Stephane Dion

Wednesday January 11, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday January 11, 2016

Trudeau Names Freeland Chief Envoy in Pre-Trump Cabinet Swap

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is shuffling his cabinet ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration, promoting Chrystia Freeland to foreign minister as Canada gets set to face a new U.S. Administration.

Freeland, who as trade minister carried a deal with the European Union over the finish line this fall, will replace Stephane Dion at foreign affairs, according to a statement from the prime minister’s office. Governor General David Johnston swore in the new cabinet ministers in Ottawa on Tuesday afternoon in the first major shuffle since Trudeau took power 14 months ago.

Immigration Minister John McCallum will step down to become ambassador to China, while Dion will resign as a lawmaker and leave active politics. Both are among the longest-serving lawmakers in Trudeau’s government.

In addition to successfully stick-handling the EU trade file, Freeland led Trudeau’s cabinet committee on U.S.-Canada relations — ties that will be tested if the President-elect follows through on his pledge to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement. The 48-year-old is a former journalist, author and Rhodes Scholar who speaks five languages.

“We have an extremely strong team that will continue to deliver,” Trudeau said at a press conference Tuesday. (Source: Bloomberg) 

Thursday September 23, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Thursday September 23, 2016 Trudeau says Canada has 'extremely highÊstandards' for extradition treaty with China Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada will maintain high standards as it negotiates an extradition treaty with China, while critics raiseÊconcerns about that country's weak record on human rights. "Canada has extremely high standards on extradition treaties," Trudeau said to reporters at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa. "We have a very, very rigorous process, that conforms with the expectations and values of Canadians, and that continues.Ó The LiberalsÊannounced last weekÊnegotiations have begun on a treaty that would allow the Chinese government to pursue someone onÊCanadian soil for crimes committed in China. The issue was raised Wednesday in Question Period, where Interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose called Trudeau's approach "shockinglyÊnaive.Ó "Our allies like Australia, the U.S. and New Zealand don't have treaties of this type with China," Ambrose said. "The Chinese government has orchestrated thousands of cyberattacks against Canada and, according to CSIS and the RCMP, has sent foreignÊagents into Canada without our permission," she said.Ê "Canadians expect the prime minister to act in our national interest. What possible benefit to Canada would an extradition with China provide us?" Trudeau said his government has succeeded in resolving consular cases in China and in increasing access to the Chinese market after the "hotÊand cold" relationship with Beijing in the Harper years. "The benefit to Canada is having a high-level security dialogue where we can talk about issues that are important to us and issues that areÊimportant to the Chinese government," Trudeau said. "We continue to be strong in our values, in our principles and our expectations of anyone weÊengage with around the world."Ê Chinese Premier Li Kegiang arrived in Ottawa Wednesday afternoon, three week

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday September 23, 2016

Trudeau says Canada has ‘extremely high standards’ for extradition treaty with China

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada will maintain high standards as it negotiates an extradition treaty with China, while critics raise concerns about that country’s weak record on human rights.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Tuesday August 30, 2016 Trudeau leaves on first official visit to China Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has left for his first official visit to China, with both countries expressing hope they can improve their economic connection. Trudeau, who is accompanied by his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau and daughter Ella-Grace Margaret Trudeau, said last week that he hopes the visit will be a reset in the relationship between the two countries. Trudeau will be kept busy, with a host of business-related meetings during stops in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. HeÕll also attend the G20 leadersÕ summit in Hangzhou. The Chinese government moved last week to take the sting out of a potential irritant during the visit, the issue of human rights. ChinaÕs ambassador to Canada said in an interview with The Canadian Press that his country has made progress in addressing international concerns in recent years. Luo Zhaohui acknowledged China has a long way to go to further improve the situation. Trudeau has said he will continue voicing CanadaÕs human rights concerns to ChinaÕs leadership. (Source: Toronto Star)Êhttps://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/08/29/trudeau-leaves-on-first-official-visit-to-china.html Canada, China, diplomacy, trade, human rights,ÊXi Jinping, suggestion, box, comments

 August 30, 2016

“Canada has extremely high standards on extradition treaties,” Trudeau said to reporters at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa.

“We have a very, very rigorous process, that conforms with the expectations and values of Canadians, and that continues.”

