Can Liberals meet the challenge of UNDRIP?
On May 30, a historic bill received its final approval in the House. It was particularly exceptional in that it was a private member’s bill impacting every aspect of federal government conduct in relation to the land, natural resources, and Indigenous peoples. It was even more meaningful in that the sponsor, NDP MP Romeo Saganash, […]
Nurses, the unsung heroes of health care, go beyond traditional roles
Last month, I attended the 16th Annual Awards of Excellence in Nursing, a celebration of both the beginning of National Nursing Week and the recipients of these awards. This year’s theme during Nursing Week was #YESThisisNursing, a testament to the constantly changing and expanding roles of nurses in Canada. It’s a theme that is especially relevant to […]
Minister Duclos promotes press secretary Gauduchon to director
Families, Children, and Social Development Minister Jean-Yves Duclos recently promoted his press secretary, Émilie Gauduchon, to take over as director of communications in his ministerial office. Ms. Gauduchon had stepped in as acting communications director after Mathieu Filion left Mr. Duclos’ office around mid-May, with the change soon after being made permanent. Mr. Filion is […]
Trump’s attacks put Trudeau in tight spot
A field of ruins. In the wake of this weekend’s Trumpian tweet storm, that’s what is mostly left of the fragile structure Justin Trudeau had painstakingly built to try to preserve Canada’s most important trade relationship. The fact that the prime minister did not have a hand in the demolition, or that the collateral damage […]
Loosen parties’ grip on backbenchers, say former MPs in sweeping, new Samara report
Many former parliamentarians grew increasingly disillusioned with the political process over their tenure as it became clear that protection of the party brand superseded their ability to make independent calls, according to a new study published Tuesday. In Flip the Script, a new report from Samara Canada, a non-profit organization that promotes civic engagement in […]
Bloc Québécois’ division helping make Quebec most ‘critical’ battleground for 2019: Greg Lyle
Upheaval within the Bloc Québécois, and the emergence of the new Québec debout party from its defectors, are helping make Quebec a “critical” battleground for 2019, says pollster Greg Lyle, and the province presents the “most interesting dynamic in the next election right now.” “In the past, people said, ‘Well, we have to watch the […]
New policy director in place in Status of Women Minister Monsef’s office
Federal Status of Women Minister Maryam Monsef has a new director of policy in place in her ministerial office, after Yanique Williams exited the International Trade Minister’s Office to take on the job as of June 4. Ms. Williams had been a policy adviser to International Trade Minister François-Philippe Champagne since June 2017, and before that was […]
Four years of Ford: PCs win majority after turbulent race
Ontario voters chose to take a sharp turn to the right, choosing Doug Ford, the former Toronto city councillor who rose to recognition amid his late brother’s turbulent run as the city’s mayor, to lead Ontario with a majority mandate. That brings an end to 15 years of Liberal governments, in a race filled with head-spinning […]
Wynne’s concession isn’t brave, it’s a clumsy cop-out
OTTAWA—Kathleen Wynne’s election concession some five days before Ontarians vote in their June 7 provincial election was the latest bizarre twist in Ontario’s crazy year of politics. Some members of Wynne’s team are framing this as a great selfless act that will liberate local candidates from the premier’s current toxic brand, potentially giving some of […]
Dairy farmers call Trudeau’s NBC’s Meet the Press comments on dairy in NAFTA talks ‘deeply troubling’
The country’s largest dairy association has penned a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, calling comments he made on Sunday to an American network news show suggesting Canada was making concessions on supply management in NAFTA talks “deeply troubling.” Pierre Lampron, president of the Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC), wrote: “The government cannot say that they […]
