<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>HIV – Routine Proceedings</title> <atom:link href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/tag/hiv/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://www.routineproceedings.com</link> <description>The adventures of a Press Gallery journalist</description> <lastBuildDate>Fri, 29 Nov 2024 05:32:39 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-CA</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2</generator> <image> <url>https://www.routineproceedings.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/cropped-DSmith-2024-32x32.jpg</url> <title>HIV – Routine Proceedings</title> <link>https://www.routineproceedings.com</link> <width>32</width> <height>32</height> </image> <site xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">34256478</site> <item> <title>Roundup: GST “holiday” bill passes</title> <link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/11/29/roundup-gst-holiday-bill-passes/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 29 Nov 2024 10:28:39 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Border]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Budget 2024]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Canada Post]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Canadian Forces]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Competition Bureau]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Danielle Smith]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category> <category><![CDATA[First Nations]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Fisheries]]></category> <category><![CDATA[HIV]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Housing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Labour]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Pierre Poilievre]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Procurement]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Trade]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=12937</guid> <description><![CDATA[The federal government got their wish, with the cooperation of the NDP, to get their GST “holiday” bill through the House of Commons thanks to a programming motion that paused the ongoing privilege filibuster for the sitting day. In spite … <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/11/29/roundup-gst-holiday-bill-passes/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The federal government got their wish, with the cooperation of the NDP, to get their GST “holiday” bill through the House of Commons thanks to a programming motion that paused the ongoing privilege filibuster for the sitting day. In spite of the Bloc and Conservatives slow-walking it with dilatory amendments, it <a href="https://twitter.com/hocchamber/status/1862353831851430350?s=61&t=QyNFGBf3ohVE6_AB3OAyRg">did pass</a> late at night, with the terms of the motion being that once it passed second reading vote, it would automatically be deemed to have been referred to committee of the whole and passed, and then passed at third reading. (The Senate won’t see it until Tuesday at the earliest). It’s the first opportunity the Commons has had to do real work in more than six weeks, for what it’s worth. The Liberals and NDP, however, think they’ve found a big gotcha, that by forcing the Conservatives to vote against this legitimately terrible policy will be the key to reversing their fortunes in the polls, and their attempts remain cringe-worthy.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Honestly. I hope the PM takes a long look at this tweet and assesses the current state of his government and their direction or lack thereof. My goodness. <a href="https://t.co/tPfe4yAODm">https://t.co/tPfe4yAODm</a></p> <p>— Andrew Leach (@andrew_leach) <a href="https://twitter.com/andrew_leach/status/1862244630663930358?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 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">Make it stop. <a href="https://t.co/mm8cQ8g39t">https://t.co/mm8cQ8g39t</a></p> <p>— Andrew Leach (@andrew_leach) <a href="https://twitter.com/andrew_leach/status/1862308708182827394?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>Pierre Poilievre took to the microphones to denounce it as “<a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/poilievre-calls-two-month-gst-break-inflationary-says-tories-will-vote-against-it/article_41c8bb61-8fe2-522e-a9aa-8fae327f7f35.html">inflationary</a>,” which is actually nonsense because we’re no longer in an overheated economy. Nevertheless, he relies on the simplistic notion that any government spending or deficits are inflationary (and claims that Chrystia Freeland herself this, which isn’t really what she said—not that the truth has ever mattered to Poilievre). Then again, his entire understanding of economics comes from crypto bros on YouTube, so probably best not to take him seriously. It’s still a terrible policy, however, so their opposition to it somewhat accidentally puts them on the right side of the issue, even if the reasons are entirely false and misleading (but broken clocks being right twice a day, and all of that).</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">This just keeps getting worse for the Liberals: </p> <p>– They're making the stupid GST holiday a priority, and punting on the 'not smart but meh' rebates<br /> – The CPC has taken a position that has the support of pretty much every tax expert<a href="https://t.co/fEAVh54fFa">https://t.co/fEAVh54fFa</a></p> <p>— Stephen Gordon (@stephenfgordon) <a href="https://twitter.com/stephenfgordon/status/1862269816293228661?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 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">This is really amazing. The Liberals and the NDP have gone out of their way to set up a scenario in which they're defending crass, rancid pandering while the CPC is the voice of principled and responsible expertise.</p> <p>— Stephen Gordon (@stephenfgordon) <a href="https://twitter.com/stephenfgordon/status/1862283834663776470?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>As for the implementation of this terrible policy, it just looks even worse as the details emerge. What <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/sports/diapers-yes-skates-no-a-look-at-items-getting-a-tax-holiday/article_88bbb8f0-ecac-5da5-a876-f63ca8e9fc70.html">counts and what doesn’t</a> for the rebate are all over the map, and it’s so chaotic that businesses are, quite rightly, <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/implementing-gst-break-for-two-months-proving-to-be-a-nightmare-for-businesses/article_694a8c06-af60-59ab-ae8e-d7eddfce0c84.html">frustrated</a> at just how much work it’s going to be to implement for those two months. None of this should have happened, and the Liberals should have come up with a better measure than this (and rubbed the NDP’s faces in their own ill-conceived GST cut plan), but here we are, and it just keeps getting worse by the day. Well done, guys. Slow clap.</p> <p>Ukraine Dispatch</p> <p>Russia fired another <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ukraine-russia-strikes-energy-infrastructure-1.7395445">nearly 200</a> missiles and drones, targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure to leave more than a million people without power. Fragments from downed drones <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-drones-strike-buildings-kyiv-officials-say-2024-11-28/">hit two buildings</a> in Kyiv, injuring one person.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Eyewitnesses reported seeing large clouds of smoke over the FDKU Atlas oil depot in the Kamensk-Shakhtinsky district of Rostov Oblast. Videos of the fire posted on various Telegram channels appear to show a large blaze engulfing the night sky.</p> <p>— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1862346806794899821?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 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"><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;" />Russia's drone attack damages children's medical center in Kyiv, injuries reported. </p> <p>In one district of the capital, debris from a drone caused a fire on the facade of a children's medical center. A security guard was injured in the attack.<a href="https://t.co/hWuP3F6bFV">https://t.co/hWuP3F6bFV</a></p> <p>— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1862280433402098112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><span id="more-12937"></span>Good reads:</p> <ul> <li>In case you needed a reminder of how certain premiers are <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/trudeau-governments-team-canada-approach-to-donald-trump-is-already-on-shaky-ground-heres-why/article_204c0978-add2-11ef-beaa-370061522dad.html">undermining</a> the fight against the Trump tariff threats, the <em>Star</em> has you covered.</li> <li>Bill Blair told a national Indigenous defence conference that the future of the military <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/blair-says-future-of-defence-relies-on-building-relationships-with-indigenous-peoples/article_546b66ca-f778-56f4-92ca-cd9d238fcc5f.html">depends on</a> strengthening relationships with Indigenous people.</li> <li>Blair also says that DND and the Forces are “<a href="https://www.hilltimes.com/story/2024/11/28/dnd-and-caf-exempt-from-further-spending-cuts-says-blair-after-dept-was-tasked-to-find-900m-year-in-savings/443372/">exempt</a>” from further spending cuts.</li> <li>The government has <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/ottawa-abandons-promise-to-fix-over-criminalization-of-people-living-with-hiv/article_f1a329fa-ad98-11ef-8ae9-3bec58a9cddd.html">essentially abandoned</a> its pledge to deal with ending criminalization for HIV non-disclosure as they can’t prioritize it.</li> <li>The military is trying to <a href="https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/canadian-military-air-defence-system-latvia">fast-track</a> the acquisition of a short-range air defence battery for our troops in Latvia, before focusing on more ground-based air defences.</li> <li><em>The Logic</em> <a href="https://thelogic.co/news/national-defence-email-outage/">got access</a> to an internal Canadian Forces report about how precarious their IT is, when an upgrade knocked out mobile emails for more than eight hours.</li> <li>The Competition Bureau has <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/canada-competition-bureau-google-search-lawsuit-1.7396167">begun legal action</a> against Google, with the aim of breaking up their monopoly in the digital ad-tech space.</li> <li>Canada Post has started <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/canada-post-strike-layoffs-1.7395839">laying off</a> striking workers, in spite of that being in contravention of the Canada Labour Code.</li> <li>Different Indigenous groups are <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/eliminating-b-c-s-open-net-fish-farms-would-cost-billions-report-says/article_25bd2cc0-e904-5429-9a4c-9bfa4636d3be.html">fighting over</a> the plan to transition open-net salmon farms to land-based facilities, including how much it could cost governments.</li> <li>Danielle Smith is <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/alberta-taking-federal-government-to-court-over-revised-impact-assessment-law/article_ac8cef8e-ce88-5f18-9aae-37161703b25a.html">taking</a> the revised federal Impact Assessment Act to court, claiming it still strays too far into provincial jurisdiction.</li> <li>Amidst her boot-licking, Smith also says that she’s <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/premier-smith-says-alberta-is-still-formulating-border-plan-to-meet-u-s-demands/article_f433f1d4-918b-5b87-8482-b4f44886edb2.html">still working out</a> her border plan with Montana to capitulate to Trump’s demands.</li> <li>Mike Moffatt <a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/these-canadian-cities-are-finally-doing-something-to-fix-the-housing-crisis-almost-none-are/article_de79b6a4-ac40-11ef-bded-5ffdfc6cc92b.html">calls out</a> Ontario as being uniquely terrible when it comes to dealing with the housing crisis as other provinces step up.</li> <li>Susan Delacourt <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/when-it-comes-to-donald-trump-s-tariff-threat-doug-ford-is-getting-it-right/article_6e2966a2-adc0-11ef-9f8c-7b914fa34bb4.html">contrasts</a> the response to the Trump threats by both Doug Ford and Poilievre (though I’m not wholly convinced by her characterisation of Ford).