Policy Topics | Policy Briefings

COLLAPSE

• 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

Iran war underscores Canada’s vulnerability when it comes to the U.S.

Foreign PolicyBY LES WHITTINGTON

• Thousands of Canadian livelihoods are at stake in this year’s CUSMA review, so it’s understandable that the prime minister would generally express support for

‘It’s reconciliation’: Green Leader May endorses feds’ agreement with Musqueam Nation as minister clarifies private property concerns

Fisheries and OceansBY ELEANOR WAND

It’s time to process what we grow

AgricultureBY TYLER GROENEVELD

Feds mum on wilting conservation program funding as nature spending dips 62 per cent

EnvironmentBY RIDDHI KACHHELA

Think of the children when reforming Canada’s drug approval system

HealthBY CHARLOTTE MOORE HEPBURN, CATHERINE LITALIEN

Protect supply management in CUSMA review, agriculture sector reps tell feds

AgricultureBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

New Democrats will always support and defend supply management

AgricultureBY NDP MP GORD JOHNS

Main estimates set out $502.8-billion for 2026-27 as National Defence tops voted spending

Defence & SecurityBY ELEANOR WAND

Carney threads the needle of support for American-Israeli attacks on Iran

Foreign PolicyBY SHEILA COPPS

MOST RECENT POLICY BRIEFINGS

Agriculture Policy Briefing

• DOWNLOAD

Energy and Mining

• DOWNLOAD

Transportation and Trade Policy Briefing

• DOWNLOAD

• VIEW ALL POLICY BRIEFINGS

Ottawa discourages health-care innovation, and patients pay the price 

HealthBY NADEEM ESMAIL, MACKENZIE MOIR

• The federal government approach of discouraging and even penalizing provincial innovations that fall outside federal preferences has helped ensure the overpriced and under-performing status

Agricultural research, innovation, and commercialization: drivers of a resilient future

AgricultureBY CSG SENATOR ROB BLACK

With global volatility the new normal, Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector must be resilient, innovative, and competitive

AgricultureBY SOPHIE CHATEL

From pulses to power: why plant-based agriculture is smart trade policy

AgricultureBY COLIN SARAVANAMUTTOO

Unleashing Canada’s agricultural potential

AgricultureBY CONSERVATIVE MP JOHN BARLOW

Japan is Canada’s anchor in the Indo-Pacific

Foreign PolicyBY JONATHAN BERKSHIRE MILLER

Farmers must be protected from climate chaos

AgricultureBY ELIZABETH MAY

Feeding the world is an economic opportunity

AgricultureBY LIAM MACDONALD

In a fractured world, women peacebuilders are essential 

Foreign PolicyBY RACHEL WARDEN

AGRICULTURE

Food affordability isn’t the problem, it’s a symptom

OpinionBY DANA MCCAULEY

The science behind solving food insecurity in Canada

OpinionBY GABRIEL MILLER

Canada’s family farms are strategic assets, and our tax laws are putting them at risk

OpinionBY DERRYN SHROSBREE

The grass is greener where you water it

OpinionBY CSG SENATOR TODD LEWIS

See all

Biotechnology

Canada’s missing life sciences industrial strategy is leaving economic growth on the table

OpinionBY MICHELLE MCLEAN

PMPRB closes all open drug-pricing investigations before implementing new guidelines on Jan. 1

NewsBY TESSIE SANCI

Bloc joins push for mandatory labelling of genetically engineered foods

NewsBY TESSIE SANCI

Canada’s research strength is world-class—now we need to all pull in the same direction

OpinionBY BENOIT-ANTOINE BACON

See all

DEFENCE & SECURITY

Carney contends with the politics of war

OpinionBY TIM POWERS

We have the wrong Army

OpinionBY SCOTT TAYLOR

Carney should have consulted Grit caucus before supporting U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, say some Liberal MPs: ‘what the hell’

NewsBY ABBAS RANA

Why, prime minister, did Canada support an increasingly belligerent U.S. president in unleashing the dogs of war?

OpinionBY MICHAEL HARRIS

See all

Environment

Revive the Jane Goodall Act and end elephant captivity in Canada

OpinionBY RICK QUINN

The bathtub is overflowing: why Canada’s climate strategy needs to pull the plug

OpinionBY NA’IM MERCHANT

‘Once you get a carveout from one province, it’s game over’: Ottawa-Alberta MOU draws advocates with economic and environment concerns

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Pipelines or a national power grid: what should Canada build now?

