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Question Period

Is Justin Trudeau A Conservative?

Tom Kott | Posted 04.30.2013 | Canada Politics
Tom Kott

Trudeau is trying to find a new niche for the Liberal Party. A preliminary look indicated that he is trying to take the Conservative party's old right-of-centre spot on the ideological spectrum. With fewer differences between the two parties, Trudeau's youth and vitality may come as an asset in 2015 when Canadians go to the polls.

WATCH: Trudeau Versus Harper

The Huffington Post Canada | Posted 03.08.2013 | Canada Politics

Canadians hungry to see what a potential showdown between Justin Trudeau and Stephen Harper might look like got a small taste Thursday afternoon. S...

One Issue Makes MPs Ditch Partisanship

Dan Kelly | Posted 04.29.2013 | Canada Politics
Dan Kelly

One of the topics that seems to bring MPs -- and Canadians as a whole -- together is a belief in small business. According to an Angus Reid survey that the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) commissioned last year with HP Canada and Intel Canada, 98 per cent of Canadians said that small business is important to Canada's future.

Why Today's Question Period Is a Snooze-Fest

Keith Beardsley | Posted 01.29.2013 | Canada Politics
Keith Beardsley

It is hard to believe, but back on this day in 2005, we were all involved in an election that was forced on November 28th when the Martin government lost a confidence vote. Part of what made that election possible was the success the then opposition Conservatives had in Question Period. Today, the best you can say about Question Period is that it is pathetic and a great opportunity to take a nap.

It's Official: Question Period Is a Total Gong Show

Keith Beardsley | Posted 12.31.2012 | Canada Politics
Keith Beardsley

Question Period tends to highlight exactly what is wrong with much that takes place in the House of Commons. Daily insults, putdowns, and factual misrepresentation are quite common. When you combine an inept opposition with a government side that shows little respect for the intelligence of Canadians, you end up with something that is so bad that you can't even call it a gong show.

Hey MPs, This is Question Period Not a Turf War

Keith Beardsley | Posted 12.19.2012 | Canada Politics
Keith Beardsley

Anyone watching Question Period the last few days would be excused if they simply turned it off and walked away in disgust. Basically the kids in the chamber are back to their old games -- insults, evasive answers and slap downs. True it can get partisan blood going, but partisans are already committed to their own side's position. I doubt too many in the public are getting much out of the daily slug-fest. What ever happened to Michael Chong's attempt to reform Question Period? If this past week is an example, those reforms are needed more than ever.

When MPs Launch Sneak Attacks

Keith Beardsley | Posted 11.25.2012 | Canada Politics
Keith Beardsley

In Parliament, the one-minute Standing Order 31 was designed to give MPs an opportunity to highlight something of importance in their riding. By 2008 there was increasing pressure to use more of the SO 31s as attack pieces (sometimes all of them) to get the government talk points out. Today, this has become pretty much standard practice. In my opinion this has been one of the contributing factors to the caustic atmosphere you now see on a daily basis in the House of Commons.

How to Fix Question Period -- Part 2

Keith Beardsley | Posted 03.09.2012 | Canada Politics
Keith Beardsley

Are our MPs incapable of asking a 35 second question without reading it word for word? Are our ministers so poorly briefed that they can't respond to a question within 35 seconds without reading a scripted answer word for word?

New Civility, Out; Bad Behaviour, Back In

Keith Beardsley | Posted 03.05.2012 | Canada Politics
Keith Beardsley

In a parliament where caustic behavior has become the norm, bad behavior gets the spotlight (Justin Trudeau as an example), rudeness is rewarded, and low-key dedicated MPs who are the backbone of our system are ignored and overlooked by the voting public. The net result is an electorate disgusted with the behaviour they see on the news.

Members of Parliament Controlled From Behind the Curtain

Keith Beardsley | Posted 12.21.2011 | Canada Politics
Keith Beardsley

Control from the backrooms was always there, but never to the extent that it is now. Until the present generation of MPs, especially in the Conservative caucus, stand up to PMO (and other MPs to their respective leader's offices), not much will happen to improve their lot or that of MPs in general.

Trost Sheds the Gag Rule

Keith Beardsley | Posted 12.04.2011 | Canada
Keith Beardsley

Conservative Member of Parliament Brad Trost created a bit of a stir this week when he publicly criticized a decision of his own government. What made his comments so newsworthy was the rarity of the occasion as it is most unusual for Conservative MPs to speak publicly against any government decision.

Muzzling Ministers?

Keith Beardsley | Posted 11.22.2011 | Canada
Keith Beardsley

All too often, the Conservatives designate a minister with little knowledge of a file to defend it against opposition attacks. Quite often this is done by one of their attack dogs. Other than the present administration, I don't recall that happening under previous Liberal or Conservative governments.

House of Commons Decorum

Keith Beardsley | Posted 07.30.2011 | Canada
Keith Beardsley

While Layton acts sanctimonious about how his party will behave today, I recall one NDP MP who wanted to ask a question on the B.C. fishery, banging the top of his desk with a full-sized frozen salmon.