On building opportunities
There's no doubt that the trumped-up story about Nycole Turmel's one-time Bloc membership reflects the inevitable first real pile-on against the NDP in its new role as Official Opposition. But…
bloc
Under The Table Cloth
Rather than debate the details of the NDP Interim Leader Nycole Turmel story, I think the potential political importance is more a macro-level consideration. There is a wider narrative developing,…
Parliament In Review: June 22, 2011
The second-last day of debates in this spring's session dealt mostly with Bruce Hyer's motion on small business. But lest anybody think there would be agreement on the details of…
Parliament In Review: June 21, 2011
Issue of the DayMuch of the day's debate was taken up with the final debate on the Cons' budget legislation, with the NDP particularly highlighting provisions to subsidize private mortgage…
Still hard at work
In case there was any doubt whether the NDP's hard-earned reputation as the most productive caucus in Ottawa would change as the party moved into its new role as Official…
On direct representation
In discussing how the new Parliament has functioned so far, Charlie Angus makes an important point which hints at how the Bloc lost touch with Quebec - as well as…
On unlikely donations
Since I haven't seen much follow-up on La Presse's fund-raising map and database, I'll be taking a stroll through the data over the weekend - with a particular focus on…
Stonewalled
Not that it should come as much surprise that the release of the first report (PDF) from the Afghan detainee document panel fits the pattern of delay and distraction from…
Parliament In Review: June 13, 2011
As I'd suspected, there looks to be plenty of material for a review post from just a day's worth of events in the House of Commons. So here's an inaugural…
You may not have noticed, but…
...the first vote on budgetary policy in Canada's new Parliament took place on Wednesday, with the parties taking their positions on the Libs' budget subamendment. And it may make for…
Thursday Afternoon Links
This and that for your Thursday reading.- Chantal Hebert points out that the biggest difference resulting from the NDP's emergence as Canada's official opposition may have to do with gender…
Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading.- With health care once again receiving plenty of attention on the U.S. political scene thanks to the Republicans' plan to dismantle publicly-funded Medicare,…
MayDay 2011: Yer Blues, Orange Crush and RIP LPC
In 2015, the only thing that will defeat the Cons is a concerted effort. The 'death by a thousand cuts' approach by Canada's progressives will only ensure that we never…
A Shift in Canadian Politics
With one of the most unpredictable and unimaginable elections in recent memory, the most accurate way to summarize it all in one sentence would be to say; there is a…
Federal Election Prediction
With the 41st Canadian General Election Day arriving tomorrow, it seems that it is time for me to get my election prediction on the record. I am predicting a Conservative…
Will The Government Fall?
Well folks, here it is for you in black and white right from the order paper for March 25th 2011: Opposition Motion March 23, 2011 — Mr. Ignatieff (Etobicoke—Lakeshore) —…
Good Ol’ Canadian Politics
So here we go again. The 4th election in 7 years, exactly what Canadians wanted. And in the midst of an economic recovery. You have the Liberals who are the…
Could Coalition Be Used to Get the Bloc to Stop Being Separatists?
Great point by Chrystal on Lessons on Framing – Coalition Governments As important as the question regarding whether the Liberal Party and NDP would consider being part of a coalition…
Harpercrites Exposed!
The Conservatives just can’t seem to get enough of eating their own words. “The brutal fact here is that something has happened that has never happened before in Canadian history,”…