Yes, this post will detail my thoughts on being an MP. Or rather, my thoughts on being perceived as an MP. The structure of this post is for the benefit, or rather to the detriment, of people who don’t read past headlines, past titles, or don’t know how to read properly at all. This post is to clarify ambiguity, but at the same time for my own amusement, to perpetuate it as well.

You see, I’m not an MP. I have never been an MP nor have I run in an election to become an MP.

Some people out there have misperceived my status (or lack thereof) in Parliament. This has actually been somewhat amusing for me but I have never gone out of my way to mislead people on this. In fact, I seek clarity, not ambiguity on my actual status (however, I do concede that the title of this post may be working against me in this regard).

While I’m on the topic, my name is Stephen Taylor, not Stephen Harper. I am not the Leader of the Opposition nor the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. I have a fairly good ranking on Google for “Conservative Party of Canada”, mostly because the title of my site describes me as a “Conservative Party of Canada pundit” and partly because I keep saying “Conservative Party of Canada” in this sentence. My high ranking for “Conservative Party of Canada” (last one, I swear) perhaps has drawn some people to this website looking to contact that other Stephen. As a result, I have received some emails from Canadians wishing to express their comments to Mr. Harper. Take this one for example from a guy named Grant:

Mr. Harper

Your actions are childish and unfit of a want to be leader. The people of Canada don’t want another election now, not until the Gommery report is out. If now all you will do is make the Bloc a much much stronger party and then what?

A 40 year resident of Quebec.

I debated on whether or not to forward this email to Stephen Harper so that he could be informed of the dire consequences of an early election call, but I decided to be childish so I ignored the email and made myself a grilled-cheese sandwich.

I’ve also received some emails that were incoherant and that go in all kinds of loopy directions. I can only begin to imagine the types of emails that they receive at the OLO.

As my number is listed on this website, a highlight was the voicemail that I received from the leader of the “Canadian Workers Party” informing me of his displeasure that my MPs were going to vote against the NDP budget C-48 which “has a lot of good money in there for people”. Sorry comrade, you got the wrong number.

So, once more for the sake of clarity, I am not a Member of Parliament, nor am I the Leader of the Opposition. But, please… continue to send me your amusing emails!

Heh.

From the Globe and Mail:

A group of federal Conservatives said Monday they have won the right to make their voices heard next month in a U.S. court case that will decide how long the U.S. border stays closed to Canadian beef.

In a statement, the group said the court has agreed to accept an amicus curiae — friend of the court — brief during a July 27 hearing in which a Montana judge will hear arguments on whether a temporary injunction on younger cattle and beef should be made permanent.

I remember watching the Conservative news conference break on Newsworld over a month ago. Post news conference analysis by Don Newman and Jim Travers was pessimistic and cynical. “A long shot” and “Political positioning” was the analysis.

Perhaps it was a long shot, but the Conservatives have just accomplished more for cattle farmers than the Liberal government has in a long time.

Operation “Do The Government’s Work, But Better” is underway.

Warren Kinsella’s stock is rising… well at least with me. Not only did he sustain my weekly traffic levels over the weekend by linking my “gutting” of the Ethics Commissioner (thanks Warren), but he writes a fair and quite positive article about Stephen Harper in today’s National Post. At the end of the day, after the battle, it’s reassuring to know that decency and civility still exists among gentlemen.

Warren gives Stephen Harper some free constructive advice about the summer BBQ tour and on future strategy. Here are some highlights of his column.

Reading the papers, this week, all of us have noted that the Conservative Party has decided to get Stephen Harper out on the political barbecue circuit to help other Canadians to see what my family and I saw: namely, that he’s a good guy. He’s honest, he’s decent, and he’s not a vindictive old man.

…

[I'm one of the] many Liberals who feels the Canadian democratic experiment needs a stronger Conservative Party.

…

Start talking, and looking, like you like the place. Then the voters will let you run it. Canada is the greatest country in the world. Start saying so.

I was thinking about this on the weekend actually. While in opposition it is one’s job to point out the faults of the government and to scrape at them each and every day in Question Period. The Conservative Party has done an excellent job of this, but as we ramp up to an election its time to switch from “Official Opposition” mode and into “Government in Waiting mode”. Conservatives have a positive platform, we need to offer it.

Fire the Nervous Nellies, strap on a set of gonads, and fight like your lives depend on it. And quit the kvetching in public.

Again, great advice. I believe that the blogosphere has partial responsibility here. We must begin to rail against newspapers for using anonymous sources for quotes. This is journalistic dishonesty and the blogosphere needs to catch up. As for fighting for our lives. Yes, whenever we approach the brink of success, we either get nervous or shoot ourselves in the foot. We need to stop doing both.

Stephen Harper should promote the fact that his caucus — which is younger, and more ethnically diverse than the governing party’s — has come up with a platform that is moderate, centrist, and packed with great ideas about how to make a great country even greater.

This has been a Conservative talking point for a while, however, it has largely gone unheard or perhaps it has not been spoken with appropriate emphasis.

And, if the best man does indeed win in the end, that’s something I — and a lot of other Liberals — can live with. For a little while.

