As the NDP policy convention draws closer, Jim Flaherty sends out a scathing missive about the negative economic impact of their proposals. But this totally isn’t a way to distract everyone from the assault that Flaherty is under for things like the “iPod tax” debacle or anything, right? (Speaking of, the Finance department is doubling down on its insistence that there’s no tariff on MP3 players – despite the all evidence to the contrary). Economist Stephen Gordon takes issue with some of the NDP’s underlying misunderstanding of profit in the modern economy – which they are largely against in their constitutional preamble – and how profit benefits everyone, especially those who live on investment income, such as pensions. The party also looks set to release a “get to know Thomas Mulcair” video at the convention as part of the new charm offensive to head off Justin-mania that is about to sweep the nation.

The government has pulled us out of an international Northern public health group, after we committed to paying thousands in dues for the work it does. Canada’s back, everyone!

The government is also reversing the cuts to soldier’s danger pay – and of course, PMO is blaming the bureaucrats for the decision.

While in Washington, Peter Kent announced $10 million in funding for international projects to tackle short-lived pollutants that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, here’s a closer look at the price on carbon that Alberta has in place, which is the system that Kent is allegedly looking at on a broader, more national basis.

There are suggestions that the sports betting bill is going to die on the Order Paper in the Senate, though I’m not exactly sure the mechanism, unless they simply plan on ignoring it and not calling it up for a vote for the next two years, because it won’t die even if there’s a prorogation. And I’m not sure why they wouldn’t simply have the courage to simply vote it down as a flawed bill that wasn’t properly vetted in the Commons – which is the truth, and shouldn’t be unseemly because catching bad bills is kind of the whole point of the Senate and its powers.

It was a Thing Tuesday that the Conservatives trotted out a six-year-old blog post by NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice in which he said bad things about the purpose of the First World War, and lo, politics was played as it was also the anniversary of the battle of Vimy Ridge. And as of yesterday, Boulerice stood by his comments. John Geddes looks at how the Conservatives, despite defending our role in WWI, nevertheless keep a distance from Robert Borden – in all likelihood because of the conscription crisis.

Aaron Wherry speaks to James Rajotte about the Warawa Rebellion and the state of Parliamentary Democracy in this country, and he agrees that things need to change – especially when it comes to the quality of debate.

Here’s a look at Stephen Harper’s handwriting, if ever you were curious about it.

Andrew Coyne tears apart the arguments underlying the whole outrage around RBC outsourcing those jobs to India (which is really nothing to do with temporary foreign workers, despite how the story was initially billed), and points to the inevitable truth – bargain hunting and worshiping at the altar of the God of Cheap is in part what created these kinds of situations in the first place.

Over in the Labrador by-election, Peter Penashue says that he expects to get back into cabinet if elected, and if he does, he can continue to do ALL THE THINGS for Labrador. He also boasted that he delayed a highway project in Newfoundland in order to get more funds for the trans-Labrador highway. Um, so much for cabinet confidences and working in the interests the region you’re representing in cabinet, Penashue. Great job. Meanwhile, Penashue is also apparently spreading mistruths, saying that the Liberal candidate is against the sealing industry, which she insists she’s not.

Here’s a look at how the 1968 Liberal leadership that selected Pierre Trudeau started to change the country, and how that resonates today as his son prepares to take over the party.

Here are the three things you need to see from last night’s political shows, including a discussion with Senator Mobina Jaffer about the issue of cyberbullying.

And here’s a GIF of Justin Trudeau and his wife dancing to Martina Sorbara (aka Dragonette) backstage before his speech on Saturday. Aaron Wherry muses about the possible significance of the moment.