<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>Political Ads – Routine Proceedings</title> <atom:link href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/tag/political-ads/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://www.routineproceedings.com</link> <description>The adventures of a Press Gallery journalist</description> <lastBuildDate>Fri, 14 Mar 2025 04:43:03 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-CA</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2</generator> <image> <url>https://www.routineproceedings.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/cropped-DSmith-2024-32x32.jpg</url> <title>Political Ads – Routine Proceedings</title> <link>https://www.routineproceedings.com</link> <width>32</width> <height>32</height> </image> <site xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">34256478</site> <item> <title>Roundup: Positive feelings about a useless meeting</title> <link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2025/03/14/roundup-positive-feelings-about-a-useless-meeting/</link> <comments>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2025/03/14/roundup-positive-feelings-about-a-useless-meeting/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 14 Mar 2025 09:39:16 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Arctic]]></category> <category><![CDATA[China]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Citizenship]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Doug Ford]]></category> <category><![CDATA[GLBT]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Infrastructure]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Justin Trudeau]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Maple Crown]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Mark Carney]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Political Ads]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Scott Moe]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The King]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Senate]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Trade]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=13151</guid> <description><![CDATA[We seem to be caught in a pattern where Donald Trump will invite a world leader to the White House—yesterday it was NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte—and he goes on an unhinged rant while they’re sitting there, trying to avoid … <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2025/03/14/roundup-positive-feelings-about-a-useless-meeting/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We seem to be caught in a pattern where Donald Trump will invite a world leader to the White House—yesterday it was NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte—and he goes on an unhinged rant while they’re sitting there, trying to avoid saying anything that will set him off. And yesterday’s rant included a full-on threat to annex Greenland (while Rutte tried to downplay NATO’s involvement in any way, which is true to the extent that it only operates by consensus), and went on an extended rant about Canada not working as a real country, and made up the lie that America pays for our military (not true in the slightest), before repeating the falsehood that the US subsidizes us.</p> <blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:4xqt7t2zph634drigtdxdmro/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkbox25yak2r" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreif3ahzs6bstndzkup3i5fv4odvceilq74f2hldk2wxxqjkwarhuoq"> <p lang="en">Half-point to #CBCNN for not both-sidesing that caption.</p> <p>— <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:4xqt7t2zph634drigtdxdmro?ref_src=embed">Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social)</a> <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:4xqt7t2zph634drigtdxdmro/post/3lkbox25yak2r?ref_src=embed">2025-03-13T18:09:44.596Z</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>Meanwhile, Dominic LeBlanc and François-Philippe Champagne had their <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/premier-ford-optimistic-following-talks-with-lutnick-in-washington/article_2017e8a5-418f-5be1-bc1c-734749435033.html">meeting</a> with Howard Lutnick, with Doug Ford along for the ride as he continued to try and make himself the main character (and I watched Conservative talking head pundits also putting forward this distorted view of reality). Ford came out of the meeting, <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-says-temperature-is-being-lowered-after-tariff-talks-with-top-donald-trump-aides/article_68d61922-000c-11f0-86a8-e3a2ca94da05.html">effusive</a> about how “positive” it was and how they were going to have more meetings next week (and was later corrected that officials were going to meet, not him), while the two ministers basically talked a lot and said nothing, because nothing could be accomplished here. But they had to <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-ontario-tariff-meeting-washington-1.7483312">pretend</a> that something came from this meeting when obviously nothing did, as there were no changes to any tariffs, and Ford’s pressure tactic around the electricity “surcharge” remains off the table again.</p> <blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:w3miivoaldds6rqccvwjnvnc/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkc6vantcc2f" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreiaote5do67i356dv3a3yv4fzfskfbymrgrjvb277p4dko2tkksawq"> <p lang="en">In summary: today's meeting did nothing. Canadian officials are still trapped in a mindset that Trump can be reasoned with. "The fact that we're engaging in a tangible outcome." NO, IT'S NOT.</p> <p>— <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:w3miivoaldds6rqccvwjnvnc?ref_src=embed">Emmett Macfarlane <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f1e8-1f1e6.png" alt="🇨🇦" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> (@emmettmacfarlane.com)</a> <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:w3miivoaldds6rqccvwjnvnc/post/3lkc6vantcc2f?ref_src=embed">2025-03-13T22:55:04.181Z</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:w3miivoaldds6rqccvwjnvnc/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkc76do6g22f" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreiac3ydlejbie4lgbawfo6cgmlhunfnlfhqcckpihrebyqrd7f2doy"> <p lang="en">Let Trump make all the accusations he wants. We should be responding forcefully, and making the situation as bad for Trump as possible. The *only* thing that will end this is domestic pressure in the US. We should be going scorched Earth.</p> <p>— <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:w3miivoaldds6rqccvwjnvnc?ref_src=embed">Emmett Macfarlane <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f1e8-1f1e6.png" alt="🇨🇦" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> (@emmettmacfarlane.com)</a> <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:w3miivoaldds6rqccvwjnvnc/post/3lkc76do6g22f?ref_src=embed">2025-03-13T23:00:09.329Z</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>Elsewhere, Trump’s pick for US ambassador to Canada had his Senate <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/hoekstra-senate-hearing-1.7482723">confirmation hearing</a>, and when asked, he said that Canada is a sovereign country, and tried to claim that Trump’s expansionist rhetoric is about “negotiation tactics,” but it certainly doesn’t seem to be. And yeah, he said the bare minimum to ensure that he wasn’t PNGed before he could even arrive in the country. Closer to home, Scott Moe continues to <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/chinese-tariffs-on-canola-oil-meal-would-be-disastrous-for-saskatchewan-moe/article_55d0a1e2-6fff-57a7-9701-be8ed39628ed.html">call for capitulation</a> to China regarding their tariff fight, because of course he did, and claimed it was about protecting Quebec’s industries over Saskatchewan’s, except Quebec doesn’t really have much of an auto sector, but Moe’s brain is pretty smooth, after all.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">It’s been a day, you guys. <a href="https://t.co/REu4AeWUQb">https://t.co/REu4AeWUQb</a></p> <p>— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1900337041491038246?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2025</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>Ukraine Dispatch</p> <p>An <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-attack-ukraines-dnipropetrovsk-region-injures-three-local-officials-say-2025-03-13/">overnight attack</a> on Dnipro injured three women and damaged apartment buildings. Ukrainian forces are <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/world/europe/ukraine-loses-a-ceasefire-bargaining-chip-as-its-troops-cede-ground-in-russia/article_309b7c4a-fc31-56fe-8e0f-1f1154a9ac4d.html">in retreat</a> in parts of Kursk region, which means losing a bargaining chip in possible peace negotiations. And Putin has all kinds of <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-close-ejecting-ukrainian-forces-kursk-kremlin-says-2025-03-13/">conditions</a> on a possible ceasefire, because he’s not serious, and Ukraine only went along with the plan to call his bluff.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr"><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/26a1.png" alt="⚡" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Ukraine receives $1.7 billion from Canada under G7 loan covered by Russian assets.<a href="https://t.co/sVDZzGTIq9">https://t.co/sVDZzGTIq9</a></p> <p>— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1900184870598439009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2025</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr"><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/26a1.png" alt="⚡" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />Russian drone strike on Kharkiv injures 7, including 4 children.</p> <p>A Russian drone strike on the Osnovianskyi district of Kharkiv injured at least seven people, the city's Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported on March 13.<a href="https://t.co/DqHHiHylYP">https://t.co/DqHHiHylYP</a></p> <p>— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1900296954023993719?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2025</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:lafbr3dznxdyvgup2umwssht/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkazc7hdkk2t" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreihzpxe5sesbkigveqm4ch57hmvlzjlnpr3opnt522qhskm5q66kwy"> <p lang="en">Surprise! The Russians, who have repeatedly said they don't want a ceasefire, have once again said they don't want a ceasefire</p> <p>— <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:lafbr3dznxdyvgup2umwssht?ref_src=embed">Anne Applebaum (@anneapplebaum.bsky.social)</a> <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:lafbr3dznxdyvgup2umwssht/post/3lkazc7hdkk2t?ref_src=embed">2025-03-13T11:42:16.938Z</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><span id="more-13151"></span>Good reads:</p> <ul> <li>Here are the leaks and rumours about the Cabinet shuffle and the very pared down composition, per <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cabinet-carney-transition-1.7482507">CBC</a>, <a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/miller-duclos-among-ministers-to-be-dropped-from-carneys-new-cabinet-sources/">CTV</a>, and <em><a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/some-trudeau-cabinet-ministers-out-as-carney-prepares-to-reveal-a-shorter-bench/article_2d053c18-9d48-57a6-a733-8a77be7a0a83.html">The Canadian Press</a></em>.</li> <li>Justin Trudeau <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/trudeau-says-hes-proud-of-canadians-in-video-posted-on-his-last-day-in-office/article_807ae2f3-4aae-5d14-9181-5b345ace7781.html">posted</a> a thirty-second farewell video from his office yesterday.</li> <li>On his way out, Trudeau <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-24-sussex-1.7481931">proposed</a> a different path forward for the future of 24 Sussex, which seems a little late in the day (and I think the process is dubious).</li> <li>From Charlevoix, Mélanie Joly is trying to get her G7 counterparts unified on <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/g7-foreign-ministers-start-talks-in-quebec-as-joly-pushes-back-on-u-s-coercion/article_e999a8c2-bfe0-5d5f-92e7-59d21d4e1014.html">maritime cooperation</a>, as the US remains offside around Ukraine and tariffs.</li> <li>François-Philippe Champagne is calling on his department to <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/u-s-tariffs-push-ottawa-to-invest-more-in-canadian-steel-aluminum-projects/article_12a3f160-2741-515c-a7df-6a82f44fb5dc.html">prioritise</a> projects that will primarily use Canadian steel and aluminium in response to the tariffs.</li> <li>Marc Miller has said the government <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/ottawa-offers-some-lost-canadians-citizenship-after-legislation-delayed/article_870b7cc1-c29b-5320-8719-e1509cc40ecc.html">plans to offer</a> “discretionary” citizenship to a cohort of “lost” Canadians while they apply to the court to extend a deadline.</li> <li>Here’s a look at the <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/newsinteractives/features/arctic-defence">Canadian Rangers</a>, who are at the forefront of monitoring and defending Canada’s North.</li> <li>A BC woman is <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/mom-says-canadian-woman-in-inhumane-u-s-detention-global-affairs-cant-intervene/article_60315e4c-dd32-5377-aa0b-df767a908df9.html">being held</a> in Arizona after her visa application was denied, and Global Affairs says they can’t intervene.</li> <li><em>Wired</em> has a <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-digital-coup-doge-data-ai/">longread</a> that maps Elon Musk’s digital coup of the US government.