Canada must modernize its copyright legislation, now
The following is an edited excerpt from Liberal MP Marc Garneau’s speech on second reading of Bill C-32, the Modernization Copyright Bill, in the House on Nov. 2. P ARLIAMENT HILL—No other proposed legislation [Canada’s proposed new copyright law, Bill C-32] has occupied my time as the industry critic for my party as much as […]
Newspapers in midst of critical experimentation, innovation as digital news changes landscape
The Canadian newspaper business is in the midst of a critical time of experimentation and innovation to adapt to challenges sparked by an increasingly digital world, say industry players and observers. By the end of this era, there may no longer be a standard way of publishing a newspaper, and only the strongest players will […]
Canada’s aging population: Time for a plan of action
SAINT JOHN, N.B.–With a massive demographic shift on our horizon, Canada must immediately prepare our social institutions for the coming of age. Statistics Canada has found that between 1991 and 2001, the number of Canadians aged 65 or older increased by 12 per cent. This trend will increase more rapidly as of 2011, when the […]
Justice system contributes to new confidence: Minister Cauchon
Recently, a reporter asked me a simple question: What was the most important issue that I had dealt with since I had the honour of becoming Justice Minister and Attorney-General in January of 2002. The answer is far from easy. I may be tempted to respond with the obvious. After all, the government’s decision to […]
Paul Martin, architect of social inequality? Yes, says MP Davies
VANCOUVER EAST, B.C.–The same day Paul Martin became leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and the next Prime Minister, I held a townhall meeting in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside in my riding of Vancouver East to discuss the looming impacts of some very nasty welfare cuts in B.C. Paul Martin was very much on our […]
Canadian taxpayers deserve fair and honest EI program
PORTAGE-LISGAR, MAN.–The new Liberal leader owes a lot to working Canadians; modest calculations put the bill up around $45-billion. As finance minister, Paul Martin kept EI premiums unnecessarily high and used the excess to create the false impression of balancing the books. In fact, 70 per cent of the so-called budgetary surplus in the past […]
Breaking ‘knowledge barrier’: the renewal of human sciences
When the first plane broke the sound barrier in 1947, scientists learned something surprising: the controls didn’t work as expected. Flying at the speed of sound required new understanding, a new approach to aerodynamic design and controls. Failure to adjust to the supersonic speed paradigm would lead to serious trouble, loss of control and potential […]
Social policy in the 21st Century
REGINA-LUMSDEN-LAKE CENTRE, SASK.–Governments must address at least two basic components. One is fiscal and the other is social. The challenge is to balance these two competing components. In this regard, the fiscal responsibilities must not be so conservative as to fail to address the social needs of our families and our communities nor should the […]
Speed up childcare funds, says HRDC Minister Stewart
Human Resources Development Minister Jane Stewart wants to speed up the distribution of the new $935-million federal childcare fund set aside last February in the federal budget. The fund, to be spent over five years to reduce the burden of working parents with young children, has been criticized as being “back-loaded” as only $25-million has […]
Manley proposes Minister of Lifelong Learning
Having worked since 1993 to bring the federal government back from the brink of financial and political crisis, we are now working to restore this level of government to its proper place in Confederation. While that proper place does not include running the elementary and high schools, the colleges and the universities, it does include […]
