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		<title>Roundup: Brian Mulroney passes away</title>
		<link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/03/01/roundup-brian-mulroney-passes-away/</link>
					<comments>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/03/01/roundup-brian-mulroney-passes-away/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 01 Mar 2024 10:36:56 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brian Mulroney]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Canadian Forces]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Estimates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ethics Commissioner]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Euthanasia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GLBT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mexico]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ministerial Accountability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pharmacare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Privacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Procurement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Speaker Fergus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tough on Crime]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[News came down last evening that former prime minister Brian Mulroney had passed away after some health challenges. 1/3On behalf of my mother and our family, it is with great sadness we announce the passing of my father, The Right &#8230; <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/03/01/roundup-brian-mulroney-passes-away/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>News came down last evening that former prime minister Brian Mulroney had passed away after some health challenges.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">1/3<br />On behalf of my mother and our family, it is with great sadness we announce the passing of my father, The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, Canada’s 18th Prime Minister. He died peacefully, surrounded by family.</p>
<p>&mdash; Caroline Mulroney (@C_Mulroney) <a href="https://twitter.com/C_Mulroney/status/1763337379165934039?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The <em>Star</em> has a pretty good obituary <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/brian-mulroney-former-prime-minister-who-reshaped-canada-has-died/article_159806cc-d758-11ee-b97c-b7f59c6a9f0d.html">here</a>, as well as some of the <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/mr-mulroney-never-stopped-working-for-canadians-former-prime-ministers-death-prompts-outpouring-of-reflection/article_6184f340-d75f-11ee-9eba-6b80e91b46a5.html">reactions</a> to his passing, and the CBC has a series of <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/political-life-former-prime-minister-brian-mulroney-photos-1.5856425">photos</a> over the course of his life.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Brian Mulroney loved Canada. I’m devastated to learn of his passing. </p>
<p>He never stopped working for Canadians, and he always sought to make this country an even better place to call home. I’ll never forget the insights he shared with me over the years – he was generous, tireless,…</p>
<p>&mdash; Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1763349102975222210?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The idea he “restored fiscal sanity” is an ahistorical fantasy, though. <a href="https://t.co/ToEM879bTh">https://t.co/ToEM879bTh</a></p>
<p>&mdash; David Reevely (@davidreevely) <a href="https://twitter.com/davidreevely/status/1763359737150603618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>https://twitter.com/yfblanchet/status/1763346642294411713</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">He was also a strong opponent of Apartheid, leading the efforts to sanction South Africa by Commonwealth nations. </p>
<p>My deep sympathy to his family.</p>
<p>&mdash; Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) <a href="https://twitter.com/theJagmeetSingh/status/1763343505798132045?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">When my brother died, Brian Mulroney was the first political leader to call, as he was when I was elected Premier in 1990, when I was defeated, and at so many other moments. He was my friend, despite our differences. Love from me and Arlene <a href="https://twitter.com/aprae?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@aprae</a> to Mila and the family.  Amitiés…</p>
<p>&mdash; Bob Rae (@BobRae48) <a href="https://twitter.com/BobRae48/status/1763364699230351465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">My statement on the passing of The Rt. Honourable Brian Mulroney. <a href="https://t.co/roZtPcuvDK">pic.twitter.com/roZtPcuvDK</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Rt. Hon. Joe Clark (@RtHonJoeClark) <a href="https://twitter.com/RtHonJoeClark/status/1763384704294588662?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sad news that Brian Mulroney has died at 84. A remarkable and consequential life. I was proud to serve in his government. He left a legacy that is appreciated more and more with the passage of time. Condolences to his wonderful wife Mila and his children and grandchildren. RIP</p>
<p>&mdash; Kim Campbell (@AKimCampbell) <a href="https://twitter.com/AKimCampbell/status/1763456825578475728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Bloc MP Louis Plamondon, who was first elected as a PC MP in 1984 along with Mulroney, reflects on Mulroney.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="fr" dir="ltr">Le doyen des députés fédéraux Louis Plamondon (<a href="https://twitter.com/BlocQuebecois?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BlocQuebecois</a>), évoque ses souvenirs de Brian Mulroney.</p>
<p>Ils a été élu sous la bannière prog.-conservatrice en 1984, avec Mulroney comme premier ministre.</p>
<p>Regardez notre couverture à CPAC et sur <a href="https://t.co/7GISRfmyag">https://t.co/7GISRfmyag</a>.  <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/polcan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#polcan</a> <a href="https://t.co/vQyeLdG9Nr">pic.twitter.com/vQyeLdG9Nr</a></p>
<p>&mdash; CPAC (@CPAC_TV) <a href="https://twitter.com/CPAC_TV/status/1763383060710531168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>In reaction, <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/its-hard-to-imagine-canada-without-brian-mulroney/article_399e5528-d75b-11ee-b79b-333d76d64fd1.html">Susan Delacourt</a> notes that it’s hard to imagine a Canada without the larger-than-life Mulroney given his lasting legacy, and also reflects on the political lessons that she learned in covering him during his time in office. <a href="https://paulwells.substack.com/p/mulroney-helped-end-the-cold-war">Ian Brodie</a> praises Mulroney for his strategic sense in global affairs at a time of great upheaval.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Brian Mulroney was one of our most environmentally-friendly Prime Ministers.</p>
<p>As PM he:<br />&#8211; Secured a treaty with the USA on acid rain<br />&#8211; Made Canada the first industrialized nation to ratify a Convention on Biological Diversity<br />&#8211; Passed the Environmental Assessment Act &amp;… <a href="https://t.co/TQ7FUQmXtU">pic.twitter.com/TQ7FUQmXtU</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Craig Baird &#8211; Canadian History Ehx (@CraigBaird) <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigBaird/status/1763349572573606104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Ukraine Dispatch:</p>
<p>Russian forces are <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/world/europe/russian-onslaught-targets-more-ukrainian-towns-and-villages-as-ukraine-says-it-shot-down-three/article_1a7c849a-baa0-5123-b336-6a3938a21c79.html">pushing hard</a> against the front lines in the east and southeastern parts of Ukraine, which Ukraine has <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-repels-russian-attacks-situation-is-difficult-top-general-says-2024-02-29/">repelled</a>, and they do keep shooting down Russian warplanes, downing another three on Thursday alone. Ukraine is using more <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-increases-use-domestic-made-military-equipment-official-says-2024-02-29/">domestically-manufactured</a> military equipment, as they strive to move more toward self-sufficiency and away from faltering Western aid.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Russia has alleged that its military aircraft that crashed in Belgorod Oblast on Jan. 24 was destroyed by Ukrainian forces and that it was carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners.</p>
<p>&mdash; The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1763432610607644698?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">February is the shortest month of the year, but our sky defenders have achieved the greatest results in downing russian jets since October 2022.</p>
<p>The Ukrainian Air Force destroyed:<br /><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/25fe.png" alt="◾" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />ten Su-34 fighter-bombers<br /><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/25fe.png" alt="◾" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />two Su-35 fighters<br /><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/25fe.png" alt="◾" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />one A-50 long-range radar detection and control… <a href="https://t.co/jZ302fRxHF">pic.twitter.com/jZ302fRxHF</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) <a href="https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1763195543885324370?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><span id="more-12238"></span>Good reads:</p>
<ul>
<li>Justin Trudeau was in Thunder Bay to announce more housing funding, not taking a “<a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/on-famous-trudeau-anniversary-no-snow-or-resignation-in-prime-ministers-forecast/article_93b45290-c1f9-5d2d-9ac4-654523eec29e.html">walk in the snow</a>” on the 40th anniversary of his father’s decision to resign.</li>
<li>The pharmacare <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/the-trudeau-government-has-unveiled-its-pharmacare-strategy-heres-what-you-need-to-know/article_a7a7b298-d676-11ee-a58f-9be8d8d15760.html">framework legislation</a> was tabled, and lo, it’s going to depend on negotiation with the provinces. (What have I been telling you?)</li>
<li>Arif Virani was trying to <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/virani-says-new-measures-meant-to-help-prevent-hate-crimes-will-come-with-safeguards/article_f15b1894-8d1c-5b47-94ea-661ca35a4d3d.html">reassure</a> people that there are safeguards before new peace bond provisions to try and prevent hate crimes could be triggered.</li>
<li>Bill Blair says that under the right conditions, a limited number of Canadian troops <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/under-the-right-conditions-canada-open-to-sending-noncombat-troops-to-ukraine-defence-minister-bill/article_eec6806c-d71d-11ee-91fb-ab92d0af803e.html">could be sent</a> to Ukraine in a non-combat capacity away from the front lines.</li>
<li>Marc Miller <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/trudeau-government-wont-rule-out-visa-requirements-for-more-counties-besides-mexico/article_1c70662c-d741-11ee-82e6-fb70f370bdfa.html">formally announced</a> the visa requirements for Mexicans.</li>
<li>Anita Anand tabled the Estimates, and said that $10.5 billion is going to be “<a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/ottawa-repurposing-10-5b-to-hike-spending-on-health-care-housing-over-three-years/article_6b30f71a-c41e-5614-8f9f-1cc0434c592d.html">repurposed</a>” to fund health care and housing over the next three years.</li>
<li>Amid cuts elsewhere, DND’s budget is increasing, but some of its funds will be <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/dnd-defence-estimate-budget-1.7129886">reallocated</a> toward major capital equipment pruchases.</li>
<li>The CBC is <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/ottawa-adds-funding-to-cbc-despite-executives-claims-it-was-asked-to-cut-its-budget/article_1219e451-c48e-5484-92d4-0b14dff1e5fa.html">getting more funding</a>s in the Estimates, and not being cut as its leadership claimed (so we’ll see if they cut the jobs they said they would).</li>
<li>The government has <a href="https://thelogic.co/news/ottawa-guts-innovative-solutions-canada-amid-spending-review/">slashed funding</a> to Innovative Solutions Canada, which aims to back innovation and procure from start-up companies.</li>
