Policy Topics | Policy Briefings

COLLAPSE

• Agriculture
• Biotechnology
• Defence & Security
• Environment
• Finance
• Fisheries and Oceans

• Foreign Policy​
• Health
• Industry and Manufacturing
• Infrastructure and Transport
• Innovation
• Intergovernmental

• Indigenous Relations
• Justice
• Labour & Employment
• Lobbying
• Natural Resources and Energy
• Women, Gender and Diversity

AGRICULTURE

From pulses to power: why plant-based agriculture is smart trade policy

OpinionBY COLIN SARAVANAMUTTOO

• By expanding plant-based production alongside smaller-scale, higher-welfare animal agriculture, Canada can strengthen farm incomes, meet consumer expectations, reduce the pressures of concentrated systems. Diversified operations are often more stable and more connected to local communities.

From pulses to power: why plant-based agriculture is smart trade policy

OpinionBY COLIN SARAVANAMUTTOO

• By expanding plant-based production alongside smaller-scale, higher-welfare animal agriculture, Canada can strengthen farm incomes, meet consumer expectations, reduce the pressures of concentrated systems. Diversified operations are often more stable and more connected to local communities.

Feeding the world is an economic opportunity

OpinionBY LIAM MACDONALD

The science behind solving food insecurity in Canada

OpinionBY GABRIEL MILLER

With global volatility the new normal, Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector must be resilient, innovative, and competitive

OpinionBY SOPHIE CHATEL

Canada’s family farms are strategic assets, and our tax laws are putting them at risk

OpinionBY DERRYN SHROSBREE

Unleashing Canada’s agricultural potential

OpinionBY CONSERVATIVE MP JOHN BARLOW

It’s time to process what we grow

OpinionBY TYLER GROENEVELD

New Democrats will always support and defend supply management

OpinionBY NDP MP GORD JOHNS

Protect supply management in CUSMA review, agriculture sector reps tell feds

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

MOST RECENT POLICY BRIEFINGS

Agriculture Policy Briefing

• DOWNLOAD

Agriculture Policy Briefing

• DOWNLOAD

Agriculture Policy Briefing: March 18, 2024

• DOWNLOAD

• VIEW ALL POLICY BRIEFINGS

Food affordability isn’t the problem, it’s a symptom

OpinionBY DANA MCCAULEY

• Canada is well-placed to conquer our agri-food innovation problems; through a strong innovation culture with proven ventures that are ready to scale, a globally respected agriculture and food sector, and a desire to diversify our trade partners.

Food affordability isn’t the problem, it’s a symptom

OpinionBY DANA MCCAULEY

• Canada is well-placed to conquer our agri-food innovation problems; through a strong innovation culture with proven ventures that are ready to scale, a globally respected agriculture and food sector, and a desire to diversify our trade partners.

Farmers must be protected from climate chaos

OpinionBY ELIZABETH MAY

Agricultural research, innovation, and commercialization: drivers of a resilient future

OpinionBY CSG SENATOR ROB BLACK

The grass is greener where you water it

OpinionBY CSG SENATOR TODD LEWIS

Bloc MP Perron condemns ‘ridiculous’ spending cuts that will shutter research farms across Canada

NewsBY MARLO GLASS

MPs celebrate canola tariff relief, but national security, pork, remain opposition concerns with China

NewsBY ELEANOR WAND

‘Unprecedented’ 2025 for canola industry, with record-breaking economic lobbying

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Liberals ‘taking a sledgehammer’ to the public service, says interim NDP leader Davies

NewsBY MARLO GLASS

Do Conservatives want the best for the West, or not?

OpinionBY ERICA IFILL

Biotechnology

Canada’s missing life sciences industrial strategy is leaving economic growth on the table

OpinionBY MICHELLE MCLEAN

PMPRB closes all open drug-pricing investigations before implementing new guidelines on Jan. 1

NewsBY TESSIE SANCI

Bloc joins push for mandatory labelling of genetically engineered foods

NewsBY TESSIE SANCI

Canada’s research strength is world-class—now we need to all pull in the same direction

OpinionBY BENOIT-ANTOINE BACON

See all

DEFENCE & SECURITY

We have the wrong Army

OpinionBY SCOTT TAYLOR

Carney should have consulted Grit caucus before supporting U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, say some Liberal MPs: ‘what the hell’

