Trudeau cabinet retreat to focus on cost of living ahead of Parliament’s return – National

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet will kick off a three-day retreat on Monday to discuss their priorities ahead of Parliament’s return.

Trudeau’s cabinet will be in Hamilton, Ont., until Wednesday, and will focus on the cost of living and the economy, his office said in a news release last week.

Canadians have felt the pinch in recent months as the Bank of Canada raised its policy interest rate in its bid to bring down inflation. Some economists are expecting Canada will experience an economic slowdown in 2023, but the severity of it remains in doubt.

During the retreat, the prime minister’s office said Trudeau and his cabinet will discuss ways to create good middle-class jobs, ways to invest in skills and training and ways to deliver better health care for Canadians.

Furthermore, they will discuss how to advance the government’s work in fighting climate change and building a cleaner economy, including innovation, supply chain strength and Canadian-built clean technologies.

“This cabinet retreat will be an important opportunity to build on our continued efforts to make life more affordable for the middle class and people working hard to join it, as well as seize new opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses,” Trudeau said in the release.

“In 2023, we will keep working relentlessly to build a better future and a strong economy for all Canadians.”

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The cabinet’s discussions, particularly around health care, will likely be watched closely by the NDP — which is upholding the Liberal minority government through a deal struck last March.

Under that agreement, the NDP agreed to support the minority government on key votes in the House of Commons to avoid triggering an election before 2025. In exchange, the Liberals promised to make progress on NDP priorities, including pharmacare.