</li> </ul> <p>Odds and ends:</p> <blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:w3miivoaldds6rqccvwjnvnc/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbzcx6qvhc22" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreiaqwmlyyrgo6wh45voupomaz2mdt4ldrzvnjwgukh2o6r24acpnca"> <p lang="en">The Appeal Court decision was so clean, straightforward, that I hope the SCC is taking this on mostly to endorse it. I won't think highly of any judges adopting the trial court's incoherent logic.</p> <p>— <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:w3miivoaldds6rqccvwjnvnc?ref_src=embed">Emmett Macfarlane (@emmettmacfarlane.com)</a> <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:w3miivoaldds6rqccvwjnvnc/post/3lbzcx6qvhc22?ref_src=embed">2024-11-28T14:52:13.594Z</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:4xqt7t2zph634drigtdxdmro/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbb4j54sc223" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreiei2uzv2wluwxsf2t2nn4g4ydcikbvim7csfqpcbqkyivbcwfgyk4"> <p lang="en">Need a copy of my book “The Unbroken Machine,” or “Royal Progress,” which I contributed to? Want to give a copy as a gift? Dundurn Press is having a 25% off site wide sale!</p> <p>— <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:4xqt7t2zph634drigtdxdmro?ref_src=embed">Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social)</a> <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:4xqt7t2zph634drigtdxdmro/post/3lbb4j54sc223?ref_src=embed">2024-11-18T23:53:05.945Z</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.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> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">12937</post-id> </item> <item> <title>QP: Is the PBO right or out of date?</title> <link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/03/21/qp-is-the-pbo-right-or-out-of-date/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 21 Mar 2024 20:27:06 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Question Period]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Appointments]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Foreign Interference]]></category> <category><![CDATA[HIV]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Housing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Iran]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Labour]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Procurement]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Refugees]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=12305</guid> <description><![CDATA[In spite of the fact that they are both in town, neither the prime minister nor his deputy were present for QP today, and most of the other leaders were absent as well. Andrew Scheer led off, and after rattling … <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/03/21/qp-is-the-pbo-right-or-out-of-date/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In spite of the fact that they are both in town, neither the prime minister nor his deputy were present for QP today, and most of the other leaders were absent as well. Andrew Scheer led off, and after rattling off slogans, he raised the story on the cost of the prime minister’s vacation, and got increasingly breathy as he demanded an election. François-Philippe Champagne said that Scheer had become the CIO of Canada—the Chief Inaction Officer, and that he was advocating inaction on climate change and clean growth. This earned him a warning from the Speaker. Scheer then railed about people not being able to afford food and blamed the carbon levy, and again demanded an election. Gudie Hutchings got up to recount the story of a senior in her riding who tracks his expenses, and what happy that he comes out ahead with the rebates. Scheer insisted this was just false, and claimed the PBO stated otherwise, and once again demanded an election. Hutchings recounted more stories from seniors in her riding. Luc Berthold took over in French, took some swipes at the Bloc, and demanded to know what the government promised them for support. Champagne said that it was clear that the Conservatives didn’t believe in climate change while the government takes action and grows the economy. Berthold tried to call out the Bloc on the upcoming vote, and and Steven Guilbeault reminded him that they ran on climate change in the last election, and that just behind him sits a former Quebec minister who brought in Quebec’s system.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p>Alain Therrien led for the Bloc, and decried how much the government says no to Quebec, Pablo Rodriguez listed things they said yes to, and that the Bloc only wants to start fights. Therrien listed more things the government said no to, including the abolition of the monarchy, and Rodriguez gave much the same reply.</p> <p>Peter Julian rose for the NDP, and in French, decried rent increases in Montreal—which is provincial jurisdiction—and wanted something for renters in the budget, Soraya Martinez Ferrada noted the investments in different types of housing, and their agreement with Quebec. Jenny Kwan appeared by video to give the same question with a BC lens, and Martinez Ferrada gave the English version of the same talking points.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Peter Julian ignores that rent is a provincial jurisdiction. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QP</a></p> <p>— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1770880472114933833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><span id="more-12305"></span>Round two, and Melissa Lantsman gave misleading averages on the carbon price and demanded an election (Wilkinson: The PBO was clear that eight our of ten households get more money back), Shannon Stubbs recited some talking points about the carbon levy and food banks (Boissonnault: Cutting the rebate is what is cruel; It’s right in the PBO report), and Kyle Seeback recited some slogans, claimed the PBO report was two years old, and demanded an election (MacKinnon: You want to take people’s rebates away).</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Just because the minister repeats something over and over again, it doesn’t make it true,” Lantsman says, apparently without any hint of self-awareness. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QP</a></p> <p>— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1770881500008870124?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 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">Once again, the government is unable to explain how an average figure on costs is not a measure of its effects in different income quintiles. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QP</a></p> <p>— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1770882173161120225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>Claude DeBellefeuille demanded more federal action on asylum seekers (Miller: We have taken action on asylum seekers from Mexico, and you don’t like it when we work with the province), Christine Normandin said that police action at food banks is because of asylum seekers (Miller: We have accelerated work permit grants in Ontario, and we are working with the province to do that in Quebec), and Yves Perron worried about farmers not getting federal emergency supports (MacAulay: The application has been received and is being assessed).</p> <p>John Barlow worried about farmers and the increasing carbon levy (MacAulay: You campaigned on a carbon price while we are delivering rebates), and Richard Lehoux tried to needle the Bloc while pretending ask what the government promised them (Guilbeault: Remember when you promised a carbon price and a clean fuel standard?).</p> <p>Laurel Collins complained about oil and gas CEOs (Wilkinson: All sectors of the economy pay their fair share, and we are working with the sector to ensure that they make progress), and Lindsay Mathyssen demanded they deal with striking civilian members on military bases (Blair: We continue to encourage them to meet at the bargaining table).</p> <p>Round three saw yet more questions about the carbon levy and demanding an election (Wilkinson: BC has their own system that predates ours; Emissions are down and the economy is growing; Hutchings: The carbon rebate puts more money in the pockets of eight out of ten families; Boissonnault: Here is the rebate for Alberta families). It also saw questions on slow judicial appointments (Virani: I have named 74 judges since then, and we are working twice as fast as the former government; We have taken steps to avoid partisan appointments), more needling of the Bloc (Rodriguez: It’s not nice to give that kind of spanking to the Bloc when they have enough to deal with, but climate inaction leads to forest fires and displaced people), ArriveCan and other dubious billing (Duclos: Fraudulent billing is unacceptable and we referred these cases to the RCMP), alleged Chinese “police stations” (LeBlanc: The RCMP has confirmed these issues are under investigation), the IRGC (LeBlanc: We have taken action on senior members while we take the advice of security agencies on terrorism listings), funding for HIV self-testing kits expiring (Naqvi: A lot of work has been done to provide solutions and we will continue to support communities), and convening a committee of the whole to hear from climate scientists (Wilkinson: We believe in climate change, and we are looking for ways to educate those who deny the reality).</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Morantz pronounces it “Eye-ran.” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QP</a> <a href="https://t.co/BQdN3afi17">https://t.co/BQdN3afi17</a></p> <p>— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1770890361226801375?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>Overall, it was a quieter day than yesterday, even if it did get off to a bit of a rowdier start but settled down fairly soon enough. It wasn’t surprising in the slightest that the Conservatives were stumping for their Supply Day motion, which was to declare non-confidence in the government because to the increase in the carbon levy, but if there was any debate to be had about it in QP, it certainly wasn’t edifying in the least. While it’s all well and good for Gudie Hutchings to recount the story of the seniors in her riding who come out ahead with the carbon rebate, they have yet to properly explain why the use of average figures from the PBO report are being used in a misleading way, or even to poke holes in their lack of consistency when it comes to relying on the PBO report and then saying five minutes later that it’s two years old and can’t possibly be right any longer. The Conservatives can’t pick a lane, and the government can’t point out that they won’t pick a lane. It doesn’t have to be this dumb, and yet it consistently is.</p> <p>Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to <a href="https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/dominique-vien(110009)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dominique Vien</a> for a fitted black suit over a white collared shirt, and to <a href="https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/peter-fragiskatos(88827)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Peter Fragiskatos</a> for a tailored navy suit with a matching tie over a lavender shirt with a matching pocket square.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Style citations go out to <a href="https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/colin-carrie(25486)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Colin Carrie</a> for a grey checkerboard jacket over a white shirt, black slacks, and a dull multicoloured tie, and to <a href="https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/anita-vandenbeld(71738)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anita Vandenbeld</a> for a green paisley long smock top with incredibly wide wizard sleeves.