MPs bitterly fighting over franking privileges, House-funded partisan pamphlets
There were a lot of long faces in the opposition benches where the Bloc Quebecois MPs sat last week, former Cabinet minister Denis Coderre told The Hill Times. “These are people who are nervous,”said Mr. Coderre (Bourassa, Que.), who raised a question of privilege over mail-outs that Bloc MPs are sending to their constituents, linking […]
Sheila Copps scrums, Transport Minister Lapierre attacks her
Former heritage minister Sheila Copps raised some eyebrows on the Hill this week as she weighed into a scrum with Transport Minister Jean Lapierre (Outremont, Que.). The newly-minted columnist for the Sun media chain repeatedly asked the Prime Minister’s Quebec lieutenant where the Liberal Party got the money it’s using to repay the $1.14 million […]
John Gomery Commission denies leaks to The Globe and Mail
Justice John Gomery’s first report on the sponsorship scandal was not leaked to the media before its official release on Nov. 1, said Gomery spokesperson Francois Perreault. Despite reports in The Globe and Mail, and other newspapers in the days leading up to ‘G-Day,’Mr. Perreault said none of the reporters were getting their leaks from […]
Conservatives, NDP and Bloc Quebecois parties considering their options in election chicken game in national politics
Federal opposition parties still have not decided what they will do with their opposition days next week. Conservative House Leader Jay Hill (Prince George-Peace River, B.C.) said the party will decide only a few days before Nov. 15, the Conservatives’ first opposition day and their first opportunity to introduce a non-confidence motion.”I talked about it […]
Gomery Report, Who’s Responsible: some briefs
“The report that follows chronicles a depressing story of multiple failures to plan a government program appropriately and to control waste – a story of greed, venality and misconduct both in government and advertising and communications agencies, all of which contributed to the loss and misuse of huge amounts of money at the expense of […]
MP Angus says Kashechewan is ‘Paul Martin’s New Orleans’
NDP MP Charlie Angus says he didn’t get into federal politics to be comfy and play the game. But the rookie MP sure played the game when he shook things up recently. The Kashechewan reserve is “Prime Minister Paul Martin’s New Orleans,”says NDP MP Charlie Angus, the MP who helped force the issue of deplorable […]
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 […]
Federal government dragging its feet on bird flu: critics: Medical association calls for emergency communications system, more flexible regulations for doctors
The federal government should create a real-time communications network so physicians nationwide can share updates in case a bird flu pandemic strikes the country, says the president of the Canadian Medical Association. “There’s no communication method with front-line doctors and that’s a huge thing for us because you have to have a real-time rapid communication […]
Grits fast-tracked nomination of Mint chairman: Conservatives: Applications sent to Privy Council Office ‘were just trashed,’ says Conservative MP Gary Lunn
The Liberal government fast-tracked the nomination of Max C. Lewis as the new chairperson of the Royal Canadian Mint, the opposition Conservatives said this week. “The Privy Council Office apparently received five or six applications. They were just trashed,” said Gary Lunn (Saanich-Gulf Islands, BC). “The nomination committee never even received those. All they got […]
Today it’s more important than ever that we get labour policy right, says federal Labour Minister Fontana
Today it is more important than ever that we get labour policy right. In the 21st century, how we treat our workforce will not only reflect our values as Canadians, it will also be key to ensuring our future prosperity. We live in a knowledge-driven international economy where prosperity depends upon our ability to put […]
