The top-lobbied Senators in 2018 are, from left: government liaison Grant Mitchell, Liberal deputy leader Terry Mercer, and Independent Senators Robert Black and Diane Griffin. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade, file, and courtesy of Robert Black's office
Senate lobbying up 12 per cent in 2018, Sens. Grant Mitchell, Terry Mercer lobbied most
Senator Grant Mitchell says the interest ‘means the reformed Senate is working,’ while others are reluctant to accept too many meetings.
MPs concerned by Phoenix DM’s departure
Marie Lemay’s move to the mint is resurfacing concerns about a DM churn eroding accountability at the top level of the public service.Green Party commits to full platform cost analysis by PBO, as others indicate piecemeal approach
Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux says his office is reassuring parties about the process after concerns were raised over platform security.Politics This Morning
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Complainant behind successful UN complaint about Indian Act expects decision to be brushed aside
Sen. Lillian Dyck says the Upper Chamber will apply pressure to ensure the Liberals keep their promise to remove sex discrimination from the Indian Act.Feds hit the road to seek user feedback for Phoenix replacement
Recommendations on the winning bid for a new pay system are expected to come in spring, but it 'certainly' won't be ready by the end of 2019, says a pay team official. Controversial pension changes ‘unlikely’ to proceed, say groups watching stalled bill
The National Association of Federal Retirees says it was told in recent meetings with Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s office the government ‘is not moving forward’ with Bill C-27.‘Not a chance’ Liberals will sweep Atlantic region again in October, say political insiders
The Liberals could lose between ‘six to 11 seats’ of the 32 in the four Atlantic provinces: Prof. Donald Savoie.‘We’re going to be every bit as active in this federal election’: Dias says unions undeterred by new pre-election ad spending limitsÂ
The government’s elections bill brought in new restraints on third-party advertising before elections, but there's still plenty of room for unions and other big spenders to advertise before the next federal vote.NDP taking ‘nothing for granted’ in Burnaby South as top Hill staffers, B.C. MPs working to get Singh elected
The federal NDP may be having fundraising woes, but the Burnaby South riding association was the party’s best fundraiser overall in Canada in 2017. Yellow Vest, other protesters could be wild card in next federal election, says Nanos
Pollster Nik Nanos says he expects protesters will try to disrupt Liberal campaign events during this year’s election campaign and will try to knock Prime Minister Justin Trudeau off his game. The top-lobbied Senators in 2018 are, from left: government liaison Grant Mitchell, Liberal deputy leader Terry Mercer, and Independent Senators Robert Black and Diane Griffin. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade, file, and courtesy of Robert Black's office
Senate lobbying up 12 per cent in 2018, Sens. Grant Mitchell, Terry Mercer lobbied most
Senator Grant Mitchell says the interest ‘means the reformed Senate is working,’ while others are reluctant to accept too many meetings.
Bernier’s wrong: UN not a front for ‘world government’
Canadian diplomats are involved in multilateral organizations to work for our interests. Wilson-Raybould could do a lot for Canada’s current and future veterans
Cynics may say that Jody Wilson-Raybould was demoted this week, but optimists hope that veterans got a promotion. With this minister, there is reason to be hopeful.Dismantling of power cabinet trio sends a distressing message to Indigenous peoples
Speculation is rife that these steps suggest a downgrading of the prominence to Indigenous affairs, perhaps because the Liberals see their strong support for Indigenous rights as an election liability.
Public safety is no accident
Bill C-69 would essentially move the approval for pipelines and nuclear facilities from independent, expert regulators to a new Impact Assessment Agency that reports to the environment minister.Liberal promises on Indigenous relationship ring hollow to activists, experts as protests continue
‘Either [Justin Trudeau] means what he says but none of his ministers have the confidence to fulfil it, or he really is just about broken promises,’ says Prof. Pam Palmater.‘Negotiations are done,’ says Canadian official, in face of U.S. Democrats looking to reopen USMCA
New U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called the signed deal 'a deal in progress.'
In the playground of the rich, Trump’s shutdown power grab seems like business as usual
For all the nonsense the U.S. president spews about ‘the people,’ Florida’s Palm Beach is Donald Trump’s real America. The wealthy are the Republicans’ only true constituency.Libyan strife shows media have failed in duty to question authority
An al-Qaeda leader’s death should also prompt introspection about the Western world’s role in propping up a corrupt Afghanistan regime.Let’s hope Bernier gets the memo on how to talk about national security
We need all the candidates to address national security issues, like terrorism, in the campaign, but to do so in a sensible way. Canadians deserve a mature conversation on what is a real, albeit relatively small, threat.
Industry players call for regulatory tweaks as empty shelves harsh retailers’ buzz
The federal government attributes issues with the new legal cannabis supply chain to local problems with distribution and retail. Edible pot regulations a ‘start,’ says industry ahead of consultations
Proposed regulations published on Dec. 20 include a ban on products needing refrigeration and separating food and pot production.Feds promote DMs who can stickhandle tough provincial, U.S. relations
The new deputy head of the public service, Catherine Blewett, brings fed-prov muscle to her start this week as deputy PCO clerk and associate secretary to cabinet.
