Independent Senators secure $262K budget boost, despite Tory pushback over doing ‘government’ work
The Independent Senators Group’s quest for equality in the Upper Chamber reached another milestone last week, as the budget for what is now the largest group in the Senate got a $262,000 boost. The additional funding brings the ISG’s total budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year to roughly $984,000, thanks to ISG leadership securing a […]
‘It’s the question of whether we want to continue in the status quo’: stakeholders worry environmental assessment process could lead to cut corners
Industry associations and environmental groups are mostly backing the increased government collaboration recommended as part of a new environmental assessment process, though some worry that cutting out the individual steps could lead to cutting corners. Currently industry must often do separate assessments for federal, provincial or territorial, and aboriginal governments when looking to have a […]
Department leaves veterans in ‘financial limbo,’ behind on half its targets
Canada’s Veterans Affairs Department is behind on half of its performance targets, department results released last month reveal, which opposition MPs call unacceptable and a “horrible performance” built off systemic problems. Veterans Affairs missed 14 of 26 targets for the 2016-17 year, filing 54 per cent under “attention required,” leading to delayed decisions on veteran […]
Tackling market distortions key to ending clean-tech growing pains, says industry
Better access to capital and markets are needed to accelerate clean technology adoption and production in the natural resources sector, which Ottawa recently noted has lagged behind other economic sectors in adopting low-carbon technologies, say industry groups and policy experts. None of the natural resources sector stakeholders that The Hill Times spoke to expressed a […]
Politics This Morning: Morneau to announce small business tax changes; Duncan to name first researchers recruited under Canada 150 Research Chairs competition; two new Senators to be sworn in
Good Wednesday morning, Finance Minister Bill Morneau is expected to unveil the Liberal government’s long-awaited tax changes for small businesses at a 1 p.m. (EST) press conference in the National Press Theatre in Ottawa. Officials from Finance Canada will provide a background briefing immediately following the release of what the department is touting as “simplified […]
Liberal Gordie Hogg defeats former Tory cabinet minister in South Surrey-White Rock
The governing Liberals wrestled away a hotly contested Metro Vancouver riding from the federal Conservatives on Monday night, reinforcing the party’s newfound strength in the vote-rich region and handing new Tory Leader Andrew Scheer his second consecutive defeat in a competitive byelection. Former provincial politician Gordie Hogg managed to beat back a spirited push from […]
Politics This Morning: Liberals expected to announce purchase of used fighter jets; Trudeau to appear at Ottawa fundraiser
Good Tuesday morning, The Trudeau government is expected to announce today that it will purchase a contingent of used F-18 fighter jets from Australia, according to media reports. Public Services and Procurement Carla Qualtrough, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains, Transport Minister Marc Garneau, and Gen. Jonathan Vance, chief […]
Ethics czar working ‘diligently’ to complete Trudeau investigation, promises to report ‘in the near future’
Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson, who started investigating last January Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s stay at the Aga Khan’s private island in the Bahamas, is “working diligently” to get it done and make it public in the “near future,” says a spokeswoman for the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner. “The commissioner is working diligently towards […]
Hill security officers, PPS to meet to discuss wages as labour dispute hits seven-month mark
After seven months, House of Commons security officers are still protesting and all three unions representing security officers on the Hill are set to sit down with their Parliamentary Protective Service employers in Ottawa on Dec. 18 to discuss wages. Roch Lapensée, head of the Security Service Employees Association (SSEA), which represents the roughly 240 […]
Mining ombudsman announcement coming; stakeholders eyeing powers, independence of new watchdog
The federal government is on the verge of announcing the creation of an ombudsman for Canada’s extractive sector, and fulfilling a Liberal election promise after years of talks between government officials, extractive sector lobbyists, and human rights advocates. A spokesperson for Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne (Saint-Maurice-Champlain, Que.) confirmed widespread rumours among those close to the […]
