‘Hold the line!’: thousands descend on Parliament Hill as largest federal public service union begins strike over wages, return-to-workplace policies
Public Service Alliance of Canada national president Chris Aylward says the union ‘truly hoped we wouldn’t be forced to take strike action, but we’ve exhausted every other avenue to reach a fair contract for Canada’s federal public service workers.’
Feds seek to highlight fiscal strength of provinces before ‘inevitable tightening of the spending taps,’ say strategists
One economist told The Hill Times the provinces’ fiscal position is ‘quite strong,’ but another argued that Ottawa should not ‘egg the provinces on’ to spend more.
NDP plans humanitarian exemption amendment for bill easing aid restrictions
While Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino says Bill C-41 strikes the right balance between security and humanitarian access, NDP MP Heather McPherson says it does not.
Chinese-Canadian activists raise concerns over feds’ rushed foreign registry consultations
With many members of the community only receiving an invite four days in advance and a lack of transparency on who would be in attendance, activists are concerned consultations on the proposed foreign agent registry could be skewed.
Conservatives, NDP call for feds to fulfill UN quick reaction force pledge
There is growing skepticism that the Liberal government’s promise to supply UN peace operations with a 200-member quick reaction force will ever materialize.
Infrastructure woes among biggest challenges at airports heading into busy summer
National Airlines Council of Canada president Jeff Morrison says the 2023 federal budget was a missed opportunity to support airports when it comes to sorely needed infrastructure improvements.
‘More about reaction than action’: Tory strategists say Poilievre’s CBC attacks are ‘vintage Pierre,’ red meat for base
‘[Poilievre] thinks this is a winning issue, and when he puts it out on social media, he’s seeing in the response that a lot of people are agreeing with him,’ says Summa Strategies’ Daniel Perry.
Senate pivots to post-pandemic work-from-home policy for administration staff
The Senate Internal Economy Committee’s discussion of the new policy was set to be discussed behind closed doors, but was made public following a push by Conservative Senate Leader Don Plett.
Indigenous leaders call on House committee to treat Imperial Oil tailings leaks as evidence of larger failure of regulation
Indigenous leaders appearing in front of the House Environment Committee on April 17 expressed frustration at needing to travel all the way to Ottawa ‘to remind this government of its duties and responsibilities.’
Five byelections in four provinces a ‘good thermometer reading’ of ‘national patterns’ for major federal parties, say pollsters
It will be interesting to see what campaign strategies and messaging political parties test in the five byelections expected to be called in the coming weeks, says pollster Nik Nanos.
