House divided against itself cannot stand

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Liberal MP Justin Trudeau yawns as he votes during the 14th hour of voting on amendments to the budget Bill C38 in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, June 14, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick (CP)

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Conservative MP Greg Rickford stands to vote on budget bill C38 in the House of Commons Thursday , June 14, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld (CP)

OTTAWA -- As the clock kept ticking, MPs kept voting in a marathon session on more than 800 proposed amendments to the government's sweeping budget bill. Voting was expected to wrap up around midnight -- by which point MPs would have been voting for about 24 hours straight in an opposition bid to hold up passage of Bill C-38.

But watching a repetitive voting process for hours on end can lead to some insights into the House of Commons. Here are a few things we've learned:

-- There is no need for instant replay: Because MPs have to stand and be counted for votes on every one of the amendments, and because the NDP tried to delay the process as much as possible, NDP MPs rose from their seats as slowly as possible when their names were called. This slo-mo dance has officially been dubbed "slow-voting."

-- Twitter is an MP's friend: Politicos stuck in the House of Commons have found 140 characters can be a great time-passer and keep them connected with their fans. For example, avid tweeter Tony Clement kept typing away. Consider this gem Thursday afternoon: "After 33 hrs of no sleep, I feel fantastic! But it could be the Snickers bar talking... " Facebook and email are also good ways to connect with the world outside the Commons.

-- Props are sometimes allowed in Parliament: Normally, there are no signs, dolls, or treats allowed in the Commons during debates. Even coffee is a little iffy. But that falls by the wayside during this long vote as MPs find ways to keep their eyes open. Feel like reading a newspaper? Go right ahead. Want to watch a movie on a tablet, or listen to music on a digital player? Be our guest, so long as your headphones are in. John Baird wants to give Libby Davies a sash and tiara in the Commons? It's all good.

-- A single, smart MP still can wield considerable power: Elizabeth May normally has very little power. She is the only one from her party with a seat in the Commons, which doesn't even give her the chance to sit on any committees where amendments are tabled and debated. She shrewdly used House procedural rules in her favour to make her voice heard and get Canadians to take a closer look at the omnibus bill. First, she asked Speaker Andrew Scheer to rule the budget bill out of order. Then she proposed 330 amendments to the bill. The amendments caught the attention of Canadians and the opposition parties that used her amendments as a way to delay passage of the bill.

-- Sleeping at your desk can happen: Sleeping during regular duties in the House is a faux pas, but sleeping at your desk isn't as uncommon during long votes. Daryl Kramp put a pillow on his desk and Vic Toews had a neck pillow ready to help him sleep. Others had to be roused from slumber or daydreaming in time to vote. Pulling an all-nighter appears to have the same effect on MPs that it has on university and high school students.

-- Now we know why there are deputy speakers: Andrew Scheer can't do it all. He's the Speaker, but not Superman. Scheer took a five-hour shift in the big chair between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. Thursday, but then worked in two-hour rotations with his three deputies, NDP MP Denise Savoie and Conservative MPs Barry Devolin and Bruce Stanton.

-- Time can stand still: Even though the rest of the world knew it was Thursday, the Commons calendar said Wednesday. The voting commenced Wednesday night and technically the Commons didn't adjourn for the day.

-- You can change your clothes but can't shave: When Nathan Cullen came out to talk to reporters at about the midway point of voting, he had changed his shirt, but his face was scruffy. "This is a playoff beard. This is not a five o'clock shadow," Cullen quipped, rubbing his sandpaper-like chin. And why was that? "I don't know what o'clock it is." NDP MP Glenn Thibeault took off his shoes at one point, quipping that wearing shoes for 24 hours can become uncomfortable.

-- Lack of sleep can lead to some interesting comments: On CBC's Power and Politics, Liberal House leader Marc Garneau was asked about whether the slow vote was a waste of money, as the Tories argued. He didn't mince words. "That's a pile of crap," he hollered.

-- Postmedia News

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 15, 2012 A21