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 […]
Canadians tend to look to Ottawa in times of crisis and at such times, voters also usually prefer activist governments
From one incident to the next, the Martin team has become more adept at tailoring its response to the national mood, not necessarily to the most pressing needs in the afflicted areas. To Paul Martin and Stephen Harper, a crisis is a leadership vote at their party conventions or a confidence motion in the Commons. […]
Labour force training: the federal government has to respect the jurisdiction of Quebec and the other provinces
Education and the vocational skills of workers are fundamental labour market issues in a knowledge-based society like ours. We have to use our full array of tools – from literacy to continuous training in the workplace – to ensure that our labour force remains internationally competitive.That said, it is vital that in Quebec and in […]
Libs have known about contaminated water reserves since 2001: Sen. Grafstein
Some Liberals say their own government has known about unsafe drinking water on native reserves in Canada since for at least four years. Reacting to what some are calling a “national tragedy,”the federal government announced last week it would build a new community for residents of Kashechewan in northern Ontario, but some Liberals say their […]
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 […]
