by: Obert Madondo | Twitter: @Obiemad: Environment Minister Peter Kent. (Photo: Environment Canada) It’s a preemptive strike of sorts. Environment Minister Peter Kent knows he’ll be a backbencher after PM Stephen Harper’s much-anticipated cabinet reshuffle. That much the Conservative MP for Thornhill, Ontario, confirmed in a message published on Facebook on Friday. “If, in
Continue readingTag: Canadian Figures
The Canadian Progressive: Astronaut Chris Hadfield to write “An Astronaut’s Guide to Life”
by: Obert Madondo | @Obiemad: Astronaut Chris Hadfield. (Photo: Canadian Space Agency) On October 29, expect an awesome book penned by recently-retired Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield. The book will be titled “An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth”. Strange title, isn’t it? Gives the impression that the book is targeted at the astronauts
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: NDP Leader Tom Mulcair Grills PM Harper On Senate Expenses Scandal (VIDEO)
Last week, Prime Minister Stephen Harper fled to South America to avoid the unraveling Senate expenses scandal. On Monday, he skipped Question Period in the House of Commons. He did show up in the House on Tuesday and NDP Leader Tom Mulcair roasted him. Prosecutor style. Short, precise questions. The
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford Fired From Beloved Football Coaching Job
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford will no longer derive personal and political capital from his position of head football coach at Etobicoke’s Don Bosco Catholic Secondary School. The Toronto Catholic District School (TCDSB) has fired him from the position. “The Toronto Catholic District School (TCDSB) thanks Mayor Rob Ford for his contribution
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Conservative Toronto Mayor Rob Ford in ‘crack cocaine’ video scandal
By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: New York news blog Gawker yesterday revealed the existence of a video showing Toronto Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine. The video was taken within the last six months, allegedly by the city’s Somali drug dealers. Gawker editor John Cook reported that he received a tip from
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Beleaguered Harper-appointed Sen. Mike Duffy Quits Conservative Caucus
By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: Scandal-plagued Sen. Mike Duffy quit the Conservative caucus Thursday after his fraudulent Senate expense claims threatened to engulf the Harper government. Duffy, appointed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2009, now sits as an independent. “It is clear the public controversy surrounding me and the repayment of my
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Peter Penashue: Harper’s “strong voice” rarely heard in the House
By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: A new analysis by democracy advocacy group, Samara, suggests that the Conservatives’ characterization of Peter Penashue as a “strong voice” for Labrador in the House of Commons is a grotesque political exaggeration. In fact, the Conservatives insulted our collective intelligence when they warned that “if Newfoundland and Labrador want
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Harper’s Defence Minister Peter MacKay Dreams Of An “NDP Government” (VIDEO)
By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: During Question Period in the House of Commons last week, NDP House Leader Nathan Cullen questioned Defence Minister Peter MacKay’s voting record on defence spending when the Conservatives… The post Harper’s Defence Minister Peter MacKay Dreams Of An “NDP Government” (VIDEO) appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Federal Court dismisses former PBO Kevin Page’s application
By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: The Federal Court of Canada has dismissed a request by former Parliamentary Budget Officer, Kevin Page, to clarify the office’s mandate. In his application, Page had also sought ”judgment affirming he has the jurisdiction to seek the information” relating to the $5.2 billion in fiscal savings outlined in
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: In BC, Dix and NDP will ban union and corporate donations if elected
By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: A big announcement from the Adrian Dix and the BC New Democrats today. If elected, an NDP government will institute several measures to reduce the corroding influence of big money on our democracy. First of such progressive measures will be a ban on union and corporate donations.
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Justin Trudeau crowned leader of the Liberal Party of Canada!
By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: As expected, Justin Trudeau has been crowned leader of the 3rd-placed Liberal Party of Canada. But the eldest son of former prime minister, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, won convincingly: with 80% support. Trudeau says the era of the hyphenated Liberal is over. “It doesn’t matter to me if you
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Justin Trudeau and Thomas Mulcair are distant cousins
By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: Oh, crap! The looming NDP-Liberal battle to replace Stephen Harper and the Conservatives in 2015 is only a family feud. Soon-to-be Liberal leader, Justin Trudeau and Thomas Mulcair, the leader of the New Democrats, are distant cousins, according to Ancestry.ca. Their connection goes back 400 years to
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive | News & Analysis: Full text: Justin Trudeau’s speech for the Liberal leadership showcase
I stand before you a son of Quebec. A grandson of British Columbia. And a servant of Canada. These Canadians you just met are a few of the thousands I’ve had the honour to meet, to talk with, and to learn from over the past 6 months. Their stories are remarkable. Remarkable,
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive | News & Analysis: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford Has a Serious Drinking Problem
By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: That’s right, the Mayor of Toronto has a serious drinking problem. Actually, one that calls for rehab. The Toronto Star says Rob Ford’s drinking problem is so seriously that, since he was elected in 2010, his inner circle has repeatedly urged him enter rehab “over pattern of
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Implementation of FATCA Likely Unconstitutional: Constitutional Expert
By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive | Mar 14, 2013: Chances are very few Canadians have heard of the Foreign Accounts Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). Green Party leader and MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands, Elizabeth May, wants us to pay attention. That’s because FATCA is likely “unconstitutional and in violation of Section 15 of
Continue readingCanadian Progressive World: Ontario’s Next Premier: Andrea Horwath
The media gave her scant attention. But that didn’t stop Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath from proving that she’s the best person to lead Canada’s economic and social heartbeat after October 6. Ontario Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty…
Continue readingCanadian Progressive World: Olivia Chow Should Follow Her Own Political Path
The buzz: Jack Layton‘s widow, Olivia Chow, will likely run for the leadership of the Federal NDP. Bad political decision if the MP for Trinity-Spadina, Toronto, does. The world over, political widows often capitalize on the legacies of depar…
Continue readingCanadian Progressive World: Jack Layton: A Funeral Befitting A Great Canadian
It’s one of those solemn Canadian moments: A casket draped in the flag of Canada. A body lying in state on Parliament Hill. Canadian flag on the Peace Tower and public buildings across the country flying half-mast. Canadians, in their thousan…
Continue readingCanadian Progressive World: RIP, Honorable Jack Layton!
I’m still shocked by the untimely passing this morning of the Federal NDP leader, Jack Layton, at the age of 61. Canada has lost a great champion. Jack will be greatly missed by the many people whose lives he touched deeply. I’m one of th…
Continue readingCanadian Progressive World: Double Standards And Chauvinism In The Nycole Turmel Affair
For over a week now, politicians, the media and pundits have relentlessly sniped interim NDP leader Nycole Turmel for her past association with the Bloc Quebecois. To them, it’s not enough Turmel canceled her membership with the Quebec separatist…
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