D'Arcy McGee

Thursday, March 28, 2019

Ottawa Observations: Thursday, March 28, 2019

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for Wednesday, March 28, 2019

The SNC-Lavalin Files

SNC-Lavalin warned prosecutors of corporate move to U.S.
SNC-Lavalin warned of U.S. move, slashing workforce if no plea deal, documents show
Trudeau condemns leaks to media on judicial appointments, denies PMO was source
SNC-Lavalin's legal woes are putting a $500M federal defence contract at risk
Legal team told Wilson-Raybould that intervening in SNC-Lavalin case would be unprecedented
SNC warned of U.S. move, slashing workforce if no plea deal, documents show
Justin Trudeau condemns leak of confidential information around Supreme Court appointment
Desperate Liberals trying to turn page on Lavscam
Lametti lounges on the Leaky Ship Liberal, as Puglaas issues an SOS

Canada grounds the Boeing Max 8 and 9

Canadians held in China / China tensions

Canada needs 'reality check' on a free-trade agreement with China, says study
Canada's canola conundrum has Trudeau pinned between China and U.S.
Canola farmers caught in the crossfire from China
Chinese diplomat accused of trying to shut down Montreal event in third incident of alleged campus interference

Globe and Mail

Norman lawyer seeks access to 60 page Wernick memo to Trudeau about Vice-Admiral's case
Four years in, will Trudeau need to prove again he's up to his job?
Trudeau apologizes, says his response to Grassy Narrows protest 'lacked respect'
Quebec tables legislation on religious-symbols ban, in provisions for notwithstanding clause
Liberals may have to play the race card to cut into Tories' lead

CBC

Neo-Nazism and Islamophobia among the 'gravest threats' facing the world, Freeland tells UN
CRA executes search warrants on Vancouver properties in tax evasion case
Defence lawyers receive heavily censored memo to Trudeau about Mark Norman's case
Trudeau apologizes to Grassy Narrows protestor thanked for 'donation,' kicked out of Liberal Party fundraiser
What's in Quebec's secularism bill: Religious symbols, uncovered faces and a charter workaround
Conservatives plan to mass-text voters in 4 provinces to campaign against carbon tax
Supreme Court stresses jail should be 'the exception' for people awaiting trial
Quebec government's proposed secularism law would ban public workers from wearing religious symbols
First Nations chiefs vying for stake in Trans Mountain pipeline gat face-to-face with Bill Morneau
Agrifood sector welcomes budget's immigration pilot for foreign workers
Wrongfully convicted Halifax man's case sat on Wilson-Raybould's desk for months

Toronto Star

Justin Trudeau made a smug remark to a protestor. It's hard to recover from that
Canadian officials worry that foreign actors are trying to meddle in 2019 election
Where is the help promised Grassy Narrows?
Scheer's Conservatives lead in polls as support for Trudeau's Liberals erodes
Transport Canada to study the potential of hyperloop technology
Quebec's religious neutrality bill to override provincial and Canadian rights charters

Toronto Sun

Gaffe prone Trudeau loses his shine

National Post

PM scores a direct hit on the core of brand Trudeau
Norman's lawyers seek access to entire memo Wernick wrote to Trudeau
Opposition lashes out at 'arrogant' Trudeau after he thanks First Nations protestors for donations
Mark Norma's lawyers seeking access to 60 page, fully redacted memo Michael Wernick, wrote to Justin Trudeau

Maclean's

The RCMP have questions for Jason Kenney's team on voter fraud allegations

Global

Fiat Chrysler plant in Windsor cutting 1,500 positions
Lawyer for Mark Norman fighting for access to 60 page memo
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante slams Quebec government's secularism bill
Group wants feds to remove Sikh extremism reference from terror report
Quebec religious symbols bill would affect students planning to be teachers, police officers
Trudeau now has a lower approval rating than Trump, with Tories way ahead: Ipsos

Miscellaneous

Liberals would have trouble dumping Trudeau as leader even if they wanted to do this

Sustainability the cause for Transition Prince Rupert with a range of initiatives set for April

Sarah Dantzer provided an update for City Council on some of
the April plans for Transition Prince Rupert

The arrival of April will give residents of Prince Rupert cause to work towards a more sustainable future, with Transition Prince Rupert taking the lead on a range of projects through the month to advance attention to the issues of sustainability and community goals.

Monday evening Transition Prince Rupert's Treasurer Sarah Dantzer appeared at City Council to provide an update on the number of projects planned for the month ahead, a list which features a number of clean up initiatives, documentaries and garden swap event to name a few.

As part of her presentation Ms. Dantzer also expanded on the Green Business Pledge program that will be launched in the community as of April 1st. That program will ask that participants meet five of a list of ten criteria to take part, with stickers to be provided to those businesses that are proactive and engage in Green initiatives.

She also outlined some notes related to Documentary Night set for April 12th at the Lester Centre which is by donation, Ms. Dantzer noted how they would be working with Charles Hays Secondary Council in that presentation as a fund raiser for their organization. She also observed that one of CHSS council members is a Direct of the Transition Society and how it's been enjoyable working with him.

