Globe and Mail: Critics blast Clement's absence

[tuvor]

BILL CURRY

From Tuesday's Globe and Mail

August 26, 2008 at 7:28 AM EDT

OTTAWA — Canada's Health Minister Tony Clement is in Denver this week to take in Barack Obama's coronation at the Democratic National Convention, leaving his officials in Ottawa to manage one of the largest food recalls in Canadian history.

Mr. Clement made his first public comments Sunday on the growing outbreak of listeriosis, but by yesterday Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz was back as the lead point man for the Conservative government.

Further, Mr. Clement's office told The Globe and Mail yesterday that the Health Minister was not notified about the listeriosis outbreak until Aug. 19 - three days after Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials recommended to Health Canada officials that a recall take place.

It was on Aug. 19 that Mr. Clement's political staff sent him an e-mail notifying him that his department had been dealing with a listeriosis outbreak and that he should be briefed.

...

"I continue to be available all hours of the day and night," said Mr. Clement in a phone call from Denver, where he is one of three Conservative ministers at the event, along with government House Leader Peter Van Loan and Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon. "This is a very important convention where there is a chance that the next president of the United States will be nominated."

...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080826.wmeatticktock26/BNStory/National/home

[Caradoc]

1. But Tony...

...who says you're going to still be Health Minister, or even an MP, at that point?

[Spazito]

2. I am SURE Tony is hopin' and prayin' Obama is elected!

:sarcasm: just in case it's needed.

[CHIMO]

3. Oil Is More Important Than People

Especially when the people are Canadians.

Canada to sell Obama, McCain on tar sands

DENVER–The Canadian government is embarking on an aggressive sales campaign with the White House candidates to counter the "dirty oil" label that U.S. environmentalists and some politicians are tagging on Canadian exports.

As part of the campaign to promote Canada's oil sands industry as well as the Conservatives' environmental climate change plan within the Democrat and Republican camps, a pivotal meeting takes place today here.

Senior Canadian government and oil industry officials will hold a breakfast meeting with Barack Obama's top energy adviser Jason Grumet, the Star has learned.

Tony Clement, chair of the Conservatives' cabinet committee on environment and energy security, will lead the discussion today that he says is part of a strategy to "re-engage" the U.S. on environment and energy security issues.

http://www.thestar.com/News/USElection/article/486056