Not My Duty: Commissioner

Yves Côté, now-retired Elections Commissioner, yesterday acknowledged dismissing complaints that Chinese agents were targeting Conservative Party voters in the 2021 campaign. “There is no duty to investigate everything,” Côté testified at the China inquiry. READ MORE

Knew Of China-Friendly MPs

Federal security agents in a censored 2021 election memo said they were aware China sought to “cultivate relationships with current MPs.” China-friendly Members of Parliament were not identified: 'China is interested in individuals who are viewed as ‘pro-PRC’ or ‘neutral' in key areas." READ MORE

Elections Chief Had Warning

Security agents secretly warned Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault of irregularities at a 2019 nomination meeting in a Toronto riding, Don Valley North, the China inquiry disclosed yesterday. Perrault said he referred the incident to investigators but did no more: "Am I correct those concerns related to the Liberal Party nomination?" READ MORE

Tired Of “Spewing” Over Tax

One of the Prime Minister’s parliamentary secretaries yesterday accused premiers of wasting Liberals’ time by “spewing the same lines” on the carbon tax. MP Irek Kusmierczyk (Windsor-Tecumseh, Ont.), secretary for employment, complained of “the screaming hypocrisy of premiers coming here to decry a three-cent increase on the price of a litre of gas.” READ MORE

Need “Strategies” On Trust

Cabinet needs new “strategies” to restore public trust in the Government of Canada, says an Access To Information memo. The document complained of “growing evidence” of mistrust by the public: "What are some of the strategies that can be put in place to restore the public’s trust?" READ MORE

Took Days To Notice Blunder

The Canadian Embassy in Washington admits it displayed large friendship banners that mistakenly proclaimed sovereignty over Greenland. The banners were on display more than a week before the Department of Foreign Affairs noticed, a spokesperson said yesterday: "The banner was removed." READ MORE

Kill Tax Hike, Moe Tells MPs

Cabinet must cancel a planned 23 percent increase in the carbon tax, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe yesterday testified by videoconference at the Commons government operations committee. “We don’t need to accept this,” said Moe, who launched a February 29 carbon tax strike on natural gas for home heating: "We can make changes." READ MORE

Guest Commentary

Will Amos

Summer Camp

The lessons from a great summer camp experience are invaluable. You learn about what’s important in life: family, friendship, honour, standing up for what you believe in, and acceptance of people with different views. You can’t spend a month with a group of eight people and not find yourself in disagreement at times, and you have to work your way through it. You have to reach deep into yourself and ask, what are my values and who do I want to be? It teaches you about life, leadership, integrity and confidence. It inculcates authenticity.