Reading Time: 6minutesDisponible en français. On 13 May 2025, the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, announced the members of his new Cabinet, including the new Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, Evan Solomon. An individual mandate letter, which would provide details on his... Read More › The post Copyright and Artificial Intelligence appeared first on HillNotes.| HillNotes
Reading Time: 5minutesDisponible en français. Canadians are increasingly using technological tools such as laptops, tablets and smartphones for online banking. However, there are currently no legislative or regulatory protections, applicable nationwide, to limit consumers’ liability in the event of an unauthorized transaction... Read More › The post Online Banking Fraud: Protecting Consumers from Unauthorized Transactions appeared first on HillNotes.| HillNotes
This HillNote is the first in a series of five competition policy and law in Canada. The second in the series examines drip pricing and junk fees in the airline industry. The third analyzes the balance between competition and financial stability in the banking sector, including issues related to mergers and open banking. The fourth addresses competition in the grocery and agricultural sectors, and the fifth focuses on the telecommunications sector.| HillNotes
Reading Time: 7 minutesDisponible en français. More than 80 percent of Canadians live in cities and towns, while the remaining population is spread across the country’s vast rural and remote areas. These rural communities represent a demographic with unique characteristics, contributions and challenges. The… Read More ›| HillNotes
Reading Time: 5minutesDisponible en français. On 30 January 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada (the Court) recognized a constitutional protection of the right to strike, ruling in Saskatchewan Federation of Labour v. Saskatchewan that this right is an “indispensable” part of collective bargaining. In... Read More › The post Constitutional Protection of the Right to Strike appeared first on HillNotes.| HillNotes
Reading Time: 7minutesDisponible en français. The Canada–European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) was signed in October 2016. Since then, the Canadian and European parliaments have adopted the agreement, and 17 of the EU’s 27 member states have ratified it.... Read More › The post Ratifying the Canada–European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Some Recent Developments appeared first on HillNotes.| HillNotes
Women’s right to full and equal participation in the public and political life of their country is recognized by the 1979 United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The proportion or number of parliamentarians who are women – also referred to as the descriptive representation of women – is often used to measure the achievement of this right. Beyond the statistics though, women and diverse groups are represented in political institutions i...| HillNotes
Reading Time: 7minutesDisponible en français. In recent years, global demand for minerals and metals has grown significantly, driven primarily by an energy transition and technological advances. With vast mineral resources and a strong industrial capacity, Canada could position itself to take advantage... Read More › The post The Critical Minerals Supply Chain: Building Canada’s Resilience appeared first on HillNotes.| HillNotes
Reading Time: 4minutesDisponible en français. This HillNote compares Canada’s productivity performance with that of other Group of Seven (G7) countries and Australia, which has a resource-rich economy that is similar to Canada’s. The HillNote is the second in a four-part series on... Read More › The post What Is Canada’s Productivity Performance and How Does It Compare to Other Countries? appeared first on HillNotes.| HillNotes
Reading Time: 5minutesDisponible en français. Genocide, a crime under international law, has been officially recognized in several cases by national or international courts and tribunals, such as the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. However, states, non-governmental organizations and intergovernmental organizations such as... Read More › The post State Recognition of Genocide appeared first on HillNotes.| HillNotes
International Ozone Protection Day, or World Ozone Day, is marked every year on 16 September – the date the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (the Montreal Protocol) was signed in 1987. This HillNote provides an overview of the progress made through the Montreal Protocol to reverse damage to the ozone layer caused by human-made synthetic substances. The Montreal Protocol is often cited as an example of the progress that can be made on environmental issues through ...| HillNotes
In today's complex world, the lack of clear boundaries between domestic and foreign policy regularly pushes Canadian parliamentarians to take action on the international stage. More and more of them are engaged in direct exchanges with their foreign counterparts on issues of national and global importance. In Canada, diplomatic engagement has long been an integral part of our parliamentarians' activities, and is generally aimed at the following three objectives: exchanging ideas and best prac...| HillNotes
This HillStudy presents a non-exhaustive overview of the language regimes in place in the provinces and territories, and it briefly describes the main features of each one. In Canada, jurisdiction over language is shared between the various levels of government. The federal government has adopted a bilingual language regime in which the two official languages are English and French. Although it has established its own support measures, it relies on the provinces and territories to help ensur...| HillNotes
In Canada, the Canadian Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on certain grounds, including sex, sexual orientation (since 1996), gender expression and gender identity (since 2017). These terms are often used in the parliamentary context, including in debates and parliamentary committee work. This HillNote provides background on the terminology used to describe gender and sexual diversity.| HillNotes
