Are Ottawa politicians farsighted?
According to Finance Minister Paul Martin, already “a number of interesting propositions and proposals have come in from municipalities and from provinces,” seeking a piece of the $2-billion Deputy Prime Minister Manley was given responsibility for portioning out “in consultation with his colleagues.” While this is double the amount Jane Stewart had in the last […]
Access review is questionable
Bureaucrats are now putting the final touches on a much-delayed task force report on the federal Access to Information Act. A review of the nearly 20-year-old access law is long overdue. Reports over the past decade from the information commissioner, who is charged with administering the act, have harshly criticized the broad discretion in the […]
It’s time for regulatory reform: Grit Lib MP Tom Wappel says bureaucracy must hand over ‘subliminal power’
The government needs to bring in legislation to give Parliament the power to strike down illegal regulations, says Liberal MP Tom Wappel and vice-chair of the Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations. Mr. Wappel surprised some members of the opposition during the Feb. 21 meeting of the SJC when he echoed many of […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
