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Smith Urges Canada to Stop ‘Panicking’ Over Trump’s Tariff Threats, Calls for Cooler Negotiating Approach

Kevin Martin
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Smith Urges Canada to Stop ‘Panicking’ Over Trump’s Tariff Threats, Calls for Cooler Negotiating Approach

Alberta premier says Trump’s hardball tactics are a negotiating style, not a final position

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is urging Canadian negotiators to stop overreacting to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats, arguing that panic undermines Canada’s ability to reach a deal that works for both countries.

Speaking Monday as a keynote speaker at the New North America Summit — a forum bringing together leaders to discuss cross-border relations and challenges — Smith offered her read of Trump’s negotiating style based on two personal meetings with the president in 2025.

A Businessman’s Playbook

“He always had a plan A, a plan B and plan C, all of which benefited him,” Smith told the summit. “He has his moon shot, but he also has a ‘this is pretty good’ and then he has an ‘I’ll settle for this.'”

Smith argued that Canada has consistently misread Trump’s opening gambits as final positions. “I don’t think we’ve understood that he always puts his moon shot out there and then we panic and freak out with ads and overwrought commentary — but that is just a negotiating style that he has,” she said.

She expressed cautious optimism that a mutually beneficial outcome remains possible. “I think we’re now beginning to settle down and realize there is a way for us to get to a win-win,” she said, “but the Americans are never going to agree to a deal where they feel they’ve lost ground.”

CUSMA’s Future Uncertain

The stakes are considerable. Trump’s second term has been marked by sweeping and sector-specific tariffs on Canadian goods, and the future of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) — the pact that keeps most North American trade duty-free — remains in doubt.

Trump said last week he is “not looking to renew” the agreement ahead of a July 1 deadline to confirm a 16-year extension. A failure to renew would have significant consequences for Canadian exporters across virtually every sector.

GST a Persistent Irritant

Smith also pointed to Canada’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) as an ongoing source of friction with Washington. She said U.S. officials view the five-per-cent federal sales tax as a de facto tariff on American goods entering Canada.

“Their perspective is every American good that comes across the border the federal government gets a five per cent cut on because of GST,” Smith said. “As long as we have a national sales tax he’s going to want to do something to create some kind of parity.”

The United States has no equivalent national sales tax, which Smith said makes the GST a particular irritant for the Trump administration.

Improved Tone Under Carney

Smith said the Canada-U.S. relationship has improved since Prime Minister Mark Carney took office, contrasting the current dynamic with what she described as the “frayed” relationship between former prime minister Justin Trudeau and Trump over the past decade.

The premier’s comments reflect a broader debate within Canada about how best to manage an unpredictable trading partner that absorbs roughly three-quarters of Canadian exports.

Alberta Gas Prices Fall as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Talks Cool Oil Markets

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Alberta Gas Prices Fall as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Talks Cool Oil Markets

Gas prices across Alberta are trending downward, driven by diplomatic signals of a potential ceasefire between the United States and Iran that have eased tensions in global oil markets.

What’s Behind the Drop

Crude oil prices typically rise when conflict threatens supply routes in the Middle East, and fall when diplomatic progress reduces that risk. Talks between Washington and Tehran have introduced cautious optimism into energy markets, putting downward pressure on pump prices.

What It Means for Albertans

For Alberta drivers, lower gas prices offer some relief at the pump after a prolonged period of elevated fuel costs. Alberta’s economy is closely tied to energy markets, making fuel price fluctuations particularly significant for both consumers and the province’s broader fiscal outlook.

A Volatile Picture

Analysts caution that the trend could reverse quickly. Ceasefire negotiations between the U.S. and Iran remain fragile, and any breakdown in talks could send oil prices climbing again. Albertans are advised to watch developments closely before assuming sustained relief at the pumps.

Five Reasons Trump Is Unlikely to Scrap CUSMA, Despite Renewal Threats

Kevin Martin
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Five Reasons Trump Is Unlikely to Scrap CUSMA, Despite Renewal Threats

Five Reasons Trump Is Unlikely to Scrap CUSMA, Despite Renewal Threats

U.S. President Donald Trump declared Wednesday he is “not looking to renew” the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) ahead of the deal’s mandatory review on July 1 — but trade lawyers, industry groups, and Canadian officials say there is little reason to believe he will actually tear up the agreement.

