Pat's Posts

BYLINE: Mia Rabson / Hill Talk
SOURCE: WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

OTTAWA -- It was a whirlwind spring in Ottawa what with the federal election, two budgets, and the flurry of post-election activity. But as the new Parliament begins to settle in to its new reality of a Conservative majority, NDP opposition, and the smallest Liberal caucus in Canadian history, one other important factor has taken hold.

At least it's important in this province.

Manitoba is not a doormat anymore when it comes to leadership roles on the federal stage.

BYLINE: Amy Minsky
SOURCE: WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
OTTAWA -- Hundreds of billions of dollars in taxpayers' money that flows through Parliament is being spent without true and effective oversight, partly because of Canada's archaic system, critics say. "At some point in time, we'll have to review the process -- the way parliamentarians carry out their primary responsibility," says Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page. "We're falling down on this process."

NDP MP Pat Martin, who has been fighting to ban asbestos mining in Canada ever since he was elected to the House in 1997, and who has been waging a vocal battle in the House against the federal government’s controversial support for it, has his own personal asbestos story.

SOURCE: THE HILL TIMES
BYLINE: Bea Vongdouangchanh

BYLINE: Mia Rabson
SOURCE: WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

OTTAWA -- Five youth gang prevention programs in Winnipeg will live on for at least another year with new federal funding but will have to reapply for support in 2012. The programs were supported by the Youth Gang Prevention Fund, created by the federal government in 2007. Confusion about the fund was rampant over winter and spring as the government delayed a decision about renewing it until just weeks before it was set to expire at the end of March. The election call caused further confusion because the federal budget didn't get passed.

It's therefore surprising to see party insiders, mainly executive members and strategists, pushing to rebrand the NDP at their convention this past weekend, only months after their momentous campaign. All in an attempt to attract more voters.
Michael Qaqish