Roundup: Oh noes! Diplomatic residences!

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The absolute worst instincts in Canadian politics—and Canadian political journalism—are being indulged, being that of hairshirt parsimony. This time it’s about the decision by Global Affairs to purchase a new condo in New York for the consul general, because the current residence is no longer fit for purpose, and it’s cheaper to buy a new one than to refurbish the existing residence, and the new unit is expected to come with additional savings in terms of other maintenance costs. But lo, it’s worth about CAD$9 million, so immediately we need to frame this as being “luxurious” and “elite” while Canadians can’t find places to live.

It’s a diplomatic residence in New York. Real estate is expensive there, but it’s important to have a residence where our diplomats can entertain, because that’s what diplomacy is and diplomacy costs money. Nevertheless, there is a pervasive (and poisonous) attitude in the Canadian discourse that the Elder Pundits nevertheless reinforce is that spending money on this kind of thing is terrible, and there is an absolute attitude (which was more prevalent during the Conservative years) that Ritz Crackers and ginger ale is good enough for a church social, so it’s good enough for diplomats, which makes us as much of a laughingstock internationally as the prime minister’s (former) decrepit plane did, and they only just retired that one. And it’s why the media keeps indulging astroturfers like the “CTF” who phone them up to complain that the embassy in Tokyo wasn’t furnished by IKEA. (No, seriously). It’s absolutely ridiculous.

Of course, when I tweeted about this, all everyone complained about was Bob Fife which largely misses the point, other than the fact that he is one of the voices of the Elder Pundits, who must enforce the set narratives. Others went back as far so the Duffy Diaries to suggest that Fife is grinding some kind of axe with Tom Clark because he spilled that Duffy was leaking information to the press and Duffy complained to Fife (then the bureau chief) and the president of CTV about it, but that doesn’t make any sense either because Fife is amoral, and only cares about the scoops, not about the ramifications. (Seriously, did you see him get misty-eyed when he told Vassy Kapelos that he doesn’t like being called “Fife the Knife”?) What’s more concerning is that Andrew Scheer started going around saying that this purchase is furthering “Liberal insiders,” which is patent bullshit, but every story was going to reprint that because both-sides.

Ukraine Dispatch

Six people were killed and thirteen injured in a Russian missile attack on the town of Myrnohrad in the Donetsk region. Reuters profiles president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and how the war has changed him.

Good reads:

  • Chrystia Freeland denies that there’s any friction between her and Trudeau or the PMO (because we’re now in the part of the summer chasing dumb rumours).
  • The Federal Court hearing between Saskatchewan and the CRA was cancelled as the parties are attempting to negotiate a solution.
  • The Supreme Court of Canada released written reasons for a ruling from the bench back in February on a death related to a choke hold removing someone from a party.
  • Oh noes! Some recent Senate appointees have provincial legislative experience and *gasp* have donated to the Liberals before! Quelle horreur!
  • Pierre Poilievre went to Montreal to attack the mayor, promise to close safe consumption sites, and say dumb things about Trudeau at the NATO summit.
  • The Star got more of the backroom details in the Green Party’s governance turmoil in trying to change their leadership rules to allow for co-leaders.
  • Shannon Proudfoot gets a first-hand look at Depot, where RCMP cadets are trained.
  • Philippe Lagassé makes note of Trudeau’s tone of frustration as his NATO spending announcements didn’t win him much in the way of applause.

Odds and ends:

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