Thoughts on BC Politics and More

Typically at this time of year, Members of Parliament would be back in Ottawa for the House of Commons' first sitting of 2025. This year, however, the House of Commons is not in session, having been prorogued by Prime Minister Trudeau on January 6th, when he announced his resignation under pressure from the Liberal caucus. The prorogation will last 77 days—the second longest in recent history, surpassed only by former Liberal PM Jean Chrétien's 82-day prorogation in 2003. The purpose of the current prorogation is solely to provide the Liberal Party time and political cover to select a new leader. This self-serving action means there are no opportunities to officially question the government and hold them accountable for matters of concern to Canadians. Moreover, all bills and legislation, including private members' bills, have come to a standstill, halting progress in many important areas. This crisis comes at a critical time, as the new U.S. administration ...

The federal Lobbying Commissioner is applauding a move by MPs last week to ban the practice of elected officials accepting lucrative trips, which parliamentary watchdogs have long warned could lead to conflicts of interest. Last week, the House of Commons ethics committee passed a motion calling for the end of what’s called sponsored travel, and replacing it with an expanded budget for MPs that allows for two international trips a year. The revised rules would mean MPs’ international trips are funded by taxpayers, through their parliamentary budgets, rather than special interest groups . . . CLICK HERE for the full story

  * Parliament returns on Monday, but not all MPs will be making their way back to the House of Commons after pandemic-era changes to allow for hybrid Parliament practices, including remote voting, were made permanent in June. * Opposition MPs say their ability to hold the government to account has been severely hampered, not just from the impersonal nature of virtual Parliament but because of rule changes that accompanied the switch.   * Other MPs argue that the flexibility of hybrid Parliament is vital to casting a wider net for potential MPs, attracting young parents and other Canadians who have been put off by the long stretches away from home ... CLICK HERE for the full story

Why is our parliament missing in action during a “crisis”? Why have the grand pooh-bahs in political parties decided that democratic governance is not important during a time when provinces have curtailed our charter and human rights to combat a virus? Daily briefings by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are a mixture of regal speeches -- and brazen huckstering for the next election. Trudeau has manipulated his way into unfettered license to do whatever he pleases without having to answer to or consider suggestion from opposition Members. The PM, his Cabinet, and the remainder of the 338 Members of Parliament (MPs) are not paid from the public purse to sit silently at home, unconcerned over how our nation is governed. By not maintaining the democratic institution of parliament they are in violation of their oaths of office. Our dalliance with the global community, “progressive” ideas (initiating unproven concepts while ignoring consequences and fallout) and ...

As an explanation, this CBC article is an epic fail . First, the Queen’s Privy Council and the Government Cabinet are separate bodies with separate mandates. The Privy Council provides apolitical advice to the Governor General on what is going on in Government. The Cabinet oversees operations of government departments and agencies. Cabinet ministers are usually members of the Privy Council and their duties vary depending on which body they are attending. Privy council confidentiality is absolute. Members cannot disclose what is discussed during a privy council meeting. The Clerk of the Privy Council has no authority over the Government Cabinet. It is outside of his jurisdiction. Cabinet confidentiality is less onerous than Privy Council confidentiality and can be waived by either the Prime Minister or the Courts. In 1940, Prime Minister Mackenzie King amalgamated the Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet into one position reporting...

We need a national inquiry into whether political parties in the execution of their affairs are in violation of Sections 119 to 121 of the Criminal Code of Canada.   Political parties, federal and provincial routinely tell elected members what party policies they shall promote and support ... they offer ministerial (and critic) positions on the basis that the appointed person shall support the party in all things ... and they require elected members to vote in accordance with party instructions. Those elected officials who are not compliant with party instructions can be demoted and/ or the party can expel elected members for a variety of reasons without giving the member a fair hearing before a neutral panel. Political parties also will not to allow elected members to speak freely on issues before parliament or ...