Federal auditors cite Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault’s department for poor oversight of millions spent on green subsidies. Management of taxpayer funds was so sloppy it represented “potential legal and reputational damage,” said a report: "We observed significant issues." READ MORE
The judge leading the China inquiry has disclosed she held 22 secret meetings with immigrant communities “willing to share their experience” on intimidation by foreign agents. Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue said she could not give public notice of her meetings for fear of endangering informants: "For security reasons these meetings took place in private at undisclosed locations." READ MORE
The Department of Foreign Affairs faces demands to explain internal documents showing New York Consul Tom Clark was personally involved in buying an $8.8 million Manhattan penthouse at public expense. Clark repeatedly denied having anything to do with the purchase: "You would have us believe you said absolutely nothing and nobody asked?” READ MORE
Canadians report an epidemic of gangland crime despite millions in federal grants under a Guns and Gang Violence Action Fund. In-house research by the Department of Public Safety found a fifth of people surveyed said they personally knew of gang violence: "Seven in ten agree Canada has a gang violence problem." READ MORE
More than 150,000 Canadians are eligible to cast ballots today in two federal byelections including a Manitoba riding where the prison vote once influenced the outcome. Cabinet earlier blamed “hard times” for the loss of a safe Liberal seat in a June byelection in Toronto: "Do you think the Liberals need a radical change in strategy?" READ MORE
Poet Shai Ben-Shalom writes: "We regret to inform you that your son has died this morning when securing a road south of Kandahar. The Improvised Explosive Device gave him no chance..." READ MORE
If aliens invaded, a prime minister’s first duty would be to get premiers on the phone. Airspace is clearly federalized under the Aeronautics Act. But what if invaders land on islands and travel by ferry to terrorize the populace? If it’s a British Columbia ferry, that is provincial jurisdiction. Newfoundland and Labrador ferry, federal. The space enemy may use laser beams to make trees explode or boil mountain lakes. That is clearly provincial jurisdiction. But let one errant death ray touch a single rivet on a railway trestle and you are dealing with the Government of Canada, my friend. This is “the incredible fragmentation we have in this country among federal, provincial and municipal governments,” as then-Senator Howard Wetston (Ont.), a former federal judge, once put it. Wetston was referring to regulation of light bulbs. READ MORE
I didn’t have any trouble with Tommy but I knew many people who did. He could be an unreasonable person and a son of a bitch. My oh my, he could be a hard man to work for. He was no saint. Most saints in the classic lexicon of saints are quiet, gentle people without a backbone. Douglas was not this type. He knew who his enemies were. This was a fighter and he was willing to fight. A friend tells the story of driving with Douglas on a gravel road, late for a meeting, and the car in front wouldn’t let them by. Douglas leans out the window and tries to get the plate number, uttering a few choice words. He had to be pulled back into the car.