<li>The bills to <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/law-to-protect-long-term-funding-of-federal-child-care-system-passes-final-hurdle/article_2bf03074-063f-5b35-9270-a44292242036.html">protect long-term funding</a> of child care and to <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/bill-delaying-expansion-of-assisted-dying-eligibility-until-2027-poised-to-become-law/article_d686cddf-c5c2-522a-8577-41b0ae390623.html">delay the extension</a> of MAiD for psychiatric disorders both received royal assent.</li>
<li>PHAC says that they have <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/science/health-agency-emphasizes-tighter-research-security-after-firing-of-two-scientists/article_d9852b85-9ab6-5fd1-a03c-7d107ca59626.html">taken measures</a> to safeguard research security after revelations in the Winnipeg Lab documents.</li>
<li>The ArriveCan contractor found to be a DND employee has been <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/government-employee-suspended-after-billing-millions-for-arrivecan-work/article_5d07a6f4-d715-11ee-881a-c3aa63ff5356.html">suspended</a>, along with any contracts his company may be in receipt of.</li>
<li>Konrad von Finckenstein has been formally <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/after-more-than-a-year-ottawa-moves-to-hire-permanent-federal-ethics-commissioner/article_c61083f9-3dbb-5b9e-97a5-500d46f4d1cc.html">appointed</a> the permanent Ethics Commissioner after serving as interim for the past six months.</li>
<li>After a court battle, the Privacy Commissioner <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/pornhub-breached-privacy-law-commissioner-claims">released a report</a> showing that PornHub breached privacy rules, and continues to do so.</li>
<li>Speaker Fergus has been <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/fergus-fined-1500-video-1.7130079">fined $1500</a> for his video to the Ontario Liberal convention wearing his robes.</li>
<li>Liberal MP Mark Serré says he will <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/marc-serre-algonquins-ontario-removal-1.7128584">continue to identify</a> as Indigenous and Métis even after the community he claims to belong to purged him from their records.</li>
<li>Conservatives are on <a href="https://www.hilltimes.com/story/2024/02/29/lantsman-calls-poilievres-comments-on-trans-women-the-position-of-the-conservative-party/413442/">lockdown</a> about responding to questions about Poilievre’s comments about trans women, and have even literally run away from reporters.</li>
<li>The Quebec Court of Appeal <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/quebec-appeal-court-rules-secularism-law-is-constitutional-english-schools-rebuffed/article_97da3cc1-f094-522e-9a09-4cbb11de5359.html">ruled</a> that they couldn’t overturn Quebec’s Law 21 because of its use of the Notwithstanding Clause. (No, they didn’t “uphold” it).</li>
<li>A former Ontario judge with a reputation for being tough <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-is-wrong-about-wanting-like-minded-tough-on-crime-judges-says-tough-ex/article_be791df2-d59c-11ee-8e21-5335da88d1a2.html">points to</a> the fact that so-called “tough on crime” policies like Ford is praising don’t work.</li>
<li>Saskatchewan says they <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/environment/wilkinson-says-no-carbon-rebates-for-saskatchewan-after-province-says-it-wont-remit/article_9bf45cab-76e3-56e6-b565-c7d04682ab29.html">won’t remit</a> carbon levy funds, which sets up a legal fight and will reduce the rebates in the province.</li>
<li>Jessica Davis <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-canada-needs-to-better-understand-extremists-to-detect-terrorist/">points to</a> the need to better understand extremism if we hope that police can detect terrorism and prevent attacks from happening.</li>
<li>Philippe Lagassé <a href="https://lagassep.substack.com/p/resignations-and-the-evolution-of">reflects</a> on the evolving customs and conventions around ministerial responsibility, which are changing with the expansion of the civil service.</li>
<li>Susan Delacourt <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/promising-a-pharmacare-program-is-one-thing-delivering-one-that-lasts-is-quite-another/article_069327ac-d73e-11ee-8e32-ab3ad325840e.html">notes</a> that Jagmeet Singh is putting a lot of faith in provinces signing up to pharmacare before the next election, meaning it may not happen.</li>
<li>Paul Wells <a href="https://paulwells.substack.com/p/we-must-continue-to-defend-democracy">remarks</a> on the non-answer he received about the plans for a democracy promotion agency at a time when democratic rights and freedoms are in decline.</li>
<li>My <a href="https://xtramagazine.com/power/politics/age-verification-bill-poilievre-263570"><em>Xtra</em> column</a> looks into the magical thinking that underpins support for age-verification legislation, particularly in how Poilievre qualifies his support for it.</li>
</ul>
<p>Odds and Ends:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">If <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JustinTrudeau</a> wanted to cancel carbon pricing, he could have done so without giving massive wins to Poillievre, Moe, and Danielle Smith. It&#39;s sad to see that anyone could be playing checkers compared to Moe&#39;s chess.</p>
<p>&mdash; Andrew Leach (@andrew_leach) <a href="https://twitter.com/andrew_leach/status/1763227961367629913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OnThisDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OnThisDay</a> in 1988, Svend Robinson made Canadian history as the first Member of Parliament to come out as gay while in office. We celebrate a House of Commons where MPs can be their true selves and meaningfully represent all Canadians. <a href="https://t.co/SRhYBdpCJN">pic.twitter.com/SRhYBdpCJN</a></p>
<p>&mdash; House of Commons (@OurCommons) <a href="https://twitter.com/OurCommons/status/1763232907802399163?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">12238</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Roundup: A resignation that won&#8217;t solve the problem</title>
		<link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2023/09/06/roundup-a-resignation-that-wont-solve-the-problem/</link>
					<comments>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2023/09/06/roundup-a-resignation-that-wont-solve-the-problem/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Sep 2023 09:25:47 +0000</pubDate>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=11749</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A couple of days after everyone declared ministerial responsibility dead for Ontario housing minister Steve Clark’s refusal to resign over the Integrity Commissioner’s report and his own gross negligence and dereliction of his duties, Clark did resign, at 9 AM &#8230; <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2023/09/06/roundup-a-resignation-that-wont-solve-the-problem/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A couple of days after everyone declared ministerial responsibility dead for Ontario housing minister Steve Clark’s refusal to resign over the Integrity Commissioner’s report and his own gross negligence and dereliction of his duties, Clark <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/09/04/ontario-housing-minister-steve-clark-resigns-in-wake-of-greenbelt-controversy-2/">did resign</a>, at 9 AM on Labour Day, pointing to an attempt to take the sting out of the messaging. Ford later <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/09/04/ontario-premier-shuffles-cabinet-after-housing-minister-resigns-2/">announced changes</a> to his Cabinet which would put Paul Calandra in the housing file, in addition to Calandra’s existing role as House Leader.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">So we can look forward to Calandra crying in Question Period when facing tough questions, or trying to deflect with homilies about family pizza shops and other wholly invented non sequiturs? <a href="https://t.co/rHdoM8x2ov">https://t.co/rHdoM8x2ov</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1698813976883195967?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2023</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 how you know, in the government’s mind, housing has gone from an existential problem for Ontarians, to an existential problem for the government.</p>
<p>&mdash; robert hiltz (@robert_hiltz) <a href="https://twitter.com/robert_hiltz/status/1698814469445394817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Ford, however, insists that the tainted process for those Greenbelt lands will carry on, and while he is <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-vows-to-re-evaluate-greenbelt-development-as-critics-dismiss-sham-review/article_ca13c0f6-9f64-5413-97ac-33eb9ef14d0e.html">promising a “review”</a> of the process, he won’t do the one thing the Auditor General and Integrity Commissioner have said, which was to cancel this process and start over. In fact, yesterday morning, Ford left open the possibility of reviewing all Greenbelt land and opening it up for development, which is unnecessary for housing needs—he hasn’t even implemented the recommendations of his government’s own housing task force, which explicitly stated they don’t need to develop those lands because there are fifty other things they should be doing instead.</p>
<p>https://twitter.com/MikePMoffatt/status/1699015630316360078</p>
<p>https://twitter.com/StephanieCarvin/status/1699103206893056279</p>
<p>And that hasn’t been all. As this <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/09/04/a-chronology-of-key-events-following-ontarios-decision-to-develop-greenbelt-lands-5/">sordid affair</a> continues to drip out, the identity “Mr. X” from the reports has been identified as a former mayor and developer who Ford has ties with, and his operation is practically stuffed with Batman villains. The jokes write themselves, but just make the corruption all the more hard to take.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A VIEW TO A GREENBELT: JAMES BOND ONTARIO EDITION <a href="https://t.co/k0rZ4BHoUB">pic.twitter.com/k0rZ4BHoUB</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Brittlestar (@brittlestar) <a href="https://twitter.com/brittlestar/status/1698751968905396595?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>My latest:</p>
<ul>
<li>My <a href="https://looniepolitics.com/ministerial-responsibility-could-not-survive-the-age-of-the-message-discipline/">weekend column</a> looks at how ministerial responsibility changed in the age of message discipline, but how Doug Ford and Steve Clark can’t do the bare minimum.</li>
<li>At <em>National Magazine</em>, I look at the number of “<a href="https://nationalmagazine.ca/en-ca/articles/law/judiciary/2023/what-s-up-with-all-the-secret-trials">secret trials</a>” that we have seen come to light recently, and what could be behind them.</li>
<li>Also at <em>National Magazine</em>, I get some <a href="https://nationalmagazine.ca/en-ca/articles/law/business-corporate/2023/a-chill-descends">reaction</a> to the Competition Tribunal’s cost award to the Bureau and the signals that they are sending by it.</li>
<li>My <a href="https://looniepolitics.com/stop-writing-letters-to-tiff-macklem/">column</a> points out just how inappropriate it is for premiers to write open letters to Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem, and how it corrodes our system.</li>
</ul>
<p>Ukraine Dispatch:</p>
<p>Russian strikes <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-strikes-ukraine-grain-exporting-port-ahead-putin-erdogan-talks-2023-09-04/">damaged</a> more grain warehouses at the Danube port of Izmail. Ukrainian forces say that they have <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-reports-advances-eastern-southern-fronts-2023-09-04/">taken more ground</a> in both the eastern and southern fronts, as president Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited two front-line areas. Ukraine’s defence minister is being <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ukraine-defence-minister-replace-zelenskyy-1.6956276">replaced</a> by <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/who-is-rustem-umerov-ukraines-likely-new-defence-minister-2023-09-04/">Rustem Umerov</a>, a Crimean Tatar, who headed a privatization fund. Ukraine’s parliament <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-lawmakers-back-anti-graft-disclosure-rule-with-loophole-2023-09-05/">passed</a> an anti-graft law that contains a loophole, and many are urging Zelenskyy to veto it as a result. A parts shortage and a dispute over intellectual property rights is <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ukraine-leopard-tanks-spare-parts-1.6953968">hobbling</a> the ability to repair the Leopard 2 tanks we sent to Ukraine. And Ukrainian intercepts show Russian soldiers <a href="https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/ukraine-crisis-intercepts/">complaining</a> about poor equipment and heavy losses.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A day on the frontlines with our warriors and combat medics in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.</p>
