How Canada can ensure workplaces remain safe before marijuana becomes legal
Senators will vote next week on Bill C-45, the government’s proposed cannabis law. If the bill receives royal assent, recreational marijuana use will be legalized by this summer. When the government introduced Bill C-45 and Bill C-46–a companion piece of legislation aimed at cracking down on impaired driving–some industries raised concerns that the laws fail […]
Phoenix building and implementation an ‘incomprehensible failure, says auditor general
In a scathing report released on Tuesday, Auditor General Michael Ferguson concluded the department responsible for building and implementing the Phoenix pay system knew about all of the expected issues, lacked an adequate contingency plan, and still gave the project the green light. Calling it an “incomprehensible failure of project management and oversight,” the report […]
As bargaining restarts, largest federal union threatens to campaign against Liberals if talks go south
The Public Service Alliance of Canada has set bargaining dates for groups representing the majority of its federal workers to negotiate their next contract, and newly minted national president Chris Aylward says if the government doesn’t fairly negotiate, it will be more ammunition for PSAC to use, should they campaign against the Liberals in 2019. […]
Feds must act to protect nuclear workers’ pensions
This fall, 3,400 of Canada’s best and brightest nuclear workers will find themselves unable to contribute to their public service pension plans. In fact, any recently hired federal nuclear worker never even had the chance to do so. Hidden away in one of the previous government’s many omnibus budget bills was a provision that doomed […]
Oil and gas companies in limbo await decision on Arctic offshore drilling licences
Energy companies with active licences to explore Arctic waters for oil and gas expect an announcement from Ottawa by July that could spell the fate of their future in the North, after a year of consultations with licence holders were held following a December 2016 decision to freeze drilling in Arctic waters for five years […]
We’re moving forward on northern development
I believe three coordinating pieces are necessary for northern development to better proceed: governance evolution, social investment, and economic development. Reviewing the actions our government has taken so far during our mandate, I am pleased to see forward and positive movement on all of these fronts. In the governance arena, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and […]
Increase in longevity a remarkable success, but can also pose big economic, social risks
TORONTO—How much health care, education, and other public goods we value can we afford? It’s an important question for Canada as we face the challenges of an aging society and weak productivity growth. It’s certainly something each of our political parties should be thinking about as they prepare their platforms for next year’s federal election. […]
‘It’s nice to put it behind us,’ says Green Party leader Elizabeth May after being cleared on harassment allegations
Green Party leader Elizabeth May says she is “pleased” after bring cleared by an investigation into workplace harassment allegations, and that the party could put the controversy behind it. “To have the investigator find that the complaints were without any merit whatsoever, that is nice to put it behind us so it doesn’t float out […]
France at a crossroads as battle over Macron reforms intensifies
OTTAWA—Although Emmanuel Macron used a speech last month to the United States Congress to pointedly criticize American foreign and environmental policy, many will remember the French president’s glitzy state visit to Washington, D.C., above all for the chummy goings-on between him and U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump had made no secret of his affection for […]
‘This is a high-stress job that takes years off people’s lives’: MPs reflect on their own well-being after Gord Brown’s death
Conservative MP Tony Clement says his caucus colleague Gord Brown’s death is “just another indication that this is a high-stress job that takes years off people’s lives,” but isn’t sure MPs will meaningfully change their habits. “Every time someone passes away we say the same things to one another, you know, hug your family, strike […]
