Peace may well be about Iran
“I never thought I’d be looking at these neo-conservative, pro-Israeli, right-wing Christian extremists to improve our lot, but the fact is that as a result of this adventure there is a chance for change.” –Lebanese commentator Leila Qadi, quoted in Britain’s Guardian newspaper. In Iraq itself, the place where the “adventure,” or the U.S.-led invasion, […]
THE HILL TIMES Q&A WITH Akaash Maharaj
HT: If a member of the Liberal Party asks you why should he or she vote for you for the president of the party, what will you say? AM: Support me not merely because of my skills and experience, but more importantly, for things that I want to achieve in the party. As president, I […]
That’s Sen. Percy Downe to you, buddy
Less Pay, But Free Travel… Glad to see that sticking around to be chief of staff to the Prime Minister has paid off for Percy Downe, who last week was among what many expect to be a long list of appointments by Jean Chretien in his last months in office. Mr. Downe was set to […]
THE HILL TIMES Q&A WITH MAC HARB
HT: If a member of the Liberal Party asks you why should he or she vote for you for the president of the party, what will you say? MH: I would say because of a number of reasons. First because I have been involved in the party for over 25 years and as well as […]
Integrity of the institution
Former Privacy Commissioner George Radwanski apparently once threatened that if he ever found the “rat” who tipped off the Government Operations and Estimates Committee, their careers in the public service would be over. This is an irony today. And although the George Radwanski scandal has done some serious damage to the integrity of the Office […]
“Nightmare” in the Heritage Committee?
The copyright implications of Bill C-36 are actually even worse than Kady O’Malley described in her story of ambush in the Heritage Committee, (“Political nightmare’ awaits Libs on National Archives bill,” The Hill Times, June 23, 2003) Few have managed to parse the post-humous publication provisions of Bill C-36. Even the lawyer for the Montgomery […]
What’s Martin’s take on Radwanski?
Paul Martin must offer an opinion on George Radwanski’s disgraceful conduct as an Officer of Parliament. Since Martin was finance minister and responsible for approving the departmental budgets during the Privacy Commissioner’s expense account adventures, his silence is troublesome. Either Martin was complicit in the departmental mismanagement of the Privacy Commission’s Office, or was unable […]
MPs’ and Senators’ Birthdays
*Alliance MP Deborah Grey, 51, July 1, 1952 *Liberal Sen. Jane Marie Cordy, 53, July 2, 1950 *Bloc MP Serge Cardin, 53, July 2, 1950 *Liberal Sen. Raymond Setlakwe, 75, July 3, 1928 *PC Sen. Marjory LeBreton, 63, July 4, 1940 *Alliance MP Deepak Obhrai, 53, July 5, 1950 *Liberal MP Helene Scherrer, 53, July […]
Who were those masked public servants?
It was one of the most dramatic images that foreshadowed the final fall from grace of former Privacy Commissioner George Radwanski: dozens of his own officials protesting outside his office in downtown Ottawa. Even in a city with an activist public service union, sign-waving staffers calling on their boss to resign was an unprecedented spectacle. […]
Cullen’s private member’s bill making government departments more accountable takes major step forward
A private member’s bill giving MPs a vote over the way federal departments create and adjust $4-billion in yearly userfees took a major step forward just before the House broke for the summer, even though the government doesn’t support it. The bill belongs to Liberal MP Roy Cullen, who represents Etobicoke North, Ont. His bill […]
