Roundup: Self-harm by way of platitude

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I try not to make a habit of re-litigating my Twitter disputes in this space, but in this particular case, I find it’s a perfect illustration of how this government’s inability to communicate its way out of a wet paper bag, and why that harms them. To wit: A Global News piece declares that Trudeau won’t commit to ending boil-water advisories on First Nations by 2021 as is the current promise. It uses the recent evacuation at Neskatanga First Nation as an illustration of problems with boil-water advisories. It quotes Trudeau giving a bland talking point about “more work to do,” and way down at the bottom of the story is reference to the fact that in Neskatanga, not only has money been approved and delivered, but the new water treatment facility is nearly completed construction.

So why is this a problem for the government? Because if they had the slightest bit of candour, they could have explained that capital projects like these take time, particularly in the kinds of remote and fly-in communities like these particular First Nations. Twitter is filled with people who are seriously asking why the government hasn’t solved these issues if they’re showering money around, without having the slightest clue about what he actual problems with these boil water advisories are, and accustomed to situations where they can simply throw money at a problem and it will go away. That’s not the case, and not understanding the logistical and capacity issues at play means that we get this ongoing confusion. For example, many of these reserves are only accessible to bring equipment up with ice roads for a couple of months of the year, which slows the ability to make timely solutions. (This is also an issue with housing on many reserves – small windows by which to bring in building supplies, and those windows are getting ever shorter because of climate change). This has been made even worse in the pandemic, because many communities won’t let the people who are building these new facilities into the community in an attempt to keep COVID out (which Trudeau made vague reference to, but folded it into his platitude so it gets lost). In some communities, it’s not a question of the equipment but of maintenance – as soon as they find and train someone local to do the work, they get headhunted and given a better offer, and the community has to start over again, as the equipment once again breaks down. And it would be great if Trudeau or one of his ministers could actually articulate these challenges, but they won’t. Instead, they fall back on their platitudes about “doing better,” and not giving people a clue about what the actual challenges are.

The government also assumes that these reporters will do the work to find out what the challenges are, but they won’t. Pressed for time, and under the constant pressure to produce, most of them will only both-sides the quotes and move on (as happened in this particular case). Most don’t understand the background or the actual challenges, so it doesn’t get reported – only the platitudes in face of the complaints. Actual candour from Trudeau and the Cabinet would fix this – easily! But they won’t do it. It’s maddening, and they’re just shooting themselves in the foot, over, and over, and over again.

Good reads:

  • The head of the immunity task force is concerned the Health committee motion before the Commons will be a big distraction for bureaucrats in the second wave.
  • The federal government has appointed a special representative to help quell the fishery dispute, but Mi’kmaq chief Mike Sack says he has other priorities.
  • The government has been sitting on a report that details how low-income households are most tax disadvantaged when they attempt to increase earnings.
  • Here is a lengthy exploration of the secrecy that surrounds “Havana syndrome” which affected Canadian and American embassy staff in Havana.
  • NATO is launching a space service as a kind of defensive posture over Russia and China targeting satellites – but we have no idea what role Canada may play.
  • Because we’re now in a tit-for-tat game of snitching, Patty Hajdu says the photo of her maskless in the airport was when she was eating.
  • Hilariously, Erin O’Toole told Alberta’s UCP convention that Alberta responded better to the pandemic than the federal government. No, seriously.
  • The BC NDP won a majority in this weekend’s election, but the seat count may not be finalized for a couple of weeks as they count all of the mail-in ballots.
  • Kevin Carmichael suggests that Canada needs to return to the role as an honest broker internationally as the global economic order is reorienting itself.
  • Chantal Hébert evaluates the NDP’s electoral calculus as they propped up the government in last week’s confidence vote, and those that are upcoming.

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4 thoughts on “Roundup: Self-harm by way of platitude”

  1. I am quite sure that if the Liberals explained in great detail why there was a lot of difficulties in getting these boil water advisories removed the opposition, especially Conservatives, would rail that it was just excuses. This particular slant would be repeated ad nausea in MSM many times but what the Liberal said would be reported once or twice maybe and then the story would be dumped.

  2. In much the same way as the U.S. Democrats, Trudeau and the Liberals are incredibly naive when it comes to the “free press.” It’s worse than just both-sidesing or access journalism. They actively put their thumb on the scale for the Cons, on one hand because they’re afraid that being fair amounts to “liberal bias” and on another, because they’re biased for the Cons themselves. In the U.S. the old saying about this double standard is IOKIYAR, or It’s OK If You’re a Republican. The phrase still fits in Canada, but the “R” in this case stands for “Reformacon.” I never thought I’d agree with Trump on anything, and in his case it’s obviously projection (because the media *created* that monster), but the fake news really is the enemy of the people. They get paid ridiculous sums to just be stenographers for the party of their corporate ownership and not bother to do actual homework.

  3. Every government gives milquetoast replies to ongoing difficult issues because the know that most voters don’t pay much attention to them. It is particularly galling that the Federal Government in particular hasn’t understood that the elimination of these issues for First Nations would go far in the search for reconciliation. At least the current government for all its faults is head and shoulders above the conservatives who historically have treated First Nations in a mean and dismissive manner. There must be a complete reset of the way Canada administers their affairs. Countless billions are spent every year and there never seems to be any real change in their lot. Perhaps the answer is to convince northern bands to create settlements in less remote areas which would allow them to create sustainable businesses for their survival. The truth is that many reserves have no businesses, industries or sustainable means to continue. It is time for First Nations and the Federal government to face facts. The average Canadian has no idea how many taxpayer dollars are wasted every year. Perhaps it would be good if pundits and the government would state the dollar figure and outline the way the money is being spent and the benefits derived. Perhaps the conservatives would like to examine this issue. Somehow I don’t think they would want to open up that box! The thought of O’Toole addressing this issue with his toady Poilievre makes one shudder.

  4. Pingback: QP: Demanding an answer on provincial measures | Routine Proceedings

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