NDP court battle with BOIE wages on, as Parliament fights to keep courts out
The NDP’s unprecedented court battle with the House Board of Internal Economy continued last week, with the Federal Court of Appeal hearing arguments on whether or not two 2014 decisions by the board, ordering NDP MPs to repay roughly $4-million, are immune from judicial oversight. Reached by The Hill Times after the daylong hearing on […]
Feds have spent less than half of controversial $7-billion budget fund, critics question lost oversight given ‘unchanged’ spending pace
The Liberals have allocated less than half of the budget spending from a controversial $7-billion fund that outraged opposition MPs, who argued it fundamentally undermined how Parliament scrutinizes government spending. They say the pace of the roll-out shows the revamped system didn’t justify the lost oversight. The government transferred $2.89-billion, or 41 per cent, to departments since […]
NDP questions why Trans Mountain buy not in spending estimates
The NDP is questioning why the multi-billion-dollar Trans Mountain pipeline purchase isn’t in the first round of extra government spending requests, saying it impedes Parliamentarians’ ability to ensure transparency and accountability of taxpayers’ money. But the Liberals say the purchase is being handled as a loan between two Crown corporations. To facilitate the planned expansion, […]
Successful rollout of leaders’ debates commission still up for debate
It seems there’s light at the end of the tunnel for the leaders of so-called fringe parties to get a spot on stage at next year’s leaders’ debates. On Oct. 30, Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould announced details about the creation of an independent Leaders’ Debates Commission, a task that’s been on her to-do list […]
Norman case will only get ‘uglier’ for Liberals already damaged by interference optics: politicos, experts
As the case against Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, accused of leaking cabinet confidences, makes its way before the Ontario Court of Justice during the countdown to election 2019, the Liberals will be tarred by the perception of political interference in an ongoing drama analysts say will only get uglier. With the trial scheduled for next summer—during […]
NDP to support Liberal election bill, Tories won’t, after committee makes 73 changes
After more than 17 hours of line-by-line deliberation in committee, the House of Commons will get its chance this week to settle on 73 proposed changes to the Liberals’ sweeping election reform bill, but critics say the legislation is still flawed. “It’s better than nothing,” said NDP MP Nathan Cullen, his party’s democratic reform critic. […]
MPs unlikely to take former Hill staffer Wernick’s pledge to bring about a ‘long-term culture change,’ but some suggest House should discuss the issue
Most MPs are reluctant to sign Paul Wernick’s pledge, which calls for publicly releasing the job descriptions and salary ranges of Hill staffers and asks them never to ask staff to do anything they wouldn’t do themselves, but one Conservative MP who is willing to sign it says the former Liberal Hill staffer should ask […]
Elections debate commissioner coming before 2019 election, but not through legislation: Minister Gould
With less than a year before the 2019 writ drops, the Liberal government is abandoning any possibility of introducing legislation to establish an independent leaders’ debate commissioner before the next election, though it says a commissioner will be in place. Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould (Burlington, Ont.) told the Procedure and House Affairs Committee (PROC) on […]
Public service staffing survey results show management ‘out of touch,’ says NDP MP Daniel Blaikie
The most recent Public Service Staffing and Non-Partisanship survey shows some big disparities in the perception of merit in public service hiring practices between managers and employees, with only about half of employees believing their peers are competent. While about 92 per cent of managers said those hired met performance expectations and were a good […]
Brison’s ingenious selling of Bill C-58 to the Senate
OTTAWA—Treasury Board President Scott Brison was hard at it on Oct. 3 selling Bill C-58 as a great advance in transparency, which it is not. Kicking off Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee deliberations on Bill C-58, Brison boasted that Canada is rated No. 1 by fellow governments for its open data portal. But that’s […]