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> ]]></content:encoded> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">12305</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Roundup: Blaming the wrong government for the shortage of doctors—again</title> <link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/02/20/roundup-blaming-the-wrong-government-for-the-shortage-of-doctors-again/</link> <comments>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/02/20/roundup-blaming-the-wrong-government-for-the-shortage-of-doctors-again/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 20 Feb 2024 10:40:06 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Canadian Forces]]></category> <category><![CDATA[GLBT]]></category> <category><![CDATA[HIV]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Housing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Procurement]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Supreme Court]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Transfer Payments]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=12196</guid> <description><![CDATA[Because this is sometimes a media criticism blog, I turn to the big piece on the weekend the CBC ran about family doctors, and which its author, JP Tasker, pursued while in the fill-in host’s chair on Power & Politics … <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/02/20/roundup-blaming-the-wrong-government-for-the-shortage-of-doctors-again/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Because this is sometimes a media criticism blog, I turn to the <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/meet-the-canadians-without-a-family-doctor-1.7116475">big piece</a> on the weekend the CBC ran about family doctors, and which its author, JP Tasker, pursued while in the fill-in host’s chair on <em>Power & Politics</em> yesterday. This is something Tasker has been on for a while now, and he seems to think he’s on a righteous crusade about the shortage of doctors in Canada, and yet his article misses almost all of the important parts of the discussion, while he kept trying to set up this dichotomy on <em>P&P</em> between more doctors and pharmacare, getting that wrong as well, as it too will rely on provincial governments.</p> <p>Reading the story, you wouldn’t know that healthcare is a provincial responsibility. There are mentions of the deals that the federal government has been making with provinces, but the focus remains on this somehow being a federal issue when its not. And the main cause of the shortage of doctors traces back to the cuts in the 1990s, when provinces cut the number of medical school and residency spaces as part of their cost-saving measures after the federal transfer cuts. While this isn’t mentioned, what is also not mentioned is that when the Martin government re-invested in health transfers, the provinces didn’t similarly reinvest. They didn’t significantly re-open training or residency spaces like before. And as the health transfers were rising at six percent per year, health spending by the provinces were certainly not, and a lot of that money that was supposed to go to healthcare went to other things (often lowering taxes or reducing provincial deficits). And now here we are reaping what has been sown, but are the provinces being blamed for the problems they created? Of course not.</p> <p>These were their choices. It’s their jurisdiction. They should be the ones who shoulder the blame here, but in this country, legacy media is allergic to holding premiers accountable for pretty much anything (except maybe education), and once again, they get to skate after shitting the bed, while the federal government is being given all the blame. If there’s a chef’s kiss of just how terrible Tasker’s article is, he got a quote from someone who said the ArriveCan money should have been spent on hiring doctors, as though that was something the federal government could do. Slow clap.</p> <p>Ukraine Dispatch:</p> <p>Russian forces say that they have <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/world/europe/russia-says-it-has-crushed-the-last-pocket-of-resistance-in-avdiivka-to-complete-the/article_4deeeb57-d7b1-5018-994d-4f964035bdb7.html">crushed</a> the last pockets of resistance in Avdiivka now that the Ukrainians have pulled back. Those Ukrainian forces are now <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/after-retreat-ukraine-digs-repel-new-russian-attacks-east-2024-02-19/">digging in</a> to new positions just outside of Avdiivka to repel further advances. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukrainian-president-zelenskiy-visits-northeastern-front-line-2024-02-19/">visited</a> the front lines in the north-eastern part of the country.</p> <p>https://twitter.com/zelenskyyua/status/1759625711353053426</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;" />ISW: Russian forces in Avdiivka likely to need 'operational pause.' </p> <p>"Russian forces will likely have to conduct an operational pause before resuming significant offensive operations in the Avdiivka direction," analysts said.<a href="https://t.co/udkWjXxoG0">https://t.co/udkWjXxoG0</a></p> <p>— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1759787256091390188?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><span id="more-12196"></span>Good reads:</p> <ul> <li>Justin Trudeau says that Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni will <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/italian-pm-meloni-to-visit-canada-less-than-a-year-after-spat-over-lgbtq-issues/article_b5d7d940-895d-56a1-a792-f64aaadc6938.html">visit Toronto</a> on March 2nd; no word if he’s going to criticise her record on LGBTQ rights again.</li> <li>Bill Blair announced that Canada <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/canada-sending-more-than-800-drones-to-ukraine-for-surveillance-supply-transport/article_481b0055-e5ed-5ed6-bfb4-cdee858e0631.html">will send</a> 800 Canadian-made drones to Ukraine, mostly to be used for surveillance but can also drop ordnance.</li> <li>Federal funding for HIV self-test kits is <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/no-backup-plan-funding-for-hiv-self-testing-kits-ending-in-march/article_64adf58e-235c-5e95-a117-493d42038d53.html">set to expire</a>, with no word if it will be renewed or not.</li> <li>Tens of thousands of permanent residents have applied to join the military, but it takes <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/permanent-resident-military-applications-enrolment-1.7116469">18 to 24 months to process</a> their applications and many lose interest.</li> <li>The Canadian owners of PornHub say they <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/could-canadians-lose-access-to-pornhub-depends-on-what-happens-with-a-senate-bill/article_93b3bfbe-a57c-5500-bbbb-3db1b0e436d6.html">will block</a> the site in Canada if the (egregiously bad) age verification legislation goes through.</li> <li>If you ignore the cheap outrage framing, here’s a bit of a look at the forthcoming challenge around <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-duclos-makes-the-case-for-renovation-of-the-supreme-court/">renovating</a> the Supreme Court of Canada’s building.</li> <li>Yesterday saw the <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/new-supreme-court-justice-proud-of-demystifying-processes-at-the-top-bench/article_308503bc-6eda-5d7c-a452-ec7d43585279.html">official swearing-in</a> of Supreme Court Justice Mary Moreau (about three months after her actual swearing-in and taking her place on the bench).</li> <li>Kevin Carmichael <a href="https://thelogic.co/comment/carmichael-does-canada-need-a-housing-correction-could-we-handle-one/">muses</a> about housing corrections in Canada, and how it is too politically unpalatable as a way of restoring housing affordability.</li> <li>Emmett Macfarlane <a href="https://emmettmacfarlane.substack.com/p/yes-the-feds-can-actually-override">suggests</a> one way that the federal government could thwart provinces’ plans when it comes to their policies around gender diverse youth.</li> </ul> <p>Odds and Ends:</p> <p>https://twitter.com/acoyne/status/1759739599667015934</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> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/02/20/roundup-blaming-the-wrong-government-for-the-shortage-of-doctors-again/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">12196</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Roundup: One great backbencher</title> <link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/01/19/roundup-one-great-backbencher/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 19 Jan 2024 10:34:19 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Arctic]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category> <category><![CDATA[FINTRAC]]></category> <category><![CDATA[GLTB]]></category> <category><![CDATA[HIV]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Inuit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Israel]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Mark Carney]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Pierre Poilievre]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Refugees]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=12106</guid> <description><![CDATA[Following his unsuccessful run to lead the Ontario Liberal Party, Liberal backbencher Nathaniel Erskine-Smith has confirmed he’s not running in the next election, which is a very big shame. Erskine-Smith has been the kind of backbencher that we need a … <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/01/19/roundup-one-great-backbencher/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Following his unsuccessful run to lead the Ontario Liberal Party, Liberal backbencher Nathaniel Erskine-Smith has confirmed he’s <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/erskine-smith-not-seeking-re-election-1.7088167">not running</a> in the next election, which is a very big shame. Erskine-Smith has been the kind of backbencher that we need a lot more of in this country, which is to say someone who’s not afraid to rock the boat a little, and to vote against his own party from time to time on matters of principle. That’s exceedingly rare in Canadian politics, and mostly happens only among the Liberals in recent parliaments—Conservatives have a desire to show they’re in lockstep, and the NDP will quietly punish MPs who don’t show continued “solidarity” (and you’d better believe they have an internal bullying culture).</p> <p>This being said, I’m was not sure that Erskine-Smith would have made a great party leader provincially. While he brought great ideas to the campaign, my concern would be whether someone like that, who wasn’t afraid of rocking the boat from a backbench position, could maintain that energy sustainably in a leadership role, particularly because of the number of compromises that leadership in politics entails. It makes it harder to maintain the kinds of principled positions that he has been able to take, particularly on areas where sitting governments can find themselves getting uncomfortable.</p> <p>Maybe I’m wrong. Perhaps he could have made it work in leadership and brought a fresh energy to provincial politics the way he’s managed to make a particularly necessary contribution federally. Regardless, I hope he has inspired other backbenchers to take more changes and go against the party line from time to time, because we desperately need it.</p> <p>Ukraine Dispatch:</p> <p>Ukrainian forces <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukrainian-air-force-shoots-down-22-out-33-russian-drones-overnight-kyiv-says-2024-01-18/">shot down</a> 22 out of 33 Russian drones launched overnight Thursday, which hit residential neighbourhoods in the southern city of Kherson, and the nearby community of Beryslav. Ukrainian forces also claim to have <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-hits-targets-russia-during-drone-attack-oil-terminal-military-source-2024-01-18/">hit targets</a> in St. Petersburg, which travelled 1250 km to get there. Russian forces claim to have <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-military-says-it-took-control-village-eastern-ukraine-2024-01-18/">taken over</a> a settlement called Vesele in Ukraine’s east. Meanwhile, six settlements are <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-starts-rebuild-towns-cities-even-war-rages-2024-01-18/">being rebuilt</a> under the rubric that economies win wars, but they are only building essentials like housing and hospitals, and not libraries or museums.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">I am grateful to our French partners and <a href="https://twitter.com/SebLecornu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SebLecornu</a> personally for their leadership in the Artillery Coalition.</p> <p>A shortage of ammunition is a very real and pressing problem that our Armed Forces are facing at present. </p> <p>The Artillery coalition is aimed at solving this issue. We… <a href="https://t.co/qpp0p1FQV4">pic.twitter.com/qpp0p1FQV4</a></p> <p>— Rustem Umerov (@rustem_umerov) <a href="https://twitter.com/rustem_umerov/status/1747968074773397963?