“Who are the winners and losers of John Manley’s first (and last?) federal budget?”
Warren Kinsella Liberal strategist “Winners? That’s easy. Canadians win. “Manley’s team were smart: they didn’t guess about the priorities of Canadians — they knew. Any decent poll will show the top concerns of Canadians are health, education, jobs/economy. The budget focussed on all three, in that order. “Sure, the right-wing columnists, the special interest groups, […]
A national and international challenge: Easter
PARLIAMENT HILL–On Feb. 12, Solicitor General Wayne Easter announced in the House that the government had added three more groups classified as terrorist groups under the Criminal Code and the Anti-Terrorism Act, bringing the total to 19 designated since last July. He added the Abu Nidal Organization, the Abu Sayyaf Group, and the Sendero Luminoso […]
Ottawa needs a reality check: No more excuses, clean up campaign finances
OTTAWA–Let’s review the reasons to oppose Prime Minister Jean Chretien’s new political fundraising bill. “The appearance of this legislation at this time is too driven by internal Liberal politics,” says Stephen Harper, suggesting the Prime Minister is only using the bill as to “whitewash various scandals from his record,” and to undermine his rival Paul […]
Volpe’s staffer proposes to fiance on Hill in the snow
OTTAWA–Who said love doesn’t spring eternal on Parliament Hill where politics is a bloodsport? On Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day, Peter Wigen, 27, a Hill assistant to Toronto Liberal MP Joe Volpe, had love in his heart when he proposed to his girlfriend, Yuko Kimura, 26, on the Hill in the Peace Tower. The kicker is […]
Not all cloning is alike: MPs must not let outrageous claims of Raelians drive national policy development
Over the past few months, Parliamentarians have heard a lot of commentary on the policy issues associated with reproductive and “therapeutic” cloning. In many respects this dynamic debate is ideal, as it should inform the final political debates on Bill C-13, The Assisted Human Reproduction Act. We realize that amendments to this bill, particularly in […]
Where’s Francie?… [Ducros]
Where’s Francie?… It’s been a couple of months since Francie Ducros left her job as Jean Chretien’s communications director and I got to wondering what she was up to these days. “Enjoying being a private citizen,” she said when contacted at home by Heard on the Hill. We’ll. Okay, there was a bit more to […]
Manley hires a new policy adviser
Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister John Manley hired a new policy adviser for his ministerial political office recently. Brian Klunder, 34, is a native of Brantford, Ont. and received a BA from the University of Windsor in Windsor, Ont., in 1991. He started working on the Hill in 1994 for Liberal MP John Finlay […]
MPs’ and Senators’ Birthdays
*Liberal MP Janko Peric, 54, Feb. 24, 1949 *Alliance MP Chuck Strahl, 46, Feb. 25, 1957 *Tory Sen. Bill Doody, 72, Feb. 26, 1931 *NDP MP Libby Davies, 50, Feb. 27, 1953 *Liberal MP Bob Speller, 47, Feb. 29, 1956 *Liberal MP Gary Pillitteri, 67, March 1, 1936 *Chief Government Whip Marlene Catterall, 64, March […]
Budget renews Liberal feud
TORONTO–Sheesh, thank God people don’t take the media and politicians seriously, otherwise, they would be highly confused, terribly scared and, most of time, upset with us. Take a look at the events of last week: on Monday, and for the last two to three years, the future of the country was at stake because of […]
Canada’s place in world has been devalued and diminished: Canada-U.S. relationship weakened by waffling
PARLIAMENT HILL–I am pleased to see that the list of terrorist groups has been expanded now to 19 under the Criminal Code and Canada’s Anti-Terrorism Act. [The newly-listed groups are: the Abu Nidal Organization, the Abu Sayyaf Group, and the Sendero Luminoso organization]. I am concerned, however, by the inefficiencies and the fact that many […]
