It was a week for the ages. Parliament Hill in Ottawa was the site for historic moments in Canadian politics last week.
First, Conservative MP Belinda Stronach crossed the floor, joining the Liberal party only days before a crucial vote on the budget.
The move sent the Conservative party into a tailspin. Conservative MPs had a right to be upset - heck, had a right to feel betrayed. But did some of them have to resort to the sexist and degrading remarks against Stronach?
Calling her a dimwit and suggesting she was whoring herself out for power are disgusting and insulting comments.
Then, of course, we got to the all-important budget vote, which the Conservatives had hoped to win and topple the government, forcing a spring election.
That didn't happen, as independent Surrey MP Chuck Cadman (who listened to his constituents, which is more than we can say for half the MPs currently elected) decided to vote with the government.
The vote ended in a tie that was broken by speaker of the house Peter Milliken in favour of the government.
Cadman should be congratulated for sticking up for what he believes in and what his constituents want.
It's been a circus in Ottawa the past few months - a bad soap opera, if you will.
With parliament taking this week off, it's time that all MPs sit back and reflect on what has taken place and what is best for this country.
Our MP John Reynolds pledges in a story in this week's Coast Reporter that the opposition will move forward. We hope he stands by his word.
Reynolds and the Conservatives may believe the Liberal government is corrupt and spending money "like drunken sailors," but until the full findings of the Gomery report on the sponsorship scandal are known, let's quit with the name calling and start behaving like intelligent people.
Let's get back to trying to run this country. No more games, no more name calling. Get the budget passed and start working for the good of the country.
