Christmas cards are federal election ads, says NDP MP
This holiday season, incumbent MPs should think twice before they make a list or check it twice, an NDP MP warns. Regardless of whether his constituents have been naughty or nice, Pat Martin (Winnipeg Centre, Man.) said he won’t use the House of Commons printing service for greetings cards if the country is plunged into […]
The daily Commons show
Each party in the House, over the last few weeks, has been arguing forcefully and loudly that it’s their party, (their party!) fighting for what’s right for the good Canadian voters over the direly important question of the timing of the 39th general election.The corrupt, tired federal Liberals must be ejected from office, they argue.Yet […]
Speed essential in war room, but no substitute for the smart, well-informed and good communicators, says Kinsella
There are two kinds of people in the war room: the brainiacs, or, the ‘oppo’ people and ‘the crazy, kind of cowboy writer-types.’ Think about working for more than a month straight, 16 hours a day, getting very little sleep, eating crappy food and living on adrenaline.That’s a taste of what it’s like to work […]
Unease over a fifth consecutive Liberal mandate versus fear of a Conservative government: it’s a zero sum game
Unease over a fifth consecutive Liberal mandate versus fear of a Conservative government: That is the negative option set to be at the root of the coming election campaign. Whoever solves it – Stephen Harper or Paul Martin – to his advantage will likely emerge as the country’s next Prime Minister. Except that it is […]
Our governments in the war on terror have lost their moral compass, says Sampson
Canadian and British citizen William Sampson spent 963 days in a Saudi Arabian prison. He was tortured, gang raped and brutalized. His new book is his effort to speak up for the hundreds, if not thousands imprisoned and tortured around the world. William Sampson strides up the lobby steps of the trendy, minimalist Arc Hotel […]
Mudslinging, attack campaign on the way
If the recent fiery exchanges in the House are any indication, Canadians are on the verge of witnessing a nasty election campaign filled with mudslinging attacks from all sides, federal Liberals warned last week. “I think some of the debates in Parliament have been personal and I think that’s a loss for us, as Parliamentarians,” […]
Fry’s advice: Beware of spin
Jennifer Fry, a seasoned Parliamentary reporter for CBC Radio’s popular Saturday morning program The House, is definitely in the right business. She’s a people person and she likes people a hell of a lot. That’s a good thing because she talks to a lot of people in a day covering federal politics in Ottawa. Born […]
A look at advertising budgets for Liberal, Conservative and New Democratic parties in last election
Liberal Party of Canada Communications director Steve MacKinnon Advertising firm: Red Leaf Consortium, comprised of “roughly the same” firms as during the 2004 election, headed up by Bensimon-Byrne, creator of the “I am Canadian” Molson ads, and a separate “consortium of consortiums” in Quebec. 2004 advertising budget: $7.57-million for radio and TV advertising; $2.58-million for […]
Trueman joins Cotler’s office as director of communications: And former director of comm. Denise Rudnicki leaves Cotler’s office for MJ at Carleton U.
Irwin Cotler,Justice Minister and Attorney General of Canada, has hired a new spinmeister for his ministerial political office. Anne Trueman, former deputy managing editor of The Ottawa Citizen, is starting her new job as director of communications to Minister Cotler (Mount Royal, Que.) this week and has succeeded Denise Rudnicki who left her job on […]
Feds balanced their books on backs of civil servants: unions: Litigation trial begins on $30-billion lawsuit over pension surpluses in Ontario court
It’s a case that touches the lives of 1.2 million Canadians. Some 670,000 employees of the federal government and their families. What’s at stake is a $30-billion surplus in their pension fund that could take more than 20 years to resolve. “It’s a question of justice,”said Nycole Turmel, president of the Public Service Alliance of […]
