Disappointed MPs set sights on legislative changes as Ontario finalizes new federal riding map
Ontario’s redistribution commission ultimately agreed to act on only five comparatively minor boundary-related changes called for by Liberal and Conservative MPs.
A gag on MPs? No-comment period for MP ethics complaints extended
While Democracy Watch co-founder Duff Conacher is bothered by a recent change to the MP conflict code, Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux welcomes it as ‘healthy’ for democracy.
Disappointment in eastern Quebec over final new federal riding map
Not all MPs are left unhappy with the Quebec commission’s final decisions, which included accepting nine out of 10 calls for riding name changes.
Hybrid sittings will further weaken government accountability
With hybrid sittings, the PMO or opposition leaders’ offices will be able to dictate to their caucus members how to vote.
BOIE OKs more flexibility for moving costs, contracts for MPs and House officers
House officers, whose budgets continue through dissolution, are now able to maintain professional service contracts between Parliaments and parliamentary sessions.
Level of House interpretation service a continued cause for concern
Meanwhile, the Translation Bureau recently told Senators that it’s been able to return to pre-pandemic interpretation service levels.
More transparency, addressing ‘epidemic of over-classification’ needed to tackle decades-long foreign election interference issues, say national security experts
Royal Military College of Canada professor Christian Leuprecht called Beijing’s subversion ‘the single greatest threat to Canada’s sovereignty and democratic way of life today.’
Senate pivots to post-pandemic work-from-home policy for administration staff
The Senate Internal Economy Committee’s discussion of the new policy was set to be discussed behind closed doors, but was made public following a push by Conservative Senate Leader Don Plett.
Senate Internal Economy subcommittee seats opened to non-members to ease workload
‘Being on CIBA is like being on two or three committees, because some of these subcommittees are very time consuming,’ says Progressive Senate Group Leader Jane Cordy.
Liberal MP Coteau urging fix to public input plan in federal riding redistribution process
Given its mandate, PROC has both a ‘responsibility’ and an ‘incredible opportunity’ to review and ‘strengthen’ the decennial process, Coteau says.
