Rapporteur David Johnson, Eminent Canadian

Retired_Can_Soldier

The End of the Dog is Coming!
Mar 19, 2006
12,353
1,334
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Alberta
The NDP wants a right-wing influencer called before Parliament and admonished after she refused to answer questions at a parliamentary committee? Seriously???

Lauren Chen, a Canadian and co-founder of American firm Tenet Media, appeared before MPs at the parliamentary committee on Public Safety and National Security on Tuesday and refused to answer any questions.
Have the Liberal or NDP leaders ever really answered a question?

Singh and Trudeau are dying for a dog to wag.

And Sihk's control much of the drug trade in Edmonton, which surprised the hell out of me.
 

petros

The Central Scrutinizer
Nov 21, 2008
114,993
13,439
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Low Earth Orbit
Have the Liberal or NDP leaders ever really answered a question?

Singh and Trudeau are dying for a dog to wag.

And Sihk's control much of the drug trade in Edmonton, which surprised the hell out of me.
Logistics. Who runs that in Canada? They've been supplying the A-Bros for ages. Chinamen and HAs pretty much peaked and retired.
 

Ron in Regina

"Voice of the West" Party
Apr 9, 2008
27,312
10,111
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Regina, Saskatchewan
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he's asked intelligence services to find a way to brief Pierre Poilievre about foreign interference allegations involving his party — and possibly to share "some names" with the Conservative leader.
Some? Really?
"I have asked the security services to figure out a way to give some information to the leader of the Opposition so that he can actually fulfil his responsibility of protecting Canadians, including those within his own caucus," Trudeau said during question period Wednesday.
And if they could do it now, they could’ve done it years ago….
"It would be easier (??For Whom, for what??) if he got his security clearance, but I've asked them to give him some information nonetheless."
Ok. Sure.
His comments prolong an ongoing, bitter back-and-forth about political foreign interference and Poilievre's refusal to date to go through the screening process to obtain a security clearance.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will receive a briefing on national security matters from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service — without being required to obtain special clearance that he has said would constrain his ability to publicly hold the government to account, his office announced Saturday.
Poilievre responded that if Trudeau wants to release names, "he can legally do it now on the floor of the House of Commons."
The move comes more than a month after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has repeatedly criticized Mr. Poilievre for refusing top-level security clearance, announced he would ask security services to find another way to brief his rival on foreign interference targeting the Conservatives.
The Opposition leader has long argued against getting that clearance by saying he would be bound by secrecy laws and couldn't speak openly or challenge the government.
The Official Opposition Leader’s office said the briefing will take place this coming week.

“We are interested in what CSIS has to say,” Sebastian Skamski, director of media relations for Mr. Poilievre’s office, said in a statement.
Last week, government House leader Karina Gould accused Poilievre of "hiding something from Canadians" through his refusal to get the national security clearance he needs to review classified documents??? The old secret agenda….
He said the Privy Council Office (PCO), a central agency of the federal government, confirmed to the Opposition Leader’s Office that the briefing would be offered under rules that allow CSIS to brief people regardless of that person’s security classification.

“On Dec. 5, 2024, PCO confirmed our position,” Mr. Skamski said, adding the agency told the Conservatives in an e-mail that “the government is in a position to disclose the classified information pursuant to legislated authorities (Threat Reduction Measures (TRM).” Go figure…
"Does he think he might not be able to pass a security clearance, or does he know something and he's trying to hide it? Or is there something that he's trying to protect?" Gould said in an accompanying video.
In October, the Prime Minister appeared before a public inquiry probing foreign interference and his government’s role in combatting it. During testimony where he answered questions about his record in fighting foreign interference, Mr. Trudeau redirected the focus to the Official Opposition. He announced he had been given the names of past and present Conservative parliamentarians and candidates who are linked to foreign interference. He criticized Mr. Poilievre for not applying for clearance.https://x.com/karinagould/status/1849553069538693417?cmp=apple-news_cbc-news
Near the end of October, Mr. Trudeau alleged Mr. Poilievre’s refusal to obtain a security clearance was a dereliction of his duty.

“The leader of the Opposition has failed at his responsibility to keep his own MPs safe from foreign interference,” Mr. Trudeau said on Oct. 30.https://apple.news/AR-vw98MkQSGlDJxUtiM1Yg
Conservative spokesperson Sebastian Skamski said Poilievre isn't concerned about going through the security check and pointed out that he's already been through the process as a cabinet minister.
“So, I have asked the security services to figure out a way to give some information to the leader of the Opposition so that he can actually fulfill his responsibility of protecting Canadians, including those within his own caucus.”

