Digital services tax retreat risks showing ‘Canada will fold’ in Trump trade talks, warn experts

The DST has long been a sticking point in Canada-U.S. relations, after the Liberals tried to close what they saw as a loophole for American firms raking in millions of dollars in Canada without paying taxes.

Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc, left, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne at a press conference in the West Block on June 19, 2025. Carney has defended eliminating the DST, saying negotiations had restarted with the U.S. as of June 30. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Digital services tax retreat risks showing ‘Canada will fold’ in Trump trade talks, warn experts

NewsBY MARLO GLASS

The DST has long been a sticking point in Canada-U.S. relations, after the Liberals tried to close what they saw as a loophole for American firms raking in millions of dollars in Canada without paying taxes.

Digital services tax retreat risks showing ‘Canada will fold’ in Trump trade talks, warn experts

NewsBY MARLO GLASS

The DST has long been a sticking point in Canada-U.S. relations, after the Liberals tried to close what they saw as a loophole for American firms raking in millions of dollars in Canada without paying taxes.

THE LATEST

Queer Senators now outnumber MPs on Pride Caucus, as group looks to include allies

NewsBY ELEANOR WAND | UPDATED TODAY, 12:45 pm

Having a historic six openly queer Senators 'comfortable' with their identities and 'not shy to say that they're out' is a step forward for representation, says Senator René Cormier, one of the founders of the now 10-member group.

Queer Senators now outnumber MPs on Pride Caucus, as group looks to include allies

NewsBY ELEANOR WAND | UPDATED TODAY, 12:45 pm

Having a historic six openly queer Senators 'comfortable' with their identities and 'not shy to say that they're out' is a step forward for

Finance Canada to boost spending 10 per cent by 2027 as debt costs, transfers rise

NewsBY PETER MAZEREEUW

Finance Canada to boost spending 10 per cent by 2027 as debt costs, transfers rise

NewsBY PETER MAZEREEUW

Spy agency threat assessment singles out China for ‘aggressive cyber program’

NewsBY MARLO GLASS, RIDDHI KACHHELA

CSE says China targets Canadian law-makers, media, pro-democracy activists, and diaspora communities—and reported that Canadian members on the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China were subjected to cyber attacks in 2021.

CSE says China targets Canadian law-makers, media, pro-democracy activists, and diaspora communities—and reported that Canadian members on the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China were subjected

PSPC’s three-year $17.5-billion spending plan lacks clear roadmap to future goals, say insiders

NewsBY IREM KOCA

With billions on the line and a track record of failed targets, how PSPC plans to deliver on its goals is unclear from its recent departmental plan. 'Fact is, if the department can’t meet the expectations of delivery for this new government, then heads will roll,' says Sahir Khan.

With billions on the line and a track record of failed targets, how PSPC plans to deliver on its goals is unclear from its

New DND plan gives extra seven years to meet army and navy readiness targets, lowers air force aims

NewsBY NEIL MOSS | UPDATED July 2, 2025

Canada is injecting billions of dollars into its military establishment, but questions remain over whether the added funds will see it meet more 'realistic' readiness targets in 2032.

Canada is injecting billions of dollars into its military establishment, but questions remain over whether the added funds will see it meet more 'realistic'

POLITICS THIS MORNING

Under pressure

Plus, digging into Finance Canada’s plan for 2025-26.

BY PETER MAZEREEUW, RIDDHI KACHHELA

OPINION & COLUMNISTS

Today Tuvalu, tomorrow the world

Almost one-third of the South Pacific island’s 10,000 residents entered a lottery whose 280 lucky winners would get a special climate-change visa that entitles them to live in Australia.

BY GWYNNE DYER

Opinion

BY JENNIE Z. YOUNG, JULIAN KARAGUESIAN

Canada’s economic future runs on brain power

Opinion

BY PETER NICHOLSON, RICK SMITH

Connecting regional electricity grids should be Canada’s top nation-building project

Opinion

BY LES WHITTINGTON

The failed $5-billion program the feds can’t shake

Opinion

BY BHAGWANT SANDHU

Carney’s China challenge requires a foreign policy reset

NEWS

House and Senate steering committee members named

ListBY PETER MAZEREEUW

All but four parliamentary committees have chosen their chairs. Of the 26 House committees, Liberal MPs are chairing 21 and Conservatives are heading four.

House and Senate steering committee members named

ListBY PETER MAZEREEUW

All but four parliamentary committees have chosen their chairs. Of the 26 House committees, Liberal MPs are chairing 21 and Conservatives are heading four.

