Weekly Roundup - September 11, 2026
Top Federal Stories
Prime Minister Mark Carney's cabinet is gathered in Banff on Thursday and Friday to set the government's course before Parliament returns on September 21. His message was one of continuity. Carney said Ottawa will keep building infrastructure at home and diversifying trade abroad despite the fight with Washington. He said Canada is dealing with the United States from a position of strength, while remains willing to restart trade talks in an environment of “professionalism and respect”. Ministers heard from guest speakers on the economy, Indigenous partnerships, and international affairs.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed cabinet after meeting Carney in Calgary on Thursday. The two announced a partnership on drone production. The Canadian Armed Forces have 2,000 drones today, with potential demand for millions in the future. A new national drone marketplace is meant to deliver that capacity within two years. One third of the drones produced will go to Ukraine. The government also finalized a $350-million deal to supply Ukraine with air defence interceptors.
Attention now shifts to the Canada Investment Summit on September 14 and 15 in Toronto. The summit is meant to advance the Prime Minister’s goal of attracting $1 trillion in domestic investment over five years. A document sent to selected attendees lists 167 projects. About two thirds are in fossil fuels, renewable energy, and mining. The largest include the planned oil pipeline to the West Coast, new LNG pipelines and terminals, and a wind project in Nova Scotia. Government wants financing for new or expanded assets rather than buyers for existing ones. Prime Minister Carney will also host an invite-only Liberal fundraiser while in Toronto.
Canada's counter-tariffs took effect Tuesday. President Trump responded with orders that ban some Canadian imports, including alcohol and motorcycles, starting September 29, and threatened to cut off Canadian suppliers from U.S. government procurements. He also suggested blocking Bombardier sales in the U.S. unless the company builds its aircraft there. Kansas Republicans pushed back, pointing out the company's employes more than 1,200 workers in the state.
A new Angus Reid Institute poll suggests the trade fight is currently boosting the Liberals and Prime Minister Carney. They lead the Conservatives in nationwide vote intention 46 per cent to 32. Carney's approval sits at 61 per cent. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's favourability has fallen to a new low of 32 per cent. Still, 57 per cent of 2025 Conservative voters want him to lead the party into the next election.
Carney will travel to Strasbourg, France, next week to address the European Parliament. The EU's ambassador says the two sides are working on a new partnership that could be announced at a Canada-EU summit in late October.
The federal government has amended its major-project regulations, meaning new in situ oil sands facilities and gas-fired electricity plants will no longer be assessed under the Impact Assessment Act, commonly known as C-69. Alberta will now get jurisdiction to regulate and approve these projects.
Premier Danielle Smith welcomed the decision, saying it keeps a federal promise made in the Canada-Alberta MOU. She believes the change will cut costly red tape and help attract investment in Alberta’s energy and electricity sectors. Still, Smith says C-69 should be repealed or changed further to fully respect provincial authority, and Alberta will keep its case before the Alberta Court of Appeal.
The Government of Alberta has launched a $4-million advertising campaign ahead of the province’s October 19 referendum. The ads will appear on TV, radio, online and on billboards. The Premier’s Office says Albertans need to know what is at stake with the fall vote.
The separation question carries the highest political stakes. It could set up Alberta for a second, binding vote on leaving Canada. The latest Angus Reid polling places direct support for separation at 30 per cent. However, strong separatist supporters and limits on how pro-Canada groups can work together have made voter turnout a key issue.
Meanwhile, advance voting is underway in the Calgary-Shaw byelection and continues until Saturday, September 12, ahead of election day on Monday, September 14.
Five candidates are running to replace former UCP MLA Rebecca Schulz: Mike Derry (UCP), Kyle Campbell (NDP), Kyle Joseph (Progressive Conservatives), John Roggeveen (Liberals), and Rolly Ashdown (Independent). The UCP won the seat by less than 14 points in 2023, a drop from almost 40 points in 2019. Results will be released Monday night, so Calgary-Shaw will be one to watch next week.
Top Ontario Stories
Premier Doug Ford shuffled his cabinet on Thursday, moving nine MPPs into new portfolios while leaving the size of cabinet unchanged at 37. Ford framed the changes as preparation for a longer trade war, saying Ontario is “preparing for the long haul” and building “the most competitive, resilient and self-reliant economy in the G7.” The move that drew the most attention is David Piccini’s transfer from Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development to Infrastructure. Ford also retired the associate ministry of auto theft and bail reform, declaring its mandate fulfilled, and created an Associate Minister of Artificial Intelligence Adoption inside Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, filled by Vijay Thanigasalam.
Integrity Commissioner Cathryn Motherwell has been examining Piccini’s handling of the $2.5 billion Skills Development Fund since December, on complaints from the New Democrats and the Liberals, after the auditor general found the selection process was not “fair, transparent or accountable.” Ford rejected any connection between the investigation and the shuffle, calling it “a natural move.” NDP Leader Marit Stiles called the shuffle “a desperate act by a flailing premier” and said Ford had rewarded Piccini rather than holding him to account.
The remaining changes fill vacancies created over the summer. Kinga Surma moves from Infrastructure to president of the Treasury Board, a post empty since Caroline Mulroney resigned in June. Trevor Jones takes Labour, and Sam Oosterhoff moves up from an associate ministry to replace him at Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, with Matthew Rae taking the energy-intensive industries file Oosterhoff leaves behind. Milton MPP Zee Hamid takes Tourism, Culture and Gaming, vacant since Stan Cho resigned over expense claims for Toronto hotel stays, and Brian Saunderson enters cabinet for the first time at Sport following Neil Lumsden’s retirement in August. Michelle Cooper picks up mental health and addictions from Thanigasalam. The legislature does not return until October 27, which gives the incoming ministers roughly seven weeks before they face question period.
Ford set out the substance of that plan while speaking at a Toronto Region Board of Trade event, he expanded eligibility for the province’s two main tariff relief programs: the $1-billion Protect Ontario Financing Program, which lends against payroll, lease and utility costs, and the $150-million Ontario Together Trade Fund, which helps small and medium-sized firms reach markets outside the United States. Together they account for $1.15 billion of the nearly $30 billion Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy says the province has now committed to tariff-impacted workers and businesses. Alcohol and dairy are among the sectors newly covered, and both are targets of Washington’s latest salvo. Ford reiterated his support for Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision to walk away from the deal on the table, describing it as “an absolutely terrible deal that would have destroyed our economy from top to bottom.”
The New West Team is ready to guide clients through changes in Cabinet and the new decision-makers behind them.