<p>On behalf of all Ukrainians, I thanked each and every one of them who risk their lives to defend Ukraine and liberate our land.</p>
<p>Our top priority is to meet their needs. All of… <a href="https://t.co/iTmj9zIjcv">pic.twitter.com/iTmj9zIjcv</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1698805094341357679?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2023</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 russian know-how: anti-drone protection on a strategic aircraft made from used tires. Eco-friendly, effective, and reliable. If only protection like this had been installed on the interplanetary station Luna-25! <a href="https://t.co/QuL0thnsRl">pic.twitter.com/QuL0thnsRl</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) <a href="https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1699168108148089169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><span id="more-11749"></span>Good reads:</p>
<ul>
<li>Justin Trudeau was just in Indonesia for ASEAN talks, where Canada is set to become a <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/09/04/canada-set-to-become-strategic-partner-with-asean-bloc-symbolizing-trade-progress/">strategic partner</a> of the trading block.</li>
<li>Kamal Khera says she <a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/new-minister-says-she-is-focused-on-getting-disability-benefit-right-as-advocates-call-for-interim-aid-1.6548352">wants to get</a> the new Canada Disability Benefit right.</li>
<li>Some 600 CRA employees have now been <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/cra-fires-staff-for-applying-for-cerb-while-working-for-tax-authority">terminated</a> for fraudulently claiming CERB benefits while on the job.</li>
<li>Draft regulations for the <em>Online News Act</em> have been <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/ottawa-puts-price-on-what-it-wants-meta-and-google-to-share-with-canadian-news-publishers">released</a>, and it includes the option for web giants to pay a percentage into a fund; Facebook is still sulking.</li>
<li>The Public Health Agency is looking at a <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/public-health-agency-looks-to-revamp-national-stockpile-for-a-future-disaster">revamp</a> of the National Emergency Strategic Stockpile, after the failures that happened at the height of the pandemic.</li>
<li>The RCMP are <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-canadian-pilots-china-training-rcmp/">investigating</a> three former RCAF pilots who are now training pilots in China (because they could inadvertently be passing along tactics).</li>
<li>The RCMP are also <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/09/05/mounties-eyeing-change-to-recreational-cannabis-use-policy-for-members/">considering</a> changing their rules that forbid front-line officers from using recreational cannabis for four weeks before duty.</li>
<li>A group of heritage architects think that 24 Sussex <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/save-24-sussex-new-plan-1.6953440">can be saved</a> for a much smaller price tag than the NCC is claiming, and want a chance to kick the tires.</li>
<li>India’s High Commissioner says that Canada has <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/09/01/india-envoy-says-canada-has-asked-to-pause-trade-talks-amid-rapid-negotiation-cycle/">asked for a pause</a> with trade talks, in part because there has been so much happening so quickly.</li>
<li>The High Commissioner also says he is <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/09/05/india-envoy-very-satisfied-by-canada-response-to-threats-by-sikh-separatist-groups/">satisfied</a> with the Canadian government’s response to threats made against him by Khalistani separatists.</li>
<li>Criminal trials <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/09/05/trial-of-freedom-convoy-organizers-tamara-lich-and-chris-barber-begins-today-2/">began yesterday</a> for two of the organisers of the Ottawa occupation.</li>
<li>The CBC <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-democracy-challenges-backbenchers-backyards-1.6948750">interviewed</a> a number of backbench MPs and got their take on how they feel about the state of democracy.</li>
<li>The provincial election has begun in Manitoba. CP has profiles of <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/09/05/getting-used-to-the-spotlight-a-profile-of-manitoba-pc-leader-heather-stefanson-2/">Heather Stefanson</a>, <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/09/05/from-rapper-to-reporter-to-politician-a-profile-of-manitoba-ndp-leader-wab-kinew-2/">Wab Kinew</a> and <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/09/05/a-profile-of-dougald-lamont-leader-of-the-manitoba-liberal-party-since-2018-2/">Dougald Lamont</a>, as well as some of the <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/09/05/some-of-the-races-to-keep-an-eye-on-in-manitobas-provincial-election-2/">key races</a>.</li>
<li>Saskatchewan is <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/this-canadian-province-wants-to-pick-immigrants-based-on-their-nation-is-that-fair-or/article_f32063b9-4fb7-5c5c-8677-460c7a4d5d56.html">piloting</a> an immigration nominee programme that is geared only to immigrants from certain countries (and lo, most of them are white Europeans).</li>
<li>Patricia Treble <a href="https://writeroyalty.substack.com/p/a-message-from-the-king">analyses</a> how the King’s messages differ from those his mother wrote, particularly around condolences for tragedies.</li>
<li>Artur Wilczynski puts the Global Affairs’ warnings to LGBTQ+ travellers to the US <a href="https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/wilczynski-why-canadas-warning-about-lgbtq-travel-to-the-u-s-is-needed">into context</a>, as the move is being mocked and misconstrued by the pundit class.</li>
<li>Stephen Saideman <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-canadas-conservatives-should-resist-the-urge-to-politicize-the/">reiterates</a> his warning to Conservatives about their politicising the Canadian Forces by inviting that former general to speak at their convention.</li>
<li>Althia Raj <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/how-one-federal-leader-plans-to-turn-justin-trudeau-s-failures-into-a-win/article_cd4504a8-d8ee-5437-b9dd-fc5b15f7b165.html">examines</a> Jagmeet Singh’s tightrope strategy to try and get more concessions before his existing wish list is fulfilled.</li>
<li>Susan Delacourt <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/is-canada-s-housing-crisis-about-to-take-a-very-dark-turn/article_61b49618-693f-5104-a672-b2416f28e7c1.html">worries</a> about the anti-immigration rhetoric seeping into the housing debate by those who profess to not want to go down that route.</li>
</ul>
<p>Odds and ends:</p>
<p>As always, the <em>Beaverton</em> has a <a href="https://www.thebeaverton.com/2023/08/conservative-education-ministers-tackle-urgent-problem-of-children-feeling-too-safe-at-school/">pitch-perfect take</a> on provinces name-and-pronoun policies and making trans kids feel unsafe at school.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">New episodes released early for C$7+ subscribers.<br />This week I answer viewer’s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cdnpoli</a> questions. <a href="https://t.co/kHu5Dj37rk">https://t.co/kHu5Dj37rk</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1698481375660114217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2023</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>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">11749</post-id>	</item>
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		<title>Roundup: Mendicino&#8217;s future in doubt</title>
		<link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2023/06/15/roundup-mendicinos-future-in-doubt/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jun 2023 09:36:09 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Abortion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Budget 2023]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Canadian Forces]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[China]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CSIS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Danielle Smith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Interference]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GLBT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marco Mendicino]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ministerial Accountability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Russia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Supreme Court]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=11600</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The political future of Marco Mendicino is in the balance as the revelation has circulated that his office was aware of the potential transfer of serial rapist and killer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security facility (designed to treat violent sex &#8230; <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2023/06/15/roundup-mendicinos-future-in-doubt/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The political future of Marco Mendicino is in the balance as the revelation has circulated that his office was aware of the potential transfer of serial rapist and killer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security facility (designed to treat violent sex offenders) for months but didn’t inform him until it happened, made worse by the fact that the prime minister’s office <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/06/14/poilievre-calls-for-mendicino-to-resign-over-handling-of-paul-bernardo-transfer-2/">was also informed</a>, and they kicked it to Mendicino’s office to deal with. And by deal with, we’re not talking politically interfering with an arm’s length body, but at least doing something, whether it’s ordering a review or coming up with a communications plan to get ahead of it. But they didn’t.</p>
<p>There is a lot of talk about ministerial responsibility and accountability, and what that means in a situation like this. The assumption is always that every offence is a resigning offence, which is wrong, and Mendicino says that he’s taken “corrective action” in his office, but as the minister, the buck stops with him, and in this case, it’s a pattern of incompetence coming home to roost, and it’s not the first time, and he’s been a terrible communicator on a number of the files before him, to the point of framing things in a manner that could be construed as misleading, such as issue of “police advice” on the invocation of the <em>Emergencies Act</em>. Mendicino says he <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2023/06/14/resign-resign-controversy-over-paul-bernardo-prison-transfer-dogs-justin-trudeaus-public-safety-minister.html">won’t resign</a>, but it’s getting hard to see how “corrective action” in his office can be handled without a head rolling, or someone falling on their sword, and at this point, we are getting to the point where Mendicino should probably consider doing so in order to get ahead of things, and looking like he still has some principles left.</p>
<p>The other thing to consider is that he may be out of this job sooner than later, because the rumours of a Cabinet shuffle are pretty loud, and his name is at the top of the list as someone who isn’t performing well and needs to be out of their portfolio. (Also on that list are Omar Alghabra and Joyce Murray). We are at a point in the life of the government where they need a shake-up in order to try and throw off some of the fatigue that is weighing them down, and to get some new blood in some of their portfolios in order to get fresh perspectives. There’s also a major rotation of staff happening in a number of offices, which is also needed at this point. We’ll see if this situation accelerates Trudeau’s plans for when this shuffle is going to happen, which Mendicino could force by doing the honourable thing. (That said, it might mean that Bill Blair might be tasked with taking Public Safety back on, at least until a new minister can be appointed, and that wouldn’t be a good thing because he shouldn’t have that portfolio for very obvious reasons).</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">It was the same under the Conservatives. Harper would wait several weeks/months and then shuffle under-performing or scandal-plagued ministers so that he could claim he wasn’t forced into doing it. <a href="https://t.co/QnjZsYA360">https://t.co/QnjZsYA360</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1669127288632344579?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Ukraine Dispatch:</p>
