Michael Ignatieff has launched a new website called onProbation.ca.   The site aims to track stimulus spending.  Taking inspiration from Obama's Recovery.gov site, information is presented in attractive, easy-to-read graphics that tell another side of the story that the Canadian government's been broadcasting. 

Although it's clearly partisan, the site will likely be welcomed by anyone wanting to know the state of play as our nation's stimulus package rolls out.  Currently, most of the information is of a macro-economic nature and somewhat dated since it relies on publicly available data.  It also doesn't address all aspects of the stimulus package, no doubt because relevant data sets are not easily accessible.  Still, this is an excellent start if for no other reason than that it challenges the virtual monopoly government spin-masters have enjoyed in terms of putting their own interpretation on various factoids.  If Liberal staffers can manage to keep new information flowing on a real-time basis, onProbation.ca's contribution to a healthy debate among Canadians will be valuable indeed.

hmmm, while this is less partisan than the con. site, there seems to be little new information....Hopefully that is b/c there is not a lot info to give since the budget just passed and money is not really flowing yet.

It's a pretty site, and draws me in.  However, it really only tells me what I think I've heard the Liberals trying to say before (especially the graphs about spending in Con ridings and surpluses during the Chretien / Martin era).  The most useful graphs, as far as I could see, are comparisons with the US (e.g., job losses and research spending).  They really crystallize the message that the Libs have been repeating.  Does it track spending?  Not really, but maybe it will over time.

hmmm, while this is less partisan than the con. site, there seems to be little new information....Hopefully that is b/c there is not a lot info to give since the budget just passed and money is not really flowing yet.