'It was a terrible idea, it was something that minimizes and takes advantage of a reality that I have not had to live with,' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said of his decision to wear blackface and brownface earlier in his life during a press conference last week. Screen-capture of Justin Trudeau's Twitter account
If voters see a common theme, Trudeau’s blackface controversy will change the campaign: Greg Lyle
The wild card in all this will very likely be Jagmeet Singh, who will have a chance to raise the issue with Trudeau in three leaders' debates.
Wilson-Raybould reflects on reconciliation, SNC-Lavalin affair in new book
At more than 200 pages, Jody Wilson-Raybould’s book draws on speeches, lectures, and other pieces on Indigenous issues she’s penned over the last 10 years.Liberals gambling on help from provinces to fulfill new daycare promise
The $535-million pledged won’t cover all of the costs of the Liberals’ promised daycare reforms.Politics This Morning
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‘I didn’t think it was racist at the time,’ says apologetic PM, confirming he will not step down amid scathing ‘brownface’ Time report
The Prime Minister, who told reporters he only found out the story was breaking hours before, says he's 'going to be asking Canadians to forgive me for what I did.'Pakistani envoy urges Canada, world to be ‘more forceful’ with India on ‘humanitarian disaster’ in Kashmir
Pakistan has ‘regularly’ raised the issue with Canadian counterparts, says Raza Bashir Tarar, but the ‘festering’ situation in the ‘highly charged’ region is only getting worse.First debate a dress rehearsal PM hopefuls needed to prepare for prime time, say pundits
One thing is clear, marketing experts say Andrew Scheer will have to be more animated when he debates against Justin Trudeau, especially with his former leadership rival, Maxime Bernier, now in the mix.Liberal, Conservative campaigns ‘at war,’ Scheer ‘vigorously swinging to land a punch’ on Trudeau: pollster
It's only week two of the campaign and already the Liberals, Conservatives, NDP, and the Greens have all had to drop candidates over offensive or controversial past remarks. Powerful Senate committee owes public answers on harassment plans, Meredith report, say Independents
Conservative Sen. Denise Batters says it was necessary to discuss matters in private to protect the confidentiality of victims, while Independents say it would have been possible to strike a balance and be transparent. Savoie’s new ‘magnum opus’ book argues federal public service has been ‘knocked off its moorings’
A culmination of three years of work, the book takes stock of challenges facing Canadian democracy, including the decline of Cabinet government, centralization of the PMO, and 'fault lines' in the public service. Arctic policy framework released ‘last minute’ ahead of October election, say experts
Liberal MP Larry Bagnell says he thinks the timing wasn't due to the federal government's framework on the Arctic and Canada's North being rushed, but rather waiting on territorial partners co-developing the package.'It was a terrible idea, it was something that minimizes and takes advantage of a reality that I have not had to live with,' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said of his decision to wear blackface and brownface earlier in his life during a press conference last week. Screen-capture of Justin Trudeau's Twitter account
If voters see a common theme, Trudeau’s blackface controversy will change the campaign: Greg Lyle
The wild card in all this will very likely be Jagmeet Singh, who will have a chance to raise the issue with Trudeau in three leaders' debates.
Election direction: front-runners are shying away from bold ideas, harsh realities
From the so-called front-runners, there is no grand design, there are no bold ideas, there are no breakout candidates. What’s so important about this election is what we’re not talking about.Want to run for political office? Effectively, become a cyborg
If you want to run for office, the easiest thing to do is effectively become a cyborg. Have no flaws; be a perfect, shareable graphic in the space that is now our political arena.It’s not about abortion: if you want a green outcome, don’t be distracted
A brace of new Green members could keep a new government’s feet to the fire on what is, arguably, an issue that transcends all others. For everyone else, there’s the Conservatives.
