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	<title>Ethics Commissioner &#8211; Routine Proceedings</title>
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	<description>The adventures of a Press Gallery journalist</description>
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	<title>Ethics Commissioner &#8211; Routine Proceedings</title>
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		<title>Roundup: Bringing in the spouses?</title>
		<link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/09/19/roundup-bringing-in-the-spouses/</link>
					<comments>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/09/19/roundup-bringing-in-the-spouses/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Sep 2024 09:26:49 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Auditor General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bank of Canada]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blaine Higgs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[China]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ethics Commissioner]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Interference]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inflation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Israel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jagmeet Singh]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pablo Rodriguez]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pharmacare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pierre Poilievre]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Senate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=12717</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The fallout from Jagmeet Singh’s confrontation with members of the Asshole Brigade who are harassing people in front of Parliament Hill has taken a couple of strange twists. In his post about the incident, Singh said that “That’s the country &#8230; <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/09/19/roundup-bringing-in-the-spouses/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The fallout from Jagmeet Singh’s confrontation with members of the Asshole Brigade who are harassing people in front of Parliament Hill has taken a couple of strange twists. In his post about the incident, Singh said that “That’s the country that Pierre Poilievre wants,” which of course sent the Conservatives into the usual bit of <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/conservatives-deny-link-to-protesters-that-harassed-singh-after-liberals-blame-them/article_3a866a03-68d6-5794-84b9-9136de9033ae.html">performative victimhood</a>. Among those was Michael Cooper, who was seen hanging out with some of those members of the Asshole Brigade, and he tweeted out that he didn’t know them, that they approached him at the restaurant he was eating in…but there is video that shows him meeting with them before the restaurant, so perhaps that’s a very judicious use of the truth.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Some additional context: <a href="https://t.co/AJnjgh5Qrn">https://t.co/AJnjgh5Qrn</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Luke LeBrun (@_llebrun) <a href="https://twitter.com/_llebrun/status/1836519138904232359?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Notice the complete BS about “their media friends,” as Cooper fails to mention anything disavowing the group itself <a href="https://t.co/mRhNxul8Y0">https://t.co/mRhNxul8Y0</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) <a href="https://twitter.com/bruce_arthur/status/1836513290606039068?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The stranger part was that Anaida Poilievre wrote a long <a href="https://x.com/i/web/status/1836225640938508466">Twitter missive</a> to rebut the accusation and to praise Poilievre’s good character, while taking shots at Singh and Justin Trudeau. There has been a long-held convention in Canadian politics that spouses stay out of things, and they get a semblance of anonymity as a result. The fact that she has been very active in Poilievre’s campaign is a sign that she could be much more active in a future where Poilievre becomes prime minister, and that’s a bit of a problem because we don’t have “First Ladies” in this county like the Americans do, because our “First Lady” is Queen Camila. If she plays an active role, does she then become a target for other parties? Does that open up attacks for their spouses? I worry about that given the coarsening of politics as it is, and the fact that far too many people are already targeting MPs’ homes as part of protests. We don’t need them to become fair game as things continue to race to the bottom.</p>
<p>https://x.com/AnaPoilievre/status/1836225640938508466</p>
<p>Ukraine Dispatch</p>
<p>Russian <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/one-killed-two-wounded-by-russian-strikes-ukraines-zaporizhzhia-region-governor-2024-09-19/">shelling</a> in Zaporizhzhia killed one woman and injured two others, while another attack <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-drones-attack-energy-facilities-ukraines-sumy-authorities-say-2024-09-18/">targeted</a> energy facilities in the central city of Kropyvnytskyi. Ukrainian drones have <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/world/europe/ukrainian-drones-strike-a-major-military-depot-in-a-russian-town-northwest-of-moscow/article_8461d513-1800-5217-9f35-8f979515950f.html">struck</a> a Russian military base north of Moscow, causing an “<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-targets-western-russian-regions-with-drones-russian-officials-says-2024-09-18/">earthquake-sized</a>” blast. President Zelenskyy will be <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/ukraines-zelenskiy-address-un-security-council-tuesday-2024-09-18/">addressing</a> the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Systemic problems and shortages among the defending Ukrainian force and a never-ending flow of assaulting Russian units make for a difficult autumn campaign for Kyiv in Donetsk Oblast, writes <a href="https://twitter.com/francisjfarrell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@francisjfarrell</a> in his latest field report.<a href="https://t.co/MTe0AnF5po">https://t.co/MTe0AnF5po</a></p>
<p>&mdash; The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1836500922433708091?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;They tried to attack from the flanks, but they were stopped there,&quot; spokesperson Oleksii Dmytrashkivskyi told AFP.</p>
<p>&quot;The situation was stabilized and today everything is under control, they are not successful.&quot;</p>
<p>&mdash; The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1836425655698764272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><span id="more-12717"></span>Good reads:</p>
<ul>
<li>Mark Miller <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/ottawa-announces-its-further-reducing-the-number-of-international-student-permits/article_952cfb30-46c0-5e08-af6c-a313d99df6a2.html">announced</a> further cuts to student visa levels, and pointed out that international students are a privilege for institutions, not a cash cow.</li>
<li>Pablo Rodriguez is <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/federal-transport-minister-pablo-rodriguez-to-seek-quebec-liberal-leadership/article_910d45d8-b0dc-5b6f-bddb-d2cbfc8ceec7.html">expected to resign</a> as transport minister (but not his seat just yet) in advance of a bit for the Quebec Liberal leadership.</li>
<li>Mark Holland is <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/health-minister-mark-holland-appeals-to-senate-not-to-amend-pharmacare-bill/article_84c140f4-e7a3-53c0-91bc-4b4036c74114.html">pleading</a> with senators not to amend the pharmacare bill so that he can get on with negotiating with provinces.</li>
<li>Canada’s ambassador to China <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/canada-ambassador-to-china-says-relations-at-yellow-light-but-not-adversarial/article_2b059a92-adb6-5baa-a287-cafc5b4b364d.html">considers</a> relations to be at a “yellow light,” but not fully adversarial.</li>
<li>Canada <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/canada-abstains-from-un-motion-calling-on-israel-to-end-occupation-of-gaza-west-bank/article_99ada00b-1977-5e6f-af5e-df31d9253e4e.html">abstained</a> from a vote at the UN on a ceasefire in Gaza because the language was deemed to be too one-sided.</li>
<li>The Ethics Commissioner has <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/randy-boissonnault-konrad-von-finckenstein-1.7327519">closed</a> yet another investigation into Randy Boissonnault’s business dealings because there’s no evidence of wrongdoing.</li>
<li>The Auditor General is <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/10760709/bunny-picture-not-proof-indigeneity/">considering</a> an audit of the Indigenous Services Canada’s procurement practices around determining indigeneity of contractors or suppliers.</li>
<li>Erin O’Toole told the Foreign Interference Inquiry he <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/foreign-influence-conservative-senator-1.7327526">considered expelling</a> former Senator Oh from caucus, but didn’t for fear of charges of racism. (So brave!)</li>
<li>Michael Chong and Jenny Kwan also <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/canada-has-become-playground-for-foreign-interference-tory-mp-chong-tells-inquiry/article_0fbf88da-00cd-5b49-95d8-5bda61671f1a.html">testified</a> at the inquiry. Documents were also produced about China’s attempt to <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/china-tried-to-influence-mps-to-vote-against-uyghur-genocide-motion">influence</a> the vote on the Uyghur genocide.</li>
<li>Yves-François Blanchet says that the Bloc <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/bloc-qu-b-cois-wont-support-pierre-poilievres-non-confidence-motion/article_70d5fb11-97be-5fb1-adec-a0ffb6f5fea8.html">won’t support</a> the upcoming non-confidence motion the Conservatives will put forward.</li>
<li>New Brunswick’s election is <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/n-b-election-campaign-to-kick-off-thursday-with-economy-and-health-major-themes/article_2bdbb3c0-61ec-57cd-b6a9-2d003b2df19d.html">kicking off</a> today as Blaine Higgs goes to meet the lieutenant governor to ask her to dissolve the legislature.</li>
<li>The <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/exclusive-ucp-policy-proposals">policy proposals</a> for the upcoming UCP convention include some more far-right stalwarts. (This is what happens when your party is overtaken by extremists).</li>
<li>Kevin Carmichael takes a <a href="https://thelogic.co/comment/kevin-carmichael-a-rare-bulls-eye-on-inflation-but-cautious-macklem-may-still-be-behind-the-curve/">deeper dive</a> into the inflation data and where the signs of weakness in the economy now lie as more rate cuts are to come.</li>
<li>Carmichael also <a href="https://thelogic.co/news/bank-canada-minutes-september-2024/">parses</a> the Bank of Canada’s deliberations on their last rate decision to look ahead to the October rate decision.</li>
<li>Althia Raj <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/canada-is-saved-from-an-election-by-the-political-party-that-wants-to-break-it/article_41e702e8-760c-11ef-b027-5f9a7ca6db0a.html">remarks</a> on the apparent irony of the Bloc saving the government’s skin.</li>
</ul>
<p>Odds and ends:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">It’s already being felt here. The moral panic over asylum seekers that four conservative premiers are now fomenting is entirely far-right karaoke because they see it working south of the border. <a href="https://t.co/vBKcr2XqIt">https://t.co/vBKcr2XqIt</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1836613498425536967?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><strong>Want more Routine Proceedings? <a href="https://www.patreon.com/journo_dale">Become a patron</a> and get exclusive new content. </strong></p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">12717</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Roundup: Ministers don&#8217;t control committees</title>
		<link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/08/09/roundup-ministers-dont-control-committees/</link>
					<comments>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/08/09/roundup-ministers-dont-control-committees/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 09 Aug 2024 09:52:06 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bill Blair]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ethics Commissioner]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marci Ien]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Official Languages]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parliamentary Budget Officer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Status of Women]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Supreme Court]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Terrorism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=12632</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[In a bid to try and extend the Status of Women committee imbroglio story for another day, The Canadian Press tried to draw the Minister for Gender Equality and Youth, Marci Ien, into the fray to comment on what happened. &#8230; <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/08/09/roundup-ministers-dont-control-committees/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In a bid to try and extend the Status of Women committee imbroglio story for another day, <em>The Canadian Press</em> <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/minister-for-women-wont-comment-on-committee-drama-as-liberal-mp-defends-actions/article_1c985a9c-1c22-54a6-9927-525785408eaf.html">tried to draw</a> the Minister for Gender Equality and Youth, Marci Ien, into the fray to comment on what happened. Ien, who isn’t an idiot, refused, which was the right thing to do. Why? Because as a minister, she has no authority over committees, nor should she, because that’s how Parliament works.</p>
<p>Parliament exists to hold the government, meaning Cabinet, to account. Committees are tasked with holding ministers to account over specific subject matter areas, which is one of the reasons why ministers must come before their respective committees as part of the Estimates cycle (because one of the primary means by which Parliament holds the government to account is by controlling the public purse). Hence, the Status of Women committee is tasked with holding Ien to account for her department, and in fact, they should be doing a whole lot more of that accountability work because frankly, this government’s record on doing gender-based-analysis-plus (GBA+) is actually terrible, and most of the time consists of them just saying “GBA+” and not actually doing the work. A functioning committee would be addressing this, and even though Anita Vandenbeld wrote in her op-ed this week that the committee was functional and worked by consensus, this is a major issue that they have not been tackling like they should, not that this is a surprise. It is absolutely not Ien’s place to comment on what happened at that committee, and it would in fact be a major breach of decorum if she did.</p>
