PONDERABLES
Isn’t it well past the time for the federal government to stop blanket Covid-19 spending and concentrate on specific needs?
What hold does newly-minted UN Ambassador Bob Rae have on the Liberals in order to get plum assignment after plum assignment?
And, has he ever done anything other than pontificate?
How many Conservatives wish Pierre Poilievre was still in the leadership race?
How many anti-maskers are also anti-vaxxers?
THINGS I FIRMLY BELIEVE
People who insist on their rights should give more consideration to the consequences thereof, for example causing deaths by not wearing a mask.
Dale Carnegie’s suggestion that one of the best ways to avoid stress and worry is to take life one day at a time has never been more relevant.
MEA CULPA
My item in last week’s Musings about being ashamed of PEI because a number of thugs were deliberately damaging out-of-province cars, particularly those with Ontario license plates, upset many of my friends, relatives, and other PEI followers. They were right. I should not have used the word “ashamed,” I should have said “disappointed” because it was the depth of my disappointment over those actions that prompted the item. Sorry.
TRUDEAU’S ASTOUNDING DISDAIN FOR PARLIAMENT
The Conflict of Interest Act states “A public office holder shall recuse himself from any discussion, decision, debate or vote on any matter in respect of which he would be in a conflict of interest.”
Justin Trudeau has finally admitted that he did not recuse himself from his cabinet’s completely inappropriate decision to award the scandalous multi-million dollar contract to WE Charity, an organization with which the Trudeau family, including himself, has had close ties for years, and from which his mother has been directly and indirectly paid $300,000 and his brother $40,000. It’s safe to assume that he also participated in the other decisions over the past three years that resulted in over $5 million dollars worth of sole-source contracts being awarded to WE.
Justin’s disdain for parliament runs even deeper than his father’s, which was in itself appalling.
AND THEN THERE’S BARDISH CHAGGER
Bardish Chagger, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth (whatever that entails), when asked three times during Question Period by Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre how many and what other groups were considered before WE was chosen, gave the identical answer each time, “the government followed the advice of the public service,” which many informed observers said was highly unlikely. During her five years in government Chagger has frequently demonstrated abject incompetence; but she’s obviously mastered how to follow her leader in disrespecting parliament.
Her pitiful performance proves again that until the Speaker of the House is given the power, and the requirement, to force MPs to answer the actual question asked, about the only thing Question Period accomplishes is proving that the PMO has some very competent writers of evasive talking points.
MORE ON WE CHARITY
Toronto Sun’s Brian Lilley has uncovered that the Trudeau family’s favourite “charity” has a multi-million dollar real estate portfolio and wonders whether their donors and sponsors are aware that that’s where a lot of their dollars have gone. Good question. He’s also requested details of WE’s extensive holdings. So far all he’s gotten is a thinly-veiled threat from their defamation lawyer. The stench of Trudeau’s dealings with this organization is quickly rising to the retching level. When the story first broke, a family member mentioned to me that this may turn out to be Trudeau’s most damaging ethical breach. Looks like he was right, and there’s likely more to come.
JOHN SHANNON IS ALSO RIGHT
Former Hockey Night In Canada executive producer and Sportsnet commentator, John Shannon, was also right when he said that it’s more apt to be the players rather than either a league or government that halt play should the Covid-19 situation become untenable.
For many years John was a member of Thursday’s Children, the luncheon group to which I belong and which met every Thursday for lunch until the pandemic sidelined us. (We’ll get back to it as soon we can safely do so.) To qualify for membership one has to be, or have been, involved in sports or broadcasting, so it’s not surprising that those are the two main topics kicked around each week, and I can say without reservation that John knows more about sports than anyone I’ve ever encountered.