As reported by Canadian Press over the weekend, the parliamentary website
has taken its first cautious steps towards compliance with 21st century
internet standards by incorporating video and social media elements
into the electronic Hansard.

Alas, it appears that the "View this Video" option is only available under Internet Explorer, which means that those of us who use other browsers have to install an IE-capable extension like IETab, which is available for both Firefox and Chrome -- in order to be able to take advantage of the new feature, which allows a user to jump directly to a particular point in a video.
(Note: IETab works on Windows only -- sorry about that, Mac/Linux users. If you find a workaround, let me know on twitter or in the comments, and I'll post an update.)
As for the other enhancements - share buttons for twitter and Facebook, quick access to voting records, XLM access and RSS-based "activity feeds" for MPs) -- although it's encouraging to see parl.gc.ca if not exactly embrace, at least acknowledge the interactive possibilities of today's web technologies, as a power user (read: procedural geek) I'd like to see as much time and energy put into improving the user-friendliness of the existing site -- not with popup video, but by making the information itself more accessible.
At the top of my wishlist:

Alas, it appears that the "View this Video" option is only available under Internet Explorer, which means that those of us who use other browsers have to install an IE-capable extension like IETab, which is available for both Firefox and Chrome -- in order to be able to take advantage of the new feature, which allows a user to jump directly to a particular point in a video.
(Note: IETab works on Windows only -- sorry about that, Mac/Linux users. If you find a workaround, let me know on twitter or in the comments, and I'll post an update.)
As for the other enhancements - share buttons for twitter and Facebook, quick access to voting records, XLM access and RSS-based "activity feeds" for MPs) -- although it's encouraging to see parl.gc.ca if not exactly embrace, at least acknowledge the interactive possibilities of today's web technologies, as a power user (read: procedural geek) I'd like to see as much time and energy put into improving the user-friendliness of the existing site -- not with popup video, but by making the information itself more accessible.
At the top of my wishlist:
- RSS feeds for all committees -- notices, minutes and transcripts -- as well as daily publications like Hansard, Journals and the Order and Notice Paper
- scanned copies (or, better still, plaintext versions) of all responses to Written Questions
- searchable pre-1994 Hansard, committee transcripts and all other parliamentary records that can be scanned, OCR'd and posted online
More Stories under Politics
-
'Very upset' Harper wants fast Senate spending reform May 21, 2013 3:46 PM ET — Prime Minister Stephen Harper told the Conservative caucus this morning that he's "very upset" about the recent conduct of some senators and…
3:46 PM ET
- Senate set to debate expense audits amid greater scrutiny May 21, 2013 4:05 PM ET — The Senate will debate its own committee's reports into living expenses claimed by three senators Tuesday night in a session that could see … 4:05 PM ET
- PM's South America trip turns focus from turmoil to trade May 21, 2013 10:53 AM ET — Prime Minister Stephen Harper left today for South America for four days of bilateral talks and trade meetings, after addressing his caucus … 10:53 AM ET
About the Author
Other Inside Politics Entries
Archives »
- 2012 (555)
-
October (39)
- CNOOXen Watch: Pro-merger lobbyists hit the Hill to sell the deal
- Access to Info Watch: In praise of parliamentary privilege
- OotD: Government forced to confront anti-omnibus Ghost of PMSH Past
- Follow politics live on our Hill tickers
- Power & Politics' Ballot Box question
- UPDATED - Rona Ambrose and the UN Award That Was/Wasn't
- Parliamentary website video upgrade leaves non-IE users behind
- OotD: Bullying, terrorism on the agenda as MPs return to the Hill
- Power & Politics' Ballot Box question
- Opp Day Watch: A motion so nice, Liberals tabled it twice!
-
September (69)
- Omar Khadr's return: The twitterverse reaction
- UPDATED - Omar Khadr's repatriation: Documents, reaction statements
- When was Rona Ambrose last asked about her status of women file?
- Storify'd: Access watchdog's Right to Know tweet chat
- Power & Politics' Ballot Box question
- Private Members' Biz Watch: Is the CNOOC/Nexen merger the next "human being" debate?
- OotD - Heads up, Toronto - PM, Mulcair coming your way!
- Power & Politics' Ballot Box question
- OotD - Woodworth vows to fight on as House of Commons moves on
- #M312: The full list of yeas vs. nays (203-91)
-
August (42)
- Orders of the Day - Double the ministerial availabilities, double the fun!
- "Other Revenue": The Black Hole of Political Party Financial Reporting
- Orders of the Day - Let the CNOOC/Nexen takeover handwringing begin! (Or, in this case, continue!)
- UPDATED: Olivia Chow calls on ethics commissioner to investigate appointments to Oshawa Port Authority
- Orders of the Day - Get ready for a whirlwind prime ministerial visit, Atlantic Canada!
- Court files could shed new light on the mysterious Pierre Poutine
- Orders of the Day - John Baird launches local wave of "pro-trade plan" consultations
- For the record: The Ontario Superior Court ruling on Guergis versus the PM et al
- Will the government keep its promise to tighten up the rules on election robocalls?
- UPDATED - Robocalls Watch: Guelph Liberal EDA hit with $4,900 fine for failing to ID source of 2011 campaign calls
-
July (44)
- Party Finance Watch: It's quarterly/annual report time at Elections Canada!
- About those Senate attendance records...
