David Johnston is gone. He was last week's sacrificial lamb. Intergovernmental Affairs leader Dominic Leblanc has suggested that the opposition parties construct their own solution to the problem. Susan Delacourt writes:
Only the most optimistic political observers, who have not been watching the antics in the Commons this spring, would give that idea much of a chance. Conservatives especially seem to be having too much fun with this whole issue, seeing it as an opportunity to cast the Trudeau government as elites in league with a foreign dictatorship.
Pierre Poilievre deals in Trumpian lies:
Have a look at how Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre sent Johnston packing on Friday night after the surprise — well maybe not a total surprise — announcement that the former governor general was stepping down as special rapporteur.
“Trudeau has been flailing around for months trying to cover up the help he got from Beijing’s Communist government,” Poilievre said in a post on Twitter.
Stop there for a moment: no matter how jaded one is with politics, this is a remarkable allegation to lay at the feet of the leader of a duly elected Canadian government — one that shouldn’t be allowed to sit out there, treated as fact. There is no evidence that the Liberals are in power because China messed with the last election and Poilievre has said, in less rabid moments, that he does not quarrel with the results of the 2021 vote.
Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet -- like Poilievre -- refused to view the top secret security documents which Johnston had gathered to make his case. Both Poilievre and Blanchet are selling grievance politics -- Blanchet from the east and Poilievre from the west.
Grievance politics raises hell. It doesn't propose solutions. I thought Mr. Singh was better than this. I now have my doubts.
And so, what have we got? A train wreck.
Image: AZ Quotes
20 comments:
1)
"I thought Mr. Singh was better than this. I now have my doubts."
I was never a Jagmeet fan but I warmed to him during his two champagnes*.
I liked the 4 year deal on minority gov't and do appreciate his continued support of that.
I think he has always been "out of his depth" and his disgraceful actions on D. Johnston reveals his inadequacies.
*Tip my cap to Cap!
2)
As for the 'opening' to the opposition from Leblanc, I think its like poker when it is time show your hand. Lil'PP and his ilk hold off-suit 2s and 7s.
To me, what LeBlanc is saying to the opposition is "Put up, or shut up". I say good for LeBlanc.
Poilievre has no hand to show, PoV.
The plan for a third party investigation may have been killed by the reformatories and the bloc. The two security committees already tasked with the job will be able to use Johnson's findings and ultimately verify Johnson's integrity.
PP and his playhouse pals may have lost a chance to get on tv. Own goal !
He's calling their bluff, Gordie. We'll see how they play poker.
The Conservatives chose a leader who is loud but not very smart, rumley. There will be a price to pay for that mistake.
fun fact
The word yakuza (“good for nothing”) is believed to have derived from a worthless hand in a Japanese card game similar to baccarat or blackjack: the cards ya-ku-sa (“eight-nine-three”), when added up, give the worst possible total.
The equivalent of our 2/7 off
I don't know if our opposition leaders play cards, lungta. But I can't imagine that they do well if they do.
I thought Mr. Singh was better than this. I now have my doubts.
I have come to the conclusion that he has all the political instincts of a pet rock. I am assuming that whatever passes for is inner strategy crew at NDP HQ are just as bad.
It has been obvious since the harper times that PP is not something would want in the house let alone the House but I had some hope of Singh. He totally lost me during the height of the Pandemic when he kept demanding that the Federal Gov't do this or do that. "This" and "that" were provincial responsibilities which he should have known as a lawyer. Either he was being dishonest or to ignorant to be an MP let alone leader of the NDP.
As a lawyer, he should have known better, jrk. But then, Donald Trump's lawyers should also know better than to represent the man.
Reflecting on accusations that Johnston may have deliberately defanged the Oliphant Inquiry when he wrote its terms of reference, this is some of what Andrew Coyne had to say in 2010:
“Perhaps it could be argued that, as a prominent member of the Canadian establishment, he is blinded by class loyalty.”
Coyne didn’t necessarily support that view. In view of the current mess involving Johnston, perhaps it’s worth considering whether he’s just an equal opportunity partisan who, irrespective of party and politics, can be counted on to serve the interests of his class. I think that’s why Trudeau selected him. He knew that Johnston would just see more business-as-usual and “well-tilled ground”. The average slug just doesn’t understand what it takes to maintain peace, order and good government.
Johnston is unquestionably a member of the ruling class, John. On the other hand, there is a legitimate question about his ability to deal with the problems that the class faces. It appears to me that the opposition is not really interested in that question.
Donald Trump's lawyers should also know better than to represent the man.
Well, even under the US legal system one is usually entitled to a lawyer. Besides they were US lawyers /sarc
Everyone is entitled to a lawyer, jrk. Whether or not someone is a good lawyer is another issue entirely.
Didn't the House of Commons vote on a motion to have Mr Johnston step aside? Isn't that the democratic will of Parliament? I have to assume his motives were above reproach, but he should have known better than to accept this position. AN
He thought he could suggest a solution, AN. He was mistaken.
Johnson ( or anyone else in that position ) is not appointed by Parliament and does not report to Parliament. Statute makes the executinve responsible.
An interesting point, rumley. Therefore, the way to get rid of Johnston is to get rid of the executive -- which would require a non-confidence vote.
So I guess Mr. Singh might have to step forward and go back on his word bringing about a vote of non confidence. That's a fine kettle of fish and he can see the Cheshire grin on Skippy's face in the rearview mirror.
Singh is learning what happens when you become one of Skippy's allies, zoombats.
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