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Former Harper aide says Jaffer should apologize
Most of Rahim Jaffer’s Conservative caucus colleagues dashed, squirmed, or told reporters to ask Ontario’s Crown why their former national caucus chair got a “break” – as the judge called it—from prosecution on drunk driving and cocaine possession charges. |
How long will it take for the Canadian dollar to hit parity?
The Canadian dollar pushed higher today amid projections it could soon reach parity again with its U.S. counterpart. |
Why the Canadian dollar is the flavour of the month
Graphs and numbers from the Globe and Mail |
Canadian anthem won't be changed
Conservatives have come to their sense and will not rewrite the anthem for political correctness. Ottawa Citizen opinion column |
Flaherty shifts right with "business-friendly" budget
Tough-minded document takes first steps toward a smaller government, while delivering $19 billion in the second phase of stimulus spending and declaring Canada ‘open for business |
Tories tilt Parliament to the right with Throne Speech
Stephen Harper’s government returned to Parliament with an aggressively conservative agenda designed to shape the national debate in the months before the next election. |
Creating jobs focus of today's throne speech
The federal government will unveil a new economic agenda for Canada aimed at getting the country's 1.5 million unemployed back to work, with billions of dollars in investments to spur creation of cutting-edge jobs in the knowledge-based economy. |
Did Canada turn a blind eye to Afghan prisoners?
Prime Minister Stephen Harper suspended Parliament rather than release related documents that raise difficult questions about the role of this country's special forces and spies in targeting, capturing and interrogating key enemies. |
Canucks end 50-year Olympic drought by shutting down Russia's Big 3 of Ovechkin, Malkin, Semin
It delivered a stunning performance that will resonate for years, particularly if the final four days of these wonderful Winter Olympics include two more victories. |
Google searches reveal signs of recovery
Last year, the world's most popular search engine saw a shift in the queries it was receiving. The hunt for coupons and discounts gradually gave way to searching for products, cars and travel. And the trend is continuing. |
Hugo Chàvez for premier of Alberta
As Albertans shoulder the weight of a new $4.5-billion budget deficit (not to mention the burden of equalization payments to the rest of Canada), despite the fact that they own the world’s largest oil reserve open to private investment, some might suggest that something is seriously amiss in the heartland. |
Budget won't include new spending or tax measures
Focus for 2010 will be on long-term reduction of deficit, which means measures such as the popular home renovation tax credit will not be making a return, government official says |
Premiers, U.S. governors tackle thorny cross-border issues
Seven Canadian premiers wrapped up a three-day visit to the U.S. capital Sunday, some of them heralding a new era in Canada-U.S. relations following their moment in the spotlight at an influential conference of American governors. |
Ottawa Facing Fiscal Gap
In a report released today, Parliamentary budget watchdog Kevin Page warns it's not good enough for Ottawa to simply balance the books - because of the increasing squeeze Canada's greying ranks will place on coffers. |
Liberals and Tories Locked in Statistical Tie (New Poll)
After weeks of anger and outrage over Stephen Harper’s decision to shut down Parliament, Canadians are now shutting down from politics, a new public opinion poll finds. |
Workers toil through night to fix Olympic Flame
There was a beehive of activity near the Olympic cauldron early Wednesday as construction workers were making modifications to the fenced-in plaza that hosts the flame that will burn at the Vancouver Winter Games until Feb. 28. |
Khadr's lawyers to file emergency motion
It was Ottawa's first response to the recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling that found the Canadian government's participation in Khadr's U.S. detention violated his constitutional rights. The ruling did not order the Conservative government to repatriate Khadr. |
PM Attacks banker for urging Ottawa to cut deficit
Harper's economic strategy seems to be take credit for the success of ideas you oppose, and attack anyone with the courage to propose a different way. |
Harper Parliamentary Prorogue an embarrassment to Canada
The Economist editorial about the prorogue of Canadian Parliament says "Mr Harper’s move looks like naked self-interest". |
Cap-and-dividend: the jolt Harper needs?
