Perez Chrétien

Dion's wife bashes Ignatieff on Facebook

2009-12-13T10:51:00.001-08:00

Janine Krieber, the wife of former Liberal party leader Stephane Dion, had a lot to say about the current Liberal party leader, Michael Ignatieff, in a note on her Facebook page. Krieber, a university professor herself, claimed that Liberal party members were "duped" by Michael Ignatieff and that they would have recognized this had they done their homework and actually read some of his academic work. Krieber also stated that her husband was willing to take the time and the shots against him in order to rebuild the party, however the party members did not accept the 26% of the popular vote that he received as leader. She also noted that polls now have the Liberals at 23%. Sources say that Dion himself had nothing to do with the note and that some of his close supporters urged Krieber to delete the note.

Source: http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Politics/2009/11/23/11882516-cp.html

New Brunswick Records Largest Deficit in its History

2009-12-13T10:48:00.000-08:00

New Brunswick has recorded a $754-million deficit for the 2009-10 fiscal year, the highest deficit in the province's history. The provincial net debt is expected to grow to $9.5-billion by 2011 — also a record — meaning the share of the debt for every man, woman and child in New Brunswick would be about $12,700. Finance Minister Greg Byrne said while the provincial labour market performed better than expected this year, New Brunswick's manufacturing and export sectors have been hard hit by the weakness in the American economy and lower world prices for forest, energy and mining projects. Also of particular important to university and college students is the continue commitment to tuition freezes by the provincial government who will maintain tuition freezes for the third consecutive year for university students and fifth for college students.

Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/new-brunswick-records-largest-deficit-in-its-history/article1384420/

Federal Liberals support HST bill

2009-12-01T10:49:00.000-08:00

On December 1st, 2009 Michael Ignatieff announced that the Liberal Party will support the Conservative HST Bill. "We will support the legislation in Parliament," Ignatieff told reporters after a special caucus meeting to discuss the blended tax. Many suspect that this move is an attempt to avoid potential voter backlash. The opposition was skittish over the Liberals bid to present the Bill as a federal Conservative idea due to this backlash. If the Liberals opposed the bill, it would put them at odds with their provincial cousins in both British Columbia and Ontario, as both provinces plan to support the bill. The harmonized sales tax will blend the 8 per cent provincial sales tax and the 5 per cent federal goods and services tax. As of July 1, Canadian citizens will pay a blended tax of 13 per cent on hundreds of items that had previously been subject to just the 5 per cent GST. That move will boost the price of items such as gasoline, heating fuel, magazines, taxi fares and dry cleaning. Despite the wording of the Conservative Government, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty told reporters in Toronto that this is not a Confidence Vote because "it's not a matter that affects the revenues of the government of Canada."

Canada gets call on Afghan reinforcements from Biden, not Obama

2009-12-01T10:48:00.000-08:00

On Monday, President Barack Obama began to inform foreign leaders with a personal phone call about his decision to send more troops to Afghanistan and wanting their help, Canada was not one of them. Obama had many discussions with Prime Minster Stephen Harper and understood Harper had hopes to pull Canadian troops out of the war. Obama had spent time to recognize all the hard work Canada troops have done and how many Canadian troops had lost their lives and decided to ask upon others allies to help fight this war, respecting Harper’s wishes. So Canadian citizens feel this is a good thing, but some government parties are lashing out at Harper feeling that he is to blame for the Canadian troops being left out. In the end, some parties in Canada are disappointed with Obama’s decision to leave Canada out of the new troops attending the war in Afghanistan.

Source: http://www.canada.com/news/Canada+gets+call+Afghan+reinforcements+from+Biden+Obama/2286764/story.html;
http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/12/01/11989401-sun.html

Prime Minister Harper to be the First Canadian PM to Address South Korean National Assembly

2009-12-01T10:46:00.000-08:00

Stephen Harper is set to meet with the Chinese president and visit the Great Wall of China to honour the Canadian soldiers that died during World War 2. He will also be visited South Korea, where he will become the first Canadian Prime Minister to address the South Korean National Assembly. The visit is important itself to have ties with the President, as China is Canada’s 2nd largest trading partner next to the United States. Many people, like Jack Layton believe this trip is long overdue, and that Canada has a lot of ground to make up. This trip is also important to make Canada’s presence more visible in China. They will be discussing various issues from human rights to energy and trade.

Source: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/politics/story.html?id=2286855

Tories Thrown Out of Chamber

2009-12-01T10:44:00.001-08:00

Bill Murdoch and Randy Hillier, both Progressive Conservative MPPs were suspended from the Legislature on Monday because of their unruly protest against a McGuinty proposed harmonized sales tax. Murdoch refused to leave the chamber after he was ejected for using "unparliamentary language." Use your imagination. He was so fortunate to have two of his fellow PC MPPs stand in front of him and protect him from the guard on duty. Needless to say, Murdoch, and his most loyal crony Hillier are suspended from the Legislature for the rest of the session. The next session doesn't begin until the government decides to prorogue parliament and begin a new session with a speech from the Throne. It is entirely possible this won't happen until the next election in 2011. An interesting bias in the article was that the writer made the PC MPPs seem like martyrs for Ontarian tax payer, while not mentioning anything about the benefits or ideas behind McGuinty's proposed harmonized sales tax.

Source: http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/hst/article/732579--tories-suspended-for-animated-protest-over-harmonized-tax

Harper says he stands behind troops, opposition doesn't

2009-12-01T10:42:00.000-08:00

Prime Minister of Canada Steven Harper took a hit at MPs and those who agree with the fact of questioning the way prisoners captured in the Afghanistan war are being handled. Harper defended our Canadian troops when intelligence specialist Richard Colvin, accused the soldiers of torturing the captured afghan prisoners. Harper and his conservatives criticized Colvin and others of being unpatriotic towards Canadian troops and said "I just wish occasionally they would show the same passion for Canadian soldiers." There was some evidence declaring 400 cases of torture across the country of Afghanistan instilled by the Canadian army. “The independent study, which tracked abuse claims between 2001 and early 2008, shows the vast majority of them -- 243 -- were leveled in 2006 and 2007, when Colvin was in Afghanistan and warning the federal government about torture”. Steven Harper responds to these allegations by stating that the evidence is flimsy and assured Canada’s military that he will continue to stick behind them along with many other fellow Canadians.

Source: http://news.sympatico.ctv.ca/Canada/ContentPosting?newsitemid=CTVNews%2f20091129%2fharper_troops_091129&feedname=CTV-NATIONAL_V3&show=False&number=0&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=True

Family of Slain Photographer takes on Iranian Government

2009-12-01T10:41:00.000-08:00

This Wednesday a legal showdown will be taking place before a Quebec Superior Court judge in Montreal. The case is regarding the family of an Iranian-Canadian photographer, suing the Iranian government for a 17 million dollar civil suit. The son of the photographer Zahara Kazemi is seeking justice for the arrest, torture and death of his mother. His mother, Zahara Kazemi, was a 54 year old Iranian-Canadian citizen who was arrested for taking photographs of the relatives of detainees outside Evin prison in Tehran. During her arrest, she died due to the beatings and injuries she endured during custody. Canada’s State Immunity Act causes difficulties to persecute a foreign government in a Canadian Court. “A Liberal MP from Montreal, Irwin Cotler, is sponsoring a private member's bill that would amend the State Immunity Act and make it easier to sue foreign governments”. Hopefully the efforts in this case will influence the State Immunity Act and allow Canadian citizens to seek justice against foreign countries.

Source: http://news.sympatico.ctv.ca/Canada/ContentPosting?newsitemid=CTVNews%2f20091130%2fkazemi_court_091130&feedname=CTV-NATIONAL_V3&show=False&number=0&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=True

HST becoming reality

2009-12-01T10:39:00.000-08:00

The federal government will introduce legislation as early as next
week to implement a harmonized sales tax in Ontario and British
Columbia. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said the HST bill will be
similar to legislation passed in the 1990s that allowed Newfoundland,
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to harmonize their sales taxes. The
minority Conservative government is expected to count on the Bloc
Quebecois MPs vote for the bill. The NDP have said it will vote
against it, and on Friday the party called on Liberals to do the same.

Source: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/politics/story.html?id=2277967

End to rail strike?

2009-12-01T10:38:00.002-08:00

The federal government is set to force striking rail workers back to
work if the two sides can't come to an agreement by Monday, according
to a senior government official. Wages and the number of kilometres
engineers can drive each month are among the issues causing CN workers
to strike. The last work stoppage at CN was in 2007, when Parliament
ordered more than 2,700 conductors back to work.

