The right thing to do: why Canada is poised to lead world
It’s time to ask not what more our companies can do for the government, but ask what the government can do for our companies. Sharing the risk is a start. “A risk-shared basis.” This was the phrase used in the press release emanating from the most recent health ministers’ conference as they focused on the […]
Whatever happened to former Public Works DM Ranald Quail?
The former deputy minister of Public Works Ranald Quail, who is now retired, received a special appointment from Jean Chretien’s Cabinet in 2001 as a senior adviser in the Privy Council Office. He left the post in 2003. Accused of “abdicating” his responsibilities, the man who could have stopped the sponsorship scandal in its tracks […]
Former MP returns to Liberals
After turning his back on the federal Grits last spring, Andre Harvey says anger over the sponsorship program is subsiding in the sovereigntist heartland. He thought he had no chance of winning as a federal Liberal last spring, but former MP Andre Harvey is returning to the party to fight for his old seat in […]
House’s election fever
The House has election fever, but if the three opposition parties really want to defeat the federal Liberals, then they should muster up some courage and do it. The Conservatives, the Bloc Quebecois and the NDP should introduce a non-confidence motion in the House this week to bring the Liberals down and put the Liberals […]
Ottawa media like former prime minister Jean Chretien’s schtick
He is delightfully quotable and makes good copy, in reporters’ jargon. Journalists have always been an appreciative audience, and Chretien returned the favour by repeating the same shtick over and over at his recent press conference. He seemed wistful his last days in office. On Sept. 18, 2003, Jean Chretien stood outside Ottawa’s Laurier House […]
Harper’s proposed lobby reforms ‘like killing a fly with a hammer’
Many lobbyists say the five-year “cooling off” period for ministers and Hill staffers is overkill and that the proposals to curb the “revolving door” between government and the private sector may, in fact, wind up hurting both. Conservative Party Leader Stephen Harper’s proposed reforms to lobby laws are like “killing a fly with a hammer,” […]
Gomery’s second report no panacea: whoever wins election will have rubbery flexibility to implement recommendations
Hey, does anyone here remember a judge named Gomery? No, apparently not.Two weeks ago, his first report on the Liberal theft of taxpayers’ money was the talk of this town. Now his second one, the one fixing failures that began with patronage and ended in corruption, is at risk of being blown away by the […]
Minority government no longer a pit stop in Canadian politics
The end result of the federal Liberal feud has amputated the Liberals’ leg in Quebec and has put the Conservatives and the Liberals on the same electoral footing in the province. TORONTO – In 1988, Canada was hosting the G7 Summit in Toronto. The prime minister was Brian Mulroney. A few days before the arrival […]
Gomery Report sells 1,269 copies in one week
Have you read Gomery…It might never become a best-seller, but the Gomery report’s sales have already broken through the four-digit barrier. At the end of last week, the Public Works Department was reporting 1,269 copies of Justice John Gomery’s report on the federal sponsorship program sold.The full version of the report makes up nearly two-thirds […]
No nation in history has benefited more than Canada from its relationship with the U.S.
By persistently working at cross purposes to U.S. objectives, Ottawa appears willing to transform the bilateral relationship into one of guarded hostility. Is this really in Canada’s interest? WASHINGTON, D.C. – During the past several weeks, Ambassador Frank McKenna and Prime Minister Paul Martin amused themselves at U.S. expense. In speeches, respectively, in Toronto and […]
