Author: Senator McCoy

Today the sponsor of a government bill in the Senate called for amendments right away, notwithstanding the Minister’s position on the bill.  Now that’s new … radical even. For years, all I’ve heard is speeches written by who knows who in a Minister’s office or, worse yet, the Prime Minister’s office.  Senators seemingly in thrall to their political friends down the hall used to solemnly read, word for word, whatever was handed to them.  And then they’d most often fight off all attempts to improve a bill, even if the suggested amendments were innocuous in the extreme.   All that mattered was the party line. 
 
Not any more.  Senator Larry Campbell (BC) got to his feet a couple of hours ago to ask us to support Bill C-7, giving the RCMP the right to have a union.  But … and here’s the twist … he also said the bill was greatly flawed.  As written, it would bar the RCMP from negotiating what is normally included at the bargaining table of nearly every other union in Canada.  He therefore urged us all to rewrite the bill to give the RCMP full bargaining powers, because it’s only fair to do so. 
 
Senator Campbell concluded his speech by saying “it’s wonderful to be independent to introduce a bill and then to be able to actually talk about it!”   Amen to that!  May it continue forever.

Today the sponsor of a government bill in the Senate called for amendments right away, notwithstanding the Minister’s position on the bill.  Now that’s new … radical even. For years, all I’ve heard is speeches written by who knows who in a Minister’s office or, worse yet, the Prime Minister’s

Today the sponsor of a government bill in the Senate called for amendments right away, notwithstanding the Minister’s position on the bill.  Now that’s new … radical even. For years, all I’ve heard is speeches written by who knows who in a Minis…

I had a very interesting conversation with a friend yesterday.  He was asking for advice on how to approach the Senate now that he needs to convince more than just 2 political leaders to support his members’ issues.  Then he said &ldquo…

I had a very interesting conversation with a friend yesterday.  He was asking for advice on how to approach the Senate now that he needs to convince more than just 2 political leaders to support his members’ issues.  Then he said “many of my PR pals are equally puzzled.” So

I had a very interesting conversation with a friend yesterday.  He was asking for advice on how to approach the Senate now that he needs to convince more than just 2 political leaders to support his members’ issues.  Then he said &ldquo…

Canadians have little patience with partisan politics in the Senate or anywhere else – or so says a recent national survey I commissioned by Nik Nanos.  It’s likely no surprise that Canadians want to see Senators conduct themselves differently, given recent audit findings and headline grabbing legal battles – and

Canadians have little patience with partisan politics in the Senate or anywhere else – or so says a recent national survey I commissioned by Nik Nanos.  It’s likely no surprise that Canadians want to see Senators conduct themselves dif…

Canadians have little patience with partisan politics in the Senate or anywhere else – or so says a recent national survey I commissioned by Nik Nanos.  It’s likely no surprise that Canadians want to see Senators conduct themselves dif…

One of the best lines in last week’s debates was delivered on Tuesday by Senator Batters (MB).  In the midst of severely criticizing Prime Minister Trudeau’s promise to appoint non-partisan senators, claiming we’ll still end up with liberals, she said “Could it be, honourable senators, that sunny ways are giving

One of the best lines in last week’s debates was delivered on Tuesday by Senator Batters (MB).  In the midst of severely criticizing Prime Minister Trudeau’s promise to appoint non-partisan senators, claiming we’ll still end up w…

One of the best lines in last week’s debates was delivered on Tuesday by Senator Batters (MB).  In the midst of severely criticizing Prime Minister Trudeau’s promise to appoint non-partisan senators, claiming we’ll still end up w…

Like most progressives, I’m looking forward to the first Throne Speech in a decade that promotes a Canadian agenda based on generosity and hope.  Even the Peace Tower carillon is catching that vibe.  As I sit here typing, she’s playing the Be…

Like most progressives, I’m looking forward to the first Throne Speech in a decade that promotes a Canadian agenda based on generosity and hope.  Even the Peace Tower carillon is catching that vibe.  As I sit here typing, she’s playing the Beatle’s song, Here Comes the Sun. Very fitting!  (Incidentally,

Like most progressives, I’m looking forward to the first Throne Speech in a decade that promotes a Canadian agenda based on generosity and hope.  Even the Peace Tower carillon is catching that vibe.  As I sit here typing, she’s playing the Be…

… and one has to ask: Is this a good thing as far as the Senate goes? Are we back to the way it was, or are we on the threshold of something new?  So far, it’s a bit hard to tell.  We’re getting mixed signals.    
 
First, th…

… and one has to ask: Is this a good thing as far as the Senate goes? Are we back to the way it was, or are we on the threshold of something new?  So far, it’s a bit hard to tell.  We’re getting mixed signals.       First,

… and one has to ask: Is this a good thing as far as the Senate goes? Are we back to the way it was, or are we on the threshold of something new?  So far, it’s a bit hard to tell.  We’re getting mixed signals.    
 
First, th…

The Auditor General report on Senate expenses was tabled today at 2:00pm.  I received a full copy ten minutes later, so I cannot comment on the overall report.  However, the Auditor General had asked me for a response to include in his report with respect to my expenses.  A copy

Tomorrow, the World Cup gets under way in Brazil.  Imagine, if you will, what would happen to all the soccer games if referees were suddenly stripped of their whistles, deprived of their yellow and red cards and told they couldn’t replace their soccer cleats because the budget had dried up.