Aug 4 2021 — Laura Ryckewaert — Hill Times — Expat voting tripled between the last two Canadian federal elections, and sources who recently spoke with The Hill Times say they expect numbers of those who cast ballots from abroad to continue to trend upwards, opening new opportunities for political parties. But while a conservative group launched in January is working to boost registration of […]
Jun 29 2021 — Laura Ryckewaert — Hill Times — Parliament has recessed for the summer and despite widespread expectation of an impending election call, Bill C-19, which contains pandemic election measures, has been left on the floor of the House. While the head of Elections Canada says voting can happen safely without the bill’s changes, NDP MP Daniel Blaikie says he’s not reassured, as […]
Jun 16 2021 — Laura Ryckewaert — Hill Times — Candidates looking to lead the Assembly of First Nations say it’s time for change—change within the assembly, and change for First Nations people across Canada. The AFN will elect a new national chief on July 7 to replace the outgoing Perry Bellegarde, who has led the organization since 2014, having been re-elected to a second […]
May 13 2021 — Laura Ryckewaert — Hill Times — Liberals on the House Board of Internal Economy are pushing to have the executive body invite Bloc Québécois MP Sébastien Lemire to appear to answer questions about the April 14 sharing of a photo of Liberal MP Will Amos naked in his office. “This is a very troubling incident,” said Liberal Whip Mark Holland (Ajax, […]
May 5 2021 — Laura Ryckewaert — Hill Times — The Procedure and House Affairs Committee has been at a standstill for the last two months, with a filibuster over an attempt to have Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and others, testify as part of its study on the government’s report on prorogation now past the 40-hour mark, a longevity NDP MP Daniel Blaikie says has […]
Feb 17 2021 — Laura Ryckewaert — Hill Times — With heightened attention in the Red Chamber on the issue of systemic racism, the Senate plans to introduce voluntary, online unconscious bias training for Senators, their staff, and the Senate administration this spring, with other efforts to address diversity and inclusion in the works. The Senate Internal Economy, Budgets, and Administration Committee, known as CIBA, […]
Feb 10 2021 — Laura Ryckewaert — Hill Times — Achieving a representative House of Commons requires diversity among the candidates nominated for election, and since 2019, new efforts are being made both within political parties and beyond to increase diversity, including Black representation, in federal politics. But new rules only go as far as a party has the will to take them, and Samara […]
Jan 27 2021 — Laura Ryckewaert — Hill Times — Weeks after work was set to resume, construction of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion remains halted, though the company hasn’t amended its December 2022 estimated readiness, and after U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to axe the Keystone XL pipeline, Conservative MP Greg McLean says the project is “even more important” for Canada. Construction on the […]
Dec 23 2020 — Laura Ryckewaert — Hill Times — It’s been two years since MPs, Senators, and staff cleared out of Centre Block to allow for the building’s renovation. Now, interior demolition work is close to halfway complete, with exterior masonry restoration to begin in the new year, starting on the building’s north façade. “The history of Canada really resounds within this building, so […]
Dec 16 2020 — Laura Ryckewaert — Hill Times — Work as a political staffer is never easy, and recent research by Carleton University professor Paul Wilson exploring the experience of staff during COVID-19 found that, despite much parliamentary work slowing down, the pandemic exacerbated the usual stresses, with a majority of staff working longer hours, fielding increased calls and requests from constituents, all while […]
Oct 21 2020 — Laura Ryckewaert — Hill Times — If you’ve tuned into a House of Commons debate in the last decade, chances are high you’ve seen Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux on his feet speaking in the House Chamber. The four-term MP, who’s been parliamentary secretary to the government House leader since 2015, has consistently led the pack for most interventions in the House—a […]
Sep 30 2020 — Laura Ryckewaert — Hill Times — The portraits of past Speakers and monarchs—white man, after predominantly white man, aside from Queens Victoria and Elizabeth and two Speakers—have long decorated the halls of the Senate, but a new display is breathing new life, and representation, into the space.
Sep 9 2020 — Laura Ryckewaert — Hill Times — A speech from the throne will set out the Liberal government’s new policy agenda on Sept. 23, and, with no federal budget yet tabled for 2020, former parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page says there’s now a “significant need” for the feds to quickly follow up with longer-term fiscal plans as a matter of public confidence.
Jul 29 2020 — Laura Ryckewaert — Hill Times — Plans are still being finalized, but thanks to COVID-19, the next leader of the federal Conservative Party will likely be announced in a virtual event, a forced reality strategists say creates the risk of a “lost opportunity” for the party and more impetus for the race winner to hit the ground running. “The concern is […]
Jul 8 2020 — Laura Ryckewaert — Hill Times — A recent Hill Times survey seeking to understand the demographics of staff on Parliament Hill found that, among a small pool of respondent MP offices, 42 per cent of staff identified as a visible minority, while 5.3 per cent identified as Black, but a comparison to cabinet offices, including the Prime Minister’s Office, isn’t possible […]