I was late so I missed the much-panned national anthem (although I note Paul's thumbs up and agree - having seen it later - that, rather than a sing-along it was a genuine hymn to our nation). It was not long before I had switched to NBC's coverage because, figuring they would be using the same cheat-sheet production notes as CTV, I had that Canadian curiosity about how others would be seeing us. I was not disappointed in the least! I love Paul's line about the doobie failing to spark at the torch ceremony and I thought the Gretzky parade to the waterfront was anti-climactic for TV at least but, overall, I must say that as the show metaphorically moved across the country I was genuinely moved. I recognized, with pride, that this was about us and telling our story to the world.

Abandoning her Chief Executive post while ethics investigations continue does not confidence build. Will she take any and all opportunities from here on out to speak in the media she so loves to criticize? 'You betcha!'

I don't doubt that a sore throat would not cause an emergency room doctor to think aorta; all the more reason to get patient records on-line so that Miss B.'s history would be available. eHealth will eventually mean more than wasted tax dollars by trough-feeding consultants.

I don't know if it is still the case but Molson's "Canadian" brand did not used to be marketed in Quebec (and whether "Laurentide" was in the same league is debatable). Were Molson to buy les Canadiens I'd look for, and hope for, a change on their "Canadian" label!

The cynicism so fossilized, it would not surprise me if the Conservative brain-trust were to use the sad facts of the death of Ms. Raitt's brother as a "How dare you!" assault against any and all further interrogation by the Opposition of the government or Ms. Raitt. In QP today it did not seem to occur to the Minister to apologize. She's going to be wishing this was Friday.

Hi Paul:

As an avid watcher of all things political I agree with you one hundred percent. When I put similar concerns to the Speaker in 2007 I received the following reply. Mr. Milliken seems to take no responsibility for allowing the childishness to continue. I fear that he is appeasing those who might otherwise vote him out of his perk-filled office. I also have an underlying suspicion that he feels a deep-seeded need to appear as 'one of the boys' among boys with whom he would not normally mix.

Dear Mr. Chaplin:

Thank you for your electronic message of February 6, 2007, which I note was also addressed to the Prime Minister’s Office and to the leaders of the opposition parties. In responding to your comments, please know that I speak only for myself and from my particular perspective as Speaker of the House of Commons.

There is no doubt that many observers of televised broadcasts of the daily Question Period would agree that there is a need for improvement in the level of discourse during those tumultuous forty-five minutes. It is no accident that the video clips of House proceedings replayed on network news broadcasts are, almost without exception, recorded during Question Period. In the interest of fairness, however, it is important to remember that Question Period is very much the exception rather than the rule, and that most of the business of the House is transacted in a constructive, respectful manner.

Because of the collegial character of the House of Commons and of the broad privileges enjoyed by its Members, particularly in the area of freedom of expression, no one–not even the Speaker–can act unilaterally to improve the level of discourse during Question Period. Thanks, however, to a growing consensus that such improvement is overdue, the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs has undertaken to study the rules of the House with a view to proposing changes to this end and has already heard from a number of authorities on parliamentary procedure.

Thank you for your interest in the work of Parliament and for taking the time to write. Please be assured that I take these matters very seriously.

Yours truly,

Peter Milliken, M.P.