Monday Roundup

1. The final Gomery report won't be released until February 1st. So, if Paul's plan holds, that likely means we're looking at an April vote. BUT...

...the preliminary report will still come out November 1st. Given that the preliminary report will be the messy one assigning blame and the final report will just have recommendations to fix the program, the opposition parties would much rather run with the November 1st report still in the minds of the electorate. I suspect that come April, it will be a distant memory. With that in mind, it's likely in the best interest of the Cons, NDP, and BQ for a vote on November 7th or 14th. So I wouldn't be at all surprised if they look for a way to bring down the government at the first possible opportunity once the House resumes sitting.

UPDATE: Several Blogging Tories share this opinion: Political Staples and Colbert's Comments provide a view from the right.


2. Peter Newman's latest book on Brian Mulroney looks like it's going to be a real page turner, with Mulroney viciously laying into everyone from Trudeau, to Clyde Wells, to Kim Campbell. He also displays his usual modesty:

"By the time history is done looking at this," says Mr. Mulroney in a moment of self-praise, "and you look at my achievements as opposed to any others, certainly no one will be in Sir John A.'s league -- but my nose will be a little ahead of most in terms of achievements. Nobody has achievements like this, Peter. I can say that to you objectively. You cannot name a Canadian prime
minister who has done as many significant things as I did, because there are none."

If there's anyone out there other than Brian who actually believes this, I'd love to hear from them. He's also savage in his criticism of everyone who had anything to do with the death of Meech lake, blaming Trudeau primarily for it's collapse:

Mr. Trudeau's motivation, according to Mr. Mulroney, was that "He didn't want anybody to succeed where he had failed. Trudeau's contribution was not to build Canada but to destroy it, and I had to come in and save it. Three times I've achieved unanimity. In 16 years, he couldn't do it once, the 'great statesman.' "

It's not very difficult to get unanimity when you give away the store. At least Brian isn't alone in this one, because there are a lot of people out there (including our current Prime Minister) who, for whatever reason, still think Meech was a stroke of brilliance.


3. From Jane Taber, in Saturday's Globe:

Transport Minister Jean Lapierre and his wife, his chief of staff and her husband, his communications director and her sister, his deputy minister and at least two MPs and several other aides have just completed a week-long trip to China and Hong Kong. What a crew!

Indeed, China seems to be the destination of Canadian politicians these days, with Industry Minister David Emerson having recently visited there, Labour Minister Joe Fontana having left yesterday and Quebec Premier Jean Charest and Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty about to visit. (Is it the shopping or is there a by-election in Beijing?)

While on his trip, Mr. Lapierre led a trade mission, made speeches about intermodal transportation and attended dinners.

A senior source says that many in his group also shopped at the markets, where they bought custom-made suits and cheap golf clubs. Flying business class, some in the Lapierre group even enjoyed a refreshing glass of champagne.

"It's just a boondoggle," one senior source said

Given my respect and admiration for Jean Lapierre, I hate to criticize him, but it does seem odd that you'd need to take a lengthy trip to China with your entire staff to discuss transportation. Especially when CPC Transport critic James Moore turned down a government invitation to attend, feeling it wasn't worth his time.