Looking for answers in the case of the missing documents

By kadyomalley - Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at 2:05 PM - 20 Comments

Colleague Wherry is off on secret macleans.ca business, which means that ITQ will be your almost real-time guide to Question Period today — and since Members’ Statements are already underway, she’d best get scampering down the hall so she doesn’t miss a moment.

2:05:05 PM
Greetings, Wednesday QP enthusiasts, and welcome to a special one-time liveblogging experimentacular. I promise to do my best to live up to the high standards for both substance and snark that have been set by BTC, although since I’m doing this in practically-real-time, it may be a bit more of a mad dash, as far as narrative consistency.

Anyway, while I was yammering on about the process, wouldn’t you just know that I was missing out on Shelley Glover’s scathing – yes, *scathing* – indictment of Liberal hypocrisy on — wait, I lost track for a second there. Oh, northern policy, that’s what she’s on about. We’re still in mid-Members’ Statements, by the way — and no, the prime minister doesn’t seem to be here, which is disappointing, although maybe he’s just chatting up backbenchers behind the curtains.

2:14:47 PM
Hey, guess who else is in the House today? Former fisheries and accidentally-government-down-bringing finance minister John Crosbie. I hope he doesn’t make Jim Flaherty nervous. Or nervouser.

2:16:59 PM
And – wow, I owe someone a shiny loonie; the Liberals – in the form of the leader himself – led off with the missing documents, and not employment insurance or something else designed to send every reporter in the place into a stupour. In response, the minister rises — to the wild applause of the Conservative caucus — to assure the House that “corrective action” has been taken. I think she just told us that she offered to resign, but it was rejected — anyway, the important bit is that she blames it on a now defunct, but still unnamed staffer.

2:19:37 PM

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Don't forget her when she's gone …

By kadyomalley - Monday, April 20, 2009 at 8:22 AM - 34 Comments

Her heeeeart would breeaaaak/Sheeeeee has looooved you for so loooonnnng/It’s all she can taaaaake …

Okay, that was just mean. Anyone who now has that particularly antibiotic resistent strain of 80s CanCon earworm lodged in their skull can feel free to bitterly resent her for the rest of the day.

Anyway, as noted near the end of Friday’s marathon all-day dispatch from Camp Oliphant, ITQ is headed off the grid for a few days — “on assignment”, as they say. She’ll do her best to pop in every now and then, but feel free to use this as an open thread in the meantime.

ITQ goes to the G20: And amazingly, she only gets lost once on her way to the hotel!

By kadyomalley - Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 8:36 AM - 10 Comments

Of course, it was within two stations of her ultimate destination, and technically, she did it twice, but still.

Anyway, the liveblogger has landed, although I’m not sure how much liveblogging will be done today, since I’m spending most of it in a pre-summit briefing hosted by G20 Voice (provided I can find *that*, of course). I’ll definitely post an update on my pre-adventures sometime later today, but at the moment, internet access is a bit dodgy; I’m actually sending this post as an email to one of my fabulous colleagues back home.

Flight report: Middle seat. What more is there to say, really? Thank goodness there’s Sugar Free Red Bull available just steps from the baggage claim at Heathrow, that’s what. As you can imagine, I didn’t get much sleep, so I’m not sure how much of today’s session will penetrate my jetlagged brain, but I’ll do my best to take notes for y’all. Tomorrow, of course, is the conference itself, and the security clearance festivities get underway at the crack of 6am, but I’m sure I’ll find a way to get online between now and then with a lookahead report. Or more stories of getting lost in the tubes, depending on how today unfolds. Wish me luck – and, if you’re feeling especially benevolent, a sudden burst of mad navigational skills too.

ITQ goes to the G20: We're definitely not inside the Queensway anymore, Toto.

By kadyomalley - Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 10:03 AM - 37 Comments

Oh my goodness, you guys! I’m going to London! Today, even! I fly out from lovely YOW this afternoon, and should be landing at Heathrow at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning, whereupon I will likely immediately get hopelessly lost. (Just playing the odds here, people.)

Anyway, I fully intend to provide as constant coverage as I can of the various pre- and post-conference events, as well as as-close-to-live-as-possible-blogging of the meeting itself on Thursday, so check back regularly for updates starting — hmm, around 3am tomorrow, I guess. Stupid timezones. Oh well, it’ll be there when you wake up.

Fun fact: Did you know that Toto was originally intended to be a Boston Terrier, and was even drawn as such in several subsequent Oz books? Wikipedia says so,at least, so it must be true.

Send Kady O'Malley to the G20!

