Latest news with #Parliament
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Justin Trudeau accused of deliberate act to ‘draw attention' away from the King
Menzies Research Centre's Freya Leach has called out former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau over a 'clearly obvious move' during King Charles' visit. 'He wanted to stand out. He wanted to draw attention from the King,' she said. Mr Trudeau has sparked a furore after he raised eyebrows when he was spotted wearing a bright green pair of sneakers to go with his suit during his attendance to see King Charles open Canada's Parliament. Mr Trudeau drew attention with his odd fashion choice, which made him stand out among the royal and other politicians who opted for suits and dress shoes.
Toronto Star
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Poilievre finds himself a spectator as debate gets underway in Parliament
OTTAWA - Pierre Poilievre found himself Wednesday in a place he said he's 'never really been' before: watching a Parliament's first question period unfold as a spectator, not a participant. In a press conference held just outside the House of Commons chamber before question period began, the Conservative leader — who was a member of Parliament for more than 20 years — told reporters he'd love to be inside.
Calgary Herald
2 hours ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
John Ivison: The first Carney spending numbers are out, and they're as bad as Trudeau's
Politics is not a zero-sum game where one person's win is automatically another's loss. An economy is not a conserved system, so, in theory, it is possible that a government could reduce taxes, increase spending and balance budgets (if, for example, revenues rise). Article content But it is a theory that is as rare in real life as white peacocks. Article content The Carney government is in the process of legislating a $5-billion-a-year middle-class tax cut, while planning to increase spending on things like the military and housing, and at the same time promising to balance the operating budget in three years. Article content Article content Yet, the Main Estimates, the government's spending plan that was released on Tuesday at the same time as the throne speech, shows no signs of the restraint that will be needed if the government is to meet that last target. Article content Article content This is the first evidence of concrete spending plans since the election and it seems the bureaucracy did not get the memo about the need for fiscal rigour. Article content The prime minister was critical of his predecessor's fondness for distributing cash, saying the Trudeau government spent too much and invested too little. Mark Carney said his government will limit operating-expense increases to two per cent a year, down from nine per cent a year under former prime minister Justin Trudeau, while preserving transfers to provinces and individuals. The Main Estimates suggest that message of restraint fell on deaf ears in Ottawa: total budgeted spending is scheduled to rise 7.75 per cent to $486.9 billion this fiscal year across 130 federal organizations (compared to last year's Main Estimates). The government will ask Parliament to vote on $222.9 billion of spending measures, a 14 per cent increase on last year's estimates. Article content Article content The most egregious spending appears to be on consultants. The estimates reveal that budgetary expenditure by 'standard object' — in this case, 'professional and special services' — are set to hit $26 billion this year, if departments are granted the approvals they are seeking (the estimates are an 'up to' amount; departments could spend less). Article content Article content These numbers require numerous caveats. They include operating and capital spending, as well as transfer payments and contributions to Crown corporations. To add some perspective, payments to seniors (Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement) swallow up $86 billion of that number. Some people have suggested the only way to make a meaningful dent in the spending picture is to means test OAS, but Carney has already ring-fenced all transfers. Article content It should also be pointed out that the Main Estimates are not the whole picture. There will be additional 'supplementary estimates' over the course of the year that will likely increase spending further in response to events.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Hide or speak
