What’s wrong with Southeast Asia?
LONDON, ENGLAND—Thirty years ago, most of Southeast Asia was run by thuggish dictatorships. Then the Philippines showed the rest of the world how to get rid of the dictators without violence, and its non-violent example was watched and copied around the world. But now the thugs are coming back where it all started. The democratic […]
Is Wood Buffalo National Park’s world heritage status in jeopardy?
After years of governments ignoring their concerns about mounting changes to Wood Buffalo National Park (WBNP) and its ecological centerpiece, the Peace-Athabasca Delta (PAD), the Mikisew Cree First Nation took their concerns to the United Nations’ World Heritage Committee in 2014. This precipitated a 10-day UNESCO Reactive Monitoring Mission to WBNP, which took place in […]
Most Hill reporters don’t see merit of bringing White House-style press briefings to Canada
PARLIAMENT HILL—White House press secretary Sean Spicer’s daily press briefings may capture global attention, including Saturday Night Live’s, but many parliamentary press gallery reporters say they don’t see a need for similar daily PMO briefings here on Parliament Hill. Parliamentary press gallery president Tonda MacCharles, a veteran Hill reporter for The Toronto Star, said the […]
“The 2017 federal budget is out. What are your main takeaways?”
Kate Purchase Liberal strategist “Budget 2017 is the next step in the Government’s long-term plan to create jobs and strengthen the middle class. With its strong focus on innovation and skills, Budget 2017 will help Canadians succeed in an increasingly globalized and tech-driven world. “From students looking to get work experience, to adult workers juggling […]
Three former judges, two lawyers to decide political future of embattled Sen. Meredith
The Senate Ethics and Conflict of Interest Committee has some of the “most competent jurists” on Parliament Hill who will decide the political fate of embattled Sen. Don Meredith, says Newfoundland Liberal Senator George Baker, vice-chair of the Senate’s Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee. “The Ethics Committee of the Senate is above politics and above reproach,” said […]
Feds want innovation, just not right now
TORONTO—If there is a core innovation message in the 2017 budget it is that we want and need a much more innovative Canada—but not right away. Increasing our capacity for innovation is critical for Canada’s future, as Finance Minister Bill Morneau said, over and over again, in his budget papers. So why not move on it? […]
It’s not easy to report wrongdoing in federal government
OTTAWA—We pick up the story from where we last left off. In trying to report wrongdoing, the employee has already encountered many obstacles that discourage him/her from proceeding. These include a non-responsive management, an ethics advisor more interested in protecting a department and their own career, and the written information that is on the Public […]
U.S. annual human rights report released, no one notices
WASHINGTON, D.C.—One of the hardy perennials of U.S. foreign policy is the annual Human Rights Report (HRR). Officially known as Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, it is a persistent residue of Jimmy Carter’s presidency, with its first edition released in 1977. Regularly described as the U.S. Department of State’s “flagship” publication, it grew extensively […]
Canada will start paying its way in NATO very soon, and that’s a very good thing
TORONTO—What Donald wants, Donald gets. Well, not really. He wanted a Muslim ban. Didn’t get it. Wanted Obamacare killed, and something else instead. Didn’t get that. Wanted—promised!—ISIS defeated in 30 days. Didn’t get, or do, that. But getting more money out of Canada for NATO? He’s going to get that. Now, if you were to […]
Opposition MPs declare ‘war’ over feds’ efforts to ram through sweeping changes to House rules, ‘we’re filibustering to protect the right to filibuster’
PARLIAMENT HILL—Opposition MPs spent nearly 15 hours in the basement of Centre Block on Tuesday, holed-up in a committee meeting room filibustering the Liberal government’s attempt to expedite a study on possible sweeping changes to how the House of Commons rules, and the saga is set to continue on Wednesday too. After going through much of […]
