Weekly Roundup - April 2, 2026
Top Federal Stories
Avi Lewis is the new federal NDP leader after winning first-ballot on Sunday in Winnipeg. Lewis ran on a platform of wealth taxes, expanded public ownership, and a hard pivot away from fossil fuels. He said that he will not seek a seat in the House of Commons for the time being, choosing instead to travel the country and strengthen the party's organization ahead of the next election.
Lewis’s win was met with open resistance from NDP leaders on the prairies. Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi stated that the federal party's direction does not serve Alberta's interests. Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck went further, saying she would not meet with Lewis until he reverses his position on energy. Lewis pushed back gently, arguing the NDP can disagree internally and still function as a broad coalition. Lewis takes the reins as the party carries roughly $13 million in debt, though Lewis said his leadership campaign has raised close to half a million dollars toward paying it.
Speaking on CBC’s West of Centre podcast, New West Partner Keith McLaughlin discussed the relevance of the federal NDP under its new leader and what it means for the Alberta NDP moving forward.
Meanwhile, the Canada-Alberta memorandum of understanding passed its first major milestone this week with mixed results. Of the four agreements both governments had targeted for April 1, two have been reached in principle: methane emissions and impact assessment cooperation. The methane deal would allow Alberta to regulate oil and gas methane under its own system in place of federal rules, provided the province meets the 75% reduction target by 2035. A new industrial carbon pricing system and a separate deal with the Oil Sands Alliance on its proposed carbon capture project are still being negotiated. Both governments have struck a conciliatory tone, with Carney calling the negotiations complex but productive. The next deadline is July 1, when Alberta plans to submit a formal pipeline application to the Major Projects Office.
In addition to Alberta, Nova Scotia finalized its agreement with the feds on impact assessment, joining Ontario, British Columbia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. The agreements are designed to speed up project approvals by preventing federal and provincial governments from running separate reviews on the same project.
On conservation, Prime Minister Carneyannounced a $3.8 billion strategy to expand protected lands and waters. The government says these additions will put the target of protecting 30 percent of Canada's land and waters by 2030 within reach.
Top Alberta Stories
April 1 has come and gone, marking a missed deadline in the Canada-Alberta Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on energy development. Negotiations between the provincial and federal governments continue, with both sides signalling progress despite the delay. The talks, tied to a proposed West Coast oil export pipeline, have advanced on several key elements, including methane reduction measures and a streamlined “one project, one review” approach to approvals. However, major issues remain unresolved, including carbon pricing and support for a large-scale oilsands carbon capture project, which are essential to securing federal backing. While leaders continue to characterize discussions as constructive, questions persist around the pace of carbon pricing increases and the level of financial support required to ensure the competitiveness of Alberta’s energy sector.
On Thursday, the Alberta Government announced it has finalized a co-operation agreement with the federal government on environmental and impact assessments, aimed at streamlining the review process for major projects. The agreement allows federal authorities to rely more heavily on Alberta’s regulatory system for projects primarily within provincial jurisdiction, while establishing a coordinated approach for projects requiring both levels of oversight to reduce duplication. It formalizes the above “one project, one review” model intended to provide greater clarity and more predictable timelines for approvals, while maintaining environmental standards and incorporating Indigenous participation.
While Alberta is finding some common ground with Ottawa, the relationship isn’t without friction. The provincial government is preparing to introduce a motion urging the federal government to give Alberta a greater role in selecting judges. Premier Danielle Smith argues the change would give the province a stronger voice in appointments that directly affect its residents and has linked the issue to broader discussions around national unity and provincial autonomy. However, Ottawa has signalled it intends to maintain the current system, emphasizing that judicial appointments must remain independent and merit-based. The proposal comes as Alberta is also exploring additional avenues, including a referendum question this fall.
As the referendum approaches, Alberta is proposing significant changes to how citizen-led petitions and referendums are managed. Bill 23, the Justice Statutes Amendment Act, would remove deadlines that currently require the province to act on successful initiatives, giving the government more flexibility on when - or whether - to move forward with a vote. The legislation would also introduce a 12-month blackout period before and after provincial elections, during which new petitions could not be launched or advanced. The government says this is intended to separate petition campaigns from election cycles and allow for clearer public consideration. However, concerns are already being raised about the potential to undermine direct democracy, as well as the possibility of higher costs if referendums are held outside general elections.
