Senators put spotlight back on harassment, ‘loophole’ blocked bullying complaint, says one
Senators called for change, and called out each other about workplace harassment in and outside of the Senate Chamber last week, while all the government’s legislation was still working its way through the House of Commons. A powerful Senate committee also heard testimony in a closed door meeting Feb. 20 from two former staffers who […]
Public service hiring up, but report finds manager, employee concerns around feds’ new staffing process
Although a recent government report shows fairly substantial growth in the federal public service, as well as an increase in the promotion rate within the service for the sixth year in a row, there are concerns among both managers and employees around a new staffing policy—as well as perceptions of fairness around hiring. The Public […]
UNDRIP provides ‘guide’ to resolving tensions among Indigenous communities over questions of authority, say experts
Legislation that would implement the UN’s declaration on Indigenous rights provides a “guide forward” in reconciling the tensions at play between the hereditary chiefs and elected band councils, say experts, but requires governments to “make space” to allow communities to determine who ultimately speaks for them. Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs and the 20 elected band councils […]
‘Just live your life,’ women’s rights advocate tells survivors of violence
After being stalked for more than a decade by her former partner, Ottawa-based women’s rights advocate Julie Lalonde says the idea of resilience “has always rubbed me the wrong way.” In Resilience is Futile: The Life and Death and Life of Julie S. Lalonde, the activist details how she was stalked by her abusive ex-boyfriend […]
UN nuclear disarmament rep ‘counting on Canada’ to help bridge tricky international divides
With the risk of a nuclear detonation believed by the UN to be at its “highest level since the end of the Cold War,” the head of the body’s disarmament office says Canada is uniquely positioned to help play a uniting role between divergent parties at the UN’s upcoming nuclear weapon non-proliferation treaty review conference. […]
Black Canadian groups call on feds to address economic inequities facing community
A collective of Black Canadian groups is appealing to the prime minister to address the barriers that prevent the community from achieving economic parity with the rest of the country. The Black Political Action Committee’s meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Que.), Diversity Minister Bardish Chagger (Waterloo, Ont.), Social Development Minister Ahmed Hussen (York […]
‘A real lack of leadership’: critics call for better response from feds as Wet’suwet’en blockades continue
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s leadership is being attacked as deficient from all sides, as blockades shutting down major transitways in solidarity with Wet’suwet’en protestors near the end of a second week, prompting returning MPs to demand an emergency debate, and Mr. Trudeau to cut an international trip short. Still, Mr. Trudeau’s call for dialogue—the central […]
Tory leadership candidates champion CANZUK pact, but trade experts question idea’s merit
Conservative leadership candidates are renewing a call for a new Commonwealth trading network amid Britain’s exit from the European Union, but trade experts question the value of such a proposition. Part of the Conservative Party’s policy platform since 2018 is the hope for a free-trade, free-movement, and security-co-ordination agreement between Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, […]
Advocate calling for a simplified suicide hotline number gets ally in Sen. Batters
A mental health advocate is appealing to MPs and Senators to rally behind an effort to shorten the 11-digit national suicide hotline to three digits. Kathleen Finlay, the founder of Zer0Now Campaign, a sexual trauma and mental health advocacy group, said simplifying the hotline to an “easy-to-remember” number—988—would be a life-saving measure when “seconds count.” […]
‘I don’t celebrate Black History Month, I celebrate Black history 12 months of the year’: Sen. Bernard on her fight for equality
On a snowy day in 2018, Independent Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard boarded a Parliament Hill shuttle bus in front of the Victoria Building, heading to Centre Block. She said the Senators getting on the bus before her boarded with no issues, but the driver stopped Sen. Bernard to ask for identification that she was a […]