</li> <li>The King <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/king-charles-sword-canadian-attendant-1.7482738">met with</a> the Senate Speaker and Black Rod in Buckingham Palace on Wednesday to present Black Rod with a new ceremonial sword for his duties.</li> <li>Mark Carney’s latest book was supposed to be published in May, but he and the publisher decided to <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/publication-of-mark-carneys-upcoming-book-will-be-delayed/article_c94ebf68-0023-11f0-ad25-7b5cc359ddb4.html">push the date</a> until possibly July.</li> <li>Conservatives and their proxies are <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/11080497/conservative-digital-campaign-carney/">ramping up</a> online ads against Carney, particularly as they hit well with the tech bro algorithms.</li> <li>Emmett Macfarlane <a href="https://emmettmacfarlane.substack.com/p/opinion-doug-ford-has-suckered-everyone">calls out</a> Doug Ford’s empty bluster and his capitulation to Trump, and how dangerous it is for the country in the long term.</li> <li>Althia Raj has <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/surprises-freeland-6-storylines-to-watch-for-with-mark-carneys-new-cabinet/article_a932ca94-0037-11f0-ae62-9fd2d5519e3f.html">six storylines</a> she’ll be looking at in Carney’s Cabinet choices.</li> <li>My <a href="https://xtramagazine.com/power/politics/justin-trudeau-mark-carney-lgbtq-issues-legacy-271773"><em>Xtra</em> column</a> looks back on Trudeau’s LGBTQ+ legacy, and the work that he’s left Mark Carney to do on the file.</li> </ul> <p>Odds and ends:</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hey Canada, one last thing. <a href="https://t.co/ue1AfQl489">pic.twitter.com/ue1AfQl489</a></p> <p>— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1900210954719080808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2025</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:4xqt7t2zph634drigtdxdmro/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkbxkmhuic2c" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreieq2tlf65ziv4rto3vrh7nt2ywpxfurwiok2x5v3ortrepfcdejnm"> <p lang="en">Pretty damning stuff.</p> <p>— <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:4xqt7t2zph634drigtdxdmro?ref_src=embed">Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social)</a> <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:4xqt7t2zph634drigtdxdmro/post/3lkbxkmhuic2c?ref_src=embed">2025-03-13T20:43:51.278Z</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><strong>Want more Routine Proceedings? <a href="https://www.patreon.com/journo_dale">Become a patron</a> and get exclusive new content. </strong></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2025/03/14/roundup-positive-feelings-about-a-useless-meeting/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">13151</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Roundup: So he is hiding something?</title> <link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/10/25/roundup-so-he-is-hiding-something/</link> <comments>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/10/25/roundup-so-he-is-hiding-something/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 25 Oct 2024 09:35:39 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Abortion]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Foreign Interference]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Justin Trudeau]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Lebanon]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Michael Chong]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Pierre Poilievre]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Political Ads]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Russia]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=12835</guid> <description><![CDATA[Over the past couple of days, Justin Trudeau and Karina Gould have been intimating that Pierre Poilievre has “something to hide” by not seeking his security clearance. It’s a stupid talking point, it trivialises the seriousness of the issue, and … <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/10/25/roundup-so-he-is-hiding-something/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Over the past couple of days, Justin Trudeau and Karina Gould have been intimating that Pierre Poilievre has “<a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/blanchet-poilievre-security-clearance-1.7362068">something to hide</a>” by not seeking his security clearance. It’s a stupid talking point, it trivialises the seriousness of the issue, and it descends to the same childish accusations that the Conservatives are lobbing at the government over the refusal to turn over certain unredacted documents related to SDTC as part of a banana republic production order (as the subject of the current privilege filibuster). It’s not cute, and it doesn’t make them look like the adults in the room.</p> <p>And then along comes Michael Chong, who gave this <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-trudeau-suggests-conservative-leader-has-something-to-hide-by-refusing/">cockamamie story</a> to the <em>Globe and Mail</em> that because security clearances can involve invasive questions like sexual partners or past drug use, and that Trudeau is “so desperate” that he would use that information to publicly undermine Poilievre. But, and former CSIS director Ward Elcock made the point in the same piece, CSIS would never turn that information over to the PM, no matter the political pressure, so not only is Chong just making up conspiracy bullshit (as he has been wont to do increasingly of late), he is actually adding fuel fire by making it look like Poilievre does indeed have something to hide. Like, my dude, did you even think about your stupid conspiracy for five whole seconds before you blurted it out to Bob Fife? Honestly.</p> <blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:4xqt7t2zph634drigtdxdmro/app.bsky.feed.post/3l7bkvw24zp2q" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreifuinlojkwz2fxya6yxusado2h7jztw5ylvvphbme4eyfhqtftyma"> <p lang="en">Remember when Michael Chong was a man of principle and didn't just constantly make up shitty conspiracy theories to suck up to his leader? #cdnpoli www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art…</p> <p>— <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:4xqt7t2zph634drigtdxdmro?ref_src=embed">Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social)</a> <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:4xqt7t2zph634drigtdxdmro/post/3l7bkvw24zp2q?ref_src=embed">2024-10-24T17:20:23.744Z</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>We all know that the reasons Poilievre won’t get the clearance is because it would require him to lie slightly less than he does currently. Poilievre even tacitly admitted this when he declared in QP “This prime minister will not gag me!” (<a href="https://youtu.be/Qs8Gohi1e04?si=PWpJCx1y7A28VMTB">Phrasing!</a>) But by trying to take this “hiding something” schtick across the board is just tiresome when everyone should be striving to be grown-ups about this.</p> <p>Ukraine Dispatch</p> <p>Russians launched a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-strike-ukraines-kupiansk-wounds-four-governor-2024-10-24/">thermobaric</a> ammunition attack on Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, while Ukrainian forces <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-it-shot-down-40-russian-drones-launched-overnight-2024-10-24/">shot down</a> 40 out of 50 drones overnight. Russian forces have been making a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-making-swift-advance-into-east-ukrainian-town-selydove-russian-media-says-2024-10-24/">fast advance</a> into the town of Selydove, which they have been trying to take control of. Ukrainian intelligence <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-intelligence-agency-says-north-korean-units-already-kursk-region-2024-10-24/">suggests</a> that North Korean troops are already in the Kursk region.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Russia?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Russia</a> has committed 664 crimes in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ukraine%EF%B8%8F?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ukraine️</a> against media and journalists since the beginning of the full-scale war.</p> <p>As of October 24, 91 media workers have died in Ukraine as a result of the full-scale <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Russian?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Russian</a> aggression, 12 of whom were killed while performing their… <a href="https://t.co/ipgWXMY3Id">pic.twitter.com/ipgWXMY3Id</a></p> <p>— UkraineWorld (@ukraine_world) <a href="https://twitter.com/ukraine_world/status/1849418957452611913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 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">During the interview, Scholz said that NATO allies "have described a perspective" on Ukraine's eventual accession to the alliance, adding "but I think that beyond that, there is currently no need for any new decision."</p> <p>— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1849563031841411084?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><span id="more-12835"></span>Good reads:</p> <ul> <li>Justin Trudeau made the <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/trudeau-announces-massive-drop-in-immigration-targets-as-liberals-make-major-pivot/article_0dc6dccd-5062-5bd1-892b-a768ad2c8a31.html">announcement</a> on the plan to reduce immigration targets for the next three years alongside Marc Miller.</li> <li>Mélanie Joly is <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/joly-at-paris-summit-on-lebanon-as-canadian-donation-matching-goal-falling-short/article_928632d1-da1b-597c-a9d7-fddbdfbccc63.html">off to Paris</a> to attend a summit on aiding Lebanon given the current situation while groups in Canada warn that of a shortfall in donations to be matched.</li> <li>It turns out that one of the reasons we aren’t expelling Russian diplomats is because our own presence in Moscow is <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/russia-canada-diplomats-embassy-1.7361366">bare-bones</a> and can’t afford the retaliation.</li> <li>The Foreign Interference inquiry <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/policy-points-partisan-jabs-mark-closing-foreign-interference-hearing/article_7b88f173-3a44-5509-9676-a6aac1e0bedf.html">wrapped up</a> hearings yesterday, and now Justice Hogue is off to write the final report.</li> <li>A CIHI report <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/5-million-adults-without-primary-care-surgeries-returning-to-normal-cihi-report/article_506c327a-4a2c-5011-bc33-18453a632a89.html">shows</a> that 5.4 million people don’t have a family doctor, but surgical backlogs are finally back to pre-COVID levels.</li> <li>Here is a look at the <a href="https://thelogic.co/news/tenet-media-canada-disinformation/">extent</a> of the disinformation targeting Canada on the allegedly Russian-funded Tenet Media podcasts.</li> <li>Liberal dissenters are a little disappointed Trudeau was <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/justin-trudeau-disappointing-mps-who-want-him-gone-but-other-liberals-say-he-is-still/article_916814b6-921c-11ef-9195-43cd0127f3e2.html">dismissive</a> of their concerns less than 24 hours after he said he would “reflect” on their words.</li> <li>Conservative-turned-independent MP Alain Rayes says that anti-abortion activists have <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/rayes-abortion-poilievre-1.7362640">fully infiltrated</a> the Conservatives, which is one reason he left.</li> <li>The NDP will use their upcoming Supply Day (whenever that is) to <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/ndp-plan-motion-to-push-back-against-anti-abortion-creep-from-conservatives/article_a263ab99-900b-5696-be78-a0b3e986bf80.html">move a motion</a> on abortion access—because they really are taking all of their cues from the US.</li> <li>A third-party group calling itself “Protecting Canada,” made up of former Liberal and NPD staffers, are <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/anonymously-funded-anti-poilievre-ad-campaign-has-links-to-former-liberal-ndp-staffers/article_72d35f02-9086-11ef-8009-1b3404d120e8.html">launching</a> anti-Poilievre ads.</li> <li>Shannon Proudfoot <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/opinion/article-a-deeply-weird-and-typical-day-on-parliament-hill/">describes</a> the weird mood in Parliament on Wednesday before, during and after that caucus meeting.</li> <li>Susan Delacourt <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/justin-trudeau-has-faced-his-internal-critics-heres-what-hell-do-next/article_39ad1caa-923d-11ef-8cf7-ef0d657ddf65.html">looks to</a> Trudeau’s past patterns to determine what she thinks he’ll do next with his backbench rebels.</li> </ul> <p>Odds and ends:</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">For the millionth time, please stop pushing governments to commit to emissions targets decades from now and start pushing them to commit to policies and to provide projections of what those policies will achieve. A target with no policies is an excuse, not a plan.</p> <p>— Andrew Leach (@andrew_leach) <a href="https://twitter.com/andrew_leach/status/1849466801354371518?