House of Commons

Tuesday September 19, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday September 19, 2017

Liberals may use time allocation to push priorities through Parliament

The Liberal government is heading into the second half of its mandate with a number of big legislative priorities they are eager to move through Parliament.

And they are ready to curtail debate if they think the opposition parties are dragging their feet — especially since the will of the increasingly independent Senate is becoming harder to predict.

“We know that there’s going to be vigorous debate and there is going to be partisanship and politics on many ideas,” said Cameron Ahmad, a spokesman for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“It’s how our system works, but at the same time I don’t think it’s necessary for every single issue to be framed around partisanship.”

This spring, the Liberal government backed down on part of its plan to alter the ins and outs of parliamentary procedure, abandoning some of the more controversial reforms that the Conservatives and New Democrats had been battling for weeks.

Still, House leader Bardish Chagger warned at the time this would come with a cost, telling her political rivals that since they could not agree on other ways to speed things along, the Liberals would be ready to impose time allocation — a heavy-handed tactic that limits debate.

That remains the case as MPs return to Ottawa this week, especially since the Liberals want to act quickly on priorities such as the legalization of marijuana, a tougher law on impaired driving and the new National Security Act.

Other big goals for the fall include political financing reforms and an air passengers bill of rights.

“We’re looking forward to debating everybody, but if it comes to a point where we’re seeing obstructionism as we saw on certain occasions in the last session, time allocation is a tool that could be used,” said Ahmad, who stressed they have not made up their minds to use it.

“It’s a case-by-case analysis.” (Source: CBC News) 

 

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Thursday March 23, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday March 23, 2017

Trudeau should only be in question period once a week, report says.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is being slammed for a report suggesting he only attend question period in the House of Commons once a week.

The report, called “Reforming the Standing Orders of the House of Commons,” was released earlier this month. It calls for changes to the rules of the House “in order to make Parliament more relevant to Canadians.”

The report suggests taking on the British model of question period, in which one day is dedicated to questioning the prime minister.

But the report doesn’t say whether he’d be required to attend the rest of the week.

It also recommends changing how Fridays work on Parliament Hill.

One proposed change would eliminate Friday sittings, and re-allocate the hours to other days of the week. The House of Commons could meet earlier on other days, for example.

Alternately, the report suggests making Fridays a full work day. Committees currently don’t meet on Fridays and there are only 2.5 hours available for government orders.

Fridays could be changed to look like “any other sitting day,” the report said.

However, they should still be organized so that two hours of Private Members’ Business can take place at the end of the day, so that certain MPs can leave earlier to return to their ridings. (Source: Global News) 

 

Thursday May 19, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, Thursday May 19, 2016 Justin Trudeau ÔmanhandledÕ MP in Commons uproar, opposition says Parliament turned downright ugly when an impatient Prime Minister Justin Trudeau crossed the aisle to drag an opposition MP forward so a vote could take place, knocking aside a female NDP MP who was so shaken she had to leave the chamber.Ê The encounter Wednesday led to a shouting match between Trudeau and NDP Leader Tom Mulcair after Trudeau briefly crossed the floor a second time appearing to look for someone. Mulcair can be heard on Commons video footage yelling at Trudeau: ÒWhat kind of man elbows a woman? YouÕre pathetic.ÓÊ The confrontation took place late in the day prior to a vote on a government bid to limit debate on its assisted suicide bill, with the opposition already furious at another Liberal move to seize control over the parliamentary agenda.Ê The mood was tense as each side traded insults. By the end of the day, tempers before the vote were running high. As Trudeau crossed the floor, he was allegedly overheard by NDP MPs to say ÒGet the f--- out of my way.ÓÊ The opposition erupted in outrage as the Speaker called for order, and ordered MPs to stop taking photos. At the far end of the Commons, former prime minister Stephen Harper stood watching it unfold. New Democrat House leader Peter Julian rose to accuse Trudeau of ÒmanhandlingÓ the Conservative whip, Gord Brown, and physically pushing aside the NDPÕs whip, Ruth-Ellen Brosseau. ÒI have been in the House now for 12 years and I have never seen what just transpired in the House of Commons,Ó he said. Trudeau stood to offer an apology, saying he thought Brown, the official Opposition whip Ñ who ensures Opposition MPs are in place for a vote Ñ was Òimpeded,Ó causing the vote to be delayed. ÒI felt that this lacked in respect for Parliament,Ó he said,Êadding he Òoffered my arm, extended, to help him come through the gaggle of MPs standing there.Ó (Source: Toronto Star) ht

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, Thursday May 19, 2016

Justin Trudeau ‘manhandled’ MP in Commons uproar, opposition says

Parliament turned downright ugly when an impatient Prime Minister Justin Trudeau crossed the aisle to drag an opposition MP forward so a vote could take place, knocking aside a female NDP MP who was so shaken she had to leave the chamber.

The encounter Wednesday led to a shouting match between Trudeau and NDP Leader Tom Mulcair after Trudeau briefly crossed the floor a second time appearing to look for someone. Mulcair can be heard on Commons video footage yelling at Trudeau: “What kind of man elbows a woman? You’re pathetic.”

