Roundup: Abusing authority to summon the RCMP Commissioner

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The abuse and beclowning of House of Commons committees continues apace, as the Conservatives tried to use the Access to Information, Ethics, and Privacy Committee to re-litigate the SNC-Lavalin scandal after Astroturf group Democracy Watch floated some bullshit last week about how the RCMP said they couldn’t investigate if a crime occurred because they were denied access to Cabinet-confidential documents. Never mind that no crime was ever alleged, but this was more than enough for the Conservatives to try to resurrect this dead horse, and they did so by the committee chair abusing his position to bring the head of the RCMP to testify at committee. The other parties at committee, however, were having none of this because of the abuse of procedure, and shut down the meeting, to howls of outrage by Conservatives who wanted their dog and pony show for the cameras.

https://twitter.com/MonaFortier/status/1716549067180736827

We’ll likely see said RCMP Commissioner invited back in a proper fashion in the next week or two, because the Bloc have stated that they want to hear from him, but with proper notice and preparation, so they’ll get their dog and pony show eventually. It won’t do them much good—the Commissioner told CBC on his way out of the building that there was nothing to tell, that the RCMP was satisfied that there wasn’t anything illegal once they did their due diligence, even if they couldn’t get those documents. It won’t satisfy the Conservatives or Democracy Watch, who will continue to allege conspiracies and dark deeds, and howl at the moon about cover-ups, because that’s how they get attention. (But seriously, media outlets—stop quoting Democracy Watch. They actually have no credibility and it’s a sign of lazy reporting if you rely on their quotes as a crutch).

Ukraine Dispatch:

Ukrainian forces say they shot down 14 drones and a cruise missile attacking the country’s south and east, but falling debris damaged a warehouse in Odesa. Russian forces pressed their attack on Avdiivka in the east, and Kupiansk, further north.

Good reads:

  • Mélanie Joly talked to the media about Canada’s hopes for a de-escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict, but won’t use the term “ceasefire.”
  • The G7 “Rapid Response Mechanism” has tracked a Chinese “spamouflage” attack against Canadian politicians, most especially Justin Trudeau. (Examples here).
  • Sean Fraser says the Fall Economic Statement will have more housing plans, and is talking about an “industrial strategy” around pre-fabricated buildings.
  • Anita Anand says the government will appoint a panel to design a “restorative engagement program” to tackle racism, violence and harassment in the civil service.
  • Dominic LeBlanc shrugged off criticism of the gun control bill at a Senate committee, saying that most of the concerns about it have been addressed in the final version.
  • Canada’s Chief Accessibility Officer is furious after Air Canada forgot her wheelchair (and I hope she rains holy hellfire down upon them).
  • CSIS Director David Vigneault says that several Chinese acquisitions were blocked because they were for land close to strategic assets that they didn’t want surveilled.
  • The CEO of VIA Rail wants priority on freight rail lines, and a passenger bill of rights that could fine freight rail companies if they delay VIA trains.
  • Pierre Poilievre is blaming Justin Trudeau for the state of relations with India, as though there is a “professional” way for them to perform an extrajudicial killing.
  • Jagmeet Singh wants a meeting with Trudeau to discuss pushing a ceasefire in Gaza.
  • Ontario MPP Sarah Jama was ousted from the NDP caucus, and then censured by the legislature for her statements supporting Palestinians.
  • Kathryn May interviews new Clerk of the Privy Council, John Hannaford, who is the first Gen-Xer in the role.
  • Kevin Carmichael talks about his move to The Logic and the era of mass disruption that we find ourselves in.

Odds and ends:

My Loonie Politics Quick Take looks at how the Public Accounts committee has become a symptom of how deeply unserious our Parliament has declined to.

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