_________________________________________________________

Monday, June 14

THE GANG THAT COULDN'T SHOOT STRAIGHT
More bovine by-product hit the air re-distributor last night when Bourque reader Paul Albers revealed that David Herle's God-awful new Lib attack ad features "a subliminal message that the gun pointed at the viewer has been fired". Our source, who reports that "a single frame showing a bright flash" appears between "the view of the gun and the view of the smokestacks", wonders if "this kind of trick isn't against the law" in Canada, as it is in the USA. "Pierre". our source admonishes, "Canadians are being subconsciously manipulated and it needs to be reported." Indeed, another Bourque source remembers "drafting the CAB's positive response to the CRTC's proposal to ban such advertising that subsequently became a regulation."

Ipsos Ont: PC 39 % Lib 32 % Ndp 23 %

***

Sunday, June 13

ANOTHER PERFECT CAMPAIGN DAY
A picture-perfect day, worth a thousand words, eh ? Yesterday we had "on again off again" Quebec Lib Jean LaPierre comfortably assuming the part of Comical Ali, and today a brief focus on English Canada's Abbott & Costello duo David Herle and Steve Mackinnon, top campaign hot-doggers who've become the poster children for how to run an election campaign into the ground. Indeed, word from deep inside Lib HQ is that the troops are deeply frustrated, morale is at an all-time low, and talk of a mutiny is being whispered among second-tier Martinites who have just about had enough with the Earnscliffe crowd who seem to have blinded an otherwise popular Paul Martin from the vagaries of an increasingly disgruntled electorate.

--

Meanwhile, a shocker development:
More bovine by-product hits the air re-distributor as Bourque reader Paul Albers reveals that David Herle's God-awful new Lib attack ad features "a subliminal message that the gun pointed at the viewer has been fired". Our source, who reports that "a single frame showing a bright flash" appears between "the view of the gun and the view of the smokestacks", wonders if "this kind of trick isn't against the law" in Canada, as it is in the USA. "Pierre". our source admonishes, "Canadians are being subconsciously manipulated and it needs to be reported." Say it ain't so, Herle-gurdy man !

***

Wednesday, June 9

SES: CON 37 % LIB 33% NDP 15 % BQ 10 % GR 5 %

--

DOESN'T THIS GUY DESERVE BETTER ? SMALL GAMES FOR SMALL MINDS
It's a question that begs asking. Why on earth do the seasoned political veterans piloting Paul Martin's braintrust insist on referring to their main opponents as the "Alliance-Conservatives" ? One example among a boatload, today's 5:57 PM "Open Letter to Alliance-Conservative Leader Stephen Harper from Liberal candidate Glen Murray", the contents of which aren't worth a moment's thought. C'mon, Dave, Steve, Mike, Scott, myriad adjuncts and "at loose end" oxygen-intake zombies, show some class. You're all bigger than that, aren't you ? You're supposed to be working to elect the Prime Minister of our country, act like it. Yes, we get it. Alliance-Conservative. Merged. Yup. But is that as good as you can be, resorting to petulant schoolyard name-calling in each and every press release emitted from the Liberal high-command ? Or were you all out of town when the PC-CA merger went through and to this day you think it's shocking news to one and all ? Grow up, for God's sake, you're on the verge of flushing a Liberal dynasty down the toilet and you should have bigger fish to fry, not the least of which should be a healthy respect for the opponent who is currently kicking your collective posteriors from sea to shining sea. Postcript: One source tells Bourque a new Lib attack ad is about to be unleashed, featuring "an aircraft carrier, troops in the desert, a handgun, a woman lying huddled in a corner, and a burning Canadian flag". Heart-warming, no ?

***

Monday, June 7

SES: Con 34 % Lib 32 % Ndp 20 % Bq 11 % Gr 4 %
"Pierre, You heard it here first. As of last night, the Conservatives 34%, Liberals 32%, NDP 20%, BQ 11%, Green 4%. Although still a statistical tie, this has to be considered a big psychological breakthrough for the Harper-led Conservatives. Of concern to the Liberals should also be the fact that the percentage of Canadians who think Paul Martin would be the best PM has dropped to 27%, only four points ahead of Conservative Stephen Harper (23% best PM)." - Nik Nanos, SES Research

***

Wednesday, May 19

Gumdrops
Memo to Frank McKenna. You're reading it here first. Sure, chalk it up to giddy disgruntled Libs who feel left out in the current Martin era. But Bourque can confirm that already there are serious rumblings that inbound Libster Ken Dryden is the perfect leadership candidate to replace Paul Martin sometime in the next two or three years. He's got it all. He's a top sports legend revered in both English and French Canada, not to mention author, educator, speaker, and more. Besides, assuming he wins election to Parliament, Dryden's a sure thing for a top Cabinet post, the perfect launch-pad for a leadership bid ... Former Deputy-Prime Minister John Manley is going to practice law with McCarthy Tetrault, working out of Ottawa and Toronto ... US Fed Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan has signed on for another four years ... Cancer-stricken MP Chuck Cadman will run for re-election despite losing the Conservative nomination ... and the NHL has signed a two-year deal with NBC in the USA ...

Friday, May 14

Bourque At The Marshes
An afternoon on the links is an unusual event for Bourque, but such was the case a couple of days ago, playing tag-along to a number of top CHUM-Ottawa media figures as they attacked Ottawa's mighty Marshes golf course. Yours truly was paired with the Voice of the Ottawa Senators Dean Brown in a foursome with columnist/talkster Michael Harris and Team 1200 sports yakker Steve Warne. Mercifully, Marshes golf GM Tony Dunn lent wisdom to a novice's enthusiasm and suggested Bourque spend some advance-time with legendary golf pro Dave Powell, he who conducted a minor miracle at the driving range and moulded delinquent playability into passing tee-off form. Kudos to you, Dave, and to CFRA's Dave Mitchell for putting the afternoon together.

