Security boosts rankle some Senators as they adapt to new building
The new Senate of Canada Building may be an “architectural gem,” but there were still a few lumps of coal to be sifted out last week as Senators returned from their winter break to the Upper Chamber’s new temporary home. Senators came back Feb. 19 for their first sitting in the new Chamber in the […]
West Block’s a billion-dollar beauty, but MPs, staffers say new Chamber has some kinks to iron out
When rookie Conservative MP Tom Kmiec stood up in the newly-renovated House Chamber in the West Block on Jan. 30 to present two petitions, he said he had some trouble catching House Speaker Geoff Regan’s eye. The lighting was too bright. “That’s the thing you notice first, the LED lights are aimed at us, they’re […]
Hill reporters push back against lack of access to MPs in West Block
Parliamentary reporters say they’re disappointed with the limited access they have to catch Members of Parliament for comment in the new West Block, and though they’ve brought their concerns to House security officials there’s no resolution yet. Their frustrations largely stem from MPs being able to take a back entrance to the House of Commons […]
Two House chambers? Time to consider it, MPs say
With the Centre Block beginning a decade-long rehabilitation, and an interim House of Commons Chamber now running in West Block, advocates of varying political stripes say the time is ripe to consider a second permanent House chamber. A parallel chamber would boost the number of people who could debate a bill, say proponents, and could […]
‘We don’t take decisions like this lightly,’ Hill’s 100-year-old elm tree could be chopped down as part of Centre Block renovations
PARLIAMENT HILL—Parliament Hill’s oldest tree could be chopped down in order to make way for the Centre Block renovations. A review is underway to assess whether it is necessary to remove the roughly 100-year-old elm tree, planted east of Centre Block by the statue of Sir John A. Macdonald, for the “construction associated with the […]
Adam Vaughan apologizes for ‘whack’ tweet
Liberal MP Adam Vaughan apologized for a tweet he wrote on Saturday saying to “just whack” Ontario Premier Doug Ford. In the tweet, the Toronto-area MP also misspelled his former Toronto city council colleague calling him Doug “Frod.” “So Frod’s gang could get folks upset over hurting Kindergarten students instead of being angry over the […]
Parliamentarians christen new digs
From the House of Commons curator, to the opposition lobby staffer, to the journalist who broke a national story, to the PMO’s Canada-U.S. relations team, every week, ordinary people are doing some extraordinary work on the Hill. The Hill Life is a new weekly newsletter sent every Friday focused on the people in front of and behind the scenes. […]
Paul Henderson gets House support for Hockey Hall of Fame honour
“Here’s a shot. Henderson made a wild stab for it and fell. Here’s another shot. Right in front. They scored! Henderson has scored for Canada,” legendary broadcaster Foster Hewitt exclaimed as Paul Henderson put Canada on top, clinching a 6-5 victory for the Canadians in the 1972 Summit Series against the so-called amateur Soviet Union […]
“What are your party’s legislative priorities for the coming months?”
Cameron Ahmad Liberal strategist “This year, it will come as no surprise that our priorities as a government are to continue growing the economy, strengthening the middle class, creating jobs, and investing in people across the country so they can succeed and build bright futures for their families. “In the House of Commons, we will […]
Centre Block: A history in photos