NewsBY ABBAS RANA

Carney has a hard time explaining Canada’s position towards India

OpinionBY MATT GURNEY

Carney’s jarring, bloodless, defensive response to Trump’s war on Iran

OpinionBY SUSAN RILEY

See all

Environment

Revive the Jane Goodall Act and end elephant captivity in Canada

OpinionBY RICK QUINN

Feds mum on wilting conservation program funding as nature spending dips 62 per cent

NewsBY RIDDHI KACHHELA

The bathtub is overflowing: why Canada’s climate strategy needs to pull the plug

OpinionBY NA’IM MERCHANT

‘Once you get a carveout from one province, it’s game over’: Ottawa-Alberta MOU draws advocates with economic and environment concerns

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

See all

FINANCE

Unlocking women’s potential is Canada’s economic advantage

OpinionBY WOMEN AND GENDER EQUALITY MINISTER RECHIE VALDEZ

Next parliamentary budget officer needs to be top-notch, unfettered, fearless, without bluster

OpinionBY EDITORIAL

How to fix Canada’s sputtering productivity

OpinionBY ANN MARIE VAUGHAN

Main estimates set out $502.8-billion for 2026-27 as National Defence tops voted spending

NewsBY ELEANOR WAND

See all

Fisheries and oceans

‘It’s reconciliation’: Green Leader May endorses feds’ agreement with Musqueam Nation as minister clarifies private property concerns

NewsBY ELEANOR WAND

Defending Canada, where ocean capability runs deep 

OpinionBY KENDRA MACDONALD

Nearly 2,000 jobs and $1.5-billion to be cut across five departments by 2030, PBO analysis shows

NewsBY MARLO GLASS

Canada’s plan to boost its economy must include rebuilding wild fisheries

OpinionBY JOSH LAUGHREN

See all

FOREIGN POLICY

The art of the deal in Iran

OpinionBY GWYNNE DYER

Carney threads the needle of support for American-Israeli attacks on Iran

OpinionBY SHEILA COPPS

Carney takes first critical steps with India and China

OpinionBY DAVID CRANE

‘What’s going on?’: Canadians wonder why Conservatives losing MPs, says Nanos of Carney’s growing popularity

NewsBY TESSIE SANCI

See all

health

Think of the children when reforming Canada’s drug approval system

OpinionBY CHARLOTTE MOORE HEPBURN, CATHERINE LITALIEN

LeBlanc, Michel meet with pharma sector as U.S. buckles down on cutting drug prices

NewsBY TESSIE SANCI

Ottawa discourages health-care innovation, and patients pay the price 

OpinionBY NADEEM ESMAIL, MACKENZIE MOIR

Canada’s trade ambitions rest on a food system we’re dismantling

OpinionBY SEAN O’REILLY

See all

Industry and Manufacturing

Canadians can’t afford to wait for Right to Repair legislation 

OpinionBY EMILY CHUNG

Industrial benefits policy needs a ‘relook,’ says ex-senior public servant, as Conservative MP pushes for contract records

NewsBY IREM KOCA

Canada’s auto sector ‘hangs in the balance’ as CUSMA review looms in 2026: ‘there’s no sugar-coating it, this is going to be a critical year for the industry’

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Renewable energy sector adds concerns about wind-tower costs to steel industry crisis talks: ‘there’s a ton of urgency’

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

See all

infrastructure and transport

Projects of national interest should include modernizing Highways 17 and 11

OpinionBY ROSE LEMAY

The water emergency in Kashechewan must spur action on federal legislation

OpinionBY ALVIN FIDDLER

Infrastructure is the missing link in Canada’s diversification strategy 

OpinionBY PASCAL CHAN

Think big: Senate Building should be turned into high-speed rail hub in 2037

OpinionBY EDITORIAL

See all

innovation

Ottawa unsure how to regulate AI chatbots after Tumbler Ridge report, as Solomon says ‘all options are on the table’

NewsBY DAVIS LEGREE

‘He comes from our side’: Writers’ Union CEO calls Solomon an AI ‘cheerleader,’ asks him to slow down strategy

NewsBY MARIA COLLINS

Building a more innovative Canadian economy won’t be easy, but it will be worth it

OpinionBY DAVID CRANE

To ban or not to ban? Experts wary of restricting social media access for kids, as feds watch Australian approach

