Promised confidence vote a ‘golden’ opportunity for NDP, but can’t be seen as ‘blank cheque,’ say strategists
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s promise to couple a confidence vote with a throne speech is a “golden opportunity” for the NDP to make some gains, say strategists, who warn propping up the government can’t be seen as a “blank cheque.” The NDP is the only party that has the balance of power that has said […]
Parties yet to discuss throne speech, confidence vote plan as pandemic puts wrench in usual pomp and circumstance
With less than a month until the Liberals put forward a new plan for governance, the parties have yet to deliberate on how a confidence vote on that plan can occur in the midst of a pandemic. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) stated his intention to have a vote on the throne speech when […]
‘Prudent, gradual, and phased-in’: public servant return-to-worksite plan slowly unfolding seven weeks in, but ‘no single date’ yet pinned down
Nearly seven weeks after the federal government first addressed how and when Canada’s federal public servants will return to physical worksites, the Treasury Board Secretariat says the government’s approach will be “prudent, gradual, and phased-in,” with “no single date for a return to worksites across the government.” The government’s approach will follow guidance on workplace safety […]
Introduction of remote voting in the House could come without unanimous support
The House Affairs Committee recently recommended the Lower Chamber adopt a system of remote electronic voting for use in exceptional circumstances, requiring changes to the Standing Orders, but enduring Conservative opposition could see the government move ahead without unanimous support this fall. While it’s seen as good form and tradition for amendments to the Standing […]
Oversight for ministers’ regional offices changes hands from PSPC to PCO
Some internal restructuring has taken place within government, with oversight of the 16 ministers’ regional offices having been transferred from Public Services and Procurement Minister Anita Anand to the Privy Council Office at the end of June. “The transfer, which occurred in June 2020, is in keeping with the mandate letter for the Deputy Prime […]
Opposition MPs decry lack of transparency around government’s COVID-19 advertising spending
Opposition MPs from the Conservatives, the NDP and the Bloc Québécois condemned the government’s spending plan for advertising related to the COVID-19 pandemic last week, following the allocation of an additional $48-million for the ad campaign in the most recent round of supplementary estimates. The government has already spent tens of millions on communications and […]
PSAC reaches tentative deal with feds on Phoenix damages, wage increases
After nearly three weeks at the bargaining table, Canada’s largest federal public service union reached a tentative agreement with the government late on July 9, securing both wage increases and compensation for damages in connection to the problem-plagued Phoenix pay system. The deal was struck nearly four months after strike votes were suspended by the […]
Union heads worry too much left up to ‘discretion’ in public service back-to-workplace plan
Following weeks of consultation and the release of departmental guidelines on the easing of workplace restrictions for tens of thousands of public service workers, heads of federal departments and agencies are now planning for eventual increased access to federal worksites. But the president of Canada’s second-largest public service union says her organization was pushing for […]
Now is the time to protect public services
Every year for one week, the federal government celebrates its more than 300,000 public service employees. It usually comes and goes without too much fanfare, but this year should be different. All Canadians should be encouraged to recognize the public sector workers helping our country weather the brutal impacts of COVID-19. PSAC members who live […]
While some MPs urge adoption, Conservatives still skeptical about remote voting
As the House Affairs Committee studies whether and how to introduce remote voting to the Lower Chamber, some MPs are urging it to recommend such voting be temporarily introduced as physical-distancing restrictions prompted by COVID-19 have kept Canada’s top legislature from dealing with almost all regular business since mid-March. “I don’t think people thought that […]
