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Deals with political maneuverings at the August 1996 conference of Canadian premiers. Ontario Premier Mike Harris and Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, who united in an unsuccessful attempt to get a paper drafted by economic professor Thomas Courchene onto the agenda; The argument of Courchene's paper, labeled `A Convention on the Canadian Economic and Social Systems' (ACCESS); Advantages to both Harris and Klein of a mutual alliance; Decentralizing health and welfare; Other details.

Reports that what worries critics of Defense Minister David Collenette's white paper on the future of Canada's armed forces, are the huge paper gaps. What the air force is to do; What the 50-page document does not mention.

Announces that if Prime Minister Jean Chretien continues dragging his feet on all the big issues, his legacies will be a series of public consultations and a mountain of discussion papers. How the government has done nothing unusual; How federal spending increased in virtually every program area.

Looks at the 11 government bills that were left stranded on the order paper (the Commons' equivalent of an agenda) when the House of Commons rose for the summer. Why the acts are effectively dead; Six of the bills related to housekeeping changes to existing acts; Poorly drafted conflict of interest bill allowed to die; Two bills to limit government expenditures; Bill to create two fisheries boards; Amendments to the Canadian Human Rights Act protecting homosexuals; Details.