Policy briefing: Ottawa says it is reviewing security protocols for Cabinet ministers after Chrystia Freeland harassment
Hello,
Federal Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said the government was reviewing security protocols for ministers and MPs after Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was aggressively harassed over the weekend while she walked into an elevator at a city hall in Alberta.
Two female ministers – Marci Ien and Karina Gould – have also spoken candidly about the threats they have received and called for the temperature to be lowered when it comes to political discourse in Canada.
At a joint news conference Monday on another matter involving multiple federal ministers, Mendicino was asked if Ottawa was considering adopting the practice in place for provincial cabinet ministers in Quebec, who are accompanied by drivers who also act as bodyguards.
“We will continue to explore all options,” he said, adding that the government is working closely with the RCMP, local and regional police departments and the Sergeant-at-Arms, who oversees the security of the Communal room.
Deputy Ottawa Bureau Chief Bill Curry and I are reporting here.
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THE NEWS OF THE DAY
ROGERS INTERRUPTION RELEVANT TO CONTROL TAKEOVER HEARINGS: COURT – Canada’s Competition Tribunal has ruled that Rogers Communications Inc.’s July 8 service interruption is relevant to upcoming takeover hearings. control of Shaw Communications Inc. by the telecommunications giant for $26 billion. History here.
LEGAULT CRITICISM FOR ‘THIS LADY’ COMMENT – Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) leader François Legault is being criticized for calling Liberal leader Dominique Anglade “that lady” on the first day of the provincial election campaign. Story here from Global News. There is a campaign reminder here.
HATE MESSAGES GET FEDERAL ATTENTION – Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino met with representatives of the Canadian Association of Journalists to discuss the support the federal government can offer as journalists face this which the association calls a “fever spot” of hateful messages targeting journalists. Story here from CTV.
A PROFILE OF THE ACTIVIST CHALLENGING DAVID EBY’S BID TO BECOME B.C. PREMIER – In a litmus test for the political influence of the climate movement, Anjali Appadurai, who has never held public office, is ranting about establishment favorite David Eby in the NDP leadership contest. Story here of the Narwhal.
FEDS UNVEILS PLAN TO SUPPORT LGBTQ2S+ – The federal government has released details of its five-year, $100 million plan to support LGBTQ, Two-Spirit and intersex communities across the country. History here.
OUTDOOR RENTAL MARKET AFFECTS POST-SECONDARY RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION – Booming rental market across Canada squeezes post-secondary students with universities and private companies trying to meet growing demand with a mini-boom in the construction of residences. History here.
RACE FOR CONSERVATIVE LEADERSHIP
COUNTRYSIDE TRAIL – Scott Aitchison campaign virtually. John Charest is in Montreal. Pierre Poilievre is in Vancouver and North Vancouver. There is no word on where the campaign is Roman Baber and Leslyn Lewis.
‘AVOID ASSIGNING A REASONS TO JUSTIN TRUDEAU’ AND OTHER ADVICE TO THE CONSERVATIVE OPPOSITION – Jake Enwright, Erin O’Toole’s former deputy chief of staff, writes here in The Hill Times about how federal conservatives , along with their new leader, are expected to address their strategy for returning to parliament next month.
THIS AND THAT
THE COMMONS DOES NOT SIT – The House of Commons does not sit until September 19. The Senate is due to resume on September 20.
SUMMER LIBERAL CAUCUS MEETING – The National Liberal Caucus is holding its summer meeting at St. Andrews by-the-Sea in New Brunswick from September 11-13, according to a statement released Monday by MP Brenda Shanahan, Chair of the National Liberal Caucus.
NEWS FROM THE GLOBE – Marie Woolf of The Canadian Press and Shannon Proudfoot, former Ottawa bureau chief of Maclean’s, will join the Ottawa bureau of The Globe and Mail in September. Additionally, Marsha Lederman, currently the Globe and Mail’s Western Arts Correspondent, will join the Globe’s Opinion section as a columnist next month.
CHAMPAGNE IN FLORIDA – Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne was in Florida to witness the launch of the Artemis I mission. However, the launch was delayed. History here.
GUILBEAULT IN WHITEHORSE – Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault in Whitehorse will announce funding for Indigenous Guardians initiatives.
