Parliamentary sovereignty
Regarding “Opposition attacks Paul Martin’s use of privilege,” (The Hill Times, May 19). The issue of the Parliamentary privileges of MPs is not an issue dealing with, as the Canadian Alliance’s John Reynolds would have it, Paul Martin’s campaign to become leader of the Liberal Party. Rather, Parliamentary privilege are the rights and immunities given […]
Shock, awe and clash
Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Israel. “Shock and awe,” this time of crude bombs strapped around the bodies of terrorists rather than of cruise missiles and precision-guided munitions, has now been turned on us. We ought to have expected it. Al Qaeda and the other Islamic extremist organizations have been severely damaged by the war on terrorism. […]
Blues backlog
Getting transcripts of House of Commons committee proceedings in a timely fashion has become a major pain for Hill reporters, MPs and staffers who find the minutes invaluable. That’s in large part because of the marathon sessions the Commons Aboriginal Affairs Committee has been holding over the past month to get through its review of […]
The 36,000 disappeared
Let’s not tell Americans they don’t have to worry about the 36,000 individuals who have been ordered deported from Canada who are nowhere to be found. Tell them instead they should worry first about the more than 300,000 individuals who have been ordered deported from the U.S. who are nowhere to be found. They have […]
Love is in the Air…
It may not have been the best spring so far when it comes to the weather, but the season is still having its traditional effect on young lovers. Recently-departed deputy PM0 press secretary Duncan Fulton and girlfriend of two years Annie Cuerrier, bought a house two weeks ago and a couple of days later decided […]
Lobbyist handlers extraordinaire
On a sunny Wednesday in March, at Toronto’s Rosewater Supper Club, a richly-furnished three-tiered restaurant which advertises itself as “pleasure palace,” about 100 select guests paid $1,000 each to munch on mini lamb chops, sip good wine and get the ear of Prime-Minister-in-waiting, Paul Martin. According to lobbyist Paul Pellegrini, who organized the event, it […]
Showdown at House Transport Committee expected: ‘This is a committee of Parliament. It’s not a committee of the minister:’ Gallaway
A showdown between the House Transport Committee and the federal Department of Transport is looming on Monday, May 26, over the rights of the MPs on the Commons committee to obtain information from the department. Three top officials from Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) including Jacques Duchesneau, president and chief executive officer; Michael McLaughlin, […]
Nuclear subsidies should end now
I’d like to commend NDP MP Joe Comartin’s column for calling a debate on Canada’s nuclear energy policy, “Time for nuclear debate,” (The Hill Times, May 5). It’s amazing that after 50 years and $17.5-billion in subsidies to AECL (Atomic Energy of Canada Limited), we have never had a national democratic debate about continuing to […]
New task for Mr. Dependable?…
Now that he has stickhandled the government advertising contract scandal to some sort of closure, perhaps Public Works and Government Services Minister Ralph Goodale might want to look into how the government keeps track of the gazillion dollars in contracts it issues every year for goods and services. If you thought Public Works kept track […]
Can’t wait for Martin to be leader
Regarding “You call this a leadership race?” by Richard Gwyn (The Hill Times, May 12). The fact that the “leadership race” has become a foregone conclusion doesn’t make it boring — however, tedious the process may be, especially for those of us who can’t wait for Paul Martin to become the official Prime Minister as […]
