Destroying the records out of spite
The bill to scrap the long-gun registry is now on the table, and within it is a clause to destroy any of the existing records. And yes, it is partially…
Dale Smith
QP: Today’s back-up Baird
It was curious to see just what the NDP would leadoff Question Period with, with so many issues of the day. Would it be the long-gun registry? Would it be…
Hypothetical future solutions to hypothetical problems
Don’t worry about the problem of the F-35s being unable to communicate in the Arctic. The Canadian Space Agency should have a new satellite system in place to take care…
QP: A bit of unnecessary repetition
Without either Harper or Baird in the House, one might have expected a somewhat more sedate Question Period, but that wasn’t necessarily the case. Restless may have been a better…
A $5 million sop
Who ever would have guessed that there would be even more concerns about the proposed new “Office of Religious Freedoms” that the government is planning on building within the Department…
Portrait of the wrong queen
Remember that whole issue about ensuring that the Queen’s portrait is hung in our embassies? It seems like that may have been touched off when John Baird was offended that…
It doesn’t get better for Pride funding
Given that the Conservatives have apparently seen the light when it comes to standing up for the rights of queer Canadians, what with their It Gets Better video and all,…
Such a pressing issue
Because it’s an issue of such national importance that it needs to be passed immediately, the Conservatives have invoked time allocation on . . . the bill to kill the…
Hollow sentiments that It Gets Better
In the spirit of Jamie Hubley and trying to make a difference, a gay former Conservative staffer put together an It Gets Better video that features a number of Conservative…
QP: That’s not what your critic said
Yesterday’s announcement on shipyards was top of mind for the NDP as Nycole Turmel kicked off Question Period by wondering why the final $2 billion contract was not yet announced,…
Contradictory reactions
On a crazy, busy day on the Hill, the long-awaited announcement on shipyard contracts was revealed: Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax won the $25 billion contract to build new combat vessels…
QP: Biting off one’s own testicles
Question period kicked off with Nycole Turmel changing up her usual economic jumping-off point and asking instead about the dismantling of the Canadian Wheat Board. Harper assured her that farmers…
Shortchanging Ontario (and Alberta and BC)
Stephen Harper is due to announce his new formula for seat redistribution in the House of Commons, and lo and behold Ontario is due to remain under-represented. While it was…
QP: Just "occupying" the House
Nycole Turmel has decided that the “occupy” narrative is working for her, and kept it up during Question Period today, asking about the growing inequality and won’t the Prime Minister…
Occupying a gaffe
Playing up on the whole “occupy” movement as she did during QP yesterday, NDP Interim leader Nycole Turmel went on Power & Politics last night to suggest that Canada look…
QP: Appropriating the "occupy" narrative
The first Question Period after a constituency week can be a bit sleepy, and today was no exception to the rule. Nycole Turmel kicked off by asking how Lisa Raitt…
Moderate appointments
Word has it that Stephen Harper will be announcing the appointment of Justices Andromache Karakatsanis and Michael J. Moldaver to the Supreme Court of Canada, each to appear before an…
Totally not ideological cuts
The Canadian Environmental Network has had to close its doors after losing its government funding. Try to look surprised. Also, cuts are coming to Veterans Affairs, and cut the funding…
Mindful of the importance of process
CBC radio’s The Current had an interview yesterday afternoon that every single person in this country needs to stop and listen to. And yes, I’m being totally serious. They spoke…
Strike averted – for now
Thanks to Lisa Raitt’s intervention with the Canada Industrial Relations Board, that Air Canada flight attendants’ strike has been averted for the time being. Long enough to get back-to-work legislation…