Roundup: The “major” Mourani announcement

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It was argued that after the beating they took in Monday’s by-elections that the NDP needed some good news, and when the press release went out yesterday morning, they said that Thomas Mulcair would be making a “major announcement.” When it happened, however, it had all leaked – former Bloc MP Maria Mourani would be joining the party. Sort of. In front of a backdrop and with a giant novelty-sized membership card at the Chateau Laurier, rather than one of the other press theatres on the Hill, Mulcair and Mourani announced that she was taking out a membership with the party and would probably seek the nomination for the party in her current riding, but they were going to play it cute and while she would vote in lockstep with the party, she would remain an independent MP for the remainder of the term and not join caucus because of the NDP’s ridiculous policy that any floor-crossings require a by-election, because apparently we elect parties and not MPs in this country (a belief that is apparently shared in their demand for proportional representation). So, a “major announcement.” Andrew Coyne argues in favour of making floor-crossers run in a by-election only if they are crossing the floor to take a cabinet seat.

Good reads:

  • Michael Sona was sentenced to 9 months in jail and 12 months probation, but he could be out in three. He put out a statement proclaiming his innocence.
  • New Alberta MP John Barlow is asking Order Paper questions about those gun seizures during the High River floods, never mind that they were all returned afterward and nobody has faced any charges. (But don’t stop the conspiracy theorizing!)
  • The harassment allegations on the Hill are leading to a call for an Up For Debate campaign looking for a televised debate on women’s issues from all party leaders.
  • Elizabeth May thinks the Federal Victims of Crime Ombudsman should be drafted to hear the harassment case.
  • Suspended Liberal MP Scott Andrews says that he still plans to carry out his duties and to run in the next election.
  • Since the Conservatives came to power, they have lapsed some $1.1 billion in spending on veterans.
  • Aaron Wherry muses about Bill Casey’s run for the Liberals, and the circumstances that got him kick out of the Conservatives the last time.
  • Joe Oliver went to Finance Committee and said that the department didn’t actually conduct an analysis on the EI tax credit intended to help create jobs. Apparenlty they felt the CFIB analysis was good enough, to which I leave the reply to Mike Moffatt.

https://twitter.com/mikepmoffatt/status/535193207014191105

Odds and ends:

You need to watch the video interview with Flora MacDonald – especially her advice for MPs.