About six months ago, I made the move from being a consultant at a PR agency a few blocks from Parliament Hill to heading public relations for an interactive agency in the same city. I love everything about my job, but I must confess that there is one thing I miss – Canadian politics.
I used to spend most of my day swimming in politics, keeping up to date with the political environment so that I could counsel my clients accordingly. Now that I’m in the advertising industry, and a disproporationate number of my clients are now in New York and L.A., and have little to no interest in who will lead the next Liberal Party, I much admit that I am much less in touch with Canadian politics that I used to be.
A story on CBC radio this morning as I made my breakfast smoothie reminded me of why I love Canadian politics so much. So, with apologies for veering off my usual course of posting, I present to you a recounting of a scene yesterday in the House of Commons. (Nota bene: this helps if you picture a kindergarten classroom, and all of the characters as L’il Rascals.)
So, it seems as though the Conservatives, who are now in a minority leadership position, introduced a bill reducing greenhouse emissions by, oh, say, sometime mid-century. During a debate on the effects of such a policy on the environment, Liberal MP David McGuinty asked Foreign Affairs minister and ladykiller Peter MacKay the rhetorical question, “what about your dog?”
In response, MacKay allegedly gestured toward ex-girlfriend and conservative-turned-liberal Belinda Stronach and replied “you alrea
dy have her.”
The Speaker of the House subsequently raised his hands in a snapping motion and exclaimed, “OH NO YOU DID NOT! You did NOT just go there!”
Then, in one of Canadian politics’ proudest moments, Liberal MP Mark Holland raised a point of order and ratted on MacKay for daring such Oscar-Wildesque wit in the House.
“It’s completely unacceptable to call a woman a dog and to point over to her is completely disgusting,” said Holland, addressing the house, and raising the question, “so… one or the other would have been fine, then?”
In turn, conservative hottie Rona Ambrose (pictured at right, wanting me) responded by finking on Liberal MP Denis Coderre for saying something to the effect of her being “a potted plant,” whatever the hell that means, and demanding an apology from him. That THAT, Mr. Tattlepants.
At the time of publication, neither party were available for comment, as they were down for their napsy-doodle.
The original comment referred to a heartfelt staged media stunt held by MacKay after Belinda kicked him to tha curb. Interviewed on his parent’s farm, petting a dog and explaining that “his heart was banged up a bit.” He added, “dogs are loyal.” The dog belonged to his neighbour.
The CBC news article on the site goes on to speculate that Peter MacKay is probably doin’ it with Condoleeza Rice. There’s got to be a joke about softwood lumber in there somewhere, but I’ll be damned if I’m going digging for it.