PCO forecasts $64-million cut, dropping 64 staff over next three years

NewsBY PETER MAZEREEUW

‘What is being promised?’: NDP, labour call for more transparency in trade talks with Trump

NewsBY NEIL MOSS

Federal fish science analyses continue to muddy the waters in salmon farm fight

NewsBY STUART BENSON

Report forecasts ‘worst cuts to public service in modern history’ to meet Carney’s campaign pledge

NewsBY MARLO GLASS

HILL LIFE & PEOPLE

Parliamentary Calendar

Calgary Stampede kicks off on July 4

Podcast

A military spending spree, with David Perry

News

The Hill Times’ Top 100 Lobbyists in 2025: lobbyists prepare for ‘significant reset’ as federal election begins

News

All eyes on Trump: meet the top 50 foreign policy influencers navigating Canada’s role in a rocky world

Podcast

The crisis of Canadian democracy, with Andrew Coyne

Insider’s Guide to Parliament: 2025

Policy Briefing – Infrastructure

Policy Briefing – EVs and EV Infrastructure

Policy Briefing – Environment

HILL LIFE & PEOPLE

McPherson fans launch website to support her NDP leadership bid

FeatureBY RIDDHI KACHHELA, PETER MAZEREEUW

Plus, Carney to meet with auto industry execs in Ottawa.

McPherson fans launch website to support her NDP leadership bid

FeatureBY RIDDHI KACHHELA, PETER MAZEREEUW

Plus, Carney to meet with auto industry execs in Ottawa.

Wellington Building renovations force temporary press theatre relocation

FeatureBY CHRISTINA LEADLAY

Well, look who’s turning 158: Happy Canada Day, eh!

Carney to trigger the Alberta byelection

FeatureBY RIDDHI KACHHELA

From Balls Creek ‘boom girl’ to the Decision Desk: CBC ‘legend’ Sharon Musgrave says farewell

FeatureBY STUART BENSON

POLITICS

‘No apologies for that one’: recently retired Senator Marc Gold talks nine years in the Chamber

FeatureBY LAURA RYCKEWAERT

Is Trump protecting tech billionaires in U.S. fight with Canada over digital services tax?

OpinionBY ERROL MENDES

Carney could ‘weed out bad apples’ with his high expectations for federal public service

NewsBY MARLO GLASS

Canadians like what they hear so far on affordability and U.S. trade war, but Carney will have to deliver results soon, say pollsters

NewsBY ABBAS RANA

What comes next on Canada-EU defence pact?

FeatureBY RIDDHI KACHHELA, PETER MAZEREEUW

Plus, the Red Chamber greenlights the feds’ contentious Bill C-5.

What comes next on Canada-EU defence pact?

FeatureBY RIDDHI KACHHELA, PETER MAZEREEUW

Plus, the Red Chamber greenlights the feds’ contentious Bill C-5.

THE HILL TIMES NEWSPAPER

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

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Monday, June 30, 2025

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Wednesday, June 25, 2025

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OPINION & COLUMNISTS

Opinion

BY JAYSON MYERS

Homebuilding is ready for its tech makeover

Opinion

BY STéPHANE PAQUET, JACQUIE GRIFFITHS

Certainly in chaos: Canada’s path to unshakable leadership

Opinion

Recent HT articles are fresh air in stale media landscape, says reader

Letter writer: Mark Carney is a leader worth following

Opinion

AI action plan: rewiring government for public good

OpinionBY ALEXANDER LANDRY, BRENDAN CONWAY-SMITH

Ecuador: from chaos to sustained growth

OpinionBY ESTEBAN CRESPO POLO

Challenges remain, but Ecuador has crossed a threshold. It no longer tolerates excuses. It is no longer waiting for rescue. It is rebuilding from within.

Ecuador: from chaos to sustained growth

OpinionBY ESTEBAN CRESPO POLO

Challenges remain, but Ecuador has crossed a threshold. It no longer tolerates excuses. It is no longer waiting for rescue. It is rebuilding from within.

Canadians’ right to a healthy environment is already being tested

OpinionBY LYNDIA DERNIS, JANE MCARTHUR

National dental care program is likely more costly than advertised

OpinionBY MATTHEW LAU

EDITORIAL CARTOON BY DE ADDER

de Adder’s Take: 07-02-2025

de Adder’s Take: 06-30-2025

de Adder’s Take: 06-25-2025

Public Service

PSPC’s three-year $17.5-billion spending plan lacks clear roadmap to future goals, say insiders

With billions on the line and a track record of failed targets, how PSPC plans to deliver on its goals is unclear from its recent departmental plan. 'Fact is, if the department can’t meet the expectations of delivery for this new government, then heads will roll,' says Sahir Khan.