<p>It shouldn’t surprise me that a reporter couldn’t make this distinction for herself before writing the story, but honestly, this is basic parliamentarianism. It should be embarrassing for them to even make this basic error and not understanding the roles between ministers and committees, but this is also the state of political journalism, where actual knowledge of the system has become a rarity among those who are supposed to cover it.</p>
<p>Ukraine Dispatch</p>
<p>A Russian guided bomb <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-russian-bomb-kills-two-schoolyard-sumy-region-2024-08-08/">killed two</a> when it hit a schoolyard in the Sumy region. Ukrainian forces have confirmed that they have <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-battles-ukrainian-troops-third-day-after-major-incursion-2024-08-08/">breached</a> Russia’s Kursk region, sending Russians into disarray and panic, and have launched a massive <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-lipetsk-region-comes-under-massive-drone-attack-governor-says-2024-08-09/">drone attack</a> further into Russia. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls this <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/zelenskiy-ukrainian-army-knows-how-surprise-2024-08-08/">proof</a> of Ukraine’s ability to surprise on the battlefield.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/26a1.png" alt="⚡" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />Russian attack on Selydove in Donetsk Oblast kills 2, injures 11.</p>
<p>A Russian glide bomb attack on the town of Selydove in Donetsk Oblast killed two civilians and injured 11 others, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported on Aug. 8.<a href="https://t.co/ww0xXwXPXT">https://t.co/ww0xXwXPXT</a></p>
<p>&mdash; The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1821643883492851720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1821336708916347359</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wrote about the Kursk Oblast offensive as of last night for <a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KyivIndependent</a>. A few thoughts from myself, two days in: watching this operation, it&#39;s important to separate the emotional effects from the kinetic. 1/<a href="https://t.co/Kv3kVu7Wq5">https://t.co/Kv3kVu7Wq5</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Francis Farrell (@francisjfarrell) <a href="https://twitter.com/francisjfarrell/status/1821509106508669285?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><span id="more-12632"></span>Good reads:</p>
<ul>
<li>Bill Blair <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/canada-and-australias-defence-ministers-meet-on-co-operation/article_9ab132fc-3c08-56aa-9093-b7be32ab73d1.html">met with</a> his Australian counterpart in Vancouver to discuss strengthening relationships to “avoid conflict,” particularly in the Indo-Pacific.</li>
<li>The Ethics Commissioner will be <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/10688591/new-randy-texts-ethics-probe-boissonnault/">taking yet another look</a> at Randy Boissonnault’s records after more text messages from his former company used his name.</li>
<li>The Ethics Commissioner also said that <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/conflict-of-interest-commissioner-says-he-is-not-investigating-arrivecan-scandal">he’s not looking into</a> any conflicts related to ArriveCan as the Act doesn’t capture civil servants at that level.</li>
<li>Oh, look—the Parliamentary Budget Officer <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/ottawa-calls-8-million-price-tag-for-animal-captivity-bill-speculative-premature/article_f57f51cf-4de1-51d7-bbc2-841a02878146.html">pulled</a> another costing methodology entirely out of his ass for a bill that hasn’t even been passed yet.</li>
<li>The <em>Post</em> <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/special-envoy-deborah-lyons-on-antisemitism-in-canada">talks to</a> Special Envoy Deborah Lyons about the rise of antisemitism in Canada, that she is charged with addressing.</li>
<li>Court documents have <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/10683866/unsealed-documents-edmonton-terrorism-khaled-hussein/">revealed</a> more about the Canadian who was convicted of terror charges in London.</li>
<li>A former Canadian UN official is allegedly being detained in being <a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/former-canadian-un-official-detained-in-switzerland-over-espionage-suspicions-reports-1.6993477">detained</a> in Switzerland on suspicion of espionage.</li>
<li>The Supreme Court of Canada <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/supreme-court-jordan-peterson-1.7288497">denied leave to appeal</a> to Jordan Peterson’s challenge of his professional college’s admonishment, and required him to pay costs.</li>
<li>Liberal MPs Anna Gainey and Anthony Housefather are <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/health/liberal-mps-say-quebec-french-language-health-directive-sows-confusion/article_1c0adfcf-6cdf-5b3e-87e4-a4d5736fac5c.html">calling out</a> Quebec’s health care language directive as something that causes confusion.</li>
<li>Here’s a <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/who-really-posted-those-awkward-tweets-praising-a-pierre-poilievre-rally-heres-what-might-be/article_6868ba60-54ec-11ef-bdd3-2b861b5d1bc0.html">deeper dive</a> into the issue of bot farms that the Conservatives are being accused of engaging to promote Poilievre’s current tour.</li>
<li>Conservative MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay had to <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/conservative-mp-video-cbc-radio">delete</a> a video posted to her socials where she mused that CBC Radio might be saved from defunding.</li>
<li>Desperate to be relevant, the NDP are <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/soccer-canda-olympic-drone-heritage-committee-1.7289424">calling for</a> Heritage committee meetings to look into the Canadian soccer drone spying scandal.</li>
</ul>
<p>Odds and ends:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;We didn&#39;t create this mess&quot;? Are you kidding me? <a href="https://t.co/X4kGKyECtr">https://t.co/X4kGKyECtr</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1821601282181996788?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Really channeling <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@journo_dale</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/EffinBirds?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EffinBirds</a> with today’s Sutcliffe presser. <a href="https://t.co/mrDO7LTUIN">pic.twitter.com/mrDO7LTUIN</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Brian Beard (@MrBBeard) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrBBeard/status/1821672048793362913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
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		<title>Roundup: It&#8217;s not logistically impossible</title>
		<link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/07/05/roundup-its-not-logistically-impossible/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jul 2024 10:15:32 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Canadian Forces]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chrystia Freeland]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Competition Bureau]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CRA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CSIS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Danielle Smith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ethics Commissioner]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General Jennie Carignan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Justin Trudeau]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NATO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Harms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Randy Boissonnault]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=12582</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[For the past week-and-a-half, it has been nothing but handwringing over the Toronto—St. Paul’s by-election results, and the demands that Justin Trudeau either step aside, or to at least meet with his caucus. I took a full week for Trudeau &#8230; <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/07/05/roundup-its-not-logistically-impossible/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>For the past week-and-a-half, it has been nothing but handwringing over the Toronto—St. Paul’s by-election results, and the demands that Justin Trudeau either step aside, or to at least meet with his caucus. I took a full week for Trudeau to finally take questions from the media and said that he’s “<a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/justin-trudeau-committed-staying-on-prime-minister-resignation-1.7251448">committed</a>” to staying on the job. And in response to the demands for an in-person caucus meeting now and not in September, Trudeau said he’s having one-on-one conversations with members of the caucus, and some of them are saying he needs to change “<a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/insiders-say-liberal-mps-turned-up-the-pressure-on-justin-trudeau-during-a-private-call/article_0aa2b712-3950-11ef-8e83-9fb4aec918e2.html">key players</a>.”</p>
<p>And then comes along Liberal caucus chair Brenda Shanahan, who insists that it’s “<a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/liberal-caucus-meeting-1.7254940">logistically impossible</a>” to have an in-person caucus meeting before September, to which I call bullshit. MPs can all get on a plane to Ottawa at any point, even if it means they have to cancel a barbeque appearance at some point. It’s not impossible, it’s a choice, and that choice is to not respect the members of the caucus, because frankly the leader doesn’t feel the need to be afraid of caucus because we have trained MPs to believe the falsehood that they are powerless and that the leader can push them around. That’s not actually true, and the caucus collectively has the power to vote non-confidence in the leader if they actually had the intestinal fortitude to do so. But therein lies the problem.</p>
<p>I’m also going to point out that all of the breathless reporting on Thursday about Chrystia Freeland saying that the Cabinet is <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/deputy-prime-minister-says-vast-vast-majority-of-liberal-caucus-supports-trudeau/article_71fccffb-1625-53dd-a9f7-6a4a9367a377.html">fully behind</a> Trudeau—of course they’re fully behind him. If they weren’t, they’d be out of a job. This isn’t rocket science, guys.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">If Cabinet didn’t support him they would be out of a job. This should not be rocket science. <a href="https://t.co/JGnj6TjxTi">https://t.co/JGnj6TjxTi</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1808932280725090378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="qme" dir="ltr"> <a href="https://t.co/WsZN9qzNIJ">pic.twitter.com/WsZN9qzNIJ</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1808932837980053635?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>In case you missed them:</p>
<ul>
<li>My <a href="https://looniepolitics.com/canadian-politics-in-the-theatre-of-lies/">weekend column</a> where I talked to the author of the book <em>Theatre of Lies</em> about the situation we find ourselves in Canadian politics and what to do about it.</li>
<li>My <a href="https://looniepolitics.com/the-liberals-wouldnt-be-in-this-mess-with-a-proper-westminster-leadership-system/">column</a> points out that one of the problems the Liberals face is how they choose their leaders, and that a proper Westminster system would have solved this by now.</li>
<li>My Loonie Politics <a href="https://looniepolitics.com/videos/dale-smiths-quick-take-89/">Quick Take</a> wonders just what Danielle Smith thinks she wants to “opt out” of around dental care.</li>
</ul>
<p>Ukraine Dispatch</p>
<p>Ukrainian forces <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-downs-21-out-22-drones-launched-by-russia-air-force-says-2024-07-04/">shot down</a> 21 out of 22 Russian drones overnight Thursday. Ukrainian troops were <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/world/ukraines-army-retreats-from-positions-as-russia-gets-closer-to-seizing-strategically-important-town">forced to retreat</a> from one neighbourhood in Chasiv Yar after their defensive positions were destroyed, risking further casualties. A Russian missile strike in Odesa killed a woman, while a guided bomb in Kharkiv region killed a man. Russians have started <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukrainian-air-base-under-fire-russia-aims-f-16-arrivals-2024-07-02/">targeting</a> Ukrainian air bases in advance of the delivery of F-16 fighter jets. Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán went to Kyiv for a <a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/hungary-s-leader-is-in-ukraine-for-talks-with-zelenskyy-it-s-his-first-visit-since-the-war-began-1.6947858">frosty meeting</a> as Hungary assumes the rotating presidency of the EU. Orbán then <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/hungarys-orban-head-moscow-meet-with-putin-2024-07-04/">headed to Moscow</a>, no doubt to get fresh orders from Putin.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Happy Canada Day to Prime Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JustinTrudeau</a> and all of our Canadian friends! </p>
<p>We greatly value Canada’s leadership in supporting Ukraine, which started back in 1991, when Canada was one of the first countries to recognize Ukraine&#39;s independence.</p>
<p>Today, Canada continues to…</p>
<p>&mdash; Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1807810751978955025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">This week alone, Russia has used more than 800 guided aerial bombs against Ukraine. Against our cities and communities, against our people, against everything that makes life normal.</p>
<p>Ukraine needs the necessary means to destroy the carriers of these bombs, including Russian… <a href="https://t.co/c4pYjSUJZ7">pic.twitter.com/c4pYjSUJZ7</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1807346027134865717?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><span id="more-12582"></span>Good reads:</p>
<ul>
<li>Oh, noes! Justin Trudeau will <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/trudeau-missing-calgary-stampede-1.7253026">miss</a> the Calgary Stampede because he’s going to the NATO Summit in Washington.</li>
<li>Chrystia Freeland has <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/digital-services-tax-implemented-1.7254356">published</a> the Order-in-Council that enables the digital services tax on web giants after OECD negotiations stalled.</li>
<li>Not unexpectedly, Lt.-General Jennie Carignan has been <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/lt--gen-jennie-carignan-to-take-helm-as-first-woman-in-canadian-militarys-top/article_6de1f765-e8bc-5362-969e-dd77e7d2cce4.html">appointed</a> to be the next Chief of Defence Staff.</li>
<li>The CRA <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/canada-revenue-agency-minions-tweets">deleted</a> several Minions-themed tweets after complaints (but I’m sure they thought the engagement numbers were worth it).</li>
<li>The Ethics Commissioner has ruled there’s <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/boissonnault-ethics-commissioner-1.7254394">nothing to investigate</a> around Randy Boissonnault’s past business dealings, but the Conservatives won’t back down.</li>
