Two big things are up today in the House of Commons. First is a programming motion that would end the filibuster on Bill C-9, which is the hate crime bill that the Conservatives have been stalling on because the government agreed with the Bloc to remove the religious exemption to hate crimes. This has caused all sorts of howls, particularly from certain members of the Conservative backbench who are experienced propagandists, who claim that this is going to criminalise religious worship and that prosecutors will be combing the Bible to come after Christians, as though police have the time and resources to do that (as police are the ones responsible for laying hate crime charges—and are frequently the ones who don’t, even when merited). It’s stupid, it’s misleading, it’s dishonest, and the government has had enough, so they’re going to put their foot down and they will have the votes to pass this motion.

Yes, C-9 is a bill that is mostly just empty symbolism, and while civil liberties groups have their concerns that it could be used to criminalise legitimate protests, I would say that the bigger issue—the hate crimes that this is supposed to address—remain in the same position of waiting on police action or inaction. You can pass all the hate crime legislation you want, but if police don’t bother to investigate or lay charges (because most police do have a certain ideological bias), then it’s all for naught.

The other thing that will be coming up today will be a debate on the conflict in Iran, which will take place during the evening. The Government House Leader signalled this before needing to wait on the opposition parties to move anything in the Chamber, for all the good this is going to do. I’m sure the world is waiting with baited breath for MPs to read twenty-minute speeches into the records about how this violates international law (NDP, Bloc), that it’s great that the Supreme Leader was killed and how the Iran regime needs to be destroyed—completely ignoring that the Americans have no plan and will only make things worse (Conservatives), or just praising Mark Carney’s “leadership” and “pragmatism” (Liberals).

Ukraine Dispatch

A Russian missile struck an apartment building in Kharkiv early Saturday, killing ten people. President Zelenskyy says that Ukraine is discussing joint arms production with the Netherlands for interceptor drones.

Good reads:

• Mark Carney called the three by-elections to be held on April 13th.
• Here’s a look back at Carney’s ten-day Asia-Pacific trip, including some behind-the-scenes details about Carney avoiding the media and securing devices in India.
• There are concerns about Carney’s apparent plan to split up the National Security and Intelligence Advisor functions in his office.
• The government quietly released their “just transition” plan for energy workers, and it’s seen as being wholly inadequate.
• CBSA is pausing any removals to Lebanon or Israel because of the conflict there.
• The Canadian Press has enumerated seven ways that the Iran conflict is going to be felt here, particularly around gasoline prices and the possibility of more terrorism.
• Here is a brief history on why Canada has never developed foreign human intelligence-gathering capabilities.
• US Customs have searched a record number of electronic devices, including phones, laptops, flash drives, SIM cards, and smart watches at the border.
• Governor General Mary Simon speaks about the concerns Greenlanders have thanks to Trump’s threats, even if they have receded for the moment.
• Poilievre’s promise to get east coast LNG terminals built over the objections of local governments is raising concerns from stakeholders.
• Members of the NDP are worried that if Alexandre Boulerice makes the jump to provincial politics that they will be wiped out from Quebec.
• Scott Moe thinks that trade and national security need to be “kept separate,” because why not reward governments that engage in transnational repression?
• Kevin Carmichael ponders the effect of the conflict in Iran with the fact that hedge funds increasingly hold government debts, and why there is danger for markets.
• My weekend column points to why Poilievre is so keen to get the interim PBO appointed permanently, even though he thoroughly disqualified himself.

Odds and ends:

New episodes released early for C$7+ subscribers. This week, @smsaideman.bsky.social and I talk about the week in the Iran conflict and Canada's constantly shifting position on it. #cdnpoli

— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2026-03-08T23:06:30.306Z

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