I'm not sure there's anybody writing the English language anywhere in the world who leans on the word "indeed" as heavily as I did here. Indeed, I sound like I'm having a stroke.
Then take a deep breath before you take another look at X or Bluesky or whatever... the s#&% has hit the fan! We need you writing about it, not comatose!
An enduring mystery is how Katie Telford continues to skate through these crises. I see little evidence that she’s competent as the PMO chief of staff and yet she’s been there for nine years and never seems to come in for any real criticism. Am I wrong? Is she good and effective? Or is the caucus just that cowed?
Oh I know it. I was a civil servant for years and will forever remember having a completely innocuous file held up in PMO for a year and a half for no good reason whatsoever, likely because KT had to personally review it.
An astute take on recent Ottawa events. Soon all the cards will be on the table for all to see. Interesting times ahead.
About Mark Carney though, there is all this fuss about him possibly joining the cabinet and becoming its saviour, but I do wonder if they did a poll outside the Ottawa bubble how many everyday Canadians really know him or whether he could influence their current thinking of Justin Trudeau.
Cath, I suspect that the reason the government creeps want Carney is precisely that most everyday Canadians DON'T know him or what/where he comes from and that they can then (they think!) mold the narrative.
I won’t miss Mr Fraser. He over saw a massive failure in immigration policy. Good riddance.
Ms Freeland has had enough I hear this morning. Good for her. The country would be in a better place if more ministers had pushed back harder on PMO control of their files.
The PMO has way too much power these days, and we’re seeing the downside of it when they are pushing policies without even the consent of the cabinet.
I don't think that the PMO has too much power....but I do think that this particular Liberal caucus is a gutless wonder. No one has had the guts to tell Trudeau to foff. Those that did earlier f'ed off themselves. I'd love to see them do that in public in full display ...so that the citizens of this country can finally put to rest their hidden thoughts about the shit-show we are paying for. We were right.
Perhaps Sean Fraser left when he understood Freeland was also leaving...? She's just announced her resignation... can a election be far behind? And what is the problem with the federal Liberals and strong women? My theory: the egalitarian nature of their leadership was window dressing... like many things with this administration, it was all talk and when push comes to shove, no action. Or... maybe Madam Telford doesn't herself like strong women? Maybe it's not JT after all? Just spitballing here...
Further... if Mark Carney does join this government as Finance Minister and they go ahead with this deeply unpopular $250 cheque, he will have blown his credentials as a good financial manager, IMO. Not to mention his prospects as a federal leader..., again, just my opinion.
I agree with Freeland, we are in a heap of trouble when Trump takes over in the States in January and we need to keep our wits about us and some gold in the chest to give us room to manouver.
Yikes. We need the opposition parties to pull the plug on this government and get something different in place. I don't know if it will be better, but a new hand on the tiller is needed, and quick.
“Our country today faces a grave challenge. The incoming administration in the United States is pursuing a policy of aggressive economic nationalism, including a threat of 25 per cent tariffs. We need to take that threat extremely seriously. That means keeping our fiscal powder dry today, so we have the reserves we may need for a coming tariff war. That means eschewing costly political gimmicks, which we can ill afford and which make Canadians doubt that we recognize the gravity of the moment.”
Cue Bart Simpson: "I knew somebody was going to say it; i just never thought it would be her."
Also, if Carney is even contemplating taking the Finance Minister job today, he needs the people around him to take his phone and throw it into a river. It would betray an astonishing lack of political instincts for him to walk into that burning building of a government.
I'm not sure there's anybody writing the English language anywhere in the world who leans on the word "indeed" as heavily as I did here. Indeed, I sound like I'm having a stroke.
Then take a deep breath before you take another look at X or Bluesky or whatever... the s#&% has hit the fan! We need you writing about it, not comatose!
As the NatPo put it, "government by improv" When will this lackwit shitweasel finally leave us to recover from his incompetence and hubris?
“lackwit shitweasel” an A+ from this ol school marm
Government by Improve :) Actually says it all ! Yes , well said !!
I belive it is Improv? Improve is Impossible with this government!
