Critics concerned Federal Accountability Act being rushed by new Harper government
On the heels of Treasury Board President John Baird’s promise to introduce and move swiftly on the federal government’s promised Federal Accountability Act, lobbyists and critics are saying the omnibus legislation is being rushed and fear it may not see adequate consultation and analysis. Some observers watching the accountability proposals are quietly expressing that the […]
PM Harper has another top priority: National ID cards
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has placed the issue of ID cards for Canadians back on the table. That’s without any announced plans for extensive public debate or any contemplated legislative changes whatsoever to existing privacy legislation. This happened recently in Cancun, Mexico, where Harper pledged to get in line with U.S. President George W. Bush’s […]
Liberal Party of Canada has no central organization anymore, it has organizations
TORONTO-It’s the organization, stupid, as James Carville might say, and it’s always been about organization when you talk about leadership campaigns, especially federal Liberal campaigns. And the person who has realized this political reality is Liberal MP Belinda Stronach who, last week, gave the Liberal congregation and most of the media on the Hill that […]
Boudria’s is back
Former five-term Liberal MP Don Boudria is back on the Hill-this time, as an unpaid adviser to the national Liberal caucus. Mr. Boudria who won six consecutive federal elections and represented the Ontario riding of Glengarry-Prescott-Russell from 1984 to 2004 and did not seek reelection in the last federal election is advising Liberal MPs on […]
Conservatives operating on GG warrants to run government
The newly-elected Conservative government is operating on GG Special Warrants until the federal budget is unveiled this spring and has so far released $2.3-billion for 25 departments, including spending on the Privy Council Office, the House of Commons, the Library of Parliament and the Governor General’s Office, acording to the Canada Gazette. Meanwhile, the new […]
In the Green Room: Diane Finley
It should not come as too much of a surprise that the main colour scheme in the home of Conservative Cabinet Minister Diane Finley, 48, is blue. Ms. Finley’s ties to the party go deeper than Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Cabinet. She shares a home in Simcoe, Ont., with her husband Doug Finley, a senior […]
Does conflict influence media coverage of politics? You bet
Stephen Harper was not elected to make reporters’ jobs any easier, and he’s not. In curbing media stake-outs behind a security cordon and suppressing word of Cabinet meetings and his daily agenda, the Prime Minister angered journalists. Press Gallery members warned they do not take orders from the government (right), that Harper must have something […]
NDP staffer and international marathon runner volunteers time to teach first-time Hill runners to run
Six years ago, the NDP Whip’s Assistant Theresa Kavanagh, 48, decided to take up running. Today, she’s a qualified personal trainer, has run in a handful of elite 42.2 km marathons in Canada and the U.S., has done one Ironman, triathlons for fun and bikes 10 km to work every day from her west end […]
Conservative government to introduce copyright bill: Bev Oda
The Conservative government intends to amend the Copyright Act and ratify two internet treaties of the World Intellectual Property Organization, Heritage Minister Bev Oda told the Hill Times last week after the Speech from the Throne. “Copyright legislation has to be amended to make [compliant] our copyright laws and ratify the international treaties,” Ms. Oda […]
High-profile Liberals line up to run for the party’s presidency
At least six high-profile Liberals are considering a run for the federal Liberal Party presidency. And at least two of the well-known Liberals-former Liberal Cabinet minister Tony Ianno and Ontario Liberal Senator Marie-P. Poulin confirmed with The Hill Times that they are seeking the leadership of the Liberal Party. Three other prominent Liberals Akaash Maharaj, […]
