Just a misunderstanding and only really interested in helping poor children abroad. Victims of a blood thirsty political process.
Sounds like we will have to pay them out.
Sounds like we will have to pay them out.
WE really need to get rid of this guy
- Thread starter Retired_Can_Soldier
- Start date
LILLEY: Kielburger brothers say no investigation but need to talk to RCMP
Author of the article:Brian Lilley
Publishing date:Mar 15, 2021 • 21 hours ago • 3 minute read • comment bubble115 Comments
Marc Kielburger, screen left, and Craig Kielburger, screen right, appear as witnesses via videoconference during a House of Commons finance committee in the Wellington Building in Ottawa, July 28, 2020.
Marc Kielburger, screen left, and Craig Kielburger, screen right, appear as witnesses via videoconference during a House of Commons finance committee in the Wellington Building in Ottawa, July 28, 2020. PHOTO BY SEAN KILPATRICK /THE CANADIAN PRESS / FILES
Article content
Neither the Kielburger brothers nor WE Charity are under investigation by the RCMP but they also can’t fully answer questions about the RCMP contacting them because they have to leave it up to the RCMP to disclose such things. Is that clear as mud?
That was just one of the bizarre moments at the Commons ethics committee as Craig and Marc Kielburger appeared at the committee, their lawyersitting next to them. The brothers were appearing once again to answer questions regarding how they ended up being chosen to run a massive student service program by the Trudeau government last spring.
The brothers had already been asked if they were under investigation by the RCMP, Canada Revenue Agency or the IRS in the U.S and had answered no. That’s strange because as recently as last week, their lawyer had written to the committee to say they shouldn’t be under investigation by the RCMP and a committee at the same time.
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Despite their earlier denials, Conservative MP Michael Barrett asked a question about two hours into the hearing.
“Have you, or has anyone in your organization, been contacted by the RCMP with respect to the CSSG (Canada Student Service Grant)?” Barrett asked.
“We have now answered this question from three different people,” Craig Kielburger answered while yucking it up with the lawyer to his right. As they made faces and laughed, Barrett asked them to answer the question and that’s when things got interesting.
Staring down at his phone, Kielburger muttered a half-sentence about “the integrity of investigations.”
“We’re supposed to leave this to the RCMP to actually give comment and disclose on such matters,” Kielburger said while making reference to his lawyer as an assistant deputy minister. His lawyer, Mr. William C. McDowell, spent three years from 2005 to 2008 serving as a senior bureaucrat in the justice department.
Kielburger danced around whether the Mounties had actually contacted him or anyone in the WE organization but said he would “consult the RCMP on that very question.”
It was an odd exchange and a less-than-straightforward answer to a straightforward question. That seems to be par for the course with the Kielburger brothers.
Like seasoned politicians, the Kielburger brothers don’t answer questions, they talk around them while spewing their talking points. They obfuscate and pontificate, but they rarely answer what should be simple questions.
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
There was a near five-minute exchange with Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre on why Craig sent a message over LinkedIn to senior PMO advisor Ben Chin thanking Chin for his support in setting up the CSSG.
The Kielburgers have always claimed that it was civil servants, not politicians or political staff who arranged for the program, and they specifically stated that Chin played no role in establishing the program.
Why then was Craig thanking Chin for his help?
The reply was that this was about getting more LinkedIn followers and the message was written by an assistant. The brothers smirked a lot and made jokes about LinkedIn, but nothing in the testimony made them look good.
Like when New Democrat MP Charlie Angus asked why their budget for the CSSG program included $590,000 for rent, to be paid to WE, and a 15% administration fee for WE, despite claiming there were would none. After dancing around the answer for some time, Marc Kielburger replied with an insult.
“Mr. Angus, with respect, I don’t feel you know how to read a budget properly,” Kielburger said.
With respect to Marc Kielburger, Charlie Angus has been an MP for 17 years and spent many of them sitting on the government operations and estimates committee which spends time going over government spending.
