AGP Executive Report

Alberta’s Unity Vote: Mark Carney is heading to Calgary and Edmonton for pro-Canada rallies as Alberta prepares to vote on separation-related questions. Premier Danielle Smith has voted for the province to stay in Canada. Trade & Alliances: Ottawa aims to finish a trade pact with India by year-end and is seeking closer ties with the EU, including cooperation on critical minerals, AI and energy, as Canada diversifies beyond the U.S. Energy & Health: The federal government is committing $100 million to offshore wind development in Nova Scotia and extending $1.2 billion in mental-health, addiction and home-care funding for a year. Toronto Investigation: Three Canadian Armed Forces members are among seven people charged in a kidnapping case tied to an alleged attempt to steal cryptocurrency; police say they recovered military ammunition, firearms and drugs. Space: NordSpace has begun the next construction phase at its Newfoundland and Labrador spaceport, targeting support for Canadian orbital launches by 2028.

Alberta Referendum: Premier Danielle Smith says she voted to keep Alberta in Canada, while urging voters to back nine other ballot proposals. Nearly 175,000 people voted on the first day of advance polls. U.S. Tensions: Donald Trump again said Canada would become the 51st state. U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra also warned Ottawa to stay out of American politics; Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says Canada would never interfere in U.S. elections. Steel Industry: Ottawa is weighing legal action against Stelco’s U.S. owner over planned layoffs, with Industry Minister Mélanie Joly saying penalties, a court order or a forced sale are all possible. Crime: Three Canadian Armed Forces members are among seven men charged in a Toronto kidnapping investigation. Police say the victim was abducted over access to cryptocurrency, and most of thousands of seized rounds of ammunition were stolen from the military. Health Care: Ottawa is providing Manitoba with $6 million to recruit internationally trained medical graduates and help ease doctor shortages across the province.

Alberta’s Future: Advance voting is underway on whether Alberta should stay in Canada or hold a binding separation referendum. Prime Minister Mark Carney is urging unity, while an Alberta Medical Association survey found only 15% of doctors would stay and practise in an independent Alberta. Health Funding: Doctors and nurses are calling on Ottawa to provide provinces with predictable, long-term funding as health ministers meet in Winnipeg. Jobs: Employment remains below pre-pandemic levels in four of Ontario’s five regions; Ottawa has lost about 15,000 jobs since March 2025 amid federal public-service cuts. Quebec Politics: The Parti Québécois formed a minority government, while the Conservatives won 19 seats, breaking through the province’s long-standing left-of-centre consensus. Trade and Defence: Carney and India’s Narendra Modi agreed to deepen ties, with trade and energy on the agenda as Canada sends its largest trade delegation to India in 30 years. Meanwhile, Canada’s military is working to catch up on drones as defence spending grows but longstanding budget pressures persist.

Tumbler Ridge Case: A Washington state resident accused of helping the gunman in one of Canada’s worst school shootings has been ordered detained pending further hearings. Alberta’s Future: Mark Carney is set to rally for national unity as the province’s separation referendum approaches; advance polls are open. Election Turnout: Vancouver’s first three days of advance voting have already surpassed the total across all five days in 2022, while Toronto is also reporting a decade-high early turnout. Trade and Jobs: Pierre Poilievre pitched tariff-free auto trade in Detroit, as Canada’s September job losses—68,000, with unemployment at 6.5 per cent—cast a shadow over the economy. Ottawa is also sending its largest trade mission to India in 30 years, with talks on a trade pact in focus. Quebec Transition: Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and outgoing Premier Christine Fréchette met to plan an orderly handover before his minority government takes office.

Alberta’s Future: Prime Minister Mark Carney urged unity as Alberta approaches a vote on whether to hold a binding independence referendum. Former premiers Rachel Notley and Jason Kenney are also campaigning for the province to stay in Canada. Trade and Diplomacy: Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand is in India with Canada’s largest trade delegation in more than 30 years, with trade-agreement talks on the agenda. Defence Readiness: New comparisons put Canada 20th of 31 NATO allies in defence spending and 30th in military personnel per capita. A retired air force chief warns running F-35 and Gripen fighter fleets could stretch an already short-staffed service. Jobs: Canada lost 68,000 jobs in September, pushing unemployment to 6.5 per cent and wiping out the year’s job gains. AI Safety: Canadian scientists, including Yoshua Bengio and Geoffrey Hinton, warn that poorly contained AI systems could cause more damaging cyberattacks and call for stronger safeguards. Health Care: Federal, provincial and territorial ministers meet in Winnipeg Oct. 15–16 to negotiate the Canada Health Transfer, as the Canadian Cancer Society calls for dedicated funding for cancer care.

