Calgary Olympics rejection ought to be a sign to Olympic Committee to retool
What a difference nine years makes. Almost nine years ago, Canada was alive with excitement for Vancouver 2010. It’s perhaps now the last-ever Winter Olympics for our country given the clear instruction the citizens of Calgary just gave to their municipal government on whether Cowtown should bid on the 2026 games. They said emphatically no. […]
Bill Morneau to talk fall economic update at the Economic Club
Finance Minister Bill Morneau will be speaking at the Economic Club of Canada on Nov. 22 following his tabling of the fall economic statement the day prior. The CBC reported that Mr. Morneau is unlikely to match U.S. President Donald Trump’s corporate tax breaks in his fall update, and expects to reaffirm his message that […]
Women’s rights: we still have far to go
OTTAWA—After hockey the other night, one of my fellow old-timers complained about the demand for gender equality on boards of directors. He pointed out his organization is composed of engineers, and given directors are normally fairly senior people, they would have to be drawn from people who graduated a few decades ago. However, he noted […]
Security and Intelligence Committee members should be more actively monitored in wake of Clement scandal: Green Party leader
A national security expert and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May say that in the wake of former Conservative MP Tony Clement’s sexting scandal, members of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, of which he was a member, should submit to having their online activity, including their private social media exchanges such as direct […]
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 […]
Bill C-59 empowers our national security agencies by respecting our rights and freedoms
Debate on Bill C-59, the National Security Act, has begun in the Senate, and the position of its opposition critics is already clear: Bill C-59 will weaken national security. They make two general claims. First, that the new system of oversight and review will impose a burden on our intelligence and security agencies and do […]
PSAC asks for 3.75 per cent pay hike, as contract talks kick into high gear
The largest federal public service union is asking for a 3.75 per cent annual raise for its four largest bargaining groups as it negotiates a new three-year contract with the government—more than their opening bid in the last round of contract talks. In 2014, the Public Service Alliance of Canada asked for a three per […]
Procurement update: fighter jet replacement still a problem for feds, say experts, auditor general
The plan to replace Canada’s aging fleet of fighter jets has been a failing of both the Harper and Trudeau governments, say defence procurement observers. And, according to the federal auditor general, even if the planes are purchased, it will be tough to get them off the ground without enough pilots. “Successive governments haven’t really […]
Pulling out of Mali in July could leave UN in ‘lurch,’ says peacekeeping expert
With the federal government doubling down on its commitment to leave the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali next summer, a Canadian peacekeeping observer says Canada is undermining the UN by withdrawing from its post in Mali before a replacement is deployed. Since the beginning of August, about 250 Canadian soldiers have been stationed in […]
Budget bill’s Copyright Act changes undermine committee’s ongoing review, say critics
The Liberals’ decision to include changes to the Copyright Act in the year’s second budget implementation bill has effectively “castrated” the ongoing statutory review of the law, says NDP MP Brian Masse, vice-chair of one of the two committees engaged in the study. Bill C-86, clocking in at 854 pages, includes changes to intellectual property […]