Two environmental laws. Two constitutional challenges. Two Supreme Court of Canada opinions. Two different outcomes. An examination of two recent environmental law cases demonstrates the reach and limitations of the federal government’s ability to make laws in relation to environmental issues.| HillNotes
Under Section 94 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, which came into effect 28 June 2002, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration is required to table an annual report to Parliament on the immigration initiatives and actions of the previous year. The report to Parliament must also set the department’s targets for the number of immigrants to be admitted to Canada the following year. These targets are known as the immigration levels plan, and in 2017, a multi-year approach was...| HillNotes
This HillNote focuses specifically on the definitions of “urban,” “rural” and “remoteness” according to Statistics Canada. A clear understanding of these statistical definitions and classifications is crucial to identifying the target populations for relevant government initiatives and policies. This paper also features various maps to illustrate the differences between these definitions.| HillNotes
This article explores Indigenous education in Canada, its connection to health and well-being, the legacy of residential schools, and current federal support for First Nations students.| HillNotes
Given the growing frequency and intensity of severe weather events around the world, like hurricanes, wildfires, floods and violent storms, households have had to make increasingly costly home insurance claims. Canada has not been spared; it even saw a record year for damages in 2024, caused particularly by flooding in Quebec and Ontario, and by wildfires and a hailstorm in Alberta. Consequently, insurers in Canada and abroad have raised premiums, tightened underwriting standards or withdrawn...| HillNotes
This HillStudy consists of a series of questions and answers intended to provide a better understanding of economic statistics and federal government finances.| HillNotes
Canada is exploring alternative protein sources—plant-based, insect, and cultured—to meet rising demand and address concerns about health, sustainability, and food security. This article outlines the benefits, challenges, and policy implications.| HillNotes
Organ transplantation surgery has saved countless lives since its advent in the 1950s. As the techniques and technologies used in transplantation medicine improve, positive outcomes for donors and recipients are increasing. Demand for this treatment, however, far exceeds organ availability. It is estimated that legal transplants performed cover the needs of only 10% of all patients on waiting lists worldwide. As a result, thousands of people die every year waiting for this procedure.| HillNotes
This HillNote is the first in a series of four publications about productivity. The second in the series presents Canada’s productivity performance compared to other advanced economies. The third analyzes the main potential causes of Canada’s relatively low productivity growth, and the fourth analyzes the principal potential solutions.| HillNotes
One of Parliament’s fundamental roles is to review and approve the government’s taxation and spending plans. To fulfill this role, parliamentarians follow the parliamentary financial cycle, which consists of a continuous loop of activities that take place throughout the calendar year. Because the federal government’s fiscal year begins on 1 April and ends on 31 March, activities that take place during a single calendar year may relate to different fiscal years.| HillNotes
Officers of Parliament support both houses in their accountability and scrutiny functions by carrying out independent oversight responsibilities assigned to them by statute. These officers are responsible directly to Parliament rather than to the government or a federal minister. While no statutory definition exists of what constitutes officers of Parliament, they should not be confused with officials who assist Parliament in procedural and administrative matters.| HillNotes
A general election is followed by the opening of a new session of the Parliament of Canada, marking the beginning of a new parliamentary cycle. The opening involves a series of parliamentary ceremonies and procedures that precede and follow the Speech from the Throne. The opening of a Parliament typically lasts two days, as it did, for example, with the 42nd Parliament in 2015, although it can take place over the course of a single day, as it did with the opening of the 43rd Parliament in 201...| HillNotes
Canada’s founding document, the Constitution Act, 1867, established the country as a parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. Executive authority resides with the Sovereign or that person’s representative (i.e., the Governor General of Canada). The Constitution assigns the Governor General a wide range of powers. However, as a constitutional monarchy, these powers are generally only exercised on the advice of Canada’s prime minister and the federal Cabinet.| HillNotes
Domestically, discussions about Canada’s defence spending are generally focused on the Department of National Defence (DND), including the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).However, in reporting their defence spending to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, or the Alliance), Canada and other NATO member states can also include expenditures relating to other departments and agencies.Moreover, calculations of defence spending as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) vary, depending ...| HillNotes
A secure border helps keep the population safe from various criminal threats while allowing for the legal movement of people and goods across the border. With this in mind, States must work together to address major issues, such as drug and firearms trafficking, and irregular migration.| HillNotes
