Rumsfeld says he ‘has nothing but respect’ for Canadian Forces: Hillier
The military relationship between Canada and the U.S. appears to be positively warm, according to Canada’s top soldier Chief of Defence Staff Rick Hillier. Despite the heated rhetoric across both sides of the Canada-U.S. border, the dispute over duties charged on Canadian softwood lumber is “not personal between the two countries,” says Canada’s Ambassador to […]
Gomery report to introduce new clouds on Liberal horizon
If the government plans to get to a spring election with its feet dry, it will have to weather the first Gomery downpour. Paul Martin, at an apparent loss over how to get his prime ministerial act together during his first year in power, has landed back on his feet since setting his sights on […]
‘The minister has an obligation to tell us who was disciplined and why, this is a scandal of national importance’: Williams [Sponsorship scandal]
Public Works Minister Scott Brison admitted last week that public servants have been disciplined in connection with the Sponsorship Scandal, but he’s not saying who, when or why. There needs to be assurances from the government that whistleblowers who came forward with information on the Sponsorship Scandal haven’t been punished, says Conservative MP John Williams, […]
This town is getting really weird
The waiting game… Everyone has his theory about how and when the next federal election will come about, but if it comes earlier than later – as in the next month – it seems pretty clear to me that Prime Minister Paul Martin will have to call it himself. My Conservative friends tell me they […]
Prime Minister’s Office and Press Gallery try to get along
Earlier this year, the Parliamentary Press Gallery executive made it a priority to improve relations with the Prime Minister’s Office because of a variety of problems, including the lack of notice when Prime Minister Paul Martin makes public appearances, granting year-end interviews only to TV news media and Prime Minister Martin’s unavailability during foreign trips, […]
The week ahead in Parliament
Both the House and the Senate are back after its week and two-week break and committees will be up and running The House will begin debate for the first time on the following bills: C-37 The Do Not Call Bill C-63 The Canada Elections Act and the Income Tax Act Review Bill C-64 Vehicle Identification […]
Dingwall affair highlights needs for changes to lobby law
The lobbying industry, accustomed to operating in secret, has always successfully resisted reforms. But without them, the next lobbying scandal is just a forensic audit away. David Dingwall might be wishing he had read up on the rules governing his former profession when he acted as a pharmaceutical lobbyist four years ago. For his work […]
The Spin Doctors: “What do you make of the recent Pollara poll that shows that the Conservatives are only six points behind the Liberals?”
Leslie Swartman Liberal Strategist “Not much, frankly. But don’t take my word for it, ask John Reynolds, who was quoted in The Vancouver Sun recently about a poll showing that the Liberals, at 46 per cent support in B.C., are killing the Conservatives, who have 29 per cent. He said, and I quote, ‘I don’t […]
Cleaner cars aren’t made enough, and aren’t made in Canada
Voluntary commitments just don’t work and if the industry says it can meet the Kyoto targets, we should get it in writing. Canadians know that driving vehicles that burn less gas is an important way to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, helping people save money and clean the air. Yet these cleaner cars aren’t made […]
Conservative MPs outworking Liberals on national automotive strategy, says Tory Auto Caucus Chair Carrie
Industry Minister David Emerson has been promising an auto strategy for more than one year. So the Conservatives decided to start working on their own. The impact of the automotive industry on the national economy is staggering.The sector contributes over $7.5-billion in total value-added GDP and no less than seven jobs are created for every […]
