MPs return to Ottawa and a parliamentary mosh pit

For Canadians not mesmerized by the ongoing political soap opera south of the border, this week proved very entertaining in Canada’s national political theatre. Political leaders were jostling with one another, trash-talking and showboating for media headlines – all in an effort to provide their parties with momentum as MPs return to Parliament on Monday. If this past week is any indication of what Canadians may expect of their elected representatives, the Ottawa scene is sure to be an unruly parliamentarian mosh pit. 

Like the dismembered knight taunting his victorious opponent in that infamous Monty Python skit, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vows he is staying to do combat in the next federal election. At the Liberal caucus retreat this week he assured his MPs that he is confident the Liberals’ fortunes will improve. Trudeau made these comments even as he received news that the party’s national campaign director Jeremy Broadhurst had tendered his resignation. Having played a leading …