Looking back: a decade since the 2011 election
KAMOURASKA, QUE.—Time flies quickly as one ages. In that respect, while it seems like yesterday, this May 2 marked a decade since I was a candidate in the 2011 federal election. It was an historic election for many reasons: it gave the Conservative government of Stephen Harper its first majority; the famed “Orange Wave” in […]
‘Not a time for austerity’: public service unions laud feds’ childcare pledge, focus on recovery through spending over cuts
Leaders of Canada’s largest federal public service unions are lauding the government’s big-ticket commitment to affordable child care, and say this year’s budget shows the government isn’t interested in pursuing austerity measures after more than a year of record spending. “My reaction is generally positive—it’s clear that the government understands that this is not a […]
New contract keeps distance interpreting definition deemed problematic by association
New contract terms for federal freelance interpreters are out, and while one proposed aspect flagged as problematic has been reversed, a definition of distance interpreting that’s been criticized as likely to open up the workforce to greater health and safety risks has been maintained. “Because they’re putting it down in the contract for the very […]
Senate eyes filling The Chambers as renovation plans progress
The Senate Internal Economy, Budgets, and Administration Committee recently gave Public Services and Procurement Canada the go-ahead to pursue leasing new office space in The Chambers building at 40 Elgin St. in anticipation of future renovation projects which are set to displace Senators. The initiative came about following a recent meeting between the Senate Internal […]
Ford’s critiques of federal vaccine procurement rebutted by Minister Anand
In response to a condemnation of vaccine procurement by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Public Services and Procurement Minister Anita Anand fired back. Mr. Ford called the current vaccine acquirement efforts “a joke” on March 26, pointing to federal procurement processes as the root cause of shortages at the municipal level. He further said they lack […]
Why Trudeau can afford to fail on foreign policy
It is one of Canada’s enduring paradoxes: We care deeply about our reputation on the world stage, but we care little about what we do on the world stage. Foreign policy rarely, if ever, decides elections, and the Trudeau government should be thankful for this. Our 68-page Foreign Policy Report Card, published in partnership with […]
New contract for freelance interpreters slated for April release
New contract terms for federal freelance interpreters will be published in April, according to Public Services and Procurement Canada. Contract terms proposed by the department last year led the International Association of Conference Interpreters’ (AIIC) Canadian branch to raise the alarm, with rep Nicole Gagnon, who herself works as a freelance interpreter on Parliament Hill, […]
Fairness put on back burner for infrastructure procurement
Procurement, through a Request for Proposal (RFP), is how architects and engineers are hired to design Canada’s infrastructure. This not only includes exciting new museums and libraries, but also the day-to-day infrastructure for offices, renovations, roof rehabilitations, barrier-free washroom upgrades, and thousands of regular projects. But how architects and engineers are hired is increasingly challenged. […]
Officially designed hoarding boards to take centre stage while splitting Parliament’s great front lawn in two
OTTAWA—If you thought surrounding a construction site with hoarding boards was straightforward, think again. Think of Parliament Hill, Centre Block’s redevelopment construction site, and Canada’s People’s Front Lawn. Think of the many bureaucrats, stakeholders, the National Capital Commission, and Parliamentarians getting involved. Access-to-information documents obtained from Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) show that federal […]
Freelance interpreters await new contract terms, after PSPC’s proposed changes sparked concern
The final terms of the new contract for federal freelance interpreters, including those covering Parliament Hill, are still eagerly awaited, months after an advocacy association raised the alarm over proposed changes a rep says would put the future health and safety of interpreters, and the quality of their work, at greater risk. “If this RFP […]
