Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, centre left, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May. In Campaign Research's latest survey, the Conservatives appear to have overtaken the Liberals' lead in the polls. The Hill Times file photographs by Andrew Meade
Conservatives overtake Liberals’ lead, poll shows, while SNC-Lavalin affair unfolds
Campaign Research's poll was conducted while the fallout from The Globe and Mail's report on SNC-Lavalin and the Prime Minister's Office was unfolding. CEO Eli Yufest says it was a 'pure coincidence.'
Two House chambers? Time to consider it, MPs say
With two chambers now built, in West Block and Centre Block, some MPs say it’s time to have two running permanently.Some Independent Senators say ISG rules around political activity go too far
Sen. Stephen Greene is a Conservative member, Sen. Diane Griffin is a member of both the Tories and Greens, while Sen. Marty Klyne disclosed he’s a Liberal donor. Politics This Morning
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Bains says legislative changes needed to update privacy rules
In a Q&A, the innovation minister also says a report on federal digital and data consultations should be released in the 'coming weeks.'Liberals defeat bid to call on Wilson-Raybould to testify, punt discussion to in-camera meeting
Some Liberal MPs characterized opposition MPs’ efforts to push for PMO officials to testify as a 'fishing expedition.' Wilson-Raybould’s resignation a ‘time bomb’ for Grits, says ex-Liberal aide, while Justice Committee chair says he’s open to hearings
'There’s a need to explain to Canadians whether or not a line has been crossed,' says NDP MP Murray Rankin.B.C. privacy czar calls out political parties; federal parties should heed that call too, say researchers
Federal political parties are ‘totally unregulated, and there’s no oversight, and we have no way of looking behind the door,’ says Prof. Teresa Scassa.Controversial $7-billion fund hasn’t sped up budget implementation: PBO
Only 62 per cent of associated spending has been accounted for in the tabled spending estimates this year, compared to 95 per cent rolled out for the 2017 budget.Senate unlikely to vote on sweeping, controversial environmental assessment bill until May or June
The Senate Environment Committee will be grappling with Bill C-69 until at least mid-April and likely later, and Senators hope to tour cities big and small as part of their work.Bombshell PMO interference allegations ‘extremely damaging’ to judicial system; Wilson-Raybould’s inability to refute allegations creates ‘bizarre’ dynamic in cabinet, say pundits
The non-denial by former justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould is a 'major problem for the government,' says Tim Powers. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, centre left, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May. In Campaign Research's latest survey, the Conservatives appear to have overtaken the Liberals' lead in the polls. The Hill Times file photographs by Andrew Meade
Conservatives overtake Liberals’ lead, poll shows, while SNC-Lavalin affair unfolds
Campaign Research's poll was conducted while the fallout from The Globe and Mail's report on SNC-Lavalin and the Prime Minister's Office was unfolding. CEO Eli Yufest says it was a 'pure coincidence.'
A new role for media, academics, and experts: call it Corrections Canada
This pre-election period in Canada needs several Daniel Dales, news organizations that will assign an individual, or a team, to full-time research of incendiary political claims. Since companies like Taboola and Facebook can’t seem to control fake news, the question is who can?
The Trudeau government has given the job to the heaviest hitters the system has to offer—the clerk of the Privy Council, who runs the PM’s own department; Canada’s national security adviser; and the deputy ministers of tImpact of Paul Dewar’s death will be felt far beyond the Hill
Paul Dewar was a national figure during his time in the House of Commons and he maintained that profile even in defeat.
Senators agree to travel as part of study on C-69, but no deadline or details
After hours of talking behind closed doors, Senators agreed to take their study of the government's environmental assessment reform bill on the road, but left the details to the three-member steering committee. Senate Conservatives plan to ‘gut’ Liberal gun bill, and they may have the numbers to do it
A 12-member Senate committee, with five Conservatives and at least one unaffiliated Senator who, like the Tories, has criticized Bill C-71, means some of those Conservative changes could make it through.Innovation minister, Finance Committee chair, member top most-lobbied MPs of 2018
Environment and Agriculture were among the most-lobbied departments. 
China is not our friend
Canada should seek other opportunities in Asia, and hold on to the foundations of our own political culture. ‘Taliban Jack’ was right all along
Critics scoffed in 2006 when then-NDP leader Jack Layton said we should try negotiating with the Taliban. Thirteen years later, that’s exactly what the Americans are doing. Momentous crossroads looms in U.S. as Democrats veer toward radical realignment
Democrats are exuding a fierce willingness to challenge the status quo as they cast about for a standard bearer and a message for next year’s election.
Duclos’s rise to Treasury Board vice-chair shows his ‘quiet competence’: observers
Quebec ministers featured prominently in the cabinet committee shuffle last week, among them Tourism Minister Mélanie Joly and Justice Minister David Lametti. When friends fight
Australian wine sales have the opportunity to grow across Canada, but when it comes to this trade dispute, business success, longevity, and consumer generosity will be tested.Meet the top-lobbied political gatekeepers in 2018
The most-lobbied staffers last year worked on money files like innovation and finance, as well as the environment, a hot-button issue legislatively. 
