Caucus day, and all of the leaders were finally in the Chamber. Thomas Mulcair led off, asking for an update on last week’s events and what new measures were being taken to protect Canadian Forces members at home. Stephen Harper said that investigations were underway, and that he had nothing to add to their public statements. Mulcair noted the concerns of privacy commissioners, both federal and provincial, on new security laws. Harper said that they were interested in the views of various players in issues, and that they didn’t think there was a contradiction between safety and rights. Mulcair noted the need for civilian oversight and the two vacant chairs at SIRC. Harper assured him that things were great at SIRC, and we need to thank CSIS for their hard work protecting Canadians. Mulcair asked about funding cuts to security agencies, to which Harper said that they have adequate resources, then repeated in English the need to thank CSIS for their dedication to the protection of Canadians. Mulcair noted their differences in debating whether the attack was terrorism, but said that they wanted to work together to keep Canadians safe. Harper kept on with the praise for security agencies. Justin Trudeau was up next, and asked about the need for a parliamentary oversight for national security agencies. Harper insisted that the current system works and “we will continue moving forward.” Trudeau pressed again for the need in French, to which Harper repeated his answer in English and got in a dig that police weren’t automatically a threat to Canadians’ rights. Trudeau noted the recommendations for oversight from the Arar Inquiry, wondering when the government would finally act on those recommendations. Harper insisted that they had acted, and repeated that CSIS works hard.
Author Archives: Dale
Roundup: A funeral felt by the nation
In Hamilton, the three party leaders attended the funeral of Corporal Nathan Cirillo, the Prime Minister speaking and addressing Cirillo’s son. The city and large numbers of first responders turned out for the funeral, and lined the streets of the procession. The Queen also sent her condolences as the regiment’s Colonel-in-Chief.
Sad exchange of letters. pic.twitter.com/s57rI0qTI4
— Stephen Maher (@stphnmaher) October 28, 2014
US Secretary of State John Kerry was in town yesterday, where he paid tribute to Corporal Cirillo, before he and Baird spoke about last week’s shootings as terrorism, and he and Harper met to discuss topics such as Russia, Ukraine, and the Keystone XL Pipeline. Michael Petrou breaks down the meaning of the visit here.
QP: Ignoring questions on oversight
It was another day without major leaders in the Commons, as they were at the funeral of Corporal Nathan Cirillo in Hamilton, leaving some sparser-than-usual seats in the Chamber as a result. Libby Davies led off, asking about the CSIS bill and the need for more civilian oversight. Stephen Blaney responded instead with a paean to Corporal Cirillo. Davies repeated the need of better oversight, citing the Arar Inquiry, the loss of the Inspector General at CSIS and the vacancies on SIRC. Blaney said that privacy rights were in the bill, and that that there was already strong oversight in SIRC. Davies pointed out the SIRC report citing how uncooperative CSIS, to the point of misleading them. Blaney thanked SIRC for the report, and largely ignored the concerns that were addressed. Nycole Turmel repeated the questions in French, and Blaney praised the bill rather than answer the issue of concerns. Ralph Goodale led off for the Liberals, and wondered about adequate resources for security services, wondering if an analysis of funding levels was being undertaken. Blaney said that the various agencies were reviewing what happened last week, but didn’t answer Goodale’s question. Goodale asked for an estimate of what incremental funding that the RCMP and CSIS would require to increase their operations, to which Blaney repeated his claim that they increased their funding already by one third. Dominic LeBlanc closed out the round, asking again about resources but in French. Blaney repeated his evasion in French in response.
Roundup: Powers to spite the Supreme Court
The government’s new CSIS bill got tabled yesterday, but because it was due to be tabled before the attacks happened last week, there is really nothing in there that responds to those attacks, and doesn’t include any of the previously reported measures like criminalizing the promotion of terrorism online. Instead, what it does is extend source protection and warrant provisions to help them conduct investigations when suspects go overseas. These provisions are largely in response to Supreme Court rulings that said that CSIS sources don’t have the same kind of blanket protections that police sources do. I’m also not sure about the provision for a warrant to investigate outside of the country, given that, well, it’s not the jurisdiction of our courts, so we would need some kind of agreements to operate in those countries I would think. The bill is also designed to help facilitate information sharing between our Five Eyes partners, but there are no corresponding accountability mechanisms, because the government insists that the current oversight from SIRC is “robust” and good enough. Never mind that SIRC faced significant delays in getting needed information from CSIS during their investigations, and that they misled SIRC in the course of another investigation. But hey, the oversight is “robust” and all.
