For weeks now, people have been paying attention to the provincial government’s near-daily briefing on the state of our lives under COVID-19.
Premier Dwight Ball, Health Minister Dr. John Haggie and chief medical officer of health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald have been rock-steady in this unsettled new world, doling out stats and admonishment for the good of us all.
Ball’s planned exit from the premier’s office was put on hiatus and the Liberal leadership contest postponed with the recognition that politics and political ambition should take a back seat during a public health emergency.
Several people have observed that Ball has never been a stronger leader, and has never had a steadier hand on the tiller than now. Whereas our pre-pandemic premier was seen as someone who often ducked, dithered and deflected, now he appears in the livestreamed briefings as a steadfast presence; a trusted steward of citizens’ best interests.
Haggie has become something of a folk hero — a pop culture icon, even — inspiring headlines and memes with his wry quips about the wisdom of not letting your kids lick cart handles and the dangers of swiping right on the Tinder dating app. With his well-earned chops as a surgeon with a doctorate in cancer research, the Manchester, U.K. native earned respect at the best of times and has garnered even more with his straight-shooting advice during these worst of times.
Fitzgerald engenders trust and confidence, as well, with her calm, collected presence.
And trust and confidence, strong leadership and sage advice are what we need right now. As a province of only half a million people, known for our close connections, we all know that the three people lost so far to COVID-19 could easily become a higher number if we stop obeying public health directives.
One of the reasons, no doubt, that the rate of compliance has been relatively high is because Ball, Haggie and Fitzgerald are out there day in and day out, hammering home the same message: stay in your bubble, keep your distance, wash your hands.
This is not a time for showboating, grandstanding, pandering, patronizing or politicking.
The continuity of their presence and their message offers a sense of stability and helps people feel they might indeed weather this pandemic.
This is not a time for showboating, grandstanding, pandering, patronizing or politicking.
Ball and Haggie have so far managed to avoid that, meeting with members of the opposition parties out of the spotlight to work collaboratively — never more important than in a minority government situation.
And the value of their own political currency has risen because of it.
Few people are talking about the Muskrat Falls inquiry report these days, Carla Foote’s career path, in-party spats or a lack of faith in Ball’s leadership — all hot topics before the pandemic hit.
But things may have changed this week when Ball announced that a former Liberal party adviser has been hired on contract to oversee the province’s plan to slowly ramp up the economy now that COVID-19 seems to be waning.
Now, I don’t know a thing about Paul Mills except what I’ve read, that he’s a former vice-president of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, he has his own company and was a member of the transition team that eased Ball into the premier’s office in 2015.
And that he was placed in this new role without going through a job competition.
He could be the best person in the world for the role — in the absence of evidence, who can say?
But what I do know is this: hiring a known Liberal insider in a crucial and public position, without a transparent selection process — in the midst of a public health emergency — is not the best optics. And it could backfire.
People have made it exceedingly clear that a pandemic is no time for politics.
If this situation has even a whiff of that, Ball and Haggie may find their honeymoon with the public over.
And if that trust is eroded, people may become cynical and mistrustful, and be less inclined to heed their advice — something all our health depends on.
Quebec legislature member Youri Chassin has announced he’s leaving the Coalition Avenir Québec government to sit as an Independent.
He announced the decision shortly after writing an open letter criticizing Premier François Legault’s government for abandoning its principles of smaller government.
In the letter published in Le Journal de Montréal and Le Journal de Québec, Chassin accused the party of falling back on what he called the old formula of throwing money at problems instead of looking to do things differently.
Chassin says public services are more fragile than ever, despite rising spending that pushed the province to a record $11-billion deficit projected in the last budget.
He is the second CAQ member to leave the party in a little more than one week, after economy and energy minister Pierre Fitzgibbon announced Sept. 4 he would leave because he lost motivation to do his job.
Chassin says he has no intention of joining another party and will instead sit as an Independent until the end of his term.
He has represented the Saint-Jérôme riding since the CAQ rose to power in 2018, but has not served in cabinet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
MONTREAL – NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he will not be taking advice from Pierre Poilievre after the Conservative leader challenged him to bring down government.
“I say directly to Pierre Poilievre: I’m not going to listen to you,” said Singh on Wednesday, accusing Poilievre of wanting to take away dental-care coverage from Canadians, among other things.
“I’m not going to listen to your advice. You want to destroy people’s lives, I want to build up a brighter future.”
Earlier in the day, Poilievre challenged Singh to commit to voting non-confidence in the government, saying his party will force a vote in the House of Commons “at the earliest possibly opportunity.”
“I’m asking Jagmeet Singh and the NDP to commit unequivocally before Monday’s byelections: will they vote non-confidence to bring down the costly coalition and trigger a carbon tax election, or will Jagmeet Singh sell out Canadians again?” Poilievre said.
“It’s put up or shut up time for the NDP.”
While Singh rejected the idea he would ever listen to Poilievre, he did not say how the NDP would vote on a non-confidence motion.
“I’ve said on any vote, we’re going to look at the vote and we’ll make our decision. I’m not going to say our decision ahead of time,” he said.
Singh’s top adviser said on Tuesday the NDP leader is not particularly eager to trigger an election, even as the Conservatives challenge him to do just that.
Anne McGrath, Singh’s principal secretary, says there will be more volatility in Parliament and the odds of an early election have risen.
“I don’t think he is anxious to launch one, or chomping at the bit to have one, but it can happen,” she said in an interview.
New Democrat MPs are in a second day of meetings in Montreal as they nail down a plan for how to navigate the minority Parliament this fall.
The caucus retreat comes one week after Singh announced the party has left the supply-and-confidence agreement with the governing Liberals.
It’s also taking place in the very city where New Democrats are hoping to pick up a seat on Monday, when voters go to the polls in Montreal’s LaSalle—Émard—Verdun. A second byelection is being held that day in the Winnipeg riding of Elmwood—Transcona, where the NDP is hoping to hold onto a seat the Conservatives are also vying for.
While New Democrats are seeking to distance themselves from the Liberals, they don’t appear ready to trigger a general election.
Singh signalled on Tuesday that he will have more to say Wednesday about the party’s strategy for the upcoming sitting.
He is hoping to convince Canadians that his party can defeat the federal Conservatives, who have been riding high in the polls over the last year.
Singh has attacked Poilievre as someone who would bring back Harper-style cuts to programs that Canadians rely on, including the national dental-care program that was part of the supply-and-confidence agreement.
The Canadian Press has asked Poilievre’s office whether the Conservative leader intends to keep the program in place, if he forms government after the next election.
With the return of Parliament just days away, the NDP is also keeping in mind how other parties will look to capitalize on the new makeup of the House of Commons.
The Bloc Québécois has already indicated that it’s written up a list of demands for the Liberals in exchange for support on votes.
The next federal election must take place by October 2025 at the latest.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante is defending her decision to turn off comments on her social media accounts — with an announcement on social media.
She posted screenshots to X this morning of vulgar names she’s been called on the platform, and says comments on her posts for months have been dominated by insults, to the point that she decided to block them.
Montreal’s Opposition leader and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association have criticized Plante for limiting freedom of expression by restricting comments on her X and Instagram accounts.
They say elected officials who use social media should be willing to hear from constituents on those platforms.
However, Plante says some people may believe there is a fundamental right to call someone offensive names and to normalize violence online, but she disagrees.
Her statement on X is closed to comments.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
