Newspapers holding own
TORONTO–No doubt reporters at the Montreal Gazette are pleased with themselves these days after a Quebec labour tribunal ruled that they had the right to remove their bylines from stories. The flap, you’ll recall, came when CanWest Global announced it was planning to run weekly editorials written from the company headquarters in Winnipeg, and the […]
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 […]
PM could be gone by month’s end: Jean Chretien also talks about Liberal fortunes because of Quebec separatists at caucus
TORONTO–“Madame has had enough. Mr. Chretien will be out by the end of November,” a source told The Hill Times last week. “Madame” is, of course, Aline Chretien, the Prime Minister’s wife and probably the most influential person in this country after, of course, the Prime Minister himself. “He has understood that the dynamics have […]
Government must create climate of transparency
It is ironic that we can live in an age where information is so freely available, and still resort to ill-informed emotional responses to scientific developments. In the case of biotechnology and food, the emotions are understandable. After all, this is what we’re going to feed our children; grown in soil that we must preserve […]
