Sun Media – David Akin, Parliamentary Bureau Chief

WHITEHORSE – Prime Minister Stephen Harper defended Friday his annual Arctic tours, saying they are an exercise in nation building – and a chance for him to have a little fun on the job.

Harper returned to Ottawa Friday night after his annual five-day tour – his fifth as prime minister – that saw him travel this time to the remote communities of Resolute, Nunavut and Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T.

“We’re not going to win or lose an election in the North. This is about nation-building. This is the frontier. This is the place that defines our country,” Harper said in his closing press conference here.

Harper started the week in Churchill, Man., was promptly grounded on his second day because of a hurricane-like storm, and then moved through Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon with reporters in tow, racking up nearly 11,000 kilometres in travel, all of it in military aircraft.

Along the way, he announced the creation of the first-ever marine Arctic protected area and new money to improve airports and housing in the north.

“These are all important things we’re doing – in a region that’s not always easy to live in despite its beauty,” Harper said. “It is a vast effort.”

Harper, who has a personal, emotional connection to the North, also had a little fun along the way.

He toured museums and historical sites, he joined some Inuvialuit in Inuvik for a ceremonial dance, and in Tuktoyaktuk raced up and down the airport runway on an all-terrain vehicle.

“I have fun occasionally,” Harper said here. “And even my mother approves.”

Guelph Mercury – The Canadian Press

OTTAWA — Canada’s auto parts manufacturing sector will continue to lose money this year, but return to profitability in 2011 and the following three years, a new study suggests.

The study was put together by the Conference Board of Canada and the Business Development Bank of Canada. The agencies project the sector will lose $41 million this year but have a $378 million profit in 2011, rising each of the next three years to $894 million in 2014.

Even this year’s loss will be an improvement over 2009 when the auto parts sector lost $674 million during the worst recession in decades.

The industry outlook estimates there will be a dramatic improvement in Canadian employment by auto parts companies.

It forecasts there will 88,800 jobs in the sector in 2010, up from 71,100 last year and the first increase in several years.

The study also looked at a total of six sectors, including furniture, wood and aerospace. For the aerospace industry, profits are forecast to decline by 35 per cent to $269 million this year. The analysis projected that profits will gradually increase to $522 million in 2014.

But the conference board said that signals for demand are heading in the right direction.

“Military spending may be at risk due to the large budget deficits that many countries are now running, but demand for civil aircraft is expected to remain healthy, supported by strong demand in emerging markets and the need for airlines to increase fuel efficiency and cut greenhouse gas and noise emissions.”

Challenges, however, will come from high-speed rail in Europe and China that reduce the need for flying.

In the printing industry, printers are facing technological changes — primarily from the shift to online publication — as well as environmental concerns, which limit the industry’s long-term growth prospects, the study said.

However, industry profitability is expected to grow to $240 million in 2010, compared to last year’s low of $210 million, and profits will increase modestly thereafter.

On Thursday, Peter MacKay, Canada’s Minister of National Defence, announced a major investment in defence infrastructure at Canadian Forces Base Borden.

OTTAWA, CNW Telbec/ – Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo issued the following statement today on the occasion of the Prime Minister’s cabinet shuffle, which sees former Parliamentary Secretary and Member of Parliament for Vancouver Island North John Duncan named the new Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Canada, and Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians.

“The cabinet changes announced today come at a unique time for First Nations and Canada, a time when we see a critical mass of support for change and innovation in the relationship between First Nations and Canada.

First Nations confirmed our direction forward at the AFN’s Annual General Assembly only two weeks ago, and earlier this week we met with provincial and territorial leaders to set a proactive and progressive agenda for the future. First Nations are ready to move, Canadians are ready to move, and we want to work with the federal government to move forward.

I congratulate the Honourable John Duncan on his new assignment and welcome him as the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Canada, and Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians. I am well acquainted with Mr. Duncan. We have worked together in the past and I look forward to working with him in his new role. I extend an invitation for us to meet as soon as possible to begin setting out an agenda aimed at building stronger First Nations and a stronger Canada.

