New minister Lightbound plans to tap AI to help to fix procurement, government efficiency woes

With billions of dollars on the line and intense public scrutiny, Government Transformation and Public Works and Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound says adopting new technologies is 'precisely one way to achieve [efficiency] without increasing the size of our public service.'

New Government Transformation and Public Services and Procurement Minister Joel Lightbound says he will prioritize the use of AI to streamline the government procurement process. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

New minister Lightbound plans to tap AI to help to fix procurement, government efficiency woes

NewsBY IREM KOCA

With billions of dollars on the line and intense public scrutiny, Government Transformation and Public Works and Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound says adopting new technologies is 'precisely one way to achieve [efficiency] without increasing the size of our public service.'

New minister Lightbound plans to tap AI to help to fix procurement, government efficiency woes

NewsBY IREM KOCA

With billions of dollars on the line and intense public scrutiny, Government Transformation and Public Works and Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound says adopting new technologies is 'precisely one way to achieve [efficiency] without increasing the size of our public service.'

THE LATEST

Electoral success a temporary substitute for Israel-Gaza consensus as caucus quiet on sanctions, say Liberal sources

NewsBY STUART BENSON

Prime Minister Mark Carney can't keep everyone happy, but he will have more success than his predecessor by focusing on managing international relations rather than caucus concerns, says Thomas Juneau.

Electoral success a temporary substitute for Israel-Gaza consensus as caucus quiet on sanctions, say Liberal sources

NewsBY STUART BENSON

Prime Minister Mark Carney can't keep everyone happy, but he will have more success than his predecessor by focusing on managing international relations rather

Discover Domaine du Vieux-Port: a waterside community in the heart of Gatineau

Military police chief is ignoring the law, shutting down probes into complaints: watchdog report

NewsBY PETER MAZEREEUW, SAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN

In its 2024 annual report, the Military Police Complaints Commission urges the government to change the laws governing the office of the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal.

In its 2024 annual report, the Military Police Complaints Commission urges the government to change the laws governing the office of the Canadian Forces

BOIE pushes discussion of NDP resources to future meeting as Bloc mulls ‘significant’ rule changes

NewsBY LAURA RYCKEWAERT

Plus, the board approved a full carryforward for the House's budget this year, with an extra $4.9-million to be sought through the next supplementary estimates.

Plus, the board approved a full carryforward for the House's budget this year, with an extra $4.9-million to be sought through the next supplementary

Piggybacking changes to privacy laws ‘has nothing to do with affordability,’ say critics of Bill C-4

NewsBY STUART BENSON

Just because the prime minister is in a hurry doesn't excuse rushing controversial Elections Act changes on the back of needed affordability measures, says Green Leader Elizabeth May.

Just because the prime minister is in a hurry doesn't excuse rushing controversial Elections Act changes on the back of needed affordability measures, says

POLITICS THIS MORNING

Project greenlight bill in focus

Plus, Anandasangaree gives notice of another security powers bill.

BY PETER MAZEREEUW, RIDDHI KACHHELA

OPINION & COLUMNISTS

Bill removing internal trade barriers risks undermining policy innovation

Does a mutual recognition framework for internal trade put downwards pressure on health, safety, occupational, and environmental standards?

BY MARK WINFIELD

Opinion

BY YOUNES ZANGIABADI

Carney’s first foreign policy test begins in the Middle East

Opinion

BY TIM POWERS

Conservatives could use some outside perspective

Opinion

BY JOSIE SABATINO

Carney’s move-fast-and-break-things agenda requires a fiscal reality check

Opinion

BY ERICA IFILL

Loophole Liberals making an ignominious power grab

NEWS

With Indigenous relations taking on an economic lens, consultation will be key, say academics, orgs

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Indigenous Peoples have understandable concerns about whether the hunger for natural resources could be used as an excuse by the federal government to circumvent its duty to consult, says professor Gabriel Maracle.

With Indigenous relations taking on an economic lens, consultation will be key, say academics, orgs

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Indigenous Peoples have understandable concerns about whether the hunger for natural resources could be used as an excuse by the federal government to circumvent its duty to consult, says professor Gabriel Maracle.