By Paul Wells - Thursday, March 12, 2009 at 11:46 AM - 47 Comments

I haven’t even told ITQ about this. Apparently some group is convening 50 bloggers to the G20 summit in London in early April, including 20 who will be nominated by the public. I’m absolutely shameless enough to ask you to send me, except in all fairness the blogger who covers the G20 shouldn’t be the one who spent four years saying a leaders’ G20 was a dumb idea, so I’m out. Besides, this will basically be a big committee meeting, and I’m told they sell Red Bull in London, so… well, the stars are aligning. You know what to do. It’s time to liveblog a G20. Godspeed.

It's not quite Parliament: The Musical!, but it's close: Liveblogging the Black and White Gala at the NAC

By kadyomalley - Saturday, February 21, 2009 at 7:00 PM - 32 Comments

Really, how could ITQ be expected to turn down an opportunity to see Stockwell Day do Gilbert and Sullivan? The curtain goes up at 8pm, so check back tonight for the all the light operatic action.

7:37:20 PM
Well, I’m here – and so far, the whole event is exactly as dazzling and ever so slightly discombobulating as you might think, what with the tuxedos and the gowns and the many, many faces I almost but not quite recognize from your more elegant Hill function, which ITQ usually only ends up attending when she wanders in by mistake. It’s definitely a distinctly older crowd – which I guess isn’t really all that surprising, considering the scandalously slight exposure to Gilbert and Sullivan that most of us get these days. Anyway, I’m in the theatre now listening to the orchestra warm up, which never fails to boost that sense of delicious anticipation that you get just before partaking of a rarely-indulged pleasure. Eee!

I hope I don’t drive the lovely twin Miss Marples sitting next to me entirely crazy by typing away throughout the show. If I’m found stabbed to death with a knitting needle, you’ll know why.

7:53:17 PM

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ITQ Programming Notice: Hey, remember that Auditor General report?

By kadyomalley - Thursday, February 5, 2009 at 11:22 AM - 3 Comments

Oh, sure you do  – we told you all about it a few weeks back, remember? Anyway, ITQ is off to the lockup to live-to-tape-blog Sheila Fraser’s embargoed press conference, which will be posted as soon as the report is tabled in the House at approximately 2 pm. Cross your fingers that the snack tray hasn’t been picked clean by my colleagues by the time I get there, y’all – and I’ll be back later with all the details.

FMM 2009: Lock up your jurisdictional powers, Ottawa

By kadyomalley - Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 11:44 AM - 9 Comments

The premiers are in town!

Yes, it’s First Ministers’ Meeting Eve, everyone! Get excited!

The pre-preshow gets underway this afternoon at 1pm, when members of the Big City Mayors’ Caucus of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities hold a media availability to reveal the results of their discussions on, in their words, the “ongoing economic challenges and opportunities leading into the First Ministers’ Meeting, Speech from the Throne and Federal Budget,” which, as far as ITQ can tell, basically involves using the phrase “shovel-ready” over and over and over again.

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SenateWatch: RIP Mike Duffy Live

By kadyomalley - Monday, December 22, 2008 at 9:37 AM - 125 Comments

Well, I guess that’s a wrap for Mike Duffy Live, huh?

LIST OF NEW SENATORS Continue…

Can you hear the people sing? No, probably not.

By kadyomalley - Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 11:34 AM - 92 Comments

ITQ will be on the Hill for today’s “Rally for Canada” – not liveblogging, most likely, because it’s freaking cold out there, and I’m not risking frostbitten berrythumbs for anything less than another trip to Rideau Hall, but I’ll report back when I can. See if you can find me in the crowd via the HillCam!

(I’m pretty sure it won’t update automatically, so hit refresh every now and then to get the latest shot.)

Feel free to use this as an open thread to discuss this rally, or any of the others – pro and anti coalition – happening across the country today.

Not with a bang but a press conference: Liveblogging the launch of the coalition government-in-waiting

By kadyomalley - Monday, December 1, 2008 at 3:45 PM - 255 Comments

For Immediate Release
December 1, 2008

Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion, New Democrat Leader Jack Layton and Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe will hold a press conference

Date: Monday, December 1, 2008
Time: 4:30 PM
Location: Railway Room
253-D Centre Block
Ottawa, Ontario

Please note that all details are subject to change. All times are local.

- 30 -

This thing really does need a name, lest it become known forever as This … Thing, as one of my colleagues who shall remain meganameless insists on calling it. (For the record, he’s not against it, he just can’t seem to help himself from referring to it that way.)

Anyway, check back at 4:30 or so for full livebloggalicous coverage, live from the Railway Room – unless, of course, the PM pulls the procedural fire alarm and prorogues the House sometime between now and then.

