Bill S-2 unlikely to pass before summer recess
A government source said it’s doubtful the bill will clear committee before the start of the summer recess next month as too many stakeholders want to testify at committee.
Marco Vigliotti
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Feds lose bid for court extension of Nicholas ruling
The federal government has lost its request for an extension to implement the terms of the Nicholas ruling. In a decision released Friday, the B.C. Supreme Court rejected Ottawa’s application to delay the deadline until October, ramping up the pressure to pass Bill S-2 when the House resumes sitting next week. READ MORE: Government secures brief extension of court-imposed deadline...
Liberals question Senate’s handling of bail reform bill
A senior government source told iPolitics that senators are slowing down a bill supported by the Liberals and Conservatives, as well as provincial and territorial premiers, and municipal police chiefs.
‘What’s he ever negotiated?’ — Carney fires back at Poilievre’s criticism on Canada-U.S. trade
Prime Minister Mark Carney is dismissing criticism from his Conservative rival on the Liberal government’s handling of trade talks with the U.S. as a new report suggests that Americans are demanding concessions before restarting negotiations. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre told reporters on Tuesday the prime minister needs to stop “showboating” and outline his plan for a trade negotiations with the...
Sources say Navdeep Bains being courted to enter Ontario Liberal leadership race
Bains, who most recently served as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Rogers Communications, is widely known for his tenure in Ottawa as Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry under former prime minister Justin Trudeau. During that time, he was one of the longest-serving ministers in the portfolio and played a central role in shaping Canada’s innovation and skills agenda.
Sources say senators planning to create sixth group as questions are raised about Carney’s vision for the Upper Chamber
One senator said the Liberals’ march towards a majority in the House is also motivating discussions around the future of the Senate, raising the possibility that Prime Minister Mark Carney will appoint the leader of the government in the Senate to cabinet.
‘Knock that s*** off’ — Poilievre uses appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast to slam Trump’s 51st state comments
Poilievre didn’t directly blame Trump for helping the Liberals with his comments but said he wished the president would “knock that shit off so that we can get back to talking about the things that we can do as two separate countries… that are actually friends.”
Liberal MPs offer differing views on Carney’s support for U.S. attacks on Iran
Liberal MPs are offering varying perspectives on Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision to voice his support for U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran that threaten to spill into a wider regional war. One Liberal MP told iPolitics the prime minister is in a “very difficult place” where he needs to manage his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump with support...
Union of BC Indian Chiefs says it won’t participate in government consultations on second-generation cutoff
One of Canada’s largest Indigenous groups says it won’t participate in consultations with Ottawa on potential changes to the second-generation cutoff, accusing the government of working to delay ending the controversial law that designates who can be awarded Indian status. In an email sent last week and shared with iPolitics, the Union of BC Indian Chiefs called the justification for...
Conservative insiders say Poilievre on track to easily survive leadership review but changes need to challenge Carney
Conservative delegates will vote later this month on whether Pierre Poilievre should continue to serve as leader, and while party insiders expect him to easily survive, they say changes are needed to defeat the Liberals in the next election. A Conservative insider who previously worked for Poilievre said the Tory leader doesn’t need to drastically overhaul his style but has...
Local Ottawa officials ‘frustrated’ with Ford over support for Toronto’s bid for new defence bank
A senior source with the office of Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said it’s “frustrating” that Ford is throwing his weight behind Toronto’s bid, though acknowledged that it wasn’t “unexpected.”
‘They just don’t get it’ — Some Trudeau-era Liberal MPs struggling to adjust to Carney’s leadership, say sources
‘They’re still stuck in that Trudeau era view of the world, which would have garnered us maybe 15 to 20 seats across the country, and and they just can’t handle that.’ In the wake of Steven Guilbeault leaving cabinet, a senior government source told iPolitics that several other Trudeau-era Liberal MPs are also having challenges “coming to grips” to the...
Carney adds Miller to cabinet, Lightbound takes over as Quebec lieutenant
The Prime Minister’s Office said the cabinet shuffle would bring only small changes to Carney’s front bench. Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to reveal how he will distribute the portfolios previously held by Steven Guilbeault, who resigned from cabinet last week after the federal government reached an agreement with Alberta that could pave the path for a new pipeline...
Liberal MPs cast doubts on plan for new West Coast pipeline but concerns raised about impact on B.C. seats
Some Liberal MPs are casting doubts the government’s movement towards reaching a deal with Alberta will actually lead to a new pipeline to the West Coast. But even if the project never sees the light of day, one MP said it could still cost the party five or six seats in B.C. that wouldn’t be recovered elsewhere in Western Canada...
Should Carney have promised to immediately call a byelection for Poilievre?
“I think that was a bit of a political mistake [for the] prime minister [to give] Pierre a sort of free pass to run in a byelection and saying he’s going to call it at the earliest opportunity,” said one Liberal MP, who asked not to be identified to share their concerns.
Conservative amendment to throne speech narrowly passes despite Liberal opposition
It passed 166 to 164, with all the opposition parties in support. All Liberals MP voted against it but there were four no-shows, allowing the motion to pass.
Carney’s office taking shape - Braeden Caley will serve as the deputy chief of staff for Carney.
