By Andrew Davidson, Kas Roussy and Mark Gollom of CBC News, from the George Bush-Bill Clinton debate of U.S./Canadian issues in Toronto:

As the discussion between George W. Bush and Bill Clinton continued Friday afternoon, moderator Frank McKenna, Canada's former ambassador to the U.S., brought up the issue of Rwanda.

"You were the president of the United States," he said to Clinton, asking why the former president hadn't stepped in to stop the killing.

Clinton responded that the decision not to act was "one of my greatest regrets" as president.

"We couldn't have saved all of them," he said. "[But] we could have saved as many as 300,000 lives … I have no defence."

He said Rwandans were the most "astonishing" people for their ability to forgive.

Bush defended Clinton's stand on Rwanda, saying that it's "not realistic" to think you could just pick up the phone and order 20,000 troops into a conflict zone.

Asked whether the U.S. should have intervened in Darfur, Bush replied: "I was confronted by a situation of where do I send in marines?" The broad consensus among NGOs and government advisors was to not intervene unilaterally, he said, '"So I didn't."

Bush added that Hu Jintao, leader of the People's Republic of China, "needs the energy," so he won't support a Sudan resolution at the UN. "We are trying to expedite troops to Darfur, but getting the international community together is hard … [diplomacy] only works with leverage."

Clinton jumped in to defend Bush on Darfur, calling the attempts to build an international consensus an "agonizing process" and comparing it to Bosnia. "It's not as simple as saying 'he should have done something' … He [Bush] did about all he could do."

On the issue of same-sex marriages, Bush said he doesn't agree with the repeal of the Defence of Marriage Act.

"I was hoping we'd stay away from national amendments," Clinton added, saying it should be a matter for the individuals to decide, along with state laws and the rules of their respective faiths.

McKenna said Canada feels its history of mutual respect is being torn apart by new U.S. border restrictions, a statement that drew broad applause from the audience.

Bush replied, "I don't know about the passport issue," and added that he had tried to get a simpler "EZ-Pass" passport project through government. He seemed genuinely unaware of passport requirement changes that go into effect at the Canada-U.S. border June 1.

Clinton added that he didn't know about the passport changes until it was mentioned to him Thursday. "We need to find a less severe alternative," Clinton said, but added that he wants to hear more from Homeland Security on the matter.

"Let me just say you've got my attention with this and I'm going to go home and ask more about it," Clinton said.

On the cross-border trade issue, Bush said: "Buy American provisions are bad for our business and I'm against them."

McKenna brought the discussion back to issues in Africa, telling Bush, "The world owes you a debt of gratitude" for his administration's massive anti-retroviral AIDS drug program for Africa.

"To whom much is given, much is required," replied Bush. "Don't thank me, thank the taxpayers of the United States of America."

He added that the best way to counter terrorist killers recruiting from the world's hopeless and poor is through the efforts of "armies of compassion."

Clinton in turn praised Bush for bringing a Christian appeal to the members of the Republican-dominated Congress, as well as church groups and non-governmental organizations. He also hailed the racial and ethnic diversity of cabinet choices under Bush.

"What he did on the AIDS drugs and the diversity in the cabinet ... he deserves a lot of credit."

The discussion ended with a standing ovation from the crowd, but some left with a feeling of disappointment that the debate hadn't gone deeper into major issues.

Jonathan Tucker, a chartered accountant in the audience, said he was surpised there wasn't more disagreement between the ex-presidents.

"Clinton could have taken some shots, but he didn't" Tucker said as he left the auditorium.

Heather Williams, another member of the audience, said she was disappointed Bush didn't face a direct question over Iraq. "It was eye-opening, but I wanted to hear his justifications for going to war," the 29-year-old said.

By Andrew Davidson, Kas Roussy and Mark Gollom of CBC News, from the George Bush-Bill Clinton debate of U.S./Canadian issues in Toronto:

After giving their opening remarks, former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush moved on to a discussion moderated by Frank McKenna, Canada's former ambassador to the U.S.

Saying he wanted to explore areas where the pair agreed and disagreed, McKenna asked for each man's view about Iraq and Afghanistan.

Clinton says he supported the action in Iraq, but would have preferred it if Hans Blix had been given more time to conduct inspections for weapons of mass destruction. "We disagree on that, but the real issue is what in the world are we going to do now?"

