Conservatives have a go at hating the cops and defending civil disobedience
Publishing date:
Feb 21, 2022 • 18 hours ago • 6 minute read • 786 Comments
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Well, nobody died. Even in Canada, whenever large bodies of police are called upon to disperse a group of intransigent protesters, it often has a penchant to result in tragedy, just ask the Winnipeg General Strike, the Oka Crisis or the Regina Riots, among others. As the last Freedom Convoy rigs are towed or driven away voluntarily out of downtown Ottawa, everybody who entered the city to protest COVID mandates will ultimately be going home (despite what you may have heard on Fox News about a woman getting trampled to death by a police horse).
Depending on who’s side you’re on, the singular lack of any body count attached to Freedom Convoy is due to one of two factors:
Some New York Times reporters on the scene did find it weird to see groups of heavily armed Mounties searching empty RVs at gunpoint. However, after a small arsenal of firearms and body armour was seized from a Freedom Convoy blockade at Coutts, Alta. last week, it’s not completely beyond the pale for police to be paranoid.
Politically, basically nobody really comes out of this looking good.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has gotten pilloried on both ends of this national saga. He’s been criticized for taking a hands-off (and some would say inflammatory) approach during the protest’s first two weeks. And then he’s been really criticized for ultimately responding with a bunch of crisis measures that would be illegal under normal circumstance (and doing so only after the Americans told him to).
More than any other party, the NDP caucus is filled with MPs whose first taste of politics involved a bullhorn, a cardboard sign and maybe even a blocked street or two. Which is why some of them are openly questioning Jagmeet Singh’s decision to provide the deciding votes on the Liberals’ invocation of the Emergencies Act. “We have opened Pandora’s box here,” Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus told the National Post.
The last few days have also provided plenty of Conservatives with their first-ever opportunity to defend civil disobedience and decry “police brutality” – even if they’ve come down on the exact opposite side of that argument on basically every prior occasion. Here’s a couple examples …
Just as the first columns of police moved in on the Freedom Convoy “occupation” of Ottawa, shocking news emerged that a paramilitary-style attack had struck a Coastal GasLink camp in the B.C. interior. RCMP and Coastal Gaslink sources said about 20 attackers with axes did several million dollars in damage to equipment.
Coastal GasLink, of course, was the project that spurred the aforementioned railroad blockades in early 2020. Although often framed as a case of a First Nation resisting development of their traditional lands, the situation is much more complicated. The elected Wet’suwet’en First Nation actually supports the Coastal GasLink project, but a faction of hereditary chiefs within the community do not (and some Wet’suwet’en would even dispute their hereditary status altogether). Anyways, it’s that faction which is usually portrayed by outside media (and environmental activists) as being the community’s only legitimate leadership.
And if you’re wondering how some droogs with axes can do several million dollars worth of damage in a smash-and-go attack, it’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time that anti-pipeline militants have allegedly commandeered heavy equipment. That’s what happened just three months ago when anti-pipeline protesters cut off road access to a Coastal GasLink camp at the height of the B.C. floods.
As for who did it, all the usual suspects are denying responsibility, including many who supported the 2020 rail blockades and the recent November barricades.
The word “impotence” has been thrown around often regarding the events of the last three weeks. Ottawa, a city that is normally johnny-on-the-spot when it comes to policing threats such as children’s lemonade stands or a man playing soccer with his autistic son, basically responded to a prolonged occupation of its downtown by standing around and waiting until the federal government told them what to do. National Post columnist Chris Selley highlighted a particularly glaring example of Ottawa’s civic inaction: The Feb. 7 court injunction that was largely successful in compelling Freedom Convoyers to stop constantly honking wasn’t obtained by the City of Ottawa, but by a 21-year-old Ottawan who simply wanted some sleep.
Freedom Convoy’s organizers, of course, were hoping that this whole thing would end with them getting an audience with the Governor General where they would then team up to decree an eternal end to Canadian vaccine mandates. Anyways, right before many of them were arrested, Freedom Convoy organizers issued a final Road Map to Freedom detailing the terms under which they would fold up their tent voluntarily. In addition to wanting an immediate end to all COVID mandates, they had also some vaguer demands such as “grant access to parents that lost access to their kids.”
