How to make lobby days more effective
Lobby days still play an important role in advocacy. However, meeting with 10 or 20 Members of Parliament over a couple of days can waste time, resources, and political capital if it continues to be done in the same old-fashioned style of who-you-know lobbying. Let’s look at a single week as an example: from April […]
Crown calls for substantial fine for Carson as illegal lobbying case enters sentencing phase
OTTAWA—Bruce Carson, a former adviser to prime minister Stephen Harper, should be handed a $50,000 fine for his “egregious” violation of federal lobbying laws prohibiting public officials from lobbying the government for five years after leaving office, his sentencing hearing heard Tuesday. Crown prosecutor Rob Zsigo argued that Mr. Carson’s activities after leaving the Prime Minister’s Office in […]
Justice Committee calls on Wilson-Raybould to clean up ‘hodgepodge’ Criminal Code
Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould is being called on by members of the House Justice Committee to table legislation that would clean up the “hodgepodge” of outdated and unconstitutional provisions in the Criminal Code of Canada. The longer such provisions of the Criminal Code remain in place, the more likely it is that judges and prosecutors to make […]
Trudeau’s tough talk on climate turns to timid tokenism
GATINEAU, QUE.—In the long, vainglorious history of politicians over-promising and under-delivering, the new Liberal carbon tax is in a class of its own. It is so modest, in ambition and timing, it will never drive the changes needed to mitigate the increasingly severe, and obvious, impacts of climate change. It is utterly inadequate to meet […]
Newspapers seek federal help, major lobbying push made in recent months
Canada’s newspaper industry has been making a push to have its concerns heard by federal officials on Parliament Hill in recent months, with goals that include more advertising from the government, more funding from a government periodical fund, and reforms to copyright law. Newspapers Canada has filed 14 communication reports with the federal lobbyists registry […]
Plain packaging lobbying persists as Liberals promise new tobacco rules
The Trudeau government continues to field lobbying pushes on a proposal requiring plain packaging for retail tobacco products in the wake of consultations that federal officials say identified strong support for the measure. The Liberals pledged during the 2015 campaign to require plain packaging for tobacco products in hopes that it would further depress smoking rates, […]
Canada needs more chemistry: bold leadership is needed to attract and win new investments
An effective innovation strategy should foster the development of products, services, and industries that can best capitalize on the natural resources and talent that already exist in our country. The chemistry sector has an outstanding track record in investment and growth that drives innovation. It employs a highly skilled and educated workforce and plays a […]
Horsemeat trade raises human health and animal welfare concerns
In recent weeks, the European Commission announced it will adopt stricter regulations on the import of horsemeat from non-EU countries, including Canada. These rules are unfortunately well justified. In fact, the measures taken may still not be stringent enough. As MPs this week debate the animal welfare bill, C-246, they should also direct their attention […]
Carbon tax keeps Liberals ahead
With Green Party Leader Elizabeth May leading the charge, there will be no lack of Canadians disappointed by the Liberal decision to stick with Stephen Harper’s targets for reducing carbon emissions. After all, to use a term that was dear to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in his days in opposition, he has the social licence […]
Liberals’ big promises to middle class will take time
TORONTO—The big Liberal promise to Canadians is that a Trudeau government will deliver rising living standards for the middle class. In last year’s election, the Liberals portrayed themselves as the champions to save the middle class. And in all their government messaging since winning the election there’s scarcely a government speech or press release that […]
