The blame game

By Aaron Wherry - Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 1:08 PM - 0 Comments

Canada has failed in its bid for a seat around the UN security council table.

For those keen fans of finger-pointing, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon is due to address reporters in New York at 1:15pm (viewable here). The Prime Minister’s Office has summoned Ottawa bureau chiefs for a briefing at 2pm. NDP foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar will speak with reporters in the House foyer at 2:30pm. And the Liberals have called a news conference with Michael Ignatieff, Bob Rae and Scott Brison for 3:30pm in the National Press Theatre.

The Backbench Top Ten

By Aaron Wherry - Sunday, October 10, 2010 at 4:14 PM - 0 Comments

Our weekly, and wholly arbitrary, ranking of the ten most worthy, or at least entertaining, MPs, excluding the Prime Minister, cabinet members and party leaders. A celebration of all that is great and ridiculous about the House of Commons. Last week’s rankings appear in parentheses. Continue…

The Backbench Top Ten

By Aaron Wherry - Sunday, October 3, 2010 at 1:38 PM - 0 Comments

Our weekly, and wholly arbitrary, ranking of the ten most worthy, or at least entertaining, MPs, excluding the Prime Minister, cabinet members and party leaders. A celebration of all that is great and ridiculous about the House of Commons. Last week’s rankings appear in parentheses. Continue…

The Commons: Vic Toews makes a funny

By Aaron Wherry - Monday, September 27, 2010 at 6:57 PM - 0 Comments

The Scene. It should not ever be said this government goes about its business too quietly, that it attempts to hide or conceal its true feelings or intent. Indeed, to the contrary, it wears its gleeful disregard quite proudly.

Consider, for instance, today’s display from Vic Toews. Take note particularly of the really, very hilarious thing he said. Continue…

The Backbench Top Ten

By Aaron Wherry - Sunday, September 26, 2010 at 2:37 PM - 0 Comments

We resume our weekly, and wholly arbitrary, ranking of the ten most worthy, or at least entertaining, MPs, excluding the Prime Minister, cabinet members and party leaders. A celebration of all that is great and ridiculous about the House of Commons. Last week’s rankings appear in parentheses. Continue…

Shadow cabinet shuffle

By Aaron Wherry - Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at 12:20 PM - 0 Comments

Michael Ignatieff has significantly restructured his government-in-waiting. Ralph Goodale is elevated to deputy leader, David McGuinty becomes house leader, Scott Brison replaces John McCallum in finance, Gerard Kennedy takes over environment, Dominic LeBlanc goes to defence, Ujjal Dosanjh goes to health, Marlene Jennings gets justice and Denis Coderre returns to the shadow cabinet as natural resources critic.

Full list after the jump. Continue…

The Conservative-Liberal coalition

By Aaron Wherry - Wednesday, June 2, 2010 at 10:55 AM - 16 Comments

Two months ago, the International Trade Minister happily watched as Scott Brison negotiated directly with Colombia to complete a free trade deal. This week, the Immigration Minister happily accepts Maurizio Bevilacqua’s amendments to the immigration reform bill.

Parties unite for prostate cancer

By Mitchel Raphael - Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 10:20 AM - 9 Comments

All parties were united by wearing blue to show their support for NDP leader Jack Layton in his battle with prostate cancer. The men were given ties and the women were given scarves by Prostate Cancer Canada. Below, Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose.

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Liberal MP Justin Trudeau.

Continue…

Conservatives, Liberals, and the Colombian free trade deal

By John Geddes - Thursday, March 25, 2010 at 12:26 PM - 22 Comments

The government’s decision yesterday to accept a Liberal amendment to its free trade agreement with Colombia is being touted by the main architect of the side deal as a case study in how a minority Parliament should work.

Liberal MP Scott Brison, his party’s international trade critic, proposed the amendment to that would see Colombia produce an annual report, with Canadian input, on how the free trade agreement affects human rights.

