Opposition MPs declare ‘war’ over feds’ efforts to ram through sweeping changes to House rules, ‘we’re filibustering to protect the right to filibuster’
PARLIAMENT HILL—Opposition MPs spent nearly 15 hours in the basement of Centre Block on Tuesday, holed-up in a committee meeting room filibustering the Liberal government’s attempt to expedite a study on possible sweeping changes to how the House of Commons rules, and the saga is set to continue on Wednesday too. After going through much of […]
Bernier’s national membership chair MP Nuttall was accused of membership fraud in 2010
Amid unproven allegations that Maxime Bernier’s leadership campaign fraudulently signed up members, which Mr. Bernier denies, The Hill Times has learned his membership chair was accused of using similar tactics in 2010. Conservative MP Alex Nuttall (Barrie-Springwater-Oro Medonte, Ont.) was one of the first MPs to support Mr. Bernier’s (Beauce, Que.) leadership for the Conservative Party. Mr. Bernier […]
Information czar barely keeping up with complaints, despite 30 per cent budget boost to battle backlog
Canada’s information commissioner has barely managed to put a dent in the backlog of complaints about the government’s handling of access to information requests, despite receiving a 30 per cent budget increase for that purpose earlier this year, statistics from the commissioner’s office show. It hasn’t been for lack of trying; the office of commissioner Suzanne Legault […]
Senators Meredith, Beyak textbook examples of communications gone wrong: Powers
OTTAWA—For a second week in a row, my focus is going to be on the Senate. Not for some of the good work they have done recently on challenging bills that have come from the House of Commons or initiating reform to end genetic discrimination. No, instead it is to look at two bad apples […]
Bigger workload, shorter timelines a growing ‘burden,’ says PCO
New priorities created by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his ministers have put the public service’s hub of support for the cabinet under growing strain, according to its annual report. An “increased workload and shorter timelines means an increasingly heavy burden on existing resources and expertise,” says a section of the Privy Council Office’s (PCO) […]
Status of government bills
House of Commons S-2, Strengthening Motor Vehicle Safety for Canadians Act (second reading) C-5, An Act to Repeal Division 20 of Part 3 of the Economic Action Plan 2015 Act, No. 1 (second reading) C-7, An Act to amend the Public Service Labour Relations Act, Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board Act, and others […]
Opposition MPs filibuster House Affairs Committee over Trudeau government’s ‘despicable attempt’ to change way House works
PARLIAMENT HILL—Opposition MPs were filibustering the Procedure and House Affairs Committee on the Hill on Tuesday for more than three hours over what Conservative MP Scott Reid called a “despicable attempt” by the government to ram through sweeping new changes to how the House of Commons operates, including even when it sits. Mr. Reid’s (Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston, Ont.) made […]
Norm! Gagnon leaving Parliamentary Press Gallery after 30 years
Normand Gagnon, coordinator of technical services for the Parliamentary Press Gallery, is retiring this week after 30 years with the office. His last day on the job is March 23, one day after the federal budget comes down. “I was hoping for a smooth week before I left; it’s not going to happen with the budget,” […]
Opposition MPs plan House offensive for Trudeau government’s ‘critically important’ budget
Budget day is coming, and opposition parties are ready to pounce. The Conservatives will be on guard for signs of fiscal irresponsibility and new taxes from the Liberal government, while the NDP will be assessing whether the government’s spending plans matches its rhetoric. On Wednesday, March 22, the 2017 federal budget and subsequent budget implementation […]
Status of government bills
House of Commons S-2, Strengthening Motor Vehicle Safety for Canadians Act (second reading) C-5, An Act to Repeal Division 20 of Part 3 of the Economic Action Plan 2015 Act, No. 1 (second reading) C-7, An Act to Amend the Public Service Labour Relations Act, Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board Act, and others […]
