Tease the day: Tories protect lakes in their own backyards

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CP/Sean Kilpatrick

Every so often, a data journalist comes up with a story that, without requiring anonymous sources or leaked documents, still manages to capture the attention of the national agenda. Recall the work of Glen McGregor and Stephen Maher, they ofMcMaher robocalls fame, a few years ago when the federal government was doling out stimulus funding to thousands of projects across Canada. The reporters found the money disproportionately ended up in Conservative ridings, which fuelled opposition fury about perceived pork barrelling. McGregors at it again today, reporting that 90 percent of lakes protected by the amended Navigation Protection Act sit in Conservative-held ridings, including a dozen in Treasury Board President Tony Clements riding. Thats the same riding where millions of dollars were spent in advance of the 2010 G8 summit to refurbish, among other municipal infrastructure, gazebos. Will McGregors latest data work catch the attention of the opposition? Were curious what NDP MP Megan Leslie will ask the government when she stands in Question Period today.

The Globe and Mailleads with Hurricane Sandys disastrous impact on New York City. So does the National Post. So does the Toronto Star. So doesthe Ottawa Citizen, which headlined the mayhem left in Sandys wake. iPoliticsfronts Canadas modest gainsin a think tanks economic index. National Newswatch leads with TheGlobe and Mails story about incumbent parties likely winning three upcoming federal byelections.

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Tease the day: Tories protect lakes in their own backyards