Feds hearing more from industry than environmentalists on pipelines, according to lobbyists registry
There has been a steady stream of lobbying activity related to pipelines lately, the federal lobbyists registry shows, and there are indications that pipeline proponents are getting the ear of government more than pipeline opponents are. Thirty-one communication reports for contact with government since Sept. 1 were shown on the registry when doing a search last […]
Jansen’s experience of harassment is unfortunately not unique
OTTAWA—This past week, Sandra Jansen stood in the Alberta legislature and recounted some of the awful and misogynistic commentary being thrust her way in recent weeks. As is well known by now, Jansen courageously called out some members of her own party, among others, for their sexist bullying and harassment as she prepared for a […]
Climate plans in focus as Ottawa gears up for December first ministers’ meeting
Federal government officials and staff have been busy discussing climate action plans with provincial and territorial counterparts ahead of a first ministers’ meeting scheduled for Ottawa in December. The hope is to finalize a pan-Canada climate plan, but “additional pieces” could be announced even before then. “There will essentially be, perhaps, some additional pieces that may come even before the […]
Political leadership needed to preserve precious prairie grasslands
Temperate grasslands are among the most endangered ecosystems in Canada and globally. For 80 years, the federal Community Pasture Program successfully restored and managed more than 800,000 hectares of native grasslands in Saskatchewan. These community pastures include some of the most significant remaining tracts of native grassland in Canada with high concentrations of species at […]
Newfoundland’s premier ‘optimistic’ about compensation negotiations for CETA
Newfoundland premier Dwight Ball was in town last week to remember the Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who died in the 100-year-old battle of Beaumont-Hamel. The official anniversary of the battle passed on July 1, but Mr. Ball laid down a wreath at the National War Memorial to honour those from his province who lost their lives. […]
Revisiting Keystone, not NAFTA, should be Trudeau’s focus
The Liberal government’s immediate offer last week to renegotiate NAFTA with United States president-elect Donald Trump was perplexing. Given our country’s reliance on the North American market for trade and the fact that more than $2-billion in goods and services a day crossed the 49th parallel in 2015, NAFTA is not something that Canada should […]
No time like present for Canadian agriculture
There is an old saying, “There is no time like the present.” Agriculture lives that out on a daily basis. These are interesting times for Canadian agriculture. The sheer diversity of agriculture in this country is astounding. As the House of Commons Agriculture and Agri-Food Committee holds hearings on the developing Agricultural Policy Framework (APF), […]
Spying on Quebec journalists exposes weak-kneed judges
MONTREAL—Connect the dots between Quebec’s police corps and the half-dozen or more investigative journalists who were put under surveillance over the past decade and you will find a gaggle of judges potentially derelict in their gatekeeping duties. In each of the spying episodes that have come to light over the past week, the police had […]
Politics This Morning: Norway’s royal couple starts Canada tour, with emphasis on Arctic relations
Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway are in Canada and will be visiting the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa at 2 p.m. They will be there to celebrate the opening of a Norwegian photo exhibit on the Arctic, compiled in partnership with Laval University, ArcticNet, Arctic Frontiers and the Royal Norwegian […]
Feds to serve up both good, bad news to weather looming pipeline storms: lawyer
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet have three weeks to make a final decision on the fate of one of the most controversial energy projects backed by the former Conservative government, the Northern Gateway oilsands pipeline from Alberta to British Columbia’s rugged northwest coast, as opposition rises to another pipeline that has faced nearly […]
