Interpreter injuries spike due to virtual Parliament, prompt calls for quality controls
With subpar equipment and spotty connectivity, Parliament’s virtual meetings have compromised the quality of interpretation and led to a rise in workplace injuries reported by interpreters, according to two groups representing parliamentary interpreters. Inconsistent audio and visual quality and poor practices from Parliamentarians and witnesses have made interpreters’ jobs more difficult since the House of Commons […]
As union members face COVID-19 pandemic ‘head on,’ PSAC calls for feds to return to bargaining table
With union members “facing the pandemic head on” at our borders, in federal penitentiaries, and by processing millions of financial support claims under tight timelines, the head of Canada’s largest federal public service union is calling for the federal government to return to the bargaining table to reach an elusive contract settlement for more than […]
Don’t sacrifice official languages during times of crisis
The first virtual session of the Special Committee on COVID-19, to which all MPs belong, started up this week. Professional interpreters have already worked hard to translate the spoken words of MPs in the few parliamentary committees that have met in recent weeks, so we have some experience in interpreting virtual meetings—albeit on a small […]
Pandemic crisis tests durability of MPs’ parliamentary privileges, say MPs, experts
As parliamentary privileges are tested amid the pandemic, with one MP crying foul over the leaking of draft legislation, experts say it has underscored the extent to which not all MPs have equal standing in the House. The temporary suspension of the House has upended the routine legislative process, leading draft bills to be scrutinized, […]
Feds ‘on the hot seat’ for past and new decisions, as journos, staffers contend with new media environment
Despite the dwindling numbers of journalists standing face-to-face with decision makers as the COVID-19 pandemic pushes more people to work from home, public officials and the media have done an effective job of communicating with the public so far, despite challenging conditions, say observers. In addition to daily updates by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, […]
‘Essential’ Hill workers told to bring ID, permission slip in wake of Quebec border crackdown
Hill workers crossing the bridge between Ottawa and Gatineau, Que., are being told to bring ID and a form proving they have a right to cross the provincial border for work after Quebec’s April 1 order banning all non-essential travel to the province as it broadened efforts to stamp the deadly spread of coronavirus. The […]
Chief HR officer works to quell confusion, asks departments to identify, update ‘critical’ services lists
The federal government has offered up some clarity to departments and public service unions after confusion over what constitutes “critical” versus “essential” work arose following an initial directive to all public service departments to allow staff to work from home where possible. On March 13, President of the Treasury Board Jean-Yves Duclos (Québec, Que.) issued […]
Upcoming access to information changes? It’s a secret
OTTAWA—A minority Parliament should want greater transparency, hold Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to account, and review his false starts and fresh initiatives. That’s hard to do under current access-to-information legislation. One chance to change that is fast approaching. A mandatory review of the Access to Information Act is due in June, under the terms of […]
Situation ‘changing hourly’ as feds, unions, public service contend with COVID-19 work-from-home confusion
With calls from the prime minister for Canadians to stay at home in the face of COVID-19, union leaders say they are aware of some concerns being raised by federal public servants regarding confusing messaging from some government departments around telework conditions, and that they’re raising issues with the Treasury Board as they come up. […]
BOIE settles on reno feedback forum, initial list of sacred Centre Block spaces to preserve
Before it adjourned amid COVID-19 precautions, the House of Commons’ Board of Internal Economy struck a new subcommittee to oversee Centre Block renovations and ruled out the possibility of expanding the existing House Chamber, among other things. Only representatives from recognized parties in the House—those with at least 12 sitting MPs—were involved in those decisions. […]
