Laughing very hard that I will be forever preserved in a committee transcript as a "failed" counsel at the Senate. Oh the joys of print! (The French is clear that I'm a *former* counsel there :-P)

Oh this day in Canadian parliamentary history - May 22, 1975: A question is raised about the PM's approach to transparency after the magazine Nous publishes a ... unique ... image of the PM and his wife. (Image sourced from eBay; no I did not bid... :-p)

On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - May 21, 2024: The House agrees to modify both the Hansard and audiovisual recording of a proceeding to remove references to a person’s name (in this case, the name of a young person who had died from a drug overdose).

Friend who does property and estate law asked me to sign her copy of the book. I inscribed it “To X for life” She did not find this nearly as hilarious as I did.

On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - May 20, 1939: Royals come to Parliament as part of their Canadian tour.  (Image from the McCord Stewart Museum, item M2017.46.2.7356)

For those who celebrate- happy wrong date Supreme Court of Canada cornerstone anniversary! (It says nineteenth day of May but the ship was delayed so Their Majesties unveiled it on the 20th :p)

We have to work on the item names and overall theme here… The house blend tea should be called The Steeper of the House, a strong coffee should be called Filibuster Fuel… maybe replace small, medium and large with backbench, parlsec, and PM? I’m just spitballing here :p

On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - May 19, 2005: A dramatic tie-breaking vote for the Speaker on second reading of a finance bill (a matter of confidence). An Independent MP's vote made the tally 152-152 before Speaker Peter Milliken's historic vote.

Some Ottawa tulip photos from this evening

On this day in Canadian parliamentary history 60 years ago today (May 18, 1966) - Paul Joseph Chartier attempts to bomb Parliament but is (fortunately) the only victim, exploding himself in a Centre Block washroom.

On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - May 17, 2005: MP Belinda Stronach - who ran for Conservative leader the year prior - crosses the floor to the Liberal minority government and is named Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development just days before a tight conference vote.

In Montreal alors je visite the Parliament that burned down dans le Vieux-Montréal et je learn something new chaque fois

Today in Canadian parliamentary history - May 16, 1917: The House uses its current mace for the first time :-)

Absolutely delightful Parliament Matters episode today!! Bravo @ruthfox.bsky.social @darcyxtip.bsky.social and the always excellent @conunitucl.bsky.social Meg Russell :-) Highlight of my Friday for sure!

On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - May 15, 1990: The Speaker is asked to rule on the parliamentary propriety of "windbag" and carefully addresses potential confusion with references to bagpipes.

On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - May 14, 1984: Parliament Hill is the backdrop for the swearing-in of Canada's first woman Governor General, former Speaker of the House of Commons Jeanne Sauvé

Bring back hosting large sing-alongs on Parliament Hill! (headline from 1942)

Taking suggestions for the most ‘inside Ottawa’ router name as I set up my new home internet…

On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - May 13, 1872: MP Sir George-Étienne Cartier kindly asks that if you're going to smoke, don't do it in the House chamber but go to the smoking room instead. Later reporting suggests much was on offer there :-P

Unboxing party at my place! :-)

On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - May 12, 1958: James Gladstone, Canada's first Indigenous senator, takes his seat in the Senate. Picture: Library and Archives.

Christmas movie filming in Ottawa!! Seriously hope it’s my script for “It’s a wonderful filibuster”

On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - May 11, 1970: Screaming women chain themselves to gallery chairs to advocate for abortion rights and in the process halt Commons proceedings. Security would later invest in bolt cutters. 1/2

Friends invited me over for cookies and to sign my book! :) Note to future self: Take the picture *before* you’ve eaten almost all the cookies :p 🍪

This came in the mail while I was overseas. Very proud to have served the number of years indicated.

Back in Ottawa and making breakfast from an excellent cookbook I left behind

On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - May 10, 2005: The House votes 153-150 to instruct a committee to amend its report "so as to recommend that the government resign" This prompted many to ask an important question: was that a vote of no confidence?

