The cautionary tale of Harper
OAKVILLE, ONT.—Not long after my wife passed away, I received a kind and thoughtful note of condolences from former prime minister Stephen Harper. Yes, it’s true; the supposedly cold-hearted, emotionless, and demonic Harper actually did something pretty nice. So much for political stereotypes. In fact, as someone who has worked with Harper, I can tell […]
Senate compromise on government’s signature impact assessment bill would put maligned regulators back in charge on environmental review panels
Senators on the Environment Committee changed the government’s signature impact assessment bill last week to give industry regulators the majority of seats on environmental review panels, reversing a key clause in the bill that sprung from widespread criticism and distrust of the role those regulators had played in assessments under the previous Conservative government. Those […]
Trudeau needs to convince progressive voters that Liberals are the only antidote to a Scheer shift
OTTAWA—What is up with the CBC? I woke up to a shocking CBC headline last week. It was an analysis of recent provincial election defeats stating, “Not since the Great Depression have more governments been defeated on one PM’s watch.” The hyperbolic headline went on to state that if the Liberals lost the Thursday Newfoundland […]
Party leaders take on climate ’emergency,’ but climate loses
CHELSEA, QUE.—That wasn’t a climate emergency MPs were “debating” in the Commons last week—that was a political emergency. It wasn’t sparked by floods and fires, or by rising global emissions, but by the rising of the Green Party. After the Greens’ recent federal byelection win in Nanaimo, and its April break-through in Prince Edward Island, […]
Remains of old barracks, guardhouse focus of ‘significant’ archaeological dig on Parliament Hill
Two “significant” archaeological digs are ongoing east of the Centre Block building, focused on the remains of an old barracks building and a guardhouse that at one point served as Bytown’s first and only jail, uncovered ahead of the official start of renovations on Parliament Hill’s centrepiece building. “We found some interesting things. So, right […]
Trade Committee MPs tell U.S. lawmakers clock is ticking to ratify new NAFTA
Canada has reached a deal with the U.S. to lift the steel and aluminum tariffs that have been a sticking point for ratifying the new NAFTA. In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office announced on Friday that the two countries have agreed to eliminate the tariffs “no later than two days” from this announcement. In […]
DND data shows thousands given antimalarial drug that veterans are suing the feds over
New records show members in the Canadian military have received more than 15,000 prescriptions of an antimalarial drug that’s the subject of a lawsuit against the government and parliamentary study into claims of long-lasting harmful effects. And though the military says it’s too difficult to identify the individuals who took the drug, an opposition MP […]
Status of government bills
HOUSE OF COMMONS Second reading: C-5, An Act to Repeal Division 20 of Part 3 of the Economic Action Plan 2015 Act, No. 1 C-12, An Act to amend the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Act C-27, An Act to amend the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985 C-28, An Act to amend […]
Feds should make like a hiker meeting a grizzly and speak to, not fight with, Alberta
PRIDDIS, ALTA.—In one of his most memorable songs, the folk- and country-music icon Ian Tyson sang of Springtime in Alberta as the time of snow melting, cattle branding, and the land reawakening after a long winter. This year, springtime in Alberta also heralded the arrival of the new United Conservative Party government, which is bound […]
Green Party big on recycling faux-progressive status quo
OTTAWA—As the House finishes up its final weeks before campaign season kicks off, the Green Party is crossing every extremity in the hope that they are, indeed, starting to ride a wave. This is especially true as the Conservatives and Liberals drag each other in the media for attention—and eventual votes—and the NDP continues to […]