What Trump Said — and What It Actually Means

Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said the best feature of CUSMA is “the right to terminate” — but stopped short of threatening to do so. The distinction matters: not renewing CUSMA is not the same as ending it.

Even without a formal renewal, the agreement remains in force until 2036. Only a six-month written notice of withdrawal by one of the three signatories would change that.

Trump himself signed CUSMA during his first term, calling it “the most modern, up-to-date, and balanced trade agreement in the history of our country.” He has since dismissed it as irrelevant and floated letting it expire, but has not yet taken the formal step required to exit it.

The July 1 Review: What’s Actually on the Table

July 1 marks six years since CUSMA took effect and triggers a formal review written into the agreement. The three countries face two options: extend the deal for another 16 years, or enter annual reviews until it either expires or a new extension is negotiated.

Canada and Mexico have both indicated they want a full extension and are open to negotiating amendments. The White House has not publicly stated its preferred outcome.

Canadian and Mexican negotiators have long expected the U.S. to push for changes rather than a straightforward renewal — meaning some form of renegotiation was already anticipated regardless of Trump’s latest remarks.

Five Reasons Trump Won’t Walk Away

1. U.S. Industry Doesn’t Want It Scrapped

No major U.S. industry group is calling for CUSMA to be terminated. At a recent House agriculture committee hearing, speaker after speaker urged the administration to extend the deal and warned against scrapping it.

Republican committee chair Glenn Thompson said the agreement has been “extremely beneficial not only to our U.S. farmers, ranchers, foresters and agri-businesses, but also to U.S. consumers and the economy as a whole.” The American Soybean Association — representing the single largest U.S. export crop — is among the groups calling for full renewal.

2. The Economics Don’t Support Withdrawal

There is no credible economic research suggesting that scrapping CUSMA would lower the cost of living for Americans. There is, however, substantial evidence that the U.S. economy has benefited from expanded trade with Canada and Mexico under the agreement.

3. It Isn’t Politically Popular to Kill It

No consistent polling suggests that terminating CUSMA would be a political winner for Trump. Withdrawal would likely trigger economic disruption in key states that depend on integrated North American supply chains.

4. It’s a Negotiating Tactic, Say Trade Lawyers

“Ultimately, this is the modus operandi of the U.S. administration — to really play a tough approach,” said William Pellerin, an international trade lawyer with McMillan LLP in Ottawa.

Mark Warner, a Canadian and U.S. trade lawyer at MAAW Law in Toronto, echoed that assessment. “Trump likes to up the ante and get people riled as part of a negotiating tactic,” Warner told CBC News, adding that Trump’s remarks likely signal a move toward annual reviews — an outcome most observers had already anticipated.

5. The Tone in Bilateral Talks Has Shifted

Behind closed doors, the atmosphere between Canadian and American negotiators appears to have improved significantly from last year’s acrimony. Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association and a member of Ottawa’s advisory committee on Canada-U.S. relations, described the current conversations as sounding like “partners that want to work things out and stay together rather than preparing for a permanent separation.”

Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and chief negotiator Janice Charette met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington last week. LeBlanc confirmed that Canada put formal proposals on the table to address longstanding U.S. concerns, though he declined to provide specifics.

What Canada Still Wants

A central Canadian objective in the talks is relief from Trump’s tariffs on steel, aluminum, automobiles, and softwood lumber. However, Greer has repeatedly signalled that tariffs are here to stay as a condition of U.S. market access — for Canada and all other trading partners.

Trump and Prime Minister Mark Carney are both expected to attend next week’s G7 summit in France, where bilateral trade is likely to feature prominently in their discussions.

Canada Post to Eliminate Home Delivery for 485,000 More Addresses Amid Record Losses

Emily Roy
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Canada Post to Eliminate Home Delivery for 485,000 More Addresses Amid Record Losses

Canada Post to Eliminate Home Delivery for 485,000 More Addresses Amid Record Losses

Canada Post announced plans to convert 485,000 addresses across 37 communities in seven provinces to community mailboxes starting next year, the latest step in a sweeping restructuring effort driven by mounting financial losses.

The Scale of the Shift

The Crown corporation has set its sights on ultimately eliminating home delivery for 4 million addresses that currently receive mail at their door. Nearly three-quarters of Canadian homes already receive mail through community, apartment lobby, or post office mailboxes.

Canada Post framed the change as a security improvement, saying the move would place “nearly all mail and parcels delivered by Canada Post under lock and key.”

