Canada’s financial sector is more than six big banks
There is a tendency in Ottawa to see the ‘financial sector’ as consisting of six institutions, but this excludes many smaller players.
Cases up, costs down: feds report $227.1-million in lost revenue, public money and property in 2021-22
The number of cases of lost public money due to an offence, illegal act, or accident in 2021-22 more than doubled, from 43,201 in 2020-21 to 120,538. But the value attached decreased by roughly 30.4 per cent.
Money for nothing?
OTTAWA—There has been a lot of news recently about defence procurement in Canada, and sadly, none of it has been positive. Last week, the Ottawa Citizen reported that Canada’s Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux is warning that taxpayers will face a $300-billion price tag for 15 new warships. To be fair, that figure includes the […]
Canada can do better than a $306-billion Surface Combatants price tag
The Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s Oct. 27 report on the life-cycle costs of the Canadian Surface Combatants (CSC) estimated the total to be $306-billion. For most Canadians, I expect this comes as sticker shock. However, for those deeply ensconced in the business of defence procurement, this figure was expected. In fact, for over two […]
Politics This Morning: Canada’s ambassador to Haiti to brief Foreign Affairs Committee
Good Monday morning, Happy Halloween to those who celebrate, and happy sitting quietly in the dark and pretending you’re not home to those who don’t. Staff at Rideau Hall will distribute goodies to visitors of all ages from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Ottawa time, but trick-or-treaters will have to brave bats, rats, spiders, and […]
Canada Infrastructure Bank CEO pushes back against calls for its abolishment
The federal government hopes Canadians will have more incentive to switch to electric cars thanks to a $500-million investment in the creation of zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) charging and hydrogen refuelling stations recently announced by the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB). The official opposition Conservatives, however, believe the CIB is the wrong vehicle for anything, and simply […]
Federal government working at cross-purposes in realizing UNDRIP
The conclusion we are left to draw is the feds are not fully committed to entrusting key services to Indigenous institutions, to working as our partner, or to recognizing Indigenous economic rights in practice.
How a budget is made: a Q&A with former insider Sahir Khan
When does the budget process really start and finish? How are decisions made, and how do the best lobbyists get their issues addressed? A financial guru and former government budget-maker walks us through the process.
Big banks, challengers jockey for position as government plans open banking rollout
Conservative MP Adam Chambers says open banking will encourage more competition in the financial sector and generate more choice for consumers.
‘Inconceivable’ the Liberals have not eliminated archaic, discriminatory ‘gold digger’ clauses from survivor pensions for veterans, say advocates
Veterans groups and parliamentary critics are urging the Liberals to live up to a 2015 election promise to remove restrictions to survivor pension payouts that NDP MP Rachel Blaney says are “sexist” and “archaic” and discriminate against couples who get married late in life. In a new costing of Blaney’s private member’s bill to address […]
