Bad MP behaviour prevents Canadians from pursuing public office: report
With political life having a reputation for mudslinging and heckling, a recent report tabled by a House committee found this behaviour amongst Parliamentarians prevents some potential candidates from entering into politics. NDP MP Irene Mathyssen (London-Fanshawe, Ont.), who serves as the party’s deputy whip, said when she and the late Jack Layton would ask women to […]
Family-friendly Parliament study expected this week, some measures could be implemented this year
A study into how to make Parliament more family-friendly is expected to be tabled this week, and members of the committee say some measures, including changes to Hill child care, could be made this year. “What we have with the report is really a snapshot of the highlights of things that we all feel are very […]
MPs arranging to get rapidly-ailing Liberal MP Bélanger into House for Friday’s vote on his gender neutral national anthem bill
PARLIAMENT HILL—Liberal MP Mauril Bélanger, who is dying of ALS, will try to be in the House on Friday so MPs can move ahead on his controversial private member’s bill which would make Canada’s national anthem gender neutral. His colleagues say Mr. Bélanger’s condition has become “quite serious” and that it might be the last time he […]
Government needs to provide meaningful work to attract millennials to public service: experts
As the federal public service gets older and the government looks for ways to attract younger workers, an idea that comes up regularly from various quarters is that you have to give them the opportunity to “make a difference.” Treasury Board President Scott Brison (Kings-Hants, N.S.) said as much in during an interview in the […]
Privy Council Office’s new delivery unit increases capacity for centralized control, say experts
The Privy Council Office’s Results and Delivery Unit, created by the new Trudeau Liberal government, has increased the capacity for more centralized control over government, say experts. But while there are early positive signs it will be used to strengthen cabinet, it remains to be seen what the effect will be in practice in the years […]
Resist temptation to tighten control, limit openness
The Liberal party’s weekend convention in Winnipeg was meant to be a victory lap for the party that came from third-party status to a majority government after last fall’s election. And it was. But reporters there also ran with another narrative: dissent within the ranks, and a desire to close off policy discussions from reporters, […]
Government’s non-partisan ad and communications policy met by cries of partisanship, confusion
The federal government’s new policy on partisan-free advertising and communications unveiled last Thursday, which is intended to provide “clearer and simplified guidance to officials on the conduct of government communications activities,” resulted in miscommunication and confusion within 24 hours of its release. Though the policy is intended to prevent partisan government advertising, it’s not clear […]
Smoke and mirrors: phase one of the feds’ glib transparency moves
Treasury Board President Scott Brison on May 5 brought his government’s first-stage claims to move transparency forward to the House of Commons Access to Information Committee. With expectations high, those heralded benefits need closer scrutiny beyond the initial favourable headlines. Fee reduction: The news headlines highlighted that the Trudeau government would reduce access-to-information request fees. […]
‘Too early to tell’ if Liberals’ positive tone will last: Info czar
There has been a “change in tone” from the top, and a “very positive one,” when it comes to access to information, says Information Commissioner Suzanne Legault. “This is somewhat of a honeymoon period,” the federal watchdog told The Hill Times in an April 27 interview. “We will have to see whether the sunny ways […]
Feds still haven’t moved on opening up secretive Commons Board of Internal Economy
The Liberal government committed to opening up meetings of the powerful and secretive House of Commons Board of Internal Economy during the 2015 campaign, but six months into its mandate, there’s still no word on when or how this will happen. The latest minutes released from the House management board are from a Dec. 10, 2015 meeting. […]
