OK, week 2 in Parliament. Like week one, it was only four days
long. Last week we adjourned early
for the Conservative Convention.
This week we adjourned early for the NDP Convention. So, I am not well disposed to hearing that
we have so much work to do and I shouldn’t slow people down by insisting we
read bills before passing them.
But I am getting ahead of myself.
I started the week sure of the agenda. We would be voting on the Budget
Implementation Bill, which I would oppose and on the extension of the Libya
mission, which I would also oppose.
No crime bills were on the agenda.
It was a surprising week. I ended up voting
FOR the Budget Implementation Bill and denying the government unanimous consent
to pass the mega-trials bill. The
only thing I expected was the vote on Libya, but I never imagined I would be
the only MP to oppose the mission’s extension. At least I figured the four remaining Bloc MPs would vote
against it.
Blogging this could be a novel, so let me
try for a quick point form style and see if it works. For content, check out the media section of the Green Party website.
Monday: A reporter asks me if
I am giving my consent to passing the mega-trials bill with quick first, second
and third readings all at once. To do that, to pass a bill with no discussion,
debate or witness testimony requires unanimous consent. I said “no.” How can an important change to the Criminal Code be made
with no hearings?
Tuesday: First thing in the AM,
I reached Clayton Ruby, one of Canada’s most respected criminal lawyers and
civil rights advocates, and he pointed out some flaws in the bill as drafted.
Get to House for 10 AM. Realize I cannot
leave my seat. “Unanimous consent”
motions are not like votes. No
bells ring. You just have to be in
your seat or you miss it.
The proverbial hit the fan. No contact from Justice Minister
Nicholson, but the Minister of Justice for Quebec insisted on coming to Ottawa
to explain the urgency of getting the mega-crime bill passed. Fournier is clearly committed,
dedicated and decent. He seemed to
realize I was a sensible person, so in his media scrum he didn’t try to slam
me. We both agreed. The bill
should be passed, but hearings are needed. That’s all I ever asked for. Those hearings can be
expedited.
Raced from Question Period to the War
Museum for very moving ceremony in remembrance of the Holocaust. I was deeply
honoured to be invited to speak, but I was on the dais at the front of the room
and time was clicking by. My only
chance to speak in the Libya mission debate was coming up in the House. I knew one thing. Missing the debate was a better option
than leaving before the cantor’s amazing Kaddish prayer. My brilliant young researcher Ben
Rankin was looking stressed to the max.
At the first barely acceptable moment to
leave, I left the stage, and raced (as best I can on my disintegrating hip) to
the waiting cab. Not there. No
sign of any cab to the Hill. Hitched
a ride with a van of Conservative MPs who had to squish to make room for me
(leaving Ben behind, still looking stressed). They took me straight to the main doors of Centre Block
before going to their own offices.
(I would thank them publicly but I think I better get their permission
first!). Made it into my seat with
one minute to spare.
Gave my speech on the Libya mission. Looking at the video, wish I had had
time to brush my hair.
Stood alone on the vote.
Went to reception for Parliamentary interns
and to a fundraiser for our troops in Afghanistan. Met Alan Frew from Glass Tiger.
Wednesday: We held a press
conference on climate negotiations in Bonn. Other parties are in their caucus
meetings. Not much media for our
presser just the same.
By now, the government realizes there is
not going to be unanimous consent for mega-crime bill so they ask us if one day
of hearings would be ok. I say
“ok” as long as we can get a few amendments.
Meanwhile, reviewing the Budget
Implementation Bill. Reviewing it
a lot. It makes no sense. 55 pages, but NOT implementing the
budget. It has 12 measures. One takes the HST off poppies on
Remembrance Day. One removes
registration requirements for canoes and kayaks. One fixes income tax problems
with disability payments. OK, so
the “real” Budget Implementation Bill comes in the fall. Conservative spin is the only
explanation. This bill is a soft, furry,
little bunny decoy. The dragon
waits in the cave.
I end up voting with the Conservatives, but
so do the NDP (they figured out it was a bunny). The Liberals voted against it. They argue consistency.
They are against the budget, so they have to vote against this bill.
And Peter MacKay tells the press I only
voted against the Libya mission to get headlines. (Right, we never even got our
act together enough to put out a press release on the Libya vote). Thanks to Peter, I start getting media
calls. Jane Taber’s column is the
only way most people even realize I have blocked two unanimous government
efforts in the last two days.
Meanwhile, CBC interviews me in English and
French about transparency on MP expense accounts. More on that another time.
Watched the game at D’Arcy McGees pub since
I don’t have cable yet. When the
Bruins were scoring, I headed home.
Too tired to keep watching and sensing disappointment coming on.
Thursday:
Why did I wake up at 3am to check who had won on my
blackberry? Got upset by the
rioting and couldn’t get back to sleep.
CBC has decided the fact I am actually
having any impact in Parliament will make an interesting item for what they
call “syndication.” I used to do
these marathon sessions at the Sierra Club. I knew what I was in for and made a thermos of coffee at
5:15 AM and got to CBC a bit before 6.
I was enclosed in a tiny booth with headphones. Did 12 interviews between 6 and 9. Problem is I was way too tired for the
day that lay ahead.
Was followed by a documentary film crew. Felt anti-social as I shut the door and
tried to grab a 10 min cat nap. Raced to the House to be there by 10. Lucky thing, as there was another
unanimous consent request to suspend Parliament for a few minutes, all related
to the government’s legislated end to strike action at Air Canada. I used to practice labour law (union
side). I don’t like this
intervention at all. I rose to ask that I be included in party whip
discussions, and okay the suspension.
Turns out the union and AC are close to a deal. We can keep debating and avoid any vote
to give them time. Not leaving my
seat.
Got a question in QP. Asked Peter Kent for
a panel review for “Old Harry,” the name of the site of a prospective deep
water oil well in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. (Farley Mowat tells me “Old Harry” in sailing lore is the
nickname for the Devil. How appropriate.)
Debate after QP is on the second reading of
the mega-trials bill. I get in a
few questions and comments. Irwin
Cotler, former Justice Minister, was brilliant. He noticed that the bill has no definition section. So there
is no definition of “mega-trial” and it could lead to the elaborate procedures
for mega-trials being an option in normal trials. Really happy I got some discussion on this bill.
I vote for the bill at second reading. Looking forward to the hearings on
Tuesday.
OK, so it still is too novel-like.
Stay tuned for the continuing real life
adventures of Canada’s first girl Green MP.