Source: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2285185

Deal nears to recognize foreign credentials of immigrants

2009-12-01T10:38:00.001-08:00

This article is addressing the importance of equality within job seeking immigrants. The federal government and the provinces are unveiling a major agreement to help foreign trained professionals get their credentials recognized by employers throughout Canada. The governments plan is aiming to have a system in place to start recognizing international credentials in eight occupations (registered nurses, engineers, financial auditors and accountants and much more) by next December. After these international credentials are recognized, the government plans to add another six occupations to this list for immigrants seeking these jobs to have a fair chance of receiving them rather than someone less experienced living in Canada being hired instead. Ottawa feels these are important new steps for improving the employment of professionals and feel this will have a positive effect on the work production throughout Canada.

Source: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/732463--deal-nears-to-recognize-foreign-credentials-of-immigrants

H1N1 PR

2009-11-29T06:19:00.000-08:00

An article in the Toronto Star on November 27, 2009, discusses the Ontario government’s new ad campaign to promote university and college students to get the H1N1 flu shot. The campaign which is costing $650,000 is aimed at students aged 17 to 25, has Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Arlene King says that nearly half of people hospitalized in Ontario for swine flu are under 20. University and college students are being targeted because they are at a higher risk for inflection because of living situation on campuses and lecture halls. The government is sending emails to student associations across Ontario promoting them to put up posters and adverting on student websites.

http://www.healthzone.ca/health/newsfeatures/swineflu/article/731876--ontario-ad-campaign-tells-students-to-join-the-resistance-and-get-h1n1-shot

MP under investigation?

2009-11-29T06:12:00.000-08:00

A Conservative MP (Jacques Gourde) supposedly broke the law. An investigation, first revealed in the Globe and Mail, was confirmed by Gourd when all week federal officials were insisting that a certain law prevented them from confirming or denying anything. Gourde stated “ As it stands, Public Works and Government Services Canada is aware of these investigations, but I cannot provide further comment”.

Even though Gourde did not provide details about the investigation his answer contradicted what the federal officials had been saying all along such as “I can’t even confirm or deny that there is an investigation, or even discuss under what law I’m not allowed to talk” – an official’s statement to the Globe and Mail.

MPP drops post

2009-11-29T05:49:00.000-08:00

Today, Liberal provincial politician Kuldip Kular, resigned his position as parliamentary assistant to the health minister after leaving the scene of an accident last month. He was involved in an incident on October 23rd that sent a pedestrian to hospital with minor injuries. Kular is a doctor, and spoke to the pedestrian at the time of the accident, and then left. According to police, leaving the scene of an accident is not a criminal offense, but he could be facing a fine.

Source: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/731376--kuldip-kular-steps-down-as-parliamentary-assistant

Commonwealth leaders meet

2009-11-29T05:47:00.000-08:00

Commonwealth leaders will meet tomorrow in Trinidad where PM Harper will strongly oppose proposed anti-homosexual laws in Uganda. The proposed laws are suggesting life imprisonment for gays. Today in question period Transport Minister John Baird announced Harper will meet face-to-face with the Ugandan leader in an attempt to help stop the bill from passing. With Uganda being a member of the Commonwealth, their President is expected to attend the conference.

Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/bureau-blog/harper-to-press-uganda-on-abhorrent-anti-gay-law/article1379078/

Expensive royals

2009-11-26T17:33:00.000-08:00

The numbers are in – November’s royal visit cost Canadian taxpayers $2.57 million dollars. The 11 day visit’s expenditures included accommodation, travel, a promotional website for the trip, and a staff crew (who earned a total of $630,000 over the 11 days).

Maybe Canadians can compare it to a really expensive gift you get your parents for their anniversary when you’ve finally got a steady income. Sort of like visual trickery, to confuse dad, so that he won’t ask about your increasing deficit and political scandals.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2009/11/26/nl-royal-bill-1126.html?ref=rss

Harper to attend Copenhagen climate summit

2009-11-26T17:24:00.000-08:00

Prime Minister Stephen Harper will attend the Copenhagen climate change meeting next month after all, his office said Thursday — a day after saying he would not go. Harper decided Thursday to attend the meeting to work on a new climate change agreement after the U.S. president and Chinese premier announced that they will show up, his spokesman said. Canada has been strongly criticized internationally for reneging on the Kyoto climate protocol and for refusing to sign on to a new deal limiting greenhouse gases unless developing nations are included. Barack Obama will appear at the summit on Dec. 9 before heading to Oslo to accept his Nobel Peace Prize, according to a White House official. At least 65 world leaders, including Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, are expected to be in Copenhagen, but unlike Obama, most are expected to attend the final days of the conference, which runs Dec. 7-18. It's not clear when Harper will be present.

Ignatieff calls for cap and trade

2009-11-26T17:21:00.000-08:00

Meanwhile, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff told a Quebec City audience Thursday that Canada must create a cap-and-trade system in which companies would make money by going green, and polluters would need to pay.He said he hoped such a plan would fit into a global system, and work in conjunction with any plan set up in the U.S. But he said Canada should go ahead and create the system even before the Americans have established theirs. Ignatieff also said he favoured using the stricter baseline year of 1990, favoured by most developed countries and the backbone of the international Kyoto accord, to calculate emissions cuts — while the Harper government prefers using 2006. His plan would benefit provinces, like Quebec and Manitoba, that have already been working over the last decade and a half to reduce their emissions, Ignatieff said.

Detainee torture reports reached Foreign Affairs

2009-11-26T17:18:00.000-08:00

The Canadian diplomat Richard Colvin gave a testimony about possible torture victims captured by Canadian troops in Afghanistan last week and has recently sent a report to the office of foregin affairs about this same issue stating that government officials were well aware of the problem. Now, three generals are scheduled to appear before the committee Wednesday to give their version of events. Laurie Hawn, the parliamentary secretary to Defence Minister Peter MacKay, told CBC News he hasn't seen the letter clarifying the testimony and said the timing of when Colvin's emails were sent would play a role in whether MacKay, in his former role as foreign affairs minister, would have seen them.

Tis the season..... to be signing!!

2009-11-26T17:16:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year for MPs to sign their Christmas cards. Members can be seen in the house madly signing away from now until the Commons break for Holidays. There's apparently six different designs- anything more original is charged to the member's operating budgets. When thousands of cards are sent out the cost can be quite high, so the design MPs choose for their Christmas cards can be a good indication of just how frugal they are. Out of the thousands of cards sent, only about 100-500 are actually signed by the sender. It certainly would be interesting to know who is worthy enough to get a personally signed card- one that is worth the time, and not to mention money, of the MP!!

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/politics/insidepolitics/2009/11/the-signing-season.html

Canadian Forces Torturing Afghan Detainees?

2009-11-25T17:34:00.000-08:00

Canada's mission in Afghanistan has been brought to the foreground in Canadian politics again recently, this time in a particularly sour light. Canadian diplomat Richard Colvin testified last week, reporting possible torture of Afghan detainees by Canadian forces. Colvin said that he sent reports of the torture to the minister's (Peter McKay) office, but had no indication of whether or not the minister had received them. Peter McKay denies ever seeing the reports.
Recent polls of the Canadian public show that it is twice as likely (around 66%) for Canadians to believe Colvin's testimony than to view it with skepticism. The Canadian government has since said that they have faith in their generals, and are trying to get other versions of the story heard as well.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/11/25/colvin-harris-decima-poll.html

Canada must wait to regulate greenhouse gases: Prentice

2009-11-25T17:33:00.000-08:00

Despite recent meetings and summits involving some of the world’s top leaders and environmental ministers, it has been decided that greenhouse gases are not a top priority at the moment. Although there were plans to be set in motion at the beginning of 2010, they will be put off until the actions of other countries are assessed. The idea behind the stalled plans is to coordinate environmental actions with other nations in hopes of a collaborated effort toward positive climate change. The other issue is the lack of consensus among political parties in Canada as to what specific goals should be set and how they might be achieved. From what I gather, "What the government of Canada keeps saying is, 'We can't do anything on climate change because we have to wait for the Americans,"”, which is an accurate assessment of our current action plan to regulate greenhouse gases.

Source:
http://www.thecanadianpress.com/english/online/OnlineFullStory.aspx?filename=n111797A&newsitemid=173011024&languageid=1

Chief electoral officer overstepped his authority by probing Tory ads: lawyer

2009-11-25T17:32:00.000-08:00

Tory lawyers are in a disagreement with the chief electoral officers. With the belief that he is overstepping his boundaries and not abiding by what is supposed to be a non-partisan point of view, Tory lawyers are not happy with the debate over spending on Conservative ad campaigns. Tory lawyers are claiming it is a fight that ought to have been addressed by the commissioner, saying that “the electoral officer should be above all that.” There is also a dispute as to how they are being treated in the situation in comparison to others who have found themselves in this kind of economic scandal. Personally, I think that this is interesting considering that this is an ad scandal having to do with the Conservative Party – founders of the ‘Accountability Act’.

