Liberals relying more on ‘omnibus’ bills to fulfil promises before 2019 election, say observers, critics
With the clock ticking down to the next election, the Liberal government is increasingly being accused of tabling “omnibus” legislation, as it puts forward big bills to fulfil its ambitious agenda. With 18 months left before the 2019 election is set to be held, and only around one-quarter of the promises it made to get […]
More data regulation needed as smart cities develop, say some experts
As the Trudeau government continues to review its private-sector privacy act, some experts are calling for a national data strategy to set the framework of ownership rights and usage limits around collected data. The issue was highlighted by the recent Cambridge Analytica scandal, said Brock University professor Blayne Haggart, but experts have been sounding the […]
Export essential to Canadian music publishers and songwriters
Canadian Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly will be in China next week on a trade mission that she says she hopes will expand trade relationships and open up a coveted market for creative industries. It couldn’t come at a better time for my music publishing colleagues and their partners in the sector. As a new report […]
Feds shelled out $1.1M to headhunters to search for government appointees in 2017
Eight departments shelled out more than $1.1-million in 2017 on headhunting services to make some long-awaited appointments as part of the Liberals’ new approach to filling executive posts, documents show. Those fees helped fill at least 48 positions, with the priciest searches through the Privy Council Office (PCO), which spent a total of $419,189, Infrastructure […]
Training needed to fill staff, MPs’ blindspots on lobbying rules, say insiders
Parliamentarians and their staff need basic training on lobbying rules to avoid scandals and unpleasant post-employment surprises, according to former politicos and insiders, who say many people are left woefully unprepared for the realities of the job. That responsibility could be taken on by the new lobbying commissioner to conduct training sessions on the Hill, […]
Without action, we will lose an entire generation of girls
This June, when it hosts the G7 summit, Canada will have five broad issues for the agenda, as set by the prime minister. One of these is gender equality and women’s empowerment. With less than three months until world leaders meet, the Canadian government has put out a social media call for Canadians to share […]
Former Liberal MP Don Boudria being treated for inflammatory disorder
Former Liberal MP Don Boudria is in good spirits despite learning last week a medical condition will keep him grounded and likely limping on Ottawa’s streets rather than headed to the Liberal convention in Halifax next month where he wants to be. “Anyone who’s seen me limping lately probably wondered: is Don Boudria becoming his […]
Supreme Court upholds Bruce Carson’s influence-peddling conviction
OTTAWA—The Supreme Court of Canada upheld the influence-peddling conviction against former prime ministerial adviser Bruce Carson, effectively ending a sprawling legal saga involving the upper echelons of the former Conservative government that played out during the last federal election. The court ruled in an 8-1 verdict released Friday that Mr. Carson broke the law when he […]
Agriculture minister most lobbied in February as trade, grain shipments topped industry interests
Lobbyists targeted Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay three times as often as his nearest cabinet colleague in February, as industry groups pushed trade interests and raised the alarm about a “crisis” in grain shipments, according to the latest lobby filings. Agriculture was the third-most popular subject lobbyists spoke to office holders about last month, with 373 mentions. Despite […]
Free my grapes: Dismantling Canada’s interprovincial barriers to trade
In June 2016, the Senate of Canada released a report entitled “Tear Down These Walls: Dismantling Canada’s Internal Trade Barriers,” which called upon federal and provincial/territorial governments to take priority action on removing internal barriers to trade. The Senate views this call to action as an opportunity to lay the groundwork for growth and prosperity […]
