Not the "Master of QP"

My column on Loonie Politics this week takes the moniker that everyone seems to be throwing around lately – that NDP leader Thomas Mulcair is the "Master of Question Period" – and challenges it, being as I am probably the only journalist who hasn't missed a QP in five years. I also rate the performance of the other leaders while I'm at it (and in case you haven't figured it out, no, Mulcair really isn't the "Master of QP").

Chong’s Reform Act is a step but not a panacea

My column this week on Loonie Politics turns to the forthcoming debate on Michael Chong's Reform Act, and gives a timely reminder that while a lot of people are looking to this bill as the saviour of our democratic system, the bill doesn't address some of the root causes of the problems around leadership, and that even some of the proposed solutions are not going to be the solution to the problems.

NDP satellite offices and expanding the definition of "parliamentary" work

I have an additional column on Loonie Politics this week, which looks at the committee appearance by NDP leader Thomas Mulcair with regards to the party's "satellite offices," and how a combination of the slow expansion of what is perceived to be an MP's job, and a healthy dose of self-aggrandizement, created this situation, leaving us all desperate for a reality check.

Showing up for QP

My column this week on Loonie Politics takes the party leaders to task for their increasing absences from the Commons when it comes to QP, and the boasts by some that they're doing more work by getting out on the road rather than their actual jobs as an MP. This includes a reminder about what those jobs are, which one would think is an important consideration if they're campaigning to get re-elected.

Mandates and the names on the ballot

My column this week on Loonie Politics looks at the electoral canard of conferring mandates upon political leaders at the ballot box and about voting for leaders directly – a timely consideration given some of the rhetoric around the recently called Ontario election. It's another column that serves as a bit of a reminder about our system of Responsible Government, and what it actually means when we mark a ballot, no matter what our calculation is at the time when we do so.