Roundup: Another vice-regal safeguard?

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As the security clearance discourse carries on, we remain confronted by the false notions that Pierre Poilievre is unable to receive a clearance, rather than the fact that he is unwilling, using the false claim that it’s somehow a “trap” to keep him from criticising the government. It’s not, there’s plenty of opportunity for him to criticise the government while being fully briefed, but as is the tradition with Canadian politicians, they have long preferred not to know because then they would have to be responsible in their commentary rather than bombastic, or as the Beaverton aptly put it, he would have to lie just slightly less than he already does.

Nevertheless, this turns to the question of what would happen if someone were to become prime minister, or at least win an election, where there are genuine security concerns about them? Well, Philippe Lagassé has an answer for that, and it lies in the reserve powers of the Governor General.

He makes a crucial point that it would be beyond the pale for CSIS and the RCMP to somehow have the veto over the appointment of a prime minister, but the discretion of the Governor General could conceivably be the constitutional fire extinguisher in such a case. It’s extremely unlikely to ever happen, but nevertheless, it’s a good thought exercise to consider given the times we live in.

Ukraine Dispatch

A Russian missile struck a residential district in Odesa on Friday, but there were no casualties. Residents in Kupiansk are fleeing ahead of a Russian advance in the area. Both Russia and Ukraine swapped 95 prisoners each in a deal brokered by the UAE. South Korean intelligence is corroborating Ukrainian intelligence’s claim that North Korea is now sending troops to right for Russia. Here’s a look at how far-right influencers openly used Russian money to make “documentary” hit-jobs on Ukraine and president Zelenskyy.

Good reads:

  • Justin Trudeau was in Winnipeg to sign an agreement with that province to sign on to the national school food programme.
  • Mélanie Joly says the remaining Indian diplomats in Canada are “on notice.”
  • Bill Blair announced $64.8 million in new military aid for Ukraine.
  • The process is now open for certain businesses to get tariff exemptions on certain Chinese-made goods.
  • The Assembly of First Nations has been deciding on how they want to proceed with new negotiations for child welfare reforms after rejecting the current deal.
  • Jordan Peterson says he’s considering legal action after Trudeau accused him of taking money from RT during his foreign interference testimony. (Good luck).
  • Ten years after the shooting on Parliament Hill, former Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers recounts his version of the tale for the first time.
  • The Supreme Court of Canada ruled 5-4 that a judge couldn’t impose a driving ban on a conviction of criminal negligence causing death and bodily harm.
  • Marc Miller is dismissing the backbench attempt to push out Trudeau as “passive aggressive” (erm, yes, we’re Canadian) and “weak.”
  • Dan Vandal cites his age and years in public service as why he’s not running again.
  • Chrystia Freeland says that most Liberals are behind Trudeau.
  • Emmett Macfarlane questions the Ontario Court of Appeal decision that allows a supposedly youth-led environmental challenge to go ahead in that province.
  • Anne Applebaum tracks the dehumanising, authoritarian rhetoric used by Trump that echoes Hitler and Stalin (and how long before this comes over the border?)
  • Althia Raj boggles at the immaturity on display with Poilievre’s tantrum in response to Trudeau’s explosive testimony at the Foreign Interference inquiry.
  • My weekend column walks through some of the dynamics at play as Trudeau prepares to meet his caucus, where the demand he step down will be presented.

Odds and ends:

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