Conservative campaign director Jenni Byrne’s absence from first national council meeting following election loss raises some eyebrows

NewsBY ABBAS RANA

G7 summit wraps without reaching full consensus on Ukraine

NewsBY NEIL MOSS | UPDATED June 17, 2025

Potential Canada-EU defence deal short on details as questions loom over feasibility of displacing U.S. links

NewsBY NEIL MOSS

‘I’m a tariff person’: Trump doubles down on levies as new deal pledged within 30 days

NewsBY NEIL MOSS

HILL LIFE & PEOPLE

Parliamentary Calendar

Senator Mégie marks National Sickle Cell Awareness Day with parliamentary breakfast on June 19

Podcast

Making sense of the ‘Building Canada Act’, with Elizabeth May

News

The Hill Times’ Top 100 Lobbyists in 2025: lobbyists prepare for ‘significant reset’ as federal election begins

News

All eyes on Trump: meet the top 50 foreign policy influencers navigating Canada’s role in a rocky world

Podcast

The return of Parliament, with Sheila Copps

See all upcoming 2025 Hill Times Policy Briefings

uOttawa names Marie-Eve Sylvestre new president and vice-chancellor

CCGA is seeking a Vice-President, Government & Industry Relations

The Insider’s Guide to Parliament

HILL LIFE & PEOPLE

Two more ministers, two secs of state lock in chief of staff picks

FeatureBY LAURA RYCKEWAERT

Hursh Jaswal is once again a chief of staff, this time to Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai.

Two more ministers, two secs of state lock in chief of staff picks

FeatureBY LAURA RYCKEWAERT

Hursh Jaswal is once again a chief of staff, this time to Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai.

Carney. Trump. Round two in Alberta.

FeatureBY RIDDHI KACHHELA

POLITICS

Carney’s moment to step up on reforming the Access to Information Act

OpinionBY KEN RUBIN

‘Elbows up’ shouldn’t mean Parliaments hands are tied

OpinionBY EDITORIAL

Serena Ryder, Logan Staats, and Crown Lands rock the GG’s Performing Arts Awards

FeatureBY STUART BENSON

New Agriculture Minister MacDonald settles his senior staff team

Carney should consider letting Elections Canada oversee party nomination elections

OpinionBY EDITORIAL

Political parties will never voluntarily hold fair and open nominations. Prime Minister Mark Carney has an opportunity to reform this system by working with other parties to transfer responsibility for nominations to Elections Canada. Whether he chooses to act on this issue or leave it to party insiders remains to be seen. Chances are that he will not, but he can prove us wrong by taking this bold step and leave a legacy of fairness in the political process.

Carney should consider letting Elections Canada oversee party nomination elections

OpinionBY EDITORIAL

Political parties will never voluntarily hold fair and open nominations. Prime Minister Mark Carney has an opportunity to reform this system by working with other parties to transfer responsibility for nominations to Elections Canada. Whether he chooses to act on this issue or leave it to party insiders remains to be seen. Chances are that he will not, but he can prove us wrong by taking this bold step and leave a legacy of fairness in the political process.

THE HILL TIMES NEWSPAPER

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

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Monday, June 16, 2025

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Wednesday, June 11, 2025

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OPINION & COLUMNISTS

Opinion

BY JEFF CYR

Delivering results: the case for an Indigenous Outcomes Fund

Opinion

BY ESTELLE AZEMARD

Canada and Europe can offer a united front for digital sovereignty

Opinion

BY WENRAN JIANG

Why Canada’s engagement with China is strategic sovereignty, not submission

Will Canada miss the boat on human rights?

OpinionBY NIMAO ALI

Canada must treat the seizure of the Madleen as a blatant violation of international maritime norms that deserves real diplomatic consequences.

Working with First Nations on an Indigenous fire stewardship protocol could go a long way

OpinionBY KAREN RESTOULE

Here’s why Canada should say ‘no’ to LNG

OpinionBY NICHOLE DUSYK

Canada has the opportunity to lead in the global clean energy transition, not to follow outdated energy playbooks.

Here’s why Canada should say ‘no’ to LNG

OpinionBY NICHOLE DUSYK

Canada has the opportunity to lead in the global clean energy transition, not to follow outdated energy playbooks.

Making the G7 Summit in Canada significant

Opinion

The markets are hungry for Canadian cod. Will we deliver?

OpinionBY SYLVIE LAPOINTE

EDITORIAL CARTOON BY DE ADDER

de Adder’s Take: 06-18-2025

de Adder’s Take: 06-16-2025

de Adder’s Take: 06-11-2025

Public Service

Treasury Board reports gains on diversity and equity in public service, but will cuts hamper progress?

As of March 2024, just over 70 per cent of the core public administration belonged to one or more employment equity groups. But as the bureaucracy now begins to shrink for the first time in over 10 years, these groups could be disproportionately impacted.

BY MARLO GLASS

Federal government doesn’t know how many offices sit empty: AG

Auditor General Karen Hogan’s report says departments need to accelerate their efforts to reduce office space, and PSPS needs better data on the number of public servants using office space on a daily basis.

BY MARLO GLASS

All eyes on Trump: meet the top 50 foreign policy influencers navigating Canada’s role in a rocky world

The Hill Times spoke with nearly 20 insiders, including current and former senior government officials, past diplomats, business leaders, analysts, and academics to compile the list of the top 50 foreign policy influencers.

