‘It’s an ill wind that doesn’t blow some good’: tourism in the time of COVID
KAMOURASKA, QUE.—The temperature was an unusually hot 30 degrees. The tide was in and the water temperature of the normally frigid Saint Lawrence River was 24 C. As I slipped into the waves, I looked to the west and could see large clouds of smoke blowing over the neighbouring villages. It didn’t look good. Indeed, […]
Champagne says he repaid mortgages owed to state-run Bank of China, after facing scrutiny from opposition
Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne says he has fully repaid the mortgages he had with the state-run Bank of China after facing criticism from opposition parties about a potential conflict of interest. In his opening remarks before the House Health Committee on Tuesday, Mr. Champagne (Saint Maurice-Champlain, Que.) said he made the decision to refinance […]
Many Canadians with disabilities shut out of feds’ pandemic relief measures
The federal government recently announced a one-time, federal tax-free payment for recipients of the Disability Tax Credit, which intends to reduce financial barriers for persons with disabilities during the pandemic. This proposed bill failed to secure unanimous consent in the House of Commons for debate. In part, persons with disabilities are getting caught in the […]
Economic reconciliation can only begin when colonial practices are completely dismantled
NANAIMO-LADYSMITH, B.C.—Canada was built on the doctrine of terra nullius, the fallacy that when European settlers came to this land, it was empty and waiting to be “discovered.” From the outset European colonialism has excluded Indigenous people from decisions that affect their territory, their way of life, and their well-being. Since colonization, First Nations and […]
Hard-hit Indigenous businesses looking to recoup past gains post-pandemic
Indigenous businesses made up a fast-growing part of the economy before the COVID-19 pandemic, but were often hit harder than most by the resulting shutdowns. Now, Indigenous business leader Tabatha Bull says those businesses can play a big role in getting the country back on track—with a little bit of help. “We’ve seen some real […]
Investing in Indigenous conservation to create a more resilient economy
LUTSEL K’E, N.W.T.—Across Canada, people have done their part to reduce the threat of COVID-19 over the past few months. They have stayed home, observed social distances and supported medical workers. In Indigenous communities, many families have gone out on the land to further shield one another from illness. This shared approach to reducing the […]
Unions, Treasury Board in talks for public service’s return to workplace after three-month shutdown
Three months into the COVID-19 shutdown that’s seen government offices closed to all but critical workers and thousands of public servants working from home, union leaders say while there’s “no rush” to return to offices—arguing recent weeks have proven telework arrangements don’t hinder performance—they’ve been working closely with the Treasury Board to plan the re-opening […]
‘Politics as usual’: CERB bill failure suggests shifting tactics, say critics, though Canadians want co-operation amid crisis
Parliament’s first piece of stalled COVID-19-related legislation is part of the “natural evolution” in Parliament’s response to the pandemic, says a Conservative MP, while pollsters and pundits say opposition parties have to be careful in their approach, with Canadians preferring co-operation in response to the crisis. Since the pandemic shut down Parliament in mid-March, opposition […]
Inclusive and resilient global agriculture systems can address climate crisis and COVID recovery
Global hunger has been rising since 2015, and food producers are hardest hit. Erratic weather is making it harder to produce food. Gender inequality holds back women, who make up a large percentage of farmers in developing countries. And now COVID-19 is impacting producers and consumers alike. Canada has taken bold actions on the global […]
Advocating in unusual times
As government decision-makers craft policy and funding decisions at a rapid pace to keep Canadians safe and our economy healthy, government relations professionals and advocacy groups have been important voices informing, updating, and supporting Canada’s path forward during this unprecedented time. COVID-19 has left no business or individual unaffected and those in the government relations […]
