https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies
David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Methinks the RCMP know I would love to tell the folks a lot about them hence my next lawsuit N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2019/02/liberals-risk-brand-damage-over-wilson.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-wilson-raybould-snc-lavalin-1.5021220
Liberals risk 'brand damage' over Wilson-Raybould controversy, says former Martin government official
5009 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos
I must say that Scott Reid
has a lot of nerve to offer an opinion in light othe f fact that
everybody knows he has been well aware of the file below since he worked
for Paul Martin
https://www.scribd.com/doc/2718120/integrity-yea-right
https://www.scribd.com/doc/2718120/integrity-yea-right
David Chambers
Risk? The brand is already severely damaged. That's what incompetence, arrogance and corruption will do.
@David Chambers
The brand hasn't changed since 1867.
The brand hasn't changed since 1867.
@Tim Mann wrong. the Liberals have gradually swung to the right like everything else.
Moira Wilkinson
@David Chambers
That’s what the cons hope for.
That’s what the cons hope for.
Matt Thuaii
@David Chambers
Quick vote for Conservatives. That’s what this is really about, right?
Bastions of morality, competence and humility that they are.
Quick vote for Conservatives. That’s what this is really about, right?
Bastions of morality, competence and humility that they are.
Karen O'malley
@Matt Thuaii Both the Libs and the Cons must be dumped. They no longer listen to the people they are supposed to represent.
steve wilson
@David Chambers ....
severely? Well in the eyes of the right it was always severely damaged
so they don't hold much sway with a bias of that magnitude.
David Amos
@Karen O'malley "Both the
Libs and the Cons must be dumped. They no longer listen to the people
they are supposed to represent."
I Wholeheartedly Agree
I Wholeheartedly Agree
@David Chambers
Their brand is not nearly as tarnished as the Conservatives.
4 years later and their damage to Canada is still evident.
Their brand is not nearly as tarnished as the Conservatives.
4 years later and their damage to Canada is still evident.
david kirby
@James Holden
I know here is a good idea---Lets re-elect Trudeau because of Harper four years ago
I know here is a good idea---Lets re-elect Trudeau because of Harper four years ago
@David Amos hey! where's yer signature phrase? did the comment police make ya give it up?
Lee Hall
@James Holden Their brand is not nearly as tarnished as the Conservatives.
4 years later and their damage to Canada is still evident.
_________________________________________________________________
Premier Ford's government for the wealthy and corporations is successfully turning off most in Canada's most populous province, that his government alone will greatly boost the Liberals re-election chances.
This is all in real time. No need for memories of Harper.
4 years later and their damage to Canada is still evident.
_________________________________________________________________
Premier Ford's government for the wealthy and corporations is successfully turning off most in Canada's most populous province, that his government alone will greatly boost the Liberals re-election chances.
This is all in real time. No need for memories of Harper.
Art Rowe
@Karen O'malley
And then the NDP? OMG as if we were not in enough trouble already.
Look at their history and other than Jack Layton have not and will not have a leader who can be called that.
And then the NDP? OMG as if we were not in enough trouble already.
Look at their history and other than Jack Layton have not and will not have a leader who can be called that.
Matt Thuaii
@Karen O'malley
The Liberals do their best to represent all Canadians, but end up not pleasing everyone...the Conservatives represent corporate interests and foreign powers who want our resources (opps...I mean “old stock Canadians”)...and the NDP represent...hope and change? Maybe?
I’ll take the Liberals over the current alternatives every time.
The Liberals do their best to represent all Canadians, but end up not pleasing everyone...the Conservatives represent corporate interests and foreign powers who want our resources (opps...I mean “old stock Canadians”)...and the NDP represent...hope and change? Maybe?
I’ll take the Liberals over the current alternatives every time.
Arlond Lynds
@David Chambers
Now that is different, my response gets cut while showing like it is up. ICUC is just full of new deceptions.
Now that is different, my response gets cut while showing like it is up. ICUC is just full of new deceptions.
Arlond Lynds
@David Chambers
Harpercrites will beat on their desks for a few more weeks and then some sort of review will be conducted followed by them demanding said person in charge of the review to speak publicly only to express, if the PM had asked me if he should shuffle her position before doing so, I "probably" would have advised against it. Just like with Mary and the whole blown out of all proportion island visit.
