Craig Lord

While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from Craig Lord.

Number of Canadians registered in Mexico rising as airlines resume flights

Number of Canadians registered in Mexico rising as airlines resume flights

OTTAWA -- The number of Canadians in Mexico who have registered with Ottawa continued to rise Tuesday, even as airlines resumed flights in and out of Puerto Vallarta and the Global Affairs Canada registration system experienced more delays.

Anand won't say if Canadians should cancel Mexico trips as airlines resume flights

Anand won't say if Canadians should cancel Mexico trips as airlines resume flights

OTTAWA -- Canadian airlines resumed flights in and out of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on Tuesday after widespread violence led them to temporarily suspend service on the weekend.

Liberals accept Conservative budget amendments on 'regulatory sandboxes'

Liberals accept Conservative budget amendments on 'regulatory sandboxes'

OTTAWA -- The federal Liberals accepted a Conservative proposal Monday to put guardrails around proposed new cabinet powers as they debated the government's omnibus budget bill.

MPs settle in for marathon meeting to amend Liberal budget bill

MPs settle in for marathon meeting to amend Liberal budget bill

OTTAWA -- Members of Parliament could be in for a marathon day of debate as the federal finance committee faces a tight timeline to amend the Liberals' omnibus budget implementation bill.

Five things Canadians should know about the U.S. Supreme Court tariff ruling

Five things Canadians should know about the U.S. Supreme Court tariff ruling

OTTAWA -- The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a set of President Donald Trump's tariffs in a landmark ruling Friday -- but that decision didn't affect all duties on Canadian goods entering the United States.

Finance minister unveils Ottawa's 'follow the money' plan to tackle extortion

Finance minister unveils Ottawa's 'follow the money' plan to tackle extortion

OTTAWA -- The federal government is bringing law enforcement and financial institutions together to fight extortion operations targeting Canadian businesses and households.

Food inflation spiked 7.3% in January. Here's what's driving the increase

Food inflation spiked 7.3% in January. Here's what's driving the increase

OTTAWA -- Statistics Canada reported an easing in the headline inflation rate Tuesday but a jump in the pace of food inflation amid tax changes and lingering pressures at the grocery store continue to put the squeeze on consumers.

Canada's provinces contend with fresh shocks ahead of 2026 budget season

Canada's provinces contend with fresh shocks ahead of 2026 budget season

OTTAWA -- The outlook for Canada's provinces is difficult to chart but some surprising resilience to U.S. trade pressures and historical revisions to economic data have most provinces on better footing heading into the 2026 budget season, argues a new analysis from Desjardins.

Food inflation expected to jump in January amid tax changes: economists

Food inflation expected to jump in January amid tax changes: economists

OTTAWA -- Economists expect tax changes from a year ago will result in a year-over-year surge in food prices when Statistics Canada reports January inflation figures later this week.

Fact File: Why it's tough to verify some of Carney's claims about 'protected' jobs

Fact File: Why it's tough to verify some of Carney's claims about 'protected' jobs

Prime Minister Mark Carney has made a series of claims recently about how much the federal government's support for tariff-stricken industries has protected jobs in Canada.

Airlines say federal probe disproves unpaid work claims, but Ottawa wants more data

Airlines say federal probe disproves unpaid work claims, but Ottawa wants more data

OTTAWA -- Major airlines are claiming the initial findings of a federal probe clear their industry of allegations of unpaid work, but Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu says investigators need more data before the issue is settled.

Advocates urge Ottawa to extend 'no-brainer' tax incentive for employee ownership

Advocates urge Ottawa to extend 'no-brainer' tax incentive for employee ownership

OTTAWA -- It took Peter Deitz eight years to figure out the best way to sell his business. But it wasn't until the federal government opened up a new option for succession planning that he found the right buyer: his own employees.

Carney says 'inequalities persist' in speech marking Black History Month

Carney says 'inequalities persist' in speech marking Black History Month

OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Mark Carney says the history of Black Canadians is one of "injustice met with resilience."

Conservatives, Poilievre seek to carry convention momentum back into Parliament

Conservatives, Poilievre seek to carry convention momentum back into Parliament

OTTAWA -- Political analysts say the federal Conservatives and leader Pierre Poilievre have momentum coming off a unifying convention in Calgary but the party still has a hill to climb in Parliament to one-up Prime Minster Mark Carney and the Liberals.

