The Liberal government managed to pass some of its most noteworthy pieces of legislation before Parliament rose this week for its over two-month summer recess, but several impactful bills will still be pending when the House of Commons reconvenes in September. Both of the government’s online-regulation bills—the Online Streaming Act and the Online News Act—passed…

All parties agreed on June 21 to adjourn the House of Commons for the summer two days earlier than scheduled despite the Liberal government not yet having established a public inquiry into foreign election interference allegations. Both Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre and Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-François Blanchet had called on the government to establish an…

The House of Commons passed a motion Thursday evening to keep hybrid workplace rules adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. This means members of Parliament can attend sittings and committee meetings virtually, and keep voting through an app. The final vote on government House leader Mark Holland’s motion passed 171 to 137, with support from most…

Special Rapporteur David Johnston’s intent to hold public hearings with the diaspora on the issue of foreign interference shows a lack of understanding of the targeted communities, a China expert told a House of Commons committee today. “He’s not got a deep China experience, or a deep security experience to bring to it. He looked…

The federal government says the Security and Intelligence Threats Task Force will be closely monitoring byelections in four ridings next month for signs of interference. Votes are being held June 19 in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce–Westmount, Oxford, Portage–Lisgar and Winnipeg South Centre. The task force, known as SITE, is expected to provide regular assessments of foreign interference threats…

The federal government will invoke closure to stop debate on its budget bill, which has been held up at the Commons finance committee by Conservative MPs requesting testimony from Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. Cabinet served notice on May 11 that it will force the committee to pass the bill by 4 p.m. Eastern Time on…

Conservative MP Michael Cooper has tabled a lengthy motion in committee to investigate Beijing’s alleged targeting of his colleague MP Michael Chong, while seeking to invite the Chinese ambassador to Canada to testify. “This motion arises from a question of privilege on a matter that is about as serious as it gets,” said Cooper, presenting…

Conservative MP Michael Cooper has tabled a lengthy motion in committee to investigate Beijing’s targeting of his colleague MP Michael Chong, while seeking to invite the Chinese ambassador to Canada to testify. “This motion arises from a question of privilege on a matter that is about as serious as it gets,” said Cooper, presenting his…

A private member’s bill that creates new protections for workers’ pensions in the event of employer insolvency has passed in the Senate and will soon become law. “Pension protection is more important than ever. If an employer’s bankruptcy can wipe out an employee’s pension, then millions of Canadians who have worked hard all their lives are…

The federal industry department has so far refused to disclose to a House of Commons committee how much money the Liberals have given to the European vehicle company Volkswagen for the development of a new battery plant to be built in Ontario. The contracts were supposed to be presented by the April 17 meeting of the…