PM’s friends blame Goldenberg
Prime Minister Jean Chretien’s closest friends are blaming long-time senior adviser Eddie Goldenberg for Brian Tobin’s sudden departure from the federal scene last month, and for Prime Minister Chretien’s forced consideration to seek a fourth term. Insiders say it was Mr. Goldenberg’s improper handling of Mr. Tobin’s issues in the December federal budget that prompted […]
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 […]
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 […]
Nault, Kilgour would disclose cabinet costs: just ask, avoid Access Act, says Robert Nault
Two federal cabinet ministers say they would voluntarily release their expense reports, despite a new policy that places ministers and their ministerial staffers beyond the reach of the Access to Information Act. And a third cabinet minister is strongly indicating he would disclose as well. Indian Affairs Minister Robert Nault (Kenora-Rainy River, Ont.) told 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 […]
Immigrant MPs blast new rules: most immigrant MPs wouldn’t get in: Hill Times survey
A majority of MPs and Senators who came to Canada as immigrants would have failed to secure Canadian immigration had they applied under the proposed new immigration law, according to a Hill Times survey. And it’s unclear even if natives of Canada, like Prime Minister Jean Chretien (Saint-Maurice, Que.) and former immigration minister Elinor Caplan […]
Joe still broken-hearted over Dom getting the girl
The real reason why Joe is back… Okay so you’ve heard all there is to hear about Joe Peschisolido’s return to Gritdom after a decade toiling for Reform and the Canadian Alliance. Well, perhaps not quite all. The crack among his confreres from his days as a young Liberal at the University of Toronto is […]
‘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 […]
Cash disclosure please
Canada’s Chief Electoral Officer Jean-Pierre Kingsley is doing something important. He’s calling for full disclosure on federal political leadership races, nominations races and the bank accounts of riding associations which are not now covered by the Canada Elections Act. He’s been singing this tune for years, but we support Mr. Kingsley’s recommendations and we urge […]
Our governments should explain why they don’t do things too: Governing’s about making choices, so it makes sense for them to let public in on what those choices are
It’s calledHow to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk . Authored more than 20 years ago by two New York moms, it’s still available in bookstores. A wonderful Christmas present — even for the childless; indeed, perhaps especially for those whose exposure to kids is intermittent — it’s one of […]
