News

KEYWORDS: POLITICS
PUBLICATION: cpw

It appears the Harper government will finally start providing specific details on its infrastructure stimulus spending this week.

Kevin Page, Parliament's independent budget officer, told a House of Commons committee Tuesday that says he's been informed his office will start getting province-by-province details soon, possibly by week's end.

A Conservative MP on the estimates committee subsequently confirmed project specifics could start rolling out as early as Wednesday.

PUBLICATION: WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
PAGE: A6
SECTION: Top Columnist
BYLINE: Mia Rabson

It was a tragic week on Parliament Hill. A 50-year-old father and grandfather died following an explosion in a steam plant that heats 52 buildings in downtown Ottawa, including the Parliament Buildings. The man suffered severe burns to more than half his body when a boiler suddenly exploded last Monday.

His death raised a number of health and safety questions about that particular plant, which is tucked into a river bluff right below the Supreme Court.

PUBLICATION: The Ottawa Sun
BYLINE: ELIZABETH THOMPSON, NATIONAL BUREAU

Opposition critics are calling for an investigation because a government website links to pictures of Prime Minister Stephen Harper with his family or videos of him playing piano rather than information about a government program.

PUBLICATION: WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
PAGE: A5

PATIENCE has gone way beyond wearing thin as the wait for a green space at Gordon Bell High School goes on and on and on.

"I don't know where it's sitting at all. It's crazy," said Winnipeg School Division board chairwoman Jackie Sneesby.

"I am rapidly moving from frustrated to furious at the lack of movement on this issue," said MP Pat Martin (NDP-Winnipeg Centre).

Aides to Education Minister Peter Bjornson have been saying for several months that talks are ongoing and there is no resolution to report.

PUBLICATION: WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
PAGE: A7
BYLINE: Mia Rabson

OTTAWA -- You showed up to work one day to find the doors locked and a sign on the door saying the company had gone belly up

Not only did you lose your future paycheque, but your pension and vacation pay also went up in smoke.

But not anymore, thanks to a little-publicized change to Canada's bankruptcy laws which was finally acclaimed Sept. 18.

It had its roots in Manitoba.

PUBLICATION: The Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal
SECTION: Local Sports
BYLINE: Reuben Villagracia

OTTAWA - An independent watchdog is needed to stop the Conservatives' "flagrant misuse of taxpayers' money" on partisan government advertising, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said Friday.

The Liberals are proposing a system similar to one adopted in Ontario in 2004, which screens provincial government ads for partisanship and bans the use of any politician's name, image or voice.

PUBLICATION: WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
PAGE: A16
BYLINE: Kevin Rollason

Some Wolseley residents and NDP MP Pat Martin are upset that Canada Post has stamped dozens of new mail boxes with return to sender.

A Canada Post official has confirmed that 46 of the city's 640 street boxes have already been pulled off the street while another 20 have notices on them that they'll be gone in days.

PUBLICATION: WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
PAGE: A7
BYLINE: Mia Rabson

The political spin, my friend, is blowing in the wind.

Six months ago, a Manitoba homeowner raised concerns about the promised $1,350 home renovation tax credit.

It was one of the highlights of the Conservative government's January budget to save the economy. But it wasn't included in the first budget bill and the Canada Revenue Agency told this homeowner the details of what would qualify were not set in stone.

PUBLICATION: The Winnipeg Sun
EDITION: Final
SECTION: News
PAGE: 7
BYLINE: PAUL TURENNE, SUN MEDIA

A new school year starts next week at Gordon Bell High School, but this year's class of students is no closer to playing sports on the field next door than last year's was, despite an apparent victory to acquire the land months ago.

PUBLICATION: WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
PAGE: A4
BYLINE: Bruce Owen and Larry Kusch

A day after Premier Gary Doer pulled the plug on his 23-year political career to become Canada's ambassador to the U.S., the contenders to replace him largely avoided the limelight as they pondered their futures.

Senior ministers said they needed at least the weekend to see if they have the family, political support and intestinal fortitude to take over as NDP party leader and assume the province's biggest political job.