Missile defence needs Parliamentary debate: most Canadians don’t even know we’re in negotiations, only scraps of information
It may be only a matter of days before Canada joins George W. Bush’s controversial national missile defence system without any Parliamentary or public debate. A Cabinet decision could lock Canada into a deal with the Pentagon and accelerate our military and economic integration with the United States. [Graph Not Transcribed] [Graph Not Transcribed] Paul […]
MPs’ dilemma re-emerges: some tips and advice for MPs in this new Parliamentary era
“Parliament is not a congress of ambassadors from different and hostile interests; which interests each must maintain, as an agent and advocate, against other agents and advocates; but Parliament is a deliberative assembly of one nation, with one interest, that of the whole; where, not local purposes, not local prejudices ought to guide, but the […]
Now the hard part begins for Prime Minister Paul Martin, eh?: most important decision on Parliamentary reform is whether to proceed on multi-party basis
Let the drum roll begin. A brave new era is about to dawn in Ottawa. Parliament is going to become a player in the policy process. Parliamentarians are about to become somebodies. So says the new Prime Minister Paul Martin. [Graph Not Transcribed] Yeah right! Goes the chorus, led mainly by journalists. Ottawa is about […]
Liberal Party still has ‘in excess of $3-million’ debt just four months before expected general election: Eizenga
Newly-elected Liberal Party President Mike Eizenga says the federal party’s debt is “in excess of $3-million” which includes a “six-figure loss” with last month’s Liberal leadership convention in Toronto, but also adds that the party is well on its way to paying off its debt before the next election, expected to be called in the […]
Camp, the father of modern day political campaigns: author Geoffrey Stevens digs into fascinatingly delicious life of the late Dalton Camp
Dalton Camp may well have been the most influential unelected politician Canada has ever known. The closest thing to him may have been Keith Davey in Liberal ranks. But among the Tories, Camp had no equal. The Big Blue Mechanic they called him, the backroom genius, the man who invented the Quick Response Team, before […]
Canadians should retain some perspective on Arar: meanwhile, Mr. Martin has climbed on his high horse on building contracts in Iraq
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Three unlikely circumstances: Osama Bin Laden declares that he, not the United States, is the Great Satan; Saddam Hussein surrenders to Coalition forces and reveals the locations of his Weapons of Mass Destruction; and Maher Arar wins a juridical case against USG officials. Mr. Arar’s announcement that he would sue the United States (as […]
Will Canada join the global effort to fight HIV/AIDS?: government risks sabotaging its own initiative that it announced with much fanfare a few weeks ago
Will Canada undermine its own initiative on access to medicines for developing countries? Canada’s new Prime Minister has proclaimed his concern for developing countries and his intention to strengthen Canada’s role internationally. One of the first tests of his commitment will be whether he follows through on Canada’s initiative to get cheaper medicines to countries […]
Vulnerable MPs expected to be challenged in the next general election
– Jean Augustine (Etobicoke-Lakeshore, Ont.) – Bonnie Brown (Oakville, Ont.) – John Bryden (Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough, Ont.) – Sarmite Bulte (Parkdale-High Park, Ont.) – Charles Caccia (Davenport, Ont.) – Marlene Catterall (Ottawa West, Ont.) – David Collenette (Don Valley East, Ont.) – Sheila Copps (Hamilton West, Ont.) – Raymonde Folco (Laval West, Que.) – Hedy Fry (Vancouver […]
Improved ethics rules could avoid Air Martin mess: having friends in highplaces should mean more diligence in arranging private affairs
“Let’s be very clear about this.” In Martinese, we now know this phrase means “Let’s be as vague as possible about this.” [Graph Not Transcribed] The latest example: Martin’s response to the revelation that he has been accepting business and pleasure trips on private jets of his multi-millionaire corporate friends. “I have followed the rules […]
Reinstatement of bills after prorogation: a thirty year odyssey: electorate can distinguish between a prorogation and a perogie, but prorogation has lost its meaning
Parliament prorogued on Nov. 12, 2003 amid speculation over which bills will be reinstated in the new session. Practices relating to carrying over bills has evolved in the last three decades. With a new government ready to take over this is an opportune time to reflect on the evolution and see if we want to […]
