Orders of the Day - Wednesday, November 25, 2009

A Canadian Press-Harris Decima poll suggests that they may have their work cut out for them -- that is, if they're hoping to rebut his contention that transferred detainees were almost certainly at risk of being tortured, and that the government was well aware of that fact."Fifty-one per cent of respondents said they believe Colvin's testimony to the committee last week. In stark contrast, only 25 per cent said they believe the government's contention that the diplomat's claims are flimsy and not credible."

As for the status of witness in waiting David Mulroney, who flew back from Beijing earlier this week with the aim of appearing before the committee on Thursday to "set the record straight," despite the absence of a formal invitation from the committee, word went out last night that the opposition parties may indeed back down from their joint threat to block his testimony until the government turns over key documents related to Colvin's claims -- provided they have the right to recall him at a later date if necessary. That's just a rumour, mind you; we won't find out the final decision until tonight. 

Meanwhile, in the Chamber, members will resume debate on C-31, the omnibus crime bill so eclectic in content that the government hasn't even managed to come up with a ten percenter-ready nickname for it. It's worth noting that, contrary to OotD's prediction that the "telewarrant" provision would be the most controversial section of the bill, it's actually the bit about fingerprints -- specifically, collecting them upon arrest, and storing them in the police database forever, even without subsequent charge and/or conviction -- that seems to be generating the most pointed questions from the opposition so far, although all that can change when it gets to committee, of course. 

Other committee notes: