SC appointment process is a work in progress
The process for appointing the Supreme Court judges was far from perfect, but it certainly didn’t deserve the slagging it got. The appointments were all about keeping election promises, and Paul Martin scored pretty well. First was the process of reviewing nominations. As promised it involved Parliamentarians in a predominant role. They formed the majority […]
National auto strategy ready in ‘next few months’
The Liberal government’s national policy on the automotive sector will be ready in the “next few months,” says new Industry Minister David Emerson. The new MP from British Columbia also said he plans to organize a fall meeting of the Canadian Automotive Partnership Council (CAPC), a relatively new group of car assemblers, parts manufacturers, and […]
Liberal Party auto policy plan is in neutral
The Liberals haven’t acted on an auto policy in the decade since the end of the Auto Pact. The end of the Auto Pact and signing of NAFTA created challenges for the auto industry the Liberals just didn’t anticipate or understand. Similarly, Kyoto presents new opportunities and challenges but with the right policies we can […]
It’s crunch time for Canada’s auto industry
The auto industry is one of the crown jewels of the Canadian economy. As a whole, this sector that is made up of the production of finished vehicles, parts and related services, is Canada’s biggest contributor to manufacturing Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at approximately $7.5-billion. It is also our country’s largest manufacturing employer. More than […]
Democrats sing from Liberal song sheet at convention
I could have sworn I saw David Herle at the Democratic Convention in Boston… In fact just when Bill and Hillary Clinton were walking off stage the TV camera caught a handler by them who looked remarkably like Herle, snazzy specs and all. But whether or not he was there in person, the Democrats had […]
Inside the Natural Health Products Directorate
In response to growing concerns about the regulatory environment for natural medicines and an extensive study by the House Standing Committee on Health, Health Canada developed a new regulatory framework for natural health products (NHPs). The product of extensive consultations with a range of stakeholders representing consumers, academia, practitioners and industry, this innovative framework came […]
A look back at the healthcare chatter, promises in TV debates
The following is an excerpt from the English-language TV leaders’ debates held in Ottawa on June 15. This specific excerpt between Prime Minister Paul Martin, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, NDP Leader Jack Layton and Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe focused on the future of Canada’s healthcare system. CTV’s Craig Oliver led the debate with a […]
Canada needs a national catastrophic drug plan, say Senators, eliminate one of most unfair aspects
During the recent federal election all major parties addressed the need for catastrophic drug insurance for all Canadians — an issue first raised publicly by the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs Science and Technology in its October 2002 report, The Health of Canadians, Recommendations for Reform. All major parties said in their platforms that […]
‘Canadians want to see an adult conversation about health’
Prime Minister Paul Martin may have promised to reduce healthcare waiting lists over and over again during one of the nastiest 36-day election campaigns in recent memory, but Carolyn Bennett, the Prime Minister’s fast-talking Minister of State for Public Health says before doing that, the governing Liberals first have to figure out how long people […]
Minorities in the House
While the diversity of Canada gallops ahead, diversity in Ottawa moves at a snail’s pace, rendering Ottawa more and more distant from the country it governs. And while visible minorities in the senior public service runs around four per cent, many MPs coming to Ottawa were elected in ridings where visible minorities range between 30 […]
