Parliament Returns: Housing, New Legislation & Economic Pressures Define Fall Session
Your Look Ahead from Summa Strategies
- 9 minute read
The Latest
Top stories driving the news this week.
- Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon will be speaking about the government’s priorities for the return of the House of Commons this morning at 9:30.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled Build Canada Homes in Ottawa yesterday, followed by a cascade of local echo announcements by cabinet ministers at construction sites across the country. The new entity, led by former Deputy Mayor of Toronto Ana Bailao, is designed to help scale up affordable housing development in Canada.
- The Carney government is expected to table legislation as early as tomorrow to clamp down on people who deliberately intimidate and obstruct individuals entering cultural community centres and places of worship. Sources have indicated that the legislation would create a new hate crime offence.
- During his caucus retreat in Edmonton last week, Prime Minister Carney laid out his priorities for the fall. Some key objectives he listed include launching a trade diversification strategy, accelerating housing construction, and a climate competitiveness plan.
- Prime Minister Carney will be meeting with his Mexican counterpart Claudia Sheinbaum this Thursday to discuss trade and investment.
In the House
Key Green Chamber business set to play out.
- Bill C-2, Strong Borders Act, currently sits at second reading.
- Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025), currently sits at second reading.
- Bill C-8, An Act respecting cyber security, amending the Telecommunications Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts, currently sits at second reading.
Committee Updates
- ETHI is meeting today for a briefing session with the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.
- OGGO will be meeting tomorrow for a meeting for a briefing with the Interim Parliamentary Budget Officer.
- SRSR will be meeting today and Wednesday to discuss the Impact of the Criteria for Awarding Federal Funding on Research Excellence in Canada.
- Several committees will be meeting this week to set their agendas in-camera. This includes ENVI, FEWO, HUMA, NDNN, SECU, SIND, and SRNN.
In the Senate
Stay informed on events in the Upper Chamber.
- The Senate will resume sitting on Tuesday, September 23rd.
- Bill S-202, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (warning label on alcoholic beverages) is currently under consideration in committee in the Senate.
- Bill S-203, Alcoholic Beverage Promotion Prohibition Act, currently sits at second reading in the Senate.
- Bill S-209, Protecting Young Persons from Exposure to Pornography Act is currently under consideration at committee in the Senate.
- Bill S-212, National Strategy for Children and Youth Act is currently under consideration at committee in the Senate.
Committee Updates
- None.
In Case You Missed It
Your crib notes for last week’s top stories.
- Last Thursday, the Carney government unveiled five projects that will be referred to the Major Projects Office (MPO) to help streamline regulatory approvals and structure financing. Carney also announced the MPO’s Indigenous Advisory Council last Wednesday.
- The federal government announced plans to launch an AI public registry to keep Canadians apprised on its growing use in the public service last Tuesday. Canada’s Chief Data Officer also indicated that the introduction of AI in the public service will lead to “some” job cuts.
- Following a comprehensive 60-day Red Tape Review, the Treasury Board released its progress report in which government departments identified nearly 500 initiatives to cut red tape. Government departments are expected to now implement these initiatives with the help of the Treasury Board.
- As part of the federal government’s plan to reduce program spending, Canada’s finance and procurement ministers have directed government officials to review all planned and existing federal contracts over the next 45 days to help identify ways to save money.
- South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Oceans is sweetening its pitch to Canada’s Navy by pitching various industrial technological benefit collaborations. The shipbuilder is one of two finalists competing to build the Royal Canadian Navy’s next fleet of submarines. German company Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems hosted the Prime Minister at their shipyard in late August.
- Last Tuesday, the federal government announced a nearly $29 million investment into the Edmonton-based Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii) in Edmonton to position the city as a major player in global AI advancements. This funding will help support AI research, commercialization, and a program to train workers in AI literacy
Provincial Updates
A look at the top news across the country.
- Vancouver-based mining company Teck Resources announced a $70 billion tie-up with London-based Anglo American. If approved, the deal would see the combined firm’s leadership based in Canada and $4.5 billion in spending commitments in Canada over a five year period.
- Last Friday, the British Columbia General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) indicated that it will implement an overtime ban at several Liquor Distribution Branch warehouses. This move expands the number of public servants taking job action as workers involved in the strike seek higher compensation.
- While expressing gratitude that two of the five “nation-building” projects are in B.C., Premier David Eby has indicated that he will be pushing for more fast-tracked B.C. projects in his meeting with the prime minister this week.
- Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Parliamentary Secretary Kody Blois concluded a 3-day trade mission to China last Tuesday. The trip focused predominantly on Chinese tariffs on Canadian canola. Premier Moe has called on Ottawa to drop its tariffs on Chinese EVs in hopes that Beijing will drop its canola tariffs.
- The Canada Infrastructure Bank has indicated that it is loaning $100 million to Cando Rail & Terminals to significantly expand rail capacity at its Sturgeon Terminal in Alberta.