***

Sunday, April 25

49% CDNS: USA ARROGANT BULLYING & DANGEROUS
Do Canadians have a favourable opinion of the United States of America ? Not according to Michael Marzolini, the country's top pollster, quoted in a small news-weekly. "We've never seen results this negative", he says, "American foreign policy is driving negative reaction in Canada towards the U.S. government, its leadership, and perhaps even the people who live there". Read the poll results here.

***

Thursday, April 1 - Happy April Fool's Day !

Bourque rates #42 in all-time best April Fool's pranks ...

"It's the mother of all election promises !"
EXPECT THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY: MARTIN TO ABOLISH GST
This morning David Herle and his entire PMO is left scrambling after a carefully crafted press announcement by Prime Minister Paul Martin set for tomorrow was scuppered by a leak to this organ. It began mere hours ago, but the rammifications will be long-lasting. First, the shocking late-night phone call, then the detailed fact-checking, now a likely change in the outcome of the next federal election. Start with the ultra-secretive caller, a most senior Liberal campaign strategist who blurted, "Pierre, it's the mother of all election promises !" He, who told Bourque under condition of anonymity that the Prime Minister will launch his bid for his first mandate by promising to kill the most hated tax of all time. "Martin is going to flush the GST, get it ? He's run the numbers and if you take out all of the government waste and patronage, they add up to the fact that the GST is no longer needed, it can and will be repealed", he barked, before hanging up. Stunned, this reporter fired off emails, pinged contacts via IM, and phoned a host of top-shelf politicos across the political spectrum. One senior Stephen Harper advisor erupted when apprised of the news, "F*cking Audacious", he choked, "why didn't we think of that!", a sentiment echoed by others across the political landscape. Indeed, top Liberal pollsters, it can be revealed here now, have been busy this week secretly testing the waters about the GST plan and the PMO plans to receive feedback through email. Results, it is understood, are universally positive, so much so that the PM is set to launch the election within days on the basis that a promise to scrap the GST (finally) is big enough to take the national mindshare away from the sponsorship scandal. Now, with word about this most ambitious Liberal plan spreading across the nation, Opposition parties both left and right are seized by the emerging realization that Canada's so-called "natural governing party" may well have come up with the one absolute silver bullet to guaranty it another few years in the lap of political power. Meanwhile, nervous currency traders keep an eye on the Canadian dollar, which dropped significantly in early trading this morning, before recovering slightly, although no mention of a connection has been reported by Dennis Gartman in his influential newsletter The Gartman Letter. Developing

***

Thursday, March 25

Gumdrops
Sheila Copps is in an Ottawa hospital tonight waiting to have kidney stones removed ... Lib & Tory insiders are privately conceding that NDP candidate Ed Broadbent has the Ottawa-Centre riding all but locked up, effectively explaining why Ottawa yakster Lowell Green passed up the opportunity to run there for Team Harper, but leaving Martin man Richard Mahoney in a bit of a bind ... And Tory insider Tim Powers says there's a report that Chuck Guite is driving a white Bronco down the Queensway with Alfonso Gagliano in the back seat and the OPP following closely ...

***

Wednesday, March 24

OTTAWA GALA 2004
Join 1,000 other young professionals on Saturday, April 3 at the Government Conference Centre for the Ottawa Gala 2004 -- an evening of dancing and entertainment, 'New York Style'. http://www.ottawagala.com/

--

Paul Zed wins Lib nomination squeaker in Saint John by 28 votes ...

***

Tuesday, March 23

Qwame Wins The Apprentice ?
So claimed an agitated scruffy fella yakking it up with talk thingie Ben Mulroney last night ...

***

Wednesday, March 17

OTTAWA GALA 2004 Join 1,000 other young professionals on Saturday, April 3 at the Government Conference Centre for the Ottawa Gala 2004 -- an evening of dancing and entertainment, 'New York Style'. http://www.ottawagala.com/

***

Wednesday, March 10

H&K Public Affairs VP John Capobianco bags Conservative nomination in "winnable" Etobicoke-Lakeshore ...

***

Wednesday, Feb 18

CAPITAL UPHEAVAL: WHO WILL LEAD POST-MARTIN LIBS ?
SHOCKER: LIBS PONDER SUCCESSION
The governing Liberal Party is nothing, if not pragmatic. Its one and only reason for existence is to govern. Period. Leaders, as a recent succession of leaders have sadly found out along the way, come second ... unless they are potential winners at the ballot box. Bourque can reveal that, as the Party continues to free-fall (internal party numbers now show the Libs at 30%), a growing number of disgruntled Liberals, already unhappy with their leader for a variety of reasons (Chretien/Copps/Rock supporters, still-on-backbench Martinites, sponsorship-shocked trench warriors, ordinary members disgusted by the $1/6 Billion CSL scandal, etc), have begun pondering the imponderable: if not Martin, then who to lead the party into the next election ? The basic issue is this: Martin is a one-trick pony, integrity. If he loses that, he loses the party. A critical mass is forming around the shocking notion that the incumbent leader is a lame duck who will have to go before the next election. ... Meanwhile, it suddenly looks like former NB Premier Frank McKenna will not run for the Libs under a Martin leadership ... and Martin's hand-picked Treasury Board President Reg Alcock is , not surprisingly, denying this Bourque report on the Rutherford radio show this morning and making the incredulous assertion that there is no dissent within Liberal ranks. Reg is likely a good poker bluff too.

