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SOURCE: WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, PAGE A7
MIA RABSON

OTTAWA -- A long-standing controversy about Quebec hogging Canada Day event funding is over. Heritage Minister James Moore made good on a pledge to revise the Celebrate Canada program to more equitably distribute funds by population. This year, the provinces and territories will share $6.67 million for events related to Canada Day, National Aboriginal Day, St. Jean Baptiste Day or Canadian Multiculturalism Day.

SOURCE: WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, TOP STORY A6
Mary Agnes Welch, Larry Kusch and Matt Preprost

It was a historic day that started off quietly -- the smell of smoke from the sacred fire wafting throughout The Forks, as residential school survivors read aloud painful memories, only to be capped off with a night of dance and jubilation from the top aboriginal musicians in the country. Buffy Sainte-Marie, introduced as "Canada's favourite daughter," addressed a large crowd about the long road still ahead for aboriginals.

THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD
NATIONAL GENERAL NEWS, Page: B2

Liberal MP lobbyist?
Wiremanager

THE CANADIAN PRESS - OTTAWA

Liberal MP Derek Lee was accused Thursday of illegally lobbying the government on behalf of foreign companies.

But the Toronto MP insisted he's never lobbied the government.

Lee dismissed the allegations as a misunderstanding generated by a misleading profile of him that appeared on the website of a Toronto law firm, to which he has been legal counsel since 2007.

BYLINE: Larry Kusch and Bartley Kives
SOURCE: WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

A veteran city councillor and longtime NDP member is challenging his party's decision to strip him of an endorsement in a ward race he still wants to contest this fall. Daniel McIntyre Coun. Harvey Smith, who's sat on council for 18 years and also served as an NDP MLA, will appear before party officials tonight to protest an NDP committee's decision to endorse Keith Bellamy, a constituency assistant for Winnipeg Centre MP Pat Martin, in the inner-city ward instead.

BYLINE: MIA RABSON
SOURCE: WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

OTTAWA -- In the wake of the train wreck of the Helena Guergis/Rahim Jaffer saga that hit unexpected highs last week, Ottawa is practically gasping for breath. It's easy to understand why.

The sexiest words political pundits and party spokespeople usually get to toss around are more along the lines of "deficit financing" than "busty hookers."

SOURCE: THE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
BYLINE: Mia Rabson

OTTAWA -- Winnipeg NDP MP Pat Martin said Thursday allegations a former Conservative MP used his insider ties to the Harper government as a business marketing ploy should be investigated as possible influence peddling. Martin also demanded the government take action to prevent former MPs from lobbying the government for at least five years after leaving office, saying Rahim Jaffer's story exposes a glaring loophole in the Lobbyists Act.

BYLINE: Carol Sanders
SOURCE: THE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

The fight to save the West End Senior Centre is over, the building will be sold and programs moved to four community centres in the area. "This is home to us," said Nora Stark, one of many upset seniors at a meeting at the centre on Burnell Street on Thursday.

The non-profit Age & Opportunity Inc. board voted March 31 to go ahead with the sale of the building this fall and spread seniors programming around at West End community centres.

BYLINE: Mia Rabson
SOURCE: Winnipeg Free Press

OTTAWA -- The federal Liberals spent the weekend thinking deeply about making Canada better. To be entirely accurate, it was also a weekend for the Liberals to figure out how to make their own party better, but after last week's shocking display of disorganization on Parliament Hill, the Liberals shouldn't have to think too deeply about how to do that.

Aside from diplomat Robert Fowler's controversial and hard-hitting speech on foreign policy, there were not a lot of "wow" moments in Montreal.

MP of electioneering
BYLINE: Mia Rabson
SOURCE: Winnipeg Free Press

OTTAWA -- Manitoba NDP MP Pat Martin accused the Liberals of being "spineless" Tuesday when three of that party's MPs voted against Martin's motion to cut funding to the asbestos industry. Martin moved a motion at the natural resources committee of the House of Commons to eliminate the $250,000 annual funding Canada gives to the Chrysotile Institute, a Quebec-based advocacy group for the asbestos industry in Canada.

However, none of the other parties supported his motion and it was defeated.

BYLINE: Joanna Smith
SOURCE: Toronto Star

An evaluation of the multi-million dollar advertising campaign for the federal home renovation tax credit shows it was intended to promote the government along with the savings.

The federal government spent nearly $8.2 million on advertisements appearing in print, broadcast and online media last year to promote the Home Renovation Tax Credit, which was billed as a stimulus program and allowed homeowners to claim 15 per cent on between $1,000 and $10,000 worth of work on their 2009 tax returns.