<li>CSIS director David Vigneault has <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/csis-director-david-vigneault-stepping-down-after-seven-years-on-the-job/article_787d2369-ded5-51bc-a02b-244c3e98ea2d.html">announced his retirement</a> after seven years in the position, but no word on when his last day is, or about his successor.</li>
<li>The Competition Bureau says they are going to <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/environment/competition-bureau-to-speed-development-of-guidance-on-new-greenwashing-rules/article_eedceb87-c2d8-588b-8c46-55f9ee194b07.html">speed up</a> the development of the greenwashing rules to provide better guidance to industries.</li>
<li>Liberal MP Ken McDonald says he’s <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/liberal-mp-ken-mcdonald-says-he-won-t-run-again/article_96aabdde-54e6-5f2c-83a6-3f13e6f235f0.html">not running</a> again.</li>
<li>Conservatives are using the PBO’s <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/poilievre-vows-to-scrap-online-harms-act-as-pbo-pegs-cost-of-regulators-at-200m/article_42de2cf2-2bfb-5ff0-a9cf-e97d7a4dfdff.html">dubious report</a> on the possible cost of the Digital Safety Office as the excuse for their plan to shut it down and kill <em>Online Harms Act</em>.</li>
<li>The Quebec Government wants Supreme Court Justice Mahmud Jamal to <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-supreme-court-justice-bill-21-secularism-law-recusal-1.7254887">recuse</a> himself on the “secularism” law challenge for past association with the CCLA.</li>
<li>Saskatchewan has <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/saskatchewan-files-for-injunction-over-canada-revenue-agency-collecting-carbon-money/article_efd6557e-66d8-508a-a0a0-c2f8533b2217.html">filed for an injunction</a> to stop the CRA from collecting unremitted carbon levies, and I can’t wait for the courts to laugh this down.</li>
<li>Legal Aid Alberta is <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/legal-aid-alberta-to-stop-services-over-contract-dispute-with-provincial-government/article_11c718f0-d5d9-54a9-b84a-a74fbe77ef40.html">set to shut down</a> after a contract dispute with the provincial government, which will make access to justice in the province worse.</li>
<li>Stephen Saideman has <a href="https://saideman.blogspot.com/2024/06/new-cds-and-then-what.html">some thoughts</a> on Carignan being promoted to CDS.</li>
<li>Kevin Carmichael <a href="https://thelogic.co/comment/carmichael-dislike-the-discourse-stop-creating-fake-facts/">points to</a> how journalists and politicians are spinning negative narratives out of “lonely facts” without context or scope.</li>
<li>Bruce Arthur <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/people-should-be-afraid-pierre-poilievre-s-conservatives-have-been-targeting-experts-is-this-just/article_fe2aee04-3496-11ef-9aa7-43b37f78792b.html">looks at</a> how the Conservatives have started escalating attacks on experts they don’t like in order to subject them to harassment.</li>
<li>Paul Wells <a href="https://paulwells.substack.com/p/liberals-brace-for-impact">suggests</a> the Liberals start thinking about a long-term vision that can carry them through the (likely) coming opposition years.</li>
<li>Wells also <a href="https://paulwells.substack.com/p/should-the-senate-block-the-notwithstanding">talks to</a> Senator Peter Harder about his motion on a discussion of the Senate blocking bills that invoke the Notwithstanding Clause.</li>
<li>Wells gives some <a href="https://paulwells.substack.com/p/how-it-started-how-its-going">additional musings</a> on the current situation the Liberals are in, and just what “doubling down” is supposed to look like.</li>
<li>Althia Raj <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/wayne-long-wrote-that-justin-trudeau-should-step-down-the-liberal-mp-says-the-response/article_73789172-38be-11ef-8325-f72d267df58c.html">recounts</a> that Wayne Long found mostly silence in response to his email calling on Trudeau to consider stepping aside.</li>
<li>Susan Delacourt <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/justin-trudeau-and-joe-biden-are-two-leaders-with-one-problem-many-of-their-supporters/article_5317631c-38a6-11ef-9f49-6733c9afcc76.html">sees similarities</a> in the calls for Trudeau and Biden to step aside, and the refusal by people in both countries to see Trump as a threat to democracy.</li>
</ul>
<p>Odds and ends:</p>
<p><iframe title="Checking in on the Housing Crisis" width="584" height="329" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pInIwvJN7f8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
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]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">12582</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Roundup: Huffing those culture war fumes</title>
		<link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/05/09/roundup-huffing-those-culture-war-fumes/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 May 2024 09:35:34 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Appointments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Canada Post]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Canadian Forces]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dental Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ethics Commissioner]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Israel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Labour]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mark Carney]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Service Canada]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=12433</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[My absolute exasperation with the need to constantly import American culture war bullshit into Canadian politics continues to grow, as we see yet another example playing out in the House of Commons. This time, it’s opposition whip Kerry-Lynne Findlay using &#8230; <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/05/09/roundup-huffing-those-culture-war-fumes/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>My absolute exasperation with the need to constantly import American culture war bullshit into Canadian politics continues to grow, as we see yet another example playing out in the House of Commons. This time, it’s opposition whip Kerry-Lynne Findlay using the far-right gotcha of “What is the definition of a woman,” in the hopes that the response is some kind of confused mess in order to include trans women in the definition of women.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Gotta keep huffing those American culture war fumes! <a href="https://t.co/zIQWNBhqha">https://t.co/zIQWNBhqha</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1788264376689975490?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>This being said, I’m not surprised that it was Findlay, because she has a growing record of doing things like this, most especially when she was <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/conservative-mp-kerry-lynne-findlay-apologizes-for-tweet-linking-freeland-with-billionaire-soros-1.5705223">tweeting her concern</a> about how Chrystia Freeland once interviewed George Soros when she was a journalist. Findlay was greatly alarmed by what she saw, and in case you’ve been living under a rock, the attacks on Soros are largely rooted in antisemitic tropes that date back to the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Findlay has repeatedly shown that she hasn’t learned her lesson from that incident, and this latest one is more proof of that.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I see that MLI has fully embraced the far-right rabbit hole. <a href="https://t.co/O16YQsx8w4">pic.twitter.com/O16YQsx8w4</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1788226063350243615?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The panic over trans people continues to infiltrate the discourse in Canada. The Macdonald-Laurier Institute, a thinktank that initially billed itself as a centrist endeavour in the mode of the two pivotal prime ministers who helped build and shape the country as we know it, has increasingly been pulling further and further to the right, and adopting anti-trans rhetoric as part of their offerings, which is a little alarming (and people who are associated with the Institute should start distancing themselves the more this kind of bullshit takes hold). This is also in the context that CSIS is seeing threats coming from the &#8220;anti-gender&#8221; movement, and for a group like MLI to pander to those sentiments is irresponsible, and dangerous.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">*waves hands at pretty much all of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cdnpoli</a>* <a href="https://t.co/m3jVOUZZ4C">https://t.co/m3jVOUZZ4C</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1788232529507758207?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Ukraine Dispatch:</p>
<p>Russia launched one of its biggest <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-targets-energy-facilities-air-attack-ukraine-officials-say-2024-05-08/">air strikes</a> against Ukrainian thermal power generation stations in weeks, causing blackouts throughout the country. A separate air attack <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-attack-hits-school-stadium-injures-four-children-ukraines-kharkiv-2024-05-08/">hit a school stadium</a> in Kharkiv. It was <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-attack-hits-school-stadium-injures-four-children-ukraines-kharkiv-2024-05-08/">Victory Day in Russia</a>, celebrating their victory in WWII, and it should be noted that they did not take Chasiv Yar like they were hoping to beforehand.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The slogan &quot;Never again&quot; emerged in response to the Holocaust and other atrocities of the Holocaust and World War II.</p>
<p>In this visual piece, we are looking at the similarities between World War II and the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.<a href="https://t.co/RlAcfpq3ly">https://t.co/RlAcfpq3ly</a></p>
<p>&mdash; The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1788320356760998118?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/26a1.png" alt="⚡" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />Russian attack on Nikopol kills 2, injures 2. </p>
<p>A Russian artillery attack on Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast killed two people and injured two others, Governor Serhii Lysak reported on May 9.<a href="https://t.co/ofsEboXlV5">https://t.co/ofsEboXlV5</a></p>
<p>&mdash; The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1788458346887983258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><span id="more-12433"></span>Good reads:</p>
<ul>
<li>Jonathan Wilkinson <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/feds-defend-carbon-capture-technology-as-alberta-project-gets-cancelled-over-cost/article_c189a52d-deb0-5d64-adc0-f1c4fca5b36e.html">insists</a> that carbon capture is still viable, after major projects in Alberta have been abandoned.</li>
<li>Mark Holland says he <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/health/health-minister-committed-to-fixing-dental-care-double-standard-hygienists/article_b33c9d91-cb87-5315-b3c6-afba34bbe005.html">can’t see</a> why there should be a pay disparity between independent dental hygienists and those in dentists’ offices, and promises changes.</li>
<li>More than 7500 Gazans have <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/minister-said-hundreds-of-canadians-might-use-gaza-visa-more-than-7-500-applied/article_34e5d983-559f-5634-95e0-b5e28566b7eb.html">applied</a> for a Canadian visa, but have issues with getting the right documents, or getting through the Rafah border crossing.</li>
<li>In spite of <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/the-number-of-applicants-to-join-canadas-military-is-soaring-why-hasnt-that-resulted-in/article_83828744-0c81-11ef-be0f-57acf65e1452.html">spiking applications</a> to join the Canadian Forces, the number actually recruited has flatlined because of the “complexity” of the process.</li>
<li>The new screening criteria for sperm donation has gone <a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/a-step-forward-new-screening-criteria-for-sperm-donors-takes-effect-1.6878896">into effect</a>, reducing the discrimination around men who have sex with men.</li>
<li>Passport offices are still <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tasker-passport-wait-times-1.7196445">facing delays</a> throughout the chain.</li>
<li>There still <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/immigration-refugees-citizenship-racism-1.7195503">isn’t a date</a> for when Citizenship and Immigration will appoint an internal ombuds person to deal with alleged workplace racism.</li>
<li>Former CTV bureau chief Joyce Napier has been <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/former-journalist-joyce-napier-named-canadas-ambassador-to-the-vatican/article_d06721ed-c27a-56f3-b383-3421bb9fa2d9.html">appointed</a> ambassador to the Vatican, with a planned focus on Indigenous reconciliation.</li>
<li>Here is a look at why the current abuse-in-sport programmes are <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/this-federal-program-was-supposed-to-investigate-abuse-of-canadian-athletes-an-advocate-says-its/article_75d13604-0bd2-11ef-ad0b-3f4d3ae965b7.html">not working</a>.</li>
<li>Public sector unions are promising a “<a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/public-service-unions-promise-summer-of-discontent-over-in-office-policy/article_95759737-81a1-5666-a824-b2964272ab5b.html">summer of discontent</a>” over the plans to have civil servants back in the office three days a week (but good luck with that).</li>
<li>Canada Post wants the government to <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-post-daily-mail-delivery-finances-postal-charter-1.7196715">consider</a> changing its legislation to move away from daily delivery, because of their major annual losses.</li>
<li>Here is a <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/canadas-immigration-points-system-is-flawed-a-new-report-says-heres-how-it-proposes-to/article_70cf1056-07e3-11ef-8747-c3b7aedd0e7d.html">discussion</a> about the current immigration points system and whether it is still fit for purpose.</li>
<li>CBC has a <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/foreign-grocers-industry-minister-1.7188426">deep dive</a> into why it’s so hard to attract a new grocery chain to Canada.</li>
<li>Mark Carney <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/mark-carney-on-carbon-tax-senate">appeared</a> at a Senate committee on a climate finance bill (as is his job with the UN), and Conservative senators hounded him about carbon pricing.</li>
<li>Randy Boissonnault and the Ethics Commissioner are being <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/10482711/randy-boissonnault-testify-ethics-committee-lobbyist-and-ppe-company/">summoned</a> to the ethics committee regarding allegations around Boissonnault’s former companies.</li>
<li>In an attempt to <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/there-is-no-concern-about-a-diminished-supply-of-doctors-in-ontario-ministry/article_b4b7ee0f-3a72-59cf-ac25-e1cee382ca9b.html">avoid paying</a> doctors more, Ontario’s health minister insists there’s no recruitment or retention problem. (<a href="https://youtu.be/_JTSAKFDSVw?si=bVv3UM1J4ooeSnAS">Sure, Jan</a>).</li>