In May 2024, the Supreme Court of Canada ordered a new trial in French for an accused who had not been informed of his right to be tried in the official language of his choice. The accused had been convicted of sexual assault following a trial that was conducted in English.| HillNotes
Under Section 94 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, which came into effect 28 June 2002, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration is required to table an annual report to Parliament on the immigration initiatives and actions of the previous year. The report to Parliament must also set the department’s targets for the number of immigrants to be admitted to Canada for the following year. These targets are known as the immigration levels plan, and in 2017, with the intention of ...| HillNotes
Executive Summary – Section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms: The Development of the Supreme Court of Canada’s Approach to Equality Rights Under the Charter| HillNotes
The purpose of Canada’s retirement income system is twofold: to alleviate poverty among seniors and to help seniors who are better off to avoid significant declines in living standards when they retire. This HillStudy outlines the different components of the system, who they target, how much they cost and how they are financed. While there is general agreement that the retirement income system is a policy success story, a broader discussion of how well the system is meeting its objectives t...| HillNotes
A rental housing co-operative (co-op) is a non-profit corporation in which each member-resident owns one share. A form of community housing, rental co-ops are democratically governed by their members, who may also participate in management and operational functions. Shares do not appreciate and cannot be sold, and rents are generally set to break even with operating costs such that no profit accumulates. Any surpluses are saved in a reserve fund. Canada’s rental co-ops follow a non-equity m...| HillNotes
On 20 June 2022, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted resolution 76/269, declaring June 24 of each year the International Day of Women in Diplomacy. The UN resolution recognizes the contributions that women make to diplomacy; it notes their global underrepresentation in this field and invites member states and other stakeholders to observe the day in a manner they consider appropriate, including through education and activities that raise public awareness, to promote the “full...| HillNotes
Over the past few years, global demand for minerals and metals has grown significantly, primarily owing to an energy transition that is getting under way and to technological advances. Thanks to its vast mineral reserves and industrial capacity, Canada is well positioned to take advantage of the increase in global demand and to develop the associated value chains. To achieve that goal, however, Canada must first identify stakeholders that have an impact on the extraction and processing of its...| HillNotes
The federal budget outlines the government’s revenue estimates and expenditure priorities for the fiscal year. It is a key component of the parliamentary financial cycle. The outlook for budgetary revenues and expenses can be found in tables A1.6 and A1.7 of Budget 2024.| HillNotes
Compared to later federal–provincial agreements, the Canada–Quebec Accord is also the most extensive. Under this Accord, for instance, Quebec has exclusive responsibility for selecting economic immigrants destined for that province – and for the criteria by which they are selected – rather than simply assessing and nominating some of them to address specific labour market and economic needs. Quebec, uniquely, sets the number of economic immigrants it will receive, rather than consulti...| HillNotes
This HillNote explores the publicly available data on National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) procurement between 1 April 2010 and 23 October 2023. It looks at which firms have been awarded contracts, the values of these contracts and the products and services for which they were awarded.| HillNotes
In February 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada released Carter v. Canada (Attorney General), an important decision about the law on assisted dying. The decision found that the Criminal Code provisions that made it a crime to help a person end their life violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. As a result, several groups were formed to study the issue of assisted dying and to consider options for changing the law and related policies. This included a joint Senate and Hou...| HillNotes
With the majority of grains produced in Western Canada intended for export, the grain trade relies on a complex supply chain in which rail transportation is the cornerstone. Rail makes it possible to cover the vast distances between grain elevators where farmers deliver their grain and the port terminals from where grain is shipped to international markets. Most grain rail traffic is bound for the ports of Vancouver, Thunder Bay and Prince Rupert.| HillNotes
A healthy environment is essential to human life, health and well-being. Climate change is increasingly impacting the environment in ways that harm people. Climate change affects the air we breathe, the availability of food and water, and the rate and intensity of extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts and storms that have great potential to cause harm to human populations.| HillNotes
This HillNote describes the WTO’s dispute-settlement process and discusses the Appellate Body’s current status. Because the Appellate Body is currently not functioning, it also examines the implications of appealing “into the void” and identifies certain other dispute-settlement options that some WTO members are using.| HillNotes
This document provides an overview of the various factors and players that shape Canada's immigration policy, sheds light on the legislative framework and the roles and responsibilities of the various levels of government, and presents a few of the essential components and instruments in this field.| HillNotes
