Parliamentarians Race to Summer While PM Races to France
Your Look Ahead from Summa Strategies
- 10 minute read
The Latest
Top stories driving the news this week.
- With the summer recess in sight, the government’s legislative agenda for the week of June 8 will begin with the last opposition day of the financial cycle before turning to Bill C-20, the Build Canada Homes Act, at report stage and third reading, on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the House will take up Senate amendments to Bill C-14, the bail and sentencing reform act, followed by the second reading of Bill C-26, a new housing supply bill, on Thursday.
- Former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour will be installed as the 31st governor general of Canada this morning. The ceremony will take place outside the Senate Building of Canada, featuring a 21-gun salute, poetry reading, and musical performance by two Canadian artists.
- The Parliamentary Budget Officer projects federal deficits will run $4.6 billion higher per year than the government’s spring update forecast, with this year’s deficit estimated at $71.8 billion. Finance Minister Champagne, appearing 15 minutes after the report dropped, replied “I stand by our projections” and pointed to OECD forecasts showing Canada growing at the second-fastest pace in the G7.
- PM Carney is expected to travel to France and Ireland starting June 11th, where he will meet French President Macron ahead of the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Évian June 15-17. Canada is the only non-European country to have joined the EU’s SAFE military procurement program, and Carney has prioritized deepening transatlantic ties as part of a broader strategy to reduce Canadian economic dependence on the United States. Watch for pre-summit announcements on AI governance, critical minerals, and NATO spending commitments.
- The federal government is planning to direct the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to remove its requirement for foreign streaming platforms to fund local news and niche broadcasters in Canada, according to the Globe and Mail. This comes after U.S. trade concerns regarding the Online Streaming Act, which became law in 2023, that forced foreign streamers, such as Netflix and Amazon, to fund Canadian cultural industries.
- Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre will deliver a speech in Calgary on Monday, where he will urge Alberta to remain in Canada while calling for new federal policies to address the concerns of separatists, according to CTV News.
- The Globe and Mail reports that a dozen Liberal MPs, speaking anonymously, are questioning PM Carney’s leadership style, citing dismissiveness and centralization of power in caucus. This follows the departure of MP Stephen Guibeault, and rumblings of discontent in the party’s environmental wing. Liberal Caucus Chair James Maloney has denied the accusations, calling them “absolutely false.”
- As Bill C-9 (the Combatting Hate Act) nears the end of its Senate journey, a controversy has erupted over 200,000 postcards opposing the bill that Senate authorities stored in a Gatineau warehouse rather than delivering to senators. Conservatives have fiercely opposed the bill, arguing the removal of a religious exemption from hate speech laws threatens religious freedom.
- Canada is potentially negotiating a mixed fighter fleet that could total more than 100 aircraft, retaining 72 to 88 F-35s while adding up to 72 Saab Gripen-Es to be built in Canada, potentially creating 9,000 jobs in what would be a significant domestic defence industrial undertaking. The recently announced GlobalEye surveillance aircraft purchase is being used as a “first step” to build the Saab supply chain needed for Gripen production. Some in the military have reservations about the deal, and the Gripen decision is seen in Ottawa as firmly in Carney’s hands, potentially to be used as a bargaining chip in CUSMA negotiations.
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 report stage in the House of Commons.
- Bill C-16, the Protecting Victims Act, is at report stage in the House of Commons.
- Bill C-25, the Strong and Free Elections Act, is at report stage in the House of Commons.
- Bill C-28, the Canadian Space Launch Act is at second reading in the House of Commons.
- Bill C-29, the Financial Crimes Agency Act, is at second reading in the House of Commons.
- Bill C-30, the Spring Economic Update 2026 Implementation Act, is at consideration at the Standing Committee on Finance.
- Bill C-31, the Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 2, is at consideration at the Standing Committee on Finance.
- Bill C-14, the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act, is at consideration in the House of Commons of amendments made by the Senate.
- Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act (hate propaganda, hate crime and access to religious or cultural places), is at consideration in the House of Commons of amendments made by the Senate.
- Bill S-5, the Connected Care for Canadians Act, is at second reading in the House of Commons.
Committee Updates
- NDDN will meet today to examine the nexus between national defence, national security, and the critical minerals sector.
- PACP will meet today to consider reports on cyber security of government networks,
- INDU will meet today to examine U.S. tariffs and the Canadian metallurgical sector, and financial fraud and scams in Canada.
- FINA will meet today to study Bill C-30.
- CHPC will meet Tuesday to examine the state of creative and performance spaces across Canada.
- OGGO will meet Tuesday to study the Buy Canadian policy.
- CHPC will meet Thursday to study the effects of influencers and social media content on children and adolescents, the state of the journalism and media sectors, and the state of creative and performance spaces across Canada.
