The Commons: Happily outraged

By Aaron Wherry - Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 6:03 PM - 0 Comments

The Scene. Oh how happy Conservatives must’ve been made last night to read the inflammatory remarks of Liberal MP David McGuinty. Oh how giddy they must’ve been at the prospect of hanging this one on the Liberal side. One presumes several backbenchers could barely sleep, so anxious to get on with today’s festival of shame.

Well, of course, happy and outraged. Deeply, terribly outraged. Yes, yes, incredibly outraged. Profoundly saddened even.

So immensely outraged, in fact, that the Immigration Minister was sent out after the meeting of the Conservative caucus to specially address the matter. And no less than four Conservatives—each of them an Albertan who could claim a personal affront—were sent up before Question Period to variously fume.  Continue…

Speaker Scheer’s 2nd Annual Hilloween Party

By Mitchel Raphael - Thursday, November 1, 2012 at 6:30 AM - 0 Comments

Speaker Andrew Scheer hosted his second annual Hilloween party for MPs, staffers and all their children.

‘The most liberal abortion regime in the world’

By Aaron Wherry - Friday, September 28, 2012 at 8:00 AM - 0 Comments

Conservative MP James Lunney explains his vote in favour of Motion 312.

It has come up in every election.  I repeat that yes, I am pro-life.  I studied embryology at university; I had a course on obstetrics and gynecology as part of my second degree studies.  My first child was in the womb at that time and my wife and I followed the development keenly throughout her pregnancy. A close friend from the Oceanside area recently sent me a recording of her grandchild’s heartbeat in the womb, 160 beats per minute; they are excited about the arrival of a new grandchild.

Many Canadians do not realize that Canada has no law on abortion. There is no prohibition on abortion at any stage of development. Since there are no restrictions at all, we have the most liberal abortion regime in the world.  There is no prohibition on a young woman using abortion as birth control, six to eight serial abortions; yes, it happens! And at taxpayers’ expense.

Chris Warkentin explains his vote in favour. The Globe, Sun, Canadian Press, Star and CTV look at Rona Ambrose’s vote.

The farce is strong in these ones

By Aaron Wherry - Friday, September 21, 2012 at 2:59 PM - 0 Comments

Among the Conservaties who stood in the House this week and criticized the NDP’s stance on cap-and-trade were Kyle Seeback, Peter Van Loan, Gord Brown, Leon Benoit, Shelly Glover, Chris Warkentin, LaVar Payne, Gerry Ritz, Pierre Poilievre, Christian Paradis, Rick Dykstra, Randy Hoback, Pierre Lemieux, Ed Fast, Tony Clement and Andrew Saxton. These individuals—like Phil McColeman, Joe Preston and Ed Holder, who attacked the NDP last week—were all Conservative candidates in 2008 when the Conservative party platform included a commitment to pursue a continental cap-and-trade system.

Here, again, is everything you need to know about the Conservatives’ carbon tax farce.

The case of the alleged Nazi salute

By Aaron Wherry - Monday, June 18, 2012 at 8:01 PM - 0 Comments

Despite—indeed, because of—Wayne Easter’s statement that no Nazi salute was made during last week’s C-38 votes, Joe Oliver rose after QP today to press the case, alleging that Mr. Easter and Liberal MP Hedy Fry engaged in inappropriate gesturing. Mr. Easter again asserted innocence, but Conservative MP Chris Warkentin suggested he should apologize anyway. After an intervention by Bob Rae, the Speaker said he would review the video footage. (Ms. Fry responds via Twitter.)

Below, the transcript of today’s discussion. Continue…

Firefighters in Ottawa

By Mitchel Raphael - Thursday, November 3, 2011 at 9:06 AM - 0 Comments

The International Association of Firefighters arrived in Ottawa and held a reception at the Delta Hotel.

Labour Minister Lisa Raitt (left) and Scott Marks, IAFF Assistant to the General President for Canadian Operations..

Conservative MP James Lunney and Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq.

Continue…

How the Tory MP surprised the Rabbi

By Mitchel Raphael - Monday, October 31, 2011 at 8:30 AM - 0 Comments

Mitchel Raphael/Maclean's

Following #redchamber

Who says the Senate is out of touch? It recently announced a Twitter account, so “Canadians can learn about what is happening at the Senate—when it happens,” according to a release. The Senate can be followed at @SenateCA. The hashtag is #SenCA. “Twitter is a step in the right direction,” says Alberta Liberal Sen. Grant Mitchell. Admittedly, the Senate has skipped a few technological trends. Mitchell has been trying to get TV cameras in the Senate, just like in the House of Commons. A few years ago Conservative senators Hugh Segal and Tommy Banks had a motion to set up cameras in the upper house, but that fizzled. Mitchell said the price tag would be around $2 million. However, he has proposed the Senate do webcasting, which would cost $120,000 to set up and another $33,000 a year to maintain. “We owe it to Canadians, in the spirit of transparency,” says Mitchell. “Plus, they would see the quality of the speeches, the dignity with which we debate. We are not as partisan as the House and there is not as much tension.” For now, however, it looks like dignified tweets will have to do.

Suits Jason Kenney just fine

There is no turning back for Immigration Minister Jason Kenney. He continues to lose weight through diet and exercise. He has gone down so many suit sizes that even some of his smaller suits are too big. He recently got rid of his larger ones, to ensure that he never goes back to his larger size, otherwise he will have to fork out a huge amount to re-supersize his wardrobe.

