BC MP Svend Robinson is stepping down and taking a “medical leave from politics.” It seems that Mr Robinson has had some stress issues that have bled over into behaviour issues.

Prime Minister Paul Martin has just been sworn in and has unveiled his new cabinet. It’s a pretty standard list of Liberal Party “talent” but there’s one post that is quite surprising: Irwin Cotler, noted human rights lawyer and activist, has been named Justice Minister. If Martin really is planning a rightward detour, that’s a very odd person to name to a senior cabinet post.

it seems that the Canadian Alliance is up to its old tricks – open bigotry and prejudice, not to mention a shocking lack of understanding of the Canadian values of tolerance and open-mindedness: Harper fires Spencer for remarks on gays.

last night was Bono at the Liberal Party Coro… er, Convention supporting Paul Martin. It’s way too early to know precisely if it has much significance beyond Bono’s star power, but there is a possibility that having a rock-star activist in such a prominent slot in the convention is intended to communicate that Martin isn’t necessarily going to be the conservative many are expecting. Just as likely, though, it was designed as a high-profile placebo. Only time will tell.