Ms. Dantzer also observed that the Positive Prince Rupert Group will be holding another of their clean up project this month as well set for April 21st.

As part of her presentation she asked that Council provide a proclamation to declare April as Sustainability month in Prince Rupert. Something which Council addressed as part of their Regular Council session later in the evening.

In follow up questions to the presentation, Councillor Cunningham praised the work of the organization and offered a challenge to other Council members to help out with the Rubbish round up, which he will be taking part in again.

Councillor Adey also offered up his support for the work of the organization in the community.

Mayor Brain, who was a founding member of the organization, also made note of his support for the program's plans, hailing the work that the group has taken on to raise the program to a new level.

You can take in her presentation from the City's Video Archive starting at the 47 minute mark.

More on the work of Transition Prince Rupert can be found from their website and Facebook page.

Further notes related to Monday's CityCouncil session can be found from our Council Timeline feature, while discussion themes at City Council can be explored in more detail through our Council Discussion archive.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.

Conservative MPs Kitimat bound for meet and greet with Skeena-Bulkley Valley candidate Clair Rattée

While the NDP make their plans to move forward in the post Nathan Cullen years in Skeena-Bulkley Valley, Conservative nominee Claire Rattée is making plans to host a political event in Kitimat this Saturday as she brings three members of the Alberta wing of the federal party to the Northwest.

Joining the newly nominated Conservative candidate for the riding will be MP's Michelle Rempel, Blaine Calkins and Glen Motz, with all three Alberta MP's in Kitimat to discuss issues of interest to the region on Saturday from 3 to 6 at the Hirsch Creek Golf and Winter Club.

The Skeena-Bulkley Valley candidate made note of the event through her Facebook page earlier this week. Further information related to Saturday's political event can be found from the event page created for the political get together.

The Saturday Meet and Greet won't be the only political event for the Conservatives, or potential Conservative voters this week in the region, with Ms. Rempel and the other Alberta MP's hosting a Town Hall style meeting set to discuss firearms issues related to the proposed changes through Bill C71.

That gathering is set for the Kitimat Rod and Gun Club on Friday evening from 7 to 9 PM.

Ms Rattée secured the Conservative nomination back in February gaining more support during the nomination campaign than competitor Jody Craven, who also had taken part in the quest to represent the Conservatives in the upcoming fall election.

For more items of note related the Federal political scene in the Northwest see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.

Council members receive Community Para-Medicine tutorial

Prince Rupert is one of a number of communities in the
Northern Health region to be selected to participate in the
Para-Medicine program, on Monday City Council
heard some details about the program and what it offers

Monday's City Council session made for Presentation night with a number of local groups providing some notes of interest for Council members to take in on a range of issues and initiatives.

One of the night's reviews provided Council with some background on the newly introduced Community Para-medicine program that is in place in Prince Rupert with Paramedic Cay Hulsen outlining the focus for the program and how it has been received in the community so far.

The twelve year veteran paramedic in Prince Rupert offered Council members a review of the four components which make up the program, which include:

Provide services at community events, such as Seafest or local marathon events

Promote Health issues in the community by way of public education through schools and other groups to make presentations

Wellness checks on community members in public spaces

Provide for home visits to provide assistance for those with chronic disease and palliative care by referral from Doctors.

He observed how it was introduced in the North over the last four years, and since its introduction to Prince Rupert six months ago, he has worked with a number of community organizations to expand the scope of the program in the region.

Mr. Hulsen also noted that as his workload has grown, a second position is planned to be added to the Prince Rupert ambulance station hopefully by the end of this summer.

For those that may have questions or ideas on how they can help out, he noted that he is available at the ambulance station to help provide more background on the program.

Following his presentation, City Council members offered up some thoughts on the program and how the city may be able to assist in sharing word of the initiative.

Mayor Lee Brain asked if there was anything that the City can do to help with the program delivery.

On that theme, Mr. Houlson observed as to some safety concerns for some of the residences where seniors live, noting that some of their facilities are not as secure as others in the community.

He also noted the concerns in the community over crosswalk and traffic issues in the city, noting of a recent visit to Whitehorse which he says has a traffic safety program the city could explore to see if it will work here.

Towards working with Seniors, Councillor Cunningham asked how residents could access the program if they don't have a family doctor, he was advised that they should go through the hospital in that instance.

Mr. Cunningham also suggested that the program work with the Seniors Centre to work towards fall prevention and other safety concerns for those Seniors who still live in their homes.

As part of the discussion on the services that are provided, the Councillor was advised that the program does have an outreach process for Seniors in their homes and how the city could lobby the ambulance service to ask for more resources to address more of the areas that are of concern.

The full presentation can be viewed from the City's Council Video archive starting at the thirty two minute mark.

You can find more on the program from Monday's Council Agenda package here .

BC Emergency Health Services notes that some 26 communities in the Northern health service region have been selected to participate in the program (see list here) they also provide a wide ranging overview about what the Community Para Medicine program offers here.

For more items of note from Monday's City Council Session see our Council Timeline here.

