PoliticsPrime Minister Mark Carney said Canadians should be ready for some “challenges” and “sacrifices” in a speech outlining some of his government’s priorities for the upcoming budget.Liberals aim to double non–U.S. exports over next decade, prime minister saysPrime Minister Mark Carney makes a live address on Canada’s plan to build a stronger economy in advance of next month’s federal budget, at the University of Ottawa on Wednesday. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canadians should be ready for some “challenges” and “sacrifices” in a speech outlining some of his government’s priorities for the upcoming federal budget.Carney touted that his government is preparing to “build a stronger economy” against the backdrop of “a more dynamic, a more competitive, a more hostile world.”“If we don’t act now, the pressures will only grow,” he said in an address to university students in Ottawa on Wednesday night.“I will always be straight about the challenges that we have to face and the choices we must make. And to be clear, we won’t transform our economy easily or in a few months — it will take some sacrifices and it will take some time.”WATCH | ‘We won’t transform our economy easily,’ Carney says:Transforming Canadian economy will take ‘some sacrifices’ and ‘some time,’ Carney saysPrime Minister Mark Carney, delivering a speech to university students in Ottawa on Wednesday night, said his government will work ‘relentlessly’ to cut waste and when they have to make difficult decisions, they will be ‘thoughtful, transparent and fair.’During his address, the prime minister talked about the changing nature of Canada’s trade relationship with the United States and announced that his government aims to double non-U.S. exports over the next decade.The coming budget will include a climate competitiveness strategy, a new immigration plan and an international talent-attraction strategy, the prime minister said.Wednesday’s address came as Carney is preparing to head on an overseas trip to attend two multinational summits in Southeast Asia that will begin on Friday and run until shortly before the government tables the budget on Nov. 4.Carney talks budget with opposition leadersCarney met privately with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre about the budget on Wednesday afternoon after already having met with leaders of the NDP, the Bloc Québécois and the Green Party.Poilievre said after the meeting that he was “grateful” to have the opportunity to lay out his party’s priorities for the upcoming budget.“We had a good conversation. He didn’t make any commitments, so I’m looking forward to seeing what he comes up with,” the Conservative leader told reporters.WATCH | Poilievre speaks with reporters after meeting with prime minister:‘He didn’t make any commitments,’ says Poilievre after meeting with Carney on budget After meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney to discuss the upcoming federal budget, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said they had ‘a good conversation.’ Poilievre said he was ‘looking forward to seeing what he comes up with,’ adding that he ‘reiterated that we need this to be an affordable budget.’On Monday, Poilievre penned a letter to Carney saying he wants to see an “affordable budget” that includes broad tax cuts and keeps the deficit under $42 billion.The letter also said that “hidden taxes on food” are pricing people out of groceries and called on the government to scrap various taxes affecting food production, including the industrial carbon tax on fertilizer and farm equipment.Poilievre indicated on Wednesday that he will wait to see the budget before deciding on how the Conservatives will vote, but he reiterated his concerns about taxes and the deficit.“Mr. Carney’s spending, with great respect, is totally out of control and Canadians are paying the price,” Poilievre said after meeting with the prime minister.WATCH | Carney, Poilievre trade barbs before budget meeting:Carney, Poilievre face off in question period ahead of closed-door meeting on Nov. 4 budgetDuring question period on Wednesday, leader of the Opposition Pierre Poilievre sparred with Prime Minister Mark Carney over the cost of the upcoming federal budget, citing grocery prices and food bank usage. The two party leaders will meet later this afternoon to discuss the budget further.Liberals have repeatedly called the budget “generational,” as the party lays the groundwork for what’s expected to be an expansion of the federal deficit.Liberal House leader Steve MacKinnon said Tuesday he’s starting to worry about drumming up enough support from opposition benches to pass the budget. The minority Liberals will need the support of at least one other party.Because it is a confidence vote, Canadians could be facing another election if the budget were to fail, but MacKinnon has dismissed demands from opposition parties as “ludicrous.”The Bloc Québécois has said their party has six key priorities for the budget.They include an increase to the federal health transfer to the provinces, new infrastructure investments, an expansion of the rapid housing initiative, interest-free loans for first-time homebuyers and boosting Old Age Security payments for those ages 65 to 75.Bloc’s demands ‘absolute’Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet told reporters following his meeting with Carney on Wednesday that he had a frank conversation with the prime minister. Blanchet pushed back on MacKinnon’s comments regarding the budget and said his party’s demands are “absolute.”“Instead of sending ministers in the hallways of Parliament to cry about the fact that we do not help them — which is not our job, our job is to help Quebecers — they should say, ‘OK, we will consider what you ask,’” he said.WATCH | Interim NDP leader says its up to Liberals to gather support for budget:Davies says no discussions had with Liberals on exchanges for budget supportNDP interim leader Don Davies has dismissed reports that his party would negotiate with the Liberal government for budget support as ‘simply not true.’ He said the NDP will wait until the budget is tabled next month before deciding to back it.NDP interim Leader Don Davies met with Carney earlier this month to lay out his party’s priorities for the budget. He told reporters after the meeting that he wants to see “substantial investment” in jobs, health care and housing — though he didn’t list specific items.Like Blanchet, Davies has also taken issue with how MacKinnon is framing the upcoming budget vote, saying it’s up to the government to gather support.”The question of whether there is an election is entirely up to Mr. Carney. As a leader of a government with a minority in Parliament, it’s up to him to craft a budget that can win the support of at least one opposition party. That’s his job,” Davies said during a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday.ABOUT THE AUTHORDarren Major is a senior writer for CBC’s parliamentary bureau in Ottawa. He previously worked as a digital reporter for CBC Ottawa and a producer for CBC’s Power & Politics. He holds a master’s degree in journalism and a bachelor’s degree in public affairs and policy management, both from Carleton University. He also holds master’s degree in arts from Queen’s University. He can be reached at darren.major@cbc.ca.With files from The Canadian Press
Carney says Canada should prepare for sacrifices as he outlines plan for budget
