There’s no denying the impact politics plays in the lives of OFA members, but understanding the political landscape is usually easier said than done.

That’s why OFA brough in Althia Raj – a Canadian political journalist, member of the Parliamentary press gallery, and CBC “At Issue” panellist – as their keynote speaker at the 2025 Annual General Meeting.

At last year’s AGM, a last-minute resolution was brought to the table on how to address rumoured tariff threats from the United States, much to the surprise of delegates in attendance.

Who could have imagined then the uncertainty that trade and tariff concerns would cause?

Althia walked through the timeline of federal politics since the 2024 U.S. election, the rise of Mark Carney, what to expect from Canada’ Prime Minister going forward, and how the era of free trade is most likely coming to an end.

The renowned journalist also touched on the state of media in Canada, how distrust in major outlets is at an all-time low, how opinions are much cheaper to publish than researched facts, and how polarising statements are what get the most engagement due to online algorithms.

Thank you to the Greenbelt Foundation for sponsoring our keynote speaker and to Althia for joining us at our Annual General Meeting.