At the end of three hours of testimony, one thing Angus said to the Kielburger brothers really stands out.
MORE ON THIS TOPIC
Fans get their sings autographed before the We Day event in Toronto, on Thursday, September 20, 2018.
Kielburgers defend WE Charity, blast committee hearing as political trial
Marc Kielburger, screen left, and Craig Kielburger, screen right, appear as witnesses via videoconference during a House of Commons finance committee in the Wellington Building in Ottawa, July 28, 2020.
WE Charity had multiple 'opening' ceremonies for Kenya school: former donor
Co-founders Craig (left) and Marc Kielburger introduce Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau as they appear at the WE Day celebrations in Ottawa in 2015.
LILLEY: Investigations into WE police and tax officials is exactly what is needed
“If I got straight answers last July, we wouldn’t be here now,” Angus said to the brothers.
We could say it again after Monday’s testimony; there is never a straight answer when questioning Craig or Marc Kielburger.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Brian Lilley
Publishing date:Mar 15, 2021 • 21 hours ago • 3 minute read • comment bubble115 Comments
Marc Kielburger, screen left, and Craig Kielburger, screen right, appear as witnesses via videoconference during a House of Commons finance committee in the Wellington Building in Ottawa, July 28, 2020.
Marc Kielburger, screen left, and Craig Kielburger, screen right, appear as witnesses via videoconference during a House of Commons finance committee in the Wellington Building in Ottawa, July 28, 2020. PHOTO BY SEAN KILPATRICK /THE CANADIAN PRESS / FILES
Article content
Neither the Kielburger brothers nor WE Charity are under investigation by the RCMP but they also can’t fully answer questions about the RCMP contacting them because they have to leave it up to the RCMP to disclose such things. Is that clear as mud?
That was just one of the bizarre moments at the Commons ethics committee as Craig and Marc Kielburger appeared at the committee, their lawyersitting next to them. The brothers were appearing once again to answer questions regarding how they ended up being chosen to run a massive student service program by the Trudeau government last spring.
The brothers had already been asked if they were under investigation by the RCMP, Canada Revenue Agency or the IRS in the U.S and had answered no. That’s strange because as recently as last week, their lawyer had written to the committee to say they shouldn’t be under investigation by the RCMP and a committee at the same time.
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Despite their earlier denials, Conservative MP Michael Barrett asked a question about two hours into the hearing.
“Have you, or has anyone in your organization, been contacted by the RCMP with respect to the CSSG (Canada Student Service Grant)?” Barrett asked.
“We have now answered this question from three different people,” Craig Kielburger answered while yucking it up with the lawyer to his right. As they made faces and laughed, Barrett asked them to answer the question and that’s when things got interesting.
Staring down at his phone, Kielburger muttered a half-sentence about “the integrity of investigations.”
“We’re supposed to leave this to the RCMP to actually give comment and disclose on such matters,” Kielburger said while making reference to his lawyer as an assistant deputy minister. His lawyer, Mr. William C. McDowell, spent three years from 2005 to 2008 serving as a senior bureaucrat in the justice department.
Kielburger danced around whether the Mounties had actually contacted him or anyone in the WE organization but said he would “consult the RCMP on that very question.”
It was an odd exchange and a less-than-straightforward answer to a straightforward question. That seems to be par for the course with the Kielburger brothers.
Like seasoned politicians, the Kielburger brothers don’t answer questions, they talk around them while spewing their talking points. They obfuscate and pontificate, but they rarely answer what should be simple questions.
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
There was a near five-minute exchange with Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre on why Craig sent a message over LinkedIn to senior PMO advisor Ben Chin thanking Chin for his support in setting up the CSSG.
The Kielburgers have always claimed that it was civil servants, not politicians or political staff who arranged for the program, and they specifically stated that Chin played no role in establishing the program.
Why then was Craig thanking Chin for his help?
