Wednesdays with @Kady replay: EI 'fraudsters' vs. 'Harper's Macoutes'

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.

On today's agenda:

Human Resources Minister Diane Finley told Tuesday's question period that the NDP is only worried about cheaters and fraudsters and wants to treat them like victims in the face of her department's random employment insurance audits. Before his caucus meeting on Wednesday morning, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair compared the latest at-home visits from Service Canada officers to Quebec's BouBou Macoutes. After thousands rallied across her province last weekend in support of seasonal workers against the government's recent EI reforms, Quebec's employment minister Agnes Maltais is in town today for a previously-rescheduled meeting with Finley. What do you make of the rising EI rhetoric – not to mention the actual changes themselves? Are the protests justified? Are tempers getting too hot? Is the government's approach a justified response to a legitimate problem?
Yesterday CBC launched a tool that allows Canadians to look up which Senators have disclosed their residency information in light of the ongoing Senate expenses controversy. What do you make of the latest revelations?
A whole new crop of private members business is on the way: what do you think of the next batch of MP initiatives?

Replay our earlier live chat:

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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 »
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 »
Wednesdays with @Kady: Senate expenses questions continue: As Ottawa waited to see whether Prime Minister Stephen Harper takes questions on the Senate expenses scandal in Peru this afternoon, CBC Politics blogger Kady O'Malley took readers questions on the latest controversial developments. 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.