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 […]
Senate playing catch-up on Centre Block renovation plans, but Red Chamber’s footprint to remain untouched
After a slow start to the year, Senators are playing catch-up on proposed plans for the Centre Block building’s renovation and construction of the final Visitors’ Welcome Centre, with the Upper Chamber’s oversight subcommittee still being formed, but Alberta Senator Scott Tannas says he thinks so long as it gets underway soon, Senators will still […]
Gun control ends don’t justify the order-in-council means
OTTAWA—On May 1, the prime minister and cabinet announced the government would ban the sale of 11 “military-style” weapons, in 1,500 versions. The response from most Liberals was enormous satisfaction at this “swift, courageous measure.” Except from this corner. Now, as regular readers know, I support some gun control. In a 2018 column, I wrote, […]
PSPC further scales back construction projects, but work on Centre Block continues
Public Services and Procurement Canada has further scaled back ongoing construction work on a range of federal projects since Ontario announced its moratorium on construction in the province, but renovations to the historic Centre Block building continue to crawl ahead. “Based on our own assessments, we had started to demobilize some sites ahead of the […]
Presence of backbench MPs, cross-Canada representation restricted during in-person House sittings amidst physical distancing
With reduced numbers of MPs sitting in the House amidst the coronavirus pandemic, the presence of backbenchers and equitable geographic representation has been constrained in three sittings since the pandemic hit Canada. In normal times, backbench MPs make up the largest portion of the House of Commons, but in three sittings since the House was […]
