No focus and no priorities in Liberal government’s defence spending plan, says Conservative Party’s top defence critic
Equipment and structure decisions that are rushed to solve short-term military and political problems lead to waste and activity without any real purpose. The broad policy thrusts of the current Liberal Defence Policy have no focus and have no priorities.The improbable five-year funding plan cannot pay the demands this policy creates and essential reform of […]
Truth is: Canada one of the world’s highest military spenders: Question is not how much more should we spend, but are we spending budget wisely?
Politicians of all stripes and a platoon’s worth of retired generals like to claim we spend too little on defence and happily point out that Canada is just not pulling its weight among our allies. Well, believe none of it. The truth is that Canada is already one of the world’s highest military spenders. The […]
Government intervention needed to maintain naval capability
It’s inexplicable why the government continues to dramatically under-fund capital programs, says Tory Sen. Kinsella. The maintenance of a modern, robust navy is a critical component of Canada’s military forces. Without immediate government intervention that capability could be irrevocably lost. A commitment now could not be more timely as recent events along the U.S. Gulf […]
O’Brien expected to be named top House bureaucrat after Corbett announces resignation due to a chronic medical condition
Audrey O’Brien is expected to be appointed to the top bureaucrat in the House as the Clerk of the House of Commons following last week’s announcement that current House Clerk William Corbett will retire on Nov. 30 because of a chronic medical condition, House sources say. Mr. Corbett sent a message to his colleagues last […]
Canadian Arts Coalition lobbies ministers for more funding, independent film distributors lobby for more power
After years of lamenting the lack of a cohesive national lobby strategy, some of Canada’s largest arts groups have finally come together to form the Canadian Arts Coalition, which will be heading to Ottawa this fall to fight for more federal funding for the arts. The coalition’s membership roster reads like a who’s who of […]
Brison launches new Office of Small and Medium Enterprises, says move will help small businesses
Public Works Minister Scott Brison says the government is “working to have our procurement policies open and transparent and accountable,”in light of the $250-million ads and sponsorship scandal at Public Works and Government Services by removing access fees for MERX, the government’s online tendering system, and by implementing the Comptroller General Office. “We’ve taken away […]
Transforming DND administration next challenge for Graham
Without quick and forceful action, the federal government is not going to be able to transform the Canadian Forces into an organization that can execute the demands of the recent Defence Policy Statement. Canada’s future defence policy and military capabilities were signaled in the spring of 2005 by the appointment of General Rick Hillier as […]
Warren Kinsella on punk rock, his new book and the real Liberal Party, in Ontario [Fury’s Hour, a (sort-of) Punk Manifesto]
Hell hath no fury like a punkedout adrenaline-rushed, pissed off Liberal like Warren Kinsella. The Prince of Darkness made an apparition in town last week pitching his new book – a historical essay on punk rock music entitled Fury’s Hour, a (sort-of) Punk Manifesto,from Random House. Punk music has been a musical passion of political […]
Much-touted ‘new’ Service Canada department not even being brought into existence through federal legislation
Prime Minister Paul Martin is back from lecturing the United Nations about abusive and unaccountable management practices. Home for the opening of Parliament does not unfortunately mean that his government is moving towards opening itself up to greater transparency and accountability. This last week, I received several months late, a large brown package under the […]
One new face in the Senate is brown: NDP Sen. Dyck’s [Why’s the Upper Chamber so white?, September 12, 2005]
I read Conservative Senator Donald Oliver’s article, “Why’s the Upper Chamber so white?” in The Hill Times of Sept. 12, 2005. He stated that no one of visible minority status has been appointed to the Senate since this spring. In the 16 new appointments to the Upper Chamber this year, however, there was one face […]
