Enforce the Veterans Hiring Act, says MP McCauley as committee finds former soldiers still underhired
Despite laws in place to ensure that military veterans get the first crack at federal public service jobs, a recent House committee report says there’s a lack of recognition by managers in the value of hiring vets and a need for clear targets to implement the Veterans Hiring Act, with a Conservative MP calling the federal […]
Last chance to lobby MPs sees June numbers shrink, with influencers eyeing the campaign season
The waning days of the House’s busy legislative calendar were coupled with an unsurprising dip in lobbying, but some were making the most of the last month with MPs in Ottawa before an extended break for the campaign ahead of an October election. With party platforms still being written, June was a good time for […]
Failure to move forward on Denesuline talks before conclusion of government’s mandate would be a significant step backwards: Sinclair
I was taken by surprise on June 19 when a delegation of chiefs, negotiators, and members from the Denesuline First Nations of Sayisi Dene, Black Lake, Northlands Denesuline, Fond du Lac, and Hatchet Lake held a press conference and public demonstration in Ottawa to bring attention to Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett’s recent decision to […]
Scheer fell hard for the Liberal conversion therapy trap
Conversion therapy is awful, a relic of a more ignorant and less tolerant Canadian society. It should be banned. The Liberal government, like governments before it, had plenty of time to make that happen. Over four years, the Liberals brought in landmark legislation to make a long list of reforms to the Criminal Code, via […]
The grandparent, parent visa process is overdue for streamlining
Canada has a family reunification program under which citizens and permanent residents can sponsor family members, including parents and grandparents, for immigration. The Liberal government has been committed to this program and, in line with it, an election pledge doubled the number of entry applications for parents and grandparents visa to 10,000 a year from […]
Don’t let the good vibes from Ukraine reform conference fade
The third Ukraine Reform Conference held in Toronto July 2-4 was a confirmation of Ukraine’s forward momentum despite fighting Russia’s war. Some 40 countries and international institutions participated. Yet Ukraine, and others are concerned that some members are sabotaging their own efforts. It would be a huge strategic loss were Russia to succeed in recapturing […]
Majority of Canadians may support TMX, but the project remains an electoral risk for Liberals: pollsters
Recent polls may indicate a majority of Canadians support the government’s plowing ahead with the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project, but with further opposition actions expected, experts say the best Liberals can likely hope for is to not lose too many progressive voters. “It’s very unlikely that it’s going to help them win support anywhere […]
Lack of Inuit language supports a key concern for advocates 20 years after Nunavut formed
Twenty years after legislators carved out Nunavut from the Northwest Territories as a new, majority-Inuit territory, advocates say Ottawa must do more to protect and enhance language and culture to live up to that vision. One of the main objectives in forming Nunavut was to create a homeland north of 60 for Inuit—who represent 85 […]
Honouring our fallen is a noble exercise—but so is questioning the fight
OTTAWA—Back in mid-May, the Department of National Defence blew up a media storm of controversy when they held a private dedication ceremony for what had become known as the Kandahar cenotaph. Three days after the May 13 dedication, DND simply posted up some photos on social media, alerting people to the fact that there had […]
Opposition MPs skirt top soldier, place blame for DND ‘chaos’ on Trudeau, Sajjan
Opposition MPs are pointing the finger at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan for their “mismanaged” military leadership, which has created “instability” among the DND leadership. The Conservatives say the directions coming from Mr. Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) and Mr. Sajjan (Vancouver South, B.C.) has created “turmoil” in the Canadian Forces. “We have […]
