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Political insiders say regardless of whether Justin Trudeau is planning on leading his party in the next election, the Liberals should start to define the Conservative leadership contest front-runner Pierre Poilievre now. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Liberals should define Poilievre juggernaut now, or risk losing next election, say top political strategists

News|By Abbas Rana
Voter fatigue with the Liberals will be the bigger challenge for Trudeau's government in the next election than Pierre Poilievre, says pollster Nik Nanos of Nanos Research.

Liberals ‘foot dragging’ on access to information fix with mandatory parliamentary review two years late, say Conservatives

News|By Neil Moss
'The promises this current government made in 2015 remain unfulfilled,' Conservative MP Pat Kelly says of the access to information regime.

Membership processing for Conservative leadership vote two to three weeks behind; Brown campaign calls Poilievre’s latest attack a ‘setup’

News|By Abbas Rana
The preliminary party membership list will be made available to all candidates by July 4. Meanwhile, Patrick Brown's campaign denies it paid membership fees and describes Pierre Poilievre's latest attack as a 'setup'.

‘Massive reputational risk’: former Air Canada exec, strategists slam feds for sluggish response to expected travel surge in airports

News|By Mike Lapointe
‘The idea that that pent-up demand wouldn’t cause a travel surge is really, I think, out of the question,’ says NDP MP Taylor Bachrach, his party’s transportation critic.

‘An idea whose time has come’: expand Hill precinct, says Fergus

Feature|By Peter Mazereeuw
The Procedure and House Affairs Committee is studying several options for the Parliamentary Precinct’s future, including who polices the area, whether part of Gatineau should be in that zone.

Lewis’ leadership campaign ‘one to watch,’ say Nanos, McVety

News|By Stuart Benson
With strong support from pro-life advocates and social conservatives, Leslyn Lewis will be key to the party’s future success, whether she wins or not, analysts and supporters argue.

Feds won’t say if they will implement chief electoral officer’s call to make spread of election misinformation illegal

News|By Chelsea Nash
Disinformation is on the rise, but there's no straightforward solution.

House leaders likely to co-operate on intoxication bill, clash on broadcasting bill in last stretch before summer

Introducing a suite of new bills just before the break will give Liberal MPs talking points as they head out on the summer barbecue circuit, say former Liberal staffers.

Small modular reactors study raises ‘war on science’ concerns among renewable energy proponents

The House Science Committee is hearing expert testimony about small modular reactors, an emerging technology touted by some as a low-carbon energy option, while critics argue the science doesn't support their deployment.

Lifting travel vaccine mandate ‘politically expedient,’ with feds ‘losing the battle’ on issues management, politicos say

Strategists say the 'constant drumbeat' from the Liberal caucus 'decrying the government’s policies' played a role in shifting Ottawa's position.
Political insiders say regardless of whether Justin Trudeau is planning on leading his party in the next election, the Liberals should start to define the Conservative leadership contest front-runner Pierre Poilievre now. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Liberals should define Poilievre juggernaut now, or risk losing next election, say top political strategists

News|By Abbas Rana
Voter fatigue with the Liberals will be the bigger challenge for Trudeau's government in the next election than Pierre Poilievre, says pollster Nik Nanos of Nanos Research.

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24th International AIDS Conference Returns to Canada in July

Gilead Sciences Canada

What are you celebrating on National Indigenous Day?

Opinion|By Rose LeMay
I submit that we may celebrate resolve. We honour the resolve of Indigenous leaders and communities who are continuing to fight the right to survive, to live, to thrive on this land.

It’s over for you and Justin? Be careful what you wish for 

Opinion|By Susan Riley
If Justin Trudeau runs again, his lack of spontaneity is going to be a huge problem for his party in the next federal election.

Rempel Garner must be reading the tea leaves

Opinion|By Sheila Copps
After devoting 11 years to federal politics, the Calgary-Nose Hill Member of Parliament would be a shoo-in for a senior position if Brown were to win the leadership.

What does ‘Canadian’ mean when we’re talking film?

