Open for Input
Senate of Canada - Standing Senate Committee on Banking (Federal)
The Senate is studying why small and medium-sized businesses struggle to get loans and investment capital. They're hearing from banks, credit unions, business groups, and government agencies. The goal? Figure out what's blocking growth and...
Why This Matters: Own a small business or thinking of starting one? This study could shape how easy it is to get a loan. Work for a local company? Their ability to grow and hire depends on access to capital. Even if you're just a customer, thriving small businesses mean more choice and competition in your community.
Policy & Studies
Economy & Jobs
Finance & Consumer
Open for Input
Senate Standing Committee on Indigenous Peoples (Federal)
The Senate is studying parts of the federal budget bill that affect Indigenous peoples. Part 4 and Division 35 of Part 5 deal with Indigenous tax powers and modern treaty implementation. The committee is hearing from First Nations leaders...
Why This Matters: This affects how First Nations can collect taxes and manage their own finances. If you're Indigenous, these changes could affect services in your community. Even if you're not, this shapes how Canada honours its treaty obligations.
Legislation
Finance & Consumer
Indigenous & Northern
Open for Input
Standing Senate Committee on National Finance (Federal)
The Senate is studying whether budget bills should be allowed to include measures that aren't actually about money. Right now, governments often tuck unrelated policy changes into massive budget bills, making them harder to scrutinize. This study...
Why This Matters: Ever wonder why massive bills pass with little debate? Budget bills often hide controversial changes in hundreds of pages of financial measures. This study could lead to rules that force governments to be more transparent about what they're actually passing into law.
Policy & Studies
Finance & Consumer
Justice & Rights
Closed
Coquitlam, BC
Coquitlam asked residents how the city should spend money on services like drinking water, garbage collection, roads, and parks. The consultation is now closed. On December 2, 2024, Council approved the 2025-2029 Five Year Financial Plan based on...
Why This Matters: Live in Coquitlam? This budget affects your property taxes and the services you use daily. Drinking water, garbage pickup, road repairs, parks—it all comes from this plan. Rising costs are squeezing the city too, so trade-offs had to be made.
Budget
Finance & Consumer
Housing & Communities
Closed
Government of Manitoba (MB)
Manitoba wants to hear what matters most to you before finalizing its 2025 budget. The government is gathering input through phone town halls, in-person meetings, and a survey. This is your chance to shape provincial spending priorities.
Why This Matters: Provincial budgets affect everything from healthcare wait times to road repairs to school funding. Whether you're worried about housing costs, want better transit, or think taxes are too high, this is when the government decides where the money goes.
Budget
Economy & Jobs
Finance & Consumer
Closed
Ministry of Municipal Affairs (AB)
Alberta asked residents about protections for people buying newly built homes. The province wanted to know if current warranty requirements and builder licensing rules are working. This engagement ran from November to December 2022 and is now...
Why This Matters: Buying a new home is one of the biggest purchases you'll ever make. If something goes wrong—foundation cracks, leaky windows, faulty wiring—you need warranty protection that actually works. This review looked at whether Alberta's rules are doing enough to protect buyers from shoddy construction.
Policy & Studies
Finance & Consumer
Housing & Communities
Closed
Consumer and Hazardous Products Safety Directorate (Federal)
Health Canada wants to know if products containing button and coin batteries should meet stricter safety standards. These small, shiny batteries are a serious choking and poisoning hazard for young children. Products that don't meet the proposed...
Why This Matters: Got kids or grandkids? Button batteries are in toys, remotes, watches, and hearing aids. If swallowed, they can cause severe internal burns within hours. This consultation could determine which products stay on shelves and which get pulled for safety reasons.
Regulations & Permits
Finance & Consumer
Health & Safety
Closed
Waterloo Region, ON
Kitchener wants to make it easier to build affordable housing. The city is proposing grants to help homeowners add rental units and to encourage developers to include affordable units in their projects. One program would cover up to 100% of...
Why This Matters: Struggling to find affordable rent in Kitchener? This plan could mean more rental units in your neighbourhood. Homeowners could get grants to build basement apartments or backyard units. If you're a renter watching costs climb, more supply could help stabilize prices.