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 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">Journalists in Ukraine came under two attacks in just the past week. The incidents are the latest in a series of discrediting campaigns against independent Ukrainian media, raising concerns about increasing pressure on press freedom in wartime Ukraine. <a href="https://t.co/kpfj1xOoJL">https://t.co/kpfj1xOoJL</a></p> <p>— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1748124343924576284?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><span id="more-12106"></span>Good reads:</p> <ul> <li>Justin Trudeau was in Iqaluit to <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/how-can-we-make-nunavut-better-premier-full-of-hope-as-deal-with-ottawa-is/article_ce357e01-5223-51b7-a4c9-7125aecb3c58.html">sign</a> a <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/trudeau-government-transfers-land-management-to-nunavut-in-historic-deal/article_77dc1fec-b626-11ee-8256-eb12456a188f.html">devolution agreement</a> with the territory around control over natural resources and watersheds.</li> <li>Trudeau also <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/netanyahu-palestinian-two-state-trudeau-1.7088225">pushed back</a> against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement that there is no place for a Palestinian state.</li> <li>At the World Economic Forum, Chrystia Freeland was <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/10235415/mark-carney-supply-shocks-world-economic-forum/">touting</a> green investment, while Mark Carney warned about persistent global supply shocks.</li> <li>The government is <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/tens-of-thousands-of-ukrainians-expected-to-come-to-canada-in-the-next-few-months/article_44c8ab8a-0553-54ed-93c0-a44326943d49.html">preparing</a> for a possible influx of tens of thousands of Ukrainians as the deadline for the special visas approaches.</li> <li>There hasn’t been an appreciable <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/heat-pump-interest-highest-in-atlantic-but-bigger-grants-not-yet-making-a-difference/article_c8c74901-42b9-5222-b883-14721f813bd5.html">uptick</a> in applications for heat pump grants since those grants were increased, while most of the interest is coming from PEI.</li> <li>FINTRAC <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/ontario-doles-out-2-million-to-municipalities-for-abandoned-oil-and-gas-wells/article_2f6fb640-6b12-552b-84f5-5fc4ad911b01.html">reports</a> that online gambling sites have been laundering illicit cash.</li> <li>Here is a <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ai-deepfake-election-canada-1.7084398">deeper dive</a> into the problem of deepfakes in an election, and why Canada isn’t prepared at all for it.</li> <li>The <em>Star</em> <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/heres-where-justin-trudeaus-liberals-say-theyve-gone-wrong-and-how-they-can-turn-it/article_196c0c4e-b610-11ee-bfeb-afc3987ef9ed.html">talks to</a> some backbench Liberals, some of them anonymously, about their mood amidst sinking poll numbers.</li> <li>Pierre Poilievre called the mayors of Montreal and Quebec City “<a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/federal-tory-leader-pierre-poilievre-calls-montreal-quebec-city-mayors-incompetent/article_336ea88c-29a0-5fac-b559-b8861ae478b3.html">incompetent</a>” because of housing start declines (and scoring points in rural Quebec).</li> <li>François Legault <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/breaking-point-legault-asks-trudeau-to-slow-influx-of-asylum-seekers/article_a1f75674-ca64-59b2-ba75-467acf032b3c.html">sent a letter</a> to Trudeau claiming that the province is at the “breaking point” with asylum seekers and wants Trudeau to do something about it.</li> <li>Ontario is <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/ontario-doles-out-2-million-to-municipalities-for-abandoned-oil-and-gas-wells/article_2f6fb640-6b12-552b-84f5-5fc4ad911b01.html">spending $2 million</a> to help communities in southwestern Ontario prevent abandoned oil and gas wells from exploding. (No, seriously).</li> <li>Saskatchewan has the highest HIV rate in the country, but are planning to <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/health/addiction-workers-pan-saskatchewan-ban-on-drug-pipe-kits-and-needle-exchange-changes/article_b49e1614-5230-5457-bcb7-40081656ef0f.html">make it worse</a> by banning pipe kits and restricting needle exchanges.</li> <li>My <a href="https://xtramagazine.com/power/politics/poilievre-press-freedom-dystopia-262015"><em>Xtra</em> column</a> shows why Poilievre’s supposed concern for free speech is really about his dystopian world-building, and why that’s dangerous for LGBTQ+ people.</li> </ul> <p>Odds and Ends:</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Totally normal thing for the leader of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition to be tweeting, and for his House Leader to be amplifying. <a href="https://t.co/qNHDQR0NEb">pic.twitter.com/qNHDQR0NEb</a></p> <p>— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1748098128551579753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 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> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">12106</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Roundup: Sanctimonious outrage over unsavoury characters</title> <link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2022/12/02/roundup-sanctimonious-outrage-over-unsavoury-characters/</link> <comments>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2022/12/02/roundup-sanctimonious-outrage-over-unsavoury-characters/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 02 Dec 2022 10:46:24 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Canadian Forces]]></category> <category><![CDATA[China]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Corrections]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dental Care]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Doug Ford]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Euthanasia]]></category> <category><![CDATA[G20]]></category> <category><![CDATA[HIV]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Inuit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jean-Yves Duclos]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Labour]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Maple Crown]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Supreme Court]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The King]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=11080</guid> <description><![CDATA[There was another bout of sanctimonious outrage in the House of Commons yesterday as a notorious Holocaust-denier attended an event put on by MPs of the Canada-Palestine Parliamentary Friendship Group, and the Conservatives (and Melissa Lantsman in particular) demanded apologies … <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2022/12/02/roundup-sanctimonious-outrage-over-unsavoury-characters/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There was another bout of sanctimonious outrage in the House of Commons yesterday as a notorious Holocaust-denier <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/9318686/mps-condemn-publishers-attendance-parliament-hill-reception/">attended</a> an event put on by MPs of the Canada-Palestine Parliamentary Friendship Group, and the Conservatives (and Melissa Lantsman in particular) demanded apologies and denunciations. While at least two Liberals, Salma Zahid and Omar Alghabra, denounced, there hasn’t been much of an apology, but noted that said denier was not invited, but that an open invitation went out to the Palestinian community and he was one of 150 or so who showed up. One would think that with a topic as sensitive as solidarity with the Palestinian people that there would have been more of an emphasis on ensuring that someone like this didn’t show up, but they didn’t. In QP, Alghabra was not incorrect in noting that they can’t control the attendance at every public event and that sometimes unsavoury people will show up, which is true—but again, you should know with an event like this that it’s going to attract certain characters, and to beware.</p> <p>What is rich, however, is that when far-right extremists showed up at Pierre Poilievre’s rallies, or when he cavorted with the occupiers on Parliament Hill in February, or when he went on that walk with members of Diagalon, that he and his caucus insisted that he couldn’t be held to account for those people showing up. And lo, they have a different standard when it happens to others. It’s something of a pox on all their houses situation—the MPs who hosted the Palestinian event should have been more careful, and headed off trouble when they saw who showed up, while the Conservatives need to own when they were attracting extremists, and consorting with them. But I have little doubt that either side will own this, and the sanctimonious outrage will continue, back and forth from each side, in perpetuity.</p> <p>Ukraine Dispatch, Day 282:</p> <p>Russian shelling has <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ukraine-russia-war-kherson-shelling-1.6671122">taken out power</a> in over a third of recently liberated Kherson, and Ukrainian officials are reiterating their call for civilians to relocate for the time being. Meanwhile, here’s a look at the <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ukraine-war-russia-bakhmut-1.6670438">grinding battle</a> near Bakhmut, whose strategic importance is questioned, but nevertheless, the well-fortified Ukrainians are exacting a heavy toll from Russian forces, even though it is costing between 30 to 50 Ukrainian casualties per day.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Vessels linked to Russia’s largest grain trader shipped thousands of tons of stolen Ukrainian grain to global buyers, using a sophisticated system of feeder vessels and floating cranes, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/WSJ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WSJ</a> investigation. <a href="https://t.co/k7mPRvJp4V">https://t.co/k7mPRvJp4V</a></p> <p>— Paul Vieira (@paulvieira) <a href="https://twitter.com/paulvieira/status/1598326955304226817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><span id="more-11080"></span>Good reads:</p> <ul> <li>The prime minister and other ministers were out across the country, <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/12/01/applications-open-for-dental-care-benefits-touted-by-liberals-as-inflation-relief/">showcasing</a> that the dental care programme is now open (for children under twelve).</li> <li>Mélanie Joly <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/12/01/joly-ups-cash-for-international-criminal-court-sex-crime-probes-as-russia-rift-grows-2/">pledged</a> another $1 million to the International Criminal Court to help investigators prosecute war crimes in Ukraine, particularly around sexual violence.</li> <li>The new rules to guarantee ten paid sick days for federally-regulated workers came <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/12/01/new-paid-sick-leave-rules-coming-into-effect-for-federally-regulated-workers/">into effect</a> yesterday, and boy are the NDP sore they’re not getting credit.</li> <li>Global Affairs has <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/12/01/global-affairs-calls-in-china-ambassador-over-claims-of-secret-police-stations-2/">summoned</a> the Chinese ambassador to answer questions about the so-called Chinese “police stations” that have established themselves in Canada.</li> <li>The deputy minister of defence says that <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/12/01/military-was-told-to-prepare-to-intervene-in-freedom-convoy-protests-official/">plans were drawn up</a> to prepare for the possibility of assisting with the occupation, but was not seriously considered.</li> <li>The national security advisor says the government is <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/12/01/national-security-officials-planning-for-2023-freedom-convoy-reboot-adviser-to-pm-2/">preparing</a> for a possible return of the extremists, grifters and conspiracy theorists who occupied Ottawa last year.</li> <li>Correctional Services has been <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/12/01/advocates-criticize-slow-expansion-of-needle-exchange-program-in-federal-prisons-2/">slow to rollout</a> the needle exchange programme in federal prisons.