<li>BC government networks are <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/b-c-government-networks-hit-by-sophisticated-cybersecurity-incidents-eby/article_46a2f00b-5d6a-5d2b-ac17-7a42a71f8b71.html">experiencing</a> a “sophisticated cybersecurity incident.”</li>
<li>Kevin Carmichael <a href="https://thelogic.co/comment/kevin-carmichael-bdcs-latest-mental-health-survey-finds-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/">reflects</a> on this year’s mental health survey from BDC, and how entrepreneurs are feeling a little bit better this year than they were last year.</li>
</ul>
<p>Odds and ends:</p>
<p><iframe title="The First Hogue Report" width="584" height="329" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ACkKPLSdJlc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Need a copy of my book <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UnbrokenMachine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UnbrokenMachine</a>, or maybe <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoyalProgress?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoyalProgress</a>, which I contributed to? Get them both for 25% off right at <a href="https://twitter.com/dundurnpress?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dundurnpress</a> with code SPRING2024! <a href="https://t.co/KVXxnjf5f7">pic.twitter.com/KVXxnjf5f7</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1786034415694389267?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Want more Routine Proceedings? <a href="https://www.patreon.com/journo_dale">Become a patron</a> and get exclusive new content. </strong></p>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">12433</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Roundup: Brian Mulroney passes away</title>
		<link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/03/01/roundup-brian-mulroney-passes-away/</link>
					<comments>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/03/01/roundup-brian-mulroney-passes-away/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 01 Mar 2024 10:36:56 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brian Mulroney]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Canadian Forces]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Estimates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ethics Commissioner]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Euthanasia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GLBT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mexico]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ministerial Accountability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pharmacare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Privacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Procurement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Speaker Fergus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tough on Crime]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=12238</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[News came down last evening that former prime minister Brian Mulroney had passed away after some health challenges. 1/3On behalf of my mother and our family, it is with great sadness we announce the passing of my father, The Right &#8230; <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/03/01/roundup-brian-mulroney-passes-away/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>News came down last evening that former prime minister Brian Mulroney had passed away after some health challenges.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">1/3<br />On behalf of my mother and our family, it is with great sadness we announce the passing of my father, The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, Canada’s 18th Prime Minister. He died peacefully, surrounded by family.</p>
<p>&mdash; Caroline Mulroney (@C_Mulroney) <a href="https://twitter.com/C_Mulroney/status/1763337379165934039?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The <em>Star</em> has a pretty good obituary <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/brian-mulroney-former-prime-minister-who-reshaped-canada-has-died/article_159806cc-d758-11ee-b97c-b7f59c6a9f0d.html">here</a>, as well as some of the <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/mr-mulroney-never-stopped-working-for-canadians-former-prime-ministers-death-prompts-outpouring-of-reflection/article_6184f340-d75f-11ee-9eba-6b80e91b46a5.html">reactions</a> to his passing, and the CBC has a series of <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/political-life-former-prime-minister-brian-mulroney-photos-1.5856425">photos</a> over the course of his life.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Brian Mulroney loved Canada. I’m devastated to learn of his passing. </p>
<p>He never stopped working for Canadians, and he always sought to make this country an even better place to call home. I’ll never forget the insights he shared with me over the years – he was generous, tireless,…</p>
<p>&mdash; Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1763349102975222210?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The idea he “restored fiscal sanity” is an ahistorical fantasy, though. <a href="https://t.co/ToEM879bTh">https://t.co/ToEM879bTh</a></p>
<p>&mdash; David Reevely (@davidreevely) <a href="https://twitter.com/davidreevely/status/1763359737150603618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>https://twitter.com/yfblanchet/status/1763346642294411713</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">He was also a strong opponent of Apartheid, leading the efforts to sanction South Africa by Commonwealth nations. </p>
<p>My deep sympathy to his family.</p>
<p>&mdash; Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) <a href="https://twitter.com/theJagmeetSingh/status/1763343505798132045?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">When my brother died, Brian Mulroney was the first political leader to call, as he was when I was elected Premier in 1990, when I was defeated, and at so many other moments. He was my friend, despite our differences. Love from me and Arlene <a href="https://twitter.com/aprae?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@aprae</a> to Mila and the family.  Amitiés…</p>
<p>&mdash; Bob Rae (@BobRae48) <a href="https://twitter.com/BobRae48/status/1763364699230351465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">My statement on the passing of The Rt. Honourable Brian Mulroney. <a href="https://t.co/roZtPcuvDK">pic.twitter.com/roZtPcuvDK</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Rt. Hon. Joe Clark (@RtHonJoeClark) <a href="https://twitter.com/RtHonJoeClark/status/1763384704294588662?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sad news that Brian Mulroney has died at 84. A remarkable and consequential life. I was proud to serve in his government. He left a legacy that is appreciated more and more with the passage of time. Condolences to his wonderful wife Mila and his children and grandchildren. RIP</p>
<p>&mdash; Kim Campbell (@AKimCampbell) <a href="https://twitter.com/AKimCampbell/status/1763456825578475728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Bloc MP Louis Plamondon, who was first elected as a PC MP in 1984 along with Mulroney, reflects on Mulroney.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="fr" dir="ltr">Le doyen des députés fédéraux Louis Plamondon (<a href="https://twitter.com/BlocQuebecois?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BlocQuebecois</a>), évoque ses souvenirs de Brian Mulroney.</p>
<p>Ils a été élu sous la bannière prog.-conservatrice en 1984, avec Mulroney comme premier ministre.</p>
<p>Regardez notre couverture à CPAC et sur <a href="https://t.co/7GISRfmyag">https://t.co/7GISRfmyag</a>.  <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/polcan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#polcan</a> <a href="https://t.co/vQyeLdG9Nr">pic.twitter.com/vQyeLdG9Nr</a></p>
<p>&mdash; CPAC (@CPAC_TV) <a href="https://twitter.com/CPAC_TV/status/1763383060710531168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>In reaction, <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/its-hard-to-imagine-canada-without-brian-mulroney/article_399e5528-d75b-11ee-b79b-333d76d64fd1.html">Susan Delacourt</a> notes that it’s hard to imagine a Canada without the larger-than-life Mulroney given his lasting legacy, and also reflects on the political lessons that she learned in covering him during his time in office. <a href="https://paulwells.substack.com/p/mulroney-helped-end-the-cold-war">Ian Brodie</a> praises Mulroney for his strategic sense in global affairs at a time of great upheaval.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Brian Mulroney was one of our most environmentally-friendly Prime Ministers.</p>
<p>As PM he:<br />&#8211; Secured a treaty with the USA on acid rain<br />&#8211; Made Canada the first industrialized nation to ratify a Convention on Biological Diversity<br />&#8211; Passed the Environmental Assessment Act &amp;… <a href="https://t.co/TQ7FUQmXtU">pic.twitter.com/TQ7FUQmXtU</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Craig Baird &#8211; Canadian History Ehx (@CraigBaird) <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigBaird/status/1763349572573606104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Ukraine Dispatch:</p>
<p>Russian forces are <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/world/europe/russian-onslaught-targets-more-ukrainian-towns-and-villages-as-ukraine-says-it-shot-down-three/article_1a7c849a-baa0-5123-b336-6a3938a21c79.html">pushing hard</a> against the front lines in the east and southeastern parts of Ukraine, which Ukraine has <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-repels-russian-attacks-situation-is-difficult-top-general-says-2024-02-29/">repelled</a>, and they do keep shooting down Russian warplanes, downing another three on Thursday alone. Ukraine is using more <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-increases-use-domestic-made-military-equipment-official-says-2024-02-29/">domestically-manufactured</a> military equipment, as they strive to move more toward self-sufficiency and away from faltering Western aid.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Russia has alleged that its military aircraft that crashed in Belgorod Oblast on Jan. 24 was destroyed by Ukrainian forces and that it was carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners.</p>
<p>&mdash; The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1763432610607644698?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">February is the shortest month of the year, but our sky defenders have achieved the greatest results in downing russian jets since October 2022.</p>
<p>The Ukrainian Air Force destroyed:<br /><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/25fe.png" alt="◾" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />ten Su-34 fighter-bombers<br /><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/25fe.png" alt="◾" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />two Su-35 fighters<br /><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/25fe.png" alt="◾" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />one A-50 long-range radar detection and control… <a href="https://t.co/jZ302fRxHF">pic.twitter.com/jZ302fRxHF</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) <a href="https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1763195543885324370?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><span id="more-12238"></span>Good reads:</p>
<ul>
<li>Justin Trudeau was in Thunder Bay to announce more housing funding, not taking a “<a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/on-famous-trudeau-anniversary-no-snow-or-resignation-in-prime-ministers-forecast/article_93b45290-c1f9-5d2d-9ac4-654523eec29e.html">walk in the snow</a>” on the 40th anniversary of his father’s decision to resign.</li>
<li>The pharmacare <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/the-trudeau-government-has-unveiled-its-pharmacare-strategy-heres-what-you-need-to-know/article_a7a7b298-d676-11ee-a58f-9be8d8d15760.html">framework legislation</a> was tabled, and lo, it’s going to depend on negotiation with the provinces. (What have I been telling you?)</li>
<li>Arif Virani was trying to <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/virani-says-new-measures-meant-to-help-prevent-hate-crimes-will-come-with-safeguards/article_f15b1894-8d1c-5b47-94ea-661ca35a4d3d.html">reassure</a> people that there are safeguards before new peace bond provisions to try and prevent hate crimes could be triggered.</li>
<li>Bill Blair says that under the right conditions, a limited number of Canadian troops <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/under-the-right-conditions-canada-open-to-sending-noncombat-troops-to-ukraine-defence-minister-bill/article_eec6806c-d71d-11ee-91fb-ab92d0af803e.html">could be sent</a> to Ukraine in a non-combat capacity away from the front lines.</li>
<li>Marc Miller <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/trudeau-government-wont-rule-out-visa-requirements-for-more-counties-besides-mexico/article_1c70662c-d741-11ee-82e6-fb70f370bdfa.html">formally announced</a> the visa requirements for Mexicans.</li>
<li>Anita Anand tabled the Estimates, and said that $10.5 billion is going to be “<a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/ottawa-repurposing-10-5b-to-hike-spending-on-health-care-housing-over-three-years/article_6b30f71a-c41e-5614-8f9f-1cc0434c592d.html">repurposed</a>” to fund health care and housing over the next three years.</li>
<li>Amid cuts elsewhere, DND’s budget is increasing, but some of its funds will be <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/dnd-defence-estimate-budget-1.7129886">reallocated</a> toward major capital equipment pruchases.</li>
<li>The CBC is <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/ottawa-adds-funding-to-cbc-despite-executives-claims-it-was-asked-to-cut-its-budget/article_1219e451-c48e-5484-92d4-0b14dff1e5fa.html">getting more funding</a>s in the Estimates, and not being cut as its leadership claimed (so we’ll see if they cut the jobs they said they would).</li>
<li>The government has <a href="https://thelogic.co/news/ottawa-guts-innovative-solutions-canada-amid-spending-review/">slashed funding</a> to Innovative Solutions Canada, which aims to back innovation and procure from start-up companies.</li>
<li>The bills to <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/law-to-protect-long-term-funding-of-federal-child-care-system-passes-final-hurdle/article_2bf03074-063f-5b35-9270-a44292242036.html">protect long-term funding</a> of child care and to <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/bill-delaying-expansion-of-assisted-dying-eligibility-until-2027-poised-to-become-law/article_d686cddf-c5c2-522a-8577-41b0ae390623.html">delay the extension</a> of MAiD for psychiatric disorders both received royal assent.</li>
<li>PHAC says that they have <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/science/health-agency-emphasizes-tighter-research-security-after-firing-of-two-scientists/article_d9852b85-9ab6-5fd1-a03c-7d107ca59626.html">taken measures</a> to safeguard research security after revelations in the Winnipeg Lab documents.</li>