Harpercrites will beat on their desks for a few more weeks and then some sort of review will be conducted followed by them demanding said person in charge of the review to speak publicly only to express, if the PM had asked me if he should shuffle her position before doing so, I "probably" would have advised against it. Just like with Mary and the whole blown out of all proportion island visit.
Ed Marcetic
@David Chambers
Absolutely... Voted Liberal all my life this coming go around nosiree ! Trudeau has been an utter disaster and huge disappoint to the middle class
Absolutely... Voted Liberal all my life this coming go around nosiree ! Trudeau has been an utter disaster and huge disappoint to the middle class
James Holden
@david kirby
Harper still controls the Conservative Party.
He controls their wallet.
His policies are still in place.
He holds Andy's strings.
Harper still controls the Conservative Party.
He controls their wallet.
His policies are still in place.
He holds Andy's strings.
William Ben
@James Holden keeping the liberal brand alive?
James Holden
@Ed Marcetic
Your posts indicate that you are a Trump fan.
It is highly doubtful that you are a lifelong Liberal voter.
Just more disinformation.
Your posts indicate that you are a Trump fan.
It is highly doubtful that you are a lifelong Liberal voter.
Just more disinformation.
James Holden
@William Ben
I don't have to.
It is still far stronger than the ReformaCon brand.
I don't have to.
It is still far stronger than the ReformaCon brand.
Content disabled.
David Amos
@mo bennett "hey! where's yer signature phrase? did the comment police make ya give it up?"
YO MO Nope just but tis all Methinks I should be Happy Happy Happy that you noticed N'esy Pas?
YO MO Nope just but tis all Methinks I should be Happy Happy Happy that you noticed N'esy Pas?
Glen robert
@David Chambers
You do know there is no difference between a conservative and a Liberal.
We just tend to forget
You do know there is no difference between a conservative and a Liberal.
We just tend to forget
Chris Harris
@David Chambers
The silver lining for the Liberals is that this catastrophe has nearly made us forget about the Liberals inept strained relations with China and India, short end of the stick trade agreement with the USA, the fact that hypocrite Bill Morneau used low tax business dollars to buy a French villa, instead of high tax personal dollars like you or I would have to do, and the fact that key Liberal fundraiser and Trudeau buddy Steve Bronfman' loaned himself' millions of dollars in the Caymans, to make a stock market windfall, paid back the principal, and currently uses the proceeds of that windfall to invest and funnel tax free money back to Canada (all of which is ok by Trudeua and Morneau, who have their boot heels on the throats of small business owners). A real distraction.
The silver lining for the Liberals is that this catastrophe has nearly made us forget about the Liberals inept strained relations with China and India, short end of the stick trade agreement with the USA, the fact that hypocrite Bill Morneau used low tax business dollars to buy a French villa, instead of high tax personal dollars like you or I would have to do, and the fact that key Liberal fundraiser and Trudeau buddy Steve Bronfman' loaned himself' millions of dollars in the Caymans, to make a stock market windfall, paid back the principal, and currently uses the proceeds of that windfall to invest and funnel tax free money back to Canada (all of which is ok by Trudeua and Morneau, who have their boot heels on the throats of small business owners). A real distraction.
David Amos
@mo bennett YUP and NOPE
Annabelle Murphy
@David Chambers There is no
way to explain you way out of this debacle, and the more Trudeau speaks
the deeper the hole becomes. Attempting to supress the truth by
limiting who can be questioned is the fast track to a loss in the
upcoming election.
David Amos
@John Dirlik “Follow the money” remains a time-tested maxim.
Methinks that is just another one of those things I do that nobody seems to appreciate N'esy Pas?
Methinks that is just another one of those things I do that nobody seems to appreciate N'esy Pas?
David Amos
@André Carrel The problem is not in the risk, it is in the concept of "Brand".
I must say that Scott Reid has a lot of nerve to offer an opinion in light of the fact that everybody knows he has been well aware of the file below since he worked for Paul Martin
https://www.scribd.com/doc/2718120/integrity-yea-right
I must say that Scott Reid has a lot of nerve to offer an opinion in light of the fact that everybody knows he has been well aware of the file below since he worked for Paul Martin
https://www.scribd.com/doc/2718120/integrity-yea-right
Dee Ray Ng
@Lee Hall
"Premier Ford's government for the wealthy and corporations is successfully turning off most in Canada's most populous province, that his government alone will greatly boost the Liberals re-election chances."
