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.
Rapporteur David Johnson, Eminent Canadian
- Thread starter Ron in Regina
- Start date
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.
Some? Really?
And if they could do it now, they could’ve done it years ago….
Ok. Sure.
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.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.
Trudeau says he's asked spy agencies to share foreign interference information with Poilievre — CBC News
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.apple.news
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 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.
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…
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
“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.
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.
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???
“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.
“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.”
CSIS to brief Conservative Leader Poilievre on national security threats despite his lack of special clearance — The Globe and Mail
The move comes more than a month after Trudeau said he would ask security services to find another way to brief Poilievre on foreign interference targeting the Conservatives
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.
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.
apple.news
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.”
The 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.
Canada's foreign interference inquiry report lands Tuesday. What to know — Global News
After nearly 16 months of work, the foreign interference commission's final report will be made public. Here's what the report could contain.
The 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.
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.
Poilievre rejects terms of CSIS foreign interference briefing — 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.
EDITORIAL: Foreign interference report a bust — Toronto Sun
The final report of Canada’s public inquiry into foreign interference, headed by Justice Marie-Josee Hogue, is a huge disappointment. It gives Canadians a false sense of security that current government measures to combat foreign interference are working, for the most part, and all the...
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.
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.
LILLEY: Canada is simply not serious about our democracy — Toronto Sun
We don't take foreign interference in our elections or picking our next PM seriously. Nor should any other country.
Well, as long as he’s PM, & the results of the inquiry happen on his watch, not much of anything turned up, depending on whose opinion you take?
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?
I was referring to Poo-lover's refusal to put in for a security clearance.
You in the picture yet?
Well he was called out for it so it'll be interesting to see if he gets it.
He’s had CSIS clearances before…just say’n. His reasoning sounds plausible for this instance. Once PM, I’m not sure if he’d actually need it or not to be honest…
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?
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.
apple.news
(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.
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.
apple.news
For months, various juicy allegations of wrongdoing have oozed out of the intelligence space. One by one, Hogue’s report snuffed them out.
Former Liberal MP Han Dong plans to run again and wants the party's endorsement — Toronto Star
Dong resigned from the Liberal caucus in March 2023.
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.
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.
Jamie Sarkonak: The foreign interference verdict is in — all Canadians are to blame — National Post
For months, various juicy allegations of wrongdoing have oozed out of the intelligence space. One by one, Hogue’s report snuffed them out