‘In a perfect storm right now’: labour supply, record immigration complicate daunting housing supply problem, say experts
The minister responsible for tackling the country’s twin problems of housing affordability and supply is staring down “a bit of a perfect storm right now” as Canada grapples with a combination of construction labour shortages, ongoing supply chain issues, and record levels of new immigrants, says the head of a provincial builders’ association. Minister of […]
‘We should respect each other’: South Africa says notification not given before travel ban imposed
It’s not just the decision to implement a controversial travel ban on southern African nations, which since has been revoked, but the way in which Canada went about announcing the plan, that irked South Africa’s envoy in Ottawa. Outgoing South African High Commissioner Sibongiseni Dlamini-Mntambo said she learned that Ottawa was imposing the ban not […]
Three years on, Canada delays naming an ambassador to the Holy See
More than three years after Canada’s last full-fledged ambassador to the Holy See left his post, Ottawa has yet to name a replacement. The lack of appointment has led to the diplomatic posting becoming one of Canada’s longest vacancies without a new ambassador. The prolonged vacancy comes at the same time as the Liberal government […]
Feds should ‘tie a rope’ to health-care payments to address capacity problems, say MPs and experts
In response to Canada’s inadequate hospital capacity, a Liberal and NDP MP and two experts say the federal government should attach conditions to health-care transfers to ensure provinces and territories are more accountable with their spending, while a Conservative MP says these payments should be given “without condition.” “Health care is delivered fundamentally on a […]
Conservatives accuse Statistics Canada of keeping Consumer Price Index ‘artificially low’ at first Finance hearing on inflation
Conservative MPs took Statistics Canada officials to task during a House Finance Committee meeting Monday, accusing the agency of hiding the country’s true inflation rate by “artificially” adjusting the methodology of the Consumer Price Index (CPI). “It seems like not only is your agency vastly underestimating housing inflation, but also vastly underestimating the share of […]
Liberal MPs want Trudeau to take on Quebec’s Bill 21, say he risks losing Grits’ base
The controversy over Quebec’s Bill 21 will continue to build in the coming weeks, say some Liberal MPs, who are wondering why Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is not taking a concrete action against the divisive law when the government in the past stood up strongly for women’s rights, LGBTQ community rights, Quebec language rights, and […]
Taxing anti-vaxxers ‘controversial,’ but will help vaccinate more Quebecers and could help Legault’s October re-election bid, say some pollsters
Quebec Premier François Legault’s decision to tax anti-vaxxers is “controversial,” but it will help vaccinate more Quebecers and will assist the Quebec premier in his October re-election campaign, say some pollsters. “To be blunt, he has zero risk from this in Quebec,” said Ekos president Frank Graves, in an interview with The Hill Times. “It’s nothing […]
Arts sector struggling under Omicron, lobbyists press for return of full CERB
Arts and culture organizations facing a renewed struggle to survive as the Omicron variant spreads are pushing the federal government to increase its financial support to back to the level it was at in the early days of the pandemic. “When Omicron started to appear, shows were canceled in Toronto and Montreal, and everywhere in Canada. […]
Staffers’ return to Hill uncertain amid Omicron wave
Hill staffers are being told to work from home whenever possible, as the Omicron wave has swept across Canada and squashed hopes of returning to work in-person. The PMO has been advising ministerial staff to work remotely since before the holidays. The NDP caucus leadership has instructed that staff can only be present on the […]
Feds seek to ‘raise profile of housing’ in cabinet as Hussen given job to tackle affordability, supply, and homelessness
Housing Minister Ahmed Hussen will try to find the delicate balance between housing affordability and supply, say industry experts, an issue that has become more acute as millions of Canadians have hunkered down to work from home during the pandemic, and as entrants into the housing market across the country continue to be faced with […]
