Roundup: Suspending errant senators

In a blatant bit of damage control, Conservatives in the Senate have moved to suspend Senators Duffy, Brazeau and Wallin without pay for “gross negligence” in the use of their parliamentary resources. This came shortly after Duffy sent a message out to say that he was going on medical leave due to heart problems. There are concerns from Senators on both sides that this move comes without a lot of due process, seeing as none of the three have been charged with a crime, though Liberal Senate leader James Cowan noted that he felt there had been insufficient sanctions applied back in the spring, but the government didn’t seem keen on action then. I will admit to my own reservations about this move to suspension without pay without due process, but that has been mollified somewhat when it was explained that this particular disciplinary measure is not a reflection of the RCMP investigations, but as a result of the findings by the Senate’s internal economy committee that found that those Senators had broken the rules. There will still be debate on these motions and the opportunity for each Senator to defend themselves – though it was also pointed out that it will be hard to continue to garnish Brazeau’s wages if he’s suspended without pay. To top if off, Thomas Mulcair felt it appropriate to crack wise that these suspensions are a good first step and that he would prefer to see all Senators suspended without pay before they move to abolish the Chamber. Which is hilarious until you realise that no legislation could actually be passed by a chamber that was entirely suspended (and would have had to suspend itself, as only the Senate itself has the power to suspend its membership). Apparently  “good public administration” in Mulcair’s books means ignoring the constitution.

In other Parliamentary business, the Speaker has decided to allow for separate votes on the omnibus housekeeping motion, but not to split it up – thus ensuring one debate to accompany the many votes, and is a pretty decent compromise. He also returned to the finding of the prima facia breach of privilege with James Bezan still sitting in the House despite the Elections Canada issue over his election expenses, (as he found back in June), so that question will now head to committee for study. The NDP also gave notice that they’ll be moving motions in every Commons committee to limit the use of in camera meetings, but considering that they don’t have the votes on said committees I doubt these proposals will survive. And Conservative Whip John Duncan said that his party’s MPs would start voluntarily posting their expenses online, in what assumes is the same model the Liberals are using (which is the model currently used by cabinet). Duncan said this was a measure until all parties could agree to a new system, which leaves the NDP now exposed as the party not posting expenses (other than the summaries provided by Commons finance officials, which Mulcair tried to insist earlier was robust disclosure).

Details about the Canada-EU free trade agreement are due to be unveiled this morning, which we are told will be favourable to beef and pork producers, as that was an issue. And the Canadian dairy lobby is obsessing about the decision to allow more European cheese into Canada, never mind that it amounts to half a kilogram per Canadian per year at a 250 percent tariff rate.

The Information Commissioner delivered a pretty damning report yesterday about the state of our Access to Information system, which is under-resourced and failing. In particular is the example of the RCMP, which hasn’t used its funds to staff the necessary positions, and is now in violation of the law because they aren’t responding to ATI requests at all. And Tony Clement’s response? That this is the most transparent government ever, and the issue is that there’s just been an increase in requests (which is true), but he doesn’t think that the fact that departments are in violation of the law is a problem that perhaps they need to address.

RCMP and First Nations protestors clashed in New Brunswick over a blockade to stop the exploration of shale gas. In the end, five police cars were torched and Molotov cocktails were thrown by “peaceful” protesters, while there were 40 arrests including one chief, who was released a few hours later. There is a lot of confusion as to what has been happening, and the fact that a lot of facts and figures are being inflated and distorted as part of anti-government propaganda campaigns aren’t really helping matters any.

A Toronto man has been charged with Wednesday’s bomb scare at the Langevin Block.

Brent Rathgeber remains unimpressed by the Speech From the Throne.

A decision to use smaller helicopters to replace the Sea Kings because of the Sikorsky problems could mean major changes for the Royal Canadian Navy, because those smaller helicopters couldn’t play the same combat role that Sea Kings do, and that would not only limit capabilities, but could mean problems with refitting ships to replace that capability in other ways.

Georges Laraque has now resigned from the Green Party in order to face fraud charges. That means a new candidate will need to be chosen in advance of the by-election in Bourassa.

And with the GG and several MPs on a state visit to China and Mongolia, Maclean’s has Margaret Trudeau reminisce about her trip to China 40 years ago with late husband Pierre Trudeau, on Canada’s first official visit to the People’s Republic, which opened up trade between our countries.