The theme of the day was set from the start of prime minister Justin Trudeau’s daily presser – that the military deployed to long-term care in Ontario had found troubling cases of abuse and neglect, and that Trudeau immediately forwarded on those concerns to premier Doug Ford. Trudeau then went on to talk about their contract with GM in Oshawa for more face masks, and spoke about the other partnerships for things like more ventilators and other equipment. Trudeau also spoke about funding up to 700 youth jobs in the agriculture sector, and that he was convening a meeting with the UN Secretary General and the prime minister of Jamaica as part of an international push to ensure poverty reduction as a result of the pandemic. During the Q&A, Trudeau was asked repeatedly about the request to fast-track the claims of asylum seekers who were working in long-term care facilities, and he spoke about trying to find flexibility (but apparently not about the fact that it’s hugely problematic that facilities are hiring these extremely low-wage and largely untrained workers). When asked about the pending Meng Wanzhou extradition verdict, he said that the great thing about our justice system is that governments don’t have to apologise for it. And when asked further about the report on those long-term care facilities, Trudeau reiterated that this was a provincial matter, but that the federal government needed to be “part of the conversation” going forward.

A short while later, Doug Ford released the report, then wrung his hands about how terrible it was, and how he vowed he was going to take action – kind of like he promised that they would ensure there was an “iron ring” around these facilities, and well, that didn’t exactly happen either. And he talked tough, saying that the people who ran these facilities could face charges, but his government did cut back on inspections, so he has to wear that one too. And while he mouthed the words about taking responsibility for the situation, in the same breath Ford blamed his predecessors, and then said he was going to need “federal help,” which translates to “I don’t want to have to pay to fix this,” and he wants to put this on the federal books instead of his own. Because that’s what always happens. The NDP opposition in Ontario was also making itself useless by demanding a full public inquiry, which won’t tell us anything we don’t already know, especially as we’ve just had another public inquiry on long-term care home deaths in this province, and it will simply be a justification to delay action, possibly permanently.

Meanwhile, the NDP and Greens voted in the House of Commons to prop up the Liberals’ motion to carry on with the useless “special committee” hearings rather than proper sittings of the Commons, which also included provisions that means that they will rubber-stamp some $150 billion in spending on June 17^th without a proper legislative or committee process, essentially abandoning their fundamental duties as MPs. Slow clap, guys. Slow clap.

Good reads:

• Here is more on that Joyce Murray/We-Chat group fundraising to sue a Global News journalist story that Scheer tried to capitalize on in QP yesterday.
• The government’s action plan in response to the MMIW Inquiry is being delayed because consultations are taking longer (not unexpectedly given the circumstances).
• Maryam Monsef says she is open to considering rural broadband to be declared a public utility in order to foster better access.
• Karina Gould announced $27 million in aid for Venezuelan refugees who are dealing with the pandemic.
• The PBO says that tax hikes are “unavoidable” if these emergency programmes aren’t wound down at some point. Erm, which I believe was always the plan.
• CSE is warning that certain totalitarian countries will be looking to put out new surveillance tools while claiming it’s about combatting the pandemic.
• Here is a look at a couple of asylum seekers who are working in essential jobs who are now facing deportation as the government mulls changes for Quebec.
• The CD Howe institute says that the country doesn’t have the fiscal capacity to withstand a second lockdown, and that a second wave will require targeted action.
• Maclean’s has compiled the economic re-start plans of the various provinces.
• There is consternation in the Green ranks as Elizabeth May has decided to help leadership candidates from minority groups fundraise (while remaining neutral).
• Heather Scoffield outlines the need for race-based data when it comes to the pandemic (which the federal government is reliant on the provinces to collect).
• Colby Cosh warns of the creeping Americanization that comes with the use of “First Lady” in Canada, and why this is a problem for the health of our system.
• My column delivers some righteous outrage over the state of Parliament, where the most important part – the Estimates – have been ignored in favour of questions.

Odds and ends:

My latest Loonie Politics video looks at the brief return of Parliament, and what is being missed when the government insists on sticking to the special committee.

Hey tweeps! Want to read #UnbrokenMachine while you’re social distancing? Here’s your chance to get it at 25% off. https://t.co/PpC4ovVe7S

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) March 23, 2020

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