Sorry, just can’t trust government [Bill C-5, the Species At Risk Act]
Bill C-5, the Species at Risk Act, didn’t have too many friends as it entered the House of Commons in 2001. While many of us wanted a bill that effectively protected species at risk, what Canadians got was a bill that was established not on science, not on cooperation, but on government discretion. It was […]
Yukon and N.W.T. are always wrongly portrayed as competitors: Not true, says Pat Duncan who supports both Alaska Highway Pipeline Project and Mackenzie Delta development [Energy Policy Briefing]
Despite recent volatility and softening prices, market conditions have renewed interest in exploring, developing, and commercializing the immense natural gas resources of northern Canada and Alaska. Although it’s difficult to predict how the September terrorist attacks in the United States or recent economic uncertainty may affect natural gas markets, most analysts agree that North American […]
Some solid perspective, please
Sometimes, people can’t see the worse guys for the bad guys. Take the short-sighted decision of The Canadian Association of Journalists and the Quebec Federation of Professional Journalists to fire off a joint submission to all Parliamentarians demanding a Parliamentary inquiry into what they see as “a disturbing pattern of censorship and repression of dissenting […]
‘We need all the help we can get’: Public Service Commission chief Scott Serson says he’s ‘pushing back’ attempts to dump the merit principle, cites need for fairness, equity
For anyone eagerly digesting all the bits of information that have been leaking out about the government’s big plans for human resources renewal, it was a meeting to watch. As the debate continues within the highest levels of the Canadian government over whether or not to gut the Public Service Commission (PSC), seated side by […]
PM’s Bennett scolding could help Sarmite Bulte in race: Grumblings in Parliament over why new ministers are still officially chairing House committees
It’s not very often that you can say House procedure is hot, but that certainly appears to be the case these days. Points of Privilege were plentiful and the House Speaker’s rulings were covered live on national television last week, as Canadians across the country were treated to quotations of Marleau and Montpetit from their […]
Parliamentary Calendar [Feb 4]
Ernest Preston Manning has left House of Commons ‘This is not a typical politician,’ says his long-time friend and caucus colleague Deb Gray MONDAY, FEB. 4 House Sitting — The House will begin sitting at 11 a.m today. It will sit until Feb. 8, will take a one- week break and will resume sitting again […]
Government should embrace Canadian Wind Energy Association [Energy Policy Briefing]
If Canada is to compete in the economy of the 21st century we must seriously rethink our current energy policies. We must abandon our dependency on fossil fuels and nuclear energy. To do so makes sense both economically and environmentally. We must do so in order to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and avert the […]
The incredible lightness of being a heavy, tips for bad GR types: Let’s talk about the types you ideally want to avoid: The Know It All and The Carpet-Bombing Namedropper
A reader writes: “How can you go on and on about what’s good and bad about government communications without talking about the use of consultants, especially the bad ones?” Uh … okay. But it’s probably best to commence with an admission: My name is Sean and I am a consultant. Yup, and, on occasion, I […]
Bureaucracy and ministerial staffers working better together since PM’s 1993 changes to minister’s offices, says Grit insider
It’s been nine years since Prime Minister Jean Chretien pared down minister’s offices and abolished chief of staff positions, all in an effort to save taxpayers $10-million a year. Although the jury is still out on whether the reforms have actually led to big savings or even if fewer staffers are kicking around ministers’ offices […]
U.S. must ‘come to the table to be part of the solution’: Dhaliwal. Natural Resources Minster Herb Dhaliwal says getting Kyoto Protocol ratified will be his biggest challenge [Energy Policy Briefing]
Newly-appointed Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal has a big challenge ahead of him, namely to figure out how Canada will ratify the contentious Kyoto Protocol signed by over 160 countries five years ago. But the former Fisheries Minister admits the Americans’ hardline on the issue will make it difficult to convince Canadian industry leaders to […]
