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 […]
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 […]
