Tag: canadian parliament

Biden Addresses Canadian Parliament

President Joe Biden addresses the Canadian Parliament at 2:00 p.m. ET on March 24. …


Parliament Hill Language Interpreter Sent to Hospital, Union Blames Lax Headset Rules

A parliamentary interpreter was sent to the hospital during a Senate committee meeting last week. Public Services and Procurement Minister Helena Jaczek says she was “astonished” to learn that an interpreter had collapsed and was sent to hospital. The Canadian Association of Professional Employees has blamed the incident on remote participants not following rules that…


Parliament Passes Law Allowing Jurors to Disclose Information to Health Providers

Parliament has passed a new law that allows jurors to disclose information about jury proceedings to health care professionals. The bill creates a carve-out in Canada’s strict jury secrecy rules by allowing people to seek mental health support related to their trial experience without breaking the law. The Criminal Code will be amended so that…


Liberals on the Offensive Against New Tory Leader as Parliament Returns

As MPs head back to the House of Commons, Liberal House of Commons Leader Mark Holland went on the offensive against new Tory leader, Pierre Poilievre, warning against stoking political division. “This is not a time for parlour tricks. This is not a time for shell games. This is a time for real solutions,” said Holland…


Liberals Set Short-Term Agenda as COVID-19 Weighs on New Parliament

With a new Parliament session opening on Nov. 22 and soon pausing for the holidays, the Liberal government has set its target on passing four pieces of legislation before the break. Government House Leader Mark Holland laid out the agenda during a press conference, saying his party will focus on providing pandemic financial aid, banning…


Standing Up for Parliament: Government vs Speaker Lawsuit

A federal government lawsuit against the Speaker of the House to prevent the disclosure of sensitive documents has highlighted the Speaker’s importance. Conservative MP Andrew Scheer, who was once a Speaker himself, said standing up to the government has long been part of the Speaker’s job. “The joke that clerks used to tell me—there was…


Parliament Set to Resume With Focus on COVID-19 Vaccines, Supports

OTTAWA—The federal government’s handling of COVID-19 vaccination campaign is set to dominate the agenda when Parliament resumes today. Members of Parliament are expected to work together to again allow virtual attendance in the House of Commons as many provinces remain in lockdown during the second wave of the pandemic. They are also set to adopt…


No Rollcall Votes in Commons If New Electronic Voting App Adopted

OTTAWA—The COVID-19 pandemic is about to force another big break from tradition in the House of Commons: MPs using an app on their smartphones or laptops to cast votes remotely. Party whips are still discussing some unresolved details, the most important of which is ensuring Canadians will be able to see how their MPs vote,…