Wednesdays with @Kady replay: Page and Mulcair head to court

There's always plenty to chat about with Kady O'Malley.

On Wednesdays, CBCNews.ca's Politics blogger convenes a "people's caucus" to discuss and debate the issues of the week, so far.

Featured this week:

In an unexpected move, Opposition Leader Tom Mulcair has joined Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page's long-anticipated Federal Court case, asking for a clarification of the budget watchdog's mandate and whether he has the power to ask for specific financial information from federal departments.
As the Council of Canadians launches a telephone hotline so voters can report any suspicious phone calls or messages in the three ridings where a by-election campaign is underway (heading for a Nov. 26 vote), how much (if at all) do you think the vote controversies and tactics from the 2011 federal election will influence voters in Durham, Calgary Centre and Victoria?
With the Harper government still considering the proposed Chinese takeover of Calgary oilsands player Nexen and polls suggesting Canadians have doubts about the deal, what do you make of Justin Trudeau's support for the foreign takeover? What impact does that have on his and other parties' positioning on the issue, including the policy debate now underway in the federal Liberal leadership campaign?
Tonight the finance committee begins its clause-by-clause review of C-45, the second omnibus budget bill. Liberal Scott Brison has proposed 3,000 amendments. What does this portend for the bill's road to passage before Christmas?

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Power & Politics Ballot Box question by Rosemary Barton May. 22, 2013 5:39 PM Do you believe the P.M. learned about the Duffy/Wright deal through the media?

2nd suspect named in Tim Bosma slaying: The second suspect arrested in the Tim Bosma slaying has been identified as Mark Smich, 25, of Oakville, Ont., Supt. Dan Kinsella of Hamilton police announced Wednesday afternoon. more »

Harper 'not consulted' about Duffy Senate expense repayment: Prime Minister Stephen Harper says that not only did he not know about his chief of staff's "gift" to repay Senator Mike Duffy's expenses before the story broke in the media, he was not consulted and did not sign off on Nigel Wright's decision to write a personal cheque. more »
2 infants confirmed among dead of Oklahoma tornado: Rescue workers raced to complete the search for survivors and the dead in the Oklahoma City suburb where a mammoth tornado destroyed countless homes, cleared lots down to bare red earth and claimed 24 lives, including those of 10 children. more »
'You will see him again in heaven,' Sharlene Bosma tells daughter: Sharlene Bosma told more than 1,000 people at the public memorial service for her slain husband, Tim Bosma, about the love they shared. more »
Mayor Ford stays silent while his brother defends him: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford continues to stonewall the media over allegations that he was recorded on video smoking what appears to be crack cocaine, but his brother Coun. Doug Ford told reporters Wednesday that the story is untrue. more »

Harper 'not consulted' about Duffy Senate expense repayment: Prime Minister Stephen Harper says that not only did he not know about his chief of staff's "gift" to repay Senator Mike Duffy's expenses before the story broke in the media, he was not consulted and did not sign off on Nigel Wright's decision to write a personal cheque. more »

Mike Duffy's primary home not P.E.I., unedited Senate report says: A copy of the original report by an internal Senate committee on Senator Mike Duffy's expense claims, obtained by CBC News, makes it clear the committee believes Duffy's primary residence is in Ottawa, and not in P.E.I. more »
Nanos Number: Few see positives in current political climate: Nik Nanos digs beneath the numbers with CBC New Network's Power & Politics to get to the political, economic and social forces that shape our lives. This week: Few Canadians believe the current political environment will result in positive results. more »
Internet bill would unlock personal details, says watchdog: The Harper government's recent bid to give police more information about Internet users would have unlocked numerous revealing personal details — from web-surfing habits to names of friends, says a new study by the federal privacy watchdog. more »
Wallin refuses to answer questions about repaying expenses: Speaking as an independent Saskatchewan senator for the first time, Pamela Wallin is not answering any questions about whether or not she has repaid expense money. more »

Questions mount for Harper and chief of staff Nigel Wright in Senate scandal May. 18, 2013 1:15 PM This week on The House, with Senators Wallin and Duffy now out of the Conservative caucus, we get reaction from NDP Ethics critic Charlie Angus. We also hear directly from Senator Patrick Brazeau who says the Conservatives have thrown him under the bus. Plus we speak with B.C. Premier Christy Clark after her stunning victory.