Please Turn That Dial

Your Look Ahead from Summa Strategies

May 27, 2024
8 minute read

The Latest – Top stories driving the news this week.

Amid concerns that key members of NATO are not pulling their weight, a bipartisan group of 23 U.S. senators wrote to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urging Canada to live up to its commitment to spend 2 per cent of its GDP on defence. In response, the Prime Minister said: “We recognize there’s more to do and we will be there to do it.”
9,000 Canadian border workers voted in favour of a strike mandate on Friday morning which could lead to “significant disruptions” of the flow of goods, services and people through Canadian ports of entry this summer. In a statement, the government affirmed its commitment to reaching a fair and reasonable agreement for border services employees.
Grocery giants, Loblaw Cos. Ltd. and Empire Co. Ltd. have been under investigation by Canada’s Competition Bureau since March 1. They are two of the three major Canadian grocery companies and each owns a number of grocery chains across the country.

In the House – Key Green Chamber business set to play out.

Bill C-69, the Budget Implementation Act, 2024, No. 1, is at committee in the House of Commons.
Bill C-59, the Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2023, is at third reading in the House of Commons.
Bill C-52, the Enhancing Transparency and Accountability in the Transportation System Act, is currently at second reading.
Bill C-58 has reached debate stage at third reading in the House of Commons. Debate will resume today.

Committee Updates

HESA will meet today to discuss Bill C-64, An Act respecting pharmacare.
NDDN will meet today to discuss Main Estimates 2024-2025. National Defence Minister Bill Blair will attend the meeting.
HUMA will meet today to discuss Federal Housing Investments and Intergenerational Volunteerism.
CIMM will meet today for a Briefing on the Temporary Immigration Measures Initiated in Response to the Ongoing Conflicts in Sudan and Gaza. Immigration Minister Marc Miller will attend the meeting.
INDU will meet today to discuss Bill C-27, the Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2022.
FAAE will meet today to discuss Canada’s Approach to Africa.
ETHI will meet tomorrow to discuss the Federal Government’s Use of Technological Tools Capable of Extracting Personal Data from Mobile Devices and Computers.
SRSR will meet tomorrow to discuss Science and Research in Canada’s Arctic in Relation to Climate Change.
CIIT will meet on Thursday for their 2026 CUSMA Review.

In the Senate – Stay informed on events in the Upper Chamber.

Bill C-59, the Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2023, is in pre-study prior to first reading.
Bill C-69, the Budget Implementation Act, 2024, No. 1, is in pre-study prior to first reading.

Committee Updates

SECD will meet today to discuss the subject matter of those elements contained in Division 39 of Part 4 of Bill C-69, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 16, 2024. They will go in camera from 7:20-8:00 p.m. for consideration of a draft report.
NFFN will meet tomorrow to examine the subject matter of all of Bill C-69, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 16, 2024.
TRCM will meet tomorrow to discuss the subject matter of those elements contained in Divisions 27 and 37 of Part 4 of Bill C-69, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 16, 2024
BANC will meet on Wednesday to discuss the subject matter of those elements contained in Divisions 11, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 33, 41 and 42 of Part 4, and in Subdivision A of Division 34 of Part 4 of Bill C-69, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 16, 2024.
AEFA will meet on Wednesday for a study on foreign relations and international trade generally.

In Case You Missed It – Your crib notes for last week’s top stories.

On Friday, Premier Doug Ford announced that Ontario would be expanding the sale of alcohol as soon as August 1, when licensed grocery stores will be allowed to sell ready-to-drink beverages as well as large-pack sizes of beer. Convenience stores will then be allowed to start selling beer, cider, wine, and ready-to-drink beverages as early as September 5. As part of an agreement reached with The Beer Store to expand alcohol sales ahead of schedule, the province will reimburse the company up to $225 million.
Independent Toronto MP Kevin Vuong said in an interview on Friday that he sent a letter to Pierre Poilievre asking to join the Tory caucus. He also intends to seek a nomination for the party in a Greater Toronto Area riding. He has also informed the Conservative Party’s national caucus chair, Scott Reid, of his wishes.
Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc and Minister of Transport Pablo Rodriguez were unable to testify on the issue of rising auto thefts across the country at the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security last Thursday as a result of a Conservative filibuster.
New Democrats say they are planning to ask the House of Commons Ethics Committee to include a video by a Conservative MP as part of an ongoing study into the impact of disinformation on Canadian politics. Manitoba MP Branden Leslie distributed a video on his social media accounts titled, “Breaking News: Trudeau resigns.” It contains doctored television news clips that mixed real footage with out-of-context information.
Food Banks Canada released a new report card last week that highlighted the number of Canadians who are living in poverty, struggling to pay their bills and turning to food banks for help. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized the government in the House last week for its approach to the crisis. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded by pointing to the support programs his government is rolling out.

Provincial Updates

A look at the top news across the country.

