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| ==Politics== | ==Politics== | ||
| Kinsella worked as a staffer in opposition leader ]'s office, as a strategy advisor in the Canadian federal ]'s ] "task force", and as chief of staff to federal Public Works minister David Dingwall. | |||
| ⚫ | In his book ''Kicking Ass in Canadian Politics'', Kinsella describes how he cultivates the image of "Liberal attack dog", and the "]" and "Prince of Darkness" of Canadian politics. Kinsella gained national exposure during the 2000 federal election when, acting on a plan devised by Liberal campaign staffer Sophie Galarneau <ref> see Paul Wells article 2001 </ref> , he appeared on television brandishing a toy Barney dinosaur to highlight ]'s creationist beliefs. Kinsella ran as a Liberal candidate in the ] in the ] of ] and lost. | ||
| ⚫ | Kinsella was a vocal supporter of Prime Minister ]. He criticized the Paul Martin Liberal campaign several times in the ], and ]. | ||
| ⚫ | |||
| While a practicing Roman Catholic, he is a member of the board of the Canada Israel Committee.<ref>Canada-Israel Committee (2006). ''''. Retrieved June 30, 2006.</ref> | |||
| ==Gomery Inquiry== | |||
| ⚫ | Kinsella was a vocal supporter of Prime Minister ] |
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| Kinsella's work as a political aide figured in a ]. In ], while working for ], then ], Kinsella wrote a memo to deputy minister Ran Quail recommending that the department place ] in charge of reviewing federal advertising policy. | |||
| <ref>CTV Inc. (2006). ''''. Retrieved July 2, 2006.</ref>. | |||
| In 2006, Guité was convicted of fraud and sentenced to 42 months in prison for misdirecting funds intended for government advertising or sponsorship in Quebec, offences that occurred after Kinsella left government. | |||
| In his report on the scandal, Justice John Gomery noted that the memo was "a highly inappropriate attempt by political staff to interfere in the internal administration" of the department. | |||
| Kinsella was a witness at the ] and frequently mocked Judge Gomery on his web site. | |||
| ===Kinsella and Gomery=== | |||
| Kinsella was, and remains, highly critical of the Gomery Inquiry into the federal sponsorship program. The program came into existence two years after Kinsella left government service, but the former Chretien aide often publicly defended Chretien's role in the affair, and attacked Judge Gomery for alleged bias. After writing to request an opportunity to appear before the inquiry, Kinsella was a witness at the ] and frequently derired Judge Gomery on his web site and in the media. He also successfully sued one of his persistent online critics, blogger ], over a post by Bourrie regarding Kinsella's role in the affair . Kinsella's lawyer argued, "The way in which it was written leaves it to the reader to conclude that Mr. Kinsella was a participant in the kickback scandal and he was not". Bourrie issued an apology and made a payment in settlement: "The manner in which my January 14, 2006 blog entry was worded made it seem that Mr. Kinsella had been a party to illegal conduct when this was clearly not the case. I apologize without reservation to Mr. Kinsella for that error on my part." | |||
| ==Writing== | ==Writing== | ||
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| Kinsella is media columnist for the '']''. In late 2000, he established a ], "Latest Musings".<ref>Warrenkinsella.com (2006). ''''. Retrieved June 30, 2006.</ref> | Kinsella is media columnist for the '']''. In late 2000, he established a ], "Latest Musings".<ref>Warrenkinsella.com (2006). ''''. Retrieved June 30, 2006.</ref> | ||
| ==Legal threats to bloggers== | |||
| In 2004 Kinsella aroused controversy when he threatened legal action against Canadian bloggers who he alleged libelled him. The threatened lawsuits were eventually settled without litigation when most parties involved compromised. Some consider the controversy a pivotal moment in the Canadian blogosphere's coming of age. In January, 2006, he filed a statement of claim for $600,000 against blogger ] over a post by Bourrie regarding Kinsella's role in the Public Works department in the months leading up to the sponsorship scandal. Bourrie issued an apology and paid $1000 of Kinsella's costs.<ref>Ottawa Watch (2006). ''''. Retrieved from Google Cache June 30, 2006.</ref> Kinsella launched a suit against the same blogger in June, 2006. | |||
| ==References== | |||
| <div class="references-small"> | |||
| <references/></div> | |||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 18:40, 2 July 2006
- Warren Kinsella should not be confused with Canadian author W. P. Kinsella.
