On Nelson Mandela
Regarding The Hill Times’ Sixth Annual All Politics Poll: 2002 (Jan. 6, 2003). Clare Demerse and Kathryn Ritter’s article, “The ballots are in and 73 MPs have voted the best and worst in Canadian politics,” refers to Nelson Mandela as “the former first black president of South Africa.” How, exactly, does someone become a “former […]
Martha Fusca challenges the Cable giants
Meanwhile, there’s an interesting lobbying campaign going on in Ottawa right now. Dubbed as the battle of David against Goliath, Martha Fusca, president and CEO of Stornoway Communications (considered David), who is a well-known producer and owner of TV stations, include I-channel on digital TV, is going after the big cable companies (considered Goliath). The […]
Cloning for stem cell research unnecessary and dangerous: Any and all advances in cloning technology help the Raelians and the cloning of humans
HALIFAX, N.S.–Just after Christmas, the Raelians announced that they had successfully cloned a human being and that more cloned babies were on the way. In the media frenzy that followed, many academics were interviewed and wrote opinion pieces. Almost all were skeptical about the claims and most condemned the Raelians. We share the skepticism and […]
Canada is right to stay the UN course: While the U.S. engages in dialogue with North Korea, it wants to attack Iraq
OTTAWA–Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has no, or hardly any friends left. From the Arab countries to left-leaning regimes, all have seemed to abandon him. There is little doubt his days are numbered as the U.S. President talks of action against Saddam “within weeks and not months.” But, according to polls, public opinion in many Western […]
Fear, loathing and candour in the Kyoto debate
In 10 years of working on environmental issues, I’ve learned at least this: in the course of a policy debate, public-interest groups are frequently dismissed as self-interested fear mongers, while industry groups are portrayed as responsible, candid voices. Yet the recent activities of the Canadian Coalition for Responsible Environmental Solutions (CCRES) — an instant collection […]
Minister Copps to announce Grit candidacy on Feb. 21
TORONTO -Heritage Minister Sheila Copps will announce her candidacy to run for the leadership of the Liberal Party on Feb. 21. Sources close to the minister told The Hill Times last week that Ms. Copps (Hamilton East, Ont.) has made up her mind and will end the speculation in three weeks. “It’s all set and […]
The skinny on the PM’s Campaign Finance Reform Bill: Boudria says it will make electoral system ‘more transparent and fair’
Government House Leader Don Boudria introduced the Political Finance Bill in the House on Jan. 29, saying it would make the electoral system “more transparent and fair by reforming significantly the rules on financing of political participants.” The bill, introduced as an Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Income Tax Act (Political […]
Perceived or seen
Regarding Claire Hoy’s column “Manley’s big gaffe,” (The Hill Times, Jan. 13). I can’t resist the temptation to correct him in a phrase in his article to date — “what’s this phrase that justice should not only be done but seen to be done.” The word is “perceived.” My Funken & Wagnel has it: “perceived: […]
NDP hires a new director of communications and research for the caucus
Newly-elected NDP Leader Jack Layton not only shook up caucus officers last week, but also some of the political staff in the Leader’s Office. Mr. Layton, who was elected with 53 per cent of the vote on the first ballot on Jan. 25 in Toronto, named British Columbia MP Libby Davies, who was one of […]
Of trust funds and fiefdoms
A few years ago, when then-Alberta Reform Party MP Ian McClelland wanted to publicly release his riding association bank account sheets to The Hill Times, he had to ask the riding to take a vote. His Edmonton Southwest riding association president initially asked The Hill Times to pay “10 bucks” to see it and said […]