A Corporation in Financial Crisis

The announcement comes as Canada Post grapples with its worst financial performance on record. The corporation posted a $1.57 billion pre-tax loss in 2025 and has lost more than $3.8 billion before taxes since 2018, including nearly $1 billion in the first three quarters of 2025 alone.

By law, Canada Post is required to be financially self-sustaining. Instead, it has relied on $2 billion in federal loans over the past two years to remain operational.

Workers Push Back

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) has strongly opposed the transition, calling it “drastic” and warning it will harm both the public and postal workers.

“Canada Post calls this decision modernization,” the union wrote in a statement. “We fail to see how cutting services will help the Corporation compete against private couriers who deliver to the door.”

CUPW also argued that the switch will force Canadians to walk longer distances to retrieve their mail — a particular concern for elderly and mobility-limited residents.

Accommodations for Those Who Need Them

Canada Post said it maintains an accommodation program for people who have difficulty accessing community mailboxes. In some cases, weekly home delivery can still be arranged, the corporation said.

Windsor Truck Traffic Surges as Gordie Howe Bridge Opening Remains in Limbo

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Windsor Truck Traffic Surges as Gordie Howe Bridge Opening Remains in Limbo

Windsor Truck Traffic Surges as Gordie Howe Bridge Opening Remains in Limbo

Truck traffic between Windsor and Detroit is rebounding sharply after years of decline, offering a rare note of optimism for Ontario’s manufacturing sector — even as the opening of the long-awaited Gordie Howe International Bridge remains stalled by U.S.-Canada trade tensions.

A Sharp Reversal After Two Years of Decline

New preliminary data from Statistics Canada show the number of trucks entering Canada through Windsor in May jumped more than 20 per cent compared with the same month last year.

That marked the second consecutive month of double-digit annual increases — a significant turnaround following 25 straight months of year-over-year declines at the crossing.

Despite the rebound, crossings in May remained 18 per cent below 2023 levels, suggesting the new bridge will still face subdued demand whenever it eventually opens.

Bridge Opening Delayed Amid Trade Standoff

The $6.4-billion bridge’s opening date is now uncertain. Chuck Andary, interim chief executive officer of the bridge authority, said in a statement Thursday that the opening has been delayed while Canada and the United States take “the necessary time to resolve any outstanding issues.”

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Mark Carney said the bridge would open on Friday — a claim he later walked back after the White House signalled that President Donald Trump intends to block the opening in order to extract trade concessions from Canada.

Broader Signs of Manufacturing Recovery in Ontario

The trucking rebound aligns with other tentative signs of improvement in Ontario’s economy, despite ongoing uncertainty caused by U.S. tariffs.

Together, the figures point to a manufacturing sector showing resilience, even as the political uncertainty surrounding the new Windsor crossing continues to cloud the economic outlook for the region.

Ottawa Freezes $50-Million in Funding for Canada Health Infoway Over Governance Failures

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Ottawa Freezes $50-Million in Funding for Canada Health Infoway Over Governance Failures

Federal government withholds entire annual budget of digital health agency following collapse of $300-million PrescribeIT program

Health Minister Marjorie Michel has put $50-million in federal funding for Canada Health Infoway on hold, citing unresolved governance concerns at the organization responsible for the failed PrescribeIT electronic prescribing program, which consumed nearly $300-million in public money before being shut down across most of the country last month.

The funding freeze represents the organization’s entire federal budget for the current fiscal year, which began April 1. Michel’s office confirmed Tuesday that the minister has not yet signed the contribution agreements required to release the funds.

A Program That Reached Almost No One

Canada Health Infoway is a federally funded non-profit that administers digital health initiatives on behalf of the federal government. It launched PrescribeIT in 2017 as part of so-called “axe the fax” efforts to replace outdated fax-based prescription systems with digital alternatives.

Despite nearly eight years of operation and close to $300-million in federal investment, the program was wound down in most provinces last month after fewer than five per cent of prescriptions were processed through it.

The organization’s board dismissed its long-serving chief executive officer in late April following a damaging committee appearance and a series of media reports highlighting the program’s poor performance and high expenses — including the departing CEO’s annual compensation of nearly $900,000.

Governance Under Scrutiny

During Monday’s Question Period, Michel acknowledged “governance issues” at the organization and said corrective steps were underway.

“The CEO has left, and we have an acting director right now,” Michel said. “The people involved are currently reviewing the mandates together to see how we can do a better job of solving the governance issues.”

