‘Non-issue’ for Chief Justice Wagner to serve as administrator but a quickened appointment of a new GG would be favourable, say legal experts
While it is manageable for Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Wagner to fulfill his constitutional role serving as the administrator of Canada, former judges say an appointment of a new governor general should be accelerated to lessen an awkward situation. Mr. Wagner assumed the responsibilities typically held by the viceregal after being sworn in as […]
PROC’s prorogation probe a precedent-setting exercise, says NDP’s Blaikie
The Procedure and House Affairs Committee’s ongoing study into the government’s report on prorogation—the first of its kind, as newly required by the House of Commons’ Standing Orders—is “establishing an important precedent,” says NDP MP Daniel Blaikie, who hopes the committee uses it as a chance to consider deeper reforms, including giving the elected House […]
NDP blew chance at government, reforming elections: letter writer
Six years ago, the federal NDP were poised to form the next government, and they blew it. Next election, they will be granted a rare second chance, and an incredible opportunity to realize two of their major policy objectives: get rid of that unelected, undemocratic, and dysfunctional Senate, and give us what we desperately have […]
Liberals’ sparse House presence a ‘model’ for Canadians, says Whip Holland
MPs’ sparse attendance in the House of Commons, especially in the Liberal benches, since the start of the winter sitting is being done with an aim to set a good example for public health measures, say some MPs. However, critics say the government’s meagre showing of having at times a solitary MP in the House […]
Feds need to spotlight North American integration to gain exemption from Biden’s protectionist Buy American measures, say experts
With the Canadian government seeking to get an exemption from the Biden administration’s protectionist Buy American executive order, it will have to convince the White House on the need to protect Canada and the U.S.’s integrated economies, say experts. An exemption could result in having Canada acquiesce to a stricter protectionist regime, at the same […]
MPs ‘reassured’ by rollout of new off-Hill security measures
As a victim of online stalking, NDP MP Charlie Angus is acutely aware of how threat and intimidation can impede Members of Parliament in their work, and he said he’s happy that new security measures are being put in place. “It actually undermines our ability to represent people democratically, that’s what I realized,” he said. […]
Most online users report seeing false, misleading COVID-19 information, but few verify accuracy: report
The vast majority of Canadians who turn to the internet for updates on the pandemic said they encountered suspicious information, but only a small fraction checked its accuracy, suggested a new Statistics Canada report. In a new survey released Tuesday, the agency said 96 per cent of Canadians surveyed reported seeing information on COVID-19 they […]
Defending sluggish vaccine rollout, Hajdu says feds anticipated low volume of doses
Health Minister Patty Hajdu defended Canada’s immunization campaign before a parliamentary committee on Tuesday, saying she anticipates a smoother rollout as it progresses, because more vaccines will likely be approved in the months ahead. “We knew early on that we would not have a volume of vaccines,” said Ms. Hajdu (Thunder Bay-Superior North, Ont.), adding […]
Ottawa has verbal assurances from EU that export controls won’t delay vaccine shipments, Ng says
Ottawa has verbal assurances from the European Union that its export controls won’t delay the delivery of vaccines bound for Canada, but is preparing a contingency plan in case the bloc is unable to honour that promise, say federal officials. Testifying before the House International Trade Committee on Monday, Steve Verhuel, assistant deputy minister of trade […]
Safeguards in assisted-dying law create ‘good balance’ between protection, autonomy, Lametti says
The government has the appropriate safeguards in place to address disability groups’ concerns that removing the near-death requirement to Canada’s medical-assistance-in-dying law would put vulnerable people at risk, says Justice Minister David Lametti. During a 90-minute hearing on Monday, Mr. Lametti (LaSalle–Émard–Verdun, Que.) appeared before the Senate Legal Affairs Committee to discuss the government’s bill […]
