federal government

A restricted gun licence holder holds a AR-15 at his home in Langley, B.C. on May 1, 2020. The Trudeau government has awarded a contract to IBM Canada to support the development, design and implementation of a buyback program for recently prohibited firearms. The Liberals outlawed a wide range of firearms in early May, saying the guns were designed for the battlefield, not hunting or sport shooting. The ban covers some 1,500 models and variants of what the government considers assault-style firearms, meaning they can no longer be legally used, sold or imported. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Feds enlist IBM to help design gun buyback program

Program proposed to allow owners to receive compensation for turning in designated firearms

A restricted gun licence holder holds a AR-15 at his home in Langley, B.C. on May 1, 2020. The Trudeau government has awarded a contract to IBM Canada to support the development, design and implementation of a buyback program for recently prohibited firearms. The Liberals outlawed a wide range of firearms in early May, saying the guns were designed for the battlefield, not hunting or sport shooting. The ban covers some 1,500 models and variants of what the government considers assault-style firearms, meaning they can no longer be legally used, sold or imported. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Ahmed Hussen takes part in an update on the COVID-19 pandemic during a press conference in Ottawa, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. The federal minister in charge of the government’s push on child care says bringing down fees parents pay is a key ingredient in the Liberals’ design for a national system. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

National daycare system will need funding to lower fees, expand spaces, Hussen says

High demand for daycare spots to increase after the pandemic

Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Ahmed Hussen takes part in an update on the COVID-19 pandemic during a press conference in Ottawa, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. The federal minister in charge of the government’s push on child care says bringing down fees parents pay is a key ingredient in the Liberals’ design for a national system. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Clouds obscure the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Wednesday, October 21, 2020. The federal privacy watchdog is pressing for changes to security screening procedures for public servants, saying the government has “not demonstrated the need” for several intrusive measures, from credit record checks to polygraph examinations. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Feds have not ‘demonstrated need’ for security-screening measures: privacy watchdog

Several intrusive measures proposed

Clouds obscure the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Wednesday, October 21, 2020. The federal privacy watchdog is pressing for changes to security screening procedures for public servants, saying the government has “not demonstrated the need” for several intrusive measures, from credit record checks to polygraph examinations. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes part in an update on the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is hinting that provinces that don’t want to work with Ottawa to improve standards in long-term care homes won’t get federal funding. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

As vulnerable youth face CERB clawbacks, Trudeau says Liberals looking over options

Government will have more to say in coming months

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes part in an update on the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is hinting that provinces that don’t want to work with Ottawa to improve standards in long-term care homes won’t get federal funding. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland is seen during a news conference in Ottawa on October 20, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Senators set to question Freeland on bill to provide new rent relief, business aid

Bill C-9 extends federal wage subsidy until next summer

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland is seen during a news conference in Ottawa on October 20, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris holds hands with President-elect Joe Biden and her husband Doug Emhoff as they celebrate, in Wilmington, Del., Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020. Federal cabinet ministers are welcoming Joe Biden election as the next U.S. president as an opportunity to advance the fight against climate change. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Andrew Harnik

Ottawa welcomes president-elect Joe Biden as ally in climate fight

Trudeau government’s enthusiasm for Biden’s climate-change policies are well-founded

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris holds hands with President-elect Joe Biden and her husband Doug Emhoff as they celebrate, in Wilmington, Del., Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020. Federal cabinet ministers are welcoming Joe Biden election as the next U.S. president as an opportunity to advance the fight against climate change. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Andrew Harnik
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives to a press conference during the COVID pandemic in Ottawa on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020. More federal financial support is on its way to help Indigenous people and communities cope with the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Feds to unveil more pandemic support for Indigenous communities

Another $650 million to help Indigenous communities

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives to a press conference during the COVID pandemic in Ottawa on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020. More federal financial support is on its way to help Indigenous people and communities cope with the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau adjusts his mask as he leaves a news conference Tuesday October 20, 2020 in Ottawa. About 130 tech CEOs in Canada are accusing the prime minister of ignoring the needs of the innovation economy and being slow to enact data and intellectual property policies. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

‘We need a champion in government:’ Tech CEOs want prosperity strategy from Trudeau

CEOs tired of waiting for a national data strategy

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau adjusts his mask as he leaves a news conference Tuesday October 20, 2020 in Ottawa. About 130 tech CEOs in Canada are accusing the prime minister of ignoring the needs of the innovation economy and being slow to enact data and intellectual property policies. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
This photo shows the Pfizer company logo at the company’s headquarters in New York. (AP Photo | Richard Drew, File)