BY IREM KOCA

The failed $5-billion program the feds can’t shake

With the deployment of 200 people and the use of AI in some instances, the Phoenix backlog is gradually coming under control, but a new, unexpected problem has arisen.

BY LES WHITTINGTON

Here are some ways to revolutionize the federal government for tomorrow’s challenges

The federal government needs to stop hiring generalist policy writers and start hiring experts in their field, and then hire managers and leaders with people and management expertise. That’s how we modernize this government.

BY ROSE LEMAY

F-35 audit a costly reminder to make bureaucrats accountable

The public service needs a culture of outcomes, not optics. That means making executives accountable, and, yes, having the courage to dismiss those who fail in ways that cost Canadians millions.

BY RAM MATHILAKATH

PSPC using an AI bot named ‘Ava’ to help clear Phoenix pay system backlog

With about 450,00 outstanding cases tied to the faulty pay system, an artificial intelligence virtual agent is tasked with clearing 160,000 over the next 15 months.

BY MARLO GLASS

FOREIGN POLICY

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Bangkok protests, Iran airstrikes, and stupid old men

OpinionBY GWYNNE DYER

NATO summit ‘not a disaster’ on the Trump front, but a ‘piece of theatre’ otherwise

NewsBY RIDDHI KACHHELA

The real Mark Carney is about to emerge

OpinionBY DOUGLAS ROCHE

Flawed in principle and practice: why Canada must say no to Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’

OpinionBY CESAR JARAMILLO

Iran’s uranium enrichment: myths, realities, and what Canada should understand

OpinionBY ERIKA SIMPSON, GORDON EDWARDS

Canadians deserve an informed debate about the potential proliferation dangers of these new reactor designs, especially as the intention is to export them around the world.

Iran’s uranium enrichment: myths, realities, and what Canada should understand

OpinionBY ERIKA SIMPSON, GORDON EDWARDS

Canadians deserve an informed debate about the potential proliferation dangers of these new reactor designs, especially as the intention is to export them around the world.

BOOKS, BIG IDEAS, Q&As

Reconciliation starts local, says author of guide book for non-Indigenous allies

FeatureBY STEPHEN JEFFERY

Rose LeMay says it's 'up to non-Indigenous people to change these systems so that Indigenous Peoples are not treated worse than others.'

Reconciliation starts local, says author of guide book for non-Indigenous allies

FeatureBY STEPHEN JEFFERY

Rose LeMay says it's 'up to non-Indigenous people to change these systems so that Indigenous Peoples are not treated worse than others.'

Poilievre is a ‘classic political ripper,’ says author of new bestselling biography

FeatureBY KATE MALLOY

Bruce Fanjoy, the man who broke Poilievre’s spell on Carleton, Ont., says he won by door knocking and listening

NewsBY IREM KOCA

Pope Francis was one of the most ‘electrifying papacies in centuries,’ says author of book on pontiff’s life and influences

FeatureBY STEPHEN JEFFERY

Q&A | Unpacking the ‘astonishing’ swing in federal polls with Frank Graves

FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW

How AI regulation can drive Canada’s economic future

OpinionBY GILLIAN HADFIELD

AI and Digital Innovation Minister Evan Solomon. Achieving Canada’s ambitious goals for AI will take more than simply building on the world-leading advances in AI technology that this country helped produce, writes Gillian Hadfield. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

How AI regulation can drive Canada’s economic future

OpinionBY GILLIAN HADFIELD

How AI regulation can drive Canada’s economic future

OpinionBY GILLIAN HADFIELD

Turning goals into results

OpinionBY MICHAEL HATFIELD

In a country of many competing interests and multiple governments, getting them all to co-ordinate their activities to achieve the ambitious goals outlined at the beginning of this piece will be complicated and difficult.

What to do about youth unemployment?

OpinionBY ABDUL ABBASI, MATTHEW GERRITS, HANNAH HUNTER

The scale of the problem requires more innovative policy solutions.

Saskatchewan Senator pushes for a national emergency response agency to fight wildfires

NewsBY ELEANOR WAND

Under Canada’s current system, provincial and territorial governments have jurisdiction over emergency responses, but as out-of-control wildfires continue to burn, some are pushing again for a national FEMA-like agency to lead the response.

