Sunday, March 21, 2010

Canadian Parliament: The Week Ahead

This upcoming week in Canadian politics should be interesting. First we have the Speaker deciding whether to grant the "contempt for parliament" claim passed by the opposition. We have the opposition set to table a new motion attempt to force the Government (if even just symbolically) to introduce a plan for a full slate of maternal health programs to be provided to the Third World by western tax payers (which may or may not include abortion). Again, it is unlikely to be legally binding, but it allows the opposition to bang their drums in a futile attempt to create divisions within the Conservative Party.

Finally the weekend will see the unveiling of the "Liberal Thinkers Conference" in Montreal, to discuss their "big ideas". Will actual tangible policy emerge from this conference? Don't count it, but at least it will be interesting to hear what some of the talking heads are saying. I am willing to bet that there will be many "big ideas" that are either completely impractical or likely to be unpopular. Just because Iggy thinks it, that does not make it so.

Wednesday everyone is having their caucus meetings. I suspect that there is not consensus enthusiasm for this thinkers conference scheme Iggy's been promoting for over a year. At a time when party finances are tight, is this really something that they should be spending money on? Why not a policy convention? This makes about as much sense as having a convention to anoint Iggy instead of a democratic process to allow Liberals to choose their leader. These gala events that Iggy is so magically in love with cost money, which is not something the Liberals have in spades.

4 comments:

  1. Unfortunately we've already seen one of the blogging Tories fall for the Oppositions attempt at dividing the CPC with her attacks on "So-cons" over this issue.

    As far as the "Liberal Thinkers Conference", I doubt there will be many new ideas introduced, and I guarantee you "Child Care" will be a huge part of it.

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  2. It would seem to me that the "Contempt for Parliament" claim by the supporters of those murderous religious fascists is grounds for an election. How could it not be!

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  3. If Liberals want abortion included in the 'plan' why won't they put it in the motion?

    When Libs debate the motion, how will they be able to do so without saying the word 'abortion'?

    Sad sad silly transparent game.

    Funny how the Liberals thinkers conference does NOT include Liberal MPs....they really are nobodies.

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  4. Wilson, I think this gives the thinkers conference more legitimacy. Honestly when I look at the liberal caucus, I don't see a single profound thinker among them...

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