Parliament returns to action today with Prime Minister Mark Carney warning Canadians that this fall’s federal budget will run a higher deficit than last year, citing the impact of U.S. tariffs and the government’s economic response. Speaking at a Sunday news conference in Ottawa, Carney avoided giving an exact figure but signaled that fiscal pressures are mounting.
The return of MPs to the House of Commons sets the stage for Carney’s first direct clash in Question Period with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre since Poilievre’s comeback victory in an Alberta byelection last month. Poilievre, who lost his Ottawa-area seat in April’s general election, is expected to challenge the government’s spending plans and deficit trajectory.
Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon will lay out the Liberals’ fall agenda later today, which includes a contentious border security bill that will need opposition support to pass in the minority parliament. The coming weeks are likely to see intense debate as fiscal discipline, trade challenges, and security concerns dominate the political conversation.