Hurrah for Prime Ministers’ Day
You truly have to hand it to Prime Minister Jean Chretien. Underestimated for decades by the talking heads — the chattering classes, many Liberals and know-itall politicos from all parties — the wily PM is now in the midst of his third majority mandate and showing little signs of slowing down. The opposition remains divided, […]
MPs, take responsibility [Chief Government Whip]
The problem in government these days is no one is willing to take responsibility for their actions. So said fictional U.S. president Josiah Bartlet, a.k.a. Martin Sheen, on last week’s repeat episode of The West Wing. But the remark is powerfully true. Why can’t MPs take responsibility for their actions? Why is it that they […]
What’s with the House of Commons?
The level of Canadian naivety is amazing. The past four months have given the Canadian public a chance to see just how far away from reality we are. We definitely have something missing in the receptive and perceptive area of our brains to take so long to wake up and see the light. The WTC […]
Big Dunc held down the PMO Press Office fort
And he hasn’t even gotten his promotion yet… Pity poor Duncan Fulton. The PMO press quarters are virtually deserted. Communications Director Francie Ducros, her deputy Ken Polk, and assistant press secretary Thoren Hudyma all joined the PM on his Russia-Germany-Sweden jaunt, leaving Big Dunc to handle media and communications back at the ranch while the […]
Jack Siegel warns executive could override Ontario rules. Ontario membership rules ‘give unfair advantage to incumbent riding executives’: Jack Siegel
The public squabble over Liberal Party membership rules in Ontario, pitting Paul Martin supporters against those who back leader hopeful Allan Rock, is far from over and could come to a head at this spring’s national executive meeting, says one of the party’s chief legal executives. Echoing some of the concerns expressed by Mr. Rock […]
Liberal party a Grit country club
In examining the membership battles within the Liberal Party, I cannot help but feel that Paul Martin and his supporters stand against everything their own party encourages. The party’s website states that the “Liberal governments have lifted barriers to participation and ensured that all Canadians benefit from the diversity within Canada’s borders” and more importantly, […]
Clarification
Regarding the list of EAs and communications assistants to federal cabinet ministers published in last week’s paper, Secretary of State Gar Knutson’s communications assistant is Susan McConnell. R
Liberals to live large in upcoming golden years
Money talks… The Commons, as with the population at large, is aging. With so many MPs in their late 40s and early ’50s — or older — promotion and power within the government benches is not necessarily the driving force for a large chunk of the Liberal caucus. Try financial security. Prime Minister Jean Chretien […]
Government mandarins ‘feel the heat’ to modernize public service: debate taking place at highest levels on whether to hand PSC’s hiring responsibilities over to Treasury Board
Faced with cynical workers who are wondering whether the current push to modernize the federal public service will come and go like so many other “flavours of the year,” Deputy Minister Ran Quail is pledging that this one will be different. “If we don’t make the recommendations to the government, then the government can’t act, […]
Joey Hach&ea; endorses CA leadership contender
My name is Joey Hache, and I live in Ottawa. I just wanted to explain why I am joining my first political party and why I’m voting for Grant Hill to become the leader of the Canadian Alliance. First, though, I want to talk about trust. Almost four years ago I was thrown out of […]
