THE LEADERSHIP QUESTION AT THE HEART OF CANADIAN POLITICS — New Abacus polling finds 48% of Canadians say Mark Carney best represents the leadership the country needs right now, compared to 29% for Pierre Poilievre. Voters wanting “careful and measured” leadership lean Liberal, while those preferring more assertive leadership lean Conservative.
FORD DEFENDS HEALTH SPENDING AS HOSPITALS WARN OF $1B FUNDING GAP — Doug Ford says Ontario has poured tens of billions into health care since 2018, pointing to rapid population growth as pressure on hospitals. But the Ontario Hospital Association warns the system faces a $1-billion structural funding deficit, raising concerns about hallway medicine and financial strain ahead of the next budget.
LIBERALS QUIETLY GRANTING PERMANENT RESIDENCY TO TEMPORARY WORKERS — Ottawa has launched a program to grant permanent residency to 33,000 temporary foreign workers, though the government hasn’t disclosed how many approvals have been issued so far. Critics say the move could help Mark Carney reduce the number of temporary residents without cutting overall immigration levels.
CARNEY CALLS THREE BYELECTIONS IN BID FOR LIBERAL MAJORITY — Mark Carney has set April 13 byelections in University–Rosedale, Scarborough Southwest, and Terrebonne. The races could determine whether the Liberals secure a thin majority, replacing former MPs Chrystia Freeland and Bill Blair.
NDP MEMBERS BEGIN VOTING IN LEADERSHIP RACE — Voting opens for the race to replace Jagmeet Singh as leader of the federal NDP, with five candidates on the ballot. Party membership has grown to about 100,000, up from 60,000 when the contest began in 2025.
OTTAWA DEAL COULD GIVE ALBERTA MORE CONTROL OVER RESOURCE PROJECTS — A new agreement-in-principle between Alberta and the federal government would give the province greater authority over environmental and impact assessments to speed up major energy and resource projects, building on last year’s federal–provincial energy deal.
CARNEY’S “SUSTAINABLE JOBS” PLAN CRITICIZED AS REPACKAGED POLICIES — Critics say Mark Carney’s new sustainable jobs action plan offers little specifically for energy workers, largely repackaging existing federal programs. The strategy replaces the former “just transition” framework first introduced under Justin Trudeau.
OIL SURGES ABOVE $100 AS MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT ROCKS MARKETS — Brent crude jumped 17% to $108 a barrel as fighting between Iran, Israel, and the United States escalates. The spike has rattled global markets and could push inflation, fuel costs, and interest rate pressure higher worldwide.
WHEN PRICE OF OIL SURGES, GROCERY BILLS WILL FOLLOW — Food policy researcher Sylvain Charlebois warns that with oil now above $90 a barrel, Canadians could see higher grocery prices later this year. Historically, spikes in oil prices have led food inflation by about six to nine months, as higher energy costs ripple through transportation and production.
WHY CANZUK-STYLE LABOUR MOBILITY SHOULD RETURN — Christopher Worswick argues Canada should revive CANZUK-style labour mobility with allies like Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. He says freer worker movement—similar to the European Union model—could boost productivity, trade, and economic growth.
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