A piece in the Ottawa Citizen starts out reporting that John Baird Ottawa West Nepean MP and now government House leader is reassuring government workers that in trying to control government spending, their jobs won’t be at risk. He then goes on with other sunshine messages that might be considered by a cynical person a laying of groundwork for an election call. As far as the NCC and Gatineau Park go, the Citizen reports:
He expressed delight at the “outstanding job” done by National Capital Commission chief executive Marie Lemay and chair Russell Mills, both Harper government appointees.
“Marie Lemay is just an outstanding public servant. These are two non-partisan individuals who were chosen for their skill and merit.”
Under its current leadership, Baird said the NCC is more open and transparent than it was in the past. “It’s just exciting to see,” he said. “I think it enjoys a lot more popular support than it did five years ago.”
He said the government is keen to pass amendments reintroduced in April to the National Capital Act that legislate many of the policy changes the NCC has already made. The proposed changes will also better protect Gatineau Park and the Greenbelt, which Baird called “two jewels” in the area.
