National News

OTTAWA — Industry Minister Tony Clement’s office directed bureaucrats to “scrutinize activities” of major tourism events up for stimulus funding, just two weeks after Toronto’s Gay Pride festival received a federal grant.

QUEBEC CITY — The controversial spoken-word marathon on Quebec City’s Plains of Abraham that came to a close Sunday afternoon was a resounding success, say event organizers.

OTTAWA — Consider the week ahead in Parliament a trailer to the fall blockbuster that’s about to be released, a sort of loud, tense collection of soundbytes competing for the public’s attention and affection.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is vowing not to form any coalition with the NDP or Bloc Quebecois — a move aimed at reassuring voters wary of another opposition pact as an election looms.

The federal government doesn’t yet have a long-term maintenance contract for its new air force transport planes because it’s balking at the high costs and arguing about benefits to Canadian industry.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says Ottawa will run deficits for two years longer than originally forecast and the country will be in the red at least until 2015.As well, he said the deficit for this year will be over $5 billion more than originally thought, moving up to a projected $55.9 billion from $50.2 billion.

One party’s hand grenade may be another party’s rocket booster.Government opponents worked themselves into a lather Thursday over Stephen Harper’s closed-door pitch for a majority mandate, but others suggest his recent appeal to partisans was no gaffe, but rather a sneak preview of Conservative campaign messaging.

Stephen Harper’s behind-closed-door musings about winning a majority, stamping out separatists and socialists, and keeping liberals out of the courts prove he’s two-faced, his rivals say.

Five Canadians were among the passengers caught up in a bizarre hijacking in Mexico.

MONTREAL — Economic woes are pushing more Canadians to the edge, suicide prevention groups say as they try to raise awareness of the problem on Thursday’s World Suicide Prevention Day.