Awkwardly, Parliament has still not approved usage of the Emergencies Act. While the legislation has already been used to declare a “no-go” zone in the Ottawa core and freeze the bank accounts of Freedom Convoy organizers, the Emergencies Act does come with a built-in check wherein its usage has to be given a greenlight by the House of Commons. That vote is still expected to come Monday.
A new Mainstreet Research poll finds that Canadians are particularly divided on the use of the Emergencies Act. Thirty nine per cent of respondents said they strongly oppose it, while 38 per cent said they strongly support it.
This newsletter has previously pointed out that there’s not really anything authorized by the Emergencies Act that couldn’t have been done using existing laws (blocking a roadway has always been an arrestable offence, for one). On Thursday, a citizen’s group successfully obtained a court order to seize the bank accounts of convoy organizers. Given that this was accomplished with normal processes, it would would seem to cast doubt on why the feds needed the Emergencies Act to do the same thing.
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Canada called for “all parties” to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
G7 foreign ministers, including Canada’s, and the High Representative for the European Union released a public statement Friday morning. The statement condemned Iran’s “direct and unprecedented attack” on April 13, which saw Western allies intercept more than 100 bomb-carrying drones headed towards Israel, the G7 countries said.
Prior to the Iranian attack, a previous airstrike, widely blamed on Israel, destroyed Iran’s consulate in Syria, killing 12 people including two elite Iranian generals.
“I join my G7 colleagues in urging all parties to work to prevent further escalation,” wrote Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly in a post on X Friday.
More details to come.
Hello,
Pierre Poilievre is a fraud when it comes to empowering workers, says the president of Canada’s largest labour organization.
Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, targeted the federal Conservative Leader in a speech in Ottawa today as members of the labour movement met to develop a strategic approach to the next federal election, scheduled for October, 2025.
“Whatever he claims today, Mr. Poilievre has a consistent 20-year record as an anti-worker politician,” said Bruske, whose congress represents more than three million workers.
She rhetorically asked whether the former federal cabinet minister has ever walked a picket line, or supported laws to strengthen workers’ voices.
“Mr. Poilievre sure is fighting hard to get himself power, but he’s never fought for worker power,” she said.
“We must do everything in our power to expose Pierre Poilievre as the fraud that he is.”
The Conservative Leader, whose party is running ahead of its rivals in public-opinion polls, has declared himself a champion of “the common people,” and been courting the working class as he works to build support.
Mr. Poilievre’s office today pushed back on the arguments against him.
Sebastian Skamski, media-operations director, said Mr. Poilievre, unlike other federal leaders, is connecting with workers.
In a statement, Skamski said NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has sold out working Canadians by co-operating with the federal Liberal government, whose policies have created challenges for Canadian workers with punishing taxes and inflation.
“Pierre Poilievre is the one listening and speaking to workers on shop floors and in union halls from coast to coast to coast,” said Mr. Skamski.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mr. Singh are scheduled to speak to the gathering today. Mr. Poilievre was not invited to speak.
Asked during a post-speech news conference about the Conservative Leader’s absence, Bruske said the gathering is focused on worker issues, and Poilievre’s record as an MP and in government shows he has voted against rights, benefits and wage increases for workers.
“We want to make inroads with politicians that will consistently stand up for workers, and consistently engage with us,” she said.
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TODAY’S HEADLINES
Pierre Poilievre’s top adviser not yet contacted in Lobbying Commissioner probe: The federal Lobbying Commissioner has yet to be in touch with Jenni Byrne as the watchdog probes allegations of inappropriate lobbying by staff working both in Byrne’s firm and a second one operating out of her office.
Métis groups will trudge on toward self-government as bill faces another setback: Métis organizations in Ontario and Alberta say they’ll stay on the path toward self-government, despite the uncertain future of a contentious bill meant to do just that.
