Roundup: Refusing to defend his own bill

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Because this parliament has descended to the absolute depths of performative uselessness, Conservative MP Arnold Viersen is refusing to testify to his own private member’s bill, and his Conservative colleagues on the justice committee are filibustering to keep the clock running out on the bill rather than extend the time to hear from witnesses, in the hopes of reporting back without amendments. And why is Viersen avoiding testifying? Because the Liberal and NDP members are likely to ask him about his pro-life views and activities—for clips for their own socials.

The bill, which would mandate certification of age and consent for those who appear in porn, got all-party support before going to committee, but I suspect that this bill is completely unenforceable (as we are net importers of porn), and is likely to suffer from some of the same problems from the other age verification bill, which is unworkable and an absolute privacy nightmare. And it would be great if the committee could actually hear from experts who could say so, but they are unlikely to at this stage. (Conservative filibusters also limited witness testimony on the age verification bill, which meant they could not hear from experts who would tell them it’s unworkable and a privacy nightmare).

Nevertheless, I think that because of these kinds of shenanigans, if an MP refuses to testify about their own bill, the committee should vote it down, and it should be killed as a consequence for wasting everyone’s time. I’d even be happy putting that in the Standing Orders. We also need to change it so that if a PMB needs a royal recommendation, it doesn’t even get debated rather than the current practice of letting it go as far as the final vote, because again, that wastes everyone’s time, and time is a precious commodity in Parliament, and plenty of MPs could have used that time for their own PMBs who won’t get the change.

Speaking of committees, the Conservatives want an “immediate” recall of the public safety committee, rather than waiting for its regularly-scheduled meeting next week, to discuss the arrests of two teens who planned to bomb a pro-Israel rally on Parliament Hill. But in spite of the seriousness of the topic, we all know what this is really about—getting clips for their social media of them talking about how “divisive” Trudeau is, and that he personally caused this kind of radicalisation. It’s as predictable as it is stupid, but this is where our Parliament is right now.

This is a serious issue, but recalling the committee “immediately” is about nothing more than gathering clips for social media, and probably ones that try to blame Justin Trudeau’s “divisiveness” for this. #cdnpoli

— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2024-11-13T19:11:02.519Z

Ukraine Dispatch

Ukrainian forces shot down two cruise missiles, two ballistic missiles and thirty-seven drones headed for Kyiv, where it looks like renewed attacks are being made on power systems ahead of winter. Ukraine’s General Staff also says that they repelled four attacks on the city of Kupiansk in the northeast. Here’s a look at Ukrainians trying to support those on the front lines while they collectively wait to see what Trump 2.0 brings.

Good reads:

  • Justin Trudeau took a day trip to Bermuda to deliver a eulogy for a long-time family friend, and today he’s off to Lima, Peru, for the APEC summit, followed by the G20.
  • Chrystia Freeland says she’s not too worried about the Americans challenging the digital services tax because other European countries have not faced penalties.
  • Freeland says she also shares the American concerns about Chinese trans-shipments through Mexico, but Mexican officials dispute this is happening.
  • The border was a major topic of discussion at yesterday’s Canada-US Relations Cabinet committee meeting, particularly given comments by the proposed US “czar.”
  • Here is a look at Trump’s Cabinet picks to date, and what they’ve said about Canada.
  • The federal government has been given the green-light to put ads on TikTok in spite of the security concerns (though they say they have no immediate plans).
  • Unions are challenging the labour minister invoking Section 107 of the Labour Code to end the port labour disputes.
  • Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has joined the chorus of those asking for all of their housing accelerator money now, ensuring no consequences for not meeting targets.
  • Here’s a closer look into the board of Alberta’s pension fund that was just purged by the UCP government, showing that the excuse was but a fig leaf.

Odds and ends:

Lobbying and Information Commissioners are both being re-appointed for another term. #cdnpoli

— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2024-11-13T21:09:55.457Z

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