Latest news with #Liberals
Hamilton Spectator
3 hours ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Mark Carney's government reviewing suggested changes to infrastructure bill
OTTAWA — The Liberal government is reviewing a series of changes to add oversight and restrain some — but not all — of the extraordinary powers created under its controversial legislation to fast-track major development projects. The proposed law, Bill C-5, has sparked warnings of Indigenous resistance in the coming weeks, along with condemnation from environmental groups, and some reservations within the Liberal caucus. But the government insists the legislation is necessary in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, after the Liberals won a minority government in the April 28 election while promising to supercharge economic growth and reduce Canada's reliance on the unpredictable United States. A rare alliance between Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberals and Pierre Poilievre's Declaring the need for speed to get new projects like mines, ports and pipelines approved for construction in less than two years, Prime Minister Mark Carney's administration is ramming the bill through the House of Commons over the objections of opposition parties this week, with votes anticipated Friday on a host of amendments proposed during a marathon parliamentary committee meeting that finished just after midnight Thursday morning. Speaking to reporters on Parliament Hill, Liberal House Leader Steven MacKinnon said the government was reviewing the proposed amendments, and that he expects the bill to pass in the Senate next week after it goes up for a vote on third reading in the House on Friday. So far, the bill has passed at a rapid clip through the Commons with the support of Liberal and Conservative MPs, with the Bloc Québécois, New Democrats and the lone Green MP opposing it. Asked about the bill Thursday, Carney was adamant the processes it creates will respect Indigenous rights and include the 'full embrace of free, prior and informed consent' — a key provision of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. He insisted it will ensure participation and consultation with Indigenous communities in choosing and reviewing projects to fast-track, including for environmental and other conditions the developers will need to follow. 'Consultation, co-operation, engagement, participation is at the heart of C-5,' Carney said. 'And that is how you build a nation, and that's very much how we've designed it.' Provincial laws seeking to fast-track development under the spectre of American tariffs have also faced criticism in recent weeks, including Ontario's Bill 5 that prompted allegations the government is infringing on Indigenous rights. Amid controversy about fast-tracked mining projects, Ford is sitting down with dozens of As written , the federal law includes measures to reduce federal barriers to trade and labour mobility within Canada. The criticism has centred on the other part of the bill, which aims to create a special process that gives the federal cabinet the power to choose and fast-track development projects it deems to be in the 'national interest.' The current version of the law says the government may consider any factor it sees fit, and gives the federal cabinet the power to skirt laws and regulations — including environmental protections — used to assess chosen projects for approval. The bill says the framework to choose projects to fast-track will expire after five years. The opposition parties' amendments include measures to increase parliamentary oversight of how the law is used. One proposed change calls for the creation of a special committee to examine how the law is being applied, similar to the body of MPs that was automatically created when the federal government triggered the Emergencies Act to quash the so-called 'Freedom Convoy' in February 2022. Other amendments would require the government to disclose documents it uses to choose whether a project gets fast-tracked, publish an advisory 30 days before bringing a new project into the process, and release a report on Indigenous consultations 60 days after a development is authorized through the new law. The proposed changes also aim at the special powers the bill would create, with amendments to limit which laws the federal cabinet would be allowed to skirt in the name of approving a development project. One of the amendments says the government would not be able to do this when Parliament is dissolved or suspended. Another — supported by both the Conservatives and Bloc Québécois — says the government wouldn't be able to circumvent laws that include the Criminal Code, ethics and conflict of interest legislation, the Indian Act, and the Official Languages Act. The committee shot down other proposed amendments, including changes to write the Liberals' professed two-year deadline for project approval's into the bill, and to reduce the sunset clause of the special fast-tracking process from five to two years. At Wednesday's long committee meeting, Lance Haymond, chief of the Kebaowek First Nation in Québec, warned the lack of consultation in drafting the legislation could lead to protests like the 'Idle No More' movement against the former Conservative government's bid to rewrite project assessments in 2012. 'The conditions for an Idle No More 2.0 uprising are being written into the law as we speak,' Haymond said. MacKinnon defended the bill Thursday, and shrugged off a question about how some Liberals have raised questions about concerns from Indigenous leaders and groups like the Assembly of First Nations. 'We believe that by moving ahead on projects, we will continue to give Canadians the confidence that we can get big projects done, can create jobs for skilled trades workers in this country, can attract investment, and can create economic development opportunities for Indigenous Peoples,' he said. With files from Althia Raj
Edmonton Journal