Opinion|By John M. Lewis
We need a fair way to determine which productions should be considered Canadian, and the current 10-point system isn’t only flawed, it’s exclusionary.

Bloc on full offensive over Liberal challenges to Bill 96, as feds keep eye on implementation

News|By Stuart Benson
Bloc MP Denis Trudel recently accused the Liberals of already working to dismantle the controversial language law through the government's proposed reforms to the Official Languages Act.

Can we set aside ‘Group Think’ long enough to fix environmental assessment in Canada?

Opinion|By Elizabeth May
The Liberals have kept the environmental laws that were gutted by the last Conservative government, and the 2019 Impact Assessment Act does nothing to make things better.

Putin’s failure doesn’t mean a win for Ukrainians

Opinion|By Scott Taylor
With all hopes of Russia winning a lightning victory shattered, the war has devolved into a protracted battle of attrition.

How did South Africa’s Ramaphosa get so rich?

Opinion|By Gwynne Dyer
The South African president probably didn’t break the law to get his wealth, but why would he hide the cash in pillows?

Joly’s response to Canadian official attending Russia reception insensitive, ignores need for diplomacy

Opinion|By Gar Pardy
The Canadian diplomat did not arrive at the Russian reception without the approval of other officials, including the deputy minister and, as reported, from the minister’s own staff.

Industry lobbying under guise of pandemic stimuli pressing own interests behind closed doors

Opinion|By Ken Rubin
Without some investigative reporting, weak access-to-information and lobbying laws mean big corporate interests can get preferential meetings that they claim are for the public's benefit, never to be revealed.

Health-care workforce crisis and housing affordability top pre-budget advocacy on the Hill

The federal budget does "not go far enough" to address a labour crisis facing the healthcare sector, according to the president of the Canadian Nurses Association Sylvain Brousseau.

Boissonnault, Freeland among top lobbying targets in February as budget looms

With the unveiling of Ottawa’s emissions reduction plan around the corner, the environment was also a key focus for lobbyists in February, who had 3,102 total filings on all subjects.

Something within Me, Michael Wilson’s memoirs released, posthumously

Feature|By Mike Lapointe
Lots of cabinet ministers attended the prime minister's garden party last Wednesday night and NDP MP Heather McPherson accuses Conservatives of filibustering the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Vandana Kattar-Miller among recent PMO exits

Feature|By Laura Ryckewaert
Plus, Erika Lashbrook Knutson is now press secretary to Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay.

Veteran Conservative staffer Martin Bélanger exits the Hill after 16 years

Feature|By Laura Ryckewaert
Martin Bélanger has already embarked on his next adventure: as chief of staff for the Dairy Farmers of Canada in Ottawa.

Father’s Day on the Hill sets stage for launch of foundation supporting men’s mental health

Feature|By Mike Lapointe
Plus, former prime minister Jean Chrétien will be awarded an honorary degree from Carleton University at its first in-person convocation ceremonies since 2019.

Japan eager to see Canada’s new Indo-Pacific strategy, says new ambassador

Feature|By Neil Moss
In a wide-ranging interview, Japanese Ambassador Kanji Yamanouchi talks about Canada-Japan relations and their Pacific Rim trade deal, as well as the looming Indo-Pacific strategy and Canadian music.

Federal rebates not enough to help Canadians with costly transition to zero-emission vehicles, say Cons, NDP

Some MPs question if the Liberals' goal of 100 per cent zero-emissions vehicles sales by 2035 can be accomplished without stronger federal incentives.

A comprehensive and accountable framework for climate success

Opinion
While we must reduce GHG emission to halt the progress of climate change, we must at the same time also adapt to its impacts.

Bolder climate action is needed in Canada

Opinion
The world's top scientists are sounding the alarm and calling for real action on climate change.

Canada’s Arctic is warming faster than expected

Opinion
Canada has failed to make progress in spite of the increasing urgency by world leaders and scientists who warn that the world is running out of time to keep the earth’s temperatures within safe limits.

Are we adequately prepared for emerging infectious diseases in the Canadian Arctic?

