The Capital Chronicles

with Mia Rabson

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• Access delayed is accountability denied

  More and more it seems the only way to get information from the federal government is to file Access to Information Requests. They are often the only way you get any information that is really meaningful from the government.

  View Full Post 08/31/2010 11:31 AM 0

• Inky marked for rebel cause

  Conservative MP Inky Mark’s resignation from Parliament was inevitable in many ways.

  View Full Post 08/17/2010 2:28 PM 0

• In Churchill they trust

  If a Manitoba politician wants to go somewhere fun but still stay within the borders of the keystone province, nine times out of 10 they seem to head to Churchill.

  View Full Post 08/12/2010 10:50 AM 0

• Census questions

  If anyone interested in the census debate dominating Parliament Hill this summer wants to see what kind of questions are involved here are the links.

  View Full Post 07/27/2010 10:40 AM 0

• Understanding the new GG

  Harper’s director of communications, Dimitri Soudas, sent a missive over the weekend explaining how David Johnston was chosen as our new governor general. There will certainly be critics of the plan, and not everyone is going to like Johnston in the role, or think he is non-partisan. But the way he was selected is certainly better than using one’s need to open up a seat for a star candidate.

  View Full Post 07/12/2010 10:49 AM 0

• So much for summer slowdown

  The heat is on in Ottawa and it’s not just because of this scorching heat wave.

  View Full Post 07/8/2010 1:53 PM 0

• Dear old Dad

  This Sunday is Father's Day.

  View Full Post 06/17/2010 10:25 AM 0

• Oops. They did what?

  The federal government is now saying the fake lake being built in the Toronto media centre for the G8/G20 summits really only costs $57,000.

  View Full Post 06/8/2010 12:16 PM 0

• Is there truly not a better way?

  The disruptions caused by the G8/G20 summits planned for Muskoka and Toronto are numerous. Basically the heart of downtown Toronto will be in lock-down mode from June 25-27.

  View Full Post 06/7/2010 2:53 PM 0

• A proof is a proof

  If anyone needed any proof as to why Members of Parliament should be required to make more details of their annual expenses public, here you go.

  View Full Post 06/7/2010 11:59 AM 0

• Full of sound and fury

  President Barack Obama is being crucified in the U.S. for his apparent lack of emotion over the BP oil disaster.

  View Full Post 06/4/2010 11:16 AM 0

• Committee commotion

  The Public Safety committee was supposed to be debating one by one, the clauses of bill C-391 today. That’s Manitoba MP Candice Hoeppner’s bill to eliminate the gun registry on unrestricted long guns.

  View Full Post 06/1/2010 3:43 PM 0

• Politics vs. governing

  This is the story causing the most tongues to wag in Ottawa today.

  View Full Post 05/25/2010 12:58 PM 0

• Martin 1 Liberals 0

  Manitoba NDP MP Pat Martin almost caused an opposition leader coup today.

  View Full Post 05/13/2010 4:06 PM 0

• Pet-tea politics

  With a shout out to the Globe and Mail’s Jane Taber, whose blog brought to my attention to the fact a Manitoba MP has been outed as the reason a West Block committee room is often short of green tea bags.

  View Full Post 05/6/2010 2:55 PM 0

• MPs shun public scrutiny of themselves

  With less than five clicks of my mouse I can tell you that between Dec. 2, 2009 and March 1, 2010, Manitoba regional minister Vic Toews spent $764.51 entertaining guests and $12,878.62 on travel. The latter includes a $3,601.87 airfare to Vancouver and $6,971.63 for a six-day trip to Jordan and Israel in January.

  View Full Post 05/3/2010 2:59 PM 0

• Stranger than fiction

  When one spends the morning pondering the sacrifices of First World War veterans during a ceremony marking Vimy Ridge Day, there is much time for reflection.

  View Full Post 04/9/2010 2:13 PM 0

• Another day, another poll

  The latest EKOS poll out today would have one believe Michael Ignatieff and his Liberals are surging ahead in the prairies.

  View Full Post 04/8/2010 12:37 PM 0

• Yes Virginia. They can get along. Sometimes.

  MPs from all political parties proved today they can actually put partisanship aside and stand in solidarity with one of their own. They are almost all wearing blue ties or scarves in recognition of Prostate Cancer Canada and NDP leader Jack Layton, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December and is currently undergoing treatment.

  View Full Post 03/31/2010 5:18 PM 0

• The flyers are gone

  Ding dong, the flyers are gone.

  View Full Post 03/29/2010 5:13 PM 0