<p>The Russian strikes against Odessa and Donetsk early Wednesday morning <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/06/14/russia-steps-up-aerial-strikes-on-ukraine-killing-at-least-6-amid-kyiv-counteroffensive/">killed six</a> and damaged dozens of homes. Ukraine’s counter-offensive is still <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-counteroffensive-takes-shape-main-test-still-come-2023-06-14/">testing</a> Russian defences, largely in the south, as they have thus far only committed three of their twelve battalions to the operation so far.</p>
<p>https://twitter.com/ukraine_world/status/1668981197693648898</p>
<p>https://twitter.com/defencehq/status/1668957867301302275</p>
<p>https://twitter.com/ukraine_world/status/1668878494762250241</p>
<p><span id="more-11600"></span>Good reads:</p>
<ul>
<li>Justin Trudeau says that Canada will <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/06/14/more-foreign-firefighters-expected-to-arrive-today-to-help-canada-battle-wildfires/">continue to rely on</a> foreign firefighters during wildfire season, just as they rely on Canadian firefighters during their seasons.</li>
<li>Chrystia Freeland says that Canada is <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/06/14/canada-halts-activity-at-asian-development-bank-looks-to-review-its-membership/">freezing activity</a> with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank following a high-profile resignation from the organisation.</li>
<li>Freeland also says that Volkswagen’s production subsidies will be <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/06/14/volkswagen-deal-to-cost-the-federal-government-more-than-previously-announced-pbo-2/">tax-free</a>, as the Americans were offering as well.</li>
<li>Seamus O’Regan made an impassioned speech at the International Labour Organisation and help <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/un-labour-body-resolves-lgbtq-protections-row-passes-budget-2023-06-13/">resolve</a> a rift around the rights of LGBTQ+ workers.</li>
<li>Sean Fraser says that deportation orders for students caught up in a fraud scheme have been <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/06/14/deportations-for-international-students-caught-in-fraud-scheme-put-on-hold/">halted</a> until a task force can investigate each case.</li>
<li>Steven Guilbeault says there are <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/06/14/new-changes-to-canadian-environmental-protection-act-just-a-start-minister/">more changes</a> to the <em>Canadian Environmental Protection Act</em> to come.</li>
<li>Bill Blair says the director of CSIS <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/blair-csis-chong-text-1.6876183">should have followed up</a> with him on the memo about the alleged threats against Michael Chong (as he is getting pissy about this).</li>
<li>The government wants to <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/06/14/government-sought-out-impartial-military-college-review-board-members/">ensure</a> that five of the seven members of the board that will be reviewing the status of Royal Military College have no ties to it.</li>
<li>Russia claims it’s on the verge of <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/06/14/russia-says-relations-on-the-verge-of-being-severed-as-ottawa-seizes-cargo-plane-2/">cutting off ties</a> with Canada as one of their cargo planes is being seized under enhanced sanctions regimes.</li>
<li>The Commons and Senate have each <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/06/14/house-senate-vote-to-give-russian-dissident-vladimir-kara-murza-honorary-citizenship-2/">voted on motions</a> to grant Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza honorary Canadian citizenship.</li>
<li>Conservative MP Cathay Wagantall’s backdoor abortion bill was <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/06/14/controversial-conservative-bill-on-violence-against-pregnant-women-defeated/">defeated</a>, with on Conservatives voting for it claiming it was about “violence against women.”</li>
<li>Danielle Smith is <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/9769528/danielle-smith-facebook-ban-censorship/">claiming</a> “government censorship” for being banned from posting to Facebook, but nobody seems to have asked just what mechanism that is.</li>
</ul>
<p>Odds and ends:</p>
<p>For <em>National Magazine</em>, I look at the <a href="https://nationalmagazine.ca/en-ca/articles/law/judiciary/2023/replacing-justice-russel-brown">skill gaps</a> created on the Supreme Court of Canada with the sudden resignation of Justice Russell Brown.</p>
<p>Also for <em>National Magazine</em>, I get <a href="https://nationalmagazine.ca/en-ca/articles/law/access-to-justice/2023/legal-aid-s-barrier-to-women">expert reaction</a> to a recent report that cites that legal aid thresholds actually disadvantage women.</p>
<p><iframe title="How Does the Inquiries Act Work?" width="584" height="329" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9a2ejXMwMn0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
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		<title>Roundup: Getting called out by your deputy minister</title>
		<link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2021/05/26/roundup-getting-called-out-by-your-deputy-minister/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 26 May 2021 09:29:55 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Access to Information]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bardish Chagger]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Belarus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Canadian Forces]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Federalism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[First Nations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Harjit Sajjan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Justin Trudeau]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MIke Duffy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ministerial Accountability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Official Languages]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Senate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=9644</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[This government’s problems with cleaning up the culture of sexual misconduct in the military continues to roll along, and the calls are definitely coming from inside the house. In the latest installment, the deputy minister of National Defence has taken &#8230; <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2021/05/26/roundup-getting-called-out-by-your-deputy-minister/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This government’s problems with cleaning up the culture of sexual misconduct in the military continues to roll along, and the calls are definitely coming from inside the house. In the latest installment, the deputy minister of National Defence has taken to the radio waves to <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/dnd-deputy-minister-sexual-misconduct-report-1.6037364">point out</a> that the government didn’t make an effort to push the military on implementing the Deschamps Report, who wound up treating it like a kind of checklist that they could do the bare minimum with rather than actually implementing the systemic changes that it called for. This shouldn’t be a surprise, given everything we know, but the fact that the deputy minister is saying this is damning.</p>
<p>We also got another harrowing tale of harassment, and <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/dnd-armed-forces-misconduct-sexual-harassment-esquimalt-1.6039437">retribution</a> when the civilian employee who was subjected to it complained. This isn’t a surprise given the culture, and as the piece points out, one of the reasons she was targeted is because she upset the status quo – which is part of why the military made a conscious effort not to really implement the Deschamps Report, because it called for systemic changes, and that is a definite upset of the status quo. That the government didn’t really recognize this or push back against it is an indictment.</p>
<p>Which brings me back to the key point – that the government, and in particular the minister, needs to wear this. The deputy minister called him out. That’s not good. And part of the problem is also that Sajjan was part of that culture, which is may explain why he was either blind to the problems, or was fine with not actually bothered that they weren’t upsetting the status quo. It’s one of the reasons why actual civilian control of the military is so important, and we haven’t had that under Sajjan. Regardless, this is his problem to wear, and he needs to take actual ministerial responsibility, and offer his resignation. There is no other option.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">In light of the stories coming out of DND today, I’m going to re-up this column I wrote about ministerial responsibility <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cdnpoli</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/LooniePolitics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LooniePolitics</a> <a href="https://t.co/2LoBnAT9Bi">https://t.co/2LoBnAT9Bi</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1397321476181737473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><span id="more-9644"></span></p>
<p>Good reads:</p>
<ul>
<li>Justin Trudeau <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/trudeau-calls-arrest-of-belarusian-journalist-a-clear-attack-on-democracy-threatens-to-impose-further-sanctions">called out</a> Belarus for its attack on democracy when they diverted a plane in order to arrest a journalist, and is threatening to impose more sanctions.</li>
<li>For the anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, Trudeau <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/7890990/george-floyd-death-trudeau-anti-black-racism/">recommitted</a> to fighting racism, but won’t comment on issues like defunding police.</li>
<li>The federal government is <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2021/05/25/ottawa-preparing-to-deploy-health-workers-military-and-red-cross-to-help-in-manitoba/">preparing</a> to deploy military and Red Cross health workers to Manitoba, given the critical situation in the province.</li>
<li>Moderna deliveries continue to <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/moderna-anand-trudeau-1.6039508">be behind</a>, but they are not yet in breach of contract.</li>
<li>The <em>Star</em> <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2021/05/25/under-fire-the-company-managing-covid-19-testing-at-canadas-border-insists-its-ready-for-the-next-phase-of-the-pandemic.html">talks to</a> Switch Health, who is administering a lot of tests for returning travellers, and how they have ironed out most of their growing pains.</li>
<li>A soldier who called on fellow military personnel to reject vaccines is now facing <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/national/defence-watch/soldier-who-called-on-troops-to-refuse-vaccine-distribution-faces-mutiny-related-charge/">mutiny charges</a>.</li>
<li>The pandemic is <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2021/05/25/pandemic-throwing-wrench-in-construction-of-new-navy-coast-guard-ships-officials/">delaying</a> ship construction, but officials have no idea yet how much the timelines have been affected.</li>
<li>Here is a <a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/it-has-been-nearly-a-year-since-trudeau-said-the-blood-ban-could-be-eliminated-very-soon-what-happened-1.5441541">longer read</a> on the state of the MSM blood deferral period, and where things are with the research projects geared toward eliminating the period.</li>
<li>The Information Commissioner has <a href="https://www.hilltimes.com/2021/05/25/irccs-automatic-extension-policy-to-delay-responses-to-frequent-requesters-against-the-act-says-information-czar/298800">singled out</a> Citizenship and Immigration for their constant abuses of the Access to Information system.</li>
<li>The Americans are <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2021/05/25/u-s-amping-up-dispute-with-canada-over-allowed-exports-of-american-dairy-products/">ramping up</a> their complaints about Supply Management.</li>
