Roundup: A visit from Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is in town to meet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper to talk trade, security, and the Eurozone crisis. Later today she’ll be off to Halifax to talk with scientists.

Now that the media has done his due diligence for him, John Baird has announced that the government won’t be funnelling aid money to Syrian rebels through that dubious organisation after all. This isn’t the first time either – during the Libya mission, I heard from Foreign Affairs staff that Baird was looking to turn over millions of dollars to rebel groups there without any due diligence then either until he was talked out of it by cooler heads.

The CBC also takes a look into the delays around finding a new Chief of Defence Staff, and throws a couple of other names on the table. Peter MacKay says the pick will be announced in the “very near future.”

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Roundup: Support through cuts

The government is showing continued support for the federal Youth Justice Services Funding Programme by slashing its funding by twenty percent. Also, the chocolate ration was increased from 30 grammes to 25. Doubleplusgood!

The Ethics Commissioner wants stricter guidelines when it comes to reporting the gifts that MPs receive – and the power to fine those that don’t report them.

In light of the Brazeau incident, Senator LeBreton is suggesting that the Senate’s attendance rules be reviewed.

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