MPs taking advantage of new flexibility in travel budgets: It’s common sense to extend privileges for trips to the U.S. capital, says NDP MP Pat Martin
NDP MP Pat Martin went to Washington, D.C., on April 1 this year, the U.S. day for asbestos awareness, and didn’t have to pay for it thanks to a new provision in travel allowances for MPs. As of Dec. 6, 2004, the House Board of Internal Economy approved the reallocation of trip allowances for MPs […]
Some facts on post-secondary education in Canada
* Revenue for Canada’s universities and colleges in 2004-2005 was $27.7-billion. * Federal, provincial and municipal government funding, including funding for research, accounted for 55.6 per cent of the revenue. This ranged from 43.6 per cent in Nova Scotia to 70.5 per cent in Quebec. * Student fees accounted for over 20 per cent of […]
Journalists love a good stunt, an eye-catching novelty
It is with deep feeling we mourn the passing of the timeworn Indignant Man With A Prop routine, to the sorrow of ex-Mint president David Dingwall. It’s sad, really; this is what it must have been like the day vaudeville died. Journalists love a good stunt.They’ve invented a few of their own. But a stunt, […]
Conservatives urging NDP to bring down Libs after Gomery report release
The PMO will get a copy of the Gomery Report 16 hours before it’s released this week. Now opposition leaders want one too. With Justice John Gomery set to release his first report on the federal sponsorship program, the survival of Prime Minister Paul Martin’s government lies in the hands of the NDP. The opposition […]
Stronach says ‘it’s all about investing in people’ in global economy
Belinda Stronach’s No. 1 challenge: ‘getting Canadians, in particular, young Canadians, to better understand the global competition.’ Human Resources and Skills Development Minister Belinda Stronach says investing in people and in universities is a top priority, but said the government still hasn’t figured out how it will spend the $1.5-billion over the next two years. […]
Lobbyists say they’re caught in pre-election crossfire
Many lobbyists agree that the current rules need to be enforced, but are skeptical of the suggestion that noncompliance is rampant throughout the industry. The lobbying world has been caught in the pre-election crossfire, says Hillwatch co-founder Scott Proudfoot. “A lot of stones are being thrown by both journalists and politicians and there is some […]
Thirty years ago federal public servants were respected, today they rank below pollsters, and even journalists
The upper levels of the federal public service need to be depoliticized because politics is hurting morale in the government and damaging Canadian confidence in public servants, generally, says Allan Cutler the original whistleblower on the Public Works and Government Services Sponsorship Scandal. “It’s really about what the political masters want now rather than what […]
PCO and Justice overworked: can’t meet ATI response times
PCO, Justice, Foreign Affairs, International Trade all received an ‘F’ on complying with access to information responses. They deny any political interference. The Privy Council Office, the Department of Justice, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Department of International Trade, which all received an ‘F’ or a “Red alert,” from Canada’s Access to Information […]
Bennett says preparing for avian flu ‘a bit like studying for an exam’
The WHO says Canada is ‘relatively well-prepared as a country’ for avian flu, but the government is facing some criticism over its preparations to protect the Canadian people. The World Health Organization says Canada is “relatively well-prepared as a country,” to deal with an anticipated influenza pandemic, and Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh says he and […]
Is there a future for public service broadcasting in this country?
At the very least, we are long overdue for a serious discussion of what Canadian public service television ought to look like in the 21st century. Well, that’s over. After seven bleak, Peter Mansbridge-less weeks, the CBC and its employees have settled their dispute, and life at the Mother Corp’s downtown Toronto bunker can return […]
