Political community dismayed by collapse of family values [Super Bowl and Survivor programs]
American cultural hegemony was on display, through the usual channels, last weekend. The Super Bowl, a bowl to end all bowls, was the centrepiece, bedecked with gladiators, offerings to heroic generals, with singers and dancers galore, providing not only a half-time show but a pre-game show, a rendering of the hymn America The Beautiful, made […]
House Speaker Milliken’s stamp? R-E-S-P-E-C-T for the House
As widely predicted, it was a long day. And when the dust finally settled, the House’s 301 MPs chose Liberal MP Peter Milliken, the 55-year-old lawyer from Kingston and the Islands, Ont., to be their Speaker. With most of his challengers promising to turn the Speaker into an advocate for House reform, Mr. Milliken was […]
Bill giving provincial powers to Yukon expected this summer: government house leader Don Boudria announces 21 bills to be tabled in new 37th House of Commons
Yukon Liberal Premier Pat Duncan says she’s hoping a new Yukon Act, which would make the Yukon Territory a province in “everything but the name,” will be tabled in the House in June. The sweeping bill has been in the works for a number of years and is now in final stages of negotiation. The […]
Ottawa-Quebec relations under Landry will be brow-raising
[Graph Not Transcribed] Lucien Bouchard will, in all likelihood, cease to be the premier of the distinct society the week of March 4th. He will then become a sovereigntist hasbeen. Bernard Landry will take his place and we can only wonder if Quebec-Canada relations will ever be the same. Afterall, Mr. Landry will become the […]
Martinites still plotting and scheming
While most supporters of Paul Martin are convinced the Prime Minister will signal his intention to resign before the Liberal party’s next biennial convention, expected some time before 2003, some senior Martinites warn that the governing Grits would face an ugly and divisive battle if the Prime Minister does not step down. One Martin organizer […]
Russian diplomats shouldn’t tarnish image of diplomatic community
Foreign Affairs Minister John Manley hopes the Russian diplomat accused of dunkenly running down an Ottawa woman with his car will “go to a cold place for as long as possible.” But, beyond hoping this will happen, there is not much Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister can do because diplomats are protected by “diplomatic immunity.” The […]
Reader warning: this column is about, in part, gulp!, religion
So, once upon a time, there used to be three things you didn’t discuss in polite company. Can you recall what they were?. (We’re playing a little game of intergenerational Trivial Pursuit here. If you can cite all three, then you’re definitely, uh — well, you’re definitely over 40 and probably pushing 50.) First, of […]
Canadian literati spin Twisted story and media swallow it up
The Globe and Mail headline said it all: “CanLit lions defend boy writer.” Lions, indeed. It seems that nothing, particularly pursuing the facts, could deter our heroes from the hot pursuit of their own self-interest, even if it meant shamelessly exploiting a troubled 16-year-old schoolboy to do it. The subject, of course, is the recent […]
Talkative Brian Tobin frustrates, helps PMO: minister Brian Tobin wasn’t supposed to comment on Bouchard’s resignation
Industry Minister Brian Tobin, who is rumoured to be interested in running for the Liberal leadership, upset many people and frustrated the Prime Minister when he publicly commented on Quebec Premier Lucien Bouchard’s resignation last month, The Hill Times has learned. It’s all part of the spirited, ongoing and underground campaign for the top job […]
Harris could lose two of his ministers
Ontario Premier Mike Harris, whom some would like to see as the next leader of the Canadian Alliance, could lose two of his cabinet ministers this week. Sources told The Hill Times that Al Palladini, minister of Economic Development and Trade, will step down Monday and there are also rumours that Ernie Eves, the provincial […]
