New policy adding nurse practitioners to public health-care plans will go ahead April 1

The previous Liberal government told provinces and territories early last year that they would have to cover medically necessary services by non-physicians and gave them 14 months to prepare. Health Minister Marjorie Michel’s office has confirmed it will move forward.

Health Canada, led by Minister Marjorie Michel, will require provinces and territories to report extra-billing or user charges connected to medically necessary services by nurse practitioners, midwives, and pharmacists beginning in December 2028. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

New policy adding nurse practitioners to public health-care plans will go ahead April 1

NewsBY TESSIE SANCI

The previous Liberal government told provinces and territories early last year that they would have to cover medically necessary services by non-physicians and gave them 14 months to prepare. Health Minister Marjorie Michel’s office has confirmed it will move forward.

New policy adding nurse practitioners to public health-care plans will go ahead April 1

NewsBY TESSIE SANCI

The previous Liberal government told provinces and territories early last year that they would have to cover medically necessary services by non-physicians and gave them 14 months to prepare. Health Minister Marjorie Michel’s office has confirmed it will move forward.

THE LATEST

Ottawa unsure how to regulate AI chatbots after Tumbler Ridge report, as Solomon says ‘all options are on the table’

NewsBY DAVIS LEGREE

A recent bombshell report revealed OpenAI internally flagged and banned the shooter's profile on the startup’s chatbot, ChatGPT, months ago, but elected not to inform legal authorities in Canada.

Ottawa unsure how to regulate AI chatbots after Tumbler Ridge report, as Solomon says ‘all options are on the table’

NewsBY DAVIS LEGREE

A recent bombshell report revealed OpenAI internally flagged and banned the shooter's profile on the startup’s chatbot, ChatGPT, months ago, but elected not to inform legal authorities

Canadian sovereignty is at risk if we don’t act decisively on the economy 

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Canadian sovereignty is at risk if we don’t act decisively on the economy 

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Ongoing grievance over public service health-plan switch an ‘interesting’ case, says labour lawyer

NewsBY MARLO GLASS

The Public Service Alliance of Canada says its members have had prolonged issues since the federal government transferred the Public Service Health Care Plan from Sun life to Canada Life in July 2023.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada says its members have had prolonged issues since the federal government transferred the Public Service Health Care Plan

To be shielded from nomination challenges, incumbent Liberal MPs must meet conditions by Labour Day: new rules

NewsBY ABBAS RANA

The Liberal Party’s national director Azam Ishmael briefed MPs on new nomination rules at the Feb. 25 national caucus meeting, say Liberal sources.

The Liberal Party’s national director Azam Ishmael briefed MPs on new nomination rules at the Feb. 25 national caucus meeting, say Liberal sources.

Carney should call for extradition of Indian officials linked to Nijjar killing, says ex-Liberal minister Dhaliwal

NewsBY MARLO GLASS, PETER MAZEREEUW

‘We can’t abandon our Canadian values for trade purposes,’ says former Chretien-era Liberal cabinet minister Herb Dhaliwal

‘We can’t abandon our Canadian values for trade purposes,’ says former Chretien-era Liberal cabinet minister Herb Dhaliwal

POLITICS THIS MORNING

Carney touches down in Mumbai

Plus, Governor General Mary Simon speaks at the National Indigenous Defence Conference in Ottawa.

BY RIDDHI KACHHELA, PETER MAZEREEUW

OPINION & COLUMNISTS

As Canada redefines its place in the world, rare disease patients are still looking south

In an era where Canada is talking about leadership, innovation, and economic competitiveness, the fact that patients must routinely cross the border for care should trouble all of us.

BY KAIT LAFORCE

Opinion

BY KUMARAN NADESAN

Why Canada can bridge the EU and CPTPP trading blocs

Opinion

BY GWYNNE DYER

The fallout from Epstein

Opinion

BY ANTHONY BROSKI

Bill C-15 contradicts Liberals’ social covenant to veterans

Opinion

BY BHAGWANT SANDHU

Jobs, guns, and the GDP: selling defence as economic policy

PODCAST: THE HOT ROOM

‘We knew there was something coming’: how a Canadian charity has been sending aid into Ukraine

NEWS

Sole Quebec NDP MP Boulerice says potential provincial run has ‘absolutely nothing to do with’ party’s status

NewsBY ELEANOR WAND

The NDP’s last remaining 2011 ‘Orange Wave’ Quebec MP says he is considering a provincial run with Québec Solidaire ‘more seriously now than ever.’

Sole Quebec NDP MP Boulerice says potential provincial run has ‘absolutely nothing to do with’ party’s status

NewsBY ELEANOR WAND

The NDP’s last remaining 2011 ‘Orange Wave’ Quebec MP says he is considering a provincial run with Québec Solidaire ‘more seriously now than ever.’