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><strong>Want more Routine Proceedings? <a href="https://www.patreon.com/journo_dale">Become a patron</a> and get exclusive new content. </strong></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/10/25/roundup-so-he-is-hiding-something/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>2</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">12835</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Roundup: Both-sidesing the Russian jet footage</title> <link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/08/20/roundup-both-sidesing-the-russian-jet-footage/</link> <comments>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/08/20/roundup-both-sidesing-the-russian-jet-footage/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 20 Aug 2024 13:19:29 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Appointments]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Euthanasia]]></category> <category><![CDATA[GLBT]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Labour]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Political Ads]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Public Health]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Temporary Foreign Workers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=12658</guid> <description><![CDATA[Because this is sometimes a media criticism blog, I am going to call out The Canadian Press for their atrocious headline of “Tories delete Canadian dream video featuring what Liberals say are Russian jets.” *sigh* The Liberals didn’t say those … <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/08/20/roundup-both-sidesing-the-russian-jet-footage/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Because this is sometimes a media criticism blog, I am going to call out The Canadian Press for their atrocious headline of “<a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/tories-delete-canadian-dream-video-featuring-what-liberals-say-are-russian-jets/article_3692a32b-80b8-58f2-a7f2-3f01a1af20fa.html">Tories delete Canadian dream video featuring what Liberals say are Russian jets</a>.” *sigh* The Liberals didn’t say those were Russian jets—those were Russian jets. Anyone who knows about jets can tell what they are, and they certainly were not CF-18s or F-35s (as the new Canadian fighter jets will be). The problem of course is that CP feels the need to obsequiously both-sides absolutely gods-damned everything in the name of sounding neutral and balanced, rather than simply providing a proper fact-check like they should as the national wire service. It shouldn’t need to be framed as a partisan accusation that the video used stock footage of Russian jets because objectively that’s exactly what the video did—use stock footage of Russian jets when Poilievre’s speech was referencing new Canadian fighter jets (which again, are going to be F-35s).</p> <p>I will note that CBC simply called out the fact with their own headline of “<a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservatives-video-deleted-russian-jets-1.7298754">Conservative Party posts—then deletes—video showing Russian-made jets</a>.” See—it’s accurate and fact-checks, and while the CBC is also just as obsequious as CP is with both-sidesing almost all of the time, they didn’t feel the need to couch this one in a partisan accusation in order to look like they weren’t the ones providing the factual correction. I wish I knew why CP is so gun-shy when it comes to actually calling out this kind of thing rather than always couching it in a partisan accusation (because again, this isn’t the first time this has happened), whether it’s because they’re afraid Poilievre will continue to harass their reporters at press conferences (which appeasing won’t actually help), or because they’re so afraid of being sued that they won’t dare call a spade a spade on their own. Either way, it’s not really serving Canadians to behave this way.</p> <p>Meanwhile, the Liberals and NDP pounced on that video, including Bill Blair using that footage incident to accuse the Conservatives of being “soft on Russia.” And the Conservative Party’s spokesperson responded that “mistakes happen,” but then went on to excuse it by pointing out that the Liberals once used stock footage of a crowd rather than an image of real supporters at an event. Because apparently if it’s not both-sidesing, it’s whataboutism. (Could we all just be grown-ups in this country for a change?)</p> <p>Ukraine Dispatch</p> <p>Ukraine’s air defences <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-repels-russias-air-attack-including-kyiv-ukraines-air-force-says-2024-08-19/">downed</a> all 11 drones launched overnight Sunday, targeting a number of cities including Kyiv. Civilians in Pokrovsk in Ukraine have been <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/sectors-that-earned-most-corporate-capital-gains-created-no-jobs-over-5-years-report/article_3e50e113-24ec-59f6-a438-e655ec030ec3.html">fleeing</a> as Russians advance on their city, destroying outlying settlements as they approach, and the Ukrainian forces say they need to be out in a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-official-says-civilians-have-week-or-two-evacuate-key-hub-pokrovsk-2024-08-19/">week or two</a>. In Kursk, Ukrainian forces <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-it-has-destroyed-another-bridge-russias-kursk-region-2024-08-18/">destroyed</a> another bridge to slow Russian responses, while president Zelenskyy says that their incursion into Kurk shows that Russia’s alleged “<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-third-bridge-damaged-ukrainian-incursion-kursk-region-2024-08-19/">red lines</a>” are just a bluff, which they have now called.</p> <p>https://twitter.com/ukraine_world/status/1825645648697274715</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Russian forces attacked 11 communities in Sumy Oblast on Aug. 19, injuring four civilians, according to the Sumy Oblast Military Administration. In total, 256 explosions were recorded in 69 separate attacks on the region.<a href="https://t.co/OZNouYtz0r">https://t.co/OZNouYtz0r</a></p> <p>— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1825678365111779472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>Good reads:</p> <ul> <li>Labour minister Steve MacKinnon is <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/government-ndp-rail-cn-cpkc-1.7298418">meeting with</a> representatives of the two main railways and their unions ahead of the lockout deadline.</li> <li>Mélanie Joly <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/joly-announces-1m-to-help-stem-mpox-in-africa-as-liberals-craft-continental-plan/article_fdf76b39-112d-5a0f-b4c3-a904ce7bc082.html">announced $1 million</a> to help with the mpox outbreak in Africa, as she was visiting a vaccine coordination centre in Ivory Coast.</li> <li>Northern Affairs minister Dan Vandal <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/criticism-of-new-senate-appointment-includes-that-of-a-federal-cabinet-minister/article_d035d079-785f-5766-b802-500d315e9f6e.html">thinks</a> there were better choices to appoint to the Senate than Charles Adler (which may be a breach of Cabinet solidarity).</li> <li>The federal government is going to <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/temporary-foreign-workers-pause-montreal-1.7298964">freeze</a> approvals for temporary foreign workers in Montreal for the next six months per the province’s request.</li> <li>The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs want the prime minister and Governor General to <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/vandal-adler-senate-1.7298515">rescind</a> Charles Adler’s Senate appointment. (No, the GG can’t do that).</li> <li>A court challenge has been <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/health/canadas-assisted-dying-law-faces-constitutional-fight-for-excluding-mental-disorder/article_75b399c1-b056-5b72-8f27-71752debdb36.html">filed</a> to force the government to enact its own legislation on making MAiD available for mental illness as the sole concern.</li> <li>A recent report <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/sectors-that-earned-most-corporate-capital-gains-created-no-jobs-over-5-years-report/article_3e50e113-24ec-59f6-a438-e655ec030ec3.html">shows</a> that the two business sectors responsible for the majority of capital gains earned didn’t create any jobs over the past five years. (You don’t say!)</li> <li>The federal Liberals have <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/ottawa-pride-stance-on-israel-has-liberals-u-s-some-civil-servants-exit-parade/article_0275020f-5a96-5866-8dd2-7fecacef727b.html">pulled out</a> of the Ottawa Pride parade because of the controversy over their pro-Palestinian statement.</li> </ul> <p>Odds and ends:</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">New episodes released early for C$7+ subscribers. This week I discuss the calls for the Governor General to dismiss Charles Adler’s appointment to the Senate. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cdnpoli</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZuPVSlm2Se">https://t.co/ZuPVSlm2Se</a></p> <p>— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1825696144330027511?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><strong>Want more Routine Proceedings? <a href="https://www.patreon.com/journo_dale">Become a patron</a> and get exclusive new content. </strong></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/08/20/roundup-both-sidesing-the-russian-jet-footage/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">12658</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Roundup: Qwhite the the stock footage mistake</title> <link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/08/19/roundup-qwhite-the-the-stock-footage-mistake/</link> <comments>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/08/19/roundup-qwhite-the-the-stock-footage-mistake/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 19 Aug 2024 09:20:37 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Appointments]]></category> <category><![CDATA[First Nations]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Infrastructure]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Labour]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Political Ads]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=12650</guid> <description><![CDATA[The Conservatives released a video over social media over the weekend, where they took what appears to be a canned speech that Pierre Poilievre gave during Calgary Stampede, and added a bunch of stock footage to it. But, well, when … <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/08/19/roundup-qwhite-the-the-stock-footage-mistake/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Conservatives released a video over social media over the weekend, where they took what appears to be a canned speech that Pierre Poilievre gave during Calgary Stampede, and added a bunch of stock footage to it. But, well, when you’re talking about how much you love Canada in your speech, it’s probably best not to use stock footage from places like the US, Serbia, Slovenia, Ukraine, and even more importantly, when you’re praising the new fighter jets that Canadian pilots will be flying, it’s probably best not to use footage of Russian fighters.</p> <p>https://twitter.com/disorderedyyc/status/1825265002674287077</p> <p>The video was eventually deleted, but it was also observed that it’s funny that in this stock-footage ideal that Poilievre was using, just how very white the Canada he presented was. For a party that keeps trying to make inroads with particular ethno-cultural communities in the suburbs of major cities, that might be a problem. And while I’m sure it wasn’t a conscious decision on the part of whichever of their social media geniuses that edited the piece together, it does say volumes about the kinds of people they attract to the party, and what it says about the vision of Canada that they’re looking for from the Conservatives.</p> <p>Ukraine Dispatch</p> <p>Russia launched its <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-launches-third-ballistic-missile-attack-kyiv-this-month-ukraine-says-2024-08-18/">third</a> ballistic missile attack against Kyiv this month, but it appears they were shot down on approach. While Ukraine shot down 14 Russian drones overnight Saturday, a <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/world/europe/russian-missile-sparks-blaze-in-ukraine-as-kyivs-troops-push-into-russias-kursk-region/article_08ba4b81-86c1-5a78-96e3-2f9dff46b3aa.html">missile attack</a> on Sumy injured two people. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is back to saying that the Kursk operation is about creating a <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/world/europe/ukrainian-president-says-push-into-russias-kursk-region-is-to-create-a-buffer-zone-there/article_828d4c32-f5f5-5c40-a34e-944d18274190.html">buffer zone</a> (which is currently taking out bridges that will slow Russia’s ability to bring supplies to the region), and that all of the Russian soldiers being taken prisoner will be used to exchange for more Ukrainian POWs.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Russia always knows where it is striking with its missiles and bombs—this is deliberate and targeted Russian terror.</p> <p>Over the course of this week, the Russians have used more than 40 missiles of various types, 750 guided aerial bombs, and 200 strike UAVs of different types… <a href="https://t.co/VgAKwqTNtT">pic.twitter.com/VgAKwqTNtT</a></p> <p>— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1825083796850458667?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr"><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/26a1.png" alt="⚡" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Another key bridge destroyed in Kursk Oblast, Ukraine claims.</p> <p>It would be the second key bridge destroyed by Ukrainian forces in recent days and will further hinder Russia's ability to resupply troops hoping to fend off Ukraine's incursion.<a href="https://t.co/wMo9MYm8wH">https://t.co/wMo9MYm8wH</a></p> <p>— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1825088410756808869?