Source: http://www.commandnews.com/fpweb/fp.dll/$cpac/htm/cpac/x_dv.htm/_ibyx/daj/_svc/cp_pub/_Id/1256728578/_k/qkXqGi7hLRhJTWL6

Ehealth scandal a 1B waste : auditor

2009-11-25T17:30:00.000-08:00

Auditor General, Jim McCarter reveals in his investigation that Sarah Kramer (CEO of Ehealth Ontario) had approval to ignore normal procedures which ultimately led to wasted taxpayer money. This statement by the Auditor General is supposedly linked to the resignation of Health Minister David Caplan and also the quick response of Premier Dalton McGuinty to appoint “Children and Youth Services Minister Deb Matthews” to take over the health portfolio. McCarter further accuses Ehealth from keeping Ontarions from reaping the rightful value for their $1 billion dollars of tax money.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2009/10/07/ehealth-auditor.html

Tory MP Keddy apologizes for referring to unemployed as 'no-good bastards'

2009-11-25T17:26:00.000-08:00

A Conservative MP from Nova Scotia says he's sorry for calling unemployed people in Halifax "no-good bastards." Gerald Keddy issued the apology in a statement today after the Opposition and advocates for the homeless condemned comments he made in a Halifax newspaper. According to the Halifax Chronicle-Herald, Keddy said some farm operators in the province hire migrant labourers because Nova Scotians won't do it, referring to them as, "all those no-good bastards sitting on the sidewalk in Halifax that can't get work."

Source: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/091124/national/tory_jobless_remark

Ontario Tories protest HST

2009-11-25T17:18:00.000-08:00

In an Ontario legislature today, the Tories stormed out in opposition of the HST tax. They wished for McGuinty to agree to public hearings on the subject of the merge of the provincial tax and GST. After Hudak attempted 5 times to get McGuinty to agree, he led the caucus in a walkout. This left only Liberals and New Democrats at the legislature causing McGuinty to state: "I sense a greater intimacy with the NDP these days." The Tories plan to use every delaying tactic possible in an attempt to force public hearings on the subject.

Source: http://news.ca.msn.com/local/toronto/article.aspx?cp-documentid=22693188

G7 meeting for finance ministers to be held in Iqaluit

2009-11-25T17:17:00.000-08:00

Next February, Jim Flaherty and other finance ministers of the G7 will be holding their annual summit in Iqaluit, 2000km north of Ottawa. Flaherty says that it is a true taste of Canada. He is likely right because February is the coldest month in Iqaluit, with the average daily temperature about -32°C, not including the wind chill factor. A senior climatologist from Environment Canada even calls Iqaluit “the blizzard capital of Canada”. However, despite the cold, Flaherty says that the other finance ministers are looking forward to the Iqaluit summit as it is something vastly different from the typical big-city summits.

Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/g7-meeting-to-be-held-in-iqaluit/article1369042/

New parliament guide - out now!

2009-11-25T17:16:00.000-08:00

This article outlines that the document co-written by Robert Marleau, the former clerk of Parliament and Camille Montpetite, former Deputy Clerk of Parliament has been updated. These two co-wrote the House of Commons Procedure and Practice in 2000 and as of November 18th, 2009, this political "Bible" has been updated to include just about everything, including the Governor General's decision to allow Stephen Harper to postpone the House last year.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/politics/insidepolitics/2009/11/political-bible-polished-up.html

The ADQ Goes "Kamikaze"

2009-11-18T20:06:00.000-08:00

Just days after his rival (Eric Claire) left the opposition to sit as an independent in Quebec's National Assembly, leader of the Action Democratique du Quebec (ADQ), Gilles Taillon, announced his resignation. Along with Claire, Marc Picard - Taillon's former ADQ colleague left the party to join Quebec's National Assembly.

Their simultaneous resignation was by no means harmonious: Picard accused Taillon of betraying the party's right-wing ideology. Taillon described his resignation to the press as an attempt to "put an end to the futile infighting [among ADQ members] diverting [the party] from its real objectives". Analysists describes the abrupt resignation as a "kamikaze operation" aimed at "sabotaging any faint hopes" that remain for the party's renewal. Others, see Taillon's accussations as being more about "settling personal accounts". Either way, Taillon's accusations were not just personal assertions toward his former party; he described the party's funding practices as "troubling" and threatened a police investigation.

Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/the-adq-goes-kamikaze/article1366731/

Scarborough M.P. In Hot Water

2009-11-18T19:58:00.000-08:00

Scarborough M.P. Michelle Simson has taken criticism for a posting she published on Twitter wherein she made comments about another MP's weight. The posting occurred during a particularly intense finance committee meeting wherein Simson tweeted "In committee this morning. M.P. Del Mastro should grow up (not out)". M.P. Del Masto, representative of Peterborough, ON brought the posting up in the following question period stating that the posting was "demeaning, discriminatory and unbecoming of a member of Parliament". Simson promptly apologized to Del Masto.

Source: http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/11/18/11785426-sun.html
http://www.vancouversun.com/Parliamentary+committee+meeting+turns+Twitter+sniping+about+weight/2234020/story.html

Harper, The Slumdog Canadianaire

2009-11-18T16:19:00.000-08:00

Prime Minister Stephen Harper started today his three day tour of India (which by the way is his first time there since being in power). Harper mainly went over to talk business and the future of the partnership between the two nations. Many critics have often stated how much Harper has missed out on the vast opportunities of doing business with India. It is one of the world's largest nation and is slowly emerging to be one of the world's largest economic influence as well. Harper said that with the 2 economies, it "is well on the way to $4 trillion. Yet at the moment we are only doing $5 billion worth of business per year. Where we are today is not where we ought to be." There are still many things that need to be discussed like foreign investment protection deal and nuclear energy agreements but for the moment Harper is enjoying his time in India. There are many links between Canada and India, whereby Canada has a substantial amount of Indian Canadians, around a Slumdog Million people.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/726350--harper-goes-bollywood-to-sell-canada-in-india?bn=1

Climate Deal Stalls

2009-11-18T16:17:00.001-08:00

At the APEC Summit Meeting in Singapore on November 15, 2009 many world leaders such as Stephen Harper and Barack Obama decided that they would postpone a legally binding agreement on climate change. The agreement is being postponed until 2010 or late; the agreement set ambitious goals for reduction in emissions and a fund to help poor countries to reduce emissions.

Source: http://www.globalnational.com/World+leaders+back+dealy+climate+deal/2225978/story.html

New Ontario Green Party Leader

2009-11-14T19:48:00.000-08:00

After this weekend, the Green Party of Ontario will have a brand new leader. Current leader Frank de Jong announced that he was stepping down back in May and this weekend his replacement will be chosen in London, Ontario. The 3-day leadership convention will not only establish a new leader but it will also pay tribute to de Jong and his 16 years of service to the party. Mike Schreiner, Toronto businessman and former policy co-ordinator for the party, is expected to succeed de Jong as leader.

Source: http://www.metronews.ca/calgary/live/article/368725--ontario-greens-pay-tribute-to-frank-de-jong-on-the-eve-of-picking-a-new-leader

Margaret Thatcher (the cat) is dead

2009-11-14T13:21:00.000-08:00

In a dramatic and comical mistake in communication, Canadian Transport Minister John Baird alerted Canadian Parliament that Margaret Thatcher was dead. the message caused a degree of panic and influenced the prime minister to contact Buckingham Palace to ascertain Thatcher's health. However the reality of the situation was that Baird's message actually referred to his cat who shared the same name, Margaret Thatcher.

Source: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/091112/oddities/canada_britain_politics_thatcher_offbeat

Mike Duffy on Twitter?

2009-11-14T13:18:00.000-08:00

P.E.I. Senator Mike Duffy has been tweeting on twitter... or has he? An account has been made on twitter using Mike Duffy's name. Mike Duffy has asked the information technology staff to remove the user as it has been posting ridiculous tweets of him. However, ever since Duffy's request to remove the profile, it has become more apparent that this account is indeed a parody.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2009/11/12/pei-duffy-twitter-imposter-584.html

Trouble for Quebec MNA

2009-11-14T13:04:00.000-08:00

It seems that Liberal MNA Jean D’amour has had past actions during his successor’s 2007 campaign into question. During the municipal election in Rivere-du-loup, Quebec, D’amour received an illegal bribe of $500 to guarantee the election of upcoming mayor Michel Morin. Troubled by this situation, D’amour advised Morin to return the money and ignore the incentive. D’amour followed Morin’s advice and returned the money to an unnamed person. Following this Morin went on to win the election, moving on as if nothing had happened. As a result of recent predicaments, D’amour finds himself under investigation for unrelated activity. D’amour has admitted and apologized for the 2007 electoral bribe and clearly moved on, stating “My integrity does not have a price.” Consequently, D’amour has decided to sit as an independent and will move back to the Liberal party once his name is cleared. Fortunately for the Liberal party, D’amour knows to put his personal problems aside, allowing for a unaltered and conflict free Liberal party.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/2009/11/10/damour-mna-independent.html

Gap between Grits and Tories shrinking

2009-11-05T18:16:00.000-08:00

This article talks about the most recent public support polls for the federal government and it shows that the Conservative party's gap in support between it and the Liberals has shrunk. The article compares the summer of 2009 when the Liberals and Conservatives were close to even in support, to a few weeks ago when the Conservatives had enough support in the polls for a majority government, to now, when the polls have returned to similar levels as last year's October election. The article doesn't give many ideas for the cause of this shift except for a possible effort from the Liberals to expose the Conservatives' perceived poor handling of the H1N1 virus outbreak.