4:19:43 PM
It’s sort of fitting, really, that the first official news conference with the coalition partners would take place here, in a committee room — after all, it was at committee where the opposition parties first “rediscovered their majority”, as NDP strategist Brad Topp put it the other day. “This is far from routine,” notes Senator David Smith as he squeezes past me into one of the four rows of seats for the media. There are a few MPs mingling with the mob of milling journalists – Derek Lee, Olivia Chow – but I think most of them are likely upstairs at the cameras-only photo op where the leaders will sign the satanic pact of ultimate evil, otherwise known as the Sunshine and Rainbows Accord. Okay, I made that up.

Right now, NDP communications director Karl Belanger is explaining the rules, which I managed to totally miss until the end, when he asked us to limit ourselves to one question. Oh, how quickly the mask falls when they get a taste of power!

4:27:53 PM
Apparently, The Triumverate is on its way down from Dion’s office, which is where the photo op took place. (What? That’s the correct use of the term, isn’t it?)

I have to say that the setting for this particular event could be more — dramatic, somehow. There is a long table — half of a committee table, I believe — on a riser, three ubiquitous green chairs, three microphones blinking red and three glasses of water.
Three for one and three for all!

4:32:45 PM
Other suggestions: the Unholy Trinity, the Three-Headed Beast, the Troika. I feel a poll coming on!

Cereberus! That’s the three-headed dog, right?

4:35:57 PM
Apparently, every now and then, you can catch a glimpse of me liveblogging on the live feed on the networks. Hi, everyone! Yes, I’ll stop being all meta soon.

4:38:52 PM
Okay, apparently the Agreement is out now, not that this means much for my coverage, since I can’t type the whole thing out between now and whenever the Triptyche turns up. Sigh. Choices, choices.

4:42:24 PM
I realize now that I have never actually read another Accord on a Cooperative Government to Address the Present Economic Crisis, so I have no frame of refereence for this one. It seems — fairly reasonable? If a tiny bit unrealistic if only for the somewhat adorably naïve inclusion of “A “no surprises” approach” although one that is “within the limits of common sense and the needs of cabinet government.”

4:47:17 PM
And – they’re here! And signing! And looking very, very serious about governing!

4:47:51 PM
Stephane Dion looks taller, somehow. Maybe it’s the haircut – or the aura of history that now surrounds him, for better or for worse.

I just realized that the (current) Prime Minister has been largely incidental to the day’s events. That must drive him absolutely bonkers.

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A Game of Throne Speeches

By kadyomalley - Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 12:00 PM - 49 Comments

ITQ will be prowling the halls, ready to be swept off her feet by the pomp and pageantry of today’s Speech from the Throne, starting at around 1pm.

In the meantime, check out ITQ’s behind-the-scenes tour of the pre-Speech festivities currently underway on the Hill.

1:00:00 p.m.

Hey everyone – sorry for the delay in liveblogging, but I’m just updating the last post with new photos, so give me a few seconds to upload and caption and stuff, and then I’ll be back here for the duration.

1:10:21 PM
There, all done – and don’t forget to scroll down to the latest update, which includes a cameo appearance by Kory Teneycke!

I’m back downstairs now – where the magic will eventually, but where right now, I’m just trying to make my way into the lobby without tripping over the vacuum cords curretly ensnarling unwitting victims on the red carpet. Then again, maybe it serves us right for daring to stroll down the same carpet that Her Excellency will soon be gracing.

I know we’ve had too many of these in recent years for it to count as a historic occasion, but somehow, it still gives me a bit of a shiver of anticipation when the earpiece-wearing security guards react as one to an unseen signal from on high. It’s just so much *fun* to work here sometimes. Okay, most of the time. I love this place.

1:16:43 PM
Last time, I remember that Elsie Wayne somehow ended up in the foyer during the welcoming ceremony. When she spotted the PM, she ducked under the ropes and hurled herself at him, and for a split second, you could see the fear in his eyes. Unfortunately, she doesn’t seem to be around today, but there are still a few minutes to go before the crowd will start to gather to watch the arrival. Or the Arrival. These events always inspire an overexuberance of capitalization.

1:20:28 PM
Last time, I stood outside and shivered in the cold – but was more than repaid by the bagpipe serenade, which inspired an impromptu reel on the front steps. This time around, however, I thought I’d investigate the view from *inside*. I’m all about perspective. Perspective, and not freezing to death.