Community Planning
Finance & Consumer
Housing & Communities
Closed
Coquitlam, BC
The City of Coquitlam has finished gathering public input for its 2026-2030 financial plan. The survey is now closed, but you can still watch Council budget meetings on October 29-30, 2025 and review the draft financial plan. The city is trying to...
Why This Matters: Live in Coquitlam? This budget decides what you pay in property taxes and utility fees next year. It also determines which city services get funded—parks, roads, recreation programs. With costs rising, the city is weighing service cuts against tax increases.
Budget
Finance & Consumer
Housing & Communities
Closed
Oshawa, ON
The City of Oshawa adopted its 2026 budget after gathering community input. The operating budget is $207.8 million with $44.5 million for capital projects. Property taxes will increase 1.97% for the city portion—about $0.29 per day for an average...
Why This Matters: Live in Oshawa? Your property taxes are going up. The city portion rises 1.97%, but the Region of Durham is adding 6.5% on top. That's real money when groceries and housing costs are already squeezing budgets. The budget also decides which roads get fixed, how many library hours you get, and...
Budget
Finance & Consumer
Housing & Communities
Closed
Victoria, BC
Victoria is proposing a 10.44% property tax increase for 2026. About half goes to city services like roads and parks. The other half covers police costs. Council wants to hear from residents before finalizing the budget in February.
Why This Matters: Own a home in Victoria? This could add hundreds to your annual tax bill. Rent? Your landlord might pass costs along. The budget also decides which services get funded—road repairs, parks, community programs. Your input shapes what gets prioritized.
Budget
Finance & Consumer
Housing & Communities
Closed
Vancouver, BC
Vancouver is finalizing its 2026 budget, which determines how the city spends money on services like public safety, transit, parks, and infrastructure. The public input phase has closed, but Council is now debating the proposed budget. You can still...
Why This Matters: Live in Vancouver? This budget decides how much you pay in property taxes and what services you get in return. It affects everything from how often your street gets plowed to whether your local community centre stays open. If you think the city should spend more on housing or less on something...
Budget
Finance & Consumer
Housing & Communities
Closed
Canada Border Services Agency (Federal)
The Canada Border Services Agency wants to fix a loophole in how imported goods are valued for customs duties. Right now, some foreign companies with minimal Canadian presence can use lower prices to pay less duty than Canadian businesses importing...
Why This Matters: Canadian businesses compete against foreign importers who may be paying less in customs duties on identical goods. That's not a level playing field. If you run a business that imports products, these rules affect what you pay at the border. Even if you don't import directly, unfair duty advantages...
Regulations & Permits
Economy & Jobs
Finance & Consumer
Closed
Saskatoon, SK
Saskatoon Transit asked residents how bus fares should be structured going forward. The current system is based mostly on age groups and hasn't changed since 2016. The city wanted feedback on four different fare scenarios to balance affordability...
Why This Matters: Take the bus to work or school? This affects what you'll pay. Fares haven't changed since 2016, but operating costs keep climbing. Right now, fares only cover about 30% of transit costs—the rest comes from property taxes. How the city balances affordability with funding needs will shape transit...
Policy & Studies
Finance & Consumer
Transportation
Open for Input
Senate of Canada - Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs (Federal)
The Senate's Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee is examining two parts of the federal budget bill. Divisions 30 and 31 of Bill C-15 deal with family law and the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board. Witnesses from the...
Why This Matters: Going through a divorce or custody dispute? These changes could affect how family courts handle your case. Work for the federal government? The labour tribunal changes might impact how workplace disputes get resolved.
Legislation
Finance & Consumer
Justice & Rights
Closed
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (Federal)
The federal government wants to know what regulations are slowing you down. They're running five reviews focused on project approvals, getting products to market, business productivity, border efficiency, and regulatory service delivery. If you've...
Why This Matters: Ever waited months for a permit? Struggled to get a new product approved? Dealt with confusing government forms? These reviews could lead to real changes. Business owners, importers, and anyone who's tangled with federal red tape should weigh in.
Regulations & Permits
Economy & Jobs
Finance & Consumer