OTTAWA – The Conservatives are poised to kill off any chance of a spring election by using the parliamentary calendar to delay a possible non-confidence motion from the Liberals. The Tories have told some of their rivals that they will push back the Liberals’ so-called opposition day – their easiest opportunity to table a non-confidence motion – to June 17. Such a move would leave opposition parties with two options: trigger a rare midsummer election with a national vote July 27 at the earliest, or keep the government alive until later this year.

VANCOUVER — A controversial proposal for sweeping changes in how B.C. elects its provincial government was heading for defeat last night in early returns in the referendum on electoral reform. The proposed changes had support in several ridings across the province but were falling far short of the threshold of 60-per-cent approval required for change.

Not that all men are warmongers, but it’s striking how, in recent years, the most outspoken, out-front, outrageous and out-there peace activists have been women. And older women at that. Is it because, as our baby-making hormones ebb, our anti-war-mones take over? Here in Canada, we have the Raging Grannies, often seen at the front lines of demonstrations against everything from the U.S. attack on Iraq to the globalization of trade that exploits workers, including women and children, around the word.