Ottawa wants to get banks, pension funds involved in affordable housing: minister

Ottawa wants to get banks, pension funds involved in affordable housing: minister

OTTAWA -- The federal housing minister says he wants to ramp up the lagging pace of homebuilding in some provinces by bringing developers off the sidelines and into Ottawa's affordable housing projects.

Robertson calls on provinces to boost funding for transitional housing

Robertson calls on provinces to boost funding for transitional housing

OTTAWA -- The federal housing minister says he wants to see the provinces step up their support to get people off the street and into long-term homes.

Ministers defend 'great sacrifices' after Trump downplays NATO role in Afghanistan

Ministers defend 'great sacrifices' after Trump downplays NATO role in Afghanistan

OTTAWA -- Liberal cabinet ministers and former Armed Forces members are defending the sacrifices Canadian soldiers made in Afghanistan after U.S. President Donald Trump downplayed NATO troops' contributions in the war.

Five things to know about Canada's new 'strategic partnership' with China

Five things to know about Canada's new 'strategic partnership' with China

OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Mark Carney secured what he called a "landmark" deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday, ending a three-day visit aimed at "recalibrating" strained relations between Canada and China.

Bank of Canada's Macklem backs U.S. Fed chair Powell amid DOJ probe

Bank of Canada's Macklem backs U.S. Fed chair Powell amid DOJ probe

OTTAWA -- Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem is coming to the defence of his U.S. counterpart Jerome Powell as the chair of the Federal Reserve faces a criminal investigation from President Donald Trump's justice department.

Canada co-signs pact to help secure Ukraine after an eventual peace deal

Canada co-signs pact to help secure Ukraine after an eventual peace deal

PARIS -- Canada and Ukraine's other allies in the "coalition of the willing" signed a statement Tuesday pledging to help secure Ukraine from further Russian invasions if there is a viable peace deal.

Canada co-signs pact to help secure Ukraine after an eventual peace deal

Canada co-signs pact to help secure Ukraine after an eventual peace deal

PARIS -- Canada and Ukraine's other allies in the "coalition of the willing" signed a statement Tuesday pledging to help secure Ukraine from further Russian invasions if there is a viable peace deal.

Prime Minister Carney says Canada will build up military to support peace in Ukraine

Prime Minister Carney says Canada will build up military to support peace in Ukraine

PARIS -- Canada will continue to build up its military might, in part to be able to play a role in providing security guarantees for Ukraine, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday ahead of a meeting with allies in Paris.

Prime Minister Carney says Canada will build up military to support peace in Ukraine

Prime Minister Carney says Canada will build up military to support peace in Ukraine

PARIS -- Canada will continue to build up its military might, in part to be able to play a role in providing security guarantees for Ukraine, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday ahead of a meeting with allies in Paris.

Carney arrives in Paris for talks with Ukraine's allies about security guarantees

Carney arrives in Paris for talks with Ukraine's allies about security guarantees

PARIS -- Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Paris Monday ahead of a meeting with Ukraine's allies to pursue security agreements to prevent Russia from repeating its invasion if a ceasefire deal is reached.

Carney will meet with Ukraine's allies in Paris as ceasefire talks intensify

Carney will meet with Ukraine's allies in Paris as ceasefire talks intensify

OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to France next week to meet with Ukraine's allies as talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in Russia's war intensify.

Carney will meet with Ukraine's allies in Paris as ceasefire talks intensify

Carney will meet with Ukraine's allies in Paris as ceasefire talks intensify

OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to France next week to meet with Ukraine's allies as talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in Russia's war intensify.

Jobs, economy top voters' priorities at the end of a turbulent 2025: Nanos poll

Jobs, economy top voters' priorities at the end of a turbulent 2025: Nanos poll

OTTAWA -- A year-end poll from Nanos suggests Canadians will want to see action from the Liberal government on major economic files in the new year.

Green Party settles with commission over federal leaders' debate exclusion

Green Party settles with commission over federal leaders' debate exclusion

OTTAWA -- The federal Leaders' Debate Commission says it has settled with the Green Party after the party vowed to challenge its removal from the spring election debates.

Organizers of West Bank delegation blocked by Israel call for steeper sanctions

Organizers of West Bank delegation blocked by Israel call for steeper sanctions

OTTAWA -- Members of a Canadian delegation that was denied entry to the West Bank earlier this month are calling on Ottawa to tighten sanctions targeting new Israeli settlements in occupied territory.

Trump's tariff war is voted as The Canadian Press News Story of the Year

Trump's tariff war is voted as The Canadian Press News Story of the Year

OTTAWA -- U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff campaign against Canada -- and the surge in patriotic zeal it inspired -- have been voted The Canadian Press News Story of the Year.

