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 […]
It’s time to modernize Canada’s Access to Information Act, now
A more open and transparent government could be the result of the federal government’s plans to modernize Canada’s Access to Information Act. Since the act was enacted in 1983—signalling the Government of Canada’s intention to be open and transparent to Canadians—our system for providing access has become weighed down by layers of rules and delays. […]
Committee photo-op goes haywire after opposition refuses to let parliamentary secretary join
A planned photo of members of the House Public Accounts Committee erupted in controversy after opposition MPs objected to the presence of a Liberal parliamentary secretary, drawing renewed accusations of executive overreach into committee business. The permanent members of the committee gathered on the stairs below the House of Commons foyer on Sept. 20 after Question Period to pose for […]
‘We need to see some significant change,’ government to push substantive overhaul of House rules
Substantial changes to House rules could be on the way for how MPs vote, when and how long MPs sit, and how opposition days and private members’ bills are handled. “I don’t want the simple stuff. I think we need to see some significant change to take place,” said Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North, Man.), parliamentary […]
