‘Framing’ Canada, Part II: We can decide to lead the world in forging a new kind of identity for a new era, or we can back away
Last week in this space we looked at Prime Minister Paul Martin’s recent speech to the senior ranks of the public service. Despite the wide range of issues it raised, we found it wanting in one important respect: a framing speech should do more to tell us who we are as Canadians and why we […]
Will the Liberal Party reign over us forever? [The Big Red Machine]
Stephen Clarkson’s new book, The Big Red Machine, investigates why the Grits have ruled for every three out of four years since Confederation, sort of like the PRI in Mexico. It was Stephen Clarkson and his late wife Christina McCall, who gave us the memorable political phrase, “He haunts us still” in their prize-winning biography […]
House Access, Privacy and Ethics Committee soldiers on with or without Justice Minister Irwin Cotler’s help
The House Access Committee is poised to pass a motion requesting the House to order Justice Minister Irwin Cotler to appear before it sooner rather than later. Justice Minister Irwin Cotler’s bumpy relations with the House Access, Privacy and Ethics Committee continue. It started last April with an 11th hour pro-secrecy discussion paper on the […]
Tory Obhrai says he is ‘on top of the world’ over RCMP probe: Conservative threatening to sue federal ethics commissioner for going public with details on investigation
While some might get nervous about the Mounties knocking on their door, Conservative MP Deepak Obhrai is ecstatic. Mr. Obhrai (Calgary East, Alta.) is expecting the RCMP will do a better job looking into allegations he was paid $40,000 to fast-track immigration paperwork for a relative than Federal Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro who conducted a […]
Indian Affairs keeping aboriginals in a box, complains NDP
Rookie NDP MP Charlie Angus said he’s happy with the government’s response last week, but he also said it took national media attention for the government to move on any action. The Department of Indian Affairs has left aboriginals boxed-in, says NDP MP Charlie Angus. “That’s the way the bureaucrats have been operating in dealing […]
MPs say severance is okay for political staffers, but are against fast-tracking ministerial aides into federal public service
Severance pay for political staffers who quit is justified, although former Royal Canadian Mint president David Dingwal’scase is an entirely different story, Conservative, Liberal and NDP MPs say. “I have no objection to a reasonable severance for political staffers because the nature of their work is that they have very little job security so reasonable […]
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
On flip floppers and floor crossers Regarding last week’s Spin Doctors question (The Hill Times, Oct. 24). Leslie Swartman’s viewpoint that floor crossing is simply a personal choice by an incumbent MP reeks of political careerism and opportunism. Nowhere in her logic does she mention the democratic voice of the constituents other than they may […]
Backbench Liberal on hot seat for criticizing young staffers: Tempers flare at House Public Accounts Committee
A backbench Liberal MP found himself in some hot water last week after his temper got the better of him. In the heat of a fiery exchange between Liberals and Bloquistes at a Public Accounts Committee hearing, Gary Carr (Halton, Ont.) suggested the opposition party’s political aides were too young to do their job properly. […]
‘Whose butt do you have to kiss at Earnscliffe?’
An edited excerpt of Prime Minister Paul Martin’s speech on Oct. 22 at the Press Gallery Dinner: “Ireally do miss [Broadcast News’] Dan Dugas. I’ve got to say that I think Anthony [Germain’s] not doing a bad job. He’s sort of a cross between Chris Rock and Doogie Howser. Now, look, Anthony, you wanted to […]
The Spin Doctors: “A recent Leger Marketing survey found that more Canadian voters were more likely to reject a politician with an alcohol problem than one who had smoked a joint. What’s your take?”
Leslie Swartman Liberal Strategist “Considering we’ve had party leaders parading about in leather cowboy vests, shower caps and wet-suits, Canadians have the right to wonder what on earth these guys were smoking!! “Seriously though, the comparison between ‘an alcohol problem’ and having ‘smoked a joint’ is not fair. Let’s compare apples to apples. I would […]
