As his retirement date fast approaches, outgoing Liberal Senator James Cowan is once again warning against Peter Harder’s plans to disband partisan caucuses in the Senate, fearing that trying to make it “council of elders” or advisory body will make it less effective as a body. He’s right, of course, but I would refine that a little more in saying that it would make the Senate less effective in holding the government to account, which is one of its key features, and in fact, one of the features that defines a Westminster-style parliament.

There are other ways in which effectiveness might be blunted in that any kinds of legislation, inquiries or studies that Senators might otherwise champion could be more easily diffused and go nowhere given that there would be little in the way or organizational capacity to have like-minded senators help move it forward. Having 101 loose fish is a poor way to run an effective body, and yet that is what some people think that an “independent” chamber means, rather than focusing on one that is less partisan and that far more easily works across party lines to get the work done that is being asked of them. And it totally wouldn’t have to do with a Government Leader – err, “government representative” would would rather have a body of independent senators that he can manipulate and manoeuvre as he and his political masters wish. Perish the thought.

This having all been said, we’ll miss Senator Cowan greatly. He’s been a credit to the institution and provided a great deal of leadership during a difficult few years for his caucus.

Shuffle fallout:

• Chrystia Freeland is our new brand ambassador, but experts are divided on what the fallout of that will be with Russia.
• Here’s a look at new immigration minister Ahmed Hussen.
• Here’s a profile of François-Philippe Champagne, the new trade minister.
• John McCallum says he’s excited to be the new ambassador to China.
• Paul Wells offers some more perspective to Dion’s ouster, mapping the arc of his career in politics and why Trudeau lost patience.
• Andrew Coyne pouts about how cabinets are formed in Canada, completely mischaracterising it while professing admiration for the American system.
• Colby Cosh looks at Maryam Monsef’s former impossible task, now handed off to Karina Gould.

Good reads:

• MP Seamus O’Regan and his husband, along with the Liberal Party president and her husband, joined Trudeau on vacation. None of them are public office holders.
• The PMO totally insists they’re not using the PM’s upcoming small town tour to pad the Liberal Party database.
• Chrystia Freeland isn’t interested in lifting sanctions against Russians involved in annexing Crimea in order to get her the sanctions against her lifted.
• The BC government has given their conditional approval to the Kinder Morgan pipeline.
• A federal report warns that the government is not adequately prepared to deal with cyber threats on its own.
• BuzzFeed asks 11 Canadian Muslims what “Canadian values” means to them.
• There will be some “discreet” corporate branding at the Vimy Visitors Centre.
• Nick Kouvalis says he tweets fake news to smoke out false Conservatives buying memberships to rig the vote. Sure, Jan.
• Here’s a look at the sick leave gap between the public and private sector.
• In other Senate news, future requests by senators to film in the chamber must ensure that it can’t be for partisan purposes.

Odds and ends:

Yesterday was Sir John A. Macdonald Day, so here’s a look back at his making the case for a united Canada.

Tristin Hopper dug up a bunch of preparations for nuclear war in Canada.