The federal government’s fall economic statement blows past the previously announced “fiscal guardrail” that was supposed to keep the deficit below $40 billion. The government’s revised deficit for the 2023-24 fiscal year is $61.9 billion – over 50% more than the limit Chrystia Freeland set out previously. https://tnc.news/2024/12/16/62-billion-deficit-no-balanced-budget/

The Conservatives comfortably won a federal byelection in the Cloverdale—Langley City riding, dealing yet another blow to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/federal-byelection-cloverdale-langley-city-1.7409872

Trudeau Must Call An Election. You already know why. That's it. That's the petition. Sign here http://www.projectconfederation.ca/trudeau_must_call_an_election?recruiter_id=167575

Andrew N. Ferguson is President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to head the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). If approved by the Republican-controlled Senate, his selection could indicate an inclination by the incoming Trump administration to deprioritize FTC rulemaking and enforcement activities related to data privacy and AI. This also could indicate a broader regulatory philosophy that emphasizes legislative action over administrative rulemaking. Ferguson’s stated regulatory philosophy and strategic priorities, if implemented as FTC chair, would have profound implications for industry and consumers. Critics argue that this shift would mean that critical privacy issues will be given short shrift as technologies like AI and data analytics rapidly evolve and outpace regulatory schema. https://www.biometricupdate.com/202412/will-trumps-pick-to-lead-the-ftc-halt-privacy-rulemaking-ai-enforcement

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is holding a cabinet meeting this morning ahead of the release of his government’s fall economic statement. The meeting comes amid news that his federal Housing Minister Sean Fraser will not be seeking re-election. A government official, who is not authorized to speak publicly about the issue, confirmed that Fraser is stepping away from federal politics for family reasons. The Nova Scotia MP, who is expected to publicly disclose his plans this morning, held several parliamentary secretary roles before he was named immigration minister. https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/politics/2024/12/16/trudeaus-cabinet-meets-ahead-of-fes-fraser-wont-seek-re-election/

Russia’s Duma passed a bill yesterday banning children who are not proficient in Russian from attending school. The law takes aim at migrant children, who must now pass a Russian language proficiency exam. The State Duma, which passed the bill 409-1, is the lower house of Russia’s Federal Assembly. https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/moscow-moves-ban-migrant-kids-school-unless-proficient-russian

OTTAWA — With the fall economic statement to be presented just before they go back to their ridings for Christmas, some Liberal MPs are expressing concern that their government will be blowing past their self-imposed target of keeping deficits below $40 billion. “It’s not an unlimited pot,” said Liberal MP Wayne Long about the federal government’s financial means. “I think that we do need to show fiscal restraint.” https://windsorstar.com/news/liberals-concern-chrystia-freeland-40-billion-deficit/wcm/22528c4c-528c-48f4-a543-558aaa364943?__vfz=medium%3Dstandalone_content_recirculation_with_ads

THERE SHE GOES GREAT FOR ALBERTA, Former Alberta premier and NDP leader Rachel Notley is quitting her seat in the legislature and says her future does not include jumping into the federal political arena. Notley announced Thursday she is resigning as the legislature member for Edmonton-Strathcona in about three weeks’ time, on Dec. 30. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-former-alberta-premier-rachel-notley-quitting-legislature-seat-at-the/

WE NEED TOO CUT HIM OUT, not us ! New emissions target will guide climate action over next decade. Canada will cut carbon emissions 45 to 50 per cent below 2005 levels by 2035, the federal government announced today, signalling a small advance over the current target but falling short of what a key group of climate experts had recommended to the government. https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/emissions-climate-2035-target-1.7408514

WEF firm EVADES accountability over sketchy federal contracts! Accenture CEO Julie Sweet, who sat on the WEF Board of Trustees alongside Freeland, will receive $1 billion in contracts through 2028. https://www.rebelnews.com/wef_firm_evades_accountability_over_sketchy_federal_contracts