Policy Topics | Policy Briefings

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• Agriculture
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• Defence & Security
• Environment
• Finance
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• Infrastructure and Transport
• Innovation
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• Indigenous Relations
• Justice
• Labour & Employment
• Lobbying
• Natural Resources and Energy
• Women, Gender and Diversity

Labour and employment

Cost of living, housing the top priority for young voters, not Trump

NewsBY ELEANOR WAND

• In a federal election dominated by trade and sovereignty, generation Z is prioritizing affordability when casting their ballots, a recent Abacus Data poll suggests. 

Cost of living, housing the top priority for young voters, not Trump

NewsBY ELEANOR WAND

• In a federal election dominated by trade and sovereignty, generation Z is prioritizing affordability when casting their ballots, a recent Abacus Data poll suggests. 

Modernizing EI: an imperative in this era of uncertainty

OpinionBY DIANE BELLEMARE

Conservatives target labour vote as NDP support wanes, but union leader says there’s ‘no substance’ behind catchy slogans

NewsBY IREM KOCA

Anti-Black racism complaint bound for Canadian Human Rights Commission after court denies public service class action

NewsBY STEPHEN JEFFERY

Let’s celebrate the Canada Disability Benefit—but it must be strengthened

OpinionBY RABIA KHEDR, ISG SENATOR CHANTAL PETITCLERC

Are unions braced for the storm ahead?

OpinionBY STéPHANE LACROIX

‘Don’t make us compare you to Elon Musk’: public sector unions want job security assurances from feds as election looms

NewsBY STEPHEN JEFFERY

Basic income a proactive policy in difficult times

OpinionBY MANDY KAY-RAINING BIRD, WIL ROBERTSON

Unions seek government to fix Phoenix problems ‘once and for all’

NewsBY STEPHEN JEFFERY

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Homebuilding & Affordable Housing

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‘Don’t go in with a sledgehammer’: public service caps or cuts should be rational, targeted, says Savoie

NewsBY STEPHEN JEFFERY

• Public sector reform should look closer to Jean Chrétien’s Program Review than Donald Trump’s mass layoffs, says Université de Moncton professor Donald Savoie.

‘Don’t go in with a sledgehammer’: public service caps or cuts should be rational, targeted, says Savoie

NewsBY STEPHEN JEFFERY

• Public sector reform should look closer to Jean Chrétien’s Program Review than Donald Trump’s mass layoffs, says Université de Moncton professor Donald Savoie.

Military applications up amid Trump threats, global uncertainty, new recruiting strategies

NewsBY STEPHEN JEFFERY

‘Unprecedented national crisis’: relaxed hybrid work rules urged as public servants stare down tariff response workload

NewsBY STEPHEN JEFFERY

Provinces and territories must work together to eliminate barriers for persons with disabilities: report

OpinionBY BRITTANY FINLAY, JENNIFER ZWICKER

Sister cities under strain: U.S. steel tariffs threaten to divide Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., from its American twin city

NewsBY SOPHALL DUCH

Is Canada keeping pace with agricultural innovation?

OpinionBY ASIM BISWAS

Canada-U.S. farm ties in jeopardy

OpinionBY ASIM BISWAS

Digesting the need to eliminate internal trade barriers on food

OpinionBY JACQUES J.M. SHORE, SUZANNE SABOURIN

Evolution of Canadian agriculture and need for sustainable solutions

OpinionBY SAJI GEORGE

AGRICULTURE

Trade anxiety creates ‘unprecedented’ risk to agriculture, requires bold advocacy, says sector experts

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

We need to build back Canada’s agricultural future

OpinionBY CONSERVATIVE MP JOHN BARLOW

Canada must step up support for farmers and their critical role in climate mitigation and adaptation

OpinionBY NDP MP RICHARD CANNINGS

Problem-solving farmers need supportive government policies

OpinionBY CSG SENATOR ROB BLACK

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Biotechnology

Canada needs to catch up in the biotech sector

OpinionBY NDP MP RICHARD CANNINGS

Unlocking Canada’s greatest economic potential: life sciences

OpinionBY ALISON SYMINGTON, JASON FIELD

Canada’s biotech carpe diem

OpinionBY ANDREW CASEY

Harnessing the power of Canada’s growing biotechnology industry: a perspective from the West

