2-09-2026: Grocery rebate to cost taxpayers, Ontario Liberals set date for new leader, Canada Post management warns of loan repayment, NATO defence target deficits, Sask. housing policy is paying off
CARNEY AND FORD DISCUSS EARLY ELECTION — Sources say that Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford have discussed the possibility of an early federal election in their casual conversations to secure a majority mandate. Premier Ford allegedly told Carney that an election is an opportunity to win a clear majority mandate.
UNITY OR SEPARATION? – New data from Angus Reid shows that 29% of Albertans say they would vote for their province to leave Canada today, 21% say they are leaning that way and 8% are definite. While 65% say they would vote to stay in Canada.
PBO ESTIMATES GROCERY REBATE TO COST BILLIONS – The new grocery rebate will hand a $12.4 billion dollar bill to taxpayers over the next six years according to a new report by the Parliamentary Budget Officer, costing $3.1 billion this year alone.
ONTARIO LEADERS ANNOUNCE DATE TO SELECT NEW LEADER – The Ontario Liberals have announced a spending limit of $1 million for candidates, a voting period from November 9th to 20th, and the date for announcing their new leader to be November 21st.
CANADA POST WARNS LOAN REPAYMENT YEARS AWAY — Management says taxpayers shouldn’t expect repayment of billions in federal loans for several years, as a second loan in one year was needed to stave off insolvency and only puts the Crown corporation on track to break even by 2030.
PBO ESTIMATES $63B DEFICIT FOR DEFENCE TARGETS – Parliamentary Budget Office estimates that in order to meet NATO’s new spending targets, Canada will have to add $63B to the federal deficit.
FREDERICTON LANDS FIRST DEFENCE ACCELERATOR CASH — A new Canadian defence accelerator becomes the first Atlantic recipient of Ottawa’s $357.7-million Regional Defence Investment Initiative, with $38.2 million over three years flowing through ACOA to help small and mid-sized defence firms scale.
SK PRO HOUSING POLICY IS PAYING OFF – Saskatchewan’s housing affordability has reflected policy choices that have made it quicker and cheaper to build new housing. At the municipal level, larger cities like Regina and Saskatoon have eased restrictions to allow higher-density development allowing them to rank at the top for major Canadian cities for fast approval timelines.
MUNICH REPORT WARNS OF “WRECKING BALL” POLITICS — A new Munich Security Conference analysis echoes PRIME MINISTER MARK CARNEY’s Davos message, arguing the old global order is finished and Western countries must actively defend — not just preach — their stated values.
STELLANTIS IS SELLING ITS STAKE OF NEXTSTAR – South Korea’s LG Energy Solution is picking up Stellantis’ 49% stake in the Ontario EV battery factory that the federal government previously pledges up to $10 billion in production subsidies to and another $5 billion from the Ontario government.
NEW CROWN CORPORATION – The federal government has introduced legislation that would enshrine their new housing agency as a Crown corporation giving it land acquisition authority and the ability to partner with private developers. While questions remain unanswered on how many units they intend to build.
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