Apr 19 2002
Ontario's privatization juggernaut just hit a concrete wall. The province wants to sell off Hydro One, Ontario's electricity transmission grid. But a Superior Court judge today ruled that the governm
Apr 18 2002
The European Union (EU) wants to pry open many Canadian service sectors. The agenda is revealed in a leaked copy of the EU's priorities for General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) negotiations.
Apr 18 2002
Gargantuan inequality cuts through people and nations. That gulf widens even as trade negotiators criss-cross the planet crafting a "global village." Just how bad is it? What's behind the trend? What
Apr 16 2002
British Columbians are now receiving their ballots for a controversial mail-in referendum on Aboriginal treaty negotiations. Many civil society groups are encouraging residents to spoil or destroy th
Apr 16 2002
Deborah Bourque is the new National President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW). It's the first time the position has been held by a woman. Bourque was elected by union members last week
Apr 16 2002
A national poll shows that three-quarters of Canadians believe habitat protection for endangered species should be required by law. Conversely, just eleven per cent support the federal government's p
Apr 14 2002
Environment ministers from the eight leading industrialized countries (the G8) are meeting in Banff this weekend. But their proposed final statement was leaked already on Friday. It outlines how they
Apr 11 2002
For today's youth, building campfires and learning first aid no longer makes the heart sing. So Canada's 200,000 boy and girl scouts can now earn a badge in "investing." Okay, says economist Jim Stan
Apr 11 2002
In 1983, British Columbia's Social Credit government abolished the province's Human Rights Commission. The agency did rise from the ashes to resume protecting residents from discrimination. But twent
Apr 10 2002
As the name fades, it's hard to believe that Eatons was once Canada's third-largest employer - if not always a model employer. Here's the story of Eileen Tallman Sufrin (1913-1999), who took on Eaton
Apr 10 2002
3,048 people were reported executed in 31 countries last year, up from 1,457 in 2000. China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the U.S. accounted for 90 per cent of those killings. In releasing the grim figures
Apr 9 2002
Vacationers could face disruptions this summer if their plans include any national parks or waterways. 4,600 parks workers are negotiating a first contact with the new Park Canada Agency — and r
Apr 9 2002
The <I>Vancouver Sun</I> admits that a conflict of interest marred its coverage of the now-closed Woodlands Institution for the mentally challenged. <i>Sun</i> reporter Kim Pemberton filed two storie
Apr 8 2002
Canadians overwhelmingly support mandatory labelling of genetically engineered (GE) foods. But a federal bill to enforce GE labelling was defeated last October. And just how did Cabinet, at the eleve
Apr 6 2002
Roy Romanow thanked 16-year-old Allison Miller this week for her "frank talk and colourful language." Addressing Romanow's commission on the future of medicare, Miller stressed how privatization coul
Apr 5 2002
A new great game is emerging in Central Asia, where megapowers, smaller nations and multinationals are questing for control over transportation routes for oil and gas. It's the latest step in a delic
Apr 4 2002
Gordon Campbell arrives in Toronto today to co-chair a $300-a-plate dinner toasting individuals who have made "an outstanding contribution" to public service. The British Columbia Premier will be wel
Apr 4 2002
Israel's military response in the Occupied Territories is feeding a spiralling cycle of retribution, Amnesty International said this week. Excluding press and observers from Ramallah and Bethlehem sh
Apr 3 2002
They're some of the most profitable plants in General Motors' empire. So why is GM scaling back engine and component production in St. Catherines, Ontario? In streaming video, Canadian Auto Workers r
Apr 2 2002
Lost in the hubbub of last week's Oscars, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien has won a major award of his own — for best political acting. In "Jean Q," an ironic thriller, the PM pretends t
Apr 1 2002
Government officials are just back from another negotiating session in Geneva to extend the reach of a controversial trade agreement. Meanwhile, a new report renews fears that the General Agreement o
Mar 29 2002
They're cute. They're cuddly. The world rushes to defend them from hunters' raised hakapiks. And if those sad eyes seem to cry, "save me," harp seals may be telling us something else too — about
Mar 28 2002
Employees with disabilities still face barriers within the federal public service. Since 1984, they have been supported by a national resource centre that advises managers about their concerns. But a
Mar 27 2002
Who and how much? Democracy Watch is challenging two new party leaders to reveal the donors behind their winning campaigns. Under Ontario law, new Premier Ernie Eves can wait six months before disclo
Mar 27 2002
Senior health honchos could win big bonuses for meeting British Columbia's targets for hospital closures, service cuts and privatization measures. The Hospital Employees' Union (HEU) revealed the sch
Mar 26 2002
Quebec led the way, with Ontario stumbling into last place. An annual report published yesterday ranks provinces on their commitment to post-secondary education - based on indicators for quality, equ
Mar 25 2002
It's a familiar story: federal public servants scrap and strike for paltry wage settlements, only to see their bosses making big dollars. With new raises, plus bonuses as high as 25 per cent, senior
Mar 22 2002
With a cherished public service at stake, Roy Romanow's Health Care Commission is roving the land to test Canadians' views. Meanwhile, one of medicare's leading advocates is grinding through a fiftee
Mar 21 2002
Are corporations answerable only to their shareholders? While not always rejecting the profit drive, citizens are demanding much more social responsibility. The Canadian Democracy and Corporate Accou
Mar 20 2002
A PriceWaterhouseCoopers recommendation fuels British Columbia's plans for a privately built and operated hospital in Abbotsford. But when the consultants' uncensored study surfaced yesterday, it sho