***

Tuesday, Feb 17

"Bourque, there's a growing sense of panic here!" - PMO Insider
LIB 35% CON 27% NDP 17%
New Ipsos poll conducted after Martin's "Sauve les meubles" weekend PR blitz
Even after Paul Martin put his job on the line, things just keep getting worse. First it was the as yet unresolved BC Basi scandal implicating his leadership bid, next came the as yet unresolved discrepancy over the $$$ millions gained in grants and contracts by his CSL company while he was in Cabinet, now it is the as yet unresolved discrepancies and the $$$ millions lost through the sponsorship scandal while he was Finance Minister and senior minister from Quebec. This morning, a devastating poll conducted after Martin's weekend media blitz that shows a continuing decline in national and regional support for the Liberal Party of Canada. "Pierre, there's a growing sense of panic here", revealed one PMO source, who added that "some of us are already thinking about circulating our resumes to get out of here before we are thrown out" ... In related news, Quebec Libs tell Bourque one reason Martin is slow to act against Via boss Jean Pelletier and omnipotent frequent-flying CanPost poohbah Andre Ouellet may have to do with what role, if any, they may have played in enabling contracts and grants to his shipping empire through the '90's ... They also report that the messianically-enrobed Jean LaPierre, a bit player in the Trudeau regime, is in a quandary over the rise of the Bloc in recent polling subsequent to his appointment as Martin's chief Quebec fixer ... Toronto Libs are privately suggesting that Dennis Mills, the Lib MP facing NDP leader Jack Layton, looks increasingly likely to lose his seat and that Hamilton MP Sheila Copps looks good to beat off Transport Minister Tony Valeri at the nomination meeting, but may lose to the NDP in an election ... and a longtime Lib communications expert told Bourque he wonders "if politics is optics, how much longer will Martin continue to allow his high-stakes lobbyist pal Mike Robinson to speak for the party on TV ?" Indeed.

***

Monday, February 16

So long Elsie ...
Right-wing radio yakster Lowell Green to run against Ed Broadbent in Ottawa-Centre ?

***

Sunday, February 15

SHEILA WIPES VALERI OFF THE SLATE How is Sheila Copps doing in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek ? "She is doing great", reports our source, "Today we had our slate acclaimed, and the nomination meeting is on March 6. We have over 2,200 people out today to about 100 for Tony Valeri. He did not run a slate (he claims it is not important) and I think it is because he knew that he would lose. If there is a strategy going on there, it is lost on me. The numbers in Hamilton East - Stoney Creek are looking pretty good for us right now -- and as always it will all come down to pulling the vote. Sheila is optimistic, and so is the rest of the team."

Meanwhile, one source close to the current Transport minister suggests that Valeri will likely be appointed to the Senate if he loses to Ms. Copps.

--

GAG: I'M NO FALL GUY
The bovine by-product is about to hit the air re-distributor. Alfonso Gagliano, former MP, deposed CabMin, recalled Ambassador to Denmark, and arguably one of the most derided men in Canada, is on his way back from Copenhagen and he has no plans to be left holding the bag on the sponsorship scandal. Those who know the former Montreal-area political godfather and longtime Chretien loyalist insist he is innocent of anything more serious than a laissez-faire management style where his prime goal was to either carry out "le chef"'s orders, regardless of what they were, or to stay out of the way while they were carried out by others. Finally, the rotund man in the eye of the storm is promising pals to set the record straight once and for all, and let the cards fall where they may.

***

Saturday, Feb 14

T.O. TORIES IN A FRENZY
Bad news for Liberals, and there has been an abundance of it this month, is good news for Conservatives. Suddenly, the sun is shining and those that seek to bask in the bright light are maneuvering for opportunity. According to one well placed source, "the latest scandals and poll numbers have ignited a conservative "feeding" frenzy not seen since the heady days of Mulroney". Bourque has learned that former Toronto Real Estate Board prez Cynthia Lai wants cabmin Jim Peterson's Willowdale seat, a riding 45% Chinese. Ex-cabmin David Turnbull wants Don Valley West, John "Cappy" Capobianco eyes cabmin Jean Augustine in Etobicoke-Lakeshore, and both ex-MPP John Hastings and Magna manager Lida Prima want Etobicoke Centre. And John Tory, of all people, was seen sniffing the blueberry muffins at a Tony Clement breakfast Friday morning. The fun has barely begun.

--

Hockey legend Ken Dryden may run for Libs in Toronto ...
Ex-Cabmin Raymond Chan's nose-stretcher ...
Conservative leadership stakes rise ...

--

IPSOS: LIB 39% CON 24% NDP 18
EXCLUSIVE: A PMO teeters as a crisis deepens. Mere days after finally walking proudly into the House of Commons as Prime Minister, Paul Martin is on the verge of a complete leadership breakdown and a logistical nightmare thanks to a growing sponsorship scandal in Quebec he insists was not of his making. Martin is enraged, a show of force is required, and it is said that heads are about to roll. According to sources extremely close to Martin in Montreal, Ottawa, and Torontowho spoke on condition of anonymity, he is likely to turf both Andre Ouellet and Jean Pelletier, respectively heads of Canada Post and Via Rail. The PMO's communications staff is also due for a shake-up as senior staff realize that talents deployed to destabilize Jean Chretien and schmooze the Parliamentary media have little to do with effective crisis messaging management. Also on the bubble, likely a demotion into the backbenches, is cabmin Denis Coderre. But it gets worse. Jean LaPierre, said to be the inboud Quebec messiah, is reeling from a published report about his close relationship with Lafleur Communications, one of the Quebec companies at the epicentre of the Liberal Sponsorship Scandal. According to the report, LaPierre, along with close pal Ouellet, turfed Justice Minister Martin Cauchon, and Chretien adjunct Jean Carle, were guests at a sumptuous party hosted by Jean Lafleur at the Montreal Casino, where vast amounts of rare wines, fine cigars, and foie gras were consumed by one and all. It is expected that once news of all this reaches the masses in English Canada via this organ, polling results will show a decrease in support for the governing party. To top it off, grumblings on the Liberal backbenches, particularly among the Martinites who were passed over for Cabinet positions. One frustrated MP told Bourque that "maybe Martin's our Kim Campbell", referring to her star-struck Prime Ministerial crash and burn a decade ago. And this is Valentine's Day ? Developing.

***

Friday, Feb 13

MEANWHILE, THE CONSERVATIVES DISCUSS ...
In the wake of last evening's shocking news first reported here that serious issues of credibility have arisin within the Leadership Election Organizing Committee (LEOC), now word that no decisions were actually made about it in today's meeting. According to a source, "they are also still deadlocked over voting on the advance poll. (Belinda's people are pushing for the entire advance poll to be a fax-in.. Team Harper and Team Clement want in-person voting with photo ID for March 20 AND for the advance poll on March 19th, with a provision for mail-out/fax-in voting only for people who live a significant distance from a town with a physical polling station." Developing.

