Talk of the two Liberal suspensions continues to swirl and take on a darker and more political tone as Thomas Mulcair accused Justin Trudeau of “re-victimising” the two accusers as they asked him not to go public and he didn’t inform them ahead of time that he would suspend his MPs. Trudeau noted that he didn’t reveal the gender or party of the alleged victims, and that he had a duty to act when confronted with the allegations, and one can certainly imagine the accusations that would be levelled against Trudeau if it became public knowledge that he knew of the incidents and didn’t take action. It is also not really a helpful suggestion from those like Megan Leslie to say that he could have disciplined his MPs quietly, which is part of the problem that his public suspensions are trying to address – that there shouldn’t be any tolerance for this kind of behaviour, and that it comes with consequences. I also don’t think there’s any small amount of irony in Leslie saying that it should have been done quietly, when that just feeds the “old boy’s club” mentality that she seems eager to undermine. We also have learnt that one of the incidents took place more than a year ago and another Liberal MP, Scott Simms, know of it but didn’t say anything at the request of the alleged victim, whom he described as a “dear friend.” CBC has six questions in the wake of what has gone on, which help frame what we know and don’t know. In the wake of Wednesday’s suspensions, Leslie talks about some of the more subtle forms of harassment that goes on – not so much aggressive as unwanted touching of hair or lower backs, while former staffers have also opened up about their experiences, including Jordan Owens. She made a very good point about the value of staffers being their discretion, which is true and necessary for the kind of work that is being done, and it makes the situation that much more complicated.

Joe Oliver has said that the fall fiscal update will be delivered on the twelfth at a business lunch in Toronto. You know, during a week that the Commons isn’t sitting, and outside of Parliament because why would the government want to show any kind of respect for the institution?

Here’s a look at the government’s programme of paying refugee claimants to abandon their appeals and return to their country of origin. Critics say that it is both a bribe and takes advantage of the poverty of these claimants, particularly because they get more money the more claims they abandon.

Rather than actually deal with what Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz actually said, Jason Kenney jumped on the torqued and misquotes to say that young workers should be paid – and then used it to plug apprenticeships.

As part of his talking about the new bill on “banning barbaric cultural practices,” Chris Alexander named a murder suspect and apparently labelled it an “honour killing,” which is a major breach, particularly for a minister to comment on a case before the courts.

The Western premiers are asking the federal government for $1 billion in port and transport infrastructure funding, citing things like the grain bottleneck and the need for more capacity as trade with Asia increases. Um, good luck with that.

Former AFN national chief Phil Fontaine says that talks with First Nations and Métis on the Energy East pipeline construction are on track, and that TransCanada has been proactive in engaging with those communities.

A Health Canada study finds no link between wind turbines and health problems. It looks like opponents of wind farms will need to find a new excuse.

A twenty year-old soldier died at CFB Wainwright when a structure collapsed during a training exercise.

Stephen Saideman talks about why Canada buying those French Mistral ships is a work of fantasy and lays out why.

Stephen Harper spent his first day in China largely focusing on economic ties with Canada.

In considering his post-political career, Rob Anders is thinking about some kind of conservative think tank that will do training and advocacy work, and isn’t above starting his own if need be.

Divers have recovered the ship’s bell from HMS Erebus.

And here’s the woman who sewed the first Maple Leaf flag for Canada at the conclusion of the great flag debate.