House looks into healthier living for MPs on the Hill
OTTAWA–Concerned about the unhealthy lifestyles of most federal MPs, the House’s influential Board of Internal Economy is looking at hiring a nutritionist and a gym trainer on the Hill to help hard-working and stressed out MPs maintain more wholesome living habits. The concern was sparked after three government backbenchers recently suffered heart attacks. All large […]
Political leadership should not end with budget: Much will turn on how the funds made available in the budget are administered
OTTAWA–John Manley says that his budget is about the society that Canadians value. And, truth be told, most Canadians support the idea of investing in health care, poor families, poor children, aboriginal Canadians, the homeless and foreign aid — without going into debt. Why then did so many of us feel a tightening in the […]
It all about perspective
TORONTO–One of the unfortunate realities in the media over the years is that special interest groups have tended to enjoy a free ride. Unlike governments, for example, which have quite properly been subjected to continuing scrutiny, the claims made by many special interest groups have tended to be reported and accepted at face value. This […]
“On the Iraq question, columnist Richard Gwyn recently wrote that ‘not in decades has Canada been so irrelevant to a major international issue.’ How do you respond?”
Warren Kinsella Liberal strategist “I admire Richard greatly, but — and you knew there would be a but, didn’t you? — he has succumbed to the culture of defeatism that has beset too many others these days. “It’s not enough to simply observe that the U.S. and Britain (on one side of the divide) and […]
Campaign finance reform bill wrong
Prime Minister Jean Chretien wants to force all Canadian taxpayers to finance political parties whether they want to or not. That’s the upshot of his so-called campaign finance reform bill recently introduced into the House of Commons. Chretien’s plan, which will cost Canadian taxpayers about $30-million a year, is wrong for a lot of reasons. […]
Their ship has come in, finally…
For the past decade, the Canadian Alliance, formerly Reform, has hammered away at Paul Martin and his ownership of CSL, one of the world’s bigger shipping lines. The Honourable Member for Medicine Hat, Monte Solberg, has been particularly aggressive in this regard. For a decade the issue failed to catch on. Mr. Martin was up […]
Teaching world about Canada a never-ending job for DFAIT: ‘In Italy, we never think about Canada’
OTTAWA–Canada has long been seen by our neighbours down south and overseas as a country populated by hewers of wood and drawers of water. But Canada is actually a high-tech leader, or so the government has been determined to prove through various awarenessraising programs over the years. One of these rolled into town last week. […]
Parrish’s lack of upbringing
Regarding Canadian Liberal MP Carolyn Parrish’s comments last week, “Damn Americans. Hate those bastards.” I am one of those bastards south of the border. I hope you will have the decency not to call on us to save your sorry behind if Canada is ever in need of a military defence. You are too cheap […]
The price of U.S. victory
UNITED NATIONS, N.Y.–Is it better for the United Nations to be disunited or to be united? In all international organizations, the operating mantra is unity. That’s why so many of the decisions and proclamations issued by these bodies are so vague and convoluted. All member states can thereby sign on to the document, even if, […]
Libs becoming a party of free spirits, says Liberal MP John Bryden
OTTAWA–The decision by 22 Liberal backbenchers to defy their government by voting to amend the Lobbyists Registration Act, C-15, is yet another sign party discipline is weakening within the governing party, says the author of the amendment, Liberal MP John Bryden, who predicts the next party leader will inherit a caucus that is becoming increasingly […]
