here is a link to CBC's live coverage if you are reading this while the debate still continues.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/06/24/postal-strike-debate.html?ref=rss
At the moment the debate has been raging for over 18 hours and shows little signs of stopping. Each of the opposition MP's (of which there are over 100) are allowed to give a 20 min speech followed by 10 mins of questions. So it could continue for awhile. Here are my observations so far:
Quebec MP's: Although it is a "national" holiday in Quebec many of the Quebec MP's are in the House of Commons debating rather than in their home ridings. There have been many mentions of St. Jean de Baptiste Day and well wishes for those celebrating back at home in their ridings.
French Language: Many of the NDP MP's are from Quebec so most of the debate has been conducted in French. Which is unfortunate for me since translators often can't convey the passion and expression of those debating. Still many good points are being made
Repetition: Many good points are being made, but many good points (and a whole lot more bad ones) are being repeated ad nauseum. Sometimes this is because MP's have been shuffling through in shifts to handle the all-nighter and might not be aware that their point has been made repeatedly already. Other times it just seems that no one is really listening to each other they are just trying to keep sounding semi-intelligent while they continue talking, dragging the debate on.
Often repeated topics include:
- congratulations on Quebec holiday
- clarifications on terms lockout and strike
- everyone is saying they want the postal service to resume and blaming the other party for the lack of progress
- the NDP repeatedly accuse the Conservatives of not caring for working people and trying to undermine the work of trade unions, trampling the rights of workers and threatening pensions
- the NDP repeatedly mention that the Prime Minister could ensure that postal services resumes by phoning the CEO of Canada Post and ordering an end to the lockout
- the conservatives repeatedly accuse the NDP of not caring for small businesses that rely on the postal system to operate their business and may have to lay off workers
- the conservatives also repeatedly accuse the NDP of not caring for northern people who rely on the postal system to get supplies like food and diapers
Young MP's: The NDP party has been criticized for having a lot of first time and very young MP's however for the most part the young MP's of the NDP have been doing a great job. I have been impressed with the showings of the so called McGill 4 and found their speeches and comments very knowledgeable and interesting.
On the other hand another young MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau who spent most of the election in Vegas was a little underwhelming. Although impressive that she gave her speech in French giving that she wasn't bilingual when elected, her responses were not very eloquent. As one of the CBC twitter reporters mentioned she sounded a bit like a Valley Girl. Unfortunate since this is Brosseau's first opportunity to give a speech in the House of Commons. Hopefully she improves in the future since I am sure she really is an intelligent and capable MP.
Criticisms of Prime Minister Stephen Harper: Many Quebec NDP MP's gave up on being in their home riding for the important holiday choosing to devote their time to this important issue and debate. Stephen Harper however chose to go to Quebec- to the site of a controversial asbestos mine avoiding the House of Commons debate.
Commendation of Elizabeth May: I don't know what the record is for the longest time spent in the House of Commons is but Elizabeth May is definitely earning some more respect from me. According to reporters she hasn't slept all night and has been in the House of Commons for the whole time. Someone must be slipping her redbull or something similar or maybe there is something to be said about the benefits of a vegetarian diet but she is still going- making intelligent comments and wide awake. Congrats Elizabeth May as the leader of the Green party and only elected representative of your party you are making them proud.
Commendation of the Speaker of the House: Is it just the video stream I am watching editing rude heckling out or has the current speaker been successful at making MP's act like adults and be more polite in their dealings in the House of Commons? What I have heard has been descent and orderly political debate. Filibustering or not it has been entertaining and polite.
Definition: Filibuster
(wikipedia) A filibuster is a type of parliamentary procedure. Specifically, it is the right of an individual to extend debate, allowing a lone member to delay or entirely prevent a vote on a given proposal. It is cynically referred to as talking out a bill, and characterized as a form of obstruction in a legislature or other decision-making body.
interestingly the word comes from Spanish and Dutch roots meaning Pirate.
Humorous Asides and comments:
several MP's have mentioned other issues as part of their speeches and rebuttals some of them have been a bit amusing other comments are related to the debate but just a bit ridiculous:
Birthday cards for Seniors: A conservative MP accused the NDP of not caring for seniors who due to the postal strike are unable to send each other birthday cards (This led me to wonder how much of our mail volume is Birthday cards for seniors)
Hockey: an MP mentioned that the NHL franchise in Winnipeg will be called the Winnipeg Jets, and a Hamilton MP responded that the only thing that could be better than that would be if a team was finally coming to Hamilton. To which a Toronto MP joked that if that were to happen Toronto would want a team too (implying that the Toronto Maple Leafs aren't really a team at all.)
I'll continue to tune in and may post again on the continuing debate
Enjoy the benefits of Democracy and Happy St. Jean Baptiste Day/Political filibustering day!!
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