Parliament Resumes Today as Carney and Poilievre Square Off With Budget Looming
The House of Commons sits again on Monday at 11 a.m. EDT after its adjournment, with Prime Minister Mark Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre set to trade blows in question period as the fall agenda takes shape, according to the House’s official business calendar.
Poilievre, fresh from a byelection win in Alberta, is looking to rally his caucus ahead of his leadership review at the Conservative convention in January. He has pledged to “work with anybody from any party” but warned the Tories will keep pressing the Liberals on affordability, crime and immigration, the issues he says are top of mind for Canadians.
Budget on the Horizon
The fall sitting builds toward Carney’s first budget, expected in October. The prime minister has promised a mix of “austerity” and “investment”, trimming operational spending while boosting funding for housing, major infrastructure and defence.
Carney has confirmed the deficit has grown over the past year, citing US tariffs and Canada’s countermeasures as key drivers. “We want to protect our industries and workers in the most affected sectors,” he said. Carney comes to the sitting touting recent wins, including a commitment with India’s prime minister to conclude a trade pact early.
A Sitting That Opens on Two Fronts
The sitting opens on the same day Albertans vote in a ten-question referendum, including whether the province should remain in Canada, a vote whose constitutional questions could reshape the federation’s balance of power.
Carney told reporters Sunday that Canadians expect Parliament to “work together”, hinting at a cooperative tone and pointing to partnerships with provinces, unions and the private sector. Whether that tone survives question period will be clear by this afternoon.
