One of the key Conservative voices on abolishing prostitution, Joy Smith, says that there are things she wants to see fixed in the government’s new bill, which are about the areas where sex workers themselves could still be charged, especially with the provisions around things like being near schools, given that there have never been cases that she’s aware of where sex workers have been trying to sell sex in front of schools in daylight hours. That said, she still wants the Nordic Model to go ahead, and produces conflated arguments around child prostitution, human trafficking, and the bizarre future dystopia where a woman can’t get EI unless she’s applied for work at a brothel, to back up her claims. Meanwhile, the Liberals have formally declared that they will oppose the bill, and listed their reasons why. Brent Rathgeber is also not a fan, seeing this as a cynical ploy to move the base against the courts, while only lawyers and social workers will come out ahead and sex workers won’t get any harm reduction. Even parts of the Conservative base aren’t that keen over the bill. Over in Maclean’s, Colby Cosh writes about where social conservatism and second wave feminism overlap on this issue of sex work, which is all about seeing women sex workers as all victims.

Lisa Raitt has been in touch with Canada Post about ensure that they collect on the million-plus dollars owed by the NDP for the apparent abuse of their franking privileges. She just wants you to know that they are arm’s length and she’s not really directing them. Perhaps if the NDP are forced to repay Canada Post, it’ll help solve the postal service’s cash flow issues. In case you’re wondering what franking means, The Canadian Press has an explanation for you here.

Members of the independent panel that evaluated the fighter jet options convened to inform the media about the process, which was about presenting the options to cabinet in order for them to make the most informed decision possible – not to make any recommendations. Why is this determination important? Because as panel member Philippe Lagassé reminded the assembled journalists is that this is a democracy and not a technocracy – it’s up to minister to make decisions. That way, they are accountable for them, both in the Commons and to the voting public, and that is a lesson that needs to be repeated.

Kady O’Malley spoke with the former Commons Law Clerk to discuss whether the Board of Internal Economy can meet openly (hint: He doesn’t see any barriers).

The Liberals are having a tough time posting their travel and hospitality claims in a timely manner given their limited resources, not that it has dulled their enthusiasm for more transparency.

Conservative MP Jim Hillyer has tabled a private member’s motion to amend the constitution to enshrine property rights in Alberta – a particular bugaboo of provincial conservatives and most especially the Wildrose party. Emmett Macfarlane looks at the issues around whether there can be a bilateral constitutional amendment to make that happen (admittedly, a private member’s motion is a very long shot), or whether the Charter discourages making a patchwork of constitutional frameworks around the country, and would the Supreme Court even allow it post-Senate reference.

Speaker Scheer said more or less ruled that the motion in the Commons that directed Thomas Mulcair to appear before committee about the party’s satellite offices was out of order – but that they should have raised the objection at the time, since he can’t retroactively change what happened. This means that any future attempts to order Mulcair back before committee as part of this investigation will likely end in failure.

Kady O’Malley digs into the mysterious numbers around a fundraiser headlined by Brian Mulroney in support of Dean Del Mastro, before he left caucus to deal with his current court challenge around campaign donations in 2008.

The Russian ambassador to Canada, dean of the diplomatic corps here, is heading home after eleven years on the job.

And the Ontario Liberals won a majority mandate last night, and Kathleen Wynne remains premier. Make of it what you will. Paul Wells offers his thoughts, including a bit of a meditation on the brand of conservatism practice by Stephen Harper as opposed to Tim Hudak.