Day one of Candice Bergen’s tenure as interim Conservative leader, and already the leaks have started. In particular, internal party emails have leaked that show Bergen advising Erin O’Toole not to tell the grifter convoy to leave (before it was a full-blown occupation), saying “I understand the mood may shift soon. So we need to turn this into the PM’s problem. What will he take the first step to working toward ending this?” There is no charitable way of reading this—it is beyond cynical politics, and this has far-reaching consequences.

Also starting to come to light are the behind-the-scenes dramas that led up to O’Toole’s ouster, and surprising nobody was the sense that most of the MPs lost count of the number of times O’Toole deceive them. A serial liar lying to his own caucus? Imagine that! As for Bergen’s elevation to interim leader, The Canadian Press talks to Rona Ambrose about her history with Bergen, and Ambrose’s belief that the caucus chose her because she is a “steady hand” (but apparently not enough have a problem with her courting the extremists).

Meanwhile, Matt Gurney hears from a member of O’Toole’s inner circle about what all went down. Jen Gerson despairsthat the Conservatives seem unwilling or incapable of making reasonable critiques of pandemic policies, and that they are neither as clever or politically savvy as they think they are. Althia Raj takes the optimistic route, that the party can attract social progressives and marginalise the social conservatives if they’re willing to put in the work to do so (which is true!).

Grifter Occupation: Day 8

The occupation carries on, torturing the citizens of Ottawa with their noise and belligerence, and Ottawa police continue to be useless, particularly as the grifters started building a structure near Confederation Park, complete with a row of propane bottles and other flammable cannisters that police have failed to shut down. Marco Mendicino announced that the RCMP received an official request from the city for personnel, and that request had been approved, not that they seem to be willing to do anything with them, as competing groups of anti-vax extremists and QAnon cultists have now arrived on the scene. At the same time, Anita Anand has been forced to point out that the military is not a police force, and I cannot believe we have to keep having this discussion.

https://t.co/XMJZpcgEdb

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) February 3, 2022

“These are operational decisions taken by the police, independent of government.” https://t.co/Q4ejqQ5z6M

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) February 4, 2022

Meanwhile, can we please not be writing news stories that make it sound like the government should be negotiating with these grifters? Their stated goal is to overturn democracy. You cannot negotiate with that kind of lunacy, not to mention the fact that their other demand—the complete removal of all COVID public health measures—are almost entirely at the provincial and municipal levels, and the federal government can do nothing about them. Again, there is nothing to negotiate. Please stop trying to make it sound like it’s a viable option.

https://twitter.com/EmmMacfarlane/status/1489437988136361985

I am once again here to remind you that Ottawa’s entire city centre is blockaded by heavy machinery and residential areas are being subjected to deafening, all-day air horns. I don’t know what the enforcement answer is, but this is simply not analogous to a park camp. https://t.co/NdBzn9qd3j

— Brian Platt (@btaplatt) February 4, 2022

Good reads:

• The government has clarified the wording of the Order-in-Council that mandates vaccinations for cross-border truckers, after the confusion a few weeks ago.
• The government did not table their revised online harms bill within the promised “first 100 days” because they are still working with experts to improve it.
• The government is giving $18 million over four years to community groups who will help people navigate the process for applying for criminal pardons.
• The Canadian Forces have kicked out fifty-eight service members for refusing vaccinations, and are starting release proceedings for 246 others.
• The Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion is billions of dollars over budget and over a year late because of COVID and poor weather conditions.
• There are legitimate questions as to why the head of the CRTC hasn’t recused himself from internet pricing decisions given his cosy relationship with Bell’s CEO.
• The Commons public safety committee is calling GoFundMe’s executives to explain how they ensure they don’t raise funds for antisemitism, white supremacy or hate.
• The phones have been ringing for a number of would-be candidates for the next Conservative leadership race.
• Stephen Saideman outlines the practice of “outbidding” that the Conservatives are engaged in when it comes to trying to sidle up to extremists.
• Adnan Khan worries that the Taliban are on the verge of de facto international legitimation after talks aimed at assisting Afghanisan with food aid.
• Heather Scoffield notes the increasing adoption of “modern supply side economics,” and wishes the Conservatives could be credible opposition voices instead of cranks.

Odds and ends:

For Xtra, I explain the government’s announcement on renewing the LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund for another year.

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