpart to end its foreign military and intelligence arrangements with Ukraine. While the White House focuses on Russia to sign off on its 30-day ceasefire proposal aimed at ending the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian officials agreed last week to the 30-day ceasefire proposal in talks led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

 

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, nonetheless remains skeptical that the Russian president is sincere in his oblique statements for peace, given that Russian forces continue to pound his country. The latest engagement is yet another turn in dramatically shifting U.S.-Russia relations reflecting Mr. Trump's pre-election statements of his intention to quickly put an end to the war as a top priority. 

 

That in so doing ties with longtime U.S. allies are strained, given their insistence that Putin must pay a price for its invasion of Ukraine, seems not to trouble Mr. Trump one whit. 

As for Ukraine's president, in his nightly video address on Monday, his statements clearly reflected his doubt that Putin is ready for peace. "Now, almost a week later, it's clear to everyone in the world -- even to those who refused to acknowledge the truth for the past three years -- that it is Putin who continues to drag out this war", he said.

 

As an aside during the conversation between the U.S. and Russian presidents, the White House later stated that what also came under discussion between the two leaders  during their extensive conversation, is the explosive situation currently unfolding in the Middle East; both purportedly agreeing that "Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel".

 

As for Mr. Putin's longer-range designs, the Kommersant Russian newspaper reported that Putin had informed a meeting of senior business leaders of his intention to continue the fighting until such time that he obtains full control of -- along with international recognition of -- the four regions in Ukraine that Moscow annexed in 2022. Quite obviously, Mr. Putin has abandoned none of his hardline objectives in the war he imposed upon Ukraine.

 

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin meeting at a summit in Helsinki, July 2018. EPA-EFE/Mauri Ratilainen

Liberal Government of Canada Bypassing Canadian for Foreign Technology

"It was a slap in the face. We seem to have a problem in this country buying our own, made-in-Canada solutions. It's a lack of national pride."

"DND [Department of National Defence] thinks Canadian companies should be happy with secondary work, doing logistics or setting up antennas."

Dipak Roy, Chairman, D-TA Systems 

BAE Systems

 

Despite having worked on a number of contracts for the Canadian Department of National Defence, mostly preparatory work for the longer vision of an over-the-hoirizon-radar project for which D-TA received funding for the development of such a system, Mr. Roy is disturbed that his firm had not been consulted in any meaningful way by the very Canadian government that had promoted D-TA, speaking of it as a success story in its development of unique industrial technologies.

 

With 50 employees, D-TA Systems delivered a working radar to Defence Research and Development Canada, the DND science agency based in the national capital, Ottawa. Established in 2007, D-TA Systems was involved in defence projects in the United States, Canada and other NATO nations, as well as Japan. Working on over-the-horizon radar since 2011 for various DND and U.S. military projects, it has not only the leading technology, but the experience in installing it. 

The actual initial capability for the new dedicated system was with the firm, for which DND spent $30 million. Accordingly a number of systems have been delivered. The Liberal government's decision to contract with an Australian company for a new radar system for a recently announced $6-billion project for the Department of National Defence over-the-horuzon radar system left Mr. Roy in disbelief, since his company has been a leader in producing such systems for DND and companies who supply the U.S. military.

 

The March 18 announcement by Prime Minister Mark Carney that a system to detect incoming missiles over the Arctic was planned, and that the chosen supplier would be in Australia, along with the British firm BAE to provide the technology, made little practical sense to Mr. Roy who pointed out that the Australian government will own the intellectual property rights for the system whereas with D-TA radars, Canada itself has full control over such rights. 

Over-the-horizon radar has the capacity to conduct surveillance at far greater ranges than ordinary radar technology, extending the distance of capabilities by bouncing signals off the ionosphere -- a layer of the Earth's atmosphere that reflects radio waves. The minimum range for the radar is estimated to be 500 kilometres, the maximum range could be over 3,000 kilometres. The system's purpose is meant to track aircraft, missiles and surface ships.

 

Australia's defence minister lauded the contract which would significantly give advantage to the country's defence firms, while Australian media outlets point to the Canadian project as the largest defence export agreement in Australian history. Mr. Roy turns that around, stating that Canadian firms would be left with support work if they were lucky.

 

Among domestic aerospace and defence companies in Canada, frustration is growing that the Liberal government has passed over Canadian technology -- rather deciding to opt for foreign systems. The lack of Canadian-built systems on board the new Canadian Surface Combatant ships, originally to be outfitted with a command system developed in Canada called the CMS-330, failed to materialize when the Liberal government approved use of an American radar and command system, gifting the United States with full control over a critical capability for the Canadian fleet.