Clinton added that he sees the Pakistan's instability and the Afghan drug trade as the biggest issues in that region. Afghans "want to be free, they don't want to be under the Taliban again," he said.

Bush called the premise that Iraq distracted from Afghan war "false."

"Getting rid of the heinous dictator Saddam Hussein has made the world a safer place," he said.

He also thanked Canada for standing with the U.S. in Afghanistan.

On the issue of Cuba, Bush said he felt it was "important" to keep the U.S. trade embargo in place.

Clinton said his view on Cuba was "more like that of the current Secretary of State," (his wife Hillary), generating laughter from the crowd.

Cuba is our neighbour, he told the audience, and "they ought to be part of our future."

Clinton then called for Congress to give the current president the power to be flexible with Cuba and negotiate a better future for both countries.

By Andrew Davidson, Kas Roussy and Mark Gollom of CBC News, from the George Bush-Bill Clinton debate of U.S./Canadian issues in Toronto:

"Welcome to the Bill and George show," Georeg W. Bush told the crowd in Toronto, earning laughs right off the bat.

Bush took the stage to warm applause, looking tanned in a navy blue suit and aqua tie. He earned a standing ovation from some in the crowd, but the number of people on their feet didn't match Clinton's reception. Still, if success in the opening remarks is judged by the level of laughter from the crowd, Bush came out ahead with his stories of life after the presidency.

Bush followed up with some thoughts about life after the presidency, saying that it's "hard to go from 100 miles per hour to zero," but that retirement is "not all that bad," and that he is enjoying spending time in Texas out of the spotlight.

He added that Clinton has been spending so much time with George Bush senior that he (Bush Jr.) now considers Clinton like a brother, a quip that generated more laughs.

Turning to more serious issues, Bush said he wants to build a policy centre at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, and that he wants to continue pushing what he referred to as the "freedom agenda."

He said he also wants to write a book, and speculated about how the news would be received by the public: "Write a book? The guy can't even read a book! ... I hope to prove them wrong," he said to laughter from the audience.

Bush added that peace should be foremost on the international agenda. "It's in the interests of free nations to advance freedom to promote peace … Freedom is transformative, freedom brings hope and freedom brings peace," he said, receving a round of applause from the crowd.

"I have a great sense of optimism for the future."

By Andrew Davidson, Kas Roussy and Mark Gollom of CBC News, from the George Bush-Bill Clinton debate of U.S./Canadian issues in Toronto:

After warming up the audience with a string of one-liners, Clinton quickly got serious as he continued with his opening remarks.

He said George Bush "could hardly ignore 911."

Clinton praised Bush for increasing U.S. funding for AIDS and malaria in Africa, calling it "one of the most important achievements" of his administration.

He also doled out praise for to Toronto mayor David Miller for taking action to address climate change. He added that global warming will be "calamitous" unless people "answer the 'how' question" and help the government and the private sector make changes.

He also urged Canadians to participate in microcredit loans to developing nations.

"We do live in an interdependent world," Clinton said.

"You can do something about it, be it in your own neighbourhood or around the world. You don't have to be a former president ... You can make a difference."

He received a wave of warm applause as he ended his speech and turned the floor over to George Bush.

By Andrew Davidson, CBC News, from the George Bush-Bill Clinton debate of U.S./Canadian issues in Toronto:

Clinton unleashed a barrage of one-liners in his opening remarks Friday.

He got a laugh from the audience when he quipped that he figures people are expecting a 21st century version of a Roman Empire showdown in the Coliseum, and that the audience wants him and Bush to "devour each other" on stage.

He followed up by saying that there is "no job description for a former president," and that "it takes a while to figure out you're not the President any more.

He added that he found the absence of the Hail to the Chief music in his day to day activities disorienting. "I was lost for three months after I left office," he joked, but added that now that his wife Hillary is Secretary of State, "No one cares what I say unless I mess up." (He added that a child he met recently referred to him as "Hillary's wife" - "That's really breaking down the gender barrier," he said.)

By Andrew Davidson, CBC News, from the George Bush-Bill Clinton debate of U.S./Canadian issues in Toronto:

Bill Clinton got a standing ovation from people in the "cheap seats" towards the back of the auditorium when he took the stage.

Speaking first, Bill Clinton thanked Canadians for their involvement in the Afghan military mission.

