The Weekly Roundup - September 30, 2024

Today is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The federal statutory holiday means that the House of Commons and Senate resume business on Tuesday, October 1. Government services like Service Canada and Canada Post are also closed. While the government of Ontario opted not to make the day a stat holiday, the unions representing Ontario Public Service won an arbitration award that in effect makes the day a paid holiday for the OPS, meaning that some provincial government offices are closed as well.

In Edmonton, there will be a ceremony on the grounds of the Legislature to commemorate the day. Indigenous Relations Minister Rick Wilson will attend and speak at the ceremony.
 
Below are the top stories making waves this week:

Top Federal Stories
Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government survived its first confidence vote since parliament resumed. The outcome of the vote was never really in doubt, as both the NDP and the Bloc had choreographed their intention to vote against Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s motion well ahead of time. The Conservatives wasted no time after Wednesday’s vote; in a fundraising email, the Conservative Party blasted NDP leader Jagmeet Singh for being “Spineless”, after he “voted against our NON-CONFIDENCE motion to keep Trudeau in power.” The Conservatives, along with the other opposition parties will have another opportunity to bring down the government this week, with a vote on a second Conservative non-confidence motion scheduled for Tuesday. The Bloc has set a deadline of October 29 to pass two private members’ bills related to old-age security and supply management before they consider bringing down the minority Liberal government.
 
The Bloc is demanding the Liberal government pass one of their private members’ bills that would increase old age security for seniors under the age of 75. Because the legislation seeks to spend money - $16 billion at that – and comes in the form of a private member’s bill and not a government bill, it requires the government to give it a royal recommendation. The Bloc will use one of their opposition days this week to set the parliamentary agenda to discuss exactly that, as the House will debate and vote on a motion requesting a royal recommendation for Bill C-319.
 
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Trudeau is in Inuvik, Northwest Territories today to take part in a ceremony for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Later this week, he will travel to France to take part in the 19th Sommet de la Francophonie.

Top Alberta Stories
Premier Danielle Smith was in the hot seat last week at the Alberta Municipalities fall convention. The Premier addressed the crowd of mayors, councillors and municipal officials before participating in a question-and-answer session with the President of ABMunis, Tyler Gandam. During her speech, the Premier announced she is restoring a policy under the Loans to Local Authorities program. The UCP changed the rate of borrowing for municipalities in 2021, but starting next year they will use the province’s credit rating and borrowing power to pay the same interest rate as the province on money borrowed for infrastructure and other capital projects. The move is expected to save municipalities $7 million in the 2025-26 fiscal year, and about $12 million the following year.

During the Q&A, Premier Smith also went into “radio show host mode” making off the cuff remarks musing about taking over tax collection from municipalities, saying it was a way for the province to lighten the financial load for municipalities. Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi also spoke to the room of his former peers and wasted no time drawing contrast between the NDP and UCP. He promised, if elected, an NDP government would repeal Bill 18 and Bill 20. The former Calgary Mayor spoke as though he was still a municipal delegate, speaking directly to the experiences of local leaders and trying to garner goodwill that could be crucial as he builds support for his party and leadership over the next three years.

The Alberta Municipalities fall convention took place at Westerner Park in Red Deer, where Premier Smith will return in just over a month to face her party in a leadership review. The Premier has been working around the clock to garner support, spending her evenings and weekends at UCP members-only town halls across the province. On Saturday, she hosted a town hall in Edmonton in the morning, before travelling to Camrose for another event in the afternoon. Paired with putting in face time with party faithful, she continues to throw red meat to the UCP base.

In an online video Premier Smith unveiled three key amendments coming to the Alberta Bill of Rights in a few weeks. Posted to her social media, the Premier announced she would reinforce the right of Albertans to decide whether to receive a vaccination or other medical procedure and would also strengthen rights around property and gun ownership. The announcement raised questions, particularly from Alberta’s medical community, about whether or not the government would support vaccination campaigns. Smith responded to questions from the media saying she was keeping a commitment she campaigned on. While this will be a popular policy at the AGM in November, it is likely to be hotly contested when the House resumes sitting on October 28.

The votes are in and John Middleton-Hope, a former police officer and Lethbridge police chief who now sits on the city’s council, is the UCP candidate in the Lethbridge-West byelection. He’ll face off against Alberta NDP candidate Rob Miyashiro, a former two term Lethbridge city councilor, to replace long-time NDP MLA and former Minister Shannon Phillips. The date for the byelection has not yet been called but must be set by January 1, 2025. Middle-Hope is not legally required to resign or take a leave of absence from his role as a city councillor while he campaigns. A candidate for provincial office is only required to resign after being elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly.

Top Saskatchewan Stories
It’s a race to the writ as Saskatchewan residents will head to the polls on October 28. According to a recent Insightrix Research poll, healthcare, affordability, and taxes are top issues for voters. We expect to see announcements on all of these topics from both the governing Saskatchewan Party and the Saskatchewan NDP as the campaign gets underway. New West is following along and will bring you insight and updates in a standalone report at the end of each week.

Top Ontario Stories
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles is likely to see her caucus at Queen’s Park shrink ahead of the next federal election (or provincial, depending on which is called first). Parkdale-High Park MPP Bhutila Karpoche is the latest ONDP MPP to announce her intention to seek a nomination for the federal NDP. Karpoche is the third sitting NDP MPP eying a the Federal NDP. Hamilton Mountain MPP Monique Tayor and Ottawa Centre MPP Joel Harden are also looking to make the jump.
 
Nominations are starting to pick up for the Ontario Liberals, who were perhaps a little over ambitious about the number of candidates who would be nominated and on stage with Ontario Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie at their AGM in London. Nomination meetings are scheduled through to October 21 in Etobicoke – Lakeshore, Eglinton – Lawrence, York Centre, Mississauga – Erin Mills, Dufferin – Caledon, and Lambton – Kent – Middlesex.
 
Premier Ford’s Progressive Conservatives spent the last week making campaign-style announcements across Ontario, the largest of which was Premier Ford’s announcement that his government is launching a feasibility study to dig a transit tunnel expressway under the 401. The proposed route would take the tunnel from Mississauga to Scarborough, which would make it the longest road tunnel in the world. Although the project didn’t come with an official price tag, experts suggest the ballpark cost could be at least $60 billion. This announcement, along with the PC’s proposal to limit municipalities’ ability to build bike lanes all appear to be geared towards shoring up support in the vote-rich suburbs where the PC’s believe their agenda of building highways in an effort to ease congestion gives them the edge over Bonnie Crombie’s Liberals, who will be courting the same voters next time Ontario goes to the polls.

Upcoming Events Calendar
October 19, 2024: British Columbia General Election
October 21, 2024: Queen’s Park resumes sitting
October 28, 2024: Alberta Legislature resumes sitting
November 1-2, 2024: UCP AGM takes place in Red Deer, AB, including leadership review vote