More scuttlebutt on the Prime Minister’s press office
PMO scuttlebutt… Events kind of overtook us last week, and I’m afraid I don’t have the full scoop that I promised to dig up last week on Marianne Goodwin’s departure as press secretary. The gossip is still that Ms. Goodwin and Communications Director Francie Ducros were just too strong-willed to hit it off and grated […]
Shuffle aftershock: political staffers shuffle too
With big changes come uncertainties. That was especially true last week for many Hill staffers working in ministers’ offices affected by last week’s massive cabinet shuffle, and many of them weren’t sure if they were coming or going after Prime Minister Jean Chretien demoted, promoted and sent cabinet ministers to the back benches last week. […]
Only ‘enforcement’ will ensure our borders are safe
“The New Reality” is now a frequently used phrase to describe how Canadians view our national security and their personal safety in the aftermath of Sept. 11th. However, the reality hasn’t changed. Rather, it’s our awareness of our vulnerability to such horrific tragedy that’s new. The “reality” is, and has always been, that there’s no […]
Manley saddled with ‘bureaucratic’ work, job of senior bureaucrat
In becoming the most powerful Deputy Prime Minister since the days of Don Mazankowski’s reign under Brian Mulroney, it seems as though John Manley has emerged from last week’s major cabinet shuffle as the big winner. But without direct control over a specific department and with so many new responsibilities to tend to, the 52-year-old […]
Chretien doesn’t exactly come off as a five-star freedom fighter [Bill C-36 and Bill C-42]
The Chretien years may well be associated with a time which future historians will come to see as the beginning of an era in which certain forms of formerly acceptable dissent came to be increasingly criminalized, and Canada launched itself on the path to the national security state. There will be much irony in this. […]
House appeals human rights ruling, argues Parliamentary privilege
The House of Commons is appealing a precedent-setting Federal Court ruling that would force Parliament to comply with the Human Rights Act. In a notice of appeal filed Jan. 2, the House of Commons and former House Speaker Gib Parent argue that Justice Daniele Tremblay-Lamer’s Dec. 4, 2001 ruling erred in interpreting the Supreme Court’s […]
Canada’s accelerating work on National Critical Infrastructure
When people think of the role of the Department of National Defence in the fight against terrorism, most of them picture a more traditional military response, that is to say tanks, ships, planes and the men and women in uniform. Defence’s contribution, however, includes civil emergency preparedness — preparing for, and responding to, emergency situations […]
And Rock leadership strategists reach out to Tobin campaign
Former industry minister Brian Tobin’s astonishing and abrupt decision to pack his political bags last Monday left his campaign workers in a lurch, but the good news for Tobinites is that they’re in demand by other underground leadership campaign contenders to replace the current Prime Minister Jean Chretien. It also helps that Mr. Tobin worked […]
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 […]
