Did You Know...? - Edition 6

August 28, 2009

That…The Speaker of the House of Commons and the Members of the Board of Internal Economy are pleased to announce a new House of Commons Emblem (above right). Approved by the Chief Herald of Canada, the House of Commons Emblem combines the House of Commons mace with the Shield of Canada. The House of Commons mace is the ultimate symbol of the authority of the Speaker and the House of Commons. It is placed on the Table by the Sergeant-at-Arms before every sitting. The Shield of Canada, which is the central component of the Royal Arms of Canada, incorporates the royal symbols of Great Britain and France (the three lions of England, the lion of Scotland, the Irish harp of Tara and the fleurs-de-lis of France). On the bottom portion of the Shield is a sprig of three maple leaves representative of Canadians of all origins.

That… Even with the Opposition’s talk of an impending Fall election, the Government of Canada remains focused on the economy.  We are working hard implementing our Economic Action Plan, which focuses on economic recovery.  It would be irresponsible to interrupt work on the economy with an unnecessary election and we are pleased that Michael Ignatieff agrees.
   
That… There have been some changes to the look of the Permanent Resident (PR) Card. The new cards began circulating August 24, 2009. New permanent residents will automatically receive the new card as part of the immigration process.  Current permanent residents will receive a new card only when their existing card expires. In the meantime, their existing card is still valid. It is common to change secure identification documents like the PR Card periodically to reduce the risk of counterfeit, forgery and fraud. Technology is continuously evolving, and it is important that our standards are updated to address these changes. This new card will help ensure that the Government of Canada meets its commitment to safe, secure and current identity documents. The new card contains security features that comply with international standards for travel documents.

That…  Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced on August 28th, 2009 his intention to appoint Manitoba Premier Gary Doer as the next Canadian Ambassador to the United States of America. Mr. Doer will assume the position of Ambassador following the presentation of his credentials to President Barack Obama. Mr. Doer will succeed Michael Wilson, who has served as Canadian Ambassador to the United States since 2006.

That… A news story is inaccurately reporting that the PMO entered into an oral contract with Ari Fleischer.  The Prime Minister’s Office does not enter into oral contracts, and the Fleischer contract is documented, complied with all rules, with its details publicly available. In this case, because the services were required on very short notice, they were retained before that written contract was in place.  In extraordinary situations, this is not unusual and it fully complies with the rules. It is also interesting to note that the former Liberal government had retained the services of James Carville, Bill Clinton's chief strategist, and Jean-Michel Pichet, a John Kerry advisor.