--

"YOUR VAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS"
Stick a fork in ex-cabmin Jane Stewart, she's quitting politics and moving to Geneva Switzerland to join the UN's International Labour Organization. Recently turfed from the Cabinet by an incoming PM and underscoring limited political options on her immediate horizon, Stewart says that "this offer provides a wonderful opportunity at the right time in my career." She will be missed in Ottawa for her "vast accomplishments and leadership skills", as the ebulliant ILO Director-General Juan Somavia described her today in a press release, perhaps unaware of the unfortunate billion dollar Chretien-era HRDC boondoggle that occured on her watch. But why quibble over a billion.

***

Thursday, Feb 12

CONSERVATIVE PARTY RULES CHAIR WANTS TO 'BEAT HARPER' ?
Harper Campaign Chair John Reynolds "is fuming". This from a Team Harper insider who tells Bourque that "a leaked e-mail suggests that members of the Leadership Election Organizing Committee (LEOC) are trying to fix rules to beat Harper". In a bombshell email sent by mistake to Mike Donison, a Harper team member, Bev Mahood, (supposedly impartial member of LEOC), writes a curious note to LEOC Chairwoman Jan Dymond (also supposedly neutral). The e-mail, referring to an internal deadlock over debates (it can be revealed here to be moderated by Tory candidate Walter Robinson) and voting rules, reads, "this will be endless - we have no choice - I think we have to get out - can't beat Harper..." Our source reports that Team Harper "will likely call for the resignation of both members from the rules committee". Developing ..

--

Bourque For Order Of Canada ? What Would Adrienne Say ?
Out of the blue, a Bourque reader writes: "Dear Mr. Bourque, let me commend you for the excellent service you provide to Canadians and others seeking a Canadian based web news service. For several years, your website has been one of my primary sources of news. Someone more powerful than I should nominate you for an OC, if only by reason of your ability to influence the value of the Canadian dollar. Regards, (name deleted)". Sadly, the kind-hearted writer doesn't have the pull of a David Herle or a Michael Robinson or a John Ralston Saul, nor does a writer from the other side of the country who observed that " while you no doubt qualify for the OC, do you really think Queen Adrienne would allow it given the job you've done on her this past year? Unfortunately, there is not a national award for balls because if there were, you would be right up there in the top 10." Nomination form here.

***

Tuesday, Feb 10

GEORGES CLERMONT GOES POSTAL
In the midst of Bourque's coverage of the release of this year's Auditor-General Report as this site's top story, inbound email from former Canada Post big spender Georges Clermont, of all people, now noodling away in Belgium as President of the International Post Corporation, affording him myriad chances to swan around the great Capitals of Europe with the likes of Andre Ouellet, CanPost's 'Grand Manitou' & our highest paid public servant.

Clearly miffed, and with nothing better to do with his time than to berate enterprising online entrepreneurs, the great man's tirade is mercifully short: "Bourque, you missed it big time! Every Canadian site has THE story and you're talking of Dr. Atkins. Glad I have chosen not to contribute.".

It remains unclear what he is referring to. Perhaps the launch of a new philatelists symposium in Hawaii ? Georgie, hit 'refresh' before you hit 'send' next time.

***

Thursday, Feb 5

SHOCKER: STELCO OWES CSL MILLIONS ?
It is the shudder that has all PMO staff bracing for the worse. How much does bankrupt Stelco owe CSL. The one question even the Opposition was unable to ask this week as it hammered at Paul Martin's byzantine shipping interests. But, according to Bourque sources on Bay Street who spoke on condition of anonymity, that amount could be substantial. "Millions", as one steely investor put it. Regardless, the new PM is between a rock and a hard place over his CSL shipping activities via tax haven loopholes. And now this, a desperate all-or-nothing pitch by Stelco, once the pride of Canada, for government assistance to save its 8,300 employees and 11,000 retirees, many of whom work in Hamilton and would likely vote against the Liberal party, a death-knell blow to ghoulishly-coiffed Martin pal Tony Valeri, the new Transport Minister hoping to turf Sheila Copps, the former Deputy-Prime Minister. With rival Algoma having received a $50 million government bailout, can Martin do anything less for Stelco ? The stakes are high, particularly if CSL finds itself on the hook for substantial unpaid Stelco invoices. According to a CP report, "Stelco has said it faces a $1.25-billion shortfall in its pension liabilities and some $918 million in post-retirement pension benefits. It lost $168 million in the first nine months of 2003 and had $545 million in long-term debt as of Nov. 30, 2003."

--

Democrat Howard Dean will drop Prez bid if he loses Wisconsin primary Feb 17 ...
Ethics Boss Tells PM Martin to butt out of Stelco fiasco as Stelco is huge CSL client ...

"A SIMPLE SOLDIER"
Jean LaPierre, who launched his political comeback this morning, confirmed what Bourque was first to report last night, his ascendancy to the position of Paul Martin's Quebec boss. Describing himself as "a simple soldier", the Trudeau-era CabMin and BQ co-founder denied media reports that he passed political secrets about the Libs to BQ leader Gilles Duceppe, noted that his Outremont nomination meeting will be Feb 15, and that he will quit federal politics (again) when Martin retires ... Walter Robinson, ex-CTF boss running for Tories, was bit by a dog while signing up new members ... And "Norm" Steinberg, the free-spending plasma tv watching ethics chief, has been reprimanded & financially wrist-slapped ...

***

Wednesday, Feb 4

Chretien To Pimp Kazakhastan Oil Company ...
Northstar Poll: Stronach 41% Harper 28% Clement 19% ...
Media efforts to unseal Basi Affair search warrant fails ...
Conservatives give anti-gay CA MP Larry Spencer the boot ...
Montreal-area Lib MP Raymonde Folco claims riding office wire-tapped in plot to oust her ...
Elinor Caplan, a Chretien CabMin dumped by Paul Martin, will stand for re-election ...