I want to acknowledge the former Minister of Indian Affairs, the Honourable Chuck Strahl and thank him for his hard work and dedication and wish him well as he assumes his new role and responsibilities. We look forward to a continuing, constructive relationship.

First Nations are ready to work together in a spirit of partnership and respect to create a better Canada for all citizens of this land.

Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, National Chief

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says making Parliament work is essential if Canada is to avoid an unnecessary election that would jeopardize our economic recovery.

“The economy remains the number one priority of Canadians and of our Government,” said the Prime Minister. “An unnecessary election is the last thing that Canadians need, that the economy needs, at this time.”

To advance the objective of making Parliament work, the Prime Minister today announced the appointment of one of his most experienced, senior Ministers to the position of Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.  The Honourable John Baird has a mandate to work cooperatively with the other parties and make Parliament function.

“Canadians need Parliament to work so that Canada’s Economic Action Plan is not interrupted,” said the Prime Minister.  “We want to do our part and to work cooperatively with all opposition parties to put the economy first.”

This crucial role is the latest of many in which Minister Baird has served with distinction.  He secured passage of the landmark Federal Accountability Act, served as Minister of the Environment, and most recently, oversaw the implementation of infrastructure stimulus, a vital part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.

Others changes made as part of today’s fine-tuning of the Cabinet are as follows:

• The Honourable Chuck Strahl succeeds Mr. Baird as Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.

• The Honourable John Duncan, of British Columbia, enters the Cabinet by succeeding Mr. Strahl as Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians and Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.

“Minister Strahl will take on his new responsibilities with the same dedication and hard work that he’s shown in his previous portfolios,” said the Prime Minister.  His immediate priority is the ongoing implementation of the infrastructure stimulus component of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.

In announcing the appointment of the newest member of his Cabinet, the Prime Minister noted that “John Duncan’s solid work as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development makes him a natural choice for this important role, allowing him to continue to build on the important work that Chuck Strahl and our Government have done in this area.”

The Prime Minister paid tribute to the former Government House Leader, the Honourable Jay Hill.  Earlier this summer Mr. Hill announced that he will not stand as a candidate at the next general election following 17 years of elected service to his constituents and Canadians.

Mr. Baird was recently named “Parliamentarian of the Year,” an award decided by votes of MPs and Senators from all parties.

9 July 2010;  Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today filled a vacancy in the Senate, announcing the appointment of Salma Ataullahjan.   

“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Salma Ataullahjan to the Senate of Canada,” said Prime Minister Harper.  “A professional, artist, parent and strong activist for the South Asian community in the Greater Toronto Area, Ms. Ataullahjan brings a remarkable dedication and energy to her new role as a Senator for the Province of Ontario.”

Ms. Ataullahjan fills a single vacancy in Ontario.  She has also pledged to support the Government in its efforts to make the Senate more democratic and accountable, including legislation to limit Senate tenure and to allow provinces to elect their Senators.

“In addition to coming from a family of political activists on the Indian Subcontinent, Ms. Ataullahjan’s political and social activism here in Canada has earned her a reputation of one who both stands against violence and stands for peaceful dialogue and consensus building,” said the Prime Minister.  “As our Government continues working to promote safety and security both at home and abroad, I welcome the addition of Ms. Ataullahjan’s skills and experience to the Senate of Canada and look forward to working with her in the months and years ahead.”

The appointment is effective immediately.

CALGARY – Prime Minister Stephen Harper used a hometown speech Saturday night to tout his party’s victories while warning of the potential perils of what he called an “opposition coalition” victory. Read the rest of this entry »

Rob O’Flanagan (roflanagan@guelphmercury.com)

GUELPH — Canadian beef is once again welcome in China, a full seven years after a bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) outbreak in this country closed markets in the country of 1.3 billion, and elsewhere around the world. Read the rest of this entry »

“Our Government is committed to protecting Canada’s youth and children from unscrupulous marketing practices by the tobacco industry. Read the rest of this entry »

“Greetings, fellow Canadians across our country and around the world on this, the 143rd anniversary of Confederation! Read the rest of this entry »