Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading.- Andrew Coyne asks some disturbing questions as to how the federal government is becoming less and less accountable:In other countries, executive power is subject to various checks and balances. Who or …
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Accidental Deliberations: A need for debate
It’s been pointed out elsewhere that the Cons are invoking closure on multiple difference types of legislation in order to ensure that their sweeping changes aren’t subject to proper public debate. And in most cases, their excuse is that the bills have…
Continue readingeaves.ca: As Canada Searches for its Open Government Partnership Commitments: A Proposal
Just before its launch in New York on September 20th, the Canadian Government agreed to be a signatory of the Open Government Partnership (OGP). Composed of over 40 countries the OGP signatories are required to create a list of commitments they promise to implement. Because Canada signed on just before the deadline it has not […]
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Parliament In Review: October 7, 2011
Friday, October 7 was the last day in the House of Commons before the week-long Thanksgiving break. And there was plenty to chew on as MPs left their final mark before heading home.The Big IssueThe main point of debate was once again the economy as the…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Parliament In Review: October 6, 2011
On a personal note, October 6 saw the first question period that I’ll be able to blog about after seeing in person – as well as the first time I’ve heard of question period leading with an event I’ve attended. But the more important development was the…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: A sad commentary indeed
Yes, it probably is a victory for the federal opposition parties to win hearings into the effect of cuts to Veterans Affairs as a result of Con members who failed to show up in time for today’s meeting. But isn’t something fundamentally wrong when any …
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Parliament In Review: October 5, 2011
After the previous day’s relatively non-partisan and specific focus, October 5 saw a return to broad debate on the economy – thanks to both a day of debate on the Cons’ budget bill and a number of queries in question period.The Big IssueUnder the econo…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading.- David Climenhaga responds to the Cons’ union-bashing in the guise of accountability by pointing out who actually exerts disproportionate influence under a cloak of secrecy:(M)aybe the bright light of a freshly c…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Friday Morning Links
Assorted content to end your week.- Both Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page and Interim Auditor General John Wiersema are rightly ripping the Cons for their complete unwillingness to be honest about how they’re wasting public money. But then, the …
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Friday Morning Links
Assorted content to end your week.- Dan Gardner rightly points out that the Cons’ continued efforts to trash our parliamentary institutions now that they have a majority shouldn’t come as any surprise – even if they still demand plenty of outrage:Got t…
Continue readingNorthern Insights / Perceptivity: BC Municipalities already audited
News item, September 29, 2011
“Municipal politicians voted overwhelmingly Thursday to tell the provincial government they don’t want a Municipal Auditor-General’s office…
“The local politicians said they’re already prohibited from running deficits…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Tuesday Afternoon Links
Assorted content for your afternoon consumption.- John Cole points to a study comparing economic choices between psychopaths and stock traders – with even more disturbing results than one might expect:According to a new study at the University of St. G…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Parliament In Review: September 22, 2011
Thursday was another fairly short day of debate in the House of Commons due to the visit by UK Prime Minister David Cameron. But that doesn’t mean there was any lack of perfectly telling content as MPs continued to debate the Cons’ omnibus crime bill.T…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Parliament In Review: September 21, 2011
Despite a typically short sitting day on Wednesday, we nonetheless saw an important preview of how one of the most contentious issues on the Canadian political scene will be dealt with over the next few years.The Big IssueThe main point of discussion w…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, on how the Saskatchewan Party’s actions speak far louder than the pundits’ words as to whether or not there’s a real chance for change in the November election.
For further reading:
– James Wood has nicely covered the Sask Party’s anti-whistleb…
Northern Insights / Perceptivity: We can, but we won’t (2010 post worth revisiting)
I recall voting Liberal in the 2001 provincial election and for years now, I’ve been wondering what led me to that regretful choice. Perhaps, I suffered early onset of age-related intellectual impairment but I prefer to believe there were other causes…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: We regret the error
But “whistleblower protection” and “coverup facilitation” are easily confused, especially when it’s the Saskatchewan Party naming the bill involved.
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Accountability in action
Good of the Harper Cons to be positively outraged that the massive cuts they’ve imposed on Environment Canada might result in cuts to Environment Canada. But who wants to bet they’d have been perfectly happy to see Northern water monitoring slashed if …
Continue readingImpolitical: Not very good, eh
That comment, taken from below, seems about right for this news: “Members of project selection committee Clement chaired received 83 per cent of $50-million G8 fund.” A select committee of nine mayors, reeves and municipal leaders that was chaired by T…
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