New task force aims for diverse public service where everyone feels welcome
It’s important not only for the federal public service to be comprised of a fair representation of Canada’s various kinds of people, but also that these employees feel comfortable in their surroundings, says the head of Canada’s largest public service union. Robyn Benson, president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), said this is […]
Liberal government’s electoral reform survey mocked
The Liberal government’s new survey website, MyDemocracy.ca, was roundly mocked in the MSM and social media, under the Twitter hashtag #rejectedERQs, after being launched last week as a tool to gauge the public’s attitudes on electoral reform. Thousands made fun of the survey. Conservative MP Scott Reid said it felt like “being on a dating […]
Skepticism growing on promises for House reforms as Liberals consider unilateral action
Skepticism is growing over whether the Liberals will be able to deliver on their commitments to end the use of omnibus bills, end Friday sittings, make the Commons more family friendly, or reform Question Period before the next election, or at least make such the House rules changes with all-party consent as is usually done for these kinds of operational […]
Government response to House Official Languages Committee lost in translation
OTTAWA—Something unexplained happened after MPs on the House Official Languages Committee published a report calling for sweeping reform to the federal Translation Bureau. As if its report was written in a language not understood, the committee’s call for major change was met by a casual, all-is-well response from the government that the status quo is just […]
Feds want to pass government agenda, opposition parties ‘disappointed’ by state of relations in House
PARLIAMENT HILL—Pressure is mounting inside the House as the government eyes priority bills it wants passed before the Commons adjourns until 2017, but the government says it’s so far been unable to find consensus with the opposition parties. “It takes two to dance and we’re on the dance floor and we want to dance,” Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg […]
Brison’s review of Official Languages Act welcome
Canadians should welcome Treasury Board President Scott Brison’s recent announcement that the Government of Canada is embarking on a much-needed review of the regulations governing Canada’s Official Languages Act. Although the review will focus on Part IV of the act—communications with and service to the public—all parts of the act are connected to achieve three […]
Government transparency is still an elusive commodity
OTTAWA—Transparency continues to be elusive and in further danger. Recently exposed surveillance information practices in Quebec where journalists’ cellphone data were surreptitiously tracked and recorded by the police and some conversations eavesdropped on are a serious setback to open government. So is learning via a Federal Court decision that CSIS has wrongfully been retaining meta-data since […]
Tighter political fundraising rules could push activities ‘underground,’ says Canada’s outgoing chief electoral officer
Canada’s outgoing chief electoral officer says tightening up rules around so-called “cash-for-access” events or other kinds of fundraising might prompt political operatives to conduct their business less transparently. In an interview with The Hill Times last week, Chief Electoral Officer Marc Mayrand, who steps down next month, said with recent examples of Liberal “cash-for-access” events, he […]
Minister’s response to Translation Bureau study irks Liberal, opposition MPs
Governing Liberal and opposition MPs say they’re unimpressed by Public Services and Procurement Minister Judy Foote’s response to their committee study on the federal Translation Bureau. Liberal MP Denis Paradis (Brome-Missisquoi, Que.), chair of the House Official Languages Committee, which conducted the study, said that all members were “expecting a bit more” from the minister in […]
Liberal MP Arya tables hate crimes private member’s bill
A rookie Liberal MP has proposed a private member’s bill to amend the Criminal Code to make it a criminal offence if someone causes mischief to a property primarily used for a community activity. The private member’s Bill C-305 called An Act to Amend the Criminal Code (mischief) was tabled by Chandra Arya (Nepean, Ont.) on […]
