Inside Ottawa: News and notes from Parliament Hill

Welcome to the CTV News political blog, where our Parliamentary reporters will bring you the inside scoop from Ottawa.

Friday, April 25

Guest blog by Craig Oliver:

Stephen Harper got nothing of what he wanted from the Supreme Court on the Senate. He is essentially blocked in every direction.  There was some reason to believe the Court might clear the way for the government to decide on its own to change term limits and to allow Senate elections.  ‘Forget it,’ said the high court in its unanimous ruling.

Harper was told his government would have to obtain the agreement of seven of the provinces with at least fifty per cent of the population.  That would entail a messy, long, drawn out negotiation with the provinces of the kind which was responsible as much as anything for the failure of the Mulroney government. In any such deal, Quebec would put much greater demands on the table. A rejection could inspire the hopes of separatism and put the country into another independence crisis.

Harper has famously stated that if he cannot reform the upper house of parliament then he would abolish it. Once again, Harper was set back on his heels with a ruling that to do so would need the unanimous approval of all ten provinces.  Such an agreement is all but impossible.  Even now, only three provinces support the view that the Senate should be killed off.

The wisest course for Harper now is to forget the whole episode. He has hit a stone wall when it comes to his hopes of making constitutional change. As much as anyone, he is responsible through his personal appointees to the Senate for the low esteem it finds itself in with most Canadians.

Harper could redeem himself by making non-partisan appointments to the Senate from distinguished Canadians of high reputation in the minds of their countrymen.  The era of party hacks, fundraisers, and election campaign workers paid by the taxpayer is, and should be, over.

It was the Liberal party which took to using the Senate as a retirement home for party stalwarts of no particular distinction.  Harper has an opportunity to do better.  This would be a start to making the Senate useful and respected once more.

Friday, April 4
Guest blog by Craig Oliver:

She is not your image of a bomb-throwing insurrectionist. In fact, Sheila Fraser looks and acts like everyone’s favorite dear old aunt. But this week, the former auditor general threw a grenade right into the debate over the government’s hotly contested Fair Elections Act.

If there is any bill the Conservative government should want to reach common cause upon, this is it, since it deals with the rules under which Canadians will choose the government. What can have more impact than the franchise, and how we will vote?

In past campaigns, the government has been charged and convicted for cheating on some expenses. Now the opposition says, the Conservatives are trying to rig the next campaign by tilting the playing field in their favour. In part, by gutting Elections Canada’s ability to investigate them.

This time criticism of government legislation has gone far beyond the usual suspects on the opposition benches. They have been joined by a long line-up of non-partisan individuals and organizations from pensioners, to First Nations, and every single authority in the country on the business of how to run a clean national vote.

In the face of all of this, the Prime Minister’s always obedient frontman Pierre Poilievre has steadfastly refused to change anything in the bill which he says is “terrific”. Now comes the former auditor general Sheila Fraser, whose voice carries more unbiased authority than anyone we have heard so far, warning that the bill is an attack on our democracy. She hints at dark intentions in the legislation she sees as undermining the independence of elections, and our ability to run clean and fair campaigns.

If Canadians by now are concerned but uncertain about the truth of this legislation, who should they choose to believe? The Conservative governments supine stand-in on the bill, Mr. Poilievre or Madame Fraser, a woman Harper once praised for her courage and integrity? The Harperites cannot forget that it was Fraser whose damning judgment on the Liberal government for their ethical sins in the sponsorship scandal was credited with bringing the Liberals down.

Even before her intervention, there were tenuous signs that the government was getting nervous about a voter backlash. Her entry into the fray may have brought them to their senses and to the negotiating table.

*Sheila Fraser joins Bob on Question Period this Sunday morning at 11amET/8amPT

Tuesday, April 1

April Fools’ Joke on Press Gallery

Even your often very serious Members of Parliament can have a funny side, including the Trade Minister, who issued this news release this morning about the importance of maple syrup. It was all a very ‘sweet’ April Fools’ joke. Not that maple syrup is a laughing matter, I take it VERY seriously.

My favourite part about this, the “WTO.”  That is one organization I’d like to work for.

Canada Welcomes Sweet Breakthrough on Maple Syrup Agreement

Minister Fast applauds decision by WTO member countries to recognize Canadian maple syrup as natural life-sweetener

April 1, 2014 – Geneva, Switzerland

Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, today applauded an agreement by members of the World Taffy Organization (WTO) to recognize Canadian maple syrup as essential to worldwide happiness.

The breakthrough comes after many years of sticky negotiations over the true value of Canadian maple syrup to overall global well-being.

On March 31, 2014, just before midnight Central European Time, a breakthrough was achieved, as the WTO voted unanimously to immediately designate Canadian maple syrup as a natural life-sweetener.

“This is one sweet deal for hard working Canadians and consumers in every region of the country," explained Fast. "Our grain growers will benefit as we expect pancake and French toast orders to go through the roof. The manufacturing sector has already seen a rise in new jobs in anticipation of an increased demand for waffle makers, while the forestry sector expects to tap the benefit of this agreement as more popsicle sticks are made to meet the increased demand for maple syrup taffy.”

Meanwhile, discussions on beavertails continue, as negotiators gnaw away at issues which presently block consensus.

Friday, March 28
Guest blog by Craig Oliver:

It should escape no one’s attention that world powers are once again in conflict in the same neighbourhood where 100 years ago, a chain of alliances dragged Europe into a war that killed millions and changed the political world order.

This time, thank goodness, no one is rattling sabers or none at least in the West. U.S. President Barack Obama has explicitly ruled out any military action. On Friday, Prime Minister Harper returned from a six-day, three-nation European tour in which his anti-Putin rhetoric grew increasingly personal with each stop.

In his efforts to rally Europe in defense of common values, Harper called on G-7 leaders to hit the Russians with tougher sanctions if Putin presses on to bite off more chunks of the Ukraine. But that may be an unconvincing threat that Harper and the West cannot deliver on.

Crippling sanctions could leave European countries -- who are heavily dependent on Russian energy and trade -- as semi-invalids themselves. They could also tip a fragile global economy back into recession. Since Russia is acting within its own sphere of influence, the reality is the G7 is probably not ready to risk the damage. Obama and Harper are threatening more than they’re able to deliver.

Harper was right about one thing. He insists the first task of the West should be to help Ukraine restore its economy and its fledgling democracy.

A buoyant and free Ukraine, closely allied to the West, would be the best revenge against the Russian bully. But you can be sure that Putin will do his best to destabilize his former Soviet satellite. His territorial ambitions are unlikely to stop with Crimea.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

In case you were wondering why the Israeli flag is flying on Parliament Hill…it’s in honour of the Speaker of the Israeli Knesset, Yuli Edelstein, who is visiting our Parliament today. I saw him watching Question Period in the House today, but we are not allowed to take photos in there so I cannot provide one!

Trudeau Talks Autobiography

If you haven’t already heard, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau is releasing his autobiography in the Fall of 2014. During a scrum in the House of Commons foyer this afternoon, when asked by Globe and Mail reporter Daniel LeBlanc why he was writing a book about his life at the age of 42, he said that Canadians have questions about “the man I am.” He added that even though Canadians have seen him grow up, they still want to know more about the person who is asking to be Prime Minister.  All proceeds of Trudeau’s book will be donated to the Red Cross, which Trudeau calls a good cause “near to my heart.”

When NDP leader Tom Mulcair was asked to comment on Trudeau’s upcoming book, he said he might consider writing an autobiography in another 15 years.

