Parliament in Review: November 18, 2011
Friday, November 18 saw two pieces of legislation discussed. And the contrast couldn’t have been much more stark between an opposition effort to develop better legislation, and a government focused…
parliamentary procedures
Parliament in Review: November 4, 2011
Friday, November 4 saw another day of spirited question period debate on the economy. But for once, the main theme was total cooperation – even if much of the day…
Parliament in Review: November 3, 2011
Thursday, November 3 saw another day devoted largely to the Cons’ seat reallocation bill and associated motion to shut down debate. But perhaps more important was a stark set of…
Parliament in Review: November 2, 2011
Wednesday, November 2 saw the House of Commons debate two bills dealing with democratic reform. And the result was a remarkable gap between the values the Harper Cons presented in…
On reasonable standards
A quick thought on how Canadian pundits may want to evaluate how political parties do their jobs – which looks to be particularly relevant given the entirely justified criticisms being…
On logical choices
One might read Kady’s report on the Cons’ efforts to move all committee business in camera – making many of the key actions of our elected representatives completely inaccessible to…
Monday Afternoon Links
Miscellaneous material for your Monday reading. – With prorogation looking like it’s bound to be back on the table fairly shortly, Lori Turnbull offers a worthwhile suggestion to end the…
Like that’ll work
Sure, a reasonable government would have some shame over its obvious doctoring of Hansard. But isn’t the most likely outcome of the NDP’s new complaint for Clement’s departmental officials to…
Parliament In Review: October 27, 2011
Thursday, October 27 saw the House of Commons discuss the gun registry – and if the Cons’ choices to not just dismantle the federal long gun registry but also shred…
Monday Afternoon Links
Miscellaneous material for your Monday reading. – Barrie McKenna thoroughly debunks the claim that “financial literacy” alone is enough to put ordinary citizens on a level playing field with the…
Parliament In Review: October 26, 2011
Wednesday, October 26 saw a rare opportunity for the opposition parties to set the agenda. And as a result, the big issue was one which the Cons prefer to discuss…
Sunday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading.- Rick Salutin nicely describes what's behind the "charity" model of top-end wish fulfillment that the Cons are pitching in place of actual social programs:The…
Saturday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading.- Dan Gardner highlights how Stephen Harper is imposing exactly the kind of costly, top-down policies on Canada's provinces that he once railed against:This week,…
Parliament In Review: October 20, 2011
The main topic of debate on Thursday, October 20 was the Canadian Wheat Board - with extensive discussion in Parliament of both the Cons' steps to shut down debate, and…
Wednesday Afternoon Links
Assorted content for your afternoon reading.- Jim Stanford highlights the Cons' thoroughly imbalanced view of labour disputes by pointing out that their concern for the economy has been limited to…
On diversions
It should come as no surprise that the Globe and Mail's ongoing paean to high-end charitable tax breaks is apparently linked to a request from the Harper Cons. But perhaps…
Saturday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading.- Marc Lee reminds us that income disparities are only a small part of the picture of an increasingly unequal economy - with wealth inequality…
Parliament In Review: October 6, 2011
On a personal note, October 6 saw the first question period that I'll be able to blog about after seeing in person - as well as the first time I've…
Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading.- David Climenhaga responds to the Cons' union-bashing in the guise of accountability by pointing out who actually exerts disproportionate influence under a cloak…