The heads of CSIS and the RCMP went to committee to say that while ISIS is not an imminent threat to Canada, we have to be vigilant about domestic terrorism threats. Well, sure. And then Stephen Blaney talked about arresting these people and throwing them behind bars, because you know, due process and stuff. Blaney also said that they won’t be implementing exit controls, because those belong to totalitarian countries – but they do share entry data with the Americans, which is a de facto exit control system because if one enters one country, they had to exit the other. But that’s not totalitarian. Incidentally, the government has also announced funding for a bunch of new studies on finding the root causes of domestic terrorism and radicalization. And here Pierre Poilievre assured us that the root cause of terrorism is terrorists.
On the Iraq deployment file, it sounds like our Aurora surveillance planes could be of far more use than the CF-18s, but former generals are also face-palming at Christian Paradis’ statements that CF-18s will be used to open humanitarian corridors, because, well, that’s not how it works. Opposition parties vow to keep up the pressure to get answers, while the attempts to exploit a relatively non-existent wedge between Justin Trudeau and Irwin Cotler is certainly being attempted. Cotler is reiterating that he couldn’t support Harper’s motion as is, and he noted that if Harper had bothered to try and engage Trudeau, he might have brought him onside (though Harper wants to keep Trudeau offside, given his comments and general tone with the Liberal leader at every chance he gets). Lloyd Axworthy is similarly disappointed in both his former Liberal colleagues for not affirming the Responsibility to Protect, but also the government for the way they handled the whole thing. Thomas Juneau writes that Canada more or less got it right given our objectives in the region, while Stephen Saideman warns against using the spectre of “mission creep” as an argument not to engage, as it’s really easy to get out of an air engagement.
The government is planning to change copyright laws to allow for the free use of news clips in political ads without permission. So, freedom for everyone but news organizations who are already struggling? Good to know. Oh, the changes will also be buried in the next omnibus budget bill as well, so you now how much debate this will actually get. (Answer: Almost none, while the official opposition spends all of their time complaining about omnibus bills).
Access to Information documents show that some of the House of Commons infrastructure is in worse shape than originally believed – that most of the west-facing stained glass windows are nearly ready to collapse (they replaced two of them over the summer), and that there is brickwork above the ceiling in the Foyer that is precarious and could crash down. All of these are urgent projects that need to be addressed before the whole Centre Block begins its massive renovation in 2018 (or thereabouts), at a cost of some $3 million. Probably best to ensure it gets done right away (and by that, probably over the Christmas break when the House isn’t sitting for several weeks) – before someone gets hurt. On a related note, here’s a video featuring the Dominion Sculptor, who is working on stone carvings around the three Parliamentary buildings.
The environment minister tried to lash back at the Environment Commissioner for her report earlier this week, saying that it ignored the effects of biofuels (which still produce emissions, by the way), and then gave the entirely new excuse that we couldn’t have oil & gas sector regulations because we need to wait for the Americans to do theirs. You know, like we didn’t do with coal-fired electricity plants.
What’s that? Leaving the multiculturalism file with Jason Kenney caused mass bureaucratic confusion because he was technically between two departments? You don’t say!
The Correctional Investigator released a report stating that too many inmates are being released without proper preparation or supervision because the “tough-on-crime” government’s focus on keeping convicted criminals in jail for as long as possible means that the mechanisms for gradual reintegration are being short-circuited. Try to look surprised, everyone!
It seems that toxic mould may not be the only problem plaguing the Science and Technology Museum, but that there may also be asbestos as well. But the minister responsible, Shelly Glover, won’t take any responsibility for it.
Quebec made their last-ditch attempt to save long-gun registry data at the Supreme Court of Canada yesterday.
Joyce Murray’s bill to create a national security oversight committee in Parliament may be nixed because it looks like it could mean spending money, which Private Members’ Bills are expressly forbidden from doing.
Peter Kent wants the government to fund HPV vaccination for boys in the next federal budget.
Charlie Angus blasted the Green Party for not voting the same way on the Iraq deployment confidence motion. Apparently it’s inconceivable for him that people in a party could have independent thoughts and not do everything in lockstep like they were instructed to.
And economist Andrew Leach shows why building a massive new refinery in Alberta is actually not fiscally prudent and won’t actually add value or create many new jobs.