Policy Topics | Policy Briefings

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• 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

Finance

Interest rate cut offers relief for some borrowers, but no political reprieve for the PM: politicos

NewsBY IAN CAMPBELL

• Pollster Nik Nanos says the cut offers some hope for the Liberals as it's 'a step in the right direction,' while economist Trevor Tombe says conditions point to more cuts this year.

Interest rate cut offers relief for some borrowers, but no political reprieve for the PM: politicos

NewsBY IAN CAMPBELL

• Pollster Nik Nanos says the cut offers some hope for the Liberals as it's 'a step in the right direction,' while economist Trevor Tombe says conditions point to more cuts this year.

Here’s how the feds can reduce taxes and balance the budget in two years

OpinionBY GRADY MUNRO, JAKE FUSS

Macklem addresses Bank of Canada key interest rate cut

FeatureBY IAN CAMPBELL

Is Canada broken? The IMF says no, but we do need to boost our productivity

OpinionBY DAVID CRANE

Is the girl-boss era coming to an ignoble end?

OpinionBY ERICA IFILL

How much do party leaders and their top deputies make?

NewsBY CHRISTINA LEADLAY | UPDATED July 22, 2024

Senate Oversight Committee recommends budget boost, hiring two auditors

NewsBY SAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN

Canada needs a fresh approach on innovation

OpinionBY DAVID CRANE

It’s worth two per cent: NATO is Canada’s grand strategy 

OpinionBY ROBERT BAINES

MOST RECENT POLICY BRIEFINGS

Banking and Monetary Policy

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Financial Sector, Investment & Banking Policy Briefing

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Great Rebuild: Part III Special Report

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Shrink government revenues? Grow TFSA room? Economists weigh in on what a Poilievre tax-reform panel could—or should—consider

NewsBY IAN CAMPBELL

• Pierre Poilievre is likely to appoint a panel of 'practical people,' and avoid policies that don't work in the real world, unlike the way 'losing governments’ have approached tax reforms in the past, said the Fraser Institute’s Philip Cross.

Shrink government revenues? Grow TFSA room? Economists weigh in on what a Poilievre tax-reform panel could—or should—consider

NewsBY IAN CAMPBELL

• Pierre Poilievre is likely to appoint a panel of 'practical people,' and avoid policies that don't work in the real world, unlike the way 'losing governments’ have approached tax reforms in the past, said the Fraser Institute’s Philip Cross.

Immigrants back regularization for undocumented people

OpinionBY DEBBIE DOUGLAS, AMY GO, SAMINA SAMI, SAMYA HASAN

Younger people in ‘survival mode’ as affordability crisis ticks on, say pundits, leaving little room for Liberals to make up lost ground to Conservatives

NewsBY MIKE LAPOINTE

Canadians are living through a mental health crisis

OpinionBY CARRIE FOSTER

MPs sound alarm over threat of losing ‘invaluable’ tool for fiscal oversight

NewsBY NEIL MOSS

Gains change a capital idea

OpinionBY ERICA IFILL

Poilievre poised for big battle over capital gains

OpinionBY SHEILA COPPS

New report shows Canada’s economic weaknesses date back to 2006, covering Harper and Trudeau years

OpinionBY DAVID CRANE

Economic development advocacy leads in May, besting environment talks for first month in 2024

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

AGRICULTURE

MPs unite against greedflation and monopoly power in Canada’s food systems—but there’s more to do

OpinionBY MARISSA ALEXANDER, WADE THORHAUG

Tax fairness for the next generation will protect the future of our farms

OpinionBY KEITH CURRIE

Rural Canada is the path to lasting prosperity for our nation

OpinionBY CANDICE BERGEN

A national sustainable agriculture plan needs to include universities

OpinionBY  CHARLOTTE YATES

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Biotechnology

Does Canada need a more integrated strategy for pandemic responses? Yes

OpinionBY ISAAC BOGOCH AND DAVID NAYLOR

Canada’s biomedical brain drain is reversing. Let’s continue that trend

OpinionBY MICHAEL MAY, ALLISON BROWN

Talent shortage a priority for biotech sector emerging from pandemic

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Canada’s place in the world of biotechnology research and application is in jeopardy