- SRSR will meet Thursday to examine Canada’s dual use and defence research needs.
- ETHI will meet Thursday to study the connection between the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and Alto.
- SRSR will meet Monday, June 15 to examine governance and accountability of federal science policy, the Canada-China preliminary arrangement on the electric vehicle sector, and the impact of federal funding criteria on research excellence in Canada.
In the Senate
Stay informed on events in the Upper Chamber.
- Bill C-11, the Military Justice System Modernization Act, is at consideration at the Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans 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 awaiting royal assent.
- Bill S-5, the Connected Care for Canadians Act, is at second reading in the House of Commons.
Committee Updates
- SECD will meet today to hear from Minister McGuinty and senior DND officials on Bill C-11, An Act to amend the National Defence Act.
- APPA will meet Tuesday, June 9 to examine the duty to consult and accommodate Indigenous Peoples, hearing from witnesses including the Mining Association of Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.
- AGFO will meet Tuesday, June 9 to examine the role of the agriculture and agri-food sector in food security in Canada.
- ENEV will meet Tuesday, June 9 to examine issues relating to energy, environment, and climate change.
- SECD will continue study of Bill C-11 on Wednesday, June 10 and Thursday, June 11.
- APPA will meet Wednesday, June 10 to continue their study on the duty to consult, hearing from the Assembly of First Nations and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.
- NFFN will meet Wednesday, June 10 to continue study of the Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), hearing from Transport Canada, Health Canada, the Public Health Agency, VIA Rail, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
- TRCM will meet Wednesday, June 10 to hear from WestJet’s Chief Commercial Officer on transport and communications matters.
- ENEV will meet Thursday, June 11 in camera to consider a draft report on Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore petroleum industry.
- SOCI will meet Thursday, June 11 in camera to consider a draft report on the impact of artificial intelligence in Canada.
In Case You Missed It
Your crib notes for last week’s top stories.
- PM Carney launched Canada’s national AI strategy “AI for All” on June 4, committing over $2 billion toward sovereign compute, 250,000 new jobs, and a national AI literacy initiative. The NDP and labour groups criticized the strategy for lacking worker protections and job-loss estimates.
- The Trump administration proposed a new 10% tariff on Canadian goods on June 3 under Section 301, citing Canada’s alleged failure to enforce forced labour import bans. CUSMA-compliant goods appear exempt. Carney responded by committing to introduce forced labour supply chain legislation.
- The federal government has directed the CRTC to revisit its recent decision to triple the CanCon levy on streaming services to 15%, signalling concern over potential U.S. trade retaliation.
- The C.D. Howe Institute’s Business Cycle Council ruled it is too early to call a recession, despite two consecutive quarters of GDP decline, citing 88,000 jobs added in May and declining unemployment as countervailing indicators.
- The Bloc Québécois tabled a bill to repeal the Clarity Act this week, triggered by PM Carney’s statement that 50% plus one would not constitute a sufficient majority for secession. The Clarity Act requires that any provincial secession be supported by a clear majority on a clear question before the federal government is obligated to negotiate. The Liberals have signalled they will not support the repeal.
- Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc formally notified Washington and Mexico City this week that Canada seeks renewal of CUSMA ahead of the July 1 review deadline, traveling to Washington with chief negotiator Janice Charette to meet U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The U.S. has signalled it wants significant changes, including a 50% U.S. content requirement for vehicles and greater access to Canada’s dairy market, and has not yet included Canada in its bilateral talks with Mexico.
Provincial Updates
A look at the top news across the country.
- Minimum wage in British Columbia rose by 40 cents to $18.25 per hour on June 1st. The province says that the pay bump reflects average inflation in 2025.
- Kerry-Lynne Findlay, a former federal Conservative cabinet minister, won the BC Conservative leadership race on May 30, positioning herself as a grassroots outsider against what she characterized as the NDP’s “radical ideology” and “economic vandalism.” Findlay inherits a party still managing internal divisions following John Rustad’s caucus revolt and resignation last December, and enters the role under unresolved allegations of federal election wrongdoing which she has denied.
- BC ratified a new four-year Physician Main Agreement with Doctors of BC this week, backed by 91.8% of voting physicians, committing over $1 billion including $100 million in new funding to address doctor workloads, rural and remote care, maternity services, and gender pay equity among physicians.
- A new Ipsos poll shows support for Alberta separation has dropped to 18% , down 10 points from January with 72% of Albertans saying they would vote to stay in Canada ahead of the October 19 referendum.
- Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew blocked a proposed hyperscale AI data centre near Île-des-Chênes, south of Winnipeg, citing environmental concerns and limited economic benefit. The decision is notable given the federal government’s simultaneous push to expand AI compute capacity across Canada under the newly released AI strategy.
- Ontario’s legislature rose on June 2 for a 21-week break, not returning until October 27 – after sitting for only 30 days this spring following a 14-week winter break. The Ford government cited municipal elections as the reason for the extended adjournment.
- Ontario Treasury Board President Caroline Mulroney formally resigned from cabinet and the legislature on June 5 after eight years as MPP for York-Simcoe. Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy has been tapped as interim Treasury Board President, and Mulroney’s departure will trigger a byelection in York-Simcoe.
- Ontario’s Financial Accountability Office reported the province’s labour force shrank by 71,300 in Q1 2026, the steepest decline since records began in 1976, excluding pandemic lockdowns with major losses in manufacturing, retail, and food services. Youth unemployment rose to 15.9%
- Premier Ford defended his use of private charter flights this week after Global News reported taxpayers spent over $140,000 on five chartered trips in 2025, arguing that U.S. counterparts “think it’s a joke” that Ontario’s premier doesn’t have a dedicated government jet. The controversy follows Ford’s short-lived purchase and rapid resale of a $28.9 million Bombardier Challenger 650 earlier this spring after public backlash.
- PM Carney distanced himself from Premier Ford’s Billy Bishop Airport expansion plan this week, saying he has not formed an opinion and will wait for summer consultations, directly contradicting Ford’s claim that Ottawa is on board.
- Quebec’s health minister tabled legislation banning the sale of energy drinks to those under 16. The bill has support from all major parties except the Conservatives, whose sole MNA has threatened to block fast-track adoption before the legislature recesses June 12, potentially pushing it past the fall election.
- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith met with Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette in Quebec City this week, with both premiers signalling mutual interest in deepening provincial autonomy within Canada. Smith also pressed Fréchette on an east-west energy corridor, saying Fréchette has indicated openness to reopening that conversation. The meeting is notable given both provinces face active sovereignty movements ahead of fall votes.
- At the Quebec Liberal Party convention in Sherbrooke this weekend, leader Charles Milliard declared his party the province’s only clear federalist option, mocking CAQ divisions on sovereignty and promising tax cuts for SMEs, 100,000 new housing starts annually, and a stronger French language protection plan ahead of the October provincial election.
- A potential Unifor strike at Marine Atlantic is alarming Newfoundland businesses ahead of the June 8 conciliation deadline, with industry warning that 80-90% of the province’s fresh food arrives by ferry. Premier Wakeham is pressing Ottawa to maintain the essential service designation.
- Nova Scotia added a net 199 new doctors in the last fiscal year, up 10% over the prior year, with recruitment from the U.S. nearly tripling to 33 physicians, attributed in part to Canada’s political stability relative to the U.S.
What We're Watching
Find out what issues Summa consultants are tracking and why they matter.
All in on AI, and AI for All
The Carney government released its long-awaited AI strategy on Thursday, June 4th. Critics were harsh, alleging it lacked details on data privacy and diminished labour displacement concerns, in favour of large programs to expand adoption for businesses and Canadians. What’s next? Bills (legislation), bills (funding) and deals. PM Carney is off to Évian for the G7 Summit in nine days. The document outlines his desire to come back with more accords and MOUs in tow. At home, legislation will be introduced in the House of Commons (Privacy Act, consumer privacy reform and online harms legislation). While the calls for application to existing programs (CanCode, RAII and the CAF, etc.) will come down the pipeline quickly, we are watching closely for more details on the Canadian Tech Growth Fund and the sovereign wealth fund.
Claire Smith
Senior Consultant
Tick Tock on the Trade Clock
Canada iscalling for a 16-year renewal of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) as the formal joint review deadline of July 1, 2026, approaches. At this stage, reaching a renewedagreement before that deadline seems unrealistic.
If there is no agreement on the renewal process, CUSMA will be subject to annual reviews until 2036, adding further uncertainty to the future of the trade pact.
While the government and opposition benches go back and forth on whether Canada is in a full-blown recession, the economy’s sluggishness can be linked in large part to uncertainty around the CUSMA negotiations and related U.S. tariffs. The government might feel pressured to capitulate to the Americans on a few key sectors to jumpstart economic activity. However, public anger towards the Trump administration still lingers, and certain industry stakeholders would be outraged if they were part of any concessions.
As parliamentarians return to their ridings for the summer barbecue circuit, Prime Minister Mark Carney will face continued pressure to address the unchartered waters of trade uncertainty with our single largest trading partner –– at a time when the other side of the table becomes increasingly distracted by their own political cycle.
Ethan Letkeman
Research Consultant
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