The Big Story What's next for the Carney government - an inside look inside the cabinet retreat
Sep 5, 2025
Glen McGregor, a CityNews Political Reporter with deep insights into Canadian politics, shares his experiences covering Prime Minister Mark Carney's cabinet planning forum. They discuss the balancing act between austerity and investment in the upcoming budget. Topics include the current U.S.-Canada trade negotiations, highlighting tariff issues, and Canadians’ shifting concerns about the economy under Trump’s influence. McGregor delves into the political dynamics within Parliament and the strategies of both the government and the opposition amid ongoing challenges.
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Planning Forum Focused On Economy
- Mark Carney rebranded a traditional cabinet retreat as a "planning forum" focused on economic priorities amid trade uncertainty.
- The session centered on austerity combined with targeted investments to rebuild the economy domestically.
Departments Face Deep Budget Targets
- Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne told ministers to prepare departmental budget cuts to meet targets.
- The government aims to reduce the overall size of departmental budgets by about 15% over three years.
Austerity Paired With Nation-Building
- The government plans austerity balanced with new "investments" to stimulate growth and diversify exports.
- Priorities include nation-building projects like pipelines, electricity, ports, and LNG to reduce U.S. dependence.