Continue…

MPs celebrate Jewish holiday of Succoth

By Mitchel Raphael - Monday, October 24, 2011 at 7:59 PM - 0 Comments

The Jewish holiday of Succoth saw Rabbi Chaim Mendelsohn of the Canadian Federation of Chabad-Lubavitch set up a sukkah (a temporary dwelling to symbolize what the Jews used when they wandered the dessert for 40 years) in the East Block courtyard.

Rabbi Chaim Mendelsohn of the Canadian Federation of Chabad-Lubavitch and Conservative MP Kelly Block.

Conservative MP Chris Warkentin (left)

The Commons: ‘I’m sorry if there’s been any confusion’

By Aaron Wherry - Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at 7:38 PM - 51 Comments

The Scene. The Prime Minister seemed in a rather foul mood. Perhaps he was disappointed in himself. Perhaps he was merely upset with just about everyone around him.

With the first opportunity in Question Period, Michael Ignatieff stood and demanded the Prime Minister apologize, on behalf of the government, for a Conservative backbencher’s press release that likened the nation’s police chiefs to cult leaders and accused them of corruption.

“Will he condemn these disgraceful remarks?” the Liberal leader wondered.

Stephen Harper would not. He would instead note that the backbencher had apologized, that the assistant who had put those words in the backbencher’s mouth had resigned and that, anyway, the real problem here was the Liberal leader’s position on the gun registry.

Mr. Ignatieff came back with an accusatory finger, demanding the Prime Minister answer the question. And so here came the Prime Minister, yelling and pointing and carrying on. “Of course we all agree with that apology,” he offered of his backbencher’s retraction, “and we accept that apology.” And then he again turned on the Liberal leader, upon whom said backbencher had wished metaphorical violence. Continue…

'Who's that in the back row?'

By Aaron Wherry - Thursday, November 26, 2009 at 12:13 PM - 9 Comments

This Hour Has 22 Minutes just yesterday uploaded to YouTube its skits from this season. Which is as good an excuse as any to post this.

The audacity of youth (II)

By Aaron Wherry - Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 11:23 AM - 14 Comments

The video report that resulted from those student journalists asking all those pesky questions last week.

When will Barack Obama quit his assault on rural Canadians?

By Aaron Wherry - Thursday, April 9, 2009 at 12:47 PM - 34 Comments

When a Liberal senator tried to move a bill last month that would’ve ended the seal hunt, seven different Conservative MPs were sent up to express their genuine outrage with the senator, Michael Ignatieff and the Liberal party. Elizabeth May and Warren Kinsella were singled out for scorn too.

“This is appalling,” gasped Gail Shea, the Fisheries Minister.

“When will the Liberal leader quit his assault on rural Canadians?” begged Chris Warkentin.

For good measure, Shea’s department sent out three press releases attacking the Liberal side (an improper use of government resources that would eventually necessitate an apology).

One trusts that the Prime Minister’s finely tuned moral compass will demand an equally forceful response to news that Barack Obama’s not much of a fan of the seal hunt either. The letter in question surfaced two weeks ago and received coverage in Newfoundland the next day.

It's all in the timing

By Aaron Wherry - Wednesday, March 4, 2009 at 12:39 PM - 21 Comments

Ask Geri Hall. Or Chris Warkentin.

The Conservative backbencher was sent up yesterday to offer another of these giddy denunciations of the Liberal leader. Here are the announcements that directly preceded and followed Warkentin’s remarks. Continue…

The Commons: What shall we call this crisis of ours?

By Aaron Wherry - Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at 5:13 PM - 30 Comments

The Scene. Stephen Harper arrived at his seat, sat down and nodded across the aisle. Michael Ignatieff nodded back.

A short while later, one of Mr. Harper’s dutiful backbenchers stood to impugn the Liberal leader’s good name.

“Mr. Speaker, the Liberal leader is out of touch with real Canadians. More specifically, he is out of touch with rural Canadians,” exclaimed Chris Warkentin, apparently unaware of Mr. Ignatieff’s childhood years spent rolling around in the manure of his uncle’s dairy farm in Richmond, Quebec. “The Liberal leader does not support rural Canadians. I would ask the Liberal leader when he will quit his assault on rural Canadians.”

Ignatieff laughed, then stood to begin his questioning of the Prime Minister with a novel suggestion.

“Mr. Speaker, Canadians deserve a clear message from their Prime Minister about this economic crisis,” he said. “Sometimes he says we are in a recession, sometimes it is a depression. In September it was not going to happen at all. This weekend on CNN the Prime Minister called it ‘a cyclical downturn but nothing that requires major government intervention.’ We supported $40 billion worth of stimulus because we believe this is a serious economic crisis. Does the Prime Minister now feel a little differently?”

Ignatieff leaned forward on this bit and raised his voice an octave or two to better enunciate the mockery. Continue…

Dated reference of the day

By Aaron Wherry - Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at 4:28 PM - 22 Comments

Conservative Chris Warkentin, also during members’ statements.

“Mr. Speaker, the Liberal opposition benches remind me of that Alicia Silverstone movie Clueless.”

Clueless appeared in theatres in 1995. When Mr. Warkentin was 17.