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Jun 4 2024

Sharing secrets. PBO gagged. German NeoNazis: The Roundup

Jun 4, 2024
David Akin's Roundup
Clippings of #cdnpoli, #media, and #tech content aimed at those with an interest in Canadian politics and policy. And sometimes Canadian postage stamps.
Canada
Some Canadian politicians are ‘wittingly’ participating in foreign interference: watchdog
The national security committee's review into foreign interference activities said media reports, including by Global News, pushed the government to act faster. [Global]
Althia Raj: If the Liberals do not win this riding on June 24, and it looks increasingly like that’s a possibility, there will be immense pressure on Justin Trudeau to resign as their leader immediately — “within days,” a well-known Liberal suggested to me over the weekend. [TorStar]
The federal New Democrats want a price cap on grocery store staples if the Liberal government can't convince grocers to bring down the prices themselves. [CP]
‘We need action’: AFN chief slams Ottawa’s lack of progress to address MMIWG
Five years after the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) was delivered, which listed more than 200 calls to action to help combat the epidemic, the federal government is under fire for its inaction. Mackenzie Gray reports on Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak's message for Ottawa, and how Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree disagrees the government has done little. [Global National]

The chief justice of the Supreme Court is warning about the risks elected officials run by reacting to decisions from the court without first having read the rulings themselves. [Global]
The budget watchdog has all but admitted that his office has been under a gag order to not talk about it. [National Post]

George Chahal says he plans on touring the country to drum up support for efforts to stop the deportation of the truck driver responsible for the Humboldt Broncos bus crash. [Global]
The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has been looking for a permanent place to dispose of Canada's spent fuel, and has narrowed it search down to two locations. Eric Sorensen looks at how the Ontario communities of Ignace and South Bruce are weighing the risks and benefits of becoming the country's final resting place of nuclear waste, and how the issue has also divided residents. [Global National]
The two Cape Breton ridings have undergone significant boundary adjustments for the next general election. Hard to see the election commission's rationale for such a radical re-draw but there it is ...
The incumbent for Sydney--Glace Bay is Liberal Jaime Battiste who does plan to run again though he cautions me that the Eskasoni First Nations has mounted a legal challenge over the shape of Sydney-Glace Bay (it bifurcates the nation's territory while the current boundary keeps their territory whole) so the riding containing Sydney and North Sydney may yet change.
In any event, Cape Breton has reliably returned a pair of Liberal MPs in every general election since 2000. Battiste succeeded Mark Eyking in what is currently called Sydney--Victoria in the 2019 election.
One has to go back to the 1997 general election for the last time the island failed to elect a Liberal. In that election,  Cape Breton returned a pair of New Democrats to sit in the caucus led by Nova Scotian Alexa McDonough.
As for conservative-minded MPs, the PCs last won the western Cape Breton riding in 1984 during Mulroney's first majority but the eastern riding containing Sydney stuck with the Liberals through both of Mulroney's big wins.
The last time Sydney voters chose a conservative candidate was in 1974 in a riding then called Cape Breton--The Sydneys when former Nova Scotia Premier Bob Stanfield was leading the federal PCs. 
But Liberal fortunes in Atlantic Canada are so low right now that, in my model, Anna Manley would become the first Conservative to win in Sydney since Bob Muir won it for Stanfield 50 years ago. And Manley could win it by 15+ points. - DA
From the Provinces
High-profile MLA leaves BC United to join BC Conservatives
Conservative Leader John Rustad said Elenore Sturko will be a 'terrific addition' to the party and that the move shows support for the grassroots coalition is growing across B.C. [Global]
The Opposition Progressive Conservatives filed a complaint Monday with the province's ethics commissioner, alleging Ian Bushie, the minister of municipal and northern relations, was unfairly granted a contract without allowing other people to bid on it. [CP]
Manitoba politicians sat late into the night Monday to give final approval to more than 20 bills that covered topics ranging from criminal asset seizures to social assistance. [CP]
Ahead of this fall’s municipal elections, Nova Scotia is launching three campaign schools to help encourage more people to run for office. Great idea! [CBC]
Among the 22 per cent who believe Edmonton is headed in the right direction, just 40 per cent would vote for Sohi, shows the May Leger poll. [Edmonton Journal]
Elsewhere
Growing fear about rise of far-right in Germany
Eighty years after the invasion of Normandy and the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany, the far-right is resurfacing with alarming force. Dawna Friesen reports from Berlin on the rise of the far-right party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). She also speaks to members of Identitäre Bewegung (Generation Identity), a far-right group that Germany's domestic security agency has classified as extremist. [Global National]

In address to Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Dong says his country stands firm against ‘war or chaos’ in region. [South China Morning Post]
Media

The Oilers punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup final night but some Conservative politicians weren't in the mood to celebrate. [National Post]
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Science and Tech

'Excess mortality has remained high in the Western world for three consecutive years, despite the implementation of containment measures and COVID-19 vaccines,' researchers say. [Global]
The Calendar
  • 0900 ET: National Press Theatre - Deputy PM and Fin Min Chrystia Freeland , Labour Min Seamus O'Regan and Housing and Infrastructure Min Sean Fraser speak about Budget 2024.
  • 1000 ET: West Block - PM Trudeau meets with his cabinet.
  • 1015 ET: 025-B West Block - Public Accounts (PACP) | Meeting 127 - 2024 Reports 5 to 7 of the Auditor General of Canada
  • 1030 ET: National Press Theatre - LPC MP Ali Ehsasi speaks about the situation in Tigray, Ethiopia.
  • 1045 ET: HoC Foyer - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and NDP MP Lori Idlout speak about the NDP Opposition Day motion.
  • 1100 ET: 315 Wellington  - Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI) | Meeting 122 - Compliance of a Minister to the Conflict of Interest Act. Employment and Workforce Development Min Randy Boissonnault to testify.
  • 1100 ET: 330 Wellington  - Agriculture and Agri-Food (AGRI) | Meeting 107 - Drafting report.
  • 1100 ET: 225-A West Block - Procedure and House Affairs (PROC) | Meeting 118 - Question of Privilege Related to Cyber Attacks Targeting Members of Parliament
  • 1100 ET: 035-B West Block - Science and Research (SRSR) | Meeting 90 - Science and Research in Canada's Arctic in Relation to Climate Change
  • 1100 ET: 125-B West Block - Transport, Infrastructure and Communities (TRAN) | Meeting 119 - Drafting report.
  • 1100 ET: 425 Wellington  - Status of Women (FEWO) | Meeting 113 - Committee Business
  • 1200 ET: Toronto - Treasury Board President Anita Anand speaks about government operations.
  • 1530 ET: 225-A West Block - Environment and Sustainable Development (ENVI) | Meeting 111 - Freshwater
  • 1530 ET: 410 Wellington - International Trade (CIIT) | Meeting 109 - Drafting report / CUSMA Review.
Issued this day ...
… in 2008: Scott #2274: Royal Canadian Mint. Design: Stéphane Huot. 

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