Weekly Roundup - August 15, 2025

This week saw new tariffs on Canadian canola, opposition challenges to Ottawa’s EV mandate, and a ramp-up from the federal Conservatives. In Ontario, the Ford government is ending remote work for provincial employees and rolling out major funding to shield key industries from U.S. trade tariffs. Plus, tensions ran high as vocal opponents took to the microphone at the latest Alberta Next panel town hall. 

Here's what you need to know to stay ahead. 

Top Federal Stories

The summer of trade tribulations hasn’t come to an end yet. On Tuesday, China announced preliminary anti-dumping duties of 75.8 per cent on Canadian canola seed exports, effectively shutting the door to a $5 billion market for Canadian farmers.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre took the opportunity to criticize the Prime Minister for, what he says, is the need for “a Prime Minister who will actually stand up for all Canadians, including and especially our prairie producers.” For his part, Prime Minister Carney called the duties “unjustified” and indicated he had spoken to Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and will engage with industry leaders in the near term to discuss options for the sector.

The Canadian canola sector has pressed Ottawa to restrict imports of used vegetable oils, which the Canola Council of Canada argues would create fairer market conditions for domestic canola producers. These imported used vegetable oils – typically sourced from Asian markets – compete directly with canola in renewable diesel production.

Meanwhile, Pierre Poilievre also called on Ottawa to cancel a $1-billion loan from the Canada Infrastructure Bank that supports BC Ferries’ plan to buy four new ferries from Chinese State-owned China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards. Poilievre suggested the federal government is failing to stand up for Canadian farmers while buying ships from a Chinese shipyard that “undercuts Canadian companies on environmental standards, worker safety and wages.”

Canada’s zero-emission vehicle mandate is squarely in the sights of the Conservative leader as the party prepares for the return of Parliament next month. Expect the mandate, which requires 20 per cent of light-duty vehicles sold in Canada to be zero-emission vehicles by 2026, to be a major point of contention for the Liberal government. Opposition pressure comes at the same time as the vehicle manufacturing industry is lobbying the government to scrap the mandate.

Conservative MPs are demanding a Health Committee investigation into Spanish drugmaker Grifols using Canadian-donated blood plasma for international products. The Globe and Mail revealed that Grifols produces albumin for export using "byproducts" from Canadian plasma, despite Canadian Blood Services' 2022 pledge that donations would stay in Canada.

This flurry of activity from the Conservatives matters because, when the House returns, expect a much more active and engaged opposition than was seen during the brief spring sitting that followed the federal election. With Pierre Poilievre set to return to parliament in the fall, following Monday’s byelection in Battle River-Crowfoot, Poilievre will regain access to the Opposition Leader Office resources including staff support, procedural privileges, and daily Question Period participation; tools that will be used to hold the government accountable. And while Prime Minister Carney continues to govern with a commanding lead in the polls, the Liberals only have a minority in Parliament, meaning they have to find a partner amongst the opposition parties to pass their legislative agenda and advance their priorities.

When it comes to government priorities the federal government launched consultations with Canadian industry, business and labour leaders on the regulations for the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act. The Act is part of Carney’s marquis efforts to create “one Canadian economy” and is meant to reduce federal barriers to interprovincial trade and labour mobility by recognizing comparable provincial or territorial regulatory requirements.

Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne also launched consultations for draft legislative proposals meant to implement a grab bag of tax measures that include (among other things) capital gains exemptions, the Scientific Research and Experimental Development Investment tax credit, implantation of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) crypto-asset reporting framework, and Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) audit powers.

Meanwhile, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab's is also planning to crack down on immigration consultant fraud. New regulations would give the industry regulator – the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants – more powers to levy fines and force bad actors to compensate migrants that have been defrauded. This move come as Minister Diab is consulting on targets for the number of temporary and permanent residents in Canada over the next three years, which is published every fall in the Immigration Levels Plan.

