Hello, welcome to Politics Insider. Let’s look at what happened today.
Prime Minister Mark Carney plans to unveil the first batch of “nation-building” projects on Thursday.
He made the announcement today at the start of a caucus gathering with Liberal MPs in Edmonton, and ahead of a meeting with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.
Stephanie Levitz and Bill Curry report that Carney did not say specifically what the projects are, nor whether a new pipeline − a key ask from Alberta − will make the cut.
Carney is meeting with his MPs for two days in Edmonton, setting the stage for the return of Parliament next week.
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says Canada is “evaluating” its relationship with Israel, calling its attack on Hamas leadership in Qatar unacceptable.
But Anand stopped short of echoing the call from the European Union for a suspension of trade with Israel or sanctions, citing instead Canada’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the coming United Nations’ General Assembly.
“Our goal is to support the peace process, which was occurring on the ground in Qatar,” she told reporters today on the sidelines of the Liberal caucus meeting in Edmonton.
Anand also responded to Poland invoking Article 4 of the NATO treaty after a number of drones were shot down over its territory during an overnight Russian attack on western Ukraine.
She said she has spoken with her Polish counterpart, and the processes provided for under the NATO treaty will be followed according to Poland’s wishes.
“Canada’s position as a founding member of NATO, as a key ally in the alliance, is to support Poland in the decisions that it makes as a sovereign country,” she told reporters.
“What we have to remember is sovereignty is the key issue on the table. The Russian drone attacks violated the airspace, and therefore the sovereignty of Poland, and Canada stands with Poland and all NATO allies in upholding the NATO Treaty.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney delivers opening remarks at the Liberal caucus in Edmonton on Wednesday.AMBER BRACKEN/The Canadian Press
What else is going on
Canadians made three million fewer trips to the U.S. during summer: The Canadian travel backlash has hurt key U.S. tourism destinations, notably Las Vegas.
Provincewide teachers strike looms in Alberta: The head of the Alberta Teachers’ Association says that if there is no deal in place by Oct. 6, the union’s 51,000 members will hit the picket lines.
Ethics watchdog rules out screen for minister: At issue are interactions between the Public Safety Minister and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, where his wife is a director.
Reduce immigration and temporary resident numbers, poll suggests: The Nanos poll found that Canadians are more than twice as likely to support reducing the number of new immigrants coming to Canada, compared with those who oppose a cut.
B.C. Premier faces internal backlash: New Democrats say David Eby’s remarks linking Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program to high youth unemployment and strains on social services are out of step with party values.
Ben Mulroney hosting political-affairs show: The son of former prime minister Brian Mulroney will serve as interim host of Global News series The West Block, starting on Sept. 14. Mulroney commented on this assignment in a posting on X, saying he does not purport or pretend to be neutral. “My bias is there for all to see, judge and take into consideration. What I am, however, is someone who knows how to conduct an interview fairly and with respect”
On our radar
Prime Minister’s Day: Mark Carney, in Edmonton for the national Liberal caucus retreat, delivered opening remarks and was scheduled to meet with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.
Party Leaders: In Washington, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves François Blanchet is meeting with elected officials and others on U.S. tariffs and economic sectors in Quebec. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, in the Victoria-area town of Sidney, attended a breakfast meeting with the Local Business Networking Forum, featuring a panel of company representatives from the small-craft marine sector. With other members of the NDP caucus, party Interim Leader Don Davies attended an evening town-hall meeting in the Vancouver Island community of Courtenay.
G7 ministers to meet in Toronto: Federal Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson and Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin are to co-host a G7 energy and environment ministers meeting in Toronto on Oct. 30 and 31. “I look forward to constructive discussions on the environmental and climate challenges that matter most,” Dabrusin said in a statement.
Quote of the Day
“That’s a question that remains to be answered. There are some public pronouncements by Russia. There are some public pronouncements by Belarus authorities. I don’t think we can take a lot of what comes from Russia right now at face value.” - Defence Minister David McGuinty, at the national Liberal caucus retreat in Edmonton today, on the question of whether Russia intentionally targeted Poland in drone action this week.
Question period
Poland has invoked Article Four of the NATO treaty over incursions over Polish territory by Russian drones linked to Russia’s war against Ukraine. The article calls for member states to consult whenever “the territorial integrity, political independence or security” of a member state is threatened. Article Four has been invoked seven times since the alliance’s 76-year history. When and why was it first invoked?
Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for the answer.
Perspectives
The U.S. is interfering with public debate in Greenland. Canada could be next.
Mr. Trump has openly mused about making Canada the 51st U.S. state, and his network of MAGA-aligned influencers, including conspiracy peddlers with vast online followings, have already demonstrated that they’re eager to stoke separatist flames if it humiliates Ottawa and advances MAGA interests. Leaders of a current Alberta separatist group have actively sought and received attention in the U.S. capital, boasting of sympathetic ears and fantasizing about American “facilitation” of their cause. Whether officials in the Trump administration offered anything tangible or not, the message is unmistakable: the cohesion of our country is a tempting target.
— Marcus Kolga is the founder of DisinfoWatch and a senior fellow at the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights.
Doug Ford threatens to put the Ontario economy on the rocks
Governments cannot make the mistake of trying to avoid the pain of adjustments, either through massive subsidy programs (a path the federal government looks to be contemplating) or through political browbeating à la Doug Ford.
— The Globe and Mail Editorial Board
How did the Temporary Foreign Worker Program come to be the scapegoat for all our ills?
There’s no doubt that the Temporary Foreign Worker program, amid the postpandemic rush to get the economy back on its feet, got a little out of control. It’s also clear that the program, by forbidding workers from taking another job once they are here, often exposes them to exploitation.
— Andrew Coyne, Columnist
Go deeper
- Follow along for our stories on Canada-U.S. relations as news develops
- Get the latest insight and analysis from our political opinion writers
- Take a look at the history of immigration reporting and great political scandals from A Nation’s Paper, a book about The Globe and Mail’s role in Canadian history
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The answer to today’s question: February, 2003 by Turkey, according to NATO’s website. Turkey sought consultations on defensive assistance from NATO in the event of a threat to its population or territory resulting from armed conflict in neighbouring Iraq.