Parliament of Canada – time for online reporting of expenses? If the recent Senate expense scandals have taught Canadians anything, it’s that Parliament of Canada officials will take advantage of the rules to pad their pockets if they can. Senator Mike Duffy has become the poster boy for Parliament of Canada abuse of expense guidelines but [...]
Canadian politics promises to be turbulent as voters disgruntled For citizens from coast to coast to coast, this summer promises to be a time of discontent with Canadian politics. What most of us want, most of the time, is simply that our governments be competent: display a sense of where they’re going, and that as [...]
The least Ambassador Gary Doer can do is pick up the phone The working stiffs of Canadian diplomacy, members of the Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers, were walking a picket line in Washington, D.C., yesterday – which raised some eyebrows in the Imperial Capital and must have created some minor discomfort for the Canadian ambassador, a former [...]
Good luck to Justin Trudeau, he’ll need it By Margo Goodhand I am not a member of the Liberal Party. I have voted everything from Green to NDP to Liberal, depending on the candidate in my area. But I’m watching new Liberal leader Justin Trudeau these days as he goes up against Team Harper, [...]
Alberta Environment Minister says she’s working on climate change policy Alberta Environment Minister Diana McQueen says the province is a long way from imposing higher carbon levies on its energy industry. Responding to a story in the Globe and Mail, McQueen acknowledges she’s working with her federal counterpart on a new climate change policy. But [...]
American conservatives like Stephen Harper By Pat Murphy Coincidence can be an interesting thing. In its March 11 issue, National Review – the flagship magazine of the American Right – ran a complimentary cover story on Stephen Harper. The following day, the National Post’s Andrew Coyne took the opposite tack, publishing a blistering critique of what he sees [...]
Transgender bill would make violence against transgendered people a hate crime Stephen Harper’s Conservative Party of Canada has betrayed its base of supporters by passing the transgender bill in the House of Commons, say the Concerned Christians of Canada. Jim Blake, national chairman with the Calgary-based group, says the federal Conservative Party should never have supported [...]
Oil tanker safety plan changes nothing in pipeline debate, says environmental group Last summer, B.C. Premier Christy Clark laid out five conditions she said must be met before the provincial government would allow the construction and operation of heavy oil pipelines within its borders. One of the conditions included improved oil tanker safety. Later today, [...]
Tom Flanagan admits to being on “registry” of North American Man/Boy Love Association Tom Flanagan has apologized for comments that appear to support child pornography as just a different “taste in pictures.” Case closed? Hardly, as even more questions pop up after the most spectacular career flameout in Canadian political history. Tom Flanagan – godfather of [...]
Harper Government pushes back after recent comments by Obama administration By Mike Blanchfield Canada can teach the United States some lessons on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said Sunday in a blunt rejoinder to recent chiding by the Obama administration on climate change. Baird told The Canadian Press that the [...]
Quebec government has own problems, like finances Bruce A. Stewart The road map for Pauline Marois, separatist Premier of Quebec, was simple. Take action after action that indicated federalism was a bad idea. Get indignant when the over the top counter-attacks came, thus raising the popular temperature in Quebec. Repeat, with foreign trips to demonstrate [...]
Canada should have financial tools to encourage green energy entrepreneurship By Ed Whittingham and Penelope Comette Prime Minister Stephen Harper would be wise to pay close attention to these words in President Barack Obama’s inaugural address: “The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. But America cannot resist this transition; [...]
Taxpayer’s federation criticized Doug Black for lavish travel expenses while on university business By Christopher Walsh Doug Black, the president of the Energy Policy Institute of Canada and former University of Calgary board chair, was named to Canada’s Senate Friday by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, along with four other appointees from across the country. [...]
Conservatives spend your children’s tax dollars on wealthy venture capital funds By Bruce A Stewart Hard on the heels of handing out a quarter billion dollars for “innovation” in the auto sector — a sector where all the key decisions are made outside the country and where “Canadian innovation” is as [...]
Conservative in name only, now anything goes By Bruce A Stewart Do you remember when Reform first burst on the scene? Politics would be done differently. Fiscal prudence would matter. Bribing people with their own money would be out. (Politicians would forgo their gold-plated pensions, and step down rather than make [...]
Sharkwater director Rob Stewart launches latest film ‘Revolution’
‘Revolution’ documentary is anticipated follow-up to Rob Stewart’s ‘Sharkwater’ Canadian filmmaker Rob Stewart was in Calgary yesterday promoting a follow-up film to his award-winning documentary Sharkwater. Stewart spoke to The Beacon News about his latest film Revolution. Stewart’s mission is simple, if a little ambitious – save humanity. The Canadian conservationist has expanded the scope of his [...]
The Arts must innovate to survive in today’s world
Giving value to the arts and culture By Shawna Stirrett Traditional arts groups such as orchestras, ballets, operas and theatres that neglect to think about how they fit into the broader social context and respond accordingly will fail. This might not happen today or the next day, but the writing is on the wall. While [...]
Historic Barkerville exhibit to tour British Columbia and China
Barkerville exhibit captures Chinese experience during Cariboo Gold Rush An exhibit depicting the lives of Chinese immigrants during the Cariboo Gold Rush will travel to China next year thanks to a $20,000 grant from the B.C. government. The Barkerville exhibit is put together from archives kept in the historic gold rush town, which capture the [...]