Liberal and New Democrat MPs last night saved David Johnston from a summons to testify on his dealings with the Trudeau Foundation. The Commons public accounts committee by a 6 to 4 vote adjourned debate on an order compelling Johnston to appear as a hostile witness: “It is like a subpoena from a lawyer. There are legal consequences.”
The chair of the Senate agriculture committee yesterday would not comment on an Italian junket so costly other senators expressed unease with the expense. Senator Robert Black (Ont.) submitted a $66,940 budget to lead a four-member farm delegation to Italy in July for a study of “soil conditions in Canada.”
Jody Thomas, national security advisor, yesterday said she was on holiday and never read a secret July 20, 2021 pre-election memo warning that Chinese agents had targeted a Conservative MP. Thomas testified at the House affairs committee the “integrity of my statements here” should not be questioned: “You want Canadians to believe that?”
A federal registry mandating disclosure of payments to all foreign agents “will provide us with very important tools,” Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair said yesterday. Cabinet has yet to set any deadline for introduction of a bill: “Is there something that gives hesitance or pause?”
Cabinet is unsure of the scope of tobacco smuggling nationwide, according to a report to Parliament. Manufacturers have estimated bootleg cigarettes are worth billions in lost tax revenue: “This has been driven mainly by persistently high rates in Ontario estimated at 35 to 40 percent and a recent explosion in British Columbia where we estimate the rate has grown to 35 percent.”
The Commons yesterday voted 174 to 150 to fire David Johnston as cabinet’s “special rapporteur” on Chinese subterfuge. Johnston rejected the vote, saying he didn’t answer to MPs: “My mandate comes from the government.”
The Freedom Convoy was a “far-right extremist movement” that “terrorized” Ottawa, a Liberal-appointed senator said yesterday. Remarks by Senator Ratna Omidvar (Ont.) contradicted police evidence that Parliament Hill demonstrators were neither extremist nor violent: “What is the government doing to track this? Specifically, are you tracking how these extremists are influencing politicians in Canada?”
Passengers should not expect quicker airport screening with a 33 percent increase in mandatory security fees, says the National Airlines Council. Fees intended to cover security costs represent an annual profit for the Government of Canada, figures show: “I wish I could say these increases in fees would lead to better service.”
A Senate employee golf tournament that’s soliciting $400 corporate sponsorships complies with all ethics codes, managers said yesterday. The tournament is scheduled only days before a new Lobbyists’ Code comes into force that limits gifts to public office holders at $40: “The organizers are employees of Senate administration.”
The Federal Court has rejected a claim that Crown prosecutors have a constitutional right to run for public office. Courts and labour arbitrators have issued mixed rulings on whether the Public Service Employment Act restricts partisan activity by prosecutors: “I am not convinced.”
A Crown bank, Export Development Canada, yesterday disclosed it paid a consultant more than $208 million to manage a pandemic loan program. Legislators at the time were not told of payments to Accenture PLC that run to 2024: ‘The desire was to get this out as quickly as possible.’
Liberal and New Democrat MPs have opposed a budget amendment to cut the Governor General’s funding. Conservative MP Kelly Block (Carleton Trail-Eagle Creek, Sask.) sponsored the motion after accusing Rideau Hall of high living while Canadians turn to food banks: “The Governor General has shown a lack of respect for taxpayers.”
Newspaper publishers need the government, their chief lobbyist yesterday told the Senate transport and communications committee. “We need them,” said Paul Deegan, CEO of News Media Canada: “We have a market failure here.”
Cabinet’s budget bill last night cleared the Commons finance committee after 29 days and 667 roll call votes in a month-long Conservative filibuster. MPs protested the omnibus bill introduced or amended 51 different Acts of Parliament: “The idea that omnibus legislation is acceptable is simply wrong.”
Allegations that cabinet ignored misconduct by foreign agents will not alter New Democrats’ pledge to support the Prime Minister until 2025, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh yesterday told reporters. Withdrawing support and triggering a snap election made no sense, said Singh: “I don’t see how it’s logical.”
