Monday, October 3 saw another day dedicated largely to debate of the Cons’ anti-refugee bill. The Big IssueAs might be expected after several days of debate, the Cons’ single set of poorly-reasoned talking points was beginning to get stale. And Kevin L…
Continue readingTag: Senate
Accidental Deliberations: Parliament In Review: September 30, 2011
The Harper Conservatives’ choice to talk about everything but the economy continued on September 30, with the day’s debate taken up by the Cons’ anti-refugee bill as well as a first look at the latest incarnation of Senate reform. The Big IssueLet’s gi…
Continue readingDeath By Trolley: Is Obama a Fauxgressive – a Fake Progressive, or Simply a Non-Progressive?
Is Barack Obama a fake progressive (fauxgressive), or simply a non-progressive? 
DeSmogBlog - Clearing the PR Pollution that Clouds Climate Science: Aussie Landholders Lock Gates to Keep Out Coal Seam Gas Industry
IN AUSTRALIA, landholders are responding to the country’s rush to exploit massive reserves of unconventional coal seam gas with a simple but defiant gesture.
They’re locking their gates.
More than 100 environmental and land groups have join…
Accidental Deliberations: Coming soon to a country near you…
Yes, it’s telling that Stephen Harper’s spin on the U.S. debt ceiling crisis is to pretend that the problem has more to do with “the U.S. debt and fiscal situation” than his sister party’s choice to hold the country hostage.But since he’s apparently wi…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading.- Christopher Michael points out the real problem underlying the News of the World’s scandalous demise:The Sun is either clairvoyant at predicting the results of British elections, or instrumental in determining t…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Monday Evening Links
Miscellaneous material for your Monday reading.- Janyce McGregor’s article on the perils of Senate reform is well worth a read in general. But let’s particularly highlight an issue I’ve raised before – if one which is no less glaring in the absence of …
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Saturday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading.- Tabatha Southey eviscerates the Cons’ determination to force Canadians into a state of constant and unregulated online surveillance at their own expense:Bill C-51 seems to indicate a shift. It makes accessing…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading.- Paul Wells is pleased to have received some response about how the Cons claim to be saving money. But it’s worth taking a close look at the substance of that response, and particularly highlighting that one of …
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Wednesday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading.- Adam Radwanski points out how Stephen Harper’s continuing Senate embarrassment figures to play into the NDP’s hands:If Mr. Harper was looking to signal once and for all that he’s abandoned his populi…
Continue readingThe Senate bill is a distraction
The government tabled their revamped Senate reform bill yesterday, complete with a new nine-year term clause and the ability to reappoint a Senator if their term should be interrupted – but only to complete that sole nine-year term. Not…
Continue readingDriving The Porcelain Bus: Harper’s plans for the Senate will create a showdown against the provinces.
Senate showdown looms – thestar.comOn one side, there will be the Conservative government. On the other side will be the opposition parties (or, at least the NDP) and the provinces – many of which would like to abolish the Senate altogether (as the NDP…
Continue readingThey Call Me "Mr. Sinister": If Harper Was Being Serious…
I would be behind him all the way. But, this is just our sovereign lord throwing a temper tantrum. He wants an elected Senate in order to hobble government forever. He wants squabbles between houses to gum up the works of government so nothing ever ge…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: All according to plan
Oh, that poor, unfortunate Stephen Harper. If he could have counted on his party’s Senate majority to allow its own institution to be reformed, he might have faced some pressure to make the composition of the Senate somewhat less out of touch with the …
Continue readingMy take on Senate reform
We need the Senate, but not as it is now. The current Senate is far too inefective, inefficient, and undemocratic. I don’t agree with Stephen Harper much, but I do agree with him when he says the Senate needs to change. What makes something democratic?…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Saturday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading.- Gerald Caplan has a modest suggestion to ensure the Senate doesn’t do any more avoidable harm to Canada’s democracy:That we have no need for a second house of Parliament of any kind is the first proposition h…
Continue readingthe reeves report: On Senate reform, Rae should choose his battles more carefully
For the record, I am still trying to figure out how I think Canada could best tackle the problem of a 19th Century Senate in the 21st Century. I am not convinced that outright abolishing it would be wise, nor am I certain that half-measures like fixed-terms and fixed-seats is the way to go. I … Continue reading »
Driving The Porcelain Bus: Senate protester DePape offered job by Michael Moore
Doc maker Michael Moore backs rogue page over stunt – thestar.com
“For a young person to do that and to do it peacefully, and quietly and with grace, I thought it was a very powerful moment,” Moore told The Canadian Press on Sunday from New York. …
the reeves report: No one can deny DePape the courage of her convictions
That was one way to start a conversation! In a country with an electorate difficult to fire up (livid over raccoon abuse in Toronto, indifferent to Canada’s involvement in Libya, according to the National Post), Senate page Brigette DePape has certainly got people talking, and not only to condemn her actions, or at least the … Continue reading »
Impolitical: Life in the Senate
One of our favourite Senators, Senator Elaine McCoy, is back in the blogosphere after a bit of an absence from her blog, Hullabaloos. Back with some wit on display yesterday as she liveblogged the Throne Speech. Some excerpts and fun insights:
Well he…