Temperature rising on Wilkinson to get Canada back on track on climate file
While the sweeping effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have dominated Canadians’ attention over the past year, another looming crisis—climate change—has slipped below the national radar. But the clock is ticking for federal Environment and Climate Change Minister Jonathan Wilkinson (North Vancouver, B.C.) to reverse Canada’s current place as a climate-action laggard to the leadership position […]
Quebec premier changing Constitution unilaterally starts ‘slippery slope,’ say some Liberal MPs
Quebec Liberal MPs representing anglophone ridings are staying mum on the Quebec government’s controversial attempt to unilaterally change the Constitution, but some Liberal MPs from other regions of the country are warning that the move sets Canada down a “slippery slope” with unintended consequences that will set a precedent for other provinces to do the […]
Time running out for Liberal legislative agenda, with high-profile bills at back of the queue
The fate of signature government bills on gun control, privacy, and criminal justice are in doubt, with the clock on this spring session—and perhaps the 43rd Parliament—running out. June 7 is the first of only 13 sitting days remaining before MPs leave Ottawa for the summer adjournment. Two of those days will be supply days, […]
It’s time Canadians, government finally deal with and embrace truth and reconciliation, says Bellegarde
The discovery of the remains of 215 Indigenous children close to the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia two weeks ago has rocked the Canadian political world and shocked Canadians. One week later, MPs, Senators, and Indigenous leaders are taking stock of this dark chapter of Canadian history, including Assembly of First Nations […]
‘Explicit’ details in response to MMIWG inquiry still to come, admits Bennett
As some of her cabinet colleagues on Friday reflected on the pace of reconciliation, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett defended Ottawa’s release of its long-awaited action plan for the missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls inquiry, at one point appearing to concede “explicit” details have been punted to a later date. Speaking to reporters […]
IRCC’s ‘arbitrary’ automatic extensions on information requests created ‘unfair playing field,’ say immigration agents
Some immigration agents filing numerous access to information requests on behalf of their clients are feeling burned by a recently phased-out Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada practice that they say was “arbitrary” and akin to institutional targeting, harming their companies’ reputations and the confidence clients placed in them. Five unnamed people were highlighted in a […]
MPs, leaders reckon with Canada’s ‘dark and painful’ history in House debate on remains discovered of 215 Indigenous children at B.C. residential school
Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole is urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to immediately accelerate work on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action on missing children and burial information, following the discovery of children’s remains buried at a former residential school in Kamloops—a “sad reminder of Canada’s genocidal actions against Indigenous peoples,” says NDP Leader […]
MPs, advocates call for funding, education, action to crush ‘shadow pandemic’ of domestic violence
There’s been some movement in the push to end domestic violence through proposed legislation, but these approaches aren’t enough, experts say, especially at a time when a “shadow pandemic” of family violence and femicide is on the rise. These proposed private member’s and Senate public bills, C-247 and S-231, respectively, come amid a year that […]
No deep concern for extended GG selection process, despite awkwardness for chief justice, say experts
The extended timeline to find a new governor general is not a large concern as time is needed to find the fitting candidate to stabilize an office mired in scandal, say experts, but the delay to find a new vice-regal has led to continued awkwardness for the Supreme Court chief justice. Supreme Court Chief Justice […]
Despite budget moves, EI changes not permanent, big enough: MPs, experts
Experts and advocates hoping that temporary employment insurance change would snowball into longer lasting, more permanent restructuring and reform say they’ve been left wanting and still waiting by the federal government. Changes to the employment insurance system were signalled in Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough’s (Delta, B.C.) supplemental mandate letter. In the Jan. 15, 2021 letter, […]
