Policy Topics | Policy Briefings

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• Agriculture
• Biotechnology
• Defence & Security
• Environment
• Finance
• Fisheries and Oceans

• Foreign Policy​
• Health
• Industry and Manufacturing
• Infrastructure and Transport
• Innovation
• Intergovernmental

• Indigenous Relations
• Justice
• Labour & Employment
• Lobbying
• Natural Resources and Energy
• Women, Gender and Diversity

Labour and employment

The feds found money fast for a GST holiday—why not for the years-promised Canada Disability Benefit?

OpinionBY MICHELLE HEWITT, LUCA PATUELLI

• If billions can suddenly be found for untargeted giveaways, why has the CDB been relegated to fiscal crumbs?

The feds found money fast for a GST holiday—why not for the years-promised Canada Disability Benefit?

OpinionBY MICHELLE HEWITT, LUCA PATUELLI

• If billions can suddenly be found for untargeted giveaways, why has the CDB been relegated to fiscal crumbs?

Liberals break pledge to table forced labour bill in 2024

NewsBY NEIL MOSS

Investing in youth is essential for Canada’s future

OpinionBY KAREN MYERS

Always leave them wanting more: Fraser tops All Politics Poll as he looks to exit federal politics

NewsBY SOPHALL DUCH

Closing housing gap ‘not going to happen’ by 2030, but steps being taken in right direction, says Canadian Home Builders’ Association CEO

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

The Disability Tax Credit is a barrier to the Canada Disability Benefit

OpinionBY RABIA KHEDR, CONSERVATIVE SENATOR JUDITH G. SEIDMAN

‘Enough is enough’: Black federal civil servants, unions accuse Liberals of ‘wasting’ time on tackling anti-Black racism

NewsBY SOPHALL DUCH

Some departments ‘stopping the clock’ to prevent contract workers from becoming permanent public service staff

NewsBY SOPHALL DUCH

As fourth province signs on, Families Minister Sudds defends school food program

NewsBY STUART BENSON

MOST RECENT POLICY BRIEFINGS

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Affordable Housing

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Climate change, housing needs of Northern Canada require tailored funding model based on more than population, say Idlout and Simpson

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

• 'There are often programs rolled out for Canada, but they don't take into account the fact that the North is so different,' said N.W.T Premier R.J. Simpson.

Climate change, housing needs of Northern Canada require tailored funding model based on more than population, say Idlout and Simpson

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

• 'There are often programs rolled out for Canada, but they don't take into account the fact that the North is so different,' said N.W.T Premier R.J. Simpson.

Why future-ready affordable housing can’t wait

OpinionBY SHAIMAA YASSIN, CHERISE BURDA, RUNA DAS

Trudeau’s reset options dwindle as government puts itself above Parliament

OpinionBY MICHAEL HARRIS

Youth unemployment crisis is an $18.5-billion opportunity

OpinionBY FARAH MOHAMED

House filibuster is putting money for military, dental care, and keeping the government lights on at risk

NewsBY SOPHALL DUCH

Canadian horses’ suffering continues beyond anniversary of ministerial mandate letter

OpinionBY KAITLYN MITCHELL

Canola industry urges more support for domestic biofuels sector in November, amid trade tensions with China

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Liberals hear health, budget, environment concerns from July to October, with Conservatives targeted for finance, transport

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Passing the supply management law would only maintain inflated dairy prices

OpinionBY JEROME GESSAROLI

AGRICULTURE

‘It’s inviting retaliation’: Bloc supply management bill will have Canada bracing for U.S. response, say trade watchers

NewsBY NEIL MOSS

Egg farming’s future rooted in supply management

OpinionBY ROGER PELISSERO

The cornerstone for peace is food, but armed conflicts wipe out livelihoods and agri-food systems

OpinionBY RATTAN LAL, MANUEL OTERO

Voluntary grocery code of conduct short on fair dealing enforcement provisions, says NDP agriculture critic

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

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Biotechnology

Biotechnology momentum in Canada needs infusion of talent and anchor firms, say industry reps