Liberals passing the buck on weapons ban
If the Liberal government truly believes that the legal availability of assault weapons puts the public at risk, then why not enact measures that are available to them right now, while they are still in power?Trudeau’s legislative record unlikely to motivate voters in the fall, with a few exceptions: pollsters
Many achievements and blunders enshrined in legislation are ancient history in the minds of voters, who cast their ballots based on the next thing you can do for them, say politicos and pollsters.Will the Senate respect democracy and First Nations rights?
Three important pieces of legislation sit in the Senate today, subject to the whim of a small group of Senators, which is a gross undermining of the democratic process.
Trump’s cancellation of Taliban peace talks means indefinite continuation of unwinnable war
Despite Trump’s campaign promise to end the war, there are currently more U.S. troops in Afghanistan than when Barack Obama left office.Climate: Jonathan Franzen sees the light
Maybe Jonathan Franzen will get over it too, eventually, but at the moment he thinks we’re doomed, and all we can do is little things to slow the apocalypse down a bit, and relish the brief time we have left.Something’s not right about the Joshua Boyle saga
There are unanswered questions about Joshua Boyle and why the horrific ordeal he put his wife and kids through began in the first place.
Tale as old as time: Liberal ethics breach proves politics still about comforting the comfortable
The SNC-Lavalin affair is about a political system that is rife for abuse, and those responsible for the recent abuses are seeking re-election on a platform of open and transparent government. Last chance to lobby MPs sees June numbers shrink, with influencers eyeing the campaign season
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business led in groups lobbying MPs as June’s 1,446 reported communications halved the total reported in May.Majority of Canadians may support TMX, but the project remains an electoral risk for Liberals: pollsters
It’s up to the prime minister to decide if he ‘wants to go into the next election arresting Indigenous communities and leaders,’ says the Squamish Nation council’s Dustin Rivers.
Manitoba Liberal MPs not deterred by recent provincial Tory majority win
Plus, Maxime Bernier has been invited to take part in the official Leaders' Commission debates, and former Ottawa city councillor Clive Doucet is running for the Greens in Nova Scotia.
Hill haunt Parliament Pub to shutter at end of September
Plus, Michelle Rempel blocks her NDP challenger, and B'nai Brith announces its schedule of local debates in Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta.
New deputy ministers at helm of immigration, innovation, health, environment
Former public service commissioner says preparatory work needed in government before an election 'best led by a deputy minister,' and that governments tend to avoid major appointments once writ is dropped.
Senators Christmas, Black, Doyle top spring spending in Red Chamber
Spending in the last quarter climbed to $1.6-million from $1.4-million over the same period a year ago, according to the latest disclosures. #SheTheNorth: Politicos catch Bianca Andreescu fever
Plus, a possible smaller party debate, and Murray Sinclair is awarded Red Cross' Manitoba Humanitarian of the Year award. ‘They simply ran out the clock,’ says PSAC, as feds, union fail to reach deal before election
But a spokesperson for Treasury Board president Joyce Murray says the government continued to demonstrate its commitment to negotiating in good faith in last week’s talks with the union.
ISED working with BIOTECanada to get better, much-needed industry data
Recent reports on the industry don't deal with issues like firm size and employee talent levels, which are crucial to understanding an evolving industry, says BIOTECanada's Andrew Casey.
Canada needs a biotech strategy to turn scientific capital into commercial gold
At present, there is no discernible evidence of a cross-cutting or all-of-government strategy to increase the commercial dividends from the scientific capital we have accumulated in the biological sciences.
Potential agricultural, human health benefits of gene editing outweigh risks
The full use of gene editing depends on whether it is able to garner wide-scale political and consumer support, which genetic modification technology has been unable to do.
