Feds pledge to spend $82-billion to shore up economy amid uncertainty over coronavirus fallout
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau outlined a sweeping, $82-billion relief package on Wednesday in an effort to alleviate the concerns of Canadians and businesses hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. The package includes the creation of the “emergency care benefit,” a nearly $10-billion measure that would provide up to $900 biweekly for workers who are self-employed, […]
‘Decisive action was required’: how MPs and Senators hammered out deal to close Parliament late into the night
It was about 10:30 on the night of March 12 when a small group of MPs and top staffers struck a deal to suspend Parliament amid the growing COVID-19 pandemic. That deal was laid out in a single motion passed in the House the next day, one that included rushing two supply bills through Parliament, […]
‘They have no right to ask me to be there,’ says Chinese ambassador on possibility of appearance at Canada-China Relations Committee
China’s top diplomat in Ottawa says Members of Parliament on the Special Canada-China Relations Committee don’t have “a right” to ask him to appear before the body. Speaking with The Hill Times at the Chinese embassy on March 12, Cong Peiwu said he wanted to see “more positive energy” being put into the committee, which […]
Situation ‘changing hourly’ as feds, unions, public service contend with COVID-19 work-from-home confusion
With calls from the prime minister for Canadians to stay at home in the face of COVID-19, union leaders say they are aware of some concerns being raised by federal public servants regarding confusing messaging from some government departments around telework conditions, and that they’re raising issues with the Treasury Board as they come up. […]
‘Together we will beat this’: MPs urge care and calm for those most at-risk with COVID-19
For the Canadians at the greatest risk amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, Parliamentarians who have been immunocompromised once before have pragmatic words of encouragement: trust the science, listen to health professionals, try to be positive, and be very, very careful. Though none of the four cancer survivors who spoke with The Hill Times felt they were […]
BOIE settles on reno feedback forum, initial list of sacred Centre Block spaces to preserve
Before it adjourned amid COVID-19 precautions, the House of Commons’ Board of Internal Economy struck a new subcommittee to oversee Centre Block renovations and ruled out the possibility of expanding the existing House Chamber, among other things. Only representatives from recognized parties in the House—those with at least 12 sitting MPs—were involved in those decisions. […]
Parliamentary precinct remains open, as some services wind down
Some services on the Hill have been temporarily halted after Parliament’s suspension last week in response to the coronavirus pandemic, while all buildings in the parliamentary precinct remain open. House administration staff circulated a notice to MPs on Tuesday, notifying them of impacted services, including the temporary closure of cafeterias on the Hill and the […]
House to be recalled next week to pass relief measures amid Covid-19 pandemic, says NDP whip
OTTAWA—House leaders are holding a meeting via teleconference on March 18 to hammer out the details to recall Parliament in order to pass legislative measures to address the fallout from the coronavirus outbreak, says the NDP’s whip. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) told reporters on March 17 that Parliament will be recalled briefly for […]
Conservative MP Gladu says party is ‘tone deaf’ for refusing to extend race deadline as Canadians grapple with coronavirus fallout
Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu who is running for the party’s top job says her party is being “tone deaf” to the impact the coronavirus pandemic is having on Canadians and its effects on the leadership race, saying its refusal to make any changes to the looming deadline means only “three white” men and no women […]
‘Exceptional measures’: feds tighten Canada’s borders, barring entry to most non-citizens
Ottawa is tightening its borders, barring entry to travellers arriving from abroad, with some carveouts, including keeping the Canada-U.S. border open, as it races to prevent a surge of coronavirus cases from overwhelming the health-care system. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) unveiled the latest measures on Monday afternoon at a news conference at Rideau […]
