Top news
- Meta has started implementing a permanent ban on content from Canadian news outlets on Facebook and Instagram in response to the Online News Act (Bill C-18). The newly appointed Minister of Canadian Heritage Pascale St-Onge responded with a statement promising the government will “keep standing our ground.”
- Canada’s housing market was a topic of hot political debate this week with Prime Minister Trudeau defending his record at a housing announcement in Hamilton where he sought put some of the blame on other levels of government saying housing is not “a primary federal responsibility” which drew a strong response from Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre.
Government announcements
- The Finance Department has opened consultation on draft legislation for a large number of tax measures announced in Budget 2023 including the CCUS tax credit, Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit, the Intergenerational Business Transfer Framework, the Alternative Minimum Tax, Tax on Repurchases of Equity, the Global Minimum Tax and Digital Service Tax.
- The federal government announced it has secured agreements to plant an additional 56 million trees while providing an update on its 2 Billion Trees Program. To date the government has supported the planting of 110 million trees in the first two years of the program.
- The federal government has opened consultations on its plan to issue a Pollution Prevention Planning Notice (P2 Notice) for plastic packaging which would create new requirement for Canada’s major grocery retailers to introduce pollution prevention plans and take steps to reduce plastic waste.
- A call for proposals for new community-based projects for the New Horizons for Seniors Program has been issued. The government is looking for projects that “creates opportunities for seniors to be more connected, supported and active members of their communities.”
- Minister Miller announced the opening of an Express Entry category for workers in the trades such as carpentry, welding or plumbing.
- The Canadian government released a statement opposing the recent coup in Niger and calling for the restoration of President Mohamed Bazoum. Prime Minister Trudeau is scheduled to speak to President Bazoum today.
Economic numbers of the week
- -6000: The July Labour Survey found a net loss of 6,000 jobs in Canada last month. The unemployment rate rose by 0.1% to 5.5%.
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