 

An aerial view of a portion of Australia’s Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN). Australian Department of Defense

 

"Prime Minister Carney announced that Canada intends to partner with Australia to develop advanced Over-the-Horizon Radar technology. This partnership will include developing Canada’s Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar system, an investment of more than $6 billion [Canadian dollars; approximately $4.18 billion U.S. dollars at the rate of conversion at the time of reporting] that will provide early warning radar coverage from threats to the Arctic."

"A key component of Canada’s NORAD modernization plan, the radar system’s long-range surveillance and threat tracking capabilities will detect and deter threats across the North. The Prime Minister confirmed the partnership in his call with the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, earlier today."

PMO press release

Beijing's Deep Concern for Human Dignity

"The facts of the crimes committed by the Canadian nationals involved in the cases are clear, and the evidence is solid and sufficient."

"The Chinese judicial authorities have handled the cases in strict accordance with the law, and have fully guaranteed the rights and interests of the Canadian nationals concerned."

"China always imposes severe penalties on drug-related crimes and maintains a 'zero tolerance' attitude toward the drug problem."

"[Canada should] respect the rule of law and China's judicial sovereignty [and] stop making irresponsible remarks."

China's Ottawa Embassy 

"Global Affairs Canada [Canadian Foreign Affairs Department] can confirm it is aware that, earlier this year, Canadians were executed in the People's Republic of China."

"Canada strongly condemns China's use of the death penalty, which is irreversible and inconsistent with basic human dignity."

"Canada repeatedly called for clemency for these individuals at the senior-most levels."

Foreign Affairs Canada 

The Chinese flag flies outside Beijing’s embassy to Canada in Ottawa. (Photo: Jharnett44 via Wikimedia Commons)  

 

China is distinct in the world for many reasons, and one of its distinctions is its free use of the death penalty for what it considers to be capital offense crimes. Although there are many countries across the globe that continue to use the death penalty -- the United States among them -- China has the distinction of putting more people to death as a crime penalty than all other countries combined. A runner-up in the state-death competition is the Islamic Republic of Iran whose mode of execution includes hanging, crucifixion, stoning and firing squads.

 

China's choice of state execution for those judged to have run afoul of its criminal laws in capital offenses also die by firing squads, although Beijing has latterly introduced lethal injections as well. Once a charge has been laid by the state of anyone having committed a capital offense, it is almost unknown for a court to strike a trial, instead rubber-stamping guilt with the accompanying penalty of execution. With its vast population of over 1.4 billion people, Beijing is not known to be sensitive to any concept as remote to it as 'human rights'.

 

In the instance of the publicly newly-revealed death by state execution of Canadian citizens, neither the Chinese embassy in Canada's capital of Ottawa or Canada's Foreign Affairs department divulged just how many Canadians had been executed, nor identified those executed by publishing their names. An Abbotsford, British Columbia native, Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, known to have been sentenced to death by a Chinese court in 2019 on a charge of drug smuggling, however, was not among the executed. 

 

A photo submitted by the RCMP shows a clandestine drug lab where Mounties say a large quantity of fentanyl was discovered in Mission, B.C. in November 2023. (submitted by Mission RCMP)

Those who met their untimely fate may have been dual citizens of Canada and China. China does not recognize or give credence to dual citizenship, and feels no diplomatic sensitivity in ignoring Canadian citizenship alongside Chinese citizenship. Although the Chinese head of mission at the embassy in Ottawa did not clarify whether any of these executed were involved in drug smuggling or trafficking, they did state that Beijing has a "zero tolerance" approach to drug crime.

 

There are, it seems, altogether 100 Canadians currently detained in China. It is interesting to note that while China deals severely with anyone identified and caught being involved in the drug trade, it is from China that the artificial, laboratory-produced opioid Fentanyl arrived in North America to wreak deadly havoc in Canada and the United States. Although on appeal Beijing listed fentanyl making it illegal to transport or sell it abroad, the precursor chemicals associated with fentanyl production still emanate from Chinese labs, where criminal gangs in North America employ 'cooks' to produce lethal fentanyl.

