The Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, pictured in October, continues its study on Bill-C58.
The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Senators worry access bill gives new powers to Speaker, erodes Chamber authority
‘There’s no problem,’ says Independent Senator Pierre Dalphond, arguing the bill simply creates a ‘safety valve’ to prevent privileged information from being wrapped up in the new mandatory financial disclosures.
Trudeau to meet with Black youth who experienced alleged racial profiling on the Hill
In an apology offered in the Chamber on Feb. 19, House Speaker Geoff Regan said, ‘All who come here must know unequivocally that they will be welcomed with equality, dignity and respect.’‘Underdog’ NDP in Outremont faces ‘hard battle’ to keep ex-leader’s seat: NDP analysts
NDP candidate Julia Sánchez says she has a good campaign team in Montreal, and isn’t losing out on party resources focused on leader Jagmeet Singh's byelection race in B.C.Politics This Morning
Your email has been added. An email has been sent to your address, please click the link inside of it to confirm your subscription.
Federal Court of Appeal sides with BOIE against NDP in satellite-office battle
NDP MPs had been ordered to repay roughly $4-million by the Board of Internal Economy, which they've already started repaying though they've been fighting it in court for five years. Butts’ exit could help government wield more effective defence strategy in SNC-Lavalin affair, politicos say
Gerald Butts has removed himself from the daily political grind of strategizing how to keep the Liberals in power. But observers say it's unlikely he will be consigned to watch the campaign unfold from the sidelines. Hill reporters push back against lack of access to MPs in West Block
‘For a reporter, this is terrible,' says CBC's Julie Van Dusen. Two suggestions for new scrum spots were rejected, but talks to find a solution continue. Perception a problem with retired Supreme Court justices involved in the ‘highly partisan’ SNC-Lavalin affair, say some court watchers
Jody Wilson-Raybould’s hiring of Thomas Cromwell as counsel is ‘good for the client, good for the PMO, good for Canada,’ says a Supreme Court specialist.Nearly two-thirds of public servants have unresolved pay issues three years after Phoenix launched, survey shows
Results from the 2018 Public Service Employee Survey also indicate harassment stats in the public service are relatively flat despite a PCO push for change.Criminal charges raises spectre of SNC-Lavalin takeover, but feds’ $180-billion infrastructure plan can find other builders, experts say
SNC-Lavalin risks a takeover if it's convicted. But aside from likely outrage in Quebec, Ottawa can find other builders for its infrastructure plans if the company is banned from bidding on federal contracts, experts saySNC-Lavalin lobbied Liberal-tied ambassador on corruption case, sought help from ex-aides to Chrétien, Mulroney
The Quebec company had extensive access to government ministers and top staffers, and was the only organization registered to lobby for allowing deferred prosecution agreements for white collar crimes.The Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, pictured in October, continues its study on Bill-C58.
The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Senators worry access bill gives new powers to Speaker, erodes Chamber authority
‘There’s no problem,’ says Independent Senator Pierre Dalphond, arguing the bill simply creates a ‘safety valve’ to prevent privileged information from being wrapped up in the new mandatory financial disclosures.
Wilson-Raybould story could pose election hurdle for Trudeau’s feminist brand: strategists
Being viewed as untrustworthy 'could really hurt him with women and that could be a major problem in places...where you’ve got a lot of suburban female votes,' says former Conservative staffer Kate Harrison.Finance Minister Morneau hires former Wynne speechwriter
Several ex-Ontario Liberal staffers displaced by the election last June have landed on the Hill, including Kevin Hurren who’s joined the finance minister’s office. The Prime Minister’s Office better wake up and change the channel
It's always tricky when a man is out in public repeatedly attacking a woman. The fact that Jody Wilson-Raybould was a star cabinet minister and first ever-Indigenous AG makes the strarategy even more questionable. 
Public-private partnerships an ‘extraordinary opportunity’ to renew relations with Indigenous communities: experts
The House Natural Resources Committee is studying consultations with Indigenous communities as the debate on project development continues with Bill C-69 and Trans Mountain.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.'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. 
Canada in ‘regular’ conversation with Turkey on extremist travellers, says new ambassador
The new Turkish ambassador advocates for renewed free trade talks, says increasing flights from Toronto a key connection.Who’s likely to blink as Brexit showdown enters final stage?
