Canada has the legislative tool to break through seizing Russian assets—it’s time to use it
If amended in this fall’s budget, the Special Economic Measures Act would give the feds the power to issue an executive order to seize all Russian state assets within Canada.
School food advocates hopeful program will survive fall budget cuts, but say Ontario falling short of ‘all in’
Despite receiving the largest share of the promised $1-billion over five years, Ontario ranks second last in provincial spending per student on school food programs.
Treasury Board outlines 500 ways to cut red tape in sweeping review
Twenty-nine departments and agencies reported hundreds of ways they plan to improve regulatory efficiency by ‘speeding up decision-making and streamlining processes to increase productivity’ in the Sept. 8 update.
Clock is ticking on Liberals’ 100-day deadline to fix CRA mess
I’m not sure anyone ever enjoys dealing with a call centre, but some of them actually do run reasonably well. Just do what they do. It’s an easy political winner.
Environmental groups, LNG advocates conflict over natural gas demand as Major Projects Office launches
Climate Action Network Canada sees a focus on LNG as a ‘move in the wrong direction,’ while the Canadian Gas Association says that domestic LNG production could fulfill a demand in Europe.
CRA’s problems are not new, but they must become a thing of the past
Considering this is a government worried about federal spending, making a more efficient CRA could provide the assistance that Canadians deserve from the agency, and make it easier for the government to collect money.
MPs’ annual office budgets for 2025-26
The office expense budget for MPs has increased by $5-million this fiscal year compared to 2024-25.
CRA has ‘eroded trust,’ Senator says, as minister tasks agency with creating 100-day improvement plan
After persistent call-centre delays, the agency has been instructed to take ‘concrete steps’ to improve service, but one tax lawyer is dismissing the ‘vague’ ministerial decree as a ‘publicity stunt.’
From aid to advantage: re-imagining Canada–Africa relations
Canada must shift its mindset from donor to long-term partner, and from symbolic gestures to strategic co-investment.
Ministers also expected to take scissors to office budgets in spending review
The challenge in cutting ministers’ budgets is ensuring their offices ‘can still do what they need to do, and only they can do,’ says former chief of staff David McLaughlin.