PM HAMMERED IN QP
So much for the concept of honeymoon in the House for the newly-minted Liberal Prime Minister. For the second afternoon in a row, Question Preriod was seized by the murky issues surrounding the byzantine relationship between Paul Martin's far-flung business interests and the Government of Canada. Today, Martin divulged that he has asked the Auditor-General of Canada, Sheila Fraser, to look into the whole issue. But that wasn't enough to appease the rabid Opposition, sensing an upcoming election if not a knock-out punch. Up on their feet, they jumped, a gaggle of Tories, Bloquistes, and NDippers, blasting the Government front benches about secret CSL sub-contracts, Barbados tax loopholes, and two-tier ethics. On that last point, Martin transition teamsters Cyrus Reporter and John Duffy were fingered for now lobbying a government they were only recently a part of.

***

Tuesday, Feb 3

Jean Lapierre, the Trudeau-era CabMin, Quebec media star, & Bourque visitor, will run for the FedLibs ...
Stick a fork in Former Justice Minister Martin Cauchon, he's retiring from politics ...
Ditto for former Indian Affairs CabMin Robert Nault ...

--

MARTIN RESPONDS TO FIRST QUESTION AS PM: "I WAS OTHERWISE ENGAGED"
In answer to a question from Interim Conservative leader Grant Hill how $1/6 Billion in government deals that went to his CSL shipping company while he was Finance Minister evaded public scrutiny, Paul Martin stammered that he was "otherwise engaged" with a leadership campaign and couldn't explain the discrepancy in original estimates released a year ago. Remarkable, the next set of Conservative questions were on an other topic, effectively dissipating whatever impact Hill had hoped to land until the feisty Monte Solberg got up and accused the PM of signing "4 false declarations of assets". Late in the show, Peter MacKay accused the government of perjury for not "coming clean" on the CSL file.

***

Saturday, January 31

Gumdrops
Greetings to Prime Ministerial minions ! According to internal statistics, the PMO was one of the most frequent visitors to this website this week. That's not news, but that too is reality, as former Global TV news anchor Peter Trueman used to say, and an indication that immediate unfettered one-stop access to a variety of breaking news sources is critical to the way politics and government is conducted in Canada ... A Toronto paper suggests that Alex Himmelfarb, Canada's Clerk of the Privy Council, is not seeing eye to eye with senior Prime Ministerial advisers and may be replaced by deputy finance minister Kevin Lynch ... And Ont Premier Dalton McGuinty has a new Toronto pied-a-terre, courtesy the Liberal Party ...

***

Tuesday, January 27

Gumdrops
BC Conservative MP Val Meredith will back Belinda Stronach ... Embattled Lib MP Sheila Copps has nixed an offer by nearby caucus colleague Beth Phinney to vacate her seat, preferring to grit it out against Transport CabMin Tony Valeri ... Popular Ottawa radio host Lowell Green says if he was "10 years younger", he would run for the Conservative nomination in Ottawa-Centre. The energetic Green, should he reconsider, would face Lib candidate Richard Mahoney, and former NDP leader Ed Broadbent, making that riding one of the most exciting to watch in Canada ... And stick a fork in Manitoba Conservative MP Rick Borotsik, he's calling it quits, though he'll remain in Parliament until the next election ...

***

Sunday, January 25

Gumdrops
The Indy Racing League is looking to shut down rival racing series CART by buying certain key assets. If successful, all three Canadian Indy races (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver) are likely to be cancelled ... Ottawa area PC MPP John Baird is said to be interested in running federally for the Conservatives ... Key Stephen Harper organizer Colin McSweeney has been at an Ont PC schmoozer in Niagara Falls looking for support for his pony's leadership run ... Ryan Androsoff tells Bourque he is seeking the Lib nomination in Saskatoon-Wanuskewin ... and avid Bourque reader Patrick Beaudry was tickled pink to point out that Canuck skiers Elisa Kurilowicz and Jim Schiman won gold at a World Cup freestyle skiing event in BC ...

***

Friday, January 23

Gumdrops
UN's Koffi Annan has accepted an invitation by PM Paul Martin to address Parliament in Ottawa within the next 8-10 weeks ..Canada's First Ministers will meet in Ottawa next Friday ... Conservative MP Monte Solberg, commenting in front of a tv camera on the recent Juliet O'Neil fooferaw (hell hath no fury like a scribe scorned) and his desire for a full public inquiry into the curious Arar case, now wonders "if the RCMP has a political agenda" ... Canadian James Appathurai is NATO's new spokesperson ... SES pollster Nik Nanos tells Bourque that his recent Ontario survey shows the Libs at 49% (+2), PC at 29% (-5), the NDP at 19% (+4), and the Green Party at 3% ... Does Dalton tip too much ? Ontario Premier McGuinty's Toronto barber tools around town in a chi-chi Bentley automobile, a Toronto paper reports ... The actor who played Captian Kangaroo on tv for 30 years has died at age 76 ...And still crazy after all these years ? Not according to an eye witness at Los Angeles airport last night who was surprised how sedated (quiet) former crazy canuck downhill skier Steve Podborski appeared in the Maple Leaf lounge as he awaited his red eyeflight back to Toronto. "Working on the Athens Olympics", he confided to an Air Canada staffer ...

