It’s not really a surprise that the federal government is saying that Quebec’s “death with dignity” law is a violation of the Criminal Code, and will likely be challenged in court. That was kind of the point of the way the Quebec law was structured, however – to fit under the rubric of the provincial responsibility of healthcare so as to not trigger the Criminal Code, but it will likely take the Supreme Court to determine if they can justifiably do so. The Supreme Court is already set to hear a case regarding overturning the ban on physician-assisted suicide, so by the time the Quebec law hits the courts, there may already be new jurisprudence that will help to change the calculus around it. And yes, all parties are divided on the issue. Predictably, opponents of the law insist that euthanasia cannot be medical care, and want more palliative care instead. Administrative law professor Paul Daly puts this new law in the context of yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling on a case involving judicial discretion, and how prosecutorial may wind up filling the gap between the Quebec law and any decision to charge anyone who makes use of it.

iPolitics talks to escorts about the new prostitution bill, and how it will not only be a detriment to their work, but that it will especially make street prostitutes even more vulnerable and will result in deaths. It also really challenges Peter MacKay’s assertion that sex work is dehumanizing and that all who do it are victims.

During QP on Friday, the parliamentary secretary for the minister of public safety said something quite interesting when asked about the Government Operations Centre’s call for illegal spying on demonstrations around the country: “Peaceful protests can suddenly turn violent, just as law-abiding citizens can suddenly create a crime.” Now, think about all of the government’s rhetoric about law-abiding gun owners, and put it up against this phrase about how peaceful protestors can suddenly become criminals. Do you spot the cognitive dissonance?

Liberal immigration critic John McCallum is on a cross-country tour of consultations regarding the Temporary Foreign Workers programme, and the word he’s talking is enforcement – as in, there are no enforcement officials on the ground, which is why abuses have happened, and those officials are necessary to prevent future abuses.

30 federal ridings are getting name changes after the electoral boundaries commission finished their work, thanks to a bill that passed all stages of the Commons yesterday on a unanimous vote, and in most cases the names returns to simpler designations. Also, the Northwest Territories will be known as just that after being called “Western Arctic” since 1976.

NDP MP Mannon Perrault is suspended from caucus after being charged with public mischief after she allegedly filed false reports that accused someone (allegedly a staffer) of theft, and misleading police. Her spot in the Commons likely won’t change, staying in the front row, as she is in a wheelchair and can’t be banished to the nosebleeds as a result.

Apparently lawyer Ben Perrin left the PMO the day after the Duffy payment by Nigel Wright. Make of that what you will.

Tony Clement says that he’s committed to addressing the rising number of mental health claims in the public service and is considering national standards for a psychologically healthy workplace.

Here’s an exit interview with Senator JoAnne Buth, who worries that once she’s gone, the Senate agriculture committee will be missing some of the policy depth that she brought to the file.

Andrew Coyne lists the latest examples of the abuse of power by the Harper government in the past few weeks, and the problem with centralizing his power with Governor-in-Council appointments. The problem Coyne doesn’t address, however, is that the alternatives are almost all worse, because they are largely unaccountable under our system of responsible government, whereas we can hold Harper to account for his questionable choices and means of selecting these appointees – so long as Canadians are made aware of that fact.

Susan Delacourt looks at some recent changes in political advertising that have branched out to gimmicky packages like branded World Cup schedules and paid newspaper wraps that make it look like the party is in the news but really isn’t.

Kady O’Malley looks at the Hansard from D-Day in 1944, and sees how it was discussed and other business on the Order Paper – including taxpayer-funded government communications. The more things change… Meanwhile, Prince Charles and Camilla attended a Canadian ceremony on Juno Beach in Normandy, France, yesterday, as part of the commemoration ceremonies, as other European royals also gathered to mark the day.

Here’s a fascinating look at the symbolism inherent in the Speech From the Throne in Westminster, and a reminder of some of those symbols that never were carried over here to Canada no matter how relevant they remain to our system of government.

And Scott Feschuk writes about all of the recent books portraying Harper as increasingly isolated, angry and paranoid, and puts it in the perspective of his rivals and those rumours of retirement.