The Liberals announced last week negotiations have begun on a treaty that would allow the Chinese government to pursue someone on Canadian soil for crimes committed in China.

The issue was raised Wednesday in Question Period, where Interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose called Trudeau’s approach “shockingly naive.”

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Friday September 2, 2016 Trudeau and Chinese premier explore possibleÊfree trade deal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has brought Canada closer to China after agreeing with the Chinese premier to deepen theÊcountriesÕ relationships Ñ and explore a possible free trade deal. After meeting with Trudeau, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told reporters through a translator that Canada and China will launch aÊfeasibility study on an eventual free-trade deal. A senior Canadian official later said the two countries have ongoing technical discussions on free trade, but stressed that thereÊare no negotiations under way at this point. ÒThis year marks 45 years of diplomatic relations between Canada and China,Ó Trudeau said as he stood beside Li in BeijingÕsÊGreat Hall of the People, which overlooks Tiananmen Square. ÒMy father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, played an important role in establishing a partnership between our two countries when heÊwas prime minister. So, IÕm very happy to be extending that effort now.Ó The countries also agreed to hold annual meetings between the Chinese premier and the Canadian prime minister on a range ofÊissues, including national security and the rule of law. (Source: Toronto Star) https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/08/31/trudeau-and-chinese-premier-explore-possible-free-trade-deal.html Canada, China, globalization, free, trade, employment, economics, diplomacy, propaganda

September 2, 2016

“Our allies like Australia, the U.S. and New Zealand don’t have treaties of this type with China,” Ambrose said.

“The Chinese government has orchestrated thousands of cyberattacks against Canada and, according to CSIS and the RCMP, has sent foreign agents into Canada without our permission,” she said.

“Canadians expect the prime minister to act in our national interest. What possible benefit to Canada would an extradition with China provide us?”

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Wednesday August 24, 2016 Locals outraged at OttawaÕs Òdeafening silenceÓ on steel industry Union leaders, Opposition MPs and even the Chamber of Commerce are pressing the federal government to help Canada's struggling steel industry. Two Hamilton Members of Parliament, three chambers of commerce and union leaders at the local and provincial levels separately have called for help for the industry and especially for retirees and workers in Hamilton. NDP MPs Scott Duvall (Hamilton Mountain)Êand Dave Christopherson (Hamilton Centre) have written to Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains, saying the federal government has stayed on the sidelines too long. "To date, your government has not been tangibly involved in any way to help protect the jobs, benefits and pensions of current and former employees of USSC/Stelco despite commitments previously made by colleagues and the Prime Minister" they wrote. "Workers, pensioners, the business community and the City of Hamilton have all appealed for your help. So far, you and your government have been missing in action.Ó As a start, they want the government to release the "secret deal" that ended a lawsuit against U.S. Steel for breaking the production and employment promises it made to get government approval for the acquisition. They also back a call by the United Steelworkers union for a public inquiryÊinto Canadian bankruptcy law they say favours creditors at the expense of workers and retirees, and the 2007 takeover of Stelco by U.S. Steel. Duvall has raised the issue in ParliamentÊseveral times. U.S. Steel Canada, the former Stelco, has been under creditor protection since Sept. 16, 2014. It is seeking a buyer for the mills in Hamilton and Nanticoke. On the business front, chambers of commerce in Hamilton, Windsor and Sault Ste. Marie are taking a joint resolution to the Canadian chamber's national convention calling for a policy to protect the industry from unfair fo

August 24, 2016

Trudeau said his government has succeeded in resolving consular cases in China and in increasing access to the Chinese market after the “hot and cold” relationship with Beijing in the Harper years.

“The benefit to Canada is having a high-level security dialogue where we can talk about issues that are important to us and issues that are important to the Chinese government,” Trudeau said. “We continue to be strong in our values, in our principles and our expectations of anyone we engage with around the world.”

