Prime Minister still swimming in trouble waters
And still drowning. IS Canada going to have an election set for Either Sept 2006 or Oct 2006?
I am game.
I found this in can.politics:
1)
Harper incensed at ethics official's Emerson probe
By BRUCE CHEADLE, CP
OTTAWA -- There's a possibility Stephen Harper's first act as prime minister
may have breached the parliamentary ethical code for MPs, the federal ethics
commissioner indicated yesterday.
But Bernard Shapiro's plan to launch a "preliminary inquiry" into Harper's
controversial appointment of former Liberal industry minister David Emerson
to the Conservative cabinet met a furious rebuttal from the Prime Minister's
Office.
"The prime minister is loath to co-operate with an individual whose decision-
making ability has been questioned and who has been found in contempt of the
House," Harper's communications director, Sandra Buckler, said.
In a release, the PMO added, "this Liberal appointee's actions have
strengthened the prime minister's resolve to create a truly non-partisan
ethics commissioner, who is accountable to Parliament."
A major parliamentary fight appears to be in the works.
Shapiro, who did not speak to reporters yesterday, seems to be basing his
probe on parts of the parliamentary conflict-of-interest code that forbids
inducing an MP to change his or her vote for personal gain.
"After careful consideration, and pursuant to . . . the members' code, I have
decided to combine a preliminary inquiry of the prime minister . . . with a
preliminary inquiry on my own initiative of Mr. Emerson," Shapiro wrote in an
open letter to the Speaker of the House of Commons.
The announcement comes almost a month after Harper shocked the political
establishment by plucking Emerson, the former Liberal industry minister, from
the Opposition front bench and placing the Vancouver MP in his first
Conservative cabinet.
The move came the same day Harper was sworn into office and just two weeks
after Emerson won his Vancouver-Kingsway seat as a Liberal.
The Tories are crying foul, noting that Shapiro turned down their request for
an investigation into Liberal Tony Valeri's landholdings during the election
campaign on the grounds the commissioner couldn't act between sittings of
Parliament.
Since the Commons won't resume sitting until April 3, Harper's office argues
Shapiro is applying a double standard.
Brian Cheadle, please get touch with me so that I can get a URL back to you on this.
2)
Harper against National Child Care
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=b1511087-f71...
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/feb/06020205.html
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/200602...
3)
Canadian Press
Thursday, March 02, 2006
OTTAWA (CP) _ Liberal health critic Ken Dryden says he is disturbed by Prime
Minister Stephen Harper's casual tone in responding to Alberta's Third Way
health proposals.
Dryden said in a teleconference it seems clear the proposals put forward by
Alberta Premier Ralph Klein would violate the Canada Health Act, and Harper
should not need days to say so.
Harper said Wednesday he is waiting for an assessment of whether Klein's
proposals would violate the act, which sets the ground rules for medicare _
and which the Conservatives have promised to uphold.
Dryden, considered a leading candidate for his party's leadership, said
Harper's main lever in dealing with Klein is the moral authority that rests
in Harper's role as prime minister.
He did not comment on whether Ottawa should impose financial penalties on
Alberta, although that would be a logical consequence if the legislation were
contravened.
Alberta's Third Way plan would allow patients to get better or faster service
if they are willing to pay for it, and would allow doctors to work in the
public and private spheres simultaneously.
Someone from Canadian Press, can I have the original line?
Basicaaly Harper is harping a sour note.
I am game.
I found this in can.politics:
1)
Harper incensed at ethics official's Emerson probe
By BRUCE CHEADLE, CP
OTTAWA -- There's a possibility Stephen Harper's first act as prime minister
may have breached the parliamentary ethical code for MPs, the federal ethics
commissioner indicated yesterday.
But Bernard Shapiro's plan to launch a "preliminary inquiry" into Harper's
controversial appointment of former Liberal industry minister David Emerson
to the Conservative cabinet met a furious rebuttal from the Prime Minister's
Office.
"The prime minister is loath to co-operate with an individual whose decision-
making ability has been questioned and who has been found in contempt of the
House," Harper's communications director, Sandra Buckler, said.
In a release, the PMO added, "this Liberal appointee's actions have
strengthened the prime minister's resolve to create a truly non-partisan
ethics commissioner, who is accountable to Parliament."
A major parliamentary fight appears to be in the works.
Shapiro, who did not speak to reporters yesterday, seems to be basing his
probe on parts of the parliamentary conflict-of-interest code that forbids
inducing an MP to change his or her vote for personal gain.
"After careful consideration, and pursuant to . . . the members' code, I have
decided to combine a preliminary inquiry of the prime minister . . . with a
preliminary inquiry on my own initiative of Mr. Emerson," Shapiro wrote in an
open letter to the Speaker of the House of Commons.
The announcement comes almost a month after Harper shocked the political
establishment by plucking Emerson, the former Liberal industry minister, from
the Opposition front bench and placing the Vancouver MP in his first
Conservative cabinet.
The move came the same day Harper was sworn into office and just two weeks
after Emerson won his Vancouver-Kingsway seat as a Liberal.
The Tories are crying foul, noting that Shapiro turned down their request for
an investigation into Liberal Tony Valeri's landholdings during the election
campaign on the grounds the commissioner couldn't act between sittings of
Parliament.
Since the Commons won't resume sitting until April 3, Harper's office argues
Shapiro is applying a double standard.
Brian Cheadle, please get touch with me so that I can get a URL back to you on this.
2)
Harper against National Child Care
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=b1511087-f71...
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/feb/06020205.html
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/200602...
3)
Canadian Press
Thursday, March 02, 2006
OTTAWA (CP) _ Liberal health critic Ken Dryden says he is disturbed by Prime
Minister Stephen Harper's casual tone in responding to Alberta's Third Way
health proposals.
Dryden said in a teleconference it seems clear the proposals put forward by
Alberta Premier Ralph Klein would violate the Canada Health Act, and Harper
should not need days to say so.
Harper said Wednesday he is waiting for an assessment of whether Klein's
proposals would violate the act, which sets the ground rules for medicare _
and which the Conservatives have promised to uphold.
Dryden, considered a leading candidate for his party's leadership, said
Harper's main lever in dealing with Klein is the moral authority that rests
in Harper's role as prime minister.
He did not comment on whether Ottawa should impose financial penalties on
Alberta, although that would be a logical consequence if the legislation were
contravened.
Alberta's Third Way plan would allow patients to get better or faster service
if they are willing to pay for it, and would allow doctors to work in the
public and private spheres simultaneously.
Someone from Canadian Press, can I have the original line?
Basicaaly Harper is harping a sour note.
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