Kamal Haasan is a famous actor who is now joining India's Parliament. People wonder if he will be as passionate and strong in politics as he is in movies. A few years ago, Jackie Chan, a famous actor, said he wished he could join the Chinese government party. What he really wanted was to use his fans to help in politics — but that usually only happens in countries with democracy. In democracies like the USA, Ukraine, India, and the UK, some actors have become important politicians. In India, many actors have tried politics, but only a few have really made a big difference. Now that Kamal Haasan is going to Rajya Sabha (one part of Parliament), everyone is watching to see if he will speak up and be active there. Just recently, Kamal caused some trouble by saying that the Kannada language came from Tamil during an event for his new movie. That upset some people in Karnataka. In politics, causing debates and controversies is common, but it takes skill to handle it well. Kamal is good at this in movies, but in Parliament, he might need to be calmer and less outspoken. Some actors in Rajya Sabha, like Jaya Bachchan, speak up a lot, especially for women and artists. But many actors in Parliament don't make much of a difference and stay quiet. Other famous members like Ilaiyaraaja and KV Vijayendra Prasad don't seem to speak much either. It would be sad if Kamal Haasan also stays quiet. India's Parliament needs people who speak honestly, take strong positions, and help move important talks forward. That's what the country needs. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
National Observer
5 hours ago
- Politics
- National Observer
Poilievre left on the sidelines as Parliament opens
Pierre Poilievre found himself Wednesday in a place he said he's "never really been" before: watching Parliament's first question period unfold as a spectator, not a participant. In a press conference held just outside the House of Commons chamber before question period began, the Conservative leader — who was a member of Parliament for more than 20 years — told reporters he'd love to be inside. "I love the House of Commons, I love the excitement and the thrill," he said, adding that he's going to "work hard to earn the opportunity to do it again." Poilievre lost his longtime Ottawa-area seat in the federal election a month ago, and plans to run in a byelection later this summer in a rural Alberta riding. Former party leader Andrew Scheer, who is serving as the Opposition leader in the House of Commons, led the Conservatives during Prime Minister Mark Carney's first-ever question period on Wednesday. Scheer began by welcoming Carney and promising to scrutinize "every word he says and every dollar he spends on behalf of taxpayers." Dimitris Soudas, a former spokesman for Stephen Harper, said he expects debate in the Commons will be less theatrical for now, given that Scheer's style is "very different" from that of Poilievre. Pierre Poilievre found himself Wednesday in a place he said he's "never really been" before: watching Parliament's first question period unfold as a spectator, not a participant. "I suspect that, at least for Day 1, it's not going to be the hyper-partisanship that we got acclimatized to over the last several years," he said. Poilievre suggested his party is ready to work with the minority Liberal government. "We will vote for every tax cut, always and everywhere. We love taxpayers," he said. He said the Conservatives will try to amend the government's ways and means motion — which will enact the income tax cut Carney promised during the election campaign — to increase the cut and end the industrial carbon price. "The question we always ask is, 'Is the proposal better than the status quo?'" Poilievre said. "If it is, then we support it. If it's not, then we oppose it." That suggests a departure from the dysfunction that dominated the last sitting of Parliament before Christmas. In the fall, Conservatives blocked nearly all government business with endless amendments to their own privilege motion. The opposition also forced three non-confidence votes as it tried to topple Justin Trudeau's minority government. Carney's minority government likely will face its first confidence vote in early June when MPs vote on whether they support the speech from the throne, which was read on Tuesday by King Charles. Just moments before question period began Wednesday, Liberal MPs gave a standing ovation to their colleague Bruce Fanjoy, who beat Poilievre in the riding of Carleton. Poilievre was not in the public gallery as debate began on Wednesday and the Opposition leader's office wouldn't say whether he attended the caucus meeting earlier in the day. Battle River—Crowfoot MP Damien Kurek, who has promised to resign his seat to allow Poilievre to run there in a byelection, was at the meeting but didn't answer when reporters asked him when he will step down. The law dictates that MPs need to hold their seats for 30 days before they can resign. The byelection could happen as soon as the first week of August. The spring sitting of Parliament is slated to run until late June. Conservatives are expecting Scheer's turn as leader to be temporary. Kurek won his riding by an overwhelming margin and Poilievre has a clear advantage in the byelection. Most returning Conservative MPs — 73 in total — have been given what are expected to be temporary roles either in party leadership or as critics. Poilievre has said he plans to shuffle the ranks to include more newly elected members in the fall. — With files from Nick Murray
