Paul Wernick, pictured with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at 24 Sussex Dr., who stared working for rookie Liberal MP Francis Drouin in November 2015, and is leaving his job this week to focus on his health and will likely go back to school. But he's urging House leaders to help change the Hill culture. Photograph courtesy of Facebook
Liberal staffer urges all political parties to address mental health challenges facing some Hill staffers, after his attempted suicide on the Hill
Paul Wernick, son of PCO clerk Michael Wernick and EA to rookie Liberal MP Francis Drouin, says staffers and MPs shouldn't be drinking away their stress, but should be embracing an overall healthier Hill workplace.
Conservatives and New Democrats claim there’s ‘not a riding in Ontario that’s beyond’ their reach federally in 2019
The Progressive Conservatives won 40 seats and the NDP 19 seats in the June 7 provincial election that were held by the provincial Liberals previously.Two former Ontario Liberal cabinet ministers, Takhar, Sousa, considering run for Peel region chair
Two former high-profile Ontario Liberal cabinet ministers are considering running to be chair of the Peel region in the Oct. 22 municipal elections. Harinder Takhar, who held several portfolios in the Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen…Politics This Morning
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New Info Commissioner Maynard already making her mark, and reducing backlog is priority No. 1
The Information Commissioner’s office started 2018-19 with a backlog of 3,489 complaints, after a 20 per cent increase in new complaints filed in 2017-18.House spring sitting most productive one for Trudeau government, 14 bills received royal assent in last six months
Centrepiece legislative achievements include the final passage of the Cannabis Act, and the government’s corresponding drug-impaired driving bill.Trudeau’s comments on child separation built on deck of political realities stacked higher by Trump factor, say observers
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday called the separation of migrant children from their parents as a result of the Trump administration's new zero-tolerance policy as “wrong” and “unacceptable.” For some Canadians outraged after seeing…Feds unveil new requirements in its funding for infrastructure projects
The new rules will extend to projects under review through the feds’ Smart Cities Challenge, a $75-million competition among cities to encourage innovation, and the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund.Trudeau in the ‘penalty box,’ Conservatives top Liberals, poll suggests
The Conservatives have 36 per cent support, while the governing Liberals fall slightly behind, at 34 per cent, and the NDP is at 18 per cent, according to new Campaign Research poll results.‘We’re in uncharted waters’: public personal attacks unprecedented in Canada-U.S. relationship, say ex-ambassadors to Washington, Ottawa
Several ex-U.S. envoys say the current ambassador, Kelly Craft, is in a tougher spot than they were, and at least one Canadian is emailing with her to provide support.Extreme partisanship to blame for sustained spike in time allocation, ex-MPs say
‘The challenge is for people to actually act like grown-ups, work behind the scenes,’ says former Conservative House leader Jay Hill.Paul Wernick, pictured with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at 24 Sussex Dr., who stared working for rookie Liberal MP Francis Drouin in November 2015, and is leaving his job this week to focus on his health and will likely go back to school. But he's urging House leaders to help change the Hill culture. Photograph courtesy of Facebook
Liberal staffer urges all political parties to address mental health challenges facing some Hill staffers, after his attempted suicide on the Hill
Paul Wernick, son of PCO clerk Michael Wernick and EA to rookie Liberal MP Francis Drouin, says staffers and MPs shouldn't be drinking away their stress, but should be embracing an overall healthier Hill workplace.
How Canadians can mark Indigenous History Month
An even better way to honour our Indigenous neighbours during this Indigenous history month is to educate yourself, as well as your friends and family, writes Emily Gale of Impact Public Affairs.Conservative fortunes benefit from Scheer, Bernier on same team
Any political party is better with diverse voices in it. Some tension around policy is needed, particularly when you are in opposition, so ideas can be debated before they become platform planks.Ford Nation and the demise of the campaign playbook
Doug Ford’s PCs ditched the conventional emphasis on winning over the mainstream media, and look what happened.
Luck is on the Hill as MPs celebrate Irish Day
Ryerson University has a new project to help whistleblowers, there is a new all-party caucus for pilots' safety, and the Canadian War Museum hosted PM Trudeau at a top Liberal donor event.Election reform bill faces difficulties: a missed timing deadline and the absence of political consensus
Numerous observers have suggested that Canada should adopt New Zealand’s approach to election law changes which require the support of at least 75 per cent of elected Members of Parliament.Fix ‘disconnect’ that leaves parliamentary secretaries out of political-fundraising rules, say Senators
Parliamentary secretaries are ‘closely associated to the exercise of power,’ says Sen. Serge Joyal, who wants to see them covered in the bill's new transparency rules.
Why 2018 is a crucial year for global climate action
This week's ministerial meeting in Brussels is a key stepping stone in the lead-up to this December’s UN climate change conference. The goal is to spur swift and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement.Strongman’s grip on Turkey not so ironclad
About half of Turkey’s voters still want the secular state they used to have, which means that Mr. Erdogan’s ostentatious piety and strident promotion of political Islam alienate almost as many voters as they seduce.Canada seen to ‘dial back’ UN Security Council bid, say insiders, all ‘rhetoric,’ no action
While some say there's still time ahead of the 2020 vote, many question whether there's political will to get the job done.
Defence deputy minister to start sweeping procurement-rules review this summer
Jody Thomas says she wants to pare down the procurement process to get new equipment quicker. Industry and opposition critics support the idea.Talks underway for ‘ambitious’ clean fuel standard not broad enough, says Tory critic
Stakeholders say they’re happy with level of federal engagement, but caution against rushing the process.Strange bedfellows: industry and eco-advocates lobby together on CEPA reforms
Industry and environmental groups are pushing Environment Minister Catherine McKenna on reforms to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, which Ottawa is carefully reviewing for the first time in 20 years.
