The Weekly Roundup - November 29, 2024
The House of Commons passed its first piece of legislation in two months this week with the NDP supporting the governing Liberals to pass the government’s promised two-month GST tax holiday. Bill C-78, the Tax Break for All Canadians Act, passed Parliament late Thursday evening after it was fast-tracked through the House. The bill, which does not contain the Liberal’s promised $250 Working Canadians Rebate, will now head to the Senate for further consideration. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said Conservatives opposed the measure, calling it a “two-month temporary tax trick that will drive up the cost of living,” and that his party continued to advocate for the permanent removal of the carbon tax and the removal of the federal sales tax on new homes.
Questions about how and when the aforementioned $250 rebate cheques will be implemented remain after NDP leader Jagmeet Singh rolled back his party’s support for the rebate until it is expanded to cover additional groups including retirees, students and people with disabilities, who are ineligible under the government’s current proposal.
Earlier this week, Canada’s Premiers requested a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss the Canada-US relationship. In a letter from Ontario Premier Doug Ford, they asked for clarity about the federal government’s plans for the upcoming review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, as well as who among the federal cabinet would be leading the work. The meeting between the Premiers and the Prime Minister occurred Wednesday. Following the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said at a news conference that the conversation was "very positive" and that all agreed they needed to work in a "united and co-ordinated way." Statements coming out of the meeting were critical from the Premiers of Alberta and Ontario (highlighted below) as well as from Quebec and Manitoba. Meanwhile, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre was non-committal when asked if he would visit Mar-a-Lago if invited by the incoming president.
Here are the trends and developments that we’re keeping an eye on this week:
Top Federal Stories
As the federal government continues to react to Trumps tariff threats, the Liberals plan to announce new investments in border security in response to challenges such as illegal crossings, drug trafficking, and U.S. pressure to tighten enforcement. Additional funding for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) will likely include advanced technologies, drones, helicopters, and personnel reinforcements.
The governing Liberals could introduce the strengthened border measures as part of the Fall Economic Statement. However, parliamentary gridlock has prevented the Liberals from tabling a FES, and the government is reportedly considering alternative ways to present the FES, as well as the border measures if the House continues to the hamper the government’s ability to take action.
The House could be debating a confidence motion when it resumes next week. Government House leader Karina Gould is seeking unanimous consent to schedule opposition days for the Conservatives and the NDP. The Standing Orders, which govern the House proceedings say the opposition parties must be given four more days to control the House agenda before December 10. Today, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre posted the text of a “Common Sense Conservative Motion” that quote’s NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s criticism of the Liberal government and calls for the House to declare it has lost confidence in the prime minister and the government.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller is looking to crack down on an immigration scam where would-be immigrants pay Canadian employers to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) which shows there is need for a temporary foreign worker, allowing them to enter Canada. Miller, who faced questions at the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration this week, told MPs that the current process for an LMIA was creating “the incentive for less than good behaviour.” Miller also told the committee that he is looking to reform the asylum claim system, saying that some of the recent asylum claims are being done so “unjustly”.
Top Alberta Stories
The battle between Alberta and Ottawa heated up this week, as Premier Danielle Smith didn’t pull any punches taking action against the federal government.
On Tuesday, the Premier announced the Province will introduce an Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act motion to fight back against the federal emissions cap. The motion proposes the Alberta government launch a constitutional challenge when, or if, the federal production cap becomes law.
It also instructs the government to consider passing legislation, amending provincial regulations or “taking whatever other steps are needed” to ensure a series of outcomes, including that no provincial entity participates in the enforcement or implementation of the federal cap, all information that is directly or indirectly related to greenhouse gas is exclusively owned by the Government of Alberta, and all emissions data be reported and disclosed at the province’s discretion.
Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault was quick to criticize the proposed motion, calling the Premier’s behavior “irresponsible” and saying the restrictions on emissions reporting would be a "violation of federal laws."
Two days later, Premier Smith took to the podium to announce the Government of Alberta is once again taking legal action against the federal government over its Impact Assessment Act. Alberta contested the Act from the outset with former Premier Jason Kenney dubbing the legislation the “No More Pipelines Act,” while Premier Smith has since called it the “Don’t Build Anything Anywhere Act.” The Supreme Court of Canada, in a 2023 non-binding opinion, advised that Ottawa overstepped its constitutional authority.
In early October, Premier Danielle Smith sent a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, citing a lack of consultation with Alberta and proposing legislative amendments to address the province’s concerns. She issued a four-week deadline for the federal government to remedy provisions in the amended Act or face another legal challenge from the Province. With the deadline now passed, Alberta has referred the constitutionality of the amended Impact Assessment Act to the Court of Appeal of Alberta.