This spat between Mr. Trudeau and Mr. Poilievre began in June after the release of a report by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP), which said some parliamentarians are collaborating with foreign governments such as China and India to advance their own interests. It also said Beijing and New Delhi allegedly interfered in Conservative leadership races.
"Submitting private personal information to a security clearance check is not a concern for Mr. Poilievre, nor has he ever expressed that as a concern," Skamski said.
Mr. Poilievre has refused to apply for the security clearance necessary to read the unredacted report, saying the obligations of this clearance would restrict his ability to discuss and hold the government to account on what he had learned.
"To the contrary, Mr. Poilievre's objection is that he will be silenced by the Trudeau Liberal government — a view which he has repeatedly stated publicly."
He has maintained since June that CSIS officials can brief him under the agency’s threat-reduction-measure mandate if federal officials feel there are foreign interference concerns about his party or caucus that should be brought to his attention….& here we are???
Speaking to a parliamentary committee Tuesday, Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) director Dan Rogers said it's better for party leaders to be "knowledgeable" about foreign interference.
“Should the Government have relevant information, they are empowered by Section 12.1 of the CSIS Act to brief an individual using Threat Reduction Measures (TRM), regardless of security clearance status,” Mr. Skamski said.

Stephanie Carvin, a former national-security analyst and a professor at Carleton University, said she’s concerned in this tussle between the Liberals and Conservatives that security is becoming politicized.
"From our perspective, the more knowledgeable that party leaders are about the threat of foreign interference, some of the specifics we've seen through our intelligence, the more they can be aware and the more they may be able to take actions appropriate within their own party," he said.
“Canada has largely avoided the politicization of intelligence that we’ve seen in other democracies, such as our closest allies, U.S. and the U.K.,” Prof. Carvin said. “A every opportunity, I feel like Parliament has shirked its responsibility to treat this seriously,” she said. “It bothers me that political parties would use this as a chance to score points.”
He said if a leader doesn't have a security clearance, CSIS will look at other mechanisms to reduce a threat. Oh? So this was an option all along?
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"If a leader chooses to have a clearance, we can have a broader conversation with them about the details of the threat and certain types of intelligence," said Rogers.
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CBC has reached out to CSIS to ask if it would be willing to share with Poilievre the names of parliamentarians allegedly involved in foreign interference.
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Taxslave2

House Member
Aug 13, 2022
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As I understand the rules, if Poilievre reads the unredacted documents, or even if he should come across them accidentally on purpose, he can tell all. But, if he gets the security clearance to read them, he cannot legally speak. Which explains why turdOWE insists Poelievre get the required clearance.
 

Ron in Regina

"Voice of the West" Party
Apr 9, 2008
27,312
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Regina, Saskatchewan
Canada’s foreign interference commission will present its final report into the question on Tuesday (tomorrow), capping off nearly 16 months of work at a time when all eyes are also on the Liberal leadership race and the looming federal election, which could come as soon as this spring….or not.
An interim report released last year by Hogue determined that while foreign interference did not change the outcome of Canada’s 2019 and 2021 federal elections, it did undermine the rights of Canadian voters because it “tainted the process” and eroded public trust. That interim report highlighted “troubling events” in the last two elections, which Hogue described as “a stain on our electoral process.”
1738001925961.pngThe initial report concluded that efforts by authoritarian regimes – primarily China – to meddle in Canada’s democratic institutions prevented some Canadians from casting an “informed vote.”

The report, to be submitted on Tuesday, will deal with the second phase of the commission’s inquiry looking at the role of government departments and agencies in detecting, deterring and countering foreign interference.

Hearings for the second phase were held in September and October last year. In addition to public servants, the commission also heard from members of nearly a dozen different diaspora groups.

The commission’s public consultation team prepared summaries of the information it received from members of the Canadian public through more than 200 written submissions, 624 questionnaire responses and consultation meetings held with 105 individual members of diaspora communities, etc…

While the next steps and recommendations are unclear until the specific findings are revealed, the report comes amid two, potentially three, major electoral processes.

A Liberal Party Coronation of Mark Carney, an early Ontario Provincial election, & “Experts” have also speculated that Canada could be heading towards a spring federal election…that must happen no later than October, in theory on or by the 20th, unless it’s not.
 

Ron in Regina

"Voice of the West" Party
Apr 9, 2008
27,312
10,111
113
Regina, Saskatchewan
Mr. Poilievre has refused to apply for the security clearance necessary to read the unredacted report, saying the obligations of this clearance would restrict his ability to discuss and hold the government to account on what he had learned.
As I understand the rules, if Poilievre reads the unredacted documents, or even if he should come across them accidentally on purpose, he can tell all. But, if he gets the security clearance to read them, he cannot legally speak. Which explains why turdOWE insists Poelievre get the required clearance.
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) said in December that it was looking to share "some information to the leader of the Official Opposition through a threat reduction measure."

But a spokesperson for Poilievre said Tuesday that the Conservative leader wouldn't be able to act upon the information he received from the CSIS briefing.

"[Poilievre] would be legally prevented from speaking with anyone other than legal counsel about the briefing and would be able to take action only as expressly authorized by the government, rendering him unable to effectively use any relevant information he received," spokesperson Sebastian Skamski said in a statement to CBC News.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is rejecting the terms of a briefing from Canada's spy agency regarding foreign interference because it won't enable him to act on the information, his office says.