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><span id="more-12650"></span>Good reads:</p> <ul> <li>Justin Trudeau <a href="https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/gov-gen-names-broadcaster-charles-adler-hospital-executive-tracy-muggli-to-senate/article_2d40b722-ddf3-526b-be7e-c754dbedea78.html">named</a> broadcaster Charles Adler and hospital executive Tracy Muggli to the Senate. (There are many <a href="https://twitter.com/a_picazo/status/1662511855141527557">questions</a> about Adler’s past and record).</li> <li>Railway labour negotiations don’t seem to have made any headway as both national railways have <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/railway-work-stoppage-explainer-1.7297963">issued</a> lockout notices for Thursday.</li> <li>The federal government is still <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/flooding-infrastructure-canada-funding-1.7296924">setting up</a> the advisory board for their national infrastructure inventory assessment, which municipalities say is urgently needed.</li> <li>Kevin Carmichael <a href="https://thelogic.co/comment/kevin-carmichael-first-nations-bank-new-ceo-bill-lomax/">talks to</a> the new CEO of the First Nations Bank.</li> <li>My <a href="https://looniepolitics.com/bad-math-and-impossible-promises/">weekend column</a> points to the sob stories certain politicians post over social media, where the math never really adds up or the logic never really follows.</li> </ul> <p>Odds and ends:</p> <p>https://twitter.com/LindsayTedds/status/1825241139521478694</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Applies equally to every chud in Canada who somehow believes that we are currently living in a communist hellscape. <a href="https://t.co/ZH9orosFGK">https://t.co/ZH9orosFGK</a></p> <p>— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1825218632965820720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><strong>Want more Routine Proceedings? <a href="https://www.patreon.com/journo_dale">Become a patron</a> and get exclusive new content. </strong></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2024/08/19/roundup-qwhite-the-the-stock-footage-mistake/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">12650</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Roundup: No, that’s not how inflation works</title> <link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2023/11/06/roundup-no-thats-not-how-inflation-works/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 06 Nov 2023 10:27:16 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category> <category><![CDATA[CSIS]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Danielle Smith]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category> <category><![CDATA[GLBT]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Inflation]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Israel]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Justin Trudeau]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Pierre Poilievre]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Political Ads]]></category> <category><![CDATA[RCMP]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Speaker Fergus]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=11917</guid> <description><![CDATA[Because some of you at the back still don’t get it, no, carbon pricing does not contribute 16 percent of inflation. It contributes 0.15 percent, because inflation is a year-over-year measure, and when the increase is steady and holding, the … <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2023/11/06/roundup-no-thats-not-how-inflation-works/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Because some of you at the back still don’t get it, no, carbon pricing does not contribute 16 percent of inflation. It contributes 0.15 percent, because inflation is a year-over-year measure, and when the increase is steady and holding, the actual impact on inflation is negligible, because that’s how inflation works. But several of you you keep insisting that your math is correct when it’s not, and so here’s economist Trevor Tombe to try and get it through to you:</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">The GST adds 5% to the cost of purchasing a good or service subject to this tax. Not all items are subject to it, though. I (roughly) estimate that, overall, the GST adds an average of 2.3% for consumer expenditures as a whole. (From here: <a href="https://t.co/qhHXeoYD8h">https://t.co/qhHXeoYD8h</a>)</p> <p>— Trevor Tombe (@trevortombe) <a href="https://twitter.com/trevortombe/status/1720919346393104429?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 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">The same logic is behind the carbon tax claim. The Bank of Canada said CTax has so-far raised price levels by 0.6%, similar to how GST raises levels by 2.3% (I estimate).</p> <p>But inflation is about changes not levels.</p> <p>— Trevor Tombe (@trevortombe) <a href="https://twitter.com/trevortombe/status/1720919352441176381?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>https://twitter.com/trevortombe/status/1720919364172697678</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">If the CTax stopped increasing, it would no longer have an impact on "inflation," but it would still influence price levels.</p> <p>But even this may be wrong. Firstly, the CTax might only alter *relative* prices rather than overall levels, depending on the Bank of Canada's response.</p> <p>— Trevor Tombe (@trevortombe) <a href="https://twitter.com/trevortombe/status/1720919376604672432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 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">Anyhow, the "CTax raises inflation!" claims are wildly exaggerated. Disagree with the policy, sure, but not for this reason.</p> <p>/fin</p> <p>— Trevor Tombe (@trevortombe) <a href="https://twitter.com/trevortombe/status/1720919381847441885?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 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">I was going to use another example – reducing Alberta electricity prices back to levels seen in 2016-2018, but I decided that might hit some Premiers a little close to home. FWIW, electricity price levels are up 230% since May 2019. Electricity price inflation was 213% in Sept.</p> <p>— Andrew Leach (@andrew_leach) <a href="https://twitter.com/andrew_leach/status/1720923850404409410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>Ukraine Dispatch:</p> <p>Ukrainian missiles <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/world/europe/a-ukrainian-missile-strike-on-a-shipyard-in-crimea-damages-a-russian-ship/article_d2d2df3b-b29e-5674-b98b-f401110d2e72.html">struck</a> a shipyard in occupied Crimea, damaging a Russian warship there. There are <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-ukraine-give-conflicting-zaporizhzhia-frontline-accounts-2023-11-06/">conflicting reports</a> about the state of the counter-offensive in the Zaporizhzhia region, where Russia claims they have halted any advance, while Ukrainians say that they continue to advance, albeit slowly. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraines-zelenskiy-says-war-not-stalemate-more-air-defence-help-needed-2023-11-04/">pushes back</a> against the notion that they have entered into a stalemate, and says they need more air defences so that Russia can no longer dominate the skies. Here’s a look at Ukrainian soldiers who have <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/world/europe/ukrainian-war-veterans-with-amputated-limbs-find-freedom-in-the-practice-of-jiu-jitsu/article_58aaa4c3-46d1-5420-9433-2779347897d0.html">turned to</a> jiu-jitsu after losing limbs in the war.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr"><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/26a1.png" alt="⚡" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />UPDATE: Night attack on Odesa injures 5. </p> <p>All five victims have been hospitalized with shrapnel wounds, Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper said.<a href="https://t.co/SL8pja9Psx">https://t.co/SL8pja9Psx</a></p> <p>— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1721297459815559512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><span id="more-11917"></span>Good reads:</p> <ul> <li>It was Sean Fraser’s turn over the weekend to <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/sean-fraser-carbon-tax-exemption-vote-1.7019270">defend</a> the carbon price “pause” on home heating oil, and the goal to eliminate it as a heating fuel.</li> <li>Canadians trapped in Gaza were <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/11/05/no-movement-for-canadians-stuck-in-gaza-after-rafah-border-crossing-closure-2/">not able to leave</a> on Sunday as had been hoped, and are now expecting to be able to on Tuesday.</li> <li>Documents show that CSIS Director David Vigneault <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/11/04/spy-service-director-expressed-full-confidence-in-employees-after-troubling-leak-2/">told staff</a> that he had full confidence in them after the leaks to media on foreign interference.</li> <li>The CBC has a <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ortis-top-moments-so-far-1.7015408">rundown</a> of what we’ve heard so far in the Cameron Ortis trial, but his claim he was acting on foreign intelligence doesn’t make any sense.</li> <li>Speaker Greg Fergus talks about the (relative) <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/parliament-decorum-house-speaker-1.7018924">improvement</a> in decorum, and that MPs themselves need to lead the way (which is a little bit precious).</li> <li>The Liberals are <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/liberal-testing-videos-targeting-conservative-leader-1.7018171">testing ads</a> that compare Poilievre to Trump, and Conservatives are already crying “What happened to sunny ways?”</li> <li>Pierre Poilievre <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/11/04/saskatchewan-party-hosts-convention-in-regina-poilievre-to-speak/">attended</a> the Saskatchewan Party’s convention over the weekend to praise their resistance to the carbon price.</li> <li>Danielle Smith is <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/danielle-smith-united-conservative-party-ucp-agm-1.7018973">going along with</a> the “parental rights” moral panic after strong votes around those policy resolutions at the UCP convention over the weekend.</li> <li>Kevin Carmichael has <a href="https://thelogic.co/opinion/kevin-carmichael-amid-ai-worries-a-fine-line-between-caution-and-opportunity-lost/">high hopes</a> that AI can improve our country’s sluggish productivity growth, if employers can embrace it.</li> <li>Shannon Proudfoot <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-how-much-is-the-carbon-tax-climb-down-worth-to-justin-trudeaus/">marvels</a> at the display the Liberals put on when they announced their “pause” on the carbon price home heating oil, and what it signalled.</li> <li>Althia Raj <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/why-are-our-political-leaders-failing-to-meet-the-moment/article_231aac4d-a457-5ecd-aab8-82d4f4d66fcb.html">wonders</a> where our political leaders are as divisions mount over the war between Israel and Hamas (as though anything they would say could matter).</li> <li>Susan Delacourt takes a <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/justin-trudeau-is-a-problem-for-his-party-and-even-if-he-quits-it-might/article_b793875d-ed4e-56e8-8e57-ee4f9cc6bd56.html">deeper dive</a> into the polling numbers about how Trudeau is personally weighing down the Liberals, and why replacing him may not help.</li> <li>Paul Wells <a href="https://paulwells.substack.com/p/hollow-crown">ruminates</a> on the state of leadership in the Liberal Party, and what that particular debate is shaping up to be.</li> <li>My <a href="https://looniepolitics.com/whatever-gave-canadians-the-impression-that-debates-are-posturing/">weekend column</a> looks at those poll results where Canadians feel that parliamentary debate is “posturing,” “useless” and “dishonest.” (Because it is).</li> </ul> <p>Odds and ends:</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">The annual competition was set up in 2012 and involves a variety of military skills including navigation, observation, open water rescue, and obstacle courses.</p> <p>This year, the contest was hosted by 2022 winners, the Lincoln and Welland Regiment, of which HRH is Colonel-in-Chief. <a href="https://t.co/pNzxorvnj5">pic.twitter.com/pNzxorvnj5</a></p> <p>— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1721254522138337747?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 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> ]]></content:encoded> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">11917</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Roundup: Rota’s apology for his fatal mistake</title> <link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2023/09/25/roundup-rotas-apology-for-his-fatal-mistake/</link> <comments>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2023/09/25/roundup-rotas-apology-for-his-fatal-mistake/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 25 Sep 2023 09:32:39 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Doug Ford]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Foreign Interference]]></category> <category><![CDATA[India]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Inflation]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Political Ads]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Speaker Rota]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=11791</guid> <description><![CDATA[The warm glow of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s address to Parliament has given way to a bitter aftertaste as it turns out that the Ukrainian veteran that Speaker Anthony Rota introduced in his concluding remarks turned out not to have … <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2023/09/25/roundup-rotas-apology-for-his-fatal-mistake/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The warm glow of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s address to Parliament has given way to a bitter aftertaste as it turns out that the Ukrainian veteran that Speaker Anthony Rota introduced in his concluding remarks turned out not to have been either a Ukrainian-Canadian fighter or a Ukrainian partisan (as Rota’s introduction could fuzzily be construed as) but rather, was a volunteer for a Nazi-controlled unit, and it has turned into an absolute shitstorm of groups, particularly Jewish groups, being <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/09/24/jewish-group-demands-apology-after-mps-honoured-man-who-fought-for-nazis-2/">rightfully outraged</a>, and partisan actors trying to use this to score points.