China trade deal would be a boon for the Canadian economy
MANILA—Those who cheered last week when it looked like formal talks with China on a trade deal wouldn’t happen are misguided at best and malicious at worst. The future of NAFTA aside, Canada needs to make a deal. It’s true that Canada would be the first G7 country to venture into such an agreement with […]
Canada must redirect public financing away from fossil fuels
On Dec. 12, French President Emmanuel Macron will be hosting a climate change summit in Paris. The summit will focus on redirecting financing away from fossil fuels and towards climate solutions such as clean, renewable energy and green infrastructure. This will be an important opportunity for the Canadian government to make progress on two challenges: […]
Officers of Parliament appointment process should be similar to Supreme Court justices appointments, say opposition justice critics
The government should use the same process it uses to appoint Supreme Court justices to appoint officers of Parliament because it involves all federal political parties and stakeholders at the federal and provincial levels as well as legal stakeholders, say opposition MPs. “These are important players in our democracy,” said NDP MP Murray Rankin (Victoria, […]
Sports Minister Hehr plucks press secretary from his former Veterans’ Office
Sports and Persons with Disabilities Minister Kent Hehr, who found himself in hot water and fielding media questions last week, did so with the help of a brand new press secretary, Annabelle St-Pierre Archambault. Ms. St-Pierre Archambault officially started on the job as press secretary to Mr. Hehr on Dec. 4—the day before recent comments the […]
150 years of Canadian law: Canada’s former prime ministers weigh in
To mark the 150th anniversary of Confederation LexisNexis Canada commissioned Hill Times’ columnist Arthur Milnes of Kingston to research and co-edit—with distinguished academic Heather MacIvor—their prestigious coffee table-style book Canada at 150: Building a Free and Democratic Society which has just been released. Canada’s past prime ministers contributed essays to the volume. Some highlights are […]
Access to information reform a ticking time dud
In the grand scheme of broken promises—or commitments not being pursued—the Liberal government’s handling of its so-called reform of the Access to Information Act ranks well below dropping electoral reform and not balancing the budget, but still manages to get under people’s skin. “Government data and information should be open by default, in formats that […]
Canada is back? Not so fast when talking international science
Were the earth to be equipped with a collision warning system, the alarm would almost certainly be clanging incessantly. A plurality of expert opinion is now convinced that the health of the planet is deteriorating and that, as a direct result, humanity’s long-term survival is in jeopardy. Although some aspects of that argument have been […]
New lobbying watchdog could help bridge gap between her office and ethics commissioner’s, lobbyists say
Some Ottawa lobbyists have long advocated for the government to merge the lobbying and ethics commissioners’ offices to avoid confusion and improve coordination. While the Liberal government’s nomination last week of a new lobbying commissioner makes that prospect unlikely, some lobbyists say the appointee’s past experience working in the ethics watchdog’s office could help bridge […]
Status of government bills
HOUSE OF COMMONS Second reading: S-5, An Act to amend the Tobacco Act and the Non-smokers’ Health Act 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 […]
Lebouthillier’s comms director heads for Quebec, she recruits from Bibeau’s office
National Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier has hired a new director of communications and parliamentary affairs to work in her ministerial office after former director Cédrick Beauregard left to work for the Liberal government in Quebec. Bernard Boutin is Ms. Lebouthillier’s new communications and parliamentary affairs director, arriving straight from International Development and La Francophonie Minister Marie-Claude […]