NewsBY DAVIS LEGREE

See all

intergovernmental

Most Albertans don’t support separation, but referendum poses unintended, temporary consequences for Poilievre’s federal Conservatives in the province, says pollster

NewsBY AIDAN RAYNOR

‘Playing with fire’: Tony Manera recalls pushback during sovereignty debate

OpinionBY TONY MANERA

B.C.’s Eby may not be long for the job

OpinionBY ANDREW CADDELL

New policy adding nurse practitioners to public health-care plans will go ahead April 1

NewsBY TESSIE SANCI

See all

justice

‘We’re getting closer’: religious groups lobbying feds say they’re hopeful of progress on stalled Liberal anti-hate bill

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Reconciliation is not dead, but Indigenous Peoples are still dying in Canada’s hospitals

OpinionBY ROSE LEMAY

Republican Party can rein in U.S. President Trump—if it’s brave enough

OpinionBY MICHAEL HARRIS

Despite early ‘spirit of co-operation’ on some bills, Liberal agenda still failing to launch in Parliament, say politicos

NewsBY STUART BENSON

See all

Labour & employment

‘This is our home, so we need to be part of the solution’: Inuit-led university to strengthen Canada’s Arctic, say Senators

NewsBY JUSTIN S. CAMPBELL

When it comes to affordable childcare, both public and private operators need federal support

OpinionBY CHLOE DUSSER

Ottawa has a housing initiative, but not a homeownership plan

OpinionBY KEVIN LEE

Investing in Indigenous housing strengthens Canada, and the solutions are ready

OpinionBY JOHN GORDON

See all

Lobbying

‘A fundamental shift’: new strategy an opportunity to grow domestic industrial base, say lobbyists

NewsBY SERGIY SLIPCHENKO

Questions loom over NDP’s voter verification process as leadership contest enters final stretch

NewsBY ELEANOR WAND

Liberals see path forward for budget bill, but Conservatives still have ‘huge concerns’ with cabinet’s ‘regulatory sandbox’

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Ottawa’s lowered lobbying registration thresholds will reshape government relations

OpinionBY SUZANNE SABOURIN, MICHAEL WALSH

See all

natural resources and energy

Canada’s critical mineral moment is real, but delivery depends on people

OpinionBY MEGAN GORDON

Mineral exploration and mining: a Canadian signpost for the future

OpinionBY JEFF KILLEEN

Canada’s critical minerals opportunity runs through First Nation lands

OpinionBY MARK PODLASLY

In a tariff war, Canada’s resources are our strategic advantage

OpinionBY PHILIP CROSS

See all

Women, Gender and Diversity

In a fractured world, women peacebuilders are essential 

OpinionBY RACHEL WARDEN

‘It’s not my bill, it’s our bill’: Senator Henkel and 50 advocacy groups push for law calling for women’s health framework

NewsBY TESSIE SANCI

Liberals hope ‘national unity’ council quells divisions after scrapping Islamophobia and antisemitism envoys

NewsBY STUART BENSON

The politicking of identity has always been a nation-building project

OpinionBY ERICA IFILL

See all

Indigenous Relations

Urban Indigenous funding cutbacks threaten ‘backbone’ of Friendship Centre services, says Ontario federation head

NewsBY STUART BENSON

Diversifying Canada’s trade and ensuring Indigenous Peoples’ share in the opportunity

OpinionBY LIBERAL MP JUDY SGRO

A partial table cannot deliver justice for Indigenous people

OpinionBY BRENDAN MOORE

Keeping the North strong and free also means ensuring a better way of life for northerners

OpinionBY EDITORIAL

See all

Upcoming Policy briefings

Exclusive lists

Who’s backing the NDP leadership contenders?

Who’s backing the NDP leadership contenders?

Tracking job cuts in the federal public service

Tracking job cuts in the federal public service

Take The Hill Times year-end news quiz

Take The Hill Times year-end news quiz

First-quarter expenses: MPs spent nearly $28-million

First-quarter expenses: MPs spent nearly $28-million

This Parliament’s ethics roundup: blind trusts, recusals, gifts, and more

This Parliament’s ethics roundup: blind trusts, recusals, gifts, and more

Take The Hill Times politics quiz

Take The Hill Times politics quiz

Carney government bills: tracking their progress into law

Carney government bills: tracking their progress into law

The number of sick days claimed by bureaucrats, broken down by department

The number of sick days claimed by bureaucrats, broken down by department