Friends and former political foes turn out to see Bob Rae get lifetime achievement award
Ex-cabinet ministers and former provincial premiers of various political stripes gathered in downtown Toronto last week to fête Bob Rae as he received the lifetime achievement award from the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians for his long political career that has spanned party lines and provincial and federal jurisdictions. “My name is Bob. I’m a politician. I’m […]
How do we hold news media accountable?
OTTAWA—It’s hard to know how to hold the media accountable these days. It used to be one could cancel a subscription, or write letters to the editor that would actually be read. Nowadays, fewer people actually pay for their news. And even fewer people care about a letter to the editor when online comments are […]
PMO hires new issues adviser straight out of Finance Minister Morneau’s office
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office has recruited a new issues adviser to its fold straight out of Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s office. Chloé Luciani-Girouard marked her first day in the issues management branch of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on May 14. She fills a gap left by the recent departure of former PMO issues […]
‘Quite a few caveats’: Morneau’s vague, B.C.-only ‘indemnity’ arouses questions about a growing federal financial stake, economists say
Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s offer to financially backstop the $7.4-billion Trans Mountain pipeline expansion from delays created by British Columbia Premier John Horgan leaves a big question mark on how far Ottawa is willing to go to financially buoy the project—a move appearing increasingly necessary as costs for the project grow, economists say. Mr. Morneau […]
Senate can’t seriously play its complementary role of ‘sober second thought’ if Sen. Harder pigeonholes its power
PARLIAMENT HILL—The government representative in the Senate, Senator Peter Harder, recently contributed to the ongoing debate on the role of a modern Senate thanks to his discussion paper “Complementarity: The Constitutional Role of the Senate of Canada.” As independent Senators from different political backgrounds who both have a less partisan and more credible Senate at […]
Quebec survey respondents positive, pragmatic about ties with China
As Ottawa awaits the outcome of the NAFTA negotiations and amidst deepening tensions in United States-China relations, a new survey shows that Quebecers have views of China and the prospect of deeper relations even more positive than in the rest of Canada. Conducted by Qualtrics on behalf of a research team based at the School […]
Conservative ‘political shenanigans’ delay access bill review in Upper Chamber, says Senate sponsor
A sweeping 30-year review of the Access to Information Act is stalled in the Senate, raising some concern it won’t be passed before Parliament adjourns next month. Since December, New Brunswick Independent Senator Pierrette Ringuette, the bill’s sponsor and a former Jean Chrétien-era Liberal MP, said there was an agreement to send Bill C-58 to […]
G7 can’t exclude U.S., despite disagreements, say envoys
Diplomats representing G7 countries in Canada say the group can’t exclude the United States even if most members disagree with it on a growing number of issues, including most recently its decision to pull out of a nuclear deal with Iran. Senior diplomats posted to Canada from five G7 member states and the European Union, […]
Northern corridor research has ‘merit,’ say Tory politicians who want to see Liberal support
A dedicated trade corridor for the North and its closest neighbours would spur economic development for the country’s most remote regions, say Tory politicians who are frustrated with the government’s refusal to support a proposal that already has the endorsement of a Senate committee. But Transport Canada says money is already directed towards improving northern […]
Canada’s goals in upcoming Mali mission are murky
OTTAWA—Canada will send military resources to support the ongoing United Nations peacekeeping mission in war-torn Mali, the government announced March 19. While the exact composition of Canada’s contribution to Mali has yet to be finalized, it is expected to include two heavy-lift Chinook transport helicopters, four Griffon utility helicopters, and up to 250 personnel. The […]
