Day One | July 2nd 2024

Ottawa

Top Stories

Liberal Backbencher Calls for Trudeau to Resign in Email to Caucus?

Liberal backbencher Wayne Long?has called for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign as party leader following the party's unexpected loss in the Toronto-St. Paul's by-election. In an email to caucus, Long stressed that new leadership is necessary for the future of the party and the country. This is the first open call from a Liberal caucus member for Trudeau's resignation since the by-election upset. In the email chain, MP Ken McDonald agreed with Long's sentiments but did not explicitly call for Trudeau to step down. McDonald emphasized the need for an urgent caucus meeting with the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister continues to state his intention to stay on as leader for the 2025 election.?

Trudeau Says He Is 'Committed' to Staying As PM After By-Election Loss?

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau?has stated he has no plans to step down as leader following the Liberals' unexpected defeat in the Toronto-St. Paul's by-election. Trudeau acknowledged the need for reflection after the loss but emphasized his dedication to the party and his commitment to running in the next election. The by-election last Monday saw Conservative Don Stewart win the traditionally Liberal seat, marking a significant shift in voter sentiment.?

Liberal MP Chahal Among Nine MPs Demanding ‘Immediate’ Caucus Meeting to Discuss ‘Extremely Concerning’ By-Election Loss?

Nine Liberal MPs, including?Calgary-Skyview MP George Chahal, have requested an immediate in-person national caucus meeting to discuss the surprise byelection loss in Toronto-St. Paul's last Monday. The email was sent to national caucus chair Brenda Shanahan on Friday. Chahal has refused to name the other eight signatories. Since Monday, several MPs have issued off-the-record calls for a national caucus meeting, with Liberal MP Jenica Atwin being the only one to call for a meeting publicly.??

Must Read Articles

• Conservatives win longtime Liberal stronghold Toronto-St. Paul's in shock byelection result?

• Jagmeet Singh makes his case to Alberta's new NDP leader amid party separation talks?

• I know the inside story of the Liberal revolt against Justin Trudeau. How? I overheard it in a train station?

• Time crunch, rules mess could plague a Liberal leadership race?

• Poilievre's office silent on leader's Pride plans as other party leaders say they'll attend?

• Canada 'sleepwalking' into cashless society, consumer advocates warn?

• Biden's poor debate performance renews questions about Trump, Trudeau and Canada's future?

• In his own words: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's message on Canada Day??

• Crombie won’t easily welcome vulnerable GTA Liberal MPs to provincial party: source?

• Lt.-Gen. Jennie Carignan chosen as next chief of the defence staff?

Alberta

Top Stories

Alberta Ends Fiscal Year With $4.3B Surplus?

Alberta ended its fiscal year on March 31 with a?$4.3 billion surplus, despite the worst fire season on record. Even after the need to spend $3 billion on firefighting expenses and crop losses due to extreme drought, Finance Minister Nate Horner reported total revenue of $74.7 billion, $4.1 billion above estimates. This surplus will be split between debt repayment and the Alberta Fund, with $2 billion going to the Heritage Savings Trust Fund. While the UCP government sees this as a success, opposition critic Samir Kayande argues it doesn't reflect the struggles many Albertans face with affordability, housing, and access to education and health care.?

UCP Blasts New NDP Leader Nenshi With Attack Ads; Smith Says He Has No Policy?

The United Conservative Party?ran a series of attack advertisements?targeting newly elected Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi. One television ad portrays Nenshi as "Justin Trudeau's choice for Alberta," featuring an image of Nenshi embracing the Prime Minister. This comes days after Nenshi won the NDP leadership convention with 86% of membership votes. Premier Danielle Smith criticized Nenshi, characterizing his campaign pitch as devoid of substantive proposals, adding that he lacks specific policy ideas and provincial knowledge. Nenshi responded to the ads on social media, accusing the UCP of predictably picking fights and wasting money on ads. He argues that the Premier is neglecting critical issues like education and federal dental care.?

Alberta to Opt Out of Federal Dental Plan by 2026?

Premier Danielle Smith?announced the intention to withdraw?from the federal Canadian Dental Care Plan by 2026. In a letter to PM Trudeau, Smith argued that the CDCP is unnecessary as it duplicates existing provincial coverage in addition to infringing on Alberta's healthcare jurisdiction. She suggested using Alberta's share of federal dental funding to expand provincial programs for low-income residents. The federal government questioned the notion by noting that there is a clear demand as over 100,000 Albertans have already enrolled in CDCP. Alberta's NDP opposes the Premier's decision, warning it could deny benefits to many currently uninsured Albertans.?

