Canada’s Budget 2026: What it Means for Communities in Canada

December 9, 2026

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ET

On November 5, 2026, the Government of Canada released Budget 2026: Masters of our destiny. The budget has been presented as the government’s vision for navigating Canada through a changed world, where the global economy has been reshaped and we can no longer rely on the relationships that powered our prosperity

The government has prioritized building a strong, more independent and resilient economy. At the same time the budget stresses measures focused on making life more affordable for Canadians while unlocking investment, moving nation-building projects forward, creating good jobs, strengthening economic security, and seizing new opportunities.

Some of the measures that align with communities’ asks include;

• Efforts to end homelessness in 10 years.

• A one-time Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit supplement (support approximately 120,000 people out of poverty).

• Reforms to the Canada Workers Benefit (now the Build Canada Workers Benefit) to lower the minimum earnings threshold and increase the maximum benefit (support about 1.9m workers with low incomes).

• Expansion of automatic federal benefits.

These changes are positive and could lift 200,000 individuals out of poverty. This is an important step in restarting Canada’s early poverty reduction success, which has stagnated in recent years. However, it is important to recognize that Canada will need to do more to meet its 2030 poverty reduction targets and communities are struggling to address the affordability, climate, and belonging challenges. The community sector is looking for signals of support and partnership from the Government of Canada.

In this webinar, David Watters (Institute for Collaborative Innovation) and Shannon Storey (Global Advantage Consulting) will present lessons and opportunities from Budget 2026 reflecting on what it means for communities.

Speakers

David Watters. Founder & President. Institute for Collaborative Innovation

David Watters worked for 30 years in the Canadian Federal Public Service in a variety of Economic Ministries, including a dozen years as an Assistant Deputy Minister in Industry Canada, Treasury Board Canada, and Finance Canada, where he was responsible for overseeing Canada's Economic Development and Corporate Finance policies, and shaping economic and innovation investment in federal budgets.

David founded the Institute for Collaborative Innovation in 2008 and is its current President. David holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Queen's University, as well as a Law degree in corporate, commercial, and tax law from Queen's University Law School. He was also an adjunct Professor for seven years at the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa, teaching International Negotiation to MBA students.

Shannon Storey. President & COO. Global Advantage Consulting Group

Shannon has been a driving force within the Global Advantage Consulting Group since May 2017. Over the past eight years, she has played a central role in growing the company’s team, expanding its portfolio, and strengthening its reputation as a leader in strategic research and analysis.

In her role, Shannon oversees day-to-day operations, leads successful project delivery, and drives the company’s strategic direction. She brings a systems-thinking approach to her work, ensuring that every project delivers high-impact, evidence-based insights for clients across government, academia, industry, and non-profit sectors.

Before joining Global Advantage, Shannon gained valuable experience in the financial and software sectors. She is a graduate of Algonquin College, where she studied technology and design.

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