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">On September 22, in the House of Commons, I recognized an individual in the gallery. I regret my decision to do so, and accept full responsibility for my actions. Read my statement here: <a href="https://t.co/Hd9chtHFNJ">https://t.co/Hd9chtHFNJ</a></p> <p>— Speaker of the HoC (@HoCSpeaker) <a href="https://twitter.com/HoCSpeaker/status/1706051247726272930?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>Rota released a statement of absolute, unequivocal <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/anthony-rota-ukrainian-veteran-apology-1.6977117">apology</a>, and I suspect that he will make a statement in the House of Commons first thing today, but it nevertheless casts a pall over him and his judgment, particularly because he has brought Parliament as a whole, and the government, into disrepute, and has quite possibly created an international incident over this where it feeds the interests of Russian propagandists who deride Zelenskyy and Ukraine as a whole as being some kind of Nazi stronghold. And I wish that I could say that this was atypical, but Rota has spent his time as Speaker largely being asleep at the wheel, and being a genial idiot who is more concerned with being everyone’s friend than he is in doing his job, which is tremendously unfortunately. And his trying to be everyone’s friend and being asleep at the wheel has brought us to this point here, and I have a hard time seeing how he has any choice in the matter here other than to announce his resignation on Monday morning, because his job is to protect Parliament, and he has done the opposite. There should be no walking back from this, no matter how well-intentioned he was, or how inadvertent the mistake.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">PMO on this: “The independent Speaker of the House has apologized and accepted full responsibility for issuing the invitation and for the recognition in Parliament. This was the right thing to do.”</p> <p>PMO/Ukraine delegation had no advance notice, Speaker had own allotment of seats. <a href="https://t.co/ZtPf1BgKA9">https://t.co/ZtPf1BgKA9</a></p> <p>— Rachel Aiello (@rachaiello) <a href="https://twitter.com/rachaiello/status/1706056145100591431?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>Of course, the politics at play here have already spun all the way out of control, with Pierre Poilievre claiming that Trudeau met with said individual, while everyone else says that he hasn’t. People are insisting that Trudeau and the PMO should have known that this individual was invited, which I can’t see as possibly being the case if the Speaker, who is independent and does not run everything past PMO or PCO, had his own allotment of guest seats that he filled. I think that this will nevertheless obligate Trudeau to issue some kind of public apology, possibly in the Chamber, either before or after QP (assuming we have one if the Speaker resigns and they don’t have to suspend until a new permanent Speaker is chosen), and to offer a public assurance to Zelenskyy that he was unaware and that this situation is dealt with by Rota’s resignation. Unfortunately, this is going to play into so many propagandists’ narratives, and everyone is damaged by this.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Speaker has made it clear that he was responsible for inviting this individual to the House. The government played no role. It did not know he would be there. The PM did not meet him. I am deeply troubled this happened. I urge MPs to avoid politicizing this incident. <a href="https://t.co/G4lYoqkxrr">https://t.co/G4lYoqkxrr</a></p> <p>— Karina Gould (@karinagould) <a href="https://twitter.com/karinagould/status/1706059696400892330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 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 man had no place in the public gallery, much less being acknowledged by the Speaker. All those from all parties who inadvertently stood up and recognized him, Canada’s Jewish community & all Canadians needed this apology. 1/2 <a href="https://t.co/Uz2rbbcY9w">https://t.co/Uz2rbbcY9w</a></p> <p>— Anthony Housefather (@AHousefather) <a href="https://twitter.com/AHousefather/status/1706058310275764408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 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">Now that the Speaker’s apology has been issued I want to make sure we do not allow this mistake to divide Jewish Canadians, Ukrainian Canadians and all Canadians who stand together supporting Ukraine against the aggression of the Russian government.</p> <p>— Anthony Housefather (@AHousefather) <a href="https://twitter.com/AHousefather/status/1706061851815969008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 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">The Conservative leader has repeatedly been photographed with fascists and "we can't vet everyone" is the usual excuse.</p> <p>I don't care which standard we pick but seems to me we should pick one and stick to it. <a href="https://t.co/4LutTfdjk1">https://t.co/4LutTfdjk1</a></p> <p>— Alex Usher (@AlexUsherHESA) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexUsherHESA/status/1706072873922666825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>Ukraine Dispatch:</p> <p>Russian <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/world/europe/russian-airstrikes-kill-2-and-wound-8-in-southern-ukraine-as-war-enters-20th-month/article_ee54ef5c-b58e-5dec-a97e-4bc102051bea.html">airstrikes killed two</a> and wounded eight in the southern city of Kherson on Sunday, and early this morning, they <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-air-attack-odesa-injures-one-damages-infrastructure-ukraine-official-2023-09-25/">launched</a> a drone and missile attack against Odessa. New Western weapons are <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukrainian-heavy-artillery-inflicts-hell-russian-lines-near-bakhmut-2023-09-23/">exacting</a> a significant toll on Russian forces in the fighting near Bakhmut. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraines-zelenskiy-stops-over-poland-award-two-volunteers-2023-09-23/">offered</a> two Polish volunteers awards on his return to Ukraine, as the two countries are in a major dispute over grain shipments. Here’s a <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/small-polish-airport-ukraines-defensive-lifeblood">look at</a> an airport in Poland which serves not only as an arrival point for Ukrainians badly injured and in need of care, both civilian and military, as well as a transfer point for military equipment.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">On the night of September 24, saboteurs blew up equipment on the territory of military camps in Moscow and Kaluga Oblasts of Russia.</p> <p>Reported the Defence Intelligence of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ukraine?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ukraine</a>.</p> <p>— UkraineWorld (@ukraine_world) <a href="https://twitter.com/ukraine_world/status/1705982928529113270?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 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">The exhumation of bodies in Izyum has ended:<br />194 men<br />215 women<br />22 military<br />5 children<br />11 fragments<br />Missing limbs, genitals, head and chest injuries, rib fractures and signs of strangulation.<br />And it's not only about Putin – it's about ruzzism!</p> <p>— Ukraine Front Line (@EuromaidanPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPR/status/1705861579965608077?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><span id="more-11791"></span>Good reads:</p> <ul> <li>Here is more about Justin Trudeau’s <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/09/23/zelenskyy-accompanied-by-trudeau-greets-cheering-crowd-of-supporters-in-toronto/">event</a> with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Toronto on Friday night.</li> <li>Sikh groups are calling on all parties to maintain a “<a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/09/23/sikh-groups-ask-canadian-political-parties-to-present-united-front-against-india/">united front</a>” with India in dealing with the allegations around the Nijjar murder.</li> <li>Senior Sources<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/2122.png" alt="™" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> say that the government did <a href="https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/canada-gave-details-linking-india-government-to-sikh-s-murder-1.1975286">share evidence</a> with the Indian government of the involvement in the Nijjar murder weeks ago.</li> <li>There was an outage from payment processor Moneris over the weekend, but they’re offering <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/09/23/moneris-confirms-credit-and-debit-card-processing-outage-but-offers-few-details-2/">few details</a> as to what caused it.</li> <li>While the NDP and Bloc have pulled their parties’ ads from Facebook and Instagram, the Liberals and Conservatives <a href="https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/canada-gave-details-linking-india-government-to-sikh-s-murder-1.1975286">continue to</a> as they see no alternative.</li> <li>Here is a <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/we-re-in-danger-the-inside-story-of-doug-ford-and-his-unhappy-mpps-summer/article_9254ff32-fcd7-5a4b-8149-fb55a68399bf.html">recap</a> of Doug Ford’s very bad summer.</li> <li>Colby Cosh <a href="https://nationalpost.com/opinion/colby-cosh-thank-big-pharma-for-improving-canadian-health-care">makes the point</a> of how Big Pharma’s effective cure for Hepatitis C creates positive externalities for our healthcare system, and should be recognised.</li> </ul> <p>Odds and ends:</p> <p>My <em>Loonie Politics</em> <a href="https://looniepolitics.com/videos/dale-smiths-quick-take-69/">Quick Take</a> offers a reminder that the causes of food price inflation are complex, and that we should beware parties offering simple solutions.</p> <p><strong>Want more Routine Proceedings? <a href="https://www.patreon.com/journo_dale">Become a patron</a> and get exclusive new content. </strong></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2023/09/25/roundup-rotas-apology-for-his-fatal-mistake/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">11791</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Roundup: The temporary, temporary House of Commons</title> <link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2023/08/09/roundup-the-temporary-temporary-house-of-commons/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 09 Aug 2023 09:43:59 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Bill Blair]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Canadian Forces]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Competition Bureau]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Danielle Smith]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Foreign Aid]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Karina Gould]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Labour]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Mark Holland]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Parliament Hill]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Pierre Poilievre]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Political Ads]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Temporary Foreign Workers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Undermining Parliamentary Democracy]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=11688</guid> <description><![CDATA[Something that caught my eye over the long weekend was a look at the “just in case” temporary, temporary House of Commons Chamber that has been assembled inside the Parliamentary ballroom in the Sir John A Macdonald Building. It seems … <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2023/08/09/roundup-the-temporary-temporary-house-of-commons/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Something that caught my eye over the long weekend was a look at the “<a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/temporary-house-of-commons-chamber-1.6927920">just in case</a>” temporary, temporary House of Commons Chamber that has been assembled inside the Parliamentary ballroom in the Sir John A Macdonald Building. It seems that while maintenance is happening in the actual temporary Chamber in the West Block, and the threat of a possible recall over the BC ports issue, they decided to do some contingency planning and assemble this contingency Commons. This being said, I wouldn’t expect all MPs to attend it—a good many of them would avail themselves of the hybrid sitting rules (because they have <em>so many things</em> happening in their ridings *jazz hands* that they couldn’t possibly attend), with the exception of the Conservatives, because they would attend in person to prove a point. My biggest complaint is that the configuration shown in the CBC piece would have two lecterns at the end of the Chamber, rather than be arranged as despatch boxes like they do in Westminster, which would certainly be how I would have preferred it.