Trade deals, bail bills and other issues in focus for members of Parliament

Here's a look at some of the key topics of discussion to listen for as members of Parliament return to the House of Commons on Monday.

Members of Parliament are gearing up for their return to the House of Commons in what’s expected to be a busy fall.

Here is a look at some of the things to watch for as Parliament gets underway this week.

The Liberal government took some heat in the spring when it decided to delay the introduction of the federal budget, which is typically done in March or April, until this fall.

Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said his fiscal plan is set to be released in October.

That’s when Canadians will learn how big the deficit is, how much more is being spent on national defence, and how much is being cut from government departments and agencies that have been told they need to slash spending.

The last time the federal government gave a fiscal update was in December, when it said the 2025-26 deficit had grown to $42.2 billion. The Liberal election platform suggested adding its new spending promises and the impact of U.S. tariffs would push that to $60 billion.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said Sunday that the deficit recorded in the budget will be bigger than it was last year, though he did not offer a specific number.

Carney has also said his version of the budget will also look different: he plans to split the document into capital spending and operational spending, with a pledge to balance the operational side within three years.