Since the Harper government has essentially handed over most of Canada's climate-change policy to the United States, what happens there directly affects what will happen here. |
Feds' official building is a $10 million architectural portrait of public-sector cynicism
Harper finds a new way to embarrass Canada. Intentional or not, it sends a message to Canada and the rest of planet that either our central government doesn't give a damn, or that it doesn't know any better. |
Canadian Housing Starts up in January
Swells 5.8% to 186,300 in January, topping forecasts, as both multiple and single starts rise. |
Canada adds 43,000 jobs policy
The Canadian economy created a stronger-than-expected 43,000 jobs in January, led by part-time work, the fourth employment gain in six months. The country's jobless rate fell a notch to 8.3 per cent, Statistics Canada said Friday. . |
Ottawa says it has deal on "Buy American" policy
The federal government is about to announce it has worked out a compromise with the United States designed to shield Canadian exporters from the protectionist Buy America measures that have become a major irritant in bilateral relations.. |
Liberal-NDP Coalition a Possibility - Poll Results
A Liberal-NDP coalition government is beginning to look like a possibility, given new seat projections from EKOS pollster Frank Graves. In his latest model, the Liberals would win 122 seats while the New Democrats would take 31.. |
G-7 Finance Ministers to get a taste of seal hunting
When finance ministers meet in Nunavut this week, they'll sit on sealskin chairs and be served seal meat – all part of a campaign to gain acceptance for Canada's seal hunt, and to avoid a European Union import ban. |
Canadians brace for U.S. protectionist budget
The year ahead could be littered with as many as 14 fresh pieces of Buy American legislation as Washington readies to crunch a budget built for hard times, a senior Canadian trade adviser warns. |
300+ people linked to apparent innigration scam
The case revolves around an address located in the same building as Palestine House, a Mississauga centre that offers language classes and settlement services to new immigrants and also acts as an advocate for Palestinian and Arab causes |
Ottawa will fast track Haitian adoptions
Immigration minister disagrees with Ignatieff that Canadians are calling for new rules applying to Haitians in crisis |
PM 'gambled wrong' on prorogation,
Michael Ignatieff says
Michael Ignatieff accused Stephen Harper today of not understanding democracy, saying the Prime Minister “gambled wrong” by shutting down Parliament. |
Stephen Harper makes Canada an International laughing stock
The respected Economist says "
Stephen Harper is counting on Canadians’ complacency as he rewrites the rules of his country’s politics to weaken legislative scrutiny" |
Majority condemn Harper move, poll finds
Prime Minister Stephen Harper was wrong to suspend Parliament for what many Canadians believe were selfish reasons, according to poll done for the Toronto Star. |
Der Führer suspends Parliament again
While it is within the power of the Prime Minister – with permission of the Governor-General – to wrap up a session of Parliament, the opposition said Harper is manipulating the rules to favour his own political needs at the expense of the rights of elected MPs. |
Harper becomes national embarrassment
Stephen Harper is centralizing power in the PMO on an unprecedented scale; defying Parliament (by refusing to comply with a Commons vote demanding the files on Afghan prisoner abuse); derailing public inquiries (by a parliamentary committee and the Military Police Complaints Commission); muzzling/firing civil servants; demonizing critics; and dragging the military into the line of partisan political fire.s |
Bombardier's delicate defence of a scorned aircraft
CEO Pierre Beaudoin talks about making airlines in an age where executives have been criticized for travelling in ‘extravagant' business jets |
Long delays on Pearson's busiest day
Travellers stewing in huge lineups at Pearson International Airport are warning others to arrive extra early as heightened security has triggered long waits and delayed flights on the airport's busiest day. |
After weeks of silence, Harper says it's the other guy's fault
Harper hides behind the troops to save his "reputation" |
Flaherty's deficit plan: Take an axe and cut deep
Flaherty says "I've done it before. I did it in Ontario.". (Yeah we all know how that worked out.) |
Parliamentary Democracy eh?
The Harper government has effectively suspended parliamentary hearings on allegations that Afghan detainees were transferred to torture – boycotting attempts by opposition MPs to continue a Commons probe of the matter. |
Right Honourable Stephen Harper Embarrasses Canada Again
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has just rung in Parliament's holiday season by inviting its contempt. His refusal to release documents that would shed light on Canada's handling of Afghan detainees risks provoking a crisis the moment the House of Commons returns on Jan. 25. |
Provinces want the Canadian Governenmt to show Leadership on Global Warming
The environment ministers of Ontario and Quebec used a press conference to declare Canada's emission-reduction targets inadequate and wholly unambitious compared with the two provinces' own targets. |
Calls for MacKay's resignation over Afghan prisoner furor
The fresh furor came after the release of a letter signed by 23 ex-ambassadors that condemned Conservative attacks on the credibility of diplomat Richard Colvin, saying it threatens to cast a chill over Canada's foreign service. |
Conservative Falsehoods
The record speaks for itself on what the Canadian government knows, or should have known, about the torture of Afghan detainees. |
Bank of Canada will keep rates down
Global economic outlook improves modestly, central bank says, but benchmark interest rate to remain at record low 0.25 per cent |
Conservatives Disagree with Conservatives on Global Warming ( No Surprise There)
64 per cent of respondents to a Canadian Press Harris-Decima survey said rich nations have a responsibility to commit to higher and harder targets than developing countries. |
Peter McKay skips the House of Commons
Yesterday, in the House opposition MPs came close to calling for Mr. MacKay’s resignation. Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff charged that Mr. MacKay had misled the House and Canadians regarding the allegations. |
Chinese Premier scolds Harper over delayed China visit
With words at once blunt and pointed, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao criticized Prime Minister Stephen Harper Thursday, admonishing him for not visiting China earlier during his time as Canadian leader. |
Harper 'reaping what he has sown'
Liberal foreign affairs critic Bob Rae and NDP Leader Jack Layton have harsh words for Stephen Harper today in response to the unprecedented rebuke of the Prime Minister by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. |
Recession in Canada
Overview of financial indicators and the effect of the global meltdown on the Canadian economy. |
Canadian responsibilities in Afghanistan change.
