Topics


Jesse Cnockaert

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 Jesse Cnockaert.

House winter session expected to be ‘very consequential’ with affordability issues, global trade, and possible referendums, say politicos

House winter session expected to be ‘very consequential’ with affordability issues, global trade, and possible referendums, say politicos

A “train wreck” of issues on the global stage and the looming question of sovereignty in both Alberta and Quebec are likely to make the winter session of Parliament “very consequential,” with many Canadians also looking to Prime Minister Mark Carney for strength in handling international issues like trade and domestic issues such as affordability, according to political pundits.

  • 2026-01-26
  • — Hill Times
Stalled legislation means Liberals ‘on the hunt’ for opposition MPs to cross over to achieve majority, say politicos

Stalled legislation means Liberals ‘on the hunt’ for opposition MPs to cross over to achieve majority, say politicos

Seven bills tabled since the start of the 45th Parliament began reached royal assent before the winter break, of which three, C-6, C-7 and C-17, were appropriation bills. Of the remaining bills still moving through the legislative process, several are 'core to the government’s overall agenda,' says Dan Arnold. Any legislation related to the border with the U.S. would be...

  • 2025-12-22
  • — Hill Times
As Canada feels the strain of U.S. trade war, pressure heats up on innovation sector

As Canada feels the strain of U.S. trade war, pressure heats up on innovation sector

Economic uncertainty due to the current trade war with the United States is putting some pressure on innovation and industry in Canada, and powering through will require a strategy involving emphasis on not just developing new products, but how to adopt new ideas, say experts. “I think that’s one of our big weaknesses in Canada; we fixate too much on...

  • 2025-10-19
  • — Hill Times
Middle-class tax cut and trade barriers to form top priorities in early Carney government

Middle-class tax cut and trade barriers to form top priorities in early Carney government

Prime Minister Mark Carney set a goal of removing federal barriers to internal trade by July 1, along with implementing a middle-class tax cut that he said would save two-income families up to $825 a year.

  • 2025-05-24
  • — Hill Times
Liberals’ lead could change if domestic concerns surpass U.S. tensions, says pundits, pollster

Liberals’ lead could change if domestic concerns surpass U.S. tensions, says pundits, pollster

The Liberals have been boosted in the polls because of public concern about how Canada should deal with the United States, but a shift in focus to more domestic policy issues could make the outcome of the election much harder to predict, say lobbyists and pundits. “The way I see it is, these last two weeks have been marred and...

  • 2025-04-12
  • — Hill Times
Trump’s lies are like ‘psychological warfare,’ say political experts

Trump’s lies are like ‘psychological warfare,’ say political experts

Lies spread by United States President Donald Trump intended to influence public opinion, including falsehoods about Russia’s war with Ukraine or about illegal activities along the Canada-U.S. border, could be called psychological warfare, according to the director of the Centre for Security, Armed Forces, and Society at the Royal Military College of Canada.

  • 2025-03-10
  • — Hill Times
Election priorities shifting to U.S. trade war, say pollsters, strategists: ‘it’s an existential crisis to our country’

Election priorities shifting to U.S. trade war, say pollsters, strategists: ‘it’s an existential crisis to our country’

Choosing a prime minister who can contend with U.S. President Donald Trump and the economic ramifications of a tariff war is expected to emerge as the top priority in Canada’s upcoming federal election, especially now that Liberal leadership candidates are backing away from the carbon tax, according to some pollsters and strategists.

  • 2025-01-27
  • — Hill Times
Closing housing gap ‘not going to happen’ by 2030, but steps being taken in right direction, says Canadian Home Builders’ Association CEO

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

Canada is years behind in closing an estimated housing gap of 5.8 million new units needed by 2030, according to the CEO of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association, who adds that a recent call from the Conservatives to eliminate GST barriers on the sale of new homes is putting “even more focus” on housing affordability.

  • 2024-12-13
  • — Hill Times
‘Tense’ fall sitting begins, with Liberals under pressure from Conservatives, NDP, and Bloc Québécois, say pollsters, lobbyists

‘Tense’ fall sitting begins, with Liberals under pressure from Conservatives, NDP, and Bloc Québécois, say pollsters, lobbyists

Affordability and the economy will likely be top priorities in a tense fall sitting of Parliament, with the recently scrapped supply-and-confidence deal putting the Liberals under heightened pressure from the NDP and the Bloc Québécois, say pollsters and lobbyists.

  • 2024-09-16
  • — Hill Times
Lobbying change requiring more detail in comms reports draws concern about advocacy ‘chill’ from GRIC and PAAC

Lobbying change requiring more detail in comms reports draws concern about advocacy ‘chill’ from GRIC and PAAC

A rule change coming up in October requiring lobbyists to be more specific in reports about what they discuss with public office holders—a move intended by the lobbying commissioner to improve transparency—is raising concern among some government relations professionals who argue this could have a chilling affect on advocacy.

  • 2024-08-30
  • — Hill Times
Project 2025 could render trade and other agreements with U.S. uncertain, say political players

Project 2025 could render trade and other agreements with U.S. uncertain, say political players

Project 2025 and a proposed Republican party platform in the United States could have serious implications for Canada in terms of trade, energy, and other issues, depending on the outcome of the November presidential election, although the Liberal co-chair of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group, and lobbyists and pollsters say many Canadians know very little about the more than 900-page document.

  • 2024-08-12
  • — Hill Times
Liberal leadership and policy choices post-byelection loss will shape advocacy strategies leading up to 2025 election, say lobbyists

Liberal leadership and policy choices post-byelection loss will shape advocacy strategies leading up to 2025 election, say lobbyists

The Liberals’ recent devastating byelection loss in a Toronto riding is prompting lobbyists to adjust their advocacy strategies in response to a government that could start scrambling for short-term policy wins or a possible shift in party leadership despite the prime minister’s insistence he isn’t going anywhere.

  • 2024-07-05
  • — Hill Times
‘Loose’ nominations need tightening to combat foreign interference, say political players

‘Loose’ nominations need tightening to combat foreign interference, say political players

Party leaders who have so far read the unredacted version of a recent bombshell foreign interference report are saying more tools are needed to help protect Canada’s democratic processes, with Green Party Leader Elizabeth May arguing solutions should include putting nominations and party leadership races under the purview of the Canada Elections Act.

  • 2024-06-17
  • — Hill Times