Trade Minister Peter Van Loan accepted Brison’s proposal, and no wonder, since it guarantees that the Conservative minority in the House will now be backed by Liberal votes on this issue, enough to get legislation enacting the trade pact passed.

Continue…

The Tewksbury clause

By Aaron Wherry - Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at 10:31 AM - 37 Comments

Dale Smith, who noted the lack of reference to gay rights in the citizenship guide when the guide was released, rounds up reaction to yesterday’s revelation.

“It’s becoming more and more clear that the Conservatives did not intend this to be a Canadian citizenship guide, but instead a Conservative citizenship guide,” says gay Liberal MP Scott Brison. ”Canada’s Charter of Rights has helped make Canada one of the most progressive societies in the world and a magnet for those seeking equality. The Charter is not a buffet. You can’t take from it the rights you like and ignore the rest.”

For the record, the portion of the citizenship guide that covers the Charter reads as follows. Continue…

A year ago

By Aaron Wherry - Friday, November 27, 2009 at 12:09 PM - 6 Comments

The sketch for November 27, 2008.

“The greatest histories,” Jim Flaherty mused about a half hour into explaining the state of the national economy, “are written in the toughest times.”

Shortly thereafter, he was finished. And shortly after his final words, he and the Prime Minister took their leave, long gone by the time Scott Brison, Gilles Duceppe, Jack Layton and Thomas Mulcair got round to blistering the Commons paint with indictments of the story just told.

In the thirty minutes preceding, Flaherty had explained, in the most ominous of adjectives, the depth and breadth of the crisis that now faces us. Unprecedented. Sudden. Devastating. Historic. “Canada,” he said, “has not faced such severe challenges in a generation.”

Perhaps hoping to assist those of us who traffic in symbolism, an infant wailed from the gallery.

You can't say that here

By Aaron Wherry - Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at 4:15 PM - 18 Comments

Let’s watch as opposition MPs attempt to raise in the House the matter of Gerald Keddy’s misunderstood comments.

Continue…

The new gay politics

By Aaron Wherry - Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 12:13 PM - 10 Comments

An interesting tangent near the end of John Lorinc’s piece this week on the current generation of gay politicians.

Still, there are subtle but significant differences between serving as an openly gay MP, MPP or city councillor, and holding a prominent political leadership role. Though most people take them for granted, the habits of high public office are steeped in the symbols of heterosexual marriage. At official functions, the prime minister or premiers are often seen with their spouses (typically wives), and greet visiting leaders with their other halves in tow. “I do think that’s a barrier,” Prof. Rayside says.

… With same-sex marriage now commonplace, some gay politicians – such as Mr. Brison, who has run and lost in two national leadership contests – have allowed their marriage ceremonies to become quasi-public events, thus giving voters a glimpse of customs that turn out to be familiar to most. Yet, in so doing, they may also face even greater expectations to maintain long-term monogamous relationships than do their straight colleagues.

MPs, gay rights and underwear models

By Mitchel Raphael - Wednesday, June 10, 2009 at 11:51 AM - 0 Comments

The gay advocacy group Egale held its first-ever large-scale gala in Toronto’s Le Meridien King Edward Hotel to mark the 40th anniversary of the decriminalization of homosexuality in Canada. Conservative strategist Jaime Watt, who is chairman of the Navigator communications firm, was presented with the group’s inaugural Leadership Award for LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) human rights. Justin Trudeau was the keynote speaker. Designer John Walke served up a fashion show with his Superstein label.

The Commons: 'Why do you hate ShamWow?'

By Aaron Wherry - Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 6:22 PM - 26 Comments

The Scene. Ralph Goodale stood looking dapper and displeased.

“Mr. Speaker,” he began, “a third of a million Canadians have lost their jobs under the Conservative government.”

“You’re next Ralph,” chirped Conservative Jeff Watson from the further reaches of the government side.

