Carney Concludes Cabinet Forum with Focus on Building Canada’s Economic Strength
Ministers set priorities on housing, infrastructure, defence, and trade resilience ahead of 2025 budget
TORONTO — Prime Minister Mark Carney wrapped up the fall Cabinet Planning Forum in Toronto this week, bringing together Cabinet ministers and secretaries of state to map out Canada’s economic and security agenda for the next six months.
The two-day forum came as global uncertainty continues to grow, with the United States reshaping its trade relationships in ways that disrupt industries and displace workers. Carney said Canada must focus on what it can control: building a resilient economy, deepening ties with reliable trading partners, and preparing for global shocks.
Fall Economic Priorities
Discussions centered on several of the government’s key economic priorities for fall 2025:
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Fast-tracking nation-building projects through the new Major Projects Office (MPO).
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Launching Build Canada Homes to re-establish a federal role in building affordable housing.
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Rolling out Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy to strengthen domestic defence production.
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Providing resources for workers and businesses hit hardest by U.S. tariffs, helping them retool and diversify markets.
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Beginning Canada’s preparations for the upcoming CUSMA review process.
Just wrapped our Fall Cabinet Planning Forum.
We’ve got a very ambitious fall ahead — with a new budget, new legislation, and major new policies to transform Canada’s economy. We’ve worked fast since day one, and we are not slowing down. pic.twitter.com/L6WB97PcNy
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) September 5, 2025
Budget 2025 Preparations
With the 2025 federal budget on the horizon, ministers discussed how to grow the economy sustainably while lowering costs for Canadians. The government signaled it will prioritize substantial investments in housing, infrastructure, and defence to catalyze private-sector growth.
Carney also pressed for modernizing government operations to deliver more efficiently and effectively, ensuring that federal programs respond to Canadians’ needs in a cost-effective way.
Expert Perspectives
The forum included input from Canadian and international experts, who offered perspectives on Canada’s economic resilience, trade opportunities, and security challenges. Their insights will help shape both the fall agenda and the 2025 budget.
Looking Ahead
The Cabinet Planning Forum concluded with ministers reaffirming their commitment to urgency and determination in delivering on the government’s seven priorities, as outlined in mandate letters earlier this year.
Carney stressed that the focus will remain on building “greater certainty, security, and prosperity for Canadians” through investments that both strengthen today’s economy and lay the foundation for long-term growth.
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