The reply was that this was about getting more LinkedIn followers and the message was written by an assistant. The brothers smirked a lot and made jokes about LinkedIn, but nothing in the testimony made them look good.
Like when New Democrat MP Charlie Angus asked why their budget for the CSSG program included $590,000 for rent, to be paid to WE, and a 15% administration fee for WE, despite claiming there were would none. After dancing around the answer for some time, Marc Kielburger replied with an insult.
“Mr. Angus, with respect, I don’t feel you know how to read a budget properly,” Kielburger said.
With respect to Marc Kielburger, Charlie Angus has been an MP for 17 years and spent many of them sitting on the government operations and estimates committee which spends time going over government spending.
At the end of three hours of testimony, one thing Angus said to the Kielburger brothers really stands out.
Fans get their sings autographed before the We Day event in Toronto, on Thursday, September 20, 2018.
Kielburgers defend WE Charity, blast committee hearing as political trial
Marc Kielburger, screen left, and Craig Kielburger, screen right, appear as witnesses via videoconference during a House of Commons finance committee in the Wellington Building in Ottawa, July 28, 2020.
WE Charity had multiple 'opening' ceremonies for Kenya school: former donor
Co-founders Craig (left) and Marc Kielburger introduce Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau as they appear at the WE Day celebrations in Ottawa in 2015.
LILLEY: Investigations into WE police and tax officials is exactly what is needed
“If I got straight answers last July, we wouldn’t be here now,” Angus said to the brothers.
We could say it again after Monday’s testimony; there is never a straight answer when questioning Craig or Marc Kielburger.
LILLEY: Kielburger brothers say no investigation but need to talk to RCMP
Neither the Kielburger brothers nor WE Charity are under investigation by the RCMP.
I need to see the birth certificate first.
Tories demand Trudeau testify on WE Charity deal after Liberals reject hearing from PM staff
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Publishing date:Mar 28, 2021 • 33 minutes ago • 3 minute read • 10 Comments
Conservative member of Parliament Pierre Poilievre speaks during a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 19, 2020.
Conservative member of Parliament Pierre Poilievre speaks during a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 19, 2020. PHOTO BY SEAN KILPATRICK /THE CANADIAN PRESS
Article content
OTTAWA — The conditions for a brawl appear to be set after Government House Leader Pablo Rodriguez announced that he will testify at a parliamentary committee about the now-dead WE deal on Monday, rather than Prime Minister Justin Trudeau or members of his staff.
In a letter to the chair of the House of Commons ethics committee on Sunday, Rodriguez said that one of Trudeau’s senior advisers had been instructed not to appear before the committee — and that he will be attending in his place.
“Staff are not elected members of the House, they do not have the same rights and privileges as MPs. Calling staff to testify at committee is at odds with the long-standing principle of ministerial responsibility,” Rodriguez said in a letter to committee chair Chris Warkentin.
“Accordingly, Mr. Rick Theis, director of policy to the prime minister, has been instructed to not appear before the committee. In his place, I will attend the meeting on behalf of the government.”
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
The letter represents the latest round of bickering between opposition parties and the Liberals over a Conservative-sponsored motion passed by the House of Commons last week calling for Theis and other members of Trudeau’s staff to testify before the committee.
The motion also called Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan’s former chief of staff to appear at the defence committee to shed light on how the Liberals handled sexual misconduct allegations against the previous commander of the Canadian Armed Forces, Gen. Jonathan Vance.
Rodriguez had indicated on Friday that the Liberals would ignore the motion, accusing the Conservatives of trying to intimidate political staff and arguing that ministers are ultimately responsible for those who work for them.
The motion, passed with support from opposition parties, had indicated that Trudeau’s staff could ignore the request to appear if the prime minister himself attended.
Hours before Rodriguez sent his letter to Warkentin, Conservative MPs Pierre Poilievre and Michael Barrett said if Trudeau’s staff would not appear to answer the ethics committee’s questions, then the prime minister himself must appear.