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Mike Pemberton wins Yukon Liberal leadership race, will be territory's 11th premier
The Liberals hold a minority government in Yukon with eight of the 19 available seats in the legislature Published Jun 20, 2025 • Last updated 14 minutes ago • 1 minute read A polling station at an Elections Canada office in the Hill Park Building in Mission was open for early voting on Wednesday April 16, 2025. Gavin Young/Postmedia Mike Pemberton has been named the new leader of the Yukon Liberal Party and will be the territory's 11th premier. A local businessman and longtime party insider, Pemberton won the leadership race by 13 votes over former Kwanlin Dun First Nations Chief Doris Bill. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors He will replace outgoing Premier Ranj Pillai who announced earlier this year that he would not be seeking re-election and would step down after his successor was chosen. The party says 873 ballots were cast at the leadership convention in Whitehorse, with Pemberton getting 442 votes, 429 people voting for Bill, and two ballots being spoiled. The next territorial election must be held on or before Nov. 3. The Liberals hold a minority government in Yukon with eight of the 19 available seats in the legislature. Read More Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. Cult of Hockey Cult of Hockey Politics Sports Cult of Hockey
Global News
4 hours ago
- Business
- Global News
Canada must double home construction over 10 years for affordability: CMHC
Canada's housing agency says home construction in the country will need to double within the next 10 years if affordability levels are to reach what was last seen in 2019. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) said up to 4.8 million new homes will need to be built by 2035, with its latest supply gaps estimate report showing between 430,000 and 480,000 housing units are needed annually — far more than projections by the CMHC of 245,000 starts each year. 'Tackling this housing affordability challenge is enormous, it's absolutely critical to increase housing supply,' said Aled ab Iorwerth, CMHC deputy chief economist. Ab Iorwerth said, during a podcast published by the agency, that doubling the pace of construction was achievable but it would require a 'significantly larger and modernized workforce,' as well as more investment from the private sector, fewer delays and less regulation. Story continues below advertisement Earlier this week, the CMHC said housing starts in May edged down 0.2 per cent compared to April, with 279,510 units. The report, released Thursday, stated that restoring affordability levels that were last seen in 2004 was 'no longer realistic.' That goal was laid out in 2023, when the agency estimated Canada would need to build an added 3.5 million housing units by 2030, in addition to the 2.3 million projected to be built by that year. 1:05 'No wrong places to build housing': Robertson responds to AG report's criticism But the post-COVID-19 surge in housing costs 'changed Canada's affordability landscape,' and challenges being seen in places like Toronto and Vancouver — already ongoing for decades — would take more time to tackle. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The report includes reassurances that increasing the housing supply is unlikely to cause financial instability as 'these forces take time to produce reactions.' Ab Iowerth added the projections in the report were calculated on a 10-year timeline for that reason. Story continues below advertisement But Ab Iowerth noted if supply is not added, prices will only get worse. 'We have predictions that, without increasing supply, house prices will continue to become more and more affordable,' he said. 'There's that challenge, but there's equally a challenge in the rental system. Rents will continue to rise because of the absence of supply, so if we don't tackle this problem, it will become a bigger and bigger problem that starts to pile up and become worse.' Housing construction was a key issue during the federal election campaign earlier this year, with the Liberals promising to double the rate of residential construction over the next decade to reach 500,000 homes per year. The plan emphasized scaling up prefabricated housing construction. It said a new entity called Build Canada Homes would provide $25 billion in debt financing and $1 billion in equity financing to prefabricated homebuilders to reduce construction times by up to 50 per cent. The CMHC report shows a return to 2019 affordability levels in the next decade would lead to house prices being roughly one-quarter lower than they would be in 2035 as it currently stands, with average rents down by an average of five per cent. Without changes, however, Ab Iowerth warns the issues facing Canadians is unlikely to shift. Story continues below advertisement 'The average person looking to rent or buy a house right now is facing a big challenge: not only is it costly, but even finding a place is hard,' he said. 'We need more housing supply so that people can move to Vancouver and find the work they want or move to Toronto and get the job they want and, in the process, help the Canadian economy.' —with files from The Canadian Press
AU Financial Review
8 hours ago
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Kennett calls for Vic Libs clear-out, questions Battin's leadership
Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett has questioned opposition leader Brad Battin's capacity to lead the moribund state Liberals to government and called for a wipe-out of the parliamentary team, opening a fresh battle within the division already reeling from the fallout between MPs John Pesutto and Moira Deeming. Kennett made the comments at a private event hosted by MinterEllison and MST Financial on Thursday night, just as the Victorian Liberal Party's powerful administrative committee voted to provide Pesutto with a $1.55 million loan to help him repay his legal bills to Deeming.
