Demolition work well underway in the Centre Block
The renovation of Parliament Hill’s iconic building, the Centre Block, saw little impact from the outbreak of COVID-19, and demolition and abatement efforts are now well underway, particularly on the top floors, which are being stripped back to bare bones. Except for the official opposition leader’s office suites and the parliamentary restaurant, the fourth, fifth, […]
‘Six systemic crises’ confronting Canada, and politicians, policy-makers, health-care professionals need ‘systems thinking’ to tackle them, says public policy expert
Politicians, policy-makers, and health-care professionals have been too busy focusing on beating back the pandemic and trying to ensure Canadians are shielded from the worst of the economic fallout while there are six larger, systemic crises that have the potential to dwarf the trauma already experienced in this country if left unchecked, according to Irvin […]
Centre Block renovation estimates likely to land in new year, PSPC says work on track despite COVID-19
Cost estimates and timelines for the Centre Block building’s renovation, and for construction of the final phase of the underground parliamentary welcome centre, could finally come before MPs early in the new year, based on recent comments from the department charged with overseeing the project. MPs across party lines have repeatedly requested information on spending […]
Liberals ignoring promise for trade transparency as U.K. talks ‘commence,’ say critics
Opposition MPs say the Liberal government is ignoring an agreed-upon change that gives Parliamentarians more transparency over trade deals by not alerting the House of the start of trade negotiations with the United Kingdom after the top U.K. trade official said those talks have “commenced.” When the Liberal government was pushing for the rapid passage […]
New Senate art display is the first ever to feature Black artists
The portraits of past Speakers and monarchs—white man, after predominantly white man, aside from Queens Victoria and Elizabeth and two Speakers—have long decorated the halls of the Senate, but a new display is breathing new life, and representation, into the space. “I’m a firm believer that the arts are an international language, along with movement […]
Unanimous consent motion can restore committees in one swoop, but Trudeau Liberals could ‘monkey wrench’ effort, says NDP
The Liberals may not have the numbers in a minority Parliament to overwhelm the opposition’s push to revive stalled committee probes in the WE controversy and other matters, but parliamentary experts say there are a few ways they can “monkey wrench” the effort. With Parliament prorogued until Sept. 23, most committees are unable to meet. […]
Parliament failing to oversee Canada’s military
Parliament is supreme, limited only by the Constitutional separation of powers and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. But when it comes to the defence file, you wouldn’t know it. Parliamentary supremacy begets tremendous responsibility, and demands that Parliament exercise its oversight function, at least from time to time. However, Canada’s Parliament has, for years, […]
With thousands working remotely now and into the future, Hill neighbourhood’s pubs, restaurants, bistros feeling the crunch
The COVID-19 pandemic that’s gripped the globe for the last six months has hit downtown Ottawa businesses hard, including all Parliament Hill’s favourite pubs, restaurants, and food courts. The historic Fairmont Château Laurier closed its doors for the first time since 1912, the Métropolitain Brasserie shut down for three months, and revenue has been reduced […]
Parliament should label Uyghur persecution as genocide to foster global support against China’s human rights abuses, says former Liberal justice minister
Parliamentarians heard from activists during hours-long committee meetings last week who were calling for the Chinese government’s oppression of Uyghur Muslims to be acknowledged as genocide, and a former justice minister says Parliament is uniquely positioned to have a “distinguishable role” in condemning Beijing’s alleged behaviour to build an international partnership to counter China’s bullying. […]
‘It’s been better than nothing at all’: MPs settle into Zoom sittings, though some say more room for increased oversight
Several weeks into the virtual sittings set up in response to the pandemic, many MPs are comfortably settling into the routine of logging on remotely to probe the Liberal government’s measures, even as some say the arrangement falls short of the oversight needed for the biggest crisis in a generation. The House held its first […]
