July 9, 2005

Martin has "nice butt," says Bono

Irish rocker to kick Prime Ministerial posterior anyway If you needed even more evidence that ageing rock stars should stay out of international diplomacy, here it is. Bono, from the Irish band U2 (one of the best bands ever), announced... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

June 13, 2005

Takhar should have known better

Liberal Transportation Minister in apparent breach of integrity regs Ontario's Transportation Minister Harinder Takhar is in a spot of trouble. According to the Toronto Sun, Mr. Takhar has been caught visiting the company he placed in a blind trust when... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Ontario

June 8, 2005

Feds to end right to backup software

New law to be introduced next week: CTV Ottawa plans to give into pressure from the record industry next week when it introduces legislation that will ban file-sharing and effectively make it illegal for consumers to create backup copies of... More...

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Filed in: Business Politics / Canada Science and Technology

June 7, 2005

What's eating Gurmant Grewal

Tory MP takes stress leave Yesterday, the office of Official Opposition leader Stephen Harper announced the man dubbed "Secret Agent Grewal" by some in the Parliamentary Press Gallery is taking stress leave. British Columbia MP Gurmant Grewal earned his nickname... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

May 25, 2005

Sinclair Stevens is at it again

Former Conservative Cabinet Minister in bungled black-op A bunch of my fellow bloggers are abuzz about new shenanigans from former Mulroney-era Cabinet Minister Sinclair Stevens. Mr. Stevens detested the Reform Party and the Canadian Alliance, waged a (sometimes dirty) war... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

May 19, 2005

Liberals survive non-confidence vote

Cadman votes to keep government alive Independent MP Chuck Cadman saved Prime Minister Paul Martin's faltering government from defeat in a confidence vote this afternoon. The BC MP says he voted for the government because his constituents did not want... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

Kilgour to vote against government

It's down to Cadman David Kilgour has issued this news release announcing his intention to vote against the Martin government in this afternoon's confidence vote. It all now comes down to BC's Chuck Cadman. May 19th/ le 19 mai, 2005.... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

Another Liberal seeks to remove Gomery

Former Public Works Minister Alfonso Gagliano is joining Jean Chrétien in his legal action to have Justice John Gomery as the head of the inquiry into AdScam. Mr. Gagliano, who is one of the people at the centre of the... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

Plot thicken for confidence vote - again

Health troubles could mean Parrish misses crucial votes Last night as we all tucked ourselves into bed, it appeared the outcome of today's votes on the Budget was fairly certain. Belinda Stronach's defection to the Liberals coupled with Chuck Cadman's... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

May 18, 2005

Create your own Lib lawnsign

Small Dead Animals is giving you the chance to create your own Liberal election sign. Give it a try - it's fun! Here's my effort:... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

Belinda Bolts

Stronach bails on Tories, becomes Liberal Minister From time to time in politics an MP faces a crisis of identity they ask themselves if they still belong in the party they represent. Usually these crises are spurred by fundamental questions... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

May 12, 2005

McGuinty government delivers snoozer Budget

Budgets are usually big deals. There is hoopla and fanfare to play up the government's new initiatives. Yesterday, as Finance Minister Greg Sorbara presented his government's second Budget, there was hoopla and fanfare, but nothing really new. Certainly the government... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Ontario

May 3, 2005

All systems go: Harper

Tories to force election at the "earliest opportunity" Despite a weekend of polls showing his Conservative Party's "Gomery bounce" has evaporated, Stephen Harper reaffirmed the commitment he made last week to bring down Paul Martin's government in a non-confidence vote... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

April 27, 2005

Martin reneges on deal with NDP

Layton accuses PM of "playing games" It took less than twenty-four hours for Prime Minister Paul Martin to go back on his word. Last night, his Liberal government inked a deal with the NDP Leader Jack Layton that would see... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

April 23, 2005

Martin to court NDP

PM needs Layton's support to survive Prime Minister Paul Martin will meet with NDP Leader Jack Layton tomorrow in an attempt to save his government from falling at the hands of the Opposition Conservatives and Bloc Quebecois.Mr. Layton's credibility and... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

April 22, 2005

Martin calls election... for February

It will be written in the great book of bizarre political decisions that yesterday's address to the nation by Prime Minister Paul Martin clearly signaled the beginning of an election campaign. The only question is whether the campaign will be... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

April 21, 2005

What could the PM do tonight?