Dapper in a beige suit and neon orange tie, Clinton says this is the says biggest crowd he's spoken to in Canada.

He got a laugh from the audience when he quipped that he figures people are expecting a 21st century version of a Roman Empire showdown in the Coliseum, and that the audience wants him and Bush to "devour each other" on stage.

We'll see what happens over the next couple of hours. Clinton's opening remarks will be followed by George Bush. Then the back-and-forth discussion will begin, moderated by Frank McKenna.

By Andrew Davidson, CBC News, from the George Bush-Bill Clinton debate of U.S./Canadian issues in Toronto:

There are dozens of RCMP and other security people all around hall. They're telling people to sit down so they can start, but there's no sign of the ex-president headliners yet.

The CBC's Kas Roussy says she has spoken to people in the audience who have come from Europe, the United States and various parts of Canada to hear the speech. Hopefully it will start soon ... the convention centre resembles a vast aircraft hangar spanning about two football fields and is equally drafty. It's cold in here.

Someone here is obviously a Rihanna fan. Her song "Please don't stop the music" has played three times, followed by Canada's own Feist with "1234" played twice. I reckon they'll dare to defy Rihanna eventually.

TD Bank CEO Ed Clark has arrived at the podium, with luck this means we're about to start ....

By Andrew Davidson, CBC News, from the George Bush-Bill Clinton debate of U.S./Canadian issues in Toronto:

There's a lot of networking going on as people wait for the former presidents to do their thing.

VIPs spotted in the crowd include Preston Manning and Industry Minister Tony Clement. CBC personality Rick Mercer is also here.

I spoke to Liberal strategist David Herle and asked him whether he'd trimmed his goatee right down because of something related to the NHL playoffs. "I just trim it cause it gets so grey," he said.

By Kas Roussy, CBC News, from the George Bush-Bill Clinton debate of U.S./Canadian issues in Toronto:

We're told Bill Clinton will speak first, followed by George Bush. Then the moderated discussion to begin.

The general-seating section is completely full, and the $2,500 seats along the front section are filling up. But now we're hearing that the ex-presidents may not take the stage at 3:30 p.m. as originally scheduled.

It sounds like there may be a 45-minute delay, with the start time moved to 4:15 p.m.

We'll post an update as soon as we hear anything official.

By Andrew Davidson, CBC News, from the George Bush-Bill Clinton debate of U.S./Canadian issues in Toronto:

"Curiosity" is the buzz word among those who showed up early. In the audience, Brampton, Ont., entrepreneur Larry Palmer says he's looking forward to seeing the two ex-presidents in person.

"They had their fingers on the pulse of the world for so long," Palmer said. "I want to hear what they think of the world now."

Catherine Devion says she is here for the "spectacle." The 40-year-old University of Toronto librarian calls the chance to see two former presidents "an experience of a lifetime."

"If you weren't a reporter, wouldn't you want to be here too?" she asked me. "It's living history."

An Italian-Canadian woman from Etobicoke, Ont., who didn't want her name published said President Bush, "has some explaining to do." (She insisted I not include her name and gently slapped my hand to make sure I got the message. "When an Italian woman slaps you, it's a good thing," she said laughing.)

"I don't know what I'm going to hear," the 67-year-old, who says she's been a Liberal supporter for 50 years, told me. "But that war in Iraq? They never should have gone into Iraq."

By Andrew Davidson, CBC News, from the George Bush-Bill Clinton debate of U.S./Canadian issues in Toronto:

The seats are filling up already, at least in the general section. The Emerald Premium section? Not so much yet. Those tickets are reportedly sold out at $2,500 a pop.

There are lots of younger faces in the crowd, people in their mid-20s, but the front section so far definitely skews towards older male businessmen.

They're really packing people together in the $200 "cheap seats." There's not a lot of elbow room and it's hard to see the stage - there are projection screens set up so that those at the back can watch. One attendee told CBC's Kas Roussy that he expected to be closer.

Snacks aren't cheap, either - $7 for sandwiches, pop or water $4. Ouch. Still, cheaper than at the ballgame, and this way I'm spared watching the Jays relief pitchers serve up meatballs to the Red Sox.

