New Senate committee to place spotlight on Arctic
A new Senate committee dedicated to studying issues affecting Canada’s North, is planning to “hit the ground running” when the Upper Chamber resumes at the end of January, says the new group’s deputy chair. Approved by the Senate on Sept. 27, the new Special Committee on the Arctic held its first meeting on Dec. 13, […]
Poison pills and protectionism: negotiators still face long list of issues in next NAFTA round
Last week, trade observers could be forgiven for feeling whiplash after reports swung from Canadian advisers expecting an imminent United States withdrawal from NAFTA to U.S. President Donald Trump musing negotiations could continue past Mexico’s July presidential election. The fifth round of negotiations was supposed to be a ministerial meeting, but was a dialled back […]
Federal procurement system ‘bogus,’ needs fixes: longtime bidder
The federal government’s procurement system isn’t fair or serving taxpayers well, says one longtime supplier whose companies have won government contracts worth millions of dollars. “They’ve got a bogus procurement system, in my opinion. It shuts out the vast majority of potential suppliers and I wish they could reverse that,” said Brian Card, who in […]
Procurement adviser pens book on getting into government’s ‘inner circle’
An Ottawa procurement expert with a checkered past has re-emerged with a consulting business and new book that promises to teach suppliers how to get into the inner circle of government and win contracts. Over 30 years, Brian Card said he’s founded and managed seven companies. The first went bankrupt, the second sold for about […]
So you want to withdraw from NAFTA: what happens next?
When it comes to how messy the legal fallout could be if U.S. President Donald Trump withdraws from NAFTA, “it’s going to be somewhere between a cluster-bleep, [and] a gongshow,” said the Canada West Foundation’s Carlo Dade. The only clear aspect is that the North American Free Trade Agreement will continue to be a trade priority […]
Politicos, negotiators, and behind-the-scene players: key faces of NAFTA
The politicians Robert Lighthizer As U.S. Trade Representative, Mr. Lighthizer is tasked with bringing President Donald Trump’s tough talk and America First agenda to the table. Since the rounds of negotiation began in August, he’s been balancing mixed signals from his boss, who spoke of mere “tweaks” to the pact but has since hardened that […]
‘It’s a nightmare’: MPs push for more help for riding offices flooded with dozens of Phoenix calls
Members of Parliament are growing increasingly frustrated with what some see as a lack of government support to their constituency offices to help residents affected by the error-ridden Phoenix pay system, and the opposition Conservatives say Public Services and Procurement Minister Carla Qualtrough has yet to follow through on a commitment to boost resources. When […]
Chief trade promoter embodies work-life, public-private balance
Ailish Campbell’s eight-year-old son tells his friends his mom sells bread and airplanes. And he’s not totally wrong—wheat and aircraft are two of Canada’s largest exports. As Canada’s chief trade commissioner, Ms. Campbell travels about one week per month promoting Canadian business, helping Canadian exporters, and attracting foreign investment. “I’m like, ‘okay cool, on some […]
Status of government bills
HOUSE OF COMMONS Second reading: S-5, An Act to amend the Tobacco Act and the Non-smokers’ Health Act C-5, An Act to Repeal Division 20 of Part 3 of the Economic Action Plan 2015 Act, No. 1 C-12, An Act to amend the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Act C-27, An Act […]
Politics This Morning: Bank of Canada makes latest interest rate decision; Trudeau heads to Charlevoix; Gould holds roundtable on leaders’ debates in Toronto
Good Wednesday morning, It looks to be a busy day in Ottawa, with the Bank of Canada making its latest interest rate announcement and releasing its Monetary Policy Report today at 10 a.m. Afterwards, Bank governor Stephen Poloz and senior deputy governor Carolyn Wilkins are appearing at a press conference in the Bank of Canada’s […]