Chinese Premier Li Kegiang arrived in Ottawa Wednesday afternoon, three weeks after Trudeau visited China. The two are expected to talk about increased economic co-operation between the two countries, but human rights remain an issue. (Source: CBC News)

 

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Thursday, April 14, 2016 Scrap the Saudi arms deal, says Clement Foreign Affairs Minister StŽphane Dion says he is prepared to cancel the export permits for a controversial arms sale to Saudi Arabia if there is any evidence the armored vehicles made in Canada are used in human rights violations. ÒAs with all export permits, the minister of foreign affairs retains the power to revoke at any time the permit should the assessment change,Ó said Dion, pointing out that there is no indication that Canadian-made armored vehicles sold to Saudi Arabia in the past have been used to violate human rights. ÒShould I become aware of credible information of violations related to this equipment, I will suspend or revoke the permits. We are watching this closely and will continue to do so.Ó Speaking to reporters on his way into Question Period where the government came under fire for the deal, Dion defended the $15 billion sale, saying CanadaÕs credibility would be harmed if it didnÕt honor the contract negotiated in 2014. DionÕs comments come following the revelation by the Globe and Mail that while the Conservative government initially endorsed the deal to sell $15 billion worth of armored vehicles to Saudi Arabia Ð one of the biggest arms sales in Canadian history Ð it was Dion who signed the expert permits on Friday, a crucial step in the sale that many had thought had already taken place. When they came to power, TrudeauÕs Liberals indicated the sale was a done deal and their hands were tied. Without the export permits, however, the sale would have been stalled. Global Affairs Department documents stamped secret and released by the Justice Department this week in response to a court challenge to the sale, indica

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday, April 14, 2016

Scrap the Saudi arms deal, says Clement

Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion says he is prepared to cancel the export permits for a controversial arms sale to Saudi Arabia if there is any evidence the armored vehicles made in Canada are used in human rights violations.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Thursday March 31, 2016 Cancelling Saudi arms deal would have no effect on human rights: Dion Foreign Affairs Minister StŽphane Dion is defending a controversial $15-billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia by saying cancelling it would be a futile gesture because another country would simply supply the combat vehicles to Riyadh instead. ÒIt would not have an effect on human rights in Saudi Arabia,Ó Mr. Dion predicted, if the Liberals were to scrap a 14-year lucrative contract to build fighting machines that will be equipped with machine guns or anti-tank weapons. International censure of Saudi Arabia is on the increase as rights groups decry an erosion of human rights under the current leadership there. Only two weeks ago, the Dutch parliament voted to stop arms shipments to Saudi Arabia, and in February, the European Parliament passed a motion calling for the suspension of weapons sales to Riyadh. Mr. Dion used a Monday speech on the LiberalsÕ foreign policy to mount a hard-nosed defence of what is CanadaÕs largest-ever manufacturing contract Ð a transaction that was brokered by Ottawa under the former Conservative government and will benefit defence contractor General DynamicsÕ London, Ont., plant until 2028. ÒRiyadh does not care if the equipment comes from a factory in Lima, Ohio or Sterling Heights, Mich., rather than one in London, Ont.,Ó Mr. Dion said, naming American cities where military suppliers such as General Dynamics have a presence. More than 2,000 workers in Canada would lose their jobs if the government cancelled the deal, the minister predicted. Louise Arbour, a former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights who once sat on the Supreme Court of Canada, was in the audience for Mr. DionÕs speech, and she said the contention that some other country would just take over the contract is Òthe weakest argumentÓ that could be made. ÒThis argument that if we donÕt do it somebody els

March 31, 2016

“As with all export permits, the minister of foreign affairs retains the power to revoke at any time the permit should the assessment change,” said Dion, pointing out that there is no indication that Canadian-made armored vehicles sold to Saudi Arabia in the past have been used to violate human rights.

“Should I become aware of credible information of violations related to this equipment, I will suspend or revoke the permits. We are watching this closely and will continue to do so.”

Speaking to reporters on his way into Question Period where the government came under fire for the deal, Dion defended the $15 billion sale, saying Canada’s credibility would be harmed if it didn’t honor the contract negotiated in 2014.

Dion’s comments come following the revelation by the Globe and Mail that while the Conservative government initially endorsed the deal to sell $15 billion worth of armored vehicles to Saudi Arabia – one of the biggest arms sales in Canadian history – it was Dion who signed the expert permits on Friday, a crucial step in the sale that many had thought had already taken place.

May 24, 2011

When they came to power, Trudeau’s Liberals indicated the sale was a done deal and their hands were tied. Without the export permits, however, the sale would have been stalled.

Global Affairs Department documents stamped secret and released by the Justice Department this week in response to a court challenge to the sale, indicate the department recommended the deal because it could help Saudi Arabia in its conflict with neighboring Yemen.

