Majority Rules in the House as Senate Vacancies Loom and the Defence Bank Comes to Canada
Your Look Ahead from Summa Strategies
- 9 minute read
The Latest
Top stories driving the news this week.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney is in Yerevan, Armenia, today for the European Political Community (EPC) summit. Canada is the first non-European nation invited to this security and infrastructure gathering. Carney is scheduled for bilateral meetings with various international leaders, including the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni.
- At the summit, the prime minister announced his government would commit $270 million to assist Ukraine in securing critical military capabilities.
- Canada has been selected as the host nation for the new Defence, Security and Resilience Bank following negotiations in Montreal. The institution is expected to provide long-term, low-cost financing for defence projects across as many as 40 NATO member states and allies.
- Senators are expressing concern about the growing list of vacancies in the upper chamber. There are six vacant seats in the Senate, and Mark Carney has yet to appoint any senators since taking office.
In the House
Key Green Chamber business set to play out.
- Bill C-22, the Lawful Access Act, is at consideration at the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security.
- Bill C-20, the Build Canada Homes Act, is at consideration at the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.
- Bill C-16, the Protecting Victims Act, is at consideration at the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.
- Bill C-11, the Military Justice System Modernization Act, is now at report stage in the House of Commons.
- Bill C-25, the Strong and Free Elections Act, is at consideration at the standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.
- Bill C-28, the Canadian Space Launch Act is at second reading in the House of Commons.
Committee Updates
- JUST will discuss Bill C-16, the Protecting Victims Act today.
- CIMM will host Minister Lena Metlege Diab to discuss the 2026 Auditor General Report on International Students Program Reforms today.
- NDDN will study Francophone and Indigenous Members of the Canadian Armed Forces today.
- PACP will study the 2026 Spring Reports of the Auditor General of Canada today.
- ETHI will study Main Estimates 2026-27 today.
- FINA will host the Governor of the Bank of Canada to discuss the Report on Monetary Policy today.
- INDU will host Minister Mélanie Joly to discuss Federal Government Electric Vehicle (EV) Policies today.
- SRSR will study Canada’s Dual Use and Defence Research Needs today.
- ENVI will be joined by Minister Nathalie Provost to discuss a Briefing on Canada’s Strategy to Protect Nature tomorrow.
- PROC will host Minister Steven MacKinnon to discuss Bill C-25, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act, tomorrow.
- OGGO will host Minister Joël Lightbound and Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali to discuss the Main Estimates 2026-27 tomorrow.
- CHPC will host Minister Marc Miller to discuss Main Estimates 2026-27 on May 7th.
In the Senate
Stay informed on events in the Upper Chamber.
- Bill C-13, An Act to implement the Protocol on the Accession of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, has completed third reading and is awaiting royal assent.
- Bill C-18, Canada-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement Implementation Act, is under consideration at the Standing Senate Committee for Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
- Bill C-14, the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act, is currently being reviewed by the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs.
- Bill S-202, Warning Label on Alcoholic Beverages, is at third reading in the Senate.
- Bill C-8, An Act respecting cyber security, is at consideration at the Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs.
- Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act (hate propaganda, hate crime and access to religious or cultural places), is at second reading in the Senate.
- Bill S-5, the Connected Care for Canadians Act, is at consideration at the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology.
Committee Updates
- RIDR will study the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Human Rights and Economic Security in Canada today.
- SECD will study Bill C-8, An Act respecting Cyber Security, amending the Telecommunications Act, today.
- NFFN will study the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2027 tomorrow.
- TRCM will study Opportunities and Challenges of Artificial Intelligence in the Information and Communication Technology Sector tomorrow.
- AGFO will study the Role of the Agriculture and Agri-Food Sector with Regard to Food Security in Canada tomorrow.
- ENEV will study Bill S-4, An Act to amend the Energy Efficiency Act tomorrow.
- BCAN (Special Joint) will study the Government’s Work Under the Building Canada Act tomorrow.
- AMAD (Special Joint) will study the Eligibility of Persons Whose Sole Underlying Medical Condition is a Mental Illness to Receive Medical Assistance in Dying tomorrow.
- VEAC will study Issues Relating to Veterans Affairs, including Veteran Homelessness and Housing on May 6th.
- LCJC will study Bill C-14, Bail and Sentencing Reform Act on May 6th.
- BANC will host the Governor of the Bank of Canada to study Banking, Commerce and the Economy on May 6th.
- SOCI will study the Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Canada on May 6th.
- APPA will study the Subject Matter of Bill S-241, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Indian Act on May 6th.
- BANC will study Access to Credit and Capital Markets for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises on May 7th.
- AEFA will study Bill S-214 and Issues Relating to Foreign Relations and International Trade on May 7th.
- LCJC will continue its study of Bill C-14, Bail and Sentencing Reform Act on May 7th.
- SOCI will continue its study on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Canada on May 7th.
In Case You Missed It
Your crib notes for last week’s top stories.
- The Spring Economic Update was tabled last week, giving Canadians their first insight into the priorities of a Carney majority government. Read some of our analysis here.
- With the Liberal government now commanding majority support in the House, they moved quickly last week to reconstitute parliamentary committees, asserting control over business unfriendly to the government. Several committees, including ethics, health, science and transport, subsequently moved ‘in camera’, concealing deliberations from the public.
- Prime Minister Carney announced the creation of Canada’s first-ever ‘Sovereign Wealth Fund,’ which will act as an investment vehicle to fund major projects. Starting with $25 Billion in seed money, Canadians will also be able to buy directly into the fund, reminiscent of this country’s Victory bonds during WWII.
