The Hook: Political news, freshly caught
Canadian MSM political news coverage leaves much to be desired: report
A new study on the state of Canadian political journalism was released this morning. Its assessment: a resounding "meh." Read more…
Should There Be More Regulations on Big Tech?
- Yes.
- No.
- I don’t know.
- Tell us more…
Are you watching the winter Olympics this year? Read the results of that poll here.
Changes to Fisheries Act provide 'flexibility' for pollution: Minister
Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield says that controversial changes to the Fisheries Act will make it legal for the Canadian government to allow corporations to pollute Canadian waterways. Read more…
Overselling small programs damages premier's credibility, says Dix
It's a mistake for Premier Christy Clark to try and sell a $700,000 announcement as a "pillar" of her agenda, said NDP Leader Adrian Dix. Read more…
Tory ad calls carbon tax 'dangerous'; oil sands firms disagree
The federal Conservatives' new attack ad against Thomas Mulcair refers to a carbon tax as 'dangerous'. Several leading oil sands firms, meanwhile, alongside 150 of Canada's top corporations, publicly support such a policy. Read more…
Tory budget cuts force Radio Canada International off-air
World, say goodbye to Canadian shortwave radio. As part of the cuts announced in April’s budget, Radio Canada International has shut down its shortwave transmitters and moved to an online-only Internet stream. Read more…
Robocall-related complaints filed too late, Tory lawyer argues
A bid to overturn the federal election results in a handful of tightly contested ridings should be tossed out, because the cases were filed too late, the Federal Court heard Monday. Read more…
Buying first home will be more difficult under new rules from Flaherty
Buying a first home or taking out a loan against an existing residence will be more difficult for Canadians under new rules announced Thursday, but Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says it's for their own good. Read more…
New site aims to open up House debates
EnviroHansard, a new website launched this week, makes it easier to find out what elected officials are saying about issues like supertankers, cuts at Parks Canada, or changes to the Environmental Assessment Act. Read more…
PQ leader Pauline Marois drops red square symbol of protests
A decision by Pauline Marois to quit wearing the red square symbol of the student protest movement was met with a shrug at the nightly anti-tuition increase demonstration in Montreal Wednesday night. Read more…
Oil sands jobs too few, too GHG-intensive to justify expansion: report
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) report Green Industrial Revolution: Climate Justice, Green Jobs and Sustainable Production was released today, providing a bird's-eye view of the GHG emissions per job in everything from retail work to oil and gas extraction. Read more…
BC to keep CETA drug patent letter secret
British Columbia officials have decided to keep secret a letter regarding trade with Europe that Premier Christy Clark had previously said she believed could be released. Read more…
Doctors divided over assisted suicide ruling
The B.C. Supreme Court's recent move to strike down a ban on doctor assisted-suicide has reopened debate around the responsibilities of doctors providing end-of-life care. While some doctors say the decision will guarantee rights for terminally ill patients seeking to alleviate suffering, others contend the decision could lead to patient abuse. Read more…
Canada 5th in G20 for green performance: report
As the Rio+20 Earth Summit kicks off Monday in Rio de Janeiro, one high-profile academic is arguing countries should be assigned an environmental rating, much the same way financial agencies rate government credit. His proposed ranking for Canada? Fifth out of the G20 countries. Read more…
Budget watchdog fights federal government secrecy
A legal opinion prepared for Parliament's budget watchdog says 64 federal government departments and agencies are breaking the law by not handing over basic information about $5.2 billion in budget cuts. Read more…
Tories fear voting showdown may exhaust more than just their MPs
OTTAWA -- After almost 24 hours of bobbing up and down in their seats for votes on the government's budget bill, there's no doubt Conservatives MPs are tired. Read more…
Indie publisher co-op gets funding back in sudden federal reversal
In an abrupt change of heart, federal Heritage Minister James Moore today revealed a marketing co-op for small Canadian publishers will get to keep its public funding after all. Read more…
With the federal budget vote looming, a quick look at some of the numbers
18 hours -- The time left in the debate over the federal budget now that the Conservatives have invoked closure. "Closure" is a procedure to end debate on a motion or stage of a bill. Closure requires that the motion or stage of the bill be put to a vote at the end of the sitting in which closure is called. Around-the-clock voting begins Wednesday night. (Source: Toronto Star) Read more…
Who are the 275,000 people in Canada's top one per cent?
A paper released last week by University of British Columbia economics professors sheds new light on income inequality trends in Canada, who the top earners are and what policies might best address the country's growing income gap. Read more…
Four years later, Harper's apology for residential schools rings hollow for many
OTTAWA - It's four years to the day since Stephen Harper brought together aboriginal groups, opposition parties and churches in offering an unfettered apology for residential schools. But many of those who hoped for progress and reconciliation in 2008 now say Harper's words ring hollow. Read more…
Green Party's May throwing all she has at Tories omnibus budget bill
OTTAWA - Green party Leader Elizabeth May didn't see the Conservatives' 2012 omnibus budget bill coming. One year ago, she used her first question in the House of Commons to ask the government if it was going to be hiding any major new laws in its upcoming budget implementation bill for that year. Read more…
