Afghanistan debate part II
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said last week in the House Chamber that Canadian troops will remain in Afghanistan for “years,” indicating that Canadians will be in Afghanistan even after the current commitment expires in 2007. So last week’s “take-note of Canada’s significant commitment in Afghanistan” debate wasn’t exactly compelling, but it’s important it happened. Moreover, […]
Symposium on leadership and Deputy Ministers, Mulroney to be honoured as ‘greenest PM,’ electoral reform conference this week
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19 Parliamentary Business Seminar-The Canadian Study of Parliament Group hosts this seminar featuring a panel discussion on legislation issues called, “Legislating: From Ideas to Acts.” 200 West Block, Parliament Hill. For more information, please call 613-943-1228. WXN Breakfast-Dr. Jacqueline Shan, co-founder of CV Technologies and co-discoverer of ColdFX; and Elyse Allan, president & […]
Harper’s Accountability Act darkens any movement forward on access to information
The Accountability Act, released last week, puts on two shades of Tory blue: one that colours-in stronger conflict of interest, election spending, and lobby registration accountability rules; and the other that draws in immediate secrecy measures, and darkens over any movement forward for a brand new access reform bill. The official reason for delaying a […]
Harper should do more to advance Pacific Gateway Strategy
In designating David Emerson, my former Liberal Cabinet colleague and fellow co-regional minister for British Columbia as minister for International Trade and the Pacific Gateway, Prime Minister Stephen Harper appeared to be recognizing the vital importance of Asia Pacific to Canada. However, there was no acknowledgement of this critical priority in the Speech from the […]
It’s called the new federal government for grown-ups, stupid
The social, political and economic upheavals of the last two decades, from globalization to 9-11, have left many liberals asking what socially progressive government should look like in the 21st century. Here’s a thought: the most progressive thing governments could do is treat citizens like grown-ups. Instead, government today acts more like an over-bearing parent […]
Harper’s newly-released federal Accountability Act a step in the right direction
And as long as the Tories can maintain an image of honesty and accountability, they will be half way to a majority The Conservatives have learned perhaps the most important lesson of modern Canadian politics. It is a lesson drawn from the last three instances where parties were tossed out of federal office. In each […]
Don’t discount Volpe in Grit leadership race: Wiseguys
Accountability POWERS: In what is supposed to be my real and full-time job, I am a lobbyist. See I can say it. Indeed it is not a deep dark confession and the job is generally one I enjoy. So far I have not been disowned by my family for this career choice. The public should […]
Some media mourn federal Liberals’ defeat, focus on Grit leadership
They say a human being pushed head-first from an airplane will achieve a constant speed of 300 km/hour-the point at which friction and gravity achieve near-perfect balance. What leadership campaign does this remind you of? Like a man without a parachute, Liberals have the exhilarating sensation of wind in their hair in a perfectly-balanced plunge […]
FAA ushers in sweeping new changes to doing politics
As well, the New Access to Information Act could cost $120-million more than it does today. Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s massive omnibus Federal Accountability Act promises to usher in bold and sweeping changes to campaign financing, lobbying and whistleblowing and to make federal deputy ministers more accountable to Parliament. Moreover, implementing a new Access to […]
Conservative Prime Minister Harper’s highly-touted federal Accountability Act a recipe for more broken rules
Rule One in the national capital is that rules are made to be broken. From the most stringent election statute to the most flaccid regulation, rules crack under the weight of self-interest and are then reshaped by the law of unintended consequences. A short stroll down memory lane is a reminder of how things work-or […]