NATO confirmed Tuesday that Canada's area of operations in south Afghanistan will expand slightly to include a northern suburb of Kandahar City known as Arghandab. |
Dubai's 'big pyramid scheme' grounded by debt load
Don't be taken in: While the central bank of the United Arab Emirates stepped in Sunday to support local banks, the party looks to be over in Dubai. |
Will web child-porn bill do more harm than good?
Bill C-58 shares similarities with several provincial laws, including one enacted last year in Ontario. Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law questions its value. |
Harper heads for Copenhagen after all
The news came as Mr. Harper leaves the uproar over Afghan torture allegations behind in Canada and departs departed for Trinidad and Tobago to attend the latest summit of Commonwealth leaders. |
Afghan torture emails reached MacKay's office
The messages were sent a year before the government redrafted its prisoner transfer agreement to seek better protections. |
Harper skips out on answering torture questions
All available opposition guns were brought to bear against the government on the question of Afghan detainees during Question Period. But Prime Minister Stephen Harper wasn’t in the House. He had a photo op. |
Ontario stands firm on street racing law
A second Ontario judge has ruled that the province's stunt driving legislation is unconstitutional, but provincial police say they will continue to lay charges under the so-called street racing law. |
Canadians still going broke, fears mount over Asia bubble
Business headlines at the Globe and Mail |
Tories attack credibility of diplomat who blew whistle on torture
What happened to the land of Lester Pearson? |
Climate-change debate dominates APEC forum
Harper says developing countries must be front-and-centre in global plan while critics say Canada's poor record has cost it credibility on world stage |
Mounties vs. tobacco runners along the St. Lawrence River near Cornwall
RCMP says the water highway between Akwesasne Mohawk territory and Cornwall is the main source of cheap, illegal cigarettes entering Canada. |
Diplomacy on the Cheap... Canada's image is at risk
As PM gears up for busy round of fall foreign visits, budget cuts leave envoys on the ground struggling to promote Canada's image |
Final 100,000 Vancouver 2010 Olympic tickets go on sale to high demand
Speed skating, followed by figure skating and hockey, were the hot tickets when the third and final phase of Vancouver 2010 ticket sales launched Saturday morning online and by phone |
Who killed Nortel?
A series of investigative articles from the Ottawa Citizen. |
Auditor General slams PC Government's Planning Failures
Auditor General Sheila Fraser says the Conservative government has dropped the ball in preparing Canada for pandemics and other national emergencies |
New wristband policy to counter fraud at H1N1 clinics
Beginning Monday, people lined up to get a flu shot will be given a wristband that they have to put on their own wrist. If they are getting additional wristbands for family members, they will also have to put those on their wrists too. |
Indian police uncover fake Canadian visa scam
New Delhi – Indian police say they have cracked a ring of criminals who conspired to operate one of the biggest fake visa scams in years involving Canada. |
Nav Canada upgrade leads to fewer emissions from jets
New technologies result in shorter flights, and reduced emissions |
Canada fights to pull out of slump
Economy contracted slightly in August as gross domestic product fell 0.1 per cent, following flat reading in July |
Fewer Canadians collecting Employment Insurance
The number of people receiving regular employment insurance benefits fell for the second month in a row in August |
Internet set for domain name changes
The Internet is set to undergo one of the biggest changes in its four-decade history with the expected approval this week of international domain names — or addresses — that can be written in non-Latin script, an official said today. |
Internet providers ease back on throttle
The release last week of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission's report on Internet traffic management – known as the net neutrality decision – attracted national attention. Canadians, Internet providers and politicians debated whether the regulator had struck the right balance in addressing how ISPs manage Internet traffic. |
Should Bank of Canada intervene to devalue Loonie?