OpinionBY ISG SENATOR ROSA GALVEZ, GEOFF STRONG, RICHARD VAN DER JAGT

See all

FINANCE

Unlocking women’s potential is Canada’s economic advantage

OpinionBY WOMEN AND GENDER EQUALITY MINISTER RECHIE VALDEZ

Next parliamentary budget officer needs to be top-notch, unfettered, fearless, without bluster

OpinionBY EDITORIAL

How to fix Canada’s sputtering productivity

OpinionBY ANN MARIE VAUGHAN

Liberals to cut CBC by $192-million in 2026-27

NewsBY DAVIS LEGREE

See all

Fisheries and oceans

Defending Canada, where ocean capability runs deep 

OpinionBY KENDRA MACDONALD

Nearly 2,000 jobs and $1.5-billion to be cut across five departments by 2030, PBO analysis shows

NewsBY MARLO GLASS

Canada’s plan to boost its economy must include rebuilding wild fisheries

OpinionBY JOSH LAUGHREN

Coastal communities ‘running out of time’ without fisheries fund renewal, say opposition critics as DFO faces $544M in cuts

NewsBY STUART BENSON

See all

FOREIGN POLICY

Carney’s visit to Japan opens door to an expanded bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership

OpinionBY KANJI YAMANOUCHI

Poilievre’s international excursion a chance to challenge Carney, find ‘sea legs’ on global stage amid polling slump: politicos

NewsBY STUART BENSON

‘Talking is also action’: feds face pressure to clarify stance on Iran conflict amid shifting posture

NewsBY NEIL MOSS

Canada’s position on Iran war is discombobulating and rudderless

OpinionBY ERICA IFILL

See all

health

LeBlanc, Michel meet with pharma sector as U.S. buckles down on cutting drug prices

NewsBY TESSIE SANCI

Canada’s trade ambitions rest on a food system we’re dismantling

OpinionBY SEAN O’REILLY

Outspoken health advocate Joss Reimer talks about finding ‘common ground’ with government as she becomes Canada’s top doctor

NewsBY TESSIE SANCI

‘It’s not my bill, it’s our bill’: Senator Henkel and 50 advocacy groups push for law calling for women’s health framework

NewsBY TESSIE SANCI

See all

Industry and Manufacturing

Canadians can’t afford to wait for Right to Repair legislation 

OpinionBY EMILY CHUNG

Industrial benefits policy needs a ‘relook,’ says ex-senior public servant, as Conservative MP pushes for contract records

NewsBY IREM KOCA

MPs celebrate canola tariff relief, but national security, pork, remain opposition concerns with China

NewsBY ELEANOR WAND

Canada’s auto sector ‘hangs in the balance’ as CUSMA review looms in 2026: ‘there’s no sugar-coating it, this is going to be a critical year for the industry’

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

See all

infrastructure and transport

Projects of national interest should include modernizing Highways 17 and 11

OpinionBY ROSE LEMAY

The water emergency in Kashechewan must spur action on federal legislation

OpinionBY ALVIN FIDDLER

Think big: Senate Building should be turned into high-speed rail hub in 2037

OpinionBY EDITORIAL

Trade diversification always failed, this time could be different

OpinionBY DANIELLE GOLDFARB

See all

innovation

Ottawa unsure how to regulate AI chatbots after Tumbler Ridge report, as Solomon says ‘all options are on the table’

NewsBY DAVIS LEGREE

‘He comes from our side’: Writers’ Union CEO calls Solomon an AI ‘cheerleader,’ asks him to slow down strategy

NewsBY MARIA COLLINS

Building a more innovative Canadian economy won’t be easy, but it will be worth it

OpinionBY DAVID CRANE

To ban or not to ban? Experts wary of restricting social media access for kids, as feds watch Australian approach

NewsBY DAVIS LEGREE

See all

intergovernmental

A thriving francophonie in Yukon

OpinionBY ANDREW CADDELL

Most Albertans don’t support separation, but referendum poses unintended, temporary consequences for Poilievre’s federal Conservatives in the province, says pollster

NewsBY AIDAN RAYNOR

‘Playing with fire’: Tony Manera recalls pushback during sovereignty debate

OpinionBY TONY MANERA

B.C.’s Eby may not be long for the job

OpinionBY ANDREW CADDELL

See all

Get The Policy Briefings Newsletter

Get into the weeds on hot policy issues and the players shaping them.

