Freelance interpreters await new contract terms, after PSPC’s proposed changes sparked concern
The final terms of the new contract for federal freelance interpreters, including those covering Parliament Hill, are still eagerly awaited, months after an advocacy association raised the alarm over proposed changes a rep says would put the future health and safety of interpreters, and the quality of their work, at greater risk. “If this RFP […]
India’s gesture of sending vaccine supplies to Canada suggests ‘long-range view’ of relations, despite irritants
India’s apparent acquiescence to strike a deal with Canada to send two million coronavirus vaccine doses amid heightened competition and demand for vaccine supplies could create an opening to broaden dialogue between the two nations, and may suggest India has a long view of the relationship, despite long-running irritants, say experts. “India has sort of […]
Potential candidates in four winnable Liberal ridings eagerly awaiting timeline for nomination contests
Would-be replacements for four ousted or departing Ontario Liberal MPs say they want to know when the party will release details about the nomination process for the next election. The four ridings include Mississauga-Malton, currently represented by Liberal MP Navdeep Bains; Brampton Centre, currently represented by Ind. MP Ramesh Sangha; Kitchener South-Hespeler, currently represented by […]
Vaccine panel’s advice on AstraZeneca use for seniors to evolve as new data comes, say public health officials
The federal vaccine advisory committee’s guidance advising against giving the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine to seniors, despite Health Canada’s approval for its use by adults of all ages, should not be read as “static,” say public health officials, dismissing concerns that the conflicting advice puts provinces and territories in a bind. “As they see more and more […]
AstraZeneca vaccine approval to give Canada ‘greater flexibility’ in distributing doses widely, says health official
Health Canada’s approval of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine on Friday will give Canada “greater flexibility” in distributing supplies more widely across the country once it starts to receive the more than 20 million doses on order, say federal officials. The two-dose AstraZeneca vaccine co-developed with Oxford University can be stored at refrigerated temperatures and has […]
Seniors Minister Deb Schulte names new operations director, Chike Agbasi
Seniors Minister Deb Schulte has promoted a new director of operations in her office, following Melissa Rumble’s recent exit to work for the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in Canada. A longtime Hill staffer, Ms. Rumble had been working for Ms. Schulte since December 2019. She worked for the Liberals in opposition—including on Prime […]
Premiers can ‘ramp up’ vaccination plans in coming months, says official
Federal officials signalled to provinces and territories Friday that more vaccines are coming in February, as premiers decried a looming shortage in stock. Maj. Gen. Dany Fortin, who is overseeing the logistics of vaccine distribution at the Public Health Agency of Canada, said as of this week, Ottawa has already delivered 124,800 doses of the […]
Amid ongoing ethics investigation against Ratansi, some Liberals eyeing coveted nomination in Don Valley East for next election
While five-term Liberal-turned-Independent MP Yasmin Ratansi is under investigation for alleged ethical breaches, some GTA Liberals are already testing the waters to see if they would have a shot at the Liberal nomination in the safe and coveted riding of Don Valley East in the next election. In interviews with The Hill Times, some Toronto […]
Canada reaches second agreement for early vaccines, could bring total doses to 417,000 by year-end
Canada will ramp up its coronavirus vaccine rollout next week with an expected 200,000 Pfizer doses set to arrive, while approval of a second vaccine—from U.S. biotech firm Moderna—could come also as early as next week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday. Canada has reached a second agreement for early doses of the COVID-19 vaccines, […]
New comms director, regional advisers for Minister LeBlanc
Intergovernmental Affairs and Queen’s Privy Council Minister Dominic LeBlanc has seen a number of staffing moves in his office of late, including welcoming Kelly Ouimet back to Parliament Hill to serve as his director of communications. Ms. Ouimet has been working in the private sector for the last decade plus. She was last on the […]