OpinionBY NDP MP RICHARD CANNINGS

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DEFENCE & SECURITY

Forty years on, CSIS deserves more respect

OpinionBY ANDREW CADDELL

Cutting the CAF to the bone

OpinionBY SCOTT TAYLOR

Canadian politics is ‘not safe’ right now, and MPs ‘are in harm’s way’: former public safety minister

NewsBY CHELSEA NASH

Bottom line? We’re procuring ships for two-to-three times their real costs

OpinionBY ALAN WILLIAMS

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Environment

The killer whales are speaking, but is the minister of transport listening?

OpinionBY ANERI GARG, PETER ROSS

Yet-to-be-named members of new council supporting green energy transition a focus for environmental and labour group advocacy

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Emissions cap concerns among top environment issues in federal lobbying for six months of 2024

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Climate records and effective mitigation

OpinionBY BILL HENDERSON

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Fisheries and oceans

Stars align for big changes to British Columbia’s commercial fishery

OpinionBY TREVOR RUSS, JAMES LAWSON

Close the commercial cod fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador

OpinionBY ABE SOLBERG

Cod fishery revival offers a resurgence of hope

OpinionBY SYLVIE LAPOINTE

Canada’s discourse on finfish aquaculture is environmental extremism at its finest

OpinionBY CYRUS SINGH

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FOREIGN POLICY

Venezuela seems headed for a free election, and a chance for change

OpinionBY GWYNNE DYER

Canada needs an Africa strategy

OpinionBY DAVID BOROTO

Dumbing down the electoral process

OpinionBY BHAGWANT SANDHU

Canada must expel Russian diplomats, declare Russia a terrorist state

OpinionBY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, MARCUS KOLGA

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health

Canada’s perinatal depression advice puts mothers at risk

OpinionBY NICOLE LETOURNEAU

Stepping up for Afghan-Canadian language and cultural advisers and their families

OpinionBY FARDOUS HOSSEINY, BRIAN MCKENNA

The best cancer outcomes start with strong provincial cancer action plans

OpinionBY JACKIE MANTHORNE

Disaster management must include ways to tackle gender-based violence

OpinionBY BRENDA CLEARY

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Industry and Manufacturing

Feds’ groceries bill is worth less than the paper on which it’s printed

OpinionBY ERICA IFILL

Foreign investment rules designed for an economy that no longer exists

OpinionBY DAVID CRANE

Firefighters and environmentalists are asking for PFAS action

OpinionBY CASSIE BARKER

Expanded electric capacity to handle EVs must be taken seriously, say experts

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

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infrastructure and transport

Feds can help Ontarians fight against foolish infrastructure spending

OpinionBY TIM GRAY

First Nations Finance Authority is the solution to meeting economic reconciliation targets

OpinionBY ERNIE DANIELS

First Nations Clean Water Act continues to fail treaty peoples

OpinionBY RUPERT MENEEN

Budget overlooks need for trade-enabling infrastructure

OpinionBY LINDSAY KISLOCK

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innovation

Quantum technology presents Canada a chance for national security and defence spending

OpinionBY TRACEY FORREST, PAUL SAMSON, RAYMOND LAFLAMME

Revolutionary change to our health care is required—and possible

OpinionBY JIMMY YANG

Navigating artificial intelligence: the Global South can lead the way

OpinionBY JULIE DELAHANTY

‘In the new world order,’ feds must work with industry to fix IT procurement problems, say experts

NewsBY IREM KOCA

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intergovernmental

Conservatives could pick up seats in Quebec by targeting Bloc and Liberal ridings where Tories came in second, say experts

NewsBY MIKE LAPOINTE

Conservative Party’s path to government could be paved without major inroads into Quebec, say pollsters

NewsBY MIKE LAPOINTE

Amplifying Canadian voices: the role of an independent Senate

OpinionBY ISG SENATOR IRIS PETTEN

We can no longer ignore the North

OpinionBY ANDREW CADDELL

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justice

Canada must do more to relieve debt facing sex trafficking survivors

OpinionBY CARLY KALISH

Joyceville’s slaughterhouse was never a good idea: Helen Forsey

Opinion

‘We believe in international law, or we don’t’: South African envoy counters claims of moral equivalence in ICC warrant applications