<li>Bill C-15 on UNDRIP <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2021/05/25/bill-to-align-canadas-laws-with-un-indigenous-declaration-passes-third-reading/">passed</a> the Commons at third reading, with Conservatives opposing it (along with one Green MP, citing it not being strong enough).</li>
<li>The Commons also <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2021/05/25/house-of-commons-adopts-bloc-motion-against-holding-covid-19-pandemic-election/">voted for</a> the Bloc’s motion saying it’s irresponsible to trigger a pandemic election (with only Derek Sloan voting against).</li>
<li>Senator Mike Duffy <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/mike-duffy-leaving-senate-for-good-as-he-reaches-mandatory-retirement-age-of-75">reaches mandatory retirement</a> today, and his parting words to the Chamber were to complain about having his pay suspended.</li>
<li>Here’s a <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2021/05/25/senates-old-guard-and-new-guard-clash-over-role-of-independent-senators-2/">recounting</a> of the latest spat between Senators Plett and Dalphond.</li>
<li>Susan Delacourt <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/2021/05/25/justin-trudeau-has-reasons-to-travel-abroad-but-no-excuse-to-avoid-quarantine-when-he-comes-home.html">remarks</a> on the fact that while Justin Trudeau could head to the G7 leaders’ meeting in the UK, but should not skip quarantine when he gets home.</li>
<li>Paul Wells offers a <a href="https://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/trudeau-le-quebecois/">lengthy reflection</a> of Justin Trudeau’s thinking around Quebec, and his particular moves around Legault’s Bill 96.</li>
<li>My latest <a href="https://xtramagazine.com/power/bardish-chagger-our-voice-at-the-cabinet-table-201192">Xtra column</a> talks to Bardish Chagger about her role as minister of diversity and inclusion, and the role of the LGBTQ2 Secretariat.</li>
<li>My <a href="https://looniepolitics.com/the-coming-talks-around-long-term-care/">column</a> looks at what will need to happen when the federal negotiations on long-term care happens, in order for proposed national standards to have meaning.</li>
</ul>
<p>Odds and ends:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">We call this a Jaida Essence Hall manoeuvre. <a href="https://t.co/P05cQR8i9t">https://t.co/P05cQR8i9t</a> <a href="https://t.co/GgP6l5Jjj3">pic.twitter.com/GgP6l5Jjj3</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1397314328441892873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">9644</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Roundup: Telling them nothing of consequence</title>
		<link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2021/05/08/roundup-telling-them-nothing-of-consequence/</link>
					<comments>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2021/05/08/roundup-telling-them-nothing-of-consequence/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 08 May 2021 09:36:21 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Border]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CRA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Doug Ford]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General Jonathan Vance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ministerial Accountability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Procurement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Health]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=9602</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Yesterday was the big day that the Commons defence committee had been waiting for – prime minister Justin Trudeau’s chief of staff, Katie Telford, had volunteered to testify about what she knew about the General Vance allegations, and the moment &#8230; <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2021/05/08/roundup-telling-them-nothing-of-consequence/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Yesterday was the big day that the Commons defence committee had been waiting for – prime minister Justin Trudeau’s chief of staff, Katie Telford, had volunteered to testify about what she knew about the General Vance allegations, and the moment that she volunteered, opposition parties should have known that she wasn’t going to actually say anything of use to them. (And the fact that she volunteered after the government has been pushing the point for weeks that staffers shouldn’t be testifying because minsters are responsible under our constitutional framework is another problem, not the least of which is that they appear to have given up on being consistent).</p>
<p>And for nearly two hours, full of interruptions, points of order, and a whole lot of preening for the cameras by opposition MPs, Telford basically <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2021/05/07/trudeaus-chief-of-staff-very-concerned-about-vance-allegation-but-wont-say-why-she-didnt-tell-the-pm.html">told them nothing</a> of any consequence. She didn’t of the nature of the allegations, but she reached out to ensure that they weren’t a “safety issue” (i.e. assault as opposed to harassment). But in spite of her concerns, they didn’t learn any details, and on a broader picture, she often looks back in hindsight to wonder if she should have been pushing harder for transformational change in the military, or to look past Vance’s assurances that he was committed to doing that work. We should have expected that there wouldn’t be any sweeping new revelations going into this, and there weren’t. Of course, to the Conservatives, this “proves” that there is some kind of cover-up, but trying to go after Telford seems like a poor use of time when Harjit Sajjan is <em>right there</em>, waiting to be held to account for his numerous failings on this file. There needs to be some accountability on this, but the opposition just keeps flailing around performatively rather than being focused in holding the one person to account who needs it, and it’s not Telford.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Susan Delacourt <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/2021/05/07/justin-trudeaus-chief-of-staff-knows-the-first-rule-of-politics-protect-the-boss.html">equates</a> Telford to someone from the bomb squad in a movie, carefully dealing with possible explosives to ensure the PM doesn’t come to harm. Matt Gurney makes the <a href="https://nationalpost.com/opinion/matt-gurney-katie-telfords-feminism-has-done-little-for-women-in-canadas-armed-forces">salient point</a> that it’s hard to fathom why Sajjan or Telford didn’t do more once they learned the PCO investigation was stalled (though I’m not really keen on Gurney trying to police Telford’s feminism).</p>
<p><span id="more-9602"></span>Good reads:</p>
<ul>
<li>Justin Trudeau announced a plan to bypass provinces and start <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2021/05/07/ottawa-sends-covid-19-rapid-tests-to-businesses.html">delivering</a> rapid tests directly to businesses who are looking to use them.</li>
<li>Trudeau <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2021/05/07/ontario-reports-3166-new-cases-of-covid-19-23-deaths-nearly-145000-vaccinations/">shrugged off</a> Doug Ford’s new attack ads against him, and suggested that Ontario has not come forward with suggestions as to how to “fix” the border issue.</li>
<li>On the subject of vaccine patents, Trudeau <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-waiving-intellectual-property-rights-1.6017776">won’t definitively say</a> he’s in favour of waiving them (but it may not matter as the patents may be <a href="https://twitter.com/jbkrell/status/1389719926181613573">held elsewhere</a>).</li>
<li>The government plans to sue a Montreal firm to recover the <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/federal-government-sues-montreal-firm-to-recover-81m-for-n95-masks-it-says-were-below-standards">$81 million</a> they spent on N95 masks that turned out to be largely defective.</li>
<li>The taxpayers ombudsman finds that the CRA is sometimes <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2021/05/07/cra-watchdog-finds-agency-taking-weeks-to-process-some-claims-for-recovery-benefits/">taking weeks</a> to verify eligibility for pandemic benefits for those who need them.</li>
<li>My <a href="https://looniepolitics.com/commons-committees-are-in-crisis-because-mps-are-partisan-dicks/">weekend column</a> looks at how Commons committees are all at the point of utter dysfunction because MPs are too busy being partisan dicks to one another.</li>
</ul>
<p>Odds and ends:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">In light of the belief that Justin Trudeau can apparently create vaccines out of thin air, I found an old Martha Stewart parody for suggestions on how that might be accomplished. <a href="https://t.co/TOAI9hJTWh">pic.twitter.com/TOAI9hJTWh</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1390714710828462082?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
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		<title>Roundup: The meltdown over NACI</title>
		<link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2021/05/04/roundup-the-meltdown-over-naci/</link>
					<comments>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2021/05/04/roundup-the-meltdown-over-naci/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 04 May 2021 09:30:15 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bank of Canada]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Budget 2021]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Canadian Forces]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Canadian History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Competition Bureau]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CRTC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Elections Canada]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jason Kenney]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marc Garneau]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ministerial Accountability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Health]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=9581</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[There was a collective meltdown yesterday as the National Advisory Committee on Immunization delivered its most recent recommendations, saying that they recommended that the Johnson &#38; Johnson vaccine be deployed for those over 30 (even though the current supply in &#8230; <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2021/05/04/roundup-the-meltdown-over-naci/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There was a collective meltdown yesterday as the National Advisory Committee on Immunization delivered its most recent <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/naci-johnson-and-johnson-vaccine-blood-clot-risk-covid-19-1.6012102">recommendations</a>, saying that they recommended that the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine be deployed for those over 30 (even though the current supply in the country is currently on hold pending a review of its quality control), and then cited that mRNA vaccines remained their preferred candidates – and everyone lost their minds.</p>
<p>This is not really unexpected if you have been paying attention, where the chair of the committee in particular has said that because of the “safety signal” attached to AstraZeneca related to the particular blood clots (which are very serious – there is a reasonably high fatality rate related to them) that it would be preferable to get mRNA vaccines, but if someone could not wait for them, then they should get the first available vaccine, even if it’s AstraZeneca. In their minds, it’s about being transparent around the risk factors associated, and they’re right. It’s just that this makes it harder for governments and public health officials to carry on with message that the best vaccine is the first one you are offered. Both are correct, and NACI has a lot of nuance in their guidance that is difficult for people to parse effectively, which is a problem, but it’s a question of whether the problem is NACI’s in how they communicate their guidance, or a problem in particular with media who are supposed to be able to take complex issues and translate them to the public, and yet are not very good at it (often walking away from these releases citing that they are “more confused than before,” which they shouldn’t be if they paid attention). It especially isn’t helped when certain journalists, talking heads, and especially certain MPs conflate the very different roles that NACI and Health Canada have, and try to assert that they should always be “on the same page” when they have different roles. Health Canada determines the safety of the vaccines, NACI offers guidance on the best way to deploy them, factoring in the current local epidemiology and vaccine supplies – guidance which provinces can accept or reject. It&#8217;s also why that guidance is always changing – they are reacting to current circumstances rather than just offering a simple recommendation once and being done with it, which most people are not grasping. And they have operated pretty much invisibly for decades, because there hasn’t been the kind of public attention on new vaccines up until now, which is why I really dislike the calls by people to “disband NACI” after yesterday’s press conference.</p>
