Roundup: Flippant suggestions stepping on the message – again

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There weren’t any official new developments in the SNC-Lavalin/Wilson-Raybould controversy yesterday, but we did get a few more drips of information, like how prime minister Justin Trudeau had a one-way teleconference call with the caucus in the wake of Jody Wilson-Raybould’s departure, with the main message being that he still wished her well and didn’t want her booted from caucus. Not helpful was justice committee chair Anthony Housefather who somewhat flippantly suggested that perhaps Wilson-Raybould was replaced because she didn’t speak French at a time when a great many legal issues are coming up in Quebec – only to apologise later and clarify that he said it in relation to the baseless speculation that is rampant, not because it was a serious suggestion (except he did repeat it in a couple of different interviews, but I’m sure it sounded good in his head at the time). Because this party never ceases to stop stepping all over its own message, and can’t communicate their way out of a wet paper bag. Every. Single. Time.

In the absence of any new developments in the story was looking at where various Liberals are starting to align themselves in relation to Wilson-Raybould’s current status, but that hasn’t stopped the anonymous Liberals from trying to give takes about “crossed wires” and “revisionist feelings” with benefit of the doubt going to Trudeau – or not, in other cases. Northwest Territories MP Michael McLeod points out that Wilson-Raybould’s departure means there is no longer Indigenous representation in Cabinet (expect this to be a factor in the upcoming shuffle). New Brunswick Liberal MP Wayne Long continues to break ranks and say he wants more answers, and good for him for doing his job as a backbencher properly. Oh, and PMO now apparently condemns the smack talk of other anonymous Liberals besmirching Wilson-Raybould’s record following complaints from Indigenous groups that said it was sexist and racist. Elsewhere, a number of Indigenous senators published a letter of support for Wilson-Raybould but also noted that this shouldn’t derail reconciliation, which is more than the work of one minister. (Senator Brazeau was not among them and is trying to make more hay of this).

In related matters, here’s a look at how the way in which the Ethics Commissioner undertook his examination (note that he didn’t investigation) of the matter could mean that he can end it at any point without a public report, and it’s not clear that he really has the scope to undertake such an investigation to begin with. The premier of Quebec is calling for SNC-Lavalin to get that deferred prosecution agreement, surprising no one. Here’s a look at SNC-Lavalin’s history of lobbying on the issue, and why Quebec sees the company as an asset in spite of their poor history.

Meanwhile, Susan Delacourt thinks there are lessons from #MeToo that Trudeau should be drawing from in handling this whole mess, particularly as silence remains on half of the tale. Jen Gerson thinks that it’s time to stop treating SNC-Lavalin with kid gloves, and that their demise may actually benefit a number of other companies who don’t have a history of corruption.

Good reads:

  • Bill Morneau has removed the surtax on two Mexican steel imports after they were applied as part of measures to prevent foreign dumping after the US tariffs came in.
  • The federal government are spending $225 million over four years to create an arm’s length skills development agency to help fund projects and new approaches.
  • CBSA says that they’ve greatly reduced their security screening backlog, thanks to new resources from the federal government, and elimination of duplication.
  • CSE says that they respond to thousands of “incidents” directed at government networks every year, but so far nothing that would constitute an actual attack.
  • Much as the RCAF is struggling to retain pilots who are taking commercial jobs, there is a shortage of sailors in the RCN that is constraining procurement plans.
  • Business groups want the budget to focus more on competitiveness and to prepare for an eventual economic downturn.
  • Also in that budget is going to be pharmacare implementation, which will try to get more coverage for people at a cost that hopefully won’t be prohibitive.
  • Supporters of Bill C-69 are being flooded with hate-mail thanks to campaigns by the likes of former Conservative leadership hopeful Rick Peterson.
  • On a related note, a “convoy” has departed for Ottawa to “support the industry” and they totally won’t tolerate racists in their midst. Really. (Sure, Jan).
  • Here’s a look at the carbon tax court challenge at the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal.
  • The Official Languages Commissioner wants a national strategy to combat the chronic shortage of French teachers across the country.
  • The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that a teacher secretly videotaping female students’ chests did qualify as voyeurism under criminal law.
  • Now out of politics, Scott Brison has been appointed vice-chair of investment and corporate banking with BMO, to be based out of Toronto.

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