Federal Politics
Reducing toxins would fight cancer: MP
By February 5, 2010 05:51 pm 15 commentsWith federal New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton saying today he's been diagnosed with prostate cancer, one of his caucus members said more attention needs to be paid to reducing toxins in the environment. Read more…
Filed inLayton has prostate cancer, vows to continue as leader
By February 5, 2010 11:35 am 25 commentsJack Layton has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, but does not plan to step down as NDP leader.
"My treatment plan is now underway and everything is on track," Layton said in a statmenet. "...this will in not impede my ability to serve as either the Member of Parliament for Toronto Danforth or as leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada." Read more…
Filed inCan This Onion Ring Get More Fans Than Harper? Yep!
By February 4, 2010 05:15 pm 2 commentsWith Olympic rings floating in the harbour and plastered on signage all over town, you'd expect many Vancouver residents would be about ready to ring off -- until this week. Suddenly another ring has emerged to capture the hearts of people across the country. It's the hottest page on Facebook: Can This Onion Ring Get More Fans Than Stephen Harper? The answer: Yes it can. And quicker than you can say "Pass me that breath mint." Read more…
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MP requests investigation into Victoria marina lobbying
By February 4, 2010 11:55 am 2 commentsVictoria member of parliament Denise Savoie has asked the federal commissioner of lobbying to investigate allegations about the involvement of political insiders in the Victoria International Marina proposal. Read more…
'The crisis isn't today, but the crisis is coming': Hansen on pensions
By February 2, 2010 03:49 pm 7 commentsIt's worth taking the time to get all Canadian provinces working together to improve the national pension system, British Columbia finance minister Colin Hansen said today.
“There is a growing interest to get on board this initiative that was started by B.C. and Alberta,” Hansen said. “If it takes us a little longer to get the other provinces on board, it would be time well spent.” Read more…
BC opens public input on 'urgent' pension question
By February 2, 2010 02:33 pm 7 commentsThe British Columbia government launched a two-month public discussion on pension reform today, despite finance minister Colin Hansen having described the issue as “urgent” back in November. Read more…
Victoria bids on bankrupt motels
By February 1, 2010 11:36 am 2 commentsThe City of Victoria has bid on three Traveller's Inn motels that are on sale as part of bankruptcy proceedings. The intention is to “protect and create affordable small family housing and supported housing,” a city press release said this morning. Read more…
Supreme Court: Government doesn't have to bring Khadr home
By January 29, 2010 08:15 am 11 commentsThe Supreme Court today handed down its decision on the Omar Khadr case, saying Khadr's rights were violated but the government doesn't have to ask for his return to Canada. Read more…
Filed inGrits still tied with Tories: Ekos
By January 28, 2010 01:45 pm 18 comments"It would be a mistake to assume that extensive coverage of the Olympics in coming weeks will bring the government relief simply by distracting voters," said EKOS President Frank Graves. Read more…
Filed inCanadians feeling more alienated from the political process: report
By January 27, 2010 09:18 am 9 commentsAs thousands of Canadians protest Prime Minister Stephen Harper's decision to suspend Parliament, a new report says people are feeling increasingly alienated from the political process and its institutions. Read more…
Filed inLiberal and NDP MPs to show up for work at shuttered Parliament
By January 25, 2010 11:31 am 13 commentsLiberal and New Democrat MPs from across Canada will make a show of returning to work Monday even though the House of Commons has been shut down until March. Read more…
Filed in'We are not an apathetic people': Facebook group founder
By January 22, 2010 01:15 pm 18 commentsOn the eve of more than 60 rallies protesting Prime Minister Stephen Harper's long prorogation of Parliament, the co-creators of the Facebook group that sparked the rallies have published their thoughts about the relationship between social media and political reform. Read more…
Filed inDiesel spill at the Olympic dome
By January 22, 2010 12:46 pm 6 commentsVancouver Fire and Rescue was called to B.C. Place Stadium at 10:43 p.m. Tuesday after a large quantity of diesel fuel leaked from the overflow valve of a tank near the east airlock doors. Read more…
Feds cutting corners on environmental assessments: Supreme Court
By January 21, 2010 05:16 pm 3 commentsThe federal government has been undermining its own environmental review process, according to a Supreme Court of Canada decision released Thursday that’s expected to affect future environmental assessments on resource development projects across the country. Read more…
Ignatieff to speak at anti-prorogation rally
By January 21, 2010 01:10 pm 5 commentsLiberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff will speak at an anti-prorogation rally this Saturday, but does not support an NDP proposal to limit the power to prorogue.
