Friday digest

- It turns out that another freelancing maverick at Environment Canada has decided to usurp the elected representatives of the Canadian people by leaking another document. The brass in that department really needs to crack down on these true believers and remind them that their job is to advise truthfully, yet more importantly, implement loyally - regardless of how strongly they believe in Kyoto. If they can't handle that, they ought to run for office themselves.

- Quebec's National Assembly this week unanimously passed a motion this week condemning the federal government's introduction of legislation in the House of Commons that would better reflect the principle of representation by population by increasing the number of seats held by the provinces of Ontario, Alberta and BC. For their part, the separatist Bloc Quebecois wants Quebec to be guaranteed 25% of the seats in the House in perpetuity, regardless of population fluctuation, resurrecting a key plank in (Uncle) Brian Mulroney's Charlottetown Accord.

Does anyone not expect Stephen Harper to cave in on this in some way?

- Last night, I was in a record store and heard a powerful remake of Heart's "Barracuda". When I asked who it was, the guy behind the counter said it was the Black Eyed Peas' Fergie, from the Shrek 3 soundtrack. I could hardly believe it. From the sounds of it, she's come a long way from the days of "Where Is the Love?" and "Let's Get Retarded".