‘Highly problematic’ court decision could affect union access to workplaces: PSAC
The Public Service Alliance of Canada is considering taking a case to the Supreme Court, after what it calls a “highly problematic” ruling by a lower court that will threaten union access to workplaces and have “far-reaching” consequences for unions across the country. In October, the Federal Court of Appeal quashed a 2016 decision by the […]
Access to information bill ‘beyond redemption,’ Tories say, as committee wraps C-58 study
Treasury Board President Scott Brison has said he’s open to a few amendments to his access to information reform bill, but opposition members from the committee studying the legislation said it would need a complete overhaul to gain their support. On Nov. 6, Conservative ethics critic Peter Kent (Thornhill, Ont.) said his party wasn’t proposing […]
Liberal political financing bill moves ahead, after opposition amendments voted down
The Liberal government’s political financing bill, C-50, is moving ahead, having passed the committee stage with only technical amendments made, but Conservatives remain steadfast in opposition, calling the proposed changes “window dressing.” “There was a practice which Canadians didn’t approve of, it didn’t pass the sniff test, and created a very significant public backlash, and […]
Board of Internal Economy opening a historic first step, but the test will be if transparency holds
This week, the House of Commons Board of Internal Economy will hold its first-ever public meeting. It comes after the Liberals promised in the last election to open up the board to the public. “Except in rare cases requiring confidentiality, meetings of this group will be open to the public,” said their platform. The board […]
This just in: feds want a more restrictive transparency regime
OTTAWA—Successive bureaucrats have wanted to put a damper on the public use of access-to-information legislation. Now they have found hope in Bill C-58 and a willing dupe in Treasury Board President Scott Brison. While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau can be counted on to have flights of open government flowery rhetoric, faceless bureaucrats have held to […]
Political financing bill a ‘Seinfeld episode,’ critics tell Minister Gould it’s ‘not very substantive’
Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould’s political financing bill doesn’t do any real harm, but doesn’t do any good either, opposition MPs suggested at the Procedure and House Affairs Committee as members began their study on Bill C-50 last week. The government could have gone further and taken a page from their Ontario Liberal cousins to […]
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 […]
