Poet Jeff Blackman writes: "We would love to take credit for the fact we all share but then we wouldn't, now would we? We would love to take credit for the indelible likeness of Marilyn Monroe and be to blame for all bad things..." READ MORE
Review: Eaton’s & The Alligator
In the days before television, newsreel producers each year assigned cameras to film three visually rich, set-piece spectacles that represented Canada to theatre audiences nationwide: the opening of Parliament, the Calgary Stampede and the Eaton’s Santa Claus parade. One of these is gone. A Mile Of Make Believe recounts with warmth and nostalgia the Christmas extravaganza sponsored by a family-owned corporation once the largest retailer in the country. This is not a dry municipal history. Eaton’s in its heyday sponsored Santa parades from Edmonton to Montréal. Author Steve Penfold, an associate professor at the University of Toronto, has crafted a smart and funny account of a lost piece of Canadiana. READ MORE
“Merry Christmas” Defector
Rookie Conservative MP Michael Ma (Markham-Unionville, Ont.) last night abruptly defected to the government caucus, bidding his newfound Liberal colleagues a "merry Christmas." The floor-crossing was announced as the Commons adjourned for a six-week recess: "Happy holidays and a great 2026." READ MORE
Confirms A Second Post Loan
Canada Post is seeking a second emergency loan from cabinet and will require years to pay back more than a billion already borrowed, CEO Doug Ettinger yesterday told MPs. An initial $1,034,000,000 line of credit approved last January 24 has run out, the Commons government operations committee was told: "We’ve exhausted that." READ MORE
Gov’t Admits $6.6M Mistake
The Department of Health paid out more than $6.6 million in ineligible claims under its Canada Dental Care Plan, records show. It follows disclosure the overall cost of the program is projected to go 50 percent over budget this year: "An error was identified." READ MORE
Missing Art Included Jewelry
Artworks that vanished from a multi-million dollar federal collection included jewelry, records show. The Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations said jewelry disappeared from an unnamed regional office 30 years ago but was only made public now: "Have you contacted police?" READ MORE
Got Raise Under Investigation
Cabinet approved a five-figure pay raise for an appointee under investigation for workplace misconduct, records show. Marie Chapman of Bedford, N.S., CEO of the Museum of Immigration, yesterday was accused of office bullying like referring to employees as “sluts.” READ MORE
Guest Commentary
When I think of my father Chung Fan Siu, I recall his constant struggle with nicotine addiction. He smoked for over 70 years. It is Dad’s life, and his eventual death, that I recall when I speak of the dangers of cigarette smoking. We could have had Dad with us a lot longer than we did, if not for the cigarettes. My mother grew to hate cigarettes. She banned smoking in our home, and Dad would huddle outside to have a cigarette. I remember it was an ongoing battle.
