‘Centrist’ Grit MPs support Liberal-NDP agreement ‘at this time,’ but ‘very concerned’ about financial aspect of deal, says nine-term Liberal MP Sgro
A seasoned government backbencher says she supports the Liberal-NDP confidence-and-supply agreement “at this time,” but indicated that support could falter if the cost involved in honouring this deal turns out to be too high, adding she’s not alone in caucus with her concerns. “At this time, because of the stability issue, I am supportive of […]
Politics This Morning: Selling Budget 2022 to the business community
Good Monday morning, The House of Commons and the Senate are both off for two weeks, and cabinet ministers are fanning out around the country for funding announcements and photo ops to draw attention to proposals from last week’s budget. Today’s events focus on announcements regarding zero-emissions vehicles and on courting the business community. Prime […]
Housing affordability, Canada’s green transition key budget planks as feds’ fiscal plan addresses ‘uncertain world’
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s second budget sets out $62.6-billion in new spending, with billions earmarked to make the hot housing market fairer, push Canada’s green transition, and bounce the country back from the COVID recession in an uncertain global economy. The 304-page document titled “A Plan to Grow Our Economy and Make Life More Affordable,” […]
Fed finances rosy for now, but trouble looms for economy
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s 2022 budget keeps federal finances on a sustainable track, but a senior government official warned reporters on April 7 that Canada’s economy could face trouble in the years to come. Budget 2022 includes $62.6-billion in new spending commitments over six years, as well as $25.3-billion in new revenues and spending cuts […]
Liberals live up to dental care promise and other key areas of NDP deal; NDP will support budget
The NDP will support the Liberal budget after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland delivered on the specific promises outlined in the confidence-and-supply agreement, including dental care. In crafting a pact with the NDP, the Liberals made specific promises to ensure the House of Commons’ fourth party would help them see their […]
Feds pledge to add more than $8-billion for defence, announce review of defence policy in new budget
With an eye to Russia’s renewed invasion of Ukraine, the federal government is proposing adding more than $8-billion to the military budget and to conduct a review of its defence policy in its budget tabled on April 7. With foreign policy taking a backseat for the government as it has dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic […]
Scrap tax exemption ‘loophole’ causing ‘erosion’ of rental affordability: housing advocates
MPs, real estate investors, and affordable housing advocates are waiting to see if Budget 2022 provides any clarity on the Liberals’ promise to review an obscure tax exemption from 1995 that has fuelled the rapid rise of real estate investment trusts as large-scale landlords in Canada’s rental housing sector. The existing corporate tax exemption makes […]
Feds under fire for deferring decision to declare China’s actions against Uyghurs as genocide
As MPs across the partisan spectrum question why the Canadian government has yet to declare that the Chinese government’s repression of Uyghurs constitutes genocide, Global Affairs says an international court or tribunal must be the one to make the declaration, but international law experts say that’s not the case. As a state party to the […]
Multi-level government approach needed to tackle supply chain crisis, say stakeholders
Identifying potential weaknesses in Canada’s supply chain will require the involvement of multiple levels of government because of the way infrastructure can overlap with different jurisdictions, according to the president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada. “The first step in my mind is, as part of a national strategy … we need to make sure […]
Russia’s war in Ukraine forces foreign policy into Conservative leadership race spotlight, says Charest
With Russia’s continued bombardment of Ukraine and reports of widespread human rights violations, a Conservative leadership candidate says the conflict has put a spotlight on foreign policy during the race. Unlike the last Conservative leadership race, the frontrunners don’t bring an abundance of foreign policy experience, but Jean Charest leads the pack with his international […]
