Rebekah Young

The Liberal government's fall economic statement acknowledges the cost-of-living crisis weighing on Canadians but offers few new measures to tackle it, while pledging to keep deficits in check.

If a single mother with a newborn baby starts looking for city-subsidized housing in Canada's largest urban centre today, she might see her child enter high school before they find a new home.

The federal government may find itself with billions more in spending room on the back of soaring oil prices that experts say could lower the deficit, or give the Liberals space to fund a bevy of campaign pledges.

Canadians will soon get an update on the health of federal finances and the government's outlook for an economy facing high inflation rates, flooding in British Columbia and the emergence of a new variant of COVID-19.

The question of who would make life more affordable for was Wednesday's hot topic on the campaign trail.

The federal Liberals will take small step toward a plan to create a national daycare system, with sources telling the Canadian Press next week's economic update will have money for a new federal child-care body.