Must Read Articles

• 'A unique trend': Alberta employers rely more on temporary foreign workers for business roles?
• Opinion: Albertans deserve to know where NDP candidates stand on energy?
• Alberta Teachers' Association concerned job cuts coming?
• Naheed Nenshi interview: why the new Alberta NDP leader wants to lock Danielle Smith and Steven Guilbeault in a room and throw away the key?
• Commentary: Policing questions abound

Atlantic Canada

Top Stories

Moratorium on N.L. Cod Fishery Lifted After More Than 30 Years

After 32 years,?Ottawa?has ended the moratorium that shut down N.L.’s cod fishery. The announcement came this week from federal Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier, following an assessment last October showing northern cod stocks were?no longer critically low. The 2024 cod fishing season will allow a total catch of?18,000 tonnes?– only a small increase over last year’s total allowable catch (TAC) of 13,000 tonnes, managed strictly by DFO, and a far cry from the industry’s peak TAC of around 250,000 tonnes in the late 1980s. About 84% of this year’s TAC will be allocated to the inshore fleet and 6% to the Canadian offshore fleet. Indigenous fisheries will be included in the remaining allocation. The choice to allocate any of the stock to offshore fisheries has?caused some debate, with N.L. fisheries representatives claiming the inclusion of offshore fishers in such a small TAC volume?breaks the commitment?of the federal government’s 1983 offshore policy framework to allocate the first 115,000 metric tonnes of northern cod to the inshore upon the re-opening of the commercial fishery.

Government Regulations Require N.B. Power to Subsidize Pulp and Paper Mills, While Customers See Rate Increases?

N.B. Power has applied to raise power rates by an average of 9.25% per year over the next two years. If the rate hike is permitted by the N.B. Energy and Utilities Board, N.B. Power says it will be required by regulations enacted by the N.B. government to?spend $26.3 million over the next two years?to subsidize pulp and paper mills, despite being unable to provide similar relief to customers. Through the Large Industrial Renewable Energy Purchase Program, the utility buys renewable electricity generated by the mills and sells it back at lower prices. As announced?earlier in June, Irving Pulp and Paper is currently seeking approval of?a $1.1 billion upgrade?to its west side pulp mill, including a new boiler building, which it says will increase pulp outputs by 65% and generate enough energy to operate without buying off-plant power.

N.S Opposition Leaders Concerned Election May Occur Before Reports’ Findings Are Made Public

While Premier Tim Houston’s office has clarified that there is no ‘imminent’ election, his recent suggestion that Nova Scotians could see?an early election?ahead of the July 15, 2025 fixed election date has Opposition parties riled up and calling on the government to publicize the results and its responses to numerous outstanding reports beforehand. The Economic Impact Analysis of the Ferry Service operating between Yarmouth and Bar Harbor Maine is due to be released in fall 2024. According to the NS Liberal Party leader, businesses including the tourism industry are awaiting the report's findings as well as the government's response before making further investments. Opposition leaders are also questioning the Premier’s commitment to review the?Freedom of Information and Protection and Privacy Act, expected to be made public in spring of 2025. When asked about the timing of the report, the government would not say if the recommendations would be made publicly available ahead of the next election.

P.E.I.’s?Main Power Utility Applies For Rate Increase Amid High Inflation

Maritime Electric has re-submitted its application to the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission to?convert customers to smart meters, but the cost of the program has risen nearly $20 million since first proposed in 2022. Explaining the increased price tag, the utility cited a change from on premise to cloud-based data storage, as well as more precise estimates. A rate increase of approximately 3% will be required to implement the program. The federal government previously committed $19 million to the project, but the funding agreement expires in March 2025. The increase is on-par with P.E.I.’s current rate of inflation, which rose to?3.2% in May?– the second highest in the country, just behind N.S. According to a UPEI economist, energy prices are one of the main drivers of inflation in P.E.I. compared to the national average.

Must Read Articles

• Prime Minister appoints former NB Minister Victor Boudreau to the Senate
• N.B. premier clarifies comments about sending his children to public schools
• Nova Scotia’s massive government stifling economic growth
• CEO, staff suddenly depart N.B. reactor developer ARC Clean Technology
• Island organizations call on P.E.I. government to reverse immigration policy
• N.S. Supports RBC’s Growth in Nova Scotia
• Customers to pay close to $35M for Nova Scotia Power's Fiona bill
• N.S. provides another $7 million for medical first responders recruitment program
• No clear timeline on updates to environmental assessment process in N.S.
• Demand for summer meal programs for students increasing at N.B. food bank
• Engineer concluded suspended N.B. engineer's buildings risked collapse, seeks provincial review