By Andrew Davidson, CBC News, from the George Bush-Bill Clinton debate of U.S./Canadian issues in Toronto:

Prior to the event people were warned to show up early to run the security gauntlet, but getting through security was actually pretty quick and painless. The security people had about a dozen lineups like they do at the airport customs check. Metal detectors and wands, and they checked bags and laptops, but no taking off our shoes. Everyone seems nervously cheery.

Three green leather chairs are set up on stage in front of a green backlit screen, and there are two tall plants beside the chairs - the chairs are close together and look comfy like a talk show, not a debate. In other words, they've opted for a fireside-chat kind of setup rather than putting the speakers at opposing podiums.

Frank McKenna, Canada's former ambassador to the U.S., is moderating the "conversation," as the event is being billed.

Former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush take the stage in Toronto at 3:30 p.m. to debate the international and home-grown issues facing the United States and Canada. CBC News will be blogging from the debate, check back here for updates throughout the afternoon.

Tweets will be posted on twitter.com/cbcnewsdesk, they'll be tagged #bush and #clinton.

MP Pierre Poilievre is the latest in a long line of politicians to take flak for uttering the words.

Referring to the Liberals, he said: "On that side of the House, they have the man who fathered the carbon tax, put it up for adoption to his predecessor and now wants a paternity test to prove the tar baby was never his in the first place."

For some, the word "tar baby" is no big deal; it's just a term to describe a sticky situation. Others though, feel the term is a racist slur against black people.

— Alison Crawford

There was a fuss at the Commons environment committee today over whether Environment Minister Jim Prentice is meddling with the independent agency that studies endangered species.

The issue erupted after Jeffrey Hutchings, chair of the committee on the status of endangered wildlife in Canada, fondly known as COSEWIC by its followers, told MPs that the reappointment of one of its most valuable scientists was rejected by the minister.

COSEWIC keeps an eye on the status of wild species — everything from fungi to frogs — that are considered to be at risk of extinction.

Hutchings said David Green from McGill University, one of Canada's top amphibian experts, was on COSEWIC's list of scientists to be reappointed to the advisory body. Green has served on the body since 1995.

But Hutchings said that in February, Prentice rejected Green from a list of seven appointees, saying he felt the committee needed " a mix of old and new members."

Hutchings says the minister's decision makes it harder for the advisory body to do its job and maintain neutral status as the rejection "might be perceived to influence the independence of COSEWIC."

Opposition MPs wanted to know if Hutchings felt the minister was actually meddling in the appointments for political reasons. But Hutchings said he is not sure that was the case, only that Prentice's actions could leave the wrong impression.

"It could lead to a perception by people outside of the committee of interference," Hutchings said. "I'm not saying there necessarily was interference because it is the minister's prerogative to do that."

Prentice is out of the country at the moment, but his spokesman explained the decision this way:

"The minister believes that committees should be composed of both returning and new qualified members. In this instance, we applied that principle.

"Each member of the committee gave a valuable contribution, but it was time to renew the composition of the committee."

Meanwhile the man in the middle, McGill's David Green, says he was taken aback when he found out his services were no longer needed.

"I was surprised. I mean this has never happened before (on the committee). It would be nice to know why I was not reappointed."

Green's position on COSEWIC has not yet been filled. So he's still doing the work anyway, monitoring and reporting on the condition of amphibians, some of the country's most fragile species.

"I wasn't on the committee to make money," he says. "I was on the committee to do right by frogs."

— Margo McDiarmid

The House of Commons is considering a new law that could increase the liability of companies that operate nuclear facilities if there is an accident.

Bill C-20 increases the ultimate cost to a nuclear company from $75 million to $650 million.

But the NDP, Bloc and the Liberals are already saying the amount is way too little and want it raised.

They point to the limits in other countries, like the U.S., for example, where the ceiling is now $10 billion. All companies there contribute to a fund to help pay for their insurance and potential costs in case of an accident.

In Europe and Japan, there is no limit to how much a company would have to pay in the case of a nuclear incident.

Under this proposed new bill, any liabilities here over $650 million would be borne by the taxpayer.

Debate started on this yesterday and is supposed to continue today before the bill is to go on to the natural resources committee for further study.

— Margo McDiarmid

Who says political opponents can't bury the hatchet once they leave politics?

Stephen Hogue used to work for former Liberal prime minister Jean Chrétien and is now with the Montreal-based pharmaceutical company Pfizer Canada.

Today, it was Hogue's job to introduce the guest speaker at a science forum, Preston Manning.

