HEARD ON THE HILL
Prime Ministerial access barricades: To storm together or not to storm? The Press gallery executive moved swiftly in reaction to last week’s revelation that CanWest had decided to break off from the media pack and go onto the Prime Minister’s list. By Wednesday morning, an announcement went out to the full gallery membership, inviting all […]
The American and Canadian ‘primaries’ in all their colours
Canada and the United States are in the midst of “primaries.” For Canada, these are the political efforts that will end with the selection of a Liberal Party leader in December. For the U.S., they are the state-by-state exercises to select candidates for November national elections (combined with the slow motion minuet/campaign for the 2008 […]
Corrections
The article “Canadian government centralizes procurement as the trend is more decentralization, says procurement expert Hansen” (The Hill Times, Aug. 21) incorrectly attributed to Jon Hansen the notion that technology should not be adapting to the procurement process. Mr. Hansen said the reverse, that technology should adapt to the process and not define it. Last […]
The Spin Doctors
Mike Storeshaw Conservative Strategist “Mr. Nanos is correct: getting people to consider voting for your party, and having the means to translate those good feelings into actual votes, are two very different things. The latter requires significant resources, party infrastructure, and membership and volunteer bases. These are the nuts and bolts of Canadian politics, and […]
Layton hires two top political aides for the research bureau
NDP Leader Jack Layton has hired two senior political aides for NDP caucus services. Brad Lavigne, former director of communications to the NDP headquarters in Ottawa, becomes director of caucus research and communications, and Kathleen Monk, a former CTV producer, has been hired as deputy director of caucus research and communications. Mr. Lavigne succeeds Jamey […]
Open up riding nominations
This summer, the Conservative Party announced that in the interest of democracy, and unlike the Liberal Party, it would not protect sitting MPs from nomination challenges. But challengers are coming forward publicly to criticize their own party’s nomination process. Their papers are being rejected for what appear to be bureaucratic hang-ups, and challengers say they […]
It will be years before FAA is working effectively: Prof. Franks
The Federal Accountability Act is moving in the right direction in terms of responsibility and accountability in the public service, but it will take years to ensure that the system is working effectively, says public administration and Parliamentary expert Ned Franks. “The Accountability Act creates a framework for clarifying accountability and responsibility, but it’s just […]
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Provincial street names debate Re: “Bring the names of the provinces to the capital’s streets” (The Hill Times, Aug. 21). Interesting idea in the Aug. 21 Hill Times, but there’s a slight problem-you forgot the street between present-day Lyon and Bronson. It’s Bay Street-and unlike Bronson, it does go to Wellington Street. I should know: […]
‘He was the best boss around,’ says Benoit Sauvageau’s Parliamentary assistant Dacaire
Benoit Sauvageau’s six-year Parliamentary assistant says he was so shocked by his boss’s sudden death last week that he almost expected to see him come through the door and say hello. “He was so young. I don’t think I realize it to its full extent right now. I’m still wondering if he’s going to show […]
Benoit Sauvageau 1963-2006
Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe “My first thoughts go to his wife, Jacinthe, as well as her four charming daughters. I fully understand the pain that they must feel. Together, they built a marvelous family. For us Benoit was also a member of the family, a brother.” -statement released Aug. 28 Prime Minister Stephen Harper […]