And she's gone... Man that letter! Too bad she didn't show spine earlier.
An enduring mystery is how Katie Telford continues to skate through these crises. I see little evidence that she’s competent as the PMO chief of staff and yet she’s been there for nine years and never seems to come in for any real criticism. Am I wrong? Is she good and effective? Or is the caucus just that cowed?
I belive a not insignificant number of Ottawa public servants refer to her as the "real PM"... She certainly has a hold on power!
Oh I know it. I was a civil servant for years and will forever remember having a completely innocuous file held up in PMO for a year and a half for no good reason whatsoever, likely because KT had to personally review it.
Damn! Yes!
Hey Paul. I don't like the way Americans do politics BUT, maybe they have one thing right... The shelf life on these leaders is 8 years max.
An astute take on recent Ottawa events. Soon all the cards will be on the table for all to see. Interesting times ahead.
About Mark Carney though, there is all this fuss about him possibly joining the cabinet and becoming its saviour, but I do wonder if they did a poll outside the Ottawa bubble how many everyday Canadians really know him or whether he could influence their current thinking of Justin Trudeau.
Cath, I suspect that the reason the government creeps want Carney is precisely that most everyday Canadians DON'T know him or what/where he comes from and that they can then (they think!) mold the narrative.
“The double-reverse Morneau.” That is a brilliant piece of writing.
You must have had a good weekend. This sort of insight is why I am happy to be a subscriber.
Rats will jump from a sinking ship.
I won’t miss Mr Fraser. He over saw a massive failure in immigration policy. Good riddance.
Ms Freeland has had enough I hear this morning. Good for her. The country would be in a better place if more ministers had pushed back harder on PMO control of their files.
The PMO has way too much power these days, and we’re seeing the downside of it when they are pushing policies without even the consent of the cabinet.
I don't think that the PMO has too much power....but I do think that this particular Liberal caucus is a gutless wonder. No one has had the guts to tell Trudeau to foff. Those that did earlier f'ed off themselves. I'd love to see them do that in public in full display ...so that the citizens of this country can finally put to rest their hidden thoughts about the shit-show we are paying for. We were right.
Freeland didn't blink. Good for her.
Perhaps Sean Fraser left when he understood Freeland was also leaving...? She's just announced her resignation... can a election be far behind? And what is the problem with the federal Liberals and strong women? My theory: the egalitarian nature of their leadership was window dressing... like many things with this administration, it was all talk and when push comes to shove, no action. Or... maybe Madam Telford doesn't herself like strong women? Maybe it's not JT after all? Just spitballing here...
We live in interesting times.
Further... if Mark Carney does join this government as Finance Minister and they go ahead with this deeply unpopular $250 cheque, he will have blown his credentials as a good financial manager, IMO. Not to mention his prospects as a federal leader..., again, just my opinion.
I agree with Freeland, we are in a heap of trouble when Trump takes over in the States in January and we need to keep our wits about us and some gold in the chest to give us room to manouver.
Yikes. We need the opposition parties to pull the plug on this government and get something different in place. I don't know if it will be better, but a new hand on the tiller is needed, and quick.
“Our country today faces a grave challenge. The incoming administration in the United States is pursuing a policy of aggressive economic nationalism, including a threat of 25 per cent tariffs. We need to take that threat extremely seriously. That means keeping our fiscal powder dry today, so we have the reserves we may need for a coming tariff war. That means eschewing costly political gimmicks, which we can ill afford and which make Canadians doubt that we recognize the gravity of the moment.”
Cue Bart Simpson: "I knew somebody was going to say it; i just never thought it would be her."
What would Mark Carney do
If he was here right now?
He'd make a plan, and he'd follow through
That's what Mark Carney'd do!
If Ms. Freeland does today what Mark Carney would do, what would PMJT do?
Also, if Carney is even contemplating taking the Finance Minister job today, he needs the people around him to take his phone and throw it into a river. It would betray an astonishing lack of political instincts for him to walk into that burning building of a government.
Reading this at the very moment that Freeland is announcing her resignation from Cabinet. Nice one, Paul!
So the emperor doesn’t have the wallet