Northern Affairs Minister Vandal down a press secretary

Plus, Abed Harb has left Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau’s office to run for Calgary city council, and Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan has seen a list of staffing changes.

In a NAFTA renegotiation team reunion, Freeland’s Finance Department adds Steve Verheul

Widely praised across the partisan spectrum, Steve Verheul has been called an 'architect' of Canada's trade policy.

Back in business: House Committees primed to play catch up with busy agendas

‘We’re definitely trying to catch up in an ever-changing period of time for everyone,’ says NDP Whip Rachel Blaney of upcoming House committee work.

Ukraine envoy ‘confident’ talks will lead to Canada meeting requests as Russian threat looms

As the Canadian government is believed to be preparing a decision on Ukraine's three requests for assistance, Kyiv's top diplomat in Ottawa says 'intensive communication' has taken place at the highest levels.

Reconciliation ‘has no end date,’ says GG Simon who hopes for a future of healing in Canada

Mary Simon wants to make a significant impact on reconciliation, wants Arctic communities to be healthy and vibrant, and wants to do her part to help fight climate change. It's ambitious stuff.

RCMP union tours Alberta as province explores new police force, contract policing increasingly under microscope

Contract policing arrangements between the Mounties and a number of provinces and municipalities have come increasingly under review by policymakers in recent years.

Address ‘badly funded’ WHO, build robust international institutions to tackle health and climate change, urges former PM Martin

In a webinar hosted by the Pearson Centre for Progressive Policy, Paul Martin described a view of multilateralism that was shaped by his collaboration with other G20 finance ministers.

Upcoming carbon price increase to ‘pose some of the greatest challenges to the Trudeau government yet,’ argues Angus Reid’s Kurl

Innovative Research Group’s Greg Lyle, meanwhile, sees the annual increases that come with the federal carbon price policy as more of a ‘growing pressure’ for the feds than an ‘immediate crisis.’

NDP caucus retreat brings renewed focus on health care and cost-of-living concerns ahead of House return

NDP MPs say last week's retreat was a chance to speak about issues impacting Canadians the most and to 'amplify' their voices when the House of Commons sits again.

Liberal leadership speculation a distraction, Trudeau should shut it down firmly, say Liberal MPs, political insiders, and pollsters

If the Liberal leadership speculation does not stop, Liberals could end up in the same situation as Conservatives are now in, says Darrell Bricker. But Nik Nanos says Trudeau could theoretically win another government.