On June 8, Arbour will be sworn in as Canada’s 31st governor general. She will be one of the most serious and substantive governors general this country has had, which is fitting for the tougher challenges our country and our institutions are facing.
This is not a country that is founded on justice; it is, however, founded on order, which is a cudgel the powerful continue to use against the powerless.
Conservative MP Stephanie Kusie says the PBO is ‘unable to do its job of providing government oversight.’ But another former budget watchdog Kevin Page says the prime minister has ‘deep respect for the legislative budget offices,’ adding that the next PBO will be faced with ‘enormous challenges’ in the months and years ahead and will be playing a critical role.
Now, more than ever, governments in Canada must invest in democratic innovations and demonstrate that democracy is about much more than marking a ballot every four years.
The Liberals need to put in place a system that truly protects whistleblowers and the Canadian public. Perhaps then we can begin to restore our national image and rejoin the ranks of truly clean and well-governed democracies.
Now would be a great opportunity to do the difficult, but necessary things that are required to preserve Canada Post as an institution that will continue to serve Canadians well and efficiently for decades to come.
The government’s move will likely be struck down in court, says labour law professor Ravi Malhotra, but litigation takes time, giving the employers ‘an advantage’ in labour disputes when the feds step in.
In assessing people’s access to political rights and civil liberties in over 200 countries, Freedom House ranks Canada higher than Britain, France, Germany, Australia, and the United States.
Progressive Senator Andrew Cardozo says politicians shouldn’t be telling judges what to do, as judges are only applying laws passed by Parliament.
Governance is about relationships as much as it is about rules and structures. The legislation is only the framework. So far, there has been much unity around the first ministers’ table. But time will tell how durable this solidarity is and whether it can have a positive effect on Canada’s relationship with Indigenous Peoples.
