Danger, Will Robinson! Danger! iPolitics has obtained documents that show that Corrections Canada is changing their policy to allow for double bunking to be normal policy, and to eliminate rules around maximum capacity. Not only does this violate our international agreements on corrections policy and it’s been proven to be bad for correctional behaviour period, but it’s like an invitation to a return to the era of prison riots. Well done, Vic Toews!

Here is your rough guide to the remaining stages of Omnibus Budget Bill 2: The Revenge in the Commons.

Ruh-roh! New documents show that the government was being briefed about the cost overruns of the F-35 fighters in advance of the Auditor General’s report. How much of this is just bureaucratic ass-covering is a question, but nevertheless, it looks like they knew more than they were letting on.

The head of the Canadian Army is asking to be able to identify those soldiers in the rapid deployment unit who test positive for illicit drugs. Currently, the rules are “blind testing,” meaning that the commander is only given a report of how many test positive, not whom. Said general is also telling the Senate that he has no fat left to cut in his administration, and in order to cut costs he’s forced to train his soldiers at a lower standard than during the Afghan war.

The government’s current approved talking points on the Israel-Palestine situation talk about “unilateral actions on both sides,” but refuses to make any mention of settlements.

Senator Marjorie LeBreton says she’ll make sure Senate “reform” happens if she needs to personally get involved and whip the Senators in her caucus to make it happen. I’m curious as to how her personal involvement will make the amending formula of the constitution disappear. And how elections forestall the onset of dementia, prevent May-December romances, or derogatory tweeting? Magic?

Canadian royal historian Carolyn Harris writes about the news of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s news that Kate is pregnant with the future heir to the throne. The PMO says that Canada will be tabling legislation to change the rules of succession to make it more equitable for female heirs “soon,” but neither the UK nor any of the other Commonwealth countries have yet, despite a pledge to. Not harmonising succession rules could mean a very interesting future if it was a girl first, then a boy second who some recognised as the heir instead of the first-born.

Justice Richard Wagner has been officially welcomed to the Supreme Court.

Oh dear. Senator Mike Duffy, who has lived in Ottawa since the 1970s, is claiming his living allowance, while he also claims the summer cottage he owns in PEI (which he represents) as his primary residence – even though all of his political donations and his voting records list his Ottawa address as the primary one. Oh, and he considers inquiries about it to be “BS.” Former journalist indeed.

Justin Trudeau spent yesterday explaining his comments on the failure of the long-gun registry, and how he would have voted to keep it, but because it was scrapped it failed, and so on. Howls of “flip-flop” ensued. Aaron Wherry notes that if Justin Trudeau is serious about evidence-based policy that credible economists say that raising the GST is a good thing, while lowering personal income taxes.

Andrew Coyne calls out the Conservatives and NDP for their similarities – namely, crass populism.

Here is your recap of last night’s political shows, and the various dissections of the fallout of the Palestinian vote at the UN and Justin Trudeau’s gun registry comments.

And text messaging is 20 years old – really! The very first text message sent was “Merry Christmas” – which makes this Dragonette (NSFW) Xmas song all the more apropos.