Roundup: Evading a direct question with fiery rhetoric

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Yesterday’s press conference with the prime minister and US president was the first opportunity to ask Justin Trudeau about the allegations made against MP Han Dong, and whether he believed them. Trudeau said that he accepts that Dong left caucus to fight the allegations, prompted people to watch Dong’s speech in the House of Commons, and then went on a tear about how any foreign interference was unnecessary, and it was why the G7 meeting at Charlevoix set up the Rapid Response Mechanism to deal with it in elections. And it sounded like the kind of answer he should have been giving three weeks ago when he was simply flailing, until you stopped to realise that he didn’t actually answer the question, but sidestepped it with the rhetoric. So that’s a choice.

Meanwhile, here is an interesting deep dive thread into what the Globe and Mail published on Thursday night, and the subtle shade they were throwing at Global about the decision not to print allegations they could not confirm without seeing the transcript of the alleged call or listen to audio. I still think it’s interesting that this seems to confirm that the same source appears to be shopping leaks to both outlets.

Stephanie Carvin answers some questions about the kinds of warrants that could be in play as it appears that CSIS was monitoring the calls of the Chinese consulate.

https://twitter.com/StephanieCarvin/status/1639255538021339136

Former national security analyst Dennis Molinaro gives a good gut-check about the kinds of intelligence we’re dealing with, and why none of it can be taken as conclusive, particularly as much of it is time and context specific, which may be why it wasn’t acted upon at the time.

https://twitter.com/dennismolin11/status/1639402944708632576

And finally, while some are hoping that a public inquiry might stop the leaks, I wouldn’t be so sure. The leaks are intended to cause damage, but to the government in particular, and that’s partly why they are being shopped to the journalists that they are. That they are causing damage to the intelligence service and institutions seems to be considered collateral damage, particularly if the op-ed from last week is indicative of a narcissistic personality who thinks they know better.

Ukraine Dispatch:

Russian forces attacked stretches along the northern and southern fronts in the Donbas region, as their assault on Bakhmut has flagged. Ukrainian forces are using three Soviet-era helicopters to pummel Russian forces on the front lines from afar. Slovakia has delivered the first four of 13 MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine. The UN’s human rights monitors have seen cases of abuses and killing of prisoners of war on both sides of the conflict (though disproportionately more on the Russian side).

Good reads:

  • Here is a recap of the day’s events, from the paucity of announcements (particularly on Buy America), the and the fact that Canada is not biting on a mission to Haiti.
  • Here are three issues discussed, and four light-hearted moments of the day.
  • The announcement on the renegotiated Safe Third Country Agreement—which was actually signed last year—could make the border problem even worse.
  • Treasury Board put out a statement that said that not all of the McKinsey & Company contracts were done in compliance with the rules.
  • The federal government, British Columbia and the Splatsin First Nation signed a child and family services agreement.
  • The Canadian Press goes to Han Dong’s riding to hear what people think of the allegations and his stepping out of caucus (and most want more details).
  • During his pull-aside with Joe Biden, Pierre Poilievre’s demand was to allow unvaccinated Canadians to cross the border into the US. (Really?)
  • One of Doug Ford’s ministers (who failed her way through the pandemic as long-term care minister) abruptly quit and resigned her seat yesterday.
  • The Ontario government is cutting back on how many eye services for seniors they are covering out of public health funds. (Seriously?)
  • Toronto is seeking a drug decriminalisation agreement similar to the one in BC, but which would include youth, whereas BC’s is limited to people 18 or older.
  • Alberta may have to return $130 million in federal funds that were intended to help clean up abandoned oil and gas wells but didn’t get spent.
  • Alberta’s finance and environment ministers both declared today that they’re not running again in the May election.
  • Artur Wilczynski outlines why he thinks a public inquiry into foreign interference is necessary, given how much damage the leaks are doing.
  • Justin Ling gives his recounting of efforts by Russian diplomatic staff to feed him disinformation as part of their own foreign interference campaigns.
  • Shannon Proudfoot gives her sketch of Biden’s visit.
  • Susan Delacourt tries to quantify Trudeau’s relationship with Biden in relation to previous presidents.
  • My weekend column points to how we are now into the witch-hunt part of the foreign interference allegations, where people can’t defend themselves.

Odds and ends:

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