Women and Gender Equality Minister Monsef gets a new chief of staff
Plus, Employment, Workforce Development, and Labour Minister Patty Hajdu has two new policy advisers in her office.
New beginnings: Catherine Cullen goes on maternity leave, John Ivison welcomes baby boy, and Vassy Kapelos gets engaged
Plus, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau will host a fundraising yoga event, and Larry Miller will not run for re-election.
Preserve Centre Block as ‘cathedral of democracy,’ say MPs, with some modern tweaks
As Centre Block shuts its doors for its first major renovation in a century, MPs give their wish list for the new-old building.
Eight little-known facts about Centre Block and the move
Remembering Centre Block: In their own words
With Parliament's Centre Block set to close for a decade or more, Parliamentarians and staffers have been reflecting about what the building means to Canada. This just in: Rick Mercer added to Samara’s board
DND should start to plan Victoria-class submarine replacements ‘now,’ says former submariner
DND says its focus is on the Victoria-class modernization, and it won't be exploring replacement options until the modernization is 'well underway.'
China’s military ambitions could pressure Canada to increase naval deployments in Asia-Pacific, expert says
Canada recently deployed two ships to Asia-Pacific waters to join allied American and Asian navies in a deterrence mission. More naval missions may occur as China asserts its claims on the South China Sea.
Trudeau unprepared for modern threats
Andrew Scheer and a new Conservative government will keep us safe by strengthening our Canadian Armed Forces, honouring our commitments to our NATO allies and enhancing our participation in NORAD.
Defence procurement and the need for a defence industrial strategy
In the larger context, this is an improvement, but Canadians should be looking for their government to articulate a coherent defence industrial strategy in one document rather than a collection of documents.Canada has the worst military procurement system in the Western World
If Canada is serious about improving its defence procurement system, it requires a comprehensive set of reforms that addresses multiple issues simultaneously. 
Politics This Morning: Trudeau heads to Saskatchewan to mark anniversary of school shooting
Plus, Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi is participating in fireside chat in Prince George, B.C., on resource development and 'clean growth.'
Amid the current festival of previously unthinkable geopolitical squabbles, the battle for Canada's roadside moose-statue supremacy is one we can all get behind.
Any business operating in Canada should be given the benefit of a level playing field, especially when it comes to government-levied taxes and fees, whether it has physical space or not. 
Though he will take the stage as a change-champion, a growing list of largely symbolic policy 'gestures' will make that role harder to pull off. He may be full of good intentions, but his record i
Trudeau’s cabinet shuffle was based on bad advice. Whoever recommended the demotion of Raybould-Wilson should bow out. Trudeau made the decision but, ultimately, hubris on the prime minister’s team is costing him.
At least with Stephen Harper, he was always truthful about his disinterest in their issues. Justin Trudeau, they say, cheerily says one thing to them, and then does another.
Whereas war is about using force to impose your will on others, politics is about using the gentle art of persuasion to peacefully convince.The Hill Times in print
Politics This Morning
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Science Minister Duncan names new director of parliamentary affairs ahead of new session
Plus, Infrastructure and Communities Minister François-Philippe Champagne has a new policy and regional affairs adviser in his office. Policy director Berzins joins Transport Minister Garneau’s team
Plus, Science and Sport Minister Kirsty Duncan has a new press secretary, Daniele Medlej.Heymans exhibit the Art of Diplomacy in new book
Plus, Pierre Trudeau-era cabinet member and longtime senator Pierre De Bané dies, and Justin Trudeau takes a trip to Dog River, Sask.Can Irwin Cotler become Canada’s second Nobel Peace Prize winner?
Plus, Paul Godfrey steps down as Postmedia president, and Charlie Angus criticizes 'bullshit extremist talk' around threats against Justin Trudeau.The Red Violin screening brings together the political and artistic realms for a night on the town
The screening featured the NAC Orchestra playing its original score in celebration of 20th anniversary of the film's release.Ninety years of Canada-France diplomatic relations celebrated with wine, oysters, and French desserts
The night also celebrated the reopening of the French embassy's Salon de Bouleaux, which had undergone renovations in September.Nothing in migration compact tells Canada to ‘open borders,’ says UN refugee agency rep
Also, Kazakhstan celebrates its 27th anniversary of independence and deepening relations with Canada after the historic visit of a Canadian Governor General.Launch of campaign against gender-based violence comes ahead of ‘landmark’ year, says UN official
‘There are particular moments that come in our lives that give us the opportunity to be the best part of ourselves—and such a moment will soon be upon us,' says Lopa Banerjee.MPs back in Ottawa on Jan. 28
Liberal MP Rob Oliphant and a Parliamentary Protective Service guard point and wave outside a Liberal winter caucus meeting in the West Block on the weekend. MPs are set to return to the Hill for the last legislative stretch before the next general election on Jan. 28. The Hill Times photograph by Cynthia Münster
Plus, the Entertainment Software Association of Canada its set to host its annual Video Games on the Hill showcase for Parliamentarians and staff on Feb. 4.
A look at the Speaker's corridor in Centre Block on Jan. 9. Previously, this hallway was lined with portraits of past Speakers. 
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