10/3 podcast: Carney's cabinet, lack of budget raise questions for Canadians
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Prime Minister Mark Carney and his Liberal government are looking to set a new course after what some saw as an unlikely election victory late last month.
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But his new cabinet selections, and the fact his government won't be tabling a budget have left a lot of political watchers scratching their heads.
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National Post columnist Tasha Kheiriddin joins the show to discuss the biggest looming challenges for the Carney government, what to make of his cabinet picks, and what Canadians can take away from the fact that we won't see a budget this year.
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Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Political tensions real, but when chips are down Canadians, Americans show up for each other
It's an odd contradiction. One day, we're in a full-blown trade war with the United States, boycotting American whiskey and throwing around retaliatory tariffs like poker chips. The next, we're welcoming U.S. firefighters with open arms to help battle raging wildfires in northern Manitoba. This is Canada-U.S. relations in 2025. On one hand, we have tit-for-tat tariffs on steel, aluminum, lumber and other goods. On the other, we have boots on the ground — Americans working shoulder to shoulder with Canadians, risking their lives to protect our communities from natural disaster. American fire crews prepare to leave the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Thursday morning to help battle the province's wildfires. (Province of Manitoba) It's a jarring contrast, but it reveals something deeper about the true nature of our relationship with our neighbours to the south: when push comes to shove, ideology takes a back seat to humanity. Let's rewind. When President Donald Trump reignited his tariff playbook earlier this year — slapping duties on Canadian imports ranging from paper products to maple syrup — Canada responded in kind. Ottawa announced retaliatory tariffs, and province, including Manitoba, didn't hold back. In a highly publicized move, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries announced it would no longer stock American-made alcohols, including some popular Tennessee bourbons and California wines. The ban remains in effect. There's been a wave of similar symbolic boycotts across the country. Cities are pulling back from U.S. construction contracts. Local officials are urging consumers to 'Buy Canadian.' Many Canadians are refusing to vacation in the U.S., even for weekend getaways. Nationalism has found a new rallying cry. And who can blame them? Trump's America-First approach has always played well with parts of the Republican base, but it comes at a cost to long-standing trade partners, such as Canada. Jobs are at risk. Exporters are left scrambling. And everyday consumers are caught in the crossfire. But just as the rhetoric ramps up in press conferences and policy briefings, something remarkable unfolds on the ground. As fires raged across northern Manitoba in recent weeks, threatening dozens of communities and displacing more than 18,000 people, Canada could rely on its old friend — the United States (and others) — for help. Approximately 100 firefighters and 25 managerial or support staff from the U.S. arrived Thursday to help extinguish the flames. About 110 more American firefighters are expected next week. No conditions. No political games. Just help. It's not the first time, of course. Canada and the U.S. have a long history of mutual aid during wildfires, floods and other natural disasters. The agreements are baked into our shared protocols and border pacts. They're largely immune to whatever political storm is brewing in Washington or Ottawa at the time. When the Fort McMurray fires devastated Alberta in 2016, for example, American crews came north. Canadian crews returned the favour during catastrophic wildfires in California. This is what neighbours do — they help each other in times of crisis. What this juxtaposition reveals is a deeper truth often lost in the political noise: real people — firefighters, volunteers, displaced families — don't live their lives according to tariff schedules or party platforms. When disaster strikes, ideology melts away. What matters is compassion, co-ordination, and trust. The people fighting fires in northern Manitoba don't care whether their counterparts voted Democrat or Republican. They care about containing the blaze, saving homes and making sure everyone gets out safely. That kind of co-operation can't be legislated or sanctioned. It comes from a bond far deeper than economics or trade agreements. It's rooted in a shared history, a cultural closeness and the lived experience of two nations that, for better or worse, are joined at the hip. So where does that leave us? We're clearly in a period of strained political relations with the U.S., fuelled by the unpredictable and narcissistic behaviour of a deranged American president. Trade fights are real, and the consequences affect livelihoods from places such as Winnipeg and Flin Flon. Wednesdays Sent weekly from the heart of Turtle Island, an exploration of Indigenous voices, perspectives and experiences. But let's not let the politics define the entire story. Because on the ground, when lives are on the line, the Canada-U.S. relationship still works. In fact, it thrives. Maybe we should take a page from our own emergency playbook. If we can collaborate so effectively during wildfires — sharing resources, respecting protocols and trusting each other's expertise — why can't we bring that same spirit to trade talks and economic policy? It's tempting for politicians to rally around a common enemy, especially when that enemy is conveniently located just south of the border. But the real world is messier. The same country that imposes unfair tariffs is also the one helping douse the flames in our backyard. In the end, maybe the best measure of a relationship isn't found in balance sheets or tariff lists. Maybe it's found in the way people show up for each other — when it really counts. Tom BrodbeckColumnist Tom Brodbeck is a columnist with the Free Press and has over 30 years experience in print media. He joined the Free Press in 2019. Born and raised in Montreal, Tom graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and commerce. Read more about Tom. Tom provides commentary and analysis on political and related issues at the municipal, provincial and federal level. His columns are built on research and coverage of local events. The Free Press's editing team reviews Tom's columns before they are posted online or published in print – part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Ottawa Citizen
an hour ago
- Ottawa Citizen
Canada's housing crisis calls for more than ‘cranes on the skyline'
This week three of four Canadians declared they have no confidence in Prime Minister Mark Carney's ideas for solving the country's housing affordability crisis. Article content Like most premiers and mayors, Carney is promising to 'build, baby, build' to stimulate a record amount of housing construction. But Angus Reid Institute polling suggests the public is more than skeptical, perhaps in despair. Article content Article content Article content While voters understandably get lost in the complexities of solving a house-price catastrophe that sees average prices at a ridiculous $1.2 million in Greater Vancouver and $1.1 million in Toronto, at least one veteran housing analyst is making a clear and devastating case that Canada's dilemma is being significantly fanned by a wave of investors. Article content Article content John Pasalis, author of a new report titled The Great Sell Off: How Our Homes Became Someone Else's Business, says politicians are abandoning people who want to live in their homes, and they're selling a generation of voters a 'fantasy' that their worn ideas will lead to affordability, he writes. Article content 'As long as politicians and housing economists insist that 'more supply' is the only solution — ignoring the financial dynamics driving demand from investors — we will continue to fall short. This is not just a supply problem. It's a financialization problem, and solving it requires more than cranes on the skyline,' writes Pasalis, president of Realosophy. Article content Article content 'We are at a crossroads. For too long, we've operated under the assumption that today's housing market is simply a more expensive version of the one our parents knew. It isn't. We are living through a paradigm shift — one in which homes are no longer primarily bought by local families, but by global investors. Housing has become a financial asset unbound from local incomes, and policy has yet to catch up.' Article content Article content Last year 30 per cent of all homes in Canada were owned by investors —domestic and foreign — who buy properties they don't intend to occupy. That's a 50-per cent jump in 10 years. Article content In B.C., an incredible half of all condos built in the past decade have been snapped up by investors. In Ontario, the proportion is 57 per cent. Pasalis says government policies are largely to blame.
