RIP Father Raymond Gravel, Progressive Catholic Priest
Sad news via CBC News: “Father Raymond Gravel, a well-known Catholic priest, an advocate for Quebec sovereignty and a social activist, has died. “He served one term as the Bloc…
bloc quebecois
Blogosphere heaves sigh of relief: ‘Canada’s Worst MP’ Rob Anders is back, for now anyway
Rob Anders in his second most famous pose, the most famous with his eyes open, with 4.5-litre hat plus circa-.45 revolver. Mr. Anders is thought to be Canada’s Worst MP…
Chopping Bloc
The good news for the Bloc is that there’s now a bit more elbow room in the back of the caucus car: Maria Mourani, Member of Parliament for the federal…
ANALYSIS: The Slow Decline of The Liberal Party of Canada
By Joe Fantauzzi @jjfantauzzi The electoral fortunes of the Liberal Party of Canada, once routinely referred to as Canada’s “Natural Governing Party” have been in precipitous decline for nearly a…
Despite neocon flameout distraction, Redford Tory bumbling dominates Alberta news
Neocon Icarus Tom Flanagan (appropriately covered, thank goodness) at right, falls to earth after flying too close to the sun. Preston Manning hovers nearby. The flameout of actual neoconservative avatars…
Whipped Votes, Floor Crossing, and the Perils of Party Discipline
In Ottawa’s latest uptick of political drama, NDP leader Thomas Mulcair called on MP Claude Patry to resign his seat Thursday, after the latter joined the Bloc Quebecois. Noting that…
On Prorogation: A Solution To Hand The Power Back To The People
By Joe Fantauzzi jjfantauzzi@gmail.com | @jjfantauzzi When a minority federal government facing a confidence vote over a rejected economic update suspended Parliament in 2008, a constitutional expert told CBC News…
Harper v. Canada: Stephen Harper Addresses Right Wing U.S. Think Tank
Understanding the Canadian prime minister’s war against our democratic institutions, freedoms and legitimate dissent Editor’s Note: In June 1997, Stephen Harper addressed a Montreal meeting of the Council for National…
Happy Anniversary!
One year ago today, Stephen Harper turned an “unwanted election” into his first majority government, Jack Layton and the NDP soared to never before seen heights, and Liberals spent the…
Robo-Gate: Harper Conservatives stole the 2011 election from the NDP
The New Democratic Party (NDP) suggested in a press conference today that the Conservatives rigged the May 2011 federal election against the Bloc Quebecois, NDP and Liberals. Call it election…
All the action is in Quebec
If you’re like me these days, when you see a story involving the Bloc, you might yawn a little bit and gloss over it. Is it more infighting in the…
First impressions: No false steps that matter for NDP candidate Thomas Mulcair
Your blogger yesterday in a future vanity wall picture with NDP leadership candidate Thomas Mulcair. Thomas Mulcair turned in a virtually faultless performance in Edmonton last night, proving once again…
New kid on the Bloc
Chantal Hébert had an interesting column yesterday. She raised the possibility of a future Quebec by-election scenario featuring new Bloc leader Daniel Paillé versus Brian “I’m a Quebec kid” Topp.…
Les rapports de leur mort ont été grandement exagérées
Daniel Paillé, the man Stephen Harper trusted to investigate the Liberal Party, is the new leader of the Bloc Quebecois. However, the media attention has not been on Paillé, but…
Some Guy With Scrofulous Communist Beard Elected To Lead BQ
Also, Daniel Paillé looks like he’s had a few teeth knocked out in waterfront brawls. And not very sanitary. Overall a win for Canada?
Quebec and Israel’s changing political narrative
When there is a single issue which dominates the politics of a jurisdiction for decades, it is often the case that progress on other issues is inhibited by the myopic…
For the divisive, petty Harper Conservatives, no cause is too important for bickering
French-speaking troops of the Régiment de la Chaudière push inland from Juno Beach toward Bény-sur-Mer on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Below, Veterans Affairs Minister Steven Blaney, Bloc MP Louis Plamondon.Why…
Updated NDP & Bloc Leadership
So, as everyone who is anyone should be aware now that Québec's favourite son, Outremont MP Thomas Mulcair, has officially jumped into the race, and beside him come 33 MPs,…
What happens when you throw a leadership contest and no one shows up?
Maybe Nycole Turmel has a friend who'd be willing to step in and help the Bloc out: Bloc faces growing pressure to delay choosing Duceppe replacement There is growing pressure…
Turmel Scandal Enters Week 2
The "Government In Waiting" is off to a slow start. The parliamentary session has not even begun for the fall, and already the major issue isn't any oversight of the…