D'Arcy McGee

Friday, March 29, 2019

Ottawa Observations: Friday, March 29, 2019

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for Friday, March 29, 2019

The SNC-Lavalin Files

In recorded call, Wilson Raybould warns Wernick that Trudeau was 'on dangerous ground' by attempting to interfere on SNC-Lavalin
Wilson-Raybould warned them, but they just wouldn't listen
The Jody Wilson-Raybould tape highlights only that there are no heroes here
Jody or Justin who do you trust
SNC-Lavalin's probably exodus from Canada is a national shame
Britain's top fraud prosecutor backs kind of deal at heart of SNC-Lavalin debate
PM wanted SNC-Lavalin deal 'one way or another,' Wernick told Wilson-Raybould in secretly recorded call
Pressure building in Liberal caucus to eject Wilson-Raybould, Philpott
Jody Wilson-Raybould warned of Trudeau's political interference in tense call with Michael Wernick
Texts, phone calls and audiotape: Key parts from Wilson-Raybould's new submission to justice committee
SNC-Lavalin: Read the full text of Jody Wilson-Raybould's phone call with Michael Wernick
JWR has evidence, Trudeau has crumbling stories
Wilson-Raybould's credibility skyrockets
Trudeau wanted deal one way or another: tape reveal
Wilson-Raybould recording brings SNC-Lavalin affair crashing back to reality
Secret recording of Wernick by Jody Wilson-Rabyould backs interference allegations in SNC-Lavalin scandal.
Jody Wilson-Raybould: 'I am issuing the strongest warning I can possibly issue'
Wilson-Raybould aired a potentially critical cabinet-level discussion
Michael Wernick never briefed Trudeau that he spoke with Wilsron-Raybould: PMO
'All of this screams' of political interference; Wilson-Rabyould to Wernick in SNC-Lavalin tape
Micheal Wernick never briefed Trudeau that he spoke with Wilson-Raybould : PMO
Read the transcript of the secretly-recorded call between Jody Wilson-Raybould and Miachael Wernick
Jody Wilson-Raybould told top civil servant that she didn't think anybody respected her concerns about rule of law
Holy Crap, Canada, JWR recorded a 'heritage moment'
Jody Wilson-Raybould: Cassandra of the Trudeau Government

Canada grounds the Boeing Max 8 and 9

Anti-stall system active before Ethiopian 737 Max crash: source

Canadians held in China / China tensions

Tories push for probe of political spat with China following 'absurd' canola ban
Government pushes China for canola evidence, mulling aid for farmers
Saskatchewan asks feds to help cash-strapped canola farmers amid Chinese trade dispute
Trudeau government names new CEO for Via Rail
'This is urgent': Tempers flare at House AG committee on canola dispute
Let's find better export markets than authoritarian China

Globe and Mail

Trudeau 'has lost confidence with a majority of native people,' Grassy Narrows chief says
After Christchurch, it's time for Canada to ban semi-automatic weapons
Ottawa. Ontario offer support after Fiat Chrysler announces 1,500 job cuts at Windsor assembly plant

CBC

There is no racism in Canada': Beyak leaves controversial letters online as minister calls for action
Ottawa considering new retaliation to end U.S. tariff fight, source says
Hot tech or hype magnet? Transport Canada funds a study of 'hyperloop' transport
Country's new top bureaucrat to take over from embattled Wernick on April 19
Canada's economy surprises with 0.3% growth in January, offsetting 2 straight monthly decline
Canada asks UN for more time to decide whether to extend Mali Peacekeeping mission

Toronto Star

Grassy Narrows protesters want to turn the spotlight away from Trudeau and back where it belongs
Justin Trudeau's treatment of an Indigenous protestor reminds us of what's wroth being truly angry about
Seven years after historic boxing match, Trudeau fights to stay in the ring
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh targest rich with proposal to raise rate for capital gains tax

Toronto Sun

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National Post

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Maclean's

'Thank you for your donation'

Global

Feds defend release of completely blacked out 60 page memo on Mark Norman case
Top bureaucrat Michael Wernick to step down April 19 after SNC-Lavalin controversy
Canada won't extend peacekeeping mission in Mali, Freeland says
NDP says they'll boost pharmacare, childcare programs with higher capital gains tax
This is why Trudeau can't afford any more mistakes
Lynn Beyak's 'racist' letters are still online - a week after she was ordered to remove them

Miscellaneous

Court battles reveal 'Fundamental Incoherence' in Trudeau's Climate Policies, Says Campaigner

Ghost of Pacific Northwest LNG project floated in Legislature debate this week

Todd Stone recounted some of the Liberal government's engagement
with the North Coast during the earl days of LNG development, the Liberal
MLA spoke Wednesday as part of debate related to the
NDP Government'sBill 10 to create Tax Credits for LNG companies

MLA's took to the debate this week on themes related to Bill 10 which the NDP government is moving forward as the LNG Canada project continues to make its forward momentum towards development.

