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COLUMN: On Parliament Hill – Transparency owed to Canadians
5 minute read 3:35 PM CDTTransparency is not an option—it is a responsibility owed to Canadians. In a healthy democracy, citizens have the right to know how their money is being spent.
That is why the concerns raised these past couple of weeks about the federal government’s finances require serious attention. According to a National Post report last week, economists, the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO), and Conservatives continue to raise serious concerns about Prime Minister Mark Carney’s lack of transparency around government spending. The article pointed to approximately $40 billion in taxpayer-funded spending that has yet to be fully accounted for. Former associate deputy minister of finance and former TD Bank Chief Economist Don Drummond summed up the concern bluntly: “I’ve been involved in budgets since 1977, and I’ve never seen such a lack of transparency.” He also warned that weaker-than-expected economic performance and employment figures raise further concerns about the government’s fiscal assumptions.
Unfortunately, this isn’t new to Mr. Carney. It seems to be a recurring pattern of recent Liberal governments.
Several years ago, while serving on the House of Commons Natural Resources Committee, I questioned officials about the escalating cost overruns for TMX. I asked how construction costs climbed from $9.7 billion to $12.8 billion to $21.4 billion to $34.2 billion. What was most alarming was the project’s cost skyrocketing by $8.8 billion in just three months, without any public warning.
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MASC launches satellite technology pilot for forage insurance
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Carillon Sports Second Shots: July 30th edition
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COLUMN: Viewpoint – Kinew to come to Steinbach Pride, will Goertzen follow suit?
3 minute read Yesterday at 8:49 AM CDTSteinbach’s upcoming Pride Parade made the news recently when Premier Wab Kinew announced he would attend the September 2026 event. This will be his first official visit to Steinbach since being elected in 2023.
Although the premier was in Steinbach for a private listening session with health-care workers in 2024, and some of his cabinet ministers have attended various events in the city, the Pride Parade in autumn will be the first time Mr. Kinew has made an official public visit.
I find it significant the premier has chosen the Pride Parade for his inaugural appearance in the province’s third largest city, since in 2025 the event was cancelled due to threats from some militant groups that led to an RCMP investigation. Perhaps the premier hopes his presence will be reassuring to those who might be hesitant to attend the parade out of fear for the kind of danger that was the reason for not staging a parade last year.
Local MLA Kelvin Goertzen clearly articulated his stance regarding the 2025 cancellation. In a public statement he said threats or intimidation against any group in society gathering peacefully weakens the foundation of democracy. In his announcement about attending the 2026 parade Mr. Kinew invited Mr. Goertzen to show his solidarity by appearing at the event as well. Will Mr. Goertzen accept the invitation? And how will Michael Zwaagstra, recently acclaimed as the new Progressive Conservative nominee for the Steinbach riding respond? Will he attend? I think it would be a great way for the two men to show their support of democracy in action and affirm that the LGBTQ citizens in their riding are valued and respected. It might even build bridges with the premier’s office.
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COLUMN: View from the Legislature – Manitoba needs to be at major projects table
3 minute read Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026The talk over the past 18 months in Canadian politics has been focused largely on the need to accomplish major projects that help build Canada’s self reliance. Of course, this has been sparked because of the decision by the Trump administration to place tariffs on many Canadian goods and making it clear that the days of a North American Free Trade zone are either over or going to look very different under this administration than they have for the past several decades.
Some Canadians have rightly pointed out that the need to diversify trade should have been a focus of past federal governments and not left until an emergency situation arose. And while there is truth to that, and all political parties shoulder some of the responsibility for the current situation, there is little that is accomplished by looking backward and wishing things had been done differently. Canada must deal with the situation it finds itself in today, regardless of how it got here.
This means prioritizing projects that help Canada become more self reliant but also less reliant on one single trading partner, the United States. This has led to long overdue efforts to reduce trade barriers between provinces and to look for ways to better capitalize on our natural resources. And, over the past 18 months, that has resulted in a number of specific projects being identified in Canada to help achieve these goals.
However, to date, Manitoba has not played the same role as other provinces in this nation building effort. To be sure, there has been significant interest expressed in the Port of Churchill. Manitoba’s access to tide water through the deep-water arctic port certainly could play a significant role in helping get Canadian goods to other markets around the world. Yet, to date, and despite many announcements and pronouncements there is only a feasibility study that has been committed to toward the future development of Churchill.
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COLUMN: Beyond the shelter – Financial abuse: Rebuilding independence
3 minute read Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026When people think about domestic violence, they often picture physical or emotional abuse. However, one of the most common and least understood forms of abuse is financial abuse. Financial abuse occurs when one person uses money, resources, or economic control to gain power over another. It can make it difficult for someone to leave an unhealthy relationship and can create long-lasting barriers to independence.
Financial abuse can take many forms. An abusive partner may control all household finances, restrict access to bank accounts, monitor spending, prevent someone from working, force them to hand over their paycheque, or accumulate debt in their name. In some cases, survivors leave relationships with damaged credit, limited savings, and little experience managing finances independently because they were never allowed to participate in financial decisions.
The effects of financial abuse can continue long after a relationship ends. Survivors may face challenges securing housing, obtaining credit, finding employment, or meeting basic needs while trying to rebuild their lives. Financial insecurity is also one of the most significant reasons individuals remain in or return to abusive relationships. When someone feels they have no financial options, leaving can seem impossible.
At Agape House, we recognize that safety and independence go hand in hand. While emergency shelter and crisis support are critical, helping individuals rebuild financial confidence is also an important part of the healing journey. Financial literacy can empower survivors to make informed decisions, develop practical skills, and work toward long-term stability.
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COLUMN: On Parliament Hill – How tariffs became Canada’s new reality
5 minute read Monday, Aug. 3, 2026Over the past week, more Canadian industries, including the electronics, furniture and honey sectors, have expressed concern over the recent 50 percent U.S. import duties scheduled to take effect on Aug. 19. Tariffs have become an unfortunate word that has sadly entered our daily conversations. They should not be part of our daily reality.
After his election, Prime Minister Mark Carney assured Canadians that he would sit with President Donald Trump immediately and “find common ground.” He promised to “begin comprehensive negotiations about a new economic and security relationship immediately following the election.”
Canadians were also promised a series of deadlines for a Canada/U.S. agreement, but instead they have watched deadlines come and go without little explanation by our prime minister. We were told that our relationship with the U.S. was experiencing a rupture, not a transition. We were told that our long-standing close ties with America had now become our weakness. Mr. Carney even suggested our mutual benefit of integration had become the source of our subordination – only to announce Canada remained open to deeper integration.
Last week, I wrote how Canadians first learned through President Trump’s social media that the original 2012 Gordie Howe International Bridge agreement had been scrapped in favour of the United States sharing revenue from the first toll onward. This occurred, after Mr. Carney assured Canadians that paying the debt of the bridge would happen before splitting the tolls with the Americans. It is not the first time Mr. Carney’s statements have been in contradiction with reality. While in the House of Commons, PM Carney promised Canadians he could “handle” Mr. Trump claiming, “he would get an even better deal.” However, he later retracted and suggested it was only his “desired” outcome. Desired outcomes, however, require negotiations—negotiations require getting to the table. Carney’s continued insults and disrespect to our American friends have not achieved any appreciable results. Time to change course.
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