Presence of backbench MPs, cross-Canada representation restricted during in-person House sittings amidst physical distancing

Backbench MPs who typically make up a majority of the House of Commons have had their presence shrink as cabinet members and House officers make up the majority of the Chamber in COVID-19 sittings.

Ottawa making ‘good progress’ modernizing procurement, but auditor finds more training needed

Canada’s Auditor General Karen Hogan looked into how departments are better planning procurements for complex IT solutions, including lessons learned from the problem-plagued Phoenix payroll system.

Long-term fixes for safe drinking water in some First Nations could be out of reach for ‘several years,’ says AG

A small proportion (15 per cent) of the 100 advisories lifted since the Trudeau Liberals took office ended as result of 'interim measures,' according to the report.

Liberal delay in moving on Bill C-19 ‘puzzling’ given election posturing, says NDP’s Blaikie

After being ‘in a hurry’ to table the bill in December amid strong public polling, Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu says she thinks the delay now is a reflection of a dip in Liberal fortunes.

New committee a forum to look deeper into ever-important Canada-U.S. economic relationship, but will partisan squabbles dominate?

The special committee was created through a Conservative motion that was backed by the Liberals, Bloc, and NDP. Nearly half of the members of the committee are members of the International Trade Committee.

Torture ‘by another name’: Canada still keeps some prisoners in solitary confinement, ‘disturbing’ new data shows

Federal prison authorities say the Liberal law requires the agency to give prisoner’s the ‘opportunity’ for time out of cell, and often prisoners refuse.

MPs, advocates urge more government action to combat ‘pandemic of anti-Asian racism’

Most MPs and advocates who spoke to The Hill Times connected this resurgence in hate to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Liberal MP Han Dong noting that communities have come together in response.

Statistics Canada ‘almost ready’ to launch consultations on effort to collect race-based data on crime

It will ultimately be up to the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and other policing partners to get buy-in from their colleagues to implement the initiative on the ground.

Arbitrary detention declaration is a ‘good start,’ but questions loom about impact

Former Canadian ambassador Ferry de Kerckhove says the declaration is a recouping of the 'past glory' of Canada's multilateral work on the international stage.

Unofficial NDP political groups call to be seated at the table with the party

'We have the resolutions, we have people who are willing to do the job, so let us be partners in building a socialist movement in this country,' says NDP Socialist Caucus chairperson Barry Weisleder.