Friday, March 21 2014

Guest blog by Craig Oliver

During the 2006 election campaign, as it appeared Stephen Harper was about to win power, reporters pressed him for a commitment that he would provide fair and honest government. His response was prophetic. Harper said that Canadians did not have to worry because what described as the Liberal dominated courts would be a restraint on his actions.

He was right about that, but not for the reasons he expected.

Three times in as many months the Supreme Court has tossed out measures by the Harper government on the grounds that they have violated the constitution. However, this is now largely the Harper court --most of whose members he has appointed over the last six years.

The unkindest cut of all was the stunning decision by the Supreme Court to reject Prime Minster Harper’s appointment to the court of Mr. Justice Marc Nadon as ineligible.

One of the judges who joined in the majority decision to sideline Nadon was none other Richard Wagner, a Harper appointee from Quebec. The Conservatives might have expected Wagner to be an ideological soul mate since his father Claude Wagner almost won the leadership of the Conservative party in the late 1970s.

Friday’s rebuke by the SCOC was a major blow to the government and sets up a confrontation between the executive and judicial arms of the Canadian state which is unprecedented.

Now the prime minister must consider what, if any, options are available to him since he must soon appoint two Quebec nominees to the court. The Conservatives have always detested judicial activism. They believe that judges should stay quietly in their chambers and let politicians run the country. These run-ins with the Canadian judiciary, especially the high court, make them appear like outsiders from the country’s mainstream thinking.

Sometimes they almost act like a political party who hates their own government. Maybe this still works for the base, but it seems like an odd way to pursue a broad majority mandate.

Friday, March 14, 2014

Guest blog by Craig Oliver

When Quebec Premier Pauline Marois shoved Pierre Karl Péladeau away from her campaign microphone on Thursday, it was also a push to get talk of Quebec independence off centre stage altogether.

With 60 per cent of Quebecers, a record number, now telling pollsters they have no interest in breaking up the country, the plan of the separatist Parti Quebecois government was to focus on the economy, the Charter of Values, and to slide past talk of independence.

But Marois could not escape it when Péladeau, the union-busting Quebec media mogul exploded into the campaign with a passionate defence of his belief in succession for Quebec. Here was her new star candidate, whose candidacy was meant to settle the nerves of the business community, taking her campaign off course. That forced the reluctant Marois into musing about what a painless journey the breakup of the country would be. It also threatened to lose support for the Parti Quebecois in parts of the province.

Marois has insisted she has not yet decided whether or not she would call a referendum, so she believes the issue is not relevant. She contends the campaign should therefore focus on good government and the economy. The issue cannot be escaped, however, since a referendum and its results have important implications.

In the last referendum in 1995, then-Quebec Premier Jacques Parizeau was ousted by fervent sovereigntists mid-campaign in favour of a leader they thought was more winnable, the charismatic Lucien Bouchard.

Look out Madame Marois, you may yet be playing Parizeau to Mr. Péladeau’s Bouchard.

Monday, March 10, 2014

CTV Reporter Richard Madan is just heading into the media lock-up right now to get the details on the Canada-Korea free trade deal. (Details of the agreement won’t be released until 1:15 a.m. ET) It’s being held at the Canadian Embassy in Seoul, and this furry guy greets you as you enter the embassy.

Richard bumped into another furry friend on the streets of Seoul!

Friday, March 7, 2014

By Craig Oliver

In what has been an otherwise competent performance as foreign minister in a crisis, John Baird may have overreached himself in comparing Vladimir Putin’s adventure in Ukraine with the Nazi invasion of Sudentenland, which sparked the Second World War.

He was in good company: former U.S. secretary of state Hilary Clinton made the same mistake in discussing the pretext Putin used for his invasion of Crimea to that of Hitler’s occupation on Sudetenland.

At this writing, not a single person has been killed in Crimea and all sides are working to prevent a confrontation. However, the use of force by Putin is still illegal and a violation of guarantees of Ukrainian sovereignty the Russians gave Ukraine in 1994.

It is never a good idea for statesmen to employ excessive rhetoric in an effort to make a convincing argument. It takes the edge off the perspective and reality they are attempting to justify.

Believability always trumps bellicosity. Their case should stand on its merits without false comparisons. Most Russian citizens have far more in the way of personal freedoms and better lives than they did under the Soviet era. It should not be forgotten that millions of Russian soldiers died in a courageous and ferocious campaign that broke the back of the Nazi army during WWII. Putin is many things but he is not acting the way the Germans did in 1938.

Friday, February 28, 2014

Guest blog by Craig Oliver

Listen to the Aga Khan

Prime Minister Stephen Harper honoured the Aga Khan by inviting him to speak to Canadian Parliament this week. So why was he not listening to the message from the widely revered leader of the world’s eighteen million Ismaili Muslims? The Aga Khan spoke passionately of the need for inclusion and diversity, and his hope for pluralism, all of which he is a global symbol.

No sooner was the address to Parliament over, than it leaked out that the Prime Minister’s Office was blocking Liberal and NDP MPs from attending a government event at Massey Hall in Toronto on Friday for the Aga Khan. Here was a chance for the PM to take credit for a generous act, instead he stepped on his own success and turned it into what appeared to be a shoddy act of partisanship.

This has become something of a pattern lately. The Foreign Minister led a delegation to Ukraine to see what help Canada can offer, and once again the leaders of the opposition parties were excluded. The crisis in Ukraine resulted from a failure of civic governance. The political parties tore the country apart by their failure to agree on what kind of nation they wanted. This was exactly what the Aga Khan was warning the world about. What message was Canada sending by excluding its own parliamentary opposition? For Harper these days it seems everything is about domestic vote-getting, even though an election is a year-and-a-half away.

The Senate spending scandal has already seriously eroded Harper’s reputation for trustworthiness and his critics are increasingly able to detect a tone of political nastiness in the way the Conservative government treats its political opponents. Conservative strategists believe none of this matters because the next election will be won on the strength of their management of the economy. But if that was the only issue voters made their electoral decision on, Paul Martin would still be prime minister.

It was the nature of Martin’s governing style and its ethical short sightedness that brought the Liberals down. Sound familiar?

If the Conservatives have any realistic hope of turning around their plunging public support, they would start by heeding the advice of the Aga Khan.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

The Question Period crew at the Liberal convention in Montreal, getting ready for the big show tomorrow!

Monday, February 3, 2014

Despite not being in the House of Commons today for question period, the Prime Minister is working today. Spotted: His SUV/mini-motorcade parked outside his office in Langevin Block (which is across the street from Parliament Hill.)

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

NATURAL RESOURCES MINISTER CALLS AD ‘INACCURATE’

Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver came out swinging today, countering the anti-Keystone XL Pipeline ad which will run in the United States tonight during President Obama’s state of the union broadcast. Read about that here.

Oliver spoke to reporters in the foyer of the House of Commons after Question Period, saying:

“The ad is inaccurate because it attempts to show that the oil will be going to China, but the fact is no oil can be exported without the approval of the U.S. government.  It also attempts to show that the majority of the oilsands are owned by the Chinese gov’t.  In fact,  almost 80per cent of the oilsands production is owned in North America, mainly in Canada, but also to a significant extent in the United States.  Look, this is an ad by a U.S. billionaire who has made a great deal of money trading in oil stocks so I don’t think we have to give it much credence.”

Monday, January 27, 2014

Lots of Hill action as Parliament returned ….

