Mr. Gwyn’s ludicrous assertion: Reynolds
Regarding Richard Gywn’s column, “MacKay finishes the job,” (The Hill Times, June 9). I’m glad to see that Mr. Gwyn recognizes what so many other Canadians have — Stephen Harper is an accomplished leader. That being said, I wish to take issue with a few points made in this particular column. To begin, it seems […]
Governor General’s party in the garden on June 27
Secretary-General of La Francophonie visits Canada this week until June 26 MONDAY, JUNE 23 House Sitting–The House has adjourned for the summer for a 12-week break and is scheduled to return on Monday, Sept. 15. For more information on the House’s schedule, please contact the Government House Leader’s Office at (613) 952-4930. Senate Sitting — […]
Summer recess
Government House Leader Don Boudria on June 2, just three weeks ago, told The Hill Times that there was an incredible amount of legislative work to do and that the House would not adjourn earlier than the scheduled June 20 date. Mr. Boudria said the government had to get through eight “priority” bills, including the […]
Cullen’s private member’s bill making government departments more accountable takes major step forward
A private member’s bill giving MPs a vote over the way federal departments create and adjust $4-billion in yearly userfees took a major step forward just before the House broke for the summer, even though the government doesn’t support it. The bill belongs to Liberal MP Roy Cullen, who represents Etobicoke North, Ont. His bill […]
Democratic freedoms on trial: NCC: against restricting free speech
If there was a law saying that you needed a bureaucrat’s permission to express a political opinion, you would probably be upset. In fact, you would probably say such a law infringed on your right to free expression. Well, believe it or not, such a law does exist and an Ontario judge recently ruled that […]
Copps hires three new staffers in ministerial office: And Steve Grunau joins Alberta Independent Sen. Roche’s office
Federal Heritage Minister Sheila Copps beefed up her ministerial political office recently when she hired three new assistants. The ministerial political staff is headed by executive assistant Charles Boyer who was a former PMO flack before he joined Ms. Copps’ office in 2001. Minister Copps recently hired Ian Capstick, who is responsible for aboriginal and […]
C-24 won’t be complete without C-34
Chief Electoral Officer Jean-Pierre Kingsley returned to Parliament last week to remind Senators that Prime Minister Jean Chretien’s Political Finance Bill leaves open a major loophole allowing donors to make secret donations to political trust funds. The Senators on the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee heard that Bill C-24, officially known as an Act to […]
Canadian help key to build International University of Baghdad, says an academic
Canada has an opportunity to play a leading role in the reconstruction of Iraq by helping to build an international university in the Iraqi capital city, says an Iraqi-born Canadian academic. Tareq Ismael, a professor of political science at the University of Calgary, is currently in the process of promoting the idea of building an […]
MPs’ and Senators’ Birthdays
*Treasury Board President Lucienne Robillard, 58, June 16, 1945 *Ind. Sen. P. Michael Pitfield, 66, June 18, 1937 *Liberal Sen. Rose-Marie Losier-Cool, 66, June 18, 1937 *PC Sen. John Lynch-Staunton, 73, June 19, 1930 *NDP MP Bill Blaikie, 52, June 19, 1951 *Liberal MP Beth Phinney, 65, June 19, 1938 *Ind. MP Pierre Brien, 33, […]
Radwanski’s ugly showdown with Parliament
I find it patently absurd that George Radwanski, the Privacy Commissioner and therefore an Officer of Parliament, is publicly fighting those Members of Parliament for whom he is supposed to be working for in keeping the government of the day honest. Radwanski asserts that he should be free from any confidence votes that Parliament might […]
