First Nations leaders call on feds to maintain vouching, voter information cards as House Affairs Committee hearings get testy

Alberta Conservative MP Blake Richards had to be interrupted by the Conservative chair of a Commons committee Thursday while drowning out a response from an aboriginal women’s leader who, along with other First Nations witnesses, was calling on the government to lower barriers to voting rather than prohibiting the use of vouching and voter information cards as elector eligibility provisions under the Canada Elections Act.

‘We’re not immune’ on the Hill: Sen. Bernard launches Senate debate on anti-Black racism

An Independent Senator launching a debate in the Senate on anti-Black racism nationally and on Parliament Hill says recent accusations of racism against a fellow Black Parliamentarian who called others out for denying that systemic…

Les Linklater’s job is to fix Phoenix—including for himself

Les Linklater’s job leading the team fixing the Phoenix pay system can be frustrating, daunting, and pressure-filled, but he empathizes with public servants’ payroll frustrations because he’s dealt with them firsthand. His base salary hasn’t…

Canada should change course on Russian relations, say critics

Canada should reassess its approach to Russia, say opposition critics who accuse the federal government of not having a plan and taking cues from the international community rather than leading the way. On March 26, the…

Feds sign three more contracts with unions, final four deals held up at labour board

Unions representing the foreign service, border guards, and correctional officers are breathing a sigh of relief, albeit a short one, having recently signed contracts before the next scheduled round of bargaining ramps up once again.…

Opposition MPs seek to add teeth to workplace harassment bill

A definition of harassment is among the changes a House committee agreed to Monday as it works its way through amending a government bill aimed at preventing and responding to sexual harassment and workplace violence,…

Ford’s tight-knit Ontario election campaign team stacked with Harper-era players

Ontario’s provincial parties are in campaign-mode, and new Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford has a tight-knit team in place, stacked with experience at both the federal and provincial levels. “They’ve all spent a ton…

Liberals’ policy convention a ‘litmus test’ of Grit membership, a time for leadership to listen, say Libs

When more than 2,500 Liberals sweep into Halifax for their last national policy convention before the 2019 election, Grits say the party's senior leadership should look to the gathering to gauge, engage, and mobilize the base…

Trudeau government in ‘home stretch’ of mandate, political insiders suggest a reset with Throne Speech, summer cabinet shuffle 

With the next election only 19 months away, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should focus on governing and hit the reset button this summer by proroguing Parliament, shuffling his cabinet, and starting the fall session with…

Experts warn of ‘long-term political consequences’ for Liberals if Trans Mountain pipeline fails, but Trudeau says pipeline will happen

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who met with B.C. Premier John Horgan and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley for more than two hours on the Hill on Sunday, says the government will start negotiating with Kinder Morgan…