Family Ties Of Current MPs

Canadians know Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau's father, Pierre, was the country's 15th prime minister.

His grandfather, James Sinclair, was also a B.C. Liberal MP from 1940 to 1958 and a former minister of fisheries and oceans.

But Trudeau is not the only current MP to follow in the footsteps of a family member all the way to the House of Commons.



Maxime Bernier

Conservative Minister Maxime Bernier was first elected in 2006 in the Quebec riding of Beauce.

The riding was held for years by none other than...

Gilles Bernier

Gilles Bernier, Maxime's dad, represented Beauce for 13 years (1984-1997), first as a Progressive Conservative and then, briefly, as an Independent.

Peter MacKay

Peter MacKay has been an MP since 1997. He first represented the Nova Scotia riding of Pictou-Antigonish-Guysborough but, since 2004, has been the member for Central Nova.

Central Nova is a riding that was held for more than 21 years by...

Elmer MacKay

Elmer MacKay, Peter's dad, represented Central Nova from 1971-1983 before stepping down so that Prime Minister Brian Mulroney could (briefly) take his spot. MacKay won again in 1984 and served until his retirement in 1993.

Thomas Mulcair

NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair was first elected in a 2007 byelection in the Quebec riding of Outremont. The win marked just the second time that the NDP had won a seat in Quebec.

But, more than 100 years earlier, another member of Mulcair's family represented a different Quebec riding.

Honoré Mercier

Mercier, Mulcair's great-great-grandfather, was briefly a Liberal MP from 1872 to 1874 in the Quebec riding of Rouville.

Mercier later went on to become the ninth premier of Quebec.

Dominic LeBlanc

Liberal MP Dominic LeBlanc was first elected in the New Brunswick riding of Beauséjour—Petitcodiac in 2000.

It likely didn't hurt that his father was one of the most accomplished politicians in the country.

Roméo LeBlanc

Roméo LeBlanc, Dominic's dad, was a Liberal MP from 1972-1984 in the New Brunswick riding of Westmorland—Kent, which was replaced by the riding his son now represents.

LeBlanc was also appointed to the Senate in 1984, where he later became Speaker.

And, from 1995-1999, he served as the 25th Governor General of Canada.

Geoff Regan

Liberal MP Geoff Regan was first elected in the Nova Scotia riding of Halifax West in 1993. Though he lost his bid for re-election in 1997, he returned to the House in 2000 and has been there ever since. He also served as minister of fisheries and oceans.

Like Trudeau, both Regan's father and grandfather also served as Grit MPs.

Gerald Regan

Gerald Regan, Geoff's dad, was also an MP for Halifax on two separate occasions. He was first elected in 1963, but resigned in 1965 to become leader of the Nova Scotia Liberals.

Regan would go on to serve as Nova Scotia premier from 1970-1978. He returned to Ottawa as an MP in 1980 but was defeated four years later.

John Hornby Harrison

Harrison, the grandfather of Geoff Regan and father-in-law of Gerald, served as a Liberal MP for the Saskatchewan riding of Meadow Lake from 1949-1958.

Paul Dewar

NDP MP Paul Dewar was first elected in the riding of Ottawa Centre in 2006.

He ran for the leadership of the NDP in 2012 and currently serves as his party's foreign affairs critic — a role that would likely make his mother proud.

Marion Dewar

Marion Dewar, Paul's mom, was elected as an NDP MP for the riding of Hamilton Mountain in a 1987 byelection after serving as president of the NDP for two years. She was defeated in the 1988 election.

Marion Dewar served as mayor of Ottawa from 1978-1985. In 1993, she ran in Ottawa Centre — the riding her son now represents — but lost.

Mark Strahl

Conservative MP Mark Strahl was elected in 2011 in the B.C. riding of Chilliwack--Fraser Canyon, a seat held for years by none other than...

Chuck Strahl

Chuck Strahl, Mark's dad, was first elected under the Reform Party banner in the B.C. riding of Fraser Valley East in 1993.

The riding later became Chilliwack--Fraser Canyon, which he represented until his retirement in 2011. He served as minister of agriculture, minister of Indian affairs and northern development and minister of transport.

The spat between Mr. Harper and Ms. Wynne

Stephen Harper was asked why he’s not met with the Ontario Premier despite her much-publicized requests for face time.

Stephen Harper said:  Kathleen Wynne should focus on the challenges in her province and “not on confrontation”.

Ed Broadbent: Time for a Third Way?

Child Poverty

Conservatives Refuse to Support NDP Motion to End Child Poverty

25 years ago, federal NDP leader, Ed Broadbent, tabled a motion in the House of Commons to achieve the goal of eliminating poverty among Canadian children by the year 2000.