The four MPs who won federal by-elections last November took their seats in the House of Commons today.  As tradition dictates, they were escorted in by their respective party leaders.PM Harper and Manitoba Tory MP Shelly Glover walked in Ted Falk and Larry Maguire, while Justin Trudeau and Marc Garneau brought in new Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg. Trudeau returned with MP Carolyn Bennett to introduce Toronto-Centre MP Chrystia Freeland.She was wearing what some might call her signature red dress.

Meanwhile, the Green Party has a new deputy leader.  It seems fitting that Green MP Bruce Hyer was named deputy leader, since he is the only other federal MP in the Green Party, next to leader Elizabeth May. The former Green Party deputy leader was Georges Laraque, but he had to step down over fraud charges.

The Finance Minister caused the biggest ruckus today, announcing the budget date during QP (read story here). So on his way out of the HoC, reporters clambered to get in a question while he tried to escape via the stairs. When one shouted (sorry I don’t know who, it was mayhem) that people might prefer to watch Olympic hockey instead of listen to the budget, he just turned and smiled. No answers!

Friday, January 17, 2014

Blue Rodeo frontman Jim Cuddy released a statement Friday evening in support of Neil Young's campaign against increased oilsands development as part of his "Honour the Treaties" tour. Here's Cuddy's full statement:

I believe that Neil Young is brave and articulate and very well informed about the oil sands.

Right now, Canada is at a crossroads between economics and the environment and we need to make a very, very brave choice.  How much revenue are we willing to sacrifice to ensure that we have clean water, clean air and good health for the people and the planet?

To clarify, I was asked about the town of Fort McMurray, not the oil sands.  My comments regarding the exaggeration of the conditions there were about Fort McMurray.  The oil sands are as visually grotesque as described.  Fort McMurray, on the other hand, is a thriving town whose people are directly affected by the issue of the expansion of the oil sands.   

This is not a trivial issue and it is not a time for the media to do anything but provide clarity.  This is an issue that is vital to all of our best interests.  It is essential that we have an open dialogue about it and we force our government to listen.

We'll be talking about this very topic with Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May on Question Period on Sunday.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

The NDP hit the Hill early

Parliament is not returning until January 27, but the federal NDP caucus has some work to do on the Hill tomorrow and Friday. They are holding strategy sessions to prepare for the upcoming session of Parliamentand, according to B.C. MP Peter Julian, focus on a “high level of electoral preparation” for the 2015 election.

Most NDP MPs are expected to attend, and Julian says the meetings give them the opportunity to compare notes after speaking with their constituents over the holidays. He assured me that the Senate scandal is not going away anytime soon. Other topics they will focus on include transportation safety, Canada Post cuts, and making life more affordable for Canadians.

They’ll get some advice from guest speakers, including Jeremy Bird, who worked for U.S. PresidentBarack Obama’s re-election campaign in 2012.

When asked if Justin Trudeau would be the focus of a strategy session, he said “not so much.”  He reiterated that their real opponent in the next election will be Stephen Harper.

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair will do a mini tour next week before the House returns, dubbed the “affordability” tour. He’ll be visiting parts of Ontario and Western Canada.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Army Commander’s letter 'insulting'

Some Canadian Forces members are unhappy with a memo sent to them just before the holidays by Army Commander Lieut.-Gen. J.M.M. Hainse.  As reported on Friday by CTV’s Mercedes Stephenson, the letter, sent Army-wide, instructed members not to leak information to the media. Some CF sources have told Mercedes that they’re insulted by the implication that any sharing of information is “unethical,” and say it’s not an effective way to stop leaks.

Here is a copy of the letter, which coincidentally, was leaked to Mercedes.

Gentlemen,

As in the previous year, the Army is still experiencing instances of information and documents being released, or "leaked" to media agencies and other unauthorized recipients.  The references above outline the CAF policies on the release of information and the recent examples are all contrary to these regulations.  In addition to being a breach of DND rules, these incidents also represent a serious lapse in the ethical judgement and behaviour of some of our members who are tasked with handling information that may be of a sensitive nature.

The unauthorized release of information negatively impacts the credibility of our institution, our center of gravity.  It is hurting the Army, it is counter-productive, and it needs to stop.  These acts are punishable under the references and I intend to pursue disciplinary action against any member of the Army who is found complicit in the unauthorized release of information.

I encourage you to remind all personnel of the existing regulations which guide their actions as well as the potential repercussions that a disregard of these regulations may have, both personally and institutionally.

The Canadian Army is made of ethical warriors and I expect that our soldiers' ethical judgement, supported by strong leadership, will guide their actions in the rare cases where regulations could be unclear.

J.M.M. Hainse
Lieutenant-General

Monday, January 13, 2014

Happy belated Sir John A. MacDonald Day!  (And Happy New Year, since it’s our first blog post of 2014!)

But back to our former prime minister…. January 11 was Sir John A. MacDonald Day, a day for Canadians to honour our first prime minister. It would also have been his 199th birthday.

Our current Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement to mark the occasion, saying: “Sir John A. Macdonald first dreamed, and then achieved, great things for Canada. During his 19 years as prime minister, he accomplished remarkable feats at an astounding pace – herculean tasks that laid the foundation for the wealthy, prosperous country we enjoy today.”

And just in time, Historica Canada released a Heritage Minute video showcasing MacDonald on his way to the Charlottetown Conference in 1864, which you can check out here.

Anthony Wilson Smith, head of Historica, told Don Martin on Power Play Friday that he hopes their Heritage Minutes will show that Canadian history is really interesting, and this new video will show you that Sir John A. was a larger-than-life character. (It also shows you that Sir John liked his cocktails, if you didn’t already know that).

Which reminds me, I need to finish Richard Gwyn’s ‘Nation Maker’ -- his biography on MacDonald’s political career. A good read!

Hey, it was former Prime Minister Jean Chretien’s birthday on the 11th to; he turned 80. In honour of that we must take another look at my favourite photo of him from last year…

Friday, December 20, 2013

It's the time of year when MPs' holiday cards start arriving on our desks. Here are some of the most interesting of this year's batch!

First up, who doesn't like a cute dog photo? Adorable holiday greeting from Nova Scotia MP Scott Brison and his husband Maxime - and, of course, their dog Simba:

Thomas Mulcair poses with his wife Catherine on the cover of this year’s holiday card.  Hey – speaking of the opposition leader, catch Bob’s year-end interview with him on January 5 on our annual leaders show!

Pets are family, too! Prime Minister Stephen Harper, wife Laureen, and children Ben and Rachel send holiday greetings with their fuzzy Chinchilla family member.

Elizabeth May poses in what looks like her kitchen on the cover of this year’s holiday card.  Pre-Holiday feast?

Parliamentary Secretary to Health Eve Adams poses with her bf Dimitri Soudas in Canada Olympic gear. Soudas just quit his job with the Canadian Olympic committee to take on the role of executive director of the Conservative Party of Canada.

The Governor General poses with all his grandchildren on the cover of his card.  Make sure to catch Mercedes Stephenson’s story on the holidays at Rideau Hall on CTV National News this week!

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Holiday Time at the Governor General's

The cat says “meow, meow,” reads Gov.-Gen. David Johnston in a high-pitched voice to three of his grandchildren.He’s sitting on the floor of Rideau Hall’s state dining room, reading a book entitled “Yuck, A Love Story,” while the three little ones listen intently: Téa - 7, Isabelle – 2 1/2, and Joshua - six months old (the GG refers to him as “big guy,” which is just adorable).

