As his showdown with the federal government over details of the budget cuts intensifies, the Parliamentary Budget Officer, Kevin Page, obtained a legal opinion from a respected constitutional lawyer to try to pressure the Clerk of the Privy Council to giving up the information he’s requested. Page says he doesn’t want to have to take the government to court to get the data because it means that basically he’s lost – he won’t get the information in time for it to be useable, but at the same time, it’s a battle he needs to wage before the government treats him and his office with further contempt. Of course, this is all related to the ongoing contempt the Conservatives have been showing to Parliament over their refusal to turn over any of the requested financial data, no matter that IT’S THE FIRST DUTY OF PARLIAMENT TO CONTROL THE PUBLIC PURSE. But who cares about MPs doing their own jobs when they can (try to) get the PBO to do it for them and fight their battles for them?
The NDP made one last effort to kill the omnibus budget bill with a “reasoned amendment” that it not move to third reading. Not surprisingly, it was voted down, and the bill is now on its way to the Senate.
The Privacy Commissioner is appalled by the new CBSA plans to have HD cameras and microphones in airports and border crossings with no actual privacy plans in place. Gee, do you think? And somehow Vic Toews’ assurances that privacy laws will be respected – when they won’t spell out how – doesn’t fill one with confidence.
National Defence is going to try to get some money allocated for the shipbuilding design work at this week’s Treasury Board submissions.
Here’s a look at some of the myriad of problems facing the F-35s, including the crucial helmet display that was a “must have” as part of our Statement of Requirements.
The Federal Court of Appeal has quashed the previous decision on the Canadian Wheat Board, and effectively ruled that one parliament cannot bind future ones with its decisions.
A Conservative MP in BC is blaming the bureaucrats for coast guard cuts being made to his region rather than, oh, his own government and their drive for “efficiencies” that they say these changes will deliver.
Data on hundreds of misclassified handguns could be lost with the long-gun registry’s demise. Oops.
The Liberals want to haul Dean Del Mastro before the Ethics Committee in order to answer questions about those 2008 election expense allegations – not that they’d have the votes for this bit of political theatre to happen. Surprisingly, however, the NDP don’t want to play ball either. Make of that what you will.
What’s that? Europe doesn’t want us to lecture them on their fiscal situation? You don’t say! Meanwhile the US has invited Mexico to the TPP bargaining table, but remains silent on Canada.
And with all of the War of 1812 ceremonies going on yesterday, here’s a look back at how it was celebrated for its 100th and 150th anniversaries.