“Tens of thousands cannot get the employment insurance they paid for, because Conservatives insist on eligibility rules designed for the beginning of a boom,” Goodale continued undaunted. “But the boom has gone bust. The C.D. Howe Institute, the Conference Board, the TD Bank—these are not socialist organizations—and they all say the Conservatives are wrong on EI. Why will the Prime Minister not help all of the jobless workers who are suffering through his recession regardless of where they live?”

“Oh Ralph,” moaned a Conservative at Goodale’s assigning our current predicament to our current Prime Minister.

Unfortunately, Mr. Harper was not present. And though normally that would’ve been the cue for Diane Finley, the Human Resources Minister, to stand and dismiss the Liberal complaint, this time the government sent up Tony Clement. Continue…

Student government leaders talk to big government

By Mitchel Raphael - Monday, March 30, 2009 at 10:54 AM - 8 Comments

Members of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) were on the Hill lobbying MPs on issues pertaining to Canadian post-secondary institutions. Here is Zach Churchill (right), National Director of the CASA, with Liberal Cape Breton MP Mark Eyking.

Labour Minister Rona Ambrose with Stephen Lecce, President of the University Student Council at the University of Western Ontario.

Continue…

Your Team Iggy starting line-up

By Aaron Wherry - Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 5:23 PM - 43 Comments

Posted without comment for the moment. Some attempt at analysis to follow after some consideration now offered below.

Intergovernmental Affairs Michael Ignatieff
House Leader Ralph Goodale
Deputy House Leader Marlene Jennings
Whip Rodger Cuzner
Deputy Whip Marcel Proulx 
Finance John McCallum
Foreign Affairs Bob Rae
Defence Denis Coderre
Environment & Energy David McGuinty
Health Carolyn Bennett
Industry, Science & Technology Marc Garneau
Public Safety & National Security Mark Holland
Natural Resources Geoff Regan
Justice and Attorney-General Dominic LeBlanc
International Trade Scott Brison
Public Works and Government Services Martha Hall Findlay Continue…

Our post-partisan cooperation runneth over

By Aaron Wherry - Friday, January 9, 2009 at 2:42 PM - 20 Comments

In case you were worried that everything has changed in Ottawa in the wake of last month’s unpleasantness, rest assured absolutely nothing has changed.

Yesterday’s episode of Politics on CBC was Exhibit A in this regard—specifically Susan Bonner’s separate interviews with Liberal Scott Brison and PMO spokesman Kory Teneycke. A few excerpts are below. 

It is perhaps time to wonder whether we might be better off if Ms. Bonner, hereby tagged Our Tim Russert, was named Adult Conversations Commissioner and given the power to personally mediate all Parliamentary business. Continue…

The bully analogy extended to its logical conclusion

By Aaron Wherry - Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 12:04 PM - 33 Comments

Three situations, selected not entirely at random.

1. The government releases an economic statement that includes plans to revoke the per vote subsidy for political parties and eliminate the public service’s right to strike. The opposition parties object. The government is steadfast. The opposition parties begin to negotiate a coalition. The government withdraws the aforementioned proposals.

2. Within the economic statement, the government forecasts economic growth in 2009 and a budgetary surplus in 2009-2010. The Prime Minister gets the Governor General to prorogue Parliament, but the Liberals continue to threaten a coalition. John McCallum and Scott Brison meet with the Finance Minister and publicly demand he release an accurate accounting of the nation’s finances. Two days later, Jim Flaherty releases new projections. The economy will shrink in 2009, the surplus is now a deficit.

3. The government announces plans to redistribute federal seats in Parliament. Dalton McGuinty objects to the formula used. Government house leader Peter Van Loan calls him as the “small man of Confederation.” Flaherty says Ontario is the “last place” to invest. A year later, at a press conference, McGuinty announces the Prime Minister has capitulated to his demands.

So.