***

Tuesday, January 21

"If I were a Conservative supporter, the Web would likely be my first and perhaps only point of contact with these candidates. Which means if they want to win me over, gain my support, and perhaps my money, that's the place they'll have to do it." - Brendan Hodgson, Director, Hill and Knowlton Canada, G&M Jan 21

***

Monday, December 22

EXCLUSIVE: CHRETIEN JOINS HEENAN
Bourque has learned that former Prime Minister Jean Chretien has a new gig. Sources in Quebec's legal beagle network report under condition of anonymity that Chretien will join the law firm of Heenan Blaikie, working 2 days a week out of its Montreal offices. The deal is all very hush-hush right now (don't tell anyone), but wagging tongues tell Bourque that the ex-PM insisted on the use of his hero Pierre Elliott Trudeau's office, a suite of rooms that have remained unused since he died a couple of years ago ... In other news, disgruntled backbench Lib MP Dennis Mills will run again, taking on NDP Leader Jack Layton ... As Bourque first reported yesterday, taxpayer-friendly Walter Robinson will seek the Conservative nomination in Ottawa-Orleans, but today there is suggestion his Liberal opponent may be incumbent MP Eugene Bellemare's son Michel, currently an obscure Ottawa city councillor ... And an unconfirmed report out of Saskatchewan suggesting that former Premier Grant Devine may run for the federal Conservative nomination in Souris-Moose Mountain, encouraged (or so goes the story) by the likes of Senators Dave Tkachuk and Len Gustafson ...

***

Sunday, December 21

EXCLUSIVE: ROBINSON WANTS OTTAWA-ORLEANS CONSERVATIVE NOMINATION
Bourque has learned that onetime PC Youth wookie turned taxpayers dragon slayer Walter Robinson is set to launch a bid for the Conservative nomination in his home riding of Ottawa-Orleans. Robinson, who left his gig as federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation last Friday, had toyed with the idea of running for Mayor of Ottawa in the recent municipal elections. The arrival of Robinson into the Conservative Party is growing proof that the new political entity is attracting the serious interest of big names. Sources tell Bourque the media-savvy Robinson is expected to mount a fierce well-financed bid against perrenial Liberal backbencher Eugene Bellemare. In an exclusive conversation with Bourque, the candidate-to-be confirmed he will take no sides in the developing leadership race, adding he will not seek the party's helm at this time. Last week, Bourque reported that his CTF predecessor Jason Kenney, the CA MP, would be supporting NB Premier Bernard Lord's leadership bid.

***

Friday, December 19

MACKAY BACKS LORD
Bourque has learned that PC Leader Peter MacKay, Elmer's lad, will back a leadership bid by NB Premier Bernard Lord. Sources within MacKay's circle of confluence tell Bourque that "Peter is ready to step aside and let a fresh face come forward to lead a united right ... and Bernard Lord is that fresh face". One insider, a bedrock Alberta tory who requested anonymity, was adamant. "Pierre, for the good of the party, for the good of Parliament, for the good of Canada, we've got to back Lord". Meanwhile, it is understood that a number of Canadian Alliance personalities are also supportive of a Lord leadership bid, including Hal Danchilla and Rod Love, both formerly associated with Stockwell Day's Canadian Alliance leadership, along with MPs Jason Kenney and Art Hanger, of all people. Also emerging is the interest of so-called "non-Martin Liberals", as one Grit put it, noting in an email to Bourque that "many Liberals are interested in meeting Lord, too, when he comes to Toronto...and in Calgary and Vancouver". Developing.

Former Ont Energy Minister John Baird Ponders PC Leadership Bid ...

***

Wednesday, December 17

LORD'S DISCIPLES
EXCLUSIVE: MARTIN LIBS FEAR LORD MOST
He's the one candidate Martin Libs will privately admit they are concerned about. Bernard Lord. And yes, Lord cometh. Soon. With the NB Premier set to enter the race for the leadership of the Conservative Party, now stunning news about who he can count on to build the coast-to-coast campaign organization needed to wage a winning bid. And winning is what this bid is all about. According to highly placed sources, Lord will count on the "hands-on" support of Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, former PM Brian Mulroney, and no less than Jean Charest, the Liberal Premier of Quebec, and the former Conservative Deputy-Prime Minister of Canada. Lord, who mere weeks ago was denying an interest in the new Party's leadership, is now "playing coy" this morning, according to a BN report out of Fredericton. Says Lord, "a lot of things can change in life". Meanwhile, top Liberal sources are admitting to Bourque that "Lord is to one we have to watch, he can build the coalition that can trip us up". In related news, yesterday Stock Day told Bourque he won't rule out a bid ...

***

Tuesday, December 16

EXCLUSIVE: LORD TO RUN ... & STOCK DAY SAYS "NEVER SAY NEVER"
Bourque has learned that NB Premier Bernard Lord is all but set to launch his bid for the leadership of the new Conservative Party of Canada. Maritime sources tell Bourque under condition of anonymity that Lord will spend this weekend in a final contemplation about whther he will move to Ottawa.

But, as on insider put it, "Pierre, even Bernard's wife is onside this time, she vetoed his move last time." That would pitch Lord against CA leader Stephen Harper and Calgary lawyer Jim Prentice, who is backed by former PC national director Susan Elliott.

Final armtwisting is promised by politico Goldie Hyder, in New Brunswick tomorrow to meet with the Premier.

If, as expected, Lord moves to Ottawa, Brad Green, the Min. of Justice, has apparently been tapped as interim leader, and Elvy Robichaud, the Min. of Health is the odds on fav. to win a leadership.

Meanwhile, in a CFRA radio conversation late this afternoon, former CA leader Stockwell Day told Bourque he is not closing the door on a run for the leadership, admitting he has been approached by supporters looking to him to lead a united right. "I never say never, Pierre, and right now I am watching the race develop with interest."

Developing. (Discuss The Conservative Leadership)

***

Monday, December 15

Gumdrops ...
John Manley Turns Down PM Martin's Ambassadorship To Washington ... Ipsos: Libs 48 % - Cons 21 % - NDP 14 % - BQ 9 % Green 4 % ...

