Article content continued
If nothing untoward happened with WE, there would be no reason to filibuster the committee, as happened last week when the Liberal members blathered on about absolutely nothing at all. If WE was entirely above board, we wouldn’t need to curtail the number of hours the principals would appear to explain how this project originated entirely with the civil service (wink, wink). The latest developments prove we need more committee time, not less. Does anyone doubt the only reason Bill Morneau suddenly remembered his $41,000 WE tab was because he was about to appear at committee?
Whether the Liberals want answers or not, Canadians deserve them on why WE was authorized to get most of its money upfront. They deserve to know why WE was given the green light to roll out the contract weeks before cabinet gave it the official go-ahead. And they deserve to know whether any of this was done because WE had a special relationship with the prime minister and his finance minister – to say nothing of the extensive financial relationship the charity had with the prime minister’s family.
The good news is that calling it out can be done. In fact, it’s already being done on another file. Nova Scotia Liberal MPs Lenore Zann, Sean Fraser and Darren Fisher added their names to the call for a full public inquiry into the Portapique mass shooting, despite earlier signing their names to a letter from the Nova Scotia federal Liberal caucus endorsing the government’s plan for a less invasive “joint review.” The government has now, thankfully, opted for the full inquiry. Pressure works.
The Nova Scotia Liberals’ conversion on the inquiry was no doubt fed by their constituents’ anger. More MPs from all parties now need to put their constituents’ views ahead of their leadership’s when it comes to the proper administration of public business. It would be good for our democratic health.
Andrew MacDougall is a London-based communications consultant and ex-director of communications to former prime minister Stephen Harper.
