Stories by Mike Lapointe
Food supply, emergency vehicle repair: keeping Canada-U.S. trade open key to fight against COVID-19, say stakeholders
The 'biggest point of concern right now' is 'making sure that we keep those shipments of fresh vegetables and other commodities rolling in by truck across the border, truck or train,' says John Manley.
'This subsidy will make a real difference in your lives and help everyone affected bridge to better times,' said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday, March 27.
Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault said he has spoken with representatives from media groups and trade unions representing journalists, and the government is doing 'everything we can to help them make it through this cr
‘People are unsure, people are scared, this is a whole new time, so we have to have some clear messaging from our government letting our people know of what they need to do,’ said CUPW national president Jan Simpson.
‘You need to look at what the facts are in front of you and make decisions quickly,’ says PPG president Jordan Press. ‘Nothing like I’ve ever seen,’ says CBC reporter David Cochrane.
'Our main concern is to make sure they provide a healthy and safe environment for our members that will protect them to be able to do that work that is required for them to do,' says CEIU president Eddy Bourque.
'The government of Canada will be as flexible as possible and will not only allow, but encourage teleworking whenever and wherever possible,' says Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos. 
PIPSC president Debi Daviau says she ‘cannot complain at all on openness and transparency’ around process, but PSAC president Chris Aylward says he’s ‘very concerned’ about lack of details, consultation with his union. Author
The longtime provincial and federal backroom operative talks byelections, advice for Justin Trudeau, leadership races, and her new book Let ‘Em Howl with The Hill Times.
Members of PSAC, Canada’s largest public service union, held rallies and sit-ins across the country to mark the fourth anniversary of Phoenix and the lack of new collective agreements. 
The Incident Response Group has met multiple times in recent weeks to discuss the coronavirus outbreak, Iran’s downing of the Ukrainian passenger flight, and ongoing rail blockades across Canada.
Pollster Nik Nanos called the release of the declaration 'a bit of a veiled threat, especially considering no one was given a heads up and it just came right out of the blue.'
A recent government survey found that although just under 92 per cent of public service managers believe that appointees can do the job they were hired for, just under 54 per cent of employees agreed. 
'Disarmament is not something idealistic or a utopian ideology,' says UN high rep for disarmament affairs Izumi Nakamitsu, and that it's 'part of security.'
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.
The Conservative opposition motion condemning the decision made by the Parole Board of Canada that led to Marylène Levesque’s death passed unanimously in the House on Feb. 5. 
Described by those who’ve worked alongside him over the years as an incredibly hard worker, a gentleman and a trusted friend, Mr. Oliver is also known as 'objectively fearless when it comes to his commentary.'
‘If we have a strike mandate in early April and we’re in tax season and they don’t wake up and smell the coffee … guess what’s going to happen,’ says Union of Taxation Employees president Marc Brière.
'We clearly chose to take a chance,' says CBC exec Michael Gruzuk. 'It didn’t work the way that we expected in the first season or two, and we’ve now made an adjustment.' PM convenes Incident Response Group, as feds, provinces ramp-up co-ordinated response to coronavirus
'The situation is changing almost hourly and our public health system needs to be ready to adapt to any sudden change in the current situation,' says SFU's Kelley Lee. 
The 2019 federal budget allocated $523.3-million over five years, starting in 2019–20, to 'ensure that adequate resources are dedicated to addressing pay issues,' according to PSPC. 
Multiple government departments remain quiet on any role they’ve played in the royal couple’s plans to move to Canada part time. 
PIPSC president Debi Daviau says her union was not involved in discussions with the PMO prior to the decision to move Shared Services Canada under the minister of digital government. 
Liberal MP Omar Alghabra is the ‘first parliamentary secretary to be tasked to exercise leadership in this area,’ according to the Prime Minister's Office, but unions say they haven’t heard from him yet.
Canada resettled 28,100 refugees in 2018. But a public policy expert cautions that increased irregular border crossings threaten both popular support for migration, as well as the international refugee protection system.
Former top bureaucrat says the ‘true test’ of an economist in the role is how he will deal with fiscal issues. 'He may be a bit of a constraint on an otherwise unlimited series of spending initiatives,' says Mel Cappe.
The government is ‘disappointed’ PSAC rejected an offer in line with recent agreements signed by 34 other bargaining units, according to a Treasury Board spokesperson. 
Climate change played a prominent role in the Speech from the Throne last week, as Governor General Julie Payette says the government's promise to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 is 'ambitious, but necessary.'
But a Conservative source is decrying public criticism of Andrew Scheer's leadership, saying it will only create the kind of schisms that will set the party back and that former leader Stephen Harper worked to avoid. 
Former Treasury Board President Joyce Murray was appointed minister of digital government in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet, with Jean-Yves Duclos tapped to replace her.
'It feels like the right time to really strengthen our Ottawa presence,' says Luiza Ch. Savage, executive director of cross-platform content for Politico. 
The Canada Revenue Agency says the government is 'in the process' of considering an independent journalism panel's recommendations, which will 'inform the process' of administering tax measures supporting Canadian media.Politics This Morning
Your email has been added. An email has been sent to your address, please click the link inside of it to confirm your subscription.