Busy day at the Press Theatre
When John Gomery released his blockbuster report at 10 a.m. on Nov. 1 in Ottawa, the House was debating the Energy Cost Assistance Measures Act, Bill C- 66. Outside the House, the political spin was in full tilt.”The report that follows chronicles a depressing story of multiple failures to plan a government program appropriately and […]
Gomery spins off in Quebec, a probe into Jean Charest’s Liberals
After record-breaking ratings, the Gomery Inquiry will soon have a sequel in Quebec. The province’s Chief Electoral Officer, Marcel Blanchet has launched an inquiry into allegations that Jean Charest’s provincial Liberal party received a $50,000 payment from Groupaction, sent through Groupe Everest prior to the 1998 Quebec election. Premier Jean Charest could be called to […]
Conservatives hope to get secret list of Liberal lobbyists: Rajotte
Industry Minister David Emerson could soon be forced to release a secret list of naughty Liberal lobbyists, the opposition Conservatives said last week. A motion adopted last week by the House Public Accounts Committee is calling on the government to turn over Industry Canada’s internal audit of the Technology Partnerships Canada program. “So far, the […]
The week ahead in Parliament: Finance Minister to release fiscal update
The House and the Senate are on a break this week for Remembrance Day. When the House resumes on Nov. 14, MPs will deal with the following bills: * Second reading of Bill C-68, the Pacific Gateway Act; * Second reading of Bill C-66, the Energy Relief Bill; * Second reading of Bill C-67, the […]
Welcome to ‘bullshit theatre,’ as John Turner called it, or, the entertaining daily 45-minute Question Period
Claire Hoy once said, ‘To really inform the public, journalists should be allowed to cover Cabinet – and the Commons could be closed to the public,’ but is it fair to criticize Question Period simply because it’s transparent? It is the best part of Ottawa. Everyone ought to see it in person. It is brash […]
Lives lived and lost, horrors suffered and futures dreamt but never realized, says Veterans Affairs’ Guarnieri
Veterans Affairs Minister Albina Guarnieri was in Europe last week along with aboriginal spiritual leaders, aboriginal veterans and youth, on an aboriginal spiritual journey. Last Sunday, she was at the Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, in Normandy, France, where 33 aboriginal Canadian soldiers are buried, most victims of the D-Day landings and the invasion of Normandy. […]
Calgary Herald, National Post columnist Don Martin set to write Stronach book
The book on Belinda… Calgary Herald and National Post Ottawa columnist Don Martin has a verbal agreement with Key Porter books to write a biography of rookie Liberal Cabinet minister and recently departed Conservative Belinda Stronach. Tentatively earmarked for publication next September, Mr. Martin says his book will cover Belinda from birth to the next […]
Libs worried Gomery’s ‘exoneration’ of PM didn’t help: polls
Liberals are relieved Gomery has finally been lifted off their heads like some Damoclean sword, but they’re worried the PM’s exoneration isn’t helping. Federal Liberals, rocked by last week’s Gomery Report, will publicly stand behind Paul Martin, but are worried about the aftershocks of Gomery and don’t like how the Prime Minister is pretending to […]
Zukerman’s excellent and musical 13-day adventure through Prairie provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan
We at the NAC know that music in schools is important. Last month, at our NAC Roundtable on Music and Medicine, many respected scientists and researchers from some of Canada’s leading research hospitals and universities offered scientific evidence on how music can help our health, wellbeing and the way we learn. Most people don’t know […]
Libs out of commission in Quebec for 10 years
TORONTO – Last week was one of the most chaotic weeks in federal politics. It was a skunk fight, a free-for-all. Liberals were divided and dispirited in their effort to keep this brain-dead government alive. But oddly, in this Parliament, there’s a minority government, a minority opposition, and no one is winning in this chaotic […]