PMO adds new appointments aide as Kattar-Miller starts work in top office
Former PMO senior adviser John Zerucelli is set to become vice president of public affairs for Universal Music Canada in Toronto.
Last call: Parliamentary Restaurant reopens in September, closes at end of December for 10 years
May lobbying stats are out and Finance Minister Morneau was top lobbied and former Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall joins the Canadian Global Affairs Institute advisory council/
Brodie’s most poignant observation: time is the most precious resource in Ottawa
The position of chief of staff to a prime minister or premier is among the most powerful roles in government. So when a former chief of staff has something to say we should listen.
I covered the Liberals’ Laurier Club appreciation night, and didn’t even get to keep the lanyard
So there I was—a new(ish) Hill reporter, standing around with five or six other photographers and cameramen on June 18 at the War Museum at the Liberal Party's Laurier Club Summer Reception and Garden Party.…House officers spent $18-million last year, first spending tallies reveal
In MP spending, Liberal Terry Sheehan was the most frugal, and caucus colleague Bob Nault spent the most.Transport minister names Marc Roy as chief of staff
Plus, Olivier Auger has left Canadian Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly’s office, among other recent staff departures.
St. Kitts and Nevis foreign minister pushes for visa waiver in Ottawa visit
The Caribbean state is wondering why Canada maintains a visa requirement years after it says it’s cleaned up security problems with its citizenship program.
It’s time Canada re-engage with the UN Industrial Development Organization
The country ought to fully enable its global development commitments by working with UNIDO.
MIKTA: unlikely partners with like-minded goals
Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey, and Australia have joined forces to promote an effective, rules-based global order.
Phoenix: just another symptom of centralization of power in Ottawa
When opinions diverge between the PMO/PCO and the bureaucracy, the department head soon ‘retires’ or becomes a ‘senior adviser’ in a small office. Speaking truth to power isn't valued.Military supply shortage is embarrassing, but nothing new
The latest call for sleeping bags comes after a camo mix-up in Afghanistan and a lack of flak jackets in the ‘90s.
Politics This Morning: O’Regan, Duncan, Brison fan out for funding announcements; MacAulay huddles with farmers
Good Monday morning, Here's a rundown of how the day is playing out for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's team. Veteran Affairs Minister Seamus O'Regan will sit down with veterans and their families in Toronto for a…
Justin Trudeau, as he ponders the darkening horizon at Harrington Lake, should heed the advice of no less than Johnny Rotten. Anger works. Anger is energy.
The Quebec byelection in a bell weather riding that has voted for every party in the 93 years since it was created, should ring alarm bells for the federal Liberals.
Ottawa says it wants to wait to reform animal-cruelty legislation until it was able to undertake a complete rethinking of the Criminal Code, writes columnist Thomas Walkom.
The ability of political parties to pragmatically compromise from time to time, helps to make democracy work. And surely even idealists and ideologues and activists can see that as a good thing.
One of the most disappointing features of the bill is that it does not
bring parties under privacy laws, but instead, allows them to regulate their own behaviour, writes a professor at the University of Manitoba.
We are underperformers when it comes to turning our smart and clever startup companies into much larger scaled-up companies that can generate future jobs, exports, and the tax revenues that come from business success.The Hill Times in print
Politics This Morning
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Zerucelli, Julien exit the Prime Minister’s Office
The Prime Minister’s Office is down two senior staffers with the recent departures of both senior adviser John Zerucelli and senior manager of long term planning Noémie Julien as of June 11. Mr. Zerucelli’s departure…Minister Duclos promotes press secretary Gauduchon to director
Families, Children, and Social Development Minister Jean-Yves Duclos recently promoted his press secretary, Émilie Gauduchon, to take over as director of communications in his ministerial office. Ms. Gauduchon had stepped in as acting communications director…NDP names investigator into MP Moore allegations
The NDP has named Ottawa-based mediator Deborah Jelly to investigate MP Christine Moore, who last month was accused of sexual misconduct by a former soldier. The investigation officially began on June 1, said James Smith,…Global News’ Mike Le Couteur, Liberal MP Ouellette scrap over soccer match
Liberal MP Robert-Falcon Ouellette was not too impressed when Hill reporters had to cancel a soccer match they were going to play against MPs on June 4. “Little known fact. The House of Commons has a…Press gallery members schmooze, bhangra, and laugh at annual dinner
From teaching the press gallery to bhangra, to jokes about #MeToo and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s not-so-popular trip to India, everyone can agree this year’s Parliamentary Press Gallery dinner was a hit. More than 500…More than 700 were hoppin’ and poppin’ at The Hill Times’ Party on the Hill
You better believe it: word on the street was that The Hill Times put on a fantastic party that was boppin’, hoppin’, poppin’, and more than 700 people were schmoozing at the Sir John A.…Despite security, corruption concerns, Canada, Moldova sign FIPA paving way for trade growth
Trade Minister François-Philippe Champagne and Moldova’s Foreign Affairs Minister Tudor Ulianovschi signed a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) Tuesday, which Mr. Ulianovschi says sends a “clear political message” Moldova is ready for more…PS DeCourcey takes Security Council pitch to CARICOM party
More than 200 guests convened in the Adam Room at the Chateau Laurier last week to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the creation of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), with an eye to the future. The room…It’s Canada’s 151st birthday, lots to do on Parliament Hill
Ottawa is alive with the sounds of the Ottawa Jazz Festival, which started on June 21 and runs until July 1, Canada's 151st birthday. Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly, pictured, will be hosting Canada Day festivities.
A young Indigenous woman performs before a crowd gathered to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day in Hull, Que., on Thursday, June 21.Annual Features
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