Alliance sees Liberal Vintner Pilliteri’s seat as ripe for the picking [Hill Times’ list of vulnerable ridings in Atlantic, Ontario and Quebec]
With the U.S. election showing the importance of every vote, footsoldiers for all parties have an added bounce in their step as the campaign heads into the home stretch, especially in these ridings, where the sitting MPs are considered vulnerable. NEWFOUNDLAND Tory Norman Doyle St. John’s East, Nfld. This one-time Tory stronghold ain’t what it […]
Don’t listen to hypercentralists: devolution of power is a real possibility and our national parliament could be given more power
Arguments to centralize the main powers of the federation at the federal level or to vest the main federal power in the hands of a small oligarchy in Ottawa are very similar: they constitute an argument for centralization of power in few hands at the centre. This project is built on the model suggesting that […]
Douglas can “ruffle up your spirits, put a tongue in every wound” [in defence of medicare]
An argument between the Liberals and the Canadian Alliance about their health platforms aroused some interest last week. Prime Minister Jean Chretien and an influential Opposition spokesman, namely Canadian Alliance MP Jason Kenney, tossed around the question of one- tier, two-tier medicare. Some observers declared that the biggest issue in the campaign is the health […]
What’s up Toronto Globe and Mail’s nose these days, eh?
TORONTO — “Day’s plan found in secret paper,” screamed the main front-page headline in Tuesday’s Globe and Mail. What “secret paper” you ask? Why the standard “policy overview” which all parties send out to all their candidates to explain party policy to them. That way, the hope is, that all candidates for the party in […]
Williams’ Waste Report reveals some fun stuff
Waste not? Why not! … Canadian Alliance MP John Williams’ latest Waste Report reveals some entertaining, if not costly, facts about government spending. Among them: the disappearance from the Department of National Defence of $128,000 worth of computers (the thieves obviously took out the computers through Windows 98). DND also forked out about $1,000 for […]
Assailable ridings give incumbent challengers fighting chance: the Hill Times’ list of more vulnerable incumbent ridings in British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan
Tory bedrock support has crumbled away over the last seven years in Western Canada, the provincial NDP’s support in British Columbia is flagging and there are a number of other variables at play in this election campaign, the biggest factor being that the Canadian Alliance is polling 20 to 30 points ahead of every other […]
Chopper challenge shot down by Canadian Trade Commission: EH Industries Ltd told there won’t be an inquiry
A British company’s allegations that Prime Minister Jean Chretien’s government is trying to rig a competition to replace the ageing Sea King helicopter have been grounded in an unusual ruling. The Canadian International Trade Commission told lawyers for EH Industries Ltd. it will not hold an inquiry into the company’s complaint that the government is […]
Even smallest minority party may be crucial in next government
There are few certainties about this or any election. But one thing is clear. Never in Canadian history has such a vast army of experts and specialists been mobilized for a national poll. Public opinion surveys have proliferated. Recently on PBS, a most excellent TV network, some very intelligent people concluded that with the down-to-the-wire […]
Meet Josiane Polidori, Canada’s kingpin of children’s books
Anyone looking for a good children’s book to put under the tree this Christmas would be wise to tap into the knowledge of Josiane Polidori, the National Library of Canada’s new head of the Canadian Children’s Literature Service. Ms. Polidori has been extremely busy since taking over the position last month. She has travelled to […]
Canada has a lot of catching up to do in public service ethics: outgoing auditor general Denis Desautels calls for ethics discussion groups, also says there’s too much contracting out
Canadians got a well-researched assessment of life in the public service last week with the release of Auditor General Denis Desautels’ report and an especially scathing analysis from the Access to Information Commissioner. Both reports painted a picture of government departments lacking leadership from the top, leading to a civil service that is often hostile […]