“If Trudeau staffers can’t testify, then he can,” Poilievre said during a news conference on Parliament Hill.
“We ask him to testify for no less than four hours before the ethics committee in person. … He can answer why his staff were engaged in a long string of correspondence with the WE brothers about setting up programs and grants of taxpayer money.”
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Poilievre and Barrett did not say what measures opposition parties could or would take if the Liberals ignore the motion, and instead painted the issue as one of honouring the will of Parliament.
Barrett later blasted Rodriguez’s plan to attend the committee meeting instead, noting that the motion passed by a majority of MPs in Parliament specifically named Trudeau and his staff.
“Nowhere does it include any reference to the government House leader,” he added.
“For over a week, the Liberals have used the excuse that ministers should testify before the committee. The key players in Trudeau’s WE scandal work for the prime minister, not the government House Leader.”
While prime ministers don’t usually testify before committees, Trudeau did appear at the finance committee in July to answer questions about his government’s decision last year to have WE run a multimillion-dollar student volunteer program.
WE later backed out of the $543-million agreement following questions and concerns about its close ties to members of the prime minister’s family, before the Canada Student Services Grant program was cancelled entirely.
The Liberals and WE co-founders Craig and Marc Kielburger have insisted that it was non-partisan civil servants who came up with the idea of having the Toronto-based organization run the grant program.
But the Conservatives have held up some of the thousands of email exchanges and other documents released by the government in August, after Trudeau testified, as evidence the arrangement was directed by the Liberals.
Those include a message from Craig in which the younger Kielburger brother appears to thank one of Trudeau’s senior advisers, Ben Chin, for having helped shape the student-grant program.
Craig told the ethics committee two weeks ago that Chin had no direct involvement, and the message was one of dozens an assistant sent as Kielburger sought to expand his LinkedIn network. Chin is one of those the Conservatives want to testify before the committee.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Publishing date:Mar 28, 2021 • 33 minutes ago • 3 minute read • 10 Comments
Conservative member of Parliament Pierre Poilievre speaks during a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 19, 2020.
Conservative member of Parliament Pierre Poilievre speaks during a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 19, 2020. PHOTO BY SEAN KILPATRICK /THE CANADIAN PRESS
Article content
OTTAWA — The conditions for a brawl appear to be set after Government House Leader Pablo Rodriguez announced that he will testify at a parliamentary committee about the now-dead WE deal on Monday, rather than Prime Minister Justin Trudeau or members of his staff.
In a letter to the chair of the House of Commons ethics committee on Sunday, Rodriguez said that one of Trudeau’s senior advisers had been instructed not to appear before the committee — and that he will be attending in his place.
“Staff are not elected members of the House, they do not have the same rights and privileges as MPs. Calling staff to testify at committee is at odds with the long-standing principle of ministerial responsibility,” Rodriguez said in a letter to committee chair Chris Warkentin.
“Accordingly, Mr. Rick Theis, director of policy to the prime minister, has been instructed to not appear before the committee. In his place, I will attend the meeting on behalf of the government.”
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
The letter represents the latest round of bickering between opposition parties and the Liberals over a Conservative-sponsored motion passed by the House of Commons last week calling for Theis and other members of Trudeau’s staff to testify before the committee.
The motion also called Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan’s former chief of staff to appear at the defence committee to shed light on how the Liberals handled sexual misconduct allegations against the previous commander of the Canadian Armed Forces, Gen. Jonathan Vance.
Rodriguez had indicated on Friday that the Liberals would ignore the motion, accusing the Conservatives of trying to intimidate political staff and arguing that ministers are ultimately responsible for those who work for them.
The motion, passed with support from opposition parties, had indicated that Trudeau’s staff could ignore the request to appear if the prime minister himself attended.
Hours before Rodriguez sent his letter to Warkentin, Conservative MPs Pierre Poilievre and Michael Barrett said if Trudeau’s staff would not appear to answer the ethics committee’s questions, then the prime minister himself must appear.