Liberals ride wave in federal polls as widening gender, age gaps squeeze Conservatives’ coalition

NewsBY STUART BENSON

Carney’s ‘bridge’ between the EU and the Pacific Rim trade deal likely to stop short of merging blocs, say observers

NewsBY NEIL MOSS

‘This is our home, so we need to be part of the solution’: Inuit-led university to strengthen Canada’s Arctic, say Senators

NewsBY JUSTIN S. CAMPBELL

The Year of Resilience: What 2026 Will Demand From Canada’s Cyber Leaders

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HILL LIFE & PEOPLE

Parliamentary Calendar

Liberal MP Kayabaga to talk unlocking growth in Africa and the Caribbean during Empire Club event on Feb. 26

Podcast

The ‘ambitious’ Defence Industrial Strategy, with Mark Norman

feature

The Hill Times’ Top 100 Best Books in 2025

News

Who’s backing the NDP leadership contenders?

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Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy – Time to Build.

Hill Times Tote Bag – Scribble Logo Black

Back To Parliament

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Policy Briefing – Infrastructure

HILL LIFE & PEOPLE

Japan celebrates Expo 2025

FeatureBY SAM GARCIA

Japan celebrates Expo 2025

FeatureBY SAM GARCIA

Parliamentarians treat ‘Olympics hangover’ at Hill Ski Day

FeatureBY ANDREW MEADE, STUART BENSON | UPDATED February 25, 2026

POLITICS

‘Voters have short memories’: delayed elections commissioner report puts damper on accountability, says political scientist Alex Marland

NewsBY STUART BENSON

One year in a leaky boat

OpinionBY TIM POWERS

‘Every big city has its dangers’: Bloc MP Savard-Tremblay recounts getting mugged in Brussels

FeatureBY CHRISTINA LEADLAY

A grim anniversary

FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW, RIDDHI KACHHELA

Q&A | Canada’s ‘ambitious’ defence strategy and the ‘tough slog’ ahead, with Mark Norman

FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW

The Defence Industrial Strategy outlines a clear ‘ambition and intent,’ as well as efforts to ‘wean ourselves off of dependencies,’ particularly on the United States, says the former vice-chief of the defence staff.

Q&A | Canada’s ‘ambitious’ defence strategy and the ‘tough slog’ ahead, with Mark Norman

FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW

The Defence Industrial Strategy outlines a clear ‘ambition and intent,’ as well as efforts to ‘wean ourselves off of dependencies,’ particularly on the United States, says the former vice-chief of the defence staff.

THE HILL TIMES NEWSPAPER

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

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Monday, February 23, 2026

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Wednesday, February 18, 2026

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OPINION & COLUMNISTS

Opinion

BY JOHN MCKAY

Trump’s steady coarsening of public life threatens democracy

Opinion

BY KEVIN LYNCH, PAUL DEEGAN

With global hegemony attacking the world order, what are middle powers like Canada to do?

Opinion

BY DAN A. DORAN

Fortune’s Wheel: defence spending impermanence

Why Ottawa must make 988 funding stable and secure

OpinionBY ANDREW PEREZ

Mental health care must be accessible, reliable, and permanent regardless of who is in government. Lives depend on it.

Carney’s India sojourn comes without safety net for threatened Canadians

OpinionBY EDITORIAL

Canada should buy defence equipment based on need, not politics: retired Navy engineer

Opinion

Canada should buy defence equipment based on need, not politics: retired Navy engineer

Opinion

Canada’s security depends on our critical minerals—it’s time for Ottawa to match ambition with action

OpinionBY GREG FERRON

Canada’s critical minerals opportunity runs through First Nation lands

OpinionBY MARK PODLASLY

EDITORIAL CARTOON BY DE ADDER

de Adder’s Take: 02-25-2026

de Adder’s Take: 02-23-2026

de Adder’s Take: 02-18-2026

Public Service

Ongoing grievance over public service health-plan switch an ‘interesting’ case, says labour lawyer

The Public Service Alliance of Canada says its members have had prolonged issues since the federal government transferred the Public Service Health Care Plan from Sun life to Canada Life in July 2023.

BY MARLO GLASS

Union warns pay system may not be able to handle layoffs, early retirements 10 years after start of Phoenix problems

The Phoenix pay system has cost the government more than $5-billion to date, and the current backlog of pay issues stands at around 238,000 transactions.

BY MARLO GLASS

Bringing investment banking rigour to Ottawa

Unlike the private sector, senior public servants are rarely removed for persistent underperformance. And tone from the top, however well calibrated, cannot substitute for rigor on the ground.

BY RAM MATHILAKATH

‘Everyone should feel the hit’: ministerial offices and PMO should be cut, too, say some leading public policy experts

Prior to the 1980s, federal cabinet ministers made do with a handful of staff, but that has jumped to between 15 and 25 exempt staffers over the last 40 years, says professor Donald Savoie.

