Blacklock's Reporter

There is insufficient evidence to justify corruption charges against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the SNC-Lavalin Group scandal, says an RCMP memo. The Access To Information memo obtained by the group Democracy Watch concluded then-Attorney General Jody Wilson Raybould was undoubtedly pressured to quash a criminal prosecution of the federal contractor but that proof of criminality was lacking: "It should be emphasized the conclusions reached in this report do not translate to the absence of a criminal offence."

Oil executives must acknowledge liability for costs of climate change, New Democrat MP Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay, Ont.) yesterday told the Commons natural resources committee. “You knew,” Angus told a visiting CEO from Suncor Energy: "Your industry knew increasing production and increasing the burning of fossil fuels is destabilizing the planet."

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland again missed key forecasts in her own budget, says the Parliamentary Budget Office. Analysts warned the deficit is up this year, not down, and is now 16 percent higher than Freeland predicted: "Has the government lost control?"

The Department of Canadian Heritage seeks a bigger budget to monitor internet “disinformation.” Millions more are needed to keep up surveillance on internet users who promote incorrect “political beliefs,” it said.

Cabinet’s $191,000-a year “inclusion” advisor has avoided public events since October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas terrorists. Amira Elghawaby, Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, wrote in 2021 Toronto Star columns that MPs should “call out Israel’s actions, not only Hamas’ rockets” and dismissed Canadian history as “Judeo-Christian storytelling.”

Cabinet in scripted remarks at Rideau Hall expressed unequivocal support for Israeli victims of terrorist attacks. Governor General Mary Simon avoided all mention of Hamas, Gaza or Palestinians: "Our country supports you and stands firmly with you."

Indigenous Canadians combined account for more economic output than three provinces, says Bank of Canada research. Findings were drawn despite data gaps like the fact Statistics Canada does not track the employment rate on First Nations reserves: "Official statistics may thus understate the extent of Indigenous economic activity."

Canada will now “collaborate with provinces” after the Supreme Court struck down landmark 2019 federal regulations on impact assessments, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault. Five provinces opposed regulations subsequently ruled unconstitutional: "Tell me, what will the power of a minister or federal cabinet be?"

Poet Shai Ben-Shalom writes: “Bovine Respiratory Disease; the most common illness of beef cattle in the world. Calves lose appetite; develop fever; experience breathing difficulties…”

Justin Trudeau, friend of Indigenous people, is descended from “Indian” fighters. A street plaque in southeast Montréal once commemorated the 1662 exploits of Etienne Trudeau in a local skirmish with First Nations.

Prime Minister Trudeau shed a tear for Chief Poundmaker, yet in 2019 cut short Grassy Narrows protesters who crashed a Liberal Party fundraiser with the remark: “Thank you for your donation!”

Juxtaposition is a recurring theme. The Prime Minister says often, “No relationship is more important to Canada than the relationship with Indigenous peoples.” Yet he will not name any First Nation as representative of the Queen. It is hardly ground-breaking. A Cree man was named Lieutenant Governor of Alberta in 1974.

Federal managers hid an ongoing police investigation from auditors reviewing the ArriveCan app, Auditor General Karen Hogan yesterday told the Commons public accounts committee. MPs ordered the audit a year ago and were never told of the RCMP probe: "There are allegations regarding identity theft, fraudulent forged résumés, contractual theft, fraudulent billing, price fixing, collusion, all with senior bureaucrats."

Canada’s chief bank inspector yesterday warned of “significant payment shock” facing homeowners with a quarter trillion in fixed payment mortgages charged at variable rates. Homeowners at risk are no longer paying anything against the principal of their loans, said Superintendent of Financial Institutions Peter Routledge: 'Mortgagors will have to make it up.'

Cabinet yesterday said it would not tolerate any “glorification of violence or terror” targeting Jews in Canada. Hamas terrorists proclaimed this Friday the 13th a “day of general mobilization” against Jews worldwide: "Under no circumstances will it be tolerated."

Cabinet will finalize a long-promised national school lunch program in 2024, says the Department of Social Development. The department in a memo described it as an anti-inflation measure for families that can’t keep up with grocery bills: "Despite their promises the Liberals have only delayed action and disappointed families."

National pharmacare will cost Parliament and the provinces $11.2 billion in its first year, the Budget Office said yesterday. Cabinet has committed to passing a pharmacare bill by Christmas: "It has got to be passed by the end of this year."