Foreign Affairs assistant deputy minister wants to spruce up Fort Pearson’s image [Focus groups perceive diplomatic corps as an “overpaid, caviar eating ” bunch]
Hugh Stephens, assistant deputy minister for communications and policy planning at Foreign Affairs, is seeking to lower Fortress Pearson’s drawbridge and told a gathering of Ottawa’s diplomatic community last week that he wants to engage the Canadian public. The profile-raising initiative is part of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade’s “public diplomacy” philosophy, […]
Ressources naturelles: un enjeu important pour le XXIe siecle
Trop longtemps, le Canada a mise sur ses ressources naturelles pour son developpement economique sans se preoccuper de leur renouvellement et des impacts sur l’environnement. Les mines de charbon, de nickel et les ressources petrolieres des provinces de l’Ouest en sont quelques exemples. Cette exploitation effreinee et pas toujours bein cibiee de nos ressources naturelles […]
Nuclear dumping fall-out
In general, I believe that Canadians are conscientious and responsible about the environmental damage we inflict on our planet. But, recent initiatives in Canada have led me to question exactly where Canada’s commitment to environmental conservation will lead us in coming years. A recent example of this confusion comes from the clandestine shipment of American […]
Backbench MP wants to investigate Government Services’ Consulting & Auditing Canada [House of Commons public accounts committee]
The House’s top number-crunching committee should take a look at the agency that handles much of the government’s consulting work, says a Liberal committee member. Government backbencher Steve Mahoney (Mississauga West, Ont.), vice-chair of the House’s Public Accounts Committee, said the committee, which studies government spending, should study Consulting and Audit Canada, a special agency […]
“This is a cruel town, and a cruel business,” says Ottawa lobbyist
It’s one of the last places where you would expect to see one of Ottawa’s veteran lobbyists. But Association House president Jamie Deacey spent last week leading the evening news, and gracing the front page of every major newspaper in the country — thanks to an article published in a recent edition of his firm’s […]
Black’s guide to power and prestige: abandon Canadian history
“The only serious problem confronting Canada,” writes Conrad Black in a recent issue of one of his many newspapers, “is that it has no raison d’etre as a country. The old distinctiveness of Canada was based on the British connection, the existence of the French Canadians and the recitation of the mantra that we were […]
Bloc needs more money to run on federal scene
Going for the money… Top level Bloc Quebecois fundraiser, Bloc MP Louis Plamondon argues that Quebec’s fundraising rules, a source of pride for separatists, are now out of step with the current political times. In recent years, Mr. Plamondon introduced private members motions to cap political donations and to end contributions from businesses. More recently, […]
Hey, hey, ho, ho, Johnnie Manley gets hit real low
Two minutes for bluffing… Who says the puck stops here? In retrospect, John Manley was already steering into his U-turn when he made the announcement last Tuesday to bailout the NHL. The first clue was Mr. Manley’s less than convincing performance at the news conference. “There are many more practical needs in Canada than hockey,” […]
Caucus is cool to spring 2000 election call [Liberals 101-member Ontario caucus cool to early election call]
If the prime minister wants to call an election this year, he will first have to win the support of his own powerful Ontario caucus — a group that is hostile to the prospect of going to the polls anytime soon, says its chief. Liberal MP Brenda Chamberlain (Guelph-Wellington, Ont.), chair of the 101-member Ontario […]
Canada’s challenge is to maintain an unpolluted water system
While much of natural resources falls under the jurisdiction of the provincial governments, particularly in relation to forestry and water, the federal government continues to exert considerable regulatory authority. One of the issues that has recently been receiving a lot of press is the exportation of bulk water. While exporting bulk water is being debated […]