January 8, 2004

However, Conservative Foreign Affairs Critic Tony Clement said there was no understanding the vehicles could be used in Yemen when the Conservative government first endorsed the contract. He is concerned that changes in the region since then mean that the armored vehicles could be used against civilians.

“The hinge on the deal in the first place was it was not going to be used to facilitate human rights abuses, it was going to be used in the fight against terrorism. If that is no longer the case then I have no hesitation in saying the deal should be torn up.”

Clement was also sharply critical of Dion, saying he secretly signed the export permits necessary for the massive arms sale. (Source: ipolitics)

 

Thursday March 31, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Thursday March 31, 2016 Cancelling Saudi arms deal would have no effect on human rights: Dion Foreign Affairs Minister StŽphane Dion is defending a controversial $15-billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia by saying cancelling it would be a futile gesture because another country would simply supply the combat vehicles to Riyadh instead. ÒIt would not have an effect on human rights in Saudi Arabia,Ó Mr. Dion predicted, if the Liberals were to scrap a 14-year lucrative contract to build fighting machines that will be equipped with machine guns or anti-tank weapons. International censure of Saudi Arabia is on the increase as rights groups decry an erosion of human rights under the current leadership there. Only two weeks ago, the Dutch parliament voted to stop arms shipments to Saudi Arabia, and in February, the European Parliament passed a motion calling for the suspension of weapons sales to Riyadh. Mr. Dion used a Monday speech on the LiberalsÕ foreign policy to mount a hard-nosed defence of what is CanadaÕs largest-ever manufacturing contract Ð a transaction that was brokered by Ottawa under the former Conservative government and will benefit defence contractor General DynamicsÕ London, Ont., plant until 2028. ÒRiyadh does not care if the equipment comes from a factory in Lima, Ohio or Sterling Heights, Mich., rather than one in London, Ont.,Ó Mr. Dion said, naming American cities where military suppliers such as General Dynamics have a presence. More than 2,000 workers in Canada would lose their jobs if the government cancelled the deal, the minister predicted. Louise Arbour, a former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights who once sat on the Supreme Court of Canada, was in the audience for Mr. DionÕs speech, and she said the contention that some other country would just take over the contract is Òthe weakest argumentÓ that could be made. ÒThis argument that if we donÕt do it somebody els

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday March 31, 2016

Cancelling Saudi arms deal would have no effect on human rights: Dion

Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion is defending a controversial $15-billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia by saying cancelling it would be a futile gesture because another country would simply supply the combat vehicles to Riyadh instead.

“It would not have an effect on human rights in Saudi Arabia,” Mr. Dion predicted, if the Liberals were to scrap a 14-year lucrative contract to build fighting machines that will be equipped with machine guns or anti-tank weapons.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Wednesday January 6, 2016 Canada stands by $15B Saudi arms deal after executions A $15-billion contract signed under the previous government to supply Saudi Arabia with light-armoured military vehicles won't be revisited after the execution of dozens of prisoners in that country, the foreign minister says. Sheik Nimr al-Nimr, a prominent Shia cleric, was one of 47 prisoners recently executed by Saudi Arabia. "We have said during the campaign Ñ the prime minister has been very clear Ñ that we will not cancel this contract or contracts that have been done under the previous government in general," StŽphane Dion said Tuesday in an interview with Rosemary Barton on CBC's Power and Politics. "We'll review the process by which these contracts are assessed in the future. But what is done is done and the contract is not something that we'll revisit," Dion said. Since the Shia cleric's execution, a diplomatic row between Iran and Saudi Arabia has escalated. Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran and Iran's top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, predicted "divine vengeance" for the execution. Dion condemned the executions and the subsequent violence in Tehran directed at the Saudi embassy. He said Canada could play a more robust role in easing tensions between the two powers if it had a diplomatic relationship with Iran, despite its questionable record. "The fact that Canada is not in Tehran is helping nobody. It's not helping the population of Iran, it's not helping Saudi Arabia, it's not helping Israel Ñ so we need to engage Iran in trying to be positive in the region," the foreign minister said. (Source: CBC News) http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/stephane-dion-saudi-arms-deal-1.3390854 Canada, Iran, Saudi, Arabia, Sunni, Shia, Justin Trudeau, Sunny, ways, diplomacy

International censure of Saudi Arabia is on the increase as rights groups decry an erosion of human rights under the current leadership there. Only two weeks ago, the Dutch parliament voted to stop arms shipments to Saudi Arabia, and in February, the European Parliament passed a motion calling for the suspension of weapons sales to Riyadh.

