Time for Parliament to perform - with major update
The first order of business for Parliament will be to elect a speaker, and the general feeling seems to be that it’s time for a change.
This is necessary as a symbolic and practical statement that Parliament intends to actually work for Canadians now instead of casting itself as some kind of pathetic gong show, which all too often focused on on one-upmanship and arrogant posturing instead of actually trying to deal with the problems plaguing our country.
Canadians are worried about their jobs, their savings and their future. Time for our elected officials to grow up and act like adults.
Today must be a new beginning. Our patience is wearing thin.
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Related: Kady O’Malley will be live-blogging at ITQ.
As David Akin notes, until the Speaker is selected today, the House will be under the care of a member of Parliament whose party’s main focus is to break up the country.
Only in Canada.
David Akin is also live-blogging at the Post’s Full Comment.
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MAJOR UPDATE: Millken has been elected Speaker again! I can’t believe it.
Continue to enjoy those perks, Peter.
John Ivison - Milliken re-elected as speaker; expect no new era of decorum.
November 18th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Hi Joanne,
It will be very interesting to see what happens today. Whoever wins must keep tighter reins on the house.
Sorry for going off topic, but I was just over at Kinsella’s blog and I am so angry. He’s gone back to the same old tired song how if the Conservatives get a majority, abortion rights will be taken away. I didn’t know he could see into the future. The Libs are certainly desperate if they’re lying already.
Since when is carrying a child to term a bad thing?
November 18th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Barbara - what’s worse, is that WK turns the whole point of what amounts to a crime against a woman and unborn into a choice issue….which this policy is not.
I can assume that Kinsella’s trying to change the channel purposely on the whole Iggy-Rae playground dust up.
One way to divert attention is by using something like this.
He must have a short memory on the abortion issue though, because I could have sworn that more than a few Liberals are split on this issue too? No?
Kinsella also forgets that his books, thanks to free markets teach us all how he works and how to give it back.
November 18th, 2008 at 10:03 am
New post up to address your concerns.
November 18th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Thanks Joanne!
Wow! You’re fast! Just one of the reasons this is one of my favourite blogs!
November 18th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Wow! You’re fast! Just one of the reasons this is one of my favourite blogs!
Thanks, Barb. A little birdie tipped me off this morning, though, so the wheels were already in motion.
November 18th, 2008 at 11:04 am
OK, my preference for Speaker has now changed. In a previous comment I thought Joe Comartin, but in listening to the speeches (not yet finished) I’m thinking Royal Galipeau, the most fluently bilingual of the bunch so far, and experienced with House matters, having been a Deputy Speaker.
November 18th, 2008 at 11:48 am
BTW, all those MPs who have been wringing their hands decrying the behaviour and lack of decorum in the House should look in the mirror first.
The House was supposed to begin proceedings at 10:00 am. It took at least 10 if not more calls from the “greffier” (sorry, I can’t think of her actual title in either Eng. or French) to get MPs to quiet down.
I realize it being the first day back people want to meet and greet, but IMO, after three calls of “Honourable Members” you’d think they’d get the message to scoot to their own seats.
On a side note, Minister O’Connor is going to have his work cut out for him, given his previous military experience. I saw him on several occasions, as the “greffier” was inviting the MPs to get to their seats, go up to individual MPs to tell them to get to their seats. The minute one moved, another strayed. What’s the expression? It’s like herding cats. I don’t envy Mr. O’Connor’s job.
November 18th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Milliken is hanging in, he may have enough support to win it again.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Sigh. Millkin again. Another session of the house I won’t be able to watch. I can’t bear it anymore I’m just burnt out.
November 18th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Yeah, lame duck Milliken again.
Same old, same old.
November 18th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Ralph Goodale looked very relieved that Peter Milliken got back in. This a free pass for Ralph Goodale and John McCallum and Ujhal Dosangh in question Period. I have no respeect for Peter Milliken and I am sure a deal was made with the BLoc.
November 18th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Fay -
My guess is that in the last ballot, all three opposition parties decided they didn’t want a Conservative speaker so since they have the majority… Voila!
November 18th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Once again, Kingston votes Lib, like good little sheep, and gets no representation.
I am getting pretty f*cking pissed at this. The CPC should have voted for anyone but Milliken.
November 18th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
The CPC should have voted for anyone but Milliken.
I bet they did but were outnumbered.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
I’m guessing several NDP voted for Comartin. That means that plenty of the CPC were voting Milliken. With so many candidates, this is only possible if the CPC is supporting it.
Thanks a lot, CPC.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Moebius, Comartin was off the final ballot. It was down to Milliken and two Conservatives.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Moebius, Comartin was off the final ballot. It was down to Milliken and two Conservatives.
Milliken should never have made the final ballot. Of course, the CPC doesn’t want to lose the Speaker’s vote, rightly so, but they should have pushed him out before the final vote.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Moebius, how do you figure the CPC would have the numbers to do that?
November 19th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Milliken is probably on his last run anyway so doubt anything will change. He’ll operate under his usual style even though he says he got the message about decorum.
Maybe we should pay attention to Iggy and Rae,the new seat partners in the HOC seating arrangement. Did Steffi arrange that?