She said the board would report back to her by the end of the summer. Canada Health Infoway announced last week that executive vice-president Abhinav (Abhi) Kalra had been named interim CEO and president.

Parliament Threatens Contempt Finding

Separately, the chair of the House of Commons health committee issued a formal warning to Canada Health Infoway on Tuesday, urging it to comply with an April request for documents or risk being found in contempt of Parliament.

Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal, who chairs the committee, wrote that the organization is weeks overdue in producing contracts and agreements with technology vendors, including Telus Health, as well as details of spending on consultants.

Telus Health, the program’s primary technology vendor, has disclosed it received $98-million of the total $298-million in federal funds spent on PrescribeIT.

“The power to send for persons, papers and records is rooted in the Constitution and is constitutional in nature,” Dhaliwal wrote. “It is not subject to statutory and contractual restrictions and supersedes other privileges, such as commercial and third-party contractual agreements.”

The letter warned that failure to comply “could result in the committee reporting the situation to the House of Commons, which in turn, could lead the House to find Canada Health Infoway in contempt of Parliament.”

Canada Health Infoway told The Globe and Mail last week it was working through a large volume of records and had concerns about the secure transmission of files. The organization did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

Political Friction Stalls Committee Work

The health committee’s investigation has been largely paralyzed over the past month due to procedural clashes. Conservative and Bloc Québécois MPs have repeatedly moved to compel Minister Michel to testify before the committee — motions that Liberal MPs have blocked.

Conservative health critic Dan Mazier said the lack of transparency undermined any case for continued public investment in the organization.

“If this organization cannot be transparent about where taxpayers’ money went, Canadians should have no confidence in its ability to oversee another dollar of public funding until the Health Minister answers for the mismanagement,” Mazier said.

Uncertain Future for Digital Health Standards Work

Despite the collapse of PrescribeIT, Canada Health Infoway has been involved in developing national standards for electronic health records and has contributed to the development of Bill S-5, federal legislation introduced earlier this year to improve the sharing of health data between patients and providers — a concept known in the industry as interoperability.

Alexandre Bergeron, spokesperson for Minister Michel, said the organization’s future role has not yet been determined.

“While its work on interoperability has informed the development of S-5, the development of the regulations associated with the bill will be determined once the bill has been adopted,” Bergeron said.

Toronto Defends Reselling World Cup Tickets for Profit, Citing Property Tax Relief

Emily Roy
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Toronto Defends Reselling World Cup Tickets for Profit, Citing Property Tax Relief

Toronto Defends Reselling World Cup Tickets for Profit, Citing Property Tax Relief

The City of Toronto is defending its decision to resell FIFA World Cup tickets at a profit, with Mayor Olivia Chow’s office saying the practice helps “avoid spending property tax dollars” on a tournament that has exceeded its original budget — and kicks off this Friday.

City Confirms Ticket Resale Strategy

Shirven Rezvany, a spokesperson for Mayor Chow’s office, confirmed Monday that Toronto was selling its allocated share of World Cup tickets as “one of several avenues pursued by the City to avoid spending property tax dollars.”

Rezvany added that FIFA offered the same opportunity to all host cities to help offset hosting costs, and that his understanding was that “many, if not all” of them had done the same.

FIFA controls ticket sales for the tournament and allows host cities to purchase a portion of ticket packages before they become available to private resellers.

Vancouver Also Selling Tickets at a Profit

Contrary to claims made by Toronto city councillor and mayoral candidate Brad Bradford — who accused Chow of “scalping” tickets and alleged Toronto was the only city doing so — Vancouver confirmed it is pursuing the same strategy.

“The great majority of the tickets held by the City are being sold via the FWC26 Sponsorship Program, in order to raise net revenues to offset the cost of event hosting,” Vancouver’s World Cup host committee said in a statement to CBC News.

More Than 3,500 Tickets Purchased for Resale

Toronto officials put the plan in motion last year, using host city privileges to purchase more than 3,546 general admission tickets to the six international matches taking place at Toronto Stadium — formerly BMO Field — at a cost of $10.7 million.

Fifty-two tickets were set aside for a public sweepstakes. The city also purchased additional hospitality tickets, described as part of “a revenue generation strategy.”

As of the latest update, fewer than 70 tickets remained unsold, with the city saying those are expected to be allocated through Host City Donor agreements before the tournament ends. Officials confirmed the initial investment has already been recovered, though they declined to specify total projected revenues.

