INSIGHTS
Ontario Government Fall Economic Statement 2018
Today, Ontario Finance Minister Vic Fedeli rose in the Legislature to deliver the Ontario PC government’s first Fall Economic Statement (FES). This highly anticipated event is second only to the provincial budget in terms of the attention paid to the Minister and the Ministry of Finance every year. The budget and the FES, as insiders like to call it, are the two focal points for decision making for Finance too, so in addition to providing a window into the province’s finances, many stakeholders hold their breath on this day, when funding decisions are often made.
Prime Minister Trudeau Unveils Carbon Pricing and Rebate System Details
This morning Prime Minister Trudeau held a news conference to announce details of the planned federal carbon pricing system roll-out. He was joined by Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna, Finance Minister Bill Morneau and Science Minister Kirsty Duncan. The announcement was held at Humber College, which sits at the centre of Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s electoral riding of Etobicoke North. It also sits in the federal riding of Minister Duncan.
One Year Out - Federal Election 2019
One year out, the Liberals seem to have a thin edge in terms of voter intention. However, many polls had the Liberals and the Conservatives neck-and-neck from March to late-July or early- August, and just this week they look to have swung back to near parity. The Prime Minister’s approval rating has steadily declined since this summer, and now sits at 48%, according to Ipsos.
How Recreational Cannabis Will Impact Medical Programs
With the legalization of recreational cannabis coming into effect on October 17, 2018, many are asking, what is the point of maintaining a separate medicinal cannabis model? After all, provincially licensed retail stores in theory will be permitted to sell a breadth of cannabis product strains and compounds for recreational use, some of which may have medicinal benefits. We would argue that a separate system for medicinal cannabis should exist, but just not in its current form. Instead, a system should exist that allows the provinces to enable community pharmacists to dispense cannabis for medical purposes to their patients to ensure safety, access and a high quality of care.
Cannabis in the City: To Opt-In or Not Opt-In that is the Question
The day is finally here for cannabis legalization – October 17, 2018. Some have referenced similarities to the end of prohibition years ago. A historic day, no doubt. So, what’s next? We’ve heard from the Federal government as well as Provincial governments, but there are still several uncertainties and questions surrounding cannabis and its place within municipalities across Canada. The Municipal Team at Sussex Strategy Group hopes to shed some light those uncertainties through a brief overview of what’s to be expected as part of this legalization rollout.
What you need to know about the new NAFTA Agreement (USMCA)
Mere hours before a US-Mexico imposed deadline for ratification and after 13 months of intense, exhaustive and at times combative negotiations, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced shortly before midnight last evening the completion of the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), now titled the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) which covers $1.2 Trillion in annual trade.
Parliamentary Secretary Shuffle completes Trudeau’s personnel shakeup ahead of Fall Session
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced this morning substantial changes to the roster of Parliamentary Secretaries and the House leadership team ahead of the Fall Session of the House of Commons slated to begin on September 17th.
Webcast: Preparing for Federal Carbon Pricing in Ontario
ICF and Sussex Strategy Group jointly presented this webinar on August 18th, aiming to explain how the federal carbon pricing system works, and what it could mean for you and your business. We invite you to listen to the presentation and let us know how we can hel
Larger Than Expected Cabinet Shuffle Firms Up Trudeau’s Front Bench Ahead of 2019 Election
After yet another combative spring session of the House of Commons and with the next Federal Election now only 15 months away, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has shuffled his Cabinet. This is likely to be the last shuffle before Canadians go to the polls in October 2019. The move was expected to occur in late summer prior to the Cabinet retreat and Liberal Summer Caucus meeting. The accelerated timeline suggests a desire to give the new Ministers additional time to learn the portfolios ahead of Parliament’s return on September 18th.