National Unity: Mark Carney used his Thanksgiving message to argue Canada is “stronger together,” ahead of a visit to Alberta as separatism gains attention. Economy and Jobs: Canada shed 68,000 jobs in September, pushing unemployment to 6.5% and wiping out the year’s job gains. Ottawa is also moving to speed project approvals and strengthen worker protections. Trade and Industry: Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand heads to India Oct. 13 for talks on trade, energy and security, as Canada sends its largest trade mission there in 30 years. Ottawa is consulting on tougher rules to keep goods made with forced labour out of Canada. Stelco, meanwhile, disputes Ottawa’s allegations as layoffs loom and the federal government threatens legal action. Public Safety: Ontario’s police watchdog is investigating after a 44-year-old man died in an OPP cell in Orillia. On the Pitch: Denmark beat Canada 4-3 in Toronto, while veteran defender Allysha Chapman retires from international soccer after 100 caps.

Foreign Policy: Mark Carney told Ukraine’s president that a new U.S.-Russia diesel deal could give Moscow more money to fund its war. Trade: Canada-U.S. talks remain stalled ahead of the CUSMA review, while Washington and Mexico pursue their own tariff discussions. Ottawa is sending nearly 300 business delegates to India to advance a trade pact and its goal of $70 billion in two-way trade by 2030. Auto Industry: China’s Geely plans to launch vehicles in Canada in 2027 and is building a local retail and service network. Health Policy: Ottawa will keep assisted-dying eligibility closed to people whose sole condition is mental illness. Meanwhile, some Canadian women with endometriosis are going to Mexico for private treatment after long waits at home. Space: An Etobicoke startup has raised $22.5 million and aims to launch a Canadian-built rocket by 2032.

Stelco Showdown: Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves says he is ready to fight Ottawa in court over planned layoffs at the Hamilton steelmaker. The company argues the cuts are temporary; the federal government says they may breach job commitments tied to its 2024 purchase. Food Aid Hit: Toronto charity Second Harvest says theft and damage to seven trucks will cost about $80,000 to repair and disrupt deliveries to more than 300 non-profits. Airport Investment: Vancouver International Airport could be first in line for private investment under Prime Minister Mark Carney’s airport plan, with First Nations investors potentially holding a minority stake. Economic Strain: Canada unexpectedly lost jobs in September, while the unemployment rate edged higher, adding to concerns about a slowing labour market. Local Elections: Vancouver reported record advance voting, with more than 74,000 ballots cast so far; Toronto’s advance polls have also drawn attention as municipal election day approaches.

Jobs and the Economy: Canada lost 68,000 jobs in September as unemployment rose to 6.5%. The Bank of Canada says slower immigration and an aging population are reshaping the economy, with effects on the workforce, spending and growth. Trade: Ottawa is sending about 300 business delegates to India on its largest trade mission in 30 years, aiming to build trade toward $70 billion by 2030. International Affairs: Canada joined allies in condemning U.S. sanctions against the International Criminal Court, reaffirming its support for the court. Housing and Cities: Ottawa’s housing market is shifting toward buyers: August sales fell 18.6% year over year, while supply reached 4.5 months. In Alberta, Calgary’s mayor says the province’s order to reverse Edmonton’s zoning rules sets a troubling precedent. National Unity: Prime Minister Mark Carney pushed back after Elon Musk voiced support for separatism, saying Canadians will decide the country’s future.

Jobs: Canada lost 68,300 jobs in September, wiping out this year’s employment gains and pushing unemployment to 6.5%. Public-sector services led the decline. Steel: Stelco says it will proceed with hundreds of Hamilton layoffs despite Ottawa’s threat of legal action over the company’s commitments under the Investment Canada Act. Housing: Alberta is defending its rollback of Edmonton zoning changes, saying federal funding influenced the city’s rules — a dispute that has drawn sharp criticism from municipal leaders. Foreign Policy: Canada joined seven countries in condemning U.S. sanctions on the International Criminal Court, warning they could undermine its work. Defence: Canada is moving ahead with a Bombardier-Saab plan to build GlobalEye military radar aircraft, signalling a push for more domestic aerospace procurement. Sports: Toronto FC stunned CF Montreal 2-1 with two stoppage-time goals in the 401 Derby.

Jobs and Rates: Canada lost about 68,000 jobs in September, pushing unemployment to 6.5% and raising questions about the Bank of Canada’s next move. National Politics: Mark Carney said Canada’s future will be decided by Canadians after Elon Musk weighed in on separatism. Quebec: The new Parti Québécois government could threaten the proposed Toronto–Quebec City high-speed rail line; Ottawa has also ruled out MAID eligibility solely for mental illness. Trade and Industry: As layoffs mount at Hamilton’s Stelco, a legal expert says Ottawa should consider nationalizing the U.S.-owned steelmaker. Cities: Alberta has ordered Edmonton to roll back infill housing changes, prompting the mayor to warn of provincial overreach. Toronto police data also show pedestrian deaths are up 24% this year. International Affairs: Canada has backed the International Criminal Court after the U.S. announced sanctions targeting the court.