“If Trudeau staffers can’t testify, then he can,” Poilievre said during a news conference on Parliament Hill.
“We ask him to testify for no less than four hours before the ethics committee in person. … He can answer why his staff were engaged in a long string of correspondence with the WE brothers about setting up programs and grants of taxpayer money.”
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Poilievre and Barrett did not say what measures opposition parties could or would take if the Liberals ignore the motion, and instead painted the issue as one of honouring the will of Parliament.
Barrett later blasted Rodriguez’s plan to attend the committee meeting instead, noting that the motion passed by a majority of MPs in Parliament specifically named Trudeau and his staff.
“Nowhere does it include any reference to the government House leader,” he added.
“For over a week, the Liberals have used the excuse that ministers should testify before the committee. The key players in Trudeau’s WE scandal work for the prime minister, not the government House Leader.”
While prime ministers don’t usually testify before committees, Trudeau did appear at the finance committee in July to answer questions about his government’s decision last year to have WE run a multimillion-dollar student volunteer program.
WE later backed out of the $543-million agreement following questions and concerns about its close ties to members of the prime minister’s family, before the Canada Student Services Grant program was cancelled entirely.
The Liberals and WE co-founders Craig and Marc Kielburger have insisted that it was non-partisan civil servants who came up with the idea of having the Toronto-based organization run the grant program.
But the Conservatives have held up some of the thousands of email exchanges and other documents released by the government in August, after Trudeau testified, as evidence the arrangement was directed by the Liberals.
Those include a message from Craig in which the younger Kielburger brother appears to thank one of Trudeau’s senior advisers, Ben Chin, for having helped shape the student-grant program.
Craig told the ethics committee two weeks ago that Chin had no direct involvement, and the message was one of dozens an assistant sent as Kielburger sought to expand his LinkedIn network. Chin is one of those the Conservatives want to testify before the committee.
Tories demand Trudeau testify on WE Charity deal after Liberals reject hearing from PM staff
OTTAWA — The conditions for a brawl appear to be set after Government House Leader Pablo Rodriguez announced that he will testify at a parliamentary committee about…
Opposition shuts WE hearing as Liberals again refuse to let staffer testify
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Publishing date:Mar 31, 2021 • 18 hours ago • 1 minute read • Join the conversation
Fans get their sings autographed before the We Day event in Toronto, on Thursday, September 20, 2018.
Fans get their sings autographed before the We Day event in Toronto, on Thursday, September 20, 2018. PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER KATSAROV /THE CANADIAN PRESS
Article content
OTTAWA — Opposition members shut down a parliamentary committee hearing this afternoon after the Liberal government once again refused to let a political aide appear to answer questions about the now-dead deal with WE Charity.
Members of the House of Commons’ ethics committee had asked a senior adviser to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland to testify following an order to that effect from Parliament last week.
But the Liberal government, which has said it will order political staff not to appear before committees, instead deployed Associate Finance Minister Mona Fortier to appear on Amitpal Singh’s behalf.
It was the second time a minister appeared instead of a ministerial aide after government House leader Pablo Rodriguez took the place of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s policy director earlier this week.
While the committee ultimately decided to hear what Rodriguez had to say on Monday, opposition members refused to do the same with Fortier today and instead used their majority to adjourn the meeting after only 20 minutes.
The government has said ministers are ultimately responsible for their staff, but committee members expressed anger and frustration over what they described as the Liberals’ defiance of Parliament.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Publishing date:Mar 31, 2021 • 18 hours ago • 1 minute read • Join the conversation
Fans get their sings autographed before the We Day event in Toronto, on Thursday, September 20, 2018.
Fans get their sings autographed before the We Day event in Toronto, on Thursday, September 20, 2018. PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER KATSAROV /THE CANADIAN PRESS
Article content
OTTAWA — Opposition members shut down a parliamentary committee hearing this afternoon after the Liberal government once again refused to let a political aide appear to answer questions about the now-dead deal with WE Charity.
