DND appointees ‘tremendous’ team to tackle new defence policy
The leader, money man, and defence policy specialist appointed to the Department of National Defence’s top ranks on Sept. 22 have the expertise needed to take serious action on the government’s new defence policy, according to political observers. Michael Day, a fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, said the appointments of Jody Thomas, Gordon […]
Canada’s former chief electoral officers hope feds find new elections watchdog by December, say unanimous House consent important
It’s been almost a year since Canada’s top elections watchdog vacated his post, but the federal government will finally begin reviewing applications this month to find a replacement for the country’s next chief electoral officer. Former chief electoral officer Marc Mayrand and his predecessor Jean-Pierre Kingsley both told The Hill Times last week that they hope […]
Union head warns of bullying ‘epidemic’ in public service, asks Trudeau to strike committee to investigate
The head of a federal public service union has called on the government to strike a committee to examine bullying and harassment in the ranks of its workers, a move the NDP’s labour critic says he would support. Todd Panas, the national president of the Union of Health and Environment Workers, made the request in […]
House committee reviewing MP sexual harassment policy; it’s a ‘completely black box,’ says Elizabeth May
A House committee is reviewing the nascent MP sexual harassment policy behind closed doors, which some MPs say is necessary for the sensitive topic while others call for greater transparency in both the process and the code’s treatment of complaints. The sexual harassment code of conduct, which covers MP-to-MP actions, has no reporting requirement, including the […]
Feds drafting new elections law, say House Affairs Committee members
The government is drafting another bill making changes to the Canada Elections Act expected to be tabled as early as this fall, according to members of the House committee tasked with studying changes to the country’s electoral legislation. The Procedure and House Affairs Committee (PROC) began studying former Elections Canada head Marc Mayrand’s 132 recommendations […]
Health Canada, CBSA under ‘wasteful spending’ reviews; Brison overseeing cabinet colleagues’ work
The federal health and public safety ministers are leading special reviews of their own institutions this year, looking for wasteful spending and obsolete programs, while Treasury Board President Scott Brison oversees their work. A Conservative MP on the Government Operations and Estimates Committee compared the arrangement to “having a fox in charge of the henhouse,” […]
Union worried feds could turn back on IT workers post-Phoenix
The head of one of the largest public service unions is warning the government not to contract to an outside company the ongoing maintenance of the problem-plagued Phoenix pay system once it’s working properly. “I have yet to get a commitment, although I will be seeking it firmly, that they will not contract out the […]
MPs preparing to push private members’ bills seek broad support, but wouldn’t mind getting scooped by government
The next round of MPs who get to take a crack at passing private members’ bills are prepping their legislative plans and, in some cases, praying the government acts first. “I’ve tabled my bill and I’m hoping that’s kind of pushing them along. I don’t care if they take all the credit, and they’re the […]
Senators see their public bills as chance to fill gaps in government agenda
PARLIAMENT HILL—Senate public bills provide an opportunity for Parliamentarians to fill legislative holes and tackle important public policy issues not on the government’s agenda, say Senators with public bills before the House of Commons. There are 11 Senate public bills—the equivalent of MPs’ private members’ bills—before the House, and their sponsors say so far this […]
House officer, research caucus spending to go public
House leaders, whips, the Speaker, and other top players in the House of Commons will have to publicly disclose their spending, with the first report due next summer, thanks to changes made by the Board of Internal Economy in a June meeting. The changes were made as part of the board’s “ongoing commitment to transparency […]
