The Weekly Roundup - August 17, 2023
A scary wildfire season continues to burn through the western provinces and territories. Yellowknife is under an evacuation order with wildfires burning less than 20 kilometres outside the capital city. Hay River has been under evacuation order since Sunday. Many displaced are traveling to Alberta, where evacuation centres have been set up across the province. A look at the Northwest Territories live fire map shows 236 active fires. In B.C., residents in West Kelowna are on evacuation alert while the province has had a multi-day record breaking heat wave.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has been on vacation in B.C. this week, has convened a meeting of the Incident Response Group today to address the NWT wildfires. The cabinet committee is responsible for coordinating a prompt federal response during major incidents and making fast, effective decisions to keep Canadians safe.
Below, you’ll find the other top federal and provincial stories of the week.
Top Federal Stories of the Week
Canada’s annual inflation rate climbed to 3.3 per cent in July, according to Statistics Canada Consumer Price Index data released earlier this week. The numbers were a tough look for the Bank of Canada as it seeks to ease inflationary pressures, and the question of another rate hike to offset inflation looms. Mortgage interest costs and rent were main contributors to the change in CPI, pocketbook issues that tie directly to Canadians affordability concerns.
Newly installed Treasury Board Minister Anita Anand has given a directive to her cabinet colleagues; come up with specific cuts from existing spending plans before an October 2 deadline. The Liberal government is looking to cut more than $15-billion from existing spending plans, with each minister being required to personally approve every spending cut coming from their department.
A date is confirmed for the summer cabinet retreat in P.E.I., with ministers meeting in Charlottetown next Monday through Wednesday. Chiefs of Staff are in place in ministerial offices and other positions will now be filled out, as attention turns towards the fall session.
Top Alberta Stories of the Week
Problems continue for farmers and ranchers in Alberta, with more than a dozen agricultural disasters now being declared by local municipalities with bone dry conditions. Support options are being considered by the provincial government and the federal government is being asked to consider a federal livestock tax deferral provision.
Net-zero targets and proposed federal clean energy regulations are lending to a simmering fight that continues between Alberta and the feds. The UCP government isn’t alone in their pushback on the federal net-zero targets, with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe saying they are unachievable. Expect to see the topic come up at the winter meeting of the Council of the Federation.
Reports, round tables and tours have been awfully quiet in the summer months. The UCP cabinet is coming off a hectic year that included a leadership race and general election. The summer is serving as a reset before priorities laid out in mandate letters are advanced this fall and the aforementioned types of work get started up again by the UCP government.
Upcoming Events Calendar
September 18, 2023: House of Commons resumes sitting after summer break
October 30, 2023: Alberta Speech from the Throne and start of fall session
November 3-4, 2023: UCP Annual General Meeting