British Columbia

Top Stories

BC NDP Maintains Lead While BC United Slides to Fourth Place

The NDP has seen a?slight dip in support, now at 40% among decided voters, down a couple of points from May. Meanwhile, the BC Conservatives are moving up to 33% and the Greens have climbed to 15%, surpassing BC United, which has 11% support. The NDP's strongholds appear to be Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and southern B.C. On the other hand, Conservatives are gaining support in the Fraser Valley and dominating in the north. When it comes to party leaders, Premier David Eby is still the most popular with a 53% approval rating, although recent polls suggest his?approval has slipped to 43%. John Rustad of the Conservatives and the Greens' Sonia Furstenau are nearly tied at around 40%, while Kevin Falcon of BC United is lagging behind at 32%. For 40% of the participants, top issues are housing, homelessness, and poverty. The environment is the only area where Eby faces real competition, tying with Furstenau. As we head into the final stretch before the October 19 election, it's clear this race is far from over as each party shows room for growth. ?

Over 600 B.C. Residents Have Gone to U.S. for Cancer Care

British Columbians are?traveling south for cancer care?which highlights the challenges in the province's healthcare system. According to Health Minister Adrian Dix, 599 breast and prostate cancer patients have completed therapy in Bellingham, Washington since mid-June 2023 and currently 41 patients are receiving treatment. The cancer care initiative, which hoped to reduce wait times, has shown some progress as 80% of patients now receive radiation within the 28-day benchmark, up from 75% in December. However, B.C. is still behind other provinces, falling to reach the national average of 97%. Despite plans to send 50 patients weekly to Bellingham, the actual numbers average around 12 per week. As B.C. allocates $34 million annually for this program, including travel costs, there are serious questions about long-term solutions.

Three B.C. First Nations Request Return of Land Held By Potato Farm in Surrey

Three First Nations - Katzie, Kwantlen, and Semiahmoo -?have made requests?for the return of a 300-acre parcel in Surrey's Campbell Heights North. The land is currently owned by the federal government, but it is identified as surplus. The nations see this as a rare shot at economic reconciliation, given how urban sprawl has consumed their traditional territory. That being said, most of this prime industrial-zoned land is home to Heppell's Farm, a family operation harvesting out millions of pounds of veggies annually. The Heppell family, while not against reconciliation, worries about the hit to local food security if the land use changes.

Must Read Articles

• Warrant reveals details behind B.C. safe-supply pill seizure
• Cowichan Tribes now fully responsible for child welfare services
• British Columbia is introducing three new International Graduate PNP streams next year
• B.C.’s speculation tax can be improved in the name of tax justice
• Reduced staffing, cracking down on fare evasion: Here's how TransLink plans to cut costs

Ontario

Top Stories

Ontario Power Generation Spending $1 Billion to Refurbish Hydroelectric Generating Stations?

The Ontario government is increasing clean electricity generation with $1 billion in spending for Ontario Power Generation, earmarked for refurbishing eight hydroelectric generating stations in Eastern Ontario. This initiative aims to secure 1,617 megawatts of clean energy capacity, enough to power approximately 1.6 million homes and meet rising demand fueled by electrification. Anticipated impacts include up to 100 gigawatt hours of additional clean electricity annually, sufficient to power over 11,000 homes.

Ontario Begins Automatic Licence Plate Renewals

Starting July 1, 2024, the Ontario government will implement automatic licence plate renewals for over eight million drivers. This initiative will automatically renew licences for passenger vehicles, light-duty trucks, motorcycles, and mopeds 90 days before expiration, provided the owner has valid insurance and no outstanding fines or tolls. In cases where automatic renewal is not possible, vehicle owners will receive notifications to manually renew online or at ServiceOntario locations.

Ontario Expanding High-Speed Internet Access in Northern Ontario

The governments of Canada and Ontario have allocated over $97 million in combined federal and provincial funding to ROCK Networks, a PomeGran group company, aiming to expand high-speed internet access to underserved communities in Ontario, including Indigenous communities. This initiative will benefit more than 60 communities along the north shore of Lake Huron, spanning from Sudbury to Sault Ste. Marie, as well as Manitoulin Island, reaching a total of 18,600 households, including over 2,500 Indigenous households.

