Head Lines

 

Liberals nail together some old planks, and call it a platform
Posted: February 16, 2010 By Adrian MacNair The National Post

If the idea of talking to reporters about politics during the Olympic Games was Michael Ignatieff's idea of getting attention, he could at least come up with some original ideas. The only thing more pathetic than a dog standing on the side the road in the pouring rain is Michael Ignatieff's current attempt to make people turn away from Alexandre Bilodeau so we can listen to more whining about prorogation.

Welcome to February 15, 2010, Mr.Ignateff. It isn't January anymore, and those Facebook members of the group Canadians against Proroguing Parliament are all currently tuned in to watch figure skating pairs and Olympic hockey on television.

And if imposing legal limitations on prorogation is a topic a little past its best before date, Michael Ignatieff's second crucial idea is to have Canada immediately adopt hard targets and a cap-and-trade carbon market for global warming. Does the good professor even pay attention to the news in his former adopted country? The only time that the root word "climate" is mentioned these days is in order to append the suffix "gate" to it. [And don't look now, but Lake Erie has frozen over for the first time in 15 years.]

Any other bright ideas, sir?

He also called for a reform of Canada Pension Plan and "support" for at-risk private pensions. A call for investigation into missing Aboriginal women in the Prairies. And to provide more support for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.

These are all ideas worthy of further examination, but none of them really jump out at you. It sounds more like a mashup of emails and anonymous suggestion box entries from Liberal party voters. What do pensions, missing women, and veteran care all have in common? I don't know, and I suspect the Liberals don't either.

Where is the Ignatieff vision for Canada? Where is the Liberal platform? And perhaps more importantly, where are the Canadians who are going to care about any of this during the Olympics? Let's face it, the only attention the Liberal leader might get right now is if he joins Olympic protesters and hurls a newspaper box through the window of an RBC

 

Canadians allowed to bid in U.S.
Posted: February 06, 2010 By PETER ZIMONJIC PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU

The federal government has struck a deal with the U.S. to exempt Canada from the buy America clause in the $787-billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

International Trade Minister Peter Van Loan said the deal, oncefinalized, willallow Canadian companies to bid on U.S. state and municipal projects and give American firms the same access to infrastructure contracts tendered by Canadian provinces and cities.

"This agreement will ensure that secure, profitable and predictable access to each other's marketplace remains a cornerstone of our trading relationship for years to come," Van Loan said

Ignatieff's abortion plan 'pathetic': bishop
Posted: February 06, 2010 by Daniel Kaszor The National Post

By Charles Lewis

GUELPH -- Despite harsh criticism from two prominent Catholic bishops, Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff stood firm on Friday on his position that abortion rights must be tied to any Canadian plan to improve maternal and infant health in the developing world.

Calgary Bishop Fred Henry on Friday called Mr. Ignatieff's proposal "pathetic," while on Thursday Archbishop Thomas Collins of Toronto labelled the Liberal leader's position on abortion and the developing world "sad."

"In light of the many positive contributions that Canada can make to the improvement of maternal and child health, it is astonishing that the leader of the Opposition has issued an official statement advocating contraception and abortion as fundamental elements in addressing this important issue," said Archbishop Collins. "Even those who think that abortion should be allowed do not, however, propose it as a positive contribution to the good of society."

Bishop Henry was even more blunt.

"I thought it was pathetic for a political leader to suggest that abortion is somehow tied to the health of women and children," said Bishop Henry. "It was a particularly crass remark in light of all the orphaned children we now see in Haiti. It was absolutely incredible that he would say that and he is alienating religious people with these comments. This will not win him votes." ............

Said Bishop Henry: "The Prime Minister has been talking from the beginning of helping women and children. And all of a sudden we find Ignatieff focusing on the first part and totally ignoring the second. What exists within the mother's womb is a child. An intelligent man like Ignatieff should not be blinded by his ideology."

43,000 New Jobs Created in Canada During January
Posted: Febrary 05, 2010 Written by RBC Financial Group

Canada's economy created 43,000 new jobs in January, a much larger gain than forecasts of a modest 15,000 job increase. This rise more than reversed the 28,300 job losses reported in December. The December decline was revised by Statistics Canada last week from the initially reported 2,600. The unemployment rate slipped to 8.3% from a revised 8.4% during December as the strong employment gain outstripped the 18,900 rise in the labour force in the month. This was contrary to market expectations for the rate to rise to 8.5%. Gains in Ontario, BC and Manitoba led the January increase.

Government of Canada launches Canada Summer Jobs 2010
Posted: January 31, 2010, Branford Expositor

The Government of Canada has launched its Canada Summer Jobs 2010 program to help employers create job opportunities for students. Starting February 1st, not-for-profit, public sector and small private-sector employers, with fewer than 50 employees, can apply for funding to create jobs for full time students.

As part of Canada's Economic Action Plan, the federal government increased funding for the Canada Summer Jobs 2010 program by $10 million. "We want to create work experiences for students that give them the skills they need to succeed in today's job market," said Brant MP, Phil McColeman.

Haitian PM thanks Canada
Posted: January 25, 2010 by Kathleen Harris

OTTAWA -Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive extended his gratitude to Canada for its generous outpouring of support in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake.

"I just wanted to thank the people and the government of Canada, that was marvellous from the first minutes," he said during a meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Ottawa Sunday. "Not only the government -the people, the NGOs, the troops that are over there in Haiti now, that are supporting the logistical part of the operation."

Bellerive said he felt the "full support of Canada" even before the quake during a visit last fall. Bellerive, who will take part in Monday's international conference on building a new Haiti in Montreal, said he appreciates the world's help but to meet short-, mid-term and long-term challenges, but is "fully conscious" that the prime responsibility of Haiti's future is in the hands of its own government and people.