The federal government unveiled their plans for dealing with election interference in future elections, and tried to create a system that keeps it within the realm of the civil servants and away from Cabinet (who would be in caretaker mode during the writ-period) and politicians in general. The protocol (infographic here) would see that the heads of national security agencies brief the Clerk of the Privy Council, the National Security and Intelligence Advisor, and the deputy ministers of Justice, Public Safety, and Global Affairs, who would then determine if there is a substantial threat to a free and fair election, at which point they inform the PM, party leaders, and Elections Canada before they hold a press conference to inform people of the incident.

In response, the Conservatives say it doesn’t go far enough, because they are on tear about foreign funding and third-party campaign financing, while the NDP say they want the Chief Electoral Officer involved (though I’m not quite sure what he would do in that kind of situation, because he deals with administering the election and not things like strategic “leaks” to media or propaganda). They also want social media companies to do more, and they are apparently reaching out to the government over this, but, well, their records have a lot to be desired in these kinds of situations.

Meanwhile, here’s Stephanie Carvin with what she was looking for beforehand:

https://twitter.com/StephanieCarvin/status/1090623966895587330

https://twitter.com/StephanieCarvin/status/1090623974957039621

And what we saw in the announcement:

https://twitter.com/StephanieCarvin/status/1090643636231028736

https://twitter.com/StephanieCarvin/status/1090649350609473538

Good reads:

• Apparently Justin Trudeau deployed his Aesop’s sun and wind fable at an AFN meeting to try and explain his approach to issues.
• The government rejected a Conservative-sponsored petition to have Canada label Vladimir Putin a war criminal.
• Carla Qualtrough is asking her ministerial colleagues to get their departments’ HR practices in better shape to help stabilize Phoenix faster.
• The government accepted two amendments but rejected a third from the Senate on their sustainable development legislation, and sent it back to the Upper Chamber.
• After New Brunswick pulled out of hosting the Francophonie Games in 2021, the federal government claims they were never serious about their bid.
• The cost for Canada to continue to participate in the F-35 development programme has been increasing based on our intention to procure a larger new fighter fleet.
• At the Mark Norman pre-trial hearings, General Vance said that some of the “code words” were just military jargon, and admitted ATIP needs to better capture those.
• Here’s a profile of the Liberal candidate in Burnaby South, who is trying to contain the damage of his predecessor while focusing on local issues.
• Here’s a look at the challenge the Liberals could face in holding onto Scott Brison’s riding in the next election.
• Both the Liberals and Conservatives set fundraising records last quarter, while the NDP continue to struggle.
• After Andrew Scheer’s Twitter outrage over Omar Khadr appearing in a search, he’s an explainer about the possible Russia connection, and why it may not be trolls.
• There are questions about a fundraiser that Raj Grewal held while he was still a Liberal, but the party says to wait for the official filings in March.
• Alberta is going to ease their production cut a little ahead of schedule given the rise in prices and drawing down of inventories. (Note: There is still a global supply glut).
• Alberta’s elections commissioner is refusing to publicly disclose any details about his rulings or reprimands.
• Susan Delacourt muses about the focus in QP being on affordability over issues like China, and what it could mean in the upcoming election.
• Chantal Hébert notes the continued lack of agreement with provinces on an increasing number of files, and notes it could have its own electoral repercussions.
• John Ivison recounts Celina Caesar-Chavannes’ Robbie Burns speech, and how it shook up the status quo in a way the poet would appreciate.
• Chris Selley offers some righteous indignation at the creepy census being conducted among teachers in Quebec for those who wear religious symbols.
• Andrew Coyne pillories all parties for their woeful climate change policies.

Odds and ends:

Here’s a good explainer of the possibility that Huawei technology may be compromised by China – and why it may not actually be.

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