Senate leaders ready to take another crack at COVID-19 committee
Two Senate leaders are proposing a temporary new committee to study the government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, a week after Senators failed to reach a deal to strike two committees for that purpose during a one-day Senate sitting. Senators are expecting to return for another whirlwind sitting soon, and Senate leaders are preparing to […]
Canada’s top doctor ‘voice of reason’ in face of uncertainty over COVID-19 fallout, say politicos, experts
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic that has upended nearly every facet of life, Canada’s chief public health officer’s daily briefings have become a ritualized affair for the homebound, with politicians, a TV critic, and health experts saying that Dr. Theresa Tam has settled into the role of steadily guiding Canadians through this all-consuming crisis. There’s a […]
Dole out funding for COVID-19 ads soon, say experts, as ethnic media outlets face cash crunch
As Ottawa looks to reach communities that do not speak English or French during the COVID-19 pandemic by buying ad space in some ethnic and Indigenous media outlets, one expert fears these news organizations could come “under the gun” in the next few weeks if ads are not rolled out soon. “The viability and sustainability […]
Ottawa should declare northern flights essential as ‘decimated’ service puts Inuit at risk of losing ‘only link’ to key services, says ITK
The COVID-19 crisis “shines a light on” the inequities between northern Inuit communities and the south on infrastructure and access to health care, says Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed, who is calling on Ottawa to fund and declare an “essential service” the air transportation that alleviates the gaps even as they widen with the […]
Refusing to commit to firm timeline, Trudeau says it’s ‘realistic’ measures will last until July
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says it’s a “realistic scenario” to expect the stringent measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 to be in place at least until July, while refusing to commit to a firm timeline. As other jurisdictions, including the City of Toronto, offer signs indicating the projected duration of measures such as physical […]
Introduction of electronic, remote voting not called for yet, but should be re-examined by House committee, say some MPs
Physical-distancing measures aimed at dampening COVID-19’s spread are keeping Members of Parliament away from the House of Commons, and while MPs who spoke with The Hill Times say they’re fine with arrangements so far, some think the House should reconsider whether to introduce remote and electronic voting down the road. “I would like to see […]
Food supply, emergency vehicle repair: keeping Canada-U.S. trade open key to fight against COVID-19, say stakeholders
With the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic having shifted to the United States, industry stakeholders say Canada-U.S. trade is too vital for cross-border commerce to be halted. While non-essential travel between Canada and the United States has been barred since March 17, with commerce being exempted, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly floated ending physical distancing […]
Lobbyists clamour to get voices heard on COVID-19
Lobbying groups lining up to influence federal decisions on Canada’s COVID-19 response are vying to ensure that their sector’s concerns are reflected, with some warning that they may fall through the cracks even as they say Ottawa has made time for consultations. Beyond particularly hard-hit industries such as the airline and tourism sectors, there are […]
Wage subsidies ‘critical,’ a ‘lifeline’ for businesses to survive pandemic, says Chamber of Commerce president
The federal government’s increased wage subsidy announcement was “critical” if small- and medium-sized businesses are going to come out alive on the other side of the coronavirus pandemic, say business leaders. “It’s a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of small- and medium-sized businesses that employ millions of Canadians,” said Perrin Beatty, president and CEO of […]
Mental health a ‘missing piece’ in feds’ COVID-19 response, say critics, advocates
As the government rapidly responds to the immediate health and economic needs of Canadians affected by COVID-19, more than two weeks after the country adopted strict isolation measures, advocates say now is the time to address the mental health toll more are likely to face. At least one organization said they expect an announcement “imminently,” […]
