How to build trust in government? Better spending management
Trust in government has been a longstanding discussion topic, and mismanagement of the public purse is the number one contributor to negative perceptions. Government organizations are accountable to the public and have a responsibility to spend wisely. In today’s growing climate of mistrust, these organizations cannot fly under the radar. They need to be proactive […]
Canada needs to better champion its innovative industries
Canada is home to a highly innovative and reputable aerospace industry. This is an industry that developed the Canadarm, develops aircraft used around the world, and designs innovative technologies that are used worldwide. There are more than 400 aerospace firms in Canada, which employ more than 70,000 people. While our aerospace industry is admired by industry groups worldwide […]
Trade, agriculture, innovation bureaucrats are most lobbied
The country’s most-lobbied federal bureaucrats so far this year have their hands on trade, agriculture, and innovation files, according to statistics from the federal lobbyists’ registry, with top officials at Trade, Environment Canada, and Innovation, Science, and Economic Development the most in demand. With NAFTA negotiations underway, lobbyists say it’s no surprise that Frédéric Seppey, the […]
Worst-case scenario gains traction for Brexit-bound U.K.
OTTAWA—How’s that Brexit thing working out for you? One can’t help asking that question of the British these days. In 2016, before the referendum vote to leave the European Union, the United Kingdom was a leading business power, proud of its role as the world’s most important financial centre and blessed with low inflation, an […]
Senate report on Phoenix ‘failure’ calls for strong public oversight of feds’ spending, future payroll plans
The Senate Finance Committee is calling for Parliament to have a keen eye on what the federal government is doing to stabilize the “failed” Phoenix pay system and how it will move away from the platform going ahead. Published July 31, the Senate’s report on the Phoenix pay system is the latest study in recent […]
Pot industry urges feds to hold off on plan to recover regulatory costs
Marijuana producers are scrambling to convince Ottawa to hit pause on its proposal to introduce a fee to recover costs associated with the legalization of recreational pot, a move that they say should be delayed until the ban has been lifted for some time. The federal government first floated the idea of setting up a […]
Trans Mountain, capital flight and bank law put Finance Minister Bill Morneau atop the May lobbying list
Finance Minister Bill Morneau was the most lobbied cabinet minister in May, and lobbyists say his move up the list may have something to do with the government’s decision to buy the Trans Mountain Pipeline. Lobbyists communicated with designated public office holders 2,538 times in May. Mr. Morneau (Toronto Centre, Ont) was lobbied 22 times in […]
Conservatives topped Liberals in fundraising for second year in a row in 2017: annual report
For the second year in a row, the Conservative Party topped the governing Liberals in fundraising in 2017, raking in roughly $4.9-million more in donations, as detailed in the parties’ published annual financial returns released last week. Overall, the Conservatives led the pack in 2017 with roughly $18.8-million in donations from 94,786 individuals, while the […]
Revenge of the Harperites
OTTAWA—By now, it’s easy to have forgotten that day in 2011 when Stephen Harper, fresh from winning a majority Conservative government, showed up as the surprise guest at a 700-person barbecue in the backyard of the Ford family home in Toronto. “He’s my new fishing partner,” the late Rob Ford told the enthusiastic crowd at […]
Like Phoenix, the Social Security Tribunal is another cost-cutting fiasco
The recent exchange between the auditor general and the clerk of the Privy Council regarding the Phoenix fiasco and its implications has raised a number of important issues when it comes to accountability within the civil service. Many have aptly noted that the prime culprits for the botched pay system reform have been left unscathed […]
