Some days, I hate Ottawa, the media, and the internet age
TORONTO—In the social media era—in our mad rush to judgment—people get ground up and spat out. Happens all the time. Happens too often. Ask Aziz Ansari, the Muslim comedian and author whose career now lies in rubble, because some nameless, young woman decided to punish him for what, in a saner world, could be characterized […]
‘No money’ to bring in missing-in-action military justice reforms, four years after being made law
The office of Canada’s defence minister says bringing languishing reforms to the military justice system into effect would require a “substantial commitment of time and resources,” and says the federal cabinet is working on the file, which was part of legislation passed more than four years ago. The office of Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan (Vancouver […]
Let’s not panic about trade deals
CHELSEA, QUE.—For too long, we have been told that free trade explains our wealth and success as a nation—and, that anything that threatens our trading relationships will lead to certain disaster. We will end up living in frigid cabins, deprived of coffee, burning cow dung to keep warm. There is some truth in this claim, […]
A look ahead at cannabis legalization in 2018
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau set off the countdown clock when he announced last month that cannabis would be legal in Canada by the summer of 2018, however there are still plenty of issues to sort out before Canadians can legally light up, and some that will linger even after that. Legislation introduced by the Liberal government […]
Lobbyists get ‘too much time’ in Senate committees, says ISG deputy ahead of back-to-Parliament meeting
Lobbyists have been given “too much time and too much importance” when it comes to gathering input for the Senate’s study of legislation at committee, says the second-highest ranking member of the Independent Senators Group, who is planning to raise the issue during a day-long ISG meeting on the Hill on Feb. 5. “We should […]
Morneau’s new budget can be a wild success: here’s how
OTTAWA—In response to staggering levels of wildlife loss, conservation organizations and federal parliamentarians of all political stripes have asked the Government of Canada to make nature a priority in the looming federal budget by allocating at least $1.4-billion for habitat protections. While spending on nature is a huge need, how any money is spent is […]
Public accounts, transparency, and the Aga Khan Foundation
TORONTO—Some $235,553,238 is a lot of money. It is the amount of money given by the federal government to the Aga Khan Foundation during the last five fiscal years according to transfer payments in the Public Accounts of Canada. Each year—in October more often than not—the public accounts, which are the audited financial statements of […]
Issues director exits Government House Leader Chagger’s Office
Government House Leader Bardish Chagger, who is also the minister responsible for Small Business and Tourism, is down one political aide, following director of issues management Chad Mariage’s recent exit. After a little more than a year, Mr. Mariage left the minister’s office on Jan. 12, according to filings on the conflict of interest and […]
“What’s your take on U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comment when, in a meeting with lawmakers about protecting immigrants, he reportedly called Haiti, El Salvador, and African nations ‘shithole countries’?”
Cameron Ahmad Liberal strategist “After a productive cabinet retreat in London last week, the prime minister addressed this during his closing press conference in response to a question from a journalist. “He began by taking the opportunity—both as prime minister and as the proud Member of Parliament for the diverse riding of Papineau, Que., which […]
May wants to see all-party women’s caucus tackle issues of sexual harassment, misconduct on the Hill
Amid the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May says she’d “love” to see the all-party women’s caucus tackle the issue of sexual harassment on Parliament Hill and plans to raise the idea with colleagues when the House returns next week. “Women in public lives could perhaps give women in other, less […]