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UPDATED: CPC ConventionWatch 2008: Let the sunshine in! (Open thread)

By kadyomalley - Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 10:02 AM - 4 Comments

Starting at 10am EST, CPAC will be providing live coverage from the floor of the Conservative convention, including both the constitutional and policy plenary sessions, which will run from 11:30am to 1pm, and 2:30pm to 5pm respectively, according to the official programme.

I’m not planning to liveblog the CPAC feed in realtime, but I’ll update this post if there are any unexpected – or expected, but still noteworthy – developments. In the meantime, feel free to use the comment section as an open thread for convention-related discussion and debate.

UPDATE: Okay, a quick update before the constitutional plenary begins, which is running a respectable fifteen minutes late, which by Conservative Party standards, is almost early. This session will apparently be moderated by none other than former PMO chief of staff Ian Brodie – I know! so exciting! – which makes me wonder whether his elusive and Giornigmatic successor is somewhere in the crowd. Anyone have a sighting?

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"Can you explain that 'electoral college' thing one more time?": Liveblogging from Ottawa's election-watching party circuit

By kadyomalley - Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at 4:36 PM - 20 Comments

ITQ will be liveblogging her way through the Ottawa election-watching party circuit tonight, so check back around 7pm for sporadic – but hopefully entertaining – updates. (There may even be berrycam pictures if I can figure out how to post from the road. Or pub, as the case may be.)

In the meantime, you can always try your hand at the macleans.ca US election quiz. Feel free to brag about your score (or gripe about how obscure and/or wrong the questions were) in the comments.

6:26:52 PM
Good evening, electoral sports fans! Is everyone ready for a long, stressed out, progressively incoherent evening of staring intensely at the television? I know I am. Actually, part of me is regretting not hauling my laptop out on the town; we’ve only got results from two states trickling in, and I’m already getting confused. Obama is behind in Kentucky? All lost! End nigh! (Pause.) Oh, he wasn’t expected to win that? Never mind, then.

I’m heading to what will likely turn out to be the election-watching party of the night, but first, have stopped in a local pub for fried food in anticipation of a long night to come. I don’t know if I’ll be updating as often as I would during, say, an Ethics committee meeting, but I’ll do my best to check in every twenty or thirty minutes, just to give you a sense of how this town is responding to what will be, one way or another, a historic(tm) night. (Sorry, I promise not to use that word again tonight unless there is absolutely no other option.)

7:58:50 PM
Okay, it’s been a lot longer than half an hour since I updated, but I had important intense staring obligations — staring at the two sets of results coming in, and asking annoying questions of my companions about why it was that McCain seemed to be ahead in the tiny circle on the right side of the CNN screen. But when the Eastern Seaboard states came in – New Jersey, Massachussets, all those other old faithfuls, a cheer went up in the bar, and I felt I had to immortalize the moment. Also, I was finally able to tear myself away from the TV long enough to find my BlackBerry.

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So, did y'all have fun last night?

By kadyomalley - Thursday, October 2, 2008 at 8:32 AM - 5 Comments

I know we did — and yes, as far as I know, we’ll be doing it all over again during the English language debates tonight, although this time, I won’t be hovering over Colleague Wherry’s shoulder in the media room, but will be glued to a different screen, surrounded by various and sundry Hill-ites and political junkies at a debate-watching party hosted by the Public Policy Forum. Oh, and I’m also going to be back outside the NAC for Sign War II, although this time, I’m bringing mittens, and possibly a flask of hot chocolate.

In the meantime, though, I wanted to give y’all a heads up that I may be slightly tardy with today’s Ekos numbers, since I’m heading to federal court to see Democracy Watch in action. I don’t know if I’ll be able to liveblog it, but I’ll do my best to report back as soon as I’m able to do so. I’ll set up an openish thread, though, so as give commenters someplace to chat about the numbers.

In-and-Out (of her sickbed)

By kadyomalley - Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 8:49 PM - 30 Comments

Dear ITQ Readers,

Please excuse Kady’s absence from the blog this afternoon. Although she made a valiant effort to stave off the unfortunately non-metaphorical Campaign Fever that has been going around the Hill like, well, a plague, she wound up spending most of the day lying on her couch in a Dayquil stupour, alternately napping and watching Newsworld. She does, however, have every intention of being back on the job first thing tomorrow morning, since the election isn’t just going to cover itself.

In the meantime, she directs you all to this fascinating story by her Hot Room colleague, Glen McGregor, on the off chance that you haven’t seen it already. Since CanWest doesn’t yet allow for comments on news stories, feel free to use this as an open thread for discussion of election and campaign financing laws, and she will see you in the morning, ideally without the aid of pseudophredine .

P.S. Yes, C/conservative readers, that means leadership debt too. Go crazy!

