Jun 1 2023 — Arthur Milnes — National Newswatch — History was made on this date in 1943 when Agnes McClosky was appointed Canada’s Vice-Consul in New York City. This made her the very first Canadian woman posted to a foreign country on the nation’s behalf. Before her New York posting, McClosky was perhaps the most feared person in the Department of External Affairs. She […]
May 31 2023 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Ottawa—Making agriculture sustainability work in Canada will require the federal and provincial governments to follow the example set in their current five year agriculture partnership (SCAP), says a report from the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI). As agriculture is one of three areas that Ottawa and the provinces have a shared responsibility for, the federal […]
May 31 2023 — Arthur Milnes — National Newswatch — It was an exciting day on Parliament Hill on this date in 1950 with the arrival of Pakistan’s first post-independence Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan. Louis St.-Laurent introduced the distinguished visitor to Canadian parliamentarians. “The future of Pakistan,” St. Laurent said, “notwithstanding differences in religion and language, in customs and habits, notwithstanding lands and oceans […]
May 30 2023 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Risk assessment for beehives should be conducted this year or next. Ottawa—Persistent 30 per cent levels of winter beehive losses threaten crop pollination in Canada, says Paul van Westendorp, B.C.’s Provincial Apiculturist. Prior to 1987, the average winter mortality rate for beehives was roughly 10 per cent, he told the Commons agriculture committee. During the […]
May 30 2023 — Arthur Milnes — National Newswatch — Manitoba lost one of its most important 20th century Premiers on this date in 2010. Duff Roblin, who served in his province’s top political job between 1958 and 1967, was 92. A car dealer by trade, Roblin served with distinction in the Second World War before entering provincial politics in 1949 as a Progressive Conservative. He […]
May 29 2023 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Many barriers not based in science. Ottawa-Agriculture trade is increasingly disrupted by non-tariff trade barriers that undermine the purpose of the free trade deals Canada has signed in recent years, says Dave Carey, Vice-President of the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA). The barriers add market access costs and establish barriers for Canadian farmers to […]
May 29 2023 — Arthur Milnes — National Newswatch — Canada’s 18th Prime Minister was in England on this date in 2015. Brian Mulroney had the daunting task of paying tribute to Sir Winston Churchill during a speech at Blenheim Palace, the very place Churchill was born. “Churchill was a consummate actor on the world stage,” Mulroney told his British audience. “His phenomenal grasp of […]
May 28 2023 — Arthur Milnes — National Newswatch — One of Canada’s most significant 20th century diplomats received a promotion on this date in 1962. Saul Rae, a career foreign service officer, was named Ambassador to the United Nations by the Diefenbaker government. Saul’s son, Bob Rae, serves in the same post today. Saul Rae joined the Department of External Affairs in 1940 and went […]
May 27 2023 — Arthur Milnes — National Newswatch — The Conservative rank and file elected Saskatchewan’s Andrew Scheer their first permanent leader since the defeat of the Harper government on this date in 2017. A career politician, the new leader was first elected to the Commons in 2004. Between 2011 and 2015 he had also served as Speaker of the House. After leading his […]
May 26 2023 — Arthur Milnes — National Newswatch — Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and his wife Mila are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary today. They were married on this date in 1973 in Montreal. Theirs’ has always been a particularly close marriage and there is little doubt that Brian Mulroney would not have become Prime Minister without Mila’s love and support. To mark their […]
May 25 2023 — Arthur Milnes — National Newswatch — U.S. President Lyndon Johnson made a whirlwind visit to Expo and the Prime Minister of Canada’s country estate on this date in 1967. At Harrington Lake Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, accompanied by his Secretary of State for External Affairs Paul Martin Sr., participated in a lengthy foreign policy discussion with LBJ. You can read […]
May 24 2023 — Arthur Milnes — National Newswatch — Canadians remain in the debt of the great Sir Wilfrid Laurier for a change in the Canadian calendar that he instituted on this date in 1902. Canada observed, for the first time, Victoria Day. These many years later, the special day in honour of the Queen who ruled Canada during the run-up to Confederation and […]
May 23 2023 — National Newswatch — A London judge ruled Tuesday against Prince Harry in his efforts to pay for police protection when he visits Britain. A High Court judge rejected the Duke of Sussex’s assertion that the British government exceeded its authority when it denied him the right to hire police to provide security in the U.K. The British government […]
May 23 2023 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Lots of issues have to be addressed. Ottawa—The release of an Agriculture Canada report on consultations on a national agriculture labour strategy combined with an update on an industry-led workforce framework initiative shows the vexatious issue is being thoroughly scrutinized. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said the feedback and ideas presented to her department will inform […]
May 23 2023 — Arthur Milnes — National Newswatch — Canada’s Prime Minister-designate, Joe Clark, received heartfelt congratulations from a fellow rookie on this date in 1979. Clark had defeated Pierre Trudeau the day before when he spoke to Britain’s Margaret Thatcher, who herself had only been in office as the UK’s PM for three weeks. “You just get stuck in, that’s all,” Thatcher told […]