<li>The ArriveCan contractor found to be a DND employee has been <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/government-employee-suspended-after-billing-millions-for-arrivecan-work/article_5d07a6f4-d715-11ee-881a-c3aa63ff5356.html">suspended</a>, along with any contracts his company may be in receipt of.</li>
<li>Konrad von Finckenstein has been formally <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/after-more-than-a-year-ottawa-moves-to-hire-permanent-federal-ethics-commissioner/article_c61083f9-3dbb-5b9e-97a5-500d46f4d1cc.html">appointed</a> the permanent Ethics Commissioner after serving as interim for the past six months.</li>
<li>After a court battle, the Privacy Commissioner <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/pornhub-breached-privacy-law-commissioner-claims">released a report</a> showing that PornHub breached privacy rules, and continues to do so.</li>
<li>Speaker Fergus has been <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/fergus-fined-1500-video-1.7130079">fined $1500</a> for his video to the Ontario Liberal convention wearing his robes.</li>
<li>Liberal MP Mark Serré says he will <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/marc-serre-algonquins-ontario-removal-1.7128584">continue to identify</a> as Indigenous and Métis even after the community he claims to belong to purged him from their records.</li>
<li>Conservatives are on <a href="https://www.hilltimes.com/story/2024/02/29/lantsman-calls-poilievres-comments-on-trans-women-the-position-of-the-conservative-party/413442/">lockdown</a> about responding to questions about Poilievre’s comments about trans women, and have even literally run away from reporters.</li>
<li>The Quebec Court of Appeal <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/quebec-appeal-court-rules-secularism-law-is-constitutional-english-schools-rebuffed/article_97da3cc1-f094-522e-9a09-4cbb11de5359.html">ruled</a> that they couldn’t overturn Quebec’s Law 21 because of its use of the Notwithstanding Clause. (No, they didn’t “uphold” it).</li>
<li>A former Ontario judge with a reputation for being tough <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-is-wrong-about-wanting-like-minded-tough-on-crime-judges-says-tough-ex/article_be791df2-d59c-11ee-8e21-5335da88d1a2.html">points to</a> the fact that so-called “tough on crime” policies like Ford is praising don’t work.</li>
<li>Saskatchewan says they <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/environment/wilkinson-says-no-carbon-rebates-for-saskatchewan-after-province-says-it-wont-remit/article_9bf45cab-76e3-56e6-b565-c7d04682ab29.html">won’t remit</a> carbon levy funds, which sets up a legal fight and will reduce the rebates in the province.</li>
<li>Jessica Davis <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-canada-needs-to-better-understand-extremists-to-detect-terrorist/">points to</a> the need to better understand extremism if we hope that police can detect terrorism and prevent attacks from happening.</li>
<li>Philippe Lagassé <a href="https://lagassep.substack.com/p/resignations-and-the-evolution-of">reflects</a> on the evolving customs and conventions around ministerial responsibility, which are changing with the expansion of the civil service.</li>
<li>Susan Delacourt <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/promising-a-pharmacare-program-is-one-thing-delivering-one-that-lasts-is-quite-another/article_069327ac-d73e-11ee-8e32-ab3ad325840e.html">notes</a> that Jagmeet Singh is putting a lot of faith in provinces signing up to pharmacare before the next election, meaning it may not happen.</li>
<li>Paul Wells <a href="https://paulwells.substack.com/p/we-must-continue-to-defend-democracy">remarks</a> on the non-answer he received about the plans for a democracy promotion agency at a time when democratic rights and freedoms are in decline.</li>
<li>My <a href="https://xtramagazine.com/power/politics/age-verification-bill-poilievre-263570"><em>Xtra</em> column</a> looks into the magical thinking that underpins support for age-verification legislation, particularly in how Poilievre qualifies his support for it.</li>
</ul>
<p>Odds and Ends:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">If <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JustinTrudeau</a> wanted to cancel carbon pricing, he could have done so without giving massive wins to Poillievre, Moe, and Danielle Smith. It&#39;s sad to see that anyone could be playing checkers compared to Moe&#39;s chess.</p>
<p>&mdash; Andrew Leach (@andrew_leach) <a href="https://twitter.com/andrew_leach/status/1763227961367629913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OnThisDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OnThisDay</a> in 1988, Svend Robinson made Canadian history as the first Member of Parliament to come out as gay while in office. We celebrate a House of Commons where MPs can be their true selves and meaningfully represent all Canadians. <a href="https://t.co/SRhYBdpCJN">pic.twitter.com/SRhYBdpCJN</a></p>
<p>&mdash; House of Commons (@OurCommons) <a href="https://twitter.com/OurCommons/status/1763232907802399163?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
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		<title>Roundup: The Winnipeg Lab documents revealed at last</title>
		<link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/02/29/roundup-the-winnipeg-lab-documents-revealed-at-last/</link>
					<comments>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/02/29/roundup-the-winnipeg-lab-documents-revealed-at-last/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Feb 2024 10:24:27 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Appointments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Budget 2024]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CSIS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Doug Ford]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ethics Commissioner]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Israel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mexico]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[National Security]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Procurement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Russia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=12234</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[We finally got a look at the Winnipeg Lab documents yesterday, and the reason why those two research scientists were fired, and it’s certainly far more innocuous than the lurid tales that certain Conservative MPs have been telling over the &#8230; <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/02/29/roundup-the-winnipeg-lab-documents-revealed-at-last/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We finally got a look at the <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/winnipeg-lab-firing-documents-released-china-1.7128865">Winnipeg Lab documents</a> yesterday, and the reason why those two research scientists were fired, and it’s certainly far more innocuous than the lurid tales that certain Conservative MPs have been telling over the years. The short version is that the scientists in question, likely out of sheer naïveté and belief in the goodness of science, were far too trusting of Chinese counterparts, and didn’t like to follow rules and protocols when they didn’t feel like it, and eventually, lied to CSIS security screeners about their activities. This doesn’t appear to be some kind of major espionage, but a pair of scientists were entirely too precious, and were used to having their own way, and became security risks as a result, hence their termination.</p>
<p>It shouldn’t have taken this long to see the documents, but this was a whole dog-and-pony show for the Conservatives, who demanded—bizarrely­—that the Commons’ law clerk do the redactions for the documents rather than trained public servants, never mind that the clerk has no national security training and doesn’t know what to look for in terms of potential security issues. Even though the government turned the documents over to NSICOP in an unredacted form, the Conservatives went and boycotted the committee for theatrical reasons alone, and eventually, the government came up with an ad hoc process that involved MPs from all parties and retired judges to go through the documents, and it took years longer than it should have if they just let NSICOP do its work in the first place. There was no reason for them to object and to do this song and dance, and make false accusations about what was being hidden, and yet they carried on like this for years for absolutely no reason.</p>
<p>Predictably, Pierre Poilievre is trying to make this an issue about Justin Trudeau “allowing” this potential security breach, except that these scientists did most of their work in the Harper era, and the Public Health Agency of Canada is an arm’s-length agency, which the government cannot micro-manage. Kind of like CBSA. There has been zero contrition from Michael Chong about the fact that he has been spinning outright fictions and conspiracy theories about these documents for the past four years, but he sold out his integrity years ago, so none of this is surprising. And now that these documents have been released, I will point out that reporter Dylan Robertson was getting these stories and had the context of their firing correct when he was reporting on this for the Winnipeg Free Press years ago. That reporting all stands up with the release of these documents, and he deserves major props for it.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Regarding the Winnipeg Lab documents, while Michael Chong spent four years concocting conspiracy theories about what happened, <a href="https://twitter.com/withfilesfrom?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@withfilesfrom</a> did the actual reporting about what was going on and his stories very much hold up in light of what got released today.</p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1763032114088259832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Ukraine Dispatch:</p>
<p>Russians <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/six-year-old-girl-priest-killed-russia-bombs-northeast-ukraine-2024-02-28/">bombed</a> the Kharkiv region, killing four people including a six-year-old girl and a priest. Here’s a look at the new chief of military intelligence for Ukraine, who has <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ukraine-war-budanov-1.7127990">hinted</a> that the country’s previous counter-offensive plans wound up in Russian hands before it had begun. Ukraine’s finance minister says they need about <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-needs-3-bln-financial-aid-per-month-2024-kyiv-says-2024-02-28/">$3 billion in foreign aid</a> per month in order to maintain macroeconomic stability through the year.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">For russian occupiers, the Black Sea becomes a fleet graveyard.  <a href="https://twitter.com/AFUStratCom?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AFUStratCom</a> collected data on the indicative kill and damage points of the occupiers&#39; ships.<br />There is no place for the fleet of the terrorist state in the peaceful Black Sea. <a href="https://t.co/JefIfjlaaG">pic.twitter.com/JefIfjlaaG</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) <a href="https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1762832775839887683?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The parliament said that as a result of the hack, the link to the Verkhovna Rada&#39;s Telegram published on the website &quot;led to a fake page.&quot;</p>
<p>&mdash; The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1762945475710193886?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><span id="more-12234"></span>Good reads:</p>
<ul>
<li>The government will <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mexico-canada-visas-asylum-1.7128408">bring back</a> visa requirements for Mexican nationals in a bid to curb asylum claims, but it won’t be as harsh as those the Conservatives imposed.</li>
<li>Ahmed Hussen says that Canada is looking to <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/canada-working-to-airdrop-aid-in-gaza-strip-as-soon-as-possible-hussens-office/article_433b4edc-b7bd-5cd8-bf1f-0e58a1ac22d9.html">provide airdrops</a> of aid into Gaza with like-minded countries such as Jordan.</li>
<li>Ya’ara Saks has <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/alberta/ottawa-rejects-albertas-request-to-introduce-new-tracking-for-safer-supply-drugs/article_70b0ea5b-c316-5bc5-ae7a-07b2d53372d1.html">denied</a> Alberta’s request for safer-supply drugs to have a unique chemical identifier because they aren’t made specifically for that programme.</li>
<li>Jonathan Wilkinson explains how the government is <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/wondering-why-the-federal-green-home-renovation-program-suddenly-ended-a-top-liberal-explains/article_afb7e0b2-d67f-11ee-b41f-674a919f569a.html">reforming</a> the home retrofit programme to make it more accessible to lower-income households.</li>
<li>The federal government will provide a <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/environment/green-hydrogen-project-in-newfoundland-to-get-128-million-federal-loan/article_a080e961-bcaf-5e5c-b41f-1a6499e528d7.html">$128-million loan</a> for a “green” hydrogen project in Newfoundland and Labrador.</li>
<li>The interim Ethics Commissioner’s appointment is <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ethics-commissioner-mandate-expiring-1.7127545">about to expire</a>, and there has been no word about whether a permanent replacement has been found.</li>
<li>One of the ArriveCan contractors turns out to be an employee of DND, and has now been <a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/dnd-suspends-contracts-with-arrivecan-contractor-after-learning-ceo-is-a-dnd-employee-1.6788617">suspended</a> pending an internal investigation.</li>
<li>Here’s a look at how a Russians arms maker has been <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/russian-arms-makers-sanctions-1.7127727">getting around sanctions</a> as they acquire Canadian and other Western country’s parts and materials.</li>
<li>NDP MP Daniel Blaikie is <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/new-democrat-mp-daniel-blaikie-to-resign-his-seat-work-for-manitoba-premier/article_6769d102-20fc-5476-bcc2-05d90cbe236b.html">resigning his seat</a> to go work for Manitoba premier Wab Kinew as a senior advisor on intergovernmental affairs.</li>
<li>Oh, look—the chair of the Ontario judicial appointments committee is a <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/10321561/ontario-jaac-chair-registered-lobby/">registered</a> provincial lobbyist, as though Ford’s conduct on this file couldn’t be any worse.</li>
<li>Alberta energy companies are <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/alberta-rural-municipalities-say-43m-in-energy-industry-taxes-went-unpaid-last-year/article_e5cfc7df-910a-5874-b0d8-03a65efc8d60.html">failing to pay</a> municipal taxes to the tune of $43 million, which is a problem that doesn’t seem to eb getting any better.</li>
<li>Kevin Carmichael <a href="https://thelogic.co/comment/carmichael-canada-has-problems-but-the-deficit-isnt-one/">reminds us</a> that no, it’s not 1995, it will not always be 1995, and this constant fretting about a relatively small deficit isn’t helping anyone.</li>