Watch out, the world's behind you …

By kadyomalley - Sunday, September 14, 2008 at 12:33 PM - 11 Comments

For the first time in what feels like several geological ages but is, in reality, three weeks, the Sunday morning ITQtinerary does not include hanging around outside the gates at 24 Sussex; in celebration of that fact, I’m going to spend the rest of the day recharging my batteries (figuratively and literally; I managed to drive both berries into the red zone yesterday), and not thinking about Canadian politics. Okay, make that trying not to think about Canadian politics. We’ll see how long I can hold out.

In the meantime, you can always read my semi-rattled musings in this morning’s Ottawa Citizen, courtesy of Andrew Potter, Commander in Chief of the BlackBerry Roundtable.

A brief ITQ interlude: "Now for my favorite part of the show …"

By kadyomalley - Friday, September 12, 2008 at 12:40 PM - 25 Comments

“What does that say? Talk to the audience! Ugh, this is always death…”

Present company excepted, of course. Honestly, you’ve no idea how I brag about our commenters here at macleans.ca. All my colleagues with blogs – blollegues? – are pea green with envy over the fact that actual conversation breaks out, instead of just partisan autobots sloganeering at each other about CONservatives and LIEberals. (Is there an internet-official derisive term for the NDP? I’ve always thought of Dippers as an affectionate nickname.)

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Spontaneous Group Liveblogging the Oil and Gas Price Subcommittee – What did you do during the gas price wars, Daddy?

By kadyomalley - Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 11:00 AM - 0 Comments

By popular demand – at least, if anyone is demanding it. This may be the last committee meeting ever, so enjoy the antics while you can!

ITQ goes OTQ

By kadyomalley - Monday, August 25, 2008 at 12:40 AM - 0 Comments

Outside the Queensway, that is — far outside the Queensway. Like, very nearly in an alternate dimension from that in which what we call the Queensway exists. I believe the locals call it “Calgary”.

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The ITQ is out (for a bit): Gone researchin'

By kadyomalley - Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 2:12 PM - 0 Comments

Blame Inkless Wells and the Globe and Mail. Back soon – with presents for all, I hope.

ITQ Committee Lookahead: Search warrants and Speaker’s warrants

By kadyomalley - Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 8:17 AM - 0 Comments

A quick rundown of the witnesses for the fourth (but not, by any stretch of the imagination, final) hearing on the Conservative in-and-out financing scheme, not one of whom required the chair to issue a summons in order to appear:

Morning session – 10am to 5pm

Public Prosecution Service of Canada Acting Deputy Director Chantal Proulx and senior counsel Don Beardall, who will discuss the role that the office has played thus far during ongoing investigation by Elections Commissioner William Corbett, and outline how an eventual prosecution might proceed, should charges be laid against party officials.

Chief Electoral Officer Marc Mayrand and Elections Canada legal services director Francois Bernier are back for a second round  to answer questions on any issues that may have come up since their appearance last month. It might be a very short session – it’s not clear whether there are, in fact, all that many new questions, although the Conservative members will likely hammer the Chief Electoral Officer over the so-called “Mayrand Accommodation”.

Afterwards, it’s time for committee business – selection of future witnesses, scheduling for future meetings. If Pat Martin gets his way, however, it could also lead to discussion over what steps should be taken against those witnesses who failed to show up this week, despite being issued – and in many cases, served – with summonses compelling their appearance. If that happens, expect endless peevish points of order from the government side — possibly even a theatrical walk-out midway through, cleverly timed to capture maximum media attention.

Liveblogging the Ethics committee, Day 3 Part 1 – And now, a word from our sponsors. Or their ad agencies, at least.

By kadyomalley - Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 9:37 AM - 0 Comments

9:48:19 AM
Welcome to Camp In and Out, as it has now been christened by one of my colleagues, where we are currently grumpily assembling in our now established spots in media row. There’s a sense of excitement, since there’s a very good chance that the witnesses scheduled for this morning will actually show up. In fact, I hope it’s not a spoiler to say that they appear to have done just that: a bevy of solemn-suited executives is settling in at the table, and the show is, apparently, going to go on.

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ITQ Committee Lookahead: But how will all those senior Conservative party officials fit around the table? Oh. Right.

By kadyomalley - Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 9:04 AM - 0 Comments

A quick rundown of the witnesses who may or may not appear during the third day of hearings on the Conservative in-and-out financing, depending on whether or not the party has managed to send out its talking points on time, as, sadly, was not the case with yesterday’s inadvertent star witness, Doug Lowry:

Morning session – 10am to noon

The following witnesses are expected to appear, despite the fact that they did not have to be formally summonsed:

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