Rideau Hall is generally filled with pomp and circumstance, but behind the protocol lies a loving and down-to-earth family. Since taking over his role as Canada’s commander-in-chief in 2010, Johnston and his family have called this heritage site ‘home.’ CTV reporter Mercedes Stephenson and I stopped by earlier today to find out how His Excellency and Her Excellency spend the holidays.

It’s not all relaxation at Christmastime, Her Excellency Sharon Johnston tells us. On Christmas Day the whole clan pitches in to set the table, cook the meal, and do the dishes. That’s because they give the staff three days off, Christmas through the 27th. She adds “we’re just a normal family.”  The first time they were left to their own devices over the holidays, they had a little trouble figuring out how to use the professional kitchen appliances, so the chef joked this year that he would go over some cooking instructions before he leaves.

There will be 20 people sitting around the large dining table this year, and while many dignitaries have enjoyed formal dinners here, on Christmas Day the only formality will be who’s “it” in a game of tag around the table. Her Excellency is referred to as ‘Granny,’ and his Excellency is ‘Grandpa book’ to their 10 grandchildren, because the GG is always reading to them.  He also spends lots of time in Rideau Hall’s library, having five or six books on the go at a time, some of them on iPad. He’s a modern guy after all.

One long-standing Christmas tradition for this family is for Her Excellency to bake cinnamon buns. Mrs. Johnston has been making them since she was 21 years old, working as an occupational therapist with children who had learning problems. “It’s a constructive way to get out your energy,”she says. The dough doesn’t break the same way pastry dough would if you pound it.  (See recipe at the end of this post).

“Wherever I go I’m the cinnamon bun lady,” she adds, saying she’s baked them in places like Brazil, Africa, and China.

The Governor General sometimes helps out in the kitchen, though with strict instructions from Mrs. GG: “You need more butter than that, you’re not on a diet.”He jokes back, saying to one of his grandchildren: “I’m always a little nervous when she has a rolling pin in her hand, she might throw it at Grandpa book.”

When our cameras were done rolling, Her Excellency made sure we all tried the cinnamon buns. They were delicious!

Watch for Mercedes’s full story on CTV National News over the holidays!

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Her Excellency’s Cinnamon Buns

Yield:  approximately 25-50 (depending on size)

Ingredients:

1 package (1 tbsp.) dry active yeast

1 - 1¼ cup potato water (or milk)

5-6 cups (or more as needed) all-purpose flour

½  cup sugar

2 tsp. salt

2 tbsp. soft butter

1 egg

1 cup mashed potatoes

Also required – parchment paper

Note:  For the potatoes - boil a few potatoes in water until soft. Drain, saving the liquid, and mash the potatoes with a bit of butter.

Filling:

1 lb. soft butter

5 cups brown sugar

ground cinnamon

-------------

Dissolve yeast in warm potato water (about 100^oF, or body temperature) or warm milk. Whisk until all particles are dissolved. In a mixing bowl, combine yeasty liquid with remaining ingredients (hold back a bit of the flour in case not all is needed).  Mix with a dough hook (or by hand) until a soft, elastic dough is formed, adding the extra flour if the dough is too sticky, or some warm water if the dough is too firm. Place dough in an oiled bowl/container, cover and let rise (at about 100-120^oF for fastest rise) until doubled in size. This will take from 1-3 hours, depending on room temperature.

To make cinnamon buns:

Turn risen dough out of container onto a floured work surface. Roll out to about ¼-½ inch thick. Spread on softened butter for a thin coating. Sprinkle brown sugar generously over surface (for a good coating), then sprinkle with ground cinnamon.

Roll up cinnamon rolls into a cylinder, then cut into portions. Place portions into 9”x13” pans, or cookie sheets with rims (lined with parchment paper).

Cover pans with a tea towel and let rise again in a warm place until doubled. Bake at 350^oF for about 12-24 minutes (every oven differs!), until buns are golden brown.

Remove and brush with butter if desired, or top with an icing sugar glaze.

Cool slightly and serve.

(My hand reaching for a Mrs. GG cinnamon bun. DELICIOUS!)

Monday, December 9, 2013

Former QP host and CTV’s senior political correspondent, Craig Oliver, has been named honourary Chair for the CNIB’s national board of directors.  Congrats Craig! Craig has long been a champion for the blind, and the CNIB. He has been visually impaired for the last 30 years due to glaucoma.

Not that that has ever stopped him; he came in second at bowling at our CTV Christmas party 3 years ago. Seriously!

Friday, December 6, 2013

The federal government has set up an online book of condolences that Canadians can sign for former South African president Nelson Mandela. Below, Prime Minister Stephen Harper signs the book of condolences on Parliament Hill.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Was that the governor general, or Santa, spotted in Gatineau this morning?

Gov.-Gen. David Johnston was up bright and early this morning to help with a charity event in Gatineau, Que.

Johnston joined volunteers in the 13th annual La grande guignolee des medias event, to collect money and non-perishable food items from motorists stopped at the intersection of Alexandre-Tache and St-Joseph Boulevards.

The GG donned a Santa hat and a safety vest and ran around collecting items from surprised drivers. The event that has raised more than $22 million for local charities since 2001.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

The Minister of Veterans’ Affairs Julian Fantino was leaving the Conservative Caucus meeting this morning and reporters asked him about the lastest suicide in the military, here is the transcript.

Question: Are you concerned, Minister, about another reported suicide in the military?

Hon. Julian Fantino: We’re concerned about any suicides, and we care deeply about the families and we extend our condolences.

Question: Can you stop?  Can you stop?

Hon. Julian Fantino: No, I have a matter to deal with. Thank you.

Question: Yeah, but what about this matter? Can you tell us what can be done (inaudible)?

Question: Are you taking any action to try and deal with this?

Hon. Julian Fantino: I have a matter to deal with. Thank you.

Question: Are you going to come out and talk to us and tell us what the government’s doing?  (No response.)

For the record, Question Period has repeatedly invited the Minister of Veterans’ Affairs onto the show, but he has declined all invitations.

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It's that time of year...

Testing the bulbs on Parliament Hill for Christmas Lights Across Canada, which launches Thursday evening. Purty!

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Parliament Hill tour

Google Maps has expanded its Street View of Parliament Hill, announcing Tuesday that now users can take a virtual tour of the Prime Minister’s Office, as well as the office of Opposition Leader Tom Mulcair. The new additions to Street View also include the Memorial Chamber and the Peace Tower Observation Deck.

There are bananas growing in Ottawa

(Insert your jokes about monkeys and the behaviour of certain Members of Parliament during Question Period in the HOC here, wise guys.)

But seriously, these bananas are growing at Rideau Hall! You can find them in the Governor General's greenhouse. CTV reporter Daniele Hamamdjian and I were on a secret mission there yesterday, and we'll bring you more about that in the coming weeks! In the meantime, a mini photographic preview as Rideau Hall staff readies the GG's residence for the holidays.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Setting up for first ever newser in the red chamber by Speaker Kinsella!

CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife takes a seat before the news conference.

Friday, November 29, 2013

Patrick Brazeau is known for periodic Twitter outbursts, and he was at it again Friday morning in an attempt to secure new employment after being suspended without pay from the Senate earlier this month.

In a series of tweets, Brazeau outlined his work experience before suggesting he would make an excellent addition to the Parliamentary Press Gallery.

He also suggested he’s writing a book about his experience and it may appear on store shelves before the 2015 election.

And in another bit of intrigue, Brazeau re-tweeted a tweet sent from the account of the newly resurrected Frank magazine. Hmmm...

