Activists want social housing in new strategy, as feds attempt to boost affordability
Activists and experts are eagerly awaiting the soon-to-be unveiled national housing strategy, but are questioning if the government’s financial contribution can realistically have a positive impact on housing affordability in Canada. The strategy is the first of its kind, and is expected to be released in late November. Experts say it will include money to […]
Tax cuts and fiscal hypocrisy: how the deficit hawks always change their tune
OTTAWA— U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest internal party feud has broken out in spectacular fashion with prominent Republican Senator Bob Corker. After Trump repeatedly slammed former ally Corker on Twitter, saying he was personally responsible for what the president called the United States’ “horrendous” nuclear deal with Iran and accusing the Senator of lacking “the […]
Bill to ban unhealthy food ads for kids clears Senate, House sponsor sought
With her bill having passed the Senate last week, Conservative Senator Nancy Greene Raine is now casting about for an MP in the House to champion her legislation banning the advertising of unhealthy food and drinks to children under the age of 17. Bill S-228, the Child Health Protection Act, seeks to change the Food […]
DND appointees ‘tremendous’ team to tackle new defence policy
The leader, money man, and defence policy specialist appointed to the Department of National Defence’s top ranks on Sept. 22 have the expertise needed to take serious action on the government’s new defence policy, according to political observers. Michael Day, a fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, said the appointments of Jody Thomas, Gordon […]
Canada’s DFI should lead on gender equality
OTTAWA—In the job description for the managing director of Canada’s new Development Finance Institution (DFI), recently posted by Export Development Canada (EDC), it is considered an asset for the candidate to have: “Experience in implementing initiatives or programs with a gender equality and/or women empowerment component.” But that is the one and only time gender […]
Feds need to sell closing of tax loopholes better
The Liberal government claims to be making another move toward creating a level playing field between the wealthy and everyone else. This time it involves closing loopholes that allow professionals to lighten their tax load by registering themselves as corporations. On the surface, the plan seems consistent with the Liberals’ general motto of helping the […]
Tax reform the first true test for Trudeau
OTTAWA—Is Justin Trudeau’s government truly vulnerable for the first time? Failure to deliver on electoral reform, a badly broken deficit promise, and even a $10-million payout to Omar Khadr have had to date no real impact on his team. But what looks like an ill-conceived tax-reform package—potentially drafted by officials who have never actually run […]
Will the real Joe Clark please stand up?
NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, ONT.—It was clear from the moment they handed out the “Budget in Brief” in the media lock-up for the Progressive Conservatives’ 1979 budget that Joe Clark’s minority government was done for. “Part of the reason for our disappointing economic performance during the past decade has been the failure of governments, particularly the federal government, […]
Canada Post study catapults Government Operations to top-spending House committee
The Government Operations and Estimates Committee racked up the largest bill of any House of Commons standing committee over the first 16 months of the 42nd Parliament, largely owing to a cross-country study on the future of Canada’s postal service. Overall, the Government Operations Committee spent $340,958 between December 2015 and March 31, 2017, more […]
Senate harassment policy to be reviewed in wake of Sen. Meredith scandal
PARLIAMENT HILL—The nine-member Senate Advisory Working Group on Human Resources will examine the Red Chamber’s harassment policy when Parliament returns in September, as a response to the sexual harassment and workplace harassment accusations that were levelled against former Senator Don Meredith Alberta Conservative Sen. Scott Tannas, who chairs this group, told The Hill Times that the […]