Liberals buck global trend in ‘doubling down’ on foreign aid, as sector urges G7 push: The federal government pledged in its budget this week to increase humanitarian aid by $150-million in the current fiscal year and $200-million the following year.
Former B.C. finance minister running for the federal Conservatives: Mike de Jong says he will look to represent the Conservatives in Abbotsford-South Langley, which is being created out of part of the Abbotsford riding now held by departing Tory MP Ed Fast.
Ottawa’s new EV tax credit raises hope of big new Honda investment: The proposed measure would provide companies with a 10-per-cent rebate on the costs of constructing new buildings to be used in the electric-vehicle supply chain. Story here.
Sophie Grégoire Trudeau embraces uncertainty in new memoir, Closer Together: “I’m a continuous, curious, emotional adventurer and explorer of life and relationships,” Grégoire Trudeau told The Globe and Mail during a recent interview. “I’ve always been curious and interested and fascinated by human contact.”
TODAY’S POLITICAL QUOTES
“Sometimes you’re in a situation. You just can’t win. You say one thing. You get one community upset. You say another. You get another community upset.” – Ontario Premier Doug Ford, at a news conference in Oakville today, commenting on the Ontario legislature Speaker banning the wearing in the House of the traditional keffiyeh scarf. Ford opposes the ban, but it was upheld after the news conference in the provincial legislature.
“No, I plan to be a candidate in the next election under Prime Minister Trudeau’s leadership. I’m very happy. I’m excited about that. I’m focused on the responsibilities he gave me. It’s a big job. I’m enjoying it and I’m optimistic that our team and the Prime Minister will make the case to Canadians as to why we should be re-elected.” – Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, before Question Period today, on whether he is interested in the federal Liberal leadership, and succeeding Justin Trudeau as prime minister.
THIS AND THAT
Today in the Commons: Projected Order of Business at the House of Commons, April. 18, accessible here.
Deputy Prime Minister’s Day: Private meetings in Burlington, Ont., then Chrystia Freeland toured a manufacturing facility, discussed the federal budget and took media questions. Freeland then travelled to Washington, D.C., for spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group. Freeland also attended a meeting of the Five Eyes Finance Ministers hosted by U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, and held a Canada-Ukraine working dinner on mobilizing Russian assets in support of Ukraine.
Ministers on the Road: Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is on the Italian island of Capri for the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting. Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge, in the Quebec town of Farnham, made an economic announcement, then held a brief discussion with agricultural workers and took media questions. Privy Council President Harjit Sajjan made a federal budget announcement in the Ontario city of Welland. Families Minister Jenna Sudds made an economic announcement in the Ontario city of Belleville.
Commons Committee Highlights: Treasury Board President Anita Anand appeared before the public-accounts committee on the auditor-general’s report on the ArriveCan app, and Karen Hogan, Auditor-General of Canada, later appeared on government spending. Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree appears before the status-of-women committee on the Red Dress Alert. Competition Bureau Commissioner Matthew Boswell and Yves Giroux, the Parliamentary Budget Officer, appeared before the finance committee on Bill C-59. Former Prince Edward Island premier Robert Ghiz, now the president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Telecommunications Association, is among the witnesses appearing before the human-resources committee on Bill C-58, An act to amend the Canada Labour Code. Caroline Maynard, Canada’s Information Commissioner, appears before the access-to-information committee on government spending. Michel Patenaude, chief inspector at the Sûreté du Québec, appeared before the public-safety committee on car thefts in Canada.
In Ottawa: Governor-General Mary Simon presented the Governor-General’s Literary Awards during a ceremony at Rideau Hall, and, in the evening, was scheduled to speak at the 2024 Indspire Awards to honour Indigenous professionals and youth.
PRIME MINISTER’S DAY
Justin Trudeau met with Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe at city hall. Sutcliffe later said it was the first time a sitting prime minister has visited city hall for a meeting with the mayor. Later, Trudeau delivered remarks to a Canada council meeting of the Canadian Labour Congress.