NewsBY NEIL MOSS

B.C. voter data complainant calls out microtargeting, as parties mum on next steps after court loss

NewsBY IAN CAMPBELL

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Labour & employment

WestJet strike coverage fails to show mechanics’ perspective

OpinionBY IAN EVERSHED

Making tenants’ voices central to housing and climate crisis

OpinionBY DORIAN SANTOIR

Foreign interference bill passes, but online harms and citizenship bills left on hold until House comes back

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Collaboration needed to get Canada’s internationally educated health professionals working in their field

OpinionBY CAMERON MOSER

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Lobbying

‘Sea change’ could be coming after next election, but policy knowledge still more important than personal connections, say lobbyists

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Number of MPs taking sponsored travel drops in first half of 2024 after rule changes, foreign interference fears

NewsBY STEPHEN JEFFERY

Transition to updated lobbyists’ code raised steady questions, but that’s a positive, says lobbying commissioner

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Liberal leadership and policy choices post-byelection loss will shape advocacy strategies leading up to 2025 election, say lobbyists

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

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natural resources and energy

It’s time for Canadians to stop thinking that water challenges happen elsewhere, and start taking action here at home

OpinionBY SHAUNA CURRY

Nuclear a dirty, dangerous distraction: Gordon Edwards

Opinion

Oilsands alliance can’t handle the truth

OpinionBY KEITH STEWART

Northern cod controversy: more than just fish

OpinionBY COURTNEY GLODE

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Women, Gender and Diversity

Islamic scholars need to combat female genital mutilation 

OpinionBY GWYNNE DYER

Some 25 MPs, Senators promise to ‘call out abuse and harassment’ in Parliament this fall

NewsBY CHELSEA NASH

Black-owned businesses need more funding to compete for federal contracts, says founder of new training program

NewsBY IREM KOCA

Canada must commit to more than a monument

OpinionBY EDITORIAL

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Indigenous Relations

Minister Anandasangaree says reconciliation still ‘key pillar’ of Liberal plan following charged AFN reception

NewsBY STUART BENSON

First Nations, industry say feds’ B.C. salmon farming transition timeline ‘irresponsible, unrealistic, and unachievable’

NewsBY STUART BENSON

Sec. 35 rights are not to be given to just anybody

OpinionBY ROSE LEMAY

Gratitude, honour, and respect: reflections from a former Indigenous political staffer

OpinionBY KATHERINE KOOSTACHIN

Exclusive lists

MPs not running in the next election

MPs not running in the next election

Telford untouchable at the top of the 21st Terrific 25 Staffers list, as Conservatives sweep Most Knowledgeable and Best Spin

Telford untouchable at the top of the 21st Terrific 25 Staffers list, as Conservatives sweep Most Knowledgeable and Best Spin

Cabinet’s communications and chiefs of staff list, 2024

Cabinet’s communications and chiefs of staff list, 2024

U.S. election preoccupies Canada’s top 50 foreign influencers as feds’ focus gets pulled from Asia strategy

U.S. election preoccupies Canada’s top 50 foreign influencers as feds’ focus gets pulled from Asia strategy

Cabinet’s communications and chiefs of staff list, 2024

Cabinet’s communications and chiefs of staff list, 2024

House committee trips that have been granted a travel budget in the 44th Parliament, so far

House committee trips that have been granted a travel budget in the 44th Parliament, so far

Fraser voted best minister in Question Period and best public speaker in The Hill Times’ Politically Savvy Survey 2023

Fraser voted best minister in Question Period and best public speaker in The Hill Times’ Politically Savvy Survey 2023

Telford three-peats at the top of the 20th Terrific 25 Staffers list, LRB’s Wendy Wu voted Best All-Round

Telford three-peats at the top of the 20th Terrific 25 Staffers list, LRB’s Wendy Wu voted Best All-Round