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.
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.
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
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
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 -- 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 -- 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 -- 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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.
Average home price must fall in Canada to restore affordability, minister says
OTTAWA -- Federal Housing Minister Gregor Robertson says the average price of housing -- not necessarily individual home values -- must fall to restore affordability in Canada.
Conservatives, Liberals clash over youth unemployment as Tories pitch training reform
OTTAWA -- Young workers in Canada are facing an increasingly bleak jobs market -- and the federal Conservatives and Liberals are at odds over how the government could help.
Conservatives pitch training reform to address high youth unemployment
OTTAWA -- The federal Conservative party is proposing a plan to improve the job prospects facing Canada's young workers.
Details on housing development charges expected in budget: Robertson
OTTAWA -- The office of federal Housing Minister Gregor Robertson says the Liberal government remains committed to cutting municipal development charges in half, after the minister was vague about fulfilling the promise at a news conference in Toronto on Tuesday.
'Stable' reputation makes Canada attractive to investors, Joly says
Industry Minister Melanie Joly says Ottawa's industrial strategy will leverage Canada's reputation for stability to attract more foreign investment.
Jobs minister urges striking Canada Post union to respond to latest offer
OTTAWA -- The federal jobs minister is urging the union representing striking Canada Post workers to respond to the Crown corporation's latest offers.
Fiscal watchdog gives mixed review to Ottawa's budget framework changes
OTTAWA -- Ottawa's fiscal watchdog says that while there are good measures in the new budget framework the federal government announced this week, its definition of capital spending could blur the picture of federal finances.
Ottawa shifts budgets to the fall as minister defends new fiscal focus
OTTAWA -- Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne on Monday unveiled major changes to how and when the Liberal government will introduce federal budgets in the future as the focus on Ottawa's current fiscal path intensifies.
With deficit set to soar, Ottawa shifts budgets from spring to fall
OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal government plans to table the federal budget in the fall going forward, ending the long-standing practice of releasing the document in the spring.
Champagne set for finance committee appearance as fall budget looms
OTTAWA -- MPs will be pressing for details about Canada's fiscal position today as Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne is set to appear at a parliamentary committee.
Poilievre wishes Carney well in Washington -- but says he wants to see results
OTTAWA -- Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is offering Prime Minister Mark Carney his support ahead of meetings this week with U.S. President Donald Trump but is also pressing the Liberal leader to return with results for Canadians.
Budget watchdog says home affordability is getting better -- but not everywhere
OTTAWA -- Ottawa's fiscal watchdog is reporting significant progress in closing Canada's housing affordability gap -- but the picture looks very different across the country.
Joly says Ottawa will be 'hawkish' on competition to restore affordability
OTTAWA -- Ottawa will aggressively push competition between companies in a bid to ease the cost of living, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said on Wednesday as she opened the Competition Bureau's annual summit in Ottawa.
Millions of dollars for Algoma Steel loan is a matter of sovereignty: Hajdu
OTTAWA -- Algoma Steel Group Inc. is set to receive half a billion dollars in government loans to help it reorient its business away from the United States as the federal government argues supporting the domestic steel industry is a matter of Canadian sovereignty.
Jobs minister urges Canada Post to table new offer to striking union
OTTAWA -- Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu is urging Canada Post to quickly table an offer to the union of striking postal workers.
Striking Canada Post union urges Ottawa to walk back sweeping mandate changes
OTTAWA -- The union representing Canada Post workers is urging Ottawa to walk back sweeping changes to the postal service's mandate as mail carriers take to picket lines across the country.
Striking union accuses Ottawa, Canada Post of working to 'dismantle' postal service
OTTAWA -- Canada Post workers are on a countrywide strike in response to what the union calls the federal government's "direct attack" on the future of the postal service.
Budget watchdog sounds alarm about Ottawa's 'unsustainable' fiscal path
OTTAWA -- “Stupefying,” “shocking” and “unsustainable” — those were just some of the words Ottawa’s fiscal watchdog used Thursday to describe his scathing forecast for federal finances ahead of a long-anticipated fall budget.
