View From the Hill by Keith Beardsley – Idle No More Divided No More? January 16, 2013
CFN – Today’s “National Day of Protest” is more than a symbolic gesture, it’s an important step by the grassroots movement, “Idle No More”, to encourage respect and bring about long overdue improvements to First Nations communities. Canadians and government officials (both political and departmental) have been watching closely and analyzing what they see. The [...]
View From the Hill by Keith Beardsley – Stephen Harper Idle No More – Set to meet First Nations Leaders January 11, 2013
CFN – The Prime Minister’s announcement today that he will be meeting with First Nations leaders on January 11th sets the stage for discussions that can provide meaningful progress on First Nations issues. It was not an unexpected move as both the government and the AFN need to limit the growth of the “Idle No More” [...]
View From the Hill by Keith Beardsley – Chief Spence or Stephen Harper – Who Will Blink First?
CFN – As we enter the New Year, it is time for Chief Spence and Prime Minister Harper to pause and reflect about their on-going standoff. Both sides need to feel that they have won and both sides need to find a way to declare victory. Only then can the two sides proceed to the [...]
View From the Hill by Keith Beardsley – Year End Review of Canada’s Federal Party Leaders – December 21, 2012
CFN – While in Ottawa I had a chance to chat with Dr. Evil himself, Keith Beardsley. Keith was kind enough to give us a year end report card of the leaders of each Canadian Federal Party, but also looked briefly into the future. Here is our interview with Keith. On our PM [...]
View From the Hill by Keith Beardsley – Perceptions & Deceptions – December 19, 2012
CFN- As the end of the year approaches, one tends to relax more with friends and it’s always enjoyable to see how those who are not caught up in the political bubble in Ottawa perceive our politicians and political parties. These discussions reminded me of the expression that “perception is reality” in politics. We don’t [...]
View From the Hill by Keith Beardsley – Is the F-35 Dead?
CFN – Rumours are swirling around Ottawa that the F-35 aircraft purchase is dead. Is it? No one knows just yet, but it would be a shock to see the Conservative government move away from its defense of this much maligned purchase. According to media reports, the cabinet Operations Committee has decided to kill the [...]
View From the Hill by Keith Beardsley – House of Commons Goes WWE! Peter Van Loan VS Nathan Cullen
CFN – Everyone is agog over the supposedly big dust up in the House of Commons yesterday. In reality it wasn’t very much, just another new low registered for decorum in the House. When you compare Conservative House Leader Peter Van Loan’s march across the Commons floor to wave his finger and get into a [...]
View From the Hill by Keith Beardsley – How Boring has Question Period Become? Let Mulcair be Mulcair!
CFN – It is hard to believe, but back on this day in 2005, we were all involved in an election that was forced on November 28th when the Martin government lost a confidence vote. Part of what made that election possible and which laid the ground work for that nonconfidence vote was the success the [...]
View From the Hill by Keith Beardsley – Looking over the By Election Results – November 27, 2012
CFN – Congratulations are in order for Joan Crockatt, Erin O’Toole and Murray Rankin for their bye-election victories. We should also be thanking the other contenders who while they didn’t win, did have the courage to run for public office. With the bye-elections over, everyone will be reading the tea leaves to see what it [...]
View From the Hill by Keith Beardsley – Martha Hall Findlay? Hmm…. November 14, 2012
CFN – I see that Martha Hall Findlay has jumped into the federal Liberal leadership race, good for her. Her entrance will give media types a chance to talk about another serious candidate instead of the daily dribble about Justin Trudeau. Frankly at this point there isn’t anyone else of real interest just yet; the [...]
View From the Hill by Keith Beardsley – Elections Come & Go – Words Last Forever
CFN – History was made last night when President Obama was re-elected for another four year term. What struck me while listening to his acceptance speech was the fact that his words (whether we agree or disagree with him) are now part of his nation’s historical record. Quite simply they are there for future generations [...]
View From the Hill by Keith Beardsley – What do you get when you mix an Inept Opposition & Conservative MPs Trained Seals?
CFN – In a recent speech, Michael Ignatieff raised some very good points about what is wrong with politics and political discourse. A lot of his points could apply to our House of Commons. Ignatieff was right on target when he referred to politicians today regarding each other as enemies as opposed to adversaries. Unfortunately [...]
View From the Hill by Keith Beardsley – Promise made, promise kept? Parliamentary Budget Office
CFN – When political parties spend time on the opposition benches they often come up with ideas that look great on paper but lose their lustre once the party moves from the opposition side of the House to the government side. Such has been the case with the Conservatives and the Parliamentary Budget Office presently [...]
View From the Hill by Keith Beardsley – Reforming Question Periord – October 19, 2012
CFN – Anyone watching Question Period the last few days would be excused if they simply turned it off and walked away in disgust. Basically the kids in the chamber are back to their old games- insults, evasive answers and slap downs. True it can get partisan blood going, but partisans are already committed to [...]
View From the Hill by Keith Beardsley – Justin Trudeau Political Coronation? October 11, 2012
CFN – Justin Trudeau will have to wade through a political minefield over the next few weeks while he waits to see if anyone else will challenge him for the Liberal Party leadership. It is a tough position to be in, especially with the Ignatieff coronation serving as such a recent example. However, the last [...]
Keith Beardlsey’s View From the Hill – Boys in Short Pants – Tory Backbenchers – October 3, 2012
CFN – John Ivison’s column on the frustration being felt by backbench Tory MPs was quite interesting and for the most part pretty accurate. It is true that Tory MPs and ministers are champing at the bit because they have to take orders from “the boys in short pants”. It also says something when that [...]
Keith Beardlsey’s View From the Hill – Justin Trudeau – The Second Coming – Name Brand?
CFN – I gather from all the media hype that Canadians are supposed to be waiting with bated breath and pounding heart for the “Second Coming” IE Justin Trudeau’s non-announcement this week that he will enter the Liberal Party’s leadership race. I say non-announcement as I don’t know anyone who pays attention to politics who [...]
View From the Hill by Keith Beardsley – Eric Grenier’s Piece on S31′s – September 25, 2012
CFN – Eric Grenier has tabulated that Members Statements in the House of Commons under Standing Order 31 or simply SO 31s as we normally refer to them are considerably more partisan than in the past. Eric put together an interesting piece that highlights this and points the finger at the Harper Tories as the [...]