A no-deal Brexit appears more likely by the day.Too few Canadians know about the Holocaust
That can impact foreign policy. How else can one explain allowing our allies to stage parades and name streets after perpetrators of the worst crime against humanity? 
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. 
Truck rally comes to Ottawa, bringing complaints on pipelines, immigration
Plus, T.J. Harvey won't be seeking re-election, a new play on the #MeToo era on Parliament Hill, and David Thurton joins CBC's parliamentary bureau.
Justice minister hires experienced issues management director
David Taylor, communications director to the justice minister, says the hiring was ‘planned well before’ news broke of alleged PMO interference in SNC-Lavalin case.
Mark Eyking becomes fourth Nova Scotia Liberal MP not to seek re-election
Plus, Scott Brison gets a job, and a seminar looking at ways for women in political life to combat cyber harassment.
The weather outside was frightful, but the agriculture industry’s party was oh so delightful
About 300 agriculture industry supporters turned up to the event—a high turn out given the weather and that the House and Senate weren't sitting.Playing cupid: Political Blind Date’s matches not for the faint of heart
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer's date with Mississauga, Ont., mayor Bonnie Crombie unfolds like the classic tale of city mouse meets country mouse. Longtime CBC camera and soundman Danny Leduc dies at 66
Plus, Michael Wilson dies, and a Press Gallery hockey team wins the Bingham Cup.
Alex Benay: the public service’s disruptor-in-chief
‘His position requires him to challenge everything—he was not hired to surf on the status quo,’ says Shared Services VP Sarah Paquet.
Without new funding, key part of Canada’s stem cell research ecosystem to close
Despite its immense value and future promise, the Stem Cell Network will soon cease to exist.
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.
Canada bought more than a pipeline when it bought the Trans Mountain project
The federal government allowing the pipeline project to collapse would have set an even worse precedent than buying it.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. 
Annual Features
Contact list
Politics This Morning: Trudeau to meet with Newfoundland premier
Plus, the National Energy Board is releasing its report on the Trans Mountain expansion project. 
Muhammadu Buhari is personally clean, but his anti-corruption measures almost exclusively targeted politicians of other parties.
Civilization seems to be living through another moment when the benefit of the doubt is being exploited as a weakness by corrupt actors. 
Meaningful action to mitigate climate change and transition away from carbon will do far more for our economy than continued reliance on the status quo. It represents a massive opportunity for innovators and investors.
We can’t rely on businesses to 'fix' plastic pollution on their own. It’s time for the Canadian government to lead from the front.
It is not understandable why this government has not debated these comprehensive and informative reports by the auditor general.
Passengers deserve better. With the upcoming deadline for submissions, and this being an election year, it is our last chance to finally make airlines accountable.New book for early-career civil servants meant to demystify how government works
Many low-level public servants don't understand how the government works more broadly, says co-author Alex Marland.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. The Hill Times in print
Politics This Morning
Your email has been added. An email has been sent to your address, please click the link inside of it to confirm your subscription.
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.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.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.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. Colombian envoy praises Canada’s ‘clarity of message’ on Venezuelan crisis
Federico Hoyos moves from his post as one of Colombia’s youngest members of Congress to the youngest in its diplomatic ranks.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.Friends to say goodbye to Paul Dewar Feb. 23
Colleagues and friends will say goodbye to former NDP foreign affairs critic and leadership candidate Paul Dewar, pictured in 2015, at a celebration of life on Feb. 23 at Carleton University's Dominion-Chalmers Church, 355 Cooper Ave., Ottawa at 10:30 a.m. The Hill Times photograph by Steve Gerecke
Plus, Air Canada is inviting Parliamentarians and staff to an evening shindig on Feb. 20, and the Macdonald-Laurier Institute is hosting its annual dinner that day too. 
House Justice Committee chair Anthony Housefather faces reporters ahead of Thursday's meeting, which featured testimony from Privy Council clerk Michael Wernick, Attorney General David Lametti, and deputy minister Natalie Drouin. 
Diplomatic Circles: Slovenia hosts cultural shindig, GG welcomes diplomats to Winter Celebration
Feb 20, 2019