The National Post has this (somewhat humourous) look at what Prime Minister Paul Martin could say tonight. The Post ran it as a large "fact box" on its front page complete with appropriate photo illustrations. My favorite is the last... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

Martin's "Magna Budget"

Remember the so-called Magna Budget? The government of then-Ontario Premier Ernie Eves decided to present its annual Budget speech at auto parts manufacturer Magna instead of in front of Parliamentarians as had been done previously. Simply, Eves Government transformed a... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

April 20, 2005

Martin to address Canadians tomorrow

PMO rules out resignation, prorogation, election call With his party's support plummeting as a result of damaging testimony from the Gomery inquiry and his personal integrity under attack in the Commons, Paul Martin has decided to take his case directly... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

April 14, 2005

Harper, Martin stake out territory for election

With the country in pre-election mode after the testimony of Jean Brault to the Gomery inquiry into AdScam, Prime Minister Paul Martin and Opposition Leader Stephen Harper are beginning the process of branding the opposing party. Mr. Harper wants Canadians... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

April 7, 2005

Gomery: Brault testimony claims its first victim

The Chief of Staff to Heritage Minister Liza Frulla has stepped aside as a result of being named in the course of Jean Brault's testimony to the Gomery Commission. According to Brault, Mr. Welch was paid an $80,000 a year... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

Gomery: Brault testimony revealed

Phantom employees, kickbacks and envelopes of cash greased the wheels of Liberals' Quebec wing AdScam commissioner John Gomery lifted the publication ban on most of the testimony of Jean Brault, one of the advertising executives at the heart of the... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

Gomery may rule on publication ban today

The publication ban covering the testimony of Groupaction boss Jean Brault may be lifted or, more likely, eased by AdScam inquiry commissioner John Gomery. Mr. Brault's testimony before the inquiry has been described as explosive and devastating to the Federal... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

April 6, 2005

Gomery: Brault fallout prompts Liberal step-down on Kyoto

Last week Prime Minister Paul Martin's Liberals were full of vim and vigour. They dared the opposition Conservatives to defeat them in a confidence motion over the Budget by including a controversial reference to the Kyoto Protocol in the Budget... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

April 5, 2005

Gomery: PM playing the long game on Brault testimony

Prime Minister Paul Marin’s Liberals were on the defensive yesterday over the testimony of former advertising executive Jean Brault. Though the testimony continues to be the subject of a publication ban imposed by Sponsorship Inquiry head John Gomery, some details... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

Gomery: Feds may go after bloggers

From today's Toronto Sun: Feds bid to plug Gomery leaks By Stephanie Rubec CANADA'S attorney general is probing possible breaches of a publication ban set up to protect explosive testimony at the AdScam inquiry. Justice spokesman Patrick Charette said federal... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

April 4, 2005

Gomery grants standing to Liberals

Justice John Gomery, who heads the inquiry into AdScam, has granted full standing to the Liberal Party Canada. Their request for standing comes in the wake of testimony of advertising executive Jean Brault last week that is reportedly extremely damaging... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

April 3, 2005

Gomery publication ban in tatters?

