Fundraisers face tough challenge
OAKVILLE, ONT.—We all know how the COVID-19 “lockdown” has decimated the entire world’s economy. But what’s less appreciated is how the pandemic will negatively impact on the bottom line for Canada’s federal political parties. After all, as long as the virus crisis is in full swing, the Liberals, Conservatives and NDP are going to have […]
A view to the horizon after COVID-19
You too may have seen the many “before and after” photos showing how our collective response to COVID-19 has literally given us a clear view to the horizons of our various cities. Once this is over, I wonder if our view to the horizon will also be over. As a collective, a culture and a […]
Onus on government to hash out deal with parties for parliamentary sittings, says Conservative House leader Bergen
Conservative House Leader Candice Bergen says it’s now up to the government to accede to some of the proposals opposition parties have offered in negotiations to prevent all 338 MPs from returning to the Hill next week. “We don’t feel it would be responsible to have Parliament resume in a normal fashion,” Ms. Bergen (Portage-Lisgar, […]
Reliable funding for coronavirus research key in bracing for future outbreaks, say experts, former MPs
As the world races to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, and governments continue to grapple with the fallout of a global pandemic, Canadian researchers, experts, and former Parliamentarians say stable research funding for pandemic preparedness is crucial to respond to the current outbreak and prepare the country for the next one. Dr. Alan Bernstein, president and […]
A lesson in handwashing with little clean water
TORONTO—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been criticized in some quarters for failing to adopt an isolationist approach to the COVID-19 crisis. His critics who demand a singular focus on Canada are wrong. In 2010, I taught a lesson on handwashing in rural Lesotho, a poor and tiny landlocked sub-Saharan African country. That year, I finished […]
PROC to hear from House Speaker, clerk next week as it studies plan for virtual sittings
The Procedure and House Affairs Committee is planning to hear from the House Speaker and clerk next week as it fleshes out its study on the feasibility of holding virtual parliamentary sittings. Liberal MP Ruby Sahota (Brampton North, Ont.), chair of the committee also known as PROC, told committee members via teleconference on Thursday that […]
Essential front-line workers to receive temporary wage boost, says Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government is in talks with the premiers to provide a temporary wage boost to essential front-line workers earning less than $2,500 a month. In a move that follows steps taken by the Quebec government, which has added top-ups to the salaries of workers in long-term care facilities, Mr. Trudeau […]
We may not know when, but we can plan for the inevitable return to work
Here is a problem you might not know you have yet: we’re eventually going to return to work. Be it in the office or some version of what we had before. We can’t know exactly when, but we do know for certain it will happen, and it will certainly be different. For those of us […]
‘An added burden’: First Nations under water advisories speak of greater risks with COVID-19
First Nations under boil-water advisories face greater challenges following public health guidelines to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19, which is also causing construction delays in some communities that have been waiting years for clean drinking water. Many of the measures urged by public health officials to prevent COVID-19 are made more difficult in […]
China may have breached consular agreement by withholding access to detained Canadians since January
With no consular access for two detained Canadians since January in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, China may have breached a bilateral consular agreement with little power for the Canadian government to safeguard communication links with Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. Global Affairs told The Hill Times in an email that Canadian officials haven’t […]
