As Canada enters 2026, Northumberland–Clarke MP Philip Lawrence says affordability is dominating conversations with residents across the riding, as households continue to feel pressure from rising costs and tighter monthly budgets.
Lawrence says concerns about making ends meet are no longer limited to any one income level or demographic, noting that people from all backgrounds are struggling to stretch their paycheques as economic uncertainty persists.
He says addressing affordability will be his primary focus when Parliament resumes later this month, guiding both his work in Ottawa and his advocacy on behalf of constituents at home.
Lawrence said he will remain available to constituents in the riding through late January before Parliament resumes its regular sitting schedule, dividing time between Ottawa during the week and Northumberland-Clarke on weekends.
International trade and Canada–U.S. relations are entering a sensitive phase as Canada, the United States and Mexixo approach a scheduled review of the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), the trade deal that replaced NAFTA and governs hundreds of billions of dollars in cross-border commerce.
The agreement includes a mandatory review mechanism in 2026 that requires all parties to reaffirm their participation, raising uncertainty for exporters, manufacturers and agriculture sectors that depend heavily on U.S. market access, particularly in Canada. Ongoing issues such as tariffs, rules of origin for automobiles, energy policy, and “Buy American” procurement measures continue to strain the relationship, while Canada has emphasized a “Team Canada” approach to protect integrated supply chains and maintain predictable trade rules with its largest trading partner.
He noted that many businesses in Northumberland-Clarke depend directly on access to U.S. markets, making tariff uncertainty a key concern for local employers.
Closer to home, Lawrence said Canada must make faster progress on reducing internal trade barriers between provinces, including labour mobility and direct-to-consumer sales.
Lawrence cited agreements that would allow Canadians to purchase goods such as wine directly from other provinces as an example of stalled progress, despite widespread political support.
He said eliminating internal trade barriers will require sustained effort from federal and provincial governments, along with public servants and elected officials working together.
As 2026 begins, Lawrence says economic affordability, trade certainty, and removing barriers to growth will remain central to his work in Ottawa and across Northumberland-Clarke.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