In response, federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault and Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson issued a joint statement, calling the move “another political game intended to divide.” The two Ministers went on to say they are confident in the constitutionality of the regulations and the federal government spent years consulting provinces, including Alberta.
This ongoing battle is set against the context of a frayed Team Canada approach to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Prime Minister Trudeau met with Premier Smith and other premiers this week to discuss an approach to dealing with the 25 per cent tariff on Canadian products threatened by the incoming U.S. administration. Prime Minister Trudeau has tried to reassure the country that Canada is ready to work with Trump because of past experience. However, the constant controversy between Ottawa and Alberta doesn’t give the impression of a united front. In a statement issued after the meeting, Premier Smith continued to lay blame at the feet of the federal government, further criticizing the emissions cap and encouraging better border security.
While the courts will ultimately decide the winner of these challenges, experts warn it’s companies who are losing right now as the back-and-forth is creating confusion in an already complicated system. The provincial and federal governments both point the finger at the other side for who is causing this uncertainty, something that isn’t expected to change until Canadians go to the polls, an election that isn’t scheduled until October 2025.
While the date for the federal election may move up, the October 2025 date is set for the next Calgary municipal election and current Mayor Jyoti Gondek’s name will be on the ballot. This morning, the Mayor of Calgary announced her intention to seek re-election in 2025. It puts to bed rumours that she wouldn’t seek a second term, after a tough time in office. Instead, Mayor Gondek says she’s learned many lessons and is prepared to tackle the important work that needs to be done, including improving communication between city hall and Calgarians. During the water crisis back in June, the Mayor apologized to Calgarians calling the city's efforts to communicate information about the feeder water main break "slow to come," and "confusing at times."
Mayor Gondek joins former city councillor Jeff Davison, who ran against her and finished third in 2021, and Brian Thiessen, a lawyer and former Calgary Police Commission chair, as the declared candidates in the race.
New West is also keeping an eye on former city councillor Jeromy Farkas who is expected to throw his hat in the ring after finishing second to Gondek in 2021. We’ll also be watching current councillors Sonya Sharp and Dan McLean, who are said to be thinking about running.
Top Ontario Stories
Energy Minister Stephen Lecce announced Ontario is exploring plans to build three new – possibly nuclear – power plants to meet demands for energy. The government has tasked Ontario Power Generation with beginning discussions with municipal, community and Indigenous leaders for sites it owns in Port Hope, just east of the Darlington nuclear plant, Nanticoke on the north shore of Lake Erie near Port Dover, and along the St. Clair River south of Sarnia. The province has put increased emphasis on the need to build additional nuclear power generating capacity ahead of the release of the province’s new energy plan early next year. Earlier this month, Ontario announced that the refurbishment of Darlington Unit 1 had been completed five months ahead of schedule.
Premier Ford spoke to reporters on Tuesday about President-elect Donald Trump’s tariff threats. The Premier, standing in front of a backdrops of an Ontario, Canadian, and American flags by the doors of his Queens Park office told reporters that Trump's comments comparing Canada to Mexico are insulting and added that it feels like "a family member stabbing you right in the heart." The Ford government has spent recent years strengthening economic ties between Ontario and several American states. Ontario has also launched a multimillion dollar advertising campaign in the United States to highlight the strong trading relationship between Ontario and the US.
The Ford government, which has made fighting gridlock and bad traffic one of its signature priorities ahead of the next provincial election, is “in conversation”with the owners of Highway 407, according to a spokesperson for the Minister of Transportation. The Ministry of Transportation isn’t saying what conversations have been had or what options are being considered, as calls for the province to buy back the highway have grown.
The Ministry of Transportation also cleared a hurdle in the Ford government’s efforts to remove some bike lanes in Toronto, as the legislation under which municipalities must seek provincial approval for any bike lanes that remove vehicular lanes passed into law on Monday. However critics of the law point to an unreleased transportation study that says 3.1 per cent of Toronto residents commute to work by bicycle, rather than the 1 per cent that the Ford government often cited in its rationale for the measures.
New West will be keeping an eye on the Auditor General of Ontario’s annual report, which is expected to be released on December 3, and will cover – among other topics – the use of Minister’s Zoning Orders (MZOs), the Ontario Place Redevelopment, and the Implementation and Oversight of Ontario’s Opioid Strategy.
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December 12, 2024: Ontario legislature rises
December 16, 2024: Cloverdale-Langley City by-election
December 18, 2024: Lethbridge-West by-election