- Orders of the Day - Wake up, precinct dwellers -- there's an MP on the loose!
- Oak Ridges Markham Watch: About that "piddly" $22,000 fundraiser ...
- Orders of the Day - Good news, Quebec maple products industry!
- Former PMO Quebec advisor throws his hat in the ring for Calgary Centre by-election
- UPDATED - Stan FM confirms $500 donation to Heritage ParlSec Calanda's riding association
- Orders of the Day - Premiers head behind closed doors in Halifax
- UPDATED - Orders of the Day - Oh, to be in Halifax when the Council of the Federation is there!
- Storify'd: NS Liberal MLA claims late NDP leader would be "disgusted" by provincial party ...
-
June (66)
- Canada Day vs. Dominion Day - What do you call the July 1 holiday?
- Power & Politics' Ballot Box question
- Orders of the Day - Happy Day Before Canada/Dominion Day Eve, Everyone!
- Power & Politics' Ballot Box question
- Info Commissioner unveils strategy to investigate national security exemption claims
- Power & Politics' Ballot Box question
- 'If we want an effective inquiry...'
- Orders of the Day - Another round of job cuts, a final round of Royal Assent prep and Afghan detainees...
- UPDATED - Is that a (theoretical) constitutional (meta) crisis I see before me?
- Power & Politics' Ballot Box question
-
May (73)
- Power & Politics' Ballot Box question
- Committee Liveblog: Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson at Procedure and House Affairs
- Committee Liveblog: Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson at Procedure and House Affairs
- Orders of the Day - Whither the F-35 inquiry at Public Accounts?
- Liveblog: Prime Minister Stephen Harper speaks to the National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Congress
- Power & Politics' Ballot Box question
- House of Commons Liveblog: The CP Rail back-to-work bill (#C39)
- UPDATED | OotD - No Sleep Till ... 3rd Reading of the CP Back To Work Bill!
- Omnibudget Liveblog: C-38 goes to committee -- and subcommittee, too!
- Power & Politics' Ballot Box question
-
April (57)
- HouseWatch: When it comes to Commons debate, silence isn't always golden
- Power & Politics' Ballot Box question
- Orders of the Day - Let a new new era of parliamentary civility begin!
- Power & Politics' Ballot Box question
- Storify'd: PM's off the cuff slam against NDP sparks #HarperHistory lesson
- Orders of the Day - Climb aboard the Canada-EU trade love train, hard-working [Insert Provincial Demonym here]!
- Power & Politics' Ballot Box question
- House of Commons Liveblog: The Great "Legal Definition of Human Being" Debate
- Committee Liveblog: Auditor General Michael Ferguson talks F-35 procurement at Public Accounts ... again.
- Orders of the Day - Let the conversation(s) begin!
-
March (47)
- Event liveblog: Justin Trudeau vs. Patrick Brazeau
- Farewell, Angelo Persichilli: PMO loses its sixth director of communications in six years
- Orders of the Day - Fix teleprompters, ministers! There's an Economic Action! Plan to tout!
- Committee Recap: Elections Canada looking into 800 complaints covering 200 ridings: Chief Electoral Officer
- Orders of the Day - Happy Budget/Chief Electoral Officer Speaks Out On Robocalls Day!
- UPDATED - NDP MP launches privilege complaint over government's non-answer on the Office of Religious Freedom
- Robocalls Watch: 5 questions for Chief Electoral Officer Marc Mayrand (that he can actually answer at committee)
- UPDATED - Vikileaks30 Watch: Re-pack your bags, Adam Carroll, you've been re-invited to committee!
- Orders of the Day - One more sleep until the next next phase of Canada's Economic Action! Plan is revealed!
- Committee Recap: Anonymous vs .... Parliamentary Democracy itself? So says Vic Toews.
-
February (50)
- Orders of the Day - If those caucus room walls could talk ...
- Order Paper Watch: NDP wants info on government money going to RackNine, RMG and Campaign Research
- Vikileaks Watch: Pack your bags, Adam Carroll, you're going to (the wrong) committee!
- Orders of the Day - Pay no attention to the Vikileaking former Liberal staffer behind the curtain
- UPDATED - Vikileaks30 Watch: (Now former) Liberal staffer revealed as creator of formerly anonymous twitter account
- UPDATED - Robocalls Watch: Conservative Party linked to calls directing voters to different polling stations
- Orders of the Day - Just another manic Monday. (Thanks, robocall story!)
- Liveblog: NDP Leadership Debate (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
- Election Robocall Data Dump - 12 Conservative candidates on the 2011 RackNine client list
- Orders of the Day - Bad Robot!
-
January (68)
- UPDATED - Fate of NDP motion to investigate creeping in camera-itis at committee unknown
- Committee Liveblog: Former Liberal MP turned Lobbyist Joe Jordan talks Lobbying Act at Ethics
- UPDATED - Orders of the Day: Second day back and it feels like they never left.
- In Camera Watch: 'Wallace Manoeuvre' Back On The Agenda At Government Operations?
- Orders of the Day - Let the doors be opened!
- Liveblog: NDP Leadership Debate #2 - "Giving Families A Break" (Halifax)
- UPDATED - PMO InfoAlerteBot After Dark: "Foreign radicals threaten further delays"
- Question of the Day
- PMO InfoAlerte Watch: So, about that Old Age Security "media speculation"...
- Orders of the Day - See you Monday, 41st parliamentarians!
-