Prime Minister Carney announced significant pay raises for Canadian Armed Forces members on August 8 - the largest increases in nearly three decades. The $2 billion annual investment includes 20 per cent increases for entry-level personnel and comprehensive benefits enhancements designed to address recruitment shortfalls. The military is currently short 13,000 troops.

In another setback to ties between Canada and the United States, American defence officials will not be participating in this year’s Halifax International Security Forum. The Trump administration has suspended participation in events staged by think tanks as part of broader skepticism toward multilateral engagement. The Halifax Security Forum is typically one of the few forums for NATO members and other security partners like Japan, India, and Australia to collectively gather and discuss defence priorities.

Top Ontario Stories

It’s the end of work from home for public servants in Ontario. The week Treasury Board President Caroline Mulroney announced sweeping changes to the Ontario Public Service work arrangements. Starting October 20, approximately 60,000 OPS employees must increase office attendance from three to four days per week, with full-time office work beginning January 5, 2026.

The announcement has sparked fierce opposition from public sector unions. Association of Management, Administrative and Professional Crown Employees of Ontario (AMAPCEO) President Dave Bulmer said he was "incensed" by the decision, arguing that remote work has proven effective and that the government is forcing changes they couldn't secure during recent collective bargaining. Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) criticized the "top-down decision made without transparency" and said that hybrid arrangements had delivered "measurable benefits in productivity, retention, and well-being."

Premier Doug Ford defended the policy, suggesting that "everyone's more productive when they're at work" and questioning how mentoring could be effective with remote work, saying “how do you mentor someone over a phone?
You can’t. You’ve got to look at them eye to eye.”

The timing remains a practical challenge. The Macdonald Block complex – the primary offices of the Ontario Public Service – remains closed for a $1.5 billion renovation that continues to experience cost overruns and delays. Provincial staff are currently scattered across rented downtown office spaces, complicating the logistics of a full return. The decision follows similar mandates by major Canadian banks including RBC, Scotiabank, BMO, and TD.

Premier Ford and Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, David Piccini, were in Durham announcing an investment of $2.8 million from the province's Skills Development Fund (SDF) for training and facility upgrades supporting training for jobs in the construction, manufacturing and skilled trades sectors. The event was one in a series of SDF announcements that will see millions of dollars invested through the much-lauded program to train workers in the face of U.S. tariffs.

This week Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy unveiled a substantial $1 billion Protect Ontario Financing Program designed to support Ontario's steel, aluminum, and auto sectors facing pressure from ongoing U.S. trade tensions. The program provides assistance with payroll, leases, and utilities for businesses impacted by higher section 232 tariff rates. The initiative forms part of the government's broader "plan to protect Ontario" from trade-related economic uncertainty and is the first phase of the government’s $5 billion Protecting Ontario Account that was announced in the 2025 budget.

The Premier plans to meet with Mark Carney in Ottawa on Monday, initially promising to press the Prime Minister on cutting HST for new homes. However, Ford backpedaled after Minister Bethlenfalvy expressed concerns about budget implications, admitting he "got his knuckles wrapped." The comment suggests Ford will pull back from the more aggressive tax cut ask. He indicated, however, that he will raise the need for a national strategy and resource stockpile to fight wildfires across Canada.

Traffic chaos on Highway 407 East following the removal of tolls on the publicly-owned portion of the highway provided Ford with another opportunity to discuss transportation infrastructure. With increased gridlock on the 407, Ford hinted at potential lane expansions and working with his Transportation and Finance Ministers to "lighten up the traffic."

Looking ahead, the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference will be held from August 17-20 in Ottawa. Leaders from all parties, including Premier Doug Ford, Official Opposition Leader Marit Stiles, Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie, and Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner are scheduled to speak at the conference, which promises to focus on affordable housing and growth, homelessness, infrastructure, property reassessment, and artificial intelligence.

