Friday, November 18 saw two pieces of legislation discussed. And the contrast couldn’t have been much more stark between an opposition effort to develop better legislation, and a government focused on nothing more than sticking to talking points regardless of whether they made the slightest sense in context. The Big
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Accidental Deliberations: Parliament in Review: November 4, 2011
Friday, November 4 saw another day of spirited question period debate on the economy. But for once, the main theme was total cooperation – even if much of the day was spent lamenting its absence. The Big Issue The main bill up for debate was the Cons’ legislation dealing with
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Parliament in Review: November 3, 2011
Thursday, November 3 saw another day devoted largely to the Cons’ seat reallocation bill and associated motion to shut down debate. But perhaps more important was a stark set of contrasts on the economy which the Cons now seem to be trying to undo. The Big Issue Peter Julian and
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Parliament in Review: November 2, 2011
Wednesday, November 2 saw the House of Commons debate two bills dealing with democratic reform. And the result was a remarkable gap between the values the Harper Cons presented in justifying their party’s policy orders, and the ones they actually apply in practice. The Big Issue The bill which received
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On reasonable standards
A quick thought on how Canadian pundits may want to evaluate how political parties do their jobs – which looks to be particularly relevant given the entirely justified criticisms being levelled at the Harper Cons. In evaluating how a party handles any given issue, it might be worth taking a
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On logical choices
One might read Kady’s report on the Cons’ efforts to move all committee business in camera – making many of the key actions of our elected representatives completely inaccessible to the public – and ask whether it wouldn’t be easier to simply duct-tape the mouths of all MPs other than
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Monday Afternoon Links
Miscellaneous material for your Monday reading. – With prorogation looking like it’s bound to be back on the table fairly shortly, Lori Turnbull offers a worthwhile suggestion to end the Cons’ abuses: The 2012 prorogation would be substantively different. First, there is no obvious political land mine to avoid. Second,
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Like that’ll work
Sure, a reasonable government would have some shame over its obvious doctoring of Hansard. But isn’t the most likely outcome of the NDP’s new complaint for Clement’s departmental officials to formally certify that no such committee hearing ever took place? Update: Or that would make sense too – particularly if
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Parliament In Review: October 27, 2011
Thursday, October 27 saw the House of Commons discuss the gun registry – and if the Cons’ choices to not just dismantle the federal long gun registry but also shred the evidence weren’t problematic enough, the debate also featured the Cons’ closure motion. The Big Issue Once again, that motion
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Monday Afternoon Links
Miscellaneous material for your Monday reading. – Barrie McKenna thoroughly debunks the claim that “financial literacy” alone is enough to put ordinary citizens on a level playing field with the financial industry: Looking to financial literacy to fill the void is like asking ordinary Canadians to be their own brain
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Parliament In Review: October 26, 2011
Wednesday, October 26 saw a rare opportunity for the opposition parties to set the agenda. And as a result, the big issue was one which the Cons prefer to discuss as little as possible – even if it’s far more relevant to more Canadians than most of the Harper government’s
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Friday Morning Links
Assorted content to end your week. – Charlie Angus’ concerns about the Cons’ Albany Club schmoozing nicely parallel my take on the entire lobbying apparatus they’ve built up: Mr. Angus said the Albany Club reception is an example of the kind of informal lobbying, through cozy relationships, that has grown
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Sunday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading.- Rick Salutin nicely describes what’s behind the “charity” model of top-end wish fulfillment that the Cons are pitching in place of actual social programs:The Old Philanthropy, aside from a few big foundations…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Saturday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading.- Dan Gardner highlights how Stephen Harper is imposing exactly the kind of costly, top-down policies on Canada’s provinces that he once railed against:This week, at least five provincial governments, starting …
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Parliament In Review: October 20, 2011
The main topic of debate on Thursday, October 20 was the Canadian Wheat Board – with extensive discussion in Parliament of both the Cons’ steps to shut down debate, and the substance of what should happen with the Wheat Board.The Big IssueThe passage o…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Wednesday Afternoon Links
Assorted content for your afternoon reading.- Jim Stanford highlights the Cons’ thoroughly imbalanced view of labour disputes by pointing out that their concern for the economy has been limited to action by workers rather than employers:When employers …
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On diversions
It should come as no surprise that the Globe and Mail’s ongoing paean to high-end charitable tax breaks is apparently linked to a request from the Harper Cons. But perhaps more noteworthy is the fact that the Cons are commandeering the agenda of the Ho…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Saturday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading.- Marc Lee reminds us that income disparities are only a small part of the picture of an increasingly unequal economy – with wealth inequality looking far worse:These numbers are striking, with 58% of wealth in…
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: 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…
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