Longtime CBC camera and soundman Danny Leduc dies at 66
Plus, Michael Wilson dies, and a Press Gallery hockey team wins the Bingham Cup.
Minister LeBlanc nabs policy aide from Minister Duclos’s team
Plus, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett has hired an ex-Queen's Park Liberal staffer, as a special assistant.
On the House is informative and enduring
Former House law clerk Rob Walsh's book, On the House: An Inside Look at the House of Commons, is a useful compendium for anyone interested in understanding how the House of Commons works.
Staffers on the move post-shuffle as Rural Economic Development Minister Jordan continues to build team
A number of staffers have followed Seamus O’Regan from veterans affairs to his new office as minister of Indigenous Services. MPs honour Paul Dewar’s life of public service; bow heads for moment of silence
Plus, Scott Brison bids adieu, Heather Scoffield to join The Toronto Star, and Eric Lindros appears before House Subcommittee on Sports-Related Concussions.New book, Canadian Justice, Indigenous Injustice, explores minutiae of ‘all too familiar’ Boushie-Stanley case
‘This is unfortunately just one in a long line of cases where Canadian justice has too often been indigenous injustice,’ says author Kent Roach. 
Tug of war between innovation and privacy at heart of digital data talks
‘There's a very strong feeling that we can't have the wild west of data,’ says innovation expert Arvind Gupta.
We can do more to make Canada more accessible, inclusive
The Accessible Canada Act is a good start. It should be passed, and changes made to the Disability Tax Credit, among other improvements.
Superclusters move toward first projects as Bains says innovation program ‘kicking into high gear’
One expert says it will be years before the public could reasonably say how successful the Liberals' flagship superclusters program will be.
Canada’s economy needs workers with global learning experiences
Providing more internships abroad will invariably buttress Canada’s innovation ecosystem.Aid: the face of Canada for many in the developing world
As Canadians mark International Development Week, they ought to know that it’s often through volunteers for foreign-aid groups that Canada is represented to poorer countries. Annual Features
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Politics This Morning: Freeland heads to Germany for security conference
Meanwhile, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer is taking his town-hall tour closer to home. 
What has emerged over those many years is a far-from-perfect tax system saddled with a myriad of tax breaks and exemptions by successive governments that made it even more bloated and complicated. 
With our brains cyberconditioned to abandon discernment, we're losing the political survival mechanisms of shock and perspective. 
The federal government allowing the pipeline project to collapse would have set an even worse precedent than buying it.
We may have been duped on this file, but it is clearly in Canada’s best interests to stop being one.
It could be a year yet before the wars that have ravaged the greater Middle East since the American invasions of Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003 finally die down, but it will come, writes columnist Gwynne Dyer.The Hill Times in print
Politics This Morning
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Director-level changes in offices of ministers Carr, Sohi, Joly
Erin Flanagan has left Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi’s office to become director of policy to the trade minister. Rebecca Caldwell joins Finance Minister Morneau’s team
Government House Leader Bardish Chagger recently hired on MP Raj Grewal’s former assistant. Adam Vaughan apologizes for ‘whack’ tweet
Plus, Hélène Laverdière nominates Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul for the Nobel Peace Prize, and Linda Frum will be awarded an honorary doctorate.MPs remember six ‘victims of hate’ murdered in Québec City mosque attack
Plus, 'kind, decent, and honest' Hugh Segal diagnosed with cancer, and there is a new guide for Canada's public service.No snow pants allowed: here’s your guide to the hottest winter and spring shindigs
From a post-budget shindig to the exclusive Politics and the Pen gala, there are lots of opportunities to get out your fanciest suit or dress.Party crashers: The Hill Times gets kicked out of a Liberal social, but it was fun while it lasted
If MPs were put off by our presence at their closed-to-the media social, they were too polite to say anything. Slovakia’s deputy PM visits Canada, talks trade, digitization
The high-level visit last week highlights the ‘many connections’ between the countries, says Slovakia’s new ambassador to Canada Vít Koziak.‘High-level’ migration discussions ongoing between Canada, Nigeria: envoy
Adeyinka Asekun is proud of the first-ever Canada-Nigeria Investment Summit last year that brought a Canadian Governor General to Nigeria for the first time.Ottawa Conference on Defence and Security wraps up Feb. 13
Gen. Jonathan Vance, chief of the defence staff of the Canadian Armed Forces, speaks at the CDA Institute's Ottawa Conference on Security and Defence on Feb. 23, 2017. This year's conference runs Feb. 12 and 13. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Plus, Hillites will share stories of the late Ottawa NDP MP Paul Dewar in a celebration of life on Feb. 23. 
The 100-year-old elm tree near Centre Block could be removed as part of the Centre Block renovations. A local group is pushing to save the tree from removal. 'We think it’s an important specimen on its own,' says Paul Johanis, chair of the Greenspace Alliance. 
