• First Nations-first ministers' meeting brings funding announcements and mixed reviews

  Source: CBC Politics
  Date: 2026-10-26 22:37:54.0
  Tags: [National, Indigenous, Finance, Infrastructure, Emergency, Governance]

  Prime Minister Mark Carney convened the first Indigenous-focused first ministers' meeting in over two decades in Ottawa alongside the Assembly of First Nations, led by National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak. Carney announced proposed federal funding ahead of the Nov. 5 budget, including more than $2.5 billion over five years for emergency preparedness in First Nations communities and more than $630 million over four years for First Nations and Inuit policing. Additionally, Carney committed to exploring the reform or abolition of the 1876 Indian Act and instructed his finance minister to collaborate with First Nations on new revenue-sharing mechanisms, such as a potential sovereign wealth fund.

  Read Original

• Carney government has no launch date planned for proposed sovereign wealth fund

  Source: CBC Politics
  Date: 2026-10-21 08:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Economy, Finance, Infrastructure, Industry, Governance]

  Nearly six months after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced plans to create the Canada Strong Fund—a proposed national sovereign wealth fund backed by $25 billion in seed funding over three years—the federal government has yet to establish a launch date or finalize its operational details. Administered as an arm's-length Crown corporation, the fund is intended to invest domestically in energy, infrastructure, agriculture, and technology alongside private investors, while introducing a retail investment product for ordinary Canadians. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne's office indicated that a significant update, including leadership announcements and mandate reviews to prevent overlap with existing entities like the Canada Growth Fund and Canada Infrastructure Bank, will be provided in the upcoming fall budget.

  Read Original

• Council requests premier's infill edict in writing 'as soon as possible'

  Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
  Date: 2026-10-16 22:06:47.0
  Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Governance, Infrastructure, Finance]

  Following an executive directive from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith ordering Edmonton City Council to rescind its zoning bylaw regarding small-scale residential (RS) zones, Edmonton City Council voted 12-1 on a motion demanding the province provide the order in writing. City administration projects the forced regulatory reversal will cost Edmontonians between $420 million and $610 million in construction business next year, halt over 2,000 rowhouse dwelling units, cut municipal planning and development reserves from $40 million to $25 million by 2030, and cost between $5 million and $10 million to implement under the Municipal Government Act.

  Read Original

• Immigration, high-speed rail and Bill 21: Where new PQ government could test Ottawa

  Source: CBC Politics
  Date: 2026-10-07 08:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Quebec, Immigration, Infrastructure, Transportation, Justice, Finance, Governance]

  Following the Parti Québécois' provincial election victory, Premier-designate Paul St-Pierre Plamondon faces key policy friction points with Prime Minister Mark Carney's federal government. The PQ intends to seek full provincial control over immigration to reduce permanent immigrants to 35,000 and halve temporary immigration quotas, oppose the federal high-speed rail project connecting Toronto to Quebec City via Montreal, and seek $4.4 billion in additional federal transfers. Additionally, the new government plans to challenge federal authority by taking steps to abolish the monarchy in Quebec and cut funding to the lieutenant-governor's office, while awaiting a crucial Supreme Court of Canada ruling on Bill 21.

  Read Original

• Renewing Joint Municipal Infrastructure Funding Supports a Strong Saskatchewan

  Source: Saskatchewan - Government News
  Date: 2026-10-06 21:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Saskatchewan, Municipal, Infrastructure, Finance, Governance]

  Saskatchewan Government Relations Minister Eric Schmalz, alongside municipal leaders from Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Swift Current, North Battleford, Yorkton, Weyburn, Lloydminster, SARM, SUMA, and New North, are traveling to Ottawa on October 6 and 7, 2026, to lobby federal leaders for greater flexibility in cost-shared infrastructure funding. The delegation is advocating for broader project scopes compared to current programs, referencing past initiatives like the Investing In Canada Infrastructure Program, which previously invested more than $2 billion across 460 municipal projects in the province. Discussions also encompass ongoing negotiations regarding the administration of the Provincial-Territorial stream of the Build Communities Strong Fund.

