Heard on the Hill: Liberal MPs throw down wager to international lawmakers, ex-journalist closes out decade as languages watchdog
An impromptu singing session by MPs last week has gone “viral,” leading to a friendly challenge to lawmakers overseas. On Friday, Liberal MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj (Etobicoke Centre, Ont.) uploaded two videos to his public Facebook page—one in English and the other in Ukrainian—showing several MPs, including himself, wearing vyshyvankas—a traditional Ukrainian garment—and belting out a Ukrainian folk song the previous […]
All politics is local, even in lobbying
When I first started out in political life I thought the local riding was everything. Having served as a senior political assistant at the federal level for Members of Parliament and senior cabinet ministers in addition to working for a United States congressman and provincial elected representatives, I have learned many times over that staying […]
Justin Trudeau, party brass set to gain more power over campaigns, policy under new proposed Liberal constitution
A ground-breaking new Liberal party constitution that would eliminate traditional party memberships and open the party’s doors to any person who signs up as a “Registered Liberal” also contains clauses that would give Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and successive leaders unilateral power to appoint a new national election campaign committee, as well as additional powers […]
Politics this morning: Department of Canadian Heritage gets procedural overhaul
Minister of Canadian Heritage Mélanie Joly announced yesterday that a number of significant changes have been made to the way business is done in the department when it comes to awarding funding. According to a departmental press release, these changes include: The Department of Canadian Heritage will from now on communicate proactively about funding it provides. This affects not just funding […]
Tory critic wants a reluctant CBC to hand over Panama Papers
The Conservative Party’s national revenue critic is calling on the CBC to hand over its Panama Papers data to Canada’s tax agency, something the Crown corporation is refusing to do. Ziad Aboultaif (Edmonton Manning, Alta.) says information coming out of a mammoth leak of documents detailing a global transfer of wealth into offshore accounts is […]
Irwin Cotler pursuing justice on a global scale
OTTAWA—“Where are they now?” is frequent question about former Parliamentarians. The answer for Irwin Cotler is that he is founding chair of the new Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, based in Montreal but national and in fact and international in scope. And not surprising. This human rights scholar and advocate of international note is both […]
More diverse House makes a better House
The long-awaited 2016 federal immigration plan was released last week laying out the total number of permanent residents that Canada will accept in the coming year. Meanwhile, it’s important to point out, as The Hill Times reported last week, that this is the most diverse crop of MPs in the House’s history. This 42nd House […]
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Provincial street names debate Re: “Bring the names of the provinces to the capital’s streets” (The Hill Times, Aug. 21). Interesting idea in the Aug. 21 Hill Times, but there’s a slight problem-you forgot the street between present-day Lyon and Bronson. It’s Bay Street-and unlike Bronson, it does go to Wellington Street. I should know: […]
‘He was the best boss around,’ says Benoit Sauvageau’s Parliamentary assistant Dacaire
Benoit Sauvageau’s six-year Parliamentary assistant says he was so shocked by his boss’s sudden death last week that he almost expected to see him come through the door and say hello. “He was so young. I don’t think I realize it to its full extent right now. I’m still wondering if he’s going to show […]
Benoit Sauvageau 1963-2006
Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe “My first thoughts go to his wife, Jacinthe, as well as her four charming daughters. I fully understand the pain that they must feel. Together, they built a marvelous family. For us Benoit was also a member of the family, a brother.” -statement released Aug. 28 Prime Minister Stephen Harper […]
