Roundup: An unexpected shuffle

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Yesterday’s Cabinet shuffle came with a few surprises, but the biggest was probably the decision to move Jody Wilson-Raybould from justice to veterans’ affairs – a move which can only be interpreted as a demotion, despite both prime minister Justin Trudeau and Wilson-Raybould making the argument that it was insulting to veterans to think of them as a lesser consideration. Added to that, Wilson-Raybould got defensive and put out a lengthy press release that said she wouldn’t discuss why she was moved, as that’s the prerogative of the prime minister (true), but then went on to laud all of her accomplishments as justice minister (which she bizarrely abbreviated as MOJAG – Minister of Justice and Attorney General, the first time I can recall such an abbreviation being used). The problem, of course, is that there was a lot of talk about how things were not going well in her office. I personally heard from a number of people in the legal community about their concerns about the managerial competence within Wilson-Raybould’s office, particularly around staffing key positions such as the Judicial Affairs Advisor – necessary for the appointment of judges, and a post that was left vacant for months at a time, as the number of vacancies began increasing, and still have a significant backlog in place. There was also a lot of staffing churn within her office, which should be a warning sign that not all is well. And more reports came out yesterday that there had been some tensions around the Cabinet table when it came to Wilson-Raybould, so the fact that she penned a defensive release probably speaks volumes.

As for the other ministerial changes, David Lametti (my Canadian Lawyer profile here) replaced Wilson-Raybould, who replaces Seamus O’Regan at veterans’ affairs, O’Regan moving to Indigenous services to replace Jane Philpott, who in turn replaced the departing Scott Brison. Trudeau added a new portfolio to the mix – rural economic development, under new minister Bernadette Jordan, who is now the Nova Scotian in Cabinet. That portfolio is another one without a ministry, and it looks like it’ll be housed within Innovation, Science and Economic Development, where all of the other regional development ministries are housed, but as with a growing number of portfolios under this government, it’s another minister without a line department of her own, which I find a bit concerning.

Meanwhile, there are so many hot takes on the shuffle, starting with Chantal Hébert, who says the few changes mean it’s steady-as-she-goes for Trudeau before the election. Likewise, Kady O’Malley’s Process Nerd column says these changes highlight that there is little room for experimentation, this late in the current parliament. Mercedes Stephenson echoes the sentiment, with some added details on O’Regan’s time on the veterans file. Paul Wells brings the shade when it comes to the performance of this government, and the inability for any particular minister to make any meaningful changes in the face of bottlenecks of authority in the PMO, and a government too afraid to make any changes so close to an election. Mike Moffatt delivers a thread on the challenges of rural economic development, and why the portfolio might be a good idea after all.

Good reads:

  • A Canadian convicted of smuggling meth in China has been sentenced to death after an appeal. Justin Trudeau called it arbitrary, and said Canada will intervene.
  • China has carried out the death penalty on Canadians in the past, including two cases under the Harper government when Harper personally requested clemency.
  • The young Saudi woman who was granted asylum in Canada spoke to CBC about her ordeal and her escape.
  • The system that allows Canadians to request a flag that flew on the Peace Tower has a 114-year waiting list, but Carla Qualtrough wouldn’t agree to proposed fixes.
  • The federal government offered funding to help Ontario develop the cancelled francophone university, but the province still says no.
  • The Supreme Court of Canada has rejected a request for an injunction to allow certain military trials to continue, putting them in limbo for months.
  • Ruh-roh! The Canadian Forces’ new armoured vehicle fleet is being plagued by fires and rollovers.
  • Some Liberals are concerned that the party doesn’t have national campaign staff in place yet. The party says they should relax, as there’s still plenty of time.
  • The NDP have taken out a $12 million mortgage on the office building in downtown Ottawa that houses their party headquarters.
  • One oil and gas “advocacy group” cancelled their planned “convoy” to Ottawa. Another convoy planned by so-called “yellow vest” supporters is still planned.
  • A former Wildrose-turned-PC MLA in Alberta has resigned his post as a member of the UCP’s board citing “dictator-like” shenanigans in the party.
  • Colby Cosh offers a righteous smack upside the heads of the Conservatives and Liberals alike when it comes to their treatment of the criminal justice system.
  • Chris Selley wonders what the Saudi woman’s asylum case ultimately says about our refugee system under the current government, other than “smug theatre.”
  • Andrew Coyne is keen to know what the government plans to do about China, now that they’re threatening our citizens with the death penalty.

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