‘Everyone should feel the hit’: ministerial offices and PMO should be cut, too, say some leading public policy experts

Prior to the 1980s, federal cabinet ministers made do with a handful of staff, but that has jumped to between 15 and 25 exempt staffers over the last 40 years, says professor Donald Savoie.

Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali at a committee meeting this month on Parliament Hill. According to the Treasury Board's website, 17,217 public service positions, including 704 executive-level jobs, are set to slashed. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

‘Everyone should feel the hit’: ministerial offices and PMO should be cut, too, say some leading public policy experts

NewsBY ABBAS RANA

Prior to the 1980s, federal cabinet ministers made do with a handful of staff, but that has jumped to between 15 and 25 exempt staffers over the last 40 years, says professor Donald Savoie.

‘Everyone should feel the hit’: ministerial offices and PMO should be cut, too, say some leading public policy experts

NewsBY ABBAS RANA

Prior to the 1980s, federal cabinet ministers made do with a handful of staff, but that has jumped to between 15 and 25 exempt staffers over the last 40 years, says professor Donald Savoie.

THE LATEST

A snap election still possible, despite potential Liberal byelections wins and more rumoured floor-crossings, say some pollsters

NewsBY ABBAS RANA

But it’s far less risky to get a majority through floor-crossings than through a snap election, says Ipsos Public Affairs CEO Darrell Bricker.

A snap election still possible, despite potential Liberal byelections wins and more rumoured floor-crossings, say some pollsters

NewsBY ABBAS RANA

But it’s far less risky to get a majority through floor-crossings than through a snap election, says Ipsos Public Affairs CEO Darrell Bricker.

The Year of Resilience: What 2026 Will Demand From Canada’s Cyber Leaders

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The Year of Resilience: What 2026 Will Demand From Canada’s Cyber Leaders

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Lack of trade infrastructure, insufficient supports for small business among realities of trade-war woes, say experts

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Canada has 'baseline difficulties in building new trade assets,' says Carlo Dade, director of International Policy and the New North America Initiative at the University of Calgary.

Canada has 'baseline difficulties in building new trade assets,' says Carlo Dade, director of International Policy and the New North America Initiative at the

Questions loom over NDP’s voter verification process as leadership contest enters final stretch

NewsBY ELEANOR WAND

Democracy Watch’s Duff Conacher says the gaps in voter identification could allow for foreign interference in the NDP leadership race, but the party says it has ‘established safeguards’ in place to protect the vote.

Democracy Watch’s Duff Conacher says the gaps in voter identification could allow for foreign interference in the NDP leadership race, but the party says

‘He comes from our side’: Writers’ Union CEO calls Solomon an AI ‘cheerleader,’ asks him to slow down strategy

NewsBY MARIA COLLINS

Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon has previously said he expects to table his new AI strategy in the first quarter of 2026.

Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon has previously said he expects to table his new AI strategy in the first quarter of 2026.

POLITICS THIS MORNING

The hope that (almost) kills you

Plus, the House debates the Build Canada Homes bill.

BY RIDDHI KACHHELA

OPINION & COLUMNISTS

Four years and counting in Ukraine

The war’s stalemate was inevitable because drones as the dominant new technology makes it very dangerous for soldiers to move on the surface at all.

BY GWYNNE DYER

Opinion

BY MICHAEL HARRIS

Pierre Poilievre is in a pickle: he’s a weak leader with a strong mandate

Opinion

BY ROSE LEMAY

Reconciliation is not dead, but Indigenous Peoples are still dying in Canada’s hospitals

Opinion

BY SCOTT TAYLOR

New defence strategy unveils big numbers and contradictions

Opinion

BY MATT GURNEY

Having a defence industrial strategy is good, but we’ll also need to know what to do with it

PODCAST: THE HOT ROOM

The ‘ambitious’ Defence Industrial Strategy, with Mark Norman

NEWS

‘Dangerous’ Bill C-12’s immigration changes give too much power to cabinet and department: Sen. McPhedran and legal rights groups

NewsBY TESSIE SANCI

The bill's proposal for a new timeline for refugee applications that would be in effect starting in 2020—more than five years prior to the bill even being passed—and the power to cancel large numbers of immigration documents at once are causing concerns.

