Prime Minister Mark Carney's government tabled Budget 2026 with $142.1 billion in new tax incentives, spending and other measures over five years. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne projects a $62.3-billion deficit this year, $3 billion below the spring forecast, yet deficits above $50 billion each of the next four years with no path to balance. Revenues beat earlier expectations, and Ottawa is spending the windfall on growth incentives, affordability and Indigenous infrastructure. The largest new item is a $36.1-billion productivity mega deduction. Debt charges of $60.2 billion will exceed health transfers. Conservatives and New Democrats attacked the debt and corporate focus.
Prime Minister Mark Carney's second budget promises tax breaks meant to kickstart an "investment supercycle" as Canada seeks stronger productivity, growth and sovereignty amid the U.S. trade war. The supercycle is one of three main pillars of Budget 2026, tabled Thursday. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said benefits will show in coming months and for a long time. The Productivity Mega Deduction lets firms immediately write off a broad share of new capital assets, cutting the marginal tax rate on new investment from 13 to 6.4 per cent at a $36-billion five-year cost. A capital-gains incentive aims to help Canadian growth.
St. John's-based Fortis Inc. unveiled its largest five-year capital plan yet alongside third-quarter results showing $474 million in net earnings. The 2027-2031 agenda totals $32.2 billion, $3.4 billion higher than the prior plan. Chief executive David Hutchens said growth is driven largely by transmission and liquefied natural gas investments while keeping customer affordability in mind. About 75 per cent of spending targets transmission and distribution, with 11 major regulated projects. Highlights include an Iowa transmission project by ITC Holdings and $1 billion toward FortisBC LNG expansion at Tilbury Island in Delta, B.C. Funding is expected mainly from cash and debt.
Radiant Medical Systems, a new private clinic in Charlottetown, began offering MRI scans about five weeks ago and plans ultrasound, X-rays, screening mammograms and bone density tests. Medical director Babatunde Ogunremi said one MRI can serve up to 30 patients a day and that Islanders face long waits for imaging. June data showed half of non-urgent MRI patients waited under 75 days, while 90 per cent waited under 986 days. A non-contrast scan costs $1,200 and a contrast scan $1,700. Health P.E.I. said it has no contract with the clinic, so services remain private now, though Ogunremi seeks public funding.
Nova Scotia's New Democrats renewed their call for an emergency legislature debate on EverWind Fuels' planned $10-billion AI data centre in Point Tupper, Cape Breton. Leader Claudia Chender said thousands of Nova Scotians want answers on taxes, environmental rules and power rates. American firm Anthropic has signed a 20-year lease; the first phase would draw 95 megawatts, with a 325-megawatt expansion expected in mid-2028. Parents Bethany Isaksen and Sam Walerickton warned of higher bills and environmental risks. The Energy Department said governments and EverWind pledged not to raise ratepayers' power costs, and EverWind says it will use closed-loop water systems.
100 wordsSource: Global News, by Rebecca Lau and Skye Bryden-Blom
The Holt Liberals introduced amendments that would let municipalities create a vacant-property levy through their own bylaws if they choose. Local Government Minister Aaron Kennedy called it another tool to spur housing and development, saying larger cities will likely show the most interest. Details, including how vacant property is defined, still need regulations. Union of Municipalities executive director Dan Murphy said owners have long sat on prime land. Green Leader David Coon backed pressure on long-empty sites such as Fredericton's Centennial Building, while realtor Tim Somerville earlier urged incentives over penalties. The bill also enables community benefit agreements as well.
Quebec Finance Minister Nicolas Marceau panned the federal budget Thursday, saying it does not meet Quebec's expectations and is the price of staying in Canada while another country manages half its taxes. The newly elected Parti Québécois government said Champagne's plan lacks measures for Quebec priorities. Marceau wants any share of Ottawa's $11.2 billion over four years for homelessness paid quickly, without strings and within provincial jurisdiction. Quebec had sought a health-transfer floor of at least five per cent a year, compensation tied to the productivity mega deduction, and repayment of $690 million spent in 2024 on asylum-seeker support services.