<p>I get that people want clear binaries, and simple instructions, but that’s not NACI’s job, really, and expecting them to change their way of communicating after decades is a difficult ask. There is a lot of nuance to this conversation, and I will point you to a couple of threads – from professor Philippe Lagassé <a href="https://twitter.com/LagassePhilippe/status/1389298584722477064">here</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/LagassePhilippe/status/1389371057195294721">here</a> about this kind of advice and how it’s communicated to the public; as well, here is hematologist Menaka Pai, who <a href="https://twitter.com/MPaiMD/status/1389353451705053186">talks through</a> NACI’s advice and what it means.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Seems the NACI is advising that all vaccines are safe, but the mNRA is their gold standard. </p>
<p>If you can afford to sit around and wait for the gold standard, and want to, then do! </p>
<p>If not, get whatever vaccine is available *right now* to keep yourself and others safe. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cdnpoli</a> <a href="https://t.co/h0RHWXUTeH">https://t.co/h0RHWXUTeH</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Alheli Picazo (@a_picazo) <a href="https://twitter.com/a_picazo/status/1389312177488678914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><span id="more-9581"></span></p>
<p>Good reads:</p>
<ul>
<li>The budget implementation bill <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2021/05/03/liberals-sweeping-budget-bill-includes-15-minimum-wage-and-election-law-changes/">contains</a> a section on changing the <em>Elections Act</em> to restore the wording to that makes it illegal to “knowingly” make false statements.</li>
<li>Marc Garneau plans to set a good example and <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2021/05/03/garneau-to-quarantine-in-hotel-after-returning-from-g7-ministers-meeting-in-u-k/">stay in a quarantine hotel</a> for the requisite three days after returning from the G7 meeting in the UK.</li>
<li>Steven Guilbeault is <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/liberals-bend-to-bill-c-10-pressure-vow-to-make-it-crystal-clear-social-media-posts-wont-be-regulated-by-crtc">promising</a> more changes to Bill C-10 to make it clear that the CRTC won’t be regulating individual social media posts.</li>
<li>The Special Forces commander under fire for writing a letter of recommendation about a convicted sex offender in the ranks has been <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/special-forces-commander-on-leave-1.6011036">placed</a> on paid leave.</li>
<li>The Competition Bureau is supposed to get new funds in the budget, but there are <a href="https://financialpost.com/news/economy/competition-bureau-gets-a-budget-boost-but-is-it-enough-to-make-companies-think-twice">questions</a> if that is enough to ensure it can be more robust in its enforcement.</li>
<li>The Conservatives are <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/telford-vance-trudeau-sexual-misconduct-military-1.6011839">calling on</a> the prime minister to fire his chief of staff over the handling of the Vance allegations, and ministerial responsibility is where? FFS.</li>
<li>The federal government has indicated it will do its <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/ottawa-steps-in-to-evaluate-ontarios-highway-413-plan-delaying-or-perhaps-killing-mega-project">own assessment</a> of a proposed highway project in Ontario, citing federally-listed species at risk.</li>
<li>While Alberta COVID cases keep climbing, Jason Kenney is <a href="https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/alberta-reports-2-012-covid-19-cases-kenney-says-more-restrictions-coming-tuesday-1.5412613">contemplating</a> releasing new measures later today.</li>
<li>Michael Petrou <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-the-harm-done-by-justin-trudeaus-apology-to-italian-canadians-might/">sees problems</a> with the planned apology to Italian-Canadians interned during WWII, because the ones interned were mostly fascist supporters.</li>
<li>Kevin Carmichael <a href="https://financialpost.com/news/economy/the-bank-of-canada-might-have-to-tighten-its-messaging-to-allay-worries-about-inflation">suggests</a> that the Bank of Canada needs to do a better job of communicating around the inflation situation.</li>
<li>Susan Delacourt <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/2021/05/03/whats-it-safe-to-do-after-a-covid-19-vaccination-were-still-waiting-for-ottawa-to-tell-us.html">wants</a> the government to release its guidelines for what people can do once they’ve been vaccinated, and she wants it now.</li>
</ul>
<p>Odds and ends:</p>
<p>My <em>Loonie Politics</em> <a href="https://looniepolitics.com/videos/dale-smiths-quick-take/">Quick Take video</a> explains why the Conservatives are lying with statistics when it comes to inflation.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">We call this the Jaida Essence Hall defence. <a href="https://t.co/N4IA4b83iB">https://t.co/N4IA4b83iB</a> <a href="https://t.co/SNkqXayC0Q">pic.twitter.com/SNkqXayC0Q</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1389332253352857600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">9581</post-id>	</item>
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		<title>Roundup: Ending the defence committee study</title>
		<link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2021/04/13/roundup-ending-the-defence-committee-study/</link>
					<comments>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2021/04/13/roundup-ending-the-defence-committee-study/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 Apr 2021 09:29:49 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Abortion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bank of Canada]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Basic Income]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Budget 2021]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Canadian Forces]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[China]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CSIS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Euthanasia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General Jonathan Vance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Harjit Sajjan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Justin Trudeau]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ministerial Accountability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NSICOP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Turkey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Undermining Parliamentary Democracy]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=9511</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Something unexpected happened yesterday, in that the Defence committee voted to end the study on the allegations against General Jonathan Vance – the Liberals moving the motion, and the Bloc supporting it (which was the real surprise). Of course, ending &#8230; <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2021/04/13/roundup-ending-the-defence-committee-study/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Something unexpected happened yesterday, in that the Defence committee voted to <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/7752832/military-sexual-misconduct-study-liberals-shut-down/">end the study</a> on the <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2021/04/12/the-allegations-against-retired-general-jonathan-vance.html">allegations</a> against General Jonathan Vance – the Liberals moving the motion, and the Bloc supporting it (which was the real surprise). Of course, ending the study comes with a number of different narratives. For the Conservatives and the NDP, this is all about the government trying to “cover up” what happened, because they won’t allow staffers to testify – nor should they. The concept of ministerial responsibility is inviolable in our constitutional framework, and the government should be fighting to maintain it, and yes, they have put the minister forward in this case several times, so that does matter. For the Liberals’ decision to move to end the study, it’s also at the request of some victims’ groups, who have stated that every past government is at fault, and that the committee is simply using the victims in order to score partisan points – and they are 100 percent correct in that assertion.</p>
<p>I do find it disturbing, however, that in most of the reporting on what has gone on, media have followed the opposition narrative that staffers are being “blocked” from appearing, and that the only time that ministerial responsibility is mentioned, it’s in quotes and being both-sidesed in terms of the government’s response. This is a real problem because it is undermining this fundamental principle in our democracy. This is something that should be explained, including why it’s wholly improper for the opposition to be demanding that this important principle be violated, and why when the Conservatives were in government, they repeatedly invoked the same principle as well to keep their staffers away from committee. Constitutional principles matter – they’re not just to be dismissed as a “process story” as so many journalists and editors are wont to do in this city, and it cheapens the discourse when this context is being left out of the stories, and when the government’s correct position is being spun as being improper.</p>
<p>Of course, if the government is going to claim ministerial responsibility, that doesn’t just mean Sajjan has to show up (which, to his credit, he did for six hours) – Sajjan has to actually take responsibility as well, and he hasn’t. And more to the point, Sajjan should fall on his sword for this, because he did drop the ball. He remained way too incurious about the allegations and whether an investigation was being carried out – which is not the same as involving himself in the investigation or meddling in it. It’s basic due diligence for someone who is responsible to Parliament for the armed forces and its leadership, and he failed in that due diligence. Sajjan has no choice but to resign over this, and it will be a giant sign that Justin Trudeau is not taking this seriously if he doesn’t insist on a resignation in short order.</p>
<p><span id="more-9511"></span>Good reads:</p>
<ul>
<li>Justin Trudeau has been <a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/pm-talking-to-opposition-leaders-ahead-of-budget-as-o-toole-balks-at-basic-income-1.5383993">meeting with</a> opposition leaders ahead of next week’s budget – O’Toole and Blanchet yesterday, and Singh and Paul today.</li>
<li>The federal government came to a <a href="https://www.thestar.com/business/2021/04/12/ottawa-agrees-to-aid-package-with-air-canada-worth-up-to-59-billion.html">$5.9 billion agreement</a> with Air Canada, including passenger refunds, routes being restored, and the company gets a low-interest loan.</li>
<li>Bill Blair is <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2021/04/12/new-regulator-to-stop-sexual-exploitation-of-children-online-public-safety-minister/">promising</a> a new internet regulator to help combat things like child pornography, but David Lametti <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/canadian-law-may-not-apply-to-pornhub-justice-minister-tells-commons-committee">warns</a> it may not be able to target PornHub.</li>
<li>Marc Garneau announced that Canada was <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/arms-sales-turkey-canada-1.5984453">cancelling</a> permits for high-tech arms exports to Turkey after Canadian technology was used against Armenians last year.</li>
<li>Harjit Sajjan <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/2021/04/12/sajjan-targets-chinese-claims-in-south-china-sea-battles-tories-over-beijing-ties.html">denounced</a> China’s land claims in the South China Sea and pushed back against notions the government is pandering to Beijing.</li>
