As we head into the long weekend, consider, if you will, the quintessentially Canadian conundrum that is the July 1st national holiday.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, it shares a date with Memorial Day, which was established long before the province joined Confederation, and honours those lost on what Rick Mercer sums up as "the bloodiest day in Newfoundland history": July 1, 1916, when the Newfoundland Regiment "was wiped out on the battlefield of Beaumont-Hamel France during the Battle of the Somme."

In Quebec, it's Moving Day for the tens of thousands of renters whose leases expire on July 1.

Meanwhile, the rest of the country celebrates Canada Day ... unless, that is, one happens to be among the small but feisty minority that insists on calling it Dominion Day, in open and wilful defiance of C-201, the private members' bill that officially changed the name from the latter to the former, which was passed by the House of Commons under decidedly murky procedural circumstances thirty years ago this month.

Hit the jump for the full post.

We asked: Do you feel more or less patriotic than 10 years ago?

Here are the results:
More: 17%
Less: 71%
Same: 12%

Not sure: 1%

1,335 people responded to this question.

(Note: This survey is not scientific. Results are based on readers' responses.)

You know you're heading into the first official long weekend of summer when the only pre-arranged political event set to unfold on the Hill involves a minister -- in this case, Jason Kenney -- trumpeting the final Senate approval -- in this case, C-31, his bid to reform the refugee system, which was given Royal Assent last night. 

According to the advisory, Kenney will take the stage at the National Press Theatre later this morning, where he will "celebrate" its passage by taking questions from the media. 

Outside the precinct, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz will be joined by his parliamentary secretary, Gerald Keddy, at Wilbar Farms in Dundurn, Saskatchewan, where the duo will obligingly deliver their reaction to the much-anticipated WTO ruling on the US 'country of origin' labelling. Also on hand to respond to the decision: representatives from the Canadian Cattlemen's Association, the Canadian Pork Council and the Canadian Meat Council. 

Elsewhere on the ministerial circuit: A trio of ministers -- Denis Lebel (Transport), Valcourt (ACOA) and Shea (National Revenue) convene a roundtable in Charlottetown to discuss "a new long-term infrastructure plan," with Minister of State for Transport Steven Fletcher set to hold similar discussions in Yellowknife. 

Also heading North: Minister of State for Seniors Alice Wong delivers federal support to combat elder abuse in Whitehorse.  

And that, at least at press time, is pretty much it, as far as today's lookahead. Have a perfectly Canadian July 1st, everyone! Orders of the Day will return on Tuesday, July 3. 

We asked: Should employees be able to opt out of unions?

Here are the results:
Yes: 24%
No: 75%
Not sure: 1%

5112 people responded to this question.

(Note: This survey is not scientific. Results are based on readers' responses.)

Undaunted, it seems, by the government's move to impose a half a million dollar involuntary budget cut on her office despite her plea to be spared the deficit-cutting axe, Information Commissioner Suzanne Legault has launched a new process to deal with the increasing number of access complaints sparked by exemption claims related to national security and international affairs. 

We asked: Should the federal government proceed with cuts to search and rescue programs?

Here are the results:
Yes: 5%
No: 94%
Not sure: 1%

1238 people responded to this question.

(Note: This survey is not scientific. Results are based on readers' responses.)

In 1994, Liberal Defence Minister David Collenette called an inquiry into what happened at a Canadian military compound in Somalia.

Hit the jump to see what young Reform Party MP Stephen Harper had to say about delays in inquiries.

As public servants brace themselves for the next round of job cuts, expected to be announced later today, the Senate enters the last stretch of the pre-summer legislative blitz, with the refugee reform bill expected to receive third reading approval later today, and two other major bills on the government's spring sitting to-do list -- omnibudget and copyright -- not far behind. 

Later this morning, the Military Police Complaints Commission will release the results of the public inquiry into the treatment of Afghan detainees, which is slated to be posted to the MPCC website at 11:30. 

Although it was almost entirely overshadowed by the battle between Conservative Senator Patrick Brazeau and Canadian Press journalist Jennifer Ditchburn, a newly created "educational foundation" aimed at "involving Canadians in their democracy" appears have set off a few fireworks of its own with the release of a new survey that purported to show a slim majority of Canadians may be ready to move away from the monarchy in favour of a "fully independent" Canada. 

We asked: Did the provincial government act too slowly in Elliot Lake?

Here are the results:
Yes: 58%
No: 37%
Not sure: 5%

834 people responded to this question.

(Note: This survey is not scientific. Results are based on readers' responses.)