2006: A Brief and Incomplete Look Back

A few notes on the Canadian political scene over the past year...

Story Which Deserved More Attention:
The TILMA (Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement) - which figures to become much more familiar over the next year if the federal Cons really do plan on pushing it across the country.

Story Which Deserved Less Attention:
The Quebec "nation" debate, which shifted from an internal Lib discussion to a multi-party strategic war to a potential albatross around the Cons' neck, all without any substantive contribution to Canadian public policy.

Story Which Should Have Developed Further:
The NDP's proposed tenant's revolt to take back House of Commons control over the use of the Parliament buildings.

Story Which Thankfully Received Little Attention:
Paul Hill's proposal for an "economic union" between Saskatchewan and Alberta - which would presumably make the TILMA look like a free-government agreement in comparison. (Though it's worth wondering whether this will resurface in Saskatchewan's upcoming provincial election campaign.)

Story Which Bears Attention in Early 2008:
The status of the candidate loans from the Libs' leadership race, and particularly whether any of them will decide to go the Paul Hellyer route. (Though we may know by the end of this year whether the Libs will have a realistic shot at paying off their debts.)

Least Catchy Chant:
“I was a Michael Ignatieff supporter, and I decline to cast my ballot.”
- Attributed to Bob Rae supporters at the Lib convention by Vijay Sappani

Most Excessive Feigned Outrage in Response to the Year's Least Catchy Chant:
"Rae organisers are bringing in the dirt from nasty NDP type politics to the Liberal convention...This is the problem we have with cross over dirty old experienced politicians who bring their baggage with them. Worse he has betrayed Ontario and his friend of three decades, what makes you think he will not betray the Grits and Canada?"
- Vijay Sappani

Least Newsworthy Scoop (tie):
In year-end interviews, two writers lavished credit on themselves: for getting Stephen Harper to "admit" that he's "having a great time" as Prime Minister; and for securing the "candid admission" that Harper prefers being in government to being in opposition.
- Licia Corbella and Bruce Cheadle, respectively

Most Gullible Journalist:
Any reporter who honestly expects to be "the first to know" about the Cons' much-rumoured cabinet shuffle based solely on Stephen Harper's word.
- The Star's Political Notebook

Easiest 2007 Prediction:
That the impending Ontario election campaign won't lack for negative advertising.
- Ian Urquhart

It's definitely been an interesting year in Canadian politics - but with surprisingly little long-term development to show for the intrigue, as it's entirely possible that the bulk of the Cons' attempts to change Canada's political landscape could be undone by this time next year. Which means that 2006 is more likely to be remembered for laying the groundwork for the future (either through the Cons' election, the NDP's change in focus toward pursuing government, or the Libs' election of Dion as leader) than for its actual substantive results.