Yesterday the Ontario Government released its 2024 Budget. Summary/Political ContextOntario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy tabled his fourth budget today which includes $214 billion in spending, and a deficit of $9.8 billion – more than 3 times larger than last year’s deficit at $3 billion. Inflation, low GDP growth (estimated to be 0.3% in 2024) and...Read More
The final report of the Expert Panel on the Cannabis Act, presented by the Minister of Health, unveils comprehensive findings and recommendations after an 18-month review, including public health concerns, regulatory burdens, taxation, and inclusivity. For a deeper dive into the report's implications for public health, industry regulation, and the future of cannabis policy in...Read More
Yesterday the Alberta Government released its 2024 Budget. Summary/Political Context Alberta Finance Minister Nate Horner tabled his first budget, which includes more than $70 billion in spending and a surplus of $367 million. Restraint and austerity are the key words that define this budget. Premier Danielle Smith’s goal of keeping spending increases below 6.2% (this...Read More
With the introduction of the Cannabis Act in 2018, Canada was the second jurisdiction (after Uruguay) to legalize cannabis at a national level for adult recreational use. Given this substance was illegal for over 90 years, and ending this prohibition was unprecedented for Canadian society, Parliament mandated a review of the Act within three years...Read More
With the 2023 election ballots all re-counted and official results posted, Premier Danielle Smith announced and swore in her cabinet today, at an 11 am session. As Diplomat had predicted, through our support channels, the size of the cabinet is smaller than previous but remains substantial. With a smaller pool of MLAs to select from,...Read More
This morning, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos (Minister of Health) and the Honourable Carolyn Bennett (Associate Minister of Health and Minister of Mental Health and Addictions) announced the long-awaited legislative review of the Cannabis Act. Alongside them were Morris Rosenberg (a Former Deputy Minister of Health) and Nate Erskine-Smith (Member of Parliament of Beaches-East York), who...Read More
On July 8, 2021, Honourable Premier Jason Kenney announced a Cabinet shuffle. The government states that they hope a new Cabinet will give Albertans confidence and optimism for the economic future of the Province. With a renewed focus on recovery, the Alberta Government plans to build, diversify the economy, and create jobs. Several changes in...Read More
Today, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister the Hon. Chrystia Freeland Budget 2021: A Recovery Plan for Jobs, Growth, and Resilience. This is the first federal budget delivered in two years, outlining the Liberal Party’s vision for Canada’s COVID-recovery and laying the groundwork for sustainable growth. Budget 2021-22 is historic, as it is the first...Read More
Today was Budget Day in New Brunswick. As expected, the province’s focus on tackling COVID and ensuring the necessary supports for residents and businesses to emerge successfully from the pandemic far outweighed the need for a balanced budget. Indeed, Finance Minister Ernie Steeves was clear that the focus was on a strong recovery, noting in...Read More
On Feb 23rd, Quebec Premier François Legault announced a mini cabinet shuffle. Lucie Lecours becomes the Junior Minister of the Economy Elected in 2018, Lecours is a graduate of McGill University. For more than twelve years, she held the journalist chair for TC Médias, then successively was editor-in-chief, news director, sales director, editor, and general...Read More