"Provided a Prime Minister respects Parliament and its authority, legislation isn't needed," Ignatieff told an online audience. "Mr. Harper used prorogation to duck a confidence vote and to evade tough questions in the House. That's wrong. I've already pledged not to use prorogation that way. The problem is not the power itself, so much as its abuse. Mr. Harper has abused his power." Read more…
Filed inParliament must vote to prorogue: NDP
By January 20, 2010 12:30 pm 5 comments"The government should only prorogue Parliament on a vote in the House of Commons. This will inform the Governor General of the will of the majority, so that prorogation happens when it is needed – not simply when the Prime Minister feels like it," NDP leader Jack Layton said. Read more…
Filed inSockeye eco-certification in year of collapse risks MSC credibility: critic
By January 20, 2010 11:30 am 7 commentsThe Marine Stewardship Council has taken a step towards certifying British Columbia's sockeye salmon fishery as ecologically sustainable, a move critics say risks the international organization's credibility.
“MSC certification of B.C. sockeye fishers is corporate eco-fraud,” said Vicky Husband, a senior adviser to the Watershed Watch Salmon Society. “It's credibility will be lost to its consumers and markets.” Read more…
Harper shuffles cabinet, vows to limit government spending
By January 19, 2010 03:30 pm 9 commentsOTTAWA - Three weeks after he shut down Parliament to give his minority government an extended winter break to "recalibrate" its agenda, Prime Minister Stephen Harper performed a minor make-over on his cabinet Tuesday that left most major portfolios untouched. Read more…
Filed inShutdown sinks Tories to Grit territory
By January 13, 2010 03:00 pm 13 commentsNew polls suggest that Prime Minister Stephen Harper's decision to prorogue parliament has either wiped out the Conservative Party's lead over the federal Liberal Party, or cut it to within six points. Read more…
Filed inDippers to join Facebook rallies
By January 13, 2010 11:11 amNDP leader Jack Layton praised the fast-growing Facebook protest against proroguing Parliament, and urged New Democrats to nationwide rallies planned for January 23.
"We will be attending the rallies across Canada," the NDP leader said Wednesday. "We encourage New Democrats and all Canadians to participate in this grassroots movement to speak out in favor of Democracy." Read more…
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The next page contains:
Layton to Harper: Recall Parliament
Iggy laughs off claim proroguing avoids instability
Profs blast prorogation as 'undermining democratic government'
Iggy: Using prorogation to avoid 'tight spots' unacceptable
Conservatives cut funding for education thinktank
Harper's lead plummets to 5 points: Ekos
Canadian bailout for Whistler Blackcomb owner?
Grits to go back to work: Iggy
BC government failed to update Olympic impact estimate
23,000 join Facebook group against prorogation
Spring 2010 election? Pundits say yes
Harper to prorogue Parliament
Classified info on detainees leaked in Christmas week
KAIROS fights back against government charge of anti-Semitism
BC Conservative MP not sure about causes of global warming
Canada named the 'Colossal Fossil' in Copenhagen
Colvin: ‘I am not a whistleblower’
Tories consider emissions breaks for oil and gas
Fisheries minister’s comments on Skeena sockeye ‘asinine’: BC NDP MLA
Tar sands are 'Canada's Mordor': Barlow
The page after that contains:
Referenda an 'affront' to elected officials: Victoria councilor
Canadian climate shift part of elaborate hoax
Canadian SF author says he was beaten by US border guards
Conservatives in trouble with voters; MacKay in trouble with right-wingers
Victoria loses appeal of right-to-shelter case
Youths massacred in Honduras; state won't investigate
Protesters target Lunn's office
Monbiot: 'The real villain is Canada'
Layton stresses climate change fight in NDP convention speech
Canadians have low expectations for Copenhagen: poll
Penner misses meeting on Copenhagen plan
BC lowers threshold for greenhouse gas reporting
Climate protesters stage second sit-in
Rise in EI recipients 'not surprising': BC minister Hansen
For too many Aboriginals still, Australia is no ‘Lucky Country’
NDP calls for public inquiry into Colvin's torture allegations
Health Committee to review pharmaceutical rep's bias on research board
Aglukkaq 'disturbed' that Taliban POWs offered H1N1 shots
NDP's Donnelly swims to Ottawa
Tories win Quebec byelection, retake Nova Scotia
The Olympic opening is imminent, but first there'll be a few words from the political sponsors. On Tuesday B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell's government gives its speech from the throne, then Thursday Prime Minister Stephen Harper, having shut down the Canadian Parliament, makes a rare address to a provincial legislature. Expect lots of platitudes from both about welcoming the world, promoting the province and making the most of the event. Go, Canada, go. But don't expect to hear from them about the protesters lined up against holding this circus while so many want for bread, nor about the Olympic critics barred from coming to visit. Join me, Andrew MacLeod, and the Hook's team of contributors as we count down the days.
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