Political Bytes

In what is turning into a very busy political scene here in Ottawa, there is still, it seems, time for Christmas cheer.

MPs are lined up in Parliament's rotunda to tape and record their holiday messages to their ridings.

They can deliver them off the cuff or read from prepared versions. There are also four or five sample messages that MPs can employ. All they have to do is insert their particulars.

This service used to be free for MPs, but in belt-tightening times there now is a charge.

Luckily for our parliamentarians, the Brewers Association and Telus stepped up to the Christmas tree so that MPs could continue the tradition freely.

None of the samples include news of the current coalition talk facing those same politicians.

If you tuned in Wednesday night to watch and listen to the statements of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Liberal leader Stephane Dion, you waited almost 25 minutes to hear Dion's response.

The networks' plan was to run the Liberal leader's response one minute after the prime minister finished.

Both parties agreed to deliver a tape to CBC to be fed to all networks.

The tape from the Prime Minister's Office arrived before 6:30 in the evening. However, the tape from Dion's office did not arrive until just after 7:15 and then it needed to be dubbed because both English and French versions were on the one tape.

All of this meant the tape could not be played to a waiting audience until almost 7:30.

The government may be in crisis, its future uncertain.

The prime minister may be about to address the nation, meet with the Governor General and even prorogue the House.

But it is still the holiday season.

- Rosemary Barton

People watching question period today must have thought, well, there is fire in the prime minister's belly yet.

First answer and Stephen Harper was on his feet and dealt a fiery response to Stephane Dion.

The passion on both sides was making it difficult to hear the content.

- Rosemary Barton

More criticism today of the government's doomed economic and fiscal statement of last week.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer has also looked over the numbers and found a few problems.

Most notably, the PBO pokes a hole in the Conservative argument that the government has already injected plenty of stimulus into the economy.

It is says "the economic impacts of these previously-announced fiscal measures are already reflected in private sector economic forecasts and therefore will not likely provide an additional boost to the economy."

The report goes on to add that the government's moves to tighten its belt and reduce spending could make things worse because it "would have mildly contractionary impact on the Canadian economy."

— James Fitz-Morris

Adding to the almost festive air in the Commons, BQ leader Gilles Duceppe stood up for his first question — to wild applause from NDP and the Liberals.

The NDP even stood to applaud him. So did at least a handful of Liberals.

The government's answers up to now been full-scale attacks on just how such a disparate group of coalition partners could work together.

As well as pointing out that it would never enter into an agreement with the "separatists."

— Rosemary Barton

Prime Minister Stephen Harper took his seat in the House of Commons and his caucus immediately stood to give him a standing ovation.

Or at least most did.

At least eight backbenchers, including former intergovernmental affairs minister Michael Chong stayed defiantly in their seats. More surprising, two cabinet ministers, Stockwell Day and Rob Nicholson also stayed put.

— Keith Boag

The galleries inside the House of Commons are packed today.

No one wants to miss a minute of what could be a historic event: the formation of a coaliton government.

Want proof of how far along this coalition really is: when Stéphane Dion asked his first question today, the NDP were on their feet to applaud him.

It was not your ordinary day in Parliament.

— Rosemary Barton

It's just before question period on Monday and all signs point to a coalition government between the opposition parties heading full steam ahead.

So how are the Conservatives reacting to this prospect, as they head into the House of Commons?

With a surprising spring in their step.

— Rosemary Barton

As the Liberal caucus broke, the doors stayed open to reveal Stephane Dion shaking hands.

He was at the front of the room, smiling broadly, as many caucus members waited to greet him, a far cry from the mood following the recent election.

This coalition, should it come to pass, will be his last chance to become prime minister.

— Susan Bonner