Thursday, November 28, 2013

The Press Gallery vs. the PM’s Parliamentary Secretary

There was collective Twitter frustration by the Press Gallery over Paul Calandra’s answers in Question Period today. The Prime Minister’s parliamentary secretary is the go-to guy lately on everything Senate scandal (when the PM isn’t in the House). And his go-to answer when questioned by NDP Leader Tom Mulcair:

(referring to Mulcair)  “When he talked about the bribe that he was potentially offered, he said that he didn’t know that what he was being offered was a bribe because he didn’t actually open the envelope. If he didn’t open the envelope how did he know that what he was being offered was a bribe?....

Either he opened the envelope or he didn’t.”

*Calandra is referring to this story.

Here are some of the tweets from the Press Gallery during QP today:

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Politicians honour soldiers who committed suicide

The Veterans Affairs committee began with a moment of silence today to honour the two soldiers who committed suicide this week.  You can read about that here.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

New MPs Descend Upon Ottawa

Prime Minister Stephen Harper invited media to 24 Sussex this morning to showcase his two new Conservative Manitoba MPs.  Larry McGuire and Ted Falk left 24 Sussex in style in Harper’s black SUV to attend this morning’s caucus meeting on the Hill.  We got a nice glimpse of the festive decorations at the PM’s House too!

The Liberals trotted out their two new MPs, too, today in Centre Block: Chrystia Freeland and Emmanuel Dubourg.

The Liberal candidates who lost in Manitoba, Rolf Dinsdale and Terry Hayward, joined in too.

Dinsdale did the gentlemanly thing earlier today, tweeting a photo of himself congratulating his winning competitor at the airport on their way to Ottawa.

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A snowy morning in Ottawa, as winter hits Parliament Hill

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Byelection reaction on Parliament Hill - Everybody's Happy!

Tom Mulcair:

“If you look at the numbers, you’ll realize that the NDP got its best result ever in Toronto Centre. It is the best result we ever got.”

“We’ve maintained our level of support, even in Quebec…we have exactly the same level of support in Bourassa that we had in 2011. I think that the results that would have been better would have been to steal one of those safe Liberal seats.” (Mulcair smiled when he made that last comment.)

Fisheries Minister Gail Shea:

“We’re happy with the results of the election, we held two seats in Manitoba so we’re very happy with that.”

Q:  But are you concerned about popular vote going down?

“Byelections aren’t usually won by sitting governments so we’re happy with the results.”

Justin Trudeau:

“The fact that we went from somewhere around 4per cent to over 40per cent in Brandon shows that positive politics are making a difference.”

But….

“It’s important not to read in too much, it is a byelection, it’s very much an artificial construct when it comes to predicting general elections…”.

But…

“I think that we can be very, very encouraged by the sense that we got that the Liberal party is connecting…”.

Laurie Hawn, Conservative – Edmonton Centre:

“We were happy to win in Manitoba, which we expected.”

Q:  But did the Senate play a role though (in the lower numbers)?

“Oh perhaps, yes, probably did.”

Costas Menegakis, Conservative – Richmond Hill, Ontario:

“Great news.” “Both of our guys that we expected in Manitoba got in. We overcame a 29-point lead.  Awesome.”

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Parliamentarians Dribble, Jump, and Throw

No, I’m not talking about Question Period in the House.

Parliament Hill turned into a mini-race course today to raise awareness for Canada’s Special Olympics team. Olympic Gold medalist Mark Tewksbury was the race announcer, and Sports Minister Bal Gosal, Justice Minister Peter MacKay and Senator Jim Munson were among the Parliamentarians who joined special athletes in the friendly competition.

The athletes, and other representatives from Special Olympics Canada, will be meeting one on one with MPs and Senators on the Hill throughout the day.

Nice to see members from different parties working together for a good cause. Kinda leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside (before snowmaggedon hits Ottawa later today).

Click here for more info.

Justice Minister Peter MacKay runs his heart out after a bocce ball fumble:

Gold medal-winning Olympian Mark Tewksbury rallies the troops:

Monday, November 25, 2013

Parliament Hill Makeover

Public Works and Government Services Canada unveiled artist's renderings of the West Block Rehabilitation Project, which includes the construction of a temporary House of Commons chamber and other facilities that will be needed while Centre Block gets its own facelift.

According to a fact sheet the department posted online, interior parts of the building that have been designated “heritage spaces are being restored to resemble their original look” while being updated to meet a modern-day government’s needs.

“Other parts of the building will be repurposed and rehabilitated to add more functional space and to meet parliamentary needs while also preserving the original detailing and finishes,” the department says.

The temporary House chamber, for instance, will have a glazed roof that can filter sunlight and external sound. The glass panels will also be able to regulate the chamber’s temperature.

Once the renovation of Centre Block is complete and the temporary House chamber is no longer needed, the infill will be converted into “much-needed” committee rooms, expanding the useable space of West Block “by 50 per cent.”

Check out the West Block’s new look:

The interim House of Commons Chamber

The West Block's renovated courtyard and glazed roof

A "scrum area" for journalists to interview Parliamentarians

The foyer of the temporary House of Commons chamber

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Football Festivities

House Speaker Andrew Scheer had a Grey Cup kick-off party in his Parliament Hill office today. Scheer is from Regina, and he invited MPs who support either of the two teams facing off in Sunday’s match: Saskatchewan and Hamilton. More importantly, there was football cake!

Some holiday cheer on Parliament Hill….

Recent political scandals and cover ups are not getting in the way of a festive atmosphere on the Hill!

As we work furiously to prepare this week’s edition of Question Period, we took a moment to enjoy the purty decorations in Parliament’s centre block that went up this week. Thanks to CTV camera person Robyn Hinton for the pics!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Holiday Greetings

It’s never too late, I mean early, for holiday greetings. Just received the Prime Minister’s holiday card, featuring their annual family portrait, with a new addition this year: their pet chinchilla, Charlie.

Chair of Senate Internal Economy Committee Calls it Quits

Senator Gerald Comeau, who was appointed as Chair of the Senate’s Internal Economy committee in June, told reporters on Parliament Hill this afternoon that he is stepping down. Not only as committee chair, but from the Senate altogether. But he insists his departure has nothing to do with the current scandal in the Senate, “no you can trust me on that.” He officially could have stayed in the Senate for another 7 years.

Comeau said that he actually told the Prime Minister back in June he would be retiring this fall. At the same time, Marjory LeBreton asked him to step in as Chair of the internal economy committee since former chair David Tkachuk was leaving his post to undergo cancer treatment. He agreed to do the job until October 31 but extended his stay another month due to the recent happenings in the Senate.

His last day on the job will be next Thursday, November 28. He added “I’m not retiring from life, I’m retiring from the Senate.”  But says he will take an extended vacation in Florida before starting any new work projects.

Comeau would not confirm who the new chair of the committee will be, stay tuned for that!

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

MPs do have style

NDP MP Megan Leslie was rocking these cute 1950s-inspired shoes when she participated in an MPs panel on Power Play today. Who says MPs don't have style, who?

You can watch the panel here.

Ouch! Flu shot field trip

CTV’s new Ottawa deputy bureau chief Laurie Graham and Power Play host Don Martin both got their flu shots today.

They went together for moral support because they are both deathly afraid of needles. Laurie said she had to do it because in 2005 she had her first flu, and it was a whopper. She was down for over a week and she had never been so sick, so since then she has done the deed. And apparently has been flu-free since then. But she knows some people do not like the shot, and she’s not here to tell people what to do, “to each his own!”

She did say that Don was a bit of a chicken, and she had to “hold his hand” during the “ordeal.” Don confirmed this, saying needles make him sweaty, fainty, and turn red like a certain Canadian major city mayor.

But, like Laurie, he says he overcame his fear of needles for the greater fear of getting the flu. Besides feeling like crap, it’s apparently not fun being a TV host with an incessant cough. And trying not to cough while on air. There you go. I think I’ll go get my flu shot tomorrow.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Ottawa’s Littlest Drummer Boy Meets the Prime Minister

You may remember this little guy from a story CTV’s Daniele Hamamdjian did in the summer. Isaac De Franco loves the changing of the guards so much, he participates A LOT. (You can watch the story here.) Well, he had the honour of meeting the Prime Minister yesterday!

Monday, November 11, 2013

How the NDP's Veterans Affairs critic spends Remembrance Day

Every year for the last 16 years, the NDP’s Peter Stoffer hits the road ahead of Remembrance Day, driving close to 450 kilometres in order to visit veterans and commemorate with Nova Scotians on Nov. 11.

The Veterans Affairs critic starts the morning off around 8:30 a.m. at Halifax’s Pier 21, where he lays a wreath at the Dutch cenotaph.  The monument recognizes Canadian soldiers who lost their lives on Dutch soil, which is especially poignant for Peter because he was born in Holland.  (You are not allowed to call him Mr. Stoffer, by the way, because “Mr. Stoffer” is his dad’s name)

Then he visits places like Eastern Passage, Ship Harbour, Gatesbrook, Waverley and Dartmouth -- just to name a few.  And at each stop, he comes bearing gifts. This year, he will present the official Department of Veterans Affairs Remembrance poster, “a Canadian flag or two”, and a framed picture which includes himself, the former Minister of Veterans Affairs, and a whole bunch of veterans at the demilitarized zone in Korea.  The photo was taken back in April in honour of the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War.

Stoffer is especially proud of the gift he presented to legions and halls back in 2003: three vases, one filled with soil from Vimy Ridge, one filled with sand from Juno beach, and one filled with soil from Korea. He said a lot of the people at the legions he visits won’t get a chance to travel to those places, so he brought those places to them.

The MP for Sackville-Eastern Shore says he does this drive every year (with a driver in tow, in case he needs to raise a glass at the various legions!), not only because it’s a lot of fun, but also because it gives him the opportunity to visit vets, current CF members, cadets and non-military people who want to show their gratitude.  Stoffer says it’s “not a festive atmosphere, but a commemorative atmosphere.”

He adds: “I like to say Remembrance Day is Nov. 11, but every day for those who have served and their families is Remembrance Day.”

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Media waiting outside Senate door for arrivals. Everytime this white Senate bus pulls up we're hopeful it's Pamela Wallin, only to be disappointed. Awwww. Still waiting. For the latest in today's Senate action, including the vote to suspend Wallin, Mike Duffy and Patrick Brazeau, click here.

Monday, November 4, 2013

2:15 p.m.

Donut Warz…

Conservative MP Gord Brown fulfills his promise this afternoon to give blueberry and apple fritters to media who covered last weekend’s Tory convention. He made the promise after NDP MP Peter Julian dropped off donuts to reporters in Calgary on Saturday.  (See post from Saturday below.)

11:00 a.m.

Intrigue, mystery, different versions of the truth and a story with many layers…

We have a new face at CTV’s Parliamentary bureau here in Ottawa, though you might recognize her, she’s been reporting for 23 years! Welcome Laurie Graham, our new Deputy Bureau Chief! Follow Laurie on Twitter for the latest on her stories and other news from Parliament Hill.

Here’s a little Q & A to get to know Laurie better!

Q: Where are you from?  

A: I'm from Sydney, N.S., on Cape Breton Island. A magical place with a celebrated tradition of storytelling.

Q:What inspired you to become a reporter?

A: I always considered myself a natural-born storyteller. My siblings just thought I was a Chatty Cathy. My nose for news came honestly. It didn't hurt that my Uncle Bill Jessome was a news reporter who worked most of his career with ATV - a CTV affiliate in The Maritimes, but my parents were also keenly interested in current events, which I believe rubbed off on me.

Q: What was the most interesting story you ever had to cover?

A: From the crash of Swissair Flight 111 off the coast of Peggy's Cove, to the September 11th terrorist attacks of the World Trade Center. I did two rotations in Kandahar, covering Canada's mission in Afghanistan and was part of a team in Haiti covering the aftermath of that devastating earthquake.

Q: What was the most bizarre story you ever had to cover?

In every story, there are always those bizarre moments that have nothing to do with the story, but happen while you are covering the story. I've had a number of those over the years, but one I will never forget is the time I was in Israel, covering the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict.

We were on the so called front lines, practically next to a tank firing shots across the border. The sound was deafening! The loudest sound I had ever heard and the only way to find comfort was to plug my ears. Or so I thought.

Udi, my cameraman, offered me his cigarettes. I yelled over the sound, "I don't smoke." He shook his head no, grabbed two cigarettes from the package, broke off the filters and shoved one in each of my ears. Instant relief! I don't smoke, but I was glad Udi did!

Q: What was the most interesting ‘scrum’ moment you’ve ever had? 

I've been involved in a lot of scrums over the years, but there's one I will never forget. It was with then-Prime Minister Jean Chrétien who came to Cape Breton to announce about a million dollars for the Island, but he didn't say how the money was to be spent or what it was for. So I asked him, was this just another example of a government coming to Cape Breton offering yet another handout without a single plan for how the money should be spent?

I clearly touched a nerve because Chrétien lost it. He yelled at me. Lectured me. He asked me whether I thought he should take the money back, "would that make you happy?" he shouted. It was brutal. I was the network reporter for the Maritimes surrounded by Parliamentary reporters and in that moment, I was mortified. But it taught me a lot. I was never afraid to ask anyone a question after that. If I could survive being berated by Chrétien in a scrum, no scrum ever seemed scary again!

Q: What was the most interesting political story you’ve covered?

A: I've covered a lot of political stories over the years, but I have to say the Senate scandal is up there as one of the most interesting. It's filled with intrigue, mystery, different versions of the truth and it's a story with many layers.

Q: What is your favourite place to hang out in Ottawa?

A: I don't have a single favourite place. I like to run along the Ottawa River, but only in the Spring/Summer. I'm a fair weather runner! I like the 19th Tee, which is an Ottawa Golf driving Range. I don't spend nearly enough time there!

Q: What should CTV viewers know about Laurie Graham?

A: My golf handicap is 10 and I'm working hard to get to single digits!

I have a shoe/boot fetish and on occasion doodle my own designs!

Laurie setting up in her new CTV digs…

Friday, November 1, 2013

1:30 p.m. ET

NDP MP Peter Julian, who is an observer at the Conservative convention, arrives at convention centre with donuts for media!

10:30 a.m. ET

No Senate today, no Question Period in the House of Commons. So instead, Conservative convention in Calgary!

CTV National News reporter Richard Madan and cameraman Tom Michalak in festive attire from the convention floor early this morning.

Thursday, October 31, 2013

A look at the empty Senate this afternoon before senators arrive for the 2 pm ET sitting:

CTV National News producer Philip Ling spoke with Senator Cowan's office today (the Liberal leader in the Senate) and made this handy list of what to expect with the senate motion to suspend Duffy, Brazeau, and Wallin:

• Today, Conservatives are going to introduce a new government motion on Brazeau, Duffy, Wallin – this will replace the three original motions on them. Making it a government motion means they can introduce time allocation/closure to shut down debate the next sitting day.