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

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

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DEFENCE & SECURITY

Military retention bonuses equal common sense

OpinionBY SCOTT TAYLOR

Civil servants and the public ‘will suffer’ without moving bill on whistleblower protection, says Centre for Free Expression director

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Canada’s border crisis: how we got here, and what to do next

OpinionBY KELLY SUNDBERG

Time for a foreign legion

OpinionBY SCOTT TAYLOR

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Environment

First Nations chiefs shouldn’t be duped by ‘nuclear-is-green’ deception

OpinionBY WILLIAM ERIC ALTVATER

Welcome to ‘uncharted territory’

OpinionBY GWYNNE DYER

Canada must lead the fight against plastic pollution

OpinionBY JOSH LAUGHREN

What Canada needs in its next prime minister

OpinionBY JOSEPH INGRAM

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FINANCE

Liberals’ legacy of legalized cannabis at risk as hopes for tax relief ‘slim to none’ before next election: industry

NewsBY STUART BENSON

Lost federal revenue, property, money jumps to $649.5-million in 2023-24: Public Accounts

NewsBY LAURA RYCKEWAERT | UPDATED January 14, 2025

Feds spent a record $20.7-billion on outsourcing contracts last fiscal year

NewsBY IREM KOCA

Questions remain about how Liberals missed deficit target by over $20-billion, says PBO

NewsBY IAN CAMPBELL

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Fisheries and oceans

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

Federal resource management decisions undermine collective power of community-based fisheries 

OpinionBY COURTNEY GLODE

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FOREIGN POLICY

From affordability to accountability: political leaders navigate the Trump era of chaos

OpinionBY JOSIE SABATINO

New year, new anxieties

OpinionBY TIM POWERS

Hosting G7 summit will be first global test for a new prime minister

NewsBY NEIL MOSS

Two-nation partnership that was a beacon of trust in a fractious world goes down Trump’s drain

OpinionBY LES WHITTINGTON

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health

Canada needs a complete pandemic preparedness strategy

OpinionBY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, JOHN BERGERON AND KATHLEEN DICKSON

Non-profit cancer groups covering costs where ‘universal’ health system fails 

OpinionBY KATHLEEN BARNARD, LOUISE BINDER

We can end the HIV epidemic, but Canada is falling behind global targets

OpinionBY GRACE CHIUTSI, THARANI NAPPER

Bridging the gap between science and policy for precision medicine

OpinionBY PIERRE D. SARR

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Industry and Manufacturing

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

OpinionBY FRANçOIS DESMARAIS

Right to repair legislation is a chance for Senators to address affordability

OpinionBY JF CHAMPAGNE

Feds’ purchasing power can push carbon removal innovation

OpinionBY LUCY HARGREAVES, ED WHITTINGHAM

CRTC says decision on Google’s Online News Act exemption expected this fall

NewsBY SOPHALL DUCH

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infrastructure and transport

It’s time to close the infrastructure gap for Indigenous communities

OpinionBY DONNA BIG CANOE

Q&A | Taking on Canada’s affordable housing crisis

FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW

It’s not promises that build the economy—it’s construction

OpinionBY RODRIGUE GILBERT

Poilievre takes aim at Housing Accelerator Fund despite representing a city that’s already received $44-million from it

NewsBY SOPHALL DUCH

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innovation

Trudeau’s legacy for sound science policy tied to efforts early in Liberal mandate

OpinionBY PAUL DUFOUR

A unique research and innovation partnership celebrates three decades: South Africa and Canada move forward with a renewed vision

OpinionBY PAUL DUFOUR, MICHAEL KAHN

The great American brain drain: is Canada ready?