Interim budget officer says he regrets calling feds' fiscal management 'stupefying'

Interim budget officer says he regrets calling feds' fiscal management 'stupefying'

OTTAWA -- Jason Jacques says he learned a lot about the importance of choosing his words carefully in his first few months as the interim parliamentary budget officer.

A tariff exemption was Canada's salvation in 2025. It's 'absolutely' at risk in 2026

A tariff exemption was Canada's salvation in 2025. It's 'absolutely' at risk in 2026

OTTAWA -- U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff campaign appeared to move at a breakneck pace towards Canada's economy this year.

MPs ask Anand to get answers from Israel after West Bank delegation blocked

MPs ask Anand to get answers from Israel after West Bank delegation blocked

OTTAWA -- Two MPs from a delegation that was denied access to the West Bank earlier this week are asking Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand to get Israel to explain the harsh treatment of one of their colleagues.

Mark Carney shakes up roster of deputy ministers heading into the holidays

Mark Carney shakes up roster of deputy ministers heading into the holidays

OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Mark Carney is shuffling the senior ranks of the federal public service heading into the new year.

MPs ask Anand to get answers from Israel after West Bank delegation blocked

MPs ask Anand to get answers from Israel after West Bank delegation blocked

OTTAWA -- Two MPs from a delegation that was denied access to the West Bank earlier this week are asking Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand to get Israel to explain the harsh treatment of one of their colleagues.

Canada Post commits to free postage for people who are blind as legislation changes

Canada Post commits to free postage for people who are blind as legislation changes

OTTAWA -- Canada Post is vowing to maintain free-postage service for people who are blind even as Ottawa's budget bill looks to repeal those parts of the postal service's legislation.

Ottawa should recommit to debt-to-GDP anchor, IMF report says

Ottawa should recommit to debt-to-GDP anchor, IMF report says

OTTAWA -- A new report by the International Monetary Fund pushes the federal government to recommit to an old fiscal anchor.

Budget office sees modest boost in housing supply from Build Canada Homes

Budget office sees modest boost in housing supply from Build Canada Homes

OTTAWA -- The parliamentary budget office projects in a new analysis that Ottawa's new housing agency will fill only a small gap in the housing market.

Steel sector praises new federal measures, wants to see tariff remission program end

Steel sector praises new federal measures, wants to see tariff remission program end

OTTAWA -- The head of Canada's steel industry association says there was one disappointment in Prime Minister Mark Carney's otherwise helpful package of measures to boost the domestic market in the face of U.S. tariffs.

Budget watchdog calls for more transparency after Liberals shift fiscal anchors

Budget watchdog calls for more transparency after Liberals shift fiscal anchors

OTTAWA -- Ottawa is not planning to set up an independent body to scrutinize the new capital framework in its budget, despite calls for more transparency from the government's fiscal watchdog.

Budget watchdog calls for better transparency after Liberals shift fiscal anchors

Budget watchdog calls for better transparency after Liberals shift fiscal anchors

OTTAWA -- The interim parliamentary budget officer says Ottawa should turn over scrutiny of one of its key fiscal anchors to an independent body.

Ottawa is 'rebooting' its relationship with the tech industry, advocates say

Ottawa is 'rebooting' its relationship with the tech industry, advocates say

OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Mark Carney told a business crowd in Montreal recently that the federal government got a bit of outside help on a major piece of innovation policy in the recently passed federal budget.

Ottawa's budget legislation puts final nail in the coffin of the digital services tax

Ottawa's budget legislation puts final nail in the coffin of the digital services tax

OTTAWA -- Legislation to implement the Liberals' new federal budget will also spell the end of Canada's ill-fated digital services tax.

Ottawa's operating spending -- not capital -- driving deeper deficits: PBO

Ottawa's operating spending -- not capital -- driving deeper deficits: PBO

OTTAWA -- The parliamentary budget officer projects Ottawa will blow past the new fiscal anchors set out in last week's 2025 federal budget.

Carney's 1st budget wins support for infrastructure, immigration plans: poll

Carney's 1st budget wins support for infrastructure, immigration plans: poll

OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Mark Carney secured broad support from across party lines and provincial borders for some major items in his first federal budget, new polling suggests.

Bank of Canada mulled later timing for October rate cut, deliberations show

Bank of Canada mulled later timing for October rate cut, deliberations show

OTTAWA -- The Bank of Canada's governing council was on the same page about the need to lower its benchmark interest last month -- but the exact timing of the cut was up for debate.

