National News
‘Economic engine’: Alberta predicting $2.4-billion surplus for petro-powered economy
By Dean Bennett, The Canadian Press on February 28th, 2023
EDMONTON – Alberta is predicting a $2.4-billion budget surplus for its petro-powered economy this year, with plans to take a big bite out of its debt and put up guardrails to prevent eye-popping deficits when oil booms go bust. “This plan achieves the priorities of Albertans, which include ensuring the government lives within its means,” ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!‘Beacon of hope’: B.C. advocates cheer free contraception promise in 2023 budget
By The Canadian Press on February 28th, 2023
VICTORIA – British Columbia advocates are celebrating news the province is set to become the first in Canada to make prescription contraception free to all residents this spring, with $119 million earmarked over three years in the budget released today. The announcement first promised by B.C. New Democrats ahead of the 2020 election was part ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Clarify when to tell Canadians of election interference, evaluation recommends
By David Fraser, The Canadian Press on February 28th, 2023
OTTAWA – The federal government should explore lowering the threshold for when to notify Canadians about potential interference in the middle of an election campaign, says a report released Tuesday evaluating how an independent panel monitored the 2021 election. Former civil servant Morris Rosenberg, who was tasked with writing the independent report on the protocol ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Patrick Brown hosts $1,700 per ticket fundraiser to pay down Tory leadership debt
By Stephanie Taylor, The Canadian Press on February 28th, 2023
OTTAWA – Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown is working to pay off debt from his federal Conservative leadership bid, but without the help of the party or the ability to issue tax receipts to donors. The Conservative Party of Canadasurprised manyby ousting Brown from the leadership campaign last year over allegations he had violated the rules ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Big surplus, no new taxes: Highlights of the Alberta budget
By The Canadian Press on February 28th, 2023
EDMONTON – Alberta’s United Conservative government delivered its last budget Tuesday before an election expected in May. It includes a $2.4-billion surplus and more spending in health care, education and justice. Here are some of the highlights: – A $2.4-billion surplus based on $70.7 billion in revenues and $68.3 billion in spending (including a $1.5-billion ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Alberta predicting $2.4-billion surplus for petro-powered economy
By Dean Bennett, The Canadian Press on February 28th, 2023
EDMONTON – Alberta is predicting a $2.4-billion budget surplus for its petro-powered economy this year, with plans to take a big bite out of its debt and put up guardrails to prevent eye-popping deficits when oil booms go bust. “This plan achieves the priorities of Albertans, which include ensuring the government lives within its means,” ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Oil well cleanup program listed as ‘key objective’ in Alberta’s pre-election budget
By Bob Weber, The Canadian Press on February 28th, 2023
EDMONTON – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s last budget before an expected spring election gives strong support to a proposed tax break for energy companies to fulfil their legal cleanup duties but doesn’t tell voters how much would be spent on it. The budget, tabled in the legislature Tuesday, lists “liability management” as a key priority ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!B.C. budget forecasts years of deficits, but spends big on health, housing, families
By Dirk Meissner, The Canadian Press on February 28th, 2023
VICTORIA – Deficits are in the forecast for British Columbia’s budget, but that’s not stopping the New Democrat government from spending billions on health, housing and families. Finance Minister Katrine Conroy said the government plans to invest in people during uncertain times, despite a deficit projection of $4.2 billion in 2023-2024, and $11 billion over ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Foreign interference protocol worked well in 2021 election, says new report
By The Canadian Press on February 28th, 2023
OTTAWA – A newly released independent report on the protocol designed to inform Canadians in the event of threats to the 2021 federal election concludes it worked well overall, but the public should be told more about what it would consider cause for concern. Former civil servant Morris Rosenberg, who was tasked with writing the ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!B.C. budget boosts health and housing, forecasting return to deficits
By The Canadian Press on February 28th, 2023
VICTORIA – British Columbia Finance Minister Katrine Conroy has tabled a budget that forecasts deficits totalling $11 billion over the next three years, in contrast to this year’s hefty surplus. Big-ticket expenditures include almost $6.4 billion in new health funding, with about $1 billion for mental health and addictions services, while housing gets an additional ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Foreign interference protocol worked well in 2021 election, report says
By The Canadian Press on February 28th, 2023
OTTAWA – A newly released independent report on the protocol designed to inform Canadians in the event of threats to the 2021 federal election concludes it worked well overall. Former civil servant Morris Rosenberg, tasked with writing the report assessing the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol, also made several recommendations for its future. Rosenberg says ... Read More »
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