  Read Original

• Premier to table fall capital budget as Yukon MLAs reconvene

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-10-05 11:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Finance, Governance, Infrastructure, Public Safety]

  Yukon Premier Currie Dixon is scheduled to table the fall capital budget, a fiscal and economic outlook, and a new firearms act as the Yukon Legislative Assembly begins its fall sitting on Monday. The Finance Department also announced an upcoming update regarding $100 million in previously voted contingency spending set aside for emergencies and unforeseen expenses. Meanwhile, funding for major health and energy infrastructure projects remains contingent on federal contributions.

  Read Original

• Expect mini capital budget alongside firearms act this fall, Yukon premier says

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-09-29 15:05:02.0
  Tags: [National, Finance, Infrastructure, Governance, Public Safety]

  Yukon Premier and Finance Minister Currie Dixon announced that the Yukon Legislative Assembly will sit on October 5, 2026, to debate a mini capital budget, a supplementary budget, and the territorial fiscal and economic outlook. The upcoming budgetary process aims to address the territory's nearly $82-million deficit through the Responsible Spending Initiative, as well as tackle debt limits and capital planning to better align construction projects with the building season. Additionally, the government plans to table a territorial firearms act and continue discussions with the federal government regarding an increase to the territory's borrowing limit from $1.2 billion to $3 billion and solutions for the isolated electricity grid.

  Read Original

• ABMunis members call on province to give them a cut of future provincial surpluses

  Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
  Date: 2026-09-24 22:41:51.0
  Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Finance, Infrastructure, Governance]

  At the fall meeting of Alberta Municipalities (ABMunis), 558 delegates voted 91 per cent in favour of a resolution calling on the Government of Alberta to establish a framework guaranteeing a set proportion of future provincial budgetary surpluses for local infrastructure funding. Co-sponsored by the cities of Airdrie, Leduc, Lethbridge, Cochrane, and Okotoks, the resolution seeks funds on top of the existing Local Government Fiscal Framework. ABMunis president and Grande Prairie City Councillor Dylan Bressey noted that the province is on track for a $2-billion surplus for the 2026-27 fiscal year and has requested a 10 per cent allocation ($200 million) to help close an estimated $1 billion infrastructure gap. Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams stated that the province will review the resolution while noting that municipalities already share in surpluses through the existing framework, which totals $800 million for the fiscal year.

  Read Original

• Premier Danielle Smith considers potential changes to the Municipal Government Act

  Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
  Date: 2026-09-23 21:47:43.0
  Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Governance, Infrastructure, Finance]

  Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced potential changes to the Municipal Government Act at the Alberta Municipalities Convention in Edmonton, considering allowing larger municipalities to operate similarly to provincial governments regarding private briefing meetings. Alberta Municipalities president Dylan Bressey raised concerns over declining provincial infrastructure funding over the past decade—noting it has dropped by 50 per cent—and requested a 10 per cent allocation of the province's $2 billion surplus, amounting to roughly $200 million for local infrastructure. Smith also addressed municipal code of conduct rules, indicating the province may tailor future regulations based on the size of the municipality rather than applying blanket rules.

  Read Original

• Ontario Putting Student Achievement First as Students Return to School

  Source: Ontario - Ministry of Education
  Date: 2026-09-08 14:00:00.0
  Tags: [Ontario, Education, Infrastructure, Governance, Finance]

  The Ontario government is implementing the Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026, alongside $30.6 billion in Core Education Funding for the 2026-27 school year to modernize the provincial school system. Key policy changes include standardized secondary grading with 65% for classroom work, 20% to 25% for final evaluations, and the return of mandatory written exams and attendance weighting. Additionally, the province is investing over $1 billion to open 35 new and expanded schools providing over 18,300 student spaces, and has partnered with Staples Canada via Supply Ontario to launch a $750 annual direct classroom supply fund for eligible elementary homeroom teachers.

  Read Original