Members of the House of Commons’ ethics committee had asked a senior adviser to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland to testify following an order to that effect from Parliament last week.
But the Liberal government, which has said it will order political staff not to appear before committees, instead deployed Associate Finance Minister Mona Fortier to appear on Amitpal Singh’s behalf.
It was the second time a minister appeared instead of a ministerial aide after government House leader Pablo Rodriguez took the place of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s policy director earlier this week.
While the committee ultimately decided to hear what Rodriguez had to say on Monday, opposition members refused to do the same with Fortier today and instead used their majority to adjourn the meeting after only 20 minutes.
The government has said ministers are ultimately responsible for their staff, but committee members expressed anger and frustration over what they described as the Liberals’ defiance of Parliament.
Opposition shuts WE hearing as Liberals again refuse to let staffer testify
OTTAWA — Opposition members shut down a parliamentary committee hearing this afternoon after the Liberal government once again refused to let a political aide appea…
Sounds like another regular day at the office.Opposition shuts WE hearing as Liberals again refuse to let staffer testify
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Publishing date:Mar 31, 2021 • 18 hours ago • 1 minute read • Join the conversation
Fans get their sings autographed before the We Day event in Toronto, on Thursday, September 20, 2018.
Fans get their sings autographed before the We Day event in Toronto, on Thursday, September 20, 2018. PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER KATSAROV /THE CANADIAN PRESS
Article content
OTTAWA — Opposition members shut down a parliamentary committee hearing this afternoon after the Liberal government once again refused to let a political aide appear to answer questions about the now-dead deal with WE Charity.
Members of the House of Commons’ ethics committee had asked a senior adviser to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland to testify following an order to that effect from Parliament last week.
But the Liberal government, which has said it will order political staff not to appear before committees, instead deployed Associate Finance Minister Mona Fortier to appear on Amitpal Singh’s behalf.
It was the second time a minister appeared instead of a ministerial aide after government House leader Pablo Rodriguez took the place of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s policy director earlier this week.
While the committee ultimately decided to hear what Rodriguez had to say on Monday, opposition members refused to do the same with Fortier today and instead used their majority to adjourn the meeting after only 20 minutes.
The government has said ministers are ultimately responsible for their staff, but committee members expressed anger and frustration over what they described as the Liberals’ defiance of Parliament.
Opposition shuts WE hearing as Liberals again refuse to let staffer testify
OTTAWA — Opposition members shut down a parliamentary committee hearing this afternoon after the Liberal government once again refused to let a political aide appea…
Given all involved I could see $100,000 in expenses for the day for zero accomplishment. Liberals will drag this out until it goes away.
LILLEY: Trudeau continues to hide from the WE Scandal
"The Liberals have filibustered committees to stop meetings from taking place," writes Lilley
Author of the article:Brian Lilley
Publishing date:Apr 02, 2021 • 5 hours ago • 3 minute read • 63 Comments
WE co-founder Craig Kielburger speaks during WE Day Alberta at Rogers Place in Edmonton, on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019.
WE co-founder Craig Kielburger speaks during WE Day Alberta at Rogers Place in Edmonton, on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019. PHOTO BY IAN KUCERAK /Postmedia, file
Article content
Is the Trudeau government trying to hide something in the ongoing WE scandal or are they just playing games in Parliament with the opposition? Neither answer would be very flattering for them but it has to be one or the other.
On Wednesday, opposition MPs on the Commons ethics committee shut down a hearing after neither the staff member requested nor the minister they report to, appeared as requested. Instead, just as the Liberals had done on Monday, they sent a different minister, one with no connection to the WE file and the $912 million grant program, to answer questions.
Re-Volting: The Internet reacts to Voltswagen's name-change April Fools' prank
Trackerdslogo
Within 20 minutes of the meeting starting, MPs realized the futility of it all and ended the meeting.
