private member's bills

Private member’s bills typically go nowhere, but one that would force unions to disclose how they spend money appears to have support

Tonda MacCharles notes the government’s recent enthusiasm for private member’s bills.

Still concerned that the Prime Minister has lost control of his caucus, the NDP is wondering aloud about how the government might be using private member’s bills. Justice Minister Rob Nicholson responded to some such wondering during QP yesterday.

Paul Wells says social conservatism is on the rise; Andrew Coyne disagrees

Michael Ignatieff needs to get a grip – on his caucus, on his party and on his staff. Too many of his Liberals are going rogue.

Eight of his MPs voted with the Tories this week to kill the long-gun registry. The Chrétien Liberals created the registry, spilling political blood to frame it into law. Privately, in the closed-door caucus meeting on Wednesday, Mr. Ignatieff urged his MPs to stand together and vote against the government. His pleas fell on deaf ears.
— Jane Taber, in today’s Globe.

No, no, no. This is exactly what’s wrong with so much coverage of politics. It is not “going rogue” for MPs to vote as their conscience or their constituents would wish. It’s called parliamentary democracy. Party discipline is not synonymous with the public interest, nor is everything to be assessed in terms of whether it makes life easier for the leader, or his strategists.