New Prime Minister Mark Carney’s team is starting to take shape. iPolitics has learned that Braeden Caley will serve as the deputy chief of staff for Carney. Caley and Carney have worked closely together at the progressive think tank Canada 2020. Caley served as president and CEO, while Carney chaired the advisory board.
‘A very demanding boss and leader’ — Carney’s hard-driving style at the Bank of Canada had critics and admirers
Mark Carney says his unique resume makes him the right man to lead Canada during this tumultuous time. Facing steep tariffs from an increasingly antagonistic and unreliable neighbour, he said the country requires a steady hand that can help grow the economy and support workers and businesses from this existential threat.
LeBlanc endorses Carney in leadership race
In a social media post on Thursday, LeBlanc said Carney has “demonstrated he has what it takes to steer a G7 economy through choppy waters.”
Freeland says she will slash the size of cabinet, PMO by 50 per cent
Chrystia Freeland says she would dramatically slash the size of cabinet and the Prime Minister’s Office if she becomes the next Liberal leader. Her team told iPolitics in a statement that Freeland would cap the size of cabinet at 20 ministers, a 50 per cent reduction from its current size.
Quebec caucus calls for Trudeau to resign
The Quebec Liberal caucus is also calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down, according to sources.
Liberal MPs considering not running again if Trudeau stays: sources
More Liberal MPs are considering not running again if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau doesn’t resign, according to party sources. One sitting Ontario MP said some are re-considering their future as they head back to their ridings now that the House has risen for the holiday break.
NDP to back Liberal standalone GST holiday bill
The Liberals have tabled legislation that would temporarily remove the GST on some food and consumer products and it appears it will pass with the support of the NDP later this week, iPolitics has learned. The bill, tabled on Thursday, removed any reference to the government sending out $250 cheques to working Canadians in the spring, as it was something...
NDP won’t support ending privilege debate but will pave the way for GST cut to pass
The NDP won’t support ending the privilege debate but will back a motion to support whatever legislation the Liberals are bringing forward to cut GST on some essentials, iPolitics has learned. An NDP source says the party will support “adjourn[ing] debate for a single day at a time, agreeing to an evening sitting if necessary to ensure the passage of...
Feds to announce winter GST holiday: NDP
The federal Liberals are set to announce a GST cut on a number of items, according to the NDP. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland are scheduled to make an affordability announcement on Thursday in Toronto. The NDP announced late Thursday that it expected the Liberals would introduce a “winter GST holiday on a number of items...
Trudeau schedules Toronto-St. Paul’s byelection for June 24
Voters in a Toronto riding that has become a Liberal stronghold are heading to the polls next month to elect a new MP. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Sunday announced that he had scheduled a byelection in Toronto-St. Paul’s on June 24.
O’Regan asks labour board if some rail shipments should flow in event of strike or lockout
Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan has asked the federal labour board to examine whether the railways should operate in a limited capacity in the event of a strike or lockout. O’Regan posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday that he had asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board to consider if some rail services should be maintained during a labour disruption...
Honda to announce new plant in Niagara Region: sources
Honda is making another splash in the Canadian market. The global automaker is set to announce plans for a new battery parts manufacturing facility in the Niagara Region, possibly as early as next week, iPolitics has learned.
Nextstar giving work promised to Canadians to foreign workers at Windsor battery plant: CBTU
The corporate conglomerate building an electric battery plant in Windsor that is slated to receive billions of dollars in government has ramped its use of foreign workers at the site and has even taken work away from unionized tradespeople in recent weeks, according to explosive new allegations from a national trades union federation. Canada’s Building Trades Union penned a letter...
O’Regan to name Vincent Ready to lead next phase of ports labour review: sources
The Liberals have found their man to lead the second phase of the ports labour review. iPolitics has learned that Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan will appoint veteran mediator Vincent Ready to the post, with an announcement expected today. The review will be conducted as an industrial inquiry commission, as detailed in s. 108 of the Canada Labour Code. Amanda Rogers...
Budget 2024: Liberals outline plan to build 250,000 new homes on public lands
The 2024 federal budget includes a new strategy to free up public land for housing that’s anticipated to add 250,000 new homes by 2031. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s budget, tabled Tuesday in the House, pledges to use a variety of tools to “unlock” federally-owned lands for housing, including granting $500-million over five years to the Public Services and Procurement Department...
Liberals in talks with NDP on Gaza ceasefire motion: sources
The Liberals held talks with the NDP on the latter’s Gaza ceasefire motion — which will come to a vote on Monday — iPolitics has learned. Sources familiar with the talks confirmed on Saturday that they had happened but couldn’t detail what was on the table.
Shafqat Ali becomes second Liberal MP to voice support for NDP’s Gaza ceasefire motion
A second Liberal MP has indicated support for an NDP motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Shafqat Ali’s office told iPolitics on Thursday the MP would vote for the motion on Monday, making him the second Liberal — behind Salma Zahid — to voice their support.
Liberals move motion to end ‘filibuster’ on sustainable jobs bill
The Liberals are moving a motion aimed at ending what they’ve termed as a Conservative filibuster of the government’s green transition jobs bill. The motion, put on the notice paper on Thursday, sets out a deadline for the House natural resources committee to complete its study of C-50, which has languished there for more than a month, with the Liberals...