Coyne: Our disastrous prime minister, PM finally attends the House long enough to note the noise, Ottawa Medicare Crackdown in NB

Our disastrous prime minister

I think we have misjudged the Prime Minister. I think we were too hasty in our assessment. We had, to be sure, already revised our earlier image of him as a firm and decisive leader, an impression forged on the strength of his successful campaign to eliminate the deficit, a campaign in which he faced no serious opposition. [. . . . ]

This is excellent. Don Martin (National Post) this week had an article on the lengthening of Mr. Martin's nose -- whatever you think that might mean.


Andrew Coyne's website: PM appeals for "civility" from Klansmen

"Mr. Speaker, I would really ask the opposition parties to understand that no one looks good in this House with the lack of civility, the allegations, the accusations, the kind of intemperate remarks that are heard," said Paul Martin. [. . . . ]

Mr. Martin really should have been "very very" present in the House long ago instead of having Scott Brison front for him if he expects any of us to take him seriously now. To begin with, all sides in the House are raucous and the Speaker should do his job. It would be nice if the Liberal government would answer questions with substance instead of bafflegab and bluster, for a start. Perhaps that would cause the rest to treat them with respect.

If Mr. Martin is "very, very" . . . [fill in the blank for yourself], he has to start treating the House of Commons as the place where attendance is part of the job and where serious answers are given to serious questions brought forward by the political party whose job it is to hold the government to account.


Ottawa starts medicare crackdown in New Brunswick

CALGARY (CP) - The federal government took two important steps to defend medicare last week, says Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh, cracking down on New Brunswick for refusing to provide abortions and warning four other provinces over the use of private diagnostic clinics. [. . . . ]

Meanwhile provinces such as Quebec go merrily along with private clinics and the feds would not dare jeopardiae the Liberal votes by doing anything to thwart this. The more things change . . .

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