Liberals say it’s time for prime minister Jean Chretien to go
There is palpable unease felt in Liberal hierarchical circles over the appointment of Moncton MP Claudette Bradshaw to the labour portfolio in the federal cabinet. If Paul Martin represents the new Liberalism, Bradshaw represents a throwback Liberalism. My morning paper describes her somewhat uneasily, I thought as “an activist.” True enough, the new labour minister […]
Centre block renovations put off until 2004 [Public Works minister Alfonso Gagliano]
Costs climbing…After a summer of controversy about sky-rocketing construction costs on Parliament Hill, work on the Centre Block will be postponed until 2004, said Public Works Minister Alfonso Gagliano. Speaking to the House’s National Resources and Government Operations Committee two weeks ago, the minister responsible for the $483-million overhaul of Parliament Hill, said he is […]
Post reflects true horror of newspaper editor’s murder
All journalists know that being in the business carries certain risks. In Canada, happily, those risks are normally confined to potential lawsuits or angry denunciations. Annoying and often inconvenient. But hardly life-threatening. In other parts of the world, alas, it’s a different story. It’s become almost routine in some countries to murder or maim journalists […]
Senators to go to Europe [Senate Agricultural Committee]
Come fly with me…MPs and senators have been pushing for weeks now for help for Canadian farmers who are being hit hard by low prices for their crops. Agriculture Minister Lyle Vanclief addressed a rare joint meeting of the Cabinet’s Social and Economic Committees to sell the idea of a $2-billion injection into the farm […]
Commons clerk trashes TV coverage [for House committees: Bob Marleau]
House of Commons Clerk Bob Marleau warned that letting television cameras into House committees could pit Parliamentary privilege against freedom of the press, forcing MPs to “negotiate away the control” of their meetings. Mr. Marleau, the top bureaucrat in the Commons, told the House Affairs Committee last week that by letting cameras in, “you are […]
Cabinet shuffle, Quebec election worries caucus: pressure to mount against prime minister to step aside once referendum nears
Some Ontario government backbenchers are criticizing the prime minister’s mini-cabinet shuffle conducted last week after Andy Scott was forced to resign as Canada’s solicitor general over the APEC controversy. The prime minister elevated former labour minister Lawrence MacAulay (Cardigan, P.E.I), a potato farmer from Prince Edward Island who has no legal experience, to Canada’s Solicitor […]
Political fundraising epidemic: Peter C Newman says new corporate giants aren’t as loyal to political parties [Titans: How the New Canadian Establishment Seized Power]
The money traders with the red suspenders may wreak havoc with the dollar but federal political fundraisers are going to find it tougher to squeeze money out of them, warns one of the country’s most astute chroniclers of financial and political power in Canada. Peter C. Newman, author of the recently-released Titans: How The New […]
Don’t kid yourself, Saint Lucien will tempt Quebecers again
The re-election of the Parti Qu b cois will mean business as usual, for awhile, say a few days, but not that much more. You see, things have now changed in Quebec and in ways far more important than we can see, on the surface. First of all, His Separatist Holiness, who, at about this […]
Bouchard’s strategy to baffle voters on referendum call
During the great debate of last week, His Separatist Holiness once again had to skate on thin ice. For a separatist leader, he’s not always that comfortable with the idea of talking about the next referendum. Sometimes, we can even sense that he prefers to avoid discussing the issue altogether. The invention of the “winning […]
[Doering appointed president of Canadian Food Inspection Agency]
In other civil service news, last Tuesday, Prime Minister Jean Chretien appointed Ronald Doering president of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Mr. Doering replaces Arthur Olson, who retired from the public service at the end of June. Up until now, Mr. Doering had been executive vice-president of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. He started there […]
