Roundup: Seriously, stop calling it cash-for-access

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Apparently we’re still on this bizarre witch hunt against Liberal Party fundraisers, because I’m guessing we have little else to obsess over right now. Best of all, we’re now inventing conspiracy theories, like how the head of drug company Apotex is apparently fundraising because his company is both lobbying the government (as a drug company does) and because they’re involved in a lawsuit, and no said company head isn’t the company’s lobbyist, but yet these connections are being drawn by both media and echoed by the opposition, and I shake my head wondering people in their right mind think this is some kind of a scandal or breach of ethics. You really think the federal government is going to throw a lawsuit because they got a $1500 donation? Really? Honestly?

That media – and in particular the Globe and Mail continues to characterise this as “cash for access” is bizarre. Sure, your “average family” isn’t going to pay $3000 to meet a minister, but why would they? I mean, seriously? What would be the point? And it’s not like they don’t do other events either, and we’ve previously established that this is a government that loves its consultations, so it’s not like you couldn’t have your say. It’s inventing a problem that doesn’t actually exist. Do you think ministers shouldn’t attend fundraisers at all? Do you think that they can be bought for $1500? How about $500? $100? And they’re not hiding these fundraisers either. VICE asked for the list, and lo and behold, it was provided. But here’s the most bizarre part of all – mere months ago, the Globe declared that the federal system was the best in the country and urged provinces to all adopt it (while in the midst of their zeal against the much more dubious practices that were taking place in Ontario where ministers were soliciting donations from the stakeholders lobbying them, which is not what is happening at the federal level).

https://twitter.com/RobSilver/status/792103096696659968

https://twitter.com/RobSilver/status/792103490092953600

https://twitter.com/RobSilver/status/792104056294674432

Meanwhile, the president of the Liberal Party wrote a response to the Globe, but they wouldn’t publish it, so it’s on their website. Howard Anglin expands on his criticism of the reporting on fundraisers, and defends our system as being clean on the whole, and seriously, this is getting tiresome.

Good reads:

  • Wallonia has relented and Trudeau is off to Europe to sign CETA on Sunday. Meanwhile, here are concerns from the Canadian meat industry to the deal.
  • The fall economic update is coming on Tuesday, which could signal the start of the real slog for Bill Morneau as growth continues to be sluggish.
  • Catherine McKenna’s office had to intervene when her office said that they would only cover delegates to COP22’s costs if they didn’t criticize her in the media.
  • The Americans are continuing to pitch us the F-35 fighters, despite all of the many identified problems with it.
  • Charlie Angus is still thinking about a leadership bid.
  • John Geddes and Sally Hayden look at the issues of Wallonia in CETA.
  • Ashley Csanady wonders if Chrystia Freeland was victim of the “sexist outrage” cycle, while Tabatha Southey writes about the emotional line women politicians walk.
  • Kate Heartfield looks at the clamour for electoral reform, and yet I will continue to contend that this is a desire based out of ignorance.
  • Andrew Coyne looks at the merits of increasing immigration per the Liberals’ economic council.
  • Kady O’Malley looks at changes that need to happen to referendum legislation in advance of any referendum on electoral reform.
  • Paul Wells looks at the changing nature of the Senate, and the dynamics that might start emerging.

Odds and ends:

Justice Malcolm Rowe has now formally been appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada.