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 […]
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 […]
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: […]
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 […]
Liberals order revote in hot Perth-Middlesex nomination
In a rare move, the Liberal Party is scrapping the hotly-contested nomination of a former card-carrying NDP member and Presbyterian minister in Perth-Middlesex, Ont., and will rerun it next month, after one candidate claimed there were “irregularities in the voting process.” Members of the Perth-Middlesex Federal Liberal Riding Association will revote on Saturday, Feb. 1, […]
PM should leave political financing bill to successor: Grit MP Harvard
Prime Minister Jean Chretien’s planned and now controversial legislation to limit or ban corporate and trade union donations to political parties should be left up to his successor to deal with, says a Grit backbencher who favours the move but is concerned that riding associations won’t be properly consulted if the bill is brought before […]
Elinor Caplan hires a new policy adviser
Minister of National Revenue Elinor Caplan has hired a new senior policy adviser. Mark Boudreau, joined Ms. Caplan’s office last week as the new senior policy adviser replacing Katherine Cornfield who is currently on maternity leave. A native of Moncton, N.B., Mr. Boudreau, 47, received his BA in economics and political science from York University […]