OpinionBY STEPHANIE WILLERTH

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DEFENCE & SECURITY

Enhancing Arctic security a must to mount sovereignty defence

OpinionBY SENATOR REBECCA PATTERSON

Foreign interference didn’t damage our democratic institutions—our institutions did it to themselves

OpinionBY MARK JOHNSON

Navigating a new global era

OpinionBY ANDREW TZEMBELICOS

There goes the neighbourhood

OpinionBY SCOTT TAYLOR

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Environment

Unlocking the economic potential in Canada’s lands, forests, and waters

OpinionBY JASON RASEVYCH, MICHAEL TWIGG, SHAUGHN MCARTHUR

Trump: a suite of global dangers

OpinionBY BILL HENDERSON

Electrify everything!

OpinionBY GREEN PARTY LEADER ELIZABETH MAY

Trade war could ‘upend’ EV sector, Canada must argue for integrated market, says CEO of vehicle manufacturing group

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

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FINANCE

Alberta Premier Smith calls retaliatory tariffs ‘most harmful’ to Canadian business, wants CUSMA negotiation after federal election

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Canada’s productivity is declining. So how do we fix it?

OpinionBY JOSEPH INGRAM

The world waits to see how long Trump’s attack on the global economy can last

OpinionBY LES WHITTINGTON

Grits lead in polls for new Canadians’ support, but Tories can still gain traction as loyalties remain up for grabs, say researchers

NewsBY IREM KOCA

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Fisheries and oceans

B.C. suit says feds used consultations to justify ‘bad-faith’ Discovery Island salmon farming ban

NewsBY STUART BENSON

To protect nature, Canada must ratify the High Seas Treaty

OpinionBY SUSANNA FULLER

Feds’ plan for fish-farm transition no catch, say wild salmon, industry advocates

NewsBY STUART BENSON

Reconciliation that works for all in Canada’s fisheries

OpinionBY GENNA CAREY

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FOREIGN POLICY

Canada’s next government must stand up for humanity

OpinionBY SANA BéG

Canadian election outcome not of ‘pivotal strategic importance’ for China and India, say observers 

NewsBY NEIL MOSS

Trade talks more opaque after Canada’s foreign ministry cuts live briefings in wake of media leaks

NewsBY NEIL MOSS

Canada can be a leader in women’s health in South Sudan

OpinionBY TONIA OCCHIONERO

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health

UN disability rights report on assisted-dying regime deserves a fair hearing

OpinionBY CATHERINE FRAZEE

Renewed resolve: commit to DEI principles to advance health equity

OpinionBY NNAMDI NDUBUKA, JULIE SOBOWALE

Pharma, tech giants complained of Canada’s drug pricing system, digital service tax to U.S. trade rep

NewsBY STEPHEN JEFFERY

If you think that assisted dying in Canada is a mess, think again

OpinionBY JAMES DOWNAR AND JOCELYN DOWNIE

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Industry and Manufacturing

Future-proofing our manufacturing sector

OpinionBY GREG MOFFATT

Manufacturing sector and others lobbying hard for federal government support during 30-day tariff pause

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Strong ‘political will’ provides ‘catalyst’ to breakdown stubborn internal trade barriers, says Anand

NewsBY IAN CAMPBELL

Enhancing and protecting the historic Canada-U.S. relationship

OpinionBY FRANçOIS DESMARAIS

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infrastructure and transport

Public transit can’t wait for politics to catch up

OpinionBY MARCO D’ANGELO

More needed to protect communities from rail disasters

OpinionBY NDP MP TAYLOR BACHRACH

Navigating uncertainty: telecom’s essential role in securing Canada’s future

OpinionBY ROBERT GHIZ

So, we all agree on what needs to happen next: let’s talk about how to get it done

OpinionBY RODRIGUE GILBERT

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innovation

Canada’s talent dilemma: how to win the global innovation and technology race

OpinionBY JATIN NATHWANI, MUNUR SACIT HERDEM

Why retaliatory tariffs could cost lives and what we should do instead

OpinionBY JASON FIELD

Seizing the moment to grow Canada’s biomedical research enterprise as the U.S. falters

OpinionBY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, JOHN BERGERON, KATHLEEN DICKSON

