ESDC to ‘promote,’ ‘enforce’ labour rights in other countries, under CPTPP trade deal
The Liberal government has assigned its human resources department to begin to monitor and “enforce” labour standards in other countries, under the new Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. Budget 2019 redirected $680,000 per year of Employment and Social Development Canada’s budget towards an effort to “promote, monitor, and enforce labour standards […]
Liberals back off controversial central-vote approach to feds’ annual spending estimates
The government has backed away from a controversial approach to its more than $300-billion in spending estimates this year, and will now break $6-billion in budget promises into 194 separate votes, a move the parliamentary budget officer calls a “clear improvement” over last year’s first reform attempt. But opposition MPs say the Liberals’ latest revamp […]
When making transport policy, don’t forget how it affects company vehicles
From changing environmental and transportation policies to the intense NAFTA renegotiation, the past few years have been a roller-coaster ride for the auto industry and fleet managers. The federal government is in the process of developing some very important policies for the ever-evolving transportation sector. Last year, Transport Canada released its Transportation 2030 strategy, which […]
Jury’s still out on whether housing strategy will result in enough affordable units
The Liberal government launched its National Housing Strategy to great fanfare in November 2017. Proclaimed to be the first such strategy for Canada, it is a 10-year plan with a $40-billion funding commitment. Specifics of the programs to support the strategy have since been announced. But the rollout of funds and production of units has […]
Investments and co-operation are building a better Canada
Canadians had a choice in 2015: austerity, or investing to build communities for success now and for generations to come. Both during the election and since taking office, we made infrastructure a key focus because we know that it is essential for families, communities, our economic growth, and job creation. Nearly four years since Canadians […]
Territories spent less on infrastructure than without feds’ funding boost: PBO report
The territories spent $111-million less on infrastructure projects in the past two fiscal years than they would have without the federal government’s funding boost, according to a report released April 9 by the parliamentary budget officer. For every federal infrastructure dollar that, on average, they received, the three northern territories spent $3.70 in 2017-2018, a […]
A Congestion Relief Fund is the best way to keep Canada’s big cities moving
Metro Vancouver consistently ranks as one of the best regions in the world for quality of life. But anyone who tries to get around the region knows that it is still suffering from a bad case of congestion. Our residents experience this congestion every day. It’s the overcrowding on our transit system. It’s the bottlenecks […]
‘We don’t know why it’s taken so long’: critics question the wait on federal-provincial housing agreements
Housing critics are questioning why the government is taking so long to finalize the cost-sharing housing agreements with provinces, since it’s been more than a year since the unveiling of the Liberals’ National Housing Strategy. But many of the accords are on the cusp of an announcement, says Liberal MP Adam Vaughan (Spadina–Fort York, Ont.), […]
How to turn a good idea into a big mess
It’s tax season. Suppose the Canada Revenue Agency owed you $2,000 but instead of giving you the money, it offered you 20 gift certificates that it chose without consulting you: $50 for chicken, $80 for books, $100 in bus tickets, and so on. Don’t need chicken? Too bad! The gift certificates are not transferable. That’s […]
Infrastructure