Affordability gap leaves Liberal budget with middling reviews: Leger poll

Affordability gap leaves Liberal budget with middling reviews: Leger poll

OTTAWA -- New polling suggests Canadians had a lukewarm response to the federal budget released last week -- leading one pollster to argue all parties should think twice before mounting an election campaign over the spending plan.

Federal budget's refreshed immigration targets will weigh on growth: economist

Federal budget's refreshed immigration targets will weigh on growth: economist

OTTAWA -- One economist argues the federal Liberals' renewed pledge to throttle immigration levels over the next few years will weigh on Canada's economic growth.

Canada Post submits overhaul plan to the federal government

Canada Post submits overhaul plan to the federal government

OTTAWA -- Canada Post says it has submitted a plan to the federal government to transform its struggling business model into a financially sustainable postal service.

Poilievre lays out market-first opposition to Carney's federal budget in speech

Poilievre lays out market-first opposition to Carney's federal budget in speech

OTTAWA -- Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre needled Prime Minister Mark Carney over the size of the federal deficit Friday in a speech offering his critique of the Liberal budget tabled on Nov. 4.

Carney defends 'bold' Budget 2025 as critics question scale of investment

Carney defends 'bold' Budget 2025 as critics question scale of investment

OTTAWA -- The federal budget is a "bold response" to a global moment of economic disruption, Prime Minister Mark Carney argued Wednesday, replying to critics who question the ambition of Ottawa's plans.

Carney says budget built for a 'crucial time' of global trade disruption

Carney says budget built for a 'crucial time' of global trade disruption

OTTAWA -- The federal budget is a "bold response" to meet a crucial moment of global trade disruption, deep divisions and accelerating technological change, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday as he began the task of selling the first government budget tabled under his watch.

Liberal budget earmarks billions for 'bold and swift action' to meet U.S. disruption

Liberal budget earmarks billions for 'bold and swift action' to meet U.S. disruption

OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Mark Carney's first federal budget takes a big swing at making Canada's economy a more attractive place to invest with billions of dollars for infrastructure and new tax opportunities for business.

Mark Carney's first budget plots a sharp departure from past fiscal plans

Mark Carney's first budget plots a sharp departure from past fiscal plans

OTTAWA -- Prime Minster Mark Carney's government is getting ready to table its first budget this week -- one that will be markedly different from budgets of the past.

Canada Post union asks Ottawa to butt out as talks set to resume

Canada Post union asks Ottawa to butt out as talks set to resume

OTTAWA -- The union representing thousands of Canada Post workers on rotating strike wants the federal government to butt out of bargaining as negotiators prepare to head back to the table with the employer for the first time in nearly a month.

Bank of Canada expected to cut key rate despite mixed inflation, jobs data

Bank of Canada expected to cut key rate despite mixed inflation, jobs data

OTTAWA -- Most economists expect the Bank of Canada will look past strong jobs data and signs of stubbornness on the inflation front to deliver a second consecutive interest rate cut this week.

Minister defends changes allowing Canada Post to shutter rural offices

Minister defends changes allowing Canada Post to shutter rural offices

OTTAWA -- The federal minister in charge of Canada Post told a parliamentary committee Thursday the recent changes to the Crown corporation's mandate are not aimed at reducing any service to rural and remote communities where the post office is a considered a lifeline.

Carney taking a 'gamble' with large deficit in fall budget: Desjardins economist

Carney taking a 'gamble' with large deficit in fall budget: Desjardins economist

OTTAWA -- A Desjardins economist argues the surge in government spending in the Liberals' upcoming fall budget is a "gamble" that will lead either to unsustainable levels of public debt or a new era of economic growth.

Tax cuts, dropping U.S. tariffs will hurt Ottawa's fiscal position: Desjardins report

Tax cuts, dropping U.S. tariffs will hurt Ottawa's fiscal position: Desjardins report

OTTAWA -- A new analysis of federal finances ahead of the much-anticipated fall budget argues Ottawa's fiscal position was made worse by its decision to drop counter-tariffs and cut income taxes.

Inflation jumps to 2.4% in September thanks to gas, grocery costs

Inflation jumps to 2.4% in September thanks to gas, grocery costs

Inflation jumped higher in September, Statistics Canada said Tuesday, thanks largely to annual changes in gas prices and persistent pressure at the grocery store. Annual inflation accelerated to 2.4 per cent last month, the agency said. That’s a jump of half a percentage point from 1.9 per cent in August and a tick higher than economists’ expectations.