Roundup: Ford omitting the accountability part

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Justin Trudeau met with Doug Ford at Queen’s Park yesterday, and Ford says that they are on the same page about the urgent need for healthcare reform, and that the status quo isn’t working. But what I find interesting is that Ford didn’t go into any details, the prime minister did put out a readout of the meeting later in the evening, and yes, healthcare was mentioned, but in a somewhat different context than what Ford told reporters after the meeting”

“They also spoke about pressures on the healthcare system and the importance of funding and accountability to deliver for Canadians. The prime minister emphasised that the Government of Canada is committed to continue working with provinces and territories to support public health systems that deliver quality healthcare for all Canadians.”

The use of accountability stood out for me, because this is what the federal government is pushing—ensuring that any future health transfers go to the healthcare system, and not a tax cut or to pad a province’s surplus like they did with the billions of dollars in pandemic aid that provinces were given. The premiers continue to balk at this, but we’re not all blind and dumb, and we can see them rolling around in money (Alberta and BC both announced higher-than-anticipated surpluses), so them not investing in their own healthcare systems when they obviously have the money to do so is not going to endear them to the federal government as these talks continue.

Ukraine Dispatch, Day 188:

The supposed counter-attack around Kherson has seen explosions of ammo dumps and bridges, but it remains difficult to see what is going on there. Russia claims they repelled the attack and caused hundreds of casualties, but they have lied about absolutely everything in this whole invasion thus far, so they are unlikely to be reliable sources. Russian forces elsewhere continued shelling the port of Kykolaiv, as well as Kharkiv in the north. Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors will need to cross an active battlefield to reach the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.

Good reads:

  • Justin Trudeau will lead a small Cabinet shuffle today, with sources saying one of the moves involves Filomena Tassi.
  • While making a housing announcement, Trudeau also reiterated the promise to “completely review” the funding of that antisemitic “anti-racism” consultant.
  • The RCMP say they are investigating the incident of Chrystia Freeland being accosted in Grande Prairie (but I highly doubt any charges will be laid).
  • Here is a reality check on the proposed fertilizer emission reduction plan.
  • Here is a deep dive into the proposed online harms legislation, which the minister says they are continuing to consult about in order to “get it right.”
  • A former Liberal MP is disappointed that his old caucus colleagues aren’t speaking out against the antisemitic statements made by that “anti-racism” consultant.
  • The Green Party leadership candidates will be announced today, and Elizabeth May is among them, running to be a co-leader with Jonathan Pedneault.
  • Nova Scotia’s attempt to avoid a carbon price when their current cap-and-trade system expires has been nixed by Steven Guilbeault, who says a price is mandatory.
  • Colby Cosh takes on the moral panic around the veteran who was allegedly offered MAiD by his Veterans Affairs caseworker, and the logical conclusions to the claims.

Odds and ends:

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