<li>UN pollution data shows that Canada’s carbon emission have <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2021/04/12/greenhouse-gas-emissions-have-held-steady-since-justin-trudeau-was-elected-his-environment-minister-says-thats-a-good-result.html">stabilized</a>, which the government argues is a good thing on the way toward making reductions.</li>
<li>NSICOP <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2021/04/12/intelligence-committee-warns-china-russia-targeting-canadian-covid-19-research-2/">tabled</a> their annual report, showing that China and Russia have increased their espionage attacks against Canada during the pandemic.</li>
<li>CSIS’ annual report came to <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/nsicop-espionage-pandemic-1.5983612">similar conclusions</a>, saying that biopharmaceutical and life sciences sectors were particularly being targeted.</li>
<li>An internal Canadian Army report shows that a Canadian Rangers group <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/military-rangers-extremism-hate-1.5981775">failed</a> to deal with brewing right-wing extremists in their ranks.</li>
<li>Filipino-Canadians are <a href="https://www.hilltimes.com/2021/04/12/enough-is-enough-new-group-aims-to-open-path-for-filipino-candidates/292582">calling on</a> the parties to ensure that they are on ballots in the next election (though this implies that they are not adequately organising).</li>
<li>Erin O’Toole <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2021/04/12/otoole-to-vote-against-conservative-mps-private-bill-on-sex-selective-abortion/">won’t say</a> if he will instruct his “shadow Cabinet” to vote against one of his MP’s bills on banning sex-selective abortions.</li>
<li>Mike Moffatt <a href="https://mikepmoffatt.medium.com/basic-income-what-federal-income-supports-could-be-folded-into-one-caa7eb0fde6c">works through</a> a thought experiment of basic income solely on existing federal supports, and there are very few that would make this a useable exercise.</li>
<li>Dan Garner <a href="https://thehub.ca/2021-04-12/dan-gardner-the-tombstone-mentality-abounds-why-do-people-need-to-die-before-we-take-action/">explains</a> the psychology of ignoring foreseeable problems until there is a body count, and how to avoid that for a future pandemic.</li>
<li>Kevin Carmichael <a href="https://financialpost.com/news/economy/new-inflation-data-suggest-bank-of-canada-neednt-worry-about-raising-interest-rates-anytime-soon">looks through</a> some recent survey data on inflation, and looks at how this will likely mean the Bank of Canada will stick to their low-interest plans.</li>
<li>Matt Gurney <a href="https://www.tvo.org/article/whos-in-charge-in-ontario-and-what-the-hell-is-going-on">enumerates</a> ways in which the incompetent murderclowns running Ontario have demonstrated that they have no idea what the hell they’re doing.</li>
<li>Heather Scoffield <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/2021/04/12/working-from-home-is-here-to-stay-and-for-some-canadians-thats-a-big-problem.html">looks into</a> research on work-from-home culture, and how it affects white, racialized and immigrant workers differently.</li>
</ul>
<p>Odds and ends:</p>
<p>For the CBA’s <em>National Magazine</em>, I <a href="https://www.nationalmagazine.ca/en-ca/articles/law/in-depth/2021/still-much-to-debate">look at</a> how the debate around assisted dying is moving to a new phase, with a two-year time limit on next steps.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">My book <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UnbrokenMachine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UnbrokenMachine</a> is currently 25% off at the <a href="https://twitter.com/dundurnpress?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dundurnpress</a> site, as is the book I contributed to, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoyalProgress?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoyalProgress</a>. If you haven’t checked them out yet, this is your opportunity. <a href="https://t.co/knf87Htrad">https://t.co/knf87Htrad</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1379164918637862920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><strong>Want more Routine Proceedings? </strong><a href="https://www.patreon.com/journo_dale"><strong>Become a patron</strong></a><strong> and get exclusive new content.</strong></p>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">9511</post-id>	</item>
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		<title>Roundup: Kabuki theatre around the Elections Act changes</title>
		<link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2021/03/27/roundup-kabuki-theatre-around-the-elections-act-changes/</link>
					<comments>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2021/03/27/roundup-kabuki-theatre-around-the-elections-act-changes/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 27 Mar 2021 09:34:01 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Arctic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Elections Canada]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General Jonathan Vance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gun Control]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jason Kenney]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ministerial Accountability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PCO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Procurement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Supreme Court]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Syria]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=9475</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[There are days when the state of our parliament achieves the level of farce, and we appear to be having another of those moments. Minister Dominic LeBlanc sent a letter to opposition party leaders – which seems to be a &#8230; <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2021/03/27/roundup-kabuki-theatre-around-the-elections-act-changes/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There are days when the state of our parliament achieves the level of farce, and we appear to be having another of those moments. Minister Dominic LeBlanc sent a letter to opposition party leaders – which seems to be a more common occurrence the days – <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2021/03/26/opposition-leaders-urged-to-speed-up-bill-to-ensure-safe-election-during-pandemic-2/">urging</a> them to pass the bill that would allow for pandemic-related changes to the <em>Canada Elections Act</em> per the request of the Chief Electoral Officer. This bill was tabled back in December, and we have just exhausted the sitting weeks in March, and it still has not even made it to committee, in part because the Conservatives have spent weeks using procedural tactics to delay debate on most every piece of legislation on the Order Paper.</p>
<p>LeBlanc apparently mentioned the upcoming budget in the letter, because that is a confidence measure and this is a hung parliament, so it is possible that the government could face a non-confidence vote and trigger an election at pretty much any point. And so during what debate there has been on this bill, the opposition MPs keep saying that there’s no imminent election unless the Liberals plan on calling one, and the NDP are going so far as to say that they simply need to work together to avoid one. Essentially, they get to accuse the government of opportunism for trying to do their due diligence at the request of the Chief Electoral Officer, which is cute for everyone involved.</p>
<p>But here’s the real kicker that makes this all a farce – the bill has an implementation period of 90 days after royal assent. The House isn’t sitting for the next two weeks, and even if they managed to have a Second Reading vote, speed it through committee and rush it to the Senate, I don’t image that it could be passed both chambers before the 23<sup>rd</sup> of April at the earliest, and only then would that 90-day clock start. That means that the changes couldn’t be fully implemented until the very end of July, meaning that even if the budget were the crux by which the government could fall (those votes would likely happen sometime in early May), there is no way that these changes could pass before a spring election could be called (considering the usual writ period of about six weeks). Any party pushing for an election without these changes would be suicidal. The government really has no interest in calling an election (seriously, and I’ve spoken to ministers who lament the number of items they have on the Order Paper that they need to see passed), especially because we are now into a Third Wave of this pandemic and there is no possible way we can vaccinate our way out of it without a time machine, so all of this chest-thumping by parties (and pleading by bored pundits) is for naught. This is all a bunch of Kabuki theatre for the sake of scoring points. We are not a serious country.</p>
<p><span id="more-9475"></span>Good reads:</p>
<ul>
<li>As COVID variants spread in communities, Canada is <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/covid-19-modelling-1-million-cases-1.5965297">set to record</a> its one millionth positive test result next week. Doing such a good job, guys!</li>
<li>Anita Anand says the 1.5 million AstraZeneca doses the Americans are “loaning” us will <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/vaccine-delivery-update-march-26-1.5965611">arrive Tuesday</a>.</li>
<li>A senior official in PCO <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2021/03/26/top-bureaucrat-says-she-got-no-information-about-misconduct-allegation-involving-canadas-top-soldier.html">gave her recounting</a> of how she dealt with the allegations against General Vance that were forwarded to her, and how she couldn’t proceed.</li>
<li>The gun control group PolySeSouvient is calling on MPs to <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2021/03/26/gun-control-group-urges-mps-to-vote-against-unsalvageable-liberal-firearms-bill-2/">vote down</a> the government’s gun control bill, calling it too weak to be salvageable.</li>
<li>Facebook says they are willing to offer <a href="https://nationalpost.com/telecom/media/facebook-announces-8-million-for-news-publishers-ahead-of-expected-grilling-in-ottawa/">$8 million</a> in commercial agreements to support news publishing in Canada – but they won’t pay for links posted.</li>
<li>The UN Secretary General says it’s “<a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/antonio-guterres-syria-camps-women-children-1.5964827">absolutely imperative</a>” that Canada retrieve its citizens from prison camps in Syria, which Canada has steadfastly refused to do.</li>
<li>The Commons’ Canada-China committee wants to <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2021/03/26/phac-head-says-privacy-act-prevents-explanation-for-firing-of-two-scientists/">look into</a> debunked conspiracy theories about two fired scientists, so that’s going well.</li>
<li>Mumilaaq Qaqqaq <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2021/03/25/my-people-need-help-nunavut-mps-report-on-housing-decries-living-conditions-2/">released</a> a report on the state of housing in Nunavut that she witnessed touring some of the communities there.</li>
<li>Jason Kenney says he <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2021/03/26/kenney-says-alberta-didnt-prep-carbon-tax-fallback-plan-was-hoping-to-win-in-court/">didn’t prepare</a> for the eventuality that the Supreme Court would uphold the federal carbon price, because he was sure he was going to win.</li>
<li>Andrew Leach <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/road-ahead-scoc-carbon-tax-decision-andrew-leach-1.5964466">walks through</a> Thursday’s Supreme Court of Canada decision on carbon pricing, and looks to what fights are likely to happen next.</li>
<li>My <a href="https://looniepolitics.com/on-summoning-staffers-to-committee/">weekend column</a> looks at the notion of ministerial accountability as opposition parties demand that senior staffers be summoned to committees.</li>
</ul>
<p>Odds and ends:</p>
<p>https://twitter.com/Catelli2Oh/status/1375472315299987458</p>
<p><strong>Want more Routine Proceedings? </strong><a href="https://www.patreon.com/journo_dale"><strong>Become a patron</strong></a><strong> and get exclusive new content.</strong></p>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">9475</post-id>	</item>
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		<title>Senate QP: No commitment to getting answers</title>
