Blacklock's Reporter

A friend of mine, a federal contractor, recalls visiting his MP for help on a local issue. The MP grew increasingly irritable and finally threw up his hands, exclaiming: “What’s in this for me?” The meeting ended badly. This collision of two worlds – the aggrieved petitioner and harassed legislator – is the core of The Effective Citizen. Author Graham Steele, a former Nova Scotia finance minister, acknowledges both petitioner and legislator have legitimate points, albeit on different frequencies, and explains how to tune dialogue to problem-solving. “The best meetings were the ones where my visitors understood the environment I was working in, and helped me understand the environment they were working in, and together we had a constructive discussion about what was possible or not possible, and why,” writes Steele. “Those meetings were too rare.” READ MORE

Prime Minister Mark Carney faces a parliamentary hearing regarding his misrepresentations over toll-sharing concessions on the Gordie Howe International Bridge. The chair of the Commons government operations committee yesterday summoned MPs to a special hearing to “get to the bottom of the matter.” READ MORE

The nation’s largest labour federation yesterday shamed Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem for unlawful practices. Macklem was censured for hiring replacement workers in a five-week dispute with striking security guards: "It is especially troubling that this conduct is coming from the Bank of Canada." READ MORE

The Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations waived a requirement that a Kamloops First Nation account for what became of $12.1 million in funding for “exhumation of remains” at an Indian Residential School, according to records disclosed yesterday. The Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation made no attempt to exhume any graves despite funding: "Officials were asked about what appears to be missing reports." READ MORE

The Department of National Defence in a report to MPs confirms it is installing new marine radar sites along shipping lanes in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Valley. No reason was given, though the department conducted earlier research that found Canadians feared a Great Lakes flashpoint should the United States "turn on Canada." READ MORE

There is no time for any “fulsome review of the future of Canada Post,” cabinet has told MPs in reply to a request for public hearings on the impact of service cuts. More immediate austerity measures are a priority, it said: 'The government will take into account the issues raised by Canadians as it determines whether additional reforms are needed.' READ MORE

Prime Minister Mark Carney yesterday did not comment after federally-released records showed he misled taxpayers over secret terms of a U.S. toll-sharing agreement on the $6.4 billion Gordie Howe International Bridge at Windsor, Ont. One MP said it was improbable that Carney, “a very smart man who has a background in finance and banking,” was unaware he lied to the public. READ MORE