PHOTOS: The Senate chamber, empty, as it should be. Below: Stephen Harper, apparently still the de facto leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The Conservative Opposition…
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The Cracked Crystal Ball II: Mr. Coyne’s Flaccid Critique
Andrew Coyne’s latest column starts off with a clear enough statement of how the Harper Government has engaged in tactics which prevent the engines of parliament from holding those in power accountable. Not only was the House of Commons conveniently shuttered, but neither the minister responsible, Lisa Raitt, nor any Canada
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: The Rot Starts At The Top
Regular readers of this space will know that I am no fan of Prime Minister Harper. Yesterday’s revelation that a “boot camp” for new Conservative Senators explicitly told the new Senators that partisan travel was a legitimate expense makes me downright furious. Three former Conservative senators at the heart of
Continue readingCuriosityCat: Federal Court goes to the crux of the voter suppression issue
In today’s decision, the Court summarizes exactly what the issue is, its importance, and the reason why every Canadian of every political party should be concerned by the alleged vote suppression actions in the May 2 2011 election: The court said the case revolves around serious concerns about the integrity
Continue readingCuriosityCat: Premier McGuinty tries a fast one with his questionable budget
Just like Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Dalton McGuinty is cramming major changes into a bloated budget document, hoping to force the NDP into supporting his budget rather than risk another election so soon after the last one. The Premier is trying ramrod substantial changes to the way Ontario runs its
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Andrew Coyne On The Decline Of Parliament Under Harper
Despite his right-wing orientation, there has been unmistakable evidence in the work of Andrew Coyne this past year or so that conveys a clear disenchantment with the Harper regime. Using the sad spectacle of David Wilk’s public humiliation, today in the National Post Coyne offers the re-education of the Kootenay-Columbia
Continue readingsomecanuckchick dot com: Happy Contempt of Parliament Day!
On March 25, 2011, the House of Commons passed a motion of non-confidence by a vote of 156 to 145. And with that, Stephen Harper and his Conservative Cabinet were found to be in contempt of parliament — an unprecedented finding in Canadian and Commonwealth parliamentary history. How to celebrate:
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: And The Contempt Continues
Before Parliament even resumes Cabinet Ministers are issuing decrees to Parliamentary committees:”Industry Minister Tony Clement said Thursday he will ask oil industry refiners, distributors and retailers to appear before a parliamentary committee to e…
Continue readingJacked Up: Contempt = Impeachment
I’m not sure if the severity of this whole contempt thing is resonating with Canadians, but it should. For starters, Harper dismissed the non-confidence vote over contempt as (and I paraphrase) “just a vote in parliament”. Can someone please tell me what should be more important to our Prime Minister,
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