7NEWS
10 hours ago
- Politics
- 7NEWS
South Australian Liberal Nicola Centofanti repeatedly forgets names of FIVEAA hosts in radio trainwreck
So-called train wreck interviews must be avoided at all costs by politicians, and they usually are. But the Liberal leader in South Australia's Upper House must be wishing she'd stayed in bed for a sleep-in this morning rather than appear on breakfast radio. Nicola Centofanti volunteered her voice to radio station FIVEAA. She was explaining why the Liberals are attempting to block new government regulations which are aimed at making public transport safer, with potential lifetime bans for violent offenders. Centofanti got off to a rocky start calling the presenters by their wrong names. Instead of 'good morning, Will and David' she kicked off by greeting 'Matt and Dave'. They were the long-time arch enemies of AA on the radio waves, namely Matt Abraham and David Bevan on ABC breakfast radio. Abraham at least now contributes to AA, whereas Bevan has retired and ridden off into the well-superannuated sunset. AA announcers David Penberthy and Will Goodings were clearly unimpressed and corrected her for which she apologised. But 30 seconds later she doubled up, again wrongly referring to them as Matt and Dave. Penbo's fuse was getting shorter by the second, eventually accusing her of 'having the disrespect of not knowing our damned names'. Name calling, or miscalling, aside, why was Centofanti on in the first place? The Liberals have called for a tougher stance on law and order, but feel the new regulations are being pushed too quickly through the SA Parliament. 'These regulations are being rushed through without consultation,' she claimed. 'We need time for these regulations.' The Libs' new concern is of potential unintended consequences from lifetime bans for troublemakers. From July 1, the transport minister will have the discretion of banning commuters who cause trouble on trams, trains and buses. That may be for a week, a month, or life. Unions are in full support, having seen drivers assaulted with almost weekly incidents of violence towards passengers as well. It's hard to argue against strong action being needed sooner rather than later. Why the Libs are now trying to stall the regulations coming into force seems bewildering. In a muddled explanation, Centofanti claimed that victims of domestic violence could get caught up in the mayhem and be wrongly banned from catching public transport. But I've got news for her. The regulations are going to happen anyway. Centofanti and the Libs had a lot to learn from today's transport-related train wreck, pardon the pun. It's unforgiveable to get announcers' names wrong, especially when the other pair has been absent together from the airwaves for almost a decade. That howler and the basis of her wobbly argument were then ridiculed by the right pair as 'just amateurish'. With the state election nine months away, Centofanti is likely to become a Liberal voice for various campaign matters. If this maiden voyage is anything to go by, she may struggle for relevance. Any future appearance on FIVEAA breakfast is likely to be greeted with some mirth from David and Will. They're totally professional and not vindictive types, but deserve a better performance than Centofanti dished up, or perhaps Liberal leader Vincent Tarzia should take reins next time.