On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - May 9, 1941: A procedural experiment goes wrong after the Speaker interprets "unopposed" too literally

A fantastic day at @uofguelph.bsky.social for the Courts & Politics Research Group workshop! Congrats to all involved -- props to organizers @minhdo.bsky.social y.social and @emmettmacfarlane.com Here are some of today's presentations in the style of clickbait tabloid headlines... 1/4

Greetings from Guelph and the Courts & Politics Research Group Spring Workshop! Excited to nerd out - will be speaking about backbench legislation & the constitution

Today’s Canadian parliamentary history post? May 8, 1999: The Ottawa Citizen publishes an article about hockey pools on Parliament Hill. The lede? “Sure, they're a little more boring than most of us, but the staffers and MPs on Parliament Hill are Canadian.” 🇨🇦🏒

Constitution Dental - where the interpretative approach changes each time (wait, is this a recent Canadian jurisprudence reference? depends how you read it) :p

On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - May 7, 1942: Well, I'll just post the headline as it ran in the paper: "Senate frets over idleness... then adjourns" :-P

Planning ahead for Canada Day? Never forget 1988 when the plan was to recruit the world's largest kazoo band to play Happy Birthday... 2026 repeat? Sadly I cannot find video...

On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - May 6, 1935: 25,000+ gather on the Hill to celebrate the King's Jubilee - 25 years on the throne for King George V

Louise Arbour as Governor General? I guess she must miss being involved in royal assent, having last signified assent in 2003 :p

La Presse says Louise Arbour will be Canada's next Governor General. If so, fun fact: she's one of only a handful of people mentioned by name in a public Act (s 56.1 of the Judges Act), a provision a senator once sought to remove (Bill S-8, 38th Parl, 1st Sess).

On this day in Canadian parliamentary history – May 5, 1987: As MPs debate potatoes (particularly those served on Air Canada flights), MP Crosbie offers the notorious: “the hon. Gentleman is a real “pomme de terrorist” if not a “mashochist” 🥔🍠🍟

Heads-up for the nerds: there's a new issue out of Australasian Parliamentary Review! www.aspg.org.au/wp-content/u...

On this day in Canadian parliamentary history is on the recent side - May 4, 2023: The Speaker tells two MPs that they are invisible to the Chair until certain remarks are withdrawn. One member becomes invisible for three weeks, the other member for seven.

Also on this day in Canadian parliamentary history - May 3, 1955: For the first time in its history, the Senate is presided over by a woman as Cairine Wilson takes on the Acting Speaker role.

Today's Canadian parliamentary history - May 3, 1932: Scandal leads Senator McDougald to resign: “With those members of the [party] who have not hesitated to do all in their power to destroy me, both politically and personally, I have no desire to have any further association.”

Looking forward to presenting at least one paper in Banff this September as part of the Prairie Political Science Association Conference!! Looking forward to seeing some - but hopefully many - of you nerds there :))

On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - May 2, 1947: Ottawa students protest on Parliament Hill against chocolate bar price increases. Their placards include: “We’ll Eat Worms Before We’ll Eat Eight-Cent Chocolate Bars” and “We Want A Five-Cent Bar.” 🍫💰

A nerd note! Today's Alford decision marks the first Supreme Court of Canada citation to the 4th edition of House of Commons Procedure and Practice! decisions.scc-csc.ca/scc-csc/scc-...

On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - May 1, 1896: Charles Tupper becomes Prime Minister, a role he would have for 69 days. That's longer than a head of lettuce lasts in the fridge, for those who like comparisons.

For all the comments on the pageantry of the UK prorogation, may I remind you of a grave incident in Canada that sparked international reporting -- when MPs left the Senate too early during the prorogation announcement :-P (1940)

The CSPG is accepting essays for its 2026 Koester competition until June 30, 2026. College, CEGEP and undergraduate students can win $1,350! More details here: cspg-gcep.ca/pdf/Koester2...

On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - April 30, 1986: The Speaker offers profuse apologies after an incident in which Indigenous visitors to the Commons were refused entry to a gallery for not wearing ties.

On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - April 29, 1999: Czech President Václav Havel addresses parliamentarians in the House of Commons.