- The Bank of Canada is keeping its key interest rate fixed at 2.25%, with Governor Tiff Macklem refusing to rule out future adjustments, saying that “monetary policy must be nimble.”
- Energy Minister Tim Hodgson announced that the government is developing a new Nuclear Energy Strategy for Canada to build energy security and competitiveness in the sector. The government says the strategy will be released by the end of 2026.
- Last week, Conservative MP Jamil Jivani led a delegation to Washington to deliver “the Conservative Party’s Team Canada message” on trade. Prime Minister Mark Carney dismissed the trip on Thursday, asserting that “there is one negotiator for Canada, and that is the Government of Canada.”
Provincial Updates
A look at the top news across the country.
- Families of the victims of the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting have filed a landmark lawsuit against OpenAI in California, alleging the company failed to alert Canadian authorities despite employees urging action regarding the shooter’s violent ChatGPT logs.
- Premier David Eby has dramatically scaled up the province’s “Look West” strategy, announcing that $88 billion in major projects are now slated to move forward. The accelerated plan aims to create tens of thousands of jobs over the next three years by doubling the initial list of priority infrastructure and investment developments first unveiled in late 2025.
- Premier David Eby confirmed that negotiations with the B.C. Nurses’ Union have stalled despite mediation, urging a return to the bargaining table to address high stress and safety concerns. The union is scheduled to hold a strike vote from May 8 to 11, citing insufficient wage gains and benefit reductions.
- Premier Wab Kinew announced that tech companies failing to comply with the province’s upcoming ban on social media and AI chatbots for children under 16 could face unprecedented “billion-dollar fines.”
- Elections Canada and the RCMP are investigating the Albertan “Centurion Project” separatist group for leaking the private data of three million voters online. The incident has triggered urgent calls from the Privacy Commissioner to close legislative gaps regarding political party data.
- Sunday marked the deadline for Alberta’s “Centurion Project” to collect signatures for a potential separation referendum. An Edmonton judge will rule this week on a challenge from Alberta First Nations alleging the petition infringes on treaty rights.
- Premier Doug Ford will hold a press conference this morning, after receiving backlash for the brief purchase of a private jet, transparency concerns, and sliding polling numbers. This will be the premier’s first press conference in two weeks.
- The Ontario government has announced a $1.6-billion investment to fund 79 school construction projects across the province. The plan aims to create over 29,000 new student spaces and 1,900 child care spaces, with $285 million allocated for seven new builds in the London area.
- The Ontario government’s controversial purchase and subsequent return of a $28.9-million private jet appears to have stalled Progressive Conservative momentum, with the latest Liaison Strategies survey showing the PCs (36%) trailing the Ontario Liberals (38%) for the first time in the firm’s monthly tracking.
- The premier is back from his mission to Michigan, where he received an honorary doctorate, while making his case for Canada-U.S cooperation in the face of retaliatory tariffs.
- The Ontario government faces an Opposition Day motion today targeting its move to limit public accountability. The motion demands that the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act be preserved to ensure the Act maintains jurisdiction over ministerial records.
- Domestic Security Minister Ian Lafrenière confirmed Friday that the government will introduce a version of “Clare’s Law” in the coming days. The bill would allow individuals to access a partner’s history of domestic violence to better protect those at risk.
- Quebec’s National Assembly resumes sitting tomorrow. New Premier Christine Fréchette is expected to lobby hard for Montreal to become host to the new multinational defence bank.
- The province is offering tax relief to approximately 75,000 small and medium-sized businesses to help them remain competitive.
- Newfoundland and Labrador’s new Progressive Conservative government tabled its first budget, an $11.5-billion plan titled “Opportunity for All of Us,” which projects a $688.5-million deficit for the 2026-27 fiscal year. The budget prioritizes increased health-care spending, tax breaks, and support for the offshore oil industry, but lacks a timeline for a balanced budget, forecasting escalating shortfalls of over $1 billion in the coming years.
- The federal Spring Economic Update allocated nearly $ 1 billion to repair and maintain small craft harbours. This is a critical file for Atlantic politics, with Acadie-Annapolis MP Chris d’Entremont saying that “a big chunk of that will come to southwestern Nova Scotia.”
- Hydro-Québec has launched a “Request for Information” to evaluate the supply and transmission of electricity generated by Nova Scotian offshore wind. This represents a move toward a “major energy corridor” in Eastern Canada, aimed at optimizing infrastructure costs and increasing grid resilience between the Atlantic provinces and Quebec.
What We're Watching
Find out what issues Summa consultants are tracking and why they matter.
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Claire Smith
Senior Consultant
Bank On It
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government achieved a major coup this week when it was reported, and later announced, that Canada was selected as the host nation for the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DRSB) headquarters. The news follows weeks of multilateral negotiations in Montreal. The DRSB will include as many as 40 countries, all NATO members, providing them with long-term, low-cost financing for defence and security projects.
For Carney, confirmation that the DRSB’s headquarters are located domestically is a significant victory, after one year of rhetoric touting Canada as a strategic country to invest in and an emerging global leader.
The joy of success comes with a thorn, with Carney now having to choose between Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Ottawa as the host city. All four cities have been aggressively lobbying for the DRSB’s headquarters and would be disappointed by the loss of economic activity and city prestige if they were passed over.
Ethan Letkeman
Research Consultant
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