CTV News has learned that Prime Minister Mark Carney and a group of his ministers will make a broad series of “sector-based” announcements Friday, aimed at increasing Canada’s competitiveness, supporting sectors impacted most by tariffs and spurring domestic industry.
Multiple government and industry sources tell CTV News changes to some policies from Justin Trudeau’s time as prime minister are being considered as part of the announcement, including a review of at least some aspects of the current electric vehicle (EV) mandates.
Carney and his cabinet have been huddled at a hotel just north of Toronto for the last two days in the lead up to Friday’s announcement. Carney revealed he had spoken with U.S. President Donald Trump Monday night but cautioned Canadians not to expect “white smoke” to signal the end of punishing sector-specific tariffs on steel, aluminum, copper and autos. Much of the cabinet agenda this week has been focused the economy, which contracted by 1.6 per cent in the second quarter of the year.
The EV mandates, along with other policies like clean fuel regulations, are key pieces of the previous government’s climate policy. They have also been key targets of Conservative and industry critiques of federal Liberals’ economic policy.
Other policies that have been criticized for negatively impacting Canada’s competitiveness, particularly in the energy sector, include the emissions cap on oil and gas and what’s known as Bill C-69, the impact assessment process for big resource projects.
Sources tell CTV News that many of these policies have been part of a discussion about how to make the Canadian economy more competitive, but the sources stressed that no final decision had been made, and that there has been a lot of back and forth over which policies would be changed, reviewed or rolled back.
“It’s still very live,” one source said, adding the government could still decide not to roll back any additional Trudeau policies.
Carney’s first policy decision after becoming prime minister was to effectively eliminate a marquee aspect of Trudeau’s climate policy: the consumer carbon price.
Sources also tell CTV News Friday’s announcement will include changes to federal loan programs for businesses impacted by tariffs, a new “Buy Canada” plan, support for Canola producers and a plan to boost exports to markets outside the U.S. by 2030.
