Canada supports rapid accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO, but experts say it needs to improve its Arctic defences
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly repeated again on Monday that Canada will push for the quick accession of Sweden and Finland to join NATO after Russia’s invasion and bombing of Ukraine and says she consulted with the Conservative, NDP, and Bloc Québécois foreign affairs critics to gain unanimous House consent for the decision. “Canada is […]
Security key factor in successful Block 2 design that will complete ‘Parliament square’
After a year-long competition, the winning bid to complete “Parliament square’s” fourth wall came out ahead, thanks, in part, to a design that works well with Hill security plans, according to one of the MPs who sat on the jury. Zeidler Architecture Inc. and David Chipperfield Architects were unveiled May 16 as the prevailing design […]
A ‘Parliamentary Precinct family reunion’: Politics and the Pen in person for first time in two years
Fifty of Ottawa’s finest political writers are dusting off their tuxedos and ball gowns, readying their sharpies, and practising their autographs as the city’s most anticipated black-tie affair, Politics and the Pen, rolls out the red carpet once again for its first in-person event in two years. According to the gala’s co-chair Elizabeth Gray-Smith, the […]
Federal ministers, MPs, and staff working on high-stakes Ontario election
Cabinet ministers, backbench MPs, exempt ministerial staffers and MP office staffers from all parties are helping out Ontario provincial candidates in the high-stakes June 2 election. “I’ve been helping my local candidate, Dr. Adil Shamji—who is an emergency room doctor, incredible candidate—knock[ing] on doors with him on the weekend,” said Liberal MP Michael Coteau (Don […]
Ontario election will be a test on how upset Canadians are with incumbents and affordability issues, say some MPs and Nanos
The June 2 Ontario provincial election will be a case study for how upset Canadians are with incumbent politicians about inflation and affordability issues, like soaring food prices, gas prices, and skyrocketing housing prices, say some MPs and a veteran pollster. “We’re in the heat of a provincial election in Canada’s largest province,” said Nik […]
Groups return to ‘invaluable’ in-person advocacy on the Hill after years lobbying behind screens
The return of in-person lobby days in Ottawa continued in May, with representatives of organizations glad to be back on Parliament Hill to pursue dialogue with MPs face-to-face for the first time in years. Among those organizations was the Direct Sellers Association of Canada (DSA), a trade association representing companies that market and distribute products […]
Politics and the Pen throughout the years
Modernization of CSIS Act ‘long overdue’ say national security experts
National security experts—and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service itself—are calling for major updates to the CSIS Act, first passed in 1984. The Act should be changed to reflect a rapid growth of online threats, changing attitudes and legislation around privacy, and the exploitation of both conventional and technological means for nefarious ends by authoritarian regimes, […]
New blood donation policy still targets queer men and trans women, advocates argue
Many members of Canada’s LGBTQ2S+ community celebrated when Health Canada announced that it would finally be ending the nation’s discriminatory ban on donations from men who have sex with men. Christopher Karas felt only sadness and exhaustion. “I felt so tired, I cried,” recalled Karas, who brought a human rights complaint against Health Canada in […]
No big winners or losers in curious Conservative leadership debate, say strategists
During Wednesday’s first official Conservative leadership debate, several candidates had “their sights set on trying to blunt Pierre Poilievre’s momentum,” despite a “boring” format that was designed to be “controlled” and “civilized,” said longtime Conservative strategist Tim Powers. The shift from “royal rumble” debate in Ottawa on May 5 to the May 11 stage that […]
