Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page can’t get any information on government cuts, and feels the government is deliberately keeping people in the dark. Pat Martin says that the government should provide the PBO with the information so that MPs know what they’re voting on. Or, you know, MPs could compel the production of papers using the powers they already have and demand to know for themselves rather than involving a middleman like the PBO.

The NDP have agreed to wrap up the committee hearings into the Auditor General’s report on the F-35 procurement process because they heard from the witnesses they wanted to during their Potemkin committee hearing in the summer. You know, the one that’s not official, and not on the record? Good job.

The government introduced new EI measures for leave for parents whose children are either gravely ill, missing or recently murdered. Still no word on those clawbacks other than a vague promise that they’ll look into it.

Nexen shareholders approved a takeover by CNOOC – just as CSIS has outlined their own concerns with the scope of the takeover.

The Information Commissioner plans to spend the rest of the year working on a review of the Access to Information Act, which is now 30 years old and badly in need of updating.

The Law Times looks at the deteriorating conditions in Ontario provincial jails. Meanwhile, Vic Toews vows to crack down on the “pizza parties” and “barbecue socials” that take place behind bars, even though they don’t cost taxpayer dollars and are important for rehabilitation, family bonding, for ethno-cultural inmates to have some of their familiar foods, or even are part of food drives for charitable purposes. Because there’s nothing like being mean about it to encourage good rehabilitation practice.

Economist Stephen Gordon explains what is and what isn’t a trade deficit (and why it’s not actually a bad thing).

Oh, Jason Kenney, pranking the Twitter Machine.

Paul Martin feels the Liberals’ fortunes will rebound (but won’t speculate on leadership).

Here’s your recap of the political shows yesterday.

And apparently the NDP heckle-ban is still in place, as they shouted down Elizabeth May in debate. Decorum!

Up today: The Supreme Court is set to rule on whether or not a sex worker advocacy group can be given standing during a constitutional challenge.