Feds have to ‘tread carefully’ on cultural policy after Quebec blowback, say political players
Quebecers are more likely to be invested in the idea of Canada having a distinct cultural identity that needs protecting, which could possibly spell political trouble for Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly and the Trudeau Liberals if the implementation of the government’s recently announced cultural policy doesn’t find the right balance, say cultural and political players. […]
Vox populi on tax reforms
In response to business groups’ fierce campaigning against proposed tax changes first floated in July, the Liberal government announced Oct. 16 the first of a set of revisions to smooth over concerns. In July, Finance Minister Bill Morneau (Toronto Centre, Ont.) had proposed changes to close what he suggested were three tax loopholes allowing high-earning […]
Taxation is more than a fight between good and evil
The last few weeks have been challenging for some ministers in the Trudeau cabinet. Finance Minister Bill Morneau has faced strong opposition to his small-business tax reform, while Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly has struggled to explain why an American company, Netflix, does not have to collect the GST, though Canadian companies offering similar services do. It […]
Canada’s most-lobbied staffers drive policy tied to federal purse
Canada’s top-lobbied political staffers have “panache,” and are “affable” and “rigorous,” according to those who’ve sat down with the men who are the government’s most-sought officials based on communications reports filed in the federal lobbying registry this year. The three most in-demand staffers are all policy advisers to ministers in important departments connected to Liberal […]
Finance Committee prepping for 2018 budget gets an earful on tax changes: chair
A Liberal MP who chairs the House Finance Committee says concerns about the government’s proposed tax changes have been voiced “quite vividly” in almost every meeting during the committee’s ongoing listening tour to help it inform the 2018 federal budget. Wayne Easter (Malpeque, P.E.I.) said concerns about the Liberal government’s small-business tax changes have come […]
Activists want social housing in new strategy, as feds attempt to boost affordability
Activists and experts are eagerly awaiting the soon-to-be unveiled national housing strategy, but are questioning if the government’s financial contribution can realistically have a positive impact on housing affordability in Canada. The strategy is the first of its kind, and is expected to be released in late November. Experts say it will include money to […]
Politics This Morning: Morneau to announce revisions to tax plan in New Brunswick; Garneau in Montreal; Singh back on the Hill
Good Wednesday morning, Finance Minister Bill Morneau is expected to announce today in New Brunswick that the Liberal government is reducing the scope of its tax plan for passive investments made by corporations. The Canadian Press is reporting that the minister will use an appearance in the Atlantic province to reveal that the Liberals are […]
Politics This Morning: Trudeau holds cabinet meeting as he looks to contain fallout from proposed tax changes
Happy Wednesday morning, The front bench of the Liberal government is meeting this morning in Ottawa as they look to contain the fallout from their contentious proposed tax reforms. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will hold the cabinet meeting at 9:30 a.m., which comes a day after he joined Finance Minister Bill Morneau to announce the […]
Four-week Commons sitting a chance for Grits to ‘get up off the mat,’ show what they can do in the House
The federal Liberals are facing political pressure from all sides and will have to find ways to stop playing defence and hit back at the opposition parties when the House returns for the next four weeks, say veteran Hill watchers. The gap is starting to close between the Liberals and Conservatives and the Grits appear to […]
Chan’s widow, Jean Yip, considering run at his vacated riding Scarborough-Agincourt
Jean Yip, the widow of late-Liberal MP Arnold Chan, who died of cancer last month, says her late-husband encouraged her to run federally and she is considering seeking the Liberal nomination in Scarborough-Agincourt. “Arnold and I did talk about it, the possibility, so I’m considering it,” said Ms. Yip in a brief interview with The […]
