Canada’s foreign aid budget cuts hurt global health

The $2.7-billion cut places Canada’s reputation in jeopardy on the world stage, and will leave the most vulnerable to simply fend for themselves.
Canada at a crossroads as history repeats itself

We have not learned the lessons of 1995, when that NAFTA era budget dramatically reduced social spending and gutted the civil service. Once again, Canada is meeting a moment with a budget that abandons people and the environment to fuel corporate growth.
Liberals’ ‘quiet confidence’ the best move as budget ‘dominoes’ fall with the Conservative caucus count, say politicos

‘If you’re the Liberals, you let this play out,’ and don’t get in the way of any opposition mistakes that may ultimately ease the passage of the budget, says Summa Strategies’ Tim Powers.
Potential PCO intelligence cuts ‘counterintuitive and risky,’ say national security experts

The government’s effort to find savings by scrapping duplication risks undermining the country’s limited analytical capacity, says Stephanie Carvin.
MPs to vote on $10.8-billion spending boost in new estimates

The Canadian Dental Care Plan will receive the largest portion of the funds at $1.6-billion, with Indigenous Services, Crown-Indigenous Relations, and National Defence each requesting over $1-billion.
Proposed collective bargaining changes could ‘influence the opinions of arbitrators’ to consider feds’ fiscal situation: lawyer

The budget outlines plans to update the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations Act, which federal unions are criticizing as ‘vague’ and ‘concerning’ for its potential to infringe on workers’ rights.
Methane regulation is a climate-competitive home run

This year’s COP is a vital moment for Prime Minister Mark Carney to deliver on a key Canadian climate promise, showcase responsible energy development, and advance economic opportunities.
Feds focused on ‘streamlining’ programs, says health minister after budget fails to provide new money for mental health or substance use

Health Minister Marjorie Michel says that funds remain available through existing bilateral agreements and the Emergency Treatment Fund.
First budget in years to tackle Canada’s dismal performance in innovation and investment, but we could still fall short: need guardrails

We need to truly transform our economy when so much around us is changing so fast. We need an arm’s length council to independently monitor how well we’re doing, what works, and how we can do better.
Budget a step in the right direction, but fails to deliver on the ‘hype,’ say lobbyists

‘There’s been so much buzz that’s been generated around Build Canada Homes … about generational investments,’ says Homeward Public Affairs’ Jacob Gorenkoff, ‘and we definitely did not see those things in the budget.’