On seriousness

Rob Silver delves into parliamentary reform.

Lots of people - including many politicians and pundits - talk a lot about how horrified they are by parliamentary decorum. Accusations of a doctored tape here, your family are a bunch of terrorists there. That’s our House.

Shock, horror is expressed. Promises to raise the tone are made. I blame Harper, Tim blames the Liberals. And on it goes. You want to change the tone in the House of Commons in one day? Pass a law eliminating parliamentary privilege as it relates to defamation. Treat the House the exact same way you treat the scrum outside the chamber.

There isn’t a single substantive issue or debate that I can think of that would be harmed in any way.