		<link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2013/12/12/senate-qp-no-commitment-to-getting-answers/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 12 Dec 2013 20:10:12 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Question Period]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Canada Post]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ministerial Accountability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Senate]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=2316</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s likely to be the last day of the Senate&#8217;s sitting for 2013, which also means the final QP of the year. There was a lengthy list of speakers for Senators&#8217; Statements, a number of committee reports tabled, and finally, &#8230; <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2013/12/12/senate-qp-no-commitment-to-getting-answers/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It&#8217;s likely to be the last day of the Senate&#8217;s sitting for 2013, which also means the final QP of the year. There was a lengthy list of speakers for Senators&#8217; Statements, a number of committee reports tabled, and finally, Question Period. Senator Hervieux-Payette led off, and asked about the allegations around Jim Love, the chair of the Royal Canadian Mint and his activities around offshore tax havens. She asked in particular for the government to launch an inquiry into Mr. Love and his activities. Senator Carignan, answering for the government, insisted that this was a private matter between two parties and they had no intention of taking part in legal proceedings, but hey, look at the tough stand they took against tax evaders. Unimpressed, Hervieux-Payette reminded him that they took the stand that those on the government payroll should be suspended if they were found to have financial irregularities, such as with Duffy and Wallin, and she brought up Love&#8217;s large travel costs. Carignan returned to the talking point about the government&#8217;s stand on tax evaders. Hervieux-Payette pointed out that there was no indication the overseas tax frauds were really before the courts, but Carignan insisted that the government was working hard to stop tax evasion. Senator Moore stood up for a supplemental, concerned about what Hervieux-Payette reported about Love&#8217;s $6000 flight between Toronto and Calgary, and that perhaps the minister responsible for the Mint report back to them on that. Carignan tried to evade and speak around the request. Moore made it once again, but Carignan simply fell back onto the talking point that they expect those who spend taxpayer funds to do so responsibly, and Moore kept getting up to demand a report to the Chamber on it, while Carignag kept repeating his talking point.</p>
<p><span id="more-2316"></span>Senator Fraser got up and pointed out that Carignan won&#8217;t take questions as notice, despite repeated demands that he do, as he can&#8217;t be expected to know everything, and she cited the rules about that standing order. Senator Mercer heckled that &#8220;he needs to ask permission from across the street,&#8221; meaning of course Langevin Block, home of the PMO. Carignan took exception to this, and cited an example of when he promised a written answer to a technical question. Fraser was back up, brought up the season, and hoped that Carignan would give the Senate as a whole of the gift of questions taken as notice. Carignan gave a flip response instead of a promise.</p>
<p>Senator Ringuette was up next, and noted the government&#8217;s decision to remove Canada Post&#8217;s monopoly on international mail and how that resulted in the loss of revenue, bringing them to the state they&#8217;re in today. She also noted the lack of consultation by Canada Post on its latest plans, and wanted the government to commit to a consultation profess. Carignan responded by describing the five-step plan to return Canada Post to profitability. Ringuette asked for him to table if there was a call for tenders for the study of the changes, as recommended by the Conference Board of Canada, and Carignan did commit to looking into it — to which Fraser noted &#8220;We&#8217;re on a roll.&#8221; Ringuette brought up home delivery for parcels, for which they have competition, and whether doing it by community mailboxes was removing them from the marketplace, which again would impact on their profitability. Carignan responded by describing their concern for Canada Post&#8217;s financial viability, which was what the plan was intended to do.</p>
<p>Overall, it was a bit of a spectacle that Senators Moore and Carignan going back and forth, demanding a report from the minister into the issue of the Mint chairman&#8217;s travel costs, and Carignan simply giving talking points instead of committing to take the question as notice and returning with an answer. As Senator Fraser noted, Carignan has been reluctant to take questions as notice, which is unfortunate since that is one of the great things about Senate QP — the commitment to getting answers. It adds fuel to the concerns that Carignan is really a poor choice as government leader in the Senate, and that he really doesn&#8217;t have the sensibilities necessary to carry out his duties in the role.</p>
<p>Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to <a href="http://www.parl.gc.ca/SenatorsMembers/Senate/SenatorsBiography/isenator_det.asp?senator_id=2865&amp;sortord=N&amp;Language=E&amp;M=M">Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu</a> for a dark grey suit with a white shirt with blue checks and a green tie, and to <a href="http://www.parl.gc.ca/SenatorsMembers/Senate/SenatorsBiography/isenator_det.asp?senator_id=2780&amp;sortord=N&amp;Language=E&amp;M=M">Senator Claudette Tardif</a> for a tailored black jacket and v-necked dress. Style citations go out to <a href="http://www.parl.gc.ca/SenatorsMembers/Senate/SenatorsBiography/isenator_det.asp?senator_id=2867&amp;sortord=N&amp;Language=E&amp;M=M">Senator Rose-May Poirier</a> for a fluorescent green smock top with black horizontal zigzags across it over a black top and trousers, and to <a href="http://www.parl.gc.ca/SenatorsMembers/Senate/SenatorsBiography/isenator_det.asp?senator_id=175&amp;sortord=N&amp;Language=E&amp;M=M">Senator David Smith</a> for a black suit with a hot pink shirt with white collars and cuffs, and a blue and red paisley tie.</p>
<p>And that&#8217;s it for QP in either chamber for 2013. While I&#8217;m sorry that I don&#8217;t get to see it in the Senate as often as I&#8217;d like to, there has been a change there since Senator Carignan became the government leader, and it hasn&#8217;t been for the betterment of debate. As always, though, my optimism remains that over in the Commons that next year will be better. We saw glimpses of it this year, but not consistently. I live in hope.</p>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2316</post-id>	</item>
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		<title>Why the Senate Leader needs to be in cabinet</title>
		<link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2013/07/04/why-the-senate-leader-needs-to-be-in-cabinet/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jul 2013 18:27:37 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Musings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Civic Literacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ministerial Accountability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Senate]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=1854</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The announced departure of Senator Marjory LeBreton from cabinet this morning has led not to furious speculation about her replacement, but rather about the PMO’s plans for the position itself. According to the government sources, Stephen Harper plans to eliminate &#8230; <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2013/07/04/why-the-senate-leader-needs-to-be-in-cabinet/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The announced departure of Senator Marjory LeBreton from cabinet this morning has led not to furious speculation about her replacement, but rather about the PMO’s plans for the position itself. According to the government sources, Stephen Harper plans to eliminate the position of Leader of the Government in the Senate from cabinet going forward – apparently oblivious that this is a Very Big Problem.</p>
<p>You see, there is an actual reason why the position of Leader of the Government (LGS) in the Senate is a full Minister of the Crown. It’s not just because they felt they needed to give someone a limo and a driver, but rather, because of a little something called Ministerial Responsibility. And yes, this is an important foundational principle to our system of government.</p>
<p><span id="more-1854"></span>Like the Commons, the Senate is also in place to hold the government to account, and like the Commons, one of the ways in which it does that is by means of its own Question Period. There, Senators can ask questions of the government in order to get answers, and hold them to account. (It’s generally a much better effort than we see in the Commons as well, but that’s a topic of discussion for another day). Generally it is the LGS who answers the questions on behalf of the government because she is a Minister of the Crown, and thus is empowered to answer on behalf of the government. Occasionally, if there is another Minister of the Crown drawn from the Senate ranks – something which happens from time to time, especially if the government caucus is absent any representatives from a certain region, and because we have a federal construction to our cabinets, there needs to be that kind of representation in the ministry – then Senators can also ask questions of that minister. (And like the Commons, Senators can also ask questions of committee chairs, which is rare but does happen).</p>
<p>Not having a Minister of the Crown answering on behalf of the government is a grave weakening of our systems of accountability. While the government apparently plans to write to the Speaker of the Senate to empower a LGS who is not in cabinet to answer the questions anyway, it reduces that person to the bearer of talking points rather than someone who can actually be held to account – much as the system is designed to do.</p>
<p>The other problem that the brain trusts in the PMO have overlooked is the Senate’s role in introducing government legislation. Again, this tends to be a more rare occurrence overall, but in recent years, given how completely inept the current Government House Leader in the Commons is at managing the Order Paper, the government has introduced more bills in the Senate, rather than just complex and technical bills that could benefit from the time and attention that the Senate is better at affording bills than the Commons. The problem is that government bills need ministers to sponsor them. It’s another fundamental basic principle of our system – only the government can authorise expenditures from the treasury, and it’s governments who propose and the backbench and the opposition who holds them to account for those proposals. So unless Harper has decided that the government will no longer introduce legislation in the Senate, then he will need a minister in the Chamber to sponsor it.</p>
<p>It’s also more than a question of precedent – the only time there wasn’t an LGS in cabinet was Senator <a href="http://www.parl.gc.ca/parlinfo/Files/Parliamentarian.aspx?Item=b367e582-fc7c-46aa-9f40-f75292fe98ff&amp;Language=E&amp;Section=ALL">William Ross</a>, and he only held the post three days before the Meghan Government was defeated, before Ross could be sworn into cabinet. (Yes, this was the King-Byng Affair, for the record). It’s about the fundamental principles of a Westminster democracy. (<strong>Update:</strong> There have been a total of <a href="http://www.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/compilations/OfficersAndOfficials/PoliticalOfficers/Senate/LeadersOfTheGovernment.aspx">four cases</a>, but the point still stands about accountability and legislation).</p>
<p>While I’m sure that Stephen Harper and his loyal staffers think that it’s a brilliant PR move to ensure that the cabinet is entirely elected and from the Commons, they’re flirting dangerously with undermining the bedrock of our system. It’s already bad enough that they have parliamentary secretaries answering in Commons QP instead of ministers (which again, weakens the system of accountability), and that they have little regard for the principle of Ministerial Responsibility to begin with. But to make a mockery of the Senate’s role in holding the government to account is a grievous breach of the way the system works, and we should be making a bigger deal of it than we’ve been hearing.</p>
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