Counter-terrorism spending classified, says CAF
The Canadian Armed Forces is keeping a lid on spending plans for counter-terrorism in a report to Parliament, and has withheld not just the amount but also details on human resources involved in the program. The CAF, in an annual report tabled through the Department of National Defence, states the information is “classified” and, in […]
Secrecy happenings and transparency hopes, Ottawa needs to open up
OTTAWA—It’s a sure sign that it’s still secrecy as usual in Ottawa when Treasury Board wants six months to respond to an access request for records about Trudeau government’s transparency work. That’s before applying policy advice and Cabinet confidences to the records. But it’s far from the only example. Take the case of the request […]
Marijuana task force could assemble this spring, says Philpott
The federal ministers of Health, Justice, and Public Safety have been meeting regularly to discuss the federal government’s plans to legalize marijuana and want to have the task force announced by the spring, says Health Minister Jane Philpott. Legalizing, regulating, and restricting access to recreational marijuana is a shared initiative by the Department of Justice and Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould […]
Venting is not a military strategy
GATINEAU, QUE.—The armchair generals have been in high dudgeon lately, condemning Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his insufficiently bellicose reaction to recent terror attacks, including the tragic incident in Burkina Faso that killed six Canadians. What do these critics want? Empty bombast. When do they want it? Now! “Where is the PM when Quebec needs […]
Feds restate commitment to national oversight committee, McGuinty to play role
The government has restated its campaign commitment to create an all-party parliamentary national security oversight committee, but is so far not saying when it will introduce legislation, however, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale was in the U.K. and France to meet with foreign counterparts on security issues and the government announced Liberal MP David McGuinty […]
Five ways we can reduce suicides in Canada
Despite recent headlines, Canadian rates of suicide and attempted suicide have remained largely unchanged over the last several decades (11 per 100,000). What has changed is that we’ve seen increasing rates of suicide in the Canadian military recently, after stable rates for decades. With over 40,000 Canadian soldiers deployed to the mission in Afghanistan, there […]
Feds expected to amend Bill C-51
The federal government is expected to scale back on and propose amendments to its controversial Anti-Terrorism Bill C-51 when it goes to clause-by-clause review this week, including a change regarding “lawful” protests, but opposition MPs say the bill still needs to be substantively changed while Green Party Leader Elizabeth May maintains it should be scrapped. […]
RCMP briefing on Zehaf-Bibeau video raises questions, say opposition
PARLIAMENT HILL—RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson’s decision to comply with a government-worded committee motion to release a video recorded by the gunman who shot a Canadian reserve soldier and attacked Parliament last Oct. 22 has sparked speculation and questions about Conservative motives with a general election on the horizon. Mr. Paulson, in response to a motion […]
Anti-terrorism bill ‘more about politics than public safety,’ says civil liberties lawyer
PARLIAMENT HILL—Anti-terrorism legislation Prime Minister Stephen Harper unveiled last week gives the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service sweeping new powers that would allow the spy agency to use any undefined measure—other than the use of lethal force, perversion of justice or “violating the sexual integrity” of an individual—in a new role empowering it to disrupt […]
Police officer likely to win next month’s Yellowhead byelection, to join growing number of former cops in Conservative caucus
PARLIAMENT HILL—A retired Mountie who is virtually guaranteed to win the federal byelection next month in Alberta will become the ninth former or serving police officer elected to Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s caucus—nearly half of all the police officers elected to Parliament since Confederation in 1867. Ekos pollster Frank Graves says Mr. Harper’s (Calgary Southwest, […]