‘Dangerous’ Bill C-12’s immigration changes give too much power to cabinet and department: Sen. McPhedran and legal rights groups

NewsBY TESSIE SANCI

The bill's proposal for a new timeline for refugee applications that would be in effect starting in 2020—more than five years prior to the bill even being passed—and the power to cancel large numbers of immigration documents at once are causing concerns.

NDP leadership candidate Ashton attacks Lewis on provincial relationships, energy projects in final debate

NewsBY ELEANOR WAND

‘The grief isn’t gone’ in Tumbler Ridge, says local MP Bob Zimmer

NewsBY MARLO GLASS

He ‘was like the Hollywood casting version of the crusty news editor with a heart of gold’: friends, colleagues, former j-school students remember Elly Alboim

FeatureBY JUSTIN S. CAMPBELL

Canadian sovereignty is at risk if we don’t act decisively on the economy 

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HILL LIFE & PEOPLE

Parliamentary Calendar

SecState Fuhr to talk about Canada’s new era in defence investment on Monday, Feb. 23, in Montreal

Podcast

Tumbler Ridge shooting upends the agenda: The week in review

feature

The Hill Times’ Top 100 Best Books in 2025

News

Who’s backing the NDP leadership contenders?

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CAE

Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy – Time to Build.

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Back To Parliament

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Policy Briefing – Infrastructure

HILL LIFE & PEOPLE

‘The whole incident was exceptionally unpleasant and stressful’: Frank Graves reclaims his social media account from cyber thief

FeatureBY CHRISTINA LEADLAY

Plus: Parliamentary Pride Caucus honours ex-MP Svend Robinson, former Tory leader Erin O'Toole joins Huron University, and former NDP director Anne McGrath tells David Cochrane about surviving St. Pius X High School shooting in 1975.

‘The whole incident was exceptionally unpleasant and stressful’: Frank Graves reclaims his social media account from cyber thief

FeatureBY CHRISTINA LEADLAY

Plus: Parliamentary Pride Caucus honours ex-MP Svend Robinson, former Tory leader Erin O'Toole joins Huron University, and former NDP director Anne McGrath tells David Cochrane about surviving St. Pius X High School shooting in 1975.

Few post-shuffle staffing changes for Canadian identity, Quebec lieutenant teams

FeatureBY LAURA RYCKEWAERT

POLITICS

Think big: Senate Building should be turned into high-speed rail hub in 2037

OpinionBY EDITORIAL

Read the finalists: The Hill Times is up for eight OCNA awards

FeatureBY THE HILL TIMES STAFF

Romania hosts Rideau Club revelry

FeatureBY SAM GARCIA

House gears up for another assisted dying review

FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW, RIDDHI KACHHELA

Milliard takes on the Quebec Liberal mantle

OpinionBY ANDREW CADDELL

Charles Milliard’s approach as the new Quebec Liberal leader is meant to appeal to so-called ‘soft nationalists’ to drain votes from opposing parties.

Milliard takes on the Quebec Liberal mantle

OpinionBY ANDREW CADDELL

Charles Milliard’s approach as the new Quebec Liberal leader is meant to appeal to so-called ‘soft nationalists’ to drain votes from opposing parties.

THE HILL TIMES NEWSPAPER

Monday, February 23, 2026

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Wednesday, February 18, 2026

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Monday, February 16, 2026

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OPINION & COLUMNISTS

Opinion

BY CHLOE DUSSER

When it comes to affordable childcare, both public and private operators need federal support

Opinion

BY ALVIN FIDDLER

The water emergency in Kashechewan must spur action on federal legislation

Opinion

BY JAKE COLE

Are across-the-board public service job cuts the right call?

