Category: House of Commons

Ottawa Seals Records of Crisis Response, Evacuation Operation Amid Taliban Takeover of Afghanistan

The federal government is sealing from the public records of its crisis response and evacuation operations in Afghanistan during the Taliban takeover last summer, said an official response to a House of Commons committee report. “Most of the Government of Canada departments and agencies engaged in the response to the crisis in Afghanistan have undertaken various…


MPs Question Month-Long Delay in Ending CMAC Funding After ‘Vile’ Tweets Flagged

Diversity and Inclusion Minister Ahmed Hussen says he wishes he had been able to move more quickly to end the federal government’s ties to the Community Media Advocacy Centre after a Liberal caucus colleague first raised concerns about the group this summer. The House of Commons heritage committee is studying the organization’s funding agreement with…


MPs Question Witnesses About Billions Spent on Outsourcing

MPs questioned government witnesses about billions spent on outsourcing contracts by Ottawa and criticized the level of oversight during a House of Commons committee meeting on Oct. 3. “Who is looking after taxpayers? Who is assuring accountability?” asked Conservative MP Kelly McCauley. He said $16 billion was spent in a year on outsourcing, which would…


MPs Question Government Witnesses About Billions Spent on Outsourcing

MPs questioned government witnesses about billions spent on outsourcing contracts by Ottawa and criticized the level of oversight during a House of Commons committee meeting on Oct. 3. “Who is looking after taxpayers? Who is assuring accountability?” asked Conservative MP Kelly McCauley. He said $16 billion was spent in a year on outsourcing, which would…


MPs Call for Tight Federal Restriction on Use of Facial Recognition Technology

A House of Commons committee is calling for a moratorium on the use of facial recognition technology by federal police and Canadian businesses unless there is court authorization or input from the privacy watchdog. In a report tabled today, the committee on access to information, privacy and ethics also urges the government to develop a…


Environment Commissioner Warns Canada Failing to Protect Commercially Valuable Fish

The federal government is biased against listing commercially valuable fish as species at risk and needing protection, environment commissioner Jerry DeMarco said in a new audit published Tuesday. The audit of Canada’s efforts to protect aquatic species at risk was one of six new environmental reports tabled in the House of Commons. It found Fisheries and…


MPs to Study Access to Information System, Federal ‘Culture of Secrecy’

The House of Commons information, ethics and privacy committee plans to look at Canada’s much-maligned access-to-information regime—the latest in a long line of studies of a system intended to make government more transparent. Conservative MP Pat Kelly, the committee chairman, says the system is plagued by excessive delays and a culture of secrecy that has…


Justice Secretary Dominic Raab Has Refused Meeting Over Barristers’ Strike Three Times MPs Told

The Chair of the Criminal Bar Association has warned a committee of MPs that if the barristers’ strike is not resolved there could be a situation where “you have people on the streets who you would rather not be on the streets.” Kirsty Brimelow QC, giving evidence to the Justice Select Committee on Tuesday, said…


Extinction Rebellion Members Superglue Themselves in UK Parliament Chamber

Climate activists from Extinction Rebellion have superglued themselves around the Speaker’s chair in the House of Commons chamber in London. The group said around 50 activists were involved in the “non-violent” action at the Palace of Westminster. A photo posted on the group’s Twitter account shows three members hand-in-hand in front of the seat while…


Elizabeth May Joins Green Leadership Race, Says Party Has Been in Disarray

Elizabeth May launched her bid to reclaim the leadership of the federal Green Party on Wednesday saying she wanted to rebuild the party and turn it into an influential political force, including on fighting climate change. May, who quit as leader of the Greens in 2019, is running on a joint ticket with Jonathan Pedneault,…