Mr. Dion used a Monday speech on the Liberals’ foreign policy to mount a hard-nosed defence of what is Canada’s largest-ever manufacturing contract – a transaction that was brokered by Ottawa under the former Conservative government and will benefit defence contractor General Dynamics’ London, Ont., plant until 2028.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Tuesday January 19, 2016 TrudeauÕs silence on terrorism is deafening ItÕs early still in the life of this government. Yet with Prime Minister Justin TrudeauÕs Grits closing in on 100 days since their Oct. 19 electoral triumph, a pattern begins to emerge. ItÕs one that does the new regime and its leader little credit. It smacks of an inability or unwillingness to perceive sentiment beyond the urban Liberal echo chamber. It bespeaks a lack of imagination Ñ including an inability to imagine threats to the governmentÕs capacity to endure and succeed long-term. Tunnel vision and obduracy are not supposed to set in quite so soon. LetÕs begin with this: TrudeauÕs Achilles heel. Every politician seems to have one. For this PM, for the longest time, it was his tendency to blurt silly things about serious geopolitical issues at inopportune times. There was his tone-deaf statement in an interview with the CBC that the Boston Marathon bombers must have felt excluded; his offhand praise of ChinaÕs system of government; his curious joke about the Russians invading Ukraine over hockey. Most memorably, there was the juvenile quip about former prime minister Stephen Harper whipping out CanadaÕs CF-18s to Òshow them how big they are.Ó That series of gaffes, combined with TrudeauÕs decision in the fall of 2014 to vote against Canadian participation in the U.S.-led air war against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, was a factor in the collapse in public support that led to the Liberals entering last yearÕs election campaign an underdog. That they recovered and won resoundingly is a testament to TrudeauÕs political skills and the quality of the campaign he ran. None of that mitigates that his perceived instincts and judgment about foreign policy Ñ especially as concerns the war against Islamist, jihadist terrorism Ñ are his greatest weakness. Tonally this manifests as an inability, or unwillingness, to emit more th

“Riyadh does not care if the equipment comes from a factory in Lima, Ohio or Sterling Heights, Mich., rather than one in London, Ont.,” Mr. Dion said, naming American cities where military suppliers such as General Dynamics have a presence.

More than 2,000 workers in Canada would lose their jobs if the government cancelled the deal, the minister predicted.

Friday, September 5, 2014Louise Arbour, a former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights who once sat on the Supreme Court of Canada, was in the audience for Mr. Dion’s speech, and she said the contention that some other country would just take over the contract is “the weakest argument” that could be made.

“This argument that if we don’t do it somebody else will do it I find, frankly, the least convincing,” she said. “It is not infused with moral, ethical values.”

She said there are better reasons to justify sticking with the Saudi deal and would like to see Mr. Dion “do a balancing of consequences,” such as reputational, financial, jobs and the impact of doing nothing at all, including “Canada being seen as validating a regime that is at odds with a lot of Canadian values.”

Ms. Arbour said she hopes the federal government applies more rigour to examining weapons export permits, as it has repeatedly promised. (Source: Globe & Mail)

 

Posted alongside a related article on iPolitics.

Tuesday January 19, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Tuesday January 19, 2016 TrudeauÕs silence on terrorism is deafening ItÕs early still in the life of this government. Yet with Prime Minister Justin TrudeauÕs Grits closing in on 100 days since their Oct. 19 electoral triumph, a pattern begins to emerge. ItÕs one that does the new regime and its leader little credit. It smacks of an inability or unwillingness to perceive sentiment beyond the urban Liberal echo chamber. It bespeaks a lack of imagination Ñ including an inability to imagine threats to the governmentÕs capacity to endure and succeed long-term. Tunnel vision and obduracy are not supposed to set in quite so soon. LetÕs begin with this: TrudeauÕs Achilles heel. Every politician seems to have one. For this PM, for the longest time, it was his tendency to blurt silly things about serious geopolitical issues at inopportune times. There was his tone-deaf statement in an interview with the CBC that the Boston Marathon bombers must have felt excluded; his offhand praise of ChinaÕs system of government; his curious joke about the Russians invading Ukraine over hockey. Most memorably, there was the juvenile quip about former prime minister Stephen Harper whipping out CanadaÕs CF-18s to Òshow them how big they are.Ó That series of gaffes, combined with TrudeauÕs decision in the fall of 2014 to vote against Canadian participation in the U.S.-led air war against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, was a factor in the collapse in public support that led to the Liberals entering last yearÕs election campaign an underdog. That they recovered and won resoundingly is a testament to TrudeauÕs political skills and the quality of the campaign he ran. None of that mitigates that his perceived instincts and judgment about foreign policy Ñ especially as concerns the war against Islamist, jihadist terrorism Ñ are his greatest weakness. Tonally this manifests as an inability, or unwillingness, to emit more th

