Ottawa

Canadian conservatives eulogize Margaret Thatcher

Tease the day: Brian Mulroney and Conrad Black heap praise on the Iron Lady

Margaret Thatcher, in fashion at last

Peter Turnley/Corbis

Margaret Thatcher’s photo is everywhere this morning. Anyone who reads a newspaper will know what she looked like in her prime, they’ll know when she was born (1925) and when she died, and they’ll know just how profoundly she effected inspiration among conservatives in Canada. Former prime minister Brian Mulroney pays tribute in The Globe and Mail. Conrad Black pays tribute in the National Post. Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and Treasury Board President Tony Clement, both quoted in the Globe, pay their own tributes. Mulroney proclaimed his love for the Iron Lady. Clement called her a saviour.

Everyone makes clear that Thatcher was hated by many, and most papers point out that there were celebrations in some corners—partying in the streets, even—at the announcement of her death. But there’s no mistaking that she was a living heroine to conservatives in this country. And in the absence of any home-grown idols, she will forever stand tall to those who admire her principle and tenacity.


What’s above the fold this morning?

The Globe and Mail leads with the story behind the Gatineau murder-suicide that “could have been even more tragic.” The National Post fronts Conrad Black’s reflections on former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, who died of a stroke yesterday. The Toronto Star goes above the fold with a lack of information available about a baby in a Toronto hospital erroneously declared dead by hospital officials, who eventually realized their mistake. The Ottawa Citizen leads with the escalating strike measures undertaken by unhappy Canadian diplomats. iPolitics fronts the recurring tax struggles of Liberal Senator Pana Merchant. CBC.ca leads with Canadians’ concerns about dirty hospital rooms. National Newswatch showcases a Canadian Press story about Conservative miscommunication regarding proposed riding boundaries in Saskatchewan.


Stories that will be (mostly) missed

1. Nuclear liability. Greenpeace says the feds hope to make nuclear operators liable for $650 million worth of damage caused by a nuclear incident, a big boost over the current $75 million limit. 2. Military college. A panel of experts is concerned about governance at the Royal Military College. A new report suggests administrators should retain more control over the school’s operations.
3. Consultation. Supporters and opponents of an application to reverse the flow of an Enbridge pipeline must request permission to comment publicly—a move that critics say stifles opposition. 4. Nuclear exports. Canadian companies can now export nuclear material to India for peaceful purposes, the latest move to accelerate nuclear cooperation between the two countries.

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