Roundup: Suspension, and abrogation

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In a week where the news was coming at you like a firehose, Friday was possibly triple that. I literally sent from one press conference to another for a period of five hours. But to start the day off was the news that the House of Commons was indeed going to be suspended for five weeks (really only the loss of two sitting weeks), and they had arranged to complete passage of the New NAFTA implementation bill first thing, which was fine, because they were already on the last scheduled day of debate and the Senate had already done pre-study. What was a problem was the fact that they proposed two – two! – supply bills worth tens of billions of dollars and rammed them through both houses at all stages with zero debate and zero scrutiny, because the House leaders came to an agreement on them. And while absolutely everyone fell all over themselves to talk about how great it was that the parties all came together to ensure that they acted responsibly in suspending parliament (though I think it was premature), the business of supply is the whole gods damned purpose of Parliament. Instead of it being taken seriously, they rolled over on it, and rammed it through, along with another bill to give the government any additional spending authority it needs without parliamentary oversight for the duration of the suspension. Oh, but don’t worry – they’ve ensured that the Auditor General will keep an eye on things after the money has already been spent. Good job on ensuring that the barn door closes after the horses bolt, guys. You’ve totally got the whole gods damned point of Parliament down pat. There were far better options than a wholesale suspension and abrogation of the fundamental responsibility of parliamentarians, but that’s where we are. You get the slowest of slow claps for this particular move.

From then on, it was one after another. Chrystia Freeland and several ministers held a press conference to announce further measures, such as cautioning against all foreign travel, news that they were going to ensure that all international travellers were routed through a smaller number of airports in order to maximize the available resources of CBSA, and the suspension of cruise ship season. Then Justin Trudeau held a presser from outside of Rideau Cottage to update his own situation and to reiterate some of the same messages that were just delivered. And then Bill Morneau, the Governor of the Bank of Canada, and the Superintendent of Financial Institutions held a joint press conference to talk about immediate economic stimulus – including another surprise fifty-point basis cut from the key interest rate – and the promise of yet more fiscal measures to come next week (because they are likely operating flat out and need the weekend to pull the details together). Oh, and the budget date has been postponed until sometime after Parliament resumes, whenever that may be.

Meanwhile, Colby Cosh says that while we’re still awaiting the full impact of COVID-19, the rapid pace of technological development means that this could be the last major global pandemic. Chris Selley cautions about feeling too smug about our healthcare system under the current circumstances. Kevin Carmichael walks through some of the fiscal and monetary measures announced today, and offers thanks to the Bank of Canada for being the rock that Morneau and Trudeau have not been. Heather Scoffield is impressed by the coordination between Morneau, the Bank of Canada and OSFI in staving off “economic hibernation,” and hopes for similar cooperation in combatting COVID-19. Economists Armine Yalnizyan and Jennifer Robson have some suggestions for how to help workers affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Here’s a thread from Kevin Milligan on the use of EDC and BDC in these kinds of situation.

https://twitter.com/twitscotty/status/1238507963058438144

https://twitter.com/BrettEHouse/status/1238622110760800257

https://twitter.com/BrettEHouse/status/1238622115282157570

Good reads:

  • Justin Trudeau held a teleconference with the premiers, who are all enthusiastic about federal spending to stave off a fiscal crisis.
  • Trudeau also held a teleconference with First Nations, Inuit and Métis leaders, assuring them the government is prepared to help with COVID-19.
  • Canada is asking the UN for more time before implementing a ban on exporting plastic waste.
  • Canadian hostage Michael Kovrig was allowed a brief phone call to his ill father by his Chinese captors.
  • Federal civil servants are being asked to work from home if at all possible over the next few weeks.
  • It looks like Transport Canada was asking questions about the Boeing 737 Max back in 2016, before it was certified.
  • The Parliamentary Budget Officer calculated that the economic impact of the rail blockades amounted to a blip, and that there was a lot of overreaction.
  • In case you were worried, Seamus O’Regan has tested negative for COVID-19.
  • Kevin Carmichael ponders the possibility of a Newfoundland and Labrador bankruptcy and how it would affect Canada.
  • My weekend column talks about the politics of parliament suspending in the face of the pandemic.

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One thought on “Roundup: Suspension, and abrogation”

  1. I had asked about PMJT’s mom yesterday, but not because I had any intent of invading anyone’s privacy. A lot of people were genuinely concerned, because she was with Sophie in the U.K. and is in the high risk-factor age range. I saw later that she made a rare public statement, where she said she’s in self-isolation for protective reasons, because she’s elderly and has preexisting conditions, but not because she’s showing any symptoms.

    https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=1921965

    PMJT said at his presser that the kids were fine (which answers the question about Ella-Grace since she was traveling with mom and grandma), O’Regan has tested negative, and so far Margaret Trudeau is ok. That’s good. I hope Sophie gets better soon and PMJT stays healthy too. And you take care as well, Dale.

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