This post will just be a collection of interesting news stories that caught my eye today but no post title could possibly be funnier than this Yahoo news headline so I went with it.

1. The aforementioned Yahoo story is interesting for two reasons. First of all, it calls Belinda Stronach “an icon of democratic reform”. Heh. Secondly, there’s this quote:

The report also carries a preface by the prime minister, in which Martin states as his No. 1 example of reform the creation of the new post of “independent ethics commissioner.”

Fair enough. The creation of an independent ethics commissioner is likely Martin’s greatest achievement in the field of democratic reform. It’s just that, uhh, it was Jean Chretien who drafted the bill!!! Feel free to read this story about John Manley unveiling Chretien’s ethics reform package in October 2002. Don’t get me wrong, I keep telling these guys not to run away from the Chretien record but when Paul Martin’s greatest achievement in fighting the “democratic deficit” (his number one priority before becoming PM) is something his predecessor did…well…

In other news, Paul Martin announced his greatest legislative accomplishment is marijuana decriminalization, his greatest policy achievement is same sex marriage legislation, his greatest environmental achievement is the signing of the Kyoto Accord and his greatest foreign policy achievement is saying “no” to the Iraq war.

2. I know it’s a touchy subject but poll after poll has shown Canadians support it, and we’d likely have some real assisted suicide legislation if it wasn’t perceived as being a controversial issue. Hopefully there will, at the very least, be a good debate on this.

3. As you’ve probably heard by now, Rick Mercer has joined the blogosphere. His “Jason Kenney: Marxist Leninist” post is very funny, even if it’s a little unfair to Jason. But it’s Jason Kenney, so I don’t have a problem with anyone being a little unfair to him.