Ed Broadbent, then leader of the federal New Democratic Party, put forward the motion back in 1989. Today, the 78-year-old says it’s unlikely he’ll see the end of child poverty within his lifetime.


“There’s no question we failed,” says Broadbent. “The desire was there for a while. But it didn’t persist, and I have my own theory about that and my own theory is that kids don’t vote. Adults vote.”

IN QUOTES: Hill Harassment Allegations

Justin Trudeau, On Suspending His 2 MPs

"I am aware of how difficult it is for people to come forward. I believe strongly that those of us in positions of authority have a duty to act upon allegations of this nature."

Read his full statement 


Liberal MP Massimo Pacetti's Statement (Nov. 5)

"At 9:30 this morning I was informed by Justin Trudeau, Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, that I have been suspended from caucus, based on allegations against me of 'personal misconduct.'

I have not been provided with the specific details of the allegations that led to this suspension. House Speaker Andrew Scheer has been asked to conduct and independent investigation, which I intend to cooperate fully, and which I am confident will exonerate me.

Until such time, I will sit in the House of Commons as an independent Member, and continue to represent the citizens of my riding of Saint-Léonard/Saint-Michel, which I have represented with integrity and dedication since May 2002."

Liberal MP Scott Andrews' Statement (Nov. 5)

"Today, Judy Foote MP sent a letter to the Speaker of the House of Commons requesting an independent third-party to investigate an allegation of harassment.

While I understand there is an established process to deal with harassment between Members of Parliament and staff, there is no process to deal with allegations between MPs themselves, and therefore I encourage the Speaker or Board of Internal Economy to establish an appropriate process without delay. I believe that our Parliament needs to be a workplace free of harassment, for both staff and MPs

I intend to fully cooperate with answering any and all questions from an independent third-party investigator. However, it would not be appropriate for me to answer questions prior to a non-partisan process being established and being provided with the specifics of the allegation. I am confident such a process will find that no harassment has occurred.


NDP Whip Nycole Turmel, On Her Reaction To Liberal Suspensions

"The persons involved, the alleged victims of this harassment or misconduct, didn’t know that this would be coming. So imagine, they are victims and they are victimized a second time."


NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair, On Why He Didn't Pursue Complaints

"Our No. 1 concern was to make sure that they got the help they needed and that their wishes were respected. Those wishes included a very strong desire to keep this confidential. That was their request and we were not about to override that and make them victims a second time."


NDP MP Craig Scott, On His Allegation Grits Breached Confidentiality

"I attended a meeting with the Liberal Whip at the request of, and in order to help and support, a friend and colleague.

My good faith contribution to this meeting was confidential. This good faith has been breached, and confidentiality deliberately broken in a way that further disrespects and puts pressure on the victim. At the same time, these actions continue to completely ignore the rights of former Liberal MPs.

I got involved to help a colleague, with one cardinal rule: respect the wishes of the victim. For those who still do not understand: one must respect victims rights, whether the issue is civil, criminal or disciplinary. Unlike others, I do not believe there is any virtue, let alone an ethical duty, to act contrary to victims' wishes.

For Liberal backroom operators to claim that somehow I am responsible for Justin Trudeau's decision is simply laughable.

I will therefore not dignify this spin with any further comments."

Senator Larry Campbell, On Why Alleged Victims Must Speak Up

"As far as I'm concerned, right now we have nothing more than a smear here.

NDP MP Breaks Silence To HuffPost
In an interview with The Huffington Post Canada, one of the alleged victims shed some on the allegations that may have gotten Pacetti booted from the Liberal caucus.

The MP, who was not named in the story, said she and Pacetti had sex "without explicit consent" that hurt. She later complained directly to Trudeau.

Sources Shed Light On Andrews Allegations
Sources also spoke with The Canadian Press about the accusations surrounding Andrews, who spent time socially with the other alleged NDP victim.

From the story: "According to sources, the woman alleges that Andrews followed her home, forced his way through her door, pushed her against a wall, groped her and ground his pelvis against her. She ordered him to leave. He did.

Afterwards, sources say the woman alleges that Andrews repeatedly verbally harassed her, calling her a 'c-kteaser.'"

Andrews' lawyer denied the MP behaved improperly.

Pacetti Responds With Statement (Nov. 25)
"I am troubled that the complainant chose to air these allegations in the media as this is inconsistent with statements conveyed through her party that privacy and fairness must be respected for both sides," the statement continued.

As with media reports of this nature, in this instance many questions remain unanswered and there is no way to evaluate the veracity of the claims being made. If need be, this matter should go through a confidential process mediated by an independent third party as was proposed by the Speaker of the House of Commons. Canadian standards of fairness and the presumption of innocence can then be maintained to arrive at the truth.

