Charlie Feldman
@parlcharlie.bsky.social
Fan of legislatures and legislation! Past President, Canadian Study of Parliament Group. Co-Chair, CIAJ Legislative Drafting Section. All views personal and most likely uninformed :)
Hansard - January 13, 1981, p. 6130. Very curious how the poem ended...
January 13, 2026 at 9:45 PM
Hansard - January 13, 1981, p. 6130. Very curious how the poem ended...
On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - January 13, 1986: Japan's PM addresses Parliament. The address would later prompt a Speaker's ruling on broadcasting as cameras cut away to MPs' reactions (or snoozes) instead of staying fixed on the Japanese PM.
January 13, 2026 at 2:25 PM
On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - January 13, 1986: Japan's PM addresses Parliament. The address would later prompt a Speaker's ruling on broadcasting as cameras cut away to MPs' reactions (or snoozes) instead of staying fixed on the Japanese PM.
Just making sure everyone has on their radar that Feb 17 marks 130 years since the Historical Fancy Dress Ball held in the Senate. I'm not saying we need a do-over, I'm just saying the photos are something else...
January 12, 2026 at 10:02 PM
Just making sure everyone has on their radar that Feb 17 marks 130 years since the Historical Fancy Dress Ball held in the Senate. I'm not saying we need a do-over, I'm just saying the photos are something else...
On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - 12 January 1916 - Albert Sévigny becomes House Speaker, a role he would have for less than a year before being appointed to Cabinet to help PM Borden with Quebecers during the Conscription Crisis. Voters turned him out in the 1917 general election.
January 12, 2026 at 1:06 PM
On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - 12 January 1916 - Albert Sévigny becomes House Speaker, a role he would have for less than a year before being appointed to Cabinet to help PM Borden with Quebecers during the Conscription Crisis. Voters turned him out in the 1917 general election.
Not actually in Hansard, I believe
January 11, 2026 at 8:40 PM
Not actually in Hansard, I believe
January 11 - Canadian federal legislation says it's "Sir John A. Macdonald Day"
Canada's first Prime Minister was born on this day in 1815.
Canada's first Prime Minister was born on this day in 1815.
January 11, 2026 at 6:56 PM
January 11 - Canadian federal legislation says it's "Sir John A. Macdonald Day"
Canada's first Prime Minister was born on this day in 1815.
Canada's first Prime Minister was born on this day in 1815.
Today's Hansard reading spot - Reading Abbey, where Parliament once met! Notably, the sign highlighting Parliament having met there focuses on the toilet situation
January 11, 2026 at 10:49 AM
Today's Hansard reading spot - Reading Abbey, where Parliament once met! Notably, the sign highlighting Parliament having met there focuses on the toilet situation
Had a fabulous time at the @studyofparl.bsky.social Oxford Weekend!!
They say never meet your heroes but I did :p
Can't wait for next time, fellow Parliament nerds!
They say never meet your heroes but I did :p
Can't wait for next time, fellow Parliament nerds!
January 10, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Had a fabulous time at the @studyofparl.bsky.social Oxford Weekend!!
They say never meet your heroes but I did :p
Can't wait for next time, fellow Parliament nerds!
They say never meet your heroes but I did :p
Can't wait for next time, fellow Parliament nerds!
Reposted by Charlie Feldman
Oh hey @parlcharlie.bsky.social! I just saw an interesting article to read and then looked at who wrote it: "Going beyond repeal: a preliminary exploration of ‘unenacting’ legislation," doi-org.eux.idm.oclc.org/10.1093/slr/...
January 9, 2026 at 8:17 PM
Oh hey @parlcharlie.bsky.social! I just saw an interesting article to read and then looked at who wrote it: "Going beyond repeal: a preliminary exploration of ‘unenacting’ legislation," doi-org.eux.idm.oclc.org/10.1093/slr/...
Beyond excited for this!!! :)
Tomorrow marks the start of our annual weekend and we are very much looking forward to welcoming members to Exeter College, Oxford.
For those members joining us remotely, the Zoom links are now in your inboxes.
The programme is available on our website: studyofparliamentgroup.org/programme/
For those members joining us remotely, the Zoom links are now in your inboxes.
The programme is available on our website: studyofparliamentgroup.org/programme/
Programme
Conference Menu SPG Annual Weekend HomepageHow to make the most of the conference virtually On this page you can find more information about our annual weekend, including a PDF version of the confe…
studyofparliamentgroup.org
January 9, 2026 at 9:20 AM
Beyond excited for this!!! :)
On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - January 9, 1905: Senator Dandurand becomes Senate Speaker and - per the Senate's own wording - would become "arguably the most influential" Speaker in that body's history. (Photo: Library and Archives) 1/2
January 9, 2026 at 8:54 AM
On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - January 9, 1905: Senator Dandurand becomes Senate Speaker and - per the Senate's own wording - would become "arguably the most influential" Speaker in that body's history. (Photo: Library and Archives) 1/2
Off to a conference at Oxford but I'm learning that England isn't accustomed to snow like this so it will be four extra train journeys and an overnight in a town I've never heard of at a Wetherspooons hotel. All worth it to hang with the parliament nerds, of course :)
January 8, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Off to a conference at Oxford but I'm learning that England isn't accustomed to snow like this so it will be four extra train journeys and an overnight in a town I've never heard of at a Wetherspooons hotel. All worth it to hang with the parliament nerds, of course :)
100 years ago today, Canada’s Parliament met in a rare situation. After the election, the governing party had the second most seats but felt it could command a majority with the support of another party. It therefore moved a motion confirming its right to retain office. 1/2
January 8, 2026 at 10:41 AM
100 years ago today, Canada’s Parliament met in a rare situation. After the election, the governing party had the second most seats but felt it could command a majority with the support of another party. It therefore moved a motion confirming its right to retain office. 1/2
On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - January 7, 1955: The first TV broadcast of the Throne Speech! Over 3 million Canadians watched!
