Steve, Admit It, You’re Just Not that Into Parliament Anymore

Dear Stephen Harper,

Long time listener; first time caller.

First, let me commend you for nearly 10 years as Prime Minister of Canada. You were right, it’s not an easy job, and while we didn’t always agree, I nevertheless admire someone – anyone – that stands for public office. You become fair game for personal attack no matter what you do, justified and unjustified, and not to put too fine a point on it, there were a lot of people there at the end rooting for you to fail. Still, you persevered. You created the Canada you wanted, got a consensus to follow, and that’s never easy. Ya did good, kid!

Having said that, it’s okay if you don’t want to hang out on Parliament Hill anymore, and honestly, it really seems like you don’t want to. Continue reading “Steve, Admit It, You’re Just Not that Into Parliament Anymore” →

The Complete Text of the Speech from the Throne

At about the length of a high school essay and only 15 minutes long in the reading, the first Speech from the Throne of the government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was short, sweet, and to the point. Now, if you like, you can read the whole thing for yourself here. Continue reading “The Complete Text of the Speech from the Throne” →

Trudeau Makes Public Marching Orders to Ministers

As part of the move to openness, transparency, and all that stuff, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released the mandate letters he gave to each member of his cabinet. What’s the big deal? The letter offers insight into what Trudeau wants and expects his executive to do over the course of this four year mandate, in terms of both the general tone of his government, and in terms of the specific goals for their ministries. So what does PM23 have in mind from now till 2019? Continue reading “Trudeau Makes Public Marching Orders to Ministers” →

The Madness of (Would Be) King Tom

Losing is never easy; ask Stephen Harper. Actually, you can’t ask Stephen Harper because he’s been engaged in a Kafkaesque maneuver of crawling along the floor boards of Parliament Hill and the Capital area in an effort to avoid pictures of him not being Prime Minister from being taken. But if there’s one thing Harper has done well since October 19, it’s accept the loss. He lost the election, conceded defeat, and as difficult as it may be, he’s moving on with his life. Perhaps, Tom Mulcair should take note. Continue reading “The Madness of (Would Be) King Tom” →

Your New Cabinet for the Government Is…

Today at Rideau Hall, the new cabinet of Canada’s 42 Parliament was sworn in along with the 23rd Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. With 184 members to choose from, and a promise to have equal representation between all regions and gender parity, selection could not have been easy, but it was done. Now there are 30 new minister, each with daunting responsibilities as everyone is looking to the new government to immediately act on a myriad of issues. So who are these brave souls? Continue reading “Your New Cabinet for the Government Is…” →

Canada Needs a Strong Right Wing Alternative, But Not Like That

In the last days of the campaign, Stephen Harper retired the attack ads for a simpler, more positive message. This election is not about me, he said, but as the result from Monday night’s vote confirmed, actually, it was a little bit about him. Making the campaign about him was just the way Harper wanted it, and it was his downfall as many commentators noted because while Justin Trudeau and Tom Mulcair leaned on their team, Harper always felt like a one man band. Now, in the aftermath of a blistering defeat, right-leaning Canadian politicos are wondering why, and they need only look to the man whose face and name had literally become synonymous with Canadian conservatism for the last 13 years. Continue reading “Canada Needs a Strong Right Wing Alternative, But Not Like That” →

The Last Word of #elxn42 Goes to… John Oliver(?)

We’ve heard from a variety of different people during this historically long campaign, and the fact that for Canadians it has been historically long is, to use one comedian’s word, ” adorable.” Last night on his HBO show Last Week Tonight, John Oliver got his satirically sharp knives out for the last hours of the 42nd Canadian Federal Election. From mocking Tom Mulcair’s campaign style, to watching Justin Trudeau show folks how to fall down stairs the right way, to mocking Stephen Harper’s band with reckless abandon, Oliver was on fire, and as a Canadian I have to say, he got us good! Continue reading “The Last Word of #elxn42 Goes to… John Oliver(?)” →