Federal government plans to keep more public records secret, including documents on advertising sponsorship
The Chretien Government has just received its internal Treasury Board’s Access Task Force Report and plans to use it as the basis for ramming through regressive amendments this fall to Canada’s 1982 Access to Information Act. This means more public records will be cut off, including ones exposing government waste in the sponsorship program. The […]
PM popular at garden party as political Ottawa stirs
Let it rain, let it rain… Officially it was the pouring rain that kept the bar open until nearly 8 p.m. at Prime Minister Jean Chretien’s media garden party last week. Usually the marquee tent goes dry at 7 p.m. on the dot, all the sooner to rid the 24 Sussex grounds of the wretches […]
PMO vetted pro-Martin staffers: But Prime Minister’s Office denies playing heavy hand
Paul Martin’s dismissal from Cabinet proved to be a public relations nightmare for the Prime Minister’s Office, but the move has allowed the Liberal leader to regain complete control over the appointment of senior political aides to his Cabinet. Sources close to The Hill Times report that from the first day the Liberals won power […]
Mills fired, sainted, roasted and all in one week
Think yourself lucky, Russ… The city’s power people gathered at the Museum of Civilization Thursday night to roast Citizen Canned, and the opening act was none other than Mr. Mills’ old rival, Ottawa Sun Publisher Judy Bullis, who appeared onstage sporting a bandaged eye. “And you think you had problems explaining editorial policy to the […]
Wiser Mylyk returns to new Defence Minister McCallum’s office: Parliament Hill staffer Chris Froggatt departs Canadian Alliance for Premier Ernie Eves’ Ontario Tories
Three weeks after their boss was booted from Cabinet, some of Art Eggleton’s former political aides have started landing on their feet, notably Randy Mylyk who got his old job back handling spin and communications for the Defence Minister. Mr. Mylyk was hired as new Defence Minister John McCallum’s director of communications two weeks ago. […]
PMO advance man Bernie Seguin to call it quits
No more travellin’ man… After six years of setting up Mr. Chretien’s many foreign and domestic trips, the extremely popular Bernie Sequin is determined to call it quits as PMO advance man and media chaperone and start having a normal family life again. The former TV cameraman has missed more family events than he cares […]
Public service focuses on its best and brightest with awards [Canadian Foreign Service Awards]
In the midst of stories of public servants breaking rules in handing out government contracts, federal bureaucrats were doing their best to focus some attention on the good news stories of employees who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in serving their country. Events were held throughout the government earlier this month […]
G8 Message
Thousands of protesters are expected to descend upon Parliament Hill and parts of downtown Ottawa on Wednesday and Thursday this week. So far, the build-up has focused on the protesters’ unwillingness to rule out the use of vandalism in their marches. In fact, the protesters’ main website actually urges people to deface a long list […]
Marianne Goodwin leaves for Montenegro
Well, at least she has had the training for it… Marianne Goodwin is going to the Balkans. Ms. Goodwin, who stepped down in February after a year as PMO chief press secretary, has landed a new job — in the Balkans. Ms. Goodwin will be advising the political parties of Montenegro on how to perform […]
St. Jacques squeezes out $5,000 from Hill friends
Quebec Liberal MP Diane St. Jacques was all smiles last week as she showed up on the Hill sans cheveux. Ms. St. Jacques shaved her head as part of a fundraiser for cancer research in her riding that has so far raised over $75,000. As for Ms. St. Jacques, she raised $10,000 on her own, […]
