House of Commons Livebog: Defence Minister Peter MacKay at Committee of the Whole
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As somewhat gleefully teasered in this corner last week, Defence Minister Peter MacKay will be the first of two ministers to go before Committee of the Whole to defend his department's spending plans for the upcoming year.
The extended ministerial Q&A session -- which takes place in the
Chamber under the watchful eye of the deputy speaker, NDP MP Denise Savoie -- will begin after regular House business has wrapped up for the day, and can last up to four hours.You can read all about the Committee of the Whole process here -- and be sure to check back at 7pm-ish* for full coverage.*Yes, ish. Guys, it's been SUCH a day on the clock-stopping procedural shenanigans front, I can't even tell you.
Keep an eye on my twitterfeed for the latest details. -
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It is indeed a dark and stormy night in Ottawa as the minutes tick down to the Great and Not Secret #CotW Show.by kady o'malley via twitter 5/9/2012 11:08:20 PM
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I hope DM Fonberg has his umbrella! @EDC_Mag: @kady a perfect setting for #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/9/2012 11:12:50 PM
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Chamber Update: It's time for the Late Show, everyone! (Adjournment debate, that is, after which it's time for #CotW.)by kady o'malley via twitter 5/9/2012 11:15:30 PM
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HEY EVERYBODY! It's TIME! It's #CotW time! Late night party in the Chamber!by kady o'malley via twitter 5/9/2012 11:43:34 PM
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Goodnight, Mace. Let the scrutiny of the Defence main estimates begin! #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/9/2012 11:44:03 PM
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Deputy Speaker Denise Savoie is in charge of tonight's festivities. (She's also the Chair of #CotW.)by kady o'malley via twitter 5/9/2012 11:44:36 PM
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Because this may be the first time some MPs have taken part in #CotW main estimates, she's going to run down the rules.by kady o'malley via twitter 5/9/2012 11:45:01 PM
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Order of questions: NDP, Government, Liberal --subsequent rounds follow the usual proportion. (I think that's NDP/CPC/NDP/CPC/LPC.) #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/9/2012 11:45:57 PM
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Ministers' responses are expected to be around the same time as the questions. (No running down the clock with talking points.) #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/9/2012 11:46:39 PM
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I should note that I am *not* in the Chamber for this debate, because #CotW is a pain to follow from the gallery.by kady o'malley via twitter 5/9/2012 11:47:39 PM
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Members don't have to sit in their proper seats, so they all cluster in the middle of the Chamber. #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/9/2012 11:48:05 PM
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And here's @JackHarrisNDP, kicking off the festivities with a question on ... the AG F-35 report. #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/9/2012 11:49:14 PM
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RT @InfoAlerteBot: C'MON ANDREW SAXTON, MOVE A MOTION TO MOVE #CotW IN CAMERA... #cdnpoliby kady o'malley via twitter 5/9/2012 11:49:43 PM
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Huh. It appears Julian Fantino will be taking F-35-related questions during #CotW. You know what that means: "Answers will be forthcoming."by kady o'malley via twitter 5/9/2012 11:50:25 PM
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Fantino tells #CotW that no decision has yet been made on the replacement planes. That's up to the Generic Jet Fighter Secretariat!by kady o'malley via twitter 5/9/2012 11:51:15 PM
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"I can see what kind of night this is going to be," sighs Harris as he gets another forthcoming-ful answer from Fantino. #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter edited by Kady O'Malley 5/9/2012 11:52:30 PM
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Fantino assures #CotW that there will be no gap in Canada's air fightin' capabilities.by kady o'malley via twitter 5/9/2012 11:53:21 PM
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Poor Jack Harris is still asking his very specific, obviously well researched questions, but you can tell he'd rather be at Brixton's. #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/9/2012 11:53:49 PM
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You know, I think Fantino's answers are consistently notably longer than the questions being posed. Attention, Chair! #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/9/2012 11:54:54 PM
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Harris notes that the only aircraft with a current production schedule is the F-35, but Fantino sticks to his script. #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/9/2012 11:55:11 PM
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Fantino insists that no contract has been signed for the replacement planes, only an agreement to develop a possible plane. #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/9/2012 11:56:30 PM
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Apparently, no money has been spent that would "lend credibility" to a contract being placed. #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/9/2012 11:56:45 PM
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Suddenly, I have this vision of Canada in a contract dispute with the F-35 manufacturers, citing that exact same line. #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/9/2012 11:57:10 PM
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Also, there are industrial benefits being felt AS WE SPEAK, according to Fantino. #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/9/2012 11:58:44 PM
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Harris, however, cites testimony from Public Accounts, and the $9 billion total on which Canadian companies can build. #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/9/2012 11:59:17 PM
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Fantino insists that the "definitive number" has not yet been determined. #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/9/2012 11:59:31 PM
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I wish the AG could be at #CotW. Even just looming from the gallery like a vengeful ghost.by kady o'malley via twitter 5/10/2012 12:00:35 AM
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Fantino cautions against "leapfrogging forward" and assuming things that aren't yet shown to be, vis a vis industrial benefits et al. #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/10/2012 12:02:29 AM
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Harris would like us all to be aware that he knows he's being stonewalled. #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/10/2012 12:02:54 AM
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Oh, onto Royal Military College. How, Harris wonders, does the minister feel eliminating 20% of the faculty will benefit students? #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/10/2012 12:03:32 AM
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And here's the minister, finally. He's wearing the same tie as Fantino, which is odd. #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/10/2012 12:03:57 AM
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MacKay tells Harris that they will continue to focus on "core strength" within the RMC curriculum. #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/10/2012 12:04:20 AM
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And now, we can all take a brief break as the minister reads his statement. #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/10/2012 12:04:33 AM
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MacKay wants to thank those tuning in from home for their attention, "affection" and interest. #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/10/2012 12:05:15 AM
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MacKay is giving a rundown of all the great things his department - and the Canadian military - have done over the last year. #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/10/2012 12:08:22 AM
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So wait, has Fantino been retroactively put in charge of *all* military procurement over the last few years? #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/10/2012 12:09:55 AM
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"Our government can truthfully say that ..." is an odd way for this minister to begin a sentence in this context. #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/10/2012 12:11:44 AM
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Now is the time to "take stock and plan for the longer term," says MacKay. #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/10/2012 12:13:56 AM
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MacKay takes a moment to "thank all the brave souls" in the Canadian Forces, as well as their families. #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/10/2012 12:14:22 AM
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He also thanks members present for their support, and welcomes their questions this evening. Except for the ones on the F-35s. #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/10/2012 12:14:45 AM
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And now, a planted question from Peter Penashue. #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/10/2012 12:15:03 AM
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Reading carefully, Penashue asks the minister to reaffirm the environmental stewardship of the Goose Bay base. #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/10/2012 12:15:56 AM
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Okay, if we'd had a pool on the topic of the first planted question, we'd all be out of money right now. #CotWby kady o'malley via twitter 5/10/2012 12:16:15 AM
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