Unleashing productivity growth through open science innovation
Open science partnerships are breaking the traditional pathways of research and development. While not a panacea, they pose a unique and exciting made-in-Canada solution to our pressing productivity challenges. Outdated data infrastructure is stifling Canadian innovation in health
There is a growing sector of innovators and entrepreneurs looking to revolutionize healthcare delivery. They need access to clinical data to develop new technologies.Active citizens and active citizenship: a health and fitness manifesto
It’s time our leaders made health and fitness truly a national priority.Annual Features
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Politics This Morning: Trudeau’s in Toronto, Scheer to tour Atlantic, May joining climate strikers in Calgary
Many thought NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh won the debate, though it was mostly a matter of beating low expectations.
With the disclaimer that these days, the 48 hours between filing and press time can produce a multitude of dumpster fires, our federal election actually seems pretty normal so far.
The Conservatives have a lead among voters who believe in the Canadian Dream, but are struggling to get a piece of it. The Conservative Party recently released an ad appealing directly to people who feel that way. 
Parks Canada had put forward a business case to spend more than $1-million to redo and widen the three-kilometre access trail to a private boat tour operator before the public knew some of the redesigned trail features.
Mexico is the first country to ratify CUSMA showing our commitment to continue this successful trading partnership and, especially, we undertake to bolster the bilateral trade between Mexico and Canada.
By personalizing his attacks on Justin Trudeau, Andrew Scheer has tried to incite the anger that is the lifeblood of populism. It thrives on resentment and a feeling of being betrayed.
Familiar faces fill NDP campaign team, led by Jennifer Howard
The federal NDP campaign team is stocked with experienced organizers, including people who backed Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath in 2018 and B.C. Premier John Horgan in 2017. 
Politics This Morning
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PMO Ontario desk among handful of recent staff exits from top office
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Minister Ahmed Hussen has also seen a couple of staffers from his policy unit exit.Ex-staffers to ministers Hajdu, Carr hit the campaign trail
For one, Jeff Kovalik-Plouffe recently left International Trade Diversification Minister Jim Carr’s Ottawa office to take over as the MP’s 2019 campaign manager.Egging him on: chicken-suited protesters mock Trudeau for not attending two of five debates
Plus, the 'first ever' gathering of Ottawa-based Black journalists, and iconic Canadian historian Desmond Morton dies. Beating the pods: Peter Mansbridge, Kevin Newman launch podcasts
Plus, Justin Trudeau goes another round with Hasan Minhaj, and Political Man makes his return as Omar Alghabra prepares for re-election bid. Public servants, feds inch closer to contracts with tentative agreements before election
The Public Service Alliance of Canada remains at an impasse with the federal government however, with national president Chris Aylward saying they won’t take an ‘inferior’ deal just to get it done before the election. SAP Canada pitches NextGen plan to standardize human resources processes
When processes are 'standardized, the collective input into a payroll system becomes a lot simpler,' says Robert Conlin, SAP Canada's vice-president of the public sector.U.S. Embassy brings bayou to Bytown for Fourth of July
Though U.S. Ambassador Kelly Craft was in Calgary, the U.S. Embassy's Fourth of July party was still filled with food and fun. Hill media descend on 24 Sussex for annual garden party
The prime minister opened up his backyard for one last shindig before politicians and journalists gear up for what's going to be a busy summer. Qatar hoping Canadian locale pays off for spot on Montreal-based UN aviation body
Countries like Qatar are vying for one of 36 spots on the International Civil Aviation Organization council for a three-year term. Canada is also looking to keep its seat, but won't say who is getting its support.
Exile-turned-envoy says Lesotho’s success means attracting investors
Ralechate Lincoln Mokose returned to diplomacy in 2017 after more than a decade in politics. MLI hosting panel on energy development, Indigenous collaboration Sept. 19
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, head to Rideau Hall to ask the governor general to dissolve Parliament for the general election. 
Comedian Rick Mercer and then-Reform Party MP Deb Grey, pictured in the late 1990s on Parliament Hill doing a shoot for CBC's This Hour Has 22 Minutes, which Mr. Mercer hosted at the time. The Hill Times photograph by Terry McDonald 
