Sep 25 2020 — Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — The federal Liberal party is postponing its national convention due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The convention was to be held in Ottawa on Nov. 12-15. But in an email to registered Liberals, party president Suzanne Cowan says the national board of directors has decided the convention will now be postponed until April […]
Sep 23 2020 — Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — The federal ethics watchdog has dismissed Conservative allegations of conflict of interest involving Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's chief of staff and her husband. Ethics commissioner Mario Dion says the allegations are "speculative" and do not provide "a factual basis to support the belief that a contravention" of the Conflict of Interest Act may […]
Sep 23 2020 — Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — The federal ethics watchdog has dismissed Conservative allegations of conflict of interest involving Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's chief of staff and her husband. Ethics commissioner Mario Dion says the allegations are "speculative" and do not provide "a factual basis to support the belief that a contravention" of the Conflict of Interest Act may […]
Sep 18 2020 — Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — COVID-19 has left little of normal life untouched and Wednesday's speech from the throne will be no exception. Throne speeches are typically a pageantry of ceremonial grandeur. But many of the traditional flourishes are being pared back this time around to respect public health protocols to curb the spread of COVID-19. Governor General […]
Sep 18 2020 — Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — Canada's premiers unanimously demanded Friday that the federal government fork over at least $28 billion more each year for health care, among other big-ticket items on their wish list for next week's throne speech. They also want Ottawa to increase funding for infrastructure projects by $10 billion. And they want retroactive reforms to […]
Sep 18 2020 — Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — Canada's premiers unanimously demanded Friday that the federal government fork over at least $28 billion more each year for health care, among other big-ticket items on their wish list for next week's throne speech. They also want Ottawa to increase funding for infrastructure projects by $10 billion. And they want retroactive reforms to […]
Sep 17 2020 — Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau began consulting opposition leaders Thursday about next week's throne speech, which could theoretically bring down his minority Liberal government if none of their parties support it. He spoke by phone with Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet, who told Trudeau that his party wants to see a commitment to significantly […]
Sep 17 2020 — Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau began consulting opposition leaders Thursday about next week's throne speech, which could theoretically bring down his minority Liberal government if none of their parties support it. He spoke by phone with Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet, who told Trudeau that his party wants to see a commitment to significantly […]
Sep 16 2020 — Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada's democratic institutions — including Parliament and Elections Canada — need to be fully functional even in the midst of a deadly pandemic. But he insists that doesn't mean he wants an election this fall. "I do not want an election. I don't think Canadians want an election," […]
Sep 16 2020 — Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada's democratic institutions — including Parliament and Elections Canada — need to be fully functional even in the midst of a deadly pandemic. But he insists that doesn't mean he wants an election this fall. "I do not want an election. I don't think Canadians want an election," […]
Sep 14 2020 — Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press — The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — Aline Chretien may have been the most influential political figure Canadians never knew. She was often seen at political events — a petite, elegant figure standing demurely at the side of her gregarious husband, former prime minister Jean Chretien — but was seldom heard. At least not publicly. Behind the scenes though, she was Chretien's confidante and […]
Sep 14 2020 — Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press — The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — Aline Chretien may have been the most influential political figure Canadians never knew. She was often seen at political events — a petite, elegant figure standing demurely at the side of her gregarious husband, former prime minister Jean Chretien — but was seldom heard. At least not publicly. Behind the scenes though, she was Chretien's confidante and […]
Sep 13 2020 — Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — Bold plans to rebuild Canada's shattered economy will take a back seat during a two-day cabinet retreat as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his ministers confront the more immediate challenge of how to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic from doing even more damage to Canadians' lives and incomes. The retreat, starting Monday, is being held […]
Sep 13 2020 — Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — Bold plans to rebuild Canada's shattered economy will take a back seat during a two-day cabinet retreat as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his ministers confront the more immediate challenge of how to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic from doing even more damage to Canadians' lives and incomes. The retreat, starting Monday, is being held […]
Sep 12 2020 — Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — A guaranteed basic income for all Canadians has emerged as the top policy choice of Liberal MPs, just as the Trudeau government is crafting its plan to help people weather the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and rebuild the ravaged economy. The Liberal caucus is calling on the government to adopt the idea in a priority policy resolution for […]