- Last Wednesday, Alberta’s government announced that it will be providing $11 million to support the development of the Alberta Training Centre of Excellence for Aviation and Aerospace. This funding will help construct a 126,000-square-foot training facility which will help train more than 6,000 aviation professionals each year.
- Manitoba Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine has apologized for a controversial post she made in relation to the political assasination of American political activist Charlie Kirk. This makes it the second time Fontaine has had to apologize for her actions in a two month period.
- B.C.-based firefighting planes manufacturer Conclusion Airline claims that the Saskatchewan government has overpaid by $100 million for firefighting aircraft. The company is now asking a Saskatchewan court to overturn the contract the province signed with its competitor.
- Despite winning with 57 per cent support from OLP delegates, Ontario Party Leader Bonnie Crombie has resigned from her post until a viable successor is found. This comes after pledging to stay on just moments before her resignation.
- Ontario’s Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford announced that Ontario is investing $62 million to improve access to the Ring of Fire and northern Ontario communities. This investment comes following Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Mark Carney’s expressed interest in mining the various critical minerals located in the Ring of Fire.
- Last Thursday, over 10,000 full-time support workers from Ontario’s public colleges went to the picket lines following the College Employer Council’s decision to walk away from the negotiating table the previous evening.
- Canada’s largest construction union LiUNA has indicated that it will be leaving the Ontario Federation of Labour citing unfair treatment in comparison to other public unions.
- Last Wednesday, Québec Premier François Legault announced a major cabinet shuffle in an effort to boost his party’s popularity in-advance of the 2026 provincial election. Legault’s cabinet shuffle was met with criticism from Québec Solidaire who has dubbed the province’s new Treasury Board President the “minister of austerity”.
- René Homier-Roy, a legendary figure in Québec radio and television hosting, passed away over the weekend at the age of 85.
- Québec’s government has decided to pull all 1,200 of its Lion electric buses off the province’s roads following a Lion school bus fire that took place last Tuesday.
- Federal Industry Minister Melanie Joly indicated that the aluminium sector is expected to receive “hundreds of millions of dollars” from the $5 billion Strategic Response Fund. Nearly all of Canada’s aluminium production is located in Québec.
- Last Monday, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced an $80 million tariff-relief fund for small and medium-sized businesses in Atlantic Canada.
- Following the federal government’s designation of “Wind West” as a potential “project of national interest” Nova Scotia is seeking federal funding in the form of tax credits and low-interest financing from the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
- Nova Scotia Power is facing a $1-million fine from the Nova Scotia Energy Board after failing to meet its 14 performance targets. This makes it the eight consecutive year the utility has failed to meet the board’s performance targets.
- Last Thursday, New Brunswick inked a deal with the federal government to renew a $113-million agreement on French first-language education and second-language instruction.
- In advance of the yet to be called Newfoundland election, Premier John Hogan announced a plan to connect roughly 300 Newfoundland communities to high-speed Internet last Thursday.
What We’re Watching
Find out what issues Summa consultants are tracking and why they matter.
Back in Session – With the return of the House today, Prime Minister Mark Carney and his government want to hit the ground running. His biggest moment of the fall will be the long-awaited Budget 2025, which is expected to be tabled in the months ahead. The budget is expected to contain promised spending cuts, balanced against a plan to boost defence spending, as well as further measures to support Canadian industries hurt by international trade turmoil. Other important advancements to watch out for during the fall include bail reform legislation, the release of a new defence industrial strategy, and a ramp-up of preparations for the renegotiation of CUSMA in 2026. The fall parliamentary session will play out against a backdrop of rising unemployment, particularly for young people, and lingering public apprehension about the persistently high cost of living.
Opposition Watch – As Carney looks to advance his agenda in a minority parliament, political observers are wise to take note of the opposition’s priorities. Those issues often inform procedural negotiations, as well parliamentary committees’ studies and hearings on legislation. Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre (back in the House after a successful Alberta by-election win) outlined his party’s “to-do” list for the fall session, including a focus on affordability, rising unemployment, crime, and immigration. Bloc Québécois MPs have indicated that action on climate change will be their key priority this fall session, in light of the establishment of the Major Projects Office. The NDP will struggle to cut through the noise with their own message this fall, due to their small seat count and the distraction of the upcoming leadership race. While the new Liberal government under Carney has experienced an early honeymoon period, this fall’s session will be rockier, and test the Liberals’ discipline and parliamentary fortitude, as they try to pass legislation.
Capital Spending in the Capital – PM Carney recently signaled a two-pronged approach to his first budget: fiscal austerity, coupled with strategic investments. Selling this dueling messaging will be challenging to accomplish without alienating voters from both sides of the spectrum. A recent national survey from Abacus Data found that while most Canadians (57%) have a neutral/mixed reaction to the term “austerity budget,” there is a significantly chillier reception in Québec. More Québecers (39%) have a negative reaction to the term, while (38%) have a neutral/mixed reception and less than a quarter (23%) react positively. Given the significant role Québec played in delivering the Liberals’ large minority in April’s election, expect to see the government make careful efforts to get Québecers – and Canadians, coast-to-coast – on board with their paradoxical spending vision.
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