Canada should heed lessons from Israel to become global innovation leader
Canada is by no means alone in seeking to boost innovation. But our country does have undeniable and enviable—potential to be a true global leader in research, development, and entrepreneurial thinking. To realize that potential, we need to invest in all aspects of innovation, including fundamental research. We also need to take every opportunity to […]
The government’s ‘air traffic controller’: peeking behind the curtain of the PCO
It’s the department that never sleeps. The Privy Council Office could be described as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s department, and Clerk Michael Wernick as his deputy minister. One of the most important government bodies, it advises Mr. Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) and his cabinet, and co-ordinates the public service to implement the government’s agenda. Housed within […]
Kudos to Trudeau for education funding
Full kudos goes to Justin Trudeau’s Liberals for their recent pledge to the Global Partnership for Education of $180-million over three years. This couldn’t have come at a better time, with United States President Donald Trump’s recent slashing of more than half of America’s funding to the United Nations agency that runs schools for Palestinian children. […]
Good grievance! Treasury Board wading through more than 4,000 Phoenix-related complaints
The Treasury Board Secretariat has been hit with more than 4,000 individual complaints from government employees related to the Phoenix pay system, an amount that a labour relations expert says could be a slog to wade through. Kevin Banks, a Queen’s University labour relations law professor, said payroll grievances are “pretty straightforward” but the amount […]
Green Party launches investigation into Elizabeth May after Hill Times, Toronto Star report on allegations of workplace bullying
The federal Green Party has launched an investigation into allegations of workplace bullying against party leader Elizabeth May after former party employees came forward to The Hill Times and Toronto Star to accuse the veteran politician of being verbally abusive and creating a hostile work environment. Speaking to reporters in Centre Block on Monday, Ms. May (Sannich-Gulf Islands, […]
Are we facing the end of jobs?
The Canada Service Corps is to be the new youth service program to help instil a sense of service, community, and work ethic among young people. The program announced by Prime Minister (and Youth Minister) Justin Trudeau is an old idea coming back that will have new urgency in a rapidly evolving world. And the […]
Public service needs better data to measure diversity, says task force
Planning the future of diversity in the public service is not possible with out-of-date data, leaving certain groups unintentionally sidelined, a joint task force studying equity initiatives found, after a months-long examination of inclusion and diversity in the public service. In its final report released Dec. 11—Building a Diverse and Inclusive Public Service—the joint union-management […]
Summer jobs program anti-abortion clause is a crock of Liberal nonsense
OTTAWA—When Justin Trudeau’s government was elected in late 2015, one of the things the then incoming prime minister signalled was there would be a change in tone and approach: a lot less smash-mouth wedge-type politics that typified the Harper era. So it has taken many by surprise to see the Canada Summer Jobs program become […]
NAFTA leaves workers coming up short
While NAFTA talks continue in Ottawa, very little focuses on its impacts on working people. Before committing to any agreement, we need to ensure that Canadians’ lives and our communities have been improved by this trade relationship. Twenty-three years ago when NAFTA was originally negotiated by the Mulroney Conservatives, they tried to sell Canadian workers […]
Chief trade promoter embodies work-life, public-private balance
Ailish Campbell’s eight-year-old son tells his friends his mom sells bread and airplanes. And he’s not totally wrong—wheat and aircraft are two of Canada’s largest exports. As Canada’s chief trade commissioner, Ms. Campbell travels about one week per month promoting Canadian business, helping Canadian exporters, and attracting foreign investment. “I’m like, ‘okay cool, on some […]
