Emissions cap may ‘no longer be required’ as Ottawa favours carbon capture, critical minerals: budget

The controversial oil and gas emissions cap would have ‘marginal value in reducing emissions,’ says Carney’s first federal budget, which focuses on tax credit incentives and methane regulations to reach net zero.
Budget forecasts weak economy, rising debt payments

New capital spending on corporate tax incentives and infrastructure will combine with higher debt and benefit payments to increase the federal debt load.
An austerity-driven federal budget is a necessary evil

Cuts should focus on non-essential administrative or back-office functions that don’t directly contribute to service delivery.
Canada’s food security is vital

At a time of global uncertainty, the upcoming budget is an chance for the government to make that vision a reality, and show Canadians that it truly understands the role agricultural producers play in growing Canada Strong.
Will the budget kill Carney’s honeymoon?

Watch for provincial governments to attack Carney for not doing enough in the budget. Mind you, none of this means Carney won’t survive the onslaught. It just means, after the budget, he can no longer be all things to all people. He’ll need to decide how to redefine himself.
Unions brace for budget’s impact as think tank predicts ‘stealth’ cuts to public-serving programs

The Public Service Alliance of Canada, a union that represents a large swath of the public service, said returning to pre-pandemic staffing levels could mean 70,000 job losses.
Carney’s budget challenge: govern for the many, or manage for the few?

The prime minister’s first budget won’t be judged by the numbers, but by whom they lift up, and whom they leave behind.
Women’s groups hail ongoing funding for gender-equality programs, but warn the ‘devil is in the details’

After fears of sizable cutbacks, the money only came ‘because frontline organizations fought for it,’ says NDP MP Leah Gazan of the $660.5-million coming in the budget for Women and Gender Equality Canada.
It’s not ‘phoney’ to highlight the dismal state of federal finances

Given the state of government finances, and the costs it imposes on Canadians, there’s nothing disingenuous about calling for more fiscal discipline from Ottawa.
Opposition parties can’t afford to call Liberals’ bluff on budget vote, say pollsters

‘If the budget falls, it needs to be seen as the fault of the opposition,’ but Carney needs to do more to prime Canadians for ‘generational’ challenges, says Abacus CEO David Coletto.