Joe Clark should have known better: But because Clark is a former minister, he got away with his reductionist statement
[Graph Not Transcribed] [Graph Not Transcribed] [Graph Not Transcribed] If Joe Clark had been in Jean Chretien’s shoes last year, Canada would have joined the United States in Iraq. The former Tory leader started off in the anti-war camp but by the time the debate came to a head, he had changed his mind. Brian […]
Access czar Reid pleads bankruptcy: Access to Information Commissioner John Reid says he has no money to track new legislation, embarrassed
Information Commissioner John Reid, the federal government’s outspoken watchdog of the Access to Information Act, says his office is basically “bankrupt” at a time when the “culture of keeping records in the Government of Canada has broken down.” The former Liberal MP made the comments before the House’s Government Operations Committee recently while defending his […]
A look at what the smaller polling firms are up to: Liberal Chris Baker is plying his trade at Continuum Research
[Graph Not Transcribed] A public opinion pollster once expressed to me how much he loves his job, especially analysing the data. “It’s like opening presents on Christmas morning,” he said, eyes lighting up. “If you don’t get a charge out of this, then you are in the wrong business.” Most Canadians are familiar with the […]
Of fixed election dates
In the spirit of the “democratic deficit,” it’s time for fixed election dates in this country. What could be more democratic? The Libs last week said it would be totally revolutionary. Maybe. But it would also be more democratic. Why should it be up to one man essentially, the Prime Minister of Canada, – along […]
Democracy and Liberal’s nomination process: Prime Minister Paul Martin unfortunately appears the hypocrite
WASHINGTON, D.C.–One has to feel sorry for Prime Minister Paul Martin. Caught up in his promise to redress the “democratic deficit” by permitting greater liberties for individual MPs in voting and other Parliamentary activities, this commitment morphed into a demand for greater democracy in the nomination process for Liberal candidates in each riding. Under what […]
The energy labyrinth and Kyoto: Caccia: We need true cost of nuclear electricity to make informed choices about Canada’s power future
Blackouts, Kyoto, and the (predictable) Manley report have breathed new life into the nuclear option for generating power. Nuclear, it is claimed, is clean, competitive and hence an ideal solution to our energy dilemma. But is it really? Experience has proven its cost overruns are huge, its time delays unpredictable. As the Manley report itself […]
Martin voted ‘Most Valuable Politician in 2003’: MP survey: Stephen Harper considered second most valuable federal politician in 2003: Politics Poll
The results for The Hill Times’ Seventh Annual All Politics Poll are in and Prime Minister Paul Martin has emerged as the “Year’s Most Valuable Politician,” followed by Alliance Caucus Leader Stephen Harper who was voted as the second most valuable politician in 2003. Mr. Martin was deemed the best politician for successfully winning the […]
Paul Martin to extend Parliament’s long break, says Saada: ‘they’ve had ayear to prepare for this whole thing but they are obviously not ready’: John Reynolds
Prime Minister Paul Martin is expected to extend the long holiday MPs have enjoyed from their legislative duties with an announcement this week of a new date for Parliament’s return. MPs are supposed to return to the Hill a week from today on Jan. 12, the date set by former prime minister Jean Chretien after […]
A new deal for cities, or a box office flop?: a host of provincial and federal political figures too long to list jump on municipalities
VANCOUVER, B.C.–It seems as though politicians and pundits alike have latched onto the next big idea that will apparently change the face of Canada’s political landscape. It is nothing as cosmetic as the re-designation of electoral boundaries, nor is it as single-focused as granting overly ambitious back-bench MPs greater power in the House of Commons, […]
Canadian defence: the hypochondriac who called wolf: future of Canadian defence remains in limbo, sounds more like a death rattle to me
WASHINGTON, D.C.–As a former diplomatic specialist in politico-military affairs, two images come to mind when regarding Canadian defence: the story of the boy who called wolf; and the epitaph on the tombstone of the hypochondriac, “I told you I was sick.” [Graph Not Transcribed] [Graph Not Transcribed] [Graph Not Transcribed] For well over a decade, […]
