HEARD ON THE HILL
The stately grounds of the Royal Ottawa Golf Course played host to one of the most hotly anticipated social events of the summer this month, as over a hundred friends, family and former and current colleagues gathered to celebrate the 60th birthday of Conservative strategist, Earnscliffe lobbyist and Hill veteran Geoff Norquay. It was an […]
PM criticized for withholding an announcement on AIDS plans
Opposition parties criticized Prime Minister Stephen Harper last week for holding off an announcement about increasing HIV/AIDS funding before the 16th International AIDS Conference came to an end and accused the Tory government of lacking a commitment to deal with the pandemic. Prime Minister Harper (Calgary Southwest, Alta.), who did not attend the weeklong conference […]
Canadian expertise, technology playing important roles on international space missions
The wait is over for Canadian Space Agency astronaut Steve MacLean, who will return to space after 14 years. On Aug. 27, he is set to blast off aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis to the International Space Station. The mission: to deliver new solar panels to the station and resume construction of the orbiting space laboratory. […]
The Spin Doctors
Mike Storeshaw Conservative Strategist “Mr. Martin has apparently made this suggestion as a way to re-open the debate over whether the Canadian flag on the Peace Tower should be flown at half-staff whenever a Canadian soldier is killed in the line of duty. I don’t suspect that he really wants MPs to be in charge […]
Prime Minister Harper sets up Lebanon Relief Fund
Prime Minister Stephen Harper (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) announced last week that the government is setting up a $25-million Lebanon Relief Fund for the recovery and stabilization needed in Lebanon. In an announcement posted on the Conservative Party website, Prime Minister Harper (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) said that the Lebanon Relief Fund is a two year fund […]
Why are journalists so fascinated by Cuba? Korski wants to know
I’ve never been to Cuba, but journalists who have seem awed by the place. Halifax Daily News writer Arnie Patterson marveled, “No one goes to bed hungry in Cuba.” Fidel Castro is “remarkable” and “heroic,” he wrote. Castro is “amazing,” agreed the Sault Star. The Jewish Tribune reported, “There’s no anti-Semitism there.” Cuba jailed 32 […]
‘I was born a Liberal, I just came out a few years ago,’ says Brison
Scott Brison has been called the dark horse of the Liberal leadership race, but then again he doesn’t care much for being the front-runner. “There’s a bandwagonning that occurs,” Mr. Brison (Kings-Hants, N.S.) told The Hill Times in an interview at his Hill office last week. “Sometimes the wheels fall off bandwagons.” Mr. Brison, 39, […]
Tory MP Williams won’t run in the next federal election
Conservative MP John Williams announced last Friday that he will not run in the next federal election, after 14 years in office. Mr. Williams, who was first elected in 1993 in the riding of Edmonton-St. Albert, Alta., as a Reform MP, said that he will continue his current term as an MP but said that […]
Conservatives will rebound in Quebec: Tory campaigner
The Conservative Party’s recent slide in public opinion polls nationally, especially in Quebec, is temporary and the party will regain its popularity in the coming weeks, says a top Quebec Conservative. “If we’ve seen a bit of a bump down … it’s basically because it hasn’t been the best two or three weeks. Stories [news […]
NDP Leader Layton hires a new executive assistant
NDP Leader Jack Layton has hired a new executive assistant. Emily Watkins will start her new job as EA to Mr. Layton (Toronto-Danforth, Ont.) on Tuesday, Sept. 5. Most recently, Ms. Watkins served as a legislative and communications assistant to NDP House leader Libby Davies (Vancouver East, B.C.). Prior to that, she worked as a […]