There's a consensus growing among economists of various political stripes that this might be just the way to give Canada's harassed exporters – and the tens of thousands of workers they employ – a break from what is still, in manufacturing provinces like Ontario, a punishing recession. Globe Opinion |
Federal deficit reaches $23.7B this year
The Finance department's monthly fiscal monitor shows Ottawa is now awash in red ink with a year-to-date deficit of $23.7 billion for the first five months of the fiscal year, which runs from April 1 to the end of next March. |
Ottawa dashes hope for climate treaty in Copenhagen
Canada will continue to insist that it should have a less aggressive target for emission reductions than Europe or Japan because of its faster-growing population and energy-intensive industrial structure, Mr. Prentice said in an interview Thursday. Note for younger readers: There was a time when Canada was a world leader. |
If the news is Canadian, Harper's not watching
Tell the truth... you already knew this, right?? PM Harper says he prefers to watch American news |
John Ralston Saul becomes first Canadian to head mighty PEN
Toronto author John Ralston Saul is vowing to shine a spotlight on disappearing languages in his new role as the president of International PEN, one of the world's oldest human rights organizations and a global champion of freedom of expression |
Globe and Mail reports more stimulus money in COnservative ridings
Globe investigation into Ontario recreation projects shows an average of $2.1-million for Conservative ridings, versus $1.5-million for the opposition |
Flu Signs in 5 Ottawa Schools
Five Ottawa schools have reported higher-than-normal rates of absent students — a sign that flu is likely on the rise among children and young adults. |
Microsoft's Ballmer in Toronto for Windows 7 Launch
Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer is in Toronto to lecture business leaders. Oh, and to help launch the newest version of Windows, the most popular operating system on the planet |
Ottawa Targets abuse of Tax Free Savings Accounts
Canadians who exceed limit on TFSAs will lose 100% of their over-contribution as Finance Minister closes loophole. |
Karzai to accept vote ruling to avert chaos
President Hamid Karzai will accept final results due later Tuesday from Afghanistan's chaotic election, officials said after frantic Western lobbying to resolve two months of political paralysis. |
Canadian Election Day
Today is election day. Or at least that was the plan back in May 2006 when Prime Minister Stephen Harper put Canada on a regular schedule of fixed election dates. Turned out he didn't "really" mean it. |
Is Canadian Dollar Overvalued?
The loonie's swift ascent has some sober-minded analysts taking a hard look at the fundamental backdrop, and concluding the high-flying currency's real worth is something well below its current level. |
76 illegal migrants found on ship seized off B.C.
Illegal migrants who were attempting to enter Canada off the northern coast of B.C. on board a rusty cargo ship were taken into custody by RCMP and immigration officials late Saturday after their vessel was tracked for at least two days after entering Canadian waters |
Pensions appear stable and secure in Canada
While recession and the stock-market meltdown have fuelled concern about the safety of their nest eggs, a survey says Canadians enjoy one of the most secure pension plans in the world |
Mortgage rate hike could cool housing rebound
The central bank has said it expects to keep its key short-term lending rate locked at 0.25 per cent until mid-2010 to spur an economic recovery. Chartered banks, however, are finding their borrowing costs increasing for longer-term money, as investors bet that improving economic conditions will eventually bring more inflation. |
Canadian general says Afghan mission 'serious, desperate,'
Afghanistan is in a “serious, desperate situation” which constitutes a major emergency, Canada’s top commander on the ground said in a frank interview broadcast Wednesday. |
Loonie Moves towards parity with USD$
The Canadian dollar continued to rise toward parity Tuesday, putting pressure on the Bank of Canada to match its words of caution with action. |
Canadian Budget Deficit Numbers Grow
Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government will acknowledge a grim watershed – last year, for the first time in more than a decade, Ottawa spent more money than it collected from taxpayers and wound up with a budget deficit on its hands. When the final calculations for 2008 are released, that shortfall is expected to come in at $5.8 billion. |
Barack Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize
America's new president Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize this morning for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples." |
Unemployment rate falls to 8.4 per cent, first decline since recession
The unemployment rate fell 0.3 points to 8.4 per cent and September saw the growth of 31,000 full-time jobs, mainly in Ontario and for youths and women over the age of 25. There was an overall national gain of 92,000 full-time jobs, but that positive growth was eroded by more than 61,000 part-time job losses. |
Housing Sales Rebound
Existing home sales haven't just recovered this year, TD Bank says they are better than they were going into the economic crisis. |
Ontario Auditor's Report makes Embarrassing Reading
The Health Ministry turned to high-priced consultants, the report says. One source said 295 consultants and only five full-time government employees were working in the eHealth program office at one point. |
Why David Miller won't seek re-election as Toronto Mayor
Decision a shocker even for his inner circle. Closest aides insist the mood was upbeat after a recent appraisal |
Canada's G8 summit will grow to 20 nations
Canada will be the birthplace for the rise of the world's new pre-eminent world economic institution, the Star has learned. |
Parliament to Restructure?
Democratic Reform Minister Steven Fletcher is in the advanced stages of preparing legislation that would reshape the House of Commons, adding dozens of seats to the three fast-growing provinces that are now seriously underrepresented |
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