***

Thursday, December 11

SPITBALLING THE MARTIN CABINET
Out with the old, In with the news ... and on Thursday it was raining Cabinet appointments in Official Ottawa. All day long various media outlets had various politcal personalities assuming various Cabinet portfolios. Depending on what you were reading, you were reading what many were depending on, a healthy dose of speculation couched in wishful thinking and fear. Notwithstanding that Cabinet-making goes on right up until swearing-in Friday morning at 10 AM, and tinkering is bound to occur, Cabmins to be sworn in tomorrow include Ralph Goodale (Deputy PM ? Industry ? Public Security ? Finance ?), Jim Peterson (Natural Resources ?), Stan Keyes to Revenue, Joe Volpe in on the action, Carolyn Bennett, high-flying Pierre Pettigrew gets Foreign Affairs, David Anderson may be thrown at Northern Affairs, Geoff Regan (can he salute if he gets DND ?), Mr. Internet Reg Alcock (Treasury Board), Bill Graham (Justice), Stephen Owen, Anne McLellan (Deputy PM ? Finance?), Claudette Bradshaw (PWGSC?), Mississauga's Cite Libriste Albina Guarnieri finally gets Honourable, Hogtown's John Godfrey, Nfld's John Efford (Fisheries ?), Toni Valeri (Transport or CIDA), and Trudeau-era Senator Jack Austin to run things in the Red Chamber. No word yet on the fate of Allan Rock or Kid Coderre, who despite a dizzying array of recent press clippings not seen in the history of Parliament, teeters at the brink of exclusion.

--

MORE MARTIN STAFFER APPOINTMENTS
In other news, Bourque has learned that Paul Martin has appointed the following people to his PMO: Peter Nicholson (Senior Special Advisor), Scott Reid (Senior Advisor - Strategy), Mario Lague (Dept Chief Of Staff, Communications), Paul Corriveau (Dept Chief of Staff), Ruth Thorkelson, (Dept Chief of Staff, Parliamentary Affairs & Appointments), Mario Cuconato (Dir. Of Ops), Jim Pimblett (EA), Brian Guest (Dept. Principal Secretary), Veronique de Passille (Legislative Assistant), Melanie Gruer (Press Secretary), Jeff Copenace (Special Assistant - Aboriginal Affairs)

***

Friday, December 5

Gumdrops
David Orchard's LegalAction against United Right was dismissed. It is too early to surmise whether the unelected ointment fly will launch his own Party, ... Our Pals at HalifaxLive.Com tell us that PC leader Peter MacKay will tell the world within 5 days if he will run for the United Right leadership ... And is cuddly Deputy BC Premier Christy Clark set to abandon LotusLand to run for Paul Martin's merry band of FedLibs ? If so, what will become of hubby Mark Marrisen, aka, Mr. Mom ? ...

***

Wednesday, December 3

Gumdrops
Ousted Ontario PC cabmin Tony Clement has signed on with the law firm of Bennett Jones ... Deputy Prime Minister John Manley is undergoing corrective eye surgery today and will be out of commission for a week or so ... Canadian Alliance MP Chuck Strahl is being petitioned to run for the leadership of the Conservatives ... Paul Martin advisor Maurice Strong is the first Canadian to receive the USA's National Academy of Sciences Public Welfare Medal ... Toronto supermodel and former Canadian Alliance leadership wannabe Enza Anderson has received breast implants ... And former Lib MP Jack Anawak has been named Ambassador for circumpolar affairs ...

***

Thursday, November 20

PC/CA: BOVINE BY-PRODUCT HITS AIR RE-DISTRIBUTOR
Nothing comes easy in life. Especially for the Unite-The-Right crowd. And now the ghost of Sir John A. himself has been evoked. A group of opponents to the merger, including C. Hanson Dowell, Albert Horner, Bud Sherman, David Orchard, Marie Gatley, great-grandniece of John A. Macdonald, and others, and their lawyers will announce the commencement of a law suit against Peter MacKay to preserve the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. The kick-off is 11 AM tomorrow morning in the boardroom of Sack Goldblatt Mitchell, 20 Dundas St W, Toronto.

***

Tuesday, November

NatPost's Fife: Copps To Pull Out & Acclaim Martin ...
TeamCopps to Bourque: Nonsense, "we are not quitting, Pierre" ..

***

Monday, November 3

Nunziata's Nonsense
According to a Toronto source, York Regional Police is to issue a release this afternoon regarding Mayoralty candidate and former Liberal Rat Pack'er John Nunziata's bribery allegations that reads: "there was no evidence to support an offence, either under the Criminal Code or the Ontario Municipal Elections Act." They have already contacted Nunziata and Tory.

--

Rumour du Jour: Stock Day To Seek PC/CA Combo Leadership ? ...

***

Thursday, October 23

Bryan Acquitted; Gag Law Unconstitutional

October 23, 2003 - The Supreme Court of British Columbia today ruled that section 329 of the Canada Elections act is unconstitutional, and acquitted Paul Bryan of the charge of prematurely transmitting election results.

"Today's ruling means Canadian citizens won't be ordered by government to keep their mouthes shut during federal elections," says Bryan. "Election gag laws have no place in a free and democratic society. Sometimes, we must step up and challenge such laws or else face losing our rights altogether."

In November 2000, Bryan posted the election results of Atlantic Canada while polling stations remained open in the rest of the country. In May 2001, Bryan was charged with violating s. 329 of the Canada Elections Act.

In January 2003, Bryan appeared in B.C. Provincial Court to challenge the constitutionality of s. 329 on the grounds that it infringes on freedom of expression protected under s. 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In February 2003, the B.C. Provincial Court judge dismissed Bryan's challenge.

In April 2003, Bryan was convicted of violating s. 329 of the Canada Elections Act and was fined $1,000. Today, that conviction was overturned, and s. 329 has been ruled contrary to s. 2(b) of the Charter.

