Welcome to The Feed, your weekly resource to Canadian politics and policies broken down into itty bitty (super witty) bite-sized knowledge by Apathy is Boring.
Pun intended.

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WHAT'S THE SCOOP?

Budget 2024 is here, and there’s a lot to unpack in the 430-page plan titled Fairness for every generation. The budget proposes $52.9 billion in new spending over five years, with a big focus on affordability and housing. There are many initiatives, from converting underused federal offices into homes to delivering more aid for rent to students. Find out the key points of this year’s budget and what it all means for you (and your wallet) with this pod and this piece. So how will all the new spending be paid for? Policy changes will generate roughly $21.9 billion in new revenue, the government says, including expanding a tax on the rich — through higher capital gains taxes — and tax hikes on cigarettes and vaping products. The former change, which the gov says will affect 0.13% of Canadians, has received a big reaction.

There’s lots more budget reaction to explore. Budget 2024 makes many promises to restore generational fairness, addressing the challenges young people face. Find out if experts think it will deliver here. When it comes to investing in youth, the budget included funding for housing and more affordable groceries,  youth owned businesses, consultations for a Youth Climate Corps as well as $500 million for Youth Mental health.

There’s also a new disability benefit, aka the Canada Disability Benefit, that will provide a max of $2,400 a year (or $200 a month) for low-income people with disabilities. But advocates are disappointed and say that amount isn’t enough. And the budget promises $1.3 million to develop a red dress alert system for missing Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people, but opposition MPs say that’s short of what’s needed. Also weighing in on Budget 2024? Premiers of all 13 provinces and territories. In a joint letter, the leaders say the federal gov did a poor job of consulting with them before tabling the budget. 

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NEWS NUGGETS

Needlessly Divisive: Keffiyehs will remain banned in the Ontario Legislature, after a motion to allow them to be worn failed to receive unanimous consent. Typically worn in Arab cultures, the scarf has come to signify solidarity with Palestine. Ontario’s Speaker, however, said it's worn to make a political statement and introduced a ban. That led numerous politicians to call for a reversal, including Premier Doug Ford, who said the move was needlessly divisive.

Unparliamentary Behaviour: Texts, accusations, an apology and storming out … the Saskatchewan Legislature Building was full of drama last week. First, the speaker of the Legislative Assembly read texts from the finance minister (which accused him of letting the legislature become an “Opposition puppet show”). After the speaker asked for an apology, the minister apologized, but an outburst from another minister followed. That minister was asked to apologize but did not. He stormed out of the building and was suspended for the rest of the day. Spicy.   

Last Stand: Can you still fix the country? That’s the question at the heart of Justin Trudeau’s Last Stand, a longread in the Walrus magazine. Journalist Justin Ling interviews PM Trudeau in depth about topics including a pervasive feeling everything is broken in the country right now; his government’s eight years in power and voters heading to the polls in 2025. 

WHAT ELSE WE'RE NIBBLING ON

PM Trudeau says everything needs to be done to prevent further escalation in the Middle East, after explosions were reported in the Iranian city of Isfahan. Amid the possible ignition of a wider regional war, one writer warns not to look away from Gaza. And listen to this pod for the latest on the ArriveCan app saga, including why a partner at GC Strategies became the first person in over a century (!) held in contempt of Parliament and ordered to answer MP questions. We’ll end with some good news from B.C… a landmark agreement between the B.C. gov and the Council of the Haida Nation finally recognizes Haida Nation’s title over the archipelago of Haida Gwaii.

CROSSWORD

And now it's time for dessert...your weekly crossword! A little hint for you: you can find all these words in last week's newsletter!

Click here to solve

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