Finance, innovation lead January’s slow lobbying start to 2019
Finance Minister Bill Morneau and his staffers were among the most in-demand targets for lobbyists in an otherwise quiet month as the Hill returned from the holiday break in January. Lobbyists mentioned Mr. Morneau (Toronto Centre, Ont.) in 13 communications, on par with Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains’ (Mississauga-Malton, Ont.) tally of 14, though many of […]
Canadians are clear on pharmacare: will the government listen?
A new federal budget will be introduced on March 19 and it will be the last before next fall’s federal election. The content of that budget will signal our government’s intentions on key issues relating to the health and wellbeing of Canadians. Many will be watching closely for what could amount to a historic expansion […]
How Ottawa can unlock the door to home ownership
Owning a home is part of being middle class. This fundamental belief has been shared by Canadians from coast to coast, for generations. Until now. Canadians have watched as rising house prices and tightening of mortgage rules have locked thousands of would-be homebuyers out of the market. As a result, more and more young Canadians […]
Here’s what should be in Morneau’s next federal budget
TORONTO—Finance Minister Bill Morneau will present his fourth—and perhaps last—budget on Tuesday, March 19. It will be a pre-election budget, so will include a long and boastful list of accomplishments and, in the words of Finance Canada, “build on the success of the government’s plan, with continued investments in the things that matter most to […]
“What stands out most from the PBO’s assessment of the federal government’s multi-billion-dollar Trans Mountain pipeline purchase?”
Cameron Ahmad Liberal strategist “Right, now, the United States is the only market for 99 per cent of Canada’s oil exports, which prevents our resource sector and resource workers from competing on the world stage to their full potential. “There has never been a better time to diversify our export markets, and create new opportunities […]
Court challenges of Trans Mountain redo expected, ahead of NEB’s final report
The National Energy Board will complete its reconsideration of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project this week, but critics say the redo has been a narrow and rushed rubber-stamp, destined to fuel further court challenges. “I would be very surprised if the groups that have participated and the individuals who participated in this process will […]
Tax system isn’t working for Canadians or economy
Every day, businesses and the lives of Canadians are negatively impacted by our outdated tax system. Through recent research, we’ve heard about a person with a disability in Nova Scotia missing out on tax credits due to the paperwork required; a single mother in British Columbia wrestling with a decision to go back to work […]
Canada bought more than a pipeline when it bought the Trans Mountain project
When the federal government bought the Trans Mountain pipeline project for $4.4-billion, it was not looking for a good deal on the underlying assets. It was looking to ensure that a federally approved project with huge implications for Canada’s economy got built. Purchasing the project was a final—albeit imperfect—option. For this reason, questions emerging from […]
Canada’s Conservatives will connect communities
As an MP and Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer’s shadow minister for innovation, science, and economic development, I get many invitations to talk about rural internet access and get outside the so-called Ottawa bubble. Hearing directly from those who live in rural or remote communities is important for us to truly put people before government. A […]
Controversial $7-billion fund hasn’t sped up budget implementation: PBO
The Liberal government’s $7-billion fund meant to speed up 2018 budget-implementation measures hasn’t worked, says Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux. In fact, it’s slower than the year before. Outlined in a Feb. 7 report on the second set of spending estimates for the current fiscal year, known as Supplementary Estimates ‘B,’ which were tabled by […]
