Retirement, Jason Kenney and the news: 3 ways politics touched us this week

By Heather Scoffield, Ottawa Bureau Chief, The Canadian Press

OTTAWA – The week in federal politics began with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paddling a canoe — first to mark new approvals for an urban park in Scarborough, Ont., and later in Ottawa on National Aboriginal Day, sporting his father’s buckskin jacket.

It ended, however, with a dramatic warning of rough waters ahead as the United Kingdom voted narrowly to leave the European Union.

Brexit headlines notwithstanding, the calm of a Canadian summer was evident on Parliament Hill — at least until a day or two next week, when MPs return to hear U.S. President Barack Obama address the House of Commons after a brief summit with Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.

Behind the scenes, however, it was probably one of the most frenetic and intense few days senior civil servants and politicos have had in months. Even as they struggled to grasp the economic implications of a Brexit, they were also hammering out a Canada Pension Plan deal with the provinces at what for government work might be considered breakneck speed.

Here are three ways politics touched the lives of Canadians this week:

RETIREMENT BLISS? Federal and provincial finance ministers (minus Quebec and Manitoba) reached an agreement in principle Monday to boost the CPP, and the details are now coming into focus. If the deal gets formal approval from provincial legislatures, retiring Canadians will eventually see larger CPP payouts and higher levels of income covered by CPP — as well as higher premiums.

The deal was a few months in the making, behind closed doors amidst much gamesmanship. As the agreement sees the light of day, it is being subjected to a second round of scrutiny, this time from the public.

Small business groups complained that a hike in premiums would deter hiring and constrain economic growth. Unions applauded steps towards the dramatically enhanced CPP they have long been arguing for. But there were also some less predictable questions being asked about how the new system will affect retiring low-income earners. Will their other income supports be affected by the revamped CPP, even as they face higher premiums in the years leading up to their retirement?

Quebec refused to sign on to the deal in part because of those concerns; the federal government added in a last-minute enhancement to the working income tax benefit in a nod to those who may struggle with higher premiums.

THE KENNEY FACTOR: The grinding sound of the Conservative rumour mill turned into a deafening roar this week as speculation about longtime MP Jason Kenney’s plans reached a fever pitch. After a few months nursing his wounds from last fall’s election, Kenney has been mulling his future out loud with close friends and confidantes.

Should he run for the federal Conservative leadership — and become the immediate front-runner in a party many believe is destined to remain in opposition for quite a few more years? Or should he try to unite the right in his home province of Alberta, even though that move risks further splintering the already-fractured opposition to NDP Premier Rachel Notley?

Kenney says he has not actually decided yet. But because his presence in either race would up-end right-wing politics as we know it, his musings take on added heft. Kenney would come ready-made with a large network of loyalists, name recognition, a deep fund-raising ability, bilingualism and well-respected conservative credentials. It’s a mix other leadership candidates can only dream of.

MIXING WITH THE FOURTH ESTATE: The government has started to dip its tender toes into the fraught waters of the news industry, with word this week that it is exploring its options to perhaps support media as they confront a broken business model and unsustainable, persistent declines in revenue. The Department of Canadian Heritage has contracted out for research, roundtables and deep thinking on the effects on democracy of media in a tailspin.

But the government is quietly acknowledging it needs to tread carefully. It may have valid concerns that the crisis in the news industry will lead to a less-informed public that engages less in political life. But it also seems to realize that a heavy government hand in an industry whose backbone is independence from government would backfire.

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