Let’s try ‘thematic’ Question Periods, says Don Boudria: Modernization Committee to tackle another round of Parliamentary reforms
A single issue rarely dominates Question Period in the House of Commons. That’s because opposition MPs prefer to hammer away at the government on a number of fronts. But when they do mount a common line of attack – whether coordinated or by accident – it’s a sure fire sign the government is in deep […]
Martin’s to blame too
All the letters and news reports recently regarding the gun registry have been properly pointing fingers at Allan Rock and successive justice ministers for the massive cost overruns. One thing I have noticed, however, is the way the media has been pussy-footing around the idea of blaming Paul Martin. I would like to point out […]
MP spams ‘toxic’ email to thousands of bureaucrats: But controversial independent MP blames House’s antiquated email system
An e-mail sent to thousands of federal public service employees by controversial Independent Saskatchewan MP Jim Pankiw, asking them “bogus” and “leading” questions about the bureaucracy’s bilingualism policies, has rankled Grit MPs as well as public service union leaders who have taken up the case with the Speaker of the House of Commons. The matter […]
On Nelson Mandela
Regarding The Hill Times’ Sixth Annual All Politics Poll: 2002 (Jan. 6, 2003). Clare Demerse and Kathryn Ritter’s article, “The ballots are in and 73 MPs have voted the best and worst in Canadian politics,” refers to Nelson Mandela as “the former first black president of South Africa.” How, exactly, does someone become a “former […]
Why do MPs amass hundreds of thousands of dollars in riding bank accounts or in personal trust funds without issuing tax receipts? And how big a problem is it?
Warren Kinsella Liberal strategist “As far as any of us know, the practice is not widespread. And that’s the problem — no one knows, precisely, how widespread this practice is. “Technically, as the law stands now, money raised at the riding level — outside an election — doesn’t need to be reported. And, allegedly, some […]
Cloning for stem cell research unnecessary and dangerous: Any and all advances in cloning technology help the Raelians and the cloning of humans
HALIFAX, N.S.–Just after Christmas, the Raelians announced that they had successfully cloned a human being and that more cloned babies were on the way. In the media frenzy that followed, many academics were interviewed and wrote opinion pieces. Almost all were skeptical about the claims and most condemned the Raelians. We share the skepticism and […]
Campaign bill to create donor grey areas: Sen. Nolin: Quebec Tory Sen. Nolin says ban won’t stop big donations
A long-time Quebec Tory Senator and bagman says the Prime Minister’s new campaign finance bill likely won’t prevent donors from making big contributions to political parties, despite the proposed ban. Pierre-Claude Nolin (De Salaberry, Que.), who raises funds for Progressive Conservative candidates at election time, told The Hill Times last week that if the government […]
Fear, loathing and candour in the Kyoto debate
In 10 years of working on environmental issues, I’ve learned at least this: in the course of a policy debate, public-interest groups are frequently dismissed as self-interested fear mongers, while industry groups are portrayed as responsible, candid voices. Yet the recent activities of the Canadian Coalition for Responsible Environmental Solutions (CCRES) — an instant collection […]
Chretien’s ‘big bang’ on money in politics: A primer on PM’s new political finances legislation
On Jan. 28, 2003, the federal government introduced a number of notable changes in the rules governing the financing of political parties, candidates, and other political entities including leadership races by means of many amendments to the Canada Elections Act and Income Tax Act. The last set of changes were made in September, 2000, but […]
The skinny on the PM’s Campaign Finance Reform Bill: Boudria says it will make electoral system ‘more transparent and fair’
Government House Leader Don Boudria introduced the Political Finance Bill in the House on Jan. 29, saying it would make the electoral system “more transparent and fair by reforming significantly the rules on financing of political participants.” The bill, introduced as an Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Income Tax Act (Political […]