Opinion
The Arctic is warming at two to four times the global rate, and impacts are seen throughout the northern socio-ecological system, including changing patterns of infectious disease.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured on March 16, 2016, announcing Canada's bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council. The ultimately unsuccessful campaign for the seat had all the hallmarks of a partisan campaign, something that Adam Chapnick says is detrimental to Canada's success on the UNSC. Prime Minister's Office photo courtesy of Adam Scotti

The definitive history of Canada’s role on the United Nations Security Council

The first definitive history of Canada's time on the UN Security Council is a must read for anyone interested in Canadian foreign policy.
Harold Johnson’s book Peace and Good Order is among five shortlisted books for this year's Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing.
Feature|Beatrice Paez
'I kind of just go ahead and do what I feel I should do, and get myself into situations where I’m thinking, "Oh, everybody here knows more than I do. But anyway, here goes." It served me very well,' says former Supreme Court chief justice Beverley McLachlin.
Feature|Mike Lapointe
Patterns of interference, intimidation, and harassment of individual Canadians by the Chinese Communist Party ‘demand a response’ from the Canadian government, says veteran journalist Jonathan Manthorpe in his 2019 book.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured Sept. 14, 2020, arriving for last week's cabinet retreat in Ottawa before Parliament resumes on Sept. 23. Economic and fiscal plans must be tied to economic scenarios with unmeasurable probabilities. Finance ministers around the world will be under pressure to change the way they prepare budgets, writes Kevin Page. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

COVID-19: economic impacts and prospects

Opinion|Kevin Page
There are some potential game changers for outcomes—a vaccine; and a resurgence in international leadership and cooperation. Closer to home, we need a Canadian economic recovery plan that will boost confidence in the future with strategic and measured investments in long-term challenges and adjustment support for Canadians and businesses left behind by the coronavirus.
Feature|Beatrice Paez, Neil Moss, Mike Lapointe, Samantha Wright Allen, and Abbas Rana
In what was supposed to be a period in which backbenchers and the opposition could wield more influence over the political debate, power and influence is arguably even more concentrated among a narrow cast of mostly familiar figures.
If we want to really honour Shannen Koostachin and the many children like her—we need to speak up, keep talking until government takes immediate action to end the inequality. If they don’t—vote them out because kids like Shannen are worth the money. The time for patience is over.
Opinion|Editorial

Fiasco at Pearson airport reveals long-standing cracks in the system

The government needs to decide whether air travel is as important as it says it is to Canada’s reputation, its interconnectedness, and its national unity.
Opinion|Editorial

It should be illegal to spread misinformation about voting

Canada has a chance to observe the threats to American democracy and act proactively to protect its own electoral institutions before it's too late.
Opinion|Editorial

In Ontario, economic anxiety prevails

In the minds of many Ontarians, it seems, the economic stress brought on by inflation and an unsustainable housing market outweighed any ill memories of the pandemic. 
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Politics This Morning: Liberals push for hybrid House for another year

Plus, Yves Giroux, Peter Sloly, and Michael Geist will testify before parliamentary committees today.
The occupation of Ottawa appeared to capture the imagination of restive Canadians motivated by vaccine rejection, dislike of Justin Trudeau and his government, economic frustration, and all manner of disinformation.
Opinion|Naveed Aziz
Data-driven genomics research promises long-term benefits for Canadians and our health system: enhanced disease prevention, better predictions of future illness, and more accurate and personalized treatment options.
For governments to declare victory too soon, there could be a 'massive political price that they'll pay depending on what happens,' says pollster Nik Nanos, as the country stares down yet another wave of COVID-19.
Living in a rich country doesn’t give us more of a right to life, health, and the benefits of scientific progress than people who happen to be born and live in poorer nations.
Conservative Leadership 2022
TERRIFIC 25 STAFFERS SURVEY 2022
TOP 100 LOBBYISTS IN 2022
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The week ahead in Parliament. Plus, expanding the Hill, with MP Greg Fergus.

