Roundup: You’re not going to get a royal recommendation

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Another day, and another warning from the Speaker that a private member’s bill is going to need a royal recommendation before the final vote, and it won’t get it, so be prepared to waste everyone’s time on a doomed bill that won’t go anywhere. This is becoming increasingly routine in this parliament, where MPs keep advancing these bills that have no hope of passage up for debate, apparently because they want to be seen talking about the issue, and maybe shaming the government for not supporting it, as with this particular bill on enhancing OAS and GIS benefits for seniors between 65 and 74 (ignoring that they are enriched for seniors over 75 because many of them have exhausted their savings by that point).

But seriously—a private member’s bill cannot spend money. Only a government bill can do so, because they’re the government, and they need that expenditure approved by Parliament. This is fundamental to how parliamentary democracy works. These clear delineations in roles exists for a reason, and the role of MPs who are not in Cabinet is to hold Cabinet to account, and the primary way to do that is through the power of the public purse. You cannot hold them to account if you too are spending public money with abandon because you have at that point blurred the responsibilities and the lines of accountability. This shouldn’t be difficult for MPs to learn and grasp, but unfortunately, they have picked up a lot of bad habits and wrong-headed beliefs over the past number of years, and it’s becoming quite obvious that they either refuse to learn how the Chamber and the institution work, or they simply don’t care and would rather waste everyone’s time.

Ukraine Dispatch:

The Ukrainian commander in the ruins of Bakhmut says that Russian Wagner Group mercenaries have stepped up their attacks in recent days, while Russia is denying claims that Ukrainian forces have made advancements in Bakhmut over the past couple of days. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that the spring counter-offensive is being delayed because they need more western weapons. This while the UK has opted to send newer cruise missiles to Ukraine, who have the longest range of any of their arsenal to date. Zelenskyy also says he has approved a plan to reform criminal and law enforcement systems, which is a requirement for future EU membership.

https://twitter.com/defencehq/status/1656535955338063873

Good reads:

  • Justin Trudeau met with the president of Moldova, and pledged sanctions against groups in her country aiding Russia, as well as sending judges to help them.
  • The fast-tracked bill to accelerate the “grocery rebate” and increased health transfers has now received royal assent, and payments will flow this summer.
  • Bill Blair says that military help is on the way to Alberta to respond to their wildfire situation.
  • The legislation for the foreign agents registry will likely be tabled either before the Commons rises for the summer, or shortly after they return in autumn.
  • A draft national disaster risk assessment report suggests that a major earthquake could become the most costly natural disaster faced by Canada.
  • A memo from PMPRB says that drug companies weren’t engaging in meaningful consultations…but the NDP thinks this is “proof” that the minister was covering.
  • The Star got a (redacted) copy of the government’s report on the lessons learned from the chaotic evacuation from Kabul when it fell to the Taliban.
  • Government lawyers are arguing in Federal Court that they’re not responsible for danger faced by those in Afghanistan waiting to come to Canada.
  • One year after the Arbour Report, there is frustration at the slow pace of change within the military in addressing the recommendations that were made.
  • Because there is a spike in sexual misconduct cases in December, the military is considering limiting alcohol at holiday functions.
  • The military has also “lost access” to documents related to a proposed behaviour modification course they were running, dealing in influence operations.
  • It was the “March for Life” (aka Catholic high school students getting bussed into Ottawa for a day off) yesterday, and Poilievre was not present or endorsed.
  • The Financial Post has a lengthy profile of the Commissioner of Competition, Matthew Boswell.
  • Here is a deeper dive into the new bill on eliminating child labour in supply chains.
  • Jenni Byrne, former Conservative campaign manager, says that she wasn’t briefed about foreign interference in 2011 or 2015, but tried to deflect and talk about Tides.
  • There is no resolution to the snow crab fishery dispute in Newfoundland and Labrador and the proposal was rejected.
  • The Alberta Energy Regulator is issuing a notice of non-compliance to Imperial Oil for more seepages from their tailings ponds affecting water in the area.
  • Susan Delacourt wonders why there isn’t as much concern about home-grown threats to politicians as there has been over foreign interference.

Odds and ends:

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