HEARD ON THE HILL
The dog days of summer have hit The Toronto Star’s Hill office a few weeks earlier than usual this year, thanks to the arrival of Rosie, an eleven-week old miniature dachshund puppy who tips the scale at just over a pound. The pint-sized pup spent the last week hanging out at The Star office with […]
‘General chill’ between lobbyists and Harper’s ministerial staffers: lobbyists
There’s a “general chill” between lobbyists and Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s ministerial political offices that has to thaw once the Conservative minority government moves on public policy in the coming months, lobbyists say. In the political world of the Federal Accountability Act, public disclosures on hospitality expenses, and eventually public disclosures of meetings between lobbyists […]
Five TPC lobbyists under investigation: Lobbyist Registrar
The federal government is investigating five lobbyists who earned more than $3-million in controversial contingency fee payments while lobbying the government for funding agreements under the Technology Partnerships Canada program, The Hill Times has learned. The Industry Department released an audit last week of the Technology Partnerships Canada program, which found another 16 companies involved […]
Environmental Defence basks in successful PR campaign
Rick Smith, director of Environmental Defence, an environmental advocacy group in Toronto, said he “likes to think” that the organization’s campaign against harmful toxic agents had an impact on the government’s recent decision to ban two of them. Environment Minister Rona Ambrose and Health Minister Tony Clement published a notice in the Canada Gazette on […]
‘This is very much a wide open race’: Bevilacqua
Liberal leadership candidate and seven-term Grit MP Maurizio Bevilacqua, 46, says the leadership race is still “wide open” with four months to go and that it’s a mistake to assume the winner will be one of the current perceived media front-runners. “What I’m finding is that the grassroots support for me is quite strong across […]
Energy efficiency: What will it take?
Here is the new Triple-E: Energy-Efficient Economy. Energy is the cornerstone of any modern society that hopes to survive, let alone thrive. We are just beginning to understand that Canada does not have an unlimited supply of energy or other resources; that we must learn to be less profligate than we have been in using […]
Stormy weather doesn’t dampen southern spirit at U.S. Ambassador’s party
Despite a stormy afternoon of weather as volatile as recent Canada-U.S. relations, U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins put on a heck of a good Independence Day party last Tuesday in Ottawa. The legendary South Carolina hospitality was also on display throughout the afternoon. When the Ambassador’s opening remarks were cut short by a sudden downpour that […]
Flirting with the left could spell disaster for Liberals
Asked once what he liked most about his job, former prime minister Jean Chrétien replied that “the most enjoyable thing is to win an election.” And win he did; 12 elections as a member of Parliament and three as prime minister before retiring undefeated after 40 years in the business of elected politics. The success […]
Engaging the Americans is key to a successful long-term solution
When I was appointed to this position I was new to this process-I arrived without the preconceived notions and the silo mentality that exists all too often in this debate. I now know what an advantage it is to approach these challenges without preconceived notions and without the fear to question the status quo and […]
Harper made it crystal clear the federal government’s first priority is an open America
WASHINGTON, D.C.-What’s on Stephen Harper’s mind is now on his lips. Anyone who bothers to listen will learn what’s worrying the Prime Minister and where his government will lead Canada this fall. In conversation here with George W. Bush and later with the press, Harper made it crystal clear the federal government’s first priority is […]
