So, the federal Liberals had their first leadership debate yesterday, and it was…without a whole lot of sparks or drama. I mean, it wasn’t NDP dull and full of violent agreement, but there weren’t too many fireworks or memorable exchanges. Aaron Wherry liveblogged it here, here is the CBC recap, and Michael Den Tandt gives his thoughts on its tepid nature here. (I wrote up my own thoughts on the debate here).

Jonathan Kay visits several James Bay Cree reservations, including Attawapiskat, and finds that things are not necessarily as bleak as we might otherwise think – though Attawapiskat is noticeably poorer-run than the others. The other conclusion is that those communities that are doing best are doing it outside of the Indian Act system, which is something I’ve heard said about the successful First Nations communities on the West Coast. Nevertheless, Kay’s story is a must read.

Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence went on CTV’s Question Period yesterday and continued to engage in constitutional relativism, and basically declared that it didn’t matter what the Governor General’s actual role is, she wants him at the table because she imagines the role of the Crown to be a certain way and won’t take no for an answer.

The retired army general who wrote the transformation report is speaking out about the disconnect between the directives being given to DND, and what’s actually happening in terms of increases in administrative costs.

Ruh-roh! The F-35s could explode mid-air if struck by lighting! Good thing they’re the right plane at the right price, and who are we kidding, really?

Thomas Mulcair wrote an open letter to Stephen Harper, asking him to extend the PBO’s term. I’m sure that Harper is going to get right on that – or at least, get right on doing the exact opposite.

Brian Mulroney says that he’s confused by Harper’s approach to Quebec – but won’t say much more than that.

As part of the War of 1812 celebrations, the government though about renaming a few federal buildings after some of the notable players in that conflict. Until they found out that the Laura Secord building would have been mistaken for a chocolate shop. Oops.

And while Susan Delacourt laments the “all politics, all the time” modus operandi of the government, as evidenced by the Julian Fantino CIDA website posts, Tabatha Southey offers some helpful tips for how the Conservatives can politicise things even more than they already are. You’re welcome, Canada.