Manning, of course, used to be the leader of the Reform party and was often one of Chrétien's fiercest political adversaries.

In his introduction, though, Hogue spoke highly of the former Reform leader, praising the work he has done since leaving politics.

"He may not have achieved his ultimate goal of being prime minister. But as you can see from his impressive career so far, his legacy is no less impressive as he continues to shape public policy in Canada and impact the lives of Canadians.

"So for that I think he is a right and honorable Canadian."

Was there irony in that? Probably not, it sounded pretty genuine.

But, of course, it was Hogue's former boss who prevented Manning from actually winning the title "the right honourable," the one accorded only to a prime minister.

— Susan Lunn

Yorkton-Melville MP Garry Breitkreuz is a long-time, very devoted opponent of the federal gun registry.

So it was somewhat odd that the Conservative MP was a no-show in the House of Commons this morning, when it came time to debate his private member's bill to scrap the registry.

The reason, it appears, is because Breitkreuz is deferring to his colleague, Portage-Lisgar MP Candice Hoeppner, who introduced her own private member's bill on gun control earlier this month. Brant Scott, Breitkreuz's parliamentary assistant, said his boss feels Hoeppner's bill has a better chance of garnering support from opposition MPs.

A quick comparison of both bills shows Hoeppner's bill is more focused.

It proposes a complete ditching of the registry and all of its records. Breitkreuz proposed a number of additional features that turned off a number of otherwise sympathetic MPs, such as making it easier to transport restricted weapons and requiring people to renew their licences every 10 years instead of every five years.

It is also interesting to note that Hoeppner's bill is almost identical to the government's official gun bill, which was tabled earlier this spring in the Senate. That's why she included a coordinating amendment that pretty much says forget all about this one if the Senate bill passes.

It is extremely unlikely, though, that the government bill will pass in the Liberal-dominated Senate. And that's what will make Hoeppner's version an interesting piece of legislation to watch.

For one thing, a number of rural MPs from opposition parties are reportedly keen on supporting her bill, which then raises the question of how the government will respond.

The Conservatives have long talked tough about scrapping the gun registry, usually around election time, which suggests to many that they see gun control largely as a useful wedge issue to differentiate themselves from their opponents, the Liberals especially.

Three years in power and the Conservatives have done little more than extend a rolling amnesty for gun owners, an amnesty that waives the fees for licence renewals.

— Alison Crawford

There are many layers to the Oliphant Commission. On the surface, there is the raw testimony people (recently dubbed Oliphantics or Oliphanatics) can see when they turn on the TV or fire-up the computer.

In the room itself, there is in an even richer scene.

— Alison Crawford

Today at the inquiry under Justice Jeffrey Oliphant into the business dealings between former prime minister Brian Mulroney and controversial German-Canadian businessman Karlheinz Schreiber:

2 Canadian flags;
28 high-powered (and blinding) lights;
14 TV cameras;
2 still cameras with telephoto lenses;
20 lawyers;
1 commissioner;
33 journalists;
2 publicists (for Mulroney);
1 recently appointed senator (Patrick Brazeau) in the audience;
1 former prime minister on the stand.

Total cost, so far, $14 million.

— Alison Crawford

The Brian Mulroney/Karlheinz Schreiber inquiry is always exciting for those of us dedicated addicts of this story.

But today may just have a little more bounce to it. For this is the day that commission counsel, Winnipeg lawyer Richard Wolson, gets to cross-examine the former Conservative prime minister.

Until now, it has been Mulroney's lawyer, Guy Pratte, who led the opening two days of questioning. But this reporter has it on good authority that Wolson is itching to get to work.

He's been studying Mulroney's testimony from the past two days and will no doubt be comparing it to everything the former PM has ever said before under oath.

Wolson has proven himself to be well-prepared and determined to get answers, and there is a different energy in the room today compared to the past two.

There are also more reporters here than there have been so far and more members of the public, too.

Brian Mulroney may be a former prime minister and the man on the hot seat, but today is also Richard Wolson's moment in the national spotlight.

— Rosemary Barton

In March, Environment Minister Jim Prentice held a press conference at the Chateau Laurier hotel just across from Parliament Hill to announce new legislation to get tough on polluters.

CBC asked why the event was held in two hotel banquet rooms when there should have been free space on both Parliament Hill and in the nearby Environment Canada headquarters.

