There will be no mass exodus of Jewish votes from the Liberals to the Conservatives in next election
Soon after the dust settles, and an agreement is finalized on the cessation of hostilities in the Middle East, one of many Conservative backroom boys, cubby-holed deep into the Gothic corridors of Parliament Hill, will be charged with the task of determining the electoral consequences of the PM’s foreign policy shift. If this backroom boy […]
Playing the tough guy would jeopardize Canada’s international image
After wisely staying out of the Iraq war, Canada is being drawn toward the Middle East quagmire that is its aftermath. One step deeper is the suggestion that NATO troops should be deployed in Lebanon-a bad idea with troubling implications at home as well as abroad. For many Canadians, the suggested Atlantic alliance intervention and […]
‘Federal Accountability Act’ doesn’t contain 21 promised measures
As others have before him, Robin V. Sears uses a combination of false and exaggerated claims that ignore fundamental democratic principles, in his attack on the proposed Bill C-2 (the so-called “Federal Accountability Act”) which Sears wrote about in the July 17 issue of The Hill Times. Sears’ first claim is that “political participation by […]
Jewish lobby far more powerful than Arab lobby: source
The Jewish and pro-Israel lobby is far more powerful than the Arab lobby in Ottawa, says one source close to the government’s Middle East policy. In an interview, the source said that the Arab lobby traditionally has been weaker, with fewer resources and less organizational power. The Jewish lobby, on the other hand, is powerful, […]
Conservatives to meet for caucus retreat
Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay will brief the National Conservative Caucus on Aug. 4 about the Middle East and Canada’s evacuation efforts at the party’s two-day caucus retreat in Cornwall, Ont., or, in Tory territory. Mr. MacKay (Central Nova, N.S.) has been criticized for keeping a low profile and having little influence as Canada’s foreign […]
Correction from the July 17 issue of The Hill Times
On p. 4 in last week’s issue of The Hill Times, one photo caption incorrectly identified MP Lui Temelkovski (standing), pictured with Conservative MPs Jeff Watson, Rahim Jaffer and Helena Guergis, as a Conservative MP. Mr. Temelkovski is, of course, a Liberal MP. The Hill Times apologizes for this error. O
PM Harper on Middle East crisis
Stephen Harper in London, United Kingdom, July 13: “Israel has a right to defend itself. I think Israel’s response under the circumstances has been measured. I think it’s tremendously disappointing that these attacks are coming from areas that Israel voluntarily evacuated. So I think the onus to end this escalation is on the other side, […]
The Spin Doctors
Mike Storeshaw Conservative strategist “The Prime Minister has stated the obvious in plain terms: the current hostilities in the Middle East were provoked by actions of extremists, namely Hezbollah, and they must be held responsible. The goal of these extremist forces is not peace; they oppose peace in principle. Their goal is to destabilize the […]
Summit magazine to develop a ‘procurement blueprint’
One of the biggest challenges when it comes to the federal government’s $13-billion a year in procurement is its overall purpose, say members at a roundtable discussion organized by Summit magazine last week in Ottawa. “The federal government is not a big corporation, it has a different mandate,” said one roundtable participant. “It extends beyond […]
POLITICAL STREETER ON MIDEAST CRISIS
Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay Central Nova, N.S. “We’re not concerned about the politics of this right now, really, domestically. What we’re concerned about is the evacuation of Canadian citizens from Lebanon, those who are in harm’s way. We’re not doing this exercise to deal with the broader issues, we’re concentrating and focusing our efforts […]
