Shou Zi Chew wrote to Industry Minister Mélanie Joly on July 2 asking for a meeting about the federal government’s order requiring the social media platform to shut down its Canadian operations. While the app would remain available in the country, Chew said TikTok would have to fire more than 350 Canadian employees under the plan. (The Canadian Press)

Talking point: The federal government ordered TikTok, which is owned by Beijing-headquartered ByteDance, to close its business operations in Canada following a security review of the company. The firm has pushed back against allegations it poses a national security risk in Canada. In December, it began a legal challenge against the government, arguing the order bears “no rational connection to the national security risks it identifies.” In his letter to Joly, Chew said the order was initially made when the U.S. was planning to ban TikTok, and that it’s no longer relevant. “There is no upside to this outdated and counterproductive government order, which was issued under a different government and in a different era.”