Nov 24 2023 — Fred DeLorey — iPolitics — We go On Background with Glen McGregor, award-winning journalist, with decades of experience on Parliament Hill and covering federal election campaigns. Glen and Fred trade war stories as they battled through some of politics’ biggest “scandals” in this century, and talk about what the relationship between media and campaigns could look like with Pierre Poilievre.

Nov 23 2023 — Arthur Milnes — National Newswatch — The ongoing journey of confronting Canada’s legacy of residential schooling for Indigenous children took another step forward on this date in 2005. The government of Prime Minister Paul Martin announced that residential school survivors would be receiving $2 billion in compensation. The announcement was made by Minister of Justice Irwin Cotler who said the schools […]

Nov 23 2023 — Bob Hepburn — Toronto Star — If recent opinion polls are right, Pierre Poilievre will be Canada’s next prime minister, easily defeating Justin Trudeau and the Liberals in an election that could come less than a year from now. Those same polls also indicate Poilievre and his Conservatives will likely form a majority government, which would see him in office for […]

Nov 23 2023 — Max Fawcett — National Observer — When in doubt, blame the media. That’s long been a strategy deployed by unpopular politicians, and now some extremely online Liberals are using it to explain their party’s increasingly precarious predicament. Notwithstanding my obvious biases here — my faith in the value of good journalism is about as close to religious belief as I can […]

Nov 23 2023 — Andrew Coyne — Globe and Mail — This year’s fall economic statement, I read in the news, was all about “restraint.” But then, so was last year’s statement. So was the spring budget, and the budget before that. Every time the Liberals update the country on the state of its finances, it is accompanied by pages of prose trumpeting the government’s devotion […]

Nov 22 2023 — Peter Mansbridge and Bruce Anderson — The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge — It is the morning after the day before, or in other terms, the day after the FES, the Fall Economic Statement. Was it a good day or a bad day for the Liberals as they try to climb out of their double-digit deficit to the Conservatives in the opinion polls? Bruce is here for a […]

Nov 22 2023 — Marsha Lederman — Globe and Mail — Pursuant to the standing order of bills delivered monthly to this House, I have the honour to table, in one official language, this fall economic statement for my own family’s household. This Canadian household’s fiscal update reflects the affordability crisis that the individuals who make up this great nation are facing. We are worn out, […]

Nov 22 2023 — Kristen Hopewell — Canadian Global Affairs Institute — The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is one of the world’s biggest mega-regional trade agreements, encompassing over 15 per cent of global GDP. It originated as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), until the U.S. withdrew from the agreement under the Trump administration. The remaining 11 members – Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, […]

Nov 22 2023 — Campbell Clark — Globe and Mail — You had to admire the sharp turn of Chrystia Freeland’s segue. “Our economic plan is working,” the Finance Minister said in her speech to the Commons on the Liberal government’s fall economic update. Then with barely a beat, she said she can’t deny the “difficult reality” many Canadians are facing. “Canadians are worn out, frustrated […]

Nov 22 2023 — Armine Yalnizyan — Toronto Star — The Fall Economic Statement may be a national day for taking potshots at the current federal finance minister, but if I were her, I’d be steamed at how much I’m giving to my provincial counterparts — and how little of it they are actually using. Me, I’m saving my most serious shots for Ontario, but […]

Nov 22 2023 — Rick Bell — Sun Media — Sunny ways have turned into darkening storm clouds. Not doom but definitely gloom. Bleak. If this was supposed to be a Hail Mary pass in the direction of Trudeau’s political redemption, the pass was incomplete, under-thrown, hopelessly off-target. The high cost of living. Groceries, mortgages, rents, the pri

Nov 22 2023 — Arthur Milnes — National Newswatch — All eyes were on 10 Downing Street in London on this date in 1990 as Margaret Thatcher, who had held office as PM since 1979, announced her resignation. Her decision was made after her backbenchers rebelled and called for a vote on her leadership. Faced with this challenge, the Iron Lady chose not to fight […]

Nov 22 2023 — Kevin Page — Policy Magazine — Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tabled the 2023 Fall Economic Statement in Parliament on November 21st. Contrary to some catchy characterizations, it is most definitely an economic statement, not a mini budget. There are few new announcements of fiscal significance. Times are tough. The economy is not growing and unemployment is rising. […]

Nov 22 2023 — Les Whittington — Hill Times — In recent months, with the whole country screaming for action on housing affordability, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has stepped up its engagement with municipalities by offering direct funding for residential construction through the Housing Accelerator Fund. The initiative—which offers tens of millions of dollars to cities for speedy development and promotes zoning changes to […]

Nov 21 2023 — Don Martin — CTV News — It was the best of times during the worst of times for this besieged-from-every-direction Liberal government. It’s bi-annual work of fiscal fiction rolled out Tuesday as the fall update staged a desperate bid to reverse the Liberals’ downward spiral in the polls while trying to soften its drunken-sailor-spending image.