</p> <p>Meanwhile, new Government House Leader Karina Gould is taking on the <a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/trudeau-s-new-house-leader-wants-question-period-to-become-an-hour-canadians-watching-can-be-proud-of-1.6510387">perennial promise</a> to make Question Period better, which…isn’t really her call. And, frankly, the one thing that the government could do to make it a serious exercise would be to ban talking points, pat lines and happy-clappy pabulum in favour of making ministers answer questions properly…but they won’t do that, because PMO would never allow it because it goes against the whole ethos of message control that has rotted politics but they insist on following.</p> <p>So, with the greatest of respect, all of the platitudes in the world about making Question Period something Canadians can be “proud” of is empty rhetoric unless the government is committed to doing the hard work and communicating like human beings, which they absolutely won’t do. And so, our Parliament will continue to slide into a place of irredeemable unseriousness, because that’s apparently the way they like it by adhering to that ethos.</p> <p>Ukraine Dispatch:</p> <p>Following <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-russian-missile-strikes-apartment-buildings-kill-five-east-2023-08-07/">missiles strikes</a> on the city of Pokrovsk, Ukrainian authorities are accusing Russians of <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/world/europe/ukraine-accuses-russia-of-targeting-rescue-workers-with-consecutive-missile-strikes/article_e88381a2-2083-53c3-94c8-2f7e2560d86f.html">deliberately targeting</a> emergency workers by drawing them to the scene of a missile strike, and then targeting that scene with a second strike a short while later. Russians <a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/overnight-airstrikes-kill-three-in-ukraine-as-moscow-airport-halts-flights-after-foiled-drone-attack-1.6508836">launched</a> a massive air attack, largely on western Ukraine, on Sunday, purported in retaliation for a Ukrainian drone strike against a Russian tanker delivering fuel to its forces. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities say they <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-it-prevented-russian-hacking-armed-forces-combat-system-2023-08-08/">prevented</a> a Russian hack on their armed forces’ combat information system. Ukraine’s commander-in-chief says that they are <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukrainian-troops-creating-conditions-advance-commander-in-chief-2023-08-07/">putting in place</a> the conditions to advance on the battlefield.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">The city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk region. Donbas, from which Russia is trying to leave only broken and scorched stones. Two missile strikes. An ordinary residential building was hit. Unfortunately, there are victims. Rescuers and all necessary services are on the scene. The rescue of… <a href="https://t.co/zsIA7dR6HR">pic.twitter.com/zsIA7dR6HR</a></p> <p>— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1688602975860609024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 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">Today, russians dropped four guided aerial bombs on the village of Kruglyakivka, Kupyansk district, destroying several homes.Two local residents, a woman and an elderly man, were killed. Five people were injured. With the methodicalness of serial killers, as today in Pokrovsk,… <a href="https://t.co/jHRtp61bjO">pic.twitter.com/jHRtp61bjO</a></p> <p>— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) <a href="https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1688657767714738176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><span id="more-11688"></span>Good reads:</p> <ul> <li>Mélanie Joly has <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/08/05/canada-suspending-direct-aid-to-nigers-government-after-military-coup-2/">suspended</a> aid to Niger’s government after a military coup, and <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/08/08/canada-sanctions-irans-new-national-security-chief-six-drone-executives-2/">levied sanctions</a> against more Iranians supplying drones to Russia.</li> <li>Joly has been <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/08/06/liberals-lag-on-invitation-to-join-global-group-that-crafts-vaccines-for-worlds-poor/">stalling</a> on a decision about joining a Seoul-based vaccine programme that aims to help improve access for poor countries.</li> <li>Randy Boissonnault announced a <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/08/08/pilot-program-seeks-to-reward-companies-that-better-protect-temporary-foreign-workers/">pilot project</a> that allows employers with a good track record with temporary foreign workers to forego some of the paperwork.</li> <li>Jonathan Wilkinson says the government will <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/08/08/provinces-may-have-to-agree-to-ottawas-2035-clean-power-target-to-access-funding-2/">tie tax credits</a> for clean energy projects to promises by provinces to meet the 2035 goal; Alberta is already <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/08/08/alberta-minister-says-federal-strings-on-electricity-climate-funding-a-threat/">upset</a>.</li> <li>Bill Blair’s claims that he instituted culture change in the Toronto Police are being <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/08/05/bill-blair-says-he-oversaw-culture-change-at-toronto-police-not-everyone-agrees/">disputed</a>, as they very well should be.</li> <li>Blair also <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/08/08/canadians-reassured-to-see-military-helping-during-local-emergencies-blair-says/">insists</a> that people like it when the Canadian Forces show up at disaster scenes domestically, which could hamper development of a civilianized agency.</li> <li>Mark Holland talks about how working for a health advocacy organisation <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/08/08/health-advocacy-work-helped-to-heal-mark-holland-during-mental-health-crisis-2/">pulled him out</a> of his depression after he lost his seat in 2011.</li> <li>The former head of personnel of the Canadian Forces has <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/edmundson-trial-begins-1.6928252">begun</a> his sexual assault trial. (Gee, why might there be a recruitment and retention crisis?)</li> <li>A group of Canadian publishers have <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/08/08/news-publishers-broadcasters-call-for-investigation-into-metas-news-blocking/">launched a complaint</a> with the Competition Bureau around Facebook blocking links under abuse of dominance rules.</li> <li>Business groups want the federal government to <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/08/05/business-groups-ask-government-for-labour-changes-after-end-of-b-c-port-dispute/">declare</a> ports an essential service in order to prevent future strikes (which would likely by unconstitutional).</li> <li>Diplomats in a number of embassies in Ottawa are <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/08/07/as-ambassadors-seek-answers-from-poilievre-tory-caucus-offers-foreign-policy-hints/">looking for clarity</a> from the Conservatives on their foreign policy, which they haven’t focused on at all.</li> <li>The Conservatives have <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/9881204/who-is-pierre-conservative-ad-blitz/">launched</a> a $3 million advertising campaign to “humanise” Pierre Poilievre to the general public that heavily features his family.</li> <li>Danielle Smith is <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/08/06/premier-cites-feds-in-explanation-for-moratorium-on-new-wind-and-solar-projects/">trying to blame</a> the federal government for her ridiculous decision to “pause” development of green energy for the next nine months.</li> <li>The <em>Globe and Mail</em> <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta/article-rob-anderson-danielle-smith-alberta/">profiles</a> Danielle Smith’s main advisor, Rob Anderson.</li> <li>Keldon Bester <a href="https://nationalpost.com/opinion/canada-must-not-allow-itself-to-be-bullied-by-big-tech">warns</a> that the bigger danger is the federal government backing down in the face of web giant bullying tactics when it comes to Bill C-18.</li> <li>Althia Raj <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/if-justin-trudeau-wants-to-curb-extremism-in-politics-he-should-start-here/article_b0519c30-7afa-5a24-949e-908e4dcf5df0.html">proposes</a> returning to a stricter donation cap and reviving the per-vote subsidy as a way of reducing the radicalizing nature of fundraising pitches.</li> <li>Colby Cosh <a href="https://nationalpost.com/opinion/in-canada-winning-the-election-isnt-everything">offers</a> a great reiteration of the post-election government formation rules, and puts a lot of blame (rightfully!) on the “TV muppets and their producers.”</li> <li>Paul Wells <a href="https://paulwells.substack.com/p/turns-out-that-wasnt-the-tweet">points to</a> the revelations of creative accounting when it comes to the two billion trees programme, and the claim they are ahead of schedule.</li> <li>My <a href="https://looniepolitics.com/our-conflictual-question-period/">column</a> looks at a recent study comparing our QP with that in the UK, Australia and Ireland, and makes some observations on the findings.</li> </ul> <p>Odds and ends:</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">New episodes released early for C$7+ subscribers. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cdnpoli</a> <a href="https://t.co/wPzwcQcPbk">https://t.co/wPzwcQcPbk</a></p> <p>— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1688726136950239232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 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">Scheer, just your huggable teddy bear of a person who casually and unashamedly spread lies about political opponents being pedophiles. <a href="https://t.co/MIPVnW3rIb">https://t.co/MIPVnW3rIb</a></p> <p>So relatable!</p> <p>— Alheli Picazo (@a_picazo) <a href="https://twitter.com/a_picazo/status/1688982312740888576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 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> ]]></content:encoded> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">11688</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Roundup: Bored with the discourse?</title> <link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2022/11/07/roundup-bored-with-the-discourse/</link> <comments>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2022/11/07/roundup-bored-with-the-discourse/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 07 Nov 2022 10:38:32 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Canadian History]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Political Ads]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=11001</guid> <description><![CDATA[Over the weekend, I was forwarded this particular diatribe from the Globe and Mail’s generally awful television columnist, John Doyle, about how boring Canadian political shows are. And he’s right about that—they’re generally pretty terrible (even if their hosts are … <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2022/11/07/roundup-bored-with-the-discourse/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Over the weekend, I was forwarded this particular <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/television/article-bored-by-the-discourse-the-poverty-of-political-coverage-on-canadian/">diatribe</a> from the <em>Globe and Mail</em>’s generally awful television columnist, John Doyle, about how boring Canadian political shows are. And he’s right about that—they’re generally pretty terrible (even if their hosts are wonderful people), but Doyle largely misdiagnoses why.</p> <p>“This boredom-with-the-government narrative is very much the story that pundits like to peddle in Canada and part of a broad-brush assumption that only furthers the dangerous idea that Canadian politics are tedious and unworthy of engaged attention,” Doyle asserts, not incorrectly, but this needs a bit more delving into where the issues are. Doyle is again not incorrect when he points out that the repetition of the same small group of talking heads across different shows is a sign that “Ottawa is a small place with a small set of people jawing on about the same topic, often using the same phrases, over and over,” but it’s getting closer to one of the problems.</p> <p>“What’s missing from these political conversations on TV is the sense that Canada is socially, politically and economically dynamic,” Doyle says. “What we see is a media power structure that is entrenched and sometimes literally bored by the discourse.”</p> <p>This is part of it, and while he talks about how he doesn’t want us to devolve into American-style political coverage of partisan shouting matches (which was <em>de rigeur</em> when Evan Solomon was hosting <em>Power & Politics</em> because he believed it was what led to “good TV”) and that he wants Canadian TV to make better use of the medium, part of the problem is the shrinking media environment. These shows are made on a shoestring budget with a very small group of producers, and have to fill a defined news hole every day, and in order to do that, they have established rolodexes of reliable commentators who they know will drop everything to show up on TV, even if they have little of use to say (actual experts not always being reliably available which is why they are harder to book), and talking heads to fill that airtime. To add to that, there is pressure to diversify who those talking heads are, so they wind up using the same few across all channels because they’re all trying to tick the same boxes with the limited number of bodies available.