LAMETTI IN MONTREAL – Justice Minister David Lametti in Montreal was due to make a funding announcement to raise awareness of the new conversion therapy offenses in the Criminal Code and the rights of 2SLGBTQ+ sexual assault survivors in Quebec.
O’REGAN IN NORWAY – Labor Minister Seamus O’Regan is in Norway until September 1 for the North Seas Offshore Conference 2022
THE DECIBEL
An explosion rocked downtown Wheatley, Ont., last year, injuring 20 people, destroying property, terrifying residents and shaking buildings for miles. The cause is believed to be an “orphan” natural gas well nestled near the basement of a building, one of thousands left over from the past 150 years of oil and gas drilling in Ontario. Globe Energy reporter Emma Graney speaks in Monday’s edition of The Globe and Mail podcast about what went wrong at Wheatley, and why experts tell her another explosion is “almost guaranteed”. Read more about the Globe investigation here. The decibel is there.
PRIME MINISTER’S DAY
In the Ottawa area, the Prime Minister attended the ceremony on Parliament Hill to raise the Survivor Flag in honor of residential school survivors, families and communities affected by the residential school system. He was then to meet with members of the Prime Minister’s Youth Council.
LEADERS
No published schedule for party leaders.
OPINION
Kelly Cryderman (The Globe and Mail) on how, in Alberta, children’s early years of education are used in a game of political football: “Alberta students are going back to class in a few days. But the question of what will make up the elementary school curriculum in the years to come is far from certain. It all hinges on the outcome of two key political races. It’s a problem for teachers, parents and – especially – the province’s youngest children, whose early years of education are used in a political football game.
Tanya Talaga (The Globe and Mail) on how the case of Dawn Walker demonstrates the need for Indigenous peacemaking practices in Canada’s justice system: “The case of Dawn Marie Walker – a Cree mother from Okanese and a famous author who was recently shortlisted for the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humor – would be the perfect story for a television series, if not so depressing and sad. It’s yet another illustration of an Indigenous woman struggling to be safe and desperate to be heard, but has nowhere to go.
Guy Saint-Jacques (contributed to the Globe and Mail) on how Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy should approach Taiwan: “When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently told parliamentarians to consider the consequences of visiting Taiwan, it raised some pressing questions. How dedicated is Ottawa to its goal of promoting democratic values around the world? And will the Indo-Pacific strategy that Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly is working on address Taiwan?
Allan Rock (Globe and Mail contributor) on the fact that paying for blood and plasma donation is not the answer to our shortages: “In 1998, as Canada’s Minister of Health, I joined with my provincial and territorial counterparts to create Canadian Blood Services (CBS). Still reeling from the approximately 32,000 Hepatitis C and HIV infections caused by the “contaminated blood” tragedy of the 1980s, Canadians welcomed the creation of CBS and its sister organization, Héma-Québec, as the signal of a new era. CBS’ mandate reflected the recommendations of the Krever Commission, which in 1997 concluded its comprehensive review of the tainted blood tragedy and the lessons to be learned from it. The Krever Principles were intended to ensure that Canadians would never again experience such a “nationwide public health calamity” and that our national blood system would be safe and worthy of the public’s trust.
Andrew MacDougall (The Ottawa Citizen) on Pierre Poilievre’s plan to use his enemies’ hysteria to his electoral advantage: “Will Poilievre’s footsie with a ‘freedom convoy’ infantryman work? We will see. But if you think I did Poilievre’s opponents a favor by referencing his now infamous handshake with Mackenzie, the leader of something called Diagolon (yes, me neither), think again. Poilievre wants his opponents to talk about a little-known extremist group that few Canadians will give the time of day. This is in fact the key to the success of his campaign to become prime minister. As the stakes bustle about sputtering over Poilievre’s grimace, the Tory leadership candidate talks about things like inflation and marginal effective tax rates, i.e. the things that make life more expensive and progress more difficult to achieve. The result? When potential voters hear hysterical criticism from Poilievre, it doesn’t match what they’ve heard from the man himself. To their ears, it sounds like Poilievre’s critics are playing the fiddle while Rome burns.
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