Roundup: “Credible allegations” of an assassination on Canadian soil

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It was an unexpected moment after Question Period, when Justin Trudeau returned to the House of Commons, and took advantage of the Statements by Ministers slot in Routine Proceedings to speak on an issue of “national security,” and revealed that credible intelligence from Canadian agencies has found that an agent of the Indian government was likely responsible for the murder of a Sikh leader in British Columbia several months ago. Other opposition leaders expressed their shock, and support for the government in this—being unusually less dickish than usual (until they denied Elizabeth May her own opportunity to speak—the dickishness resumed at that point). It also sounds like the timing of this announcement was earlier than anticipated—the Globe and Mail got a leak and went to confirm it with the government, and were asked if they could hold off publishing for a week, and the Globe said they had 24 hours, so Trudeau was forced to do this now, and not after he returned from the UN General Assembly.

https://twitter.com/StephanieCarvin/status/1703856088238416330

https://twitter.com/StephanieCarvin/status/1703879668842016904

Shortly thereafter, Mélanie Joly and Dominic LeBlanc scrummed in the Foyer and said that a high-ranking Indian diplomat was expelled from the country, and it sounds like the government is considering further measures in the near future. It also sounds like this was being discussed at the G20 meeting in India last week, as both the head of CSIS and Trudeau’s National Security Advisor were on the trip, and suddenly the frostiness with Narendra Modi and the cancelled trade mission make so much more sense, being as this was being pursued in back channels during the summit, not only with Indian officials but also with allied countries including the US and the UK.

For background, here is what we know about the victim, and the timeline of events surrounding the murder. India, predictably, refutes this.

Ukraine Dispatch:

There have been Russian attacks on both Lviv in the west and Kherson in the south. Ukrainian forces say they breached Russian lines near Bakhmut in the east, and have reclaimed two more villages. Six deputy defence ministers were fired, possibly in relation to a corruption scandal.

Good reads:

  • As part of an interview airing today, Justin Trudeau admits the government could and should have moved faster on making housing a priority.
  • Here’s a look at Trudeau’s priorities at the UN General Assembly this week.
  • After a few hours of performative speeches, the House of Commons passed the bail reform bill at all stages. (It may actually get scrutiny in the Senate).
  • The government hasn’t provided a timeline for when they expect to table their foreign agent registry legislation.
  • François-Philippe Champagne had his theatrical meeting with the grocery chain CEOs, where they agreed to work toward stabilising prices. (Good luck with that).
  • Gary Anandasangaree met with the families of the Indigenous women whose remains are believed to be in a Winnipeg landfill, but left them disappointed.
  • There are now over 57,000 complaints at the Canadian Transportation Agency to do with airlines and demands for compensation.
  • The interim ethics commissioner, Konrad von Finckenstein, appeared at committee and explained the delay in taking the job (He went on a 40-day cruise).
  • A declassified joint RCMP-CSIS report shows they were concerned about Chinese foreign interference 25 years ago.
  • Here is a look at the state of Line 5 litigation in Wisconsin.
  • The Ontario Superior Court upheld the Harper-era sex work laws after a constitutional challenge from sex workers.
  • Jen Gerson notes that Danielle Smith doesn’t appear to have taken any lessons from the E. coli outbreak at Walkerton that hurt the Harris government in Ontario.
  • Althia Raj gives her take on the first QP back from the summer break.

Odds and ends:

For National Magazine, I preview the fall sitting of Parliament including giving a full rundown of government bills on the Order Paper.

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