Just so we're clear: Here's my disclosure on income splitting

David Akin in Paris
Your correspondent, working hard to pay his bills, by reporting from the Elysée Palace in Paris, France in 2013.

If you are reading this blog and you scroll down the column on the right side, you will see a section titled “Disclosure and Fine Print”. I believe it is important for journalists to be upfront with their readers and viewers about potential blind spots or potential conflicts of interest. In my experience — working in the newsrooms of Global National, Postmedia, CTV National News, The Globe and Mail, National Post, the Hamilton Spectator and, now, Sun Media — those who report the news are not setting out to seek an angle that will benefit them or their pals.

So even though there’s never been (so far as I know) some scandal where a Canadian journalist was abusing his or her position to feather his or her nest, I’ve had this “disclosure” statement at my blog for years now.

But because income splitting looks to be a potential significant issue in the upcoming 2015 general election campaign, I feel that I should be upfront with readers and viewers and provide this additional disclosure. Continue reading Just so we're clear: Here's my disclosure on income splitting

Trudeau would undo any Harper income-splitting scheme

15371406709_ecc4a989bc_z
The picture here was taken by Adam Scotti, Trudeau’s official photographer, on Oct. 17, 2014 during a visit by Trudeau to Ste. Adèle, QC. You can find Scotti’s work at Trudeau’s Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/justintrudeau

Two ‘ifs’: IF The Harper government brings in a scheme to allow couples with children under the age of 18 to transfer up to $50,000 of taxable income to the other spouse for purposes of income splitting at tax time and IF Justin Trudeau forms a government next fall; Trudeau will undo Harper’s income splitting scheme. Statement just out from Trudeau spox Kate Purchase: Continue reading Trudeau would undo any Harper income-splitting scheme

Copyright and attack ads: Progressive mayor uses Sona image to attack conservative challenger

FarbridgeAd

Karen Farbridge is the the four-term left-of-centre, progressive mayor for the city of Guelph, the city and federal riding that is ground zero for the robocalls controversy.

Farbridge is facing a stiff challenge from Cam Guthrie who is pitching ideas familiar to small-c conservatives.  Continue reading Copyright and attack ads: Progressive mayor uses Sona image to attack conservative challenger

One year until Canada's 42nd general election: Can we get $5 from you?

We’re one year from the 42nd general election in Canada’s history. A new poll from the folks at Ekos Sunday says the Liberals start this 365-day countdown well out in front but that the NDP may be the party to watch.

In any event, all parties are blitzing their volunteers looking for the money they’ll need — the national campaign will need an estimated $22 million alone during the four or five week writ period — and here’s what landed in the inboxes of supporters Sunday:

The Conservatives have a fundraising goal which they are trying to hit Sunday night: Continue reading One year until Canada's 42nd general election: Can we get $5 from you?

Minister Ambrose: Is Canada safe from Ebola?

QMI_lfp14wAmbroseCC

Her latest statement on that topic, issued tonight at about 1840 ET:

Statement from the Minister of Health on Ebola
October 15, 2014
Ottawa, ON

The Public Health Agency of Canada is meeting with provinces and territories on a weekly basis to support their readiness. In the event of an Ebola case in Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada is ready to respond with a team of public health experts and epidemiologists experienced in infectious disease outbreak management to support the investigation and contact tracing, provide laboratory expertise to quickly confirm diagnosis, and any supplies that may be needed from the National Emergency Strategic Stockpile System, such as masks, gloves, and face shields. Continue reading Minister Ambrose: Is Canada safe from Ebola?

New Brunswick MLA quits politics 3 weeks after winning seat by 9 votes

Gary-Keating-293x228

 

New Brunswick held a general election as per its fixed election date law on Sept. 22. Because it’s a fixed-date election, none of the parties or candidates were surprised by the date of this election. The result? The New Brunswick Liberals, led by 32-year-old Brian Gallant, would oust the incumbent Progressive Conservatives led by David Alward and win a majority government.

In the riding of Saint John East, it was a very close battle but Liberal Gary Keating (pictured above) won by nine votes, a victory that only a judicial recount would certify. Keating scored 2,332 votes to incumbent Progressive Conservative MLA Glen Savoie who had 2,323 votes.

Three weeks later, Keating quit. Here is his statement, released today (my emphasis): Continue reading New Brunswick MLA quits politics 3 weeks after winning seat by 9 votes

Fun with surpluses, Part II: Are we richer than we think?

15147364762_a94ede7437_z
At its Flickr page, the NDP have posted this pic of Leader Thomas Mulcair campaigning in Iqaluit earlier this year.

Last week, the economists at TD Bank put out a helpful paper in which they tried to calculate a) how much extra money the federal government is likely to have between now and March 31, 2020 and b) how much it will cost the federal treasury to do the things Prime Minister Stephen Harper promised to do during the 2011 election once the budget was in balance.

The result of their number-crunching? From the 2014 fiscal year through to the 2020 fiscal year, Ottawa should post a combined surplus of $71.1 billion. (Reminder: Ottawa’s fiscal year ends on March 31 so “fiscal year 2015 or FY15” is the current fiscal year which began on April 1, 2014 and ends on March 31, 2015. By convention, fiscal years are denominated in the year they end.)

TD Bank says the cost of the 2011 campaign promises — which the Conservatives have already started to implement — will be a cumulative $19.9 billion through to FY20.

Continue reading Fun with surpluses, Part II: Are we richer than we think?

On this Thanksgiving, we are grateful for Ottawa's handout!

keddy
Of course, it wasn’t money from the bank account of the federal Conservatives that MP Gerald Keddy (left) was handing over. It was money from all of us, given on behalf of the Government of Canada. Keddy got in a spot of trouble for this when he did it in 2009. Keddy has handed out dozens of such cheques, worth millions, and is on tap to do it again Tuesday as part of a cross-country blitz of cheque handouts by Conservative MPs. The party logo may no longer be there but the political point is the same: Conservatives are your pals!.

MPs will spend the next week in their ridings, doing all the good things MPs do for their constituents.

Government MPs though, get some additional work next week, handing out cheques.

Handing out cheques, of course, is one of the chief duties of government MPs — opposition MPs are never given the opportunity to hand out a government cheque — and this is done typically during weeks when MPs are away from the House of Commons on a constituency week as they are next week.

Here’s the lineup, so far, for cheque handouts on Tuesday. This is Tuesday only. It is also not an unusually busy first day of a “constituency week”. This is what government MPs do when in their ridings. Since the May 2011 election, we’ve had 5,300 cheque handouts for billions of dollars. Most happen on so-caNlled “break weeks”: Continue reading On this Thanksgiving, we are grateful for Ottawa's handout!

A premature copyright objection from the Parliamentary Press Gallery

Earlier today, the 300 or so members of Canada’s Parliamentary Press Gallery received the following notice in their e-mail inboxes:

CANADIAN COPYRIGHT LAWS

 Ottawa, Ontario

October 9, 2014

The Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery is troubled by reports the government is considering an exception to Canadian copyright laws that would give parties free reign in using news content for political advertisements.

Journalists report facts and balance them with context to ensure their stories are fair. Political ads, particularly during election campaigns, are by nature one-sided. Giving political parties the ability to selectively use news stories runs counter to the neutrality we strive to provide to Canadians every day.

The proposal is not yet formal. We await further details.

Laura Payton
President, Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery

As a member of the Gallery (and a former member of its board of directors), I believe it is a premature to be issuing a statement. Here’s why: Continue reading A premature copyright objection from the Parliamentary Press Gallery