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 […]
Opposition claims government looking to cut Friday sittings
During a rare review of the House of Commons’ rules Thursday, opposition MPs accused the Liberal government of trying to duck scrutiny by “floating trial balloons” about ending House of Commons Friday sittings. As MPs spoke during the take-note debate on possible changes to the Standing Orders of the House of Commons, NDP MP Charlie Angus […]
Canada’s official languages are worth protecting, preserving
You get what you pay for. This simple truth lies at the heart of an emerging debate about Canada’s two official languages. At issue is the preservation of our English and French linguistic duality. Members of the Commons Committee on Official Languages are intimately familiar with the tension of cost versus quality. After studying the […]
Liberals do decent media relations, but departments still ‘terribly unresponsive,’ say Hill reporters
Liberal ministers are much more engaged with the news media than their Conservative predecessors, say Hill journalists, but the public service has “not gotten on the transparency bus.” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) and his party campaigned on promises to be more open and transparent to the public than the previous Conservative government. The new […]
Committee drops probe into assisted-dying-law leak, Conservative MP ‘disappointed’
Liberal MPs on the Procedure and House Affairs Committee voted last week to end its study of a possible breach of privilege as a result of details on the government’s assisted-dying bill being leaked to media prior to its tabling last year. Conservative MP Blake Richards (Banff-Airdrie, Alta.) said in a pre-prepared press release handed out at […]
‘I’m incredibly disappointed,’ PSAC talks with government end on sour note
Talks between the federal public service’s biggest union and the Treasury Board last week—the first in many months—ended without progress and with a disillusioned union leader. “I am incredibly disappointed with the Liberal government,” Robyn Benson, president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), said in an interview on Friday, Sept. 16. “Their agenda […]
Harper quits just as turn for private member’s business was coming up
Former prime minister Stephen Harper had not spoken in the House of Commons or at committee since last year’s election, so it was not surprising he took the opportunity to resign as an MP last week rather than stick around for the next sitting of Parliament. Yet, if he were to stay on as an MP, […]
MPs using tours, lobbying this summer to gain support for private member’s bills
MPs have been away from the Hill for two months, but the legislative work hasn’t stopped, particularly for those with private member’s bills pending. On top of summer constituency events, and consultations the government has MPs conducting, at least two MPs have found time to fit in regional tours to drum up support for their private […]