The Bill is designed to provide for a Natural Gas Tax Credit for qualifying corporations

As part of the discussion through the week, Former Liberal Transportation Minister Todd Stone spoke to some of the atmosphere for potential investment that had been found not too long ago in the Prince Rupert area that made for the background to the now canceled Pacific Northwest LNG project.

Framed as part of the current progress for the development of the LNG Canada project in Kitimat, Mr. Stone first paid tribute to the work of then Haisla Chief Ellis Ross, who now sits as a Liberal MLA for the Terrace-Kitmat region.

Underlying those negotiations, underlying those tough moments of back-and-forth and underlying those many moments, I'm sure, of the member for Skeena, his colleagues, negotiating team and his people wondering if any of these projects would ever happen, if they would ever be able to actually realize the potential on behalf of their kids and grandkids…. It's all coming to fruition.

I again want to thank the member for Skeena for the leadership, the vision and the unwavering commitment that he has demonstrated to not just his people but to all Indigenous people and, indeed, to all British Columbians, that, again, the best poverty reduction plan strategy to meet the objectives of a poverty reduction plan is to have people working, to create good-paying jobs for people.

The Prince Rupert and area focus came about midway through Mr. Stones expansive address to the Chamber on Wednesday afternoon, in among some of his themes was an interesting observation as to how the Pacific Northwest eventually did not move towards development ... but then offering up the added note that perhaps one day in the future it may move forward

Now this brings me to, again, my time in Transportation and spending a lot of days and weeks up in the northwest and along Highway 16 and in Terrace and Kitimat and right through to Prince Rupert, meeting with mayors and councillors, meeting with First Nations chiefs and councils, and being introduced to their communities, and being told over and over again the realities that they were experiencing in their communities, which was generally no growth.

That was generally reflected in their young people graduating high school and then leaving town, leaving their community. It was largely reflected in small businesses struggling to barely make ends meet. It was largely reflected in walking down through downtowns like in Terrace and certainly in Kitimat and Prince Rupert — and every second or third door or window reflected a vacant space because the town had clearly seen better days — and talking to these folks about what life will be like when these kinds of projects finally get the go, when people are finally put to work and when people can finally see that there is a reason to be hopeful and optimistic about the future in their particular community.

I remember going in to meet with the Lax Kw'alaams. It's a nation about 30 kilometres north of Prince Rupert. I believe I visited there first in July of 2015. I was there, again in a context of good faith on behalf of the province, to announce a number of projects we were partnering on with the Lax Kw'alaams. I remember the journey in, on Tuck Inlet Road. It was a gravel road, but it was pretty dusty. It was full of potholes. The bridges were one-lane bridges. You really didn't want to probably go over them at night, certainly not in fog. It was a challenge to get goods, not to mention their people, in and out of their community on a reliable basis.

We were there to work in partnership with them, which resulted, in part, in a sweeping benefits package, a benefits deal, that was signed. We were there to announce that Tuck Inlet Road would be paved, and it has been. We were there to announce enhanced ferry service for the ferry that takes people to the start of Tuck Inlet Road.

Those improvements were all made. I remember talking to the mayor of Lax Kw'alaams at the time. He was trying to express to me how important those infrastructure investments were for his people. He was trying to impress upon me the importance that jobs represented to his people. He said: "Let me take you down to the fish-processing plant, and you'll see what opportunity looks like." So we did, and there were a whole bunch of his people working hard, making some good money. He then took me to the recreation centre. I was immediately struck. It was this beautiful building, complete with basketball courts and a huge swimming pool that rivalled anything that I had seen in my own community in Kamloops.

This was, again, a small community of barely 3,000 people. He said: "You know, those jobs helped pay for this swimming pool." The swimming pool was important because, frankly, as he said to me — and this is me paraphrasing: "We had a very serious issue of suicides, our youth in our community, because our kids were hopeless. Their parents weren't working. The kids had nothing to do." They had tried all kinds of different things, but the community made a big, bold decision in supporting his idea to put this rec centre up and this pool. He said: "You know, the best part of it is when those doors opened, in the several years since, we haven't had a single suicide in our community."

That's the value of people working. That's the tangible benefit represented in investments in a community that are possible because people are working. That's how you can change lives in a community, a remote community.

Now, of course, that particular project, didn't go — Pacific NorthWest LNG. It may still one day.

