The caucus that wasn’t: how the Independent Senate Group works
The Independent Senators Group is still finding its feet more than a year after it first assembled, and trying to pin down principles to guide Independents operating in what has become an unpredictable Senate. Senators in the group say they don’t co-ordinate how they vote, nor, in most cases, do they tell the group’s leadership […]
How the feds can take action to improve life with MS
Multiple sclerosis affects all Canadians—not only the individuals living with the disease, but also their friends, families, workplaces, and health-care teams who all come together to manage the realities of MS. As we gather this summer to celebrate our country’s 150th birthday, we hope our government will step up and take action to improve life […]
Conservative caucus rallies around Scheer; Bernier knew unity would have been tough for him, says Clement
Despite his tight victory, Conservative caucus members say they are unified in their support for new party leader Andrew Scheer, something Maxime Bernier was anticipating to be a challenge for him had he won, according to an MP who worked on his campaign. Tony Clement (Parry Sound-Muskoka, Ont.), who initially ran for the leadership himself […]
Politics This Morning: Freeland heads to D.C. for high-level meeting on the deadly, deteriorating situation in Venezuela
In case you missed it: As reported by The Hill Times, Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould has placed a bill on the Notice Paper which would amend the Canada Elections Act to create new rules governing how political parties are financed—a longstanding Liberal government promise. The bill could be tabled as early as today. Ms. Gould is scheduled to speak to the media […]
Gould puts feds’ political financing bill on Notice Paper
PARLIAMENT HILL—Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould has put the House of Commons on notice that the government’s promised political financing bill could come down the legislative pipeline as early as tomorrow, Wednesday, May 31. The bill will amend the Canada Elections Act to set new parameters on political parties’ financing practices. Bills are normally placed on […]
Politics This Morning: NDP MP Nathan Cullen to introduce electoral reform motion
In case you missed it: Marie-Claude Bibeau, minister of International Development and La Francophonie, announced yesterday that the federal government is launching a Famine Relief Fund to respond to several food security crises in countries like in northeast Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen. As part of the government initiative, every eligible donation made by individual […]
‘We’re the party of everyday Canadians,’ Scheer tells energized Conservative caucus on Parliament Hill
PARLIAMENT HILL—Monday morning before the House convened for the day, newly-elected Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer gathered members of his caucus of 99 MPs and 38 Conservative Senators in Centre Block’s Railway Room to lay out the direction of the party, both inside Parliament and beyond, and reinforced the party’s commitment to balanced budgets, repealing the […]
Trump controversies could affect how Canada shares info, says ex-CSIS official
Those with connections to the Canadian intelligence community say recent issues with U.S. President Donald Trump are “raising eyebrows,” and at least one intelligence expert says some agents could be second-guessing what information gets shared with the United States. What’s causing concern are suspicions that the current U.S. administration has an unacceptably close relationship with […]
Liberals’ black caucus members visit Casey’s Nova Scotia riding after his constituency staffer faces racism
The federal Liberal black caucus and an Independent Nova Scotia, African-Canadian Senator visited Liberal MP Bill Casey’s riding in late April to talk with people about racism after a black constituency office staffer there received some “nasty” racist remarks from constituents. In an interview The Hill Times, Mr. Casey, (Cumberland-Colchester, N.S.), a seven-term MP who was […]
Senators question Internal Economy Committee’s $108,000, ‘sole-source’ media relations contract
The Senate’s Internal Economy Committee has put out a “sole-source” contract worth $108,000 for a communications consultant to do media relations for the committee, and several Senators are asking why a contractor is needed when there are about two dozen people already in the Senate’s communications directorate. New Brunswick Ind. Sen. Pierrette Ringuette led the […]