Source: http://ca.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idCATRE5A43GG20091105?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0

Auditor general concerned with emergency plans

2009-11-05T18:10:00.000-08:00

Auditor General Sheila Fraser argued that Public Safety Canada, whom was given the responsibility to coordinate with other departments in the federal government failed to procure a federal emergency plan. Fraser has stated that Public Safety Canada is not fullfilling their responsibility in working with other departments to establish a federal emergency response to crises such as the H1N1 flu virus, and is not exercising the degree of leadership that their agency was charged with.

Source: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/091103/national/auditor_report_1

Opposition Rails Against Premier’s Pan Am Trip

2009-11-05T18:07:00.000-08:00

This article addresses the pressures and concerns the opposition parties have towards premier Dalton McGuinty choosing to continue to take his trip to Mexico in support of the 2015 Pan Am Games, rather than staying in Canada to address the H1N1 vaccine. The opposition parties want Dalton McGuinty to stay in the province during the crisis to show he’s taking his responsibilities as the premier seriously but McGuinty feels the delivery programs are in a better place today and has confidence that things will only get better. Although Dalton McGuinty feels this confidence, the opposition parties feel it would only make sense to cancel his trip to show his support and concern for our citizens.

Source: http://www.thespec.com/News/CanadaWorld/article/666085

New communications director

2009-11-03T06:45:00.000-08:00

This article talks about Dan Robertson, who was a member of Navigation Limited, and is now PMO's new Deputy Director of Government Communications. It states that anyone would remember him from the Oliphant Commission, as he was the one who drilled holes in the backs of reporters at the media table when they weren't even sharing their thoughts on the latest developments. Funny how he is the Deputy Director of Communications when in the past, couldn't even communicate valid claims.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/politics/insidepolitics/2009/11/hey-remember-that-weird-globe-story-about-pmo-and-navigator-limited.html

Gun control debate

2009-11-03T06:38:00.000-08:00

A new Bill proposed by a Manitoba Conservative MP called Bill C-391, that eliminates the need to register firearms in Canada, will go through a Commons committee this Wednesday November 4. Gun-control advocates are worried that the Conservative government has enough support for the Bill to pass. The Bill will eliminate the need to register firearms and shotguns and already registered guns information can be destroyed and thrown out. The Bill still has to go through a Commons committee, on Wednesday, and then the Commons itself and the Senate. If it passes on Wednesday, the registration system will diminish, since its passing in the mid-1990s under Jean Chretien.

Source: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/719623--tories-move-closer-to-killing-gun-registry

Olympic protests

2009-11-01T15:15:00.000-08:00

Several hundred angry protesters held up the Olympic torch on its passage around Victoria. Organizers were forced to pack up the torchbearers into vehicles and drive around the demonstrations, with the torchbearers missing their chance to run their 300 meter segments. The protesters are angry Canadians who are frustrated with a variety of issues, but "whatever opponents' specific objections to the Game are, it all comes down to money." Some are concerned about the financing, while others claim that the games are being held on stolen native land. Others object to sponsor RBC's involvement in Canadian oil sands development, or the environmental impact of building so much infrastructure.

Earlier in the evening, 400 protesters joined a "Zombie March" to the provincial legislature where a concert was planned by Vancouver Olympic Games. They walked in a New Orleans-style procession chanting, "Who's streets, OUR STREETS!" and "No Olympics on stolen native land!". One protester shouted, "This is what democracy looks like." An organizer with No 2010 Victoria states, "We oppose [the games] because we see homelessness as a bigger priority than a two-week parade, we think health services is a bigger priority," while others claim, "The games benefit very few people in the long run, and I just think it's a huge waste of money." Some activists say they were inspired by the Beijing Olympics protests, where it was demonstrated that the torch presents a useful podium for getting a message across the world.

Police claim the protests are fine unless they turn violent, so "safe assembly zones" have been created but protesters claim they don't plan to stay put. Several anti-Olympic groups are promising to protest not just the torch relay, but the Games themselves.

Source: http://www.thestar.com/olympics/article/719139--protesters-block-olympic-torch-relay

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/10/29/bc-olympic-flame-island-arrival.html

New Brunswick sells assets

2009-11-01T14:35:00.000-08:00

For $10 billion, the government of New Brunswick has sold its power assets to Hydro Quebec. Power describes this as New Brunswick give up its "sovereignty power assets" for the quick fix of "immediate fiscal relief".

This article brings up the issue of whether it is the responsibility of the federal government to intervene? Perhaps - especially in the current economic climate - Canada should develop a more mixed market economy (and less capitalist) with the federal government nationalizing such industries. Once nationalized, the federal government would be able to proportionally re-distribute profits among provinces.

Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/silver-powers/nb-what-are-you-doing/article1343434/

Liberal shake-up

2009-11-01T14:01:00.000-08:00

...It looks like after a couple difficult weeks and sub-Dion polling (though the media always exagerrates the impact of short-term setbacks), Iffy is finally caving and firing Ian Davey, a long-time friend and Rae leadership ouster, as his Chief of Staff. In his place arrives Peter Donolo, Jean Chrétien's advisor extraordinaire, and a man who's supposed to restore the flailing credibility of the Liberal Party leadership in the months to come. Dig this scathing tidbit of advice for Donolo from the Ceebz:

"It won't be an easy fix. Ignatieff is still relatively new to politics and must be wondering how he could be depicted as a wimp one day, for not forcing an election in June, and then an irresponsible knave a few months later for saying he wanted one this fall.

(His chief of staff will have to explain to him how it works when you are up in the polls.)"

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/10/29/f-vp-newman.html

McGuinty's full-day kindergarten plan means full classrooms, too

2009-10-30T04:08:00.001-07:00

Dalton McGuinty, who initially promoted reduced class sizes in schools, has now reformed his platform to accommodate the budget. With the investment of hundreds of millions of dollars, McGuinty will introduce full-day classes for Ontario’s kindergarten students under “the province's new early-learning program”. Although this project is supposed to be one of optimism and improvement, not only is the province spending millions of dollars to put the program into action, but class sizes on average will increase significantly. As if things couldn’t sound any worse, the class sizes that are affected the most are those of the lower grades – the ones that McGuinty’s initial platform to reduce class sizes had targeted. It turns out that McGuinty’s defense for this situation is that there will be an early-childhood educator in addition to a teacher in the classroom at all times, therefore reducing the student-teacher ratio to 13:1.

Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/mcguintys-full-day-kindergarten-plan-means-full-classrooms-too/article1339417/

Tories under fire

2009-10-30T04:05:00.000-07:00

The Tory government has come under fire for what opposition parties are calling a breach in legal ethics. The Foreign Affairs Department had given approval to pay the preliminary legal bills of Richard Colvin, a federal official who has put out warnings of torture in Afghan jails. However the government has now stated that it will not pay the legal fees until Colvin's lawyer lists the individuals she has been in contact with on the case. Colvin and his lawyer, Lori Bokenfohr have stated that to release this information would be a breach of legal ethics codes and is something they cannot do. Federal NDP leader Jack Layton denounced the governments actions as did Bloc defence critic Claude Bachand.

Source: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/716549--ottawa-won-t-pay-lawyer-for-whistleblower, http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/canada/2009/10/27/11544431.html

New spending rules for municipal elections

2009-10-27T18:53:00.000-07:00

During the next municipal election, there will be several new rules. The main change is the amount that can be donated to a poltical party. The new limit will be $5 000 which there was previously no limit. Toronto is trying to set a ban for any corporations to donate money with this limit being a start. It is stated this ban is needed because of the influence these donations can have on political parties.

Source: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/716860--ontario-set-to-limit-municipal-election-donations?bn=1

Getting Tough on White Collar Crime

2009-10-26T20:40:00.000-07:00

The Conservative government has taken another step to get “tough on crime” with the focus involving white collar crime. The move to impose harsher penalties comes after a number of high-profile cases in Canada this year, including the $400 million fraud in Alberta, and the Montreal Investment dealer in Quebec. This legislation also comes after Bill C-25, which Parliament approved last week. The new legislation will change existing laws so that early parole becomes a privilege, not a right. Currently, non-violent criminals convicted of a first offence to be eligible for “early parole after serving just 1/6 of their sentences, and fill parole after serving 1/3 of their sentences.” The Minister of Public Safety claims that white collar criminals are granted parole in these circumstances unless their deemed violent. With the new legislation, the criminal would need to demonstrate that they’ve earned their parole. The Minister states “while tougher sentences for white-collar criminals are welcome, they won’t be effective unless parole laws are also changed.” The new legislation would also give judges the ability to order restitution to victims of crime and bar white-collar criminals for life from handling people's money.This new measure would cost tax payers approximately $600 million/year to pay to keep the non-violent criminals in prisons. The minister claims the cost as a “bargain” relative to the amount of money white collar criminals steal. Critics claim that "Tying the hands of judges in this way essentially sends the message that we think judges are too stupid to make appropriate decisions." Duff Conacher, a co-ordinator for Democracy Watch, claims "The regulators either don't have the resources or the tough enforcement attitude to have a high chance of catching fraudsters," and that the U.S. experience shows that “high penalties do not decrease the rate of corporate crime, even in countries with a national securities commission.”

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/2009/10/26/parole-early-law-non-violent-van-loan.html

http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/2009/10/21/can-white-collar.html

Protesters Storm House

2009-10-26T20:36:00.000-07:00

The House of Commons question period was disrupted by a loud protest in the visitors’ gallery on Monday. Approximately 200 young protesters chanted slogans to support Bill C-311. Protesters shouted chants including, “I say 311, you say ‘Sign it!’”. Bill C-311, the Climate Change Accountability Act, is an NDP private member’s bill on climate change. It would set strict targets for greenhouse gas emissions and would give government the authority to make regulations to meet these targets. Recently the House of Commons voted to extend the deadline for the review of the bill. Parliamentary security guards removed the demonstrators in small groups to clear the galley. One environmental activist claimed that he was “roughed up” by one of the guards and even remained on the grounds for an interview with CBC’s Power and Politics, despite his bloody facial injuries. Elizabeth May summed up the afternoon claiming that “the youth in the gallery showed more leadership than the MP’s on the floor.”

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/2009/10/26/house-commons-protest-environment.html

http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=3662654&Language=e&Mode=1

Ontario deficit could reach $24.7B

2009-10-26T17:25:00.001-07:00

Provincial Finance Minister Dwight Duncan announced on Thursday that Ontario’s deficit is expected to reach $24.7 billion in the current fiscal year. Duncan says that declining corporate tax revenues and increasing demand for public services have dragged down the government’s deficit. Despite the huge deficit, Duncan says that he has “every confidence Ontario will come through this recession.” He claims that investments in infrastructure, skills training, and reshaping the province’s tax system will ensure Ontario’s growth, as well as strong fundamentals already in place such as the strong education system and a passion for innovation. The report is the first step in developing next year’s Ontario’s budget. Duncan projects a deficit of $21.1 billion in 2010-11 and $19.4 billion in 2011-12.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2009/10/22/toronto-fiscal-report-091022.html

Liberal MPP to face charges in hit and run

2009-10-26T17:22:00.000-07:00

Liberal MPP Kuldop Jular will be charged with leaving the scene of an accident. Kular struck a 39-year-old man in Brampton on Friday evening, sending the pedestrian to hospital with minor injuries. Witnesses told investigators they saw the driver get out of his car and speak to the victim before taking off. A source close to Kular said it was raining at the time and the MPP believes the man slipped and fell and that he did not hit the man. The source also says that Kular got out of his car and to help the man up and offered to call an ambulance; the man said he was fine and went off on his way. The substance of the charge is that he didn’t provide the information he is legally required to in such an event. Failing to remain at the scene isn’t a criminal offence therefore Kular will be issued a traffic ticket with a court date and if found guilty, he will face a fine.

Source: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/crime/article/716133--liberal-mpp-to-face-charges-in-hit-and-run?bn=1

George W. Bush Gets Rough Welcome to Canada

2009-10-25T11:00:00.000-07:00

George W. Bush has been on tour throughout Canada. His latest destination was outside Montreal’s Queen Elizabeth Hotel. Inside the hotel, George Bush said a speech in front of a business crowd. There are many anti-Bush Canadians who believe that he should be imprisoned for being a war criminal. When Bush was in Edmonton, hundreds of protesters gathered around with signs saying “Canada is not Bush country”, the next day in Saskatoon, angrier Canadians repeated “Arrest Bush now”. After this speech, the former president was quizzed on the major decisions he made while in office, like the Iraq invasion. Seeing as Bush had a not so welcoming experience to Canada, the odds are he won’t be visiting us again for quite some time.

Source: http://news.ca.msn.com/top-stories/cbc-article.aspx?cp-documentid=22392527

Supreme Court strikes down Quebec law

2009-10-23T17:46:00.000-07:00

The country's top court has struck down a Quebec law that restricts immigrants from attending English-language schools, prompting reactions of disappointment and anger from provincial politicians. The decision has the potential to ignite the province's divisive language wars and could even inflame divisions across the country.

Source: http://news.sympatico.ctv.ca/abc/home/contentposting.aspx?isfa=1&feedname=CTV-TOPSTORIES_V3&showbyline=True&date=true&newsitemid=CTVNews%2f20091022%2fquebec_schools_091022

Queen recognizes Chretien

2009-10-23T17:25:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday October 20, 2009, Jean Chretien became only the fourth Canadian to receive the Order of Merit. He was invested Tuesday by the Queen and was quoted as saying "some say it is the most exclusive honour that exists". The award is given to those who show exceptional distinction in the arts, learning, sciences, and public services and at any given time, only 24 living people can hold the order. Chretien joins former PM's William Lyon Mackenzie King and Lester Pearson as well as neurosurgeon Wilder Penfield, as the only Canadians to ever receive the award.

Source: http://thechronicleherald.ca/Canada/1148637.html

Liberals give NDP's climate change bill thumbs down, Bloc supports

2009-10-23T17:22:00.000-07:00

Federal liberals have declared that they will not support the NDP's attempt to pass Bill C-311 in the House of Commons on Wednesday. Bill C-311, also known as the climate change accountability act sets strict for greenhouse gas emissions, and is currently being considered by a House environment committee which recently received a 30-day extension to review the matter. NDP party leader Jack Layton says that the delay will "undermine efforts" to have the bill passed into law before the Copenhagen summit in December, where world leaders hope to create a successor to the Kyoto protocol. Liberal environment critic, David McGuinty said that the committee needs more time so that they can hear more about the American, European and Chinese position before considering the bill. Bill C-311 calls for Canada to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 25% below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80% below 2050. Bloc MP Bernard Bigras said that "It's not time to discuss about this bill, it's time for action."

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/10/21/ndp-climate-change-bill-liberals-copenhagen.html

Hillier accuses PMO of cover-up

2009-10-20T11:01:00.000-07:00

The former chief of defence Gen. Rick Hillier has recently accused Stephen Harper's office of hiding the return of the first female killed in Afghanistan. Hillier stated that he received a phone call from officials in the Prime Minister's office asking him to be discreet about brining the soliders body back to Canada. Hillier was asked to bring the body back while it was dark out, and not to make a scene out of it. This is troubling because Hillier has stated there have been many battles between himself and the government.

Source: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/rickhillier/article/712802--hillier-s-fiercest-foe-was-pm-s-office

Liberals complain over cheques

2009-10-20T10:59:00.000-07:00

The Federal Liberal party has put forth claims that the Tories have violated ethical codes of Parliament through "Conservative MPs putting their own name, their own picture, or a Conservative party logo on ceremonial cheques when they announced federal government funding of a project in their riding". The party has filed dozens of complaints citing over 100 separate incidents involving 48 Conservative MP's including the Prime Minister.

Source:
http://www.montrealgazette.com/Grits+file+ethics+complaints+over+Tory+cheques/2110344/story.html

Ex-MP Rahim Jaffer speaks

2009-10-20T10:55:00.000-07:00

Ex-MP Rahim Jaffer speaks out about being charged with impaired driving and possesion of cocaine charges. Jaffer said "I am innocent and am confident of full exoneration. I cannot express how grateful I am for the support of my family and friends and I ask that you respect their privacy as I strive to clear my name."

Political analysts say that politicians have been able to recover from similar incidents however it is very difficult especially since Jaffer lost his riding in the last election. Other politicians had little to say about Mr. Jaffer's charges.

Source: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/canada/Rahim+Jaffer+responds+cocaine+drunk+driving+allegations/2004234/story.html

Didn't see Afghan prisoner torture memo: Harper

2009-10-18T09:57:00.000-07:00

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Friday that he did not see reports in 2006 that suggested there was evidence detainees had been tortured after they were handed over to Afghan prisons by Canadian Forces in Afghanistan.

Speaking in Toronto, where he was making a funding announcement, Harper said he didn't see the reports "at the time."

"There were allegations of Canadian troops involved in torture. We’ve been very clear that's not the case," the prime minister said.

Harper said a new Afghan prisoner transfer agreement was put in place 2½ years ago.

When the allegations of abuse surfaced in 2007, Harper described them as "baseless."

In an affidavit filed with the Military Police Complaints Commission that was made public onWednesday, former senior diplomat Richard Colvin said that he wrote a memo in 2006 to senior military and Foreign Affairs officials describing what he thought were "serious, imminent and alarming" problems with the handling of detainees by Afghan security forces.

Colvin, who also worked in Kabul, said he wrote about 16 more memos about the issue over the next year and a half.

In one of the memos, Colvin, who is now an intelligence officer at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, outlined specific allegations of torture made by a detainee transferred to an Afghan prison by Canadian soldiers.

On Thursday, Defence Minister Peter MacKay, who was foreign affairs minister at the time the allegations were raised, also said he had not seen Colvin's reports.

Tories Coming into Majority Scenario?

2009-10-18T09:56:00.000-07:00

Conservative leader Stephen Harper’s piano performance has apparently gained him more support among Canadians according to a poll conducted by EKOS Research for the CBC. According to recent poll results, the Conservatives are leading with support at 40.7% and with the Liberals trailing at 25.5% in second place. While these numbers indicate that the Tories are heading towards the formation of a majority government, EKOS has projected these numbers into seats in the House of Commons and predicted that they will hold 167 seats, enough for a majority government. This is not good news for Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff...

Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/tories-really-taking-off-in-polls/article1324836/

Partisan Cheque Puts Tories in Hot Water

2009-10-18T09:46:00.000-07:00

Nova Scotia Tory MP, Gerard Keddy, was caught distributing cheques where he had replaced the Government of Canada logo with a Conservative Party logo. The Prime Minister's Office responded to this violation of the Federal Identity Program by saying that, "tax-funded programs and grants MUST be announced as Government initiatives, not Conservative Party initiatives". To avoid looking like the Tory government is using government funding for partisan purposes, the Conservatives have hurriedly disavowed themselves from Keddy. Along with a warning from the Prime Minister, Keddy's actions seem to bolster the investigation by the Halifax Chronicle Herald that the Conservative government is flowing a disproportionate amount of stimulus spending to Tory-held ridings. However, perhaps in their defense, Conservatives warn Liberals against disgruntling too loudly: it would be yet another "opportunity to resurrect the Quebec sponsorship scandal".

Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/partisan-cheques-put-tories-in-hot-water/article1323521/

Parliament to debate post-2011 role in Afghanistan

2009-10-11T04:41:00.000-07:00

In a speech given to the House of Commons, Defence Minister Peter MacKay had stated that Canada will not be leaving Afghanistan even after the missions expires in 2011. Apparently, the strategy will change from "fighting a war" to "training and developing". Peter MacKay, is so committed to the idea of continuing in Afghanistan even though the tally of how much the war has cost Canada, is reaching $13 billion dollars. Aren't we in a recession?

Even when MacKay was asked HOW Canada plans on a development mission ... he ignored the question and tried to get around the question. The initial statement that he made was that they will end the fighting and work on development ... but in order to make such a bold statement there should be a plan. There is no plan. Which I would guess makes people very worried. The article continues to state that in order to have diplomats and other workers helping the development process, there still will need to be Canadian troops to serve as protection. He forgot to mention that.

Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/parliament-to-debate-post-2011-role-in-afghanistan/article1317151/

Western premiers slam Senate over crime bill

2009-10-11T04:38:00.000-07:00

The premiers of Canada's Western provinces are upset with the Senate. The premiers of Manitoba, Sakatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia took time this week to air their concerns, and three of them (the premiers of Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia) did so by issuing a joint press release Friday. The issue lies in the Senate's delay of a crime bill aimed at disallowing criminals from claiming double-time against their sentences for time spent in municipal jails. The bill is being delayed by a series of amendments proposed by liberal senators who feel the bill is too harsh and the resulting decision of conservative senators to avoid voting on the bill. The premiers were also quick to take the opportunity to comment on the validity of the senate. B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell said “The amendments proposed by this unelected Senate water down the strength of Bill C-25." and Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall went even further saying "If a constitutional amendment's not possible, then other alternatives — like not having a Senate — I think have to be front and centre."

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2009/10/09/sk-premier-wall-senate-reform.html

Budget watchdog criticizes government’s reporting on stimulus

2009-10-11T04:36:00.000-07:00

In a report released yesterday, Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page is criticizing the government’s report on the economic stimulus delivered by the Harper government on September 28. Page says that it was not helpful in measuring how much the spending is actually helping the economy. Page criticizes that although more data is now available on the impact of the economic stimulus, the quality and content of the report was been almost unchanged from previous reports. He contrasts this to the American reports, which he says have been produced bi-weekly, and provide specific information on how spending is reaching each state. He also says that the report focused too heavily on how spending has been allocated, rather than how the spending is actually stimulating economic activity.

Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawas-reporting-on-stimulus-spending-gets-poor-grade-from-watchdog/article1319704/

Peter Milliken to become Canada’s longest-serving Speaker

2009-10-09T20:25:00.000-07:00

Next Monday, Peter Milliken, first elected as the Speaker for the House of Commons in 2001, will become Canada’s longest serving Speaker. Milliken is the Liberal MP for Kingston and the Islands, and has managed to keep his position as Speaker throughout four parliaments. His most recent election as Speaker was on November 18, 2008 in which the MPs went through five rounds of voting. Milliken has often been praised for being fair and decent as a Speaker, and is generally considered someone who is liked and respected. The second longest serving Speaker is Lucien Lamoureux, who like Milliken, was Speaker during a time of a minority government.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/politicalbytes/2009/10/the-poor-little-guy-in-the-middle.html

Governor General refers to herself as Canada’s “head of state”

2009-10-09T20:22:00.000-07:00

Governor General, Michealle Jean, referred to herself as the “head of state” in Canada twice during her Governor-General’s address at an executive meeting of UNESCO in Paris. Jean was promoting cultural diversity to help achieve international harmony, when she called herself the “head of state” in Canada. Stephen Harper was very quick to correct the Governor General in a statement made to Canwest News Services that Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state. Professor David Smith, of the University of Regina states that this has never happened before, and that it is history-making. Although some are justifying what Jean said, because she carries out the duties of the head of state, others claim that it is still incorrect.

Source: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/politics/story.html?id=2083517

Private members bill gets first reading

2009-10-08T17:15:00.000-07:00

Last February a Liberal M.P. introduced a private members bill called Bill C-300 to the House of Commons for its first reading. The bill is also called the Corporate Accountability of Mining, Oil and Gas Corporations in Developing Countries Act. It will promote responsible environmental practices and international human rights standards on the part of Canadian mining, oil and gas corporations in developing countries. It will hold Canadian companies accountable for their practices as they will have to submit annual reports to the House of Commons and the Senate.

Today the C-300 Bill has been through the first and second readings and now will be studied by the Foreign Affairs and International Development committee. People on both sides of the argument will attend and will present their cases to the committee for contemplation. If the bill is passed by the committee today then the bill will be sent for its third reading.

Source: http://www.johnmckaymp.on.ca

All we are saying, is give peace a chance

2009-10-08T17:06:00.000-07:00

In a time when war is seen as one of the most effective ways to resolve international conflict, two Canadian MPs and calling for the creation of a federal Department of Peace. NDP MP Bill Siksay and Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis brought forth the private member’s bill last thursday. Private members bills are rarely given attention, and the MPs acknowledged that this one, which challenges Harper’s military establishment, will likely go by the wayside as well.

Both Michael Ignatieff and Stephen Harper are engaged in the same corporate, military, “warlike” mentality, which these two MPs see as problematic. A federal Department of Peace could employ hundreds of professionals whose role would be to help promote a culture of peace in Canada and strategize on how conflicts could be solved non-violently both nationally and worldwide.

Source: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/propose+army+peace+professionals/2051493/story.html

Ticket scandal brewing?

2009-10-08T17:05:00.000-07:00

In this article, there is some controversy because 2,000 tickets for the Vancouver Olympics have been reserved for people who work in government and government officials. There are 1.6 million Olympic tickets that are printed and only 896,000 that are available to Canadian residents, which they can purchase, but only through a complicated lottery system. The Canadian Heritage Department spent $447,000 for reserving the tickets.

Source: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/cbc/091007/canada/canada_olympics_tickets_3

Alberta and Saskatchewan friendship

2009-10-07T16:56:00.000-07:00

The Albertan and Saskatchewan governments signed an agreement that will allow truckers and shippers to move goods throughout Western Canada more efficiently and safely. The deal is being well received. Both Alberta Transportation Minister and Saskatchewan Transportation Minister state that this deal will be beneficial for their province.

