Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - October 20, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg free press Friday october 20, 2006 Canada a17 slur against Stronach disgusting Mackay accused of referring to my As a dog by Alexander Panetta o Ottawa ? foreign affairs minister Peter Mackay referred to Liberal my Belinda Stronach ? his sex Girlfriend ? As a dog thursday in the House of commons the liberals say. The incident prompted Toronto area Liberal Mark Holland to Lodge a complaint with the com Mons speaker and other liberals expressed Dis gust at the alleged remark. Holland says the foreign minister made the slur while exchanging jeers with the liberals during a debate on the environment. While the government was being peppered with questions about the new clean air plan Holland says a Liberal jokingly asked Mackay about the Impact of pollution on humans and animals what about your dog according to Holland Mackay motioned toward Stronach a vacant seat and replied you already have Mackay staged a Well publicized photo of with a dog on his family a Nova Scotia farm when he and Stronach broke up after her stunning defection to the Liberal party in 2005. Poll of Young adults West displays indifference to National Unity study Calls it apathy not antagonism by Jason Fekete in Halifax on thursday night for a speech to a tory fund Raiser Mackay denied saying anything derogatory about Stronach and suggested that his critics consult Hansard. I made no dog comment Mackay told reporters and blamed the fuss on Liberal partisan politics. Its what its All about. Its a distraction away from their own earlier Holland told reporters outside the com Mons its completely unacceptable to Call a woman a dog and to Point Over to her is completely and he owes Belinda an apology he owes the House an apology he owes women an Stronach was meeting with child poverty groups in Montreal and was not in the House at the time Liberal officials said. She Learned about the alleged incident during her drive Back to Ottawa when she received a number of phone Calls from colleagues. She issued a Brief statement late thursday i am really disappointed that Peter Mackay would say something like one Liberal close to Stronach said she has tried several times to speak with Mackay since their falling out in May 2005, to no Avail. ? Canadian press Calgary ? there a mounting potential for a new spate of Western alienation suggests a new poll of Young adults in the four Western provinces with growing indifference among 18 to 34-year-Olds toward National Unity and Quebec separatism. The poll by the Canada West foundation a Calgary based think tank also found that under-35s in British Columbia Alberta Saskatchewan and Manitoba Only report a moderate interest in Canadian politics. About 60 per cent of 2,000 Young adults polled in those provinces believe elections Don to Deal with important issues. The most striking results relate to the potential for future Western alienation and the importance of Quebec in Canada. About 40 per cent of under-35s said they either firmly believe 11 per cent or Don to care 28.5 per cent if Quebec separates from Canada which the study concludes indicates a sense of apathy or indifference toward National Unity rather than overt antagonism toward while the poll says youths Are fairly confident in the future of National Unity the considerably High level of indifference or negativity toward Quebec a place in confederation suggests future efforts to keep la Belle province in the National fold will be a Tough sell in Western Canada. It is not hard to envisage a scenario in which a Federal government seeking to woo Quebec will come under harsh criticism from the under-35s of Western Canada thus fuelling a new generation of Western discontent the report says. Robert Roach director of research for the Canada West foundation said Many Western canadians Don to understand the preoccupation with Quebec a future place in Canada which could Bode poorly for National Unity in the Western provinces. Its going to continue to be a bit of a slog in Western Canada among younger and older generations Roach said about the National Unity Issue. However nearly 60 per cent of Western Young adults believe Quebec should to separate says the poll of 4,000 Western canadians including 2,000 youths Between the Ages of 18 and 34, and 2,000 residents aged 35 and Over. ? can West news service tossed my Turner ponders greens by Colin Perkel Milton ont. ? rogue my Garth Turner says he a keep ing his options open and not ruling out the possibility of joining the Green party after being booted from the conservative caucus. At a news conference in his Halton Riding in Milton ont., West of Toronto Turner said he has been in touch with Green Leader Elizabeth May but has to weigh his Many options. I a sure i will be speak i a saying who wants going with her Over the next play hockey with me few Days As i will with Turner a former director other people politically of the Sierra Legal defence Turner said. Fund said May phoned him i just need to understand not Long after his banishment How anyone would want to was announced by the party a work with caucus chairman. The general tory caucus he said he will discuss pol endorsed the unanimous vote icy issues with her because to suspend Turner based on he respects her interest what some have called Indis but he has not ruled out other creations on his weblog options including a move to including breaches of caucus the liberals. He a also con secrecy and criticism of his suiting his constituents about government and prime min what his next step should Stephen Harper. Turners departure leaves Turner could not resist the standings in the com using a Canadian analogy to Mons at 124 conservatives describe his situation. 101 liberals 50 bloc sub i a a free agent right now Cois 29 nip and two inde of he said. Pendents. There Are two i be got the big number vacant seats. Ripped off my sweatshirt. I a skating out to Centre ice and ? Canadian press ;