J. Warren Kinsella, (born August 1960 in Montreal, Quebec), is a Toronto-based Canadian lawyer, author, musician, political consultant, lobbyist and commentator.
Education and Career History
After receiving a bachelor's degree in journalism from Carleton University, Kinsella worked as a reporter at the Ottawa Citizen newspaper. He subsequently earned a law degree from the University of Calgary and was employed by the Bay Street law firm McMillan Binch and by the Navigator lobbying firm. Kinsella is currently part of the Daisy Consulting Group.
Politics
Kinsella worked as a staffer in opposition leader Jean Chrétien's office, as a strategy advisor in the Canadian federal Liberal Party's 1993 election campaign "task force", and as chief of staff to federal Public Works minister David Dingwall. In his book Kicking Ass in Canadian Politics, Kinsella describes how he cultivates the image of "Liberal attack dog", and the "James Carville" and "Prince of Darkness" of Canadian politics. Kinsella gained national exposure during the 2000 federal election when, acting on a plan devised by Liberal campaign staffer Sophie Galarneau , he appeared on television brandishing a toy Barney dinosaur to highlight Stockwell Day's creationist beliefs. Kinsella ran as a Liberal candidate in the 1997 federal election in the riding of North Vancouver and lost.
Kinsella was a vocal supporter of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. He criticized the Paul Martin Liberal campaign several times in the 2004 federal election, and 2006 election.
While a practicing Roman Catholic, he is a member of the board of the Canada Israel Committee.
Gomery Inquiry
Kinsella's work as a political aide figured in a 2004 Canadian sponsorship scandal. In 1995, while working for David Dingwall, then Minister of Public Works, Kinsella wrote a memo to deputy minister Ran Quail recommending that the department place Charles Guité in charge of reviewing federal advertising policy. .
In 2006, Guité was convicted of fraud and sentenced to 42 months in prison for misdirecting funds intended for government advertising or sponsorship in Quebec, offences that occurred after Kinsella left government. In his report on the scandal, Justice John Gomery noted that the memo was "a highly inappropriate attempt by political staff to interfere in the internal administration" of the department. Kinsella was a witness at the Gomery Commission and frequently mocked Judge Gomery on his web site.
Writing
Kinsella has written five books: Unholy Alliances (Lester, 1992); Web of Hate (HarperCollins, 1994); Party Favours (HarperCollins, 1997); Kicking Ass in Canadian Politics (Random House, 2001); Fury's Hour: A (sort-of) Punk-Rock Manifesto (Random House, 2005). Kinsella is media columnist for the National Post. In late 2000, he established a weblog, "Latest Musings".
Legal threats to bloggers
In 2004 Kinsella aroused controversy when he threatened legal action against Canadian bloggers who he alleged libelled him. The threatened lawsuits were eventually settled without litigation when most parties involved compromised. Some consider the controversy a pivotal moment in the Canadian blogosphere's coming of age. In January, 2006, he filed a statement of claim for $600,000 against blogger Mark Bourrie over a post by Bourrie regarding Kinsella's role in the Public Works department in the months leading up to the sponsorship scandal. Bourrie issued an apology and paid $1000 of Kinsella's costs. Kinsella launched a suit against the same blogger in June, 2006.
References
- National Post (date of copyright unknown). Warren Kinsella leaving McMillan Binch for Navigator Ltd (Google Cache). Retrieved from Google Cache Apr 30, 2006.
- Daisy Consulting Group (2006). Daisy?. Retrieved June 30, 2006.
- see Paul Wells article 2001
- Canada-Israel Committee (2006). Board of Directors. Retrieved June 30, 2006.
- CTV Inc. (2006). Guite hand-picked by Liberals, memo shows. Retrieved July 2, 2006.
- Warrenkinsella.com (2006). Latest Musings June 2006. Retrieved June 30, 2006.
- Ottawa Watch (2006). Kinsella v. Bourrie (Google Cache). Retrieved from Google Cache June 30, 2006.