A Tournament Already Over Budget

Toronto will host six matches between June 12 and July 2, featuring countries including Germany, Senegal and Croatia.

The total cost of hosting is currently estimated at $380 million, funded by federal, provincial and municipal governments. The City of Toronto is carrying the largest share of that burden.

The overall budget has grown beyond initial projections, adding pressure on city officials to find ways to offset municipal expenditures without drawing further on property tax revenues.

Saskatchewan NDP accuses Marshals Service of draining officers from RCMP and municipal police

Kevin Martin
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Saskatchewan NDP accuses Marshals Service of draining officers from RCMP and municipal police

Opposition says new provincial police force is reshuffling existing officers rather than addressing shortages

Saskatchewan’s NDP Opposition is accusing the newly created Saskatchewan Marshals Service of recruiting officers away from municipal police departments and RCMP detachments, arguing the practice is straining local law enforcement rather than solving the province’s policing shortage.

Nicole Sarauer, the NDP’s justice and community safety critic, made the allegations at a news conference on Tuesday, saying multiple municipalities have raised concerns with the Official Opposition — though she declined to name them specifically.

Most marshals transferred from existing forces

Of the Marshals Service’s current 27 officers, Sarauer said only two are newly recruited. The remaining 25 were drawn from other law enforcement agencies already operating in Saskatchewan.

“Poaching police officers from one police force in this province to another isn’t addressing policing shortages,” Sarauer said. “Moving an officer down the highway and giving them a new hat is simply a coverup for Moe’s inability to meaningfully address crime.”

Sarauer also raised financial concerns. Under the existing federal-provincial agreement, the province covers 70 per cent of the cost of each new RCMP officer, with Ottawa funding the remainder along with infrastructure and resources. Provincial marshals, by contrast, are funded entirely by Saskatchewan taxpayers.

“Instead of real solutions, we see a government trying to hide their own mismanagement by shifting around already existing resources and pretending that they’ve created something new, all the while costing taxpayers more,” she said.

The Saskatchewan RCMP declined to address the poaching allegations directly, citing privacy considerations around what officers “may do after retirement or resignation.”

Province defends the marshals program

Michael Weger, Saskatchewan’s community safety minister, pushed back against the NDP’s characterization, telling reporters in Saskatoon that the marshals serve as a supplement to existing police services rather than a replacement.

“The RCMP still remain the police of jurisdiction. This is just an added connection,” Weger said.

Weger acknowledged that recruitment remains a challenge across all police services in the province. He noted that candidates must complete a six-month training program at the police college before becoming a marshal.

In a follow-up statement Tuesday afternoon, Weger announced that training capacity at the Saskatchewan Police College is being expanded, with recruit training positions for 2026 increasing to 96 — up 50 per cent from the historical annual average. The province also launched a national advertising campaign earlier this year to attract candidates to policing careers in Saskatchewan.

Significant policing investments cited

Weger outlined the province’s broader policing expenditures for the current year, including:

Marshals Service still well short of its target

The Saskatchewan government announced plans for the Marshals Service in 2023, proposing a force of 70 officers to work alongside RCMP and other law enforcement to combat rural crime, gangs, illegal weapons and drugs, and to apprehend high-risk offenders with outstanding warrants. With 27 officers currently in place, the province says it is still working to fill the remaining 43 positions.

The service is also establishing formal agreements with First Nations communities. As of April, the marshals had signed band council resolutions or received expressions of interest from 21 First Nations across the province. Weger described those resolutions as “essentially an invitation to the marshals to attend on their traditional land.”

Sarauer argued the marshals are currently being deployed too broadly, from security at music festivals to assisting in manhunts, and said the service needs a more focused mandate. “What they are now has become a bit of a catch-all to address any sort of issue that seems to crop up in terms of public safety in Saskatchewan,” she said.

Second German Utility Eyes Canadian LNG Supply as Ksi Lisims Project Nears Key Decision

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Second German Utility Eyes Canadian LNG Supply as Ksi Lisims Project Nears Key Decision

Second German Utility Eyes Canadian LNG Supply as Ksi Lisims Project Nears Key Decision

A second major German energy company has moved to secure liquefied natural gas from a proposed northern British Columbia export terminal, as the project’s partners inch closer to a final investment decision on the $10-billion Ksi Lisims LNG facility.

