1. Have a special celebrity guest start Question Period once a week

Similar to the New York Stock Exchange having high-profile people ringing the opening and closing bell, this would create a sense of excitement and encourage Canadians to learn more about the parliamentary process. Some suggestions for potential celebrity guests include, but are not limited to The Situation from Jersey Shore, Mike Holmes, William Shatner and Drake.

2. Parliamentary committee cage fights

With the unrivaled popularity of mixed martial arts these days, it might be time to bring the octagon to Parliament Hill. Instead of committee witnesses answering questions from MPs from the comfort of a leatherback chair, those questions would be answered through sheer brute force in the octagon. This is guaranteed to bring in more general population spectators to committee hearings.

3. Revamp the Parliament Hill boutique

If anyone has ever been the Hard Rock Café or Planet Hollywood knows, people love memorabilia. That’s why I propose a total renovation of the Parliament Hill Boutique to include a new section for memorabilia and collectables. Looking for that perfect gift to give to a loved one on a special occasion, look no further than the Parliament Hill Boutique AND Memorabilia Superstore. Displays could include the suit Jean Chretien wore when he gave his famous Shawinigan Handshake or the handprints of current and past Members of Parliament.   

Seriously though, even though the suggestions listed above are meant to be purely humorous, how can we get Canadians more engaged in the political process? Please add your own ideas to the list.

5. Bloggingtories.ca – For all the top blog posts from Conservative bloggers, this site will be your best friend.

4. Cbc.ca/politics/insidepolitics - The CBC’s Kady O’Malley is without a doubt one of the best political bloggers out there. For those looking to get the absolute latest on political events and happenings in Ottawa, be sure to add her to your RSS feed. The Inside Politics blog will get you up to speed on issues of note in no time flat.

3. Davidakin.blogware.com/blog – David Akin’s On the Hill blog should definitely be on any political watcher’s blog roll. Always ready to crack open a fresh story, Akin is one of the most well respected journalist’s on the Hill. Read his blog to find out why.

2. Inklesswells.ca – Maclean’s Paul Wells gives his fresh perspectives on Ottawa on Inklesswelss.ca. Those who enjoy witty writing and the occasional post on jazz should give this blog their attention.

1. Politicalview.ca – Not that I’m at all biased, but for my money, if you want keen insights from Canada’s leading public affairs experts on the top political issues of the day, you go to Politicalview.ca. You already know that don’t  you because you’re reading our blog right now!

Stephen Harper – Brewster’s Millions:

With the expenditures for the G8 and G20 conferences coming in at nearly $1-billion, Harper has a lot in common with this 80′s classic comedy in which Richard Pryor must spend $30-million in 30 days.

John Baird - Road House

Baird will no doubt be learning  from Patrick Swayze in this famous tale of a bouncer who puts people in their place. After watching this flick, don’t be surprised to see Baird use a round house kick sometime during a future question period session.

Tony Clement – The Lake House

Clement will no doubt rent this drama looking for inspiration on how to deflect criticism stemming from the G8 that’s taking place in his riding. Although it should be noted the lake featured in this movie is real.

Michael Ignatieff -  National Lampoon’s European Vacation

With his European vacation property in season, no doubt Mr. Ignatieff will throw this Chevy Chase picture in the rotation this summer to get some ideas on how to lead a family excursion.

Nickelback, a band that hails – like the PM – from the great province of Alberta, has sold more than 30-million albums during their career. Despite their mainstream success, it’s hard to find a single person who is willing to admit to liking their music. So, imagine my surprise when the band stopped in Ottawa to play a show a few weeks ago that lead singer Chad Kroeger hung out with the PM at 24 Sussex. I wouldn’t have believed it either…until I saw photographic proof:

Politically speaking, aligning yourself with a band is a bold move. Here is a list of other Canadian acts that I feel are more worthy of the PM’s attention:

1. April Wine – Canadian rock legends and recent inductees of the Juno Hall of Fame, this band would play well with the baby-boomer voting crowd.

2. Rush - Only back bacon and maple syrup are more Canadian than Rush. These classic rockers would almost guarantee a bump in the polls.

3. Justin Bieber – Teen idol and proud Canadian, this artist recently caused fans in Australia to faint and hyper-ventilate from excitement over seeing him in person. If Harper was to invite Bieber over to 24 Sussex the PM would be on the cover of Tiger Beat in no time.

The ‘grip and grin’:

Also known by its street name ‘the classic’, this is the go-to photo-op for politicians who are looking to offer their congratulations or who are coming to some sort of agreement.

The ‘off-site’ photo-op:

This photo-op tactic is becoming increasingly popular because it attempts to show politicians in normal everyday situations in attempts to illustrate to the public that they too drink coffee, eat donuts, support the economy, etc.

The ‘children are our future’ photo-op:

Even when members of the voting public may disagree a politican’s stance on an issue, they can all agree on one thing – photo-ops of politicians reading or teaching children are always heart warming. Whether it’s by visiting an elemantary school to talk about the imporantance of education or lending a hand at a day care, media saavy policitians will no doubt bring the cameras along to capture a perfect mix of wisdom and innocence. A sure fire hit everytime!

The ‘kitten/puppy cuddle’ photo-op:

So you’re down in the polls, your approval rating is at an all-time low and you realize that now is the time to bring out the big guns. If this is the case, may I present the grand-daddy of all photo-ops –  ‘the kitten/puppy cuddle’.  There is no denying the power of a policitian holding a tiny kitten or pint-size puppy to emphasize caring, compassion, and innocence. It shows the public that they’re soft at heart and are worth your vote.

Stephen Harper – “The Hockey Song“ by Stompin’ Tom Connors

Reason: The PM recently gave an interview with Sports Illustrated in which he said “It’s probably terrible to say, but any Canadian boy, if he could play in the NHL, would play in the NHL.” This statement leads me to believe the reason for the prorogation was because Harper wanted to get more shinny time in at the local rink.

Michael Ignatieff – “Holiday” by Madonna

Reason: Ignatieff was quoted as saying “We’ve been back at work since the 25th of January. If [Prime Minister Stephen Harper] wants us to work through the breaks in March and April, fine,” Clearly someone will be looking forward to a holiday.

Rona Ambrose, Christian Paradis, and Vic Toews – “Harlem Shuffle” by The Rolling Stones

Reason: Harper’s January 19^th cabinet shuffle saw each of the above get a new portfolio. No doubt they are all learning the appropriate dance moves to go along with the song.

Stockwell Day – “Money” by Pink Floyd

Reason: With Day being appointed the new Treasury Board minister, he will play a key role in government expenditures. It’s plausible he’s looking to the lyrics of this classic rock song for inspiration.

John Baird – “Don’t Drink the Water” by Dave Matthews Band

Reason: Baird was on hand when Ottawa mayor Larry O’Brien vowed to find $140-million over the next five years to fund an underground storage plan that will virtually eliminate discharges of raw sewage into the Ottawa River.