It didn't go. It's unfortunate that it didn't go. But I use that experience that I had in that community to reflect the experience that I had in so many First Nation communities and non–First Nation communities throughout the northwest, as just a way to underline the importance of moving ahead with these kinds of projects, the importance of doing what it takes to ensure that there are projects like these that will provide good-paying, family-supporting jobs, particularly in rural and remote communities across the province.

Stone wrapped up his thirty minute presentation with some thoughts on the path ahead for LNG development in the province and the importance of the moment that the industry offers ahead.

Last but not least is the issue of transparency. We will be canvassing very thoroughly in committee stage the rationale in this bill for basically eliminating the requirement to bring an agreement like this one to the floor of the Legislature in its entirety for all MLAs to see and all British Columbians to see. We believe, as a fundamental principle, that that requirement for transparency is important and must be respected.

That is why we brought forward the Pacific NorthWest agreement into this chamber, and it's why we think that this agreement with LNG Canada and any subsequent agreements should also be brought before this House.

With that, I say this is an important moment for British Columbia. We've got to get this right. I am proud to have long supported the LNG industry. I look forward to the debate that's going to take place in this House in the coming days and weeks of this particular bill with respect to LNG Canada's project.

The full presentation and other discussion themes on Bill Ten for the day can be found from the legislature Archive here. Mr. Stones comments commence at 16:30PM.

The Liberal MLA's extensive notes can be viewed from the Legislature Video link starting at the 16:30 PM mark.

For more items of note from the Legislature see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.

Money for Diana Lake, promise of update on Ridley Tax Dispute among notes from Port Edward update

A number of notes for Port Edward residents have now been made
available through the District's website

March apparently was a fairly busy month for the District of Port Edward, with a number of files taking up some of their time and making for a slight delay from Mayor Knut Bjorndal when it comes to the Update for residents posted to the District website.

Among one of the notes of interest for the community was some background on a recent presentation from Ridley Terminals to the District, with 79,000 dollars to be directed towards improvements at Diana Lake Park, which the District notes will help to restore the popular spot for use by the region's residents.

The District has also found an interim Fire Chief to take over from thirty year veteran Shawn Pettit who stepped aside earlier this year, with Jason Giesbrecht to take on the Fire Chief position on a temporary basis.

Residents have been advised that recycling is now taking place twice a week in the community, with pick ups arranged on Tuesday and Fridays, as well taxpayers were reminded that the District utility bill is due for payment by March 31st, with a ten percent discount for those who pay their bill on time.

The update also called attention to a pair of issues of concern for the community, with a call for residents to obey the posted speed limits in the District as well as for more attention to the disposal of needles around the District.

One other item offers up a somewhat mysterious note to the usual fare of the monthly update format, with Council making note that Prince Rupert and Port Edward have been in discussion surrounding the Ridley Island Tax Dispute, though how far along they may be towards a resolution to the long standing dispute isn't offered up as part of the March update

The one line teaser comes as part of the undated March review for Port Edward residents, which was recently posted to the Port Edward website.

Port Edward and Prince Rupert have been discussing the Ridley Island Tax Share Agreement. A press release will be made in the next week outlining the status of our conversations.

So far, there has been no press release posted to the Port Edward portal to provide for further details for residents related to the District's view on events through the month of March.

In addition to the ongoing dispute over the Ridley Island tax issue, the two communities recently were having some troubles when it came to a mutual aid agreement for the two Fire Departments.

As regular readers of the blog will recount, the ongoing discussions have been at times an acrimonious affair, spilling out into Social media on a number of occasions as Prince Rupert and Port Edward officials traded off accusations.

While we wait for further updates from either the District of Port Edward or the City of Prince Rupert, a look back at some of the history of the Ridley dispute can be found here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.

Second Retail Cannabis location forwarded to the Province for final determination

Prince Rupert is one step closer towards retail sales for cannabis
with the City of Prince Rupert forwarding an application for a
store in the old Manson's Jewellers location to the province for action

Prince Rupert residents patiently awaiting the arrival of retail options for the purchase of cannabis are getting closer to some kind of an answer, with two applications now in the hands of the Provincial regulator for final approval.

At Monday evening's City Council session, Prince Rupert Council approved the application from Clarity Cannabis for a proposed retail store on Third Avenue West, to be located in the old Manson's Jewellers storefront.

At Monday's session the City's Manager of Community Development Hans Seidemann provided one final look at the application for Council prior to their vote, making note that the city had received only three responses to the request for comments and that the applicant had compiled with all of the requirements that the process calls for,

Councillor Nick Adey added some insight into the process as well, noting that the duty to consult with the public is that of the proponent and not the city's and how all the proper steps had been taken.

