There was drama at the immigration committee yesterday as Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner decided to go after minister Lina Diab for the sake of putting on a show for the cameras, so that she can harvest as many clips from it as she can for social media. Now, I will be the first to say that Diab is not a great minister, and she is unable to answer basic questions on her file during Question Period, and yesterday as no exception. That being said, Rempel Garner was harassing her over things that are outside of Diab’s purview as minister.
In particular, Rempel Garner was going after Diab on foreign nationals who have committed crimes, but who have received lenient sentences so as to avoid removal. Part of this is no doubt part of a campaign of scapegoating of immigrants, along with blaming them for housing shortages, the collapse of the healthcare system, and youth unemployment, which is gross and unbecoming, but we are now in a political era where parties have let the anti-immigration sentiments fester while trying to blame it on the Liberals (and for which Carney has gone along with that scapegoating and alarmingly has adopted Nigel Farage’s language to blame it on Trudeau). But Diab has nothing to do with court sentences, and saying that she was “pro-raper” for pointing out that sentencing decisions are made by courts independent of government crosses a line, and its’ incredibly disappointing in particular because Rempel Garner used to be one of the most progressive members of the Conservative caucus, but has apparently decided to turn herself into one of its most vociferous attack dogs for the sake of ingratiating herself with the leadership after she was initially kept on the outs for her support of Erin O’Toole.
It was also noted by the committee chair that previous witnesses at the committee, who were all civil servants, were subject to harassment after their previous committee appearances because they were used for social media clips, because that’s what committees have devolved to. It’s a denigration of Parliament and it’s making it so that nobody will want to appear at a committee again, which diminishes the role of Parliament, to say nothing of the fact that it is turning MPs into a bunch of performing monkeys for the party’s social media team. MPs need to stop this behaviour before we find ourselves at a point of no return.
Ukraine Dispatch
Russians attacked power and heating systems for Kherson and Odesa in the south. Drone footage shows the devastated city of Myrnohrad nearly surrounded by Russian forces, even though Putin claims they already control it. Ukraine has attacked and damaged the Asov Sea port of Temryuk, as well as a large chemical plant in Stavropol. Five drones were spotted in the flight path of president Zelenskyy’s aircraft on his approach to Ireland, but his early arrival avoided them.
Good reads:
- Mark Carney is off to a FIFA World Cup event in Washington, where he will also have a brief meeting with Trump, as well as meet with Claudia Sheinbaum.
- Several ministers addressed the AFN special chiefs assembly, except Tim Hodgson, who was pulled from the schedule and arranged private meetings instead.
- Mélanie Joly says that Stellantis will be getting a notice of default for their decision to shift production to the US, and wants them to repay their government investment.
- David McGuinty asserts that Canada will be at its NATO two-percent spending target by March.
- The Canadian Forces undertook a reorganization to create a new Canadian Joint Forces Command that takes up lessons learned in Ukraine.
- Two members of the government’s Net-Zero Advisory Body have resigned, citing that Carney has essentially ignored them and their advice.
- Here’s a look at the aluminium export market, and why the sudden upswing in exports to Europe aren’t likely to be a long-term change.
- A potential Calgary-Banff rail line has been submitted to the Major Projects Office.
- Those armoured vehicles ordered by ICE may be produced in Rosel’s Michigan facility, but nobody seems to know entirely what is going on.
- A previous study that said glyphosate is safe for humans has been withdrawn because of ghost-writing, prompting calls for Health Canada to re-evaluate its use.
- Here is another look at Alberta’s carbon price, and why the headline number doesn’t match the effective market price.
- As the PQ gain ascendance in the polls in Quebec, federal parties are starting to make preparations to counter a potential future Quebec referendum.
- The Leaders Debate Commission told a committee that they should no longer be responsible for organising press conferences after debates (given the debacle).
- Wayne Long told the Public Accounts committee he accepts the Auditor General’s report on CRA—mostly, because he wants to quibble about the accuracy rating.
- The bill to move military sexual assault cases to civilian courts is facing pushback in committee, as the Bloc and Conservatives want amendments.
- Here is a profile of Carney’s new Quebec lieutenant, Joël Lightbound.
- Newfoundland and Labrador’s provincial court has adjourned all matters indefinitely because of a lack of sheriffs to provide security.
- An Ontario judge had to step in and suspend a rule that ensured that only medical students who went to high school in Ontario got first choice for residencies.
- Danielle Smith tabled a bill that makes future referendums easier, bars certain party names, and interferes with the Law Society and Law Foundation in the province.
- After stewing about it overnight, John Rustad resigned as BC Conservative leader (because he had no choice).
Odds and ends:
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— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2025-11-19T02:01:04.435Z
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