Word has it that House of Commons Administration has an independent report prepared on the NDP’s “satellite offices” that will be presented to the Board of Internal Economy, and that it’s going to be blistering. And because this is coming from Commons Administration and not any of the parties or committees, it’s going to be difficult for the NDP to blame this on partisanship or that they’re being ganged up on, which are their usual defences. Unless of course they’re going to claim that the Commons Administration is also out to get them…
On a not unrelated note, as Canada Post cuts back on its delivery services and increases prices, MPs still get all kinds of free mailing privileges (that we know the NDP have been availing themselves of, in the other spending controversy they’re embroiled in), but at least there seems to be some awareness among MPs that these privileges should be looked at as the challenges of Canada Post continue.
It’s not unexpected, but gun control proponents and opponents are already lining up after the Moncton shootings, and the opponents took the first shot immediately after the shootings, claiming that it was proof that gun control laws don’t work (which is not at all what it proves, unless you don’t have a capacity for logic or facts). And even though other gun control opponents are lining up, they do say that the National Firearms Association’s response was “premature,” though I’m not sure how exactly they propose a country-wide sweep for “people with mental issues” in order to keep them from hurting or killing people. Would that not be even more invasive than the gun control laws that they decry? (See, there’s that logic problem again). Meanwhile, Conservative MP Scott Reid has tabled a lengthy Order Paper question on the gun seizures during the High River floods – because the conspiracy theories that have been circulating around this legitimate incident did nothing to stoke the kind of gun culture paranoia of the Moncton shooter.
Stephen Harper gave an interview to The West Block this weekend, and said that his view of foreign policy is that Canada shouldn’t be afraid of being offside with other countries on any given issue. This is part of why he’s more keen to shut out Vladimir Putin than some of our European allies, though in speaking to one senator who had been in Ukraine for the elections, I was told that Harper is being treated like something of a hero over there these days, for what it’s worth.
The final decision on the Northern Gateway Pipeline is due within about ten days (which you’ll note is about when the Commons is due to rise for the summer), but as of yet, the government hasn’t tipped their hands as to how they’ll decide on it, especially given the number of conditions imposed by the National Energy Board, as well as the BC government. Other items on Harper’s to-do list include finalizing the Canada-EU trade agreement and making a decision on the fighter jet procurement.
Michael Plaxton from University of Saskatchewan’s School of Law, wrote a short paper on C-36 in light of the Bedford decision, and notes that how the new law is framed could have an impact on any future court challenges. Because the government frames the bill as trying to curb the social harms of prostitution, it may provide some level of buffer against the provisions in the bill from being declared unconstitutional outright.
Emma Teitel laments the sorry state of civic education offered in this country, and Ontario in particular, noting that we wouldn’t treat any other subject (math, French, English literature) with the same kind of neglect that we do civics – and yet we wonder why voters and in particular youth are not engaged.
One year after he walked out of Conservative caucus, Independent MP Brent Rathgeber reflects on his year of freedom, and quite correctly says that because of the relatively smaller size of our Commons and larger size of our cabinets, as compared to the UK, both government backbenchers and opposition MPs all see themselves as cabinet ministers in waiting, and are less likely to rock the vote or challenge party discipline as a result.
Former Prime Minister Joe Clark’s family commissioned a major orchestral work by one of Canada’s most celebrated composers as a 75th birthday gift.
John Baird has some fun with the offer by the Raelians to build an “extraterrestrial embassy” and named Deepak Obhrai as intergalactic ambassador. Obhrai accepted the challenge.
And Tabatha Southey wonders if the “protections” being offered to sex workers in the new prostitution bill should be offered to other professions – like piano teachers.
Up today: Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is in town, and he calls Stephen Harper a “beacon” for conservatives around the world.