Reviving Canada-China Relations: Why Minister Joly’s Visit Matters

 Canada and China share a long history of bilateral relations, marked by cooperation and occasional tension. From early trade connections to diplomatic engagements, the two nations’ relationship is multifaceted, layered, and complex. Joly’s visit to China signals a critical step in mending the strained ties between Canada and China. Her

Chinese Foreign Minister and Canada’s Global Affairs Minister Seek to Mend Ties Amidst Strained Relations

 In a hopeful development, Canadian Global Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, spoke yesterday in a call that appears to be part of a recalibrated effort to reset the strained bilateral relations between the two countries. The relationship between China and Canada has faced numerous challenges

The Public Square with The Hon. Sergio Marchi

 The Hon. Sergio Marchi’s column, ‘The Public Square’, looks at current affairs and political issues impacting the capital and our country. Click on the photo or the headline below to the individual articles. We hope you enjoy them, and we welcome your comments along the way.  Volodymyr Zelenskyy: A master class

A note to Minister Joly

 The new Minister of Foreign Affairs is a young, dynamic MP from Quebec, Melanie Joly. She recently served as the Libéral Party’s election co-chair, and her appointment to the prestigious new portfolio surprised many observers. This general reaction will probably ensure low expectations, which is to her considerable advantage. Being

Time to rotate some federal cabinet tires

 PICTUTED ABOVE: Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage, and Harjit Sajjan, Minister of National Defence. So last week I was critical of Doug Ford in terms of his competence to govern – imagine the shock from voting for someone who’s biggest policy issue was the price of beer not being ready

THE NAC: Canada’s Stage, Transformed

 Feature photo by David Kawai It’s not often that the head of a major cultural organization has been able to thank both the Harper and Trudeau governments for major investments in their organizations. But on July 1, 2017, at the lavish opening of the revitalized and expanded National Arts Centre,

Reflection and Hope, The National Holocaust Monument Opens

 Photos by Jean-Marc Carisse / Feature photo courtesy of The National Holocaust Monument In 2007 second-year University of Ottawa student Laura Grosman found herself outraged when she discovered that Canada, unlike most Western nations, did not have a place memorializing the Holocaust. She decided to turn that frustration into words, penning a

Shaw Rocket Prize Awarded by Kids for Kids

 All photos by Andre Gagne. On Wednesday night the Shaw Rocket Fund held its annual evening of kid friendly revelry at the Shaw Centre to announce the winners for the Shaw Rocket Prize. A champion for children and youth, the not-for-profit Shaw Rocket Fund, invests in quality Canadian children’s programming

The Lebreton Flats Fiasco and Why Melanie Joly Must Reform the NCC

 For years the National Capital Commission (NCC) has been the most inept, closed, secretive, elitist and incompetent organization in the federal government. Their tagline should be “The NCC—We Never Miss an Opportunity to Miss an Opportunity”. The NCC board of directors has 15 members, including the chairperson and the chief

Liberals Have Plenty of Talent to Make Up Gender-Balanced Cabinet

 Photo by Jean-Marc Carisse. Justin Trudeau promises to have gender parity in his cabinet. He announced that in his Democracy package back in June and, when asked about this on the weekend, he reaffirmed his position. So who are the women who could make up his cabinet? In a 30-member cabinet, Trudeau