The illusion - and delusion - of Senate control

My final column of 2013 is now up on Loonie Politics, which looks at the notion that somehow the PMO is really pulling all of the strings in the Senate. Given the chamber's institutional independence and the fleeting ways in which the PMO can try to influence or persuade, I deconstruct this assertion, and show just how illusory that kind of control tends to be.

Vacant senate seats breaking Confederation’s promises

My column this week on Loonie Politics (up a little early because of Christmas) looks at the swirling speculation around Senate vacancies, as well as the fashion of the pundit class musing that the Prime Minister should simply cease to make appointments in the hopes that attrition will kill the Senate from lack of membership - as though it were constitutionally feasible. Add to this a little bit of history and some institutional observation, and my column was born.

A bashful Speaker Scheer helps no one

My column this week on Loonie Politics looks back at the last year of Question Period, and the performance of Speaker Scheer in particular. Being a regular attendee of QP, it can become frustrating to see that rules aren't being applied consistently, and that the Speaker isn't delivering any rulings with a sense of gravitas, and hence this week's column came to be.

Rent-a-Tories, Liberal Supporters, and the death of accountability

My column this week on Loonie Politics is up, and continues to look at the issue of Michael Chong's Reform Act 2013. The issue of how parties choose leaders as having a longer-term impact remains a focus in this week's piece, and I get to employ one of the best political quotes from the past decade, being one from retired Senator Lowell Murray, about the loss of the party as the interlocutor between the citizens and the government.

The "Reform Act's" Missing Link

I had my first column posted today on the website Loonie Politics, which will be carried weekly. I wrote about the new Reform Act that Conservative MP Michael Chong tabled today, and identified some of the areas of it that concern me from a perspective of both history and civic literacy. I've studied much of this issue as part of the research I did for my forthcoming book on civic literacy, and was please to be able to apply it to this current reform proposal and offer what I could to the debate.

The 2013 Parliamentarians of the Year

I have three small pieces in the December 2nd issue of Maclean's, profiles related to this year's Parliamentarian of the Year Awards. This was the second year in a row that I was involved with the survey that led up to the awards, which involved a lot of chasing down MPs in the Foyer of the House of Commons, but this year because of prorogation, also involved hectoring by phone and office visits. Unlike last year, I was able to do some of the write-ups of the winners, and was assigned the interviews for Rising Star, Most Knowledgeable, and Best Represents Constituents. Despite the long hours of survey duty in the Foyer, it's a great way to get to know MPs that you don't have a lot of contact with otherwise, and these awards really are one of the highlights of the parliamentary calendar.

Royal family entitled to ‘extraordinary’ membership in the Order of Canada

I have a story up on the PostMedia wire service today, that looks at the changes made to the constitutions of the Order of Canada and the Order of Military Merit in order to allow for the members of the royal family to become members of these Orders, despite not being Canadian citizens. It was a bit of a crazy day to write this story, with the royal baby fever going on and all of the usual royal commentators otherwise occupied and Rideau Hall's media office being short-staffed, but I managed to make my deadline (just barely), and got a pretty good story out of it in the end.

Day 6: This is how Question Period should work

I made my first appearance on radio this morning as a guest contributor on CBC Radio One's "Day 6" this morning. It was a two-minute essay, which was a different kind of writing than I'm used to doing, and being in the booth doing the voice work was a new experience for me as well. But it's already been really well received, so I'm quite pleased with the work.

CTV News Channel - June 1 appearance

I was on CTV News Channel first thing this morning to talk about the latest revelations around Senator Mike Duffy, and how this is playing out in the Senate as a whole. It was another Skype appearance, but this time I was better aware about some of the issues like placement and lighting, so it looked a lot better than my first time out in this format.

CTV News Channel - May 27 appearance

I had another appearance on CTV News Channel this afternoon, to talk about Stephen Harper not showing up in QP, the latest developments in the Nigel Wright/Mike Duffy affair, and questions on Senate Reform. It was an enjoyable experience, and I'm getting quite used to them now.

CTV News Channel - May 18 appearance

I had another appearance on CTV News Channel today to discuss the resignations from caucus of Senators Wallin and Duffy, this time by way of Skype, which was a new experience. While the connection - and sound quality - wasn't as great as I would have liked, it was still another great experience as I get more accustomed to doing this kind of work.

CTV News Channel - May 9 appearance

I was on CTV News Channel today to talk about the Senate audits. The clip was short and to the point, and I had been hoping to talk a bit more about the reaction to the new rules, but it was still a good clip, and I'm glad to have been asked to speak about it.

Canada expected to sign Commonwealth Charter

I have a story up on iPolitics.ca today, which looks at the coming adoption of the Commonwealth Charter by Canada, and all other Commonwealth member countries. This follow up on stories that I wrote about the previous Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, when the idea of the Charter was part of the Eminent Person's Report. It's nice to be able to do these kinds of follow-up stories and to see the development of this kind of engagement, and of watching the Commonwealth evolve with a new sense of purpose.

CTV New Channel Express appearance

I made my first TV news appearance today on CTV News Channel's Express, where I spoke with Amanda Blitz about one of my favourite topics - the Senate. Despite some initial nerves (it was just me in a broom closet with a bright light, a camera and an earpiece), it was not bad for a first time out. You just might be seeing more of me in the future.

Politics on TV

My headshot appears in this week's Maclean's iPad edition, advertising my Politics on TV blog on Macleans.ca. Not bad!

'This bill is a sham'

I have a story up on the Politics page of Macleans.ca, whereby I get to look at my two favourite things - the Crown and the Senate - in the same story. Not only that, but I got to talk with some of my favourite senators. It was a fun story to write, because it's an issue I've been following for a couple of weeks, and I got to be a really big constitutional wonk.