</p> <p>For the rest of the airtime that isn’t devoted to the talking head panels, much of that is devoted to things like MP panels, in an age of iron-clad message discipline, so you don’t get actual insight or debate, you get recited talking points and hosts simply both-sidesing everything rather than calling bullshit on any of it. Not every host—some are better than others (particularly some that are filling in for main hosts), but when the main tactic is to <a href="https://youtu.be/j3RuUK7Z8wA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">play Devil’s advocate</a> and simply recite the other party’s talking points and getting them to respond, it doesn’t make for illuminating television, and it lets the politicians get away with murder, because they’re not being challenged. I only wish we had Rosemary Barton back doing the accountability interviews on a daily basis, because she was good at it and did call the MPs on their bullshit because she knew how. But this isn’t because the media power structure being bored with the discourse—it’s because it’s under-resourced and afraid to challenge that discourse, which is a very different problem than what Doyle imagines it to be.</p> <p>Ukraine Dispatch, Day 257:</p> <p>More <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/11/05/power-blackouts-across-ukraine-amid-russian-shelling/">Russian strikes</a> over the weekend continued to attack electrical generation in Kyiv and other regions in Ukraine, causing more blackouts as winter approaches. In all, some 35 towns and villages in nine regions were hit, while Russians continue to <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/russia-ukraine-nov6-2022-1.6642529">dig in at Kherson</a> in the south in advance of a Ukrainian counter-offensive, while the front line in Donetsk is now at the outskirts of Bakhmut. The good news is that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been re-connected to the power grid, so it doesn’t have to rely on emergency diesel generators to cool the reactors (which are currently all shut down).</p> <p>https://twitter.com/PatronDsns/status/1589023166542024705</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr"><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/26a1.png" alt="⚡" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> New York Times: Kyiv to evacuate all civilians in case of total blackout.</p> <p>Kyiv authorities have begun planning the evacuation of the city's three million residents if the Ukrainian capital suffers a complete blackout, according to the New York Times.</p> <p>— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1589170099755560960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><span id="more-11001"></span>Good reads:</p> <ul> <li>Federal and provincial health ministers start their first <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/11/06/doctors-nurses-call-for-action-on-crumbling-care-health-ministers-meet-in-vancouver/">face-to-face meetings</a> since the Before Times in Vancouver today, and the battle lines are already drawn.</li> <li>The federal government’s primary media agency is <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cossette-agency-government-ads-twitter-layoffs-1.6642527">recommending</a> they halt any advertising over Twitter until they get a better sense of what is going on there.</li> <li>Canadian big banks are <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/11/06/canadian-banks-readying-for-carbon-offsets-to-go-big-even-as-doubts-remain/">getting in</a> on the carbon offset market, hoping to provide some transparency, stability, and regulation to the space.</li> <li>Here is the <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/11/06/mystery-flag-to-mark-80th-anniversary-of-disastrous-dieppe-raid-on-remembrance-day/">tale</a> of an old (at the time) Canadian Red Ensign that was found at Dieppe made its way to the United States before being returned to Canada.</li> <li>The Liberals are <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/11/05/former-ontario-finance-minister-to-run-for-federal-liberals-in-toronto-area-riding-2/">running</a> former Ontario finance minister Charles Sousa in the upcoming Mississauga-Lakeshore by-election, which will be on December 12th.</li> </ul> <p>Odds and ends:</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">This photo shows a sketch of the opening of the first session of Parliament that appeared in a November 1867 edition of “Harper’s Weekly.”</p> <p>— Library of Parliament (@LibraryParlCA) <a href="https://twitter.com/LibraryParlCA/status/1589272201496518657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><strong>Want more Routine Proceedings? <a href="https://www.patreon.com/journo_dale">Become a patron</a> and get exclusive new content. </strong></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2022/11/07/roundup-bored-with-the-discourse/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">11001</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Roundup: A GST holiday gimmick</title> <link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2021/08/18/roundup-a-gst-holiday-gimmick/</link> <comments>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2021/08/18/roundup-a-gst-holiday-gimmick/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 18 Aug 2021 09:37:20 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Afghanistan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Canadian Forces]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Childcare]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Election 2021]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Erin O'Toole]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jagmeet Singh]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Justin Trudeau]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Political Ads]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Public Health]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Public Service]]></category> <category><![CDATA[RCMP]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=9855</guid> <description><![CDATA[For a campaign platform chock full of gimmicks, Erin O’Toole spent the day touting one of them – a proposed “GST Holiday” in the month of December, ostensibly as a way to stimulate economic activity. It’s a hugely expensive proposition, … <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2021/08/18/roundup-a-gst-holiday-gimmick/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>For a campaign platform chock full of gimmicks, Erin O’Toole spent the day touting one of them – a proposed “<a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal-election/2021/08/17/conservatives-propose-tax-holiday-for-gst-in-december-to-lower-costs-spur-spending.html">GST Holiday</a>” in the month of December, ostensibly as a way to stimulate economic activity. It’s a hugely expensive proposition, but also a hideously complicated one – by promising to make this come off at the till rather than as a rebate from CRA, he is loading all kinds of complication onto businesses, who may not be able to easily disentangle the federal GST from provincial sales taxes, particularly if they are harmonized in an HST as they are in most provinces. (It also won’t make those purchases “tax free” as O’Toole says in his video, unless you’re in Alberta). And even the Canadian Federation of Independent Business thinks this is a dumb idea that is more complicated than it’s worth.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Purchases won’t be tax-free except in Alberta, as there will still be provincial tax (and this will mess with POS systems in those retailers).<br />As for your plan to “lower prices” for Canadians, are you saying that you want the Bank of Canada to target deflation? <a href="https://t.co/ZJFMDx1tfp">https://t.co/ZJFMDx1tfp</a></p> <p>— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1427600616554176516?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2021</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/CFIB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CFIB</a> comments on the Tories “GST holiday” plan in the new platform: “Some of the other promises, like a month long GST holiday or credits for vacations or restaurant meals on certain days seem a bit gimmicky and will likely be too complicated to be of much value.” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cdnpoli</a></p> <p>— Laura Stone (@l_stone) <a href="https://twitter.com/l_stone/status/1427679879781310467?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2021</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>We also should call out the fact that this is not only a gimmick, but O’Toole keeps trying to message around the cost of living and food prices, which a GST holiday would do nothing about because the vast majority of food items are GST exempt. O’Toole keeps trying to make inflation an election issue, never mind that it’s the domain of the Bank of Canada and not the federal government, and if he thinks the Bank’s mandate should be changed to target deflation instead of slow and steady 2 percent inflation growth, he needs to come out and say so rather than this posturing about rising prices. Prices are supposed to rise – inflation is not a bad thing when it’s low and predictable, because that helps the economy to grow. But this is populist noise, and for the so-called “party of the economy” to mislead people about this is telling.</p> <p>https://twitter.com/LindsayTedds/status/1427636793420169217</p> <p>https://twitter.com/LindsayTedds/status/1427637831002886155</p> <p><span id="more-9855"></span></p> <p>On the campaign trail:</p> <ul> <li>Justin Trudeau spend the day talking about child care to contrast his party’s plan with the Conservatives’.</li> <li>Trudeau also warned of “<a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-consequences-public-servants-vaccines-1.6143735">consequences</a>” for civil servants who refused vaccination, but was accused of a “cover-up” when Treasury Board pulled their online guidelines.</li> <li>Erin O’Toole’s big message of the day was his “GST Holiday” gimmick, naming December as the month he would implement it.</li> <li>Apparently <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2021/08/16/some-conservative-insiders-feared-erin-otoole-was-vulnerable-on-mandatory-vaccinations-others-think-he-knows-exactly-what-canadians-want.html">opinion is split</a> among Conservative insiders as to whether O’Toole’s stance on mandatory vaccines has hurt him, or if the issue is over.</li> <li>The words “racism,” “antisemitism,” or “Islamophobia” <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal-election/2021/08/17/the-word-racism-doesnt-appear-anywhere-in-the-conservative-partys-campaign-platform.html">don’t appear</a> anywhere in the Conservative platform, which raises questions about how seriously they take it.</li> <li>The Conservatives were <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal-election/2021/08/17/conservatives-delete-willy-wonka-ad-from-twitter-after-copyright-complaint.html">forced to remove</a> their “Willy Wonka” shitpost video after a copyright complaint. (You think?)</li> <li>Jagmeet Singh says the IPCC report caused the party to <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal-election/2021/08/17/ndp-pledges-to-expand-domestic-manufacturing-capacity-but-provides-few-details.html">change</a> their climate policies.</li> <li>The NDP plan to claw back wage subsidies from companies that paid dividends or bonuses is being <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/election-2021/ndp-would-make-companies-that-paid-dividends-bonuses-during-pandemic-reimburse-their-wage-subsidy-cash">panned</a> as difficult-to-do retroactive taxation.</li> <li>Blame is <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal-election/2021/08/17/justin-trudeau-is-under-fire-for-his-failure-to-ban-conversion-therapy-will-it-hurt-him-at-the-polls.html">being cast</a> for the death of the conversion therapy ban bill on the Order Paper (and yet nobody is throwing the blame on Senator Gold).</li> <li>Chantal Hébert <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal-election/2021/08/17/for-erin-otoole-a-fight-over-child-care-is-the-wrong-one-to-pick-with-justin-trudeau.html">takes</a> her own kick at Erin O’Toole’s platform, and its penchant for choosing the wrong battlefields while they focus on undoing Liberal policies.</li> <li>Susan Delacourt <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal-election/2021/08/17/justin-trudeau-is-hammering-erin-otoole-thats-not-the-leader-he-should-be-afraid-of.html">suggests</a> that Justin Trudeau should be more afraid of Jagmeet Singh than Erin O’Toole.</li> </ul> <p>Good reads:</p> <ul> <li>Hours after Marc Garneau said the government was taking a wait-and-see approach to recognising the Taliban, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2021/08/17/taliban-are-not-the-legitimate-government-in-afghanistan-trudeau-says.html">declared</a> they would not.</li> <li>The Federal Court case to block the production of secret documents to the House of Commons has <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2021/08/17/speaker-anthony-rota-cites-afghan-detainee-matter-in-court-dispute-over-documents/">ended</a> as the production order died when Parliament was dissolved.</li> <li>Major-General Dany Fortin is <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/dany-fortin-sexual-assault-charge-1.6144315">being charged</a> with one count of sexual assault.