What the opposition parties really want is for political staffers to make an appearance and explain what they know or what they did during the entire fiasco that was the Canada Student Service Grant. On Monday, they had hoped to hear from Ben Chin and Rick Theis in the prime minister’s office while on Wednesday they had hoped to hear from Amitpal Singh, a top political aide in the finance department.
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
The Liberals have taken the view that political staff shouldn’t appear before committees, that given the importance of ministerial accountability, the minister in charge of the file should be the one to answer questions on the actions staffers carry out in their name. It’s a tough argument for the Conservatives to be against given that they made the same claims while they were in office and prevented political staffers from appearing.
That said, if you are going to claim ministerial responsibility, then the minister in charge should show up.
MORE ON THIS TOPIC
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, wearing a protective face mask, attends a news conference, as efforts continue to help slow the spread of COVID-19, in Ottawa, March 5, 2021.
KINSELLA: We all bear responsibility for 'Cult of Trudeau'
Co-founders Craig (left) and Marc Kielburger introduce Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau as they appear at the WE Day celebrations in Ottawa in 2015.
LILLEY: Investigations into WE police and tax officials is exactly what is needed
On Monday, when the committee wanted to hear from Chin and Theis – or by extension Prime Minister Justin Trudeau – Liberal House Leader Pablo Rodriguez showed up. Rodriguez is an old hand in Parliament and able to handle sticky situations but he wasn’t involved in the file, he couldn’t answer questions and the whole thing quickly became a farce.
On Wednesday the Liberals sent in Mona Fortier instead of Singh. If you’re having trouble figuring out who that is you aren’t alone but maybe her strange title will jog your memory. Fortier is the minister for middle class prosperity, Singh doesn’t come close to working for her.
When you consider all the things the Liberals have done to stop this and other committees from asking basic questions, about the WE Scandal, it really does make you wonder what they’re trying to hide.
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau are flanked by We Day co-founders Craig Kielburger, left, and Marc Kielburger, right.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau are flanked by We Day co-founders Craig Kielburger, left, and Marc Kielburger, right. PHOTO BY MATT DAY /Postmedia Network
The Liberals have filibustered committees to stop meetings from taking place, blocked witnesses, illegally redacted documents demanded by committees and prorogued Parliament all to stop questions from being asked about the WE contract and scandal.
On Monday, Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre wanted to know how WE was able to start spending money on May 5, 2020, even though a contract was not signed with the group until late June. The answer could be a phone call between WE and Rick Theis on May 5 but Theis wasn’t there to answer and Rodriguez actually doesn’t know the file.
Pulling out every stop imaginable and running roughshod over Parliamentary procedure certainly smacks of a cover-up by the Trudeau Liberals on this file. If it’s not a cover-up then it simply means they don’t care to answer to Parliament, to the people’s representatives and that centuries of rights and privileges are being ignored.
Whichever answer you choose, Trudeau and his team are acting like they are absolute monarchs instead of leaders of a precarious minority government. The PM would be wise to remember his place in our system.
blilley@postmedia.com
torontosun.com
"The Liberals have filibustered committees to stop meetings from taking place," writes Lilley
Author of the article:Brian Lilley
Publishing date:Apr 02, 2021 • 5 hours ago • 3 minute read • 63 Comments
WE co-founder Craig Kielburger speaks during WE Day Alberta at Rogers Place in Edmonton, on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019.
WE co-founder Craig Kielburger speaks during WE Day Alberta at Rogers Place in Edmonton, on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019. PHOTO BY IAN KUCERAK /Postmedia, file
Article content
Is the Trudeau government trying to hide something in the ongoing WE scandal or are they just playing games in Parliament with the opposition? Neither answer would be very flattering for them but it has to be one or the other.
On Wednesday, opposition MPs on the Commons ethics committee shut down a hearing after neither the staff member requested nor the minister they report to, appeared as requested. Instead, just as the Liberals had done on Monday, they sent a different minister, one with no connection to the WE file and the $912 million grant program, to answer questions.