BY ABBAS RANA

Cost of public servants continues to rise, though growth of bureaucracy began to slow in 2024-25: PBO

In 2024-25, the government spent a total of $76.3-billion on public servants, an increase of six per cent from $71.9-billion spent in 2023-24.

BY MARLO GLASS

FOREIGN POLICY

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

UAE marks its national day

FeatureBY SAM GARCIA

Canada’s global leadership, the ‘coalition of the willing,’ and Ukraine

OpinionBY ISG SENATOR STANLEY KUTCHER, KSENIA ZUBRIY

A diaspora caught between Ottawa’s Iran policy and Iran’s street protests

OpinionBY SASAN ISSARI

Canada has a role to play in linking global democracy movements, says activist

FeatureBY NEIL MOSS

In a tariff war, Canada’s resources are our strategic advantage

OpinionBY PHILIP CROSS

Canadians are realizing that it’s easier to expand existing overseas markets for commodities than develop new ones for manufactured goods.

In a tariff war, Canada’s resources are our strategic advantage

OpinionBY PHILIP CROSS

Canadians are realizing that it’s easier to expand existing overseas markets for commodities than develop new ones for manufactured goods.

BOOKS, BIG IDEAS, Q&As

The Coutts Diaries is the most revealing book ever written about Canadian politics

FeatureBY DAVID HERLE

This is a previously unseen view of Pierre Trudeau, one that is sure to alter your opinions of him. It is an unvarnished look inside the government that brought you wage and price controls, the Charter of Rights, and the National Energy Program. And it is a darkly moving account of the life of a senior political staffer.

The Coutts Diaries is the most revealing book ever written about Canadian politics

FeatureBY DAVID HERLE

This is a previously unseen view of Pierre Trudeau, one that is sure to alter your opinions of him. It is an unvarnished look inside the government that brought you wage and price controls, the Charter of Rights, and the National Energy Program. And it is a darkly moving account of the life of a senior political staffer.

‘Don’t be indifferent’: Iranian-Canadian author shares story of his life inside infamous Tehran prison in new book

FeatureBY IREM KOCA

‘Treating politics as a system of balance, not battle’: new book brings fresh insights into Mackenzie King and lessons for today’s leaders

FeatureBY SAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN

First Nations are ‘ready’ to move beyond the Indian Act, but time’s running out, says author Bob Joseph

FeatureBY CHRISTINA LEADLAY

The Finest Hotel in Kabul is a window into Afghan endurance through the eyes of locals working at the Intercontinental Hotel

FeatureBY ELEANOR WAND

Pipelines or a national power grid: what should Canada build now?

OpinionBY ISG SENATOR ROSA GALVEZ, GEOFF STRONG, RICHARD VAN DER JAGT

Canada is a laggard in the international race towards the energy of the future.

Independent Senator Rosa Galvez’s Climate Aligned Finance Act aims to provide a framework to ensure that the country’s financial system aligns with its legally binding climate commitments. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Pipelines or a national power grid: what should Canada build now?

OpinionBY ISG SENATOR ROSA GALVEZ, GEOFF STRONG, RICHARD VAN DER JAGT

Canada is a laggard in the international race towards the energy of the future.

Pipelines or a national power grid: what should Canada build now?

OpinionBY ISG SENATOR ROSA GALVEZ, GEOFF STRONG, RICHARD VAN DER JAGT

Canada is a laggard in the international race towards the energy of the future.

U.S.-proposed critical minerals trading bloc a ‘difficult sell,’ say natural resources experts

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

'We're obviously in a stage where people treat American trade deals with skepticism,' says Heather Exner-Pirot, director of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute's energy, natural resources, and environment program.

The missing critical mineral underpinning Canada’s entire defence and industrial strategy

OpinionBY W. BRETT WILSON

Canada cannot meet its defence and industrial goals without securing the critical steelmaking input: metallurgical coal.

Sometimes the resource roller-coaster is a great ride

OpinionBY HEATHER EXNER-PIROT

Every generation, energy and resource busts turn to booms, and what a gift Canada’s resource endowment then becomes.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson has to carry the prime minister’s message that Canada is an energy superpower that has what the world needs, writes Heather Exner-Pirot. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Sometimes the resource roller-coaster is a great ride

OpinionBY HEATHER EXNER-PIROT

Every generation, energy and resource busts turn to booms, and what a gift Canada’s resource endowment then becomes.

Sometimes the resource roller-coaster is a great ride

OpinionBY HEATHER EXNER-PIROT

Every generation, energy and resource busts turn to booms, and what a gift Canada’s resource endowment then becomes.

