Gallery bans honoraries, for now: Members also move to strip parking privileges
OTTAWA -The Parliamentary Press Gallery approved a temporary ban on new “honorary” and “life” press passes last week, judging that the time had come to review whether these members, who boast a minimum of 10 active years of experience on Parliament Hill, should enjoy the same privileges as active members. The moratorium, approved at a […]
Caring for the health needs of veterans: Veterans Affairs Canada is a pioneer in the field of home care
PARLIAMENT HILL–Veterans Affairs Canada’s mission is to provide exemplary service to all of our clients, both the elderly war-service veterans and the younger Canadian Forces veterans, including still-serving members, and their families. We accomplish this, in part, through our health care and services programs such as the Veterans Independence, Residential Care, and Treatment Benefits programs. […]
Moving forward with healthcare reform: Senate committee’s recommendations strongly relevant to public policy debate
PARLIAMENT HILL–In a number of critical regards, the First Ministers’ Accord on health care, along with the federal budget of February, 2003, mark the beginning of a new phase in the evolution of Canada’s healthcare system. We have come to the end of a period of intensive inquiry into what should be done to solidify […]
Canuck budget process impresses Aussie official: Compared to other countries, Canada enjoys a conflict-free budget process
OTTAWA–What makes Canadians so easy-going and adverse to confrontations? It’s a question that has long preoccupied those with a keen interest on what happens within the large country. Although hard-and-fast answers have been hard to come by (with apologies to Seymour Martin Lipset), the perception has stuck and rarely stopped those who study Canada to […]
A Health Council to earn the trust of Canadians
PARLIAMENT HILL–The clock is ticking. The First Ministers agreed in the Health Accord on Feb. 5 that within three months we would have the much-anticipated Health Council of Canada. We are, however, justifiably concerned. As recently as Dec. 6, 2002, health ministers declared that such a council was unnecessary. The death-bed conversion of the First […]
Eves blasted for lack of Parliamentary respect
KINGSTON, ONT.–Betty Boothroyd is not amused. Reached in London, the home of the Mother of All Parliaments at Westminster, Ms. Boothroyd, who is “the Baroness Boothroyd of Sandwell” now, and at the House of Lords to boot, says she knows full well what would happen if a British Chancellor of the Exchequer tried to pull […]
A marvelous treatise
Regarding the column “America is becoming unhinged,” (The Hill Times, March 17). I am a Canadian who is still in Scottsdale for the winter at this writing. Just read Jim Creskey’s latest item three times to get all the salient points and must say it is the finest that has hit me in the last […]
Reynolds says no to trainer
Alliance House Leader John Reynolds made it clear last week that he will block any attempt by the House of Commons to hire a personal trainer for MPs looking to get into shape. “No, I don’t think we will be paying for personal trainers. People can do that on their own. It’s pretty easy stuff […]
Martin’s choice II
Watching Paul Martin publicly deliver the news that he intends to divest, or pass on ownership of his multinational shipping company, Canada Steamship Lines, to his three sons last week, he spoke emotionally about his family, his late father Paul Martin Sr., and his mother Nell. What was interesting was Mr. Martin displayed more passion […]
Canada, space and achieving excellence: Garneau: Don’t lose sight of scientists, engineers and researchers working on breakthroughs
In the history of our modern world, few sectors rival the field of space in terms of its ability to foster entrepreneurial drive, spur scientific innovation and discovery, and generate national pride. As Canada embarks on its fifth decade in space, that began with the launch of Alouette in 1962, Canadian excellence in space continues […]