Pfizer raises concerns ahead of Commons vote on probe of Ottawa’s pandemic response

Pfizer wants its commercial secrets protected

This photo shows the Pfizer company logo at the company’s headquarters in New York. (AP Photo | Richard Drew, File)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes part in a press conference during the COVID pandemic in Ottawa, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Trudeau Liberals face confidence vote over proposed anticorruption committee

Bloc Quebecois plans to support the Conservative motion

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes part in a press conference during the COVID pandemic in Ottawa, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole and Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet are expected to return to the House of Commons after isolating due to COVID-19 as Parliament resumes Monday for its first full week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Commons set for debate Liberals say undermines confidence in Parliament

Conservatives push for an anticorruption committee

Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole and Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet are expected to return to the House of Commons after isolating due to COVID-19 as Parliament resumes Monday for its first full week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Conservative MPs Pierre Poilievre and Michael Barrett hold a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on July 29, 2020. Opposition MPs braced for another marathon meeting of the House of Commons ethics committee as they ramp up efforts to revive their investigation into the WE Charity affair. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Marathon committee meetings as Liberals continue filibusters over WE documents

Finance committee spent 11 hours debating

Conservative MPs Pierre Poilievre and Michael Barrett hold a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on July 29, 2020. Opposition MPs braced for another marathon meeting of the House of Commons ethics committee as they ramp up efforts to revive their investigation into the WE Charity affair. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Conservative MPs Michael Barrett and Pierre Poilievre hold a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on July 29, 2020. The federal Conservatives want MPs to create an anti-corruption committee to investigate the WE Charity issue. Barrett, the Tory ethics critic, says the new forum would press for answers to lingering questions about the controversy. In the meantime, the Conservatives plan to press the House of Commons ethics and finance committees this week to resume looking at the matter. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Conservatives want an anti-corruption committee to probe WE Charity controversy

‘Canadians deserve answers’

Conservative MPs Michael Barrett and Pierre Poilievre hold a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on July 29, 2020. The federal Conservatives want MPs to create an anti-corruption committee to investigate the WE Charity issue. Barrett, the Tory ethics critic, says the new forum would press for answers to lingering questions about the controversy. In the meantime, the Conservatives plan to press the House of Commons ethics and finance committees this week to resume looking at the matter. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
In this file photo, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stands during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Infrastructure bank to unveil plans to invest billions in priority areas

Priority areas include agricultural infrastructure in Western Canada

In this file photo, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stands during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Bill C-4 passed in the House of Commons to authorize new benefits for workers left jobless or underemployed by the COVID-19 pandemic. (File photo)

Financial aid for workers hurt by COVID-19 gets unanimous support in Commons

Liberal government survives first pandemic-era confidence test

Bill C-4 passed in the House of Commons to authorize new benefits for workers left jobless or underemployed by the COVID-19 pandemic. (File photo)
Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole and Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet are expected to return to the House of Commons after isolating due to COVID-19 as Parliament resumes Monday for its first full week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

COVID-19 aid bill, Tory leader O’Toole’s speech headline Parliament’s first full week

NDP will likely support speech from the throne

Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole and Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet are expected to return to the House of Commons after isolating due to COVID-19 as Parliament resumes Monday for its first full week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Gov. Gen. Julie Payette watches a livestream of the proceedings before reading the speech from the throne in the Senate chamber in Ottawa, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Liberals plan fund to spur green technology, jobs

Plans to spend on building retrofits, clean energy and production of electric vehicles

Gov. Gen. Julie Payette watches a livestream of the proceedings before reading the speech from the throne in the Senate chamber in Ottawa, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Governor General Julie Payette delivers the Throne Speech in the Senate chamber in Ottawa on December 5, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand

Refresh of Liberal government’s agenda comes amid new looming COVID-19 crisis

Gov. Gen. Julie Payette will detail government’s plans

Governor General Julie Payette delivers the Throne Speech in the Senate chamber in Ottawa on December 5, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand
In this March 20, 2020 file photo, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney updates media on measures taken to help with COVID-19. (File photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Billions more for health care likely to top premiers’ wish list for throne speech

Throne speech happens next week

In this March 20, 2020 file photo, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney updates media on measures taken to help with COVID-19. (File photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to reporters during a news conference following a visit to the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) Royalmount Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre facility in Montreal, Monday, Aug 31, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Political fallout continues despite shuttering of WE’s Canadian operations

WE affair likely to continue dogging government when Parliament reopens on Sept. 23

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to reporters during a news conference following a visit to the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) Royalmount Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre facility in Montreal, Monday, Aug 31, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes