Not all cloning is alike: MPs must not let outrageous claims of Raelians drive national policy development
Over the past few months, Parliamentarians have heard a lot of commentary on the policy issues associated with reproductive and “therapeutic” cloning. In many respects this dynamic debate is ideal, as it should inform the final political debates on Bill C-13, The Assisted Human Reproduction Act. We realize that amendments to this bill, particularly in […]
It’s not only children who say the darndest things…
It’s not only children who say the darndest things… Perhaps there are parts of the budget speech that John Manley would like to do over again, but the statement he surely really wishes he never made was the one given to reporters the day before last Tuesday’s budget, when he visited the Greenboro Daycare Centre […]
Kroeger speaks out on C-24
One of the federal bureaucracy’s most respected former mandarins, Arthur Kroeger, who served as a deputy minister in several departments over a 17-year stretch before retiring, told a Commons’ committee last week that the government’s new public service bill will come to naught unless Parliamentarians learn to accept that civil servants are allowed to make […]
MPs’ and Senators’ Birthdays
*Liberal MP Janko Peric, 54, Feb. 24, 1949 *Alliance MP Chuck Strahl, 46, Feb. 25, 1957 *Tory Sen. Bill Doody, 72, Feb. 26, 1931 *NDP MP Libby Davies, 50, Feb. 27, 1953 *Liberal MP Bob Speller, 47, Feb. 29, 1956 *Liberal MP Gary Pillitteri, 67, March 1, 1936 *Chief Government Whip Marlene Catterall, 64, March […]
Easter vows to make Libs more ‘transparent’ on security: Plans on bringing back national security statements in the House of Commons
OTTAWA–Stung by recent criticism that the government is not communicating to Canadians about the state of national security, Federal Solicitor-General Wayne Easter says he plans on making a speech in the House of Commons within the next few weeks on national security issues facing the country, bringing back a practice that fell into disuse under […]
Canada’s place in world has been devalued and diminished: Canada-U.S. relationship weakened by waffling
PARLIAMENT HILL–I am pleased to see that the list of terrorist groups has been expanded now to 19 under the Criminal Code and Canada’s Anti-Terrorism Act. [The newly-listed groups are: the Abu Nidal Organization, the Abu Sayyaf Group, and the Sendero Luminoso organization]. I am concerned, however, by the inefficiencies and the fact that many […]
New gas study
The Commons approved a motion from the Industry Committee to study the recent increase in gas prices which have skyrocketed of late and reached as high as 80 cents per liter in some regions. Chaired by Liberal MP Walt Lastewka, the committee plans on calling on Industry Minister Allan Rock as well as representatives of […]
I’ve got Paul Martin on the brain: The glory and the hazards of being Paul Martin, leading contender
OTTAWA–As with most everyone else in Ottawa these days, I got Paul Martin on the brain. No, I’m not one of his confidants, strategists or “close personal friendsTM.” Indeed, it sometimes feels as if I’m among the few in this burg who ever admit to such lack of intimate connection. But when you’re in the […]
Big money buys access: Nick Taylor
OTTAWA–Nick Taylor, a former long-time Alberta Liberal Senator and party bagman, says big corporate money plays a critical role in getting access to the country’s top policy-makers, adding that sometimes this access is translated into real influence. Despite the fact that Prime Minister Jean Chretien (Saint-Maurice, Que.) says he wants to end “the perception” that […]
Parties will be rolling in the dough: The Libs will get an extra $3.43-million and the Alliance will get an extra $4- million
Who benefits most from the new subsidy for parties? To appreciate the likely consequences of the new annual subsidy for registered parties included in Bill C-24, the Prime Minister’s Campaign Finance Reform Bill, it is useful to examine Table 1. It reveals that in 2001 (the data for 2002 won’t be available until early July […]