</li> <li>RCMP members are set to get big pay increases as their first collective agreement has been <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/rcmp-union-deal-1.6142305">ratified</a>. Their pay has been dwindling for decades.</li> <li>The Progressive Conservatives <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/election-campaign-liberals-ndp-pc-1.6144162">won the election</a> in Nova Scotia, and no, they’re not the same as the federal Conservatives and ran to the left of the provincial Liberals.</li> <li>Kady O’Malley’s <a href="https://ipolitics.ca/2021/08/17/process-nerd-is-36-days-long-enough-to-run-an-election-campaign/">Process Nerd column</a> weights the pros and cons of a short election campaign, as the current one is the bare minimum number of days.</li> <li>Philippe Lagassé <a href="https://policymagazine.ca/canada-has-a-prime-minister-campaign-or-no-campaign-the-media-should-say-so/">calls out</a> the media for their practice of referring to the prime minister as simply a party leader in an election, as it causes confusion.</li> <li>Matt Gurney talks to Mike Moffatt about the brewing housing crisis in Ontario.</li> <li>Colby Cosh <a href="https://nationalpost.com/opinion/colby-cosh-afghanistans-fall-to-the-taliban-should-revive-the-powell-doctrine-of-clear-military-goals">contemplates</a> the American withdrawal from Afghanistan and the country’s collapse as a re-tread of their misadventures in Vietnam.</li> <li>My <a href="https://looniepolitics.com/otoole-bets-big-on-his-magic-bro-covery-plan/">column</a> reads through the Conservative platform, and finds it to be a hot mess of inconsistencies, with a dollop or two of magical thinking and Green Lantern Theory.</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/hot-topics-in-law/2021/here-s-what-died-on-the-order-paper">review</a> the government bills that died on the Order Paper.</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> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2021/08/18/roundup-a-gst-holiday-gimmick/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>3</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">9855</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Roundup: Farewell, 43rd Parliament, and good riddance</title> <link>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2021/08/16/roundup-farewell-43rd-parliament-and-good-riddance/</link> <comments>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2021/08/16/roundup-farewell-43rd-parliament-and-good-riddance/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dale]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 16 Aug 2021 09:29:50 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Political Roundup]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Afghanistan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Election 2021]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Elections Canada]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Erin O'Toole]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Haiti]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jagmeet Singh]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Justin Trudeau]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Nominations]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Political Ads]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Public Health]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Responsible Government]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.routineproceedings.com/?p=9849</guid> <description><![CDATA[Parliament is dissolved, and the 44th General Election has begun. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau characterised the election as a chance for Canadians to weigh in on the direction they want to see the recovery, calling it the most important election … <a href="https://www.routineproceedings.com/2021/08/16/roundup-farewell-43rd-parliament-and-good-riddance/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Parliament is dissolved, and the 44<sup>th</sup> General Election has begun. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau characterised the election as a chance for Canadians <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal-election/2021/08/15/media-gather-at-ottawas-rideau-hall-anticipating-justin-trudeau-will-call-an-election-today.html">to weigh in</a> on the direction they want to see the recovery, calling it the most important election since 1945 – and he didn’t go the route of pointing to just how toxic the House of Commons was all spring as his justification (though he easily could have), because this is Campaign Trudeau<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/2122.png" alt="™" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />, and everything needs to be upbeat and positive. He also put mandatory vaccinations (for areas under federal jurisdiction, including air travel) as one of the centre planks of his campaign and dared people to contrast it to the other parties, with both Erin O’Toole and Jagmeet Singh spending the weekend prevaricating and talking around it, so even though it may seem that the distinctions between them are subtle, they are there.</p> <p>https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1426929811071635458</p> <p>Erin O’Toole has pretty much retreated to his studio in downtown Ottawa, and spent the first day holding telephone town halls from there, and will do so again today. His <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/otoole-says-election-endangers-canadians-but-wont-say-if-tories-will-be-vaxxed">pitch</a> has been that the election is pretty much a vanity project by Trudeau in the hopes of a majority, but the fact that he has so far stumbled out of the gate, both with a disastrous shitpost video and his waffling on mandatory vaccinations, has not been terribly auspicious.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">What rights and freedoms the vaccinated, willfully unvaccinated and unhappily unvaccinated should have is very much a political issue. Colliding rights, different concepts of the good, and honest disagreement about how to achieve desired ends. UTTERLY political. <a href="https://t.co/zyTJMAmIrH">https://t.co/zyTJMAmIrH</a></p> <p>— David Reevely (@davidreevely) <a href="https://twitter.com/davidreevely/status/1427102052635889664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2021</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>https://twitter.com/MikePMoffatt/status/1427054892338884611</p> <p>Jagmeet Singh started his day in Montreal, as he had already committed to attending the Pride parade there – but there was the inherent contradiction in that parades and crowds are okay but elections are unsafe. It’s also worth noting that he didn’t criticise the Governor General for granting dissolution, which makes it apparent that his letter two weeks ago was a cynical ploy that undermined Mary Simon.</p> <p>https://twitter.com/robert_hiltz/status/1426320404315004940</p> <p>Of course, while the opposition leaders kept insisting that the election was unnecessary and in some cases, too costly (but seriously, if you think it’s a bad think that elections cost money, you shouldn’t be in the business of democracy), their own rhetoric belies the fact that they didn’t think that Parliament was working, or should have worked because they kept insisting that you can’t trust the prime minister. So…maybe be more consistent if you want people to believe you when you said that there was no reason for an election, because clearly, you think there is.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">So far, party leaders in 43rd Parliament seem to be implying general agreement that it wasn’t going to be workable for much longer. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Elxn44?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Elxn44</a></p> <p>— Dr. J Robson (@JenniferRobson8) <a href="https://twitter.com/JenniferRobson8/status/1426954929403486214?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2021</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>https://twitter.com/MikePMoffatt/status/1426974226007867401</p> <p>Otherwise, a campaign that is going to be digital and social-media focused has been off to a bad start, contrasting the Conservatives’ terrible shitpost video versus the Liberals’ hopeful and optimistic video that is a <a href="https://twitter.com/glen_mcgregor/status/1426555490469822472">note-perfect recreation</a> of a parody video of a feel-good corporate video employing stock footage. So…yeah. Everything is kind of awful, but at least we only have five weeks of this and not two years like the Americans do.</p> <p>https://twitter.com/moebius_strip/status/1426699232141004805</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">This seems totally real and not a sock puppet account at all! <br />(And that an MP RT-ed this into my TL and another MP is in the replies to this is just an extra layer of sad) <a href="https://t.co/3hgbx5pgsM">https://t.co/3hgbx5pgsM</a></p> <p>— Supriya Dwivedi (@supriyadwivedi) <a href="https://twitter.com/supriyadwivedi/status/1426575332010864648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2021</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><span id="more-9849"></span></p> <p>On the campaign trail:</p> <ul> <li>The Liberals and NDP say their candidates must be <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/liberal-ndp-candidates-vaccinated-1.6140968">fully vaccinated</a>; the other parties say they “recommend” it but don’t require it.</li> <li>The Conservatives have been emailing supporters in the hopes of <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2021/08/14/conservatives-email-supporters-in-search-of-candidates-ahead-of-federal-election-call.html">filling the holes</a> in their slate of candidates.</li> <li>A number of Conservative MPs and party luminaries <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal-election/2021/08/14/conservatives-launch-attack-ad-called-dumb-by-their-own-party-members.html">denounced</a> their own attack ad in advance of the election call, because seriously.</li> <li>Conservative MP David Yurdiga, who called mandatory vaccines “tyrannical,” now says he <a href="https://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/news/laila-goodridge-running-as-conservative-mp-candidate-for-fort-mcmurray-cold-lake-resigned-as-ucp-mla">won’t run again</a>, and the local UCP MLA has resigned to run in his place.</li> <li>Heather Scoffield <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal-election/2021/08/15/attack-ads-and-vague-promises-arent-good-enough-we-need-to-hear-real-plans-for-canadas-post-pandemic-recovery.html">wants</a> a serious and solid discussion on economic recovery including how the parties plan to pay for their promises.</li> <li>Susan Delacourt <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal-election/2021/08/15/did-the-pandemic-change-canadian-politics-were-about-to-find-out.html">looks over</a> the first day’s activities, both virtual and in person, to ponder how much the pandemic changed the way politics is done.</li> <li>Paul Wells <a href="https://www.macleans.ca/politics/election-2021-let-the-caring-begin/">makes note</a> of how much got accomplished over the past couple of weeks, and ironically suggests elections every 90 days if it means progress.</li> </ul> <p>Good reads:</p> <ul> <li>Here is how Elections Canada <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/patience-at-the-polls-and-millions-of-pencils-how-will-a-pandemic-vote-work">plans</a> to hold pandemic-safe voting.</li> <li>The federal leaders’ debates are <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/federal-election-leaders-debates-1.6141757">set for</a> September 8<sup>th</sup> and 9<sup>th</sup>.</li> <li>Canada <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2021/08/15/canada-suspends-operations-at-embassy-in-afghanistan-citing-safety-concerns-2/">evacuated</a> its personnel from the embassy in Kabul shortly before the city fell to the Taliban, leaving questions about evacuating interpreters and contractors.</li> <li>Because there are overlapping elections, Nova Scotia <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2021/08/15/nova-scotians-to-vote-tuesday-in-provincial-election-believed-tighter-than-expected/">goes to the polls</a> for their provincial election on Tuesday.</li> <li>The Haitian community in Quebec is <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/haiti-earthquake-diaspora-1.6141260">scrambling</a> to put together assistance in the wake of another devastating earthquake in that country.</li> <li>Here’s a <a href="https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/nowhere-to-live-no-hope-for-life-575094462.html">longread</a> on the housing situation in Manitoba, and in particular whether the province is suitably using the federal funds that have been flowing to it.</li> <li>Philippe Lagassé <a href="https://policymagazine.ca/policy-constitutional-primer-dissolution-and-governing-during-an-election/">offers a primer</a> on dissolution, the caretaker convention and government formation, because you know TV journalists will get it wrong.</li> </ul> <p>Odds and ends:</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hope springs eternal in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cdnpoli</a>, but they never do. <a href="https://t.co/At0FPlLBC3">https://t.co/At0FPlLBC3</a></p> <p>— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) <a href="https://twitter.com/journo_dale/status/1426559809126600704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 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> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.routineproceedings.com/2021/08/16/roundup-farewell-43rd-parliament-and-good-riddance/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>3</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">9849</post-id> </item> </channel> </rss>