LEADERS
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet held a media scrum at the House of Commons ahead of Question Period.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre attends a party fundraising event at a private residence in Mississauga.
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May attended the House of Commons.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, in Ottawa, met with Saskatchewan’s NDP Leader, Carla Beck, and, later, Ken Price, the chief of the K’ómoks First Nation,. In the afternoon, he delivered a speech to a Canadian Labour Congress Canadian council meeting.
THE DECIBEL
On today’s edition of The Globe and Mail podcast, Sanjay Ruparelia, an associate professor at Toronto Metropolitan University and Jarislowsky Democracy Chair, explains why India’s elections matter for democracy – and the balance of power for the rest of the world. The Decibel is here.
PUBLIC OPINION
Declining trust in federal and provincial governments: A new survey finds a growing proportion of Canadians do not trust the federal or provincial governments to make decisions on health care, climate change, the economy and immigration.
OPINION
On Haida Gwaii, an island of change for Indigenous land talks
“For more than a century, the Haida Nation has disputed the Crown’s dominion over the land, air and waters of Haida Gwaii, a lush archipelago roughly 150 kilometres off the coast of British Columbia. More than 20 years ago, the First Nation went to the Supreme Court of Canada with a lawsuit that says the islands belong to the Haida, part of a wider legal and political effort to resolve scores of land claims in the province. That case has been grinding toward a conclusion that the B.C. government was increasingly convinced would end in a Haida victory.” – The Globe and Mail Editorial Board.
The RCMP raid the home of ArriveCan contractor as Parliament scolds
“The last time someone was called before the bar of the House of Commons to answer MPs’ inquiries, it was to demand that a man named R.C. Miller explain how his company got government contracts to supply lights, burners and bristle brushes for lighthouses. That was 1913. On Wednesday, Kristian Firth, the managing partner of GCStrategies, one of the key contractors on the federal government’s ArriveCan app, was called to answer MPs’ queries. Inside the Commons, it felt like something from another century.” – Campbell Clark
First Nations peoples have lost confidence in Thunder Bay’s police force
“Thunder Bay has become ground zero for human-rights violations against Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Too many sudden and suspicious deaths of Indigenous Peoples have not been investigated properly. There have been too many reports on what is wrong with policing in the city – including ones by former chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Murray Sinclair and former Toronto Police board chair Alok Mukherjee, and another one called “Broken Trust,” in which the Office of the Independent Police Review Director said the Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) was guilty of “systemic racism” in 2018. – Tanya Talaga.
The failure of Canada’s health care system is a disgrace – and a deadly one
“What can be said about Canada’s health care system that hasn’t been said countless times over, as we watch more and more people suffer and die as they wait for baseline standards of care? Despite our delusions, we don’t have “world-class” health care, as our Prime Minister has said; we don’t even have universal health care. What we have is health care if you’re lucky, or well connected, or if you happen to have a heart attack on a day when your closest ER is merely overcapacity as usual, and not stuffed to the point of incapacitation.” – Robyn Urback.
Got a news tip that you’d like us to look into? E-mail us at tips@globeandmail.com. Need to share documents securely? Reach out via SecureDrop.
GOP strategist reacts to Trump’s ‘unconventional’ request
Donald Trump’s campaign is asking Republican candidates and committees using the former president’s name and likeness to fundraise to give at least 5% of what they raise to the campaign, according to a letter obtained by CNN. CNN’s Steve Contorno and Republican strategist Rina Shah weigh in.
DJT Stock Rises. Trump Media CEO Alleges Potential Market Manipulation. – Barron's
Trump Media alerts Nasdaq to potential market manipulation from 'naked' short selling of DJT stock – CNBC
Private equity gears up for potential National Football League investments – Financial Times
2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs 1st-round schedule – NHL.com
Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday | CTV News – CTV News Toronto
Botched home sale costs Winnipeg man his right to sell real estate in Manitoba – CBC.ca
Gas prices see 'largest single-day jump since early 2022': En-Pro International – Yahoo Canada Finance
Enter the uncanny valley: New exhibition mixes AI and art photography – Euronews