Must Read Articles

• Architecture firm behind Ontario Science Centre says closure was ‘a political move’
• Enbridge Gas is ‘fighting for its survival’ — and that means keeping Ontario on fossil fuels
• ‘Allergic to accountability’: Ford government under fire for ballooning Ontario Line costs
• $4M worth of prescription opioids disappeared from an Ontario pharmacy. No one can say where they went
• Ontario premier, Liberal leader, accuse each other of Trudeau ties

Toronto

Top Stories

Toronto City Council Declares Ward 15 Vacancy, Schedules By-Election

On June 26, 2024, Toronto City Council declared the?Ward 15, Don Valley West office vacant?following Councillor Jaye Robinson's passing. A by-election is scheduled, with the by-law taking effect on July 21 and nominations opening on July 22. The City Clerk will determine voting dates, considering holidays and preparation time. Councillor Robinson's staff will continue managing constituency matters until the vacancy is filled.

Toronto Councillors Push for City Control of Ontario Science Centre

On June 27, 2024, Toronto councillors approved a?motion?urging the city to assume control of the Ontario Science Centre after the province announced its closure. The decision comes amid controversy, with critics arguing that the building's structural issues can be repaired. Councillor Josh Matlow emphasized the community's desire for involvement in the Science Centre's future. Despite the $106 million needed for immediate repairs, tech industry figures have pledged nearly $3 million for the cause.

Mississauga Appoints Geoff Wright as City Manager and CAO

On June 26, 2024, Mayor Carolyn Parrish announced Geoff Wright as the new?interim City Manager and CAO, replacing Shari Lichterman. Wright brings 17 years of service to Mississauga, most recently as Commissioner of Transportation and Works. In his new role, Wright will oversee city operations, services, and programs, reporting directly to the Mayor and City Council.

Must Read Articles

• How much of Toronto’s infrastructure is in worse shape than we realize?
• Toronto City Council Moves to Enhance Community Housing, Increase Rental Homes, and Safeguard Renters
• Mississauga Mayor Utilizes Provincial Authority to Dismiss Top City Hall Official

Quebec

Top Stories

Retailers Face Tight Deadlines for New French Signage Rules in Quebec

The new?Quebec regulation on commercial signage?mandates that French must be "markedly predominant" on storefronts by June 1, 2025. This requires French text to be twice as large as any other language used. The Retail Council of Canada argues that the one-year timeline is too short, especially considering the summer slowdown and the complexity of changes required, such as obtaining permissions and bearing costs. Originally, businesses were promised a three-year adjustment period under Bill 96. The regulation aims to counter the decline of French, with the Office québécois de la langue fran?aise (OQLF) increasing enforcement. Concerns include potential burdens on businesses and the unique challenges posed to multinational companies, which might shift focus away from Quebec due to these stringent requirements. The regulation's impact extends to product labeling and broader market implications, emphasizing Quebec's distinct economic environment.

Quebec's Economy Outpaces Canada's with 3.6% GDP Growth in Q1 2024

In the first quarter of 2024,?Quebec's GDP showed a significant rebound, increasing by 3.6%?on an annualized basis, compared to a 1.7% growth for Canada's overall economy. This growth marks the end of a period of contraction that lasted for three consecutive quarters in 2023. Economists from Desjardins, Hélène Bégin and Ma?lle Boulais-Préseault, note that the rise in consumer spending, high savings rates, wage growth, and a resurgence in residential and machinery investments are key positive indicators. Despite these gains, they caution that many businesses and households still face financial challenges, highlighting the importance of upcoming interest rate cuts to support the recovery. Daren King from the National Bank also emphasizes Quebec's resilience due to lower household debt and high savings rates. The need for extended compliance timelines for new regulations is stressed to ensure businesses can effectively adapt to the changing economic environment. ??

Historic Low: Quebec’s Electricity Output Falls Amid Climate Challenges

In 2023,?Quebec's electricity production dropped by 9.3% compared to 2022, resulting in a $1 billion deficit for Hydro-Québec and its governmental shareholder. This decline is part of a broader trend, as Canada's total electricity production reached its lowest level on record. The decrease is largely attributed to adverse weather conditions, with significant droughts impacting hydroelectric production in Quebec, British Columbia, and Manitoba. Fran?ois Bouffard from McGill University notes that modern society's increasing dependence on electricity, coupled with climatic uncertainties, highlights the need for strategic solutions. Potential measures include expanding transmission lines between Canada and the U.S., large-scale energy storage, and developing pumped storage plants. However, these solutions face practical and political challenges. The long-term impact of climate change on hydroelectric production remains uncertain, but planning at a continental scale could enhance energy resilience.

Must Read Articles

• Quebec's Battle Against Dangerous Waste Imports
• Supporting Water Tech Startups: Launch of Cycle H2O Fund in Quebec
• Quebec Youth Embrace Independence as a Means for Broader Change