Top Alberta Stories

A proposed referendum on Alberta independence will face a constitutional review before it can proceed. Court of King’s Bench Justice Colin Feasby ruled that arguments must be heard on whether the Alberta Prosperity Project’s question, asking if Alberta should become a sovereign country, complies with the Constitution.
 
Alberta's Citizens Initiative Act allows an elector to propose a question to be put to a public vote if they can gather enough signatures in support within a set timeframe. Alberta's chief electoral officer, Gordon McClure, referred the question last month so a judge could determine whether it violates the Constitution, including treaty rights.

Feasby said an early ruling would save time and ensure clarity for voters. The decision drew praise from opponents of separation, including former deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk, who is spearheading a competing petition to reaffirm Alberta’s place in Canada. Hearings are set for November, with a ruling expected before the end of the year.
 
Premier Danielle Smith started the week in Mexico City as part of a trade mission designed to build bridges and increase investment between Alberta and Mexico. It’s the second trip the province has taken to Mexico this year with the Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration, Joseph Schow, travelling to the country in May to promote the province as a leading market for tourism and investment.
 
The news releases announcing both missions included a line saying, “mission expenses will be posted on the travel and expense disclosure page.” However, a policy change published earlier this month removes a requirement that the premier, ministers, deputy ministers and senior staff must publicly disclose receipts for expenses over $100. The change was brought up during a town hall the Alberta Next panel held in west Edmonton on Thursday, with the Premier signalling she may reverse the change.
 
The expense question seemed tame as the town hall was marked by sharp divisions over the proposals to better protect Alberta from Ottawa, including creating an Alberta Pension Plan, replacing the RCMP with a provincial police force, and reopening constitutional talks.
 
While straw polls conducted throughout the event suggested a majority of the room supported the initiatives, opponents also made their voices heard, questioning the proposals’ relevance and timing. Tensions flared at times, with the panel’s moderator admonishing audience members for interruptions. The opposition NDP highlighted the conflict, posting a video on social media with some of the more heated moments.
 
The next town halls are slated for August 26 in Fort McMurray and August 27 in Lloydminster.
 
Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, Rebecca Schulz, was absent from the town hall but still working to push back on federal policy. The Minister released a statement calling on Ottawa to abandon its electric vehicle sales targets, describing them as “unrealistic, ineffective and unwanted.” The plan requires 20 per cent of new car sales to be zero-emission by 2026 and 100 per cent by 2035. Schulz pointed to production shortages, high costs, and trade tariffs as major barriers, adding that 71 per cent of Canadians oppose the policy. She urged the federal government to scrap the mandate, citing warnings from automakers and municipal leaders.

On Thursday the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board, Nate Horner, announced that Alberta Health Services and the Health Sciences Association of Alberta reached a tentative collective agreement after months of negotiations. While details will remain confidential until ratification, the Minister praised the collaborative effort and emphasized the importance of health sciences professionals in the province’s health care system.
 
In early April, members of United Nurses of Alberta overwhelmingly ratified a new collective agreement that makes Alberta nurses the highest paid in any Canadian province. While Budget 2026 may seem far away, you can bet the finance minister is thinking about it as public sector agreements tend to establish wage levels that carry forward into future bargaining rounds, creating a gradual upward trend in compensation costs. With Alberta’s population continuing to grow, the province will likely need to hire more unionized health care workers over time, increasing the overall cost.

Upcoming Events Calendar
August 18, 2025: Battle River-Crowfoot federal by
August 26, 2025: Alberta Next panel Fort McMurray town hall 
August 27, 2025: Alberta Next panel Lloydminster town hall 
September 12-14, 2025: Ontario Liberal Party AGM
September 15, 2025: House of Commons returns
October 20, 2025: Ontario Legislature returns
October 27, 2025: Alberta Legislature returns
January 29-31, 2026: Conservative Party of Canada National Convention
March 29, 2026: NDP Leadership Race Results Announcement