Stephen Harper considered the lasting threat of terrorism and vowed to reinstate two anti-terrorism provisions. However “necessary” and “useful” those provisions, the government never felt it necessary to use them before they expired in 2007. Nycole Turmel addressed the Global Conference on World’s Religions after 9/11. Barack Obama wrote Canada a thank you note. The Prime Minister quibbled with Jean Chretien’s understanding of the relationship between terrorism and poverty, while himself asserting a connection. Bob Rae reflected and Michael Ignatieff considered the security apparatus that surrounds us and the decade that has shaped us.
Olivia Chow reflected. She decided to stay out of the NDP leadership race and pledged to remain neutral. Anne McGrath, Brian Topp (however few the precedents), Nathan Cullen and Robert Chisholm, kept thinking about getting in. David Miller and Pierre Ducasse counted themselves out.
Conservatives neared a national majority. Dean Del Mastro attacked and Jason Kenney questioned Dalton McGuinty’s tax credit . Rick Hillier warned of the military’s destruction. Stockwell Day mused of two-tier health care. The Prime Minister promised to be flexible. We found out the government was worried about hurting Colonel Gadhafi’s feelings. Simon de Jong was remembered. And Bob Dechert wrote some flirty emails.
I thought about politics and humanity. Roland Paris compared the rhetoric of Stephen Harper and Winston Churchill. And Scott Clark and Peter DeVries questioned the Finance Minister.