An American blogger has posted what he says are the details of ad firm executive Jean Brault's testimony last week at the AdScam inquiry. The testimony, which was described by the media as devastating to Paul Martin's Liberals, is the... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

April 2, 2005

Privilege may not be enough to skirt AdScam ban

In the wake of yesterday's reports the Gomery inquiry into AdScam heard testimony so damning it could topple Paul Martin's Liberal government, some have speculated the Bloc Québecois might attempt to make the testimony public in the House of Commons... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

April 1, 2005

Secret AdScam testimony spurs election talk

Testimony heard today by the Gomery inquiry into AdScam is considered so explosive it could prompt the dissolution of Parliament and a Spring election. The testimony from Jean Brault of ad firm Groupaction is the subject of a publication ban... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

March 31, 2005

You read it here first

The mainstream media have finally caught up with the crack research team here at Max's Mewsings. This afternoon, a number of radio stations and newspapers picked up a story from the Canadian Press' Broadcast News division noting, as I did... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Ontario

March 17, 2005

Tory wins by-election easily

Ontario Conservative Leader John Tory has easily won a seat in the Provincial Legislature. With 255 of 269 polls reporting in the riding of Dufferin-Peel-Wellington-Grey, Mr. Tory has 55.8% of the vote, more than three times the total of his... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Ontario

March 15, 2005

MPP wants end to gender-based price discrimiation

Is it wrong that a trip to the barber for a man costs less than a trip to the hair dresser for a woman or that a man's boring cotton/polyester dress shirt costs less to dry-clean than a woman's frilly... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Ontario

March 10, 2005

Ottawa to sue Ad Firms, says Radio-Canada

The French service of the CBC is reporting Ottawa will launch a $39-million law suit in an attempt to recover funds from four Quebec advertising firms that made millions as a result of AdScam. According to Radio-Canada, the federal government... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

March 2, 2005

McGuinty's name beckons online gamblers

When Dalton McGuinty's Liberals abandoned the ChooseChange.ca web address they used in the 2003 provincial election, I doubt they expected it would be used to advertise online gambling. But some enterprising cyber-squatter has bought the address and has it redirecting... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Ontario

Missile defense decision already hurting Canada-US relationship

When Prime Minister Paul Martin caved to pressure from his Liberal caucus and announced Canada would not support the United States Missile Defense program, he likely did not anticipated the degree of antipathy the decision would create south of the... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

March 1, 2005

UK MPs sleep deprived: Report

Britain's Sleep Council says the country's Member of Parliament are among the most sleep deprived Britons. According to a survey released this morning, MPs' lack of sleep could be compromising their decision-making. The study found only on-call doctors (4.5 hours... More...

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Filed in: Politics / World

February 23, 2005

Budget 2005: Government will survive

A "happier than expected" Stephen Harper said his Conservative Opposition will not force an election over the 2005 budget tabled this afternoon by Finance Minister Ralph Goodale. "We're not going to cause an unnecessary election at this point," Mr. Harper... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

Budget 2005: Reaction

Here is a sampling of the early reaction to the 2005 Budget tabled by Finance Minister Ralph Goodale this afternoon. Air Transport Association of Canada: By not reducing airport rent, the Government is wilfully undermining the economic competitiveness of the... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

Budget 2005: No real surprises

The Federal Budget, tabled in the House of Commons this afternoon, was pretty much as advertised. Finance Minister Ralph Goodale is still delivering the non-stop list of platitudes that passes for a budget speech which could be summarized simply: "Move... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

$12B for Military

The Federal Budget, to be tabled today, will include the first true investment in Canada's armed froces since the 1980s. According several media outlets, sourced on Parliament Hill say Ralph Goodale will give the Forces a cash infusion of $12-billion... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

February 22, 2005

Singh countersuing Sgro

The Pizzas for Visas controversy simply won't go away. In a last-ditch attempt to avoid deportation last January, pizza guy Harjit Singh made public allegations that Judy Sgro, then the Minister of Citizenship, offered to help him stay in Canada... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

February 18, 2005

PM is Mr. Dithers: Magazine

Britain's The Economist paints a very unflattering picture of Prime Minister Paul Martin in this week's issue. In the article, the magazine calls the PM "Mr. Dithers" and accuses him of setting up a "fiscal cafeteria" for the provinces. It... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

Broken Promise Fatigue has set in

Yesterday, Dalton McGuinty's government announced $280-million so schools can "secure financing for $4 billion worth of repairs, additions and new schools." The news release also says the new policy will "slow down school closures." So the Liberals, who at every... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Ontario

February 13, 2005

Results in for Iraqi election

Two weeks after the Iraqi election, officials have released what they are calling "final unconfirmed" results. According to Reuters, an alliance of Shi'ite groups received 47.6% of the popular vote, the Kurdish alliance picked up 25.4% and the party led... More...

