Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading.- Paul Wells is pleased to have received some response about how the Cons claim to be saving money. But it's worth taking a…
Senate
Wednesday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading.- Adam Radwanski points out how Stephen Harper's continuing Senate embarrassment figures to play into the NDP's hands:If Mr. Harper was looking to signal once…
The Senate bill is a distraction
The government tabled their revamped Senate reform bill yesterday, complete with a new nine-year term clause and the ability to reappoint a Senator if their term should be interrupted –…
Harper’s plans for the Senate will create a showdown against the provinces.
Senate showdown looms - thestar.comOn one side, there will be the Conservative government. On the other side will be the opposition parties (or, at least the NDP) and the provinces…
If Harper Was Being Serious…
I would be behind him all the way. But, this is just our sovereign lord throwing a temper tantrum. He wants an elected Senate in order to hobble government forever.…
All according to plan
Oh, that poor, unfortunate Stephen Harper. If he could have counted on his party's Senate majority to allow its own institution to be reformed, he might have faced some pressure…
My take on Senate reform
We need the Senate, but not as it is now. The current Senate is far too inefective, inefficient, and undemocratic. I don't agree with Stephen Harper much, but I do…
Saturday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading.- Gerald Caplan has a modest suggestion to ensure the Senate doesn't do any more avoidable harm to Canada's democracy:That we have no need for…
On Senate reform, Rae should choose his battles more carefully
For the record, I am still trying to figure out how I think Canada could best tackle the problem of a 19th Century Senate in the 21st Century. I am…
Senate protester DePape offered job by Michael Moore
Doc maker Michael Moore backs rogue page over stunt - thestar.com "For a young person to do that and to do it peacefully, and quietly and with grace, I thought…
No one can deny DePape the courage of her convictions
That was one way to start a conversation! In a country with an electorate difficult to fire up (livid over raccoon abuse in Toronto, indifferent to Canada’s involvement in Libya,…
Life in the Senate
One of our favourite Senators, Senator Elaine McCoy, is back in the blogosphere after a bit of an absence from her blog, Hullabaloos. Back with some wit on display yesterday…
“Stop Harper” Protest by Parliamentary Page During Conservative Throne Speech
A Senate page managed to stand just meters away from the prime minister with a sign saying “Stop Harper” during the government’s throne speech in Ottawa today. Brigette Marcelle De…
A Senate page is fired for saying what most Canadians are saying
Senate page fired for anti-Harper protest - Politics - CBC News Brigette DePape, a Senate page, stood on the Senate floor during the Governor General's reading of the speech from…
What happens when august institutions are disrespected
(source) (click to enlarge) It breeds disrespect. That reference in the blog post title is to Mr. Harper's government and the actions it has taken which have bred that disrespect…
Mike Duffy: A happy man
Why he looks so happy? Close to $140,000 a year plus many perks:Senators are eligible for retirement at age 55 and receive 75 percent of their salary as a pension.…
Harper’s Right to Appoint Senators
Lot's of faux indignation amongst media and bloggers and politicians over Harper's decistion to appoint three senators, including two who ran for election to the House of Commons, and lost.…
Coward Thug Harper Appoints More Failures To The Senate
PM rewards three defeated Conservatives with Senate seats - The Globe and MailHow to become a senator under Harper? Show that the people don't want you to represent them. Another…
Cabinet and Senate: Ongoing bad behaviour is stability, of a sort
I don't have much to observe about today's developments in federal politics, except to say that I am profoundly unsurprised, unlike the madly twittering press corps. Harper's favorite cabinet ministers,…
Our Conservative Supreme Court, courtesy of Michael Ignatieff
If Michael Ignatieff had not allowed himself to be spooked by Harper's fearmongering in early 2008, we would have had a chance to implement the Coalition Agreement between the NDP…