MacKay shakes things up at PC Leader’s Office and HQ: Rick Morgan succeeds Graham Fox as Tory leader’s chief of staff
Peter MacKay is getting it rough these days. Pilloried by the media, political pundits and members of his own party for making a controversial deal with Saskatchewan farmer David Orchard to seal his victory of the Tory leadership, the newly-minted leader of the Progressive Conservative Party is quietly shaking things up in the Tory Leader’s […]
Gun registry beyond redemption
It seems to me that the federal firearms registry is a modern day equivalent to the emperor’s new clothes. Not only will it fail to protect us from the elements (in this case criminal ones), but is also downright foolish in appearance, practicality, and cost. Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba were the first ones laughing at […]
“How will CanWest News’ recent layoffs of veteran Hill reporters, such as Susan Delacourt and Joan Bryden, impact federal political coverage?”
Warren Kinsella Liberal strategist “Off the top, I’ll declare a conflict: Bryden and Delacourt are both friends, so I oppose any move to keep them from doing what they do best — which is political journalism. That kind of journalistic experience and excellence is impossible to easily recapture, so — yes — I wonder what […]
Tories walk the walk
Of course Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper is “shocked” and “troubled” by Peter MacKay’s win. In his victory, MacKay reconfirmed there will be no merger or agreement to protect Alliance candidates in some regions of the country. Since the PC Party voted a year ago to reconfirm its commitment to the 301 rule, the Alliance […]
Let the sun shine in
The House passed Prime Minister Jean Chretien’s highly controversial Campaigns and Elections Finance Bill in a vote of 172-62 last Wednesday evening. The bill is expected to be passed by the Senate in July. The bill is a positive step in the right direction for more accountability and transparency. It also puts elections financing into […]
“Will Peter MacKay’s deal with David Orchard help the Liberals in the next federal election?”
Warren Kinsella Liberal strategist “What follows is Warren engaged in a conversation with Warren (something that, sadly, happens too often): “That wily old Paco Francoli… this one is clearly a trick question. It has to be. “I mean, it is so patently obvious that the answer is yes — it is so clear, so self-evident, […]
Last of Liberal Party leadership debates on Saturday
Parliamentary Press Gallery dinner in Ottawa this Saturday night too MONDAY, June 9 House Sitting–The House is sitting this week and is scheduled to remain in session until Friday, June 20. The schedule could change. For more information on the House calendar, please call the Government House Leader’s Office at (613) 952-4930. Senate Sitting–The Senate […]
Grits headed for another divisive vote
The federal government is headed for another clash with several members of its own backbenchers this week as it moves to restore $9-million from Transport Canada’s budget, funding which had been removed by Grit MPs on the House Transport Committee during their annual review of the federal department’s spending priorities. Although this latest showdown is […]
Tell us the ideological biases
TORONTO–One of the time-honoured ways that advocacy groups use to inflict their viewpoints on an unsuspecting public is to create a “non-partisan” group and proceed to do a study on a “problem” of their choosing. There is nothing inherently wrong with that, of course. The problem comes in the reportage. When advocacy groups are right-of-centre, […]
Radwanski hauled before Government Ops
Members of a House of Commons committee have hauled Privacy Commissioner George Radwanski before them to figure out if he tampered with evidence he provided to their committee, something which could put him in contempt of Parliament and possibly cost him his job. The Privacy Commissioner is set to appear before the Government Operations Committee […]
