The post-Trump-handshake version of Justin Trudeau. The prime minister seems to be trying out a new approach this week in Europe, as he seeks to show that he's the kind of politician who apologizes for looking foolish. The shift was signalled by this meme, the sort of thing a chain restaurant posts on Instagram when it's trying to appear more artisanal:

Tony Clement’s big hang-up. When pressed by CBC Radio in Montreal about what he means when he says Canada should "apply the law" to rural border crossings by refugees, the Conservative MP’s response amounted to a dial tone—although he later insisted it was a basically a metaphor for the lack of a real plan. The dilemma earned some empathy from Andrew Coyne: “If this many cross the U.S. border in February, how many will come by June?”

Will the Liberals drop the bong on marijuana law? The Toronto Sun is now all but banking on marijuana legalization not happening. Meanwhile, the owner of Weed the North claims that police raids on his dispensaries felt unusually aggressive. And now Marc Emery is boasting of how his chain is collecting considerable HST payments—making the government his biggest stakeholder.

“Inside the brutal transformation of Tim Hortons.” Report on Business Magazine looks at how the chain shifted from its relatively homespun approach to the shrewd style of owner 3G Capital after a merger with Burger King—and now Popeyes. Head office cost-cutting ushered in a punctilious modern management style that encouraged employees to embroider a Tims logo on their shirts. (The company's executives didn't bother to comment.)

---

Today's edition of 12­:­36 is brought to you by the great Canadian journalism survey, which is polling industry types and others who care about news media for their thoughts on the state of the profession. Find out more and fill it in here.

---

Pineapple pizza pioneer doesn’t care what Iceland’s president thinks. Guðni Jóhannesson has walked back a claim that he’d outlaw the fruit topping—even though he prefers seafood. While the pies were under siege, As It Happens called Sam Panopoulos, who invented the Hawaiian in 1962 at his London, Ontario pizzeria. But he didn’t get a patent: “It was just another piece of bread cooking in the oven.”

Jason Segel face-eater forced to explain what the hell he’s doing. Toronto’s own Noah Maloney pledged a week ago to digest a photo of the actor every day on YouTube until Segel responds in turn. The fact that Segel’s sister acknowledged the stunt has given Maloney hope of getting his wish granted. Of course, the viral publicity also means being called on for interviews. “He’s a good actor, I liked The Muppets,” Maloney told Vice. “I cannot stress enough that this is not fuelled by anything.”

Scruff Connors’ son returning to dad’s old turf. Two months after the notorious morning radio DJ died at 64, St. Catharines station 97.7 HTZ-FM has hired TJ Connors, his son, as its afternoon drive host, starting March 13. Scruff himself did a stint at HTZ-FM three decades ago, most remembered for drawing a mob of teenage girls under the impression that they were going to meet the "New Kids"—who turned out to be four babies.