Not open to interpretation: virtual Parliament exacerbates pre-existing issues with vital service
Parliament’s shift to hybrid virtual proceedings as a result of COVID-19 has led to a spike in injuries for Hill interpreters, and in turn, has exposed and exacerbated pre-existing shortfalls with the “essential” service—shortfalls that MPs, industry advocates, and others are looking to address. “It [COVID] has certainly exacerbated the underlying issue of the challenges […]
Anti-abortion group wants Conservatives to give riding associations power to fire MPs, to veto leadership’s call on nomination contests
A prominent anti-abortion group is vying to get support from elected delegates across the country to force a vote on a constitutional amendment at the Conservative Party’s upcoming policy convention that would empower riding associations to veto the leadership’s decision on nomination contests and to fire MPs if members are unsatisfied with their performance. “A […]
HuffPost Canada ceases operations
HuffPost Canada on Tuesday announced it’s shuttering operations, a move that affects roughly 23 employees, including two journalists at its Parliament Hill bureau. “As of March 9, HuffPost Canada will no longer be publishing content. Existing content will be maintained as an online archive; however, certain site features were permanently disabled as of March 12,” […]
Boosts to child care support could help deliver more equitable economic recovery for women, says report
Failure from governments to act on “troubling statistics” that show women and mothers have been sidelined from employment during the COVID-19 pandemic could undo decades-long progress made on gender equality, warns the author of a new report. Katherine Scott, a senior researcher with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), said there needs to be […]
Defence Committee widens probe into feds’ handling of misconduct allegations, orders release of documents
A parliamentary committee on Monday agreed to order the release of documents from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Privy Council Office, and Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan’s office that cover times when allegations against former chief of defence staff Jonathan Vance first surfaced, and extend back to discussions around his appointment by the Conservatives in 2015. […]
In historic first, MPs to use remote-voting app as pandemic continues to rage
MPs are poised to hold their first-ever vote using an app developed by the House administration on Monday, marking another milestone in Parliament’s efforts to adapt to the constraints of the pandemic. Whereas roll-call Zoom votes on a single issue during the pandemic can take up to an hour to complete, the adoption of the […]
Gun control advocates trash feds’ bill, but it’s probably a winner anyway, say pollsters
Gun control advocates have slammed the government’s new gun control bill as ineffective, redundant, and a “capitulation to the gun lobby”—which is also thoroughly displeased with the bill. It might be good politics for the Liberals anyway, say pollsters. “Some might be disappointed, but most will see it as a step in the right direction,” […]
Thirty-seven candidates vying for Conservative Party’s powerful 20-member national council
With the Conservative Party’s “record-setting convention” only 10 days away, the campaign for the highest elected governing body of the party is in full swing, with 37 candidates running for 20 positions. In the 20-member national council, Ontario has four seats, Quebec three, British Columbia and Alberta two seats each, and Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Newfoundland and […]
Potential candidates in four winnable Liberal ridings eagerly awaiting timeline for nomination contests
Would-be replacements for four ousted or departing Ontario Liberal MPs say they want to know when the party will release details about the nomination process for the next election. The four ridings include Mississauga-Malton, currently represented by Liberal MP Navdeep Bains; Brampton Centre, currently represented by Ind. MP Ramesh Sangha; Kitchener South-Hespeler, currently represented by […]
More than 520 plaintiffs now part of Black public servants’ $900-million class-action lawsuit against government, as feds enlist Bay Street law firm
More than 520 current and former Black federal public servants are now part of a $900-million class-action lawsuit that is alleging decades-long government discrimination, lack of advancement opportunities, and harassment. Three months ago, there were 12 representative plaintiffs. After three months of waiting to hear from Ottawa, the suit’s leading lawyer says the government has […]
