Corrections [Bennett says preparing for avian flu ‘a bit like studying for an exam’, October 24, 2005] [Dingwall is entitled to one week per year: PCO guidelines, October 24, 2005]
In last week’s front page story, “Bennett says preparing for avian flu ‘a bit like studying for an exam,’” (The Hill Times, Oct. 24) it incorrectly attributed Public Health Minister Carolyn Bennett as saying the federal government had secured 60 million doses of Tamiflu. In fact, across the country, the federal, provincial and territory governments […]
‘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 […]
LETTERS
Libs hurt Canada’s credibility Re: “The thin line that separates public policy and politics,” (The Hill Times, Oct. 10). I was disappointed to read the column by James Travers questioning the Liberal government’s motives for increased immigration and better trade relations with India. It seems that Paul Martin and his Cabinet never see a policy […]
The Legislative Week Ahead: Ethics Czar to appear before House Affairs Committee
Parliament will discuss two “take note” debates this week, one on the impact on Canada of the United States western hemisphere travel initiative to be held on Monday, Oct. 24, and another on softwood lumber on Oct. 25. The rest of the week, debate takes place on the following bills: *Third reading of Bill C-37, […]
How to reform the CRTC appeal process and then some
Furious lobbying is underway to have the decision overturned or upheld in the battle for Cabinet to uphold the regulator’s decision on Voice over Internet Protocol. It seems the appeals to Cabinet are getting more frantic as the stakes get higher. “The CRTC got it right on VoIP”screams the latest full page ad in the […]
Gomery, the movie to air on RDI [Gomery, le film]
The Sponsorship Scandal inquiry will be turned into a documentary for RDI watchers this week, just in time for the release of Justice John Gomery’s first report, due out on Nov. 1. The documentary, called Gomery, le film, will be a three-part series of one hour each and will be aired over three days on […]
