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November 8, 2024

Why Is Poilievre Holding Back?

Part Two

Opinion by Dave Glover

Image: David Johnson: Radio-Canada/Canadian Press Sean Kilpatrick photo

Last week Former Governor General David Johnston testified before the parliamentary committee tasked with reviewing the alleged interference by China in our Government.

At no time has the Canadian Government been accused of any wrongdoing, negligence or otherwise. As a matter of fact, the security establishment has stated as much quite emphatically. Even the so-called whistle-blower/leaker said as much.

This trying-to-be-a scandal has never been more than unsubstantiated allegations from an alleged security insider.

I make that distinction because much of what’s been published and said in the media has distracted and distorted this fact.

Mr. Johnston was summoned to appear amid much hoopla and pearl-clutching by the opposition, who claim Johnston and Trudeau are too close for Johnston to be impartial when investigating the Government on this matter.

After all, the Prime Minister is engaged in a cover-up as the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) opposition has screamed from the floor of the house.

Never mind that Mr. Johnston has a stellar record of public service. Has assisted Prime Ministers from Both sides of the house in rendering just decisions in the past and has, in fact, been praised by the current leader of the opposition for his statesmanship.

The same opposition leader who is currently disparaging this man for his alleged cozy family relationship with Prime Minister Trudeau.

Mr. Johnston has already stated publicly that yes, the two families had in the distant past vacationed near one another but that over the past 35 yrs., they’ve had little to no contact at all. During a recent interview on the CBC, Mr. Johnston said “35 years of absence, doesn’t make a friendship”.

I bring this up because the opposition insisted Mr. Johnston appear before the committee to answer questions regarding his report on alleged interference, but during nearly 3 hours of grilling, they didn’t ask him a single question about his report.

They instead, chose to focus on his so-called friendship with Prime Minister Trudeau.

Mr. Poilievre referred to them as old family friends, chalet and ski buddies. Hello! 35 years ago! Apparently, when it’s convenient the opposition can determine what is and isn’t a friendship for this Prime Minister.

What I find particularly fascinating is how Mr. Johnston can be deemed a friend, given a 35-year disconnect? While the Aga Khan a man whom the Prime minister actually maintained a friendship with is deemed not to be a friend. The Prime Minister in breach of ethics when he vacationed with his family on the Khan’s private island.

Seriously…

It seems Mr. Poilievre and his caucus have a different idea what a friendship looks like than what is generally thought. If so, perhaps they can explain their rationale to the rest of us.

Either way, it doesn’t explain why, after much haranguing in the media about Johnson’s report and its failing why didn’t they ask Mr. Johnston about the very issue they were tasked to look into? Why did they focus on this so-called friendship and the Trudeau Foundation? Neither is relevant to the issue of foreign, specifically Chinese interference. Neither were they in anyway connected to Mr. Johnston’s brief. He was tasked with looking into allegations originally raised by an alleged leak. Not domestic charities or alleged ties to charities by Chinese state agents. He was tasked to look into interference and he did that. Much of what he reviewed falls under national security and therefore is not for public consumption. A fact the opposition knows full well.

So unless the goal is to look into a breach national security, the pearl-clutching and hyperbole is nothing more than as Johnston himself said, partisanship run amok.

Does Canada have a problem with foreign interference? Of course, it does, along with every other developed nation on the planet. The US was caught spying on its allies just a few years ago. So we know it happens. The point being made by our security establishment is that it has never risen to the level of a threat to national security.

Personally, I am far more concerned with US foreign interference than China because I know as does the NSICOP that US PAC money is being funnelled to various organizations and charities in this country to peddle their particular brand of right wing propaganda. The Government knows that  “dark money” is far more insidious than a questions about China harassing an MP or his Family. Canada has had a very mixed relationship with modern China. We supported them during their civil war, providing medical aid and assistance. We’ve signed onto long-term trade deals. And, we’ve had no problem saying no to them  on the diplomatic front.

From the Meng Wanzhou affair and the 2 Michaels to meddling in domestic affairs when they concern Chinese Canadians and their human rights, Canada has been getting the blunt end of the stick.

However, none of this has anything to do with the Prime Minister, the Trudeau Foundation or the alleged relationships between these and Mr. Johnston’s ability to do his job.

His report was very clear in what it could and couldn’t disclose. The leaders of the opposition can be read in at any time. They don’t appear to want to be. Neither Mr. Poilievre nor Mr. Blanchett has shown a willingness to be cleared. Which raises more than a question or two.

Being read in on these matters of National Security means not divulging national security secrets.

It’s not the Prime Minister muzzling them, the National Secrets Act does that.

If the opposition has a problem with being part of the government in a responsible way, then perhaps that is worth looking into. Why they are resisting. What agenda do they have?

As for determining whether or not Mr. Johnston and our Prime Minister are really friends…

That’s the job of the ethics commissioner.

Dave Glover is a well known cultural and political commentator in Northumberland. Thousands of listeners, both locally and worldwide, know Dave because of his “Drive Time” radio broadcast that ran for more than 8 years and his 15 years hosting political programs on a local cable channel.
Listen to/Contact Dave 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/legant66?lang=ar-x-fm
Online: https://holisticpoliticalchat.com/
Email: HolisticPoliticalchat@gmail.com

#daveglover, #opinion, #local, #northumberland, #politicalcommentator, #newsnownetwork, #guestcolumnist

 

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