Even Alliance MP Moore lines up for a pic with outgoing Prime Minister Jean Chretien
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… As if it isn’t bad enough having advertising media and stores bombarding us with Christmas messages before the trick-or-treat loot has even been counted, now our politicians are at it. Who can blame the Canadian Legion for being upset that the Parliamentary Christmas trees were up last […]
Mahoney girds for Ottawa-Centre nomination: ‘everybody is waiting to see what Ed Broadbent does’
Liberal Party members will be duking it out at a nomination meeting next month for the highly-coveted riding of Ottawa Centre, Ont., left vacant by former Grit MP Mac Harb when he was summoned to the Senate recently. Two Liberals are vying for the nomination to be held on Dec. 1 with Nov. 24 as […]
Can Paul Martin make government-service rewarding and exciting again? I think so
As Prime Minister, Paul Martin will face many challenges. Few of them will be as difficult — yet perhaps none will have longer-term consequences — as that of changing the attitudes of Canadians about government, politics, public administration and the citizen’s role in the nation’s business. We needn’t waste much time here regurgitating theories and […]
I’m with Orchard on this
It’s become impossible to trust Canadian politicians. Before leaving for two weeks holiday in Britain I composed a column that explained why a union of the Conservatives and Alliance was in the interest neither of the nation nor of the two parties. My argument was that after being slaughtered by Paul Martin in the next […]
MP O’Brien, wife and dog, escape death in car crash
O Lucky Dog – and owners… A five-pound poodle called Jake and his owners, Labrador MP Lawrence O’Brien and his wife Alice, have an exceptionally good reason to be grateful during the Thanksgiving break — they escaped from a harrowing brush with death. They were driving back from Goose Bay-Happy Valley to Ottawa on Oct. […]
FTAA should reflect citizens’ concerns: but Canadian government appears not to be listening to new voices, in lock step with United States
In mid-November, trade ministers from 34 countries in the Americas will meet in Miami to attempt to negotiate a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) agreement. The FTAA would extend the trade and investment provisions of the existing North American Free Trade Agreement to all of the Americas. With the recent collapse of the […]
Democratic deficit: a West Coast perspective: B.C. Citizen’s Assembly on Electoral Reform may impact political thinking in Canada
The year 2004 will undoubtedly see a national election in Canada, an event that is likely in a year or less. Over the past few years there has been a growing national debate on the issue of the “democratic deficit.” This is a concept of many facets, but, in simple terms, means that, on the […]
Biosciences will help shape our future: Minister Pagtakhan: Canada positioned to play leadership in coming biotech revolution
The United Nations is projecting that the global population will reach 8.9 billion by 2050, up from 6.3 billion today. When we consider the societal challenges we face now, the global demographic pressures, and, more recently, the threat of bioterrorism, there is cause for concern. How will our world feed so many people, care for […]
Ethics bill bogged down in Senate: if enforcement body is created without any rules to oversee, entire process will be a farce
Jean Chretien’s government ethics plan is on the rails, as unelected Senators hope they can stall their way out of passing meaningful and enforceable conflict-of-interest standards for themselves. The Prime Minister’s proposal contains two parts. First, Bill C-34 would create independent ethics watchdogs for all Parliamentarians, replacing the Prime Minister-appointed ethics lapdog Howard Wilson, who […]
House considered to be ‘Grand Inquest of the Nation’: Maingot looks at upcoming appeal to Supreme Court on former House Speaker’s chauffeur
Are the courts empowered to interfere with the historic constitutional privilege of the House of Commons to control and minister its internal affairs when the House of Commons denies that an employee, the Speaker’s chauffeur, may have access to a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal? This question concerning the tension in modern employment relationships between public […]
