The pathetic state of Canada’s Access to Information Act [15 years old on July 1]
Canada’s Access to Information Act turned 15 years old on July 1, but it’s acting like a battered 15-year-old delinquent, slamming doors closed, perpetually late, and willing to disappear altogether out the back door. The act has been through the wringer of several unenthusiastic governments, including two information commissioners who had different styles of taking […]
Political parties rake in the cash [1997 data]
Power may be the ultimate aphrodisiac but it’s also very good for the bank account as the governing Liberals found out last year, racking up $17.5-million for their 1997 warchest when they won their second majority in the House of Commons. That’s about $2.8-million more than they gathered to fight the 1993 election which brought […]
Strategists quietly plan Atlantic Canada visit for Manning
Reform Party Leader Preston Manning will tour the East Coast this fall. A Reform Party worker in Nova Scotia, who asked not to be identified, confirmed Mr. Manning’s upcoming trip, but strategists in Ottawa are keeping the party leader’s fall visit hush-hush. Said Jim Armour, Mr. Manning’s director of communications: “There’s nothing on the books […]
NDP MP calls for secretive Commons board to open up [John Solomon]
Secrecy still reigns on Parliament Hill, but an NDP MP wants to open up the secretive and powerful board that runs the House and has introduced a private member’s bill calling for its meetings to be public. NDP MP John Solomon (Regina-Lumsden-Lake Centre, Sask.), a second term MP, says it’s time for the Commons Board […]
House says it’s prepared for Year 2000
From preparing software upgrade packages to providing onsite notebook testing facilities, House of Commons information technology specialists are working overtime in a bid to ensure that the business of Parliament keeps on rolling when the clocks roll over at midnight on Jan. 1, 2000. As public and private sector organizations race to avoid the anticipated […]
What’s wrong with the PQ these days?
A lot of things are just not going right for the Parti Qu b cois these days. The Parliamentary session, which recessed just a few days before the national holiday of Quebec, showed there are many problems within the PQ ranks. The biggest headache remains health-care reform and its author, the minister of health, Jean […]
Tory leadership race needs some excitement
“It’s official: Joe Why becomes Joe Yes.” That cryptogram is from the front page of my morning paper, by way of signalling Joe Clark’s formal entry into the contest for the leadership of the federal Progressive Conservative party. The message confirms the puzzlement of journalists as to Clark’s motives. Why would a guy like Joe […]
[Liberal Caucus Research Bureau loses communications assistant to the international arena of youth politics]
The Liberal Caucus Research Bureau has lost a communications assistant to the international arena of liberal youth politics. Janice Nicholson left the bureau last week and will be heading to Brussels on July 17 to take on the position of executive director with the International Federation of Liberal and Radical Youth, an umbrella organization of […]
Newly elected Liberal MP Sekora starts hiring staffers [Sophia Betegh hired as legislative assistant]
Brand, spanking new Liberal MP Lou Sekora is in the process of getting his office set up with the help of his legislative assistant, Sophia Betegh. Mr. Sekora swept up the vote in the federal byelection held in Port Moody-Coquitlam, B.C., on March 30, upsetting the Reformers and delightfully surprising the governing Liberals. Mr. Sekora, […]
So long Johnnie, access commish exits
Canada’s access guru steps down and privacy commissioner gets two-year extension last week Canada’s outgoing access to information commissioner of Canada, who will finally step down this week after more than seven years in the post, but his counterpart is staying behind. After two extensions, John Grace’s term as information commissioner of Canada expires on […]
