OTTAWA -- The provinces had better pray for an improved economy if they want more health dollars from Ottawa.
Finance Minister John Manley says they'll get an extra two (b) billion dollars in health-care funding only if the federal budget surplus exceeds three (b) billion.
Manley spelled out the conditions of the most recent federal-provincial health accord during questioning in the Commons.
Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper accused Manley of ``playing peek-a-boo with health dollars'' as he tried to get the minister to commit to spending the extra money.
Manley pointed out the provinces will get the 34.8 (b) billion dollars they were promised when they signed the accord earlier this year.
But the minister added he won't know until January of next year whether more money will be available.
(BN)
Sep 25, 2003 2:42
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OTTAWA -- The Canadian Alliance and Tories haven't even held the wedding but they're talking like an old married couple.
A Tory source calls Alliance emissaries at the negotiating table ``bush league'' amateurs.
Alliance Leader Stephen Harper says talks have hashed out every detail and it's time to make decisions.
That was met almost immediately yesterday by Tory Leader Peter MacKay calling Harper's assertion ``patently false.''
He says there is no report and they are nowhere near conclusion on the matter.
MacKay says he will not be rushed into decision making.
Talks are being handled for the Conservatives by M-P Loyola Hearn, former Ontario premier Bill Davis and former federal cabinet minister Don Mazankowski.
Ray Speaker, a former Reform party M-P, Alliance M-P Scott Reid and Senator Gerry St. Germain are handling the Alliance end of the talks.
(CP)
Source: Broadcast News
Sep 25, 2003 16:19
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Finance Minister John Manley is attaching strings to an additional two (b) billion dollars in health-care funding.
Manley says cheques will only be cut if there's an improvement in the economy -- and Ottawa builds its surplus to more than three (b) billion dollars.
And, that won't be clear until January.
Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper is accusing Manley of ``playing peek-a-boo'' with health-care funding. (14)
(BC-Martin-Visit) (Audio: 105)
Paul Martin is laying out his plans for an improved relationship between Ottawa and B-C.
The prime-minister-in-waiting discussed the changes he wants to make during a speech to mayors in B-C.
Martin called it his ``formal debut.''
He hopes to heal federal-provincial tensions, adding that western alienation is not a myth. (14)
(Martin-Loan)
Industry Minister Allan Rock says opposition critics are resorting to cheap politics.
Rock defended former finance minister Paul Martin in the House of Commons today over a five-(m) million-dollar federal loan.
The loan was given to a company partially owned by Martin, but spokesmen for the Liberal leadership front-runner say Martin wasn't involved in negotiations.
Rock says the loan was a good investment. (14)
(BIZ-Levi-Strauss-Cuts)
A union rep hopes the Ontario and federal governments are paying attention.
Alexandra Dagg of UNITE, a garment workers union, is blaming the closure of three Canadian Levi Strauss plants on a ``failed trade policy.''
Dagg says it's an example of the harm being caused by current global trade strategies.
The closure of two plants in Ontario and one in Alberta will put 12-hundred people out of work. (14)
(US-Weapons Hunt)
The White House says it continues to believe Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction -- and a coming C-I-A report isn't expected to change any minds.
The study by the C-I-A's chief weapons hunter David Kay is due shortly.
Officials say it won't reach any firm conclusions. (14)
(Do Not Call)
It looks like American telemarketers may still have a whole bunch of people they're not supposed to call as of next week.
After a U-S federal judge put plans for a ``do-not-call'' list on hold yesterday -- but the U-S House of Representatives has approved legislation aimed at making sure the list goes into effect.
Lawmakers say the Americans who've put 50 (m) million phone numbers on the registry have made it clear they're tired of unwanted calls at dinnertime. (14)
---
(NewsWatch by Kris McCusker)
VANCOUVER -- Prime-minister-in-waiting Paul Martin says he's going to change the way things work in Ottawa.
He told the Union of B-C Municipalities convention in Vancouver today that what he called his ``formal debut'' in B-C was deliberate.
Over the weekend, Martin won more than 90 per cent of Liberal delegate support for November's leadership convention.
The expected successor to Jean Chretien says he plans a culture shift in the House of Commons to heal federal-provincial tensions.
Martin later told reporters a new tone is being set for government.
He says the country is not going to be run by the federal government attempting to impose its will.
The former finance minister also promised B-C's political leaders municipalities will get a share of the federal gas tax.
But when pressed on the size of that share, Martin would only say it would be a portion, phased in over time.
(BN)
VANCOUVER -- Prime-minister-in-waiting Paul Martin called a Vancouver speech today his ``formal debut.''
He made the comment to a convention of B-C mayors -- his first formal appearance after all but locking up the Liberal leadership race on the weekend.
Martin won the support of more than 90 per cent of delegates to the party's November convention.
He told the mayors that British Columbia alienation is no myth, and that Ottawa needs a better relationship with the province.
Part of Martin's campaign has focused on addressing the West's longtime feelings of being ignored by the federal government.
He repeated his campaign's oft-stated pledge of change and renewal and acknowledged that Canadians may have heard it all before.
Martin also repeated a pledge to provide municipalities with a portion of the federal gas tax, and a new partnership between Ottawa and the country's cities and towns.
(BN,CP)
---
Prime Minister Jean Chretien said Thursday that he's in no hurry to start formally transferring power to Paul Martin and suggested his longtime rival should curb his enthusiasm.
Martin supporters are eager to start plunging into government transition briefing papers now that the Liberal leadership is a foregone conclusion.
But Chretien suggested there's no need for such a head start.
``There is no negotiation of transition,'' Chretien said after a cabinet meeting. ``When the time comes, we'll discuss in a civilized way.''
He used the example of his 1993 election to argue that it's really not all that difficult to prepare to become prime minister.
``I was elected the 25th of October . . . And I was the prime minister the week after, or eight days.
``It's not that complicated. Everybody knows pretty well when you've been in the cabinet for eight, nine or 10 years, you have a pretty good notion of what is a government.''
The comment was aimed at Martin, who will replace Chretien when he retires. The prime minister has set February as his departure date but many Liberals want him out sooner.
Chretien appeared unwilling to bend to Martin on Thursday, refusing to refer to his successor by name and continuing to suggest there will be two candidates at the party's November leadership convention.
Martin won almost 90 per cent of the delegates chosen last weekend for the convention.
INDEX: POLITICS
Source: Broadcast News
Sep 25, 2003 12:32
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OTTAWA -- The prime minister suggests there's no hurry to begin a transition of power to his successor while Sheila Copps remains a candidate for the Liberal leadership.
Jean Chretien says there are no negotiations ongoing with Paul Martin.
Chretien says there are two candidates in the race -- both with several years of cabinet experience who know the workings of government.
He says when the time comes to transfer power, it will be discussed in a civilized way.
He notes he became P-M eight days after an election, and says it's not complicated to be briefed by bureaucrats when assuming the country's top job.
(BN)
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