2 Can Carry That Tune

By Alison Crawford, CBC News.

Three things about yesterday’s LPCQ meeting in Quebec City that aren’t exactly newsworthy but still interesting:

- Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff delivered a speech more than 30 minutes long and entirely in French without the use of teleprompters.

- Ignatieff was the most passionate and generated the most applause when he said his French isn’t perfect but that’s part of who he is.

- In reference to Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s surprise musical performance at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa on Saturday night, Ignatieff said he envied Harper’s piano-playing abilities but felt the prime minister carried a tune just as well as he does.

2 Can Carry That Tune

Is Coderre Making Nice on Facebook?

By Rosemary Barton, CBC News.

Could it be a sign of a truce?

Denis Coderre, the recently resigned Quebec lieutenant to Michael Ignatieff, has posted a Facebook status update that could be viewed as an olive branch.

Or at very least, a sign someone from the Liberal leader’s office has told him to start acting nice.

Is Coderre Making Nice on Facebook?

Ignatieff on Liberals’ No-Confidence Motion

From Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff’s remarks today in the House of Commons on his party’s tabling of a no-confidence motion:

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in this House today to announce formally that the official opposition has lost confidence in the government. This is a serious step and we owe an explanation both to this House and to the Canadian people of our grounds for doing so.

“The Conservatives have given Canada a government whose only ambition is its own survival, and treats adversaries as enemies. They’ve set low standards for Canada, and failed to meet them.”

The Liberals posted an advance copy of his full speech on their website here.

Ignatieff on Liberals’ No-Confidence Motion

Le Prohon Nom, Still On

By Janyce McGregor, CBC News.

Our colleagues at Radio-Canada have confirmed that the spirit of compromise is alive and well in the Liberal Party’s Quebec nomination drama.

Nathalie Le Prohon was the star candidate Denis Coderre had picked to run for the Liberals in Outremont.

She got bounced when former cabinet minister Martin Cauchon decided after a long deliberation to try for a political comeback in his old seat — and raised a stink about his party not making space for him in the riding he once held.

Le Prohon has now confirmed she’s interested in the nomination in another winnable Montreal-area seat — Jeanne Le Ber. She hesitated for several days, apparently out of concern for the conflict her candidacy could fuel in the aftermath of Coderre’s resignation.

Le Prohon Nom, Still On

2 C’s, 2 Leaves, and a Whole Lotta Fury

By Janyce McGregor, CBC News.

Outrage! Hedy Fry’s mad as H-E-double-hockey-sticks that some items in the Hudson’s Bay Co. clothing line for Canada’s Olympians have a ‘C’ on them with a Maple Leaf, and, darnit, so does the Conservative Party’s logo! In the Commons today, she accused the Conservatives of “trying to politicize” the Vancouver-Whistler Games.

Politicizing the Olympics. Imagine! (’cause that’s never happened before, no siree…)

Gary Lunn, the minister for amateur sport, told the House the government was “not involved in any way, shape or form” with the HBC design.

2 C’s, 2 Leaves, and a Whole Lotta Fury

A Little Coderre Tease

Radio-Canada has released a short excerpt of Denis Coderre’s much-anticipated and much-discussed appearance on Tout le monde en parle. The full segment will air this Sunday night.

It seems (based on this very short clip) consistent with his earlier Facebook status update — affable, good-humoured, and still loyal to the Liberal Party.

A Little Coderre Tease

The Committee vs. the Commission

On Monday (October 5), the House of Commons Justice Committee will begin a review of a very thorny burr under the saddle of free speech proponents.

The Committee vs. the Commission

A party leader’s 5-step guide to quelling internal revolt

By Rosemary Barton, CBC News.

What to do when your Quebec lieutenant quits and questions about your leadership abound?

1) Do not publicly insult him. Say in a scrum he has done “great work.”

2) Get MPs to keep their lips sealed.

3) Find a Quebec fundraising event in Laval that you were not supposed to attend, but that you are now able to attend. (See the fundraiser for Raymonde Folco at 5:30 p.m. tonight in Laval).

A party leader’s 5-step guide to quelling internal revolt

We’re Ready to Take You On, Um, You Know, Sometime After We Keep You in Government…

By Rosemary Barton, CBC News.

It is a well-known fact every party must be ready for an election when there is a minority government.

But this email from NDP national party director Brad Lavigne just popped up in my in-box.

We’re Ready to Take You On, Um, You Know, Sometime After We Keep You in Government…

Ding-Dong, Avon…I Mean, Liberals Calling!

By Louise Elliott, CBC News.

You’ve got to hand it to the federal Liberals, they sure know when to go to ground.

A squabble over Montreal’s Outremont riding led to the angry resignation of Quebec lieutenant Denis Coderre. The negative fallout prompted party organizers to postpone a series of Ontario fundraisers.

The party postponed an Ottawa fundraiser scheduled for Tuesday, featuring Bob Rae as speaker. This allowed Ignatieff’s erstwhile rival to duck the public eye.

The only group at the south-end Ottawa conference hall that rainy September evening was a convention of Avon salespersons.

Ding-Dong, Avon…I Mean, Liberals Calling!

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