Roundup: The demand to name names

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The day was largely marked with the discourse around that NSICOP report, and the demand that the government name names, even though that’s never going to happen because intelligence is not evidence, there may be ongoing investigations that it might jeopardise, and the possibility of reputational damage for someone who may be unwittingly involved is great—all things the RCMP pointed to in their own release on the subject. The chair of NSICOP said that any next steps are up to the RCMP, but that hasn’t stopped reporters from asking salacious questions about whether they can trust their fellow caucus-members (because remember, reputational damage).

With all of this in mind, I went back to the report, and looked for more than just that one paragraph that every media outlet highlighted. It noted that much of that witting assistance was in relation to India, which is not a “hostile power” last time I checked, even if we have particular issues with them (such as their decision to assassinate someone on our soil). I have no doubt that some MPs would see no problem in trying to “forge closer ties” with India. The other thing that I noted was that, at least in relationship with the Chinese government is that there was an expectation of a quid pro quo relationship, that engaging with them would benefit the political player in question in the hopes that the PRC would mobilise their influence networks in favour of that candidate in the riding. I suspect that in several of these cases, the MPs in question wouldn’t think of it as foreign interference, but that they’re being so clever in leveraging diaspora politics to their advantage, and believing that they can somehow outwit Chinese agents to do it. Likewise with instances of blind eyes being turned to money flowing into ridings, particularly from the Indian government—that they think they can leverage that government to their advantage and not that they’re being played, and why I don’t think that certain media outlets and political figures screaming “name the traitors!” is doing much for the level of discourse. The report did make mention of Chinese and Indian influence in at least two Conservative leadership races, but no details provided as to how or the vectors that took shape as (money, membership sign-ups under the promise of repayment, or so on). There was also mention of one former MP who had wittingly provided information while maintaining a relationship with a foreign intelligence officer, but this was being conflated with the other allegations, which is not helpful in the slightest.

As for what’s next, it would seem to me that the real question here is why certain party leaders continue to be wilfully blind as to the full details of the report, and how they continue to refuse to accept classified briefings. The notion that it would “muzzle” them is bullshit—it would mean they can’t talk about certain specific details, but it would give them a more complete picture of what is happening and if their own MPs are implicated, which would allow them to take internal party action, even if they can’t publicize the details.

Ukraine Dispatch:

Ukrainian forces downed 22 out of 27 Russian drones overnight Wednesday, and an industrial facility in Poltava suffered damage. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the emir of Qatar in advance of the peace summit in Switzerland.

https://twitter.com/ukraine_world/status/1798300991407940083

Good reads:

  • Justin Trudeau has arrived in Normandy for D-Day commemorations today.
  • Trudeau sent congratulations to Narendra Modi for his election win, and took the opportunity to remind him about the importance of the rule of law.
  • Arif Virani released the Charter statement for the Online harms legislation, and according to the department, everything is just fine in the bill.
  • The federal government has come to an agreement with the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation about a dedicated building for them across from Centre Block.
  • The PBO has released the letter from Environment Canada to prove he’s been “gagged,” but it mostly confirms the data were a draft, which isn’t usually released.
  • NSICOP released their annual report, and pointed to hundreds of documents they have requested but been denied for Cabinet confidences.
  • Here is a deeper dive into India’s foreign interference activities.
  • Certain experts in the field don’t think that the new foreign interference legislation goes far enough, and have concerns about RCMP resources to enforce it.
  • The Logic looks into how Canada’s post-Trump desire to diversify our trade relationships wound up with our being even more integrated into US supply chains.
  • A US senator is concerned Canada isn’t doing enough to block products that may have been made with forced labour, (but the Americans have their own blind spots).
  • Women’s Shelters Canada want phone companies to put policies in place to make it easier for people fleeing domestic violence to get out of family plans.
  • Kevin Carmichael parses the inflation rate cut decision.

Odds and ends:

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