Wildfires burning across the country, including in Manitoba, pictured, have experts and governments looking to solutions to improve future wildfire responses. Photograph courtesy of the Government of Manitoba

Saskatchewan Senator pushes for a national emergency response agency to fight wildfires

NewsBY ELEANOR WAND

Under Canada’s current system, provincial and territorial governments have jurisdiction over emergency responses, but as out-of-control wildfires continue to burn, some are pushing again for a national FEMA-like agency to lead the response.

Saskatchewan Senator pushes for a national emergency response agency to fight wildfires

NewsBY ELEANOR WAND

Under Canada’s current system, provincial and territorial governments have jurisdiction over emergency responses, but as out-of-control wildfires continue to burn, some are pushing again for a national FEMA-like agency to lead the response.

Israel marks national day

FeatureBY SAM GARCIA

Guyana hosts June fête

FeatureBY SAM GARCIA

If Carney wants to transform the economy, he needs to fix the housing crisis

OpinionBY TIM RICHTER, PEDRO BARATA, JANICE MYERS, RAY SULLIVAN

Whether it’s attracting investment, ensuring labour mobility, or improving productivity, housing is what makes economic growth and transformation possible.

THE LATEST POLICY BRIEFINGS

Indigenous Relations

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Natural Resources

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Canada Part I: Interprovincial Trade & Labour

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features

Large shuffle to public service expected once Sabia takes PCO reins

NewsBY MARLO GLASS

Former federal public servant David McLaughlin says Prime Minister Mark Carney's recent civil service appointments are only the beginning of a larger shuffle of senior officials.

Large shuffle to public service expected once Sabia takes PCO reins

NewsBY MARLO GLASS

Former federal public servant David McLaughlin says Prime Minister Mark Carney's recent civil service appointments are only the beginning of a larger shuffle of senior officials.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Canadian International Council hosts talk on economic diversification in the age of Trump on June 25

Parliamentary Calendar

National Indigenous History month event featuring author Phyllis Webstad happening at Library and Archives Canada on June 26

Podcast

Making sense of the ‘Building Canada Act’, with Elizabeth May

feature

The Hill Times’ Top 100 Best Books in 2024

List

Meet Carney’s parliamentary secretaries, half of whom are rookie MPs

Podcast

The return of Parliament, with Sheila Copps

Policy Briefing – Health

Policy Briefing – Defence

Policy Briefing – Renewable Energy

Policy Briefing – CANADA: Interprovincial Trade & Labour

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A community for political junkies

The Hill Times subscribers are not your average Canadians, they don’t just want to
read the headlines, they want the full back story, the context and the implications.

EXCLUSIVE LISTS

The 19 entities asking for the biggest spending boosts in the 2025-26 main estimates

Meet Mark Carney’s 38-member senior team

The salaries of Carney’s cabinet and secretaries of state

Who’s in and who’s out of Carney’s post-election cabinet?

MPs, Senators get a salary boost, Carney will now earn $419,600, Scheer $308,800, and Blanchet $280,600

Grits and Tories dominated the 109 safest seats this election

Tories strip five Ontario ridings of bellwether status, while 29 seats remain

The election outcomes for Mark Carney’s first cabinet

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Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

Post

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

Post

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

Post

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

Post

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

Post

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

Finance & Budget

Finance Canada to boost spending 10 per cent by 2027 as debt costs, transfers rise

The department plans to spend $150-billion this fiscal year, up more than $14-billion from three years ago.

BY PETER MAZEREEUW

PSPC’s three-year $17.5-billion spending plan lacks clear roadmap to future goals, say insiders

With billions on the line and a track record of failed targets, how PSPC plans to deliver on its goals is unclear from its recent departmental plan. 'Fact is, if the department can’t meet the expectations of delivery for this new government, then heads will roll,' says Sahir Khan.

BY IREM KOCA

Q&A | New five-per-cent NATO target ‘achievable’ if Canada is ‘smart about it,’ says David Perry

Canada has pledged to meet the new NATO target of spending five per cent of GDP on defence.

BY PETER MAZEREEUW

Breaking down C-5: Carney’s ‘build, baby, build’ bill draws support from business sector, but heavy pushback from environmental, Indigenous groups

Bill C-5's two major components seek to address internal trade barriers, and to fast-track national interest projects.

BY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Canada’s government and banks are stuck on oil—and this is a problem

Economic success will only succeed if we become an innovation nation, not a petrostate. We have great talent in Canada and many ambitious entrepreneurs with world-class ideas. That is where we should be putting our economic muscle. And this is Carney’s test.

BY DAVID CRANE

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez said the national supply chain office “will enhance the resilience, efficiency, and reliability of our transportation systems,” in a Transport Canada press release on Dec. 1, 2023.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.