As I've said elsewhere, out of the frying pan and into the fire isn't a solution.
It's them vs us. Certainly most have figured that out by now.
"Premier Ford's government for the wealthy and corporations is successfully turning off most in Canada's most populous province, that his government alone will greatly boost the Liberals re-election chances."
As I've said elsewhere, out of the frying pan and into the fire isn't a solution.
It's them vs us. Certainly most have figured that out by now.
Dee Ray Ng
@Art Rowe
"And then the NDP? OMG as if we were not in enough trouble already.
Look at their history and other than Jack Layton have not and will not have a leader who can be called that."
Ummm...miss Nathan Cullen's shining example of late?
"And then the NDP? OMG as if we were not in enough trouble already.
Look at their history and other than Jack Layton have not and will not have a leader who can be called that."
Ummm...miss Nathan Cullen's shining example of late?
Dee Ray Ng
@david mccaig
The Russians thank you for giving them more power than they even knew they had.
The Russians thank you for giving them more power than they even knew they had.
david mccaig
@david mccaig
I really think Trudeau is plain dumb, either that or he's clever beyond my ability to comprehend him. I say this because here he is not over morally offending the right of Venezuelans to sort out their own political problems by towing the line supporting the Americans , who have overthrown 60 governments since the end of WW2, and who have no regard for democracy anywhere in the world and only care what each targeted country can do for Americas billionaires that run their economy, BUT HERE WE HAVE Justin Trudeau who it seems is blindly supporting the US coup d'tat in Venezuela to get access to one of the worlds largest deposits of oil. GOOD LUCK to Alberta, because their tar sands will sure be dead after this brilliant piece of foreign strategy.
I really think Trudeau is plain dumb, either that or he's clever beyond my ability to comprehend him. I say this because here he is not over morally offending the right of Venezuelans to sort out their own political problems by towing the line supporting the Americans , who have overthrown 60 governments since the end of WW2, and who have no regard for democracy anywhere in the world and only care what each targeted country can do for Americas billionaires that run their economy, BUT HERE WE HAVE Justin Trudeau who it seems is blindly supporting the US coup d'tat in Venezuela to get access to one of the worlds largest deposits of oil. GOOD LUCK to Alberta, because their tar sands will sure be dead after this brilliant piece of foreign strategy.
Carson Brook
@David Chambers
yeah - and this thread well managed at source.... comments contrary to this sort of attack.... are just disappearing as fast as they are posted. Is anyone thinking we still have a democracy? I don't think it's the Russians - I think this tsunami of swarming faker headline news is all generated in the newsrooms and 'opposition' 'war rooms' getting to redefine what home grown means - slander attack fear destroy... it's why they call it a 'war room'.
yeah - and this thread well managed at source.... comments contrary to this sort of attack.... are just disappearing as fast as they are posted. Is anyone thinking we still have a democracy? I don't think it's the Russians - I think this tsunami of swarming faker headline news is all generated in the newsrooms and 'opposition' 'war rooms' getting to redefine what home grown means - slander attack fear destroy... it's why they call it a 'war room'.
David Amos
@Carson Brook Methinks you should Google your name and mine in the same search line N'esy Pas?
Buford Wilson
Justin needs to step aside.
For the good of the country.
For the good of the country.
Gerard Groenewegen
@Buford Wilson No, Buford.
I want him to stay in to be defeated at the polls. He has been too
smug and condescending for too long. That'll bring him down a notch or
two.
Stephen David
@Buford Wilson
I think many Canadians agree.....a resignation is in order.
I think many Canadians agree.....a resignation is in order.
Matt Thuaii
@Buford Wilson
He legalized marijuana in Canada, made Trump look like a fool and buried the separatism in Quebec that started under his dad.
Trudeau is the greatest Prime Minister in Canadian history.
He legalized marijuana in Canada, made Trump look like a fool and buried the separatism in Quebec that started under his dad.
Trudeau is the greatest Prime Minister in Canadian history.
Matt Thuaii
@Stephen David
What you think and reality are two different things.