It’s a matter of time before Cuba’s regime collapses

OpinionBY GWYNNE DYER

The American president can likely find people in the Communist nation who are willing to sell out if the price is right, and make a deal that gives him final say but protects their power.

Fixing Canada’s troubled hockey culture

OpinionBY PAUL DEEGAN

Infrastructure is the missing link in Canada’s diversification strategy

OpinionBY PASCAL CHAN

The status quo on infrastructure could quickly compromise our ability to meet the moment and maximize our economic gain.

Infrastructure is the missing link in Canada’s diversification strategy

OpinionBY PASCAL CHAN

The status quo on infrastructure could quickly compromise our ability to meet the moment and maximize our economic gain.

Four years on: Canada, Ukraine, and the end of familiar assumptions

OpinionBY SENATOR REBECCA PATTERSON, ALEXANDER LANDRY

Supply chain reliability must be Canada’s competitive advantage in global trade

OpinionBY DERRICK HYNES

EDITORIAL CARTOON BY DE ADDER

de Adder’s Take: 02-23-2026

de Adder’s Take: 02-18-2026

de Adder’s Take: 02-16-2026

Public Service

‘Everyone should feel the hit’: ministerial offices and PMO should be cut, too, say some leading public policy experts

Prior to the 1980s, federal cabinet ministers made do with a handful of staff, but that has jumped to between 15 and 25 exempt staffers over the last 40 years, says professor Donald Savoie.

BY ABBAS RANA

Cost of public servants continues to rise, though growth of bureaucracy began to slow in 2024-25: PBO

In 2024-25, the government spent a total of $76.3-billion on public servants, an increase of six per cent from $71.9-billion spent in 2023-24.

BY MARLO GLASS

New in-office mandate could send more public servants out the door, union says

NDP MP Heather McPherson says introducing the new four-day, in-office mandate for the core public service during widespread job cuts is 'a bad choice' by the Liberal government.

BY MARLO GLASS

Ministers could exempt businesses from laws within ‘regulatory sandbox’ outlined in budget bill

Treasury Board Secretariat official Jenelle Power said the bill would not allow ministers to exempt people or businesses from law for 'broad policy purposes,' and there are 'strict limitations' to such legal exceptions, including time limits.

BY MARLO GLASS

Bringing investment banking rigor to Ottawa

Ministers must be equipped to interrogate advice with the same skepticism, financial scrutiny, and risk discipline that any serious investor would demand before committing billions of dollars of capital.

BY RAM MATHILAKATH

FOREIGN POLICY

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy needs an Indo-Pacific gear

OpinionBY VINA NADJIBULLA

It looks like Trump will try cheat in elections this fall and in 2028

OpinionBY JAMIE CARROLL

Sudanese refugees waiting to come to Canada face deportation risk from Egypt

NewsBY NEIL MOSS

Diversifying Canada’s trade and ensuring Indigenous Peoples’ share in the opportunity

OpinionBY LIBERAL MP JUDY SGRO

Cuba: Canada’s first foreign policy challenge after PM’s Davos speech

OpinionBY WOJTEK GWIAZDA

Given the long-standing relationship Canadians have had with Cuba and our own belief in fairness, when will Canada act on Prime Minister Carney’s words about dealing with economic intimidation no matter where it comes from, and act together with other countries, because 'if you are not at the table, you are on the menu.'

Cuba: Canada’s first foreign policy challenge after PM’s Davos speech

OpinionBY WOJTEK GWIAZDA

Given the long-standing relationship Canadians have had with Cuba and our own belief in fairness, when will Canada act on Prime Minister Carney’s words about dealing with economic intimidation no matter where it comes from, and act together with other countries, because 'if you are not at the table, you are on the menu.'

BOOKS, BIG IDEAS, Q&As

The Coutts Diaries is the most revealing book ever written about Canadian politics

FeatureBY DAVID HERLE

This is a previously unseen view of Pierre Trudeau, one that is sure to alter your opinions of him. It is an unvarnished look inside the government that brought you wage and price controls, the Charter of Rights, and the National Energy Program. And it is a darkly moving account of the life of a senior political staffer.

The Coutts Diaries is the most revealing book ever written about Canadian politics

FeatureBY DAVID HERLE

This is a previously unseen view of Pierre Trudeau, one that is sure to alter your opinions of him. It is an unvarnished look inside the government that brought you wage and price controls, the Charter of Rights, and the National Energy Program. And it is a darkly moving account of the life of a senior political staffer.

‘Don’t be indifferent’: Iranian-Canadian author shares story of his life inside infamous Tehran prison in new book

FeatureBY IREM KOCA

‘Treating politics as a system of balance, not battle’: new book brings fresh insights into Mackenzie King and lessons for today’s leaders

FeatureBY SAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN

First Nations are ‘ready’ to move beyond the Indian Act, but time’s running out, says author Bob Joseph

FeatureBY CHRISTINA LEADLAY

The Finest Hotel in Kabul is a window into Afghan endurance through the eyes of locals working at the Intercontinental Hotel

FeatureBY ELEANOR WAND

Feds’ new defence industrial strategy is powerful, but it faces serious challenges before it can succeed

OpinionBY DAVID CRANE

The new strategy is based on a recognition that past processes on defence procurement have been a failure—this time has to be different. Government itself has to become a better and smarter customer.

Defence Minister David McGuinty, pictured on the Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Feds’ new defence industrial strategy is powerful, but it faces serious challenges before it can succeed

OpinionBY DAVID CRANE

The new strategy is based on a recognition that past processes on defence procurement have been a failure—this time has to be different. Government itself has to become a better and smarter customer.

Feds’ new defence industrial strategy is powerful, but it faces serious challenges before it can succeed

OpinionBY DAVID CRANE

The new strategy is based on a recognition that past processes on defence procurement have been a failure—this time has to be different. Government itself has to become a better and smarter customer.

Tumbler Ridge tragedy, U.S. attacks on Canada are showing a different side of Pierre Poilievre

OpinionBY SHEILA COPPS

Unity in the country and unity in the Conservative Party work in the leader’s favour. His edges are softening and, if he can keep that up, it could help reshape his image. But ‘hissy fit’ claims launched by his own members won’t help.

New strategy outlines ‘ambitious’ defence readiness objective months after downgrading air fleet target

NewsBY NEIL MOSS

National Defence's most recent departmental plans reduced the readiness target for the air fleet to 70 per cent, down from 85 per cent. The new Defence Industrial Strategy has reversed that decrease just eight months later.

The grass is greener where you water it

OpinionBY CSG SENATOR TODD LEWIS

To grow exports, Canada’s agricultural research capacity must be maintained.

To meet the prime minister’s ambitions to grow Canadian exports, agricultural research capacity must be maintained, writes CSG Senator Todd Lewis. Photograph courtesy of Mark Stebnicki, Pexels.com

The grass is greener where you water it

OpinionBY CSG SENATOR TODD LEWIS

To grow exports, Canada’s agricultural research capacity must be maintained.

The grass is greener where you water it

OpinionBY CSG SENATOR TODD LEWIS

To grow exports, Canada’s agricultural research capacity must be maintained.

A defence reality check for the Canadian Armed Forces

OpinionBY ANDREW ERSKINE

In having more mixed firepower capacity, the CAF can conduct more precision strikes, alongside extended barrages needed to sustain attritional combat operations over months or even years.

NATO 1.0 is dead. Long live NATO 2.0

OpinionBY GWYNNE DYER

The existing NATO is an ideal template for a successor alliance that includes most or all of the existing members except the United States.

Canada’s trade wake-up call could become a dream come true: diversification is no longer optional

OpinionBY PATRICK DINE

The Canada–U.S. trade relationship isn’t going anywhere, nor should it. But the mental model that has governed Canadian trade policy has to change.

THE LATEST POLICY BRIEFINGS

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features

Halifax-based public servant has front-row seat to Olympic action as women’s hockey referee in Italy

FeatureBY CHRISTINA LEADLAY

Plus, Liberals lose an MP as Supreme Court overturns election result in Terrebonne, Chrystia Freeland is fined for speaking politically at a government event in 2024, and former Liberal MP Yvonne Jones will launch her memoir in Ottawa.

Halifax-based public servant has front-row seat to Olympic action as women’s hockey referee in Italy

FeatureBY CHRISTINA LEADLAY

Plus, Liberals lose an MP as Supreme Court overturns election result in Terrebonne, Chrystia Freeland is fined for speaking politically at a government event in 2024, and former Liberal MP Yvonne Jones will launch her memoir in Ottawa.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Parliament hits a pause

FeatureBY RIDDHI KACHHELA

Official languages commissioner nominee aspires for a ‘truly bilingual public service’

NewsBY ELEANOR WAND

Federal leaders to attend vigil for Tumbler Ridge victims

FeatureBY RIDDHI KACHHELA, PETER MAZEREEUW

The House goes back to business

FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW, RIDDHI KACHHELA

Advertising, speechwriting, and appointments advisers among fresh PMO hires

FeatureBY LAURA RYCKEWAERT

‘Tumbler Ridge represents the very best of Canada’: House mourns victims in special address

NewsBY MARLO GLASS

Flags fly at half-mast after Tumbler Ridge tragedy

FeatureBY ANDREW MEADE

Parliamentary Calendar

NDP leadership hopefuls head to West Coast for second official debate on Feb. 19

Podcast

‘Hang tight’: Why Quebec sovereignty and separatism are in the headlines again

News

The Hill Times’ Top 100 Lobbyists in 2025: lobbyists prepare for ‘significant reset’ as federal election begins

News

Tracking job cuts in the federal public service

Podcast

Rob Batherson debriefs on Poilievre’s leadership win and what’s next for Conservatives

Policy Briefing – Environment

Policy Briefing – EVs and EV Infrastructure

Policy Briefing – Health

Policy Briefing – Defence

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

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Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

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Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

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Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

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Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

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Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

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Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

Finance & Budget

‘Everyone should feel the hit’: ministerial offices and PMO should be cut, too, say some leading public policy experts

Prior to the 1980s, federal cabinet ministers made do with a handful of staff, but that has jumped to between 15 and 25 exempt staffers over the last 40 years, says professor Donald Savoie.

BY ABBAS RANA

‘All about’ NATO: bulk of feds’ $5.4-billion spending request boosts defence programs

The $2.2-billion request for defence spending is ‘all tied’ to meeting NATO’s defence spending target, says Canadian Global Affairs Institute’s Craig Stone, but Macdonald-Laurier Institute's Christopher Coates says it should be seen as 'long overdue' modernization of the Armed Forces.

BY ELEANOR WAND

Liberals see path forward for budget bill, but Conservatives still have ‘huge concerns’ with cabinet’s ‘regulatory sandbox’

Conservatives have concerns about a clause buried in Bill C-15 that grants cabinet ministers the power to exempt any individual or firm from nearly any federal law—excluding the Criminal Code—for up to six years.

BY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Canada faces ‘an emergency of extraordinary proportions’ with Trump, say foreign affairs and trade experts

U.S. President Donald Trump's recent rant on X about the bridge linking Windsor, Ont., to Detroit, Mich., augurs badly for the upcoming review of North America's trade pact, says international trade lawyer Lawrence Herman.

BY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Bill C-15 is one of the biggest threats yet to Canada’s rule of law

The omnibus budget bill gives unprecedented power to federal ministers to exempt virtually any entity from all federal laws and regulations—except the Criminal Code.

BY GENEVIèVE PAUL, ANAïS BUSSIèRES MCNICOLL

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez said the national supply chain office “will enhance the resilience, efficiency, and reliability of our transportation systems,” in a Transport Canada press release on Dec. 1, 2023.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.