The old standby, tough on crime, weaved into an obstructionist Liberal Senate, with an added kicker- throwing brown people with bad intentions into the mix. Ooooh, what a concoction, a wedge orgasm. Trouble is, a couple people noticed, namely Chris Hall, followed up by another actual fact checking journalist. Turns out, the crime bill in question shot like a gazelle through the Senate, only to be delayed by the CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT. Nice one Stevo:
But a quick check of the legislative playbook from last session confirms that the only bill that he mentions specifically as a hapless victim of Senatorial stonewalling -- C-25, or, if you go by its government-affixed moniker, the Truth in Sentencing Act -- actually spent just as much time in the House as the Other Place.
A quick check of the record suggests it was actually one of the speedier bills to make it through both House and Senate last year. C-25 made it through the Senate committee in five meetings (which took three weeks, about the same length of time that committee stage took in the House), and just three days of report and third reading debate.
That's where it gets even more interesting, at least in context of the Prime Minister's comments today:
Although the bill was granted Royal Assent on October 21, 2009, the new provisions won't come into force until February 22, 2010 -- a full four months after the fact.
So, who's to blame for that hold up? Was it those criminal-coddling Liberals once again? Not exactly. According to LegisInfo, the coming-into-force date was to be fixed "by order of the Governor in Council," which it - the cabinet, that is - didn't get around to doing until mid-January.
"There goes my majority" Harper is always fun to watch. A bit off key if you will ;)
5 comments:
Harper is getting squirrelly. I wonder if it will one of those cases of a politician who gets crazier as he goes further down in the polls? If so this next session should be a wild ride.
Is Harper on drugs again to control his temper tantrums?
He has that tell-tale soporific delivery that was so evident at the leaders' debate during the last federal election.
O/T - but do you think it's right for Stephen Harper (photo-op) to be on the programme to fundraise for Haiti, but none of the other party leaders will not on?
CBC gets its funding from taxpayers of all political stripes.
This makes me sick
Sandi, keep in mind this may actually backfire on him. The PMO has lost the prorogation battle, and lost it decisively. At this point any activity Harper engages in is under increased media scrutiny. There have already been a few editorials about Harper using Haiti to bolster his image (Jim Travers just did one today) and yesterday's EKOS poll seems to indicate that Canadian's are not getting fooled this time. Likewise the PM or any of his ministers appearing at the Olympics may actually work against him at this point also. We are in for some very interesting times over the next two months.
Something else just occurred to me - Harper's doing speeches giving kudos the NGO's, etc. - Tonda McCharles on Power Play, CTV last night said that he's giving them credit all the while he's planning to reduce them as part of his reduction plan.
Hypocracy again.
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