Racism isn’t new in Canada or its politics, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise
Anyone who is mesmerized about the apparent rise of racism in Canada needs to get out of their undoubtedly white bubble. The headline-grabbing Ekos Research poll released April 15 merely solidified what people of colour have been saying for decades: you don’t have to look beyond Canada’s borders to find prejudice and bigotry against people […]
Name calling (on either side) isn’t going to help fix our immigration issues

OTTAWA—The 2019 federal election is one where the issue of immigration will feature prominently both with open debate and, unfortunately, a slew of coded language. Last week, I had the opportunity to participate in the Atlantic Immigration Summit in St. John’s, N.L., and I was struck by how far we still have to go to […]
French Embassy’s Ambassador for a Day program aims to shatter glass ceiling

France’s first female ambassador to Canada, Kareen Rispal, says she’s “fighting to have more women ambassadors” in the field, but saw a lack of role models available to young professionals starting their careers. To encourage participation, it’s important for those early in their careers to not simply see women in positions of power, but be […]
Bring in quotas, financial incentives to get more women to run, says House committee

Federal parties and riding associations should set goals and report publicly on their efforts to recruit women as candidates, as well as set quotas for the number of women they field as candidates, recommends a new House committee report, which also suggests giving parties financial incentives to get more women to run. As well, House […]
Women on the Hill reception elegant, empowering, and filled with politicos

It always surprises Party Central how different the main room in the Sir John A. Macdonald building can look from party to party. Two weeks ago, it was transformed into a summer camp in support of the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation, complete with a campfire photobooth, an inflatable boat, and s’mores for party guests to […]
How to get more women in top diplomatic posts? Show them what it’s like

The French writer Stendhal once said: “A vocation is having one’s passion as a profession.” Since joining France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, I have not once regretted choosing this enriching and stimulating profession, with its daily dose of challenges and victories in an increasingly complicated international context. I can therefore say that being […]
‘Snitch’ Scott Reid mocked on U.S. late-night talk show

A clip of Conservative MP Scott Reid accusing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of eating a bagel during last week’s marathon voting session was put in the spotlight by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel who poked fun at the Tory MP. “You’re not getting a bite now, you bitchy little snitch,” Mr. Kimmel quipped. “What a tattletale.” […]
House to add 22 new HR jobs, as MPs deal with new workplace standards

Members of Parliament will be getting more support as they learn to navigate being employers in a post-#MeToo world, with the House of Commons administration getting a boost to its human resources department. Members of the Board of Internal Economy—a powerful group of MPs who decide legal, financial, and administrative matters for the House of […]
House Justice Committee to mull revival of controversial hate-speech provision, as it shifts focus away from SNC-Lavalin

The House Justice Committee will examine whether to revive a contentious rule on hate speech, one that experts say could deter the spread of incendiary propaganda, in the wake of the mosque attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand, that left 50 dead. Liberal MP Ali Ehsassi (Willowdale, Ont.) told The Hill Times that section 13 of […]
The scourge of white racism

OTTAWA—The death toll from the white supremacist terrorist attack on Muslims in New Zealand had only just risen on the weekend when United States President Donald Trump was tweeting his full-throated support for a Fox News host who had been suspended for on-air Islamophobic comments. “Bring back [Judge Jeanine] Pirro,” the president tweeted from the […]