NATIONAL REPORT

BROADBENT ATTACKS OTTAWA OVER FOOT-DRAGGING ON VOTING REFORM

A veteran New Democrat MP says he plans to take the government to task because it has ignored Parliament’s call to look at changes to the voting system and democratic reforms — hot topics given the ongoing debates about Western alienation and the sponsorship scandal. Ed Broadbent said this week he will send a tersely worded letter this morning to Mauril Belanger, the Liberal minister for democratic reform, chastising him for the government’s failure to act this summer on a report calling for two cross-country committees — one of elected politicians, another of citizens — to look at changes to Canada’s voting system. A parliamentary committee suggested to the government this summer that it should strike the

Federal Immigration Minister Joe Volpe, pictured, had a lot on his plate yesterday following revelations that two separate members of his staff expensed dinners with him at different Ottawa restaurants on the same night earlier this year. Mr. Volpe’s office argues, however, that he really did eat at two different places, arguing it is the only way to fit everything into his busy schedule. “He’s a bit of a grazer,” said spokesman Stephen Heckbert. Opposition critics, however, were sharply critical of Mr. Volpe’s behaviour, saying it sends a bad message to the newcomers to Canada he is supposed to be helping. The comments come after it was revealed that Canadian taxpayers picked up the tab for two dinners for Canada’s Immigration Minister in Ottawa on March 21. The first, contained in the expense account for Earl Provost, Mr. Volpe’s director of parliamentary affairs, was for dinner for eight at Allegro in Ottawa’s Little Italy. The tab two task forces and put them to work by Oct. 1 with an eye to reporting to Parliament by Jan. 30, 2006. “I’m more than mildly ticked off,” Mr. Broadbent told CanWest News Service. “ I’m deeply disappointed that the government hasn’t done what needed to be done over the summer to meet their deadlines.” Mr. Broadbent claimed that Belanger himself agreed to the timelines set by the Commons committee on procedure and House affairs this spring, making the failure to act all the more disappointing. Canada’s voting system, which is modelled on Britain’s Westminster system, has been blamed for low voter turnout, and a lack of regional representation in the House of Commons.

OPPOSITION BLASTS ‘ GRAZER’ VOLPE

FOR DOUBLE DINNER EXPENSES

for the “working dinner with the minister and members of parliament to discuss government business” came to $507.39. The second tab, picked up by Director of Communications Stephen Heckbert, came to $80.14 for dinner for four at Carmello’s Italian restaurant in downtown Ottawa. Mr. Heckbert would not say who the minister met during either dinner. All together, Mr. Volpe and his staff charged $60,316.78 in travel and hospitality expenses during

the period from

March 2 to

June 1. Elizabeth Thompson, CanWest

News Service