This week: Ottawa makes the case for Alberta’s place in Confederation with an $8 billion pledge, Alberta moves to restrict municipalities, and Ontario's controversies escalate to the OPP and Auditor General.

Week three of the B.C. election campaign is all about affordability, with the parties battling over who can ease the squeeze and who should pay for it. With cost of living dominating voter concerns and the Conservatives holding a five-point lead, the competing messages are sharpening as voters begin to lock in their choices ahead of the campaign’s only televised debate.

Nation building is top of mind this week. Ottawa and Alberta put their partnership on display ahead of the October 19 referendum, designating the Pacific Link pipeline and announcing plans for high-speed rail between Calgary and Edmonton. In Ontario, Premier Ford is offering to back the Northern Shield pipeline as tariff-driven steel layoffs hit Hamilton and Nanticoke.

Resource development and the economy take centre stage in the second week of B.C.’s election campaign, fuelled by a major LNG announcement and competing promises for growth. But new polling shows the race remains uncertain, with voter frustration high and more than a quarter of British Columbians still open to changing their minds.

Parliament returns with a major new projects bill and pushback from labour and Indigenous leaders. In Alberta, new polling shows shifting views on separation and a tightening political landscape ahead of the October referendum, while the province announces relief at the pumps and a new Airdrie health centre. In Ontario, a $13-billion deficit, growing education labour tensions and new setbacks for the auto sector round out the week.

BC NDP Leader David Eby has taken the calculated risk to call an early election in the province, hoping to catch the BC Conservatives flat footed just two years into his government’s mandate.

Canada’s trade fight with the U.S. continues to dominate the political agenda, as Prime Minister Mark Carney defended Ottawa’s handling of stalled negotiations ahead of retaliatory tariffs on nearly $28 billion in American goods next week. In Alberta, the October referendum is already putting pressure on Elections Alberta, while the independence movement is laying out a more detailed vision for separation. Voters also delivered plenty to watch, with the Liberals sweeping three federal byelections and Ontario’s three contests returning the status quo at Queen’s Park.

Canada’s trade fight with the U.S. continues to dominate the political agenda, as Prime Minister Mark Carney defended Ottawa’s handling of stalled negotiations ahead of retaliatory tariffs on nearly $28 billion in American goods next week. In Alberta, the October referendum is already putting pressure on Elections Alberta, while the independence movement is laying out a more detailed vision for separation. Voters also delivered plenty to watch, with the Liberals sweeping three federal byelections and Ontario’s three contests returning the status quo at Queen’s Park.

Canada’s trade fight with the U.S. continues to dominate the political agenda, as Prime Minister Mark Carney defended Ottawa’s handling of stalled negotiations ahead of retaliatory tariffs on nearly $28 billion in American goods next week. In Alberta, the October referendum is already putting pressure on Elections Alberta, while the independence movement is laying out a more detailed vision for separation. Voters also delivered plenty to watch, with the Liberals sweeping three federal byelections and Ontario’s three contests returning the status quo at Queen’s Park.

Canada's trade war with the U.S. has intensified. After talks collapsed, Prime Minister Carney walked away with a $27.6-billion retaliatory tariff package set for September 8. In Alberta, Premier Smith is taking a more diplomatic approach while over in Ontario, Premier Doug Ford trades barbs with Trump. Across the country, Canadians will be watching as tariffs ripple through supply chains and household budgets.