This one-off is much more than it appears to be. Along with finalizing the fall date on a permanent basis, the government is also restructuring how it determines spending. By Sheila CoppsFirst published in The…
Tagged By House of Commons
Poilievre’s getting traction with his focus on food prices
Mark Carney needs something to show that Liberals don’t just care about mega-projects. No tax on food could be a good place to start. By Sheila CoppsFirst published in The Hill Times on October 6, 2025.…
Summer’s over, and a possibly raucous House awaits
Experienced MP and current Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia will have to use all his wiles to ensure the fall session does not descend into chaos. By Sheila CoppsFirst published in The Hill Times on September 1,…
Sheila Copps on The Hill Times Hot Room podcast with Peter Mazereeuw
Sheila Copps’ advice for rookie MPs: keep it simple
Target three things you want to achieve for your riding, and three things you want to achieve for the country. And make sure all your work in committees and in Parliament is focused on moving to…
House Speaker Fergus is currently on strike two
Parliament’s hyper-partisan climate has made the Speaker’s job doubly difficult, but Greg Fergus can defuse crisis situations with his moderate demeanour. But the Conservatives feel that any venal sin is reason for his dismissal. By Sheila…
Poilievre’s parliamentary outbursts reflective of his dripping dislike for Trudeau
Going after an unpopular prime minister will likely not cost Pierre Poilievre politically. But it does give Canadians a glimpse into what kind of leadership he would provide if he were elected prime minister. By…
Parties will walk on political eggshells in the new year
After the 30-hour vote marathon by the Conservatives, the temperature in Parliament continued to rise. Public opinion polls showed that most observers were not impressed with the parliamentary chaos. By Sheila CoppsFirst published in The Hill…
I was wrong, I thought House civility would last at least two weeks, it lasted two days
If last Wednesday’s Question Period is any indication, Conservatives are raring to go, and an election couldn’t happen soon enough. By Sheila CoppsFirst published in The Hill Times on October 23, 2023. OTTAWA—I was wrong.…
Greg Fergus will need to be a gentle giant, but not too gentle
The new Speaker has a reputation across party lines as a sunny, friendly force. But that positivity must be tempered by a strong arm during Question Period. By Sheila CoppsFirst published in The Hill Times on…

