The news from Davos
From the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Stephen Harper delivered his earth-shattering speech about the future direction of the Canadian Economy. Harper told the gathered economic leaders – for…
Dale Smith
Open to giving committees more ‘influence’
As we count down the days before the House comes back, we turn our attention once again to the gross lack of attention that MPs pay to the government spending…
An incremental, piecemeal lumbering monster
And that was the big Crown-First Nations Gathering. Nothing agreed to, no deliverables, no concrete date to meet and follow up in the future, and Harper getting praise because he…
Baird’s curious omissions
John Baird gave a foreign policy speech in London, England, on Monday, and people from across the political spectrum are swooning over how vigorously he’s defending things like gay rights…
The likely uselessness of today’s Gathering
Harper’s big Crown-First Nations Gathering happens today, for as much as he’ll be there (which will be until lunch, at which point he takes off for Davos). And while Harper…
Garrison promises marriage fix
NDP queer issues critic Randall Garrison writes in the Times Colonist that his party will be introducing a bill to fix what they perceive to be the gaps in marriage…
Totally not muzzling the RCMP – really!
Vic Toews denies that he is muzzling the new commissioner of the RCMP, and points to similar practices by Anne McClelland when she was Minister of Public Safety. None of…
Asking Toews’ permission
Remember how every time a question about the RCMP came up in QP, Vic Toews would insist that they’re arm’s length. Except, it seems, if another parliamentarian wants to meet…
Putting the pipeline on ice
Down in the States, President Obama has nixed the Keystone XL pipeline – for now. The company behind it can re-apply using a new route, and it’ll go through the…
Some thoughts on the St-Denis situation
MP Lise St-Denis’ floor crossing last week has me pondering a few things, given some of the statements that have been made, both from her and the NDP. This was…
Innovation without leadership
The premiers have emerged from their meeting in Victoria saying that they want to create an innovation working group, so that we can start harmonising our 13 different healthcare jurisdictions,…
Not a quiet week
Oh, Canadian politics. Did you really have to be so busy while I was on vacation, virtually unplugged and confined to radio silence? And what did I miss? Harper announcing…
The road to meaningful engagement with parties
The other day, I interviewed Liberal Party president hopeful Ron Hartling, who is currently the riding president in Kingston and the Isles. While we were talking about engaging the queer…
Let’s not elect the GG
Amidst the nonsense that the Young Liberals were proposing with severing our ties to the “British Monarchy” as part of their convention resolutions (despite the fact that we have no…
The problem with Senate ‘consultative elections’
In the event that you haven’t heard, Alberta is planning on running another sham Senate “consultation election” to happen in conjunction with their provincial election. They’re encouraged by Harper’s current…
Vacation notice
Hey readers – a bit of bad news. I’m going on vacation for a week, and will be largely without Internet access for the duration. That means no daily roundups,…
A totally helpful dialogue
Oh, look – more sniping between the chief of Attawapiskat and the Minister. Because that’s helpful. Meanwhile, audits are showing that funds for First Nations were being mishandled by the…
Let’s debate science without scientific terms!
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada is backing the call by Conservative MP to re-open the abortion debate – entirely through the back door – by debating on the criminal code…
About that monarchy resolution
Dear Young Liberals, Having looked over your policy resolution about “severing formal ties with the British Crown,” I am overcome with a sense of disbelief because I fear that you…
Value for branding dollars?
The Conservatives spent $2.8 million to promote the Next Phase™ of Canada’s Economic Action Plan™, but for all of that money, they refuse to disclose the effectiveness of the campaign.…