Jobs and Economy: Canada shed 68,000 jobs in September, pushing unemployment to 6.5% and cooling expectations of a Bank of Canada rate hike. The losses were concentrated among young people and women aged 25 to 54. Household Costs: Ottawa is launching heat-pump rebates for as many as 820,000 households to help cut energy bills. Housing and Local Power: Alberta is ordering Edmonton to reverse parts of its infill rules, prompting the Calgary mayor to warn the intervention threatens municipal decision-making. Quebec Politics: The Parti Québécois is returning to power with a minority government, reviving debate over sovereignty and national unity. International Affairs: Canada joined allies in condemning U.S. sanctions on the International Criminal Court and reaffirming support for its independence.

Quebec Politics: The Parti Québécois won a minority government, ending the CAQ’s eight-year hold on power; outgoing premier Christine Fréchette stepped down after her party lost every seat. Housing Fight: Alberta ordered Edmonton to reverse its infill rules and told Calgary to restore some earlier zoning limits, escalating a clash over provincial control of city planning. Assisted Dying: Ottawa plans to indefinitely suspend the scheduled expansion of medical assistance in dying to people whose sole condition is mental illness. Student Aid: An Ontario review has found serious concerns with OSAP applications at private colleges; six campuses have lost eligibility while a wider KPMG audit continues. Economy and Energy: Deloitte expects Canada’s growth to slow to 1.6 per cent next year, while Statistics Canada is due to release September jobs figures. In Quebec, Hydro-Québec is proposing higher rates for large data centres as consultants forecast demand more than doubling by 2030.

Disinformation Debate: Canada pulled out of a global conference in Vilnius amid controversy over panels portraying the U.S. as a source of foreign interference. Airport Privatization: Ottawa says leases for the country’s four largest airports will include fee moderation, but airlines want firm rules before investors bid, warning higher charges could reach passengers. Toronto Streets: Ontario plans to start removing Bloor Street bike lanes on Tuesday after an appeal court cleared the way; Mayor Olivia Chow called the move an affront to local decision-making. Alberta Housing: Premier Danielle Smith ordered Edmonton to roll back its infill rules. Mayor Andrew Knack criticized the directive and warned that sprawling development could drive up costs for taxpayers. Public Safety: Ottawa Public Health flagged possible measles exposure at eight locations, while Alberta’s police watchdog investigates the death of a 54-year-old man who lost consciousness during an Edmonton arrest. Canadian Culture: Toronto-born poet Anne Carson won the Nobel Prize in Literature, prompting celebrations and a surge of interest in her books. National Unity: Mark Carney said Canada’s future will be decided by Canadians after Elon Musk urged Quebec to separate; Alberta and Saskatchewan premiers also rejected calls for provinces to leave.

Quebec Politics: The Parti Québécois’ new minority government is seeking legal advice on excluding the lieutenant-governor from its swearing-in, renewing debate over the Crown and Quebec’s place in Canada. MAID Policy: Ottawa says it will legislate to keep mental illness as the sole reason for assisted death permanently excluded. Canada-India Relations: Senior officials agreed to deepen defence and law-enforcement ties, including cooperation against terrorism, organized crime and cybercrime, as trade-agreement talks continue. Trade: Canada’s August surplus widened to $4.2 billion, helped by an 8.1 per cent jump in exports to the United States, even as tariff tensions persist. Housing: The federal government is weighing options for the foreign homebuyer ban, set to expire at year-end.

National Unity: Quebec’s Parti Québécois won a minority government and is renewing debate over separation and the monarchy. Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon says he may challenge the lieutenant-governor’s role; a lawyer is seeking to force incoming MNAs to swear allegiance to the King. Alberta Referendum: With an Oct. 19 vote approaching, Premier Danielle Smith says she’ll vote to stay in Canada. Ottawa is highlighting more than $8 billion in defence spending in Alberta, including projects expected to create jobs. MAID: The federal government plans to indefinitely exclude people whose sole condition is mental illness from medical assistance in dying, keeping the current ban in place. Housing: Ottawa is weighing whether to extend the foreign homebuyer ban before it expires in January 2027. Business: The Weston family, which owns Loblaw and Shoppers Drug Mart, is partnering with Fairfax Financial to buy British pharmacy chain Boots in an $8.9-billion deal. Trade: Despite boycott calls, the U.S. share of Canada’s agri-food imports and exports edged higher in 2026, underscoring continued reliance on the American market.