Unlike the details of this “scandal”, that we know for certain.
What you think and reality are two different things.
Unlike the details of this “scandal”, that we know for certain.
Jamie Gillis
@Buford Wilson
But Gerald would never let him. Justin has the name and image that Gerald desperately needed to carry out his agenda because he knows nobody would follow him. And Justin, likely unaware that he's being exploited by Gerald, just saw this as a chance to try look like his dad. A walk with his children along the great wall, a trip to India...he won't give that up.
But Gerald would never let him. Justin has the name and image that Gerald desperately needed to carry out his agenda because he knows nobody would follow him. And Justin, likely unaware that he's being exploited by Gerald, just saw this as a chance to try look like his dad. A walk with his children along the great wall, a trip to India...he won't give that up.
@Matt Thuaii "Unlike the details of this “scandal”, that we know for certain."
Methinks that is only because you refuse to read anything I have been telling you N'esy Pas?
Methinks that is only because you refuse to read anything I have been telling you N'esy Pas?
@Buford Wilson
So says the American Ork.
So says the American Ork.
James Holden
@Stephen David
Conservatives don't need any actual evidence to convict Liberals.
Conservatives don't need any actual evidence to convict Liberals.
John Dirlik
@Buford Wilson
Trudeau is disappointing but prime minister Scheer? Scheerly you jest.
Trudeau is disappointing but prime minister Scheer? Scheerly you jest.
Tom Barry
@Matt Thuaii
"He legalized marijuana in Canada, made Trump look like a fool and buried the separatism in Quebec that started under his dad.
Trudeau is the greatest Prime Minister in Canadian history."
'Don't bogart that joint my friend' :)
"He legalized marijuana in Canada, made Trump look like a fool and buried the separatism in Quebec that started under his dad.
Trudeau is the greatest Prime Minister in Canadian history."
'Don't bogart that joint my friend' :)
@Buford Wilson <--- a="" an="" and="" br="" cor="" corporate="" country.="" have="" leader.="" leading="" ndp="" our="" parties="" party="" rupt="" two="" unelectable="" useless="" virtually="" we="" with="">
We will have another Liberal Government, no matter how co rupt they are, mostly because the majority of Ontario has already had a preview of the 'do as we say' Government for the wealthy and corporations under Doug Ford.
We will have another Liberal Government, no matter how co rupt they are, mostly because the majority of Ontario has already had a preview of the 'do as we say' Government for the wealthy and corporations under Doug Ford.
John Dirlik
@Lee Hall
Very true. I can only wishfully dream about what Jack Layton could have accomplished if still alive.
Very true. I can only wishfully dream about what Jack Layton could have accomplished if still alive.
Lee Hall
@John Dirlik <---- a="" aid="" alienating="" alone="" be="" br="" effectively="" federal="" ford="" government="" greatest="" his="" is="" john="" liberals="" majority="" of="" ontarians="" ourside="" perhaps="" premier="" re-election.="" s="" so="" that="" the="" to="" will="">
I absolutely want to see the Liberals held accountable. But the Conservatives are even more dangerous for average Canadians.
I absolutely want to see the Liberals held accountable. But the Conservatives are even more dangerous for average Canadians.
Matt Thuaii
@John Dirlik
At this point I’ll take Liberal mediocrity over Conservative willingness to pander to the lowest common denominator...or their own brand of scandals...or their wooden, unlikeable leader...or their lack of a coherent platform (aside from “Socks!”)...tendancey to pander to American whims...corporate whims...repeated betrayals of the military...farmers...fishing industry...selling out half their party and their history for a power grab...
...other than those things the Conservative are pretty great though.
At this point I’ll take Liberal mediocrity over Conservative willingness to pander to the lowest common denominator...or their own brand of scandals...or their wooden, unlikeable leader...or their lack of a coherent platform (aside from “Socks!”)...tendancey to pander to American whims...corporate whims...repeated betrayals of the military...farmers...fishing industry...selling out half their party and their history for a power grab...
...other than those things the Conservative are pretty great though.
Lee Hall
@Matt Thuaii <--- accept="" and="" any="" br="" conservatives="" consistently="" corporations.="" corporations="" donations="" far="" from="" fundamentally="" greater="" large="" matt="" other="" party.="" represent="" than="" the="" they="" very="" wealthy="">
It is absolutely impossible for a political party to have it both ways, work for the filthy rich, and look out for average Canadians as well.
