Political parties reach last-minute deal to temporarily change House rules for hybrid Commons, electronic voting
With no time to lose, the federal political parties reached a last-minute deal on Wednesday and unanimous consent for a government motion to temporarily change the rules for parliamentary proceedings so that a hybrid House and remote Commons voting can happen this fall during the global pandemic. Government House Leader Pablo Rodriguez (Honoré-Mercier, Que.) introduced […]
‘Whatever it takes’: Trudeau says austerity not an option in the face of staggering job losses, health crisis
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is pinning the country’s recovery on the government’s ability to spend “whatever it takes” to rein in the pandemic and to prevent expansive lockdowns that could further cripple the economy. The Liberals’ Throne Speech outlined a wide-ranging agenda, from pledging that the government will act as a safety net for Canadians […]
COVID-19 containment, economic recovery expected to drive fall lobbying
A return to Parliament means renewed lobbying efforts, and this fall session will likely see those efforts focused on trying to shape the Liberal government’s plans to contain COVID-19, push plans for economic recovery and the social programs that underpin them, and get progress on the Liberal climate change agenda. Sheamus Murphy, vice-president of federal […]
Three possible election date scenarios
There are three possible election date scenarios facing Canadians: the first coming on the heels of the Speech from the Throne, presumably on a non-confidence vote; second, a non-confidence motion put after a fall budget or economic update; and lastly, a vote of non-confidence following a spring budget. In all three scenarios Prime Minister Justin […]
‘The time is now’: limit gatherings to avoid future lockdowns, says Tam, as federal data projects more spikes in cases
Canada’s chief public health officer is urging Canadians to avoid large gatherings to prevent further spikes in new COVID-19 cases and avoid another lockdown, saying federal modelling figures project the number of cases could climb to more than 155,000 within the next 10 days. Speaking to reporters Tuesday afternoon, Dr. Theresa Tam shared data that […]
Feds’ priorities should include ‘green’ stimulus for small businesses
As we head into the fall, now more than six months into this pandemic, owners and operators of small businesses are anxious for some certainty, in this uncertain time. While government measures have helped to keep the lights on, and our economy has started to slowly find its footing, the future of Canada’s Main Street […]
Parliament: the reckoning episode
OTTAWA—To paraphrase Tennyson, in the immediate aftermath of a minority government Throne Speech, an old political hack’s fancy heavily turns to thoughts of elections. So, amid the chaos, confusion, and uncertainty that the COVID-19 pandemic has sown, the second session of the 43rd Parliament of Canada will commence with a Speech from the Throne on Sept. […]
Why is the NDP failing to push the Liberals for climate action?
Recently, I joined other concerned citizens in sending a letter to NDP MPs expressing shock and disappointment at the New Democratic Party’s understating, and sometimes ignoring, of the climate crisis—even when given a chance to address a national radio audience. This was made clear on CBC Radio’s The House on both Aug. 22 and Sept. 5. In […]
Sharing few details, Trudeau eyes setting out ‘next steps’ in cabinet retreat, continues calls for ‘vigilance’ on COVID-19
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remained tight-lipped on details Monday before he headed up his government’s two-day virtual cabinet retreat, telling reporters his focus is on getting the country through a pandemic that is not yet over. “We need to get through this in order to be able to talk about next steps, so a lot […]
Children’s well-being should be a priority for the government
Sept. 23 will be an important day for Canada’s children and youth. The Governor General will deliver a new speech from the throne and the government’s priorities for this new session will be made clear. If we truly hope to “move forward together,” as was the promise of 2019, a firm commitment to improving the […]
