OTTAWA—Parliament has risen for the summer, and it is yet again a key time for political parties to tend to all-important local political concerns that ultimately drive the successes or failures of Members of Parliament.

For Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Liberals—except for flag waving around the World Cup and big hopes that Canada goes on a run on the pitch—it seems much of what they will focus on is trying to show they get people’s affordability challenges. We have already seen announcements around housing, and it’s not hard to imagine a flood of other public-spending newsers on the horizon.

The Liberals have to build a good defensive posture on local affordability options while they try to score the golden goal with some kind of new trading arrangement with the United States. Dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump is unpredictable, but it is easy to forecast that, at some point, Canadians’ appreciation of the prime minister will sour, and their own personal economic challenges will be the main driver.

As Ottawa redesigns........

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