Federal Politics

The Senate has passed a government bill that would ban the use of replacement workers during a legal strike in a federally regulated workplace and it is now set to become law. An overall view of the Senate is shown in Ottawa on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Replacement worker ban approved for Canada’s federal workplaces

‘Anti-scab’ legislation passes Senate, likely to become law sometime next year

 

Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc arrives to appear before the Senate Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs in Ottawa, on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Leblanc has told the British Columbia government Ottawa will continue to back the RCMP as the province’s contract police force serving many cities and rural and remote areas amid an ongoing force transition. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

Ottawa give B.C. short-term certainty on RCMP contract policing

Federal government looking at a revamp of how federal police force operates

 

NDP MP for Victoria Laurel Collins makes her way to the podium to speak about a youth corps during a news conference, in Ottawa, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

MPs pass coercive control bill to criminalize intimate partner threats

B.C. MP championing legislation that moves to the Senate for review before possibly becoming law

 

Green Co-Leader Elizabeth May says she believes the small number of MPs named in a recent spy watchdog report did not knowingly set out to betray Canada. May speaks during a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

No list of disloyal MPs in full spy watchdog report: Elizabeth May

Green leader ‘vastly relieved’ after reading an unredacted version of a report on foreign interference

Green Co-Leader Elizabeth May says she believes the small number of MPs named in a recent spy watchdog report did not knowingly set out to betray Canada. May speaks during a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
This historic photo is of the Allison Homestead in Princeton, circa 1920. In the background, KVR rail bridge and confluence of Similkameen and Tulameen rivers. ~ Princeton & District Museum Collection

The Old West: The lost Spanish mound – Similkameen legend or fact?

A column by Bruce Uzelman

This historic photo is of the Allison Homestead in Princeton, circa 1920. In the background, KVR rail bridge and confluence of Similkameen and Tulameen rivers. ~ Princeton & District Museum Collection
Victoria MP Laurel Collins says hundreds have shared stories of coercive control, asks House to pass bill. (CPAC.ca)

Coercive control issue uniting Parliament across party lines: B.C. MP

Laurel Collins says 100s have shared personal stories as she seeks to criminalize abusive practice

Victoria MP Laurel Collins says hundreds have shared stories of coercive control, asks House to pass bill. (CPAC.ca)
Auditor General of Canada Karen Hogan holds a news conference after delivering 5 performance audit reports to the House of Commons, at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa, on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Rules often disregarded when awarding McKinsey contracts, AG finds

Auditor general probed 97 contracts between 2011 and 2023, with a total value of $209 million

Auditor General of Canada Karen Hogan holds a news conference after delivering 5 performance audit reports to the House of Commons, at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa, on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
A vehicle is seen among downed power lines and utility poles after a major storm on Merivale Road in Ottawa on Saturday, May 21, 2022. The Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation initiative will offer up to $1 million to local governments for projects that upgrade or adjust their infrastructure and natural environment to be more protected from extreme weather events including floods, fires and major storms. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

$530M federal fund aimed at helping communities adapt to climate change

2 streams of funding made available to local governments for projects and planning

A vehicle is seen among downed power lines and utility poles after a major storm on Merivale Road in Ottawa on Saturday, May 21, 2022. The Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation initiative will offer up to $1 million to local governments for projects that upgrade or adjust their infrastructure and natural environment to be more protected from extreme weather events including floods, fires and major storms. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
William Fernie died at the age of 84. (Fernie Free Press)

The Old West: Disaster, devastation and recovery in early Fernie

A column by Bruce Uzelman

William Fernie died at the age of 84. (Fernie Free Press)
Privacy Commissioner of Canada Philippe Dufresne takes part in a news conference in Ottawa, on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Dufresne and a government official are warning legislators to dramatically narrow the scope of a Senate bill proposing to block minors from accessing “sexually explicit material” online, warning it could apply to streaming services like Netflix. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Internet age verification law could apply to Netflix, privacy czar says

Officials weigh on legislation aimed at preventing kids from accessing ‘sexually explicit material’

Privacy Commissioner of Canada Philippe Dufresne takes part in a news conference in Ottawa, on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Dufresne and a government official are warning legislators to dramatically narrow the scope of a Senate bill proposing to block minors from accessing “sexually explicit material” online, warning it could apply to streaming services like Netflix. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon Tuesday (May 14) confirmed the existence of talks to find “common ground” with the Conservative Party of B.C. to defeat the B.C. NDP government. Falcon was responding to earlier comments from Conservative leader John Rustad. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Political Spin: Current polls show an endangered BC United

