The Weekly Roundup - July 4, 2023
A hearty yahoo to you and yours. Politicians of all stripes and levels of government will arrive in Calgary for Stampede festivities later this week. On Saturday night, Pierre Poilievre will return to the annual CPC Stampede barbeque a year after he was warmly received by the crowd as a leadership candidate.
In among the many pancake breakfasts and receptions, Premier Danielle Smith indicated in her speech to the Calgary Chamber Commerce last week that she and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will set time aside during Stampede for a confab. Topics that may surface on the agenda include bail reform not passing federally anytime soon, the ongoing British Columbia port strike should it not yet be resolved and the perennial favourite, energy policy. Both Smith and Trudeau are likely practising their handshakes and ensuring they have their cowboy hats facing the right direction in advance of the meeting.
Below, you’ll find the other top federal and provincial stories of the week.
Top Federal Stories of the Week
The game of chicken with tech giants regarding the Liberal government’s Bill C-18 is ongoing, with Google and Meta both stating that they will block Canadian news from their platforms in response to the bill’s passage. It remains to be seen if the federal government will stand firm as it sets a worldwide precedent on the topic, as legislators in other countries including the United States watch with interest.
On the heels of a NATO air exercise that Canada had to skip out on due to modernization efforts for the Canadian aircraft fleet, the Prime Minister will be travelling to Europe next week for the annual NATO leader’s summit.
Top Alberta Stories of the Week
With the hullabaloo of the election now a month in the rearview mirror and cabinet ministers briefed up on their respective portfolios, you can expect to see mandate letters issued to Premier Smith’s cabinet this month. The mandate letters will highlight which of Smith’s priorities from her leadership and general election campaigns will be given top priority leading into the fall session.
Treasury Board and Finance Minister Nate Horner was given the enviable task of delivering the government’s year-end financial numbers late last week with a year-end $11.6-billion surplus that included $25.2 billion in non-renewable resource revenue, record setting corporate tax revenues of $8.2 billion and higher than projected personal income tax revenue of $13.9 billion. For a government that ran on creating the right economic conditions for Albertans and Alberta businesses to succeed, the year-end report gives the UCP a strong starting point for their four-year mandate. While the UCP’s platform commitment of establishing a lower income tax bracket will decrease the bottom line for the next fiscal year, there’s a lot for the UCP to work with.
Multiple counties in Alberta are feeling the effects of drought and are declaring municipal agricultural disasters. While municipal declarations can bring awareness to conditions that farmers are facing in an area of the province, they do not trigger a provincial declaration or access to any funding to support the issue.
New West in the News
Built largely on her campaign organization and in turn, the strength of her advance vote turnout, Olivia Chow was the winner of the Toronto mayoral race. Watch Saeed Selvam, Managing Director of New West Public Affairs on what Olivia Chow’s win means for Toronto.
Upcoming Events Calendar
July 24, 2023: Byelection will be held in the former riding of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Calgary Heritage.
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