Federal and Ontario govts sign $8.8B deal to cut development charges – March 30, 2026

In Toronto, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford to announce a new partnership between the federal and Ontario governments to support homebuilding, infrastructure and transit in the province. Included in the $8.8 billion cost-matching agreement are cuts to municipal development charges and removal of HST for new homes valued up to $1 million, as well as support for infrastructure and transit projects in Ontario. The prime minister faces questions from reporters over Liberal MP Michael Ma’s questioning of a recent committee witness over forced labour practices in Xinjiang, China. Carney also comments on Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau’s announcement that he plans to retire later in the year. This comes in the wake of the controversy over Rousseau’s English-only condolence message following the deadly plane collision involving an Air Canada plane and a fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia airport.