Eight little-known facts about Centre Block and the move
1. Senators living with the bees—The Senate of Canada Building, formerly called the Government Conference Centre, is set to have beehives installed on its roof, a first for federally owned buildings in Ottawa. Public Services and Procurement Canada is considering ways to make the honey harvested available to nearby restaurants. 2. Historic find—An original bench […]
Centre Block and the big move: By the numbers
10—The minimum number of years initially projected for Centre Block renovations to be complete, although some expect it to take longer. $771-million—The value of contracts awarded so far for Centre Block’s renovation. $863-million—The cost of renovating West Block to become the House of Commons’ temporary home. $269-million—The project cost associated with renovating the Government Conference […]
Macedonia: What’s in a name?
The Congo Republic, population five million, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, population 88 million, manage to share their name quite amicably. Russia and Belarus (White Russia) don’t seem to mind either. Sudan and South Sudan don’t get along at all, but their quarrel was never about a mere name. Whereas Greece and Macedonia…. After […]
It’s closing time: West Block and Senate Building move-ins pass halfway mark as the Hill readies for return
MPs, Senators, and the PM have all cleared out of Centre Block—with House officers among those on the move this week—as the West Block and Government Conference Centre get ready for the start of the new session. “Things are going well. We’re happy with the state of the building. … We’re looking forward to the […]
A PMO staffer and a former Chagger aide seek to flip ridings in 2019 votes
Rachel Bendayan will try, once again, to turn the federal riding of Outremont, Que., red, after winning the Liberal nomination over the weekend. Ms. Bendayan was the riding’s Liberal candidate in 2015, losing to then-NDP leader Tom Mulcair who held the seat from 2007 until his resignation last August. Mr. Mulcair defeated Ms. Bendayan by […]
‘There is not a bad seat in the House’: MP Casey reflects on 30 years since coming to the Commons
As the House may know, a couple of weeks ago I celebrated the 30th anniversary of my first election to this Chamber. I have been thrown in. I have been thrown out. I have been recycled. I have changed parties a few times. But I have had an incredible experience in this Chamber and to […]
The House is home to a lot of memories
OTTAWA—In the 1970s, anyone could walk into the Centre Block. Lately, it has become an armed camp. There’s no need for a lot of nostalgia—only recognition of how much things have changed. The ‘70s began with what was the biggest political cataclysm of the era: the FLQ kidnappings in Quebec, which led to police over-reaction […]
Senators flagged design flaw stalling Senate Chamber move-in two years ago: committee chair
Senators on a committee overseeing the transformation of the Government Conference Centre into their temporary home say nearly two years ago they flagged the issue that is now delaying the start of the next sitting. On Dec. 13, Conservative Senator Scott Tannas (Alberta) informed the Senate’s Internal Economy, Budgets, and Administration Committee that a Nov. 30 […]
Ministers Sohi, Rodriguez hire new political aides
Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez has a new senior adviser for Quebec-related files in his office: Audrey Cloutier. Previously a Quebec Liberal staffer, Ms. Cloutier officially started on the job in the minister’s office on Nov. 26. Mr. Rodriguez is the MP for Honoré-Mercier, Que., which is in Montreal. Until earlier this fall, Ms. Cloutier had […]
House officers’ union walks away from table amid ongoing labour standoff with PPS
Labour talks between the House of Commons security officers’ union and the Parliamentary Protective Service that employs them recently dissolved, with the officers walking away from the bargaining table, alleging bad faith negotiations. Roch Lapensée, head of the Security Services Employees Association (SSEA), which represents more than 200 House security officers, said the employer, the […]