</li> <li>Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami has <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/itk-reverses-support-c-29-national-reconciliation-council-1.6669809">pulled out</a> of their support for the federal government’s proposed reconciliation council, fearing it would impact their direct relationship.</li> <li>Here’s a look at the <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/9315653/canada-struggle-foreign-interference/">difficulty</a> of dealing with foreign interference, particularly during an election, because there are few tools available.</li> <li>Psychiatric groups are calling on the government to <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/12/01/canada-should-pause-maid-for-people-with-mental-disorders-psychiatrists-2/">delay</a> implanting MAiD for mental illnesses alone, citing a need for better preparation and training.</li> <li><em>Maclean’s</em> <a href="https://www.macleans.ca/society/indigenous-judge-michelle-obonsawin/">interviews</a> Supreme Court Justice Michelle O’Bonsawin.</li> <li>The NDP are <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/12/01/ndp-call-for-boycott-of-india-hosting-g20-citing-treatment-of-religious-minorities-2/">calling on</a> the federal government to boycott any G20 activities that take place in the Kashmir region, because of human rights abuses there.</li> <li>Those three PQ MNAs made a <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/12/01/parti-quebecois-barred-from-quebec-legislature-after-refusing-to-take-oath-to-king/">big show</a> of being barred from the legislature for their refusal to swear their oath to the King of Canada.</li> <li>Doug Ford says he <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/12/01/ford-says-he-wont-use-notwithstanding-clause-to-fight-bill-124-after-court-ruling-2/">won’t invoke</a> the Notwithstanding Clause to restore his public sector wage cut bill, but he does intend to appeal it being struck down.</li> <li>Business leaders in Alberta are <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/bakx-alberta-sovereignty-act-investment-1.6669945">concerned</a> that the “Sovereignty Act” will drive business away. Gosh, you think?</li> <li>Jennifer Robson, Tammy Schirle and Lindsay Tedds <a href="https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/december-2022/canada-dental-benefit-problems/">walk through</a> the implementation problems of the kludge being called “dental care.”</li> </ul> <p>Odds and ends:</p> <p>For <em>Xtra</em>, I <a href="https://xtramagazine.com/health/jean-yves-duclos-hiv-aids-funding-241462">interviewed</a> federal health minister Jean-Yves Duclos about their record on funding HIV organizations on the occasion of World AIDS Day.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Need a copy of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UnbrokenMachine?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UnbrokenMachine</a>? Find it now for 25% off! <a href="https://t.co/2x5tOpO5ne">https://t.co/2x5tOpO5ne</a></p> <p>— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1591627148636618754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2022</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> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2022/12/02/roundup-sanctimonious-outrage-over-unsavoury-characters/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">11080</post-id> </item> <item> <title>QP: Careful hewing to prepared lines about national security</title> <link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2022/11/30/qp-careful-hewing-to-prepared-lines-about-national-security/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 30 Nov 2022 23:20:47 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Question Period]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Auditor General]]></category> <category><![CDATA[China]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Danielle Smith]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category> <category><![CDATA[First Nations]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Gun Control]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category> <category><![CDATA[HIV]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Inflation]]></category> <category><![CDATA[National Security]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=11073</guid> <description><![CDATA[The prime minister was in the Chamber for his usual Wednesday spot of proto-Prime Minister’s Questions, as were all of the other leaders, which hasn’t happened for a few weeks. Pierre Poilievre led off in French, and he once again … <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2022/11/30/qp-careful-hewing-to-prepared-lines-about-national-security/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The prime minister was in the Chamber for his usual Wednesday spot of proto-Prime Minister’s Questions, as were all of the other leaders, which hasn’t happened for a few weeks. Pierre Poilievre led off in French, and he once again returned to the Global News report that China had funnelled money to federal candidates in 2019, and wanted to know if the prime minister had gone back to CSIS to ask if there was any evidence to support such an allegation. Justin Trudeau said that he has to be very careful in answering questions about national security, and with a script in front of him, recited that Canada and its allies are regularly targeted by foreign states like China, including during election campaigns, and that his government had more steps than any other including creating an independent panel tasked with assessing the risk coming from foreign countries, and those panels confirmed that the electoral integrity was not compromised, and concluded with yes, he receives regular briefings. Poilievre switched to English, said it was interesting that he said he did get briefings, and repeated to know if he got one post Global News report on the allegations. Trudeau repeated his same response in English, word-for-word, but added at the end that all parties are briefed about elections. Poilievre said that wasn’t the question, and wanted a yes-or-no answer on a post-Global News briefing. Trudeau very slowly enunciated that in all of the briefings he received, there has never been any mention of candidates receiving money from China in either 2019 or 2021, and praised the panels once again. Poilievre wanted a yes-or-no answer on whether Trudeau asked for briefings after the Global News story, but Trudeau went on about how Poilievre, a former minister, knows the importance of respecting national security guidelines and that because Poilievre was the former minister for elevations integrity, he knows this, but also added that when Poilievre was minister, he did nothing about adding security against interference while the current government did. Poilievre was incredulous by the notion that Trudeau didn’t demand a briefing on the story, but moved on to ask if there was any electoral interference at all. Trudeau reminded him that Canada is regularly subject to some level of foreign interference, including from China, including during elections, which Poilievre would know when he was minister of elections, and noted that the two previous leaders did get briefings before, during and after the elections on foreign interference.</p> <p>Yves-François Blanchet wondered at what point the interference goes from a little to a lot, and wondered about Chinese money flowing into Trudeau’s riding was interference or influence. Trudeau stated that rather than allowing partisan accusations to muddy the waters, they created a panel to precisely look at those issues in an objective and non-partisan manner. Blanchet was more specific about Chinese money flowing into Trudeau’s riding at a time a bank was trying to get approval, and Trudeau said that while the Bloc was trying to cast doubt on the integrity of our institutions, he could assure them they were not affected.</p> <p>Jagmeet Singh rose for the NDP, and in French, worried about an overloaded hospital in Quebec, and accused the prime minister of sitting on his hands, and demanded the government do more like they did in the pandemic. Trudeau reminded him that they have been working with the provinces. Singh switched to English to worry about Danielle Smith’s “Sovereignty Act” and that she would use it to undermine the <em>Canada Health Act</em>, which proves he doesn’t know what he was talking about because the whole gods damned point of the Act is to put conditions on federal dollars. Trudeau noted that he could understand why people were concerned, but he was going to focus on getting good results for Albertans.</p> <p><span id="more-11073"></span>Round two, and Poilievre got up to misquote both Tiff Macklem and the PBO to rail about so-called “inflationary deficits” (Trudeau: You voted against supports for Canadians who need it; What he just demonstrated is a focus on austerity), he cherry-picked violent crime statistics and accused the government of trying to ban “grandpa Joe’s hunting rival” (Trudeau: We have not banned shotguns or rifles, but you are misleading Canadians), and pointed to a “fowl gun” on the list being banned (Trudeau: The Conservatives are deep in the pockets of the American gun lobby; Supposedly tough-on-crime legislation gets struck down by the courts and doesn’t make people safer, so we are being smarter on crime which doesn’t mean targeting farmers), and tried again in French (Trudeau: You keep trying to bring assault weapons back into our communities).</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">As <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QP</a> goes off the rails once again… <a href="https://t.co/tFC8CY4mjf">https://t.co/tFC8CY4mjf</a></p> <p>— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1598039667751981066?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>Blanchet tried to insist he wasn’t questioning the integrity of Canadian institutions, but the Liberal Party, raised the Uyghur genocide, and accused them of taking Chinese money (Trudeau: You are trying to undermine institutions), and tried again (Trudeau: You like to hear yourself speak, but we are subject to interference all the time, and we have taken steps to ensure the integrity of our elections).</p> <p>Pierre Paul-Hus returns to the topic of hunting rifles (Trudeau: We are not targeting hunting rifles, but assault weapons; Our bill also makes investments into safety and the border), and Raquel Dancho asked the same again in English (Trudeau: Same answer; Your party’s supposed tough-on-crime measures kept getting struck down).</p> <p>Singh got back up to rail about Loblaws as the cause of inflation (Trudeau: We increased corporate income taxes and have a dividend on the most profitable companies and turns that into supports), and raised the Auditor General’s report on homelessness and demanded a timeline of an Indigenous-led urban, rural and northern housing strategy (Trudeau: We are moving forward in partnership with Indigenous people on an urban Indigenous housing strategy in a comprehensive way).</p> <p>Round three saw questions on interference by Beijing about any candidates or riding associations (Trudeau: I am regularly briefed about attempted interference by a number of countries, and all parties get briefings during elections), inflation (Trudeau: You voted against supports for people who need it; While you focus on attacking me, I am focused on helping Canadians), and the carbon price (Trudeau: We have a pricing system that gives most families more back than they pay; We need to protect the future while you have no plan), whether Trudeau’s riding received funds from China (Trudeau: We set up mechanisms to prevent interference and we have strong rules around funding), World AIDS Day (Trudeau: We will continue to make investments), and a global biodiversity framework (Trudeau: We will be pushing for results at the summit in Montreal).</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Michael Barrett seems to be asserting that the PM is living in a $6000/night hotel room in perpetuity. <br />Cripes, this is childish. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QP</a></p> <p>— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1598046376205684774?