Cornwall ON – It’s quite amusing to see the media response to a so called “gag order” issued by PMO. This email told MPs not to discuss home mortgages with two reporters working on a story. Why the media shock and outrage? It reminds me of the feigned indignation ofContinue Reading
Cornwall ON – The chaos that erupted at the Government Operations committee yesterday reflects badly on all parliamentarians. Anyone who watches the whole video will be left wondering why we elected these MPs in the first place. John Baird can be a fine parliamentary performer and his award yesterday asContinue Reading
Cornwall ON – Sun Media reports today that some $19.3 million were spent by bureaucrats on meetings leading up to the G8 and G20. Some of it will astound you. For instance, besides Ottawa, DFAIT had 156 contracts for prep meetings in Victoria, Calgary, Yellowknife and Quebec City. In Ottawa,Continue Reading
Cornwall ON – The Liberals and NDP continue to harp on the costs of the G8 and G20 summits. Admittedly it’s quite a bill and whether or not there will be value for the amount spent will wait until after the summits are over. Personally I think summits of thisContinue Reading
Cornwall ON – Ignatieff shifts like sand blowing in the wind when it comes to the Auditor General auditing MPs books. While publicly stating that the Board of Internal economy should meet with Sheila Fraser to resolve the audit issue, we learn that internally, Iggy is asking his MPs notContinue Reading
Cornwall ON – The recent announcement by Jay Hill, the Government House Leader, that ministerial staffers will no longer appear before committees, opens up a Pandora’s Box of potential issues. The first issue of course is who is supreme? Is it Parliament as represented by its MPs on committees orContinue Reading
Cornwall ON – While MPs of all parties continue to stonewall the public on the Auditor General’s request to audit Parliament, pressure continues to mount on them. Most MPs still don’t get it. This is one issue the public can understand and no amount of spin from our MPs orContinue Reading
The cracks are starting to show. Cornwall ON – MPs from all parties are really feeling the heat from voters over the refusal of the Board of Internal Economy to open MPs books to an audit by Sheila Fraser. Cracks are starting to appear in the ranks of our MPs,Continue Reading
Cornwall ON – There are media reports that the Auditor General in Nova Scotia has called in the RCMP to investigate four former members and one sitting member of the Nova Scotia legislature. No surprise then that our federal MPs turned tail and ran at even the suggestion that SheliaContinue Reading
Cornwall ON – We now know where our MPs stand on being open and accountable. The Board of Internal Economy has rejected a request by the Auditor General to look at their expenses. Am I the only one who thinks that smells? This is the 21st Century, not the 18thContinue Reading
Cornwall ON – Today, we have another round of Conservative CBC bashing. Really, what does it accomplish? While it is an interesting “channel changer”, a tactical move to distract from the Jaffer-Guergis Affair and detainee documents, how many votes will it switch to the Conservative cause? On a positive noteContinue Reading
Cornwall ON – One interesting but over-looked side story in the present impasse over the Afghan documents is that magical date of June 28th. The importance of this date was flagged in a story by CanWest on September 13, 2009. This is the date that some 74 MPs will qualifyContinue Reading
Cornwall ON- It was good theatre. I am referring of course to the Helena Guergis interview on TV. The script played out exactly as one would have expected with a calm, at times teary eyed Guergis defending herself, her reputation and her husband. The only thing missing was “Stand byContinue Reading
Cornwall ON – As mentioned previously MP Michael Chong has taken on the daunting task of trying to reform Question Period. One proposal which will be very controversial is the suggestion that the Prime Minister only show up one day a week, on Wednesday. The catch is that he wouldContinue Reading
Question Period Reform Part 2: Just Answer the Question Cornwall ON – Michael Chong’s Motion 517 to reform Question Period will be debated later this month. While it only directs the Procedures and House Affairs committee to study his proposals, they offer a glimmer of hope that perhaps Question Period canContinue Reading
Reforming Question Period, Part One Ottawa ON – Yesterday, Michael Chong, the Conservative MP for Wellington-Halton, introduced Motion #517 to reform Question Period. The odds of any of his suggested reforms ever happening are pretty slim if other MPs don’t put partisanship aside, or if the media doesn’t line up behindContinue Reading
Stand up for Accountability Strengthen the power of the Auditor General • Increase funding for the Office of the Auditor General to ensure she has the necessary resources to conduct a complete audit of grant and contribution programs and of any such departments, agencies, and Crown corporations as she deemsContinue Reading
Hats Off to Milliken by Keith Beardsley Ottawa ON – Peter Milliken has given a reasoned explanation and defence of the superiority of the rights of Parliament. At the same time, the Speaker has asked the warring factions to get together and come up with a solution over the next two weeks. Surely, if allContinue Reading
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