Because there is nothing that the current strategic geniuses in the Conservative leader’s office won’t do to turn an issue into some kind of cartoonish conspiracy or a theatrical production, they decided yesterday to write an open letter to CSIS to demand that they open an investigation into John McCallum, citing that he was trying to direct the Chinese into interfering in the Canadian election. No, seriously.

https://twitter.com/robert_hiltz/status/1149729121230045185

To not put too fine of a point on this, calling in national security agencies over a partisan issue is not only highly unserious, it’s dangerous because it not only politicises CSIS, but it also fuels the current rage by those on engaging in illiberal populism of accusing those who engage in legitimate political disagreement of being treasonous. And while Lisa Raitt would take to Twitter to try and defend this with overly cute legalistic justifications, the broader point stands. Leave CSIS out of your political theatre. This should be a no-brainer. And yet…

https://twitter.com/StephanieCarvin/status/1149745283825315840

https://twitter.com/StephanieCarvin/status/1149748705395904517

https://twitter.com/StephanieCarvin/status/1149819453124894721

https://twitter.com/StephanieCarvin/status/1149819454878035968

Good reads:

• Justin Trudeau visited the Trans Mountain terminal in Edmonton, said that national unity is not under threat, and defended the nomination of Steven Guilbeaut.
• Trudeau also accused some conservative provincial governments of holding up infrastructure spending so as to not appear on stage with federal ministers.
• The government named Jean Charest as a special envoy to help us win the temporary UN Security Council seat.
• Despite the controversy (particularly the fact that they can’t actually detect impairment), the government approved a second road side saliva testing device.
• Following the announced resignation of the vice chief of defence staff, here are some of the ripples in the Forces as they have to fill positions.
• A whistleblower helped Health Canada find hidden unlicensed grow-rooms at a marijuana producer’s facility.
• The plan to move the Canadian Forces’ special forces from Ottawa to Trenton may be scuppered because of spiralling costs.
• Here’s a look at how to untangle right whales caught in fishing gear.
• The RCMP are another step closer to unionizing after voting overwhelmingly to certifying the Natioanl Police Federation as their bargaining agent.
• Three ministers and a number of MPs are being used impersonated in Facebook scams purporting to offer government grants.
• Despite being warned about its cyber-security vulnerabilities, a number of MPs have stated that they’re still using WeChat (but won’t post sensitive information).
• The Conservatives continue to lead the other parties in nominations for the coming election.
• The Doug Ford/Dean French nepotism scandal in Ontario continues to roll along…
• As would be expected, Alberta is looking for intervenor status in BC’s appeal of their attempt to regulate pipeline contents to the Supreme Court of Canada.
• Colby Cosh casts a baleful glare at the number of “national strategies” being demanded, and why they’re little more than nonsense at their core.
• Andrew Coyne sees warning signs with the CPP Investment Board trying to both claim passive management and active management on “ethical” files.
• My weekend column looks at the implications of the Senate reforms that are beyond the Chamber, and why they might not be the good thing that proponents think.

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