<li>Emmett Macfarlane gives a more <a href="https://emmettmacfarlane.substack.com/p/ideology-partisanship-and-judicial">in-depth response</a> as to why Doug Ford’s comments on his judicial appointments are dangerous for our legal system.</li>
<li>Paul Wells <a href="https://paulwells.substack.com/p/cdap-we-get-mail">gets responses</a> to his queries, and takes a deep dive into the response on the government’s Canada Digital Adoption Programme.</li>
</ul>
<p>Odds and Ends:</p>
<p><iframe title="Reacting to Mobster Diplomacy" width="584" height="329" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HR4XIijEiGA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
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		<title>Roundup: Trying to escape child care obligations</title>
		<link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/01/31/roundup-trying-to-escape-child-care-obligations/</link>
					<comments>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/01/31/roundup-trying-to-escape-child-care-obligations/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 31 Jan 2024 10:28:29 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Child Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CSIS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cyber-security]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Danielle Smith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ethics Commissioner]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Euthanasia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Federalism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Aid]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Interference]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[India]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Iran]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Speaker Fergus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Undermining Parliamentary Democracy]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=12132</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Some Alberta daycare operators are starting “rolling closures” to protest the new funding regime that goes along with the $10/day early learning and child care programme, saying that they’re not getting enough to make ends meet. This is 100 percent &#8230; <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/01/31/roundup-trying-to-escape-child-care-obligations/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Some Alberta daycare operators are starting “<a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/alberta/some-alberta-daycares-start-rolling-closures-to-protest-10-a-day-program-group/article_b66e855f-b9d1-5904-894e-d6cc187dfb22.html">rolling closures</a>” to protest the new funding regime that goes along with the $10/day early learning and child care programme, saying that they’re not getting enough to make ends meet. This is 100 percent a provincial problem—they signed onto the agreement with the federal government, knowing what the funding agreement was and that they had obligations for provincial funding, and that included increasing the wages of the people who work in the sector (because there’s no excuse for it being so low, particularly as there is a gendered element to it).</p>
<p>So what’s Danielle Smith’s response? Aside from denigrating the operators doing these rolling closures, she is trying to blame the federal government, claiming that their spending caused inflation to rise, which is what is making these operators face problems. Which is, of course, bullshit. Federal spending has nothing to do with the rise in inflation (as the Bank of Canada has stated many times over), and even more to the point, this child care programme has been disinflationary (at least for the early years, before the base-year effect kicks in, meaning it’ll be a one-time drop in inflation). Nevertheless, because she’s blaming the federal government, she wants to shake them down for more money, because that’s what provinces do every single time. Thus far, federal ministers are holding firm and pointing out that provinces knew what they signed onto, but legacy media, of course, is once again trying to make this a federal problem.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Of course, part of that permanent large increase in federal spending is the very daycare program that has let Alberta&#39;s for-profit and non-profit daycares slash their rates and welcome in more kids. <a href="https://t.co/GTz1OXU9B9">pic.twitter.com/GTz1OXU9B9</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Jason Markusoff (@markusoff) <a href="https://twitter.com/markusoff/status/1752447191849832713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>And this keeps happening. We never hold provinces of the premiers to account for anything. Another good example is social housing—as former minister Sheila Copps pointed out, back in the eighties, the provinces insisted that the federal government get out of housing because it was provincial jurisdiction, and just give them the money, and they knew best how to spend it. And happens every single time, they spend the federal money on other things, and then blame the federal government once things reach a crisis because of their under-spending. Same with healthcare. Because we are allergic to holding premiers to account in this country, and that’s a very real problem.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Once again, the provinces took the money, didn’t do the job, and now blame the federal government, and legacy media continues to go along with it. <a href="https://t.co/oPb2Q5zDoz">https://t.co/oPb2Q5zDoz</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1752347803253092624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Ukraine Dispatch:</p>
<p>Russia is <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-russia-not-handing-over-alleged-pows-bodies-crashed-plane-2024-01-30/">refusing</a> to turn over any of the purported POW bodies from that downed plane, because it totally isn’t a psy-op. The head of Ukrainian military intelligence says that he <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraines-military-spy-chief-expects-russias-offensive-fizzle-by-spring-2024-01-30/">expects</a> the Russian offensive on the eastern front to fizzle out by early spring, by which point they should be exhausted. Lviv in western Ukraine has become the first city to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraines-lviv-becomes-first-region-remove-all-soviet-era-monuments-2024-01-30/">remove</a> all of its Soviet-era monuments.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/26a1.png" alt="⚡" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />Military intelligence claims it shut down Russian Defense Ministry server.</p>
<p>Ukraine&#39;s military intelligence (HUR) launched a cyberattack that allegedly &quot;knocked out&quot; the special communications server of the Russian Defense Ministry, the agency reported on Jan. 30.</p>
<p>&mdash; The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1752433001529479311?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/26a1.png" alt="⚡" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />Governor: Russian drone attack injures 3 civilians in Kharkiv.</p>
<p>Russian drone attack on Kharkiv injured 3 people and damaged civilian infrastructure on the evening of Jan. 30, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov wrote on Telegram.<a href="https://t.co/NfF3at6wxy">https://t.co/NfF3at6wxy</a></p>
<p>&mdash; The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1752452067241734376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><span id="more-12132"></span>Good reads:</p>
<ul>
<li>François-Philippe Champagne says that he’s “<a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/champagne-says-hes-working-phones-to-court-new-players-for-canadian-grocery-market/article_4a3c8e72-bfe2-59bb-82ae-b4f0f370dcde.html">working the phones</a>” to court new grocery players to come into the Canadian market.</li>
<li>Ahmed Hussen announced another <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/canada-sends-40m-for-palestinians-in-gaza-as-liberal-mp-decries-unrwa-freeze/article_c6dc0abc-6dad-531f-9ded-e8242232418e.html">$40 million in aid</a> for Gaza, going through other trusted international partners while funding for UNRWA is frozen.</li>
<li>The majority of provinces wrote to the federal government to demand an “<a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/health/provinces-ask-ottawa-for-indefinite-pause-on-expansion-of-assisted-dying-eligibility/article_3363408a-a99a-511f-96a2-63a96b9ab0d8.html">indefinite pause</a>” on expanding MAiD, because they want the courts to drag them into it.</li>
<li>Global Affairs is <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/global-affairs-vpn-data-breach">investigating</a> a malicious cyberattack after one of the VPNs it uses for remote work was compromised for over a month.</li>
<li>The foreign interference inquiry heard from professors <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/national-security-world-tends-to-promote-secrecy-over-transparency-professor-warns/article_64353e5b-c596-5636-9de1-956463e2e7a5.html">warning</a> about the government’s tendency to secrecy over transparency.</li>
<li>Conservatives have <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/foreign-interference-inquiry-iran">written</a> to the inquiry commission asking that a focus on Iran be part of the examination, while Sikh groups are <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/sikh-advocacy-group-seeks-role-at-canadas-inquiry-into-foreign-interference/article_39a8b316-bfa9-11ee-9250-17c29d4d8286.html">seeking</a> standing at the inquiry.</li>
<li>The Federal Court has once again <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/federal-court-criticizes-csis-over-judicial-warrants-failure-to-keep-court-informed/article_a2991c2c-20c1-54e2-b088-f27a47b738ff.html">chastised</a> CSIS of their failure to live up to their obligations around judicial warrants.</li>
<li>Speaker Fergus has <a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/speaker-fergus-agrees-freeland-s-latest-bill-is-omnibus-orders-it-split-for-votes-1.6748723">ruled</a> that the latest budget implementation bill is omnibus (obviously), and is splitting it up into nine separate votes.</li>
<li>The Commons <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/greg-fergus-will-stay-on-as-speaker-as-tories-continue-calling-for-him-to-resign/article_e8981caa-7d67-561a-9f8b-77f502843ec2.html">voted down</a> the Conservatives’ attempt to have Fergus removed.</li>
<li>At the Ethics committee, the interim Ethics Commissioner said that the prime minister’s vacation was <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/ethics-watchdog-rules-out-investigating-trudeaus-recent-holiday-trip-to-jamaica/article_7f9017bf-f28b-5645-9cb2-3c191e57e570.html">just fine</a>, and the Conservatives pretended otherwise.</li>
<li>CBC president Catherine Tait was at Heritage committee, and <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/cbc-head-catherine-tait-wont-rule-out-accepting-a-bonus-amid-widespread-cuts/article_c556d20e-0035-553a-87c5-b28f217e49c2.html">didn’t say</a> she would refuse a bonus if the board awarded one to her.</li>
<li>James McLeod <a href="https://www.readtheline.ca/p/james-mcleod-a-lesson-from-newfoundlands">recounts</a> the chapter in Newfoundland’s history when they gave up democracy, and why we should fight the allure of a “rest from party politics.”</li>
<li>My <a href="https://looniepolitics.com/a-stage-or-a-content-studio/">column</a> points to the recent discussion around Question Period being a “stage” or a “performance studio,” and how that has damaged our democracy.</li>
</ul>
<p>Odds and Ends:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Not really true. The Conservatives started shouting “no” immediately when she started the preamble about seeking consent. It wasn’t just “noise and confusion.” <a href="https://t.co/04hwRjO8pi">https://t.co/04hwRjO8pi</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1752446930230050853?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>https://twitter.com/ggcanada/status/1752384594882769276?s=61&#038;t=4O6SQCF5wrew4NVRdnuzfA</p>
<p><strong>Want more Routine Proceedings? <a href="https://www.patreon.com/journo_dale">Become a patron</a> and get exclusive new content. </strong></p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
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			<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		
		
		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">12132</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>QP: Memory-holing past indifference</title>
		<link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/01/30/qp-memory-holing-past-indifference/</link>
					<comments>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/01/30/qp-memory-holing-past-indifference/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Jan 2024 22:06:39 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Question Period]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Budget 2024]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Competition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ethics Commissioner]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Federalism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[First Nations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Housing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Israel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Labour]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Procurement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Refugees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Transfer Payments]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=12129</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The prime minister was elsewhere, meeting with the president of the Slovak Republic, who is currently on a state visit to Canada, but his deputy was present for a second day in a row (which is a rarity these days). &#8230; <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/01/30/qp-memory-holing-past-indifference/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The prime minister was elsewhere, meeting with the president of the Slovak Republic, who is currently on a state visit to Canada, but his deputy was present for a second day in a row (which is a rarity these days). Pierre Poilievre led off in French, and mocked the prime minister saying that all spending has been absolutely necessary, but noted that a large percentage of consultants hired for ArriveCan resulted in no work done, and demanded the money be recovered. Chrystia Freeland said that Canadians understand that when Conservatives talk about spending, they want to cut things like dental care and child care. Poilievre said that the ArriveCan app was an example of “corruption,” and then railed that the Bloc did an “about face” on their support for Bill C-234, and demanded the government pass it in its original form. Freeland insisted that while she can’t speak for the Bloc, the nation of Quebec understands the need to combat climate change. Poilievre switched to English to repeat that number of ArriveCan contracts were not fulfilled and demanded the money be recouped. Freeland insisted that the Conservatives only want to cut services. Poilievre then pivoted to Trudeau’s vacations, and demanded to know if he paid the “full carbon tax” on each ton of emissions. Freeland asked if he knows how much the heating of Stornoway costs, and that the government was helping people with climate rebates. Poilievre insisted that he pays for his own vacations, and demanded that the government undo the amendments to Bill C-234 and pass it. Freeland pointed out that Poielivre also doesn’t pay rent on Stornoway, and that he wants to take away the climate rebates people rely on.</p>
