Section: National Newswatch (Canada)
Battered battleground: Federal leaders focus on vote rich Ontario heartland
OTTAWA – Battleground Ontario: starved for jobs, but swimming in votes.Hardly surprising, then, that the three main federal leaders found themselves using the province’s ailing manufacturing sector as a backdrop Wednesday for a one-day clash of economic visions.Stephen Harper, Justin Trudeau and Tom Mulcair all focused their campaigns...
Syrian refugee queries draws catcalls from Conservative supporters
OTTAWA — A Conservative supporter at a Stephen Harper campaign event heckled a reporter Wednesday who was asking about the government’s handling of the Syrian refugee crisis. The government’s response of the crisis is now front and centre in the federal election campaign. The catcalls came in Welland, Ont., as the Conservative leader...
Tories rack up challenges to logic
While the cynical among us have long since known that politicians are masters of deflection and distortion, over the past week the Harper Conservatives have taken things to a whole new level. First off, it was Foreign Affairs Minister Rob Nicholson blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin for the latest round of violence in Ukraine. This of...
Putin responsible for Ukraine violence caused by anti-Putin forces, Nicholson says
The Conservatives’ Rob Nicholson is blaming Russian leader Vladimir Putin for the deadly attacks launched by vehemently anti-Russian groups in Ukraine. Nicholson, who is running for re-election, has been serving as Canada’s Foreign Affairs minister. Three security officers were killed and 140 injured in clashes between Ukraine...
How the West (unwittingly) aids Russian propaganda
It’s disappointing when Western news media promulgate Russian polls touting the unbelievably high popularity of President Putin as if it was a true reflection of Russian sentiment. But to see one of the most respected US pollsters add credibility to such questionable results is perverse. Why should we in the West promote Russian propaganda?...
Canada pays $1.6 million to ship $5 million worth of surplus gear to Ukraine
The Canadian government spent $1.6 million to ship $5 million worth of surplus tents, sleeping bags and other military goods last August to Ukraine, according to figures obtained by the Ottawa Citizen. The equipment, sent by Canadian Forces aircraft, included sleeping bags the military estimates are worth $437 each and four-man tents worth $420....
Carbon credits undercut climate change actions says report
The vast majority of carbon credits generated by Russia and Ukraine did not represent cuts in emissions, according to a new study. The authors say that offsets created under a UN scheme “significantly undermined” efforts to tackle climate change. The credits may have increased emissions by 600 million tonnes. In some projects, chemicals known to...
Mulcair burnishes NDP’s economic credentials; Duffy trial dogs Harper up north
OTTAWA — Tom Mulcair took his fight against the Conservatives straight into Finance Minister Joe Oliver’s back yard Friday, hoping perhaps to add a bit of spit and polish to the NDP’s less-than-stellar credentials as guardians of the public purse. Stephen Harper returned the favour, sort of, by travelling to the Northwest Territories...
Campaign pledge would cost $14 million to pave roadway in Northwest Territories
HAY RIVER, N.W.T. — As he campaigns in Canada’s North, Stephen Harper is leaving the door open to having a re-elected Conservative government join a North American missile defence shield. NATO warned in April that more than 30 countries either already have, or were acquiring, ballistic missile technology that could drop conventional...
Ukraine surge in fighting violates ceasefire – EU
The European Union says escalating attacks on government-controlled areas in eastern Ukraine violate a February peace deal with pro-Russia separatists. “The Minsk Agreements must be implemented in good faith, starting with full observation of the ceasefire and genuine withdrawal of heavy weapons,” the EU said. Ukraine on Monday accused rebels of...