Health issues and items of interest are reviewed from our Northern Health archive pages, while a wider look at City Council discussion themes can be explored here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review

$8M for Prince Rupert, $2M for Port Edward as Province outlines amounts to be delivered to Northwest communities from funding program of February

Premier John Horgan in Terrace in February announcing plans for a
Northern Capital Fund, on Wednesday the province released the details
of how that funding will be distributed across the Northwest
(BC Gov't photo)

The Provincial government's Finance Department has put away the abacus and is now ready to deliver on Premier John Horgan's one time funding program for the Northwest, an initiative known as the Northern Capital and Planning Grant first outlined by the Premier at a February 16th Terrace event.

In an announcement released on Wednesday, the distribution of part of the 100 million dollars in funding for four regional districts and 22 municipalities across the region was outlined with the North Coast set to receive close to 20 million dollars in the funds to be put to use towards long standing infrastructure needs.

For Prince Rupert the funding will provide for $8,121,000 dollars which can be used to meet immediate infrastructure concerns or can be saved for a future opportunity or as leverage to secure other sources of funding, borrowing or grant programs to cover major infrastructure and long term planning initiatives.

Prince Rupert City Council has not to this point indicated how they plan to make use of the funds since it was first announced in February.

For Port Edward the funding will deliver over 2 million dollars to be put towards infrastructure work around the District.

Around the North Coast and Haida Gwaii the financial distribution looks as follows:

Prince Rupert: $8,121,000
North Coast Regional District: $1,712,000
Port Edward: $2,098,000
Port Clements: $2,085,000
Queen Charlotte: $2,935,000
Masset: $2,753,000

Selina Robinson, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing made note of the challenges facing communities of the region and how the funding may offer some assistance for a range of initiatives.

“We’ve been hearing from local governments in northern B.C. about the challenges they face funding much-needed upgrades to their aging infrastructure, and I know this new grant will help close the gap, With this funding, communities can start moving forward on the initiatives they need to seize opportunities now and down the road.”

You can review more of the background to the North Coast funding here.

Around the remainder of the Northwest the funding distribution looks as follows, with Terrace set to receive $8,197,000 leading the entire region in the total amount allocated to communities as part of this one time program.

Terrace: $8,197,000
Bulkley-Nechako Regional District: $5,800,000
Smithers: $6,218,000
Vanderhoof: $5,731,000
Kitimat-Stikine Regional District: $4,640,000
Houston: $4,486,000
Telkwa: $3,590,000
Burns Lake: $3,439,000
Fort St James: $3,342,000
Fraser Lake: $2,607,000
New Hazelton: $2,580,000
Granisle: $2,353,000
Hazelton: $2,148,000
Kitimat: $1,556,000
Stewart: $1,294,000

Smithers Mayor Taylor Bachrach made note of the funding announcement through his Facebook page on Wednesday.

Statements from a number of other Northwest municipal officials were included in the release notes from yesterday's announcement.

You can review the notes related to the Kitimat-Stikine funding and that of Bulkley-Nechako from the links below:

Kitimat-Stikine
Bulkley-Nechako

The funding program extends as far east as Valemount and Mackenzie and you can review the distribution of funds to the communities in the east here.

For more notes related to the Legislature see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review

Bachrach makes his bid! Smithers Mayor announces run for NDP nomination in Skeena-Bulkley Valley

The race to take up the NDP torch from Nathan Cullen now has one confirmed candidate, with Smithers Mayor Taylor Bachrach making the announcement of his intention to seek the nomination by way of Wednesday evening Facebook and twitter posts.

As he rolled out his announcement Bachrach made note of three core values for his process, the first being the power of place and how he believes that when big decisions are required that affect the region it's the voices of the people who live here that should be heard most loudly.

His second value is a concern for future generations and the desire to have our kids to be able to enjoy what we've enjoyed in the Northwest.

The third value put the focus on the state of politics which he believes is one of division and contempt and how there is a need to show respect for each other regardless of our differences and regardless of whether we agree, and especially when we disagree.

The nomination process for the Skeena-Bulkley Valley riding began earlier this month with the announcement from fifteen year incumbent Nathan Cullen that he would be stepping aside from the federal scene at the end of this current parliament, prior to the Fall election.

Since then there have been a number of names floated around the Northwest as potential candidates, but so far Mr. Bachrach is the only one to make the leap towards the federal scene.

Should he prove successful, he will secure the fifteen year hold that the Bulkley Valley has had in the riding, set to continue the work of Mr. Cullen if he finds success in the October vote.

There was no indication from the launch as to what kind of a travel schedule that candidate Bachrach may be preparing to take on, with NDP members on the North Coast no doubt interested in having him make the trip to Prince Rupert to see what he will have to say and how much of an understanding he may have of North coast issues.

NDP officials in Skeena-Bulkley Valley announced Thursday that the candidate selection meeting will take place May 25th in Terrace, with voting details still to be determined for those that cannot make it to Terrace for the May event.

As they work towards the announcement as to who will represent the party this fall we will track the developments in the nomination process here.

More notes on Federal politics in Skeena-Bulkley Valley can be explored here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.