Re-Volting: The Internet reacts to Voltswagen's name-change April Fools' prank
Trackerdslogo
Within 20 minutes of the meeting starting, MPs realized the futility of it all and ended the meeting.
What the opposition parties really want is for political staffers to make an appearance and explain what they know or what they did during the entire fiasco that was the Canada Student Service Grant. On Monday, they had hoped to hear from Ben Chin and Rick Theis in the prime minister’s office while on Wednesday they had hoped to hear from Amitpal Singh, a top political aide in the finance department.
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
The Liberals have taken the view that political staff shouldn’t appear before committees, that given the importance of ministerial accountability, the minister in charge of the file should be the one to answer questions on the actions staffers carry out in their name. It’s a tough argument for the Conservatives to be against given that they made the same claims while they were in office and prevented political staffers from appearing.
That said, if you are going to claim ministerial responsibility, then the minister in charge should show up.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, wearing a protective face mask, attends a news conference, as efforts continue to help slow the spread of COVID-19, in Ottawa, March 5, 2021.
KINSELLA: We all bear responsibility for 'Cult of Trudeau'
Co-founders Craig (left) and Marc Kielburger introduce Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau as they appear at the WE Day celebrations in Ottawa in 2015.
LILLEY: Investigations into WE police and tax officials is exactly what is needed
On Monday, when the committee wanted to hear from Chin and Theis – or by extension Prime Minister Justin Trudeau – Liberal House Leader Pablo Rodriguez showed up. Rodriguez is an old hand in Parliament and able to handle sticky situations but he wasn’t involved in the file, he couldn’t answer questions and the whole thing quickly became a farce.
On Wednesday the Liberals sent in Mona Fortier instead of Singh. If you’re having trouble figuring out who that is you aren’t alone but maybe her strange title will jog your memory. Fortier is the minister for middle class prosperity, Singh doesn’t come close to working for her.
When you consider all the things the Liberals have done to stop this and other committees from asking basic questions, about the WE Scandal, it really does make you wonder what they’re trying to hide.
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau are flanked by We Day co-founders Craig Kielburger, left, and Marc Kielburger, right.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau are flanked by We Day co-founders Craig Kielburger, left, and Marc Kielburger, right. PHOTO BY MATT DAY /Postmedia Network
The Liberals have filibustered committees to stop meetings from taking place, blocked witnesses, illegally redacted documents demanded by committees and prorogued Parliament all to stop questions from being asked about the WE contract and scandal.
On Monday, Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre wanted to know how WE was able to start spending money on May 5, 2020, even though a contract was not signed with the group until late June. The answer could be a phone call between WE and Rick Theis on May 5 but Theis wasn’t there to answer and Rodriguez actually doesn’t know the file.
Pulling out every stop imaginable and running roughshod over Parliamentary procedure certainly smacks of a cover-up by the Trudeau Liberals on this file. If it’s not a cover-up then it simply means they don’t care to answer to Parliament, to the people’s representatives and that centuries of rights and privileges are being ignored.
Whichever answer you choose, Trudeau and his team are acting like they are absolute monarchs instead of leaders of a precarious minority government. The PM would be wise to remember his place in our system.
blilley@postmedia.com
LILLEY: Trudeau continues to hide from the WE Scandal
"The Liberals have filibustered committees to stop meetings from taking place," writes Lilley
Minister for Middle Class Prosperity?
Holy overblown burecracy Batman !
Holy overblown burecracy Batman !
You should have quit after the first word, the rest just high lights your ignorance!
You should have quit after the first word, the rest just high lights your ignorance!
So you have a child bride??
That would explain why you're so supportive of child rapists
You really are a piece of work, aren't you? WHERE AND WHEN did I say I support child rapists. You even suggested Biden is a child rapist! IDIOT!So you have a child bride??
That would explain why you're so supportive of child rapists