A minister, a bureaucrat and a lobbyist walk into a bar…
Who says Conservatives don’t have a sense of humour? This Wednesday, the Edmonton Centre riding association hosts an evening of “dinner and humour”with Treasury Board President John Baird (Ottawa West-Nepean, Ont.) and political humourist Todd Butler. Tickets cost $150 per person for dinner, plus an additional $100 to attend a special VIP cocktail reception with […]
May’s strategy is to win Canadians’ attention with presence on the Hill
The Green Party of Canada’s strategy to win seats in the House will be to break down a “psychological barrier” in the minds of Canadians that has been built up by the party’s lack of a presence on the Hill, says the party’s new leader, Elizabeth May. “I think the only real barrier to electing […]
Will the Tory government say goodbye to Status of Women?
Liberal MP Maria Minna (Beaches-East York, Ont.) wants to know where the Conservative government stands on the Status of Women, after REAL Women of Canada called for its dismantling. “The Conservative grassroots community is actively campaigning for the demise of this important agency which promotes the rights of women in Canada,” Ms. Minna said in […]
Senate to amend PM’s proposal for single ethics officer: Senator
The Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs committee studying the Federal Accountability Act is likely to make an amendment to scrap the bill’s proposal for a single conflict of interest and ethics commissioner for both houses of Parliament, maintaining a separate officer for the Senate, says a Liberal senator. “Constitutionally, we have our own privileges and […]
Tories file legal action to stop acclamation of Alberta MP Anders
A group of 11 Calgary West, Alta., Tories have filed a lawsuit to block the acclamation of Conservative MP Rob Anders as the official candidate in the riding, the Edmonton Sun reported last week. Mr. Anders, a four term Tory MP was acclaimed as the official candidate after the Tory Party headquarters rejected Walter Wakula, […]
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE FIGHT
The traditional marriage lobby intends to launch a “15-point lobbying campaign” this month costing “tens of thousands of dollars.” They will lobby MPs of all parties on the divisive issue of same-sex marriage, encouraging a vote to reopen the debate. “We will launch a campaign this fall. The campaign will kick into gear on Sept. […]
Canadians would rather have clean air than more puffers: Bennett
Carolyn Bennett was a backbencher under the Jean Chrétien government, and throughout her campaign for leadership of the Liberal party, she has presented herself as a seasoned, life-long Liberal without the baggage of a previous government tarnished by the image of scandal and waste. But it is a message the media has mostly ignored. Ms. […]
Former supporter challenges Benoit’s riding nomination
Five-term Conservative MP Leon Benoit is facing a serious nomination challenge from a former supporter, and Tory insiders are predicting this to be a nail biter with a “strong possibility” that the veteran incumbent MP could “very well lose the nomination battle.” Mr. Benoit (VegrevilleWainwright, Alta.), who is chair of the Commons Standing Committee on […]
An update on Liberal leadership candidates and some of their supporters
Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett: Ont. Attorney General Michael Bryant Ont. MPP Mary Anne Chambers Ian Delaney Judy Erola Sheila Fmestone Former Ont. Lib leader Lyn McLeod Ont. Lib MPP Richard Patten Former Lib Sen. Landon Pearson Beth Webster Liberal MP Scott Brison: Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett: Ont. Attorney General Michael Bryant Ont. MPP Mary Anne […]
HEARD ON THE HILL
Prime Ministerial access barricades: To storm together or not to storm? The Press gallery executive moved swiftly in reaction to last week’s revelation that CanWest had decided to break off from the media pack and go onto the Prime Minister’s list. By Wednesday morning, an announcement went out to the full gallery membership, inviting all […]
