Hello, welcome to Politics Insider. Let’s look at what happened today.
Prime Minister Mark Carney met with the presidents of the United States and Mexico for 45 minutes today amid trade tensions between the nations.
Carney’s office says the leaders have agreed to keep working together on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which is up for review next year.
However, Audrey Champoux, deputy director of communications at the Prime Minister’s Office, said today’s meeting was about soccer.
Carney, Donald Trump and Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum were all at the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw in Washington.
“Today was about the FIFA World Cup 26 and Canada’s leadership and opportunities as we welcome the world as a co-host,” Champoux said in a statement.
Carney was subsequently scheduled to speak at a private event at Canada’s embassy in Washington before returning to Ottawa this evening.
Carney and Trump last met at a private dinner in October before the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit.
On Oct. 23, Trump broke off trade talks with Canada over an Ontario government TV ad. It featured recorded remarks from former president Ronald Reagan, in which he criticized the use of tariffs akin to those the Trump administration has imposed against Canada.
In other news, the International Monetary Fund says that Canada’s fiscal policy is moving in the right direction, but suggested that the federal government should strengthen its budgetary guardrails and push further on regulatory reforms.
Mark Rendell reports that in its annual review of Canadian economic policy published today, the IMF said that the federal government’s emphasis on public investment over operational expenditures in its fall budget is welcome.
The budget, released last month, ramped up spending on housing, transportation infrastructure and the military, while planning to slash an annual $13-billion on government operations.
“We do like the idea that you pivot to more public investment, and then the government is going to embark on a multiyear expenditure review,” Ashvin Ahuja, Canada mission chief at the IMF, said in an interview.
Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and U.S. President Donald Trump after the 2026 World Cup draw on Friday.Mandel Ngan/The Associated Press
What else is going on
Ottawa announces investment initiative to help defence companies: The federal government today released details of its $357.7-million Regional Defence Investment Initiative, which will be split among Canada’s seven regional development agencies, from coast to coast.
Canadian company’s armoured-vehicle production for ICE taking place in U.S: That likely places the products out of the reach of Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, while human-rights advocates express concern about the company equipping an American agency known for its aggressive enforcement tactics under the Trump administration’s mass-deportation campaign.
Sam Mraiche investigated by Elections Alberta over alleged illegal political donations: The non-partisan office responsible for delivering provincial elections, by-elections and referenda investigated the Edmonton businessman embroiled in Alberta’s health care procurement controversy earlier this year, court records show.
Probe into leak of Conservative MP data reveals more records were taken: The party first became aware of a breach on Nov. 17, after the personal financial records of 15 members of Parliament were e-mailed to party insiders and others.
Ottawa launching review of firearms classification regime: Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree says the review will include consultations with Indigenous communities on the SKS rifle.
Canada’s jobless rate falls to 6.5 per cent: The decrease was fuelled by growth in part-time jobs, and a corresponding decline in the youth unemployment rate, which reached a four-year peak in September.
Fighting chance: With a generational increase in spending and a NATO target to hit, Pippa Norman reports on what the modern defence economy could look like.
On our radar
Prime Minister’s Day: Mark Carney travelled to Washington to attend the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw ceremony and later attended and delivered remarks at the Canadian Embassy’s World Cup celebration and tree-lighting ceremony. He was scheduled to return to Ottawa in the evening.
Party Leaders: No schedules released for party leaders.
Public Opinion: Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt and Saskatchewan’s Scott Moe top the year-end Angus Reid measure of popularity among premiers. Ontario’s Doug Ford and Quebec’s Francois Legault are at the bottom of the list.
New national security appointment: Yves Côté, a former commissioner of Canada Elections and a senior policy adviser to the Public Order Emergency Commission on convoy protests, has been appointed to the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency for a five-year term, effective this week. The agency works to ensure national security agencies are complying with the law and that their actions are reasonable and necessary.
Quote of the Day
“As we enter the winter season, I urge everyone to check their carbon monoxide detectors, smoke alarms and home ventilation system to help prevent tragedies like this and protect our families and our homes.” – Brampton West MP Amarjeet Gill speaks to the Commons today about the death of a family of five in his riding after a house fire. Funeral services were held today.
Question period
The redevelopment of the Centre Block complex at the heart of Parliament Hill began in 2022. When is construction work expected to be done?
Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for the answer.
Perspectives
Liberals should get real with Canadians: Pharmacare, for now, is dead
Prime Minister Mark Carney hasn’t called time of death for pharmacare yet. But everyone can see it’s only being kept alive by machines, still referred to in the present tense because anything else would be too painful.
— Robyn Urback, Columnist
Canada must admit that Trump’s America is not a `safe’ place for refugees
Since Mr. Trump’s return to the White House, almost a year ago now, it has become impossible to ignore the fact that the asylum seekers returned to the U.S. under the Safe Third Country Agreement face dangers that include detention and/or refoulement – that is, deportation to their country of origin, where they could be subject to the very persecution they fled in the first place.
— Konrad Yakabuski, Columnist
The City of Ottawa’s Hail Mary plan for redevelopment
It would be churlish to wish Ottawa anything but success in its latest Lansdowne plan. If construction problems arise or revenue projections don’t come true, though, city residents will be on the hook. Will council be back in a decade with Lansdowne 3.0, promising that, even if their plans keep failing, this time they will fail better?
— The Globe and Mail Editorial Board
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
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The answer to today’s question: The main construction is expected to be completed by 2030 or 2031. In the meantime, the House of Commons chamber, among other operations, are in Parliament Hill. The redevelopment project, which has been deemed the most complex rehabilitation project in Canadian history, is budgeted between $4.5-billion and $5-billion.