Please Turn That Dial
Your Look Ahead from Summa Strategies
- 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.
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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