Claude Gravelle

The Commons: The Agriculture Minister returns to the House

Aaron Wherry on who said what on July 1

By virtue of first ballot results, Niki Ashton has been eliminated. Martin Singh has dropped out, having already identified Thomas Mulcair as his second choice. Paul Dewar has dropped out, but without directing his supporters how to vote. That leaves four for the second ballot: Mr. Mulcair, Brian Topp, Nathan Cullen and Peggy Nash.

Irene Mathyssen and Claude Gravelle go for Paul Dewar.

As Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver explained to reporters after QP, the Conservatives are appalled that NDP MPs would express a dissenting opinion about the Keystone pipeline within earshot of Americans. In other news, the Keystone pipeline is now an initiative to provide health care for seniors.

As noted from the outset of the race, any NDP MP seeking the leadership must give up his or her critic portfolio. The resulting shuffle to date goes as follows:

A footnote to this footnote.

NDP MP Claude Gravelle says he’ll vote against Bill C-391. That makes it 151 votes in favour of C-391, 150 against.

The resignation of Maurizio Bevilacqua became official last week. Postmedia reports Inky Mark’s departure will follow this week. That subtracts a single vote from each side of the C-391 debate. The declarations of Charlie Angus and Glenn Thibeault though add two votes to the no side.