As the investigation into the Lac-Megantic tragedy continues, I would like to let you know what the New Democratic Party has proposed on rail safety over the years. I think this is important information to consider as we head into the fall sitting of Parliament as rail safety will be […]
John Rafferty – From The House
For many people I’ve spoken with, the Lac-Megantic crisis is still a top-of-mind issue. The main concern, of course, is that this tragedy could repeat itself—and in a more local way. As such, it may be good to more generally review railway safety in Canada. It is worth noting at […]
This week, I would like to start my column by offering condolences to the families and friends of those who were killed, injured, or otherwise affected by the massive train runaway, derailment, and fire in Lac Megantic, Que. People around the world were shocked by this accident, and I offer […]
The Senate scandal has taken on a life of its own and is using up much of the political “oxygen” in Ottawa. While we must keep an eye on the gross behaviour of some senators and members of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office, we also must keep a close eye […]
There is quite a scandal going on in Ottawa right now and I have two opinions on it. I’ll get to those two thoughts further down, but here is a quick look at the “Senate Scandal Timeline” as compiled by the CBC. It hopefully will explain what has happened on […]
Remember the former Liberal government’s infamous “billion-dollar boondoggle” that engulfed the Human Resource and Skills Development file not so long ago? It was one of more than a few boondoggles that exposed the Liberal Party’s false claim to being a fiscal responsible and accountable government. At the time, Stephen Harper […]
Volunteers are an integral part of any community and since last week was National Volunteer Week in Canada, I would like to dedicate this column to everyone who spends a bit of their time, however small, assisting family, friends, neighbours, and/or local organizations without seeking anything in return. National Volunteer […]
Anyone can fall victim to a well-run scam at any time. It’s always good advice to “keep your guard up,” but this is especially true where our money or personal information is concerned. The Competition Bureau of Canada recently published its “Little Black Book of Scams,” so I’d like to […]
The Harper Conservatives continue to chip away at the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (FedNor) through funding and staffing cuts. Two different FedNor-related announcements in the past two weeks by the federal government spell trouble for businesses and communities that are looking for help to develop, diversify, and […]
Stephen Harper’s Conservatives—the very people who claim they are the best political choice to put behind the wheel of Canada’s economy during difficult times—appear to be driving our economic bus over a fast-approaching cliff. The warning signs are becoming more numerous and more severe. The Canadian economy is reeling from […]
Last week in Ottawa saw the celebration of International Women’s Day, the hosting of a briefing with officials from FedNor, and the release of some “interesting” spending estimates by the Harper government. Since 1977, member states of the United Nations have celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8 each year. […]
A healthy, advanced, and safe public infrastructure is essential for economic development and to raising the quality of life for individuals and families. That’s why I tabled a motion last week that would see the federal government assist small rural communities throughout Canada with developing, repairing, and upgrading their core […]
