Did you find, overall, the Press Galler Dinner speeches funny or not? Or should the format be totally revamped for 2016? What’s your take?

Jennifer Ditchburn Senior Parliamentary correspondent The Canadian Press “Over the years, I have bust a gut laughing at videos, speeches, and musical numbers at gallery dinners, while others have fallen horribly flat. But that’s been the case for 140 or so years. For the most part, I think people are appreciative of the effort and the courage it takes to go up on stage. Next year’s dinner will necessarily be different and very special because it will mark our 150th anniversary. I’m a traditionalist, so I’m hoping to see some sort of contribution from the Governor General and all party leaders in recognition of our institution and the important role it has played in the democratic life of our country.” Jacques Bourbeau Ottawa bureau chief Global News “Rick Mercer was hilarious. Not surprising, since he is a comedian. The rest of the evening? Not so much. Again, not surprising, since we are asking politicians and journalists to be funny, and, with respect, that is not their day job. “Tom Mulcair’s speech was funny, but that was primarily due to the fact he brought in a ringer to help out. Justin Trudeau got off a few funny lines. Elizabeth May ... well, we all know how that went. “I think it’s time to radically re-think the gallery dinner. Shorten and tighten up the show (no more than an hour long), perhaps turn it into more of a cocktail party than a formal sit-down dinner. And I, for one, think it may be time to discuss returning it to an off-the-record evening.” Justin Ling Parliamentary correspondent VICE “The Press Gallery dinner is funny, but it could be funnier. We should follow Elizabeth May’s lead and give all the leaders a bottle of NyQuil to drink before their speech. It would definitely make the evening more interesting.” Manon Cornellier Parliamentary reporter, Le Devoir President, Parliamentary Press Gallery “I found Tom Mulcair and Justin Trudeau funny, really in the tone of the event, with the mock interview and the parallel with PKP . Elizabeth May missed the mark—it happens. “As for the Gallery Dinner, I don’t think we should eliminate the speeches in 2016, on the contrary. It will be our 150th birthday and I think we should celebrate our tradition and convince the Governor General and the Prime Minister of the day to participate. I’m open to hearing other people’s ideas. For the following years, maybe.” John Ivison Columnist National Post “The Press Gallery dinner is a big event. It takes weeks to organize and those efforts are appreciated. It remains a hugely popular milestone in the Parliamentary calendar. That said, it was too long and too many speakers fell flat. Freud said that a good joke will lead to relief and elation. But Freud never spoke at the Gallery Dinner after the wine had run out. It’s a tough crowd at the best of times—and when Liz May rose to speak during dessert, it was not the best of times. “The best bits were when the professional comedians took over. Rick Mercer and Mark Critch were great. Mulcair and Trudeau were tolerably good—I’m sure both farmed out the writing to people who make a living being funny. But too many others were more funny-peculiar, rather than funny ha-ha. Cut the number of speakers and singers; hire professionals; and keep it short.” Kady O’Malley Online reporter CBC News “I am a speech abolitionist. Just let us get gussied up and mingle with our comrades and adversaries, with nothing but the occasional musical number and—oh, fine, Rick Mercer, and whoever the francophone equivalent is, for a maximum of five minutes each. “Since that would likely cause outright mutiny, though, I’d agree to offer each of the parties a five-minute slot for either (a) a video (b) a sketch or (b) (if they must) a live speech by the leader. But there would be a strict time limit and we’d give Lisa Raitt a giant cane to enforce it. “That’s not a slam at any one particular speaker, by the way—or the efforts of the gallery executive to put together a great show. I just think the best part of the dinner is the unscripted, off-the-record chattering, and not the formal program, which just seems to grow like Topsy to the point that it threatens to become more a test of endurance than light between-course entertainment.” Althia Raj Ottawa bureau chief Huffington Post Canada “I think the speeches are usually funny. This year we had some good zingers from hosts Marie Vastel and Mike LeCouteur. Rick Mercer was hilarious. And the leaders did a good job at poking fun of themselves. I like speeches, I like fake awards. I think if we are to have a discussion perhaps we should revisit whether or not we want the evening to be on-the-record. Personally, I like on-the-record because I think it gives Canadians outside the Ottawa bubble a glimpse into the evening. But I know several others would prefer an off-the-record more candid show.” Dale Smith Freelancer Parliamentary Press Gallery “I thought the speeches were funny for the most part, with the obvious exception. I don’t see a problem with the format. I think it’s good for leaders to come out and poke fun at themselves after we take everyone so seriously 364 other days of the year.”

Did you find, overall, the Press Galler Dinner speeches funny or not? Or should the format be totally revamped for 2016? What’s your take?

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Did you find, overall, the Press Galler Dinner speeches funny or not? Or should the format be totally revamped for 2016? What’s your take?

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