QP: Wait for the bill
Despite it being Monday, there were no major leaders in the Commons. It left Libby Davies to lead off, asking for an update on security at federal sites. Stephen Blaney reminded her that Hill security is the domain of the Speaker and the Board of Internal Economy, but they were fully cooperating. Davies asked about the moratorium on armed forces personnel wearing uniforms in public, and Rob Nicholson said that he deferred to the judgement of the Chief of Defence Staff. Davies asked for assurances about full debate on any new security legislation, and Blaney promised that they would not overreact, but it was time to stop underreacting. Nycole Turmel picked up, asking about the National Post report that the legislation would criminalise certain Internet posts condoning terrorism, to which Blaney told her to wait for the bill to be tabled. Turmel wanted assurances that civil liberties would be protected, to which Blaney repeated his answer. Dominic LeBlanc led for the Liberals, asking for cooperation on drafting new security legislation and for detailed technical briefings on the bill. Blaney more or less agreed. LeBlanc wanted a timeline on the bill, but Blaney talked around an answer. LeBlanc pressed in French, but Blaney repeated his answer.
Roundup: Tours resume, security under review
Parliament Hill’s return to normal continues apace, with public tours resuming today. House of Commons and Senate security forces are also now looking at ways to better cooperate and merge some operations, but will remain separate administrations answering to each chamber’s Speaker. (This is because in the event of a physical confrontation between members of either chamber, Senators don’t want their own security answering to the Commons Speaker, leaving them vulnerable). Speaker Scheer on the Commons side has ordered a major security review, and will also be part of the OPP review of Wednesday’s incident, something RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson has asked for.
Roundup: Returning to normal, cautiously
Things are slowly returning to normal here in the Nation’s Capital. After an impromptu ceremony with Harper and the Chief of Defence Staff at the War Memorial, ceremonial guards again keep vigil over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. And later in the evening, the Hill once again opened to the public, with tours to resume on Monday. The police presence remains higher, but we are going about our business without hysteria. Corporal Cirillo’s body returned to Hamilton by way of the Highway of Heroes, where Canadians turned out in droves to line the overpasses to pay their respects as the convoy passed. Later in the evening, the RedBlacks game in Ottawa featured Harper and General Lawson in a ceremony to honour the two fallen soldiers this week. (And true to form, the RedBlacks lost again).
Roundup: Answers in the aftermath
In the aftermath of Wednesday’s attack, it was an emotional morning on the Hill, with ovations for Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers, speeches by the party leaders, the sight of Harper hugging the opposition leaders, and then, the reconstruction of events.
The RCMP held a briefing later in the day that included surveillance footage of the events outside of the Centre Block, and it was clear how fast everything happened, from the shooting at the War Memorial, him getting into the car, pulling it around to the Elgin entrance onto the Hill, getting out, running up near East Block, hijacking a minister’s car, driving the rest of the way to the Centre Block, where he ran into the front doors, had a confrontation with a guard that resulted in that guard being shot in the leg, then with RCMP in pursuit, the shooter headed down the Hall of Honour toward his eventual demise as he and Vickers traded shots from around a pillar. All in the space of maybe four minutes.
QP: Updates, softballs, and dodges
After yesterday’s events, and the statements and hugs on the floor of the Commons earlier this morning, things were settling back into their routine on the Hill. All of the leaders were present for QP, and most of the benches full, partisan members’ statements were eschewed in favour of tributes to soldiers and police, and of course, the Sergeant-At-Arms. Thomas Mulcair led things off by asking for an update about the events yesterday and about security measures for the public at large. Harper said that he was briefed and they are looking at options to increase the powers to surveil and to detain terror suspects. Mulcair asked for a public information session on the event to clarify any questions, to which Harper said that he understood that police would hold some kind of briefing later in the day. Mulcair asked about any measures being taken for those specific cases for those who have had their passports revoked, but Harper insisted that it was not confirmed that yesterday’s shooter had his passport revoked, and that there were those out there who wish to do Canadians harm. Mulcair asked for reassurance that Parliament would remain open to the public — not that it’s his decision. Harper noted that there have been incidents in the past but they wanted to remain in the same principle as before. For his final question, Mulcair wanted it noted that even if people disagree on how safety measures are achieved that they hold the same goals — not actually asking a question. Harper took the opportunity to opine on Canada’s record of unbroken democratic governance. Justin Trudeau was up next, and and brought up Paulson’s statement about the 90 individual on watch lists, and if he could update them on how many there are now. Harper said that he didn’t think the number had changed radically and that it was more of a question for security agencies. Trudeau asked about the passport revocation issue, and asked what actions were being made to arrest those trying to leave the country to commit terror. Harper noted that active investigations were underway, and that they remained concerned about the threat. Trudeau asked again in English, and got much the same response.
Roundup: Little hysteria in the face of a gunman
The brief recap of yesterday’s madness here in Ottawa – a gunman identified as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau shot and killed Corporal Nathan Cirillo at the National War Memorial before he headed up to Parliament Hill, made it into the building and injured one guard before he was eventually taken down. (Timeline)