John Ralston Saul sets the table for lively appetizing political talk: Saul explores “essential” qualities of humanity, how they can be used for equilibrium to foster ethical society [On equilibrium]
When Prime Minister Jean Chretien asked the Queen to appoint Adrienne Clarkson Governor General, he did not tell Her Majesty that Madame Clarkson’s husband, the philosopher John Ralston Saul, should be put on the payroll to offset an enforced inability to make a living. Prime Minister Chretien probably never read any of John Ralston Saul’s […]
PM talks about Liberal party membership rule changes
Prime Minister Jean Chretien raised the controversial issue of Liberal Party memberships in last week’s cabinet meeting and urged cabinet ministers to change the rules, says a senior Liberal source. The Liberal told The Hill Times that Prime Minister Chretien (Saint-Maurice, Que.) raised the issue in cabinet and pointed at people and apparently openly said, […]
Indian Affairs hoisted to top: Will Prime Minister Jean Chr&ea;tien get his legacy?
It’s been more than 33 years since Prime Minister Jean Chretien was first appointed minister of Indian Affairs, but as the third term PM begins to ponder his political legacy, it’s a well-known fact that he considers the state of First Nations in Canada to be one of his greatest failures. Following the last election, […]
A clean shave for new Foreign Affairs Minister Graham: I suspect we have a Lloyd Axworthy with a stiletto rather than a broadsword in Bill Graham
There is a famous drawing of Richard Nixon by the iconic cartoonist Herblock immediately after his 1968 election as president. Herblock, who roundly despised Nixon and relentlessly portrayed him with a sinister five-o’clock shadow, depicted a shaving mug with the offer of a “clean shave” for the new president upon his inauguration. A similar thought […]
Opposition MPs see ‘immense opportunity’: MPs eager to get back, promise to drive agenda
As Parliament’s tunnel-vision focus on anti-terrorism issues begins to broaden in this winter session, the possibility of raising new issues has opposition MPs chomping at the bit and the government dusting off its Speech From the Throne. For most of last fall, the media focused primarily on Bill C-36, the Anti-terror Bill, allowing former government […]
Historic lack of trust keeps wheels of aboriginal policy spinning: even now, the AFN has objected to Minister Nault’s movement toward a new governance and accountability
In recent months, Indian Affairs Minister Robert Nault has increased the level of debate about our current aboriginal affairs system through his pledge to reform the outdated Indian Act. Nault’s governance initiative has rankled many throughout the aboriginal community, most notably (and publicly) Matthew Coon Come and the Chiefs of the Assembly of First Nations. […]
Klander says Tobinites likely to gravitate to John Manley’s camp
But Deputy PM John Manley lacks any sort of campaign structure whatsoever and hasn’t started courting Senior supporters of Brian Tobin’s leadership aspirations were shocked to learn that their candidate was retiring from federal politics last Monday, effective immediately. By Tuesday, they already found themselves receiving exploratory phone calls from organizers for Finance Minister Paul […]
PM Chretien makes some wily moves on foreign affairs front
Last week’s cabinet shuffle and the appointment of Bill Graham as foreign affairs minister puts Canadian foreign policy on an even keel. Graham, the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, is likely to bring a balanced approach and evenhandedness to Canadian foreign-policy-making, compared to his two immediate predecessors, Lloyd Axworthy and John Manley. As well, the […]
Profound, moral decay of U.S.
The giant energy corporation, Enron, is now bankrupt, many of its shareholders have lost their life savings and the political community is in a frenzy of buck-passing and a feverish hunt for scapegoats. The fall of Enron, friend and spoiled child of the Bush administration, its principal donor and maximum financial supporter, has been described […]
Media hyped Gagliano story
Former Public Works Minister Alfonso Gagliano deserved something in the wake of the giant flap over his patronage performance. Stockwell Day may have a point in arguing that it’s unfair to the Vikings to send him to Denmark, but Prime Minister Jean Chretien says it had nothing to do with the controversy. Chretien, fresh from […]
