Fault should lie with the lobbyist, not the company
The David Dingwall and lobbying story brings to light how there is a gaping oversight in the rules around contingency fees. There’s an old saying that goes,”It’s better not to win than to look like you’ve lost.” While a tad cautionary for general living, it’s something every politician should follow. Dave Dingwall didn’t. He won […]
This minority government is the most undemocratic Parliament ever, says Conservative House Leader Jay Hill
Twice now the PM has ensured that the only tool really available to the combined opposition to hold his government accountable cannot be used. Thanks for nothing. Under our Parliamentary system in Canada, it is the responsibility of the Prime Minister to prove that on any given day he has the confidence of the House […]
Rumsfeld says he ‘has nothing but respect’ for Canadian Forces: Hillier
The military relationship between Canada and the U.S. appears to be positively warm, according to Canada’s top soldier Chief of Defence Staff Rick Hillier. Despite the heated rhetoric across both sides of the Canada-U.S. border, the dispute over duties charged on Canadian softwood lumber is “not personal between the two countries,” says Canada’s Ambassador to […]
The Spin Doctors: “What do you make of the recent Pollara poll that shows that the Conservatives are only six points behind the Liberals?”
Leslie Swartman Liberal Strategist “Not much, frankly. But don’t take my word for it, ask John Reynolds, who was quoted in The Vancouver Sun recently about a poll showing that the Liberals, at 46 per cent support in B.C., are killing the Conservatives, who have 29 per cent. He said, and I quote, ‘I don’t […]
Gomery report to introduce new clouds on Liberal horizon
If the government plans to get to a spring election with its feet dry, it will have to weather the first Gomery downpour. Paul Martin, at an apparent loss over how to get his prime ministerial act together during his first year in power, has landed back on his feet since setting his sights on […]
‘The minister has an obligation to tell us who was disciplined and why, this is a scandal of national importance’: Williams [Sponsorship scandal]
Public Works Minister Scott Brison admitted last week that public servants have been disciplined in connection with the Sponsorship Scandal, but he’s not saying who, when or why. There needs to be assurances from the government that whistleblowers who came forward with information on the Sponsorship Scandal haven’t been punished, says Conservative MP John Williams, […]
CBC staffers return to the airwaves, but many still angry over what they say was an unnecessary eight-week, bitter lockout
CBC got back into federal political coverage last week, but CBC staffers say locking out employees every two years has to stop. Although the eight-week-long lockout at the CBC is over and CBC operations returned to normal last week, CBC staffers’ anger and frustration toward senior management will take some time to return to normal, […]
Prime Minister’s Office and Press Gallery try to get along
Earlier this year, the Parliamentary Press Gallery executive made it a priority to improve relations with the Prime Minister’s Office because of a variety of problems, including the lack of notice when Prime Minister Paul Martin makes public appearances, granting year-end interviews only to TV news media and Prime Minister Martin’s unavailability during foreign trips, […]
The week ahead in Parliament
Both the House and the Senate are back after its week and two-week break and committees will be up and running The House will begin debate for the first time on the following bills: C-37 The Do Not Call Bill C-63 The Canada Elections Act and the Income Tax Act Review Bill C-64 Vehicle Identification […]
Industry Minister Emerson hires three new top staffers: Former OLO QP coordinator Nancy Heppner joins Tory MP Dave Batters’ constituency office
Industry Minister David Emerson,who is also one of the two powerful political ministers for British Columbia along with Leader of the Government in the Senate Jack Austin, has hired three new staffers in his ministerial political office in Ottawa. They are: Benjamin Little, senior policy adviser; Adam Johnson, director of Parliamentary affairs; and Savik Sidhu, […]