Critical minerals: an opportunity for Canada and the Red River Métis

OpinionBY PETER FLEMING

Indigenous governments must have opportunities to participate across the entire value chain, from extraction and processing to transportation and trade.

Leveraging the nuclear renaissance to advance small and micro modular reactors

OpinionBY VINNY GUNDA, SAGAR SANGHERA, JOSEF FREUNDORFER, ELEODOR NICHITA

The future of nuclear in Canada ought to be about doing all types and scales of home-grown reactors exceptionally well.

Why Canada should peacefully enrich its uranium

OpinionBY ALEXANDER MACDONALD, JEREMY WHITLOCK

Peaceful uranium enrichment to feed the adoption of SMR technology is compatible with Canada’s long-standing domestic and international non-proliferation commitments.

THE LATEST POLICY BRIEFINGS

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features

New senior adviser joins AI Minister Solomon’s team, deputy chief named

FeatureBY LAURA RYCKEWAERT

Plus, there are staffing updates to note in the offices of secretaries of state Nathalie Provost and Stephen Fuhr.

New senior adviser joins AI Minister Solomon’s team, deputy chief named

FeatureBY LAURA RYCKEWAERT

Plus, there are staffing updates to note in the offices of secretaries of state Nathalie Provost and Stephen Fuhr.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

‘The whole incident was exceptionally unpleasant and stressful’: Frank Graves reclaims his social media account from cyber thief

FeatureBY CHRISTINA LEADLAY

‘Like something out of a bad day in Afghanistan’: ex-politicos share views from the ground in Mexico

NewsBY ELEANOR WAND

SecState Fuhr to talk about Canada’s new era in defence investment on Monday, Feb. 23, in Montreal

FeatureBY CHRISTINA LEADLAY

The hope that (almost) kills you

FeatureBY RIDDHI KACHHELA

Canada hosts a critical minerals summit in Paris

FeatureBY RIDDHI KACHHELA, PETER MAZEREEUW

Jeneroux crosses over

FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW, RIDDHI KACHHELA

Few post-shuffle staffing changes for Canadian identity, Quebec lieutenant teams

FeatureBY LAURA RYCKEWAERT

Parliamentary Calendar

NDP leadership hopefuls head to West Coast for second official debate on Feb. 19

Podcast

Tumbler Ridge shooting upends the agenda: The week in review

News

The Hill Times’ Top 100 Lobbyists in 2025: lobbyists prepare for ‘significant reset’ as federal election begins

News

Tracking job cuts in the federal public service

Podcast

‘Hang tight’: Why Quebec sovereignty and separatism are in the headlines again

Policy Briefing – Environment

Policy Briefing – EVs and EV Infrastructure

Policy Briefing – Health

Policy Briefing – Defence

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

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First-quarter expenses: MPs spent nearly $28-million

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Carney government bills: tracking their progress into law

The number of sick days claimed by bureaucrats, broken down by department

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MPs’ annual office budgets for 2025-26

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Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

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Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

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Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

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Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

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Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

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Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

Finance & Budget

‘Everyone should feel the hit’: ministerial offices and PMO should be cut, too, say some leading public policy experts

Prior to the 1980s, federal cabinet ministers made do with a handful of staff, but that has jumped to between 15 and 25 exempt staffers over the last 40 years, says professor Donald Savoie.

BY ABBAS RANA

‘All about’ NATO: bulk of feds’ $5.4-billion spending request boosts defence programs

The $2.2-billion request for defence spending is ‘all tied’ to meeting NATO’s defence spending target, says Canadian Global Affairs Institute’s Craig Stone, but Macdonald-Laurier Institute's Christopher Coates says it should be seen as 'long overdue' modernization of the Armed Forces.

BY ELEANOR WAND

Liberals see path forward for budget bill, but Conservatives still have ‘huge concerns’ with cabinet’s ‘regulatory sandbox’

Conservatives have concerns about a clause buried in Bill C-15 that grants cabinet ministers the power to exempt any individual or firm from nearly any federal law—excluding the Criminal Code—for up to six years.

BY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Canada faces ‘an emergency of extraordinary proportions’ with Trump, say foreign affairs and trade experts

U.S. President Donald Trump's recent rant on X about the bridge linking Windsor, Ont., to Detroit, Mich., augurs badly for the upcoming review of North America's trade pact, says international trade lawyer Lawrence Herman.

BY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Bill C-15 is one of the biggest threats yet to Canada’s rule of law

The omnibus budget bill gives unprecedented power to federal ministers to exempt virtually any entity from all federal laws and regulations—except the Criminal Code.

BY GENEVIèVE PAUL, ANAïS BUSSIèRES MCNICOLL

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez said the national supply chain office “will enhance the resilience, efficiency, and reliability of our transportation systems,” in a Transport Canada press release on Dec. 1, 2023.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.