• Liberals say the Conservatives have given them a heads up that after today’s sitting, they will request the Senate adjourn until Monday so Tories can go their Convention in Calgary. Liberals will allow the adjournment. So, Senate is expected to not sit tomorrow and they will return on Monday.

• Liberals don’t expect the sitting to last too long today after the tabling of the new government motion. Liberals won’t introduce amendments to the motion today.

• On Monday, it’s expected government will table time allocation/closure on debate on the new government motion. Expect the vote to happen on Tuesday.

*There was no word from the Senate leader’s office (at the time of this posting) on if their timeline matches Cowan’s*

Leaving Town

QP Host Bob Fife on his way to Calgary this morning for the Conservative Convention.

The Prime Minister will give a speech Friday evening at 7pmET, and pretty sure the party is hoping the senate will have voted on the motions to suspend Senators Duffy, Wallin and Brazeau before Harper takes the stage. But that isn’t looking too good right now.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Many happy faces last night in Ottawa at the book launch for former NDP campaign director Brad Lavigne. Happy because the Senate scandal is a political plus for Canada's Official Opposition at the moment. The party is sending three observers to the Conservative convention later this week, and one MP commented that they will have “so much fun" in Calgary.

A large number of party faithful turned out to support Lavigne, whose new book, titled 'Building the Orange Wave,' chronicles Jack Layton's rise to political power, and how the NDP got to where they are now. Speaking to partygoers, Lavigne said that this wasn't a “one-off,” implying the NDP would be successful again in the 2015 federal election.

Jack Layton's former chief of staff, Anne McGrath, just re-joined the NDP team, after leaving post-2011 election to work for communications firm Ensight. She confirmed her new title is 'senior advisor' and she's currently working on 2015 election preparation.

Many NDP MPs attended the event, including Paul Dewar, Andrew Cash, Nathan Cullen, Niki Ashton, and Olivia Chow. Chow, who wrote the book's forward, was evasive when asked whether or not she would run for Toronto mayor, even after it was pointed out that new candidate Karen Stintz might split the Conservative vote with Mayor Rob Ford.

The NDP caucus gathered this morning on the Hill, as do the Conservative and Liberal caucuses. Tom Mulcair was to skip caucus to visit Montreal this morning, but promised to return to Ottawa for Question Period in the House after a successful stint in the House yesterday. Liberal leader Justin Trudeau is in Calgary today so will miss caucus and QP.

NDP MP Peter Stoffer in line to get his booked signed by Brad Lavigne.

Anne McGrath, new senior advisor to the NDP, and NDP MP Hoang Mai.

NDP MP Charlie Angus at the Metropolitan in Ottawa.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

1:55 p.m.

Media wait outside the Senate foyer door to see if Senators Mike Duffy and Patrick Brazeau will arrive for today's proceedings.

A pretty view of Parliament Hill ahead of what is sure to be another busy day. Follow the latest developments on the Senate here.

Monday, October 28, 2013

1:45 p.m.

Media await the arrival of Sen. Mike Duffy to today's Senate proceedings:

11:30 a.m.

The Senate Saga Continues Today!

The Conservative Senate caucus is meeting at 1 p.m. today, possibly to debate amendments to the suspension motion. However, the Prime Minister reiterated earlier today on a Halifax radio show that he wants a full suspension for all three senators.

Harper also spoke about his former chief of staff, Nigel Wright, saying he was dismissed back in May. He initially said that he had resigned, after Robert Fife broke the news that Wright had given the $90,000 cheque to Mike Duffy so that the senator could pay back his mis-claimed expenses. In Wright’s May 19resignation letter, he wrote:

“In light of the controversy surrounding my handling of matters involving Senator Duffy, the Prime Minister has accepted my resignation as Chief of Staff.”

In a statement from the Prime Minister released on May 19, he said:

“It is with great regret that I have accepted the resignation of Nigel Wright as my Chief of Staff.”

The senate will sit at 2 p.m. today. They don’t usually sit on Mondays, but it seems there’s lots to do this week!  There are several votes to take place, including voting on a motion to limit debate on the suspension motions, and the suspension motions themselves. We will be watching  (and listening, since you can’t see the Senate on TV).

Friday, October 25, 2013

The Senate debate over the motions to suspend Senators Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin and Patrick Brazeau has ended for the week. Catch up on the latest here, and we'll see you next week!

Thursday, October 24, 2013

11:00 a.m.

There’s a lot of confusion around here over Sen. Hugh Segal’s point of order in the Senate yesterday, which is being considered by Speaker Noel Kinsella. This is in regards to the motion to suspend Sen. Pamela Wallin. Reporter Omar Sachedina has broken it down.

Key points:

Thanks Omar!

Day 3 of Senate Brouhaha

The Senate will be back at 2 p.m. today to continue the debate on the motions to suspend Senators Wallin, Duffy and Brazeau. But a vote is not expected, as there are other sub-motions the Senate has to deal with, and the Speaker of the Senate still has to make a decision on Sen. Hugh Segal’s point of order on the motion to suspend Wallin. So much to do!  Sen. Marjory LeBreton is also expected to deliver her response to Duffy’s speech today. (She responded to Wallin’s speech yesterday – more about that here.)

Mr. Craig Oliver is in his office preparing for the day, and I asked him his thoughts on the current Senate situation. He told me this is a sneak peek of what he’ll talk about on Power Play today:

“Harper created an environment within his government with the philosophy ‘win at all costs.’  Therefore, people he worked with felt it was ok to break rules. He also created this ‘you’re with us or you’re against us’ mentality. If you’re against us, you will be cast aside and will be crushed.”

You can read about what Craig was talking about here.

Make sure to catch Craig on Don Martin’s Power Play today at 5 p.m. ET!

Wednesday, October 23, 2013:

Marjory LeBreton to Mike Duffy: 'This is a figment of his imagination'

Former Leader of the Government in the Senate Marjory LeBreton is denying the allegations by Mike Duffy that she threatened him last May.

In his speech to the Senate on Tuesday, Duffy alleged that LeBreton told him in a phone call on May 16 that if he didn’t resign from the Conservative caucus within 90 minutes, he would be thrown out. He also said she told him if he didn’t step down immediately, he would be thrown out of the Senate.

LeBreton was on her way to the weekly Conservative caucus meeting Wednesday when she stopped to speak to reporters.

“The portrayal he laid out in the Senate yesterday is flat out false,” she said.

Duffy also said in his speech that LeBreton told him the only way to save his paycheck was to quit caucus. She denied this threat, saying “I had no such conversation with him.”

One reporter remarked that Duffy claims she has “strong-armed” him.

“Absolutely not, absolutely not,” she said. “We were trying to help him at one point.”

She also said that there was no widespread plan by PMO, and called this a “figment of (Duffy’s) imagination.”

Later this morning after Conservative caucus, CTV reporter Omar Sachedina caught up with LeBreton, and she confirmed to him that her colleague, Carolyn Stewart Olsen, another Senator implicated in the Duffy scandal, had quit the Senate’s Internal Economy Committee.

That committee first ordered the external audits of Duffy, Patrick Brazeau, Pamela Wallin and former senator Mac Harb earlier this year.

From Inside the Red Chamber – What You Couldn’t See

The Senate was a frenzy of media activity yesterday. This is not the norm by the way. Senate staff were reportedly a bit overwhelmed by all the attention. One reporter hurt her knee in the Senate Foyer when Pamela Wallin walked through because of the aggressive surge of cameras and reporters following the senator towards the chamber door.  Wallin did not make any comment to reporters, and she didn’t get a chance to speak in the chamber yesterday.

