Digital services tax retreat risks showing ‘Canada will fold’ in Trump trade talks, warn experts

The DST has long been a sticking point in Canada-U.S. relations, after the Liberals tried to close what they saw as a loophole for American firms raking in millions of dollars in Canada without paying taxes.
House and Senate steering committee members named

All but four parliamentary committees have chosen their chairs. Of the 26 House committees, Liberal MPs are chairing 21 and Conservatives are heading four.
PCO forecasts $64-million cut, dropping 64 staff over next three years

The Privy Council Office’s departmental plan outlines $278-million in spending this fiscal year—easily a four-year high—while forecasting cuts down to $214-million by 2027-28.
Queer Senators now outnumber MPs on Pride Caucus, as group looks to include allies

Having a historic six openly queer Senators ‘comfortable’ with their identities and ‘not shy to say that they’re out’ is a step forward for representation, says Senator René Cormier, one of the founders of the now 10-member group.
Turning goals into results

In a country of many competing interests and multiple governments, getting them all to co-ordinate their activities to achieve the ambitious goals outlined at the beginning of this piece will be complicated and difficult.
‘What is being promised?’: NDP, labour call for more transparency in trade talks with Trump

The Liberal government has not tabled a notice of intent for trade negotiations with the U.S., nor a notice of its objectives, seemingly breaking its own policy.
The failed $5-billion program the feds can’t shake

With the deployment of 200 people and the use of AI in some instances, the Phoenix backlog is gradually coming under control, but a new, unexpected problem has arisen.
‘No apologies for that one’: recently retired Senator Marc Gold talks nine years in the Chamber

Appointed as a Senator in November 2016, Gold has been the government’s representative in the Upper Chamber since 2020. He officially retired on June 30.
Is Trump protecting tech billionaires in U.S. fight with Canada over digital services tax?

Canada should continue working with European partners and others, who are also likely to face similar threats on the digital tax from the U.S. president and his billionaire friends, with the goal of finally establishing global tax reform agreements.
Frustrated with party’s nominations process, former Alberta Conservative national councillor mulls comeback: ‘the worst I saw was in Calgary Skyview’

The national council has reduced itself to a mere ‘housekeeping’ role and has allowed itself to be ‘bullied’ by senior party and campaign officials. If the national council is unwilling to lead, it might as well ‘disband,’ says Marilyn Elliott.