Charlie Feldman
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parlcharlie.bsky.social
Charlie Feldman
@parlcharlie.bsky.social
1.1K followers 140 following 990 posts
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 :)
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parlcharlie.bsky.social
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!
January 10, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Reposted by Charlie Feldman
parallaxinfo.bsky.social
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/...
Publisher article page screenshot
January 9, 2026 at 8:17 PM
parlcharlie.bsky.social
Beyond excited for this!!! :)
studyofparl.bsky.social Study of Parliament Group @studyofparl.bsky.social · 2d
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/
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
parlcharlie.bsky.social
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
Photo of Raoul Dandurand
January 9, 2026 at 8:54 AM
parlcharlie.bsky.social
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
parlcharlie.bsky.social
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
That in the opinion of the House, in view of the recent general election, the government was justified in retaining office and in summoning parliament, and the government is entitled to retain office, unless defeated by a vote of this House equivalent to a vote of want of confidence.
January 8, 2026 at 10:41 AM
parlcharlie.bsky.social
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
3,500,000 Canadians Watch Opening of House on TV OTTAWA, Jan. 8 — (CP) — Opening of Parliament yesterday was watched by more people than ever before. Television cameras were permitted inside the Senate Chamber for the first time to broadcast the reading of the Speech from the Throne by Governor-General Massey. The production was good although marred by two power failures near the end. The cameras caught Mr. Massey’s arrival in his open state carriage and an inspection of a 100-man guard of honour outside Parliament’s Centre Block. The processions inside Parliament, including Mr. Massey’s arrival and departure from the Senate Chamber and the summoning of Members of the House of Commons, were shown on a CBC network which included nine cities. The CBC estimated the broadcast made it possible for 3,500,000 persons to watch the ceremonies. Film reproductions of the broadcast will be carried later on all 22 television stations in Canada. The telecast was described by a number of Members of the Commons as “the best way to watch the opening.” About 35 members of all parties slipped out from among their colleagues standing at the bar of the Senate during reading of the Speech to view the proceedings on the screen of a television receiver installed in Room 16, the reception room of the Commons Speaker. Solon Low, Social Credit Leader, said the telecast should have included opening ceremonies in the Commons as well. Mobile cameras followed Major C. R. Lamoureux, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod to the door of the Commons but did not go inside. However, the formality was described by commentators, Lamont Tilden in English and Henri Bergeron in French. The Black Rod walked to Speaker Rene Beaudoin, bowing three times on the way, told him the Governor-General summoned the Members to the Senate, and then led them to the Red Chamber where a glittering assembly waited.
January 7, 2026 at 8:13 AM
parlcharlie.bsky.social
... snoring so loud in parliament the Speaker send a messenger to wake him up!
LOUD SNORING Long before supper the snoring began. Mr. J. Francis (Nat., Qld.) stretched on his back on one of the benches, snored so loudly that even Mr. Fenton’s powerful voice was eclipsed. Mr. Jackson (Nat., Tas.) at this period asked the Speaker to request members to sleep in lower tones. Early in the morning the stentorian snoring of Mr. Rodgers (Nat., Vic.) seemed to shake the Chamber and the Speaker had to send a messenger to wake him. The snoring subsided, but was soon as loud as ever. Often the snoring of members was the dominating sound within the Chamber. Mr. E. Riley, Jun., developed the quaint habit of suddenly dropping off to sleep sitting up in the benches and snoring so loudly that he had to be nudged into semi-consciousness. Mr. Fenton (Lab., Vic.) was the last speaker before midnight.
January 6, 2026 at 8:30 PM
parlcharlie.bsky.social
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
parlcharlie.bsky.social
Legisinfo is down❗

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
parlcharlie.bsky.social
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
Reposted by Charlie Feldman
parlcharlie.bsky.social
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.
Ottawa, January 7.—Sometimes Ministries die suddenly like the snuffing out of a candle. A Government seemingly strong both in the confidence of Parliament and of the people unexpectedly finds itself tossed by a blast of popular disfavor, before which it is swept away. Then, again, Ministries die gradually, life ebbing away like that of a man afflicted with an incurable disease. The late Rosebery administration met death in some such way as this. Weakness appeared, and it soon became chronic; dissensions arose and bye-elections began to be lost. And finally came defeat, perhaps unexpected at the moment of its coming. Never since Confederation has a Canadian Government been in so peculiar or so trying a situation as now. No wonder their opponents fancy they can almost feel the reins of power in their grasp Cartoon depicting cabinet in a bird's nest with the caption <The Nest of Traitors>
January 5, 2026 at 10:51 AM
parlcharlie.bsky.social
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.
