The leaked Liberal memos, obtained by The Hill Times
Maria Minna’s email memo to Liberal caucus, Aug. 9 Dear Colleagues: In my opinion, Mississauga-Streetsville MP Wajid Khan should either resign his new position as Special Advisor to Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper on South Asia and the Middle East or resign temporarily from National Liberal Caucus. Wajid’s appointment is a slick, sick, calculated move […]
Harper’s transition is ‘the best I’ve seen,’ says Arthur Kroeger
Despite a widespread perception of tension between the senior ranks of the public service and the new Conservative government, former long-time mandarin Arthur Kroeger says that Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s transition has been the best one yet. “I’ve had casual conversations from many people, from deputy ministers to practically half the Cabinet. They all say […]
Others do not share the Prime Minister’s version of history
Where does Middle East history begin? Is it before or after the Old Testament, the exodus of Jews from Europe and Arabs from Palestine or, pick one, the bombing of civilians in a Tel Aviv nightclub or a Beirut suburb? This isn’t an academic exercise or one of those annoying quizzes that make fools of […]
Parliamentarians should use their power of speech to create a groundswell of support for U.N. action on Mideast crisis
When I was a law student at Osgoode Hall in the late 1950s, I recall being very sympathetic to and readily supportive of the passionate position of the Jewish students in mock Parliaments and discussions about the conflict in Israel and Palestine. Like everyone else, it seemed, my thoughts centered solely on the Jewish people […]
PM Harper may defy the advice of the public service, but not the electorate
There has been a significant amount of discussion in recent days about Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s governing style. Lawrence Martin, political biographer and columnist for The Globe and Mail, wrote a column last week about Mr. Harper’s relationship with the senior ranks of the public service, in which Mr. Martin pointed to a set of […]
Climate change versus BSE: Canadian concerns are curious
It is always interesting, indeed often baffling, to note where individuals and nations concentrate their energies and attentions. Canadians presumably are puzzled as to why Americans have spent years obsessing over what would appear to be a personal lifestyle choice such as same-sex marriage or tertiary symbolism such as flag burning while refusing to address […]
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Don’t use Canadian troops for electioneering: HT reader Stephen Harper, during a campaign-style speech to his caucus on Aug. 3, said Liberals are divided on “whether or not to support our troops in Afghanistan.” This is a despicable comment and a bald-faced lie. Every politician, of every stripe, supports our troops. Stephen Harper did the […]
Vos joins James Moore’s office as a special assistant
James Moore, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services has hired a new assistant. Melanie Vos, a former communications officer in the PMO communications office is starting her new job as special assistant to Mr. Moore (Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam, B.C.) this week. Ms. Vos was not available for an interview last […]
MPs keep busy over the summer with French lessons, constituency work, and of course, the Calgary Stampede
It’s the end of June and the House rises for the summer-members of Parliament are about to embark on two months-plus of beach time, right? Not quite. I was part of the ranks who thought that too, until I witnessed it first hand. So what are they up to? Hope and promise at home: 16th […]
Ontario Liberal Party boat cruise in Toronto this week
MONDAY, AUG. 14 Arctic Change and Coastal Communities-The Coastal Zone Canada Association, a national society of coastal zone professionals and others interested in promoting coastal zone management, holds an international conference. The conference will examine the large-scale and pervasive changes taking place in the Arctic Ocean. Aug. 14 to 18. Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T. For more information […]
