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.
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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