Tag Archives: Parliament
Twelve Years Ago Today
Twelve years ago today a lone gunman, who we discovered later had been inspired by ISIS and had just killed a soldier standing guard at the National War Memorial, stormed through the front doors of the Centre Block of Parliament Hill. For many Canadians it was extremely disturbing to think that such a terrorist attack […]
Keeping Time
It’s an iconic timepiece, possibly the best known in the world. Looked to me like the paint job had been touched up for the coronation. Everyone calls it Big Ben, but that’s not it’s formal name. It’s actually the Great Clock of Westminster. And the Great Bell is what makes the memorable sound. The tower, […]
What Would You Do?
When is something unforgivable? I’ve been pondering that in the wake of Canada’s latest political scandal. If you haven’t been following it, here’s a capsule: After an address to the House of Commons by the President of Ukraine on Friday, the Speaker introduced a visitor who was watching the proceedings, a constituent who had fought […]
The Burghers
It had been a long day. And the friend I was with lives just outside London, so I didn’t want to bore him by visiting sites he’d seen dozens of times before. But he’d never seen the Burghers of Calais, one of Auguste Rodin’s most famous sculptures. I will admit to being a little surprised. […]
The Red Chamber
The ongoing renovations in Canada’s parliamentary precinct means there has been a certainly amount of shuffling as buildings close and reopen Canada’s Senate, for example, is now located in the government conference centre, moving there in 2018. The building was a railway station when I first was in it, about 1966. Then it sat empty […]
The Oil Crisis
The price of oil regularly fluctuates on the world market. It is at more than $120 a barrel as I write this, up from below zero a couple of years ago. (If you don’t quite understand the math to that, join the club.) People are feeling the pain at the gas pumps. But there is another oil […]
Bridging The Gap
The Emergencies Act remains in place after last night’s vote in the House of Commons. Those who value civil liberties are saddened, perhaps scared. Today though, some reflective words from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In a press conference Monday I was surprised to hear him go beyond his (what I feel are weak) justifications for […]
Help Me Understand
Canada’s Prime Minister is seeking support from the New Democratic, Bloc Quebecois and Green parties to support his plans to limit debate in the House of Commons (and accelerate the passing of his legislation). He says this is necessary because the Conservatives, the Official Opposition, are too partisan. According to Justin Trudeau: “We know and […]
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