In regards to the hysteria around Chuck Strahl consulting on behalf of Enbridge in BC, it seems that Enbridge has been a client of his since 2011 – at least, with regards to any activities on the provincial level. He’s also registered in Alberta to lobby for a First Nations energy that is drilling for oil on its territory with a Chinese-financed company. Can’t you just see all of the conspiracy theories churning? But as Kady O’Malley points out, because the chairmanship of SIRC is considered a part-time gig (as they meet less than a dozen times per year), he’s exempt from many of the restrictions in the Conflict of Interest Act, and Strahl also has stated that he’s not hearing any CSIS cases that involve Enbridge or any of his other clients, there’s no real conflict there.

Speaking of intelligence, it seems that the Communications Security Establishment has new stuff up on their website, thanks to all of the media coverage they’ve received recently, and have now admitted that sometimes they accidentally end up spying on Canadian’s phone conversations – but don’t worry, they quickly take steps to protect the privacy of that person! Err, except long-time CSE watchers are pretty sure that’s not actually the case.

Peter MacKay says that the government is going to have to draft legislation to deal with the “effects of prostitution,” which he described as “corrosive” in society. That sounds to me like it’s going to end up being the Nordic Model (criminalising the buyers), which will just keep the whole thing underground, and we’ll be right back to where we started.

The Federal Court has ruled that Jason Kenney was within his right to stop funding one of the country’s largest Arab groups over concerns that they support terrorist groups and anti-Semitism.

The CRA is still trying to determine if the problem of some taxpayers wrongfully being declared dead is a “systemic issue” or not, as they investigate the problem.

Here’s a bit about the balancing act that is protecting the PM, which is once again in the news after those climate activists got mere inches away from him at an event. Neither of the protestors was charged, but security experts say that this incident is a wake-up call for the RCMP protection detail.

Maclean’s obtained some Access to Information documents about Bev Oda’s trip to Africa in 2011, where she changed hotels mid-trip and rebooked flights in order to extend her trip and stay next to a game park with the intention of going on safari. And yes, those changes were billed to taxpayers.

Three upcoming Quebec-based cases before the Supreme Court will only have a single Quebec judge sitting on them, because Justice Nadon remains sidelined until the reference on his appointment is settled, and Justice Wagner was involved in those three cases in some way, and a superior court judge can’t revisit a case that he or she has already heard.

The District of Kitimat has decided to hold a plebiscite to determine the level of local support for the Northern Gateway Pipeline, which would end at its harbour.

And Rob Anders appeared on Power & Politics against one of the organisers of the campaign to oust him, and pretty much the only thing that Anders said was “Red Tories!” As in, he’s a Wildrose supporter/Blue Tory, and all of these challengers are Alison Redford supporters, Red Tories and Liberal/NDP “temporary Tories” who are engaged in a “revenge campaign” against him. No, seriously.

Up today: Stephen Harper is in Inuvik to kick off the construction of the planned highway between there and Tuktoyaktuk.