Freedom of the press belongs to who owns you
It has often been repeated that freedom of the press belongs first and foremost to the person who owns the press. While this is a somewhat cynical and simplistic view of the day-to-day operation of newspapers, when push comes to shove it’s true: the owner has every right to take whatever editorial stance he wishes […]
MPs take crusade to Price Club [Stores circulating petition on abolition of unelected Senate]
The two MPs crusading to abolish the Senate have taken their cross-country campaign to the land of litre tubs of mayonnaise and foot-high cans of tuna, the massive Price Club discount warehouse stores. Liberal MP Roger Gallaway (Sarnia, Ont.) and NDP MP Lorne Nystrom (Qu’Appelle, Sask.) are publicizing their campaign in the stores. The store, […]
Health Canada stonewalls Senate agriculture committee
When secret government documents were publicly released two weeks ago suggesting that far more research is needed before Canadian farmers are allowed to inject their cows with a controversial genetically engineered hormone that boosts milk production, behind the document search was a senator’s assisant. Barbara Robson, a former journalist who used to work in the […]
Bouchard’s cabinet shuffle a real yawner
Three things worthy of note have happened in La Belle Province in the last few days. First of all, Premier Lucien and his party once again clashed over the issue of when to hold the next referendum. A resolution was adopted ordering a PQ government to hold such a vote in its next mandate, assuming […]
[PC leadership plods on as best it can: Speakout 1998]
If a tree falls in the woods, does anyone hear it? Does anyone care? The PC Leadership contest plods on as best it can. And it’s a textbook case of how not to promote a political party in the plugged-in Information Age especially when it’s four middle-aged white guys vying for a job that many […]
New lobbying opinion could force senators who are corporate directors to register [Includes members of Senate banking committee and their directorships]
Senators who also sit as directors of corporations may have to watch their step to avoid running afoul of the latest advisory opinion issued by the Lobbyists Registration Branch. According to an opinion published last month, outside directors — those who are not employees of a company or organization — who undertake to meet with […]
The PM’s instincts of survival [Alberta and the election of senators]
Presumably, everyone in Alberta is hot under the collar because the prime minister appointed Douglas Roche to the Senate. This has spoiled their plan to elect their own senator in a province-wide election. Alberta’s Premier, Ralph Klein, has written the prime minister saying, “I think you have underestimated the depth of feeling on this issue […]
Martin behind Cullen ousting [Ottawa West-Nepean riding]
Score one for Martin’s people…Federal Finance Minister Paul Martin’s local Ottawa supporters helped to orchestrate the surprising nomination defeat of Liberal MPP Alex Cullen in Ottawa West-Nepean, Ont., two weeks ago. Mr. Cullen was ousted by fellow Liberal and Nepean City Councillor Rick Chiarelli, a second cousin to Regional Chairman Bob Chiarelli, who is a […]
APEC controvery hits home for backbench voters
Suppressing civil rights ain’t pretty…While Prime Minister Jean Chr tien faces questions about his role in RCMP manhandling of protesters at last year’s APEC summit in Vancouver, B.C., Ontario Liberal MP John McKay kicked off an almost surreal plea for protection of religious tolerance when the House returned last week. In the Commons, Mr. McKay […]
Question period: the prime minister said that his staff may have told the RCMP what to do at APEC. Should he be held responsibile for his PMO staff?
“I think the question of his own personal responsibility or the actions he should take afterwards is mitigated to some extent by whether he knew what his staff was doing. He can’t be like the king who ordered the murder of Thomas Becket and just say, ‘Why won’t someone rid me of this man’ and […]
