Thank you Mr. Chretien
Parliamentary Press Gallery President Anne Dawson made a point of thanking Jim Munson, the Prime Minister’s new acting director of communications last week, for his work in getting Prime Minister Jean Chretien to hold regular and more civilized press conferences in the National Press Theatre with us not-so-civilized Hill reporters. It was Mr. Munson who […]
Premiers should never drive: Just one more reason to be a passenger
Late one night in a political campaign, I was in the passenger seat of a car driven by a politician who would soon be in the Cabinet. We happened upon former prime minister John Turner who was out for a walk. My candidate friend flashed the lights, tooted the horn and pulled over to say […]
Scandiffio joins Manley’s office as director of communications
Mike Scandiffio, a former news editor at The Hill Times, who left HT in September, 2000, after seven years on the job, to join CTV NewsNet’s Mike Duffy as his producer, last week joined the ranks of Hill staffers when he was hired by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister John Manley as his new […]
Tory leadership luncheon on Jan. 23 in Vancouver
NDP members to vote on new leader next week in Big Smoke MONDAY, Jan. 13 House Sitting — The House is not sitting this week but will resume sitting again on Monday, Jan. 27 after a six-week long Christmas break in the constituencies. For further information, please contact the Government House Leader’s Office at (613) […]
Pettigrew vows to lash out against ‘Washington consensus’: ‘It is not true to think that the market will solve all the problems,’ says Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew
Pierre Pettigrew, the International Trade Minister, is set to deliver a lengthy speech next week in London, England in which he will take aim at the so-called “Washington consensus,” a set of economic policies popularized by Washington’s elite class that have been blamed for wreaking havoc on developing countries around the world during the 1990s. […]
Whelan says Canada to quadruple education fund in Africa: ‘We would actually commit $164-million by year 2005 specifically just in Africa,’ CIDA Minister Whelan
International Cooperation Minister Susan Whelan says Canada wants to quadruple the money it puts into education funds in developing and under-developed countries in Africa. The rookie minister, who was shuffled into Cabinet last January, said the Canadian government will commit $164-million by the year 2005 and specifically on education. “It’s our priority to quadruple the […]
Spin Doctors delusional
Regarding “The Spin Doctors” column (The Hill Times, Dec. 16, 2002, on “Why have the Tory and NDP leadership races failed to create any excitement.” I just have this to say: The Liberals: a one person coronation. The Tories: will someone take this job please! The New Democrats: four MPs and a charismatic city councillor […]
What’s up with Auto Caucus
Regarding the story “Grit Auto Caucus wants $50-million for Kyoto,” (The Hill Times, Dec. 16). Excuse my ignorance but isn’t the engine design and development program done in Japan, Germany, England and the U.S.? What auto company does real pollution research in Ontario? Canada has assembly plants but I’m not aware of any auto company […]
Health Council idea is a sharp one: New health system needs a new ‘holistic’ approach on public policy
Roy Romanow recently said that Canadians want and need a truly national health system. At the centre of his high-profile plan to build one is a recommendation that governments should create a national health council. It is an innovative and interesting idea that merits more discussion. Unfortunately, most Canadians have at best a vague idea […]
Correction
In this space last week, Export Development Canada was wrongly stigmatized for being $2-billion in debt last year. The money actually represented borrowed funds which were paid back by year’s end. The Crown corporation has only been in the red once since 1944. The Hill Times francoli@hilltimes.com In this space last week, Export Development Canada […]
