Hill facilities are meant for parliamentary business, not parties: should foreign diplomats be allowed to use parliament buildings for hosting personal farewells? Nope
[Graph Not Transcribed] Should foreign diplomats be allowed to use the Parliament Buildings for hosting personal farewells and national day receptions? The Ottawa-based foreign diplomats are eyeing Canada’s most recognized and respected symbol, Parliament Hill, to host personal receptions. Such was the case recently when Italian Ambassador Roberto Nigido hosted a reception to bid farewell. […]
Eyebrow-raising pay-Day scheme too typical in federal politics
[Graph Not Transcribed] A law firm defending Alliance Leader Stockwell Day receives $474,000 for its services. Just before the case is settled and the bill is paid, the firm — or perhaps a senior partner at the firm — donates $70,000 to the party. In response to haranguing by reporters over the transaction, the Canadian […]
“Is it better to know Harvie Andre than to be Harvie Andre?” A smart minister will worry about optics of a partisan hanger-on associated with any controversial decision
[Graph Not Transcribed] Any day now a Parliamentary committee will be struck to conduct the statutory legislative review of the Lobbyists Registration Act. On this occasion, you can count on certain questions being asked by MPs or the media. So, as a public service — and because there’ll undoubtedly be so many questions and so […]
Don Boudria as PM’s lapdog
[Graph Not Transcribed] In the beginning there was… Parliamentary reform. It continues unabated, except “reform” has amounted less to making Parliament more responsive to democratic ideals and more bogged down in empty political rhetoric. As a result, Parliament has grown less democratic, not more, and the trend continues. Which brings us to the recent National […]
Royal Society’s biotech report a vindication of common sense [Royal Society of Canada Expert Panel on the Future of Food Biotechnology]
[Graph Not Transcribed] Last year in this space I noted that the “debate” around GM foods looked more like a schoolyard spat, and that the government was not engaging the public in any meaningful discussion of GM foods, especially problematic given the enormous taxpayer investment in this industry. I regret to say that since then […]
PMO fingered as source of cabinet leaks
A senior government insider is pointing the finger at the Prime Minister’s Office as a possible source of recent cabinet leaks, considered “one of the major breaches of cabinet confidentiality.” The source, who did not want to be identified, said Grit MPs and Liberal supporters believe the PMO, more than chatty Industry Minister Brian Tobin […]
We must harness power of biotechnology, use it responsibly
The biotechnology debate rages on in an environment strangely devoid of solid facts and arguments. The public debate is largely one-sided, with anti-biotech forces far better organized in the communication of their message that biotechnology is bad. Proponents of biotechnology have failed to effectively communicate an articulate message in defence of biotechnology. Part of the […]
Non-race for Quebec’s premier job a lonely, egotistical run to top
Lucien Bouchard is not gone yet but he’s been mostly invisible since he announced his intention to quit politics. Last week he joined the Prime Minister in China. The week before he was in Rome having a chat with the Pope. The week before that, he was in Spain to see where the rain mostly […]
Martinites punished over conference call: PMO got word of call between five Martin MPs days before the election [Committee assignments]
[Graph Not Transcribed] [Graph Not Transcribed] Paul Martin supporters strongly suspect prominent Martin MPs were punished for a conference call that took place before the election. Why else would one MP be dumped entirely from the House of Commons committees list and another put on the unpopular Joint Library of Parliament Committee, they say. Martinite […]
Clark knocks Alliance off track, again: industry minister Brian Tobin suspects Beaudoin is Joe Clark’s source
Joe Clark’s continuing assault on the Liberals in Question Period has Alliance strategists rethinking their frontbench and Industry Minister Brian Tobin questioning the Tory leader’s sources. Despite having far fewer questions in the House, Mr. Clark (Calgary Centre, Alta.) has made good use of his time and consistently scrums in the House foyer after every […]
