Roundup: Unifying the prohibitions across departments

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The federal government has issued new guidelines for foreign intelligence likely obtained through torture, so that it now covers the Canadian Forces, the Canadian Security Establishment, and Global Affairs Canada. This means that they are prohibited from using such information, except if it’s going to save lives either from an imminent terrorist attack or protecting Canadian troops on an overseas mission. This appears to harmonize direction handed down earlier to the RCMP, CSIS, and CBSA, so that all national security agencies (which are now under the same parliamentary oversight regime and will soon be under an independent arm’s length national security oversight regime) will have the same rules and restrictions. For some, it’s reassuring that the government is taking the issue seriously, but for others, the caveat isn’t good enough, and they need to issue a full prohibition, no caveats, no exceptions, full stop. Stephanie Carvin has more reaction to the announcement here:

https://twitter.com/StephanieCarvin/status/941445420475125761

https://twitter.com/StephanieCarvin/status/941445593154576384

https://twitter.com/StephanieCarvin/status/941445901750382592

https://twitter.com/StephanieCarvin/status/941446074538979328

https://twitter.com/StephanieCarvin/status/941446248057397248

https://twitter.com/StephanieCarvin/status/941446383113867266

https://twitter.com/StephanieCarvin/status/941446599791730688

https://twitter.com/StephanieCarvin/status/941446938007703553

Good reads:

  • Rumours abound about the Liberal plans to reintroduce a lifelong pension for disabled veterans, but those rumours also say it’s too low an amount.
  • Oh noes! PMO isn’t covered by the same harassment policy as other civil servants! Err, right, because that’s how PMO works, like ministers’ offices.
  • In an exit interview, Beverley McLachlin spoke about being “shocked” when the Harper government accused her of interfering with the Nadon appointment.
  • The Governor of the Bank of Canada says the economy is going full-tilt, but they remain concerned about some data points, which is why interest rates remain low.
  • The Lobbying and Languages Commissioners and Senate Ethics Officer were all confirmed yesterday, but still no word on a new Information Commissioner.
  • CSIS has apparently settled the lawsuit from five employees alleging harassment, sexism, racism, Islamophobia and homophobia.
  • While the Liberals keep talking “middle class,” the Conservatives and NDP are returning to “working class” in their rhetoric.
  • Conservative MP Michelle Rempel introduced a bill to close a loophole around bestiality after the government has failed to do so after a Supreme Court decision.
  • The Senate Internal Economy committee got raucous when Senator McPhedran was confronted with news of an email from a former staffer disputing facts given.
  • The Canadian Press’ Baloney Meter™ tests the notion that the Australian fighters are “rusted out buckets of bolts.”

Odds and ends:

Amidst Quebec media mocking Trudeau for public tears, Conservative Senator Dagenais made a video of him wrapping a Kleenex box as a gift. Don’t be that guy.

Here’s a look back at the December 1917 election, which had serious consequences for the country and most especially national unity.

Jason Kenney won his by-election and is now an Alberta MLA.