MacKay sends poetic tribute to military team tracking Santa

It's everyone's favourite time of the year,

Including our military who have a lot of great gear.

There's a little known fact about what our military can do

When it comes to the holidays and presents are due.

As Santa and the elves load up his sleigh,

Canadian pilots and Norad prepare to track his way.

The reindeer are quick led by Rudolph's red nose,

So our pilots fly fast as everyone knows!

As our planes get close to make sure Santa's alright,

His jolly laugh always warms up the night.

When Santa's job is done and back North he must fly,

He gives a tip of the sleigh and a wink of the eye.

In order to track Santa as he makes his way,

Call 1-877-HiNorad today.

And to all who wish Santa a peaceful flight,

Listen for a 'Ho! Ho! Ho!' ringing through the night.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all,

— Defence Minister Peter MacKay

Big Box Advertisement

Wright out over Duffy payback: Reaction from the Hill and beyond by Kady O'Malley May. 19, 2013 10:39 AM New chief of staff expected to be longtime Harper aide and current principal secretary Ray Novak

Unknown remains found on Dellen Millard's farm: Police searching the farm of Dellen Millard, the 27-year-old charged with first-degree murder after the remains of Ancaster, Ont., man Tim Bosma were discovered, have found other remains on the property, but it's unclear if they are human or animal. more »

Canadian on EI shut out amid foreign worker influx: A jobless Canadian IT professional who is collecting employment insurance is upset because he now suspects several recent jobs he applied for went to temporary foreign workers. more »
Can the Senate fire a senator?: An expert on parliamentary rules says the Senate has the power to turf a senator from the chamber, as long as a majority approves the expulsion, and as long as there is cause. more »
Nahlah Ayed: Vote-wary Iranians mull Ahmadinejad's successor: Iranians go to the polls in less than four weeks to choose a new president. The reform movement is still smarting from its bitter defeat four years ago, but the jockeying for power is no less intense, Nahlah Ayed reports. more »
Edmonton boy, 2, killed after car hits patio: A two-year-old boy is dead after a car smashed into a patio at a south Edmonton restaurant Sunday night. more »

Harper chief of staff resigns amid Senate expense scandal: Nigel Wright has resigned as Prime Minister Stephen Harper's chief of staff, following revelations he wrote a $90,000 cheque to repay living expenses claimed by Senator Mike Duffy. more »

Can the Senate fire a senator?: An expert on parliamentary rules says the Senate has the power to turf a senator from the chamber, as long as a majority approves the expulsion, and as long as there is cause. more »
Reaction to Nigel Wright's resignation as PM's chief of staff: In statement, Nigel Wright insists he did not advise the prime minister "of the means by which Sen. Duffy's expenses were repaid, either before or after the fact." more »
Ads tout job grants program that doesn't yet exist: The federal government has been airing ads touting its Canada Jobs Grant for training workers, but the Conservative government House leader acknowledges the announced program is merely a "proposal that needs to be fleshed out." more »
First Nations schools report points to education gap: First Nations' schools have lower quality teaching, an inferior curriculum and fail to provide proper services for children with special needs — and without further investment these problems could worsen with an expected population spike on reserves, a new federal report warns. more »

Questions mount for Harper and chief of staff Nigel Wright in Senate scandal May. 18, 2013 1:15 PM This week on The House, with Senators Wallin and Duffy now out of the Conservative caucus, we get reaction from NDP Ethics critic Charlie Angus. We also hear directly from Senator Patrick Brazeau who says the Conservatives have thrown him under the bus. Plus we speak with B.C. Premier Christy Clark after her stunning victory.