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday January 19, 2016

Trudeau’s silence on terrorism is deafening

It’s early still in the life of this government. Yet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Grits closing in on 100 days since their Oct. 19 electoral triumph, a pattern begins to emerge. It’s one that does the new regime and its leader little credit. It smacks of an inability or unwillingness to perceive sentiment beyond the urban Liberal echo chamber. It bespeaks a lack of imagination — including an inability to imagine threats to the government’s capacity to endure and succeed long-term. Tunnel vision and obduracy are not supposed to set in quite so soon.

Friday, April 19, 2013Let’s begin with this: Trudeau’s Achilles heel. Every politician seems to have one. For this PM, for the longest time, it was his tendency to blurt silly things about serious geopolitical issues at inopportune times. There was his tone-deaf statement in an interview with the CBC that the Boston Marathon bombers must have felt excluded; his offhand praise of China’s system of government; his curious joke about the Russians invading Ukraine over hockey. Most memorably, there was the juvenile quip about former prime minister Stephen Harper whipping out Canada’s CF-18s to “show them how big they are.”

Tuesday October 7, 2014That series of gaffes, combined with Trudeau’s decision in the fall of 2014 to vote against Canadian participation in the U.S.-led air war against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, was a factor in the collapse in public support that led to the Liberals entering last year’s election campaign an underdog. That they recovered and won resoundingly is a testament to Trudeau’s political skills and the quality of the campaign he ran. None of that mitigates that his perceived instincts and judgment about foreign policy — especially as concerns the war against Islamist, jihadist terrorism — are his greatest weakness.

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Thursday November 19, 2015 Fact Check: Will the return of the long-form census save money? The voluntary process actually cost an additional $22 million. Making it mandatory will actually make it less expensive, (and) it will be on budget and on time." -- Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains The Trudeau Liberals, in one of their first acts in government, brought back the long-form census. Bains proclaimed the decision wouldn't cost taxpayers anything more than what is already budgeted for the 2016 census. Indeed, the minister, who oversees Statistics Canada, said taxpayers are likely to save some cash with the return of the mandatory, long-form census. Will Statistics Canada save money with the return of the mandatory questionnaire? Spoiler alert: The Canadian Press Baloney Meter is a dispassionate examination of political statements culminating in a ranking of accuracy on a scale of "no baloney" to "full of baloney" (complete methodology through this link). http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/fact-check-will-the-return-of-the-long-form-census-save-money-1.2654881 This one receives a finding of "a little baloney" -- it is largely accurate about the mandatory census costing less than the voluntary survey, but there are details missing that would help determine the actual savings figure. The government will save money because the mandatory survey is less costly to administer than the voluntary version, experts say. "There are at least a couple of significant reasons why there would be savings" Fellegi said. "I mean, not gobs of money, but savings." The savings start with the number of people hired to help with the census. For the 2016 census, Statistics Canada is hiring 1,400 people for the data centre that processes responses. Statistics Canada needs all those bodies to handle answers and followup with Canadians who don't fill in the form either because they didn't want to, forgot to, or mi

Tonally this manifests as an inability, or unwillingness, to emit more than the minimum necessary wattage in public responses to terrorist atrocities perpetrated by ISIL and its fellow travellers. That was on display immediately after the massacre in Paris last November. It was on display again this past weekend, in the aftermath of Islamist killing sprees in Jakarta, Indonesia and Ouagadougou, Burkina-Faso, that left seven Canadians dead. (Continued: Michael Den Tandt, Postmedia)