The other two senators under threat of suspension, Patrick Brazeau and Mike Duffy, waited until they were inside the chamber to have their say, and you can read all about that here, and you can listen to Duffy and Brazeau’s speeches here.

You can only listen to their speeches because no cameras are allowed in the Red Chamber, hence the reason you won’t see pictures of Duffy wagging his finger at the senators across the aisle that he included in his accusations of a “conspiracy.”

I was sitting in the packed Senate Press Gallery, on a little wooden chair on the north side of the Senate, which is a floor above where the senators reside.

Mike Duffy was sitting in between Brazeau and Wallin in the southeast corner.  Brazeau and Wallin arrived first, and Sen. Jim Munson stopped at their desks to chat with both of them. (Munson told reporters yesterday that he will vote against the motion to suspend the three senators.) When Duffy arrived, all three senators chatted with each other briefly.  A few other senators, not many, stopped by to chat with them, both before question before and after the Senate adjourned.

During question period, Wallin and Duffy chatted intermittently. Duffy left his seat at one point to chat with Sen. George Baker, and they looked over some papers together. At another point, Wallin and Duffy briefly left the chamber, and the Press Gallery (including me) tweeted and sent emails furiously. Our CTV camera person ran outside the building to see if perhaps she was leaving. It was all a false alarm, most likely a bathroom break.

When Duffy presented his case, he pointed angrily at the senators he said were pressuring him to pay back the money: Senators David Tkachuk, Carolyn Stewart-Olsen, and Marjory LeBreton. (Stewart Olsen sat with her arms crossed during most of the speech, while LeBreton spent some time typing on her tablet.)

There were certain instances when the three senators stood together in solidarity. When Brazeau said in his speech that the board of eternal economy meetings should be made public, both Duffy and Wallin banged their desks in agreement. When Brazeau argued that the Senate expense rules were changed behind closed doors, Wallin nodded in agreement.

Wallin is expected to stand in the Senate to make her case today, sometime around 3 p.m. ET. Stay tuned!

Tuesday, October 22, 2013:

The talk on Parliament Hill today was focused on the motions to suspend Mike Duffy, Patrick Brazeau and Pamela Wallin from the Senate, without pay, for “gross negligence” regarding their expenses. For the latest developments, read our story here.

4:08 p.m.

3:07 p.m.

Sen. Claude Carignan begins introducing the three motions:

2:23 p.m.

Sen. Duffy won't say if he will speak in his own defence during Tuesday's debate:

2:17 p.m.

2:16 p.m.

And he does...

2:00 p.m.

Senators begin arriving for question period, including Senators Brazeau and Wallin. The Ottawa Press Gallery waits to see if Duffy will follow:

1:17 p.m.

Parliament Hill is teeming with reporters today to cover the Senate motion that may suspend Brazeau, Duffy and Wallin.  We were trying to get an idea of how the senators will vote, if the motion even makes it to a vote later this afternoon. Sen. Jim Munson said he would not support it as he was on his way into Liberal Senate Caucus. Outside the Conservative Senate Caucus, a lot of senators took the back door when they saw us. Every time the elevator door rang outside Conservative caucus we were hopeful, only to have it open empty.  Collective "awww's" all around.

It's about 8 C outside but media also waited patiently outside the senate door, waiting for senators to be dropped off by the green bus. (The green bus takes Parliamentarians from offices to other offices to parking etc., kind of like your elementary school bus but fancier.)

11:49 a.m.

The calm before the storm? The Senate chamber on Tuesday morning, hours before motions to suspend three senators are to be debated.

Friday, October 18, 2013:

9:40 a.m.

Chief Parliamentary Correspondent Craig Oliver and Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife are hard at work in Bob’s office cooking up another segment of The Scrum for this week’s Question Period.

Thursday, October 17, 2013:

11:30 a.m.

CTV News reporter Richard Madan is about to board this plane for a whirlwind trip to Brussels, Belgium with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other members of the Press Gallery. During the overseas trip, the Prime Minister is expected to sign Friday the long-awaited Canada-EU Free Trade deal. (Watch for a discussion on that topic on CTV's Question Period this Sunday!)

You may remember that the PM’s plane got a fancy new makeover earlier this year, but that one is currently being used by Governor General David Johnston for his trip to China. So the PM had to take the less fancy, standard grey one seen here.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013:

6:30 p.m.

Conservative Party Director of Political Operations Fred Delorey sent a letter to party members Wednesday afternoon, after almost all of the Ottawa press gallery decided not to send a pool reporter or cameras into the Tory caucus meeting earlier in the day.

Normally, the press gallery reporters are allowed to cover the prime minister’s address to caucus on the morning of the throne speech, but the Prime Minister's Office said no reporters, only cameras. After a lot of back and forth between bureau chiefs and the Prime Minister's Office, the PMO agreed to allow one pool reporter to enter the caucus meeting. This pool reporter would be responsible for covering the speech for the entire press gallery. The gallery banded together, saying it was either going to be all of them in the room or none, so none it was. (I should note that Sun Media did enter the room to cover, the only news organization to do so.)

After the press gallery decision earlier Wednesday, Delorey sent a letter to party members about the incident:

Friend,

You won’t believe what the Press Gallery just did in Ottawa.

Some media decided to boycott an important speech by our Prime Minister – one where he laid out his vision for our country, before today’s Speech from the Throne.

Rather than send cameras to cover the Prime Minister’s speech, they attended the NDP's meeting, and were welcomed with cheers and applause. We knew they wouldn't give us fair coverage – but this is a new low for the Ottawa media elite.

Since you won’t see this speech on the evening news, we've updated our website with video from our Prime Minister’s speech:

http://www.stephenharper.ca/SFT/

Sincerely,

Fred DeLorey

Director, Political Operations

Conservative Party of Canada

The media did enter the NDP caucus for a couple of minutes to shoot leader Tom Mulcair. I can't speak for the Gallery, but it seemed more resourceful than staring at this door.

5:00 p.m.

Gov.-Gen. David Johnston delivered the Speech from the Throne to a packed Senate chamber. Here's the story, with images and extended video, including reaction from the Official Opposition.

3:10 p.m.

After a bomb scare at Langevin Block rattled Ottawa hours before the Speech from the Throne, police gave the all-clear:

2:45 p.m.

CTV's Daniele Hamamdjian reported that staff from the Prime Minister's Office were being allowed back into the building.

11:30 a.m.

Langevin Block, which is home to the Prime Minister’s Office, was evacuated after a “suspicious man” reportedly uttered a bomb threat. Ottawa Police confirmed that they had one man in custody, and cordoned off a part of Wellington St. for their investigation. A specialized police unit is investigating the package to determine if it poses a threat.

Parliament returns with the Speech from the Throne

10:15 a.m.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper got a head start on the Speech from the Throne this morning, with a series of tweets about its contents and his government's overall agenda for the fall session of Parliament. Follow along with the PMO here!

10:00 a.m.

NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair allowed the media in for a quick photo op before his party's caucus meeting.

9:30 a.m.

Reporters gathered on Parliament Hill bright and early Wednesday to catch MPs as they headed into their caucus meetings. Here are members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, including CTV's own Richard Madan, waiting outside the Conservative caucus meeting.

Overheard on the Hill:  Reporters have dubbed this the 'Game of Throne Speech.'

9:00 a.m.

The calm before the media storm: Parliament Hill is dark and quiet, hours before Gov.-Gen. David Johnston is to read the Speech from the Throne, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013.