Finance is a “male bastion” [WTN Current Affairs panel]
A televised panel of veteran female lawmakers says “old-fashioned prejudice” in Parliament has barred women from appointment to the federal cabinet’s most senior post, the Department of Finance. “It’s where the power really lies,” said Flora MacDonald, a former External Affairs Minister first elected to Parliament in 1972. “How many business people, if they saw […]
Brazil beef ban thrusts two civil servants into media spotlight: after reading Globe and Mail’s story, new Health deputy minister Ian Green asked Diane Kirkpatrick to handle the issue
Two top federal civil servants were scrambling to put out last week’s public relations fires, namely irate Brazilians and equally irate Health Canada scientists. [Graph Not Transcribed] Dr. Brian Evans, chief veterinary officer at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, set off an international storm of controversy when he decided to ban Brazilian beef products, citing […]
Non-race for Quebec’s premier job a lonely, egotistical run to top
Lucien Bouchard is not gone yet but he’s been mostly invisible since he announced his intention to quit politics. Last week he joined the Prime Minister in China. The week before he was in Rome having a chat with the Pope. The week before that, he was in Spain to see where the rain mostly […]
Former MPs say it ain’t easy getting back into swing of things [Study on the challenges facing former MPs when they re-enter the non-political world]
Low pay, low hours, little public respect, no job security — life in Parliament may be difficult, but according to a recent study by University of Western Ontario professor David Doherty, the road from public office may be just as bumpy as the road to Parliament. In a paper based on surveys of more than […]
Martinites punished over conference call: PMO got word of call between five Martin MPs days before the election [Committee assignments]
[Graph Not Transcribed] [Graph Not Transcribed] Paul Martin supporters strongly suspect prominent Martin MPs were punished for a conference call that took place before the election. Why else would one MP be dumped entirely from the House of Commons committees list and another put on the unpopular Joint Library of Parliament Committee, they say. Martinite […]
Alberta Liberal leader better stop telling voters what she isn’t
With Albertans set to go to the polls on March 12, provincial Liberal Leader Nancy MacBeth is in an unenviable position. [Graph Not Transcribed] Up against Canada’s most popular provincial politician in the form of Premier Ralph Klein, and saddled with a party name that conjures up images of the much-loathed federal government, the beleaguered […]
Governor Cellucci’s appointment good news for Canada-US relations [US ambassador to Canada]
The appointment of Massachusetts Governor Paul Cellucci, a George W. Bush loyalist, as U.S. ambassador to Canada, is a signal that both countries will continue to enjoy close and smooth bilateral relations. The appointment will ensure ready access — an important ingredient in diplomacy, at the highest level to help resolve issues, if and when […]
Clark knocks Alliance off track, again: industry minister Brian Tobin suspects Beaudoin is Joe Clark’s source
Joe Clark’s continuing assault on the Liberals in Question Period has Alliance strategists rethinking their frontbench and Industry Minister Brian Tobin questioning the Tory leader’s sources. Despite having far fewer questions in the House, Mr. Clark (Calgary Centre, Alta.) has made good use of his time and consistently scrums in the House foyer after every […]
Ralph’s one-party system
Those who worry about the evils of one-party rule are generally beside themselves over the Liberal federal hegemony. In downtown Toronto, near the conjunction of King and Bay streets, bankers, brokers, bondsmen and investors have been mightily engaged in efforts to merge the Progressive Conservative party with that of the Reform Alliance. Having sunk over […]
NFB’s absurd pro-Campbell line [Kim Campbell Through the Looking Glass]
Winners accept responsibility even when they lose. Losers don’t. Which brings us, of course, to former prime minister Kim Campbell and the fawning NFB documentary, Kim Campbell Through the Looking Glass, shown last week on TVO. Directed by Michelle Jones and produced by Silva Baskmajian, it glossed over Campbell’s personal political stupidity and bought holus […]