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John Andrew Pearson began working on the Parliament Building in 1916 after winning a contract to assess the feasibility of rebuilding it after the fire.
A recent event on the Hill highlighted how stigmas surrounding the vulva and vagina can affect an individual’s access to relevant health services and may place them at greater risk for adverse health outcomes.
Opinion|Jeff Kirby
The panel's work was impacted by key challenges, including members being discouraged from bringing forward relevant issues for collective deliberation due to claimed time constraints.
The relationships born and nurtured from within our resource sector are a confirmation that reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and specifically economic reconciliation can be at the forefront of our country’s work.
Potentially throwing the next generation of military leaders into a civilian university and hoping for the best is risky. At present, more than 60 per cent of the most senior officers in the CAF are RMC graduates.
With the paucity of leadership in Ottawa, we are whimpering our way to oblivion and a bifurcated Canada.
Feature|Jim Creskey

Lessons from Cobalt for Ontario’s Ring of Fire

Governments and mining companies will have to admit that Canada’s lax domestic regulatory structure for mining must be abandoned.

Indigenomics is a process of claiming our Indigenous place at the economic table

This is an excerpt from Indigenomics: Taking a Seat at the Economic Table, by Carol Anne Hilton, and published by New Society Publishers. The book is one of five finalists for this year's prestigious Donner Prize, the best public policy book written by a Canadian, in the country. The winner will announced in Toronto on May 31 at a gala dinner.

Staff additions bring Emergency Preparedness Minister Blair’s team to 13

Plus, there are two more policy advisers to report in Justice Minister David Lametti’s office, along with one staff departure.

A dive into the new Conservative House leader and whip teams

Nathan Ellis is now chief of staff to Conservative House Leader John Brassard, while Sean Murphy continues as chief of staff under the new CPC Whip Blaine Calkins.
Feature|Mike Lapointe

Former finance minister Morneau set to launch new book; lets loose on federal economic growth agenda

Plus, a new face is coming in to head Carleton University’s master’s of political management program, CP's Hill bureau adds one to its ranks, and the PM reopens the 24 Sussex Drive grounds for a media party.

Federal cybersecurity workers heading for strike votes following bargaining impasse

With the two sides having been at the bargaining table for almost two years following the expiry of the most recent collective agreement, strike votes are scheduled to run from Feb. 11 to 24.

Wasn’t that a party: Chiu takes home Politics and the Pen’s top prize at Ottawa’s hot-ticket political power shindig

The gala celebrated its 35th anniversary and a return after two years, bringing out the who’s who in Ottawa’s political and literary scene.
Feature|Neil Moss

Sri Lanka’s new envoy talks renewed engagement, Canadian assistance amid collapse of government

In a broad-ranging interview, Sri Lankan High Commissioner Harsha Kumara Navaratne talks about his country's economic crisis, human rights, and Canada's Indo-Pacific strategy.
Feature|Neil Moss

Dairy, agriculture hurdles need to be addressed for CETA to reach full potential, says new Spanish envoy

In a wide-ranging interview, Spanish ambassador Alfredo Martínez Serrano talks trade, his first impressions of Canada, and NATO's response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Shindig for Chris Hall happens Monday night at the Métropolitain Brasserie

Monday, June 20th, 2022
CBC Radio's veteran Hill reporter Chris Hall, pictured Oct. 16, 2013, reporting on the Throne Speech on the Hill with his cameraman Victor Modderman. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

Liberal MP Greg Fergus rides an Escape Tours scooter after an announcement for Ottawa Bluesfest at the Canadian War Museum on June 16, 2022. The federal government announced $9.8-million for the July event as part of the Major Festivals and Events Support Initiative for southern Ontario.

The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Then-Conservative Party leadership candidate Andrew Scheer is showered in confetti after he is announced as the newly elected leader at the party's convention in Toronto on May 27, 2017. After 13 rounds, the Saskatchewan MP emerged victorious to defeat frontrunner Maxime Bernier. Scheer remained leader until December 2019, after a disappointing federal election result for the party prompted calls for his resignation. Bernier, meanwhile, lost his Quebec seat in the 2019 election under the People's Party of Canada banner.
The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
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