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Filed in: Politics / World

February 8, 2005

Chrétien ends testimony with a parting shot for Gomery

Former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien finished up his testimony today with devastating parting blow aimed at inquiry Commissioner John Gomery. Justice Gomery famously called the Mr. Chrétien "small-town cheap" for the purchase of golf balls bearing his name and the... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

Chrétien off to a good start

Jean Chrétien's opening statement to the Gomery Inquiry into AdScam showed he hasn't lost his touch. The former Prime Minister's lengthy monologue put forward the case for the maligned Sponsorship Program in the context of the time when it was... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

February 5, 2005

Fantino appointment signals politicization of public service

Reports out of Queen's Park say Premier Dalton McGuinty will appoint Toronto's outgoing Police Chief to be the Ontario's new Commissioner of Emergency Management. Julian Fantino will replace Dr. James Young who is heading to Ottawa to take on a... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Ontario

February 3, 2005

McGuinty changes his mind - again

Newspapers, blogs and message boards have been abuzz over the McGuinty governments plans to rebrand Ontario. The government says the rebranding effort is required to increase tourism and investment in the province. One of the things they were planning on... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Ontario

January 30, 2005

Iraqis put North Americans to shame

Despite the bombs, rockets and mortars Iraqis turned out to vote. According to initial numbers from Iraqi election officials 72% of eligible voters made it to the polls for that countries first free election in more than fifty years. To... More...

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Filed in: Politics / World

January 26, 2005

Strippers, Pizza and Sgro

Tracking the troubles former Immigration Minister Judy Sgro has caused for Paul Martin's Liberal government in Ottawa requires a scorecard just to keep up. Every day, there is at least one new development about her or her accuser. Here's the... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada Politics / Ontario

January 24, 2005

Proposed Toronto may be in for trouble

The proposed waterfront aquarium, announced with great fanfare a few weeks ago, will be a money-loser according to an article in today's Toronto Star. According to the paper, which spoke to experts in developing aquariums across North America, the aquarium... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Ontario

January 20, 2005

US Presidential Inauguration - by the numbers

Here are some fact and figures about today's inauguration and George W. Bush. 9 - the number of official inaugural balls. 12.5 minutes - Length of the inaugural fireworks display featuring a "rainbow of color" over the White House. 58... More...

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Filed in: Politics / United States

January 19, 2005

It's going to get worse for Sgro

Judy Sgro says she wants to clear her name. So, immediately in the wake of the Pizza Guy's allegations of pizzas for visas, she fled to Florida and is not taking questions from the media. That probably isn't the most... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

January 14, 2005

Sgro to finally resign

The Toronto Star is reporting this morning that Immigration Minister Judy Sgro will announce her resignation today. Ms. Sgro has been in trouble for months over corruption in her Ministry and her immigration assistance to a Romanian stripper. But it... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

January 4, 2005

PM's PR play

Remember the days after Prime Minister Paul Martin declared he was "mad as hell" about the sponsorship scandal? The government's reputation was suffering as a result of its slow and inadequate response to AdScam. The Prime Minister was getting was... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada

December 30, 2004

Canada finally comes through

Yesterday Ottawa either bowed to public pressure or finally came to its sense. The federal government announced an increase to its Asian Tsunami aid package making it a credible, if not yet creditable, $40-million. Today, several provinces including Ontario and... More...

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Filed in: Politics / Canada