The confrontation took place late in the day prior to a vote on a government bid to limit debate on its assisted suicide bill, with the opposition already furious at another Liberal move to seize control over the parliamentary agenda.

The mood was tense as each side traded insults. By the end of the day, tempers before the vote were running high. As Trudeau crossed the floor, he was allegedly overheard by NDP MPs to say “Get the f— out of my way.”

The opposition erupted in outrage as the Speaker called for order, and ordered MPs to stop taking photos. At the far end of the Commons, former prime minister Stephen Harper stood watching it unfold.

New Democrat House leader Peter Julian rose to accuse Trudeau of “manhandling” the Conservative whip, Gord Brown, and physically pushing aside the NDP’s whip, Ruth-Ellen Brosseau.

“I have been in the House now for 12 years and I have never seen what just transpired in the House of Commons,” he said.

Trudeau stood to offer an apology, saying he thought Brown, the official Opposition whip — who ensures Opposition MPs are in place for a vote — was “impeded,” causing the vote to be delayed. “I felt that this lacked in respect for Parliament,” he said, adding he “offered my arm, extended, to help him come through the gaggle of MPs standing there.” (Source: Toronto Star)

2016-05-19tearsheet

 

Wednesday November 4, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Wednesday November 4, 2015 Eight hopefuls seek Tory interim leadership: Analysis Down, but not out. Two weeks after Stephen Harper lost his majority government, eight Conservative MPs have jumped into the fray to become interim leader and take on Justin TrudeauÕs new Liberal government. ThatÕs interim, as in temporary. ItÕs not the big job of stepping into HarperÕs dance shoes, reshaping the party and swinging it into the next election. No oneÕs announced interest in that yet. Interim leader gets the immediate, but critical job of leading a Conservative parliamentary caucus of 99 MPs Ñ 33 of them rookies Ñ and 47 senators through the next year or two until a new leader is chosen. Eight Tories want that job. The interim leader will be the lead foot soldier in holding the Liberals to account in Parliament, boosting morale in a caucus thrust into Opposition without the all the resources of government, and stabilizing a party once fractured along east-west, progressive-reform and French-English lines Ñ one that could find itself divided again once the leadership contest kicks off in earnest. Four women and four men, including two people who want to share the job, have thrown their hats into the ring. They are: Diane Finley, Rob Nicholson, Candice Bergen, Erin OÕToole, Mike Lake, Rona Ambrose, plus Michelle Rempel and Denis Lebel, who announced on the weekend they are running as a package deal. None are household names. Some have a bit of profile in media or political circles, but most Canadians would be hard-pressed to identify any of them on the street. Among the eight are a couple of women Ñ Ambrose and Rempel Ñ and possibly one man Ñ OÕToole Ñ who observers believe were interested in the bigger long-term job. A failed interim bid doesnÕt exclude them from that. Only an interim leader is barred, under Conservative party rules, from competing for the top job. Of the contenders to win caucus sup

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday November 4, 2015

Eight hopefuls seek Tory interim leadership: Analysis

Down, but not out. Two weeks after Stephen Harper lost his majority government, eight Conservative MPs have jumped into the fray to become interim leader and take on Justin Trudeau’s new Liberal government.

That’s interim, as in temporary. It’s not the big job of stepping into Harper’s dance shoes, reshaping the party and swinging it into the next election.

No one’s announced interest in that yet.

Interim leader gets the immediate, but critical job of leading a Conservative parliamentary caucus of 99 MPs — 33 of them rookies — and 47 senators through the next year or two until a new leader is chosen.

Eight Tories want that job.

Liberal Interim leadership 2011

The interim leader will be the lead foot soldier in holding the Liberals to account in Parliament, boosting morale in a caucus thrust into Opposition without the all the resources of government, and stabilizing a party once fractured along east-west, progressive-reform and French-English lines — one that could find itself divided again once the leadership contest kicks off in earnest.

Four women and four men, including two people who want to share the job, have thrown their hats into the ring. They are: Diane Finley, Rob Nicholson, Candice Bergen, Erin O’Toole, Mike Lake, Rona Ambrose, plus Michelle Rempel and Denis Lebel, who announced on the weekend they are running as a package deal.

None are household names. Some have a bit of profile in media or political circles, but most Canadians would be hard-pressed to identify any of them on the street.

Among the eight are a couple of women — Ambrose and Rempel — and possibly one man — O’Toole — who observers believe were interested in the bigger long-term job. A failed interim bid doesn’t exclude them from that. Only an interim leader is barred, under Conservative party rules, from competing for the top job.

Liberal Interim leadership days 2006

Of the contenders to win caucus support on Thursday, none has spectacularly shone or, for that matter, completely messed up in jobs under the Harper government. All but one, Mike Lake, have sat at the cabinet table at a senior or junior level.

Only three speak French fluently, though there are varying degrees of competency among the rest. All pledge to tap into the resources of the party’s record harvest of Quebec seats — 11 in all. (Continued: Toronto Star)