OpinionBY MATTHEW LEBO

Big Three ‘competition’ not what it seems

OpinionBY PAUL ANDERSEN, IAN STEVENS

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intergovernmental

The deck is stacked against Quebec’s Anglos

OpinionBY ANDREW CADDELL

Indigenous innovation in education works for all of us

OpinionBY JENNIFER BRENNAN

Canada must secure its undersea lifelines

OpinionBY ANDREW LATHAM

From the Rock to the Hill: a year spent promoting and celebrating Newfoundland and Labrador

OpinionBY ISG SENATOR IRIS PETTEN

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justice

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

NewsBY NEIL MOSS

Expanding AI in government operations, modernizing Service Canada sites among feds’ fiscal update’s public service-related measures

NewsBY SOPHALL DUCH

A Chrystia carol: House wraps for the holidays as spectre of Freeland’s bombshell resignation haunts Liberal caucus

NewsBY SOPHALL DUCH

Feds’ attempt to codify hate still not salvageable despite C-63 division, say Conservatives, civil society groups

NewsBY STUART BENSON

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Labour & employment

NDP won’t be ‘baited’ as Tories attack Singh amid Liberal labour moves, says MP Green

NewsBY STUART BENSON

Will the Liberals develop sharper labour pains?

OpinionBY ERICA IFILL

Unions warn non-permanent public servants will be first on chopping block as feds look to cut costs

NewsBY SOPHALL DUCH

Lawsuit alleging anti-Black racism in public service at court for class-action certification hearings

NewsBY SOPHALL DUCH

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Lobbying

Taiwan the top destination in quieter year for MPs’ sponsored travel

NewsBY STEPHEN JEFFERY

Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs pose ‘existential crisis’ for Canada, with risks even if not enacted, says Unifor president

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Most-lobbied Grit MPs hear push for health accountability measures, most-lobbied Tory MPs hear push for environment, trade issues

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

October environment lobby tackles energy concerns, hydrogen, and push-back on emissions cap

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

• see more

natural resources and energy

Communities deserve more support as the global economy changes

OpinionBY RACHEL SAMSON

Time to dig deep into a strategy for geothermal power

OpinionBY PETER MASSIE, EMILY SMEJKAL

Northwestern Ontario nuclear waste site selection raises concerns

OpinionBY ERIKA SIMPSON

Canadians deserve long-term energy solutions, not short-term fixes

OpinionBY SHANNON WATT

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Women, Gender and Diversity

‘I’m left with questions’: Senator Bernard’s push to highlight the Upper Chamber’s lack of Black men

NewsBY LAURA RYCKEWAERT

Islam’s true voice: wresting the microphone from extremists 

OpinionBY IMAM MOHAMMAD TAWHIDI, IMAM INAYAT ALI SHAKIR, IMAM PAUL SALAHUDDIN ARMSTRONG, IMAM MOHAMMAD MEHDIZADE

Smith’s government moves to limit transgender rights in Alberta

OpinionBY SHEILA COPPS

Overlooked again: what the $250 rebate says about disability policy in Canada

OpinionBY KRISTA CARR

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Indigenous Relations

AFN national chief urges politicians to ‘put their politics aside’ to support First Nations’ access to clean water

NewsBY IREM KOCA

Hundreds of billions in ‘contingent liabilities’ loom large over Canada

OpinionBY TOM FLANAGAN

Federal departments fix 61 errors related to Indigenous business contracts on public database

NewsBY IREM KOCA

What’s the future of the Métis National Council?

OpinionBY ROSE LEMAY

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Upcoming Policy briefings

Exclusive lists

Who went where in Trudeau’s cabinet shake-up?

Who went where in Trudeau’s cabinet shake-up?

Breaking down 343 federal ridings by rural and urban designations

Breaking down 343 federal ridings by rural and urban designations

How would Canadians vote in the U.S. election? Survey shows a bent towards blue

How would Canadians vote in the U.S. election? Survey shows a bent towards blue

Liberal MPs who spoke at the closed-door caucus showdown on Oct. 23

Liberal MPs who spoke at the closed-door caucus showdown on Oct. 23

Cabinet’s communications and chiefs of staff list, October 2024

Cabinet’s communications and chiefs of staff list, October 2024

A timeline of political violence and rising security on Parliament Hill since 2014

A timeline of political violence and rising security on Parliament Hill since 2014

MP salary top-ups for committee, parlsec, and extra House duties

MP salary top-ups for committee, parlsec, and extra House duties

MPs not running in the next election

MPs not running in the next election