I think it goes a little unappreciated at times as to just what a force of nature Chrystia Freeland can be. This weekend, we learned about her KGB file – wherein she was code-named “Frida” – from the time she was a university student on an exchange programme in Soviet Ukraine. She was ostensibly there to learn the language, but she was already fluent (she spoke it at home growing up, and still speaks it at home with her children), and instead spent much of her time organising local dissidents, and acting as a fixer for foreign journalists (which set up her later career). And along the way, she knew how to evade Soviet surveillance and send letters through the Canadian embassy in Moscow where the diplomatic pouches couldn’t be searched. The KGB was apparently not only worried about her, but impressed by her talents and felt she could have made a great spy.

Having read this, I was reminded of a debate that took place in the House of Commons in the waning days of the Harper government, when then-parliamentary secretary James Bezan was trying to minimise Freeland’s connection with Ukraine, and tried to make it sound as though Freeland was inventing it. (Remember that the Conservatives very much try to play up their connections with the Ukrainian diaspora community across the prairies, because they have votes there). Never mind that Freeland’s mother helped write Ukraine’s first post-Soviet constitution, but we have learned more about Freeland’s own activities in organising movements that helped bring down the Soviet presence in that country.

The fact that our deputy prime minister has this history is pretty interesting stuff, and all the more interesting as she is very likely to be the next prime minister of this country. Add to that, the fact that she is currently a persona non grata in Russia and the subject of sanctions by that country makes it all the more fascinating that she could soon be in charge of this country.

Good reads:

• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau started off the Thanksgiving long weekend by meeting with an Afghan refugee family.
• Harjit Sajjan has ordered an investigation after a Canadian Forces member under investigation was released from the military, and re-hired as a civilian contractor.
• Here is a further exploration of the need for better exercise of civilian oversight of our military by the defence minister.
• Oh, look – businesses that rely on exploitative labour practices are demanding an end to pandemic assistance programmes. Imagine that!
• Months after being admonished by the House of Commons, Iain Stewart has left PHAC to return to the National Research Council.
• Parks Canada is dealing with fixing up the grave sites of former prime ministers, and how to rewrite the “awareness panels” to better reflect their legacies.
• The Canadian Coast Guard will train British Royal Navy sailors on icebreakers.
• Here’s the tale of how HMCS Winnipeg resupplied HMS Queen Elizabeth with Earl Grey teabags after the British Royal Navy ship was running out.
• Here is an examination of the Bank of Canada’s upcoming mandate renewal, and what some of the alternatives to inflation targeting might be.
• The Star has a longread that spoke to 57 “insiders” from different parties to get a behind-the-scenes look at what happened during the election campaigns.
• The Conservative volunteer arrested for triple homicide in Trinidad and Tobago may have also been a suspect in the death threats against Peter MacKay.
• Defeated Conservative MP James Cumming says that his report on the campaign will include Erin O’Toole’s actions, but it won’t be made public.
• The examination of the NDP’s campaign has begun, and questions about resources for local riding associations are already being raised.
• Kevin Carmichael puts the good job numbers in context with the Bank of Canada’s forecasts and what it will mean for their guidance going forward.
• Ken Boessenkool and Jared Wesley offer a reminder about the national bargain that equalisation forms part of, as Jason Kenney’s bullshit referendum looms.
• Heather Scoffield looks to the jobs data and urges caution when it comes to scaling pack pandemic benefits as the recovery remains uneven.
• Chantal Hébert reads the federal election results and applies them to the political situation in Quebec, and François Legault overplaying his hand in trying to meddle.
• Supriya Dwivedi calls out the feel-good statement of solidary by media companies in the face of women and BIPOC journalists facing a wave of harassment.
• Colby Cosh contemplates the urban vs hinterland dynamic in vaccination rates.
• Robert Hiltz reminds us of who Doug Ford really is, as he prepares to make changes that will undermine workers’ compensation in Ontario.
• My weekend column rebuts the notion that open memberships will help save the Conservatives, as they are an evolutionary cul-de-sac in democracy.

Odds and ends:

In the spirit of giving, #GGMaySimon and Mr. Fraser helped serve meals and met with clients at the Ottawa Mission.

They share their thanks with all those #GivingBack to communities across Canada. pic.twitter.com/x3KQRA8wnd

— Governor General of Canada (@GGCanada) October 8, 2021

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