Quebec Liberals fret over possible spring election: MPs say going to polls while damaging Gomery Inquiry is underway would be political suicide
Echoing the Liberal Party’s Quebec lieutenant’s fears of a spring election, Quebec Liberals have lined up to speak against going to the polls while Justice John Gomery’s inquiry into the sponsorship scandal is ongoing and remains a day-time TV hit in the French-speaking province. “I would prefer that the election is not held during Gomery’s […]
Conservatives and Quebec [Conservatives urge Harper to broaden Quebec organization, March 28, 2005]
Regarding “Conservatives urge Harper to broaden Quebec organization,” (The Hill Times, March 28).You have identified the seminal issue that links the new CPC with the anti-Martin forces in Quebec (the general public and also the despised political establishment) the integration of Quebec in the Canadian Confederation as a semiautonomous “full-partner.” Such strategy allows full play […]
Government’s not so Compassionate Care program: Feds should go back to drawing board, plan needs redesign, greater public accountability
Federal planners significantly miscalculated the success they would achieve in developing an Employment Insurance benefits program aimed at giving family members time off to tend to a dying member. That’s, in part, because they imposed far too arbitrary restrictions and because they need greater accountability and transparency in developing such programs. The federal Compassionate Care […]
In politics, perception is reality: And for Martin Liberals, that reality, as it’s being shaped by Sponsorgate, is not good
QUEBEC CITY – Jean Lapierre, who went from being a talkative radio host to being a talkative federal minister, admitted recently that his party feels the pain of the “Sponsorgate Affair.” In one of the understatements of the year, Mr. Lapierre said that the Gomery Commission is not going to help the Martin Liberals in […]
Canadian leaders require intestinal fortitude
Some Canadian cattle producers are saying we should be nice to the American Administration if we are to expect them to open the border to our cattle exports. The argument used is that “We need Americans significantly more than they need us.” So we should disregard our sovereignty, applaud their illegal aggression in Iraq, and […]
Goodale, Cotler and Volpe most influential in Cabinet: survey: PM Martin, Conservatives Finley, MacKay, Poilievre, NDP Wasylycia-Leis, Stoffer: hard working [13TH ANNUAL BEST-DRESSED/POLITICALLY SAVVY SURVEY]
Sexiest Male MP (67 total responses) 1. Conservative MP Peter MacKay 2. Conservative MP Rahim Jaffer 3. Public Works Minister Scott Brison Sexiest Female MP (68) 1. Conservative MP Rona Ambrose 2. Conservative MP Belinda Stronach 3. Conservative MP Helena Guergis Best-Dressed Female MP (73) 1. Conservative MP Belinda Stronach 2. Heritage Minister Liza Frulla […]
Trudeau author peels open personal Pierre: Ask Nancy Southam why Trudeau’s still so interesting: ‘it has to do with his huge brain power’ [Pierre: Colleagues and Friends Talk About The Trudeau They Knew]
Nancy Southam, 48, is tall, lanky, intelligent, opinionated and likes her oysters. She also liked Pierre Trudeau. A lot. The author, journalist and longtime friend, neighbour and travelling companion of the late Pierre Trudeau, Canada’s former Liberal prime minister, edited the recently-released Pierre: Colleagues and Friends Talk About the Trudeau They Knew, a collection of […]
Democratic Audit co-sponsored by Canadian Study of Parliament Group, Centre for Canadian Studies at Mount Allison [Democracy under the microscope, March 14, 2005]
We were very pleased to see The Hill Times provide coverage about its recent “Democratic Audit” conference (“Democracy under the microscope,” March 14). We would, however, draw to your readers’ attention that this important conference was co-sponsored by the Canadian Study of Parliament Group as well as the Centre for Canadian Studies at Mount Allison […]
Recent government appointments
On March 30, International Trade Minister Jim Peterson appointed Robert A. Wright as President and Chief Executive Officer of Export Development Canada (EDC); reappointed Paul Gobeil as Chair of EDC’s Board of Directors; and appointed John McBride as President of the Canadian Commercial Corporation. On the same day, Prime Minister Paul Martin appointed Guy Giguere […]
Budget Bill showdown looms: Tories want to kill Kyoto amendment at committee, but will Liberal government allow opposition to split the bill?
Tory MP Monte Solberg says his party will try to kill or block the controversial Kyoto measures in the Liberal government’s omnibus budget bill when it gets to the House Finance Committee and that he would be “happy”if they never resurface in the House of Commons for a possibly election-triggering vote of confidence. “I’d be […]
