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 […]
Health Minister Clement hires a new communications adviser
Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn hires Roxanne Marchand as his press secretary Federal Health Minister Tony Clement has hired a new communications adviser for his ministerial political office in Ottawa. Tina Arvanitis, 25, started her new job as communications adviser to Mr. Clement recently. Minister Clement’s communications office is led by director of communications Robin Walsh, […]
Liberals get to chair five House committees in 39th Parliament
The Liberals will chair the House Standing Committee on the Status of Women for the first time and four other committees usually chaired by opposition members. There will also be four new House of Commons committees in the 39th Parliament. Chief Government Whip Jay Hill (Prince George-Peace River, B. C.) said the Conservatives decided to […]
Would-be reformers of the Westminster model yearn for a legislature that provides effective scrutiny on actions and decisions of Cabinet
“You can’t always get what you want But if you try sometimes, you just might find You get what you need. (a.k.a. The Reformer’s Theme Song) In my last column, I suggested that New Zealand might have blazed a trail for any would-be political reformers in this country. On the surface, at least, it seemed […]
Tories to create a citizen’s assembly on proportional representation
After the Conservative Speech from the Throne promised to look at electoral reform, NDP leader Jack Layton (Toronto-Danforth, Ont.) said he hopes to see special consultations on proportional representation up and running very quickly. “This House of Commons could have before it, by the end of the year, a recommended system of proportional representation,” Mr. […]
Veteran Sun Media columnist Doug Fisher recently said House Speaker Peter Milliken has been ‘completely ineffective at controlling the daily oral Question Period.’ Do you agree?
Mike Storeshaw Conservative Strategist “Mr. Fisher has probably employed a bit of exaggeration to make his point. I think everyone in the little village we call Parliament Hill was pleased to see Peter Milliken re-elected as Speaker of the House. His humour, charm, and nearly unmatched knowledge of procedure make him a great fit for […]
Political parties receive first quarter allowances
The Liberal Party received $2,282,186.93 last week in first quarter allowances from Elections Canada for Jan. 1 to March 31. The allowance is part of the $1.75 per vote that parties receive if they got more than two per cent of all valid votes or at least five per cent of the votes in the […]
Conservatives won’t say who will be the next public sector integrity commissioner
A former civil servant who was praised in Justice John Gomery’s first report on the sponsorship scandal for denouncing and refusing to sign murky government contracts with advertising companies could receive the position of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner, but critics say he’s potentially too close to the situation. Allan Cutler, who also ran unsuccessfully […]
Lights, camera, controversy!
As the ongoing skirmish between the Prime Minister Stephen Harper and media continues to make life difficult for reporters on the Hill, the press gallery is wrestling with its own policies on access-specifically, the practice of giving out “day passes” to reporters who don’t normally cover the Hill. Although mostly provided for the convenience of […]