Cision Canada
an hour ago
- Cision Canada
Government of Canada creating thousands more job opportunities for youth this summer
THUNDER BAY, ON, June 6, 2025 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is creating up to 6,000 more Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) opportunities to help build a strong Canadian economy and secure good jobs for youth. CSJ provides a first job experience for Canadian youth that can help shape their future education, training, and career choices. While CSJ was on track to create 70,000 jobs for youth this summer, Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, today announced up to 6,000 more Canada Summer Jobs opportunities. This will unlock new opportunities for Canadian youth and help our country build the strongest economy in the G7. The Minister made the announcement during a visit to Wataynikaneyap Power's head office on Fort William First Nation in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Wataynikaneyap Power is leading the Wataynikaneyap Transmission Project, which is a partnership of 24 First Nations working together to connect 17 remote communities currently powered by diesel. The organization has already hired an electrical engineering technologist thanks to funding from the Canada Summer Jobs program. The 2025 Canada Summer Jobs hiring period is well underway in communities across Canada. From now until July 21, 2025, young job seekers between the ages of 15 and 30 can find local job opportunities on the Job Bank website and mobile app. Youth can apply for summer jobs in fields that interest them, such as the recreation sector, the food industry and marketing and tourism. Jobs are also available in a variety of high-demand and growing fields, including housing construction and environmental protection. Quotes We've added up to 6,000 more summer jobs this year – bringing the total to 76,000 across the country. The Canada Summer Jobs program helps young people get meaningful, paid work experience that builds skills, confidence, and connections. It also gives small businesses and not-for-profit organizations the staff they need to grow and serve their communities through the busy summer months. This is a smart investment in our economy and in the next generation of leaders – because when young people get a strong start, all of Canada benefits." – The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario "The Government is taking action to support more young people through the Canada Summer Jobs program. A good summer job not only provides valuable work experience, but also helps to build confidence and self-esteem. I invite all young Canadians between the ages of 15 and 30 to go to Job Bank and look for Canada Summer Jobs opportunities in their community." – The Honourable Anna Gainey, Secretary of State for Children and Youth "Wataynikaneyap Power is majority-owned by 24 First Nations, with a goal of 100% ownership in 25 years; a goal which is supported by the partner, Fortis Inc. Capacity-building, including employment and workforce development, is part of this vision. There is a huge need to recruit and retain professionals and create a stronger workforce in many sectors. A strong commitment will be needed to achieve this. We appreciate the Canada Summer Jobs program funding that has assisted Wataynikaneyap Power in hiring five students since 2022. Our Peoples' vision is to create hope and opportunities for our youth while following Wataynikaneyap Power's Guiding Principles." – Margaret Kenequanash, CEO, Wataynikaneyap Power Quick facts Since 2019, Canada Summer Jobs has supported employers by funding more than 460,000 job opportunities for youth, and in 2024, the program surpassed its 70,000 jobs target, with 71,200 jobs supported. Canada Summer Jobs is delivered through the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) and is part of a wide variety of programs offered by the Government of Canada to help youth gain the skills, education and work experience they need to successfully transition into the workforce. In Budget 2024, the Government committed to help youth in Canada through a $351.2 million investment to support 90,000 youth work experiences and employment support opportunities in 2025-26. These investments included: $200.5 million in 2025–26 for Canada Summer Jobs, to provide well-paying summer job opportunities, including in sectors facing critical labour shortages, such as housing construction; and $150.7 million in 2025–26 for the YESS Program, to provide job placements and employment supports to youth in a variety of sectors, such as STEM, housing and digital technology. Today's announcement of additional job opportunities is the result of an additional $25 million reallocation of funding from within ESDC in response to youth employment needs. An independent audit of Canada Summer Jobs by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada found that youth who participate in the program benefit from better long-term earnings than non-participants. In a survey of Canada Summer Jobs youth participants for 2024, 92% of respondents reported having gained confidence in multiple skills needed for future employment. Additionally, 85% of respondents indicated that they were optimistic about their future employment prospects. Backgrounder: Canada Summer Jobs 2025 Associated links Canada Summer Jobs Job Bank (Young Canadians) Follow us on X (Twitter) SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada
