When the federal Lobbying Act came into force in 2008, Vic Toews, then the President of the Treasury Board, declared the legislation “increased accountability in Ottawa” and provided “a more open and transparent government for all Canadians.”[1] The law, Mr. Toews added, would give Canadians more information about who is
Continue readingTag: Federal
The Scott Ross: Penny Wise, World Foolish: Pennies Never Cost A Cent
All the attention focused on how costly it is to make pennies is worth less than any piece of copper. For much of last year the most popular cited reason, the go-to justification for scrapping the penny was that making one costs more than what it’s worth. Simple economics, or
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: Wynne-ing Like It’s 2006…And Losing Like It’s 2008
Today Ontario Liberals chose their next leader, but if 2006 is any indication, they might have just chosen their next loser. Similarities between Kathleen Wynne’s recent victory in the Ontario leadership race and Stephane Dion’s in the federal Liberal leadership contest in 2006 suggest a just as similar electoral future.
Continue readingIlluminated By Street Lamps: On Prorogation: A Solution To Hand The Power Back To The People
By Joe Fantauzzi jjfantauzzi@gmail.com | @jjfantauzzi When a minority federal government facing a confidence vote over a rejected economic update suspended Parliament in 2008, a constitutional expert told CBC News the move had set a “dangerous precedent.”[1] Several years later, when a minority government in Ontario used the same procedure,
Continue readingIlluminated By Street Lamps: POSITION ANALYSIS: A Scathing Indictment of Neoliberalism And The Privatized Delivery of Social Services in Canada
The increasingly privatized delivery of social services under neoliberal governments is arguably doing real damage to the Canadian welfare state. Discussions about neoliberalism, which as the Oxford Concise Dictionary of Politics points out emphasize deregulation and a diminished role for the state[1], are often closely linked with the rise of
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: Why Being Conservative With Business Is Bad Business
Turns out Conservatives can’t grow businesses liberally. Go figure.
Since Stephen Harper became Prime Minister the World Bank reports that Canada has fallen from the 4th most business friendly nation to the 17th.
Data shows that not only has Canada …
Continue readingIlluminated By Street Lamps: Employment Redistribution: The Case For A Bigger Bureaucracy
Let’s recap: Unemployment rates are stagnant. and Living in this country is much more expensive than, say, 30 years ago. Coins are property of the Royal Canadian Mint And with this as a backdrop, the federal and Ontario governments (see: page 8 of the linked paper on post-secondary education reform)
Continue readingLeft Over: Son of a Son of a……….
Justin Trudeau to run for Liberal leadership Son of former prime minister Pierre Trudeau was coy all summer about leadership intentions CBC News Sounds like a bunch of ex-Libs posting at CBC online today..most acting as if the NDP doesn’t exist as a force in Fed politics..just not true,
Continue readingIlluminated By Street Lamps: ‘Winners’ And Losers In Quebec Asbestos Mess
Photo: Vsmith/Wikipedia Support for Canadian chrysotile asbestos is dead. First point, this: Canada should have gotten out of the asbestos game a long time ago.All asbestos causes cancer. We won’t use it. And, we’ve been out of step with our European friends.But now, the inconvenient rub.With apparently no clear plan about
Continue readingCanadian Progressive: Robocalls Scandal: Elections Canada Paid Former RCMP Investigator $95,523
Elections Canada paid former RCMP investigator $95,523 for visit to only one out of 234 riding affected by robocalls during the May 2011 Federal election.
Continue readingCANADIAN PROGRESSIVE WORLD: Harper Conservatives’ Attack Ad Betrays Fear of Mulcair Victory in 2015 (VIDEO)
Stephen Harper’s Tories are proof that when a dictatorial regime is threatened by the force a democratic insurgency, and the specter of losing power, it becomes dangerous. Threatened by the prospect of NDP leader Thomas Mulcair becoming Prime Minister in 2015, the Conservative Party of Canada released a new dirty-politics
Continue readingCANADIAN PROGRESSIVE WORLD: With new NDP shadow cabinet, Mulcair plots Harper’s 2015 defeat
Last week’s 24-hour House of Commons vote on Stephen Harper‘s draconian budget Bill C-38, the “Growth and Long-Term Prosperity Act”, ended in a dramatic fashion. The New Democratic Party (NDP), the Official Opposition, concluded the vote with a spontaneous: Deux mille quinze! Deux mille quinze! Deux mille quinze! chant. That’s French
Continue readingCANADIAN PROGRESSIVE WORLD: Budget Bill C-38: Canadian MPs, Citizens, Tweet Their Frustrations
For an incredible 24 hours, Canadian opposition MPs held up the passage of Stephen Harper and the Conservative government’s draconian budget Bill C-38. They forced votes on more than 800 proposed amendments to the 425-page behemoth. In the end the Conservatives torpedoed every opposition amendment, to score a dubious, dictatorship-style
Continue readingLeft Over: Let’s “Just Do It”
There has been a call from several mayors of municipalities here in British Columbia, Canada to legalize marijuana…the arguments for it are essentially that they are tired of fighting against a mega-tide of grow-ops and drug dealers who are far richer in resources and weapons to push back than the
Continue readingCANADIAN PROGRESSIVE WORLD: Federal NDP launches Rainbow Day on May 1st
First shadow program between LGBT students and MPs OTTAWA, April 20, 2012 – Today, the New Democrat Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Caucus announced the launch of Rainbow Day a LGBT shadow program which will take place this May 1st. … Continue reading →
Continue readingCanadian Progressive World: Jack Layton’s vision for Canada is in good hands (VIDEO)
That’s the key message in a new TV ad introducing the newly minted leader of the New Democrats, Thomas Mulcair, to Canadians. Layton’s widow, Olivia Cho, and ordinary folks, assure us that Mulcair and the NDP will continue from where … Continue reading →
Continue readingCanadian Progressive World: Robo-Gate: Harper Conservatives stole the 2011 election from the NDP
The New Democratic Party (NDP) suggested in a press conference today that the Conservatives rigged the May 2011 federal election against the Bloc Quebecois, NDP and Liberals. Call it election rigging western style. Apparently, RackNine …Read More
Continue readingOccupy Ottawa: “Real” Citizenship Canada bureaucratic oath
Last October Canada’s Immigration Minister Jason Kenney’s office organized a bogus citizenship ceremony broadcast on Sun Media, popularly known and Fox New North. The ceremony featured six federal bureaucrats posing as newly-minted Canadians. No One …Read More
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: Liberal Pride
Many Liberals may take pride at the sight of increasing poll numbers, they shouldn’t. The Liberals have problems, increasing poll numbers aren’t going to fix them. Liberals need to build a new party, that will take time, determination and purpose. Poll numbers aren’t going to stop backroom deals, poll numbers
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