Countdown to Summer
Your Look Ahead from Summa Strategies
- 6 minute read
The Latest
Top stories driving the news this week.
- Prime Minister Carney met with Taoiseach Martin to advance the Canada-Ireland partnership. The leaders focused on stronger cooperation across key sectors, including health systems and supply chains, artificial intelligence and food security.
- New polling from Angus Reid revealed that Manitoba’s Wab Kinew is Canada’s most popular premier, while Ontario’s Doug Ford is at the bottom of the list. Meanwhile, B.C.’s David Eby and Nova Scotia’s Tim Houston saw their approval ratings slip, contrasting with rising support for Newfoundland and Labrador’s recently elected premier.
- The opening of the newly constructed Gordie Howe Bridge between Canada and the U.S. has been delayed. This just days after Canadian officials announced the date of the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Prime Minister Mark Carney would only say that there were a “series of technical aspects” that the federal government will work through with the U.S.
- The Prime Minister announced a new intelligence and security agreement between Canada and France. It is intended to enable enhanced defence-industrial cooperation between the two allies.
- The Governor of the Bank of Canada does not believe that the country is in a recession. He admits the economy is weak, but points to the fact that it has not shrunk. The Conservatives have seized on Canada’s recent technical recession as a pivotal issue to criticize the government’s economic management.
In the House
Key Green Chamber business set to play out.
- Bill C-22, the Lawful Access Act, is at consideration in the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security.
- Bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act, is at second reading 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 in the Standing Committee on Finance.
- Bill C-31, the Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 2, is at consideration in the Standing Committee on Finance.
- Bill C-14, the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act, is currently awaiting Royal Assent.
- Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act (hate propaganda, hate crime and access to religious or cultural places), is currently awaiting Royal Assent.
- Bill S-5, the Connected Care for Canadians Act, is at second reading in the House of Commons.
Committee Updates
- FINA will meet on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday to study Bill C-30, the Spring Economic Update Implementation Act.
- JUST will examine Bill C-238 (restitution orders) today.
- PACP will review reports on ArriveCAN and professional services contracts today.
- NDDN will convene today to consider the nexus between national defence, national security, and Canada’s critical minerals.
- SRSR will work on reports on science policy, Chinese EVs, and research funding today.
- HUMA will study homelessness, housing starts, and a research award today.
- AGRI will work on their report on food security on Tuesday.
- FEWO will consider the labour force on Tuesday.
- ENVI will study Bill C-244 on Tuesday.
- OGGO will be briefed by the PBO, and analyze Buy Canadian Policies on Tuesday.
- SBLI will examine budget submissions on Wednesday.
In the Senate
Stay informed on events in the Upper Chamber.
- Bill C-20, the Build Canada Homes Act, is at second reading in the Senate.
- Bill C-16, the Protecting Victims Act, is at first reading in the Senate
- Bill C-32, Appropriation Act No. 2, is at third reading in the Senate
Committee Updates
- LCJC will hear from Justice Minister Sean Fraser regarding Bill C-16, the Protecting Victims Act, today.
- RIDR will study Bill C-234 (living donor recognition medal) today.
- SOCI will review Bill C-225 (criminal code amendment) today
- ENEV will work on their report concerning the Newfoundland and Labrador oil and gas industry on Tuesday and Thursday.
- AGFO will examine food security on Tuesday.
- NFFN will review supplementary estimates on Tuesday.
- BANC will meet on Wednesday.
In Case You Missed It
Your crib notes for last week’s top stories.
- U.S. President Donald Trump asserted that he is not looking to renew CUSMA. The President remains concerned about the trade deficit caused by Canada’s energy exports to the U.S.
- The Carney government tabled legislation to ban under-16-year-olds from social media. The details have left some experts questioning the efficacy of this measure and the privacy implications of age verification.
- Russia accused Canada of warmongering, following an agreement on drone production between Hamilton-based Sentinel R&D and the Ukrainian Airlogix. Russian officials allege that this will allow Ukraine to hide military supplies in a third country.
- A former Canadian chief of the defence staff warned that Canada should not pivot to China at the expense of our relationship with the U.S. He emphasized that geography matters and that strong lines of communication with the U.S. must be prioritized.
Provincial Updates
A look at the top news across the country.
- B.C. centrists met last week to discuss the revival of the defunct B.C. Liberal Party. They believe that there is a strong appetite for a party that bridges the divide between the right-wing cultural politics of the Conservatives and the free-spending ways of the NDP.
