THREAD. A member of the Team Trudeau campaign secretly follows around two former cabinet ministers on budget day, and takes photos of them when they meet with others. Without consent, without approval. And then he gives the photos to a reporter friendly with Team Trudeau.
— Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) March 20, 2019
On the journalism fund: Canada has some of he best journalists in the world. Count on them to go out of their way to show they can’t be bought. #cdnpoli
— Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) March 19, 2019
On housing affordability for first time buyers: this is the millionth time we’ve heard this promise since 1990. Like we’ve heard the broadband promise. Which is also in here. #cdnpoli
— Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) March 19, 2019
On the national pharmacare program: sure, it’s in the budget – but it isn’t funded. Try getting your meds for free next time you’re at Shoppers. That’s kind of what Trudeau is suggesting. #cdnpoli
— Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) March 19, 2019
On their economic record: well, they solemnly promised the budget would be balanced this year. It isn’t. It won’t be, for years. I would therefore advise against talking about “economic record.” #cdnpoli
— Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) March 19, 2019
On the efforts of the #CPC and the #NDP to shut down the budget speech: they’re doing exactly what they should be doing. The Rule of Law matters way more than a bullshit election-year budget. Way . #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/7MNtq310Cp
— Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) March 19, 2019
The Liberals are right about one thing: Canadians have “reached a conclusion” in the #LavScam scandal.
It’s a “conclusion” they won’t like on Election Day, however.
Liberal MPs on justice committee release letter saying, "as committee members, we have achieved our objectives with respect to these meetings…we believe that all rules and laws were followed. Canadians now have the necessary information to arrive at a conclusion." #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/1KYekybLeI
— Power & Politics (@PnPCBC) March 18, 2019
Did a hit on @NEWSTALK1010 on the overdue, justified resignation of top Ottawa bureaucrat Michael Wernick. Me: he had stopped sounding like a non-partisan – he sounded like he worked at PMO. And, he may have been a civil servant – but he wasn't civil nearly enough. #LavScam
— Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) March 18, 2019
@JustinTrudeau's choice of @joycemurray as Treasury Board President confirms that @Puglaas was demoted/fired. When @scottbrison departed, Murray – who had been Brison's P.S. since '15 – could have easily been made Treasury Board President then. More #LavScam dishonesty. #cdnpoli
— Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) March 18, 2019
On the one hand, I oppose politicians’ condolence social media messages, because they too often become a substitute for action. On the other hand, I support them, because if they make even one person feel better, they’re worth it.
— Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) March 18, 2019
Talk is cheap.
If the Trudeau government is serious about stopping the spread of hate, here’s something they can do this week.
Will they? (Oh, and one Minister was looking at ways to bring back a version of section 13. Guess who she was?)
The federal government’s words about combatting hate are fine. But they need to match words and action. So: bring back section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act now. It was a #LPC MP who championed its repeal under a #CPC government. So, fix it. https://t.co/cqKM1A5DM5 #cdnpoli
— Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) March 17, 2019
Upcoming program change: for three reasons – the mass murder committed by a white supremacist in New Zealand and its global fallout; upcoming legal action against the racist Your Ward News in Toronto; and my related decision to shine a spotlight on Maxine Bernier and his alt-right political party – I am going to be spending less time, on my various platforms, on the #LavScam issue in the coming weeks, and much more time on the resurgence of racism, homophobia, misogyny and anti-Semitism everywhere. It’s a subject I am rumoured to know something about.
#LavScam is not going to go away – and, with the upcoming Norman trial, the issues that it gives rise to are going to get even more important. The Ethics Commissioner is investigating; the Opposition is unrelenting; the OECD is monitoring; the Prime Minister and his senior staff have lawyered up – because they can clearly hear the footsteps of the Mounties.
So: for me, a slight programming change. I will continue to occasionally highlight developments in the ongoing #LavScam scandal – but my priority, for the next while, will be a returned focus on the growing problem of organized hate.
It’s a big, big problem.
My responses to two thoughtful commenters over on Twitter, below. First one is a thread, the second one isn’t.
Thanks. Your thread was interesting. The issue, as I told my @UCalgaryLaw students this week, isn’t how we parse “national economic interest.” Jobs are an important consideration, as @Puglaas herself testified. https://t.co/RxSOPnfp0N
— Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) March 17, 2019
On St. Patrick’s Day, us Irish Catholics recognize them: they’re judicial indulgences. Except you buy them from Mr. Trudeau, and not the Bishop. https://t.co/UflN8gTeLv
— Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) March 17, 2019