Lobbyists mobilize to remind U.S.: shutting out Canada means hurting Americans
Canada’s pro-trade lobbyists are getting ready to play defence following the election of future president and NAFTA-basher Donald Trump. Industry associations are already in talks with United States allies and Canadian officials to make sure the new American political leadership hears loud and clear: shutting out Canada will cause pain on both sides of the […]
It’s time for a civilian review of the military justice system
OTTAWA—Recently, the Office of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) announced that it is launching consultations as part of a comprehensive review of the court martial system, the centrepiece of the military justice system. We agree that this system is in dire need of a major overhaul because when compared with the civilian justice system there are a […]
Government determined to pass bills on budget implementation, CPP, debate trade deals in next five weeks
Tension over the federal government’s bills to implement budget measures, Canada Pension Plan changes, and trade deals could flare up as the government pushes to pass a good chunk of measures in the final five-week stretch before the House breaks in December. Two absolutes to get through before MPs leave for more than a month-long break from […]
Carson sentence prompts critic to urge steeper fines, but lobbyists say the system works
An ethics critic is calling for a review of the penalties in the federal Lobbying Act after former prime ministerial aide Bruce Carson was slapped with a $50,000 fine last week for lobbying while under the five-year cooling-off period, an amount significantly less than the six-figure salary he earned for his work. But several lobbyists say […]
Mighty Ontario moose need our help to survive
TORONTO—The World Wildlife Fund predicts the mass extinction of numerous animal species unless humankind mends its ways. That’s the bad news. Ontario’s environment commissioner has highlighted the moose as one such species under threat. But she has suggested a few modest ways to slow that trend. That’s the not-quite-so-bad news. The World Wildlife Fund’s apocalyptic […]
As Bruce Cockburn sang, the trouble with normal is it always gets worse
POWELL RIVER, B.C.—It’s amazing what we gradually accept as normal—even admirable—in how we treat each other in Canada. Practices that were once seen as a repugnant surrender to government indifference, like food banks, are now virtually celebrated as a high point of citizen engagement and promoted as such by our public broadcaster once a year. […]
Ex-PMO aide Bruce Carson fined $50,000 for illegal lobbying
Bruce Carson, a former adviser to prime minister Stephen Harper, has been fined $50,000 for illegal lobbying. Justice Catherine Kehoe with the Ontario Court of Justice delivered the ruling in an Ottawa courthouse Friday morning. Mr. Carson, who served in the prime minister’s office from 2006 to 2008, and briefly in 2009, was found guilty earlier this […]
Lobbying commissioner Karen Shepherd won’t seek another term
Lobbying commissioner Karen Shepherd is stepping down after more than eight years in office. Ms. Shepherd told The Hill Times on Oct. 27 that she would not seek reappointment when her current term expires at the end of December. She made the remarks following a presentation to the House Access to Information, Privacy, and Ethics Committee, where she singled […]
‘Pay-for-access’ fundraisers: Liberal MP opens door to changing Conflict of Interest Act, NDP may table own bill
As the barrage of criticism of the Liberals for so-called pay-for-access fundraisers continues, one Liberal MP says the House Ethics Committee may be interested in studying changes to the Conflict of Interest Act, while the NDP’s ethics critic says the party is considering proposing its own change to the act. Opposition MPs are calling on the Liberals to legislate […]
Lobbying activity jumps in September, environment most lobbied subject
Federal lobbying activity surged in September as MPs returned to Ottawa and the environment was the most lobbied subject. Lobbyists filed 1,605 communication reports for contact they had in September with public officers holders—ranging from politicians and their staff to high-level bureaucrats—according to figures on the registry last week. That was up more than 50 per […]
