A view of Narcosli Creek, the site of one of 48 wildfires of note, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service. Wildfires of note are described as those that are 'highly visible' or which pose a 'potential threat to public safety.' Photograph courtesy of the B.C. Wildfire Service
‘Just as they’re struggling to rebuild, they’re hit again,’ MP says, as constituents brace for devastating wildfire season
Some constituents in Conservative MP Todd Doherty's riding are still rebuilding from last year's devastation and remain without power.
Expect more deputy minister retirements as the pre-2019 transition machine rumbles to life, say insiders
The PCO clerk will be asking those hovering around retirement age if they can commit to seeing through the post-election craziness, says former PBO Kevin Page.Singh risked irrelevancy staying out of B.C. race, say strategists, now ‘failure is not an option’
It would be 'disastrous' for the NDP leader to lose the Burnaby seat, says ex-NDP national director Karl Bélanger, and with another NDP-held seat up for grabs in Quebec a less sure shot.Politics This Morning
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#DMsSoWhite: so few visible-minority senior public servants, feds won’t release stats
Fewer than 10 of 84 deputy ministers and associate DMs identify as visible minorities.Parties boosting internal security in face of foreign interference fears
Communications Security Establishment officials have met with political parties, which are among the most at risk of cyber meddling when Canadians head to the polls next year.Defunct industry group too heavy on advocacy, light on regulation: pollsters
Now without the MRIA, a lack of oversight will turn the industry into a ‘wild west,’ says one pollster, but another suggests the general public doesn’t care.New direction at Royal Military College ‘a good first step,’ says AG
DND says it will offer a new academic program for the 2019-20 school year and review its cost structure after a 2017 audit found the Royal Military College didn’t produce better officers, despite costing twice as much.Irregular border crossings up in July, but far below predictions
The RCMP intercepted 1,634 people along the Canada-U.S. border in the month of July, a rise from June but far below predictions for this summer.Quebec-related cabinet changes ‘clear signal’ Trudeau’s Liberals want to make gains in province in 2019: strategists
Quebec is set to be an even bigger key battleground in the next federal election because of the collapse of both the Bloc Québécois and the NDP in the province.Dead heat in polls shows fragility of federal Liberals’ majority: pollsters
With the race between the Liberals and Conservatives tied, according to polls, the Grits need to shore up the coalition that won them a majority government in 2015, pollsters say.A view of Narcosli Creek, the site of one of 48 wildfires of note, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service. Wildfires of note are described as those that are 'highly visible' or which pose a 'potential threat to public safety.' Photograph courtesy of the B.C. Wildfire Service
‘Just as they’re struggling to rebuild, they’re hit again,’ MP says, as constituents brace for devastating wildfire season
Some constituents in Conservative MP Todd Doherty's riding are still rebuilding from last year's devastation and remain without power.
Poverty, homelessness, inequality: a few causes that might outweigh cheaper beer
Ontario faces a lot more serious choices on problems affecting millions of its residents than beer prices.Cancel Saudi arms deal now, don’t wait for the other shoe to drop
The feds should bite the bullet and contract General Dynamics to build a light armoured vehicle fleet for the Canadian military instead.When you write a minister, a machine shouldn’t reply
A public figure can use Autopen, a signing machine, to offer the aura of personal touch without actually providing it.
Individual Senators’ votes aren’t recorded on nearly two-thirds of government bills
Of 51 government bills passed to date, 32 don’t have any reference to how individual Senators voted at any stage in the Senate Chamber.Military rights to be affected by prorogation
Disappointingly, Bill C-77 never made it through second reading, and when Parliament prorogues, as is expected, Bill C-77 too will die. Strike two.Refugee advocates dispute Canada facing ‘crisis’ over arrival of claimants from U.S. border, NDP says ‘Conservatives misrepresent issue’
Politicians and some journalists have been loose with the words 'illegal' and 'crisis,' which doesn't apply to Canada's situation, says Alex Neve of Amnesty International Canada.
Autocratic Lives Matter? Saudi Arabia and the sovereignty card
In a time when all politics are global, Riyadh’s tactical tantrum over Canada’s principled human rights stand aims to isolate moral leadership.Canada shouldn’t treat Cambodia as pariah state, despite its turn to one-party rule
Canada should cultivate its ties to Cambodia through persuasive approaches from our accredited diplomats and should even contemplate early ministerial connections.After election, Pakistan’s top envoy expects he’s on his way out
As Pakistani High Commissioner Tariq Azim Khan anticipates his departure from Ottawa, he speaks on his country's recent election, its former prime minister's jailing, and relations with Canada.
Ministers’ staffers start to shuffle after cabinet shakeup
The post-cabinet shuffle weeks are a ‘particularly emotionally exhausting time for staff, both personally and also professionally,’ says former Tory staffer Chris McCluskey.Tory strategist, Global anchor tie the knot, as politicians and pundits look on
Plus, Conservative MP Peter Van Loan will leave the House next month after more than a decade of public service.Number of top-level public servants rising under Trudeau
The number of deputy ministers and associate deputy ministers has jumped more than 15 per cent in the last decade, going from 72 in 2008 to 84 this year.