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>Overall, the day felt a lot like a repeat of yesterday, with Poilievre taking up a lot more slots to keep asking the same thing over and over again, and Trudeau hewing to very careful talking points, under the rubric that he has to be careful when it comes to national security. It could mean that he has received the briefing, that he knows more about the allegations of the eleven candidates, and that CSIS and the RCMP have asked him not to say anything because it might compromise an ongoing investigation—or he might have simply been told that an investigation is ongoing and left it at that. Hard to say, but Trudeau has all-but said he won’t answer those specific questions, so Poilievre constantly asking and trying to make an issue out of it is tiresome to watch. Then again, as we’ve seen, Poilievre thinks he’s Matlock and that he’s going to get some kind of witness box confession, so that’s why he behaves the way he does.</p> <p>Otherwise, Blanchet took all of the Bloc slots today, and Singh took all but one of the NDP spots (oh so generously giving Blake Desjarlais their final slot to raise a question on World AIDS Day happening tomorrow), but I will once again note that the point of these proto-PMQs is for backbenchers to ask the PM questions, not just give leaders even more opportunities than they already have. Blanchet’s insinuations don’t seem to make any particular sense given how financing laws work federally, but he and his party have been trying to make the case to restore the per-vote subsidy (because they have traditionally had a difficult time fundraising as a party), so casting as many aspersions as possible in order to present the per-vote subsidy as the only good or safe option is really a choice.</p> <p>Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/dominique-vien(110009)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dominique Vien</a> for a black collared long top that was belted, over black slacks, with a black patterned scarf, and to <a href="https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/justin-trudeau(58733)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Justin Trudeau</a> for a tailored navy suit and matching tie over a crisp white shirt. Style citations go out to <a href="https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/chad-collins(110438)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chad Collins</a> for a tan jacket with a windowpane pattern over a brown sweater, white shirt, gold-brown tie, and blue jeans, and to <a href="https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/marilyn-gladu(88938)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marilyn Gladu</a> for a long-sleeved shapeless forest green dress. Dishonourable mention goes out to <a href="https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/luc-desilets(104922)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Luc Desilets</a> for a black suit and tie over a yellow-orange shirt.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">11073</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Roundup: Threats and compromises over dental care</title> <link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2022/08/09/roundup-threats-and-compromises-over-dental-care/</link> <comments>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2022/08/09/roundup-threats-and-compromises-over-dental-care/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 09 Aug 2022 09:37:09 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Canadian Forces]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Conservative Leadership]]></category> <category><![CDATA[CRA]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dental Care]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Emergencies Act]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category> <category><![CDATA[HIV]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Inflation]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jagmeet Singh]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Michael Chong]]></category> <category><![CDATA[NATO]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Privacy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[RCMP]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Russia]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Supreme Court]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=10777</guid> <description><![CDATA[After spending the weekend talking tough on healthcare, Jagmeet Singh made some threats and shook his fist in the direction of Althia Raj yesterday, insisting that if the promised dental care programme doesn’t happen by the end of the year, … <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2022/08/09/roundup-threats-and-compromises-over-dental-care/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>After spending the weekend talking tough on healthcare, Jagmeet Singh made some threats and shook his fist in the <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/2022/08/08/jagmeet-singh-warns-justin-trudeau-their-deal-is-dead-if-no-dental-plan-by-years-end.html">direction of Althia Raj</a> yesterday, insisting that if the promised dental care programme doesn’t happen by the end of the year, that he was walking away from the supply-and-confidence agreement with the federal government. As this was hitting the wires, so was a leak that said the government was <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/08/08/liberals-planning-temporary-solution-to-dental-care-promise-sources-2/">looking at</a> a temporary cash transfer for eligible households in lieu of dental care this year, because it’s taking longer to implement (even though they insist they are on track). But the federal government hasn’t even decided on a delivery model yet, which is a problem, and premiers haven’t signalled any willingness to work with them on this either, and that’s a problem for all involved. Singh was naïve to believe this could happen in a few months, and the Liberals were stupid to promise that it could, knowing that this was going to be tricky because of the jurisdictional hurdles. And I suspect this is just going to drive cynicism on all sides, because new national social programmes can’t be done on the back of a napkin and rolled out in a few weeks, and everyone has set up expectations that will be nigh-impossible to meet. So good job, everyone. You’ve really helped.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">In light of the news about the Liberals needing to implement a “temporary solution” for dental care, here’s the video I did with <a href="https://twitter.com/JenniferRobson8?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JenniferRobson8</a> about why it’s easier said than done. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cdnpoli</a> <a href="https://t.co/ILzfoTjxbi">https://t.co/ILzfoTjxbi</a></p> <p>— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1556715565942816770?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>Ukraine Dispatch, Day 167:</p> <p>There are <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ukraine-nuclear-plant-shelled-1.6544727">international concerns</a> after Russians shelled the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, in what is believed to be an attempt to cut power to Ukrainian-held cities in the southern part of the country. We also got word that a Ukrainian grain ship has reached Turkey, but it seems there has been a dispute with the cargo’s buyers in Lebanon, so they may be looking for a new buyer for the corn haul. Because of course. Over the weekend, Russians <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/world/europe/2022/08/06/russian-forces-begin-assault-on-two-eastern-ukraine-cities.html">targeted</a> the eastern cities of Bakhmut and Avdiivka, in the Donetsk region.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Russia claims that the Jul 29 explosion at the Olenivka penal facility in occupied Ukraine, which killed at least 50 Ukrainian POWs, was the result of a strike conducted by the Ukrainian Armed Forces using Western-supplied weapons systems. </p> <p>Based on our analysis:<br />2/6</p> <p>— Canadian Armed Forces (@CanadianForces) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanadianForces/status/1555546542458781696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2022</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">– Russia first circulated images of High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) rocket components that it claims were used in the strike on Aug. 3, five days after the explosion. There is no evidence that the material displayed by Russia is linked to the events of July 29. 4/6</p> <p>— Canadian Armed Forces (@CanadianForces) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanadianForces/status/1555546546514558976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2022</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">Read more on countering disinformation with facts – Russian invasion of Ukraine: <a href="https://t.co/Gv5ZWiQQmA">https://t.co/Gv5ZWiQQmA</a> 6/6</p> <p>— Canadian Armed Forces (@CanadianForces) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanadianForces/status/1555546550004289537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>In case you missed it:</p> <ul> <li>My <a href="https://looniepolitics.com/michael-chong-has-new-reform-ideas-and-some-of-them-are-on-the-right-track/">column</a> on Michael Chong’s latest round of reform ideas, and some of them are actually good, while others may not be practical given current limitations.</li> <li>For <em>National Magazine</em>, I wrote about the Supreme Court of Canada’s <a href="https://nationalmagazine.ca/en-ca/articles/law/in-depth/2022/conditional-consent-or-fraud">decision</a> around condom refusal and how that can lead to a sexual assault trial.</li> <li>My<em> Loonie Politics</em> <a href="https://looniepolitics.com/videos/dale-smiths-quick-take-39/">Quick Take</a> on the (then-forthcoming) leadership debate and how you shouldn’t count anything out when there’s a ranked ballot in the mix.</li> <li>My <a href="https://looniepolitics.com/we-cant-divorce-climate-action-from-inflation/">column</a> on why we can’t keep ignoring the link between climate change and what it’s done to crops, and by extension, rising food inflation.</li> <li>My <a href="https://xtramagazine.com/power/politics/international-aids-conference-canadian-funding-227893"><em>Xtra</em> column</a> on this government’s poor record on HIV funding, while they were busy patting themselves on the back at the International AIDS Conference.</li> <li>My <a href="https://looniepolitics.com/the-moral-bankruptcy-of-building-a-case-for-hybrid-sittings/">column</a> calling out Senator Dasko’s morally bankrupt poll trying to drum up support for the continuation of hybrid sittings, with no mention of the human toll.</li> </ul> <p><span id="more-10777"></span>Good reads:</p> <ul> <li>General Wayne Eyre <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/general-wayne-eyre-canada-top-soldier-special-forces-not-confirm-ukraine-1.6545145">won’t confirm or deny</a> if Canadian special forces are on the ground in Ukraine, citing operational security and Russian disinformation.</li> <li>Canada <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/08/08/canadian-warships-missing-from-nato-naval-forces-for-first-time-since-2014/">doesn’t have</a> any ships in NATO deterrence forces in European waters for the first time since 2014, as our previous deployment overstretched capabilities.</li> <li>The CRA will start sending out <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/08/08/cra-says-it-has-1-4-billion-in-uncashed-cheques-sitting-in-its-coffers/">e-notifications</a> about unclaimed cheques in its coffers, totalling $1.4 billion since 1998.</li> <li>The Privacy Commissioner <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/08/08/rcmp-says-its-not-using-controversial-pegasus-spyware-to-covertly-access-cellphones/">wants tougher laws</a> as news of RCMP <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/9044296/rcmp-cellphone-hacking-privacy/">use of spyware</a> was reported in the media. Marco Mendicino <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/marco-mendicino-defends-rcmps-use-of-spyware-says-rigorous-protections-are-in-place">claims</a> there are “rigorous” protections.</li> <li>Groups challenging the use of the <em>Emergencies Act</em> were <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2022/08/08/let-us-see-secret-information-about-ottawas-response-to-the-freedom-convoy-civil-liberties-groups-ask-court.html">in Federal Court</a> trying to get unredacted Cabinet documents.</li> <li>Because it’s still summer showboat season, the Commons transport committee is going to <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/08/08/house-of-commons-transport-committee-holds-emergency-meeting-on-airport-delays/">start hearings</a> on airport delays next week.