EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, fresh off a weekend visit with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, says if Ottawa uses an energy embargo to combat the incoming administration's promised tariffs, it would spark a "national unity crisis."

"Oil and gas is owned by the provinces, principally Alberta, and we won't stand for that," Smith told reporters in a virtual news conference Monday.

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly hasn't ruled out an energy embargo in response to Trump's promise to impose punishing 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian products.

Smith said the federal government shouldn't be making "empty threats," and it's not Joly's call to make. She said cutting off pipeline supplies through Michigan would choke key supply to Ontario and Quebec.

MONTREAL - The Quebec Liberal leadership race kicked off on Monday with candidates picking up endorsements, as the provincial party tries to broaden its appeal after years in the political wilderness.

Four candidates have officially entered the race, including former federal Liberal cabinet minister Pablo Rodriguez; ex-Liberal MP and former Montreal mayor Denis Coderre; Charles Milliard, the former head of the federation of Quebec chambers of commerce; and tax lawyer Marc Bélanger.

On Monday, a potential fifth candidate, sitting Quebec Liberal member Frédéric Beauchemin, announced he was withdrawing from the race to support Rodriguez, whom he said is the one candidate who can unite Quebecers.

Rodriguez, 57, is the likely front-runner, but he carries the baggage of spending nine years in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government. In September he resigned as transport minister and from the Liberal caucus to sit as an Independent in Parliament until the start of the provincial leadership campaign.

MONTREAL - The Quebec Liberal leadership race kicked off on Monday with candidates picking up endorsements, as the provincial party tries to broaden its appeal after years in the political wilderness.

Four candidates have officially entered the race, including former federal Liberal cabinet minister Pablo Rodriguez; ex-Liberal MP and former Montreal mayor Denis Coderre; Charles Milliard, the former head of the federation of Quebec chambers of commerce; and tax lawyer Marc Bélanger.

On Monday, a potential fifth candidate, sitting Quebec Liberal member Frédéric Beauchemin, announced he was withdrawing from the race to support Rodriguez, whom he said is the one candidate who can unite Quebecers.

Rodriguez, 57, is the likely front-runner, but he carries the baggage of spending nine years in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government. In September he resigned as transport minister and from the Liberal caucus to sit as an Independent in Parliament until the start of the provincial leadership campaign.

OTTAWA - The federal Liberals are running their first leadership race in more than a decade to replace the departing Justin Trudeau.

Candidates must declare by Jan. 23 and pay a $350,000 fee to enter the race. The winner will be named on March 9.

Here's a quick look at who's in and who's out.

Who's in

OTTAWA - Liberals considering launching their own bids to replace Justin Trudeau as party leader are now making public appeals for support.

Seven prospective leadership candidates now have forms posted on the Liberal party website to collect the signatures they require to enter the race.

Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, former central banker Mark Carney and former B.C. premier Christy Clark each have their forms up on the site.

So do cabinet ministers Karina Gould and Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal MP Chandra Arya and former MP Frank Baylis.

OTTAWA - The cost to send a letter in Canada is increasing by about 25 per cent, effective today.

Canada Post says the cost of stamps for domestic mail bought in a booklet, coil or pane has increased by 25 cents to $1.24 per stamp.

The cost of a single domestic stamp is now $1.44, up from $1.15.

Canada Post proposed the increase in September last year. It says the higher price is required to better align stamp prices with the rising cost of providing letter mail service to all Canadians.

OTTAWA - International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen and MP Omar Alghabra have made the first Canadian delegation visit to the border region of Turkey and Syria since the fall of the Bashar Assad regime in Syria.

During the visit, Hussen announced $17.25 million in funding for humanitarian assistance including clean water and food, protection services, sanitation and health services.

The pair also went to Qatar where they met with that country's minister of state for international cooperation to discuss their role in assisting Syrians.

In Saudi Arabia, they met with the minister of state for foreign affairs and the secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council to discuss "shared objectives for regional peace and security."

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed...

Field narrows among big-name Liberal leader hopefuls

As a race to elect a new Liberal leader quickly approaches, a high-profile candidate appears set to throw their hat into the ring.

Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney is expected to launch his bid to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after signalling plans through his campaign team.

OTTAWA - As a race to elect a new Liberal leader quickly approaches, a high-profile candidate appears set to throw their hat into the ring.

Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney is expected to launch his bid to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after signalling plans through his campaign team.

Former B.C. premier Christy Clark has said she is also debating whether to put her name forward, telling CBC Radio's "The House" she was "very seriously" considering it last week, but that she was disappointed with the short timeline for the race.

Several high-profile cabinet ministers have announced they will not run, including Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon and Transport and Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand, who each bowed out over the weekend.

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Former Michigan State University head football coach Mel Tucker is suing the university and school leaders, alleging that they wrongfully fired him last year and violated his constitutional rights after he was accused of sexual harassment.

The federal lawsuit filed Wednesday in Michigan accuses school officials of undertaking an “improper, sham investigation” of allegations that Tucker sexually harassed and exploited rape survivor and activist Brenda Tracy.

The suit, which seeks unspecified damages, alleges that Michigan State officials violated his rights to due process and equal protection as well as his employment agreement with the school.

The complaint also contends that interim president Teresa Woodruff and athletic director Alan Haller made “false and defamatory” public statements against Tucker, “further destroying Plaintiff’s reputation, his professional standing, and his livelihood.”