Rota, first Speaker of Italian descent, encourages MPs to break the glass ceiling

New House Speaker Anthony Rota promises to be fair but firm and he's starting to host regular social gatherings with small groups of MPs across party lines so they can get to know each other on a personal level. He's also going to have a suggestion box, prominently displayed, for MPs to offer their ideas on how to improve House decorum.

‘I don’t celebrate Black History Month, I celebrate Black history 12 months of the year’: Sen. Bernard on her fight for equality

After sitting as a Senator for more than three years, Wanda Thomas Bernard says she is more determined than ever to continue fighting for causes like social justice, diversity, and inclusion.

Advocate calling for a simplified suicide hotline number gets ally in Sen. Batters

'Silence is never the right response when suicide is the subject,' says Kathleen Finlay. 'It’s too important an issue for our political leaders to stay silent on.'

Collaborate and listen: Bloc Québécois hopes to leverage minority Parliament dynamics to make mark

‘Now that it’s a minority government, they have to listen to everybody,’ says Bloc MP Rhéal Fortin, his party’s justice critic.

Tory leadership candidates champion CANZUK pact, but trade experts question idea’s merit

Canada already has a free trade agreement with Australia and New Zealand as part of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

‘Data, privacy, trade’: ministers tasked with AI file contending with fast, fundamental changes

But public servants say the social impact on workers is not being properly taken into account as the use of artificial intelligence in government advances.

AFN national chief Bellegarde calls on ‘all parties’ to find peaceful resolution to rail blockades

'Removing the blockades doesn’t mean you surrender anything,' says Mohawk Council of Kanesatake Grand Chief Serge Otsi Simon.

‘No question’ feds have duty to start talks, says AFN’s Bellegarde, after days-long demonstrations in support of Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs

One Mohawk scholar who experienced the 1990 Oka Crisis firsthand says Ottawa's offer to meet with protesters shows 'they’ve lost control of the situation, to a certain extent.'

Trade Committee Conservatives push for six additional House committees to study new NAFTA implementation bill

Committees would have to submit amendments for Bill C-4 to the House Committee on International Trade by April 2.

Senior Conservatives seething over Conservative Fund’s refusal to share Scheer’s $700,000 over-budget expense details with national council

'If you're a donor, why would you want to give money if you can't get straight answers on what the hell's going on?’ says veteran Conservative political insider Tim Powers.