</li> <li>Former Liberal foreign affairs and defence minister—and one-time interim leader—Bill Graham, <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/bill-graham-died-august-8-2022-1.6545023">died</a> at age 83.</li> <li>Ontario’s health minister <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/08/08/state-of-ontarios-health-care-system-not-unprecedented-health-minister-says/">insists</a> there’s nothing to see here with the closure of emergency rooms over the weekend. <a href="https://youtu.be/aKnX5wci404">Please disperse</a>.</li> <li>Matt Gurney <a href="https://www.tvo.org/article/while-ers-close-the-ford-government-issues-press-releases">chastises</a> the Ford government for issuing press releases as the healthcare system in Ontario collapses around them.</li> </ul> <p>Odds and ends:</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Stolen from Facebook (which I believe was previously stolen from Reddit). <a href="https://t.co/VtborvC59K">pic.twitter.com/VtborvC59K</a></p> <p>— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1556754939015225346?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2022</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> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2022/08/09/roundup-threats-and-compromises-over-dental-care/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>6</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">10777</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Roundup: A choice to keep injuring interpreters</title> <link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2022/07/28/roundup-a-choice-to-keep-injuring-interpreters/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 28 Jul 2022 09:35:15 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Arctic]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Conservative Leadership]]></category> <category><![CDATA[First Nations]]></category> <category><![CDATA[HIV]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Official Languages]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Public Health]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Russia]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Service Canada]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=10772</guid> <description><![CDATA[We’re in day one-hundred-and-fifty-five of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, and Russia has captured the country’s second-largest power plant, as they are redeploying their forces to three southern regions in advance of an expected Ukrainian counter-offensive in the area. Ukrainian … <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2022/07/28/roundup-a-choice-to-keep-injuring-interpreters/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We’re in <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/russia-invasion-ukraine-day154-1.6533319">day one-hundred-and-fifty-five</a> of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, and Russia has captured the country’s second-largest power plant, as they are redeploying their forces to three southern regions in advance of an expected Ukrainian counter-offensive in the area. Ukrainian forces have used American-supplied rockets to <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/world/europe/2022/07/27/ukraine-forces-strike-key-bridge-in-russian-occupied-south.html">take out</a> a strategic bridge being used by Russians to supply their forces occupying the Kherson region, which Ukraine has stated they intend to re-take. It’s these weapons that have allowed Ukrainian forces to turn the corner on their counter-offensive, and they have <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/world/life-on-ukraines-front-lines-the-more-weapons-we-have-the-faster-we-will-end-the-war">pointed out</a> that the sooner they can get more of them, the sooner they will be able to end this war. Meanwhile, ship owners are <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/07/27/risks-mined-waters-slow-rush-to-extract-grains-from-ukraine/">assessing</a> whether the risk is worth it to travel through mined sea corridors to ship grain out of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports (and it could take weeks or months to clear the mines from these ports).</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">24 journalists have been killed since the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RussianInvasion?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RussianInvasion</a> in Ukraine <a href="https://t.co/okeFgRXYAU">https://t.co/okeFgRXYAU</a></p> <p>— katerina sergatskova (@KSergatskova) <a href="https://twitter.com/KSergatskova/status/1552395034003218433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>Closer to home, translators in Parliament are continuing to <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/07/27/bilingualism-in-parliament-threatened-by-unaccredited-off-site-hires-translators/">sound the alarm</a> about the plan to hire unaccredited and off-site interpreters to do parliamentary work, no matter that this could impair the quality of the translations. This is very important, because it’s Parliament. To make this worse, the Government House Leader, Mark Holland, is downplaying the effect that hybrid sittings have had in injuring the existing interpreters, claiming that this is because they were already facing shortfalls before COVID because of the “expanded work” of Parliament. The problem with this statement is that they simply made the situation worse with hybrid sittings and the fact that it injures the interpreters, and they keep making excuses to keep them going. This is not helping with the shortfall in interpreters, it’s actively making it worse, and they don’t care. And while the Conservatives are opposing this move, they have not helped their case by insisting on resisting COVID measures including masking. And while I had a Liberal staffer chirping at me on Twitter about this, the fact is that MPs have been aware of the problems for over two years now, and have chosen to do nothing about it. They chose to keep hybrid sittings going, knowing full well that it injures the interpreters and can lead to permanent hearing loss. Their refusal to take measures is a choice, and a deeply unethical one. There is no defending it.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="qme" dir="ltr"> <a href="https://t.co/cE9zGfOWE6">pic.twitter.com/cE9zGfOWE6</a></p> <p>— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1552314204069175296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><span id="more-10772"></span></p> <p>Good reads:</p> <ul> <li>The Pope is in Quebec City for the second leg of his “penitence” tour, and had more <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/07/27/pope-francis-expresses-shame-and-sorrow-for-residential-schools-in-quebec-speech/">meetings</a> with Justin Trudeau and Mary Simon at the Citadel.</li> <li>Mark Miller says the “<a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/07/27/gaps-in-popes-apology-cant-be-ignored-says-crown-indigenous-relations-minister/">gaps</a>” in the Pope’s quasi-apology can’t be ignored, in particular the points about <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/07/27/gaps-in-popes-apology-cant-be-ignored-says-crown-indigenous-relations-minister-2/">renouncing</a> the Doctrine of Discovery.</li> <li>While the Public Health Agency is <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/07/27/canadian-gay-and-bisexual-men-urged-to-cut-number-of-sexual-partners-and-get-vaccinated-to-stem-monkeypox.html">recommending</a> gay and bi men reduce sexual contacts to stop the spread of monkeypox, advocates want more supports.</li> <li>David Lametti announced planned new <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/07/27/liberals-to-launch-consultations-on-criminal-justice-response-to-hiv-non-disclosure/">consultations</a> around criminal responses to HIV non-disclosure, which has been loudly criticized to date.</li> <li>There are <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2022/07/27/lineups-still-exist-is-ottawas-task-force-on-passport-and-service-delays-a-political-stunt.html">questions</a> about what the Cabinet committee on service delivery delays is doing, as they have not been consulting with front-line workers or unions.</li> <li>The UK is <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/07/27/british-high-commission-to-welcome-military-specialist-on-russias-threat-to-arctic/">assigning</a> a military expert to its high commission in Ottawa to further cooperation around the threat that Russia and China poses to the Arctic.</li> <li>Hockey Canada executives told the Heritage committee that they have <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/9019004/hockey-canada-scandal-investigation-sexual-assault-committee/">paid out $7.6 million</a> in out-of-court settlements since 1989, and the CEO refuses to resign for it.</li> <li>Leslyn Lewis is <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2022/07/27/ask-my-questions-or-i-wont-attend-leadership-debate-leslyn-lewis-tells-conservative-party.html">threatening</a> that if the leadership debate won’t let her talk about her particular conspiracy theories that she won’t attend. No, seriously.</li> </ul> <p>Odds and ends:</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">It was quite a coincidence that $4 billion in federal funds couldn’t be properly tracked by the Auditor General, and that the province wound up with a $3.9 billion surplus. <a href="https://t.co/4zg2MeqQYt">https://t.co/4zg2MeqQYt</a></p> <p>— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1552438304347504640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2022</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> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">10772</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Roundup: The freezing salary dog-and-pony show</title> <link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2022/07/27/roundup-the-freezing-salary-dog-and-pony-show/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 27 Jul 2022 09:34:13 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category> <category><![CDATA[CSE]]></category> <category><![CDATA[First Nations]]></category> <category><![CDATA[HIV]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Rail Safety]]></category> <category><![CDATA[RCMP]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Russia]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tim Houston]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=10769</guid> <description><![CDATA[It’s now day one-hundred-and-fifty-four of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, and Russia has targeted Odessa and Mykolaiv with air strikes, damaging private buildings and port infrastructure, because of course they were very serious about that deal to let grain shipments … <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2022/07/27/roundup-the-freezing-salary-dog-and-pony-show/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It’s now <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/russia-invasion-ukraine-day153-1.6532093">day one-hundred-and-fifty-four</a> of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, and Russia has targeted Odessa and Mykolaiv with air strikes, damaging private buildings and port infrastructure, because of course they were very serious about that deal to let grain shipments resume through those ports. Shelling also continues in the Donetsk region, as well as Kharkiv.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Olena Zelenska and Volodymyr Zelenskyy photographed by Annie Leibovitz, 2022.</p> <p>What a powerful image! <a href="https://t.co/W9o4QJAiqn">pic.twitter.com/W9o4QJAiqn</a></p> <p>— Bohdana Neborak (@BohdanaNeborak) <a href="https://twitter.com/BohdanaNeborak/status/1551912411757682689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>Closer to home, the Nova Scotia legislature was <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/07/26/n-s-legislature-opens-emergency-summer-session-to-block-pay-raise-for-politicians/">recalled</a> yesterday to pass “emergency legislation” to freeze salaries, and cut the premier’s salary, as part of a dog and pony show about showing that they’re serious in the face of a cost-of-living crisis, and I cannot even. I absolutely hate this kind of politics, because the inherent message is that public life isn’t valuable, that the work elected officials do is worthless, and that they don’t deserve compensation for something that becomes a twenty-four/seven job, particularly at a time when it’s increasingly difficult to attract people to public life. It’s the kind of thinking that winds up ensuring that only people who are independently wealthy start seeking office, because they’re the only ones for whom it isn’t a loss for them to take the positions and give up their career paths (and in some cases pensions, as some provinces have disbanded theirs) to do so. This kind of attitude needs to be called out more, rather than fed into for populist reasons, and this goes for all parties.