Düsseldorf-based Uniper and Ksi Lisims LNG announced Monday they have signed a letter of interest that could see Uniper purchase two million tonnes of LNG per year, with deliveries beginning as early as 2032.

A Strategic Move Away from Russian Gas

The deal reflects a broader European push to diversify energy supply following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which severed what had been the continent’s dominant source of natural gas. Germany, in particular, has scrambled to secure alternative suppliers.

Uniper operates 18.5 gigawatts of power generating capacity and is one of northwestern Europe’s largest LNG importers, with core markets in Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden and the Netherlands. The German government took over the company during the 2022 energy crisis but is now in the process of privatizing it.

Uniper CEO Michael Lewis framed the letter of interest as part of a deliberate strategy to strengthen supply resilience. “Canada offers an attractive environment with significant gas resources, strong political stability and reliable regulatory frameworks,” he said in a news release.

Project Details and Indigenous Partnership

The Ksi Lisims project would be built on Pearse Island, near the Alaska border, on the territory of the Nisga’a Nation, which holds a partnership stake in the venture. The floating liquefaction plant is designed to export up to 12 million tonnes of LNG per year.

Houston-based Western LNG leads the project alongside Rockies LNG, a consortium of Canadian natural gas producers, and the Nisga’a Nation. The project has received regulatory approval, but partners have not yet issued a final investment decision — a milestone that depends heavily on securing long-term supply agreements.

Western LNG CEO Davis Thames said the European interest demonstrates that “energy security, climate responsibility, and community-focused economic development can be achieved together.”

Growing European Appetite for B.C. LNG

The Uniper announcement follows a similar deal signed late last month, when Securing Energy for Europe (SEFE) — a German government-owned company — agreed to purchase one million tonnes of LNG per year from Ksi Lisims under a preliminary agreement spanning up to 20 years.

British Columbia Energy Minister Adrian Dix called Monday’s announcement a “significant step forward” that “shows the continuing potential for the industry here.”

LNG is natural gas chilled into liquid form so it can be transported by sea aboard specialized tankers — a technology that has made geographically distant suppliers like Canada viable alternatives for European buyers cut off from Russian pipeline gas.

P.E.I. Earns D+ in National Poverty Report Card, With Failing Grades on Food Security and Housing

Emily Roy
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P.E.I. Earns D+ in National Poverty Report Card, With Failing Grades on Food Security and Housing

P.E.I. Earns D+ in National Poverty Report Card, With Failing Grades on Food Security and Housing

Food Banks Canada has given Prince Edward Island an overall grade of D+ in its 2026 poverty report card — the highest mark among Atlantic provinces, but still a score that includes failing grades for food insecurity and housing affordability.

The report, released last week, highlights both modest progress and persistent gaps in the province’s efforts to support its most vulnerable residents.

Where P.E.I. Improved

The Island recorded measurable gains in several categories between 2025 and 2026:

Despite those improvements, P.E.I. received failing grades on the food insecurity rate and the proportion of residents spending more than 30 per cent of their income on housing — two indicators closely tied to basic quality of life.

Government Says Progress Is Underway

The Department of Social Development and Seniors and the Department of Housing and Communities issued a joint statement acknowledging the challenges while pointing to ongoing efforts. “Efforts continue to increase supply, improve affordability, and support those most in need through the provincial housing strategy,” the statement reads.

The province did not specify timelines or targets for improvement.

Food Banks Seeing Growing Demand

On the ground, the picture remains difficult. The Southern Kings and Queens Food Bank has seen an increase in demand, with more clients visiting more frequently.

A representative from the food bank called on Islanders and policymakers to abandon the stigma associated with using food bank services. “We’re all human. This world we’re living in is very difficult to navigate through,” she said.

She urged government officials to treat the report’s findings as a human issue, not a statistical one. “I really hope that when the government officials see this, they actually take it to heart, because this is people’s lives — this is livelihoods, this is your brother, your sister, your child, your parent that this is all affecting.”

Advocates Call for Deeper Policy Changes

Bill Campbell, president of the Kings Square Affordable Housing Corporation, said the cost of food, housing, and medication is “crippling” the quality of life for Islanders — particularly children.

“It’s sad because they’re the ones that suffer the most,” Campbell said. He praised the work of food banks but argued that charitable stopgaps are not enough. “To give people a chance to reach their full potential, we have to do more than we’re doing.”

Campbell also called for policy reforms that would give frontline workers and organizations greater decision-making authority in shaping poverty-reduction efforts.

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