What’s up with Bevilacqua?
Once a rising star in the Liberal caucus, Liberal MP Maurizio Bevilacqua has virtually vanished from the national scene. What’s up? Five-term Liberal MP Maurizio Bevilacqua says he has been travelling across the country “on an ongoing basis” to listen to what Canadians have to say about the most important issues affecting their lives as […]
Tories say Liberals have no respect for Parliament: If the Prime Minister has so much regard for MPs, then why did he and his government push all opposition days off to mid-November: Conservatives
Despite Prime Minister Paul Martin’s recent public pronouncements that he wants Parliament to work, he and his government are slapping the face of Parliament by pushing opposition days off until November, says Conservative Party Whip Rob Nicholson. “You know, the Prime Minister was making some noise about how everyone should cooperate and everybody should love […]
Recently Released Books
Restless Giant: The United States from Watergate to Bush v. Gore, by James T. Patterson, Oxford University Press, 448 pages, $48. Blurb from the back cover: “Jim Patterson has done it again! Restless Giant is a worthy successor to his prize-winning Grand Expectations.Patterson writes with flair, an admirable sense of balance, and complete command of […]
PM names some new Parliamentary secretaries
Prime Minister Paul Martin last week announced the appointment of three new Parliamentary secretaries. Rookie Liberal MP Navdeep Bains (Mississauga-Brampton South, Ont.) was promoted to the position of Parliamentary secretary to the Prime Minister; Liberal MP Charles Hubbard (Miramichi, N.B.) was promoted Parliamentary secretary to Transport Minister Jean Lapierre (Outremont, Que.); and Liberal MP Anita […]
MPs debate NDP MP Peter Stoffer’s bill to end ‘political wheeling and dealing’
NDP MP Peter Stoffer’s six-year battle against MPs who switch parties was debated last week. “We need to introduce legislation now to prevent floor-crossing and backroom political wheeling and dealing,”Mr. Stoffer (Sackville-Eastern Shore, N.S.) said last week at a press conference.”Canadian people are screaming for accountability from their representatives. We need to take the high […]
Theberge to leave Hill next month to join private sector: Deputy Government House Leader Mauril Belanger hires five new political staffers
After serving for nine years on Parliament Hill, Sebastien Theberge, director of communications to Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew, is leaving the Hill to first take some time off and then to join the private sector. “It’s time to move on and I look forward to a long break and eventually end up in the […]
Hike in mileage allowance to be reconsidered at House Board of Internal Economy
All four political parties in the House are against hiking travel allowances paid to MPs and public servants for using their own cars for business and Deputy Government House Leader Mauril Belanger said he will put forward a motion at the next Commons Board of Internal Economy meeting to overturn the increase from 46 cents […]
Access Commissioner John Reid produces his own access bill
Justice Minister Irwin Cotler has been promising a draft government access bill to the House Access to Information Committee, but has so far not delivered. So Access Commissioner John Reid produced his own. Minority governments can create conditions that upset Ottawa’s usual ways. Take the case and challenge of what to do about too much […]
‘Systemic racism’ in Senate Administration: Senator Oliver
The Senate just released a report on its hiring practices in the last four years, and Conservative Sen. Donald Oliver calls it’s disgraceful. Systemic racism exists in the Senate and is “so glaring and so problematic,”says Nova Scotia Senator Don Oliver that it will only add to the public’s appetite to abolish the Upper Chamber. […]
Audrey O’Brien appointed top dog as Commons Clerk
Long-time House Deputy Clerk Audrey O’Brien received a standing ovation last week when Government House Leader Tony Valeri tabled his motion to officially appoint her as the new Clerk of the House, following a recommendation from the Procedure and House Affairs committee that she be appointed.The motion was agreed to by unanimous consent. Ms. O’Brien, […]
