House of Commons is back for five busy, brisk, and bustling weeks
MONDAY, APRIL 17 House Sitting—The House returns on Monday, April 17. It will sit for five consecutive weeks (April 17-May 19). It will adjourn on Friday, May 19, for one week and will return again on Monday, May 29, and will sit for four consecutive weeks (May 29-June 23). It’s scheduled to adjourn for the […]
Minority Parliaments can work
There was one positive: two parties worked together on the federal budget, which is refreshing in these toxic political times.
Propping up Parliament: inside plans to stabilize Centre Block
To install seismic upgrades and connect the underground Parliament Welcome Centre to the historic building, workers will be digging some 23-metres below most of Centre Block’s foundation.
Management of Hill reno gets thumbs up from AG, but faster choices needed
As of July 2022, PSPC has spent $880.7-million out of an estimated $4.5-billion to $5-billion on renovating Centre Block and constructing the final phase of the Parliament Welcome Centre.
AG Hogan to deliver four audits on March 27, including one on Centre Block’s massive renovation project
MONDAY, MARCH 27 House Sitting—The House is sitting until March 31. It will break again for two weeks and will return on Monday, April 17, and will sit for five consecutive weeks (April 17-May 19). It will adjourn on Friday, May 19, for one week and will return again on Monday, May 29, and will […]
Wellington Street reopening date still up in the air
Planning to reopen the street and install temporary bike lanes ‘is nearing completion and staff are now in the process of developing an implementation plan,’ says the city’s traffic services director.
Translation Bureau to hire new interpreter well-being director
The new director is part of the bureau’s response to a Feb. 1 ruling by the federal Labour Program that it failed to protect its workforce amid a hybrid Parliament.
Time to put a stop to workplace injuries plaguing interpreters
While the Translation Bureau has committed to implementing the recommended measures and to exercising more vigilance when it comes to protecting their interpreters’ health and safety, there is dire need for all meeting participants to do their part as well.
U.S. President Biden comes to Ottawa March 23-24
MONDAY, MARCH 20 House Not Sitting—The House will return on Monday, March 20, and will sit for two weeks (March 20-March 31). It will break again on Friday, March 31, for two weeks and will return on Monday, April 17, and will sit for five consecutive weeks (April 17-May 19). It will adjourn on Friday, […]
Empowering MPs means strengthening Canadian democracy
What Canada needs is a re-engagement and recalibration of the role of the MP, rooted not so much in a drastic change in formal powers as much as it is a respect for the powers that they already have. Surveys of former parliamentarians commonly express the fact that, in contrast to the well-organized, staffed, and funded Office of the Prime Minister, MPs enter office with little training or understanding of their role—outside of toeing the party line—and how they can affect change.
