Since 1989 CANADA'S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSWEEKLY May 12, 2008





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Photograph by Jake Wright, The Hill Times
Warning, no subliminal message here: If you squint your eyes hard enough you can see the faces of Stephen Harper, Stéphane Dion, Gilles Duceppe, Jack Layton, and Elizabeth May in the petals of the tulips. Okay, you can’t. But these glossy red long ladies were growing in full glory on the Hill last week. Spring is in the air, an election ain’t.
High-stakes election timing speculation takes yet another twist
Libs say if they gain momentum this summer, PM Stephen Harper may prorogue Parliament this fall, pushing the next general election into 2009.
By Abbas Rana

Brodie to PMO staffers: create a human resources strategy for all Cabinet staffers
One top Conservative source says the Tories never expected to last this long in government and want a firmer Cabinet staff strategy in place.
By Abbas Rana

Praise the Lord and pass the coffee: MPs find religion in politics
MPs' massive National Prayer Breakfast is billed as non-denominational, but some say it's too 'Christ-centred.'
By Harris MacLeod

Officers of Parliament like 'gods' over government: Paquet
If new Environment Commissioner Scott Vaughan wants to keep his job, he should not become too activist, Paquet warns.
By Cynthia Münster

Senator urges Prime Minister Harper to fill increasing Senate vacancies
Currently, there are 14 Senate vacancies, but there will be 30 vacancies by the end of 2009.
By Bea Vongdouangchanh

Canada has had 'no natural governing party' since 1950s: Russell
With the rise of the Greens, minority governments will be the new normal, says author Peter Russell.
By Simon Doyle


NEWS

Heard on the Hill
Sparks Street a 'traffic hazard,' and Martin and Black to write their memoirs this fall
By Bea Vongdouangchanh

Lobbying
Search on for Canada's new lobbying commissioner as Nelson expected to bow out
Lobbyists are turning their attention to who will be next registrar of lobbyists
By Simon Doyle

Politics Page
Senate Veterans Affairs hears from veterans
Status Of Government Business
The week ahead in Parliament
MPs are 'nobodies' on the Hill, 'like pawns in a chess game': Franks
'I've seen so many really good people in Parliament leave because they can't get things done in this political quicksand,' says Liberal MP Keith Martin
By Bea Vongdouangchanh

High-stakes election timing speculation takes yet another twist
Libs say if they gain momentum this summer, PM Stephen Harper may prorogue Parliament this fall, pushing the next general election into 2009.
By Abbas Rana

Hill Climbers
Brodie to PMO staffers: create a human resources strategy for all Cabinet staffers
One top Conservative source says the Tories never expected to last this long in government and want a firmer Cabinet staff strategy in place.
By Abbas Rana

Praise the Lord and pass the coffee: MPs find religion in politics
MPs' massive National Prayer Breakfast is billed as non-denominational, but some say it's too 'Christ-centred.'
By Harris MacLeod

Civil Circles
Officers of Parliament like 'gods' over government: Paquet
If new Environment Commissioner Scott Vaughan wants to keep his job, he should not become too activist, Paquet warns.
By Cynthia Münster

Legislative Process
Senator urges Prime Minister Harper to fill increasing Senate vacancies
Currently, there are 14 Senate vacancies, but there will be 30 vacancies by the end of 2009.
By Bea Vongdouangchanh

Class of '93 Reformers moving on, only 11 say they're running again
Former Reformers, now Conservatives, say that a lot has changed since the policies of the Reform Party, but they support the Tory party and its democratic process
By Abbas Rana

FEATURES

Feature
Flanagan and Finley pull disappearing act on Cadman affair
Conservative MP James Moore says there's still no overarching strategy to silence Tom Flanagan and Doug Finley on Chuck Cadman story.
By Cynthia Münster

Feature
Canada's tax filing system a 'Rolls Royce' compared to U.K., says British MP
Brit Conservative MP Ian Liddell-Grainger says Brits look at our system 'with envy.'
By Bea Vongdouangchanh

Feature
It's lights out on Air Farce Live
Air Farce Live co-producer, creator, and cast member Roger Abbott talks about the show's ending next season, and impersonating some of Canada's funny federal politicians.
By Harris MacLeod

The Spin Doctors
"Information Commissioner Robert Marleau told The Hill Times recently that the Harper government has been quietly drafting about 25 government policies that impact on the rights of officers of Parliament, and that it has been happening without their knowledge or input. Is that right?"
By Abbas Rana

Parliamentary Calendar
Monday, May 12th, 2008 - Upcoming political and government events, parties, conferences, conventions and more.
Q & A
Canada has had 'no natural governing party' since 1950s: Russell
With the rise of the Greens, minority governments will be the new normal, says author Peter Russell.
By Simon Doyle

OPINIONS

Op-ed
Human rights of Canada's First Nations people are not a zero-sum game...
Any argument that implies this is an attempt by First Nations leadership to run roughshod demeans our commitment to human rights of all First Nations people.
By Phil Fontaine

Op-ed
This week's National Prayer Breakfast needs a shake up, should be opened up, says Gruending
The breakfast's message in past years has tended to fit within a religious tradition that focuses upon an individualistic view of faith. The event has done less to reflect the more communal thrust that has been central to both the social gospel and social Catholicism, to name just two Christian movements.
By Dennis Gruending

Op-ed
It's time to recenter the federal Liberal Party of Canada, says Grit MacKinnon
For unless Liberals are willing to wait for PM Harper's Conservatives to defeat themselves, Grits will need to appeal directly to the broad middle: former Progressive Conservatives, Liberals, and disaffected New Democrats.
By Steven MacKinnon

Editorial
Government secrecy, it's tighter...
Party Central
The 1783 Treaty of Paris comes to the Library and Archives
The 225-year-old 1783 Treaty of Paris still relevant today say historians and U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins.
By Harris MacLeod

Letters
COLUMNS

Caccia's death shocks MPs, politicos, enviros: say he left mark as Member of Parliament
Politics wasn't a means for self-satisfaction or glory for Charles Caccia. It was a vehicle to make the world a better place.
By Aaron Freeman

Conservatives could face long, hot copyright summer
The government should use the summer months to conduct a much-needed consultation on copyright reform.
By Michael Geist

I-spy journalism is back, and that's a good thing
It's about time. Embarrassing coverage of politicians' expense accounts grew sadly unfashionable when government rolled in big surpluses and taxpayers toasted full employment. Now that's over, we can all get back to exposing waste.
By Tom Korski

Harper should be concerned about Bernier's trips to Afghanistan, not the bedroom
Bloc Québécois join Liberals in 'distasteful,' 'desperate' attempts to taint Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier.
By Angelo Persichilli



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