The Calgary Stampede begins Friday with politics amidst the agenda of the 10-day Alberta tradition.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre are both in town with commitments that combine attending the festival and rodeo and taking care of political business.
Mr. Trudeau was scheduled to meet with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to discuss issues including emission reductions and the federal government’s goal of having a net-zero electricity grid by 2035. There’s a story here ahead of the meeting.
Calgary-based Alberta Columnist Kelly Cryderman offers a Reporter’s Comment on what to expect:
“The Calgary Stampede is about the midway and rodeo, dressing as a cowpoke, and pancakes and coffee. But for politicians, it’s also a time of fundraising, being seen, and the personal interactions that can help compromise take place, even across party lines.
“Where else than at the First Flip breakfast can you see Alberta Premier Danielle Smith smiling beside federal Tourism Minister Randy Boissonnault, and Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek? A party on Thursday night hosted by New West Public Affairs saw a mixing of Alberta NDP and United Conservative Party MLAs, lobbyists, and government staffers, past and present. In the spirit of Alberta’s two big cities being led by progressive mayors who often see eye-to-eye in their battles with the conservative provincial government, Edmonton has started hosting an annual Stampede party. Given the rivalry between the two cities, that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.
“Meanwhile, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is headlining a Laurier Club Stampede Reception on Friday night, where hundreds of dollars in annual dues are a prerequisite for attendance. Federal Conservatives – united by stronger polling numbers – will gather in Heritage Park for a barbeque fundraiser with Leader Pierre Poilievre Saturday evening.
“The true test of whether this Stampede togetherness leads to anything concrete will come Friday afternoon, when Mr. Trudeau will meet with Ms. Smith to hash out their differences on energy and climate policy.”
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OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the NDP is caving to political pressure from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre when it comes to their stance on the consumer carbon price.
Trudeau says he believes Jagmeet Singh and the NDP care about the environment, but it’s “increasingly obvious” that they have “no idea” what to do about climate change.
On Thursday, Singh said the NDP is working on a plan that wouldn’t put the burden of fighting climate change on the backs of workers, but wouldn’t say if that plan would include a consumer carbon price.
Singh’s noncommittal position comes as the NDP tries to frame itself as a credible alternative to the Conservatives in the next federal election.
Poilievre responded to that by releasing a video, pointing out that the NDP has voted time and again in favour of the Liberals’ carbon price.
British Columbia Premier David Eby also changed his tune on Thursday, promising that a re-elected NDP government would scrap the long-standing carbon tax and shift the burden to “big polluters,” if the federal government dropped its requirements.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
Simon Jolin-Barrette, minister responsible for consumer protection, has tabled a bill to force merchants to calculate tips based on the price before tax.
That means on a restaurant bill of $100, suggested tips would be calculated based on $100, not on $114.98 after provincial and federal sales taxes are added.
The bill would also increase the rebate offered to consumers when the price of an item at the cash register is higher than the shelf price, to $15 from $10.
And it would force grocery stores offering a discounted price for several items to clearly list the unit price as well.
Businesses would also have to indicate whether taxes will be added to the price of food products.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
Quebec legislature member Youri Chassin has announced he’s leaving the Coalition Avenir Québec government to sit as an Independent.
He announced the decision shortly after writing an open letter criticizing Premier François Legault’s government for abandoning its principles of smaller government.
In the letter published in Le Journal de Montréal and Le Journal de Québec, Chassin accused the party of falling back on what he called the old formula of throwing money at problems instead of looking to do things differently.
Chassin says public services are more fragile than ever, despite rising spending that pushed the province to a record $11-billion deficit projected in the last budget.
He is the second CAQ member to leave the party in a little more than one week, after economy and energy minister Pierre Fitzgibbon announced Sept. 4 he would leave because he lost motivation to do his job.
Chassin says he has no intention of joining another party and will instead sit as an Independent until the end of his term.
He has represented the Saint-Jérôme riding since the CAQ rose to power in 2018, but has not served in cabinet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
