Roundup: Sanctimonious outrage over unsavoury characters

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There was another bout of sanctimonious outrage in the House of Commons yesterday as a notorious Holocaust-denier attended an event put on by MPs of the Canada-Palestine Parliamentary Friendship Group, and the Conservatives (and Melissa Lantsman in particular) demanded apologies and denunciations. While at least two Liberals, Salma Zahid and Omar Alghabra, denounced, there hasn’t been much of an apology, but noted that said denier was not invited, but that an open invitation went out to the Palestinian community and he was one of 150 or so who showed up. One would think that with a topic as sensitive as solidarity with the Palestinian people that there would have been more of an emphasis on ensuring that someone like this didn’t show up, but they didn’t. In QP, Alghabra was not incorrect in noting that they can’t control the attendance at every public event and that sometimes unsavoury people will show up, which is true—but again, you should know with an event like this that it’s going to attract certain characters, and to beware.

What is rich, however, is that when far-right extremists showed up at Pierre Poilievre’s rallies, or when he cavorted with the occupiers on Parliament Hill in February, or when he went on that walk with members of Diagalon, that he and his caucus insisted that he couldn’t be held to account for those people showing up. And lo, they have a different standard when it happens to others. It’s something of a pox on all their houses situation—the MPs who hosted the Palestinian event should have been more careful, and headed off trouble when they saw who showed up, while the Conservatives need to own when they were attracting extremists, and consorting with them. But I have little doubt that either side will own this, and the sanctimonious outrage will continue, back and forth from each side, in perpetuity.

Ukraine Dispatch, Day 282:

Russian shelling has taken out power in over a third of recently liberated Kherson, and Ukrainian officials are reiterating their call for civilians to relocate for the time being. Meanwhile, here’s a look at the grinding battle near Bakhmut, whose strategic importance is questioned, but nevertheless, the well-fortified Ukrainians are exacting a heavy toll from Russian forces, even though it is costing between 30 to 50 Ukrainian casualties per day.

Good reads:

  • The prime minister and other ministers were out across the country, showcasing that the dental care programme is now open (for children under twelve).
  • Mélanie Joly pledged another $1 million to the International Criminal Court to help investigators prosecute war crimes in Ukraine, particularly around sexual violence.
  • The new rules to guarantee ten paid sick days for federally-regulated workers came into effect yesterday, and boy are the NDP sore they’re not getting credit.
  • Global Affairs has summoned the Chinese ambassador to answer questions about the so-called Chinese “police stations” that have established themselves in Canada.
  • The deputy minister of defence says that plans were drawn up to prepare for the possibility of assisting with the occupation, but was not seriously considered.
  • The national security advisor says the government is preparing for a possible return of the extremists, grifters and conspiracy theorists who occupied Ottawa last year.
  • Correctional Services has been slow to rollout the needle exchange programme in federal prisons.
  • Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami has pulled out of their support for the federal government’s proposed reconciliation council, fearing it would impact their direct relationship.
  • Here’s a look at the difficulty of dealing with foreign interference, particularly during an election, because there are few tools available.
  • Psychiatric groups are calling on the government to delay implanting MAiD for mental illnesses alone, citing a need for better preparation and training.
  • Maclean’s interviews Supreme Court Justice Michelle O’Bonsawin.
  • The NDP are calling on the federal government to boycott any G20 activities that take place in the Kashmir region, because of human rights abuses there.
  • Those three PQ MNAs made a big show of being barred from the legislature for their refusal to swear their oath to the King of Canada.
  • Doug Ford says he won’t invoke the Notwithstanding Clause to restore his public sector wage cut bill, but he does intend to appeal it being struck down.
  • Business leaders in Alberta are concerned that the “Sovereignty Act” will drive business away. Gosh, you think?
  • Jennifer Robson, Tammy Schirle and Lindsay Tedds walk through the implementation problems of the kludge being called “dental care.”

Odds and ends:

For Xtra, I interviewed federal health minister Jean-Yves Duclos about their record on funding HIV organizations on the occasion of World AIDS Day.

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One thought on “Roundup: Sanctimonious outrage over unsavoury characters”

  1. Two things–Doug Ford (like Harper should have been forced to pay for attempted legal changes sought thru the Courts-instead of Parliament) should also pay to change laws, especially since no one has bothered to ask if his attempts are Constitutional.
    And where’s the outrage and firing of such a lame duck medic, who asked that any one not adhering to booster shot protocols, be labeled mentally ill (was it ?)? Seems this navel gazer should read up on the pile of lawsuits flowing from those in the know, about toxic side-effects and a litany of major disabling injuries caused by vaccines and boosters, said not to adhere to proper time-framed protocols. ..

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