</p> <p>I will also note that the premier, Tim Houston, is also trying to make the hybrid sitting option permanent for “things such as health reasons,” which again is a big no for me. While the province doesn’t have the issue of simultaneous translation that Ottawa does, it is nevertheless a bad idea because it normalizes the idea that elected office is some kind of middle-management position that can be done from home when it’s not. It’s a face-to-face job, and these things always start out with making it exceptional, for “health reasons” and such, but that quickly turns into parental leave, then work-life-balance, and then “I have so much work in my constituency I just couldn’t possibly,” and ends with populists taking it as a badge of honour to stay away from the “bubble” at the legislature or Parliament. It also creates an unrealistic and unsustainable expectation of presenteeism, rather than just letting MPs or MLAs have sick days and be done with it. It’s not a good thing, and people need to stop pretending that hybrid sittings are at all appropriate in a legislative context, because they are not.</p> <p><span id="more-10769"></span>Good reads:</p> <ul> <li>The Pope held two more events in the Edmonton area yesterday, and how <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/07/26/after-apology-in-alberta-first-nations-want-pope-to-say-sorry-on-quebec-soil/">heads to</a> Quebec City for several more events.</li> <li>Murray Sinclair and Romeo Saganash are <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/07/26/pope-franciss-apology-fails-to-meet-truth-and-reconciliation-call-to-action-sinclair.html">criticizing</a> the inadequacy of the Pope’s “apology” delivered on Monday.</li> <li>The federal government <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/federal-minister-transport-new-safety-measures-2019-field-derailment-1.6533089">plans to audit</a> CP Rail’s safety measures after a TSB report says that the company has “normalized” a persistent problem with brakes.</li> <li>The Communications Security Establishment (CSE) had to <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/07/26/big-brother-vibes-spy-agency-ditches-job-ads-after-mixed-reviews-from-focus-groups/">ditch</a> some of their recruitment ads because they gave off too much of a creepy “Big Brother” vibe.</li> <li>The International AIDS Conference is underway, and it has been pointed out that efforts to fight HIV in Canada have <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/07/26/activists-say-canadas-response-to-hiv-aids-has-stalled-call-for-more-funding/">stalled</a>, and infections are not declining.</li> <li>Hockey Canada officials told the Heritage committee that they <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/07/26/mps-begin-another-two-days-of-hearings-into-hockey-canadas-sex-assault-settlement/">alerted</a> Sport Canada of allegations, but that those were not forwarded to the minister at the time.</li> <li>The Commons’ access to information, privacy, and ethics committee will look at the RCMP’s <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/07/26/privacy-committee-to-conduct-study-of-spyware-tools-used-by-rcmp/">use of spyware</a> next month, as summer showboat season continues.</li> <li>The trial of former Liberal MP Raj Grewal is being <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/07/26/ex-liberal-mp-accused-of-using-office-for-personal-gain-sees-trial-extended-to-fall/">extended</a> to the fall.</li> <li>My <a href="https://looniepolitics.com/the-allegations-of-political-interference-never-made-sense/">column</a> delves into the reasons why the allegations of political interference in the Nova Scotia mass shooting investigation never made any sense.</li> </ul> <p>Odds and ends:</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">I’m sympathetic, but how do they propose the federal government “compel” the provinces to do more for public health? They’re already accused of micro-managing when they want to attach outcome-based strings to funding. What lever should they use? <a href="https://t.co/G7e0pUCrst">https://t.co/G7e0pUCrst</a> <a href="https://t.co/mtMjcZror0">pic.twitter.com/mtMjcZror0</a></p> <p>— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1552119304744800257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>https://twitter.com/EmmMacfarlane/status/1551927617837842433</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> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">10769</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Roundup: The Pope arrives, and snubs Indigenous women</title> <link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2022/07/25/roundup-the-pope-arrives-and-snubs-indigenous-women/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 25 Jul 2022 09:30:20 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Conservative Leadership]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Foreign Aid]]></category> <category><![CDATA[HIV]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Official Languages]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Public Health]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Russia]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=10765</guid> <description><![CDATA[We’re on or about day one-hundred-and-fifty-two of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, and wouldn’t you just know it, the day after Russia signed a deal to allow grain shipments out of Black Sea ports, they attacked Odessa, killing civilians. Because … <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2022/07/25/roundup-the-pope-arrives-and-snubs-indigenous-women/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We’re on or about <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/russia-invasion-ukraine-day151-1.6530496">day one-hundred-and-fifty-two</a> of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, and wouldn’t you just know it, the day after Russia signed a deal to allow grain shipments out of Black Sea ports, they <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/russia-invasion-ukraine-day150-1.6530160">attacked Odessa</a>, killing civilians. Because that’s who Russia is. They don’t respect their own cease-fires, and they act with impunity at every opportunity. (One might note that Justin Trudeau stated immediately that he didn’t trust Russia to uphold their end of the deal, and lo, was proven right). Elsewhere, Russian forces are blocking people trying to flee the Zaporizhzhia region, and they struck an apartment building in the port city of Mykolaiv.</p> <p>Closer to home, the Pope’s visit to Canada has <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/07/24/pope-francis-leaves-rome-for-indigenous-reconciliation-visit-in-canada/">begun</a> as part of the apology for residential schools, and both the Governor General and prime minister were in Edmonton to greet him. There are a lot of questions about how substantive this apology is really going to be, and whether he’s willing to do substantive things, like rescinding the Doctrine of Discovery that justified colonial behaviours. AFN national chief RoseAnne Archibald has <a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/afn-chief-criticizes-lack-of-women-set-to-speak-at-anticipated-papal-apology-monday-1.6000674">been told</a> she won’t be part of the welcoming ceremony at Maskwacis today, and she notes there are no women in leadership positions in the event (but this is the Catholic Church we’re talking about—they’re not exactly in favour of women in any leadership positions, or really of women in general). There has also been some irony noted that these events are being <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/07/24/translators-to-deliver-popes-words-in-languages-forbidden-in-residential-schools/">translated</a> into Indigenous languages that were forbidden in residential schools, for what it’s worth.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Reconciliation in action.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GGSimon?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GGSimon</a> welcomed His Holiness Pope Francis to Edmonton as he started the first leg of his historic visit to Canada. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WalkingTogether?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WalkingTogether</a><a href="https://twitter.com/Pontifex?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Pontifex</a> <a href="https://t.co/38Wo0Ei9Up">pic.twitter.com/38Wo0Ei9Up</a></p> <p>— Governor General of Canada (@GGCanada) <a href="https://twitter.com/GGCanada/status/1551283292430893063?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2022</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">Pope Francis has arrived. He is visiting Canada to deliver the Roman Catholic Church’s apology to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Survivors and their descendants – for its role in operating residential schools, and for causing pain and suffering that continues to this very day. <a href="https://t.co/bd07K1pXLF">pic.twitter.com/bd07K1pXLF</a></p> <p>— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1551328370427920385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><span id="more-10765"></span></p> <p>Good reads:</p> <ul> <li>The WHO has <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/world/who-experts-split-on-whether-to-declare-monkeypox-emergency">declared</a> the monkeypox outbreak an international emergency, so good job everyone.</li> <li>Steven Guilbeault says the oil and gas sector <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/oil-gas-emissions-reduction-guilbeault-climate-vonscheel-1.6528307">may get</a> another couple of years on their emissions reductions targets in order to be more effective.</li> <li>Farmers are continuing to <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/general-tariff-inflation-food-fertilizer-prices-1.6528857">complain</a> about fertilizer from Russia being subjected to tariffs (but seem to forget that sanctions have to bite both ways to be effective).</li> <li>The <em>Star</em> has a <a href="https://www.thestar.com/business/2022/07/22/torontos-airport-is-now-worst-in-the-world-for-delays-heres-how-things-went-so-horribly-wrong.html">longread</a> about the problems at Pearson airport, and it’s mostly because airlines overbooked without staff, then blamed the federal government.</li> <li>Advocates are <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/07/24/advocates-say-canada-should-commit-1-2-billion-to-fight-against-aids-tb-and-malaria/">hoping</a> that the government uses the upcoming AIDS conference in Montreal to announce a $1.2 billion replenishment of the Global Fund.</li> <li>Here’s a look into the “<a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/9009446/this-will-be-pierre-poiliveres-party-conservatives-reckon-with-a-new-direction/">coalition</a>” that Poilievre has assembled in order to try and win the leadership, and take over the party in that direction.</li> <li>Susan Delacourt <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/2022/07/24/can-advertising-be-a-weapon-to-fight-disinformation-in-canadian-politics.html">wonders</a> if the success of advertising in changing perceptions could be applied to countering disinformation. (Spoiler: It doesn’t look promising).</li> <li>My <a href="https://looniepolitics.com/mps-have-selfishly-decided-to-risk-parliamentary-bilingualism-rather-than-end-hybrid-sittings/">weekend column</a> calls out MPs who have selfishly decided to imperil parliamentary bilingualism using unaccredited interpreters to keep hybrid sittings.</li> </ul> <p>Odds and ends:</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">New episodes released early for C$7+ subscribers. This week I’m answering viewer questions. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cdnpoli</a> <a href="https://t.co/DVNoO9uE3s">https://t.co/DVNoO9uE3s</a></p> <p>— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1551334239295135744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2022</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> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">10765</post-id> </item> </channel> </rss>