Many MPs could start new Parliament without Hill offices
Hill office assignments are handled by respective party whips, and start with the party with the most seats in the House. New Liberal Whip Mark Gerretsen was named to the role on May 14.
Laura Ryckewaert
While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from Laura Ryckewaert.
NDP has a familiar team fighting to keep its presence in the House
The federal NDP is facing plenty of challenges this campaign—from poor polling, to breaking into the Canada-United States relations narrative that has dominated the race—but the party has a familiar, experienced team on hand leading the fight.
Prime Minister Carney’s ascension brings lots of change for cabinet staff
Among those currently working in Mark Carney’s office as prime minister is Emily Williams as media relations lead.
Despite challenging first two years, Canada’s special rep on Islamophobia is undaunted
A lot has changed—globally and domestically—in the two years since Amira Elghawaby stepped into the role of special representative on combatting Islamophobia, and despite the rising challenge she’s faced, she says she remains “very hopeful” about the effect her office is having. Elghawaby’s team recently released the Canadian Guide to Understanding and Combatting Islamophobia: For a more inclusive Canada, which...
Cost estimate for construction of new Hill tunnel network jumps to $200M
Although still in the planning process, the estimated price tag for construction of a new parliamentary tunnel network to connect buildings on the Hill, as well as Parliamentary Precinct buildings south of Wellington Street, has jumped from roughly $180-million—as indicated in 2022—to $200-million. The new estimate was presented to members of the Senate Internal Economy, Budgets, and Administration Committee (CIBA)—the...
Attitudes on use of notwithstanding clause have changed, and Senate’s approach should, too: Senator Harder
Spurred on by use of the controversial clause in recent years, Ontario PSG Senator Peter Harder says his motion to have the Red Chamber express opposition to the use of the Charter of Rights’ notwithstanding clause in future government legislation is aimed at sparking debate and reflection, and hopefully changes to how the Senate weighs any such future bills.
Senate bill tackling forced sterilization overhauled, advanced after advocate disquiet
ISG Senator Yvonne Boyer’s bill to combat forced or coerced sterilizations in Canada is headed for third reading in the Senate after being comprehensively reworked in committee in response to concerns raised last spring over potential unintended consequences. The amendment to Bill S-250—which was moved by Boyer (Ontario) at the start of clause-by-clause consideration at the Senate Legal and Constitutional...
Ready to rumble: ‘We are going to fight for Canadians,’ says Liberal House Leader Gould
The upcoming fall sitting marks the beginning of the final stretch of this Parliament, and with a slate of bills still winding their way through the pipeline and the Conservative official opposition rattling the cages for an early election call, Government House Leader Karina Gould says she’ll be looking to the “other reasonable parties” to find “dance partners” to move...
Plug pulled on some virtual committee witnesses due to headset rules, prompting call for more consistency
Strict rules requiring the use of an approved microphone headset to participate virtually in House and Senate proceedings are posing new challenges in arranging witness testimony at committees. Implemented roughly one year ago to better protect the health and safety of parliamentary interpreters, the Translation Bureau has made it mandatory for virtual participants to use a microphone headset from a...
MPs look to legislate progress on TRC calls to action, harsher sentences for assaulting health-care workers
There are more than 30 private members’ bills currently on Parliament’s horizon at various stages before the House and Senate, including one from NDP MP Peter Julian, who’s looking to make some long-awaited progress this winter in completing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s now almost decade-old calls to action.