Whither Canada in a stormy world?
It is timely, during our 150th anniversary year, to consider what Canada has achieved, and what our future holds, domestically and internationally. But given the issues facing the world today, the search for greater understanding is increasingly urgent. What is the role, the responsibility—and the opportunity—for Canada at a time when other nations, including some […]
Trudeau lobbied by universities during his cross-country tour
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was lobbied by four universities that hosted town hall meetings for him during last month’s cross-country tour, according to the federal lobbyists registry. Communication reports on the registry indicating contact with Mr. Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) were filed by the University of Winnipeg for Jan. 26, the University of Saskatchewan for Jan. […]
Unions want feds to cough up a $75-million Phoenix contingency fund
The three largest public service unions are calling on the federal government to earmark $75-million in the upcoming federal budget to create a Phoenix “contingency” fund for public service workers who continue to experience pay issues under the problem-plagued payroll system that launched one year ago. The unions say a contingency fund could help departments […]
Want to stop populism? Try universal basic income
LONDON, U.K.—There’s a new idea that might be the solution to runaway populism. Well, it’s not that new, really—it has been kicking around in left-wing circles for a least a quarter-century—but it has suddenly gone mainstream. It’s called universal basic income (UBI), and pilot programs to see if it really works in practice are being […]
Feds set aside $545-million to finance new contracts reached with big unions
After more than a year in office, the Liberal government has reached tentative agreements with several large bargaining units representing thousands of civil servants, though those without deals are signalling they won’t settle until they get exactly what they want. Alain Belle-Isle, a spokesperson for the Treasury Board Secretariat, said in an emailed response to questions […]
Science applied to organic agriculture helps all farmers
GUELPH, ONT.—Organic agriculture has far more in common than it has differences with non-organic agriculture. It is based on similar traditions and information flows both ways. Science applies to organic agriculture as much as it does to agriculture at large. Research conducted in unmasked biological systems, under organic methods, reveals relationships and interactions sometimes not […]
MPs get groovy at Global Citizen and Global Partnership for Education reception
Did you know just 14 cents a day could close the international education gap in developing countries? That was the pitch to Parliamentarians Wednesday evening at a candlelight cocktail reception at the Château Laurier, hosted by social advocacy group Global Citizen and former Australian prime minister and now Board Chair of the Global Partnership for […]
Department reveals there are 290,000 unresolved Phoenix pay cases
There are nearly as many unprocessed public servant pay issues in the queue as there are federal employees who receive their pay through the Phoenix pay system, departmental officials revealed today. A year after the first of around 300,000 federal employees began receiving their pay through the new payroll system, there are approximately 290,000 “unprocessed […]
Liberals accused of backing away from EI break after pledge disappears from mandate letter
Opposition MPs are accusing the Liberal government of reneging on a promise to temporarily waive employment insurance premiums for businesses hiring young workers after the pledge failed to appear on the revised mandate letter for the new labour minister. “It appears they have dropped this promise to small businesses and young people,” said Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre […]
Ottawa must be prepared to spend, back programs to foster Canadian talent: advocates
The federal government must complement investments in skills training with better labour market information and other tools to ensure Canadians can secure lucrative jobs in the modern economy, according to advocates. Namir Anani, president and CEO of the Information and Communications Technology Council, a self-described national centre of expertise for the digital economy, said that while Canada has […]