Former Tory staffer’s brewery launches ‘buck-a-beer’ challenge, offering a cold brew and warm welcome to refugees
Also, a new book on one of the country's darkest hours is being published, and Canada's longest tenured Senator says goodbye to the Upper Chamber.
New operations director joins Fisheries Minister Wilkinson’s team
Also, Amitpal Singh has left the Prime Minister’s Office to join Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s team as a special assistant for policy.
Boutin takes over as chief of staff to Revenue Minister Lebouthillier
Policy adviser Dan Lussier has joined new International Trade Diversification Minister Jim Carr’s office, along with fellow-Manitoba-native Jeff Kovalik-Plouffe.
This just in: Toronto-area Liberal MPs endorse a Tory
Also, a new account of the lead up to an October month in 1970 that terrorized Canada, and Veteran Affairs Minister Seamus O'Regan reneges on immigration tweet.Catherine McKenna’s ‘straw free’ tweets not free of criticism
Also, NDP MP Matthew Dubé joins in on the 2018 wedding season, while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau might be losing his 'cool' cachet in Pakistan.Staffers on the move: chief of staff change for Health Minister Petitpas Taylor
Ashley Wright is Transport Minister Marc Garneau’s new director of policy, among other changes.
We need energy infrastructure in the national interest
A key piece of nation-building energy infrastructure is our east-west electricity grid. We need to be able to buy and sell electricity, not only north to south but across Canada.
Biofuels sector says delay to Clean Fuel Standard exposes it to election uncertainty
In mid-July, Environment Canada delayed its regulatory development timeline for the Clean Fuel Standard. The Liberals once called it Canada's 'single largest emission-reduction policy.'
Natural Resources minister affirms commitment to nuclear energy, say feds are examining path forward with small reactors
New Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi highlights commitments to nuclear power, renewables, increased trade in the world and between provinces, and natural gas.
Still troubled by government’s overall approach to ensuring Canada’s businesses remain competitive
Justin Trudeau is finally recognizing what I’ve been saying for years now—and what our committee highlighted in two of its most recent reports—that a carbon price will hurt the competitiveness of our major industrial players.Renewable energy, not oil and gas, deserves government support: Senator Galvez
It's time for Canada to act. We have a moral obligation to leave the world a better place than we found it.
Politics This Morning: Sajjan in B.C. for navy announcement; Champagne, Duclos attend infrastructure event
Conservative Party Leader Scheer has given an uncommonly long leash to other caucus members who have taken to social media this summer to launch unsubstantiated and often outlandish claims, writes columnist Tim Harper.
More process is needed in terms of managing spending in the public sector, and this correlates strongly to public trust.
Opioid overdose deaths are not so much the result of bad choices made by individuals, or a criminal matter, but a sign of a sick society.
The search and destroy mission targeting Sir John A. Macdonald, does nothing to redress past wrongs. Instead, it stokes the flames of division by refusing to embrace the true meaning of reconciliation.
True political advocacy should try to persuade the general public as to the rightness of a cause, not just whip up moral outrage among one’s base.
Canada has a lot going for it as seeks to establish itself as a leader in the nuclear energy space. It has world-class research and development capability, writes the CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Association.The Hill Times in print
Politics This Morning
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Post-cabinet staffing decisions underway, changes happening in the Prime Minister’s Office
A number of staffing changes have taken place in the Prime Minister’s Office, including some related to the recent cabinet shuffle. More changes are expected to come by the end of August.Min. Goodale loses adviser to Morneau
Plus, the status of women minister has hired a former Miss World Canada national finalist as an operations aide.Wackiest thing you did as an MP? For Scott Brison, paddling in a giant pumpkin race, and then winning it
Also, former Tory MP Ed Holder joins a growing list of former MPs seeking to be mayors.University of Toronto project brings parliamentary records into the 21st century
Former PM Stephen Harper is canvassing for the United Conservative Party candidate in his riding.The week of France: hundreds of partygoers flock the embassy for Bastille Day, World Cup
The French Embassy opened its doors to hundreds over the course of the week for two Bastille Day events and a viewing of France's winning World Cup final match.U.S. embassy draws about 1,000 party-goers to Fourth of July bash
Despite threats of a boycott, many Canadian politicos showed up to the party. 'We should come here. We don’t have control over what the U.S. does or does not do; we only have control of how we present ourselves,' said Senator Michael MacDonald.Trade tops Taiwanese envoy’s priorities
This is Winston Chen’s third posting in Canada, after previous stints in the country in the '90s in Ottawa and in Toronto from 2011 to 2013.Slovenia’s ambassador leaves post with wish for more trade, diplomatic exchanges
Active in the diplomatic corps and in the Ottawa community, Marjan Cencen is set to leave Ottawa in mid-August after four years.Trudeau to brunch with Queer Eye TV star for Liberal fundraiser Aug. 19
Plus, the Trudeau cabinet is set to huddle for an end-of-summer retreat in Nanaimo, B.C., from Aug. 21 to Aug. 23.
Lisa MacLeod, Ontario minister responsible for immigration, speaks to reporters on Monday at the National Press Theatre, where she called on the feds to commit $200-million to cover the costs associated with processing and supporting irregular border crossers.Annual Features
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