BY NEIL MOSS, STUART BENSON, IREM KOCA

Canada Post is a dying dinosaur, Parliament must lead a strategic exit

The choice before Parliament is binary: strategic reinvention or fiscal drift. It's time to stop pretending this business model can be modernized with enough public cash injections. It can't. The smarter move is a managed exit—structured, deliberate, and designed to maximize public value.

BY RAM MATHILAKATH

GC-OS: why the Government of Canada should develop its own software

It is no longer inconceivable that the U.S. could exert its regulatory powers over America-based software companies to threaten or punish rivals.

BY AIDAN WAKELY-MULRONEY

FOREIGN POLICY

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Netanyahu’s wars

OpinionBY GWYNNE DYER

Carney comes to the Rockies to try to move mountains at the G7 summit

NewsBY NEIL MOSS

Canada’s hinge moment: a time to lead for Ukraine and the world

OpinionBY MICHAEL CHOLOD, GEOFFREY GOODELL

Achieving a pragmatic working relationship with China must be a foreign policy priority for Canada

OpinionBY DAVID CRANE

Canada has moral duty to commit to international aid

OpinionBY BARBARA GRANTHAM, LAUREN RAVON, DANNY GLENWRIGHT

If there was ever a time for Canada to step up as a champion of gender equality, human rights, peace, and international assistance—it is now.

Canada has moral duty to commit to international aid

OpinionBY BARBARA GRANTHAM, LAUREN RAVON, DANNY GLENWRIGHT

If there was ever a time for Canada to step up as a champion of gender equality, human rights, peace, and international assistance—it is now.

BOOKS, BIG IDEAS, Q&As

Reconciliation starts local, says author of guide book for non-Indigenous allies

FeatureBY STEPHEN JEFFERY

Rose LeMay says it's 'up to non-Indigenous people to change these systems so that Indigenous Peoples are not treated worse than others.'

Reconciliation starts local, says author of guide book for non-Indigenous allies

FeatureBY STEPHEN JEFFERY

Rose LeMay says it's 'up to non-Indigenous people to change these systems so that Indigenous Peoples are not treated worse than others.'

Poilievre is a ‘classic political ripper,’ says author of new bestselling biography

FeatureBY KATE MALLOY

Bruce Fanjoy, the man who broke Poilievre’s spell on Carleton, Ont., says he won by door knocking and listening

NewsBY IREM KOCA

Pope Francis was one of the most ‘electrifying papacies in centuries,’ says author of book on pontiff’s life and influences

FeatureBY STEPHEN JEFFERY

Q&A | Unpacking the ‘astonishing’ swing in federal polls with Frank Graves

FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW

Reconciliation is action, not just words

OpinionBY MICHELLE ROBINSON

Closing the infrastructure gap requires more than land acknowledgements that don’t address truth, Treaties, or commitments.

Indigenous leadership regularly engages with businesses and governments with solutions to infrastructure needs, which are regularly disregarded, writes Michelle Robinson. Unsplash photograph by Tim Foster

Reconciliation is action, not just words

OpinionBY MICHELLE ROBINSON

Closing the infrastructure gap requires more than land acknowledgements that don’t address truth, Treaties, or commitments.

Reconciliation is action, not just words

OpinionBY MICHELLE ROBINSON

Closing the infrastructure gap requires more than land acknowledgements that don’t address truth, Treaties, or commitments.

Reconciliation or repetition? Carney’s first moves on Indigenous rights face scrutiny

OpinionBY JACKSON PIND

Whether the prime minister’s early steps mark a genuine shift or simply another cycle of political performance will define Mark Carney’s reconciliation legacy.

How to optimize economic reconciliation through natural resource investment and beyond? Create an Indigenous Development Bank

OpinionBY GLEN HODGSON

A new pathway is required, shifting away from heavy reliance on budgetary funding and subsidies, and toward more innovative resource mobilization and access to capital.

Canada must lead in the age of AI

OpinionBY STEPHEN J. TOOPE, MARK DALEY

With its pioneering AI history and commitment to global leadership, Canada must help chart a course for much needed, practical governance.

Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Minister Evan Solomon. Canada can leverage its respected position to convene a network of flexible alliances and agile institutions, write Stephen J. Toope and Mark Daley. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada must lead in the age of AI

OpinionBY STEPHEN J. TOOPE, MARK DALEY

With its pioneering AI history and commitment to global leadership, Canada must help chart a course for much needed, practical governance.

Canada must lead in the age of AI

OpinionBY STEPHEN J. TOOPE, MARK DALEY

With its pioneering AI history and commitment to global leadership, Canada must help chart a course for much needed, practical governance.

