Hundreds of scientists marched to Parliament Hill for a mock funeral on Tuesday, responding to an online invitation distributed by unnamed concerned Canadian scientists and their supporters. As scientists consider the end of programs like the Experimental Lakes Area, a metaphor does come to mind.
by Ish Theilheimer and Samantha Bayard with YouTube video
OTTAWA, Straight Goods News, June 25, 2012 — The House rose for a three-month break this week with the Conservatives in yet another battle with a government watchdog, this time Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) Kevin Page. In an irony missed by no one on the Hill, Page, whose position was created by the Harper Conservatives in response to accountability issues with previous Liberal governments, has threatened to go to court to get financial information being denied him by most departments (64 out of 84) of the Harper government.
by Ish Theilheimer and Samantha Bayard with YouTube video
OTTAWA, Straight Goods News, June 18, 2012 — The outcome was never truly in doubt. This week, despite three months of protest, the Conservative "Trojan Horse" omnibus budget bill, all 400+ pages changing more than 70 laws passed, despite a two-date filibuster.
Government plays defence all week.
by Ish Theilheimer and Samantha Bayard, with YouTube video
OTTAWA, Straight Goods News, June 11, 2012 — The government played defence, again, all week.
Things started off poorly for the Conservatives with news that Elections Canada is investigating Dean Del Mastro (Peterborough) for serious 2008 elections finance concerns. "He has been the number one attack dog on the issues of allegations of electoral fraud and they have been very bullish on their attacks on Elections Canada," said the NDP's Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay), who urged Del Mastro to step down as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister during the investigation. "I have no desire to see Mr Del Mastro punished. He is a good parliamentarian. I have worked with him. We fight all the time but I have respect for him. While an investigation is underway Mr. Del Mastro is compromised in his ability. He should step down."
Charlie Angus wants Dean Del Mastro to step down
by Ish Theilheimer
and Samantha Bayard with YouTube video
OTTAWA, Straight Goods News, June 2, 2012 — Usually things on Parliament Hill slow down when the Prime Minister is away. This week the PM was in town but NDP leader Tom Mulair was touring the tar/oilsands in Alberta. Mulcair's absence took some pressure off the government, still taking heat on many aspects of its omnibus budget bill, which critics are calling a Trojan Horse.
NDP finance critic Peggy Nash reacted to a report from the Parliamentary Budgetary Officer that documents cuts under the federal budget — much deeper than the Conservatives are revealing. "If you have enough time, enough scrutiny, the people who are experts in this field you can probably dig down and find much of the information. Some of it we still don't know, some of it will depend on ministerial decisions, some of it will depend on regulations which is to be decided by cabinet, definitions that could be decided by ministers — so there is still an obscurity to much of this bill," said Nash.
by Ish Theilheimer
and Samatha Bayard, with YouTube video
One of Canada's best-funded lobbyists came to town promoting low-cost, so-called "ethical oil." Jamie Ellerton, Executive Director of Ethicaloil.org showed off radio ads his corporate-funded pressure group is running across Ontario to encourage public and political support for the reversing of the pipeline known as Line 9, which is owned by Enbridge and currently flows from Montreal to Sarnia, ON, to bring West Coast oil to Ontario.
by Ish Theilheimer
and Samantha Bayard with YouTube video
OTTAWA, Straight Goods News May 14, 2012 — The government handed out a few plums, it was slammed by another official report (environment), and it went on the defensive over search-and-rescue services and ministerial perks.
by Ish Theilheimer
and Samantha Bayard with YouTube video
OTTAWA, Straight Goods News, May 7, 2012 — On May Day, the global celebration of organized labour, federal workers and progressive activists demonstrated against federal budget cuts in Ottawa.
Ish Theilheimer and Samantha Bayard, with YouTube video
The Harper Conservatives celebrate their first anniversary of winning majority government this week. The past week was like an advance celebration, with one bombshell after another exploding.
by Ish Theilheimer
and Samantha Bayard with YouTube video
OTTAWA, Straight Goods News, March 27, 2012 — The House of Commons did not sit last week, the Budget is due Thursday, and with Stephen Harper away until tomorrow, the main item of interest this week is the NDP's new leader Thomas Mulcair.
