Roundup: Signs Morneau is listening

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For all of the bellyaching from those who consider the government’s tax proposals to be a done deal that may not even get enabling legislation but would instead be rammed through by way of a Ways and Means Motion, it looks like those fears are for naught. In a tele-town hall yesterday, Bill Morneau admitted that there are problem areas that need to be addressed, and they plan to take what they’ve heard in the consultations and try to fix the implementing legislation, especially when it comes to things like how it affects the sale of family farms. Economist Lindsay Tedds was listening in, and she provided a play-by-play with some instant analysis here:

https://twitter.com/LindsayTedds/status/913086198972768256

https://twitter.com/LindsayTedds/status/913086706290585605

https://twitter.com/LindsayTedds/status/913087258135162880

https://twitter.com/LindsayTedds/status/913088937123442688

https://twitter.com/LindsayTedds/status/913089429392072704

https://twitter.com/LindsayTedds/status/913090762035699712

https://twitter.com/LindsayTedds/status/913091194330112000

https://twitter.com/LindsayTedds/status/913091583838363648

https://twitter.com/LindsayTedds/status/913092022096994304

https://twitter.com/LindsayTedds/status/913093179640971264

https://twitter.com/LindsayTedds/status/913094533268758529

https://twitter.com/LindsayTedds/status/913095168412106752

https://twitter.com/LindsayTedds/status/913095700681957376

https://twitter.com/LindsayTedds/status/913096650272366592

https://twitter.com/LindsayTedds/status/913097359101378560

Meanwhile, Chantal Hébert wonders if Morneau can’t pull out a win that will let both sides claim victory, even if Morneau himself emerges wounded from the process. This being said, Hébert makes the point about the lack of applause from the Liberal benches, which Bob Fife made on The West Block on the weekend, and it bugs me that pundits are still trying to read into this because the Liberals stopped clapping in January 2016, except for rare verbal zingers. It’s not indicative of anything other than an attempt to restore a bit of dignity to the exercise of QP, and making a deal out of it to fit a narrative is bad form.

The Senate’s National Finance committee will examine the proposals as well, and the debate getting there contained some of the usual cheek of some particular senators.

Good reads:

  • The third round of NAFTA talks has ended without significant progress, and the usual Trump threats looming overhead.
  • Democratic congressmen like our labour chapter ideas for NAFTA renegotiations, if that’s any help when it comes to ratifying the deal.
  • Netflix is expected to announce a half-billion dollar investment in Canadian productions, which sounds great until you put it in perspective.
  • The government is blaming their Conservative predecessors for the failed grade on the latest Access to Information audit. Try to look surprised!
  • Here’s an interview with the incoming US Ambassador to Canada.
  • The hearings into M-103 and Islamophobia are going about as well as you might expect.
  • Here’s another look at how the Boeing-Bombardier dispute could affect Canadian purchases of Super Hornets or other aircraft.
  • The government is preparing a formal apology for turning away the MS St. Louis at the start of the Second World War, costing the lives of 900 German Jews.
  • Jane Philpott says she is hearing from First Nations that they are looking for greater health and education powers without formal self-governing agreements.
  • Tighter rules around solitary confinement have seen an upswing in prisoner violence, which should surprise no one.
  • There is more job action between the Parliamentary Protective Services union and the RCMP management.
  • The House of Commons is reviewing its sexual harassment policies, with questions about how transparent it should be.
  • Maclean’s went to the experts to fact-check Trudeau’s statement that illicit pot is easier for teens to get than booze.
  • Éric Grenier tries to tease out hints from NDP leadership fundraising data.
  • Terry Glavin is none too thrilled that Ottawa isn’t supporting Kurdish independence. Adnan Khan gives more context, including how Canada helped create that mess.
  • Andrew Coyne wonders if Canada shouldn’t just abandon the aerospace sector after a history of boondoggles and untold dollars of subsidies.
  • Colby Cosh takes on some of the underlying problems with the $15 minimum wage campaign that is sweeping the country.

Odds and ends:

Paul Wells interviews Rick Mercer about his decision to end his show after 15 years.

Here is CBC’s exit interview with Governor General David Johnston.