***

Wednesday, October 22

"I APOLOGIZE TO ALL CANADIANS" Minister of Labour Claudette Bradshaw took quick steps to distance herself from floundering Industry Minister Allan Rock, who finds himself knee-deep in Opposition calls for his resignation. Indeed, Bourque sources inside the Liberal Party are suggesting that Rock is in a significant pickle over conflict of interest, whether perceived or otherwise, given current cutthroat backroom operatives now referring to him as "Dead Man Walking" and related activities underway by the incoming Martin regime, all too anxious to clear away any whiffs of Chretien-era scandal. As for madame Bradshaw, who admitted to receiving a jet-set freebie from Ottawa to Moncton, she has not only promised to pay for the flight, but today stood up in the House of Commons to apologize. "I apologize to the House, I apologize to all Canadians", she said. Meanwhile, PC MPs admit they also took freebie jetset rides

***

Thursday, October 16

Thumbs Up From John Crosbie
Big Rock Bourque readers report that longtime PC Party poohbah John Crosbie says he supports the PC/CA merger agreement, announced today. "Pierre, that is big. he said so on the radio in St. John's".

***

Tuesday, Oct 14

Bourque: Where Decision Makers Begin Decision-Making Days
A glimpse at a few of this morning's visitors: sun.com, pm.gc.ca, paulmartin.ca, canwest.com, dnd.ca, fpac.ca, cibc.ca, bmo.com, tdbanc.ca, hydro.qc.ca, rmoc.on.ca, pch.gc.ca, ic.gc.ca, ibm.com, cbc.ca, acoa-apeca.gc.ca, state.gov, mdmanagement.ca, cognos.com, nb.ca, canfin.gc.ca, boeing.com, dfait-maeci.gc.ca, canadalife.com, nhq.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca, justice.gc.ca, pmgroup.ca, pcparty.ca, argos.ca, nrc.ca, pwgsc.gc.ca, pcl.com, ppforum.ca, creditunion.mb.ca, navcanada.ca, navltd.com, gdxautomotive.com, mcintoshengineering.com, and tens of thousands more ... Att Ad/Pr/Gr Execs: Stuck With Another Ho-Hum No-See'Em Ad Campaign ?

***

Monday, Oct 6

Gumdrops
A weekend Ipsos Factoid poll suggests the MartinLibs (51%) would beat a combo PC/CA (32 %). Without a merger, the results might be Lib 47 % PC 14 % CA 13 % NDP 12 % BQ 9 % ... Top Ontario PC operatives tell Bourque under condition of anonymity that defeated Premier Ernie Eves is not long for this political world. As soon as he can line up a couple of private sector board gigs, he'll be gone. Likely leadership candidates include Irish Jim Flaherty, Elizabeth Witmer, and young John Baird, the lad from Ottawa said poised to squeeze up through the middle to claim the prize ... Former Pricacy Czar George Radwanski is denying his was a "reign of terror". "Yes, I could be tough, but never vicious or cruel", he told a TV audience ... And while the Sask election is eexpected to be called this week, possibly during Premier Lorne Calvert's nomination meeting this Wednesday, wheat eaters who report that arch-rival Elwin Hermanson would appoint Preston Manning to head his transition team will instead have to make do with Elwin's right-hand man Ken Krawetz should he win.

***

Friday, September 26

br> A PECUNIARY CHENEY AS US IRAQ CASUALTY COUNT MOUNTS
As the USA continues to wag the dog in Iraq, the body count mounts for a US military reeling in a nation where part of the conquered population remains ungrateful. Former Desert Storm hero Colin Powell, now a Bush Administration operative, confirmed on Letterman last night that "We're going to be in Iraq at least another year and a half". How the prospect of traipsing about a hostile Iraq countryside for another 547 days will be greeted by a military that is losing close to one troop per day remains unknown. Meanwhile, Dick Cheney, the conflicted VP, is the subject of a congressional report that concludes he still has a financial interest in Halliburton, the energy services company that received an untendered multi-billion dollar open-ended Iraq contract from, yes, the Bush Administration. Tuesday, September 23

Gumdrops
It will take more than a bottle of "Grecian Formula" to keep ages-old tv banana Don Newman on his toes. Another sign today when he was late to segue out of a dull preambling yakker between Babs MacDougall & Lloyd Axworthy, thus missing the start of Prime Minister Jean Chretien's last speech at the UN General Assembly in New York ... Paul Martin's troops are "letting their hair down" this Friday evening at a downtown Ottawa spot called "Suite 34" and "one and all" are invited ... Dumb question of the night at the Ontario leadership debate came from a Global TV meat puppet named Richardson who asked Lib leader Dalton McGuinty whether taxes would be higher today had his party been elected in 1995, which the respondent automatically dismissed as "speculation", before moving on to meatier issues ... And the rumour that Ottawa Mayor Bob Chiarelli would suddenly drop out of the mayoralty race this week to run instead as a "star candidate" for the federal Liberals in Ottawa-Centre (Mac Harb or his clone, is now a Senator) seems absurd at first blush. Or does it ?

***

Friday, Sept 19

> "I AM ABOVE POLITICS!"
An embattled Adrienne Clarkson, the jet-setting heavy-spending Governor-General, took the extremely unusual step of appearing on a CBC political show yesterday to defend herself and her exceedingly rich fit-for-a-queen habits. She chose the appropriate forum, a cozy chit-chat with old pal Don Newman. "I always enjoy coming to see you, Don", said the grande dame as she settled in. All that was missing were the highballs and the dainty cucumber sandwiches. Batting off Don's lob-balls and slow-pitches, the GG remarked that "We have a wonderful trip prepared ... we have asked very interesting people to come ...we know we spend public money ... and no problem if they want to look at how we do it ... we've done a lot of things ...we've spent a lot of time in our north ... we belong to this north ... we've spent I can't tell you how long ..." and on she went, using the royal "we" dozens and dozens of times as she related how important the trip was for Canada and how important the people she chose to go with are. Later, she clarified she wouldn't actually be attending any Parliamentary committee meetings with the nation's political hoi polloi, she'd instead send along her minions to address any questions about her spending habits, which have ballooned from a whopping $11 million to an incredulous $19 million a year. Yes, $1.583 Million a month, and a jaw-dropping $52,054.79 per day, or as one MP described it, "unfettered unaccountable spending" ! She concluded by snooting "I am above politics" to an uncertain audience. My kingdom for a pack of Duncan Hines cake mix ...