What happens when a system is designed to fail migrant women
When Carmen fell in love with a Canadian man, following him here from Cuba, he made her many promises, including the pursuit of education. She was eager for a Canadian life, even without immigration status. After settling into her new home, her boyfriend suggested she wait before starting school. She was still adjusting to Canadian […]
‘Whatever it takes’: Trudeau says austerity not an option in the face of staggering job losses, health crisis
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is pinning the country’s recovery on the government’s ability to spend “whatever it takes” to rein in the pandemic and to prevent expansive lockdowns that could further cripple the economy. The Liberals’ Throne Speech outlined a wide-ranging agenda, from pledging that the government will act as a safety net for Canadians […]
The Atlantic bubble needs to burst
OTTAWA—This year has been brutal for so many people and we still have nearly 4 months to go before 2021 is upon us. While I have never been a big fan of wishing time away, I am close to adopting it as a short-term strategy. Atlantic Canada has had a particularly brutal year. At the […]
COVID-19 containment, economic recovery expected to drive fall lobbying
A return to Parliament means renewed lobbying efforts, and this fall session will likely see those efforts focused on trying to shape the Liberal government’s plans to contain COVID-19, push plans for economic recovery and the social programs that underpin them, and get progress on the Liberal climate change agenda. Sheamus Murphy, vice-president of federal […]
Three possible election date scenarios
There are three possible election date scenarios facing Canadians: the first coming on the heels of the Speech from the Throne, presumably on a non-confidence vote; second, a non-confidence motion put after a fall budget or economic update; and lastly, a vote of non-confidence following a spring budget. In all three scenarios Prime Minister Justin […]
PMO shuffles public service, with new PHAC president named
The Public Health Agency of Canada, a once little-known and underreported government agency that’s now in the crossfires of Canadian political and public policy, has a new leader at the helm—just days after president Tina Namiesniowski stepped down from the role amid the highest uptick in COVID-19 cases in Canada since the mid-summer. Following the abrupt resignation of […]
Schitt’s Creek II: The Roses of Rideau Hall is the reality show the world needs
As much of the world takes up a new form of foxhole God-bargaining in which the divine intervention deliverable is ending the reality show in the White House, a new Canadian offering could take its place. Amid a cascade of apocalyptic news about the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. President Donald Trump’s proxy, rolling, broad-daylight heist of […]
International COVID-19 recovery efforts will be lessened unless all nations are included
When named Canada’s Ambassador to the United Nations, former Ontario premier and interim Liberal Party leader Bob Rae stated that, to fight COVID-19 and recover from the pandemic, an effort must be made on Canada’s part to “rebuild a successful world order.” “The well-being of the world really depends on a rebuild and a reconstruction […]
At last, a break from the tyranny of supply-siders
OTTAWA—I may have missed it, but I don’t think we’ve heard from Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre on his new party leader Erin O’Toole’s position that a Conservative government would take 10 years to balance the government’s books. The usual Conservative obsession with deficits has been evident in Poilievre’s repeated complaints as Prime Minister Justin […]
‘The time is now’: limit gatherings to avoid future lockdowns, says Tam, as federal data projects more spikes in cases
Canada’s chief public health officer is urging Canadians to avoid large gatherings to prevent further spikes in new COVID-19 cases and avoid another lockdown, saying federal modelling figures project the number of cases could climb to more than 155,000 within the next 10 days. Speaking to reporters Tuesday afternoon, Dr. Theresa Tam shared data that […]
