No progress in sight for promised parliamentary reforms
Government House Leader Bardish Chagger says she’s going to let the House Affairs Committee studying possible changes to the Standing Orders complete its work before moving on her mandate commitments to modernize Parliament, but the outcome of the committee work won’t stop her from pursuing the file on her own. Ms. Chagger (Waterloo, Ont.) said […]
New report details millennials’ struggles to find stable employment in federal public service
The federal public service needs millennials, but millennials want something back in return—stable employment with sound benefits and good pensions. That’s among the takeaways of a new report from the Public Service Inter-Union Youth Caucus, based on a consultative event that took place with about 160 public servants in June. The report discussed some of […]
NDP MP crying foul after Languages Committee axes motion to delay new procurement system for interpreters
NDP MP François Choquette says he’s disappointed that the Liberals on the House Official Languages Committee voted down his motion calling for a delay to the implementation of a new procurement system for interpretation services until Procurement Minister Judy Foote appeared before the committee, arguing they had abandoned their government’s purported commitment to inclusive consultation. “I was stunned,” […]
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 […]
