Politics This Morning: Budget watchdog says federal deficit could soar to $252-billion

Good Friday morning, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed the death of one Canadian military member, Nova Scotia's Sub-Lieutenant Abbigail Cowbrough, after their helicopter crashed off the coast of Greece during a NATO exercise. The other five on board were still missing on early Thursday evening. "All of them are heroes. Each of them will leave a void that cannot be filled," Mr. Trudeau said during his daily morning briefing, which has held at West Block, not Rideau Cottage, his usual spot. Mr. Trudeau said he spoke with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who is assisting Ottawa in its efforts to determine the circumstances that led to the accident. Canada’s budget watchdog said the federal deficit could soar to $252-billion in 2020-21—or higher, depending on how long emergency relief measures are extended for. Hitting that mark means Canada could record the largest budgetary deficit on record, according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer. The office also projected that Canada could see GDP contract by 12 per cent this year. That would put Canada on track to hit the weakest record since 1961, when the “series” started. It noted that historically low interest rates suggest that Ottawa could borrow more money if it needs to dole out further spending measures to cushion the blow the pandemic is having on the economy. In a joint statement, the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs, B.C.'s Indigenous Relations Minister Scott Fraser, and Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett said they have reached a memorandum of understanding with the clans "to affirm and implement" their title and rights. They plan to sign the MOU on May 14 over a virtual meeting. In other news, the House Health Committee voted to summon Canada's adviser to the WHO, Bruce Aylward, who had cancelled his appearance at the last minute to deal with a COVID-related issue. The committee last week had hoped he would testify by Wednesday after his cancellation, and Liberal MP Ron McKinnon had been in talks to make that happen. The Federal Court announced it is extending its suspension period for another month, and won't be holding hearings until at least June 29. The Conservative Party decided the other night that it is resuming the race for a new leader. It has set Aug. 21 as the deadline for mailing in ballots, with results to be announced "as soon as" they can "properly processed and examined by scrutineers while respecting any health guidelines in place at that time." The party was originally scheduled to hold its election in late June in Toronto, but shelved that plan due to concerns around the pandemic. The Senate is scheduled to sit today to debate and pass the feds' student-relief package, after it sailed through the House with amendments on Wednesday. In scheduled committee meetings, the House Government Operations Committee is scheduled to meet at 11 a.m. to hear from Spartan Bioscience and LuminUltra, both of which have secured government contracts to assist in the country’s fight against the coronavirus. LuminUltra is supplying the government with 500,000 chemicals for COVID tests per week. Labour Minister Filomena Tassi will testify at around noon before the House Human Affairs Committee alongside departmental officials. Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal, Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller, and Ms. Bennett are all slated to appear before the Indigenous Affairs Committee at 2 p.m. The Hill Times

Politics This Morning

Politics This Morning: Budget watchdog says federal deficit could soar to $252-billion

Plus, the Senate is scheduled to sit and pass the feds' emergency relief package for students, and Ottawa and the B.C. government say they plan to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Wet'suwet'en on rights and title.

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Politics This Morning

Politics This Morning: Budget watchdog says federal deficit could soar to $252-billion

Plus, the Senate is scheduled to sit and pass the feds' emergency relief package for students, and Ottawa and the B.C. government say they plan to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Wet'suwet'en on rights and title.

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