Five unions representing Ontario teachers and education support workers will hold strike votes in November after contracts expired at the end of August. CUPE-OSBCU votes online from Nov. 4 to 18, OSSTF from Nov. 6 to 16, ETFO from Nov. 9 to 18, OECTA on Nov. 12-13, and AEFO on Nov. 16-17. Members cover Ottawa's four publicly funded boards. Unions cite underfunding, understaffing, larger classes and weaker student supports. OSSTF president Martha Hradowy expects strong turnout and said a mandate does not mean immediate walkouts; conciliation and a no-board letter must come first. She urged parents not to worry yet.
Manitoba's shift to permanent daylight saving time has left many students walking or commuting to school in pre-dawn darkness, raising safety worries for parents and school divisions. Winnipeg parent Sara Gerullis said early middle-school drop-offs around 7 a.m. have been very dark and required reflective gear. Sunrise is near 8:25 a.m. now and could reach about 9:24 a.m. in midwinter. St. James-Assiniboia assistant superintendent Jaime Siska noted most students arrive in low light as schools start between 8:20 a.m. and 9 a.m. The division is buying LED batons for crossing guards and urging drivers to stay extra alert on mornings.
The Rural Municipality of Sherwood unanimously approved final bylaw readings Thursday to rezone 895 more acres from agricultural to light industrial for Bell Canada's AI data centre expansion outside Regina. The land joins Bell's development agreement for a planned 1.2-gigawatt campus. Dan Rink, president of AI Fabric at Bell Canada, said the municipal hurdle is cleared, though a provincial environmental impact study is still required. Protesters gathered outside as speakers raised environmental, consultation and scale concerns. Bell projects construction and operations jobs plus local property taxes if expansion proceeds, with first halls expected online in spring 2027 if demand holds.
Elections Alberta told a legislature committee the October referendum cost $84 million, more than double the roughly $37 million spent on the 2023 general election. Chief electoral officer Gordon McClure said the vote ran nearly $50 million over the agency's annual budget and sought $59 million in extra funding, which the bipartisan committee approved. About $26 million is needed to pay staff who hand-counted more than 22 million ballots, with further costs for rented spaces, security, IT and postage. Roughly 75 per cent of voters chose to stay in Canada. Officials described crushing staff hours ahead of the 2027 election.
100 wordsSource: Global News, by Lisa Johnson and Jack Farrell
B.C. Ferries warned travellers of possible delays and cancellations Friday as a rapidly intensifying storm moves onto the coast. Weather could disrupt sailings from early morning through the afternoon on major routes, including Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, Duke Point and the Southern Gulf Islands. The operator urged passengers to check service notices and said passenger and crew safety come first. Environment Canada said heavy rain would pound much of Vancouver Island, with a rainfall warning for north, west and inland areas and totals up to 150 millimetres. Peak rain was expected around midnight Thursday through Friday, with strong coastal winds.
A day after Canada's auditor general tabled Foster Care in Nunavut, Premier John Main called the report upsetting and said his government must live up to its duties. Deputy auditor general Andrew Hayes said Family Services failed to provide timely, effective care, citing weak contact with children, poor foster-home screening and unreliable placement records, problems also flagged in 2023. Staff lacked Matrix system training, producing gaps versus manual lists. Minister Gwen Healey Akearok said training is rolling out, with 90 per cent of front-line staff trained and most home studies and annual reviews now complete. Main pledged a government-wide fix.
Budget 2026 commits Ottawa to fully fund construction of the proposed Mackenzie Valley Highway and some maintenance of the 800-kilometre all-season road. The budget earmarks $3.1 billion through 2031, on top of $405 million announced in September through the Arctic Infrastructure Fund. How much maintenance Ottawa will cover remains under negotiation with the N.W.T. government. The territory has sought this all-in pledge for decades. The budget also proposes $187.4 million over five years, and $24.2 million yearly afterward, for a major-projects entity to help deliver the highway and Taltson hydro expansion. Ottawa links the road to northern defence corridor plans.
Bell announced Nov. 5 that it plans two new cell towers around Whitehorse to handle rising demand as the city grows and to improve 5G and 4G coverage with faster speeds, more reliable service and fewer dead zones. Location scouting and land acquisition have begun, with construction expected to take 12 to 18 months after sites are secured. Yukon Economy Minister Gehmair welcomed the investment, saying her government pressed Bell and federal regulators for better telecom service. Yukon Party MLA Yvonne Clarke, whose Whistle Bend North riding faces dropped calls and dead zones, said the upgrades should help 9,000 Yukoners.
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