Federal laws on toxic chemicals not serving consumers
Six years ago, I started Beautycounter, a skincare and cosmetics brand, because I learned that the personal-care industry was largely unregulated. As a mother and consumer, I wanted to ensure that the products I was putting on myself and my children were safe. Beautycounter pledges to do things differently by formulating skin-care and cosmetic products […]
New agriculture minister Bibeau most lobbied in first month on the job
In her first month as Agriculture Minister, Marie-Claude Bibeau was the most lobbied in cabinet, according to March filings in the federal lobbying registry. In meetings spread throughout the month, she spoke to 17 different groups and was mentioned in 19 reports. It continues the trend of Ms. Bibeau (Compton-Stanstead, Que.) meeting with more organizations […]
‘Worrying’ transparency gap in sponsored travel, say critics after lobbying czar report
Canada’s reporting system for sponsored parliamentary travel creates a “gap in transparency,” making it difficult to know whether lobbying happened on the trips, or afterwards, according to a new report from Lobbying Commissioner Nancy Bélanger. Her office launched an investigation into 19 corporations and organizations that paid for 334 MP and Senator trips between 2009 […]
If businesses want to stop being seen as the enemy, they need to up their advocacy game
OTTAWA—Last week, The Globe and Mail brought to life the story of a number of oil industry leaders who had met in Alberta with Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer and senior Conservative activists. According to the reportage, the purpose of the meeting was to discuss how the Conservatives and some in the oil sector might go […]
A nice day for a Green wedding: Elizabeth May ties the knot on Earth Day
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May wed John Kidder over the holiday weekend in Victoria, B.C. Ms. May, a first-time bride, met Mr. Kidder when he ran as a Green Party candidate in the 2013 B.C. provincial election and they soon became friends. Following the Green Party convention last September, the two became romantically involved. The […]
How Senate can work across party lines to stop the marketing of junk food to children
The crops grown by Canadian farmers and the livestock they raise are of the highest quality. In many cases, however, when these healthy foods are industrially processed, harmful amounts of salt, sugar, and saturated fat are added. Consumption of excessive quantities of these nutrients of concern are known to contribute to high blood pressure, cardiovascular […]
When making transport policy, don’t forget how it affects company vehicles
From changing environmental and transportation policies to the intense NAFTA renegotiation, the past few years have been a roller-coaster ride for the auto industry and fleet managers. The federal government is in the process of developing some very important policies for the ever-evolving transportation sector. Last year, Transport Canada released its Transportation 2030 strategy, which […]
‘I’m a pretty impatient minister’: Champagne says he’d like infrastructure money doled out faster, but feds are improving
The federal government has responded to concerns about infrastructure money not getting out the door fast enough, says Infrastructure Minister François-Philippe Champagne. The process can always be improved, and while some delays have been out of federal hands, Mr. Champagne (Saint-Maurice-Champlain, Que.) said, he’s overseen some changes since coming to the job last summer that […]
SNC-Lavalin nuclear contracts at risk if it’s convicted
If SNC-Lavalin is denied a deferred prosecution agreement and is convicted of fraud and corruption, this could prevent the engineering company from bidding on federal government contracts in Canada. But it could also jeopardize its current and future contractual obligations with Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), power producers Bruce Power, China National Nuclear Corp., […]
Liberals name ‘totally independent’ corporate watchdog, but aren’t ready—yet—to give promised powers to compel testimony
Trade Minister Jim Carr unveiled the government’s choice on Monday to fill the corporate-ethics watchdog job announced more than a year ago, but the details of how independent and powerful the new Corporate Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise were left up in the air, drawing fierce criticism from a human-rights advocacy network closely following the file. […]