I reaffirm my innocence and I will not comment on this matter in the media any further."

Tory MP, On 'Consorting Without Protection'

After the NDP MP's interviews, Tory MP Peter Goldring sent an eyebrow-raising press release warning MPs about the dangers of "consorting without protection." He later retracted the statement below and apologized.

"It will not be good enough to simply say that your intentions were honourable and you were just inviting a colleague to your apartment at two in the morning to play a game of Scrabble at the end of a day of playing sports and drinking. MPs must learn, as I have from encounters with authority figures in the past, that all do not tell the truth. I now wear ‘protection’ in the form of body-worn video recording equipment. I suggest that others do so too, particularly because some accusers hide behind a shield of supposed credibility which many times is not,  and sometimes even hide behind a cloak of anonymity, which conceals their shameful indiscretion and complicity."

What is Tory MP Peter Goldring talking about?

8 Facts About Tailings Ponds

Source: Pembina Institute

Alberta's Oil Sands Tailings

Tailings Ponds - Oil Sands Today 

Oilsands 101: Tailings | Oilsands | Pembina Institute 


Tailings are a waste byproduct from the oilsands extraction processes used in mining operations.Tailings consist of a mix of water, sand, silt, clay, contaminants and unrecovered hydrocarbons and are toxic.

Syncrude's Tailings Dam near Fort McMurray, Alberta is one of the largest dam in the world.

Duck Deaths
There have been at least 2,150 deaths of ducks related to tailings ponds in Alberta.

Bird deaths reported on Alberta oil sands tailing ponds


There are currently more than 170 square kilometres of tailings ponds in Alberta. Even when tailings ponds covered 50 square kilometers they were big enough to be seen from space.

Tailings management remains one of the most difficult environmental challenges for the oil sands mining sector.

Tailings are stored indefinitely in open lakes that cover an area approximately 50 per cent larger than the city of Vancouver.

Tailings lakes increase in volume at a rate that would fill the Toronto Skydome on a daily basis.

Tailings lakes seep. The exact amount of seepage is either not known or has not been made public.

Highlights: Auditor General's Fall 2014 Report

Auditor General Michael Ferguson's 2014 fall report points to big issues with Veterans Affairs Canada, National Defence, Library and Archives Canada and other government departments.

Read the full report:

2014 Fall Report of the Auditor General of Canada


Here are the highlights from The Canadian Press.

Veterans Affairs Failing Vets
Veterans Affairs is not providing veterans with timely access to mental health services; the disability benefits program has a complex and time-consuming application process and some vets are forced to wait as long as eight months to find out if they can receive benefits.

Many veterans must endure long delays in obtaining medical and service records from National Defence and long wait times for mental health assessments.

Nutrition North Not Working
The Nutrition North program, which subsidizes the high cost of healthy food in northern communities, does not properly distribute subsidies or ensure savings are properly passed on to consumers.

Nutrition North, which was intended to foster healthy eating, also subsidizes foods of dubious health value, such as ice cream, bacon and processed cheese spread.

No Way to Know How Automakers Benefitted From Loans
It's impossible to fully assess the effectiveness of $13.9 billion in loans Canada and Ontario provided to Chrysler and GM's Canadian subsidiaries in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis due to a lack of comprehensive reporting to Parliament.

Massive Departmental Records Backlog
Library and Archives Canada doesn't know which departmental records should either be disposed of or archived, and has a backlog of 98,000 boxes of material waiting to be archived -- some of it dating back to 1890 -- with no plan for how to deal with it.

Sex Offender Registry May Be Incomplete
Canada's national sex offender registry may not include some Canadians convicted of crimes abroad because the RCMP doesn't have access to Foreign Affairs information on convicts released from prisons in other countries.

Water Purifiers Produced Less Than Expected
Canada's reverse-osmosis water purifiers, long a marquee element of the Canadian military's disaster relief efforts, produced only 65 per cent of projected output in the wake of last year's Typhoon Haiyan disaster in the Philippines, and only 73 per cent of that was ever distributed.

Military Moving Program Needs Better Oversight
The military's Integrated Relocation Program, which compensates members when their work requires them to move, requires better oversight and review.


Auditor General Michael Ferguson hands down fall report

Auditor general report findings downplayed by Stephen Harper

Nutrition North's impact on northerners uncertain, auditor general says

$15M Library and Archives Canada system never used
Future generations may not be able to enjoy Canada's recorded heritage — including photos, maps and important documents — because Library and Archives Canada is not collecting all of the material it should from federal agencies, the auditor general says.