The Canada Revenue Agency says it has sent out 441,000 letters warning individuals that they may not be eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefits they received. Described as “education letters” by a CRA spokesperson, the letters were sent to those for whom the agency said it was “unable to confirm … employment and/or self-employment income of […]
DND calls sexual misconduct in military a ‘wicked problem,’ seeks long-term solutions
Sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces is “a wicked problem” with no easy solution, and the plan to address it is being retooled for the long haul, says the Department of National Defence. A new long-term plan was introduced Wednesday to refocus Operation Honour — the Forces’ campaign against sexual misconduct in the ranks — on changing the underlying culture […]
Bloc Québécois seeks official apology for October Crisis detentions
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet is demanding that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologize on behalf of the federal government for the implementation of the War Measures Act during the October Crisis in 1970 and the detention of hundreds of Quebecers. The third-place party in the House plans to bring forward a motion in the House on Thursday asking […]
Finance minister says COVID-19 economic recovery still needs sustained fiscal stimulus
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland delivered an emphatic defence today of the use of fiscal stimulus and deficit spending to sustain the Canadian economy through what she called the “coronavirus recession” — and promised to rein it in only after widespread vaccination brings the virus under control. “We have a moral imperative, but also a hard economic imperative … to […]
Senator Lynn Beyak donated to Donald Trump’s re-election campaign
Ontario Sen. Lynn Beyak — who has been suspended twice from the Senate over her comments about the Indigenous residential school system — donated to the Republican National Committee in May despite a U.S. election law forbidding campaign contributions by foreign nationals. According to Federal Elections Commission records, Beyak donated $300 to U.S. President Donald Trump’s party while reporting a […]
Green Leader Annamie Paul says her byelection result should serve as a warning to the Liberals
Having lost her recent bid to enter the House of Commons, Green Party Leader Annamie Paul says she will consult with her caucus before deciding where to run next while working to grow her party’s profile nationally. Paul ran in Monday night’s by election in Toronto Centre, hoping to secure a seat in the riding where […]
Senate unveils plan for hybrid sittings with senators participating virtually and in-person
The Senate has rolled out a plan for hybrid sittings that will allow senators physically present in the chamber and those participating virtually to debate, ask questions and vote. “Balancing health and safety, including complying with provincial and territorial regulations, is an important consideration for Senators as they discharge their Parliamentary duties,” Sen. Marc Gold said […]
Blair promises strategy to curb sexual violence in prisons after watchdog warns of systemic abuse
The federal government is promising a new strategy to curb sexual violence and coercion in prisons after Canada’s correctional investigator warned of systemic abuse behind bars. In his annual report tabled in Parliament today, prison watchdog Ivan Zinger said sexual victimization exists in the “shadows” in penitentiaries and is largely ignored or dismissed as an inevitable […]
Andrew Wilkinson resigning as B.C. Liberal leader after worst party showing in decades
Andrew Wilkinson has resigned as leader of the B.C. Liberal Party, two days after the party had its worst provincial election outcome in decades. Wilkinson announced his resignation in a very brief address to the media on Monday. He said he has asked the party’s president to begin the work to find his successor and that he […]
Progress toward gender balance in peacekeeping in ‘peril,’ committee told
The United Nations’ goal of getting more women to serve in peacekeeping missions in conflict zones is at risk now because of the global pandemic and an erratic approach to gender equality taken by countries before the pandemic hit, a Canadian diplomat said today. Testifying before the House of Commons committee on national defence, Jacqueline O’Neill — who holds the […]