A column by Bruce Uzelman

B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon Tuesday (May 14) confirmed the existence of talks to find “common ground” with the Conservative Party of B.C. to defeat the B.C. NDP government. Falcon was responding to earlier comments from Conservative leader John Rustad. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Speaker of the House of Commons Greg Fergus takes part in the Speakers Parade prior to question period on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Opposition seeks to oust Speaker again over Liberal post attacking Poilievre

Conservatives, backed by Bloc Québécois, accusing Speaker of partisan behaviour

Speaker of the House of Commons Greg Fergus takes part in the Speakers Parade prior to question period on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks during a news conference on safety in hospitals in Vancouver, on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

No illicit drug use in B.C. hospitals ‘ever’, Poilievre pledges

Conservatives to introduce bill to end the federal health minister’s power to grant exemptions

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks during a news conference on safety in hospitals in Vancouver, on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
Giacomo Bossi store at the corner of Johnson and Store Streets, Victoria; left to right, Angelica Bossi, Americo Bossi and Giacomo Bossi. Circa 1870s. (BC Archives)

The Old West: Governor James Douglas and Colonial Victoria

A column by Bruce Uzelman

Giacomo Bossi store at the corner of Johnson and Store Streets, Victoria; left to right, Angelica Bossi, Americo Bossi and Giacomo Bossi. Circa 1870s. (BC Archives)
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh rises during during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, April 29, 2024. Singh is warning Conservatives to back down from attempts to block pharmacare legislation, as the House of Commons prepares to vote on the bill for the first time. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

NDP, Liberals, lob barbs at the Conservatives as Pharmacare nears reality

Key plank to deal propping up the federal government undergoing scrutiny in the house

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh rises during during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, April 29, 2024. Singh is warning Conservatives to back down from attempts to block pharmacare legislation, as the House of Commons prepares to vote on the bill for the first time. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Advocates are calling on Ottawa to profoundly change the powers of its watchdog who monitors Canadians corporations operating abroad, as the Liberals review how a new ombudsman should take on the job. Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE), Sheri Meyerhoffer, holds a news conference in Ottawa, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

As feds replaces watchdog for firms operating abroad, advocates urge reform

Advocates say Canadian companies causing human rights and environmental harms abroad

Advocates are calling on Ottawa to profoundly change the powers of its watchdog who monitors Canadians corporations operating abroad, as the Liberals review how a new ombudsman should take on the job. Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE), Sheri Meyerhoffer, holds a news conference in Ottawa, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre delivers a speech at the Canada Building Trades Union conference, Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Gatineau, Quebec. Poilievre tells business leaders to fight their own battle against a proposed increase to how capital gains are taxed, his office is keeping tight-lipped about how his own party will vote. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Poilievre tight-lipped on what party might do with capital gains tax changes

Conservative leader hasn’t said whether his government would support the measure or not

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre delivers a speech at the Canada Building Trades Union conference, Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Gatineau, Quebec. Poilievre tells business leaders to fight their own battle against a proposed increase to how capital gains are taxed, his office is keeping tight-lipped about how his own party will vote. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
A protester rests in their tent in a pro-Palestinian encampment set up on the University of Toronto campus in Toronto on Thursday, May 2, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

Encamped universities have to balance safety, free speech: Trudeau

A number of protest camps have sprung up on Canadian campuses in regards to Gaza conflict

A protester rests in their tent in a pro-Palestinian encampment set up on the University of Toronto campus in Toronto on Thursday, May 2, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov
A public inquiry has found foreign meddling attempts didn’t change who won the last two elections, but it may have changed the result in one riding in 2021. Commissioner Justice Marie-Josee Hogue listens to a lawyer speak during the Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions, in Ottawa, Thursday, March 28, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Foreign interference may have ‘impacted’ election result in 1 B.C. riding

Inquiry finds ‘reasonable possibility’ it cost 2021 Steveston-Richmond East candidate Chiu a seat

A public inquiry has found foreign meddling attempts didn’t change who won the last two elections, but it may have changed the result in one riding in 2021. Commissioner Justice Marie-Josee Hogue listens to a lawyer speak during the Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions, in Ottawa, Thursday, March 28, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Couple on Dewdney Trail between Rossland and Trail, July 1900. (Rossland Museum)

The Old West: The Dewdney Trail and Fort Steele – Part 2

A column by Bruce Uzelman

Couple on Dewdney Trail between Rossland and Trail, July 1900. (Rossland Museum)