don plett

Michael Chong challenges the Senate as the upper chamber a decision on the Reform Act

‘The more we throw mud, the more we lose ground’

The latest news in this unfolding affair

Yesterday, the Canadian Press pegged the cuts at $7 billion. Last night, the CBC reported the total will be closer to $4 billion. The Post says it’ll be around $5 billion, with the elimination of approximately 25,000 public service jobs. MP and public servant pensions will be changed. The House of Commons will trim its budget by 6.9%. And the hiring tax credit for small businesses will be extended for another year.

The government that wants—on “principle”—to end the vote subsidy for political parties, finds a new way to use public funds for partisan purposes.

Richard Albert bravely makes the case for senators Finley, Stewart-Olsen and Plett.

Senate picks include a journalist and a former Habs coach

Conservative election platform, 2006. Canada is a democracy, yet our democratic system has not kept pace with the needs of a changing society. Paul Martin used to talk about a democratic deficit, but his actions as Prime Minister have deepened it. A new Conservative government will be committed to significant democratic reform of our Parliamentary and electoral institutions.

I’ve updated my original post to add the latest reports on the alleged smear campaign against Bill Casey, the most detailed and interesting of which, not surprisingly. comes from Casey’s local paper, the Halifax Chronicle Herald. Along with considerable background information on how the allegations against Casey were floated to at least two journalists during the last election, it also includes multiple on-the-record denials from various national party officials of any involvement by the federal party in filing the complaint with the RCMP.