Giving Canadian critical minerals ‘a reasonable chance’

OpinionBY CHARLOTTE GIBSON

While Canada has long been a major producer of copper, nickel, zinc and others on the critical minerals list, our path to getting other high priority critical minerals–like lithium and rare earth elements–‘produced in Canada’ may be a rocky one.

Being an energy superpower in 2025 means going clean

OpinionBY RACHEL DORAN, MARK ZACHARIAS

Investing in clean technologies and supply chains is now an economic imperative globally. Of Canada’s 10 largest non-U.S. trade partners, all have net-zero commitments and carbon pricing systems, and roughly half apply carbon border adjustments on imports and have domestic EV requirements.

Before we get our resources to market, we need to make sure those markets actually want them

OpinionBY DAVID WALLIS

Canada was built on forestry, but if we want to ensure that that industry and the over 200,000 people employed in it can continue

THE LATEST POLICY BRIEFINGS

Indigenous Relations

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Natural Resources

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Canada Part I: Interprovincial Trade & Labour

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features

Kìwekì Point a beautiful new public space, panorama views

FeatureBY ANDREW MEADE

Kìwekì Point a beautiful new public space, panorama views

FeatureBY ANDREW MEADE

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Barrelling through Bill C-5

FeatureBY RIDDHI KACHHELA, PETER MAZEREEUW

Hill media flock to Carney’s first Rideau Cottage garden party

FeatureBY STUART BENSON

In L’actualité, Chantal Hébert has four politicians to watch this summer, including an anonymous ‘first Liberal to resign from caucus’

FeatureBY CHRISTINA LEADLAY

Nunavut Premier Akeeagok to speak at C.D. Howe Institute’s panel ‘Asserting Canada’s Arctic Sovereignty’ on June 17 in Toronto

Will Parliament wave the white flag?

FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW, RIDDHI KACHHELA

Sport Secretary van Koeverden settles his chief of staff

FeatureBY LAURA RYCKEWAERT

PM Carney, Minister Valdez raise Pride flag

FeatureBY ANDREW MEADE

Parliamentary Calendar

World leaders converge on Alberta for G7 summit June 15-17

Podcast

Carney’s missing budget, with Mostafa Askari

feature

The Hill Times’ Top 100 Best Books in 2024

List

Meet Carney’s parliamentary secretaries, half of whom are rookie MPs

Podcast

‘Ally is a verb’: How to do your part for reconciliation, with Rose LeMay

HT Careers: Vice-President, Advocacy

HT Careers: Vice-président/Vice-présidente, Défense de l’intérêt public

Toronto Centre appoint Julien Brazeau as the Government of Canada representative on the board of directors

Tracking federal parties’ Meta spending in the campaign

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A community for political junkies

The Hill Times subscribers are not your average Canadians, they don’t just want to
read the headlines, they want the full back story, the context and the implications.

EXCLUSIVE LISTS

The 19 entities asking for the biggest spending boosts in the 2025-26 main estimates

Meet Mark Carney’s 38-member senior team

The salaries of Carney’s cabinet and secretaries of state

Who’s in and who’s out of Carney’s post-election cabinet?

MPs, Senators get a salary boost, Carney will now earn $419,600, Scheer $308,800, and Blanchet $280,600

Grits and Tories dominated the 109 safest seats this election

Tories strip five Ontario ridings of bellwether status, while 29 seats remain

The election outcomes for Mark Carney’s first cabinet

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Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

Post

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

Post

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

Post

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

Post

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

Post

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

Finance & Budget

Bill C-5 grants ‘superpowers’ never before seen in ‘environmental law history’: Bloc critic Patrick Bonin

The One Canadian Economy Act is being rammed through the House via a ‘non-democratic’ process and would result in governmental overreach, say the Bloc Québécois, who plan to vote against the bill.

BY ELEANOR WAND

How to optimize economic reconciliation through natural resource investment and beyond? Create an Indigenous Development Bank

A new pathway is required, shifting away from heavy reliance on budgetary funding and subsidies, and toward more innovative resource mobilization and access to capital.

BY GLEN HODGSON

Liberals propose fast-tracking motion for major projects bill

Bill C-5 would come to a final vote on June 20 under the terms of the motion.

BY PETER MAZEREEUW

Highlights from ‘fast-track’ Carney’s major defence pledge

BY RIDDHI KACHHELA

Liberals sneak privacy law exemption into tax cut bill

Plus, the Liberals bring back an immigration bill identical to legislation introduced by the Trudeau government in the last Parliament.

BY PETER MAZEREEUW

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez said the national supply chain office “will enhance the resilience, efficiency, and reliability of our transportation systems,” in a Transport Canada press release on Dec. 1, 2023.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.