The Auditor General says that there needs to be an independent, non-partisan body to deal with MPs expenses in order for Canadians to be confident that they are being managed. The NDP immediately point out that this is what they have been looking for since the issue of Senate expenses exploded into the public consciousness. I would say that it’s too bad that we are reaching a place where we can no longer treat MPs like grown-ups, and that we need yet more mechanisms to police them.
The Cyber Incident Response Centre’s first annual report talks about how the department of Foreign Affairs’ networks face increasingly serious attacks from hackers, and that information about the status of trade negotiations are highly sought by these groups.
Despite the Conservatives vowing that they wouldn’t cut personnel numbers in the Canadian Forces, the Chief of Defence Staff says that a smaller military remains an option as a way of dealing with the budget cuts, and one of his predecessors, retired general Rick Hillier, has said that a smaller but more agile force may be what Canada needs to look at.
Jason Kenney says that it’s time for Rob Ford to step down, from his perspective as an elected official. This is the sternest condemnation of Ford’s behaviour from the Conservative ranks to date. People are quick to remind everyone that Kenney also defended Nigel Wright, for what it’s worth.
Kenney also had the NDP lighting their hair on fire over a tweet that Kenney sent out that said that he finished up a meeting with his staff after midnight, and that it was a good thing they weren’t unionised. Cue the outrage. Even though he later deleted it, it wasn’t enough.
It looks like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is going to get an extra year to complete its work, which is good because of the delays in accessing needed records for the process.
By-election nastiness is testing Justin Trudeau’s resolve to remain positive – and it has been noted that some of the Liberal candidates like Chrystia Freeland have let opportunities to strike back go unused. The fact that it’s the NDP using the more negative tactics, many of them borrowed from the Conservatives, which may raise more eyebrows.
Thursday was supposed to be an opposition day for the Liberals, in which they would have called on Elections Canada to fully enforce the Elections Act to ensure that there are no shenanigans during the by-elections next week. And then Peter Van Loan decided to reschedule that opposition day until it’s too late, because he’s classy like that.
Conservative MP Stephen Woodworth is going to put forward a proposal to recognise the “dignity of every human being,” which is totally not reopening the abortion debate. But before everyone gets too worked up, remember that he’s already used up his slot when it comes to private members’ business and lost, so nothing can come of this in this parliament.
Elizabeth May publicised the rejection letter that Leona Aglukkaq sent her with regards to being part of the Canadian delegation at the climate change conference in Poland – which is why May wound up in the Afghan delegation. Also rejected were other MPs, including Conservative MP Michael Chong. It also seems like we’re only a quarter of the way toward reaching our emissions reductions, and that can’t be a good thing.
Famous feminist leader Gloria Steinem was asked about the whole Justin Trudeau “ladies night” issue, and she didn’t see a problem with it. How long before we see Niki Ashton get up in the House to denounce her for that apostasy?
Adam Goldenberg writes about the merits of an appointed Senate in the context of the way that mandatory minimums have become an issue in the courts, and proposes reforms to the appointment process, though he neglects the Crown prerogative of appointment that exists under our system of Responsible Government that keeps the PM accountable for these choices, rather than an unaccountable appointment commission.
And this year’s Parliamentarian of the Year Awards have been released. Congratulations to Peter Stoffer as this year’s best overall MP, as well as rising star Chris Alexander, best orator John Baird, most collegial Rodger Cuzner, most knowledgeable Jason Kenney, best represents constituents Ted Hsu, hardest working Elizabeth May, and lifetime achievement award winner Peter Milliken.
Up today: The government is expected to table a bill aimed at combating cyberbullying.