It was rather stunning, and certainly unexpected, when Paul Calandra got up after Question Period and choked back tears as he apologised for his behaviour on Tuesday, and offered direct apologies to both Mulcair and the House as a whole. He also insisted that the answers were his, and not the “kids in short pants” – even though he later said that he was given the information on that former NDP staffer by a member of the PMO. That said, the fact that he also equivocated, refused to promise to never do it again, and tried to rationalize it as being angry by that NDP fundraiser’s Facebook rant, really took away from the sincerity of the tears and the moment itself. It certainly does raise the question about what changed between now and Tuesday – especially after he doubled down on Wednesday (which led to the Paul Dewar facepalm meme that hit the Internet all day Thursday). I will say that it’s an awfully big coincidence that he suddenly got tearful and apologised on the very same morning that Stephen Harper got back to town after being away since the initial incident happened. Sure, Calandra was pilloried and publicly shamed by the media and the pundit class, but it’s not for the first time either. Paul Wells gives his take on the dynamics at play, while Andrew Coyne takes particular issue with Calandra’s equivocating during the apology, and how it continues to make a mockery of parliament.
Tag Archives: Sir John A Macdonald
Roundup: Back with a countdown
Parliament is back! Yay! Now let’s obsess about how everything is a pre-election narrative, start polling relentlessly, and speculate wildly about the mere possibility that there would be an early election call without any hint of a justification for there to be one! Oh man, aren’t fixed election dates and the year-long campaigning in advance of them just the bestest thing ever?
Roundup: Overselling change, reaffirming identity
In more reaction to Justin Trudeau’s senate move – which the Liberals are totally overselling in both chambers, incidentally – we hear from Senator Anne Cools, the Dean of the Senate, who fears that it may be unwise and that it doesn’t speak highly of Trudeau’s sense of loyalty. Conservative MP John Williamson says boneheaded things like we should choose senators out of the phone book. Senator Terry Mercer says that while he may no longer be in national caucus, nobody is going to stop him from being a party activist, either at the provincial or federal level. Mercer and fellow Senate Liberal Céline Hervieux-Payette were on Power & Politics, where Mercer said the important change is that there will no longer be whipped votes (but the role of the Whip is organisational), and it’s obvious that Evan Solomon needs to brush up on the constitution (hint: the Senate’s legitimacy is conferred by the constitution). A few other senators are pushing back a little against the move, and the Conservatives in the Senate are now questioning funds to the opposition. A few months ago, Stéphane Dion dismissed the very idea of an appointments commission as elitist and watered down the Prime Minister’s accountability – and he’s entirely right. Laura Payton explains the caucus mechanics and why they’re important. Bruce Hicks gives some history about the kinds of appointments that Sir John A Macdonald promised when the Senate was created.
Roundup: Useless, misleading ads
Remember those Economic Action Plan™ ads touting the new Canada Jobs Grant programme that doesn’t actually exist yet? Well, as it turns out, only five percent of respondents bothered to actually go to the website to find out about them, and a mere two percent call the 800-number. But the best part is that Advertising Standards Canada also got involved to smack the government on the wrists for misleading advertising, saying that the programmes existed when they haven’t been implemented yet. $2.5 million well spent, apparently. Meanwhile, PostMedia obtained some of the aborted branding strategies that the government was considering using to attract international investment, many of which suggested that the country is just a work in progress.
Roundup: Neil Young vs. the facts
Canadian rock legend Neil Young has resumed his attack against the oilsands and the government, but along the way has decided that he’d make up a bunch of facts about the place. Things like the air quality there, which is supposed to be this burning toxic smog. Except that it’s not. My father works in the area, and has yet to say anything about the air quality, and he lived in China for several years and knows what poor air quality is really like. Or Young’s assertion that all of the oil sands product is headed to China. Really? How exactly is it getting to the coast? You know that whole issue about the Northern Gateway pipeline, or the possibility of rail transporting oil to Kitimat, which isn’t actually accepting those shipments because tankers aren’t coming into that inlet just yet? Yeah, that. It’s too bad that Young couldn’t inject a little bit of fact into his argument because while there are plenty of reasons to argue against the development of the oilsands, one might think that reality might be a good place to start.
Roundup: Being seen to do something about cyberbullying
The government is launching a new cyberbullying awareness campaign, which includes TV commercials. You know, for the “cyberbullying” law that a) has little to do with cyberbullying and more to do with lawful access, and b) still hasn’t passed. One has to wonder, however, how effective it’ll be since many teenagers don’t see it as “bullying” but just “drama,” and may not relate to it in the way that the government intends. Let’s also not forget that this is the same government that put out some of the lamest and most ineffective anti-drug ads aimed at families, so we’ll see just how effective these cyberbullying ads will be. Michael Den Tandt says that the Conservatives need to address the bullying culture and lack of decorum in their own ranks first.
Roundup: Demands, progress, and walkouts
So, it’s been a busy day. Going into the meeting, the AFN had a list of eight demands. But then a number of Chiefs decided to boycott – in particular, the chiefs from Ontario, Manitoba, the Yukon, and one from Saskatchewan. (You may be pleased to know that the Grand Chief of Northern Quebec quite properly articulated on TV that it was improper to demand that the Governor General be at the table). And so, despite the boycotts and the protests outside, the meeting took place. And out of the eight items, they apparently made some solid progress, so says the PMO and Atleo. But Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence? She’s still not satisfied, and she’s going to keep up her liquid diet. You see, she attended the Governor General’s ceremonial meeting at Rideau Hall, and then walked out – apparently it was “too much of a show” for the person who has created for herself a media circus, and she didn’t feel the honour of the occasion. Oh, and there was something about an improperly handled wampum belt, but nobody seems to be able to figure that one out, but really, it all pretty much amounts to the next round of political Calvinball.