The dimmest bulb in Canadian political history is about to move to Stornaway
Knowing all too well of the intellectual precocity of newspaper board members and publishers, and observing their devotion and touching admiration for Reform Alliance Leader Stockwell Day, I have set out to search for explanation. These people did, after all, contest the qualifications of Pierre Trudeau for high office (some thought him too bright by […]
Laughing all the way to the bunker
The surprising interest shown by the now just re-elected premier of Quebec for getting an agreement with Ottawa on the social union, came up during the last campaign. At the time, it helped deflate some of Jean Charest’s criticisms against the separatist leader. In fact, it caught the Liberals with their pants down. We already […]
Atlantic Tory MPs vow to keep up pressure on Doug Young: Reformer says weakness may not be in former federal transport minister’s conduct but in “loosey-goosey” rules
Three Atlantic Tory MPs are still crying foul on government backbench MP Bob Nault, who they accused of intimidation last week, and they say they vow to keep up their attacks when the House resumes sitting in February. Tory Transport critic Bill Casey (Cumberland Colchester, N.S.) claims that Mr. Nault (Kenora-Rainy River, Ont.) is trying […]
NDP staffers want more asbestos tests [Wellington Building]
An NDP staffer who discovered asbestos-traced dust in his office nearly a month ago says the Department of Public Works has “reneged” on a promise to have an independent inspector assess the safety of working in the Wellington Building. Laurie Gourlay and 22 other NDP staffers from the second floor of the Wellington Building refused […]
Cabinet to table sweeping election bill: House leader Don Boudria to release bill in February, to touch on big issues
Government House Leader Don Boudria plans to introduce an sweeping electoral reform bill in February which could set spending limits on third parties and give a multi-million-dollar windfall to political parties. Mr. Boudria (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, Ont.) said the bill will deal with Supreme Court cases dealing with third-party advertising and media blackouts on public opinion polls, […]
Sad House mourns Shaughnessy: “Impossible combination of vigorous partisanship and of open-minded friendship”
Liberal MP Shaughnessy Cohen was, in her own words, “no blushing flower.” She came proudly from that Scots Irish tradition of strong, tough, unstoppable women. Unstoppable, that is, until last Wednesday when fate touched her and broke all our hearts. She was born Elizabeth Shaughnessy Murray nearly 51 years ago in Southern Ontario, a part […]
Quebec Liberal MPs urge govenment to be prepared for next referendum [Cabinet retreat]
Politics took a backseat to tragedy last week when Liberal MP Shaughnessy Cohen collapsed in the House and later died in hospital of a massive brain hemorrhage, shocking the 301 MPs and cabinet ministers. But while the House is adjourned, the federal cabinet will return to work today with a two-day cabinet retreat at the […]
Cohen and Gallaway schtick
On her last day, Ontario Liberal MP Shaughnessy Cohen was lobbying for her constituents — this time it was for the distillers in her riding. On Wednesday, the Windsor MP went from southwestern Ontario caucus to Ontario caucus then on to women’s caucus pushing to have the term “Canadian” protected as a trade mark on […]
Back off Speaker
Here’s my theory: it’s the long, flowing robes. Over the years your correspondent has noted that otherwise nondescript people become remarkably self-important the moment they get to don robes. They immediately think they’re in charge of everything. How else to explain the sheer idiocy of Commons Speaker Gilbert Parent’s ridiculous outburst against the media two […]
Government grapples with new technologies [Conference on how policy drives technology]
A hundred government shamen gathered to confab about how policy drives technology at a conference held last week in the old train station across the street, better known as the Conference Centre, from the Ch teau Laurier. While construction workers jack-hammered the road outside, the brain trust inside massaged two days worth of ideas and […]