With the house scheduled to rise next month, the Alberta Government has been busy executing its legislative agenda. This week, the province also introduced new legislation aimed at increasing provincial oversight of immigration while strengthening protections for foreign workers. Under Bill 26, the proposed Immigration Oversight Act, employers would be required to register with the province before accessing federal temporary foreign worker programs, with a public registry allowing individuals to verify approved employers. The legislation also proposes a provincial licensing system for immigration consultants and recruiters, alongside stricter rules to prevent fraudulent job postings, unauthorized fees and worker exploitation. While the government says the changes are intended to protect both Alberta’s reputation and incoming workers, critics argue the move reflects a broader push for greater provincial control over immigration and raises concerns about potential impacts on newcomers.
Five other pieces of legislation were tabled this week, including two sweeping omnibus bills. Bills 25 and 28, out of Education and Municipal Affairs, respectively, are already generating significant debate. Bill 28 would amend the Municipal Government Act across multiple fronts, while Bill 25 introduces changes affecting both public and charter schools. While both bills are expansive, much of the public attention has centred on provisions related to appropriate content in classrooms and libraries. As the session progresses, the volume and scope of these measures are consistent with the UCP's strategy of consolidating wide-ranging policy changes into single, multipronged pieces of legislation, an approach that maximizes output but often invites criticism that meaningful changes are being buried without adequate scrutiny.
Top Ontario Stories
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Doug Ford stood together in Etobicoke on Monday to announce what both governments are calling a “historic” federal-provincial housing and transit package. The centrepiece is an $8.8 billion cost-matched investment to cut municipal development charges by up to 50 percent for three years across Ontario municipalities. Combined with the budget’s one-year HST elimination on new builds up to $1 million, the province estimates the measures could reduce the cost of a new home by up to $200,000 and will spur additional housing starts.
Ottawa, Queen’s Park, and City Hall also confirmed a $3 billion agreement ($1 billion each) to build the Waterfront East LRT, a 3.8-kilometre light rail line from Union Station to the Port Lands that would serve 150,000 people on Toronto’s waterfront. For the development and infrastructure sector, Monday’s deal was a significant signal of federal-provincial cooperation and demonstrates a model Ottawa may seek to replicate with other provinces.
Meanwhile, the Ford government introduced Bill 98, the Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act, which would strip municipalities of the ability to enforce green building standards. Amendments to the City of Toronto Act would remove references to “sustainable design” and prevent the city from imposing climate-related building requirements, effectively killing the Toronto Green Standard. The bill also proposes consulting on passing development charge costs to homebuyers, eliminating those charges for non-profit retirement homes, and creating water infrastructure frameworks for remote areas, all signals of the government’s willingness to override municipal policy in the name of housing supply and cost reduction.
On trade, Premier Ford spent the week barnstorming Texas on a multi-day trade mission, meeting with executives from Waste Management, Westlake Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Hewlett-Packard, Compass Datacenters, McKesson, and Toyota, alongside Republican state representatives. Ford used the trip to push his “Fortress Am-Can” pitch for tariff-free trade and critical mineral partnerships ahead of the CUSMA renegotiation. The opposition argues the Premier is overplaying his hand abroad while underdelivering at home, but the cross-border posture continues to play well with Ford’s “Team Canada” base.
As for the Ontario Liberals, the party’s leadership race is heating up. Federal MP Nate Erskine-Smith appears to be the early frontrunner, but other high-profile Liberals may still enter the race.. Erskine-Smith, who is also seeking the Liberal nomination for the upcoming Scarborough Southwest by-election, drew internal fire this week after reports emerged that he had contacted rival nomination contenders, including past candidate Qadira Jackson and franchise owner Ahsanul Hafiz, to encourage them to step aside, implying he could offer positions down the road. The approach drew sharp rebukes from Liberal MPP Ted Hsu, former MP Francis Drouin, and party insiders. The nomination is expected by the end of April, with the by-election around July and the leadership vote on November 21.
The New West Team is ready to guide clients through this uncertain time in Canadian politics.
