Ethics commissioner opens probe into Grit MP Vandenbeld’s decision to robocall for husband’s municipal council candidacy
Liberal MP Anita Vandenbeld is now facing an ethics probe over the decision to use her position to campaign for her husband, according to the federal ethics commissioner’s office. A spokesperson at Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion’s office confirmed to The Hill Times that an “inquiry” has been launched on whether Ms. Vandenbeld (Ottawa West-Nepean, Ont.) […]
What’s in a name?: New polling association gets a moniker
The Canadian Research Insights Council (CRIC) will be the name of the new polling industry association that cropped up after its predecessor unexpectedly shut its doors. The association, composed of leading Canadian pollsters, adopted the standards of ESOMAR (formerly the European Society for Opinion and Market Research), an international polling association, which represents firms in 130 […]
More than half of Liberal MPs nominated for 2019; Wayne Easter unsure he’ll run
More than 100 Liberal MPs have been nominated for the 2019 election after meeting thresholds the party set for incumbents to go forward uncontested, edging the party closer to the Conservative lead for official candidates. Of the 182 Grit MPs, “well over a hundred” have received a letter from the party confirming their nomination, said […]
Government inaction is a roadblock to building a sustainable economy for Nunavut
“There is no relationship more important to this government than our relationship with Indigenous people.” How often have I heard that said in the House as the prime minister and his cabinet ministers rise to answer questions on Indigenous issues? Nunavummiut can be forgiven for questioning their sincerity. In Nunavut we share a vision that […]
Lobbyists court Senators to kill impact assessment bill
As the Liberals’ controversial environmental assessment bill makes it way through the Senate, stakeholders and activists are hoping to seize what they see as an opportunity to push the Upper Chamber to scrap or significantly change the legislation. Senators began discussing Bill C-69, the wide-ranging environment legislation that would put in place a new Impact Assessment […]
Successful rollout of leaders’ debates commission still up for debate
It seems there’s light at the end of the tunnel for the leaders of so-called fringe parties to get a spot on stage at next year’s leaders’ debates. On Oct. 30, Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould announced details about the creation of an independent Leaders’ Debates Commission, a task that’s been on her to-do list […]
Arctic Ocean ridge claim about ‘national pride’ as much as potential resources: expert
As Canada prepares its submission on the claim over submarine shelves in the Arctic Ocean, there are questions if there are resources on and below the seabed worth extracting, experts say. Canada’s claim will deal with two ridges, jutting out from Ellesmere Island at Canada’s northernmost point, crossing the Arctic Ocean—the Lomonosov and Alpha-Mendeleev ridges. […]
Grits should ‘stick to their guns’ on climate plan or risk losing message to Tories: politicos, experts
The Liberals should “stick to their guns” on their carbon plan and offer an “extremely clear” message with the tax-turned-rebate frame to ward off “cash grab” attacks from the Conservative opposition intent on making it a wedge issue in 2019, say politicos and environmental groups. The Liberals need to have “a backbone” on a bold […]
Why the Conservatives are whining about the media
OTTAWA—It is that time in the pre-election season when the framing for the next vote kicks into high gear. None of it is original but that doesn’t matter because, like the first snowfall, it seems to be all new, as if it never happened before. For a couple of weeks now, both the prime minister […]
Trudeau’s Saudi-deal struggle: dollars and jobs, or credibility and integrity
OTTAWA—In the bizarre world of international espionage it would seem that foreign spy agencies are more bungling than Hollywood comedy characters Austin Powers and Johnny English. First it was the alleged Russian assassination attempt on a former double agent. According to the latest account from authorities in the United Kingdom, President Vladimir Putin dispatched two […]