<p>Alain Therrien led for the Bloc, and decried Quebec’s settlement capacity for immigrants and refugees, and railed that this was impacting housing. Sean Fraser praised the agreement that they came to with Quebec to build more houses. Therrien railed that immigration levels were still going up, and demanded the targets be lowered. Marc Miller pointed out that they already have an agreement with Quebec to manage its immigration levels.</p>
<p>Jagmeet Singh blamed the Liberals for the housing crisis in Toronto, and demanded they capitulate to Olivia Chow’s blackmail. Freeland praised Toronto, and said they were having “constructive conversations” with the city and the provinces, and that they have given more than any previous government. Singh switched to French to decry that the government has called for another investigation into grocery chains rather than taking action. François-Philippe Champagne said that the best solution is for more competition, and that he has asked the Commissioner to use his new powers for this.</p>
<p><span id="more-12129"></span>Round two, and Melissa Lantsman decried the supposed plan to rebrand the carbon price, and demanded they cut it (Freeland: It’s out of touch to say you want to take way climate rebates; Remember how much Candice Bergen charged taxpayers for linens?), Shannon Stubbs railed about the carbon price (Freeland: We will take no lessons from the austerity Conservatives about helping Canadians in need, because we cut poverty in half; Boissonnault: How many Conservatives gathered to watch Tucker Carlson last week, and your candidate in my riding was all over Twitter about it), and Lianne Rood read her own script on cutting the carbon price (MacAulay: As a farmer, I understand the need to protect the environment for the future).</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Melissa Lantsman says she has never seen a government as indifferent to the plight of Canadians as this one, as though she wasn’t working for the Harper government. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QP</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1752415268146463048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe demanded more money for Quebec for asylum seekers (Miller: I said there will be good news this week for Quebec; We have given money, and have not asked for accounting for it), and demanded more provinces accept asylum seekers than just Quebec (Miller: Two provinces are overwhelmed and we are working with other provinces).</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Brunelle-Duceppe: “Quebec doesn’t play politics on the backs of immigrants.”<br />He actually said that with a straight face. Unbelievable. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QP</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1752416816897368446?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Shelby Kramp-Neuman demanded the government address the “housing hell” in the country (Fraser: You are preying on the real anxieties of people, but keep voting against our programmes), and Gérard Deltell worried about student housing (Fraser: We just announced a policy in order to build more student housing; Martinez Ferrada: We brought in the first ever Canada Housing Strategy which put a roof over thousands of Canadians).</p>
<p>Rachel Blaney worried about seniors at grocery stores (O’Regan: We have been there for seniors), and Matthew Green railed that the Liberals have done nothing about Palestinian deaths in Gaza, and said Muslims in Canada are tired of “lies,” and got warned from the Speaker for it, and he withdrew the remark (Hussen: We announced $40 million today for more aid for Gaza through trusted international partners).</p>
<p>Round three saw yet more questions on housing (Rodriguez: Your leader is only insulting people; Lebouthillier: That’s not an apology for insulting my riding; Fraser: We have done more to ensure new houses get built than your ever did). It also saw questions on the Phoenix pay system (Duclos: We are working to ensure that people get the money they’ve earned), deficit spending (Freeland: Bitter experience has taught Canadians that Conservatives’ cuts hurt people), the ArriveCan procurement problems (O’Connell: This app was built to saves in the pandemic, and we expected the proper process to be followed, and those who didn’t follow it will face the consequences), the prime minister’s vacation (MacKinnon: The Commissioner was clear at committee that his office was consulted and that there was nothing further on the matter), Canadian Forces civilian workers’ strike (Blair: We support a resolution of the dispute at the bargaining table), and a school fire on a First Nation with no fire service (Hajdu: I spoke with the chief that we will work with them to get the new fire truck and a new school).</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">If the other side is using your script as an applause line, don’t stick to your script. <br />Honestly. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QP</a> <a href="https://t.co/jibe0u6WbQ">pic.twitter.com/jibe0u6WbQ</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1752421299522048417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rent is provincial jurisdiction. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QP</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1752421392912437289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Apparently the government just hasn’t used enough willpower to fix Phoenix. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QP</a> <a href="https://t.co/wpWHnP6pmO">pic.twitter.com/wpWHnP6pmO</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1752422287742235120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Overall, it wasn’t a terribly illuminating day, and it had its raucous moments, which the Speaker wasn’t very forceful in calling for order, but did make reference to yesterday’s point of privilege from a Bloc member about not being able to hear (though the Bloc were pretty raucous on a few occasions themselves, because of course they were). Once again, in spite of Conservative promises, they were not “relentless” about Bill C-234, and barely raised it as part of confused questions that both demanded that this pass, and that the carbon price be removed entirely, which would make passing the bill a moot point. But hey, who needs logic or consistency? Certainly not these guys!</p>
<p>Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to <a href="https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/blake-richards(59235)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blake Richards</a> for a tailored black suit with a light blue shirt and a light purple tie, and to <a href="https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/jenna-sudds(110459)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jenna Sudds</a> for a black lapel-less jacket and slacks over a light pink top.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Style citations go out to <a href="https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/ruby-sahota(88698)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ruby Sahota</a> for a black sleeveless jacket over a tan turtleneck and a tan and black diamond-patterned slacks, and to <a href="https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/alain-therrien(104783)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alain Therrien</a> for a dark blue jacket over a white shirt, dark blue tie and faded blue jeans. Dishonourable mention goes out to <a href="https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/anna-roberts(105191)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anna Roberts</a> for a mustard yellow jacket over a black top and slacks.</p>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">12129</post-id>	</item>
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		<title>QP: Watch out, the kids are back</title>
		<link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/01/29/qp-watch-out-the-kids-are-back/</link>
					<comments>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/01/29/qp-watch-out-the-kids-are-back/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jan 2024 22:08:47 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Question Period]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Budget 2024]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ethics Commissioner]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Housing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Israel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Procurement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Refugees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=12125</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The prime minister had not planned to be in the Chamber today, and yet there he was, present for the moment of silence on the Day to Combat Islamophobia, and then stuck around for the Leaders’ Round. Pierre Poilievre led &#8230; <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/01/29/qp-watch-out-the-kids-are-back/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The prime minister had not planned to be in the Chamber today, and yet there he was, present for the moment of silence on the Day to Combat Islamophobia, and then stuck around for the Leaders’ Round. Pierre Poilievre led off in French, raised the prime minister’s vacation, and then blamed him for rising rents in Montreal. Trudeau stood up and gave a statement about the Day to Combat Islamophobia in French. Poilievre again blamed the prime minister for students living in shelters and demanded he end inflation and let developers ensure affordable housing. Trudeau noted that the was merely launching personal attacks, and that he voted against actions to help accelerate housing. Poilievre switched to English, and returned to the issue of Trudeau’s vacation, and wanted to know if he paid the “full carbon tax” on the flights he took. Trudeau read that Poilievre has no plan for climate change, while climate change causes droughts, which causes droughts, which rises food prices, and Poilievre has no plan for that. Poilievre called Trudeau a “high-carbon hypocrite,” and Trudeau called out individual Conservatives for voting against things they previously believed in. Poilievre then accused Trudeau of “muzzling” backbencher Ken McDonald and demanded he put his leadership up for review. Trudeau recited how they are working with mayors to build housing, before calling out Leslyn Lewis’ lunch with Christine Anderson.</p>
<p>Yves-François Blanchet led for the Bloc, and he returned to his private little conspiracy theory about the Century Initiative around immigration levels. Trudeau pointed to the need for immigrants, and that the levels are stabilising. Blanchet then demanded better distribution of asylum seekers, and Trudeau insisted that hey were working with provinces.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Blanchet has returned to his private little conspiracy theory about the Century Initiative. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QP</a> <a href="https://t.co/jYltiZqk35">pic.twitter.com/jYltiZqk35</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1752051802311102537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Jagmeet Singh rose for the NDP, and he railed about homelessness but it was hard to hear him over Conservative roaring. Trudeau read a script about using every tool they have to ensure housing affordability, such as their announcement that morning. Singh switched to French to decry renovictions, which is a provincial issue. Trudeau read some boilerplate language.</p>
<p><span id="more-12125"></span>Round two, and Andrew Scheer gave some snide remarks about the prime minister’s vacation before demanding the government reject Senate amendments to Bill C-234 (Freeland: We are aggressive working to build more homes across the country), John Barlow demanded Bill C-234 be restored and passed (Freeland: It’s common sense to have a national system of early learning and child care, and to to give the Canada Child Benefit; MacAulay: We have an environmental plan and you don’t), and Rachael <del>Harder</del> Thomas accused the government of weaponising ignorance and shouted about the carbon price (Freeland: You know a lot about hypocrisy, and are hypocritical about supporting working families).</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">How does the prime minister “bully Liberal senators” when there are no Liberal senators? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QP</a> <a href="https://t.co/nG1V5U7fpg">pic.twitter.com/nG1V5U7fpg</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1752053284473299162?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dear John Barlow,<br />Do you know what is making farming unsustainable? Drought caused by climate change. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QP</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1752053768294629843?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rachael Harder, who has spent years building a dystopian alternate reality, is lecturing Freeland about “coming back to reality.” <br />Irony died. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QP</a> <a href="https://t.co/h2DGRfWR1e">pic.twitter.com/h2DGRfWR1e</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1752054544823931241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe demanded the federal government “redistribute” asylum seekers in Quebec to other provinces (Miller: We are here to work together with provinces), and demanded the government restore visa requirements for Mexican nationals (Miller: I would counsel patience on this).</p>
<p>Melissa Lantsman read some angry scripts about housing (Fraser: You are playing on the anxieties of people but your plans shows you have no idea what you’re talking about; What you dismiss as photo ops are binding agreements with municipalities who have changed their zoning rules), and Tracy Grey read her own script with misleading talking points on housing (Fraser: We do have a plan to build homes in real communities, which you voted against).</p>
<p>Peter Julian raised the Quebec City mosque shooting, and demanded action on combatting online hate (Virani: We know radicalisation happens online and we are committed to tackling it with comprehensive legislation), and Heather McPherson demanded funding to UNRWA be restored (Hussen: The allegations are disturbing and we are acting prudently).</p>