Stephen Harper — best man for the job.

I agree.

Bernard Shapiro isn’t exactly sure of what his job entails.

From CBC News:

Bernard Shapiro originally insisted he had no mandate to probe Murphy’s behaviour. But he now concedes his interpretation of his powers may be wrong and that he is still learning the ropes as ethics commissioner.

Shapiro should have checked his own website:

The Mandate of the Ethics Commissioner is to administer:

the Prime Minister’s Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment Code for Public Office Holders. (PDF) Within that responsibility, the Ethics Commissioner is also charged with the Public Registry for Public Office Holders, including Ministers, Ministers of state and Parliamentary secretaries

Below the mandate, we see a link to the Public Registry for Public Office Holders

The Public Registry for Public Office Holders is easily searchable. Let’s search for “Tim Murphy”

Yes, Tim Murphy does have a record in the “Office of the Ethics Commissioner Conflict of Interest Code — Public Registry”

In fact, his record includes

• Public declaration of gifts, hospitality, or other benefits received

• Public declaration of past outside activities
• Summary statement with recusal and part III
• Summary statement

Tim Murphy’s summary statement, accessible from the Ethics Commissioner’s Public Office Holders database includes this statement signed by Murphy:

I, the undersigned, certify that in the position I now occupy, I have complied with the conflict of interest compliance measures set out in Part II of the Conflict of Interest Code as stated below.

There it is… it took me five minutes to figure this out. Perhaps Bernard Shapiro should resign.

In this final podcast of the week, I ask MP Andrew Scheer about Blogging Tories, his favourite blogs, being a young MP, the Hill culture, what he likes best about his job and more.

Give it a listen!

Andrew Scheer Interview part 2 of 2 (14:15)

Comments and thoughts about the interviews this week? Comments about the podcast medium? I’d be happy to discuss them in the comments section or by email.

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File this one under: “Big steps in the right direction”.

Today Stephen Harper announced the formation of the “Young Conservative Caucus” which consists of the 20 MPs 40 and under.

I’ve always noticed how youthful the Conservative MPs are in comparison to the old and tired Liberal caucus and to the self-proclaimed “party of youth” NDP. The party has always hinted that they have the youngest members and the most multicultural caucus. Now it’s official internal policy. Bravo to the staffers (and to Stephen Harper) who made this decision to make the Youth Caucus official.

The chair of the Young Conservative Caucus is Rona Ambrose who said “The Conservative Party of Canada has been extremely successful in the past at attracting younger Members of Parliament and part of the reason for establishing this team is to build on that success”. Rona’s star in the party has been rising in the party at an incredible rate and I’m certain that she’ll make a run at the party leadership sometime in the future (maybe not next time, but perhaps after that).

The vice-chair of the YCC is Andrew Scheer whom I interviewed last week. Andrew has shown his talents in building campaigns from the ground-up and will contribute significantly to representing youth interests in this country.

The YCC is getting together over the summer recess at a summer retreat to discuss and develop policy that will both appeal to and be beneficial to young Canadians.

This creation of a Youth Caucus is a great step and will help the Conservative Party differentiate itself from the Liberal party.

Last Thursday, after I attended Question Period in Centre Block, I rushed over to the MP offices once again to interview Conservative Andrew Scheer, MP for Regina Qu’Appelle. I discuss blogging, internet law and Saskatchewan politics with Andrew, and show my limited knowledge on the latter two. I hope that you’ll enjoy Andrew’s perspective on this blogging hobby that you share with us whether you write one yourself, or just peruse them.

Andrew Scheer Interview part 1 of 2 (17:11)

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Before the interview got going, Monte Solberg and I chatted frankly on a variety of issues including the Supreme Court ruling on healthcare, the scandal of the week and blogging in general. After about 20 minutes, I realized that I should be recording so I started the digital tape and caught some of our discussion on what blogging means to Monte, and we name drop a couple of Blogging Tories (and even a non-blogging tory).

The Solberg bonus tape (6:48)

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The final installment of my interview with the finance critic for the Conservative Party of Canada can be listened to by downloading/streaming the file below. Monte Solberg answers questions on the fiscal imbalance, healthcare, equalization, limited government, same-sex marriage and a potential future run at the leadership of the party.

Listen to part 3 of 3 of my interview with Monte…

Monte Solberg Interview part 3 of 3 (13:59)

The bonus tape is still coming up.

I will be releasing the audio of my interview with MP Andrew Scheer tomorrow.

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Former Liberal MP Pat O’Brien says that he’ll vote against the budget bills with another unnamed Liberal MP unless Paul Martin retreats from fast-tracking of bill C-38 (SSM) through the House before the summer recess.

So, let’s make some predictions for the outcomes tonight:

Paul Martin caves to O’Brien: 2:1
Tom Wappel is the unnamed Liberal: 3:2
Any regularly attending Conservative MP is absent with “the flu”: 3:1
A few (2+) like-minded Liberals join with O’Brien to bolster his vote: 4:1
Belinda Stronach crosses the floor and then crosses back again: 1:1

UPDATE: Government survives all confidence votes. Closest vote was 153-149. Back to corruption as usual.