Budget watchdog sounds alarm about Ottawa's 'unsustainable' fiscal path
OTTAWA -- "Stupefying," "shocking" and "unsustainable" -- those were just some of the words Ottawa's fiscal watchdog used Thursday to describe his scathing forecast for federal finances ahead of a long-anticipated fall budget.
Parliamentary budget watchdog forecasts sharp rise in deficit to $68.5B this year
OTTAWA -- The parliamentary budget officer said Thursday he expects the coming fall budget will reveal a sharp increase in Ottawa's deficit that puts the government's previous fiscal anchors in jeopardy.
Tariffs, government spending, gas prices -- what's driving inflation right now?
OTTAWA -- MPs returned to the House of Commons earlier this month to confront an old problem -- inflation -- which is now being driven by new forces.
Parliamentary budget officer set to release fresh fiscal, economic outlook
OTTAWA -- The parliamentary budget officer intends to publish an updated outlook on Thursday on Canada's economy and Ottawa's finances as scrutiny over the looming federal budget heats up.
Champagne defends budget investments as he sets out to deepen European ties
OTTAWA -- The financial returns from Ottawa's capital spending plans in the upcoming fall budget will help Canada pay down the deficit in later years, Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said on Thursday.
Champagne defends budget investments as he sets out to deepen European ties
OTTAWA -- The financial returns from Ottawa's capital spending plans in the upcoming fall budget will help Canada pay down the deficit in later years, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said on Thursday.
Liberals will table the federal budget on Nov. 4, Champagne says
OTTAWA -- Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says the Liberals will table the federal budget on Nov. 4.
Meet Ana Bailao, the person tasked with turning around Canada's housing crisis
OTTAWA -- The federal Liberals have placed their hopes for scaling up Canada's affordable housing stock in Ana Bailao, a former Toronto city councillor.
Internal government documents reveal grim housing climate in Canada
OTTAWA -- As Ottawa gears up to launch a new agency to build homes faster, internal government documents describe how dire the housing situation has become in Canada.
Carney's 1st budget to show Canadians the 'cost to sovereignty': experts
OTTAWA -- Fiscal experts say Ottawa will have to be transparent with Canadians in the upcoming fall budget to justify a seismic shift in spending away from government programs and toward defence and infrastructure.
Ottawa sets 100-day timeline to fix CRA call centre delays
OTTAWA -- The federal finance minister said Tuesday he wants to address service delays at the Canada Revenue Agency within 100 days, even as Ottawa plans spending cuts across the public service.
Carney tours Latvian military base to wrap up European trip
ADAZI -- Prime Minister Mark Carney is in Latvia this morning visiting troops stationed as part of Canada's largest overseas mission.
In Riga, Carney extends Canadian military mission in Latvia by three years to 2029
RIGA -- Canada will keep troops in Latvia for another three years as part of a mission to deter further Russian aggression in Europe, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Tuesday.
In Riga, Carney extends Canadian military mission in Latvia by three years to 2029
RIGA -- Canada will keep troops in Latvia for another three years as part of a mission to deter further Russian aggression in Europe, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Tuesday.
CP NewsAlert: Carney extends Canadian military mission in Latvia to 2029
RIGA -- Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada will keep troops in Latvia through to 2029, as part of a mission to deter Russian aggression in Europe.
Carney extends Canadian military mission in Latvia to 2029
RIGA -- Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that Canada will keep troops in Latvia through to 2029, as part of a mission to deter Russian aggression in Europe that has given Ottawa an outsized role in the transatlantic alliance.
Canada narrows choice of new submarine suppliers to Germany, South Korea
BERLIN -- Canada has narrowed down its shopping list for its next fleet of submarines to those made by two suppliers, Germany's Thyssen Krupp Marine Systems and South Korea's Hanwha Ocean Co.
In Warsaw, Carney deepens Canada's defence, trade ties with Poland
WARSAW -- Canada and Poland struck a new strategic partnership on trade, defence and energy on Monday, as Prime Minister Mark Carney continued a five-day trip to Europe.
Carney lands in Poland, kicking off mission to deepen European ties
WARSAW -- Prime Minister Mark Carney landed in Poland on Saturday, kicking off a broader mission to deepen economic and security ties with European allies.