Hilltimes
Menu
Get free News Updates Sign in
×
Friday, September 18, 2026
Canada’s Politics and Government News Source Since 1989
Subscribe Now

Investment summit a show of unity, but now Carney must deliver on ambition, politicos say

A Harper-era staffer says the question remains if the Carney Liberals are willing to act ‘a lot differently than the Trudeau government’ in reducing the regulatory burdens that have spooked investors for the past decade.

On the heels of Canada's first investment summit, Prime Minister Mark Carney's government is 'at least sending the right message,' that it will listen to investors, but politicos say it’s time to move from listening into action. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
The latest

‘Don’t hold your breath’: former U.S. envoy not expecting midterms to alter Trump’s tariff approach

Former U.S. ambassador to Canada David Cohen, pictured at Lornado in 2022, says it is 'extraordinarily unlikely' that the midterms will result in a change in U.S. trade and tariff policy towards Canada. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Historically, U.S. Republicans have been the party of free trade and the Democrats have endorsed protectionism.

Conservative Order Paper question ‘king’ Colin Thackeray crowned 2026 Top Political Staffer

Conservative MP Todd Doherty’s ‘instrumental’ Michael Bailey, and the PMO’s ‘parliamentary affairs assassin’ Kate Legault-Meek also scored top spots in several categories in The Hill Times’ rejuvenated Top Political Staffers survey.

No ‘breakthrough’ to end nearly three-year pause in trade talks with Canada, says U.K. envoy

While Prime Minister Mark Carney has embarked on a swath of new trade negotiations, talks with the United Kingdom remain idle.

Carney pitches ‘brighter future’ at Investment Summit as observers laud tax cut

At the two-day Toronto gathering, the federal government announced a major investment tax benefit, forthcoming legislation to fast-track more project approvals, and a plan to open up airports to private investment. 

See all News
POLITICS
Prime Minister Mark Carney has invited 'huge institutional capital sources' including sovereign wealth funds and pensions from around the world, all of which have potential to support massive Canadian projects, says TD Bank senior economist Francis Fong. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Canada courting ‘huge’ capital, but economists question if Carney summit can ‘match the ambition’

The prime minister needs to ‘come out with a big bang’ and dispel concern Canada is a hard place to do business, says one economist, while others say the investment summit raises questions about ‘who’s in the room,’ and which participants are ‘missing.’

THE HILL TIMES NEWSPAPER

PEOPLE.
POLICY.
POLITICS.

Subscribers have
full access to the
digital newspaper.



Already a subscriber?



Log in here.

ISSUE: 09-16-2026
DOWNLOAD

PEOPLE.
POLICY.
POLITICS.

Subscribers have
full access to the
digital newspaper.



Already a subscriber?



Log in here.

ISSUE: 09-14-2026
DOWNLOAD

PEOPLE.
POLICY.
POLITICS.

Subscribers have
full access to the
digital newspaper.



Already a subscriber?



Log in here.

ISSUE: 09-09-2026
DOWNLOAD
VIEW PAST ISSUES

Get Today's Headlines Newsletter

Your quick scan of the news you need each weekday to be the smartest person in the room.


By entering your email address you consent to receive email from The Hill Times containing news, analysis, updates and offers. You may unsubscribe at any time. See our privacy policy

Inclusion builds Canada strong: now is the time to double down

Faced with threats and reprisals from our closest neighbour, this is the moment to double down on what makes us truly Canadian: inclusion, equality, pluralism, and human dignity.


Who in the EU will answer when Canada comes calling?

Rechie Valdez
Women and Gender Equality Minister Rechie Valdez. Canada has built women’s paid labour into its economic model without removing women’s unpaid availability from its institutional model, writes Yusra Qadir. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada wants women at work. Our institutions still assume they are at home

Women cannot drive the economy while the same economy continually harvests their unrecognized unpaid labour.

EDITORIAL CARTOON BY DE ADDER
de Adder’s Take: 09-16-2026
de Adder’s Take: 09-14-2026
de Adder’s Take: 09-09-2026
VIEW MORE EDITORIAL CARTOONS
Public Service

Insurance costs for public servants on the rise: PBO

The Parliamentary Budget Officer projects the government’s cost for federal public service insurance plans will reach $4.4-billion in 2030-31. The report came after the Senate’s National Finance Committee asked the budget watchdog to analyze these costs.