- Kerry-Lynne Findlay, the newly elected leader of the B.C. Conservatives, has appointed Chris Delany as her chief of staff. He is a businessman and anti-tax activist who previously led the B.C. Unity Party, which ran 56 candidates in the 2001 election.
- B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma said that the federal online harms legislation can’t come soon enough. She is highly supportive of the content, but believes it should go further in requiring AI companies to collaborate with police.
- Premier Wab Kinew will be reviewing regulations to make resource projects more viable in Manitoba. He said that any regulation not necessary for health and safety or constitutional obligations may be removed.
- Premier Danielle Smith is backing the federalist option in the Alberta independence referendum she initiated. However, many of her voters, party members, and even provincial UCP board members support separation.
- Premier Scott Moe touted his free market capitalist credentials at the Global Energy Show in Calgary. He expressed a desire for Western Canada to lead Canada toward global energy superpower status.
- Premier Doug Ford and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro have signed a new cooperation agreement. Amid tensions between their respective countries, the two jurisdictions will work more closely on critical minerals, the Great Lakes, manufacturing, and AI.
- According to sources, the White House voiced complaints about Premier Ford’s Washington reception with billionaire Ross Perot Jr., which was abruptly cancelled last week.
- Housing advocate Eric Lombardi has entered the Ontario Liberal leadership race. He joins former staffer Dylan Morando, former federal cabinet minister Navdeep Bains, and MPPs Lee Fairclough and Rob Cerjanec.
- The Ontario NDP has published a strategy for the forestry sector. They are criticizing decreased timber harvesting under Premier Ford, and urging government intervention to make lumber supply chains more viable.
- Quebec is reinstating the popular Quebec Experience Program immigration stream. This path to permanent residency was abolished by former Premier Francois Legault, which prompted mass protests.
- The Parti Québécois is committing to ending the Alto high-speed rail project if they form government in the election later this year. In response, the federal minister of transportation said that there will be no Alto without Quebec.
- Liberal Leader Charles Milliard accused the governing CAQ of being the ‘Noui’ camp in a potential sovereignty referendum. Many prominent CAQ figures are former Parti Québécois members who voted to break up Canada in 1995.
- The CAQ government under Premier Frechette is abandoning plans for a Quebec constitution. The idea was brought in during the former premier’s period of deep unpopularity and prompted serious concerns from civil society.
- New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement that industrial carbon pricing requirements would be relaxed for all provinces. She had previously supported a stricter regime to make polluters pay.
- Prince Edward Island has launched a new strategy to combat cyberbullying. Education, support, and prevention will be prioritized under this plan.
- After a two-month strike, 3600 long-term care workers in Nova Scotia have ratified a new agreement with the provincial government. The union secured a pay raise, wages for supervising and training students, and increased protection from layoffs.
What We're Watching
Find out what issues Summa consultants are tracking and why they matter.
Prime Minister Mark Carney skipped town early to head to Europe for the G7 Summit. The summit begins today in Evian-les-Bains, France, but the Prime Minister has been in Europe since last Thursday. His first stop was Ireland to meet with the Taoiseach, Michael Martin, and then to Paris to see President Macron. The trip is a part of Carney’s continued effort to build relationships abroad. It marks his ninth trip to the continent since his election just over a year ago.
The agenda at the G7 will focus on global economic imbalances, the war in Ukraine, critical minerals, and AI. The leaders have yet to come to a general consensus on how to regulate the fast-growing technology, though they did agree on a common set of principles. CUSMA negotiations may also come up, especially with President Trump’s threats last week to not renew the trade deal. All eyes will be on the Prime Minister to see if he can secure a bilateral talk with the President on the sidelines of the summit.
While a traditional joint communique is not expected, it will be telling to see what comes from the conversations this week.
With the House of Commons rising this week and the federal budget now set for the fall, the coming months carry significantly more advocacy weight than a typical summer.
The Finance committee’s pre-budget consultations wrapped up this spring, but the inputs that will shape the budget are still in motion. Finance Canada’s own public consultation has yet to launch, and ministers and regional Liberal caucuses will privately table their wish lists with Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne in the coming months. Over the summer, ministers will be touring the country and MPs will be working the local barbecue circuit to ensure national priorities align with the concerns of their constituents. The same logic applies provincially, where riding-level engagement in July and August will guide governments’ legislative agenda in the fall.
Clients should connect with their Summa team to determine how best to incorporate your priorities into political events and outreach near you.
Summa in Action
Our consultants continue to share insights and shape the conversation on today’s most pressing public policy and communications issues.
Subscribe to our Mailing List
Want to receive an update like this one every Monday that the House sits? Our Look Ahead will keep you in the know.