Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had his first meeting with Ontario premier Doug Ford yesterday, and it went about as well as could be expected. While the expected topic was going to be carbon pricing, Ford’s people pre-emptively put out a release saying that they were going to wash their hands of the whole irregular border crossers issue, citing that it was the problem the federal government created and they would have to pay for it going forward. Which is a pretty interesting interpretation of areas of provincial responsibility. Trudeau took this in stride, apparently, and in the press conference after, said that he took the time to explain some of the confusion that the premier seemed to have around the issue and things like the difference between immigration and asylum, and Canada’s international obligations when it comes to refugees and asylum seekers. For what it’s worth.

Of course, Ford’s provincial immigration minister lashed out after this happened, but what I find particularly telling about all of this is how much it relies on the kinds of partisan talking points that the federal Conservatives have been putting out around how this is entirely the fault of Trudeau’s #WelcomeToCanada tweet (which would be predicated on ignoring the political situation in the United States), and that it misrepresents the number of migrants who have been since shuttled to Ontario as a result. Now, the federal government is not blameless, as they have been slow to ramp up the resources needed to process claims and were a bit slow off the mark to look at ways to communicate with the communities on the ground in the US – a tactic that ultimately has proved to be successful, but not before a wave of arrivals had already crossed the border. The other thing that is notable is that the predominantly American framing of “illegals” has been cropping up here too, which should be a warning sign about the kinds of populist rhetoric that is being repurposed for domestic effect.

The other thing that this highlights is the fact that we have a provincial government that got to where it is on the basis of simple slogans and unrealistic promises (no, you’re not going to get cheaper gasoline or buck-a-beer), so it should be no surprise when they start making noises that don’t reflect their obligations, both nationally and internationally. Yes, they can try to get more money out of the federal government – which they are providing – but trying to wash their hands of the issue (while subtly playing into the kinds of xenophobic populism that they have largely eschewed to date) is not going to fly.

Good reads:

• Justin Trudeau finally had a more reasonable response to the 18-year-old “groping” allegation, but the original newspaper corroborators aren’t terribly impressed.
• Trudeau also said that if Ontario continues to fight carbon pricing, the federal backstop tax will apply, and revenues will be returned directly to individuals.
• US Border Patrol says it won’t stop searching Canadian fishing boats in Canadian waters. (Guys, this is how the War of 1812 started).
• The RCMP Civilian Review and Complaints Commission is being rocked by its own harassment allegations. Ralph Goodale says he’s taking it seriously.
• Canada is boosting the number of helicopters going to Mali, as well as adding civilian police to the mission.
• Here’s a look into what the current gun control bill can and can’t do when it comes to tackling the current rash of gun crime in Canada.
• Good news, everyone! The Phoenix pay system reduced its backlog for the fifth time in five months! At this rate, it might “stabilize” in 18 months. Might.
• The mother of a missing Indigenous woman is launching a $600 million class-action lawsuit against the federal government and the RCMP.
• Maclean’s looks at ways in which Canadians are pushing back against Trump and his tariffs.
• Jagmeet Singh says he’s forgoing a salary until the party’s financial fortunes improve. (You know what would solve a salary problem? A seat in the Commons).
• NDP MP David Christopherson has decided he won’t run again in 2019, which is a blow for the institutional memory of the NDP and the Public Accounts committee.
• Robert Hiltz is unimpressed with the pearl-clutching about how the US ambassador is being treated in the trade war nonsense.

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