‘I’m famously known as a cynic, but what I am is a bruised idealist’
Sitting down with veteran columnist Allan Fotheringham, as he makes the rounds on a publicity tour for Fotheringham’s Fictionary, an encyclopedic assemblage of people, places, and things, is more fun than scoring front-row seats at Yuk Yuk’s. Dr. Foth has compiled an album of his greatest riffs and pet peeves, and is in top form […]
Parliament’s power stripped by regulations: insiders see slippery slope as legislation details changed without Parliament input
Auditor General Sheila Fraser, who warned last week that power is quickly leaking away from Parliament, is being backed up by Parliamentarians who say, “government by regulation” is part of the problem. Moreover, a Conservative Senator says the Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations has been powerless to deal with this emerging trend […]
Ron Duhamel believes he’s won cancer battle
[Not Transcribed] At a time when Veterans Affairs Minister Ron Duhamel is concerned about regaining his health, he’s having to contend with political rumours that he’ll be out of cabinet–and perhaps out of politics altogether–with the next shuffle. Cancer has been a spectre for Mr. Duhamel (Saint Boniface, Man.) since he was first diagnosed with […]
“This hasn’t been done before: FINTRAC director Horst Intscher
[Not Transcribed] Hawalas, the money-transferring systems identified as possible tools for terrorist financing, will be tightened up now that Canada’s new financial reporting laws are in effect, says FINTRAC director Horst Intscher. After years of behind-the-scenes planning and organizing, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre (FINTRAC), an independent agency funded by the federal government, […]
[Fotheringham’s fictionary of facts & follies]
Sitting down with veteran columnist Allan Fotheringham, as he makes the rounds on a publicity tour for Fotheringham’s Fictionary, an encyclopedic assemblage of people, places, and things, is more fun than scoring front-row seats at Yuk Yuk’s. Dr. Foth has compiled an album of his greatest riffs and pet peeves, and is in top form […]
MPs take polar views to privatize Canada’s health care system [Keith Martin for privatization and Carolyn Bennett for public system]
Opposition parties exploit it. Governments pledge to fix it. Polling researchers conclude that it is the primary concern to Canadians. The issue, of course, is Canada’s health care system — a system under tremendous strain since its conception 30 years ago. Today, Canada’s population is aging, medical technologies are more sophisticated, and the fiscal realities […]
Health minister talks about his challenges: NDP critic says health minister is losing battle for dollars at cabinet table
As Canada heads into the next millennium, and critics charge that the healthcare system is in disarray, Health Minister Allan Rock says he’s focused on one thing. He wants to modernize the medicare system “so that it is a true efficient healthcare system providing quality care.” In an interview with The Hill Times last week, […]
Health Protection Branch consults public on its role: Canadian Health Coalition lobbies against transition hearings
As the Health Protection Branch — the guardian of the foods we eat and pharmaceuticals we take — examines ways to “modernize” its role, critics warn that the outcome of this exercise will erode public safety and put the health of Canadians at risk. “The duty of the government to protect the public is at […]
Liberals should shake, rattle and roll on campaign trail
Campaign ’98 in Quebec will go down in history as a short and sweet little exercise of democratic expression. At 33 days, it is indeed quick. The pre-campaign, however, cannot exactly be described as short and sweet. Let’s face it, the two parties have been on the road, selling their ideas and making promises since […]
Voters have been duped and hoodwinked on debt, deficit
This is about authors Walter Stewart and Linda McQuaig, Newsweek magazine’s Jonathan Alter, Thomas d’Aquino of The Business Council on National Issues, our president, Paul Martin, and what to do with all the money we’ve saved by balancing the budget and wrecking the country. First, about d’Aquino and the BCNI, of which he is president. […]