Beyond Trump’s tariffs: return of geoeconomics and Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy

OpinionBY DAVID ABONYI, GEORGE ABONYI

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intergovernmental

A wrong is a wrong is a wrong: new CAQ bills attack minorities

OpinionBY ANDREW CADDELL

The West wants out? That’s not how this works

OpinionBY TIM POWERS

Liberals could pick up five to six seats in Alberta, but NDP’s bleed in votes could also help Conservatives, say strategists

NewsBY ABBAS RANA

In rural Quebec, the wave looks red

OpinionBY ANDREW CADDELL

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justice

Historic ‘Indian hospitals’ settlement a step forward for Canada

OpinionBY SOLOMON REECE

Black Justice Strategy’s 10-year plan ‘too little, too late,’ says NDP MP Green

NewsBY STUART BENSON

Time for Canada to step up as a human rights world leader

OpinionBY ODETTE MCCARTHY, JEAN-SéBASTIEN VALLéE

Top court could offer clarity on ‘open question’ of constitutional status of parliamentary privilege, say experts

NewsBY NEIL MOSS

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Labour & employment

Efficiency reviews, higher CAF salaries, procurement czars: Liberal leadership hopefuls’ public service promises

NewsBY STEPHEN JEFFERY

‘We’ve seen this movie before’: hold IRCC cuts until House resumes, union urges

NewsBY STEPHEN JEFFERY

Federal changes threaten post-secondary system

OpinionBY CYNDI MCLEOD

Liberals need middle-class housing plan to match Conservatives, says housing expert

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

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Lobbying

No ‘perfect’ solution in Carney asset disclosure calls, say law and political science experts

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

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

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT AND SERGIY SLIPCHENKO

Mexico and the U.S. play rough with public records and information regulators. What about Canada?

OpinionBY KEN RUBIN

Trade tensions with U.S. motivate economic lobbying in January

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

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natural resources and energy

There is no Team Canada strategy without Indigenous people

OpinionBY STEPHEN BUFFALO

Canada’s next move starts a few thousand feet below the ground

OpinionBY ALEX GRECO

Trump’s tariff barrage roils Canadian energy world

OpinionBY SHAWN MCCARTHY

What is suddenly, painfully clear: we need to get our own economic house in order

OpinionBY JAY KHOSLA, ARASH GOLSHAN

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Women, Gender and Diversity

‘I want to be the proof that the Canadian dream is alive,’ says country’s first female Turkish Canadian federal candidate

NewsBY IREM KOCA

Red-pill populism

OpinionBY ERICA IFILL

Invisible work: the unseen labour that powers Canada

OpinionBY LISE COURTEAU

Why gender parity matters in cabinet

OpinionBY ELIZABETH MCCALLION, REBECCA WALLACE

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Indigenous Relations

Questions that should be asked at the political leaders’ debates

OpinionBY ROSE LEMAY

AFN election priority report urges parties to make ‘clear, firm’ pledges to First Nations

NewsBY RIDDHI KACHHELA

Pen to paper: recent letter of intent formalizes plan to create Indigenous Peoples Space

NewsBY LAURA RYCKEWAERT

The ‘artificial border’ and how it can be corrected

OpinionBY ROSE LEMAY

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Upcoming Policy briefings

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Election promise tracker: key pledges parties are making this campaign

Election promise tracker: key pledges parties are making this campaign

The federal public servants running in election 2025

The federal public servants running in election 2025

Daily snapshots of the key ridings leaders are targeting on the campaign trail

Daily snapshots of the key ridings leaders are targeting on the campaign trail

Tracking federal parties’ Meta spending in the campaign

Tracking federal parties’ Meta spending in the campaign

New riding map gives Tories slight boost compared to 2021 election

New riding map gives Tories slight boost compared to 2021 election

This federal election could cost $570-million: Elections Canada

This federal election could cost $570-million: Elections Canada

Toronto top donor city for Carney, Freeland, and Gould’s Liberal leadership campaigns

Toronto top donor city for Carney, Freeland, and Gould’s Liberal leadership campaigns

Poilievre’s riding among seats with highest turnout in Liberal leadership race

Poilievre’s riding among seats with highest turnout in Liberal leadership race