Source: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/091006/national/keep_on_trucking

Liberals won't change strategy, despite polls, say MPs

2009-10-07T16:53:00.000-07:00

The Liberals vow to continue on a pre-election course, despite polls showing their popularity sinking and a rise in support for the Conservatives. The latest Strategic Counsel poll suggests the minority Conservatives have the backing of 41 per cent of respondents, while the Liberals have sunk to 28 per cent support. The survey, which spoke to 1,000 people Oct. 2-4, is considered accurate to within 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. But Liberal MP Ken Dryden said polls change nothing, and the Liberals will continue to vote against the Harper Tories in the House of Commons on confidence matters.The Liberals are re-organizing in parliament in preparation for a potential election, with Ignatieff announcing a new team designed to reflect a growing focus on government ethics and health, while adding additional capacity on economic issues, Ignatieff said in a statement: "Every day, our team will fight to expose Conservative failures and hold this government to account."

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/091006/n100639A.html

Recession Relief Coalition sets up camp

2009-10-07T16:28:00.001-07:00

The Canadian Recession Relief Coalition (CRRC) has set up camp outside the Federal Finance Minister’s regional office in Toronto,Wednesday morning. They are demanding government support for agencies that aid those most vulnerable in times of economic recession: students, the unemployed, and other marginalized groups. This year, donations have gone down and the pressure on these organizations has skyrocketed.

The CRRC also wants to push the message that the Canadian social assistance program is creating a cycle of poverty. “For a single person to try to survive on $572 a month is absolutely ludicrous,” says the CRRC chair, John Andras. “It can’t be done. To even qualify for welfare, people have to be destitute. That means selling all their liquid assets. So you’re being maintained in poverty with very little hope.”

Source: http://www.rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/johnbon/2009/10/coalition-sets-soup-line-outside-federal-finance-minister%E2%80%99s-office

Ignatieff names former astronaut new MP

2009-10-07T16:19:00.000-07:00

Following the resignation of Denis Coderre, the previous Liberal MP of Quebec, Michael Ignatieff has declared former astronaut, Marc Garneau, as the party's new Quebec MP.
Garneau, the first Canadian in space, will be taking over after Coderre's recent struggle with Ignatieff. There is pressure on Garneau to reinstate strong Liberal support in the province, as it has recently been declining.

Source: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Marc+Garneau+named+Liberals+Quebec/2077921/story.html

Senate passes flavoured tobacco bill

2009-10-07T15:35:00.000-07:00

The Canadian Senate has passed a bill that would ban flavours and additives in tobacco products. The government says that tobacco companies add fruit flavours and vitamins, sugar, and other additives that taste like candy to little cigars in order to mask the tobacco’s harshness and appeal to kids. Bill C-32, also known as the Cracking Down on Tobacco Marketing Aimed at Youth Act, passed unanimously in the House of Commons in June with the support of all three opposition parties.

Source: http://thehamiltonspectator.com/News/BreakingNews/article/648606

Ontario's Caplan Quits

2009-10-06T19:26:00.000-07:00

David Caplan, the minister of health, has just given his resignation to Dalton McGuinty. This comes on the eve of the auditor general's report on spending abuse from an agency given the task of creating electronic health records. Apparently, Caplan quit because of what will be in the report, which details how the $1 billion Ontario has spent trying to create electronic health records has been used. It will be interesting to see what the report contains, and how accountable Caplan actually is.

Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hJaILz5_kej109qabQtf38oomalA

Stranded Canadian looking for compensation

2009-10-06T19:24:00.000-07:00

Suaad Hagi Mohamud, a Torontonian who had traveled to Africa, had her passport voided and she was turned over the Kenyan authorities by Canadian consular officials while trying to fly home from Kenya. She spent almost three months trying to prove who she was until finally a DNA test proved her identity and she was allowed back. Now she wants to be compensated by the government for her legal fees.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/10/06/suaad-mohamud.html

Privacy Commish Pipes In

2009-10-06T11:34:00.001-07:00

In her annual report to Parliament, Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart says many Canadians have lost their jobs, missed out on professional or academic opportunities or been suspended from school over online correspondence they mistakenly believed was private, such as wall posts on social networking sites.
So she's urging Canadians, particularly young people who live much of their lives online, to think twice about what they post on the Internet in an effort to secure their own privacy. Stoddart has made such issues a focus of her recent work. Earlier this year, she completed an investigation into Facebook's privacy policies, which spurred the company to make a series of changes to its operations.

Source: http://news.sympatico.ctv.ca/abc/home/contentposting.aspx?isfa=1&feedname=CTV-TOPSTORIES_V3&showbyline=True&date=true&newsitemid=CTVNews%2f20091006%2fprivacy_report_091006

Renewed tensions between English and French?

2009-10-06T11:32:00.000-07:00

There are some radical Quebec sovereigntists who are less than hospitable to the monarchy and federalists in general. This issue is raised again through Prince Charles having a planned visit to Quebec and The Reseau de Resistance du Quebecois making strong objections to having any "crassly anti-democratic" people enter the province.

Source: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/091006/national/que_prince_charles

New Poll Puts Tories at 41 Percent

2009-10-06T05:05:00.000-07:00

A new Strategic Counsel survey, conducted Oct. 2-4 for CTV and the Globe and Mail, found that Tory support has surged to 41 per cent nationally, up six percentage points from September. The Conservatives now have a 13 percentage point lead over the Liberals, who have now seen their national support diminish to just 28 per cent.

Here are the national results (the differences from a Sept. 3-6 poll are in brackets):
   * Conservatives: 41 per cent (+6)
   * Liberals, 28 per cent (-2)
   * NDP: 14 per cent (none)
   * Green Party: 9 per cent (none)
   * Bloc Quebecois: 9 per cent (-3)

Source: http://news.sympatico.ctv.ca/abc/home/contentposting.aspx?isfa=1&feedname=CTV-TOPSTORIES_V3&showbyline=True&date=true&newsitemid=CTVNews%2f20091005%2fstrategic_poll_091005

Ottawa Gives Up Millions in Gun Registry Fees

2009-10-05T19:36:00.000-07:00

The Conservative government is relinquishing millions of dollars in gun registry and licensing fees at a time when the government is running record budget deficits.
Documents obtained by CBC News under access to information show the federal government's decision to waive fees for people licensing their firearms will cost more than $15 million this year alone. Should the fee waiver be extended for another three years, internal forecasts predict an additional $60 million in "projected lost revenue."

The Conservatives started granting amnesty to gun owners in 2006 — neither forcing new owners to register rifles and other long guns, nor collecting fees from those who already had. It also waived fees for licence renewals. The amnesty has been extended twice more since then. Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan didn't dispute the amounts cited in the documents, but he insisted no money is being lost.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/10/05/gun-registry-fees-government.html

Random breathalyzer tests for Canadian drivers?

2009-10-05T19:35:00.000-07:00

Random breathalyzer tests considered for Canada, but could infringe on civil liberties. If random testing were to be adopted, it would be a major change to Canada's 40-year-old breathalyzer legislation, which stipulates that police may only administer a test if they suspect a driver has been drinking. However, in other places such as European countries the changed laws have saved numerous lives.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/10/05/random-breathalyzer-drunk-driving-test-law.html

Liberal troubles in Quebec

2009-10-05T15:05:00.000-07:00

It looks like Denis Coderre - Michael Ignatieff's Quebec lieutenant - was absent during a speech given by the Count Iggster Sunday. This is a big deal, since - while it's already clear Coderre will be replaced as Quebec lieutenant - speculation exists as to whether he'll dissent further, including rumours that he may join with fellow Montrealers Jack Layton and Thomas Mulclair in the NDP (blog rumours, not broad rumours).

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2009/10/04/ignatieff-quebec-conference.html

Harper calls four by-elections

2009-10-05T15:01:00.000-07:00

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Sunday that four byelections will be held Nov. 9. The four ridings are in British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Quebec. The Conservatives are downplaying expectations on the outcomes, with one party source saying they don't anticipate winning any of the races. The two ridings up for grabs in Quebec — one in Montreal and the other an eastern riding that includes Rivière-du-Loup — are Bloc Québécois strongholds. A third riding in the Vancouver-area was held by the NDP. Former MP Dawn Black resigned from the House to run for a seat in the provincial legislature. The fourth, in Nova Scotia, was held by former Conservative-turned Independent Bill Casey, who split with the party.