You can review Mr. Seidemann's report from page seven of Monday's Agenda, and view his presentation to Council below, starting at the 56 minute mark.

The Clarity Application joins that of The High Culture Shop as awaiting final approval from the provincial authorities, though a timeline towards when that decision is expected is not known.

Both proponents are hoping for a quick approval process in order to launch their commercial plans for the region.

You can examine some of the documentation related to the two applications from the City of Prince Rupert website here.

Further notes on the arrival of the Cannabis industry on the North Coast can be explored from our archive page.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.

Earth Hour arrives Saturday, but will anyone remember to dim the lights?

As it prepares to celebrate its twelfth anniversary, proponents of Earth Hour may be facing a bit of a lackadaisical reaction to the world wide quest to raise awareness to climate change and draw attention to the impact of it to wildlife across Canada and around the world.

The annual observation of Earth Hour is scheduled for tomorrow evening from 8:30 to 9:30 , with global participants preparing to power down for one hour to make their contribution towards sustainability, though if the results of last year an indication, the dedication is not what it once was.

In a report from BC Hydro prior to the 2018 edition, the hydro utility discovered that British Columbians still are inspired by Earth Hour, putting some of that inspiration towards turning off a light or two seems to be a bit of disconnect as the participation rate tumbled significantly from but five years ago.

A survey recently conducted for BC Hydro found that while 7 in 10 British Columbians say they are going to participate in Earth Hour 2018, actual participation has been on a steep decline in recent years. In 2008, the first year that Earth Hour went global (2008), British Columbia responded with enough lights turned off for one hour across the province to reduce B.C.’s total power use over 60 minutes by 2%. But on the tenth anniversary of the global event in 2017, B.C. reduced its consumption by just 0.3% (or just 15% of the savings in 2008).

While it may seem natural to conclude that a drop in participation in B.C. means British Columbians are less concerned about the environment, the declining Earth Hour participation numbers are not necessarily an indication that British Columbians are not concerned. In fact, the survey conducted for BC Hydro found that 79% of British Columbians think Earth Hour is important. And those surveyed are still interested in conserving electricity; they just have a different motivation than those living in other jurisdictions.

The full review from BC Hydro makes for an interesting read into how British Columbians approach their conservation efforts and what they would like to see for the future.

For those looking to re-dedicate themselves towards sustainability initiatives, Saturday provides for the launching point to get the British Columbia participation rate back up to the early days of the movement's success.

Hosted by the World Wildlife Fund, the Earth Hour website provides some background on history of the event, as well as some helpful hints on how you can expand the program in the community.

You can follow Earth Hour around the world through social media, with the Earth Hour twitter feed and Facebook page just two options for the latest notes on how the hour is being recognized world wide.

Stories and contributions are also being provided through the thread of #Connect2Earth

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.

BC Ferries Northern routes to see service increase as of April 1st

The Prince Rupert Terminal for BC Ferries is about to get a little bit
busier, as the Ferry Corporation follows through on provincial plans to
add to the number of sailings in and out of Prince Rupert

BC Ferries is taking the final steps required to fulfill the recent direction from the Provincial Government to provide for more expansive Ferry service on a number of Coastal runs and for Prince Rupert that means an increase in service for two routes that depart and arrive from the Fairview Terminal.

According to an update from BC Ferries from yesterday, the additional service will be in effect system wide as of Monday, though the Northern launch has a few issues to sort out:

Port Hardy - Mid-Coast - Prince Rupert
Haida Gwaii - Prince Rupert

Click on the above to connect with the schedules as of April 1st

Looking further ahead towards the busy summer season, BC Ferries however had a bit of bad news for the North Coast, with vessel refit and recruitment plans preventing for the addition of more service at the start of the summer.

Towards addressing some of the travel concerns for the 2019 season the Ferry Corporation is investigating the possibility of extending the summer schedule further into the fall this year.

BC Ferries also notes that even more service increases are to be added to the Prince Rupert to Port Hardy run for 2020.

On Haida Gwaii, the planned service increase for the Alliford Bay - Skidegate route will be on hold for a little bit longer. The increase to the schedule means that BC Ferries must secure another full crew for each day, as the route will change from a 12 hour per day to a 16 hour per day operation.

BC Ferries notes that they have commenced with the process of recruitment and relocation plans for staff members, they will keep the local ferry advisory committee up to date on the progress of their plans to increase the service.

You can review more background on the announcement for all 10 of the routes set to see additional service as of April 1st here.

For more items of interest related to Ferry transportation on the North Coast see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.