May’s strategy is to win Canadians’ attention with presence on the Hill
The Green Party of Canada’s strategy to win seats in the House will be to break down a “psychological barrier” in the minds of Canadians that has been built up by the party’s lack of a presence on the Hill, says the party’s new leader, Elizabeth May. “I think the only real barrier to electing […]
Will the Tory government say goodbye to Status of Women?
Liberal MP Maria Minna (Beaches-East York, Ont.) wants to know where the Conservative government stands on the Status of Women, after REAL Women of Canada called for its dismantling. “The Conservative grassroots community is actively campaigning for the demise of this important agency which promotes the rights of women in Canada,” Ms. Minna said in […]
Senate to amend PM’s proposal for single ethics officer: Senator
The Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs committee studying the Federal Accountability Act is likely to make an amendment to scrap the bill’s proposal for a single conflict of interest and ethics commissioner for both houses of Parliament, maintaining a separate officer for the Senate, says a Liberal senator. “Constitutionally, we have our own privileges and […]
Tories file legal action to stop acclamation of Alberta MP Anders
A group of 11 Calgary West, Alta., Tories have filed a lawsuit to block the acclamation of Conservative MP Rob Anders as the official candidate in the riding, the Edmonton Sun reported last week. Mr. Anders, a four term Tory MP was acclaimed as the official candidate after the Tory Party headquarters rejected Walter Wakula, […]
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE FIGHT
The traditional marriage lobby intends to launch a “15-point lobbying campaign” this month costing “tens of thousands of dollars.” They will lobby MPs of all parties on the divisive issue of same-sex marriage, encouraging a vote to reopen the debate. “We will launch a campaign this fall. The campaign will kick into gear on Sept. […]
Canadians would rather have clean air than more puffers: Bennett
Carolyn Bennett was a backbencher under the Jean Chrétien government, and throughout her campaign for leadership of the Liberal party, she has presented herself as a seasoned, life-long Liberal without the baggage of a previous government tarnished by the image of scandal and waste. But it is a message the media has mostly ignored. Ms. […]
CONSERVATIVE NOMINATION CONTESTS UNDER FIRE
A Conservative Party member says he is “very disappointed” in his own party after his nomination papers for potential candidacy in a B.C. riding were rejected “without any specific reason” last week. “I’m very disappointed, I’m hurt, I’m a longtime member of the party. This is not a way to treat someone who’s volunteered thousands […]
Following the Wrzesnewskyj affair, make Parliamentary trips independent by banning interest-group sponsored junkets
First, a confession. I know Borys Wrzesnewskyj. I even like the guy. I made a modest donation to his election campaign. Not that I would vote for him. I support Borys because he is a Ukrainian Canadian and a principled advocate on many issues of interest to our community. Alas, he climbed up Parliament Hill […]
To the best of my knowledge, I’m not aware of any MP in the Liberal caucus who represents the riding of Lebanon South
The non-events of last week at the Liberal caucus retreat in Vancouver have confirmed what we knew since Jan. 23. Prime Minister Stephen Harper will lose his job only if he decides to quit after winning a Lotto 6/49 jackpot (and that’s an unlikely possibility), or if some hotheads in his caucus accumulate nostalgic feelings […]
With the 2006 election over, who can complain about its media coverage? Not the Conservative Party
Political parties invariably resent the coverage they receive from the media. They feel as though they are forced to fight election campaigns on two fronts, the first against their political opponents and the second against a press corps reflexively opposed to their ambitions for office. Now that the 2006 federal election is history, who has […]