CBC News has asked the Prime Minister's Office for comment, but has yet to receive a response.

When reached for a response, CSIS didn't comment on the terms of the briefing, or Poilievre's concerns.

Madame Justice Marie-Josee Hogue released her final report into foreign interference on Tuesday.

“While I saw evidence of some concerning behaviour, the evidence does not show any MPs plotting with foreign states against Canada’s interests,” she wrote.

She did say that there have been attempts by foreign actors to try to influence our elections, but not enough to overturn a full election. That again is not the issue: If one riding is overturned, influenced or changed by a foreign government of any sort, then that is too much.
Even in saying that there were six different instances that she could ascertain where foreign actors tried to influence our elections, Hogue downplayed all aspects of what happened. This report, which was mostly based on documents that were never made public, is nothing but a whitewash for the Trudeau government.

We know foreign interference happened, and the so-called “public inquiry” into it refuses to name elected officials or political staffers who were involved.

Meanwhile, we are currently going through a Liberal leadership race, which due to the current makeup of Parliament means that those voting will also pick the next prime minister of our country. If China was allegedly willing to interfere in the nomination for Han Dong in 2019, they would clearly be willing to interfere in selecting our next PM in 2025.
1738155558086.png
The Liberal leadership race, which doesn’t require people voting to be citizens or over the age of 18 — just that they signed up on the Liberal website — is ripe for abuse. This is not how a serious country, a G7 nation, selects their next leader — with 14 year-old non-citizens voting — but these are the rules of the Liberal Party.
 

Taxslave2

House Member
Aug 13, 2022
4,256
2,482
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Wonder what he's afraid the investigation will turn up?
Good question. If there is no evidence of foreign interference, why was the PM so unwilling to make all relevant documents public, and why did it take so long to force even a liberal party hack to produce even a whitewashed report? Could it have taken this long to find the evidence and hide it? Another question, could they possibly hide all the evidence so well that it will never be found, or are they only worried about it for the next election cycle?
 

Tecumsehsbones

Hall of Fame Member
Mar 18, 2013
59,267
8,990
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Washington DC
Good question. If there is no evidence of foreign interference, why was the PM so unwilling to make all relevant documents public, and why did it take so long to force even a liberal party hack to produce even a whitewashed report? Could it have taken this long to find the evidence and hide it? Another question, could they possibly hide all the evidence so well that it will never be found, or are they only worried about it for the next election cycle?
Missed the boat. Again.
 

Dixie Cup

Senate Member
Sep 16, 2006
6,107
3,873
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Edmonton
Wonder what he's afraid the investigation will turn up?
If he has information that Canadians should hear or see, under the restrictions he wouldn't be able to, so I don't blame him for not seeking a security clearance at this time. I doubt if the security investigation will show anything but one never knows do they?
 

Ron in Regina

"Voice of the West" Party
Apr 9, 2008
27,312
10,111
113
Regina, Saskatchewan
For you, Canadian everyman, our nation’s scandals aren’t experienced all that differently: news of deep corruption or incompetence catches wind, people get mad, bureaucratic bodies diffuse blame — and ultimately, no one pays the price. Well, except for you, who has to learn to do better.

For months, various juicy allegations of wrongdoing have oozed out of the intelligence space. One by one, Hogue’s report snuffed them out.
(The Star reached out to the prime minister's office to ask if a Dong would be permitted in the Liberal caucus, but they did not have a response)

What Hogue seemed more concerned about was the “public consternation” caused by the NSICOP report — the fracturing of trust in institutions, and the increased suspicion of some parliamentarians (“especially those from diverse backgrounds”) — which she considered unwarranted. Some intelligence supporting the report was inaccurate, and the situation was not as “extreme” as the report made it out to be.

Never mind the parliamentarians with links to unfriendly regimes, I guess.
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If you’re wondering what level of complicity Canadian officials have in this, Hogue leaves that out. “The intelligence does not ‘necessarily’ indicate that the elected officials or candidates involved were aware of the interference attempts, nor were the attempts necessarily successful.” Oh, well. Some inquiry that was.

And that’s how the foreign interference inquiry went. No blame was really assigned anywhere. Yes, there appears to be some meddling, and yes, Chinese international students appear to have been bussed in to sway a Liberal nomination race, but no one seems to be responsible for noticing any of it. Except, of course, a nebulous intelligence bureaucracy that seems to suffer constant communication breakdowns with the cabinet in charge of governing. Though no one is at fault there either, you see. These problems are systemic.

Hogue, in the end, made 51 recommendations for change. You can imagine the themes they covered: information-sharing within government should be improved, public communication should be improved, various intelligence bodies should be beefed up, law enforcement should investigate more, fines should be increased, etc…

Overall, the report amounts to another Laurentian elite lecturing the rest of Canada about how a major system failure in government — caused by people who supervise and serve it — amounts to another precious Learning Moment For All of Us Canadians. Just like the blackface incident, just like the Kokanee groping allegation. Instead of, you know, an occasion for a few major high-profile firings, fines and perhaps criminal investigations.
 
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