Roundup: Ford tries to escape testifying

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Some drama is emerging from the Emergencies Act public inquiry, as we find out that Doug Ford and Sylvia Jones, his then-solicitor general, have refused to be interviewed by the Commissioner, and have refused to testify before it. Recall that just last week, Doug Ford said that he hadn’t been asked to testify when asked (because it makes no sense that he and Jones were not on the list). Well, today, we found out that they were asked, they refused, and now the Commissioner plans to summon them, but Ford intends to challenge that summons under the rubric of parliamentary privilege, which would seem to me to be abusing it, but there you have it.

https://twitter.com/SkinnerLyle/status/1584624171598086145

Meanwhile, the acting Ottawa police chief was testifying, and it was a lot more of the same when it comes to police not taking the threat of an occupation seriously, and them essentially ignoring the intelligence that was being forwarded to them, and lo, these “protesters” turned into an illegal occupation. There was also an email filed from RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki who said that they hadn’t exhausted all tools before the Act was invoked, for what that’s worth.

https://twitter.com/StephanieCarvin/status/1584574961339203586

https://twitter.com/aballinga/status/1584612932595638275

Ukraine Dispatch, Day 243:

Ukrainian officials are claiming greater success in shooting down drones attacking electrical infrastructure, but worries are now that Russia will try to detonate a “dirty bomb” within their territory as they have essentially announced the intention to do so and blame it on the Ukrainians doing it to frame Russia. If it wasn’t such a terrifying prospect, it would be really, really stupid. Meanwhile, doctors in the country are worried about spending the winter months in the basements of hospitals as electrical systems are under attack.

Good reads:

  • Anita Anand has appointed a former executive from the Auditor General’s office to oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the Arbour Report.
  • Environment Canada posted and then removed an air quality warning related to fireworks for Diwali celebrations.
  • The Chief of Defence Staff got a legal opinion that a mandatory COVID vaccine policy may not constitute legal orders, but went ahead with it anyway.
  • The size of the civil service increased over the pandemic—but more than half have been temporary positions, and there are departments facing backlogs.
  • The Competition Bureau will be undertaking a study of grocery pricing practices.
  • Here is the Canada Angle™ on Rishi Sunak becoming the next UK prime minister.
  • The veterans affairs committee heard more testimony about a single caseworker who advocated MAiD for certain veterans.
  • Three current Liberal MPs are considering a run for the provincial leadership.
  • Here is a look at how the Alberta NDP are trying to reach out to disaffected conservatives who are unhappy with the direction their party has gone.
  • Former Liberal MP Anita Neville has been sworn-in as Manitoba’s new Lieutenant Governor.
  • Danielle Smith continues to have a normal one as she rants about the World Economic Forum and wants the province to “cut ties.” (It’s a bloody talk shop!)
  • The NWT government says that vandalism to fuel hoses are responsible for cancelling barge trips to remote communities.
  • Althia Raj wonders what Doug Ford has to hide if he’s trying this hard to avoid testifying at the Emergencies Act public inquiry.

Odds and ends:

My Loonie Politics Quick Take explains some of the options available to the UCP caucus if they need to dump Danielle Smith in a hurry.

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One thought on “Roundup: Ford tries to escape testifying”

  1. “The Chief of Defence Staff got a legal opinion that a mandatory COVID vaccine policy may not constitute legal orders, but went ahead with it anyway” The story had more about what went into his decision. Your comment was a bit flip.

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