IT guy, code monkey, husband, father, target shooter, but unfortunately not independently wealthy.
The economy is in a downturn. People across Canada are worried about losing their jobs, their savings, their homes. The US – our biggest trading partner – is in much rougher shape than Canada and that’s worrying people to.
So what has Michael Ignatieff done this summer? Well… he gave up his European vacation.
- Rafael.There is a great deal of speculation swirling about a fall election. It certainly seems that the Liberals will be using their September opposition day to launch a confidence motion. If they do they will most likely be supported by the NDP and Bloc to bring down the government.
Much of the speculation over whether or not there will be an election hinges on the fact that the Liberals still seem to lack a cohesive strategy or message. Clearly it would be in the Liberals’ best interests to have a clearly defined platform before launching an election campaign. Time is running out, however, if they plan on attacking the Conservatives on the economy. During the past year its been fairly clear that the Liberals have relished in every stock market dip, business closure, and release of job loss numbers.
- Rafael.Stephen Taylor was blogging from the NDP national convention and reported the following:
Another striking moment came during the international policy discussion portion when NDP MP Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre) suggested that Tamil actions in blocking traffic in Ottawa and occupying a highway in Toronto were legitimate methods for Tamils to get the attention of the Canadian government.
What was Paul Dewar thinking?
- Rafael.The whole eHealth thing has been in the news for a while, so much so that it’s getting a little old. Luckily, Dalton and crew are loathe to disappoint.
Today, just when I was thinking the latest scandal was getting a little old, someone sent me a link to an article on the Ontario Ministry of Transport website regarding a plan to upgrade 20 or so existing service centers on the 400 and 401 series highways.
- Rafael.The fact that the Ontario Liberal Government’s eHealth plan appears to have been nothing more than a mechanism to shovel money into friendly pockets isn’t news anymore. But what is news is that Dalton McGuinty and Health Minister David Caplan appear to have been lying when they suggested PriceWaterhouseCooper was retained to perform an independent audit of eHealth’s books.
The CBC is reporting that no contract was ever signed.
This despite the fact that Dalton McGuity said (in June):
I think we need to wait for the report coming from PricewaterhouseCoopers. We need to wait for the information and the advice to come from the auditor.
David Caplan also dodged questions in the legislature saying he looked:
…forward to the recommendations and insights they might have on ways in which we can strengthen the financial controls and the management practices at eHealth.
The NDP, however, has newly released documents obtained under Freedom of Information show that no contract was ever awarded to PriceWaterhouseCooper – a fact that has been confirmed not only by PriceWaterhouseCooper but also by the board of eHealth Ontario itself.
- Rafael.
2010 © Rafael Gomez.