Plastic waste is a problem—it’s also a resource we shouldn’t be wasting
Let’s face it, the world has a plastic waste problem. There is widespread frustration with plastic waste and concerns about the future. People are hungry for practical solutions. They expect plastic makers—the people we represent—to be leaders in bringing forward solutions. We agree. Plastic waste does not belong in our environment. Instead, plastics can and should be continuously reused in the economy. By shifting […]
Pre-Trump America is no more; Canada will have to rethink its world view
OTTAWA—I covered the end of the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile, where a million people took to the streets, dodging police and their water cannons, to affirm that country’s first democratic election in 20 years. In Haiti, I watched marauding soldiers roam the streets of Port-au-Prince as the military threw out an elected president in a […]
In praise of border carbon adjustments
Re: “Focus on keeping industry, not politicians, in Canada,” (The Hill Times, Jan. 7, by Erin Weir). I’ll never forget a crotchety conservative exclaiming, “Yeah, if all countries were carbon taxed, that would be okay.” Fear of freeloading, of being a sucker, of looking foolish has been a drag on climate action for years. So, […]
The long-lasting impacts of lobbying during COVID
As we look back on a tumultuous year, simply put, lobbying has changed dramatically. Just as every industry and business had to adjust, the lobbyists who represent them showed the depth of their adaptability. The changes thrust upon us in such a short period of time created many challenges and gave us all a crash […]
Thinking of changing jobs? Here are a few words of advice
People often change jobs. It allows them to develop their skills, face new challenges, and create opportunities. Under the Conflict of Interest Act, changing jobs adds complexities. Regulatees, who are individuals appointed to public sector boards and agencies, as well as ministers, deputy ministers, parliamentary secretaries, and ministerial staff must comply with the post-employment provisions […]
The Canadian lobbying regime works as intended, but there’s always room for improvement
Canadians deserve to know who is communicating with their federal officials and expect that lobbying activities be conducted in an ethical manner. A global pandemic is no exception. Profoundly affected by change and uncertainty brought on by a global pandemic, businesses in various industry sectors, health and social services, individuals, and families alike, competed to […]
Canadians deserve good, ethical government
When government actions have served the interests of the powerful and well-connected insiders, Canadians are left with a very discouraging impression: that there is one set of rules for the government and another set of rules for the people they govern. During the pandemic, as Parliamentarians were working around the clock to get help to […]
Management consultants are the problem, not the solution
MONTREAL—When I was a young boy, my brother and I would while away the summer days in Kamouraska by skipping rocks along the surface of the Saint Lawrence River. The shale along the beach offered perfect flat rocks for skipping. We would marvel as the rocks skipped 10, 20, or more times when the river […]
Bloc’s Blanchet is the one who has questions to answer after Alghabra attack
Last week must have been a rollercoaster for Liberal MP Omar Alghabra. After more than 15 years spent in and around federal politics, he was elevated to the government’s front bench, named as the new transport minister in a Jan. 12 cabinet shuffle. Barely 24 hours after that high, Mr. Alghabra had to deal with […]
If we’re going to dismantle white supremacy, let’s not whitewash it
CALGARY—Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole is finally being held to account for months of white supremacist dog whistles. On Jan. 18, he moved to kick Derek Sloan out of caucus—a.k.a. The Bare Minimum—after PressProgress revealed that Sloan, at the front of the “which Conservative Party member courts more racism” queue, had accepted a political donation from neo-Nazi […]
