It looks like NDP interim leader Don Davies may have been done dirty by CTV News over the weekend as their headline suggested that his “party ‘open’ to Speaker of the House role in exchange for resources.” While the text of the story presents this as a proposal that no one has actually discussed, the fact that this is the headline from an interview on CTV Question Period makes it sound like this was somehow being floated. It was not.
Instead, in the interview, he was asked about his scenario as a hypothetical for him to weigh in on, given that it could give the Liberals one more vote in order to be an effective majority, and he said he’d be open to it, as the discussion around official party status was now closed (which was not what he was telling the Star a week ago, but perhaps those illusions have since been shattered) but he’s still trying to get additional resources, never mind that it’s not like his party needs them for caucus management or committee research or anything like that.
This is an object lesson in why politicians don’t like to answer hypothetical questions—because they get blown up like this, and to be frank, it feels like that kind of question is borderline, if not outright, irresponsible. And sure, Davies could have simply said “I’m not going to answer hypotheticals like that,” and probably will going forward, but asking these kinds of hypotheticals also doesn’t get you very useful answers in journalism either, and so you’ve built an entire story around this this hypothetical scenario that is outright delusional. Nobody came out ahead here, especially the readers, so I fail to see the point.
Ukraine Dispatch
Odesa suffered further attacks on Saturday, leading to a major blackout.
Good reads:
- Mark Carney was at a menorah-lighting at Ottawa City Hall after the Bondi Beach mass shooting, and other political leaders around the country offered solidarity.
- Dominic LeBlanc concedes that trade talks with the US are unlikely to proceed outside of the New NAFTA review and renegotiation.
- Civil service unions are waiting for clarity on what Carney was talking about with returns to being back in the office more.
- Proponents of Canadian spelling want Carney and the government to return to using it and not British spelling in government documents as Carney demands.
- Here is a deeper dive into recall legislation in Alberta and BC, and why the thresholds are intentionally set very high.
- Here is more about the controversy surrounding the Métis Nation of Ontario, and the reasons why they are believed to be falsely claiming history and territory.
- One of the country’s oldest medical isotope companies is surrendering its nuclear licence because its private owners couldn’t keep up with requirements.
- Poilievre says that his focus on affordability will keep his caucus united. (The lack of self-reflection here is absolutely stunning).
- The proposed whale sanctuary in Nova Scotia needs to fundraise $15 million if they hope to open by the end of next summer.
- The Alberta MOU gives industry a longer timeline for methane reductions, and surprise, surprise, the industry continues to grouse about it.
- Here are way in which Danielle Smith has gone out of her way to make it easier for separatists in the province to launch a referendum (which is a crisis she wants).
- Justin Ling suggests that Carney take his own advice on leadership and start trusting the people around him more to deliver his “transformational change.”
- Supriya Dwivedi points to the glaring hole in the government’s bill to protect children, being the mechanisms to hold platforms accountable.
- Paul Wells reflects on the busy week that was had in Parliament, but why that excitement doesn’t necessarily translate off the Hill in times like these.
- My weekend columns point out that Carney capitulating to Danielle Smith not only didn’t mollify separatist sentiment, but merely accelerated her plans for a crisis.
Odds and ends:
The coming years are going to reveal a lot more waste on 'AI' like this by our governments, to the tune of 10s of billions squandered on appalling nonsense, all to make rich Tech Bros richer.
— Emmett Macfarlane 🇨🇦 (@emmettmacfarlane.com) 2025-12-13T14:55:29.498Z
Hey BSers! Need a copy of my book, for yourself or for a holiday gift? @dundurnpress.bsky.social is having their holiday sale! Use code HOLIDAY25 to save 25% on this, or any Dundurn book. Check out my book #UnbrokenMachine, or the book I contributed a chapter to, #RoyalProgress.
— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2025-11-19T02:01:04.435Z
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