Canadian Digital Service challenged to digitize government by 2025
At just a little over two years old, the growing team at the Canadian Digital Service is busy thinking about an ambitious goal—how to make many government services available online by 2025. Just under a year ago, the federal government convened a group of Canadian industry leaders to establish economic strategies for the country, including […]
Despite majority support for a Canadian handgun ban, the politics of doing so may remain insurmountable
OTTAWA—There’s nothing like the gun lobby. Imagine if car manufacturers objected to the registration of automobiles because it was an infringement on the liberties of people with cars. Canadians are rightly reassured, however, that the obsession with these weapons here is nothing like in the U.S., where possessing guns is constitutionally guaranteed, and ownership of […]
Banning tattooed soldiers only scratches the surface of potential problem recruits
OTTAWA—What started out as an almost comical, albeit embarrassing, incident in Halifax has led the Canadian Armed Forces to once again amend their policy on individual service members’ deportment. This whole saga began last June in a Tim Horton’s outlet when a member of the Royal Canadian Navy was observed displaying a contentious tattoo on […]
OECD praise of ‘model’ skilled labour track system a rejection of anti-immigrant stereotypes, says Kwan
Canada’s high marks from an international organization for its skilled-labour migration system can serve as a rebuke against anti-immigration attitudes in Canada leading into the election, says the NDP’s immigration critic—an environment that is already expected to be ugly. “Canada has not only the largest in terms of numbers, but also the most elaborate and […]
New Indonesian envoy wants Canada to ‘expand horizons’ with ASEAN free trade deal
After Canada’s federal race is decided, Indonesia’s new ambassador says he hopes the country can revisit a free trade agreement with a bloc of 10 Southeast Asian countries that has been in discussions for two years. One of Abdul Kadir Jailani’s “main missions” in Canada will be to strengthen trade ties between the two countries, […]
Once the focus of patronage, wharves offer new value to shoreline communities
KAMOURASKA, QUE.—This village of 700 souls on the St. Lawrence river 150 kilometres east of Quebec City has many attractions: an award-winning bakery, good restaurants, boutiques, beautiful architecture, a tidal estuary, and a view of the mountains of Charlevoix opposite. It is no wonder Kamouraska is repeatedly named one of the most beautiful villages in […]
Global infrastructure gap the opportunity Canada has been waiting for
Canada is underperforming, but it doesn’t need to be that way. The issue is one of vision and leadership, but today we don’t have the champions we need to set out big ideas, or the skills to make them happen. This is the sad state of our politics. Yet there are big opportunities if we […]
Liberal lip service to peacekeeping didn’t live up to election pledge
OTTAWA—Aug. 9 was National Peacekeepers’ Day, and in honour of this momentous occasion Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted out the following message: “Canadian Peacekeepers put themselves in harm’s way to protect human rights, lay the foundations for peace, and help rebuild societies after war. Today, we honour them for their tireless work.” This sentiment certainly […]
Canada’s child care ‘crisis’ should be ballot box issue, say advocates, economists
Daycare in Canada has reached a crisis point, say some MPs, child care advocates and economists, who urge a conversation on a federally funded and developed system to address affordability and availability, and ultimately boost the economy through increased participation by women in the workforce. Part of the problem preventing political movement on a policy […]
‘In-depth’ understanding of Congress, Capitol Hill outreach to be part of MacNaughton’s D.C. legacy, say experts
When David MacNaughton departs his post as Canada’s ambassador to the United States at the end of the month, he will be remembered for the important links he made with Congress, say trade experts and politicos. In the midst of the precarious renegotiation of NAFTA with the volatile Trump administration, Canada shifted its eyes towards […]