<p>Round three saw yet more talking points about the prime minster’s vacation versus rents and housing (Fraser: Your leader’s solution is to call mayors incompetent; Rodriguez: In order to succeed in housing, you need to work with municipalities; Lebouthillier: Your colleague still haven’t apologised for insulting riding). It also saw questions on CEBA loan repayments (Valdez: We gave them added flexibility; Bibeau: Same answer), demanding a balanced budget (Freeland: This is alarmism, and our public finances are sustainable; You would cut our support for Ukraine; You should quote objective authorities like ratings agencies), the prime minister’s vacation (MacKinnon: The Ethics Commissioner was consulted), the senior public servants suspended for ArriveCan (LeBlanc: CBSA is doing their work to ensure that people are following the rules around contracting), serious crime (Virani: We unanimously addressed bail reforms), oil and gas CEOs (Guilbeault: I agree and we are taking action), and the amendments to the Sustainable Jobs Act (Wilkinson: A handful of amendments were passed in the chaos at committee).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Matthew Green shouts “How do you sleep at night, bro?” as Hussen explains the pause in UNRWA funding. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QP</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1752057125633708105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">When Freeland asks why the Conservatives support Putin, Kurek shouts “Why do you?” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QP</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1752059846495485973?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Overall, it was mostly just a return to form, where all sides were out to provide clips for their socials, and that was about it. Trudeau used his first response to make a statement about the Day to Combat Islamophobia as he didn’t have an opportunity during Members’ Statements like others did, and Ministers’ Statements is after QP, when they had already decided to give tributes to Ed Broadbent, so that was his moment to do so in the Chamber. I’m not a fan of that, but this is what happens when you focus all attention on QP in the day. I was surprised there wasn’t more of the promised “relentless focus” on Bill C-234 from the Conservatives, but Trudeau did have some talking points today about climate, drought, and rising food prices, so maybe he’s getting the message about how to communicate this kind of a situation after all.</p>
<p>Otherwise, there wasn’t much else to say. I’m surprised the NDP didn’t have more questions on Gaza than just the one. While the Speaker did give a warning about Freeland suggesting the Conservatives are supporting Putin, I’m very curious what Damien Kurek meant when he tried to insinuate that Freeland was the one who did. After QP, a Bloc MP tried to raise a point of privilege about how the Speaker not controlling the noise violated his rights, which was…novel. But really, this is just more of the same tired bullshit, and we’re still a long way from an election.</p>
<p>Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to <a href="https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/marc-miller(88660)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marc Miller</a> for a tailored navy suit with a white shirt and a dark purple tie, and to <a href="https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/marie-claude-bibeau(88449)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marie-Claude Bibeau</a> for a black jacket and slacks over a navy top with a fuchsia grid pattern.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Style citations go out to <a href="https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/marci-ien(107097)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marci Ien</a> for a grey long-sleeved top with dull coloured panels across it, with maroon slacks, and to <a href="https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/alexis-brunelle-duceppe(104786)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe</a> for a black velvet jacket over a dull white shirt, black floral tie and blue jeans.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
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		<title>Roundup: Chow chooses blackmail</title>
		<link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/01/11/roundup-chow-chooses-blackmail/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Jan 2024 10:45:54 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Canadian Forces]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ethics Commissioner]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Federalism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GLBT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Olivia Chow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pharmacare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Procurement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RCMP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Transfer Payments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=12085</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Toronto mayor Olivia Chow woke up and chose violence, as the kids say, when it comes to her budget proposals for Toronto. While the 10.5 percent property tax increase is long-overdue for a city whose property taxes remain well below &#8230; <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/01/11/roundup-chow-chooses-blackmail/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Toronto mayor Olivia Chow woke up and chose violence, as the kids say, when it comes to her <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/city-hall/we-have-to-fix-things-that-are-broken-toronto-budget-proposes-current-tax-pain-for/article_159b65cc-afbe-11ee-b191-bf92cd352e20.html">budget proposals</a> for Toronto. While the 10.5 percent property tax increase is long-overdue for a city whose property taxes remain well below the national average after years of austerity governments who have allowed the city to crumble so they can keep from increasing said property taxes (and this is not unique to Toronto either), she is also calling for an additional measure—federal blackmail. The proposal is called a “federal impacts levy,” or an additional six percent increase ostensibly to cover the costs of providing services for asylum seekers, and is basically holding the federal government at knifepoint, saying pay up or all your safe seats in this city are going to be in jeopardy.</p>
<p>The asylum seeker issue is rife with other levels of government falsely claiming that this is solely a federal responsibility, so they should foot the whole cost. It’s not actually true—the federal government is responsible for refugees once their claims have been approved, but before that point, they generally fall under the social services provided by provinces and municipalities, and the federal government will reimburse a portion of those costs. Of course, premiers like to wash their hands of this because of course they do (and there is a constant rhetorical battle happening in Question Period where the Bloc keep demanding that the federal government owes Quebec some $450 million for the provision of services, again falsely claiming sole federal responsibility), which leaves cities often bearing the burden, and Toronto and Montreal most especially as they get the lion’s share of asylum claimants. There remain questions around Toronto, if they have followed the proper channels to request federal funds for this (I believe there is a need for a certain provincial action to accompany it which may not have been undertaken), but again, they have been given millions of dollars this year for assistance with this.</p>
<p>My bigger concern is the Pandora’s Box that this kind of federal blackmail opens up. While some pundits will declare it to be <a href="https://www.tvo.org/article/olivia-chow-is-playing-hardball-with-the-feds-and-shes-doing-it-really-well">genius</a>, and on a strategic level, it is a clever way to back the federal government into a corner, but at the same time, this invites other cities or provinces to start adopting this kind of tactic, and even more to the point, it once again leaves the province—whose constitutional responsibility the city is—off the hook for their own underfunding and downloading of services to try and make their own bottom lines look good. We already have provinces who think they can just declare themselves exempt from federal laws, and others who are openly breaking those laws (or at least threatening to under the cover of legal fictions), while the pundit class says it’s the prime minister’s fault, that he made them break the law and behave this way. Chow is now pushing this envelope even further, and I worry about the long-term consequences for this country so that she can solve her short-term problem of being an adult around her city’s fiscal crisis.</p>
<p>Ukraine Dispatch:</p>
<p>Two Russian missiles <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-missile-hits-hotel-ukraines-kharkiv-10-injured-regional-governor-2024-01-10/">struck</a> a hotel in Kharkiv, injuring eleven people, many of them journalists. Ukrainian forces have been <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-builds-barricades-digs-trenches-focus-shifts-defence-2024-01-11/">shifting</a> toward building fortifications and a more defensive posture in recent months. Speaking in Vilnius, Lithuania, president Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that they have <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/world/europe/ukraines-volodymyr-zelenskyy-says-russia-can-be-stopped-but-kyiv-badly-needs-more-air-defence/article_4dbf91db-f118-598a-bdb3-25a2e2a72721.html">shown</a> that Russia can be stopped, but that Ukraine still needs more air defence systems and ammunition. Zelenskyy added that there are “<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraines-zelenskiy-sees-clear-signs-slowdown-russian-defence-industry-2024-01-09/">clear signs</a>” of a slowdown in Russia’s defence industry as he called on allied nations to tighten sanctions.</p>
<p>https://twitter.com/defenceu/status/1745019147065721141</p>
<p>https://twitter.com/kyivindependent/status/1745348642100109636</p>
<p><span id="more-12085"></span>Good reads:</p>
<ul>
<li>Justin Trudeau has <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/justin-trudeau-responds-to-calls-for-probe-into-allegations-of-sexual-assault-by-hamas/article_6ce46c3e-afdc-11ee-9bd8-f7a792260426.html">tasked</a> Mélanie Joly and Dominic LeBlanc to look at alternative ways other than the ICC to look investigate sexual assaults committed by Hamas.</li>
<li>Mark Holland <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/nova-scotia-fourth-province-to-sign-detailed-health-accord-with-ottawa/article_caf98a6c-a95e-56ff-9c42-1b91c53d1a5d.html">signed</a> the detailed three-year health care agreement with Nova Scotia, and <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/10216237/drug-shortage-mark-holland-canada-florida/">reiterated</a> that he won’t let Americans raid Canada’s drug supplies.</li>
<li>Three years after (reluctantly) admitting that systemic racism exists in the RCMP, the force is finally <a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/rcmp-to-begin-collecting-analyzing-race-based-data-in-pilot-project-1.6718440">running a pilot project</a> to collect and analyse race-based data.</li>
<li>The Canadian Forces are <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cyclone-helicopter-canadian-forces-1.7079088">worried</a> about keeping the weapons systems on their new Cyclone helicopters up to date, in part because it’s an “orphan system” only we use.</li>
<li>Statistics Canada has <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/people-with-private-drug-coverage-more-likely-to-stick-to-prescriptions-statcan/article_1ea75543-a2c5-50b7-884e-4e82915f491b.html">provided</a> some data on existing drug coverage throughout the country, as the Liberals and NDP try to shape pharmacare legislation.</li>
<li>Human-caused climate change is <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/sharp-decline-in-spring-snowpack-due-to-human-caused-climate-change-study/article_7fd6bca2-7603-5e22-9092-6bee7d71f0cc.html">behind the loss</a> of spring snowpack, which has a huge impact on available water resources.</li>
<li>Sentencing <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/judge-likely-to-hear-clashing-arguments-on-sentence-for-ex-rcmp-intel-official-ortis/article_2218851f-5ebd-5727-adef-eaac2d06d1f0.html">arguments</a> will take place in the Cameron Ortis trial today and tomorrow, with the Crown seeking twenty years as his defence wants time served.</li>
<li><em>Politico</em> <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/10/justin-trudeau-election-politics-00134525">chronicles</a> how Trudeau’s star has become increasingly tarnished, and how his messaging isn’t meeting the moment with an angry population.</li>
<li>While the government is silent on the question of the genocide case brought against Israel, there are <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/canada-silent-on-israel-genocide-court-case-liberal-mps-split-over-what-to-do/article_7251bc28-2fa4-517d-890d-9443ae54be0d.html">split opinions</a> among the Liberal caucus (as is to be expected).</li>
<li>The Conservatives are <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/pmo-denies-misleading-ethics-commissioner-as-conservatives-call-for-probe/article_2b6d16e8-07ad-5063-a460-92958979675e.html">calling for</a> an ethics investigation of the PM’s vacation, claiming he mislead the Ethics Commissioner, which the PMO denies.</li>
<li>Blaine Higgs is <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/pcs-gear-up-election-candidate-nominations-1.7078766">speeding up</a> nominations for his party’s next election, and some old school Tories are upset he’s turning the party into a religious-based organization.</li>
<li>Saskatchewan’s use of the Notwithstanding Clause to protect their school pronoun policy is being <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/judge-hears-challenge-to-saskatchewan-law-around-pronouns-in-schools/article_bb697c02-492f-5a09-bb19-3d61f880923f.html">challenged</a> in court.</li>
<li>Kevin Carmichael tells some <a href="https://thelogic.co/comment/carmichael-will-a-little-stress-make-corporate-canada-stronger/">home truths</a> about Canada’s economy in order to posit that coming tougher times may finally be what spurs needed innovation.</li>
<li>Philippe Lagassé provides some <a href="https://www.readtheline.ca/p/philippe-lagasse-why-is-canada-buying">proper context</a> to the recent spate of military procurement and some of the criticisms being levelled against it.</li>
<li>Supriya Dwivedi <a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/my-fight-against-a-cancer-that-threatens-our-country/article_345ebc5e-abf2-11ee-ac43-5baac7dbf41b.html">explains</a> her decision to join the PMO as a senior advisor.</li>
<li>Andrew Coyne <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-surrendering-to-the-provinces-doesnt-bring-peace-to-the-federation-it/">calls out</a> his fellow columnists blaming Justin Trudeau for the spate of premiers threatening lawlessness.</li>
<li>Susan Delacourt <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/pierre-poilievre-will-defend-the-media-but-only-when-it-suits-him/article_2e268b70-aff6-11ee-be3a-4f1b6eec7854.html">looks at</a> the principles Poilievre is putting on display when he goes to bat for Rebel Media rather than any other media outlet in the country.</li>
</ul>
<p>Odds and Ends:</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Incumbent&#039;s First-Mover Advantage" width="584" height="329" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/20fzCkVVnZ0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
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