Since it was devised in the 1980s, Canada’s Freedom of Information law has not been significantly updated or reformed to reflect the needs of the data revolution. On the heels of the 250th anniversary of Sweden’s freedom of the press act last week, TVO’s The Agenda looks at the state of FOI law in Canada.
The problem isn’t with winner-take-all electoral systems, it’s a problem within Canada’s political parties.
Taiwan’s first female president, and its most defiantly democratic, faces increased pressure from Beijing over the island’s national identity. Canada’s “quietude” amidst the ongoing squeeze has been noted.
Former Liberal justice minister Irwin Cotler and an all-party alliance of MPs call for Canada to vote down countries known for their human rights violations – Russia, China, Saudi Arabia and Cuba – as they seek re-election to the United Nations Human Rights Council. Michelle Zilio reports for the Globe and Mail’s Ottawa bureau.
“Justin Trudeau’s recent statements about considering an extradition treaty with China, a military dictatorship that executes more ‘criminals’ than any other country, and hoping to get a free trade deal with China to double trade by 2025 are both troubling.” Once again, he is showing poor judgment when it comes to China and has done so before. Bill Tieleman for The Tyee.
Is there a coherent foreign policy strategy behind the huge sums of money the Trudeau administration has been quick to pledge in foreign aid spending since taking office or is the government’s foreign aid focus more a reactionary stance to what the Conservatives did or did not do?
(November 26, 2013) A corruption trial in India involving Montreal-based engineering giant SNC-Lavalin has taken another turn.
(November 5, 2013) The alleged “culture of corruption” by SNC-Lavalin and others was encouraged by the government’s willingness to turn a blind eye.
(October 23, 2013) Don’t count on any government in Canada to hold SNC-Lavalin’s feet to the fire. Blinders on and taxpayers’ cash in hand, they’re willing to reward allegations of corruption with big, fat contracts, says Huffington Post’s Daniel Tencer.
(September 25, 2013) Lawmakers in Trinidad and Tobago tell the Canadian government SNC-Lavalin is a company too tainted by corruption to risk awarding a multi-million-dollar hospital contract to.
(September 25, 2013) Canadian economist Patricia Adams questions why the Canadian Commercial Corporation has been trying to get the Trinidad and Tobago government to sign a deal with SNC-Lavalin.
(August 28, 2013) Proposed changes to regulations governing Export Development Canada don’t go far enough.
(August 21, 2013) Officials in Trinidad and Tobago are reconsidering the country’s involvement with corruption-plagued engineering firm SNC-Lavalin.
Patricia Adams
Brady Yauch
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Lisa Peryman
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