PPS asks for ‘substantial increase’ to address Parliament Hill security
The physical security of the Parliamentary Precinct amid “an evolving threat environment” has prompted a request for nearly $10-million more for the Hill’s security team for the fiscal year. “This year’s the first in three years we’ve asked for a substantial increase,” Eric Savard, Parliamentary Protective Service (PPS) chief financial officer, told members of Procedure […]
Government should waive cabinet confidentiality on Emergencies Act deliberations
In the latter years of Stephen Harper’s Conservative government, transparency was—well, not really a thing. In fact, the group Canadian Journalists for Free Expression gave the former prime minister the lowest grade possible for its transparency evaluation, an F-, for the last two years he held office. As the Trudeau government continues its tenure, one […]
‘There are two Liberal governments’: NDP MP Green, Black class action lawsuit lawyer cry foul over feds’ attempt to quash case
With 1,300 plaintiffs now involved in a multi-billion dollar class action lawsuit on behalf of federal employees who identify as Black, Caribbean, or of African descent, NDP MP Matthew Green says the government’s recent move to have the lawsuit quashed “only demonstrates the actual risk that real scrutiny would serve to the government who has, […]
Indigenous languages on federal ballots could help boost turnout, PROC hears
Directly or indirectly, including Indigenous languages on federal ballots could help to boost Indigenous voter turnout, argue witnesses appearing as part of the House Affairs Committee’s ongoing study into the prospect. But some suggest resources would be better allocated elsewhere. “Having the Inuit language on ballots would help in increasing the voter turnout,” Nunavut Languages […]
Liberals still stalling on transparency in government
OTTAWA—If you thought the NDP would hold the federal Liberals’ feet to the fire for the public to gain vastly increased transparency practices in their “confidence-and-supply agreement,” you’d be wrong. The Liberals’ disdain for transparency has been well documented. From the prime minister dropping transparency as a priority in his cabinet ministers’ mandate letters, to […]
MPs need to stop changing their unethical ethics code behind closed doors
What’s the most important set of rules for MPs’ decision-making and relations with their staff, lobbyists, and voters? Don’t know the answer? That’s not surprising because no one wants to talk about these rules much, including the media who have only mentioned them in a dozen or so articles in the past decade, often summarizing […]
Back-to-workplace plans still in flux say public service union leaders, as PSAC files mandatory vaccination policy grievances
With yet another wave of COVID-19 coming down on Canadians, return-to-workplace plans for thousands of federal public service workers continue to stall, as the Treasury Board reviews policies around telework, as well as the government’s mandatory vaccination order for federal employees. Union leaders say the majority of employees are continuing to work from home. And […]
Adding Indigenous languages to ballots a step toward reconciliation: Chief Electoral Officer
Enabling the use of Indigenous languages in the federal electoral process is “at the core of reconciliation,” says Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault, but doing so would require sorting out details around which languages to incorporate, where, and how, and would likely mean amending the Canada Elections Act. “The presence of Indigenous languages at the […]
Conservatives, Bloc cite interpreter challenges to push for end to hybrid sittings
Amid continued discussion of the challenges, and injuries, being experienced by interpreters covering events with remote participants, Conservative Whip Blaine Calkins, backed by his Bloc Québécois counterpart, is calling for an early end to the House of Commons’ hybrid sitting arrangement. During the House Board of Internal Economy’s (BOIE) March 3 meeting, Calkins (Red Deer-Lacombe, […]
Feds deny delay as lawyer in multi-billion-dollar Black bureaucrats’ class-action suit calls Crown’s ‘overlap’ arguments ‘insulting’
The leading lawyer in a multi-billion-dollar class-action lawsuit representing current and former Black federal public servants, filed against the federal government and now involving nearly 1,300 individuals, says the government’s lawyers are attempting to delay proceedings by claiming the Black class action overlaps with other ongoing cases—an argument which he calls “insulting.” “It’s not a […]
