‘Doing democracy by Zoom just not the same as being there in the House’: rookie MPs missing out on parliamentary experience
Some of the 98 rookie MPs elected in the last election say they’re missing out on the cut-and-thrust of Ottawa’s parliamentary experience as Canada’s federal lawmakers, and a Conservative MP says if there’s an early election this could become “the forgotten Parliament,” the one during the global pandemic. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which the […]
Dedicated immigration team focused on ‘accelerating’ arrival of temporary foreign workers, says minister
Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino says his department has a dedicated team focused on speeding up the arrival of temporary foreign workers as farmers warn delays are impacting food production and the industry. Mr. Mendicino (Eglinton-Lawrence, Ont.) appeared before the House Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food on May 22 as part of its study of Canada’s […]
Feds’ proposal for national testing framework may invite pushback from provinces, but experts say standards ‘essential’ as economy reopens
As the federal government eyes the development of a national testing and contact tracing framework, public health experts are welcoming the commitment, saying it is crucial that it be drafted collaboratively, to ease any worries that Ottawa is overstepping its bounds. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) told reporters earlier this week in his daily […]
Party conventions, venue for preaching to ‘the converted,’ could be in for revamp as parties plan for coronavirus contingencies
The barnstorming of far-flung ridings, posing for grip-and-grin photo-ops, and holding glitzy fundraisers have all been abandoned in the face of the coronavirus. Large-scale party conventions could be next, as some parties are either working to prepare for scaled-back, virtual events, or choosing to delay their initial plans. The Green Party, which is in the […]
Ontario court’s failure to ensure safe, equitable access to sterile needles blow to prisoners’ rights
Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice recently released a disappointing decision in a groundbreaking case for prisoners’ rights in Canada. The judge missed the opportunity to ensure prisoners’ right to effective access to sterile injection equipment, a basic and evidence-based harm reduction measure that is essential health care for people who use drugs. This decision, which […]
Feds should use anti-racism strategy to tackle anti-Asian sentiments in wake of pandemic, say experts
Amid reports of a rise in anti-Asian racism driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, some advocates and critics are calling on the federal government to use its anti-racism strategy to respond to those threats, with experts saying it should redirect funds to more targeted initiatives. Avvy Go, a director with the Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal […]
Canada’s COVID-19 jobs recovery hinges on more insightful data
The months of physical distancing are beginning to pay off. Governments have begun to set in motion plans to reopen their economies. While our collective attention must remain focused on the health and well-being of Canadians, it is undeniable that we are in the midst of a job crisis unlike any Canada has seen before. […]
A digital vaccination scar for the 21st century
In the 1800s, smallpox ravaged the world. Fortunately, a vaccine had been developed that could protect individuals. This vaccine left a scar at the site of injection and identified the individuals as “immune.” As we look towards the future of the COVID-19 pandemic, unless the virus burns out or an effective therapeutic intervention becomes available, […]
Environment, resource development agenda among April’s top-lobbied files
COVID-19 is offering important lessons for Canada’s approach to climate change and the need for green programs to be built into economic recovery, say some of the groups lobbying the ministers focused on these files and pushing them to the top of the list during the pandemic. Over the last two months, Natural Resources Minister […]
Oil demand drop, renewable energy resiliency prompts calls for federal clean energy investment in economic recovery
Following recent evidence showing that renewable energy hasn’t shared the same fate as oil and gas, which have seen recent and dramatic drops in demand amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Green Party MP Elizabeth May is calling on the federal government to support the renewable sector over the beleaguered oil sands, with a number of environmental […]