Misconduct by IRCC staff can ‘erode trust’ in immigration system, says advocate

A refugee advocate says the revelation that a dozen public servants broke Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada’s rules by improperly accessing its data system could stem from a lack of official communication from the department to applicants.

Canada’s trade ambitions rest on a food system we’re dismantling

The assumption appears to be that fewer experts can somehow do more with less—an impossibility in a system already stretched past its limits.

Ongoing grievance over public service health-plan switch an ‘interesting’ case, says labour lawyer

The Public Service Alliance of Canada says its members have had prolonged issues since the federal government transferred the Public Service Health Care Plan from Sun life to Canada Life in July 2023.

Outspoken health advocate Joss Reimer talks about finding ‘common ground’ with government as she becomes Canada’s top doctor

Joss Reimer says she wants to tackle misinformation and disinformation, and place more emphasis on the social determinants of health and preventative health. She’s also keeping a close eye on H5N1, also referred to as the bird flu, to ensure that Canada has an influenza pandemic plan in place. 

Policy
Marjorie Michel
Health Minister Marjorie Michel. Canada already has a significant advantage in biotechnology and life sciences. The question is whether we are able to fully capitalize on it, writes Wendy Zatylny. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada’s biotech boom won’t matter if the growth happens somewhere else

Companies and investors need confidence that discoveries made in Canada can continue to be developed and commercialized here.

Pharmacare for all: we cannot wait for the next health crisis

Our health-care system should not be a patchwork where some Canadians can access the medicine they need while others are left behind.

Canada’s biotechnology ambitions need more than capital

Maximizing the opportunity will depend on ensuring employers can access the skilled workforce needed to commercialize, scale, and strengthen Canadian capacity.

Health Minister Marjorie Michel, left, and Industry Minister Mélanie Joly. One of Canada’s biggest weaknesses in the life sciences is the separation between health care and innovation, write Pieter Cullis and Terri Petkau. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia

Biotech success should not be measured in whether every Canadian company remains Canadian-owned

We should create and fund early-stage startups while allowing acquisitions—foreign or otherwise—to recycle capital, experienced executives, and technical expertise back into the ecosystem.

See all Policy stories

Biotechnology: the brain gain arrives at an empty treasury

Recruiting talent is only the first step, and the pathway is broken at the grant level as funding fails to keep up with recruitment.

Canadian health data is a valuable national resource

This data should be treated as a strategic public resource, securely governed in Canada, and used first and foremost for the benefit of Canadians.

Biotech sovereignty: Canada’s next strategic imperative

The country excels at generating research and patents, but too often falls short in commercialization, scale-up, and retaining ownership of intellectual property.

THE LATEST POLICY BRIEFINGS

PEOPLE.
POLICY.
POLITICS.

Subscribers have
full access to the
digital newspaper.



Already a subscriber?



Log in here.

DOWNLOAD

PEOPLE.
POLICY.
POLITICS.

Subscribers have
full access to the
digital newspaper.



Already a subscriber?



Log in here.

DOWNLOAD

PEOPLE.
POLICY.
POLITICS.

Subscribers have
full access to the
digital newspaper.



Already a subscriber?



Log in here.

DOWNLOAD
VIEW PAST POLICY BRIEFINGS
Finance & Budget

Canada’s charitable sector needs a federal home

The Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector, established in 2019 to encourage meaningful dialogue with government, remains a periodic consultative body that has not met since fall 2024. And while consultation matters, it is not enough.

Main estimates set out $502.8-billion for 2026-27 as National Defence tops voted spending

National Defence’s $48.4-billion represents the biggest ask of the $230.4-billion set to be voted on by MPs, with five more departments seeking approval for more than $10-billion.

Liberals to cut CBC by $192-million in 2026-27

This year’s estimates include $1.38-billion in funding for the CBC, representing a marked decrease from the $1.58-billion allotted to the public broadcaster during the 2025-26 fiscal year.

Feds are ‘silencing’ an agent of Parliament by leaving post vacant, says ex-budget watchdog Giroux

Conservative MP Stephanie Kusie says the PBO is ‘unable to do its job of providing government oversight.’ But another former budget watchdog Kevin Page says the prime minister has ‘deep respect for the legislative budget offices,’ adding that the next PBO will be faced with ‘enormous challenges’ in the months and years ahead and will be playing a critical role.

Feeding the world is an economic opportunity

Canada can be an agri-food leader, but to compete globally, producers and industry need access to the latest tools and technology.