McCallum on government’s $1.5-billion injection into Canada’s natural resources over next five years: ‘Approximately half of that or a little less is money to transform this industry, to move it to the next’
The following is an edited excerpt of Natural Resources Minister John McCallum’s speech he delivered to the Ontario Energy Association Breakfast in Toronto on Nov. 25, three days before the government was defeated on a non-confidence vote in Ottawa. In The Economist magazine a couple of months ago, it was written that the resource sector […]
Recent government appointments before the Liberals were defeated
In the last two weeks before the Liberals were defeated, there were a number of government appointments worth noting. On Nov. 24, Industry Minister David Emerson appointed Christiane Germain and Gordon MacInnis to the Canadian Tourism Commission for a three-year term. On Nov. 23, Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew appointed Nancy Riche and Michael Small […]
Polls, Lewinsky aside, are the sex and cigars of politics: Polls to skulking backroomers like us are beautiful, shiny things: lavish attention and love
Kinsella: I just returned from a CBC Radio taping, and the question was: “Do polls really matter?” My answer: “Do they matter? To political hacks like us? They matter only in the way that heroin matters to heroin addicts!” Clumsy attempt at humour, sure, but it’s the truth, just the same: polls – to skulking […]
Some facts on Canada’s natural resources industry
* In 2004, the total value of all mineral commodities mined in Canada was $24.2-billion, an $3-billion increase from 2003. * Coal production increased to $1.6-billion in 2004 from $1.5-billion in 2003. * The value of gold production, Canada’s second most valuable mineral commodity in 2004, declined by 4.4% to $2.2-billion and the volume of […]
Aging politicians like to prove they’re youthful with exaggerated stunts, eh?
How old is too old is up to voters. But Prime Minister Paul Martin is campaigning like a man who has no time to lose. Paul Martin, in a youthful impulse, once said he’d serve at least two terms as Prime Minister. He is 67 years old. Should Martin win a majority and be as […]
Elections, environment and national media coverage
The reason why the environment is not ‘top of mind’ during the election campaign has much more to do with the reporters who cover campaigns than with the political leaders. Every time there is an election, environmental groups attempt to make the environment an election issue. Over the years, I have concluded that the reason […]
Recently Released Books [American Backlash: The Untold Story of Social Change in the United States] [The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness and Greed] [Royal Transport: An Inside Look at the History of Royal Travel] [Forging Alberta’s Constitutional Framework] [Fair Trade for All] [The Governor General and the Prime Ministers] [War X]
American Backlash: The Untold Story of Social Change In The United States, by Michael Adams, Viking Canada, 230 pages, $35. Blurb from the back cover: “American Backlash is about that trajectory. It documents a surprising and radical change in the mental posture of the American people since the 1970s. Conventional wisdom depicts a political divide […]
PARLIAMENTARY CALENDAR: The Public Policy Forum hosts a new weekly, non-partisan breakfast panel on the election week
Every week, Public Policy Forum participants will go behind the headlines and hear from experts on the numbers, the highlights and the issues of the election campaign at the National Press Club in Ottawa. MONDAY, DEC. 5 Canada Export Awards-International Trade Minister Jim Peterson will host the 2005 Canada Export Awards.These awards acknowledge the significant […]
PCO preparing for new Cabinet, possibly whole new government
The Privy Council Office is preparing briefing binders for new Cabinet Ministers but insists the business of government continues. There’s a growing flurry of activity inside the Privy Council Office as personnel prepare for the arrival of a new Cabinet and possibly a whole new government. “We can’t anticipate the outcome of the election,”said PCO […]
A brief primer on the war rooms in Ottawa and Montreal
Liberal Party War Room Address: 81 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa Chief: Cyrus Reporter Staffers: Some of the senior staffers in the Liberal Party war room include: David Herle, Karl Littler, Brian Guest, Derek Ferguson,Taras Zalusky, Howard Millard, Maxime Poulin and Susan Murray. TV Spin: Susan Murray, Scott Reid, Michael Robinson. Campaign Slogan: None Strategy: To adequately […]