 

Health Canada says it can only take a few grains of fentanyl to kill someone. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

"As in pre­vi­ous years, exe­cu­tion totals do not include the esti­mat­ed thou­sands of exe­cu­tions car­ried out by the world’s lead­ing exe­cu­tion­er, China, where exe­cu­tion data is con­sid­ered a state secret; secre­cy prac­tices and chal­lenges access­ing infor­ma­tion in Afghanistan, North Korea, Palestine, Syria, and Vietnam also cre­at­ed dif­fi­cul­ties in iden­ti­fy­ing min­i­mum totals. This world­wide increase was pri­mar­i­ly dri­ven by a 48% rise in exe­cu­tions in Iran, which account­ed for 74% of exe­cu­tions world­wide. Iran (at least 853 exe­cu­tions), Saudi Arabia (172 exe­cu­tions), Somalia (at least 38 exe­cu­tions), the U.S. (24 exe­cu­tions), and Iraq (at least 16 exe­cu­tions) were the top five coun­tries respon­si­ble for record­ed exe­cu­tions."

Death Penalty Information Center

Israel's Relentless Drive to Destroy Hamas

"It is time for the countries of the world to take seriously our unwavering commitment to bring back all our hostages home and defeat the enemy."

"Nothing will stop us from fighting to free our hostages, who have been held in brutal Hamas captivity for 527 days."

"We will show no mercy against our enemies while our hostages languish in Hamas terror tunnels."

Danny Danon, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations

Israeli troops in southern Gaza. Pic: IDF handout

Extensive strikes have been conducted against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip by the Israeli military on Monday, negating a ceasefire that had exacerbated the pain of Israel's hostage families in the terrorists' hollow gestures of complying with the rules of hostage return while mocking the process as a generous gesture on the part of the Palestinian terrorists. The 'ceasefire' that had given Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other such groups the opportunity to recruit, rearm and reaffirm their ironclad intention to continue planning and executing attacks on Israel for which the October 7, 2023 invasion and savagery remains their model.

 

In essence, the 'ceasefire' had ended itself when Israeli intelligence analyzed the intention of Hamas leaders to carry on with their death mission for Israel, leading to the inescapable conclusion that the only fitting response to the situation would be a return to Israel's original goal of wiping out the entirety of the Hamas organization; fighters, leaders, weapons stocks, organizational capability. The essentially vital target, the removal of the Hamas leadership.

 

To that end, it was confirmed by the Israel Defense Forces that "the Hamas prime minister and a senior government figure in the Gaza Strip", Essam al-Dalis was among a number of senior terrorists eliminated in the early stages of the campaign. As is usual for the IDF, a vital warning had been issued Tuesday urging residents of Gaza within specific areas to immediately evacuate, as the Israeli forces' operations intensified. 

Civilians were called  upon by IDF spokesperson Avichay Adrace, to relocate to designated shelters located in western Gaza City and Khan Yunis to avoid becoming casualties of the attacks. Citing local Gaza health officials, the Associated Press reported that over 400 Palestinians had been killed in the overnight airstrikes. No one can actually be assured of the veracity of any such claims made by either Hamas or any of its operating arms. Hamas, in any event, reporting on casualties makes no differentiation between civilians and its terrorist operatives.

 

Pic: IDF handout

"[An Israeli official] claimed that in recent days during the ceasefire Hamas has been preparing to carry out new attacks against Israel and has taken steps to rearm."

"The official said the IDF kept the operational plan top secret and within a relatively small circle in order to surprise Hamas."

Axios Report

 

"[The IDF is] attacking targets of the Hamas terrorist organization throughout the Gaza Strip in order to achieve the objectives of the war as they have been determined by the political echelon including the release of all of our hostages, the living and the deceased."

"Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Office statement

The attack coincided with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Somewhat similar to Egypt and Syria attacking Israel in 1973 on Yom Kippur, the Judaic holy Day of Atonement. There is an interpretation that this could signal a full resumption of the war, incited by Hamas when terrorists invaded southern Israel on October 7, 2023, thousands of terrorists primed to enact a scene straight out of Hell, complete with mass rape, mutilation, torching of family homes with the residents huddled for safety in their 'safe rooms', where the mostly civilian population of southern Israel's farming kibbutzim were targeted for annihilation.

 

Hamas terrorists stand in formation ahead of a hostage release in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Hamas's plans included the hostage-taking of families, the elderly, infants, teens, women, foreign farm workers and Israeli soldiers. Even the dead were considered useful pawns as hostages, bundled off with the terrified living hostages to the extensive tunnel systems of Gaza, to be confined in dark, dank underground cells without natural light, breathing foetid air, and experiencing a lack of adequate food and water and medical supplies. The remaining two dozen hostages believed to still be alive, remain in terrorist hands.

