Roundup: The aftermath of coordinated social media posts

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It took only minutes from Pierre Poilievre’s ouster from the House of Commons during Question Period yesterday for the first boo-hoo fundraising email to be sent out to party donors, falsely claiming the reason why he was ejected as being “censorship” (it was because he did not respect the authority of the Speaker and refused to withdraw a remark when given four opportunities to do so), but it’s not like the truth has ever stopped Poilievre in the past. A few more minutes later, every Conservative MP started putting out tweets also giving a false version of what happened, and they used the word “whacko” over and over again, like toddlers, because of course they did.

The Liberals were quick to take to the microphone in the Foyer after QP, several in a row, denouncing Poilievre and his actions, and Marc Miller in particular used his talent for blunt speaking in disputing this narrative that Poilievre has somehow been “silenced,” and they quickly circulated the clip of him saying so as well—because everything is about the socials, and we all know it.

Meanwhile, you had journalists and every flavour of internet troll insisting that the word “whacko” had been used in the Chamber before, but the difference is that it hadn’t been directed to someone in the past, and that’s what makes it unparliamentary (and anyone who doesn’t get the difference doesn’t deserve to be on social media). It also looks like this was indeed the first time a leader of the opposition was named and expelled federally, but it has happened in provinces in the past, for what it’s worth.

Ukraine Dispatch:

Russian guided bombs targeted railway infrastructure in Kharkiv, killing at least one person. The death toll from the attack on the educational institution in Odesa also continued to climb.

Good reads:

  • Chrystia Freeland didn’t give a reason why the capital gains changes weren’t listed in the ways and means motion previewing the budget implementation bill.
  • Arif Virani says that pro-Palestinian protestors demonstrating outside his home (and calling him a bad Muslim) crossed a line.
  • As this round of plastic treaty negotiations wrapped up, Steven Guilbeault says that all options including production caps remain on the table.
  • It turns out that CSE did warn the House of Commons and Senate about that pixel hacking attack, and they determined no harm was done, so didn’t alert members.
  • The Environment Commissioner reported that the $8 billion Net Zero Accelerator Fund has largely been ignored by the country’s largest emitters.
  • The Commissioner also says that the liabilities for contaminated sites in the North is growing, and that they need to actually track their progress in reducing plastics.
  • NSIRA says that CSE needs to clearly spell out how its cyber-operations are operating within international law.
  • Questions have been raised about Randy Boissonnault’s former lobbying firm.
  • Here is more about Poilievre’s threats to use the Notwithstanding Clause to deny bail and impose harsher sentences, which the justice minister is calling out.
  • Poilievre’s speech to the Building Trades Union was full of complete nonsense about monetary policy and inflation, because of course it was.
  • The NDP are complaining that the government’s grocery task force has not yet conducted any investigations, nor do they have a mandate to enforce action.
  • Here’s a look at how the structural oversupply of carbon credits in Alberta’s carbon market are undermining efforts to decarbonise heavy industry.
  • Susan Delacourt looks at Poilievre’s ejection from QP, and the fact that it’s his overconfidence that winds up leading to his pattern of mistakes.
  • Paul Wells recounts Poilievre’s speech to the Building Trades Union (shortly before the drama in QP) and notes his liberal use of “facts” that don’t actually exist.
  • My column looks at the aftermath of that interpreter injury, and why I don’t think it will matter so long as MPs continue to treat interpretation staff like furniture.

Odds and Ends:

Colby Cosh looks at the drama in the Scottish parliament, and how their PR system has resulted in the first minister needing to step down.

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2 thoughts on “Roundup: The aftermath of coordinated social media posts”

  1. Feels like the Press Gallery is very “never let the truth get in the way of a good story” today. This can’t have been the first time in however many decades PP has been there that he was asked to withdraw an unparliamentary word by the Speaker and betting it was always on the first ask? Can only imagine what he was been called and safe bet those MPs withdrew whatever he/she said about him?

  2. PP will destroy himself.
    A year and a half is a long time to continue his disrespect and there are signs that his “edge” is starting to erode.

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