What Ottawa's economic update means for your wallet

This week, the Carney government released its first spring economic update — which painted a better-than-expected picture of Canada's finances despite a long U.S. trade war and instability in the Middle East.

The question on many Canadians' minds is: How does this update help them? Host Catherine Cullen visits an Ottawa grocery store to hear from owner Eli Njaim and his customers about the rising cost of food. Then, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne explains what the government's latest spending plan does to alleviate the affordability crisis.

Also in the update is a new "national savings and investment account” that will help grow wealth for future generations of Canadians. The Conservatives are calling it a “Sovereign Debt Fund.” Bloomberg News’ Laura Dhillon Kane and Mark Rendell of The Globe and Mail break down what the new fund is — and if it will work. 

And, bestselling historian and fascism expert Timothy Snyder joins The House to discuss how Canada is navigating the Trump presidency, the risks of American influence in Alberta’s sovereigntist circles, and the health of Canadian democracy. 

This episode features the voices of:

• Eli Njaim, owner of Mid-East Food Centre
• François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance
• Laura Dhillon Kane, Ottawa bureau chief for Bloomberg News
• Mark Rendell, economics reporter for the Globe and Mail
• Timothy Snyder, historian and bestselling author