If my math is right, that was nearly 20% of the country's population at the time.
It's fair to say that viewership has declined somewhat since :P
If my math is right, that was nearly 20% of the country's population at the time.
It's fair to say that viewership has declined somewhat since :P
January 7, 2026 at 8:13 AM
On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - January 7, 1955: The first TV broadcast of the Throne Speech! Over 3 million Canadians watched!
If my math is right, that was nearly 20% of the country's population at the time.
It's fair to say that viewership has declined somewhat since :P
If my math is right, that was nearly 20% of the country's population at the time.
It's fair to say that viewership has declined somewhat since :P
... snoring so loud in parliament the Speaker send a messenger to wake him up!
January 6, 2026 at 8:30 PM
... snoring so loud in parliament the Speaker send a messenger to wake him up!
On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - January 6, 2025: Parliament was prorogued until March 24th. It was dissolved that day in March, making the prorogation part of an elite club: prorogations not followed by a new session of the same Parliament.
January 6, 2026 at 3:23 PM
On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - January 6, 2025: Parliament was prorogued until March 24th. It was dissolved that day in March, making the prorogation part of an elite club: prorogations not followed by a new session of the same Parliament.
Legisinfo is down❗
How am I supposed to go on living when I can't access authoritative legislative information from the Parliament of Canada? 😭😭😭😭😭
How am I supposed to go on living when I can't access authoritative legislative information from the Parliament of Canada? 😭😭😭😭😭
January 6, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Legisinfo is down❗
How am I supposed to go on living when I can't access authoritative legislative information from the Parliament of Canada? 😭😭😭😭😭
How am I supposed to go on living when I can't access authoritative legislative information from the Parliament of Canada? 😭😭😭😭😭
Looking at the attendees for the Study of Parliament weekend and getting overly excited... pity there's limited space in my bag for things I want people to sign. Is it weird to ask someone to sign a select committee report? What about a Hansard Society publication? I may pass out!
January 5, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Looking at the attendees for the Study of Parliament weekend and getting overly excited... pity there's limited space in my bag for things I want people to sign. Is it weird to ask someone to sign a select committee report? What about a Hansard Society publication? I may pass out!
Reposted by Charlie Feldman
It was a dramatic week in Canadian politics 130 years ago (1896) as PM Bowell's ministry was rocked with ministers' resignations. A total of seven ministers would resign, leading Bowell to denounce the "nest of traitors". He would eventually resign as PM.
January 5, 2026 at 10:51 AM
It was a dramatic week in Canadian politics 130 years ago (1896) as PM Bowell's ministry was rocked with ministers' resignations. A total of seven ministers would resign, leading Bowell to denounce the "nest of traitors". He would eventually resign as PM.
It was a dramatic week in Canadian politics 130 years ago (1896) as PM Bowell's ministry was rocked with ministers' resignations. A total of seven ministers would resign, leading Bowell to denounce the "nest of traitors". He would eventually resign as PM.
January 5, 2026 at 10:51 AM
It was a dramatic week in Canadian politics 130 years ago (1896) as PM Bowell's ministry was rocked with ministers' resignations. A total of seven ministers would resign, leading Bowell to denounce the "nest of traitors". He would eventually resign as PM.
Working on a quirky parliamentary history book is fun -- particularly for the old reports on proceedings:
January 5, 2026 at 3:42 AM
Working on a quirky parliamentary history book is fun -- particularly for the old reports on proceedings:
It's 10 minutes to 2am here at the Athens Airport and I've hit the "reading the package for an AGM I'm not even attending" stage of flight delay time-passing :p
January 4, 2026 at 11:51 PM
It's 10 minutes to 2am here at the Athens Airport and I've hit the "reading the package for an AGM I'm not even attending" stage of flight delay time-passing :p
For the lovers of unparliamentary language... may I offer this exchange?
January 4, 2026 at 8:52 PM
For the lovers of unparliamentary language... may I offer this exchange?
On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - January 4, 1973: MPs pay tribute to former PM Lester B. Pearson who had passed away on December 27th.
January 4, 2026 at 3:19 PM
On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - January 4, 1973: MPs pay tribute to former PM Lester B. Pearson who had passed away on December 27th.
Spotted on my walk this morning and it reminded me of when I try to reach for something in the archives :p
January 4, 2026 at 12:28 PM
Spotted on my walk this morning and it reminded me of when I try to reach for something in the archives :p