Tory leadership ‘event’ colourless, barren of drama
Infomercial icon Ron Popeil, inventor of the Veg-O-Matic, peddles a kitchen gadget called the “Flavour Injector.” Resembling a crude needle, it injects meat with sauce and spices. For $29.95, the flavour cooks right in. Why, you could make a barbecue of fried baloney. What does this remind you of? Inject drama! Spice up the excitement! […]
It’s important we grasp NATO’s importance now: NATO is and will remain the cornerstone of the defence of its members
LONDON, ENGLAND–Defence Ministers usually observe or receive reports on exercises from a distance, but sometimes it is good to be put to the test ourselves. This week, John McCallum and I will attend the NATO Defence Ministers meeting in Colorado, we will take part in a study seminar aimed at helping us understand how well […]
Martin’s generals-in-waiting: who are they?
TORONTO–Now that Paul Martin has succeeded in his quest for the leadership of the Liberal Party, many in the media are still focusing on who will be part of the Martin government. Ministers, however, are not necessarily the real powerbrokers in the federal political structure. In fact, in many cases; they’re only the salespeople of […]
Chretien-Martin condominium
In his elegantly-written biography of Paul Martin, The Power Of Ambition, John Gray describes him and Jean Chretien as, “one of the most effective, if not the most effective, political combinations the country has ever seen.” [Graph Not Transcribed] That’s overdoing things a bit. But for John A. Macdonald and Georges-Etienne Cartier, there would have […]
There go the TV debates
TORONTO–The worst thing that happened to nationally televised political campaign debates is that the first one actually meant something. Those of a certain age will recall the 1960 showdown between Richard Nixon and John Kennedy, and the impact, in Kennedy’s favour, that it had. It wasn’t that Kennedy articulated his positions more clearly. Quite the […]
Don’t misrepresent Canadian Alliance’s position: Sampson released because of aggressive Brits, not ‘soft diplomacy’ from Canada
Disagreeing with somebody’s position is democratic and expected. Misrepresenting somebody’s position ignorantly is regrettable — deliberately it is unacceptable. Bhupinder Liddar’s recent screed, “Where was the Alliance when Bill Sampson was in Saudi jail?” (The Hill Times, Sept. 29), delivered without fact or tact, assailing a Canadian Alliance policy position should be assigned to the […]
We can work it out: Alliance and Tory strategists: contentious issues of leadership selection, grandfathering of MPs are resolvable
John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first Conservative Prime Minister, said it best, “Treat them as a nation and they will act as people generally do — generously. Call them a faction and they become factious.” [Graph Not Transcribed] [Graph Not Transcribed] [Graph Not Transcribed] Enough with the factions and the divisions, it is time to move […]
Boudria strikes new committee to study pot bill: private member’s bill opposed by the government gets through House on a rare voice vote
Government House Leader Don Boudria says he remains committed to getting the Liberals’ bill to decriminalize marijuana possession adopted this fall, adding that he will move to strike a new committee this week to study the legislation. The Cannabis Reform Bill, C-38, has been languishing on the Order Paper for weeks amid speculation that its […]
(Cisco Systems Canada Co. appointment)
Cisco Systems is pleased to announce the appointment of Terry Walsh as President of Cisco Systems Canada Co. An eight year Cisco veteran, Mr. Walsh has more than 22 years experience in the information technology industry. In his previous role as Managing Director of Cisco Systems Australia and New Zealand, he led significant sales growth […]
Parliament is broken, shows new televised documentary: series part of an ‘underground royal commission’ showing waste, lack of accountability is endemic [Does your vote count?]
As part of its continuing series showing that Canada’s Parliamentary system has broken down, Toronto-based Stronoway Productions is launching a television documentary series on Oct. 7 featuring an impressive array of MPs, bureaucrats and political insiders who lament the sorry state of democracy in this country. It makes for sober viewing. The event kicks off […]
