Lee Berthiaume

Reporter for The Canadian Press

363 Articles

A bearded man with grey hair speaks. He's wearing a navy suit and tie.

Liberal House leader sparks anger among opposition MPs over WE testimony

A parliamentary hearing on the federal government’s now-dead deal with WE Charity threatened to devolve into chaos on Monday after the Liberals sent a cabinet minister to answer questions on behalf of one of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s senior aides.

By Lee Berthiaume | News, Politics | March 29th 2021

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau leaves West Block on Parliament Hill to participate in a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa, on Friday, March 12, 2021. File photo by The Canadian Press/Justin Tang

Liberals defy Tory demand that PM testify on WE deal

The conditions for a brawl appear to be set after Government House Leader Pablo Rodriguez announced that he will testify at a parliamentary committee about the now-dead WE deal on Monday, March 29, 2021, rather than Prime Minister Justin Trudeau or members of his staff.

By Lee Berthiaume | News, Politics | March 29th 2021

A health-care worker prepares a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a UHN COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Toronto on Thursday, January 7, 2021. File photo by The Canadian Press/Nathan Denette

Canada expecting 3.3M vaccine doses this week

Canada is scheduled to receive a flood of new COVID-19 vaccine doses this week, with around 3.3 million shots due for delivery from different pharmaceutical companies over the coming days.

Coronavirus in Canada

By Lee Berthiaume | News, Politics | March 29th 2021

CAF writing 'playbook' for handling allegations involving top brass

The Canadian Armed Forces is developing a suite of new initiatives aimed at tackling inappropriate behaviour in the ranks, the military’s acting commander revealed on Tuesday, March 23, 2021, including a “playbook” for handling misconduct allegations against senior officers.

By Lee Berthiaume | News, Politics | March 24th 2021

Governor General David Johnston presents then Major Eleanor Taylor, from Antigonish, N.S., with the Meritorious Service Medal during a ceremony in Ottawa, Ont. on Friday June 22, 2012. File photo by The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

Misconduct complaints show progress, military response centre head says

The head of the response centre set up to help victims of sexual misconduct in the military says recent complaints against senior leaders of the Canadian Armed Forces are a sign of progress, not failure.

By Lee Berthiaume | News, Politics | March 18th 2021

Kielburgers, MPs spar over WE Charity operations, deal to run federal program

Craig and Marc Kielburger accused a parliamentary committee of engaging in a political trial Monday as its members grilled the brothers over WE Charity’s operations, including its since-cancelled deal to run a federal program for student volunteers.

By Lee Berthiaume | News, Politics | March 15th 2021

Jonathan Vance, Ron Lloyd, Art McDonald,

Is Canada's top military brass tainted by sexualized culture?

Emerging allegations of sexual misconduct against senior members of the Armed Forces are raising concerns about the extent to which the top brass is tainted by such behaviour — and prompting sharp discussions about how to fix the problem.

By Lee Berthiaume | News, Politics | March 15th 2021

sign, placed, truck windshield, Banished Veterans, protest, Veterans Affairs office, Halifax,

Military ombudsman says role should be truly independent

Canada’s military ombudsman is calling on the federal Liberal government to make his office truly independent, saying the current structure is undercutting confidence in its ability to fight for aggrieved Canadian Armed Forces members and others.

By Lee Berthiaume | News, Politics | March 15th 2021

Federal leaders welcome military's first female deputy commander as misconduct scandal grows

Federal leaders were united on Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in welcoming Lt.-Gen. Frances Allen as Canada’s first female deputy military commander, but remained at odds over the Liberal government’s response to allegations of misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces.

By Lee Berthiaume | News, Politics | March 10th 2021

Sajjan called to testify a second time in Forces misconduct probe

The Trudeau government and Opposition Conservatives marked International Women’s Day on Monday, March 8, 2021, by trading barbs and accusations over reported threats against a senior naval officer who brought forward an allegation of misconduct against Canada’s defence chief.

By Lee Berthiaume | News, Politics | March 9th 2021