There was no direct answer to that query but we were told if we wanted to find out the cost of holding the press conference in the Chateau Laruier we should file an access to information request.

So we did and It has arrived. The answer: $2,625.

It is not an audacious amount of money but one can still question the value of spending almost three thousand dollars during a recession when governments are supposed to be keeping a close eye on frivolous spending.

Oh, and it turns out we were wrong on the number of rooms booked for the event. The government actually hired three banquet rooms, not two, and spent $300 on long distance charges.

— Susan Lunn

The federal Conservatives are once again rolling out a series of attack ads against Michael Ignatieff, the new Liberal leader, as they did when he first ran for the party leadership almost three years ago.

The headline this time: "The free ride is over."

Two senior officials in the Prime Minister's Office, who insisted at a background briefing that they be identified today as "senior Conservatives," unveiled the new strategy.

They would not say who exactly has been giving Ignatieff the free ride, just that he's enjoyed an extended honeymoon that they now hope to puncture.

The party has been scouring old BBC footage of Ignatieff for this project and has also now done research with "real Canadians" for these ads.

But aside from putting up a picture of a Tim Hortons shop, the Conservatives won't say more about who was questioned for this research.

Over all, the ads portray Ignatieff as an elitist, a self-designated cosmopolitan who, by implication, is out of touch with ordinary Canadians.

Party staff have combed through Ignatieff's life and looked at virtually every interview he's given and every word he's written.

For example, the Conservatives are highlighting part of an interview Ignatieff, then a Harvard professor, did on C-SPAN, the public service channel in the U.S., in which he refers to America as his country.

There are ads running in Quebec, too, where the Liberals have suddenly vaulted well past the Tories into a virtual tie with the Bloc.

The Quebec ads carry the headline "Who is he?" In one, Ignatieff's face is pixeled out. As it slowly comes into focus, an announcer's voice asks portentously, "Do you know this man?"

The Conservative party has set up websites and a Facebook page to carry the ads. It says it intends to run them on TV as well.

In an earlier campaign, the Conservatives were successful in portraying the previous Liberal leader, Stéphane Dion, as weak and indecisive. But, of course, it remains to be seen if these new, personalized attacks will work against Ignatieff.

Liberals say they have no plans at the moment to engage in a similar set of personal attacks against Stephen Harper.

The senior Conservatives won't say how much the party is spending on this campaign, except to say it will be a sizeable amount. They add, this is just the first step.

— Susan Lunn

Maybe he just needed to get it off his chest and already feels unburdened.

Then again, people watching former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney testify again today at the Oliphant Commission inquiry might witness another political slap down.

The are many things different in the way the Stephen Harper government now communicates with the press. Perhaps the most recent example is the policy of emailing reporters photographs of the PM doing things.

They started arriving in our in-boxes a few months ago.

First came pictures of the prime minister on the telephone, speaking, we were told, to different world leaders. Then came pictures of him meeting with ordinary Canadians.

Now we have been sent pictures of Harper during this week's visit to Kandahar. If you want to see a couple, click on the Read the Full Article link below.

— Chris Rands

It just went from bad to worse for Ruby Dhalla.

The Commons immigration committee is studying the subject of migrant workers and now wants her to appear before it.

Chair David Tilson, a Conservative MP from Orangeville, Ont., told reporters after question period today that the committee would be calling the Liberal MP and the two nannies, both foreign workers, who accuse her of mistreatment.

Tilson says the committee has been planning to examine the issue of migrant workers for some time. "I can't help it if Miss Dhalla just happens to jump in on this issue as we are studying it."

Tilson hopes to have Magdalene Gordo and Richelyn Tongson appear before the committee as early as Tuesday next week.

It may be another week before Dhalla, who hasn't been seen on Parliament Hill for days now, is called to testify.

Tilson says, "We will give Miss Dhalla a chance to come and protect herself, no question we are going to do that."

Of course that will be before a committee room full of MPs, some of whom may want to make political hay at her expense.

For her part, Mississauga-based Dhalla released a statement today stating that a "transparent, third-party evaluation of the facts is required to clear my name."

She may not have had the immigration committee in mind, however. She has asked Mary Dawson, the Commons ethics commissioner to examine her case.