 

"We are shocked, angry and terrified by the deliberate dismantling of the process to return our loved ones from the terrible captivity of Hamas", mourned the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. And one can only commiserate with their anguish, hoping against hope that their loved ones will somehow be returned to them. Hamas enjoys its sadistic cat-and-mouse games with vulnerable and helpless captives.

 

While the United States and Israel have been stepping up attacks across the region this week, the retaliatory campaign against Hamas is being carried out with a view to bringing Israel's goal of eradicating the terrorist group entirely, closer to accomplishment as an end-game goal. In concert with the U.S. launching strikes against Yemen's Houthis spurred on by Iran, Israel has targeted Iran's terrorist proxies in Lebanon and Syria.

 

Israeli soldiers patrol a street in northern Gaza on Wednesday. The Israeli military launched a new ground offensive in Gaza, a day after Israel 'broke a ceasefire' with a punishing series of airstrikes. Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images

"[U.S. President Donald Trump] has made it clear: Hamas, the Houthis, Iran, all those who seek to terrorize not just Israel but also the United States of America will see a price to pay."

"All hell will break loose."

"[All of] the terrorists in the Middle East [should take Trump] very seriously when he says he is not afraid to stand for law-abiding people ... and our friend and ally Israel."

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt

Protecting Canada's Medical Supplies from Punishing Tariffs

"The announced tariffs on Canadian exports, along with retaliatory tariffs imposed by Canada on the U.S., will likely bring significant risks to Ontario's health care system, including the disruption of access to vital equipment and supplies."

"The OHA [Ontario Hospital Association] is very concerned about the impact of this trade war on the delivery of care and is engaging with the federal and provincial governments and other stakeholders to fully understand and minimize the impact on hospitals."

"[Much is still unknown in the] evolving [political climate]."

Melissa Prokopy, vice-president, policy and advocacy, Ontario Hospital Association 

"We do stand with the government, you know, that U.S. tariffs cannot go unanswered. However, health care must be protected."

"We are looking for exemption of health-care products from any retaliatory tariffs."

"This will be very important to protect supply chain stability and prevent any kind of cost escalations." 

Christine Donaldson, chief executive, Health PRO Canada

In a global supply system, making pharmaceuticals and medical devices often involves multiple countries, so it might be difficult to pinpoint all the specific components that come through the U.S. that might be subject to counter-tariffs. Photo by Tijana Martin/The Canadian Press files

Federal and provincial governments in Canada are being urged by health associations to make certain that patients in Canada will not become caught in the crossfire of the trade war that the new Trump administration in the U.S. has imposed upon Canada. HealthPRO Canada, a company which purchases medications, supplies and equipment for over 2,000 hospitals, health-care facilities and long-term care homes across the country announced it is seeking clarity on potential future counter-tariffs. 

The company's chief executive made a comparison to the automotive industry, with the manufacturing process for many health-care supplies where raw materials and components often cross borders "several times before they reach their finished production". In other words, a fully integrated system of production shared by the U.S. and Canada. The imposition of tariffs entirely disrupts the free flow of materials and finished products.

While it is not yet clear which products in particular could potentially be affected by future counter-tariffs, some essential medications, medical devices and diagnostic imaging equipment -- including MRI and CT scanners, surgical tools and ventilators -- frequently are manufactured in the United States. 

Hospitals could also be affected through counter-tariffs on food, mattresses and other non-medical goods in the uncertainty brought about by the ongoing trade war, when U.S. President Donald Trump decided that he was dissatisfied with the existing U.S.-Canada-Mexico free trade agreement that he signed on to during his first presidential term, expressing his satisfaction at the time that negotiators representing the three North American countries had hammered out a good free trade agreement.

 

A treatment room is pictured at the Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary, Alta. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

 

The types of medical devices most affected by tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada include:

1. Medical Imaging Equipment: Devices such as MRI machines, CT scanners, and X-ray machines are heavily impacted due to their reliance on imported components.
2. Surgical Instruments: Many surgical tools and instruments are imported, and tariffs can significantly increase their costs.
3. Diagnostic Equipment: Devices used for diagnostics, including blood analyzers and other laboratory equipment, are also affected.
4. Electronic Medical Devices: This category includes devices like pacemakers, defibrillators, and other electronic health monitoring equipment.
5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Items such as gloves, masks, and gowns, which are crucial for healthcare workers, face increased costs due to tariffs.