It's another reason why Canadians have abhorrent choices politically.
It is absolutely impossible for a political party to have it both ways, work for the filthy rich, and look out for average Canadians as well.
It's another reason why Canadians have abhorrent choices politically.
Matt Thuaii
@David Amos
As usual, you seem confused. My thinking is based on the fact that I know each party is dirty, each one will pander to their base for power, and each one will dig into any “scandal” and stoke it forever over making good policy if it gets them one extra vote...
...I just happen to not mind Liberal dirt as much, I like their base more, and find their scandals far less offensive.
As usual, you seem confused. My thinking is based on the fact that I know each party is dirty, each one will pander to their base for power, and each one will dig into any “scandal” and stoke it forever over making good policy if it gets them one extra vote...
...I just happen to not mind Liberal dirt as much, I like their base more, and find their scandals far less offensive.
Arlond Lynds
@Buford Wilson
This actually looks like democracy, yet you want to go back to the dark decade??? Doesn't seeing Pierre Poliveau feign contempt remind you of those unhappy days??
This actually looks like democracy, yet you want to go back to the dark decade??? Doesn't seeing Pierre Poliveau feign contempt remind you of those unhappy days??
Matt Thuaii
@Tom Barry
Why would I do that? It’s legal now, and there’s plenty to go around...well, aside from the odd shortage here and there...
...but come harvest season that shouldn’t be a problem.
Why would I do that? It’s legal now, and there’s plenty to go around...well, aside from the odd shortage here and there...
...but come harvest season that shouldn’t be a problem.
William Ben
@Arlond Lynds come on only Trudeau has ever earned 5 ethics violations - 5 more than any other sitting PM
Tom Barry
@William Ben
He walks on water.
He walks on water.
David Amos
@david mccaig "Sadly we've learned onecthing for sure Justin isn't his dad."
Who cares Papa Pierre was no better
Who cares Papa Pierre was no better
harry richard
@David Amos ... pet lite
Stanley Baird
@Buford Wilson I would also
like him to stay and get defeated. Other options include firing his
closet advisors in the PMO if they put any kind of pressure on WR,
publicly acknowledge the wrong doing, apologize to WR, get the judicial
committee members to vote for a real investigation, and offer WR her old
job back at justice. Somehow I do r think he will do this but their
is a chance. In any case the judicial committee needs to its job and
investigate. I see a liberal caucus revolt coming
David Amos
@harry richard YUP
Arlond Lynds
@Buford Wilson
Harper fans talking about the good of the country? PM Trudeau winning the election and finally freeing us of the completely undemocratic Harper Government™ was for the good of the country.
Harper fans talking about the good of the country? PM Trudeau winning the election and finally freeing us of the completely undemocratic Harper Government™ was for the good of the country.
Scotty Davidson
@Arlond Lynds Harper was
deemed undemocratic for passing omnibus budgets changing our laws.
Trudeau's are 200 pages longer that Harper's. With more benefits for
corporations to break our laws without being prosecuted.
Content disabled.
David Amos
David Amos
@Matt Thuaii "As usual, you seem confused."
I am far from confused I am the guy suing the Crown (Federal Court File No T-1557-15) and you are the dude whining in a public forum
I am far from confused I am the guy suing the Crown (Federal Court File No T-1557-15) and you are the dude whining in a public forum
Dee Ray Ng
@David Amos
"Who cares Papa Pierre was no better"
I cares seeing he was way better.
"Who cares Papa Pierre was no better"
I cares seeing he was way better.
Carson Brook
@Buford Wilson
weird eh? where are the voices for Jody Wilson-Raybould to step forward and be clear about her truth to power? nowhere - because she has powerful control over uncontrolled headlines attacking Justin Trudeau and our government in her name... without her actually putting her name to anything - except letting her name become a weapon in her silence.
weird eh? where are the voices for Jody Wilson-Raybould to step forward and be clear about her truth to power? nowhere - because she has powerful control over uncontrolled headlines attacking Justin Trudeau and our government in her name... without her actually putting her name to anything - except letting her name become a weapon in her silence.
david kirby
@Dee Ray Ng
At least he was smart
At least he was smart
David Amos
@david kirby What good are smarts if you are not ethical?
