That’s how Harper’s HST legislation was described this morning. It turns out, it may not be quite so ultimatum-y: The Bloc Québécois says it will “probably” support a Conservative motion next week on the harmonized sales tax, a move that would give the government the votes it needs to move ahead with the plan. The […]

Michael Ignatieff gives a major speech on the environment at Laval University. The Post’s Kelly McParland compares Ignatieff’s position to the government’s.

Flaherty to axe subsidies to political parties in fiscal update: sources The Conservatives are poised to eliminate the public subsidies that Canada’s five major political parties receive, a move that would save $30 million a year but could cripple the opposition. Sources told CBC News and other media outlets Wednesday that the subsidy cut is […]

I’m willing to bet someone at the PMO has a google news alert for “Maurice Vellacott AND abortion” wired to a giant siren…because that’s a very dangerous combination for the Tories. The latest: Maurice Vellacott, the MP for Saskatoon-Wanuskewin and a former pastor, faced criticisms for a news release lashing out against the “devastating emotional, […]

Too lazy in Halifax to work? OTTAWA – If anyone ever stops Nova Scotia farmers from hiring migrant labourers to harvest their crops, they would destroy a lot of businesses because unemployed Nova Scotians don’t want those jobs, says Gerald Keddy, the Conservative MP for South Shore-St. Margarets. “Nova Scotians won’t do it — all […]

Some things in the news today… 1. There’s been a big hullabaloo recently over ten percenters and a movement appears on foot to set guidelines, or to outright ban them. Good. For the record, I think the parties would be crazy not to use them so long as they’re allowed to, but if they’re not […]

Everyone went list-crazy in 1999, but the end of the aughts is fast approaching with little fanfare or retrospective. So, since this December figures to be a lot less interesting than the last, this is the perfect time for a Calgary Grit mini-contest. So, what I want from everyone are suggestions for the “top Canadian […]

Stephen Taylor poses the following, regarding the Ruby Dhalla nanny thing (which I absolutely refuse to “gate”): Just a few minutes ago, the House of Commons unanimously endorsed a report produced by the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration which included the following recommendation, [snip] The Liberals had a chance to amend the motion in […]

Now: Charlie Angus wants MPs banned from Twitter just “to save politicians from looking like idiots.” The Northern Ontario New Democrat is serious: “I have nothing against the technology, nothing,” he said this morning. “But it really exposes the absolute banality of this place. … There is something about it that turns otherwise intelligent professionals […]

People voters have never heard of, replaced by DIFFERENT people voters have never heard of – film at 11! Dear Liberal Colleagues, Today is my first day on the job as Chief of Staff in Mr. Ignatieff’s office and I am delighted to be back on the Hill and part of the Liberal Team. As […]