Carney’s first budget “invests more and spends less” to re-orient Canada’s economy in the face of Trump tariffs
Mark Carney’s much anticipated first budget is built on $280 billion in new capital investment while balancing operational spending over the next five years. Against the backdrop of a worsening economy battered by the Trump administration’s tariffs, the Liberal government is leaning into Keynesian economics by carving out a strong role for the state in major projects, housing […]
Mid-Mandate Reset: Alberta’s 2025 Throne Speech
Mid-Mandate Reset: Alberta Throne Speech focuses on health care, shoring up finances, and asserting sovereignty The Alberta legislature reconvened on October 23, 2025, following a prorogation that concluded the first session of the 31st Legislature. This allows the government to reset its legislative agenda and present a renewed vision to Albertans. Anticipation surrounds the government’s […]
Impact of Civic Parties on Alberta’s Municipal Election
Alberta’s 2025 Municipal Elections: What the Results Mean for Calgary and Edmonton As the dust settles on Alberta’s municipal elections, voters in Calgary and Edmonton have ushered in new leadership and tested a first-of-its-kind experiment: the introduction of municipal political parties. The provincial government’s intent was to make local politics more transparent by allowing voters […]
Ontario Legislature Returns: 5 Priorities for the Fall Session
The 5 Priorities That Will Dominate the Fall Legislature Session Along with cold weather, turkey dinners and beautiful scenery, the fall also heralds the return of Ontario policymakers to Queen’s Park. A lot has happened over the summer –tariffs continue to cause damage to jobs and the local economy, with some signs of renewed momentum […]
What the End of Speed Cameras Teaches Us About Alignment with Government
If there’s one lesson from the Ford Government’s decision to scrap automated speed cameras, it is this: if your program does not align with the government’s values, you shouldn’t expect it to last. Speed cameras were not cancelled because the idea was new. They were cancelled because municipalities turned it into something Queen’s Park warned […]
Premier Wab Kinew Announces Manitoba’s Economic Development Strategy
At the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association’s Leaders’ Forum on Thursday, September 25, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew released his government’s new Economic Development Strategy in front of a packed crowd. The forum was titled “Growing the Economy” and was sponsored by fourteen business organizations. This bold initiative outlines the Premier’s plan to make Manitoba a ‘Have […]
BC Conservative Leader Rustad survives leadership review but debate over his future continues
BC Conservative Leader John Rustad has survived an internal party leadership review, winning 70.66 per cent support amongst party supporters. This vote came less than a year after Rustad took his party from virtually nowhere to within a few seats of forming government. This is a level of support that most observers feel will allow him […]
Canada’s Housing Crisis: The Policies Taking Centre Stage This Fall
While the federal political agenda has been hijacked by Canada/US trade and tariffs, the housing crisis still looms large within the Canadian economy. A depressed economic situation resulting from the trade war may exacerbate the housing crisis as the gap between the cost of building and what consumers can afford grows. Housing was a central […]
The B.C. Fiscal Update: Understanding the Numbers
The B.C. government released its first quarter fiscal update this week, projecting a record deficit of $11.6 billion in 2025-26. That is $665 million higher than Budget 2025. Despite the growing deficit, the fiscal situation in BC mirrors that of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Earlier this month, Alberta Finance Minister Nate Horner announced its deficit will […]
Who wants a PONI? How to get your very own Project of National Interest
Key Links: Building Canada Act Major Projects Office MPO Proponent Intake Form Backgrounder on Projects of National Interest Announcement Yesterday, Prime Minister Carney announced that several proposals for Projects of National Interest were being advanced to the Major Projects Office (MPO) for consideration under the new Building Canada Act regime. Included was the expansion of […]