Canadians with disabilities ‘left behind’ say advocates after Ottawa spends $797-million in targeted COVID support
The federal government spent approximately $797-million on one-time payments of up to $600 to help people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Public Accounts of Canada for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. That’s compared with $3-billion for the Canada Emergency Student Benefit, $2.9-billion for the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit, and $2.5-billion in emergency […]
Long-term lobbying goals will gain little traction amid Omicron wave, say lobbyists
A surge in Omicron cases across Canada will likely shift the federal government’s focus towards short-term responses, making it more difficult for stakeholders with long-term advocacy goals to get any traction, according to some lobbyists. “There is an increased focus on COVID-19, on Omicron, on the response to that, on working with partners, [and] whoever […]
Conservatives demand Liberals make NSICOP a parliamentary committee, release Winnipeg lab docs
The circumstances surrounding the year-ago dismissal of Chinese scientists Xiangguo Qiu and her husband, Keding Cheng, from the Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC’s) National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) in Winnipeg, and the transfer in 2019 of Ebola and Henipah viruses from the lab to China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), could remain cloaked in secrecy—and […]
MPs say Canadians feeling ‘exasperation,’ ‘frustration’ with pandemic, and Graves says national outlook ‘unsurprisingly quite dark’
The COVID-19 pandemic that has come to define the day-to-day lives of Canadians for nearly two years now continues to stubbornly stick around with the emergence of the Omicron variant, with MPs saying their constituents are frustrated, exasperated, and confused with the public health crisis that seemingly has no end in sight. And Frank Graves, […]
Massive federal deficit shows signs of shrinking, but economists urge policy review to avoid austerity measures
Despite the federal government posting a “historic” deficit during the pandemic, economists and Canada’s first parliamentary budget officer forsee it rapidly shrinking in the coming years as the country exits the pandemic and pulls back on its broad-based supports for Canadians. “If you look at the medium-term plan, we’re getting deficits back down to less […]
Federal task force considers subsidized flood insurance for high-risk communities
A federal task force on flood insurance and relocation is considering a temporary, subsidized flood insurance program for people in high-risk areas who cannot get coverage otherwise, according to one of its members. This program would be intended to buy time for governments to put in place better flood protection measures, and to relocate people […]
Canadians undecided on Trudeau as a ‘leader or laggard’ on Omicron response after 12-day break, say strategists
After a 12-day break from public appearances, the prime minister was back in the spotlight Wednesday attempting to deliver a message of hope in the face of surging COVID-19 cases, but politicos say his government’s actions in the coming weeks will be more important than political messaging. “He tried to reassure Canadians, but he said […]
Order of Canada recipients in 2022 say they ‘desire a better country,’ but former Senator Dyck says her time in Parliament was not easy
The 135 people whose names appear on the new year’s list of appointments to the Order of Canada have in common their desire for a better country, to paraphrase the top civilian honours’ motto. Desire became achievement for three key Indigenous people named to the Order of Canada, according to former Liberal Member of Parliament […]
PM asks Mendicino, LeBlanc in mandate letters to ‘bolster security of ministers and Parliamentarians,’ House says MPs’ security is multi-jurisdictional
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has asked Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities Minister Dominic LeBlanc to work with Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino “to bolster the security of ministers and Parliamentarians.” The joint responsibilities were outlined by the prime minister in the two ministers’ Dec. 16 mandate letters, along with their other responsibilities. NDP MP Alistair […]
PMO spent $10.05-million in 2020-21, cabinet offices’ expenditures rose 10 per cent, PMO says own office increased spending due to pandemic
The Prime Minister’s Office expenses rose by 6.9 per cent in the last fiscal year as spending for all ministerial offices, including the PMO, reached $68.21-million, according to the federal government’s public accounts for 2020-21. The great majority of ministerial office spending, including the PMO, was for personnel. Of the $68.21-million spent by ministerial offices, […]
