TORONTO – Federal budgets, or, more appropriately, the presentation of the government’s spending plan, on “budget day”, used to be a really big deal. Secrecy was the operative word, even for Parliamentarians.
We publish this article from Blacklock’s Reporter, the only reporter-owned and operated newsroom in Ottawa.
Some months after I left television, a lady tapped me on the chest and said, “Didn’t you used to be Doug Small?” She remembered the 1989 budget leak story. After 40 years in journalism, I think I can predict it will be the one story that will rate a line in my obituary. It’s certainly the only story that saw me arrested and sent to trial. To this day I can’t imagine not broadcasting that leak. It was my job, any reporter’s job.
DRUMMONDVILLE – A few days ago, Francois Legault threatened to call a referendum on immigration (because Quebec wants “more powers, to defend the francophonie”) and “maybe also on other topics”. Then, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal arrived for a visit: hugs and kisses with Quebec’s premier. Immediately afterwards, on Sunday, an announcement: Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon told about 500 party members at the PQ’s national council in Drummondville that Quebecers have one “last” chance to protect their language and culture amid what he called an “existential threat” from Ottawa. And he reiterated his commitment to a third referendum on Quebec independence if his party were to take power in the next provincial elections.
VANCOUVER – Dall’Australia al Messico, passando dal Giappone per arrivare fino in Europa: si sono collegati da ogni angolo del mondo i ricercatori italiani che hanno partecipato, sabato, alla XVIII Conference of Italian Researchers in the World organizzata dalla Texas Scientific Italian Community con la University Canada West…
OTTAWA – Ennesima “grana” per il governo di Justin Trudeau: la premier dell’Alberta, Danielle Smith, intende adottare il modello del Quebec delle relazioni federale-provinciali quando si tratta di questioni come l’edilizia abitativa (quindi in sostanza, vuole maggiore libertà di azione), ed il ministro federale dell’Edilizia Abitativa, il liberale Sean Fraser, si vede costretto a dichiarare la propria disponibilità a “negoziare” con la premier (conservatrice) dell’Alberta…
