NDP MPs have forced an emergency recall of the Commons finance committee in order to discuss the issue of CRA’s “aggressive” audits of charities. It’s slated to be behind closed doors, so we’ll see what comes of it, but the NDP’s revenue critic, Murray Rankin, says that the committee can provide a “safe space” for these charities to air their grievances about the costly and time consuming processes that they’re being subjected to. I’m not really sure what it will accomplish however, since the CRA is not going to say that they’re taking political direction for these audits, and the government is just going to say “they’re arm’s length, we don’t give them direction,” and the charities will moan about how hard done they are by the whole process. I’m honestly not sure how edifying such a process going to be, assuming that the Conservative MPs on the committee sign on to holding said hearings (which is doubtful). It’s also worth noting that the NDP made this recall notice while the Liberals are holding their summer caucus retreat in Edmonton, which they knew was taking place at the same time, leading one to wonder whether someone was trying to be cute about the whole thing rather than being respectful of another party’s processes and calling the meeting for another date.

Rona Ambrose is concern trolling at the Canadian Medical Association conference, saying that she doesn’t want doctors to be pressured into prescribing medial marijuana, while the new head of the CMA laments that there’s not enough clinical data around it. Which prompted this note from Dan Gardner:

https://twitter.com/dgardner/status/501538340689428480

https://twitter.com/tinapittaway/status/501538631220490240

https://twitter.com/dgardner/status/501540870077034496

Meanwhile, opiate abuse is on the rise, prompting tougher warnings on labels, but let’s focus all of our energy on pot, where there’s no real issue with addiction or death associated.

The government is planning on making quiet cuts to major prescription drug trials, particularly randomized controlled trials. I’m not sure how they expect to get this data reliably otherwise – from the Americans? The drug companies themselves? From university hospitals which already have funding concerns? It doesn’t make a lot of sense, given the federal government’s regulatory responsibilities around these kinds of matters.

Conservative MP Ryan Leef was the first MP to made a tasteless reference to the break-in at Justin Trudeau’s house over the weekend. He quickly apologized and deleted the tweet in question, saying it was an ill-considered joke, but yeah – think before you tweet, people. Meanwhile, the RCMP may have to review their security measures for parliamentarians like Trudeau in light of this incident.

Elizabeth Thompson has a harrowing tale of what the cuts at the Department of Justice has wrought when it comes to morale and the working environment since the government came to power in 2006, while John Geddes tells more of that tale from the side of the way the research budget cuts within the department are affecting the quality of the legislation that is being produced. But why do we need this ivory tower policy stuff when our gut feelings tell us that we need laws that are tougher on crime, right?

Here’s a blood-curdling tale about message control in the government when Canadian Ice Services tried to hold a media briefing about record low levels of ice in the Arctic, which presented different navigational hazards for the region, and yet the minister’s office scrubbed the briefing (at the sixth of nine levels of message approval) and the whole plan collapsed at that point. The way that the current government is handling message control would be farcical, if it didn’t some of the serious problems as this particular tale demonstrates.

On the eve of Harper’s annual Northern tour, here’s a look at where his vaunted Northern Agenda is going.

Laura Payton offers three policy storylines to watch for at the Liberal caucus retreat in Edmonton.

After several electoral cycles where open nominations were largely unheeded, should it be any wonder that everyone involved is having some problems with them? So many of the complaints are about rumour and innuendo, however, that it makes some of them hard to take seriously.

It looks like Conservative MP Patrick Brown is about to jump into the Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership contest.

Rumour has it that two more Bloc MPs are going to quit caucus because of their new leader, which will leave the Bloc caucus with a sole MP and a leader who doesn’t have a seat, and what looks to be vanishing prospects for the future. Former leader Gilles Duceppe is warning that the party’s demise would mean that those who believe in sovereignty in Quebec would no longer have a party to vote for, which would weaken democracy. It’s kind of sad that a party that once used to have some excellent parliamentarians – despite their ultimate goals – has been reduced to such a sad state. It’s also yet another cautionary tale in why caucus should choose their leaders, and not the membership base.

It’s official – former CTV personality Seamus O’Regan is officially contesting the Liberal nomination in St. John’s South–Mount Pearl.

A mysterious poll in Mississauga has Eve Adams’ name being bandied about as a mayoral candidate there, even though a) she lives in Oakville, and b) this is the first time anyone has heard of her even talking about joining said race.

And Saturday voting to increase turnout? Maybe. But let’s not start with this canard about electronic voting because there simply isn’t the accountability with it, which should be your primary concern – not that it may be slightly more convenient.