SIGN UP

By entering your email address you consent to receive email from The Hill Times containing news, analysis, updates and offers. You may unsubscribe at any time. See our privacy policy

justice

‘We’re getting closer’: religious groups lobbying feds say they’re hopeful of progress on stalled Liberal anti-hate bill

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Reconciliation is not dead, but Indigenous Peoples are still dying in Canada’s hospitals

OpinionBY ROSE LEMAY

Republican Party can rein in U.S. President Trump—if it’s brave enough

OpinionBY MICHAEL HARRIS

Tory Senator Housakos proposes invoking notwithstanding clause to uphold certain mandatory minimums

NewsBY LAURA RYCKEWAERT

See all

Labour & employment

‘This is our home, so we need to be part of the solution’: Inuit-led university to strengthen Canada’s Arctic, say Senators

NewsBY JUSTIN S. CAMPBELL

When it comes to affordable childcare, both public and private operators need federal support

OpinionBY CHLOE DUSSER

Ottawa has a housing initiative, but not a homeownership plan

OpinionBY KEVIN LEE

Investing in Indigenous housing strengthens Canada, and the solutions are ready

OpinionBY JOHN GORDON

See all

Lobbying

‘A fundamental shift’: new strategy an opportunity to grow domestic industrial base, say lobbyists

NewsBY SERGIY SLIPCHENKO

Questions loom over NDP’s voter verification process as leadership contest enters final stretch

NewsBY ELEANOR WAND

Liberals see path forward for budget bill, but Conservatives still have ‘huge concerns’ with cabinet’s ‘regulatory sandbox’

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Ottawa’s lowered lobbying registration thresholds will reshape government relations

OpinionBY SUZANNE SABOURIN, MICHAEL WALSH

See all

natural resources and energy

Mineral exploration and mining: a Canadian signpost for the future

OpinionBY JEFF KILLEEN

Canada’s critical minerals opportunity runs through First Nation lands

OpinionBY MARK PODLASLY

In a tariff war, Canada’s resources are our strategic advantage

OpinionBY PHILIP CROSS

Sometimes the resource roller-coaster is a great ride

OpinionBY HEATHER EXNER-PIROT

See all

Women, Gender and Diversity

Liberals hope ‘national unity’ council quells divisions after scrapping Islamophobia and antisemitism envoys

NewsBY STUART BENSON

The politicking of identity has always been a nation-building project

OpinionBY ERICA IFILL

Celebrating Black Canadian trailblazers who’ve played a critical role in public life

OpinionBY WAHEED KHAN

Here’s how Parliament can tackle the rise in anti-feminist ideology

OpinionBY SHARI GRAYDON

See all

Indigenous Relations

First Nations leaders unveil artifacts returned to Canada from Vatican City

NewsBY ELEANOR WAND

Urban Indigenous funding cutbacks threaten ‘backbone’ of Friendship Centre services, says Ontario federation head

NewsBY STUART BENSON

Diversifying Canada’s trade and ensuring Indigenous Peoples’ share in the opportunity

OpinionBY LIBERAL MP JUDY SGRO

A partial table cannot deliver justice for Indigenous people

OpinionBY BRENDAN MOORE

See all

Upcoming Policy briefings

Exclusive lists

Who’s backing the NDP leadership contenders?

Who’s backing the NDP leadership contenders?

Tracking job cuts in the federal public service

Tracking job cuts in the federal public service

Take The Hill Times year-end news quiz

Take The Hill Times year-end news quiz

First-quarter expenses: MPs spent nearly $28-million

First-quarter expenses: MPs spent nearly $28-million

This Parliament’s ethics roundup: blind trusts, recusals, gifts, and more

This Parliament’s ethics roundup: blind trusts, recusals, gifts, and more

Take The Hill Times politics quiz

Take The Hill Times politics quiz

Carney government bills: tracking their progress into law

Carney government bills: tracking their progress into law

The number of sick days claimed by bureaucrats, broken down by department

The number of sick days claimed by bureaucrats, broken down by department