Roundup: Unconstitutional threats

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Alberta’s Bill 12, that would give its energy minister the power to declare what can go in the pipelines that leaves the province, is almost certainly unconstitutional (and I think they’re being too cute by half in saying that it’s not because it doesn’t target BC specifically). It’s way overbroad in terms of the powers it gives the minister, and even if it somehow manages to pass constitutional muster, you can imagine that it would certainly be struck down by the courts for the sheer scope of how arbitrary it is. And in case you think that the pressure tactics of raising gas prices in BC are sound, it’ll likely do more damage to their own producers and refineries, whose supplies and production they are curtailing. So bravo for thinking that cutting off your nose to spite your face is good public policy, guys.

The premier of Saskatchewan, Scott Moe, says that he’s going to pass his own version to back up Alberta in their fight. Because that’s helpful. BC, meanwhile, says that because the bill is blatantly unconstitutional, it’s likely just a political bluff – but if it’s not, they’ll sue Alberta for it, as well they should. Alberta’s minister insists that it’s no bluff. So here we are, with few grown-ups in the room apparently, because they’re lighting their hair on fire to do something, anything, now, now, nowrather than coming up with a measured and reasoned response to the situation. And then there’s Michelle Rempel’s take. Oi.

Good reads:

  • Justin Trudeau became the first Canadian prime minister to address France’s National Assembly yesterday. Today he’s in London to meet with the Queen.
  • In case you were dying to know, Trudeau’s much-maligned wardrobe in India was not paid for by taxpayers. (It was likely Indo-Canadian designers who footed it).
  • Canada and the UK are calling for a “credible” investigation into crimes against the Rohingya people so that the perpetrators can be brought to justice.
  • Neither the Conservatives nor NDP seem convinced by the Liberal plans to use $7 billion to kickstart projects in the budget before they make the Estimates cycle.
  • The government looks like it has only done serious carbon price modelling for the territories, leaving the provinces to do their own.
  • Pierre Poilievre asked the PBO to cost out a basic income program, and then used the results to attack Kathleen Wynne. (But seriously, there’s good context in here).
  • The Privacy Commissioner says that political parties need to come under privacy legislation that he has the power to investigate.
  • The government pulled out of settlement talks regarding Abdul Abdelrazik’s $27 million lawsuit for his time being detained and tortured in Sudan.
  • Examination of the Amdelrazik court documents makes it look like CSIS had a hand in trying to thwart efforts to repatriate him to Canada.
  • Here’s a look at the spending priorities contained in the Estimates, which were just tabled this week. Environment is a big winner, as is Citizenship and Immigration.
  • Former AFN National Chief Phil Fontaine says that Canadian bishops used his words out of context to defend the Pope not offering an apology for residential schools.
  • Unions want public servants to build their own pay systems, but that would require legislative change regarding who is the legal pay master for public servants.
  • Seamus O’Regan talks about how his past experiences – including anxiety and alcoholism – help him when it comes to helping veterans.
  • Liberal MP Iqra Khalid is pushing back at the notion that she is supporting an Assad apologist. (Also, Conservatives are lucky she isn’t pointing to Harper and Orbán).
  • Two former staffers argue that parliament can’t make progress on harassment until they get privilege out of the way. Which…isn’t going to happen (nor should it).
  • My column looks at how the histrionics over the Trans Mountain pipeline have been an object lesson in the Politician’s Syllogism.

Odds and ends:

Former Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin writes about adjusting to life in retirement.

https://twitter.com/Canadian_Crown/status/986234119586762752

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