2012 the year Harper shows us what kind of man he is
PARLIAMENT HILL—On the Parliamentary calendar this is the Year of Wolf Eyes. It’s the year Stephen Harper shows the country what kind of man he is, once and for all. Harper is already six years in office. He’s no enigma. People like and dislike him in unequal measure, about 40-60 according to Elections Canada […]
Evidence shows, holidays in 19th century House bar likely meant a rum punch
Parliament ran its own tavern for 49 glorious years. But what did MPs, Senators and reporters drink? Specialties of the House are lost to history. Public Accounts and Sessional papers are silent on the question, though the bar was so convivial reformers twice tried to shut it down, in 1874 and 1881. Old-timers […]
Remembering the most interesting Canadian you never heard of: Thomas White founder of the Parliamentary Press Gallery
PARLIAMENT HILL—Reporters pause this week to remember the most interesting Canadian you never heard of: Thomas White, founder of the Parliamentary Press Gallery. White died 123 years ago. His creation thrives. The old press room in the Centre Block of Parliament is surprisingly little-changed with Gothic Revival windows, doors trimmed in tiger oak and […]
Even today, no one will say which six NDP MPs would have been in Cabinet
PARLIAMENT HILL—They are a half-dozen MPs who nearly made history—the first sitting New Democrats to serve in the federal Cabinet. They were never named; many of the MPs themselves were not told of their nominations. Insiders who did know remain tight-lipped years after the fact. “I cannot discuss those confidential details,” said MP Olivia […]
Canadians are right to be worried this winter
If central bankers were hockey cards I’d collect Erkki Liikanen, governor of the Bank of Finland. His stats are tremendous. Finland has seen less unemployment than Canada, lower deficit spending and been rated “prudent” and “strong” by Standard & Poor’s—“a bright spot within a region deeply shaken by sovereign debt issues,” enthused The Wall […]
Even remembrance is political
PARLIAMENT HILL—When politics is with us, even remembrance is political. Should Afghanistan be inscribed on the National War Memorial? “I think so,” said Laurie Hawn, Conservative MP for Edmonton Centre. Hawn was lieutenant-colonel at Cold Lake, Alta., home of the squadron trained to intercept Soviet bombers. If there had been a Third World War, […]
Remembrance is a ritual in Parliament, so what about Cy Peck?
PARLIAMENT HILL—Remembrance is a ritual in Parliament. Yet a former MP with an astonishing war record, British Columbian Cy Peck, is forgotten in the House in which he served. Peck remains the only sitting member of any Commonwealth Parliament ever to win the Victoria Cross. “Wow!” said New Democrat Nathan Cullen, MP for Skeena-Bulkley […]
Sun coverage needs no translation, speaks for itself
PARLIAMENT HILL—It was a rare spectacle: the Prime Minister’s Parliamentary secretary lauding a media personality for integrity, high character and valour—yes, courage. “Courage,” he actually used that word. Who would not blush? The Parliamentarian was Dean Del Mastro, MP from Peterborough and Can-Do Guy on the Commons’ Access to Information Committee. The media personality […]
Flaherty a world-class ‘financial broker’? Meh
OTTAWA—In the moment of descent into street rioting and bankruptcy, it is Europe’s fate to be lectured on prudence by Jim Flaherty, minister of finance. Foreigners must find this maddening. Flaherty, on the other hand, appears to be enjoying himself immensely. This is his Jimmy Cagney moment—top o’ the world, ma. Flaherty was in […]
Media conceal suicide, and it has done no good
Newsrooms rarely report suicides. Yet when the Commons recently engaged all-day debate on suicide prevention, speaker after speaker lamented Canadians’ reluctance to openly confront mental health issues. “We pretend it is not a problem,” said Liberal Leader Bob Rae. News coverage must be a factual depiction of community life. In reporting violent death—traffic casualties, […]