B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon said the provincial Conservatives have rejected a deal to avoid vote-splitting in the fall provincial election. In a statement released Friday morning, Falcon said talks between the two right-of-centre parties concluded with B.C. Conservatives Leader John Rustad rejecting a proposed “non-competition” agreement.
The British Columbia government expects a $900 million project to create a network of hydrogen production plants, as well as vehicle refuelling stations. They estimate this will create nearly 300 jobs and cut greenhouse gas emissions in the province.
London Drugs, a retail and pharmacy chain, reported a cyberattack on April 28. The attack occurred around the same time B.C. government networks were targeted in a “sophisticated” cyberattack. The company said this week that the cybercriminals who stole files from its corporate head office last month released some of the data after it refused to pay a ransom.

Saskatchewan’s Government House Leader, Jeremy Harrison resigned from his position on Friday after admitting he took a long gun into the legislature building a decade ago. He said in a statement that he apologized to Premier Scott Moe for the lapse in judgment. Harrison remains in cabinet as the minister responsible for trade and immigration issues.
Hundreds of Alberta seniors face losing doctor home visits in the wake of a debate about physician fees. The amount doctors are paid for home care visits dropped by about 10 per cent in April of 2023 and a further 10 per cent this month.
The governing body of one of the University of Alberta’s largest faculties voted against president Bill Flanagan’s leadership on Thursday. They cited his decision to have police clear a pro-Palestinian student protest camp on campus earlier this month. The vote of non-confidence in Flanagan by the Arts Faculty Council passed 56–7, with seven abstentions.

Ontario retailers, including convenience stores and gas stations will be able to start selling beer, wine and ready-made cocktails as of September 5. This is almost 16 months ahead of schedule. Applications for a license from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) will open on June 17.
The union representing close to 12,000 Toronto Transit Commission workers said it will go on strike on June 7 if an agreement is not reached with management to settle ongoing contract talks.
In a letter sent to RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme and Assistant Commissioner Matt Peggs on Thursday, Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie asked the RCMP for an update on its investigation into the Greenbelt scandal. She said one is needed given new information that has been uncovered.

Quebec’s auditor general Guylaine Leclerc, tabled a report showing that two-thirds of the province’s CEGEPs are in disrepair without the necessary funds for renovations. In response, the education minister blamed previous governments for the current state of public colleges.
About 700 members of the CAQ gathered in Saint-Hyacinthe, Que., this weekend for a general convention where they debated a call from the party’s youth wing to ban social media access for those under the age of 16. Legault said he is open to taking major steps.
Quebec will become the first province to offer free RSV shots for infants. The province will offer a one-dose antibody to help protect babies and vulnerable children against complications due to the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), free of charge, starting in the fall.
The provincial agency that advocates for people living with allergies in Quebec is recommending an end to policies that ban peanuts in schools. Instead it favours education and awareness like other provinces have done.

Halifax council voted unanimously to approve a slew of zoning changes following two days of public hearings and hours of debate. Councillors heard from dozens of people on Tuesday and Wednesday about the many new rules stemming from the federal Housing Accelerator Fund.
Former New Brunswick attorney general and Progressive Conservative MLA Andrea Anderson-Mason says she will not run again in this year’s New Brunswick election. Anderson-Mason is stepping away from politics after six years representing Fundy-The Isles-Saint John West.
The remains of Newfoundland’s unknown soldier were transferred to Canadian possession on Saturday during a ceremony at Beaumont-Hamel in northern France.
Short-term vacation rentals like Airbnb and VRBO will now have to register with the Newfoundland and Labrador government and follow new regulations to operate.

What We're Watching

Find out what issues Summa consultants are tracking and why they matter

Trade on the Liberal agenda – Canadian decision-makers were busy in the United States last week. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau kicked it off at the SEIU Quadrennial North American Convention, and Minister Mary Ng concluded the week at the CUSMA Free Trade Commission (FTC) meeting. The timing of these high level visits is no accident. They allowed the government to change the channel on some of the domestic issues dominating conversations here at home. Expect further visits with our southern neighbours amid growing political uncertainty in both countries. There are Mexican and United States presidential elections this year, which will increase pressure to ink some deals before any changes happen at the top.

Capital Gains Conundrum – After weeks of stakeholder pushback over their capital gains tax changes, the Liberals are trying to shift the attention to the opposition Conservatives. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland stated last week that the government would introduce separate legislation on the measures announced in her April budget. The Liberals hope this will force Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre into publicly taking a stand on the measure – something he has so far managed to avoid. Given the current legislative log-jam in the House of Commons, however, the chances of a showdown happening before the summer break are slim.

Podcasting to rise in the polls – Will millennial voters hit subscribe? – The Liberals have ramped up their social media game to promote their budget and to court the youth vote. According to Dan Arnold, the Liberals’ pollster during the last three campaigns, younger generations will make up 40 per cent of eligible voters in the next election. The Prime Minister is targeting the demographic by sitting down with popular podcasts and YouTube channels on issues like health care and cost of living. Will this strategy translate into electoral success? Only time will tell. But there is some renewed optimism on the government benches as a new survey from Abacus Data found that the Liberals have narrowed the Conservative lead among younger voters to five points since the budget.

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