Your Corrupt and Inept Liberal Government and You

You voted for it:

The point here is plain. Why does it take months to make a ruling on what is, substantially, a very limited and understood question? Did Justin Trudeau’s engagements, his multiple appearances as a high-banner speaker at WE Day events, and his therefore obviously friendly relationship with Craig and Marc Kielburger, play any part in the decision, since abandoned, to pay the brothers’ WE Charity up to $43.5 million to run a program worth almost $1 billion? Were any other organizations consulted, offered an opportunity to apply for management of that program, or was WE plucked out because of its high profile with the prime minister? Was this a plain conflict of interest or the plain appearance of a conflict of interest, which in this context, are more or less the same thing?

The matter of Trudeau’s family’s various involvements and the fees received by the prime minister’s mother and brother is now, already, known. The WE scandal is not Jarndyce v. Jarndyce, and the ethics commissioner is not the High Court of Chancery in the early 19th century. There are a number of blatant facts, a limited set of players, and a not-complicated set of questions to be answered. Finally, it could be asked, after witnessing the government’s various attempts to halt the Commons Ethics Committee investigation, whether the case is being “stalled” by a lack of co-operation from PMO officials in the hopes that the simple passage of time lowers public interest in the matter.

There’s nothing complicated here. The Kielburger brothers almost got the administration of a huge pile of public money. The Trudeau family had received financial benefits from said brothers. The prime minister, both before taking the highest office and when in it, was a full-throated participant, speaker and endorser of WE and the Kielburgers. His mother received a boatload of fees. His brother somewhat less. His wife showed up at their stadium galas with all expenses paid. The Kielburgers — before they backed out from the controversy — were in difficult times, their organization tottering from mass resignations. ...

Here’s the question: Why does it take so long — the main facts being known, the evidence clear that both parties gained mutual advantage from their long acquaintance with each other — to get a ruling?

It is all too obvious, in very many areas and particularly in this one, that the COVID threat absorbs most of the daily headlines. And to a degree it should. But it has also allowed the government to become very slack in other directions, offering a massive distraction from any other very serious, even critical issues, the WE scandal clearly a cardinal instance.

Recall the Mike Duffy matter, on which the Ottawa press gallery fed daily and with delight for nearly a whole year, and TV had live specials, on each and every development, regardless of how small or tangential. Compare and contrast the coverage of Duffy, a mere senator, with the coverage of the WE scandal concerning the prime minister, his family, and early on the finance minister as well.

Finally, there should be absolutely no call for an early election until the Canadian public receives a definitive ruling on whether Mr. Trudeau, for yet another time, has offended the ethical standards of his high office.

Don't worry, Mr. Murphy. There won't be another election.

There will be more money-wasting and moral-posturing.

Canadians would have it no other way:

Grassroots Liberals have overwhelmingly endorsed a resolution calling on the federal government to develop and implement a universal basic income — despite Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's apparent lack of enthusiasm for the idea.

The resolution, co-sponsored by the Liberal caucus, passed by a vote of 491-85 Saturday at the governing party's virtual convention.

It will automatically become official party policy, along with 10 other top priority resolutions that were fast-tracked at the convention.

Another 26 resolutions were also approved Saturday morning but must still go through another vote later in the day to be narrowed down to 15 and become official party policy.

Among those 26 were resolutions calling for enforceable, national standards for long-term care homes, a 10-per-cent increase in old age security for those 70 and over, and implementation of a national pharmacare program, which the Trudeau government has promised but has taken only incremental steps towards achieving.

 

Because they've done so well with tax money so far. 

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Saving your skin, eh, Mark?:

Mark Carney told the Liberal party convention Friday he would do everything he could to support the party, but stopped short of announcing whether he would put his name on a ballot.

“I’ll do whatever I can to support the Liberal Party in our efforts to build a better future for Canadians,” he said.