Ottawa, January 7.—Sometimes Ministries die suddenly like the snuffing out of a candle. A Government seemingly strong both in the confidence of Parliament and of the people unexpectedly finds itself tossed by a blast of popular disfavor, before which it is swept away. Then, again, Ministries die gradually, life ebbing away like that of a man afflicted with an incurable disease. The late Rosebery administration met death in some such way as this. Weakness appeared, and it soon became chronic; dissensions arose and bye-elections began to be lost. And finally came defeat, perhaps unexpected at the moment of its coming. Never since Confederation has a Canadian Government been in so peculiar or so trying a situation as now. No wonder their opponents fancy they can almost feel the reins of power in their grasp Cartoon depicting cabinet in a bird's nest with the caption <The Nest of Traitors>
January 5, 2026 at 10:51 AM
parlcharlie.bsky.social
Working on a quirky parliamentary history book is fun -- particularly for the old reports on proceedings:
The scene in the Senate yesterday was most absurd. Doubts of certain gentlemen's sanity were freely expressed.
January 5, 2026 at 3:42 AM
parlcharlie.bsky.social
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
parlcharlie.bsky.social
For the lovers of unparliamentary language... may I offer this exchange?
Mr. John Norton had earlier in the evening greeted the attempts of the Opposition members to catch the Speaker’s eye with cries of “Get back to your holes you rats.” Some interjection by Mr. Broughton in the course of Mr. Griffith’s speech drew from Mr. Norton the words, “He is better than a rat,” to which Mr. Broughton promptly replied, “Yes, and better than a social leper.” After a pause, adding, “You’re a social leper.” Members were instantly on their feet, when Mr. Broughton, looking directly at Mr. Norton, said, “You’re a cur.” The adjective was an extremely offensive one. In the disorder that followed Mr. Norton, almost unnoticed, crossed the floor of the chamber and struck Mr. Broughton with his fist several times in the
January 4, 2026 at 8:52 PM
parlcharlie.bsky.social
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
parlcharlie.bsky.social
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
parlcharlie.bsky.social
Today's Hansard reading spot and what we're reading from today in parliamentary history... 🤓
January 3, 2026 at 3:40 PM
parlcharlie.bsky.social
Australian unparliamentary language will forever be undefeated (article from 1917).
PRIME MINISTER’S S’LANGUAGE. “A MIND LIKE A TOAD IN A CESSPIT.” The Prime Minister (Mr. W. M. Hughes) has a nice vocabulary. The public have become accustomed to Prime Minister’s lingo. Do we not know the expressions, “Dirty dingoes,” “Things born on a dung-heap,” “Vile parasites,” “Anaemic and flabby swine,” and other choice epithets? This is not plain Australian, but Welsh. The latest Hughesism was moulded in the House of Reps. on August 15. Mr. Higgs referred to the Commonwealth Government and the Government of New South Wales in regard to the strike, when the Prime Minister, in one of those heated passions and the “glint-of-fire-in-his-eye” look of the daily press, said that the hon. member had “a mind like a toad in a cesspit.”
January 2, 2026 at 9:45 PM
parlcharlie.bsky.social
Quelqu’un sait-il si des traductions françaises sont en cours pour les débats du Sénat du Canada (1875–1896), jamais publiés en français à l’époque ? J’aimerais utiliser des traductions officielles pour la version française de mon livre sur le Parlement...
Avis concernant la disponibilité des Débats du Sénat Seuls les Débats du Sénat disponibles en anglais et en français sont accessibles dans le portail Ressources parlementaires historiques canadiennes. Les Débats du Sénat de la 2e à la 5e session de la 3e législature, ainsi que tous les Débats de la 4e à la 7e législature, couvrant la période de 1875 à 1896, n'existent pas en français, car ils n'ont jamais été publiés dans cette langue par le Sénat. Il est possible de consulter les Débats du Sénat en anglais de 1875 à 1896 dans d'autres bases de données en ligne ou dans des bibliothèques partout au Canada. Pour obtenir plus d'information, veuillez communiquer avec le Service d'information du Parlement du Canada ou le Sénat du Canada
January 2, 2026 at 1:02 PM
parlcharlie.bsky.social
Visited the Old Greek Parliament (1875-1935) today. If I followed correctly, "Hansard" comes from the ancient Greek for "I wasn't nearly that eloquent in the moment so I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the editors" :p
January 2, 2026 at 11:37 AM
parlcharlie.bsky.social
It's Jan 1st. The managing partner would like a word because you're behind on your hours for this year, counsel.
January 1, 2026 at 6:24 PM
parlcharlie.bsky.social
Canada's Goods and Services Tax (GST) turns 35 today.
The GST debate in Parliament was wild... to say the least! Here's a newspaper clipping from 1990 to give you a sense of the *incredible* scene in Canada's Senate:
Another Honorable Senator glared at his Conservative adversar- ies across the aisle, drew a mighty breath and expressed his dis- pleasure at the parliamentary process by blowing on a kazoo. Senator Philippe Deane Gigantes, once the secretary-general to the King of Greece, once the Greek cul- ture minister, once of the Queen’s Navy, blew a raspberry. He later produced a pea-whistle. Someone slipped a couple of brass school bells into the place. These were passed like a torch, from failing hand to failing hand, and rang with gusto.
January 1, 2026 at 4:16 PM
parlcharlie.bsky.social
In Athens at the home of the Olympics to make my pitch for "Competitive Legislating" to be added to the games. Will report back.
January 1, 2026 at 10:09 AM