The whistleblowing behind George Radwanski’s undoing
The MP who ignited the sensational and unprecedented probe that may cost George Radwanski his job as Canada’s Privacy Commissioner says that most, if not all, of the damning evidence that has stacked up against the commissioner over the past two months would not have seen the light of day without the help of whistleblowers. […]
Democratic freedoms on trial: NCC: against restricting free speech
If there was a law saying that you needed a bureaucrat’s permission to express a political opinion, you would probably be upset. In fact, you would probably say such a law infringed on your right to free expression. Well, believe it or not, such a law does exist and an Ontario judge recently ruled that […]
Governor General’s party in the garden on June 27
Secretary-General of La Francophonie visits Canada this week until June 26 MONDAY, JUNE 23 House Sitting–The House has adjourned for the summer for a 12-week break and is scheduled to return on Monday, Sept. 15. For more information on the House’s schedule, please contact the Government House Leader’s Office at (613) 952-4930. Senate Sitting — […]
Media’s due diligence?
Recently, The Toronto Star ran a picture of veteran anti-smoking zealot Garfield Mahood on page B4 proclaiming the news that he and two others had received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medals for their work against smoking. Mahood, 62, has been executive director of the non-profit — but hearty recipient of taxpayers’ cash — Non-Smoker’s Rights […]
Cullen’s private member’s bill making government departments more accountable takes major step forward
A private member’s bill giving MPs a vote over the way federal departments create and adjust $4-billion in yearly userfees took a major step forward just before the House broke for the summer, even though the government doesn’t support it. The bill belongs to Liberal MP Roy Cullen, who represents Etobicoke North, Ont. His bill […]
Ethics rules for MPs and Senators: seventh time lucky?
As Parliament rises for barbecue season, the fate of Prime Minister Jean Chretien’s promised code of conduct for MPs and Senators is uncertain. Those following the ethics code debate will find all of this somewhat familiar. This is Parliament’s seventh — yes, seventh — attempt at passing such a code. Given the code’s tendency to […]
Copps hires three new staffers in ministerial office: And Steve Grunau joins Alberta Independent Sen. Roche’s office
Federal Heritage Minister Sheila Copps beefed up her ministerial political office recently when she hired three new assistants. The ministerial political staff is headed by executive assistant Charles Boyer who was a former PMO flack before he joined Ms. Copps’ office in 2001. Minister Copps recently hired Ian Capstick, who is responsible for aboriginal and […]
A tale of two countries, Cuba and Myanmar
Cuba and Myanmar (formerly Burma) are two countries, oceans apart, on different continents, and Canada follows two divergent policies towards them. It is “constructive engagement” with Cuba, but isolation of Myanmar. Yet both these policies have had little impact on the leadership of the respective countries. President Fidel Castro has ruled Cuba since the revolution […]
C-24 won’t be complete without C-34
Chief Electoral Officer Jean-Pierre Kingsley returned to Parliament last week to remind Senators that Prime Minister Jean Chretien’s Political Finance Bill leaves open a major loophole allowing donors to make secret donations to political trust funds. The Senators on the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee heard that Bill C-24, officially known as an Act to […]
MPs’ and Senators’ Birthdays
*Treasury Board President Lucienne Robillard, 58, June 16, 1945 *Ind. Sen. P. Michael Pitfield, 66, June 18, 1937 *Liberal Sen. Rose-Marie Losier-Cool, 66, June 18, 1937 *PC Sen. John Lynch-Staunton, 73, June 19, 1930 *NDP MP Bill Blaikie, 52, June 19, 1951 *Liberal MP Beth Phinney, 65, June 19, 1938 *Ind. MP Pierre Brien, 33, […]
