A widening tariff war with the United States including a 50 percent Canadian surcharge on smartphones will not have “a big ongoing impact” on the economy, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem yesterday predicted. Macklem said workers and businesses alike were taking higher costs in stride: "Businesses, workers, they’re adjusting."
Canadians are divided over aid to Cuba, according to in-house Privy Council research. Federal focus groups said that, while some were sympathetic with Cubans facing food shortages, Canada should first aid working poor at home: "Canada should primarily be focused on providing assistance to those living in Canada."
Questions pending in an October 19 referendum by Alberta's United Conservative Party government are "truly vile," says Senator Paula Simons (Alta.), a Liberal appointee. One question seeks abolition of the Senate: "We must turn the light on these nine dark questions."
Cabinet yesterday extended a 10¢ federal gas tax holiday into 2027. Conservative MPs had sought the measure for months: "Every penny we can get reduced in taxes is a penny in the pockets of the people who earned it."
MP Lori Idlout (Nunavut) yesterday became the 11th member of the Liberal caucus cited for ethics breaches but escaped all sanctions since she “made an error of judgment in good faith,” said the Ethics Commissioner. A Conservative MP who requested the Idlout investigation earlier complained of the “slow and steady degradation” of Parliament: "Members need to know there will be a reckoning."
The Department of Natural Resources yesterday said it will pay a British Columbia consultant $84,000 to find five countries that will buy Canadian softwood lumber. The notice came nearly a year to the day that Prime Minister Mark Carney promised federal leadership to “supercharge” market diversification at a $1.2 billion cost: "Together we’re going to write our own story."
Installing rooftop solar panels on Canadian homes makes “limited” economic sense, says an internal Department of Natural Resources report to Minister Tim Hodgson. Homeowners would take up to 30 years to recover exorbitant costs even with subsidies: 'The economic case is limited.'
Canadians are proud of their rights and freedoms, the military and hockey, says in-house research by the Department of Canadian Heritage. The findings contradicted attempts by federal managers to emphasize Indigenous reconciliation and “equity and diversity.”
Nearly 380,000 new Canadians gained citizenship last year, according to Department of Immigration figures. The department would not say how many more applications were expected under revisions to the Citizenship Act: "Given the complexity of some Bill C-3 cases, we expect greater pressure."
Prime Minister Mark Carney yesterday would not say whether he’ll lead the Liberal Party into another general election. Asked twice by reporters, Carney, 61, replied: “I am blessed.”
A former president of Dairy Farmers of Québec, Daniel Gobeil, last night claimed an upset Liberal win in Chicoutimi on unusually high turnout in a federal byelection, 41.5 percent. Liberals easily held two other safe seats to retain a narrow majority in the Commons: 'We produce less milk than the state of Wisconsin and without supply management, dairy producers would see their farm gate price drop.'
Indigenous Canadians under forest fire evacuation orders have been mistreated by federal and local authorities, says Federal Housing Advocate Marie-Josée Houle. Complaints ranged from being denied access to hotel swimming pools to falling prey to local gangs: 'Some of them were leaving their communities for the first time experienced trauma and uncertainty.'
Canadians are divided over billions in new military spending, says in-house Privy Council research. “Reactions were mixed,” said a federal focus group report: "A number expressed concern about the scale of the investment, $81.8 billion."
Dominic Barton, former managing director of the consulting firm McKinsey & Company, yesterday was named chair of the federal agency Invest in Canada. The appointment came two years after investigators said McKinsey benefited from favouritism in winning $200 million worth of federal contracts: "I have no interest in making money."
The typical postsecondary student in Canada will spend $31,700 getting an education this school year including tuition and expenses, the nation’s Chief Actuary said yesterday. Student loans this year will average $8,285: "More students have a need that exceeds the loan limit."