Perhaps one of the identifiable lessons of this month in politics is that, for all the yelling and screaming and frothing-at-the-mouth and arm-waving and and chair-kicking and name-calling and obviously very manly posturing, those willing to stick a metaphorical finger in Stephen Harper’s chest might find his reputed toughness to be somewhat overstated.

Change partners and dance?

By Andrew Coyne - Monday, December 15, 2008 at 8:07 PM - 73 Comments

What’s this? First the PM lets slip, in a post-crisis interview, that he thinks the two “big national parties” should be “working together to fix the economy.” Next thing you know, he and Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff are having a “cordial and businesslike” meeting.” And now this?

Conservative Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has conceded that the economic projections in last month’s controversial update were overly rosy in light of deteriorating conditions, two Liberal MPs said today.

Finance critics John McCallum and Scott Brison emerged from a one-hour consultation with the finance minister in Toronto saying they were promised a more “realistic” picture before Christmas.

“He certainly admitted that the economic situation has deteriorated since receiving the forecasts (for the Nov. 27 fiscal and economic statement). He does agree that the forecasts were too rosy,” McCallum said in a cellphone interview…

Brison said the preferred route is for a realistic budget that tackles Canada’s economic problems.

“During these extraordinarily difficult economic times, Canadians clearly want to see a better level of co-operation in Parliament, and the Liberal party is open to that co-operation,” he said.

Something is most definitely up. Just days ago, the official Liberal party line was that the government simply could not be trusted, that cooperation was impossible, etc. (You can read several variations on that theme, in fact, in today’s Hill Times.) But now listen to Brison:

“I am hopeful and indeed confident that Minister Flaherty will come back to us on both counts — a plan that we can consider to be a realistic one around asset sales and fiscal numbers that we can depend on.”…

“I believe, based on our meeting today, that there is an openness with Minister Flaherty and the government to actually co-operate with us and to work with us,” Brison said.

Perhaps I was too hasty. Maybe the coalition isn’t dead. Maybe it’s just a different coalition. Continue…

'Honest budgetary numbers'

By Aaron Wherry - Monday, December 15, 2008 at 2:07 PM - 20 Comments

Nice to see Liberals and Conservatives getting together and, seemingly, getting along. To think, all it took was a government threat to bankrupt the opposition, eliminate the public service’s right to strike and limit women’s ability to seek pay equity, unprecedented coalition talks between the Liberals and NDP, the Bloc Quebecois agreeing to support a federalist government, a new leader of the Liberal party, a global economic crisis, talk of a national unity crisis, the makings of a constitutional crisis and cross-country protests in the streets.

And yet, after all that, you still have to make a formal, written request to the Finance Minister if you want to see an “honest” accounting of the nation’s finances.

Are things getting better? Or are things getting worse? I can’t tell anymore.

The first draft

By Aaron Wherry - Thursday, December 11, 2008 at 12:20 PM - 8 Comments

An inside account of two bewildering weeks in Ottawa—the product of more than a dozen interviews—is now online. It was jointly reported by John Geddes and I, with John ably handling the bulk of the writing duties.

There will no doubt be much more to learn and understand in the weeks, months and years to come, but I think—if I may so—we have produced a fairly complete recounting of who did what and when.

Several additional points that either didn’t make it into the magazine or need to be emphasized. Continue…

The Commons: 'Unbelievable'

By Aaron Wherry - Monday, December 1, 2008 at 7:37 PM - 54 Comments

Prime Minister Dion had a question. “Does the Prime Minister,” he asked, “still believe that he enjoys the confidence of this House?”

Prime Minister Harper would not tolerate such a tone in this place. “When the honourable gentleman speaks about playing politics,” he said. “I think he is about to play the biggest political game in Canadian history.”

The Conservative leader sounded envious. Continue…

Fantasy government

By Aaron Wherry - Monday, December 1, 2008 at 2:25 AM - 37 Comments

Latest reports put a coalition cabinet at 24 members—18 Liberal, 6 NDP.

Consider this a rough draft (uninformed by any inside information and based only on personal speculation). Continue…