A cabinet shuffle is looking increasingly likely too, sooner rather than later. As my colleague Heather Scoffield has written, Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s shelf life may be limited in the wake of WE, given how his involvement with the charity has repeatedly put the government into awkward spots.
The shuffle may have been in the works for a while, but WE has turned it into a potentially disciplinary one as well. That means we are about to head into another few weeks (some say days) of Liberals sitting by their phone, waiting to get the good or bad news about cabinet. By happy coincidence for the PMO, that atmosphere tends to keep MPs in line, which may mute some of the grumbling that has been coming from caucus during the WE saga.
And there will probably be changes coming in the PMO:
There has been talk of [Katie]Telford needing to go — just as principal secretary Gerald Butts departed during the SNC-Lavalin drama of 2019 — but the chief of staff was talking very much in the future tense about her job during Thursday’s testimony, which likely means that she will remain. What may occur, though, is that the PMO will be out looking for some reinforcements to the team, to provide that “extra level of scrutiny” within the office.
There is always the possibility that more information will emerge. But, even if that doesn't happen, Justin will have to make changes. He'll have to shuffle the cards in his deck.
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10 comments:
It's not just Bill Morneau who should be moved to the back benches. I think Justin Trudeau should be shuffled too.
This is the third time Justin has got himself into trouble, Toby. So far, he has managed to skate clear. But he would be wrong to assume that he can get by with good PR.
Smoke and mirrors.
What we see is not what we get.
As sad as it is modern man is not yet capable of making an educated vote.
TB
toby, so you think Trudeau ought to be shuffled also? What would you like, a conservative government with the smear running it. do you really think they would have provided the country with the leadership it did during the COVID crisis. We would have looked like the U.S.A. with the idiot suggesting we pray.
I don't care about the WE shit and that is what I consider it, shit, something some think might get rid of Trudeau, but think again about how well we have fared in this crisis. does anyone else think we would have all these fundings for people who couldn't work while in lock down? do you think Dr. Tan would be able to do the work she has been doing? In my opinion not so much. we would have Schmeer, the boy who used party funds to send his kids to private school running the country,. we would have had welfare for corportions and nothing for families.
Living out here in B.C. I've seen what the various programs are doing for people. Its working.
If you go back over the last 50 years and hve a look at politicians and money, the WE think is nothing. Lets not forget those Mulroney Years, On the Take by Stevie Cameron. Do you think the rest of them were any different? Not so much.
Just for the record I'm not a Liberal, never voted for them, etc.
All those pundits can carry on like this is some big deal, but in the grand scheme its not. We're still afloat, our country has its medical system, our border is secure with not too many Americans getting in.
As to Morneau, he can stay right where he is. He's not a bad finance minister at all. The rest of them can get off their immaculate horses and get a grip on reality.
Owen, in my opinion it doesn't matter what quality Trudeau's P.R. is. All the people I've talked to on Vancouver island and the mainland is, keeping the border closed with the U.S.A. their second priority is, those cheques from Ottawa, so they can keep their families and selves afloat. I've not heard a single "average" Canadian talk about the We think. Its like a great big flat nothing. In this life, timing is everything and for Trudeau, this was timed perfectly, in the middle of a COVID pandemic and we're doing fairly well in the world.
My pension cheques will continue to flow regardless of what happens, I don't have to worry about rent, etc. but for many in this country, like in Vancouver where 60% of all residents, rent, they don't care, they just want those Trudeau federal cheques and Horgan's ban on evictions.
What sets us above the animals is our ability to think, TB. Unfortunately, a great number of us prefer the animal kingdom.
What you're saying, e.a.f, is that the alternatives to Trudeau are worse than he is.
I take your point, e.a.f. This is about survival and Trudeau knows that. The sad part about all of this is that the kids are going to find it harder to survive.
Owen, yes, I'm saying not only is Trudeau better than the alternative, but there is no alternative at this time. Right now the NDP isn't in any position to be the federal government and it will be a long time before they reach the level they did with Layton.
Trudeau knows about survival as his father did. In 1971, Trudeau Sr. had Parliament pass Plan 71, the new U.I. Act at the time. Its the closest thing we ever had to a guaranteeded income in this country. Every P.M. since, except his son has tried to dismantle it bit by bit and that includes Liberal P.M.s
Yes, the kids are going to have a harder time, than we the aging baby boomers did or for that matter Gen X and y. However, when we the aging baby boomers are finally out of the labour market and have left our estates to them, they will be doing all right.
Many argue all of this money being handed out right now will leave the kids with a large debt to pay off. My take on it is, better that than those kids dying due to a lack of health care, lack of adequate food and housing.
We can all think things can be done better, which they could, but the realities of politics in Canada, doesn't provide for it at this time. The reason why? Most people aren't willing to see a change in the tax structure. During the COVID crisis, Netherlands paid out 90% of income, but then have a look at what their tax rate is. At this point in our history not many in Canada are every going to go for it. Trudeau is the best we have right now.
I agree with you, e.a.f. Trudeau is a flawed prime minister. Those flaws need to be pointed out and he should be held to account. But, at this moment, he's the best we've got.
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