The ethics commissioner can only investigate matters that pertain to someone's role as an MP and has 30 days to respond to Dhalla's request.

— Chris Rands

Talk about timing.

Ontario MP Ruby Dhalla resigned today as the Liberal shadow critic for youth and multiculturalism in order to, as she said, "focus attention on clearing my name."

The Mississauga MP is accused of having mistreated two live-in caregivers, both foreign workers who were hired to take care of her mother.

The Toronto Star reported the allegations from the two women who say their passports were seized and that they worked long hours and weren't always paid overtime. As well, the two said they were assigned additional tasks not related to personal care, such as washing vehicles.

None of these allegations against Dhalla have been proven in any kind of court or official record. But all three appeared in an altogether different kind of report today in Parliament.

The House of Commons standing committee on citizenship and immigration tabled its long-awaited report on temporary foreign workers and non-status workers.

The all-party group of MPs wrote how they heard numerous stories of employers "flouting provincial employment and other standards."

Under the heading "Employer Monitoring and Compliance," the MPs listed 14 common ways some people abuse their employees.

The list includes retaining "workers' passports, health cards and other documents" and requiring "workers to perform duties that are substantially different than those for which they were recruited."

Among the committee's many recommendations, it suggested that the federal government establish teams to perform unannounced spot checks of the working and housing conditions of temporary foreign workers, as well as a 1-800 tip line for workers to report possible infractions.

Reporters hoping to ask Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff for his thoughts on Dhalla or this report were left hanging today.

Ignatieff was unavailable following the weekly caucus meeting as well as after question period.

So was Maurizio Bevilacqua, the Liberal's immigration critic and vice-chair of the citizenship and immigration committee.

In the end, foreign affairs critic Bob Rae fielded questions from the media. He said Dhalla feels the allegations against her are untrue and added that Dhalla has the right to defend herself and should not be prejudged.

— Alison Crawford

Today on Parliament Hill, pork producers are hosting a barbecue in the courtyard beside the East Block to encourage Canadians to eat more pork.

It is all to show support for an industry that is feeling side-swiped by swine flu.

Swine flu is just a name, of course, and you can't catch it by eating pork. Still, some nations are saying no to Canadian pork and many producers are hurting.

But no one is saying no here on Parliament Hill, where you'd expect they would know a thing or two about pork.

Here on the Hill, politicians and their staff are standing in a slow-moving line of at least 100 people. All to get some free pork.

Now a cynic might say people will always line up for a free lunch, especially if their bosses encourage them to, for the greater good of the Canadian economy of course.

But as I write this at least one MP leaving the courtyard says the pulled pork on a bun may even run out before we get there.

Stampede anyone?

— Chris Rands

Environment Minister Jim Prentice must have an armload of briefing books and policy documents to read, what with the big Copenhagen conference on climate change later this year.

However, the minister still seems to be finding time to read a new book.

The one he has currenly on the go is Sea Sick, by former Globe and Mail reporter Alanna Mitchell. It profiles the deteriorating state of the world's oceans and the impact of climate change.

As it turns out, I had just finished this book, having been unable to put it down. And I hope I didn't ruin the ending for the minister when I told him not to worry, the last chapter is quite uplifting.

— Susan Lunn

One of the great traditions on Parliament Hill is the walk down, or up, the set of stairs that run from the foyer of the Commons to the second floor offices of the prime minister and the leader of the opposition.

It has been the custom for the PM and the leader of the oppostion to walk down the stairs just before the start of question period.

That provides a chance for the television cameras to capture some extra pictures of the leaders, and for reporters to try for a quick quote.

Frankly, it's also the most direct way from point A to point B, which is not to discount the fact that the stairs form part of Canada's political theatre.

Back when he was prime minister, Brian Mulroney loved the stairs so much that he held scrums there, looking down on reporters, after question period.

Former prime minister Jean Chretien would sprint up and down them as often as he could to prove he still had the youthful spirit.

When he was in Parliament, Liberal minister Brian Tobin would arrive in the Centre Block, zip up the stairs to hang up his coat and then saunter back down into the House.

Perhaps he was trying to look more prime ministerial in advance of a leadership bid?

Sadly, however, the stairs have fallen out of favour with the current prime minister.

Stephen Harper now prefers to use the back way into the Commons.

The last time I remember him using the famous walkway was in January — it was for a photo-op with the finance minister on budget day.