Electoral districts where votes will be held Nov. 9:

   * Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley (Nova Scotia)
   * New Westminster-Coquitlam (British Columbia)
   * Hochelaga (Quebec)
   * Montmagny-L’Islet-Kamouraska-Rivière-du-Loup (Quebec)

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/10/04/harper-byelections.html

RCMP arrest Greenpeace protesters

2009-10-05T14:59:00.000-07:00

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have arrested nine Greenpeace protesters who chained themselves to a Shell oilsands upgrader plant in northern Alberta. After their arrival Saturday, the protesters, who hail from Canada, France, Brazil and Australia, put up yellow banners reading "Climate Crime" and "Climate S.O.S." They said they were protesting the oil and gas industry for contributing to climate change through the emission of greenhouse gases. The protest came after about 20 Greenpeace activists were arrested at a Suncor oilsands plant near Fort McMurray, Alta. a couple of weeks ago.

Source: http://news.sympatico.ctv.ca/abc/home/contentposting.aspx?isfa=1&feedname=CTV-TOPSTORIES_V3&showbyline=True&date=true&newsitemid=CTVNews%2f20091004%2fgreenpeace_arrests_091004

PM finds his inner Beatle

2009-10-04T10:37:00.000-07:00

Prime minister Stephen Harper surprised the audience of a National Arts Centre Gala in Ottawa by going up on stage and playing the piano and singing a Beatles song, alongside famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Recently, he had angered some in the arts community over cuts to some arts projects, and by suggesting that many Canadians don't "sympathize with artists seeking funds to support such galas".

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/10/03/harper-piano.html

Olympic Logo trouble?

2009-10-03T09:01:00.000-07:00

The debut of the official team uniforms for the Canadian Olympic team has been marred by political controversy over an insignia. Critics have said it looks too much like the logo for the Conservative Party and should have been redesigned. Vancouver Liberal MP Hedy Fry accused Minister of State for Sport Gary Lunn of not being "on the ball" about the potential embarrassment of part of the design.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/10/01/bc-vancouver-winter-olympic-uniforms-canada-bay.html

Layton saves Tories

2009-10-03T08:29:00.000-07:00

The Conservative government withstood a no-confidence motion introduced by the Liberals by a vote of 144-117. Jack Layton's NDP abstained from the vote and thus prevented an election. Jack Layton has said he is propping up the Conservative government to ensure speedy legislation regarding employment insurance benefits.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/10/01/confidence-motion-parliament-ndp305.html

Provincial Health Minister visits Guelph

2009-10-03T08:20:00.000-07:00

The provincial health minister makes a stop in Guelph on Thursday. David Caplan toured the ER department at Guelph General Hospital at 2:30 p.m. Caplan met with hospital staff and doctors to talk about initiatives underway to reduce wait times in the emergency department.

Source: http://www.570news.com/news/local/more.jsp?content=20091001_050654_5376

The Prince of Pot heads to U.S. Prison

2009-09-30T19:30:00.000-07:00

Canadian advocate for marijuana Marc Emery turned himself in to Vancouver authorities on Tuesday. He is headed to Washington state to serve a five year prison sentence after pleading guilty to selling marijuana seeds by mail. Emery used the money from the seeds to fund popular marijuana magazine Cannabis Culture and even an unsuccessful political party.

As Emery stated: "I've probably run the largest-scale revolution that has had no bodies. There are no victims, no dead people, in my revolution."

Emery's last cry to the public before being led away by sheriffs was "Plant the seeds of freedom. Overgrow the government, everyone."

Source: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/702407

Ontario takes on big tobacco

2009-09-30T19:16:00.000-07:00

The provincial government of Ontario launches a 50 billion dollar lawsuit against big tobacco. The overall goal of this majestic lawsuit is to pay for the health damages done by cigarettes and second-hand smoke over the years. Only New Brunswick and British Columbia have lead similar lawsuits, but none to the extent of this one.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2009/09/29/ont-tobacco.html

Smitherman for Toronto mayor?

2009-09-30T15:53:00.000-07:00

Deputy Premier George Smitherman is said to be running for mayor of Toronto next year. However, Premier Dalton McGuinty insists a cabinet shuffle is not going to happen and that Smitherman is going nowhere. Smitherman does not have to reveal his intentions until next January when individuals must declare their candidacy.

Source: http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/703082

Apology sought from government

2009-09-30T15:50:00.000-07:00

A Moroccan-Canadian man wants an apology form federal government. He was imprisoned or under surveillance for six years under a federal security certificate as he was labeled an terrorist. He said he is not seeking compenesation, he just wants the label off his name. Charkaoui spent 2 years detatined and 4 years on house arrest as he was believed to have connections with the terrorist group, Al-Qaeda.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/09/29/canada-adil-charkaoui-apology-security-certificate.html

Liberal Quebec lieutenant resigns

2009-09-28T14:09:00.000-07:00

Denis Coderre has announced his resignation, saying he lost the “moral authority” to continue working as the Liberal lieutenant for Quebec. This comes just days after Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff announced former MP Martin Cauchon would become the candidate for Outremont overturning Coderre’s decision to have Nathalie Le Prohon run for the riding. Coderre criticized Ignatieff for ignoring the people who know what’s best for Quebecers. “I always believed the head office of the Liberal Party in Quebec was in Montreal and not Toronto,” he said. Coderre will remain as the MP for Bourassa.

Source: http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/09/28/liberal-quebec-lieutenant-resigns/Liberal+Quebec+lieutenant+resigns2009-09-28+15%3A55%3A01macleans.ca

More Seats for the House of Commons?

2009-09-28T14:08:00.000-07:00

The Conservative government is talking about attempting increase seats in the House of Commons yet again. This time focusing on Ontario and giving them a more proportioned number of seats. In late fall or early next year they will introduce this new amending bill that will try to increase the number of seats in three provinces, British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. The current fasting growing provinces. The last two attempts died one because of election and the other because it did not get debated.

Source: http://www.hilltimes.com/html/cover_index.php display=story&full_path=/2009/september/28/legislation/&c=1

Canada's G8 Summit now includes G20

2009-09-27T06:24:00.001-07:00

On June 25-27, 2010, Canada will host the world leaders in Huntsville, Ontario. Originally planned for the G8 Summit to discuss matters on national security, the meeting will now include the G20, which is comprised of the world's leading industrial countries. The G20 leaders meet for the first time in November 2008 and once more in London, as they discussed the current economic crisis. The decision was made in Pittsburgh today, as the world’s leader gather to reshape the governance in light of the economic crisis.

Source: http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/700872

American style prisons for Canada?

2009-09-27T06:18:00.000-07:00

The Conservative government is planning to bring in an "American style" prison, which will cost billions in taxpayer money and an uproar in questionning it's effectiveness. The goal of this is to return convicts back into society with more understanding and desire to be a law-abiding citizen. These "super prisons" are said to deny many of the Constitution's fundamental rights. Conservative goverment hopes that the implementation of such institutions will provide for better rehabilitation and more desire to participate in programs designed for those who have committed crimes and have mental illnesses.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/09/24/conservative-prison-plan024.html

Canada's Boycott at the United Nations

2009-09-24T17:55:00.000-07:00

Just last night Canadian diplomats, along with representatives from other countries, walked out of the United Nations General Assembly in protest of the speech that was due to be given from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran. President Ahmadinejad, who has been criticized in the past due to his anti-semitic remarks and denial of the Holocaust, caused a stir among the remaining diplomats with a strong criticism of Israel and the West in his speech. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has made his feelings clear on his view of President Ahmadinejad, stating, "There is no way I am going to permit any official of the government of Canada to be present and give any legitimacy to remarks by a leader like that."

Source: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090923/national/un_cda_ahmadinejad

Liberal Cauchon rebuffed in Outremont

2009-09-22T06:35:00.000-07:00

Martin Cauchon was a very prominent member of the Liberal party, in some cases people might think of him as controversial because he actually helped progress the same sex marriage movement as well as try to decriminalize marijuana. He was man behind the scenes trying to convince Prime Minister Jean Chretien to legalize sam sex marriage. However prominent Cauchon was, he just lost his bid to re-enter politics. The Liberal party has decided to change their tactic and bring on businesswoman, Nathalie Le Prohon who is described as "the president of Nokia Canada and has been a senior executive at IBM and Hydro-Quebec".

Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/cauchon-rebuffed-in-outremont/article1296034/

Harper coming to Guelph

2009-09-21T09:44:00.000-07:00

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is coming to Guelph today, September 21st 2009. There will be a press conference at 2pm at Linamar (Canada's second largest automobile parts manufacturer). Why has this been kept quiet so long? Could it be to avoid confrontation with an activist student population?

Source: http://pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=2827

Federal government spends five times more on touting economic plan than H1N1 prevention

2009-09-21T09:38:00.000-07:00

The Conservative government is spending most of its time and energy focusing on raising awareness for the economic action plan rather than the H1N1 flu pandemic that is still ongoing across Canada. About $34 million have been spent to promote the government's recession action plan rather than on messages about the H1N1 virus. Opposition MPs have complained that the government is using the money to promote its plan rather than raise awareness of the possible flu pandemic.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/090920/n092033A.html