Inside Politics

Jack will be back, no need for back up: NDP

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 10:42:31 -0500

The NDP is confident enough in leader Jack Layton's health that it doesn't have a back up plan in place in the event of a spring election.

Layton is in hospital after undergoing hip surgery in Toronto Friday. Recovery from this type of operation can take up to six weeks and after that doctors say getting around is still difficult.

But Anne McGrath, Layton's Chief of Staff, told CBC News, "I believe that there's no need for contingency plans."

More after the jump...

Help wanted: Elections Canada. Hmm...

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 10:24:06 -0500

The odds of a spring election seem to change daily - but the people who run federal elections in Canada aren't taking any chances.

How many jobs does a $300-million repayable investment create?

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 14:45:41 -0500

Industry Minister Tony Clement announced Monday that the federal government is investing $300-million in a $1-billion research-and-development project being undertaken by Pratt & Whitney Canada Corporation.

The press release from the Conservative government says the investment "is expected to create and maintain an average of more than 700 highly skilled jobs during the project work phase and more than 2,000 jobs during the 15-year benefits phase."

Hmmmm. So you may think 700 to 2000 new jobs are being created? Wrong! The key word in that phrase is "maintain."

Mark Carney's bag: The aftermath

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 12:09:53 -0500

The RCMP have located a stolen bag belonging to the governor of the Bank of Canada, Mark Carney.

On Nov. 1, a thief smashed the window of Carney's (the bank's) car, which was parked on a well-lit street while Carney was in a meeting.

The thief stole a bag containing classified bank documents.

Though the Bank of Canada called in the RCMP to help find the stolen goods, they insist the documents did not contain any market-moving information.

Thai this on for size: Kenney's office on Tamil migrant arrest reports

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 14:33:17 -0500

So a news alert comes across on my computer screen saying, "Thai officials arrest over 100 Tamil migrants heading to Canada."

The newsroom jumps on the story and we try to find out if these people were about to get on a ship to come here.

A call into Immigration Minister Jason Kenney's office points us to stories in the Thai media.

The articles are all in Thai, but we use a handy-dandy translator on the internet to translate them into English.

The Thai media reports there was an arrest of over 100 people. So how do we know they were coming to Canada?

If you swing a cat on Parliament Hill, what will you hit?

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 11:02:16 -0500

According to NDP MP Pat Martin, a lobbyist.

Martin was responding to a question about a Radio-Canada/Globe and Mail investigation. The investigation found that a $9-million construction contract for renovating the Parliament buildings is now being probed by the RCMP. The tendering process to repair the Parliament buildings began in 2007.

Martin releases audio of Teneycke's 'among them, the Queen' comments

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 11:00:29 -0500

Did Prime Minister Stephen Harper consider going above former Governor General Michaelle Jean's head if she denied his request to prorogue Parliament in 2008? A new book, Harperland, says yes.

Author Lawrence Martin interviewed Harper's then director of communications, Kory Teneycke, who said another avenue the PM would have considered, and I quote: "among them, the Queen." Teneycke says it was a flippant comment. Martin disagrees. Here is the audio and transcript from the interview Martin did with Teneycke:

Lawrence: "You will recall the PM said he would explore every legal avenue on this thing. I mean and he gave the impression that,you know, the GG is only one avenue here. There are other options, right?

Kory: "Among them the Queen."

Lawrence: "What do you mean, 'among them the Queen'?"

Kory: "Well, ultimately, I don't think that the monarchy would ever support that kind of action. I just don't! 'cause take a look at what happened..."

Lawrence: "You mean if the GG gave one decision, you could go a step higher?"

Kory: " Well, the ultimate step in this stuff is public opinion. There would be rioting in the streets if that happened. I think literally."

Lawrence : "Yeah because you guys did a fantastic job of turning public opinion around."

Kory: " yeah, I'm not sure that us turning public opinion around is accurate. There is (pause) public opinion was there."