Thirty years ago federal public servants were respected, today they rank below pollsters, and even journalists
The upper levels of the federal public service need to be depoliticized because politics is hurting morale in the government and damaging Canadian confidence in public servants, generally, says Allan Cutler the original whistleblower on the Public Works and Government Services Sponsorship Scandal. “It’s really about what the political masters want now rather than what […]
PCO and Justice overworked: can’t meet ATI response times
PCO, Justice, Foreign Affairs, International Trade all received an ‘F’ on complying with access to information responses. They deny any political interference. The Privy Council Office, the Department of Justice, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Department of International Trade, which all received an ‘F’ or a “Red alert,” from Canada’s Access to Information […]
Is there a future for public service broadcasting in this country?
At the very least, we are long overdue for a serious discussion of what Canadian public service television ought to look like in the 21st century. Well, that’s over. After seven bleak, Peter Mansbridge-less weeks, the CBC and its employees have settled their dispute, and life at the Mother Corp’s downtown Toronto bunker can return […]
Dingwall goes to Parliament Hill
Dave Dingwall blew into Centre Block on Parliament Hill last Wednesday, escorted by his lawyer, and quickly proceeded to throw a few verbal bombs at members of the Government Operations Committee, at opposition MPs, at government backbenchers and, oh, at the Paul Martin government, in general. The star chamber committee hearing was immediately dubbed one […]
Germain tries out the funny guy schtick
Stand-up guy…The Parliamentary Press Gallery owes Anthony Germain one. When it booked the Museum of Civilization in Hull, sorry, Gatineau, on Oct. 22 for the annual Parliamentary Press Gallery Dinner, it forgot to check if its emcee for the past 10 years was available. As it turned out, Dan Dugas,Broadcast News reporter and comical Impersonator, […]
Governing Liberal lobbying scandal is 11 years old: And all this reveals is how the glacially slow-changing and still fatally flawed government accountability system is actually the real scandal
Canadians will finally get the honest, ethical, open, representative and waste-preventing federal government they need, and deserve, if the government does three things. Many federal government observers are claiming that the recent scandals involving questions about Liberal government-connected lobbyists David Dingwall, Richard Mahoney, John Duffy and others have revealed cracks in the federal lobbying regulation […]
Canada must improve its OECD ranking on a broad range of environmental indicators, says Grit backbencher
Canada is often touted as an economic leader among OECD countries. Northern tiger is one term that has been used to characterize Canada and its economy. Given Canada’s recent strong economic performance, especially in comparison to previous decades, this may be a fair description.The list of Canada’s economic achievements includes a steep reduction in debt, […]
A look at one newspaper’s scoop on upcoming Gomery Report
The Star said Gomery’s report will show ‘the Quebec sponsorship scheme was a narrowly-held secret with broadly dangerous implications for government integrity’ ain’t news. Tell us something we didn’t know already. “G (superscript omery targets Chre) tien team,”was The Toronto Star headline in a story last week. Wow, that was a scoop! And there was […]
PARLIAMENTARY CALENDAR: U.S. Secretary of State Rice in Ottawa Oct. 24
MONDAY, OCT. 24 U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visits Canada – Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice from Oct. 24-25 in Ottawa to discuss a wide range of bilateral, hemispheric and global issues in which Canada and the U.S. share common interests. Ms. Rice will also […]
Martin’s Liberals, like Chretien’s Liberals, chronically suffer from EES: Excessive Entitlement Syndrome
How lucky is Paul Martin? Lucky enough to escape blame for the Quebec sponsorship scandal – but not lucky enough to safely distance himself from a Liberal brand reeking of polluted ethics. How lucky is Paul Martin? Lucky enough to escape blame for the Quebec sponsorship scandal – but not lucky enough to safely distance […]