So while the tour guides point the prime ministerial stairs out to their groups when they walk through the foyer, those reporters within earshot wonder when will they see the prime minister using the stairs again on a regular basis?

What will change the mind of someone who would rather walk, the long way round, every day to avoid the press?

Personally I'm willing to ask the PM one soft question a week about his favourite sport to encourage him to change his path.

Here goes: "Prime Minister, should there be a second NHL team in Toronto?"

— Chris Rands

David Wilkins settles into a plush armchair in the foyer of the Chateau Laurier hotel in Ottawa.

"Ask me whatever you want,'' he says, a wide grin on his face. ''I'm free to talk now.''

As the U.S. Ambassador to Canada during George W. Bush's second term, Wilkins may not have been free to talk. But that didn't mean he wasn't a sought-after quote by Canadian reporters.

Whether it was advising Liberal MPs to tone down their ''emotional tirades'' over softwood lumber, or advising Canadians to ''get a passport'' to meet the proposed new U.S. entry requirements at the border, Wilkins was famous for being diplomatically undiplomatic — and for his efforts to portray an unpopular president in the most flattering light.

These days, Wilkins is a partner in a large U.S. law firm, where he is still sought after for his views on Canada-U.S. relations by business groups and by new clients, including the government of Saskatchewan.

In an interview at the venerable hotel just two doors down from the U.S. Embassy, Wilkins remains true to his Republican roots. The Bush administration, he says, advocated free trade and that's been a benefit to Canada.

Now, with the Democrats in office, there is talk is of erecting trade barriers to protect American jobs and Canadians should be worried.

"You know, we're hearing a lot of protectionist sentiments in the U.S.," Wilkins says. "It may sound good, it may sound patriotic to Americans, but economists and historians agree, it flat doesn't work.''

You can stop holding your breath. They've counted all the ballots.
Yes, those ballots with only one name on them. Michael Ignatieff is the new leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.

Stéphane Dion may be gone as Liberal leader but it will be a long time before his last speech will be forgotten.
On Friday evening the convention gathered for a tribute to Dion. He spoke at the end. And spoke. And spoke.

The federal Liberal party's convention's opening ceremonies Friday night were at times, mind-numbingly tedious.
Speeches ran too long, and too many speakers were shoehorned in between keynotes delivered by illustrious figures such as former prime minister Jean Chrétien, and former United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Louise Arbour.

Paul Martin cast his vote this morning, for the new leader of the Liberal party, an exercise is futility, though important for Liberals, to show how many of the 2,500 registered at the convention actually bothered to vote for its new leader.

Are the Liberals rethinking their stance on the controversial gun registry?

MP Wayne Easter dropped the hint today in Vancouver where the party is holding its convention.

Easter is among those Liberals strategizing how to win more ridings outside the big cities.

When asked how the party ended up being almost completely isolated in the big centres such as Toronto and Montreal, the MP from P.E.I. responded, "a number of factors really. One of the big ones, which was a catalyst to us losing a lot of constituencies in rural Canda, was actually the gun control bill, the long-gun registry.

"It just seemed to be a catalyst that provoked a reaction that the Liberals didn't identify with rural Canadians."

So what now? Well, Easter says a new policy is in the works.

He won't say much now, but Easter indicated the Liberals will maintain the registry while attempting to "soften" the problems rifle owners encounter right now.

The Conservatives recently introduced a new bill to scrap the long-gun registery. But they did it in the Liberal-dominated Senate where it is sure to fail.

Easter contends that anything the Stephen Harper government does on gun control is just "smoke and mirrors," designed to show the differences between the two parties on this issue.

Pointing to the three successfive amnesties for gun owners to put off registering their weapons, Easter says Conservatives simply "want the issue to be alive in the next election."

— Alison Crawford

Former prime minister Jean Chrétien had an interesting exchange with the current prime minister's press secretary, Dimitri Soudas. The two men ran into each other outside a hotel, and were introduced to one another by Senator Jim Munson, who used to do communications for Chrétien.

Andrew Ignatieff is enjoying this liberal convention much more than the last one he attended. Michael Ignatieff's younger brother worked on his brother's first leadership campaign and was in Montreal for the convention that chose Stéphane Dion as leader.

The Liberal convention has been billed as one of renewal for a party that's spent the last two-and-a-half years in the political wilderness.