Canada Minute: Election Prediction, Immigration Reduction, and a Canada First Rally

Saskatchewan Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Saskatchewan politics.

This Week In Canada:

• NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he anticipates a snap election if Mark Carney wins the Liberal leadership, claiming the government has not acted on tariff relief proposals for workers. Singh believes Carney will call an election before Parliament reconvenes in late March. Carney has not ruled out this possibility, suggesting he may seek a strong mandate if needed. The NDP is preparing for an election as early as March 10th, despite low support in recent polls.
  
  
• A new report from Desjardins suggests that Canada may fall short of its immigration reduction targets for 2025. While the government's efforts to slow population growth have shown some success, the report notes that the number of non-permanent residents is still too high to meet the target of reducing their share to under 5% of the population. Although temporary resident numbers have decreased by 25% in the final quarter of 2024, the total number of non-permanent residents still exceeded expectations. The report also highlights potential pressures from corporate Canada, which is concerned about labour shortages, which may push the government to adjust its policies.
  
  
• Jordan’s Principle will no longer cover expenses such as vacations, elite sports training, and new homes following concerns over mismanagement. The changes come after Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu acknowledged the program was straying from its original intent. Jordan River Anderson passed away in a Winnipeg hospital in 2005 while government officials disputed who should fund his care at home. In response, the House of Commons established Jordan’s Principle to guarantee that First Nations children receive necessary services without delays caused by jurisdictional conflicts. Ernest Anderson, father of Jordan River Anderson, had called for a probe, arguing that misuse of the fund disrespected his son’s legacy. Since 2016, nearly $9 billion has been spent, with funding requests surging 367% in the past year.

Last Week In Canada:

• Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre used a "Canada First" rally in Ottawa to warn Donald Trump against imposing tariffs or treating Canada as the 51st state, arguing such actions would turn a loyal ally into a resentful neighbor. Speaking to a packed crowd, he framed the potential tariffs as an economic attack, urging Americans to choose stronger trade ties instead. Poilievre also criticized the Liberals, accusing them of using the tariff issue to distract from their record and claiming Conservatives were proven right on policies like the carbon tax and immigration. He promised tax cuts, the removal of sales tax on new homes, and cuts to foreign aid for dictatorships if elected prime minister. The event drew thousands, with overflow rooms filling up and some attendees left outside.
  
  
• Canada has appointed Kevin Brosseau as its new fentanyl czar to address concerns raised by US President Donald Trump about the flow of fentanyl across the border. Brosseau, a former RCMP officer and national security advisor, will work closely with US law enforcement to combat the fentanyl trade. The role aims to coordinate actions across Canadian agencies, but it remains unclear how much formal power Brosseau will hold. This appointment follows Trump's threats of tariffs on Canada unless it takes stronger action on fentanyl and migration.
  
  
• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau congratulated Ahmed al-Sharaa, the new interim president of Syria, despite his leadership of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group Canada has designated as a terrorist organization since 2013. HTS recently overthrew Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Al-Sharaa, who once advocated for an Islamic theocracy, has since expressed intentions for a multicultural society. Trudeau's office confirmed the conversation, but it remains unclear whether Canada will reconsider HTS's terrorist designation.