A nice touch from the Heymans, signalling their excitement about their move to Ottawa after Bruce Heyman was sworn in today as the new U.S. Ambassador to Canada. Welcome! (Even if you are Black Hawks fans….)
Category: Foreign Affairs
Harper: "Could well see Russia exit the G8 entirely"
Prime Minister Stephen Harper was in Toronto Monday where he spoke at mining conference. Before getting into issues of natural resources, though, Harper spoke about the situation in the Ukraine. The video, above, was photographed and distributed by employees of the prime minister. The PMO also produced the transcript below: Continue reading Harper: "Could well see Russia exit the G8 entirely"
PMO slams opposition on Ukraine. Slams. Really Slams.
Foreign Minister John Baird will lead an official delegation to Ukraine later this week. As the government said, the delegation will include community leaders and Parliamentarians but, as we learned today, none of those Parliamentarians will be New Democrats or Liberals. How come, we asked Jason MacDonald, the communication director for Prime Minister Stephen Harper. His answer: Continue reading PMO slams opposition on Ukraine. Slams. Really Slams.
Transcript: Trudeau's "joke" about Ukraine + apology
Last Thursday, Liberal leader Justin Trudeau taped an appearance on the popular television program Tout le monde en parle and that interview aired Sunday night.
You can watch the 15-minute segment here.
At around the 11-minute mark, an exchange takes place in which Trudeau is asked his views of the situation in the Ukraine. Continue reading Transcript: Trudeau's "joke" about Ukraine + apology
Text of Harper's speech to the Knesset
The following is a text of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s speech to the Knesset, delivered at approximately 6:30 pm Jerusalem time on Monday January 20, 2014. The following has been adapted from a prepared text distributed to reporters ahead of the speech. The actual speech, as a result, may differ slightly from you see here.
Moreover, I have removed French-language sections of the speech that largely repeated adjacent English-language sections. Any formatting or grammar error are also likely mine introduced in the editing process.
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Shalom.
And thank you for inviting me to visit this remarkable country, and especially for this opportunity to address the Knesset. Continue reading Text of Harper's speech to the Knesset
VIDEO: Netanyahu welcomes Harper to Israel
This video was shot by and distributed by the office of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In it, you’ll see the full text of Netanyahu’s effusive praise for Harper — his speech is about 3 minutes — and Harper’s very brief remarks, including an anecdote about the absence of his kids on this trip. Continue reading VIDEO: Netanyahu welcomes Harper to Israel
Harper's Israel List — and his itinerary
From the diplomats' union, a highly qualified welcome to Canada's new envoy to Israel
For the plum job of Canada’s Ambassador to Ireland, the Harper government tapped former Conservative MP (and all around nice guy) Loyala Hearn. To represent Canada at UNESCO in Paris, former Conservative cabinet minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn could console himself that his defeat at the polls opened the door to that post. Lawrence Cannon was also among the most senior members of Harper’s cabinet — until the voters in his riding of Pontiac decided they’d rather be represented by New Democrat Mathieu Ravignat. And so Cannon was consoled with the job of Ambassador to France. Continue reading From the diplomats' union, a highly qualified welcome to Canada's new envoy to Israel
Canada names partisan as new Israel ambassador
On the eve of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s first-ever visit to Israel, Canada has named a new ambassador to that country whose appointment is sure to please Harper’s hosts.
The new ambassador to Israel, Toronto lawyer Vivian Bercovici (above), has had a monthly column in The Toronto Star that would please most small-c conservatives anywhere when it comes to her positions on Israel and the Middle East.
“My interest in Israel and the region goes back a long way,” Bercovici told reporters. Bercovici, who is Jewish, studied at York University and at the University of Toronto but she also spent two years at Hebrew University in Jerusalem in the early 1980s. “Now is a very important time in the region, as important as ever and I’m very honoured to be appointed to take on this role. I know that this government’s principled stands on various fronts is warmly welcomed and appreciated by both the Israeli government and the Israeli people. ” Continue reading Canada names partisan as new Israel ambassador
We honour Citizen Mandela by honouring our own citizens
OTTAWA — We were proud to make him one of us.
In 2001, Canada made Nelson Mandela an honorary citizen. Accepting his place in the Canadian family, Mandela called it a “high honour.” The honour, though, was all ours.
And now with his death, Canadians, like the millions around the world who were inspired by his life, are left to consider how we can continue to be worthy of that honour. Some thoughts on that in a moment. Continue reading We honour Citizen Mandela by honouring our own citizens