Politics on TV: Keystone, Yukon and Hall Findlay

Here are the three things you should not have missed:

1. MPs talk Keystone XL protests
2. The Yukon premier talks devolution
3. Martha Hall Findlay on the Saturday debate

Keystone XL:

After a weekend of Keystone XL Pipeline protests in Washington DC, Power Play hosted an MP panel of Michelle Rempel, Megan Leslie and Elizabeth May to discuss the issue. Rempel noted that the pipeline is necessary so that Canada isn’t a price-taker for oil, and that the government understands the demand for a high level of environmental stewardship, which is why they have their regulatory approach. Leslie said that even energy workers unions and municipal leaders near Fort McMurray want a slowdown of the expansion of the oilsands, and the pipeline will “lock in” unbridled expansion. May said that the environmental movement is calling for a reduction in all GHG emissions, not just those from the oilsands, and that there needs to be more pressure to diversify the economy.

Yukon devolution:

Power & Politics spoke with Yukon premier Darrell Pasloski (first 09:45) about his meeting with the Prime Minister last week. Pasloski said that the meeting was centred around resource development, training and skills development, as one of the territory’s biggest challenges is attracting skilled workers. Pasloski also spoke about the devolution of powers to the territory ten years ago, which also led to a new environmental assessment process that allowed for one-project-one-assessment with timelines, and incorporating scientific and local knowledge, a process he says leads those around the country.

Martha Hall Findlay:

Don Martin spoke with Alice Funke of Pundit’s Guide, who considered Martha Hall Findlay’s attack on Justin Trudeau at the Mississauga debate on Saturday to be a death knell to Hall Findlay’s campaign based on the audience reaction. She also considered the exchange between Trudeau and Marc Garneau to be anti-climactic, and was trying to signal disagreement in a gentlemanly way. Hall Findlay herself spoke with Martin to defend her comments that the race shouldn’t be talking about the middle class as a social construct, but should be talking about lower and middle income Canadians instead. Hall Findlay also said that the race can’t be about platitudes or lofty goals, but about how to achieve them in detail.

Worth Noting:

• PostMedia columnist Stephen Maher (at 20:10) spoke about his new political thriller, Deadline.
• Liberal staffer Kevin Bosch took Don Martin on a tour of Parliament Hill with regards to family ties – specifically those of the royal family.