Beyond The Commons

 Beyond The Commons

Aaron Wherry covers all the goings-on in and around Parliament Hill. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @aaronwherry

Categories: Beyond The Commons, Capital Read

One hour (or so) to go

by Aaron Wherry on Friday, March 25, 2011 12:36pm - 20 Comments

The House has finished its tributes to Speaker Peter Milliken and Mr. Milliken has offered his parting words. He is still receiving well wishers at his throne now. After he has shaken every hand that is to be offered, the House will resume debate on the Liberal motion.

The Prime Minister, who was absent from Question Period for a third straight day, is scheduled to speak to reporters in the House foyer following the vote (now scheduled to take place at precisely 2:03pm). Michael Ignatieff is due to speak shortly thereafter.

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  • jonatwitan

    Mr. Wherry's excitement is almost tangible as he counts down the hours to the defeat of the Harper Government (TM). Almost makes me want to jump up and run around in circles. Is anyone with me?

    • auntie-em-m

      No, I move in my own ever increasing circle. ;0)

    • LdKitchenersOwn

      I think he's excited because he thinks the Tories are about to fight an election in which they'll win a majority.

      Either that, or he's excited for the same reason every other politic writer in the country is excited… because covering an election is more exciting for a political writer than covering "not an election".

  • FVerhoeven

    You are funny, Mr.Wherry. Really, I think the countdown you got going is creative.

    For the last hour or so I have told myself: it's time to get some groceries (and some beer, I'm out of beer also) but I can't pull myself away from Wherry's count down. Seriously, how sad is that, eh!

    :)

  • danby

    The Prime Minister, who was absent from Question Period for a third straight day, is scheduled to speak with reporters in the House foyer following the vote

    I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that the Prime Minister will speak TO reporters – speaking WITH reporters implies they may actually get to ask unscripted questions.

  • sine_ingenio

    I couldn't help but noticing a conspicuous absence in the tributes to Mr. Milliken – the Prime Minister. What does this say?

    • catherine

      That he doesn't expect his government to survive. I'm sure he'll appear to give his parting shot.

  • B.T.

    Geee, I thought the PM was absent in the House because he was busy appointing Senators?…..no?….really?….

    • Mike T.

      don't be silly! harper gave his solemn word never to appoint a senator who was not elected first!

  • FVerhoeven

    Say, Mr.Wherry, have you ever sailed a boat across the waters with an old fashioned mechanism attached? I mean the ones without a steering wheel in the cockpit.?

    And you know how the rudder needs to be pushed opposite as to the direction one wants to go in?

    Well, it seems to me that the Liberals haven't sailed in an old fashioned sailboat for a long, long time.

    Who's to know if the Liberals will find dry land anytime soon.

    :)

    • FVerhoeven

      I only get a -1 for this one?? Hey, come on now. Be fair!

      • http://halooverride.blogspot.com/ Halo_Override

        Happy to help.

  • auntie-em-m

    Partisan blood and brains are thick?

  • jonatwitan

    23 minutes to go!

  • LdKitchenersOwn

    So, wait, not that it will effect the outcome, but is the Prime Minister not going to vote against the contempt motion? If so, does that not seem a little odd?

    • http://dougsamu.wordpress.com dougrogers

      Yes.

  • Mike T.

    What given past history, makes you believe he'd say anything but what is most convenient for him at the time, even if it flew directly in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary?

    • LdKitchenersOwn

      Given the attacks on Ignatieff re: a coalition, isn't explicitly ruling out ever entering in to a coalition himself actually exactly what would be most convenient for Harper right now?

      I mean, sure, it seems pretty definitive and binding going forward, but 1) like any leader currently in the House of Commons hasn't ever gone back on a definitive statement before (lol) and 2) isn't making such a definitive statement the best move for him strategically right now?

  • Guest #1

    "On the contrary. I am happy to draw attention to Harper's offensive attempt to rebrand OUR government in his personal name. And will do so at every chance."
    Did you get a chance to review the "Government of Ontario" website and come up with a better explanation as to why the "McGuinty Government" is used, as to date 26,410 times. & how this is not an "offensive attempt to rebrand OUR government"

  • LdKitchenersOwn

    I would have thought the Prime Minister could rise above the moment to show some respect.

    Prime Minister Harper?

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