Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet yesterday appealed to voters to hold the line on a close Liberal majority in a Montréal-area byelection. A Bloc win in Terrebonne, Que. would limit cabinet to a thin but working majority in the Commons: “‘Who the hell speaks for me?”
The Prime Minister’s Office yesterday had no comment after a senior executive was censured for cronyism. Christiane Fox, now-Deputy Minister of National Defence, breached an Act of Parliament in finding an $80,000-a year government job for a school friend whose experience consisted of working as manager at a Good Life gym: “Giving someone preferential treatment is in itself improper.”
Cabinet’s $30 billion promise to create a quarter million new daycare spaces by March 31 was not met, says a federal document. Then-Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland in 2021 promised billions in five-year subsidies on a promise of $10-a day fees and “250,000 new high quality child care spaces by 2026.”
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne boasted to senators he was personally involved in details of construction for regional high speed rail in Québec, records show. It contradicts Champagne’s claim he recused himself under the Conflict Of Interest Act after his wife was hired by the railway: “We got the train through Trois-Rivières.”
It’s a “good situation” when cabinet ministers’ spouses can enjoy their own careers, Prime Minister Mark Carney said yesterday. He dismissed questions regarding the finance minister’s personal involvement in promoting a regional rail corporation that hired his wife as vice-president: “It’s important that we have a system that those individuals can continue to pursue their career.”
The housing crisis only affects people who don’t own houses, says a federal briefing note. The Department of Housing in an Access To Information note to Minister Gregor Robertson said it found affordability was no problem for homeowners who bought property 25 years ago: “In other words, if you consider all Canadians there does not appear to be an affordability crisis.”
A Toronto banker appointed to oversee defence contracting owns shares in dozens of publicly-traded firms including federally regulated companies, according to ethics filings. Doug Guzman, a former Royal Bank executive, earlier acknowledged he had no military experience: “You would have to ask others why I was picked for the job.”
Cabinet yesterday said it would not commit to new funding to clear a backlog of hundreds of whistleblower complaints alleging corrupt practices and misconduct. A federal commissioner has said three times as many lawyers currently on staff are required to investigate tips of government wrongdoing: “There may be allegations that do not see the light of day.”
Immigration Minister Lena Diab’s department in a draft citizenship guide celebrates Liberal political appointees and an LGBTQ activist. Cabinet sought new themes in what it called a “restructuring of the way we educate not only new Canadians but all of us.”
Cabinet polled catchphrases and logos in attempting to ease the housing crisis, records show. The Privy Council commissioned federal focus groups on marketing techniques most likely to convince Canadians that cabinet would address shortages: ‘Branding concepts could be used by the federal government.’
Doly Begum, a Liberal byelection candidate, in social media posts prior to her nomination described Liberals as untrustworthy, conniving and “the surest path to greater evil.” Begum is a former deputy leader of the New Democrat opposition in the Ontario legislature: “The shine has worn off the Liberals’ formula of fake progressivism.”
Cabinet on Saturday served notice of fee hikes for migrant workers, foreigners seeking permanent residency and other services. Federal lawyers have successfully defended against challenges of fees as discriminatory: “Canada is a country of immigrants.”
A British Columbia motel operator has been ordered to pay damages for evicting a guest who breached house rules banning marijuana on the premises. Legislators had warned of endless legal battles over property rights when Parliament legalized cannabis in 2018: “The Government of Canada would leave it totally to the courts.”
Easter greetings to all friends and subscribers. Blacklock’s pauses today for the federal observance. We are back tomorrow — The Editor
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the great seeker of the “sunny ways” in politics, lived in a grand hotel just steps from Parliament Hill before he became prime minister. The Russell Hotel was Ottawa’s answer to 19th century elegance. In time it descended into ruin.
Laurier arrived in Ottawa in 1874. The capital then was a place of sharp contrasts with shining new parliament buildings surrounded by dismal muddy streets, ramshackle houses and open sewers.
“Ottawa is not a handsome city,” said Laurier. “I would not wish to say anything disparaging of the capital but it is hard to say anything good of it.” Later as prime minister he created the 1899 Ottawa Improvement Commission devoted to beautification of the city.
Laurier lodged at the Russell Hotel, a glittering example of Second Empire architecture designed by Henry Hodge Horsey, a prolific architect. The building filled the south side of Sparks Street, east of Elgin, catching the eye of passersby with a mansard roof and corner tower, numerous hooded windows and elaborate ornamentation.
The Russell boasted “250 rooms elegantly furnished,” reported Canadian Illustrated News, with English carpets and an Ottawa novelty: two passenger elevators that sped visitors up four storeys.
Laurier hated the hotel. He complained it was too costly and smelled of food and drink from its famed tavern that had been a caucus hangout since the days of Confederation.
Yet Laurier remained at the Russell House for 24 years. Here he wrote the ringing speeches that transfixed the House. Here he launched his 1896 election campaign that restored Liberals to power for the first time in a generation.
In time Liberal contributors bought Laurier a mansion in Ottawa’s Sandy Hill on Theodore Street, now Laurier Avenue, where the Party chief remained till his death in 1919. Laurier House was subsequently willed to his successor Mackenzie King and in 1950 turned into a National Historic Site.
And the Russell? It remained Ottawa’s premier hotel until the Chateau Laurier opened nearby in 1912, then went into a long, sad decline. It closed its doors in 1925.
When Mackenzie King proposed to turn Elgin Street into a grand boulevard south from the National War Memorial, the dilapidated hotel was in the way.
While talk of expropriation was ongoing the vacant building suffered a major fire on April 14, 1928, and what remained was demolished. There is now nothing to remind us of Ottawa’s grand hotel or Laurier’s life in it.
By Andrew Elliott
