Politics Today is your daily guide to some of the stories we're watching in Ottawa and across Canada, by The Globe and Mail's team of political reporters.
Toews is back
A phoenix is about to rise from the ashes of Bill C-30: Vic Toews. The embattled public safety minister, who has been fairly quiet since his infamous "with us or the child pornographers" speech last year, can finally return to the public eye now that the Internet surveillance bill is dead, John Ibbitson writes. His new target will be the economics of policing, a responsibility that is doing a number on municipal budgets.
RCMP's "dysfunctional relationship" with aboriginal women
The RCMP has failed to seriously investigate the deaths and disappearances along B.C.'s so-called highway of tears, an international rights group says. Human Rights Watch and the Native Women's Association of Canada release their report in Ottawa this morning. Many women who spoke to the researchers said they didn't trust the officers – not unlike the problems that plagued the investigation into serial killer Robert Pickton.
Another senator, another investigation
The number of senators being investigated by outside auditors over expenses is now four: Pamela Wallin admits her travel expenses are being reviewed. This is slightly different than the previous three senators, who are being investigated over their use of housing allowances meant for those with a primary residence outside of Ottawa.
Ms. Wallin tells her side of the story in the Globe's commentary pages.
No word from Obama on Keystone
Canadians watched U.S. President Barack Obama's State of the Union address for any mention of our fair country. (Come on, if you were watching it, you were probably one of them.) Alas, nothing. Not even any hint of how Mr. Obama will deal with the Keystone XL pipeline, though the President did unveil an ambitious plan to address climate change. For a detailed annotation of Mr. Obama's address, check out the Washington Post.
B.C. banks on gas
After a very, very long absence – the B.C. legislature rose last spring and only sat for 47 days in 2012 – the MLAs are back, and they're getting ready for an election. In the Throne from the Speech yesterday, Premier Christy Clark, leader of the B.C. Liberals, promised the creation of a B.C. Prosperity Fund to pay down the provincial debt with natural gas revenue. The plan echoes Alberta's Heritage Fund, whose effectiveness has been mixed in the long run.
Incidentally, if you're an undecided B.C. voter or know someone who is, read this.