Stephen Harper himself would tell you he’s a prime example of policy over pizzazz. And after Canadians gave his Conservatives a minority government on Jan. 23, he’s about to become a prime ministerial example of policy over pizzazz. "My strengths are not spin or passion, you know that," the 46-year-old politician repeatedly said in the closing weeks of the general election campaign. "I believe it’s better to light one candle than to promise a million light bulbs." But (...)

Liberal Leader Paul Martin announced early Tuesday morning that he will step down as leader, after Canadians elected a Tory minority government and ended a 12-year reign of Liberal rule. Martin said he will continue representing his Quebec riding but added he "will not take our party into another election as leader." Martin’s announcement came as Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, who will become Canada’s next prime minister, led the Tories to victory. The Conservatives are (...)

Prime Minister Paul Martin said he felt "great" while voting in Montreal on Monday as polls opened across the country for the federal election. Martin appeared tense as he arrived at a polling station in his Montreal riding of Lasalle-Émard. His wife Sheila at his side, Martin said, "I feel great. I feel great." Polling stations across Canada will be open for 12 hours and closing times vary from region to region. NDP Leader Jack Layton and wife Olivia Chow, also running for the NDP (...)

Voters in British Columbia can make a "critical difference" in stopping Conservative Leader Stephen Harper from winning Monday’s federal election, Liberal Leader Paul Martin said. During a stop in Richmond, B.C., on Sunday, he said while the Liberals are doing well in Ontario and Atlantic Canada, it’s a three-way fight in British Columbia between his party, the Conservatives and the New Democrats. Liberal Leader Paul Martin greets supporters during a rally in Richmond, B.C. on (...)

Daniel Igali, a Nigerian immigrant and professional wrestler, is among a number of graduates that have been nominated and granted accomplishment awards by Simon Fraser University’s alumni association. Daniel has represented Canada in many international competitions. He recently participated in the BC provincial election as a candidate of the province’s Liberal party. At a gala event Feb. 21 at the Four Seasons hotel in Vancouver, SFU and the Alumni Association will celebrate (...)

By Stuart Colcleugh. Panther Kuol fled war-torn Sudan as a boy and spent 13 years in a Kenyan refugee camp before becoming an SFU student this fall through the World University Service of Canada student refugee program. Panther Kuol prefers not to dwell on his past. And that’s understandable, considering the almost inconceivable path he travelled before becoming an SFU undergraduate student this fall, sponsored by World University Service of Canada’s (WUSC) student refugee (...)

This election campaign is now deeply personal, Canada’s main party leaders made clear in their TV debate last night, trading jabs over values, rights, ethics and national identity. Prime Minister Paul Martin, 67, fighting from a faltering position in the polls, took his best shots at Stephen Harper last night. But the Conservative leader, smiling and calm, repeatedly took aim at Martin’s Liberals as tired, corrupt and past their best-before date. Martin lobbed a surprise (...)

HOCKEY Canada beat Russia 5-0 last Thursday to give the Great White North its first world juniors gold medal repeat since ’96-’97. The Canadians came out blasting in front of the Vancouver crowd, but the Russians weren’t backing down. The heavy-hitting, emotionally-charged play of both teams started with the first drop of the puck and didn’t stop until the last whistle. Canada’s Steve Downie opened the scoring and Blake Comeau added another before the end of (...)

Ontario’s government has announced a fundamental shift in the way it plans to bring to justice the worst culprits responsible for gun violence. The government will create three high-security courts to house the trials, and three judges will be appointed to deal with gang cases - often the most challenging prosecutions because of intimidation and the difficulty in gathering evidence. Acknowledging that the provincial legal system has to adapt to the growing street violence, Premier (...)

CSFDarfur is officially working in partnership with Oxfam Canada. Robert Fox, Executive Director for Oxfam Canada, has said that Oxfam has set up a fund called the "Canadian Students Darfur Appeal". For receipting purposes cheques or payments must be made payable to Oxfam Canada, while for tracking purposes the name Canadian Students Darfur Appeal must appear on the cheque or payment. Donations made over the phones must also designate the Canadian Students Darfur Appeal. All donations (...)