Overview

• Prime Minister Mark Carney opened a two-day cabinet planning forum in the Greater Toronto Area to shape the government’s fall program before Parliament returns on September 15.
• Ministers are prioritizing the U.S. tariff fight after a recent decision to scale back Canada’s retaliation by exempting goods covered under the USMCA.
• The meetings begin Canada’s preparations for the USMCA’s 2026 review, with reporting that consultations could start as early as this fall.
• The agenda pushes faster approvals for national-interest infrastructure through a new Major Projects Office led by former Trans Mountain Corp. head Dawn Farrell.
• Housing, defence industry expansion and crime policy are in focus, with reporting pointing to an October budget that is expected to emphasize defence and may feature a higher deficit.