Maxime Bernier’s Twitter tirade a gift to Justin Trudeau
OTTAWA—Professional tip to all Members of Parliament, but particularly the Conservative ones, if you want to have a discussion about Canadian identity: Twitter isn’t the the best vehicle for you. That should seem self-evident but apparently that is not the case. Now if you want to wreak havoc, piss people off, and throw verbal hand […]
From tiny agency of six to department-in-the-making: elevating the Status of Women
Despite the Trudeau government’s efforts to brand itself as feminist and to transform Status of Women Canada from an agency to a full department, critics say it’s an open question whether Ottawa has elevated the portfolio of the Status of Women to a place where it has a similar level of prestige to other files. […]
The more the merrier, says Equal Voice head, as party-specific programs sprout to boost women in politics
Party-specific initiatives to draw women into politics are necessary and welcome, especially by members of the Conservative Party, which has fallen behind other major parties when it comes to putting women on the ballot, says the head of a national organization aimed at promoting women’s involvement in politics. In the 2015 federal election, the Conservatives […]
Mr. Prime Minister, meet George Costanza
TORONTO—That loud beep, beep, beep you’ve been hearing is the sound of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau backing up and rolling over the #MeToo gains of the past several months—his own contributions included. Victims of sexual misconduct have especially heard the crashing of the progress that had finally given them the courage to raise their voices […]
Senate administration’s efforts on diversity should be applauded
The Senate has come a long way since the early 2000s. Back then, Conservative Senator Donald Oliver charged that the Senate’s administration—and the public service, in general—was rife with systemic racism. “The Senate’s lack of diversity is so glaring and so problematic to the future of our institution that it heightens the desire of many […]
Improve, then use, name-blind recruitment to boost Senate staff diversity: committee
A name-blind recruitment project could help improve Senate staff diversity, but only if done properly, according to the head of a Senate group studying employment equity in the Upper Chamber’s administration. In a report tabled June 21 with the Senate’s Internal Economy, Budgets, and Administration Committee—a powerful group of Senators that handles the Chamber’s legal […]
Amidst chaos, G7 Summit unleashed a quiet, yet powerful force
Families ripped apart, children detained: these tragic images are flooding our timelines and televisions. Halfway around the world, a boat of migrants travelling from Libya is turned away by Italy. One after the other, more boatloads of people in search of safety are left lingering on the open seas, in limbo and unsure if or […]
If gender equality is so important, why don’t Canadians give female premiers a second term?
If gender equality is so important to Canadians, why do we not allow female premiers a second term? Many argue that, historically, parties in decline and doomed to electoral defeat elect a female leader to clean up their mess. When the mess gets tidied enough for a possible electoral win, they replace the female with […]
More than 95 per cent of MPs finish anti-harassment training, all Senators to start in fall
The Senate is set to follow in the House of Commons’ footsteps and make it mandatory for all Senators and staff to take in-person anti-harassment training. Beginning in the fall, the new practice comes on the recommendation of a Senate Internal Economy, Budgets, and Administration Committee subgroup tasked with reviewing the Upper Chamber’s harassment policy, […]
This just in: lobbying czar Bélanger tables her first annual lobbying report
Lobbying Commissioner Nancy Bélanger tabled her first annual lobbying report on June 7, making a bid for the government to provide more money for office technology upgrades. Ms. Bélanger’s report for 2017-18 says an increase in funds is “required to ensure the [lobbyists’ registry] remains current and up to date with rapidly evolving IT standards.” The […]
