Liberals weighing new language to fix sexist Indian Act, says Sen. Sinclair
The government is likely working on new language to address sex discrimination in the Indian Act, to bring it in line with yet another court order and a Senate that may be unwilling to compromise on a bill that could fail a charter test, says one of the Senators advocating for changes to the bill. […]
Karina Gould is set to be Canada’s first federal cabinet minister to give birth
Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould has twice made federal cabinet history this year: first in January she became the youngest female ever to be appointed to cabinet, and on Sept. 5 the 30-year-old announced she was expecting a baby in March 2018, which will make her the first ever federal cabinet minister to give birth […]
Can a new leader make the NDP relevant again?
OTTAWA—Gone are the days when the likes of Ruth Ellen Brosseau could trade in a campus bartender gig in Ottawa for a seat in Parliament on the strength of the late Jack Layton’s appeal in Quebec—and accomplish this move without even campaigning in the riding of Berthier-Maskinongé. While the NDP now holds power in Alberta […]
Hacker, faker, liar, spy
In normal times, a comment from the world’s pre-eminent spy novelist about the state of our politics wouldn’t seem so noteworthy. But when John le Carré took time away from promoting his new book at the Royal Festival Hall in London, U.K., last week to say, “Something truly, seriously bad is happening,” it stood out […]
INAC split a ‘game-changer,’ Bellegarde calls for an independent national treaty commissioner
The splitting up of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada is being called a “game-changer” for Indigenous relations in Canada, but former deputy minister Scott Serson says the government should first issue a royal proclamation to define its new relationship with Indigenous peoples. “They’re saying this is a reflection of an RCAP [Royal Commission on Aboriginal […]
Canada’s DFI should lead on gender equality
OTTAWA—In the job description for the managing director of Canada’s new Development Finance Institution (DFI), recently posted by Export Development Canada (EDC), it is considered an asset for the candidate to have: “Experience in implementing initiatives or programs with a gender equality and/or women empowerment component.” But that is the one and only time gender […]
Morneau’s handling of tax reform will be a make or break issue for government
OTTAWA—Summer caucuses are always hot. And when you combine heated politics with a sunny West Coast location, the temperature often rises. After more than two months away from the Ottawa cocoon, Members of Parliament are eager to repeat the views they have heard in their ridings. Sad to say, most people don’t make appointments with […]
Feds need to sell closing of tax loopholes better
The Liberal government claims to be making another move toward creating a level playing field between the wealthy and everyone else. This time it involves closing loopholes that allow professionals to lighten their tax load by registering themselves as corporations. On the surface, the plan seems consistent with the Liberals’ general motto of helping the […]
How to be positively aggressive
OAKVILLE, ONT.—As Sun Tzu, the famed Chinese military philosopher, once declared, “Invincibility lies in the defence, the possibility of victory in the attack.” Yes, okay, quoting Sun Tzu in a column on political strategy is hackneyed, but this particular quote really nails the idea I want to get across, namely that politicians should always be […]
Liberals are making a big mistake on this tax reform stuff
TORONTO—Dear Messrs. Trudeau and Morneau: So, small businesses. Almost 12 years ago, I started one. It was quite a thing. Before that, I’d been special assistant to Jean Chrétien on the Hill. I’d been a partner at a Bay Street law firm. I’d been a vice-president at a Vancouver ad agency. I’d been a reporter […]
