House keeps MPs’ legal fees secret in Hill: Robinson challenges Day to open Commons Board of Internal Economy
NDP MP Svend Robinson says Stockwell Day should prove his commitment to openness by fighting in Ottawa for full disclosure of the secret payouts made by the Commons Board of Internal Economy to cover MPs’ legal bills and out-of-court settlements. Mr. Robinson (Burnaby Douglas, B.C.) has criticized the Commons Board of Internal Economy’s practice of […]
Jean Chretien warms up to Martinites: PM could open up cabinet to Martinites in June
Prime Minister Jean Chretien could be more open to the idea of widening his cabinet to so-called Martinites in the next shuffle, expected in June, sources say. Mr. Chretien (Saint-Maurice, Que.), better known as “King Jean” for winning an historic third straight Liberal majority, apparently feels more confident about the internal situation in the Liberal […]
Chief scientist to meet Health Canada’s disgruntled scientists: and with Dodge gone from deputy ministers’ community, PCO reviewing membership to DM committee
Canada’s new Chief Scientist Dr. Kevin Keough foresees smoother relations at Health Canada between management and scientists — just don’t call him on ombudsman. With David Dodge leaving his post as Health Canada’s DM to take over as governor of the Bank of Canada, the Health Department is under new management. High-ranking Privy Council Office […]
Rod Love’s lessons from Campaign 2000? It was American-style: and it wasn’t pretty fighting a federal election campaign in the midst of a vicious national newspaper war
Come on, consider the circumstances: A new, untested leader of the Official Opposition. He brings with him a fresh new set of policies, a new staff and a team of eager and energetic candidates, many of them new. There is rising popularity in the polls for the newcomers and shaky poll numbers for a tired […]
“Merchant of Mud” still emerged in American-style election ads: desperate for attention, Conservatives’ spots dished up negativity rarely seen in Canadian politics
When it came to campaign advertising, the 2000 federal election saw the major parties bring new firms on board, employ different strategies from the ones that they had used previously — and, in some cases, get more aggressively negative than ever before. As was the case in the 1997 election, two well-financed parties were able […]
MPs to be moved into spiffy Justice Building as early as April
MPs could be moving into the newly-renovated Justice Building as early as the Easter break in April. Rene Crete, Public Works director general of Real Property Services for the Parliamentary Precinct, told The Hill Times that his department expects to have the Justice Building renovations completed by the end of February. The building will hold […]
Day raid on Alberta treasury will make people laugh, indeed
Stockwell Day has gone on welfare. Having allowed his tongue to run off with his brain, the Reform Alliance leader was sued for libel, prudently settled out of court and has been obliged to pay damages and costs. In order to finance his legal obligations, Day has billed the Alberta Big Mouth Fund, a welfare […]
PM names “a very good person from Saulnierville” [Cabinet and senate appointments]
The Manila envelope…Prime Minister Jean Chretien polished his cabinet with the appointment of three new faces, among them Philippines-born medical doctor Rey Pagtakhan, a long-time Winnipeg back-bencher. He becomes secretary of state for the Asia-Pacific replacing defeated Liberal Raymond Chan. In announcing the appointment, the PM suggested Mr. Pagtakhan’s birthplace was his strongest qualification for […]
So you want to lobby Ontario public officials? Here’s how
If, as one wag once opined, imitation remains the highest form of flattery, federal Liberals should feel pleased as punch by the lobbyist legislation offered up by Ontario’s provincial Conservatives. The Ontario proposals, with few exceptions, are virtually identical to the revised federal law that has been in place since 1995. The provincial law — […]
Rookie Bloc MP Paquette touted as a “rising star” in Hill caucus
Toeing the party line shouldn’t be much of a problem for new Bloc Quebecois MP Pierre Paquette (Joliette, Que.), considering he helped write many of the policies as the party’s vice-president. While most of the new MPs are quietly learning the ropes, the 45-year-old former union leader and television host on Tele-Quebec is ready to […]
