Pre-budget focus, Hill days sustain steady February lobbying
The budget and finance focus of much of the lobbying in February reflected the last-minute push for many groups to get consideration in the Liberals’ fourth and final budget of their mandate. Combined, the budget and finance accounted for 477 subject-matter mentions in the lobbying registry filings, leading international trade (391), health (349), agriculture (341), […]
‘Civil wars’ are ‘incredibly damaging’: Trudeau boots Wilson-Raybould, Philpott from caucus
After weeks of being hounded with allegations of political interference in judicial affairs, sparked from within his own party, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday expelled former cabinet ministers Jody Wilson-Raybould and Jane Philpott from the Liberal caucus, citing a breakdown in trust. Speaking to the national Liberal caucus in an emergency meeting on Tuesday […]
Who to watch in the Senate as legislative crunch looms
Senators will have the last shot at altering the government’s signature bills as time ticks down before the summer break and the election campaign that follows, and a majority of the votes in the Senate can, in theory, be swayed. The Senate has amended government bills at a greater rate than in the past in […]
‘He is in that kinda mood’: Wernick relays Trudeau’s concerns over SNC-Lavalin’s fate in phone call with Wilson-Raybould
The recording former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould taped of her Dec. 19 phone call with outgoing Privy Council clerk Michael Wernick, released publicly this afternoon, largely corroborates her account of that exchange. “The PM wants to be able to say that he has tried everything he can, within a legitimate toolbox, to try to head […]
Liberals on Ethics Committee defeat opposition parties’ motion to probe SNC-Lavalin affair
A week after the House Justice Committee shut down its probe of the SNC-Lavalin affair, the House Ethics Committee also defeated an opposition motion calling for it to examine the scandal that’s been hounding the government for nearly two months, and to invite former justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould to share more of her side of […]
SNC-Lavalin affair capturing Canadians’ attention, but no sign of shifting votes, pollsters suggest
While Canadians across the country are paying attention to the SNC-Lavalin controversy, it doesn’t seem to be shifting voting intention too much at this stage, pollsters suggest. But some of them and Members of Parliament say the issue could contribute to greater voter cynicism about politics, which may lead to some Canadians deciding to stay […]
Let’s not forget what sparked the SNC-Lavalin affair
OTTAWA—Almost lost in the media storm surrounding the resignation of former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould, sparked by allegations that she faced political pressure from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office, is the timeline of events surrounding the alleged infractions that sparked the controversy. Yes, we are all aware that Quebec-based engineering giant SNC-Lavalin was lobbying Trudeau’s […]
Bibeau a ‘surprise’ in ag role, but presents chance to ‘go to bat’ for sector, say observers
Marie-Claude Bibeau’s appointment as the new agriculture and agri-food minister came as a surprise to the agriculture community, stakeholders say, but they note that as an MP hailing from a riding full of dairy farmers, she has been a “good voice” for supply-managed industries. Ms. Bibeau was unexpectedly shuffled to the file on March 1, […]
Amid SNC-Lavalin lobbying, legalizing deferred prosecution agreements in budget bill raises questions about ‘timing’ and ‘undue influence,’ says ethics lawyer
The Liberal government’s decision to use a budget bill to legalize deferred prosecution agreements raises questions about whether lobbyists had “undue influence” on the government as it made the business-friendly legal change, says an expert in ethics law. The timing of the decision to use a fast-tracked budget bill to make changes while SNC-Lavalin stared […]
SNC-Lavalin affair ripe for opposition to capitalize on, say politicos, but Scheer, Singh poll numbers still flat
The SNC-Lavalin affair has hurt Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s approval numbers, but political commentators say it remains to be seen whether Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh can use the controversy to bump past the Liberal leader in the polls ahead of October’s election. Recent polling shows that Mr. Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) […]