David Amos
@Matt Thuaii "As usual, you seem confused."
Nope I am the guy who ran for public office six times thus far and sued the Crown in Federal Court and you are the dude whining about politicians on a webpage supported by taxation Correct?
Nope I am the guy who ran for public office six times thus far and sued the Crown in Federal Court and you are the dude whining about politicians on a webpage supported by taxation Correct?
Denis Dalore
I know I have lost all
confidence in Trudeau and won't be voting for him again. He's
definitely coming across as dishonest with his shifting stories at this
point.
Anthony Montana
@Denis Dalore Ya, Andrew Scheenernonsense will solve all your unrealistic problems.
harry richard
@Anthony Montana ... Miss May, Miss May, Miss May
Christopher Johnston
@Denis Dalore You never voted for him. Somebody supporting Scheer didn't vote for Trudeau.
John Sollows
@Denis Dalore
All the adoration for Trudeau after the last election was over the top. He is a fellow imperfect human, who did some good things and made some mistakes even during his first month.
I do have confidence in a lot of his cabinet; he had better listen to them.
All the adoration for Trudeau after the last election was over the top. He is a fellow imperfect human, who did some good things and made some mistakes even during his first month.
I do have confidence in a lot of his cabinet; he had better listen to them.
Jerry jordan
@John Sollows the cabinet
does not act on their own .....they are like clapping seals in a lot of
cases. i would agree with you if the cabinet would disagree with their
prime minister more . this goes for any political party.
steve wilson
@Denis Dalore unlike many
inhere I try to research a bit and the history of Denis makes it clear
that he is passing himself off as a former liberal but his posting
history show only a tirade of attacks on the Liberals. Hard to believe
that after a long read through that history anyone would believe your
ridiculous claim that you EVER voted liberal and certainly not in the
last election.
Too bad people feel so emboldened as to completely fabricate things rather than making a cogent argument to support their views. Spreading falsehoods and division must be easier than the truth.
Too bad people feel so emboldened as to completely fabricate things rather than making a cogent argument to support their views. Spreading falsehoods and division must be easier than the truth.
David Amos
@Denis Dalore "I know I have lost all confidence in Trudeau and won't be voting for him again"
Methinks you are not alone but trust that many would agree that the Greens, the NDP, the Bloc, Harper 2.0 and Maxime are no better Nesy Pas?
Methinks you are not alone but trust that many would agree that the Greens, the NDP, the Bloc, Harper 2.0 and Maxime are no better Nesy Pas?
James Holden
@Denis Dalore
Your posts paint you as a fervent Conservative.
Conservatives seek to hobble the government and let the rich run things through their corporations.
Harper has Trump's back.
Harper controls the Conservative Party's money.
Harper controls Scheer.
Read Paul Wells informative articles on Harper in Maclean's.
Your posts paint you as a fervent Conservative.
Conservatives seek to hobble the government and let the rich run things through their corporations.
Harper has Trump's back.
Harper controls the Conservative Party's money.
Harper controls Scheer.
Read Paul Wells informative articles on Harper in Maclean's.
Lee Hall
@James Holden <--- above="" absolutely="" all="" are="" br="" correct="" immediately="" in="" james="" mine.="" of="" post="" statements="" with="" you="" your="">
A story like this one will attract Conservative supporters as they just pile on.
You can read 100s of Conservative posts, and not find one that outlines what, if anything, a Conservative government offers working Canadians.
They are the official party of corporate Canada and global neo-cons.
They have disdain for working Canadians, more than any party.
A story like this one will attract Conservative supporters as they just pile on.
You can read 100s of Conservative posts, and not find one that outlines what, if anything, a Conservative government offers working Canadians.
They are the official party of corporate Canada and global neo-cons.
They have disdain for working Canadians, more than any party.
Arlond Lynds
@Denis Dalore
So you are going to vote Scheer? Ninty percent of what he told Atlantic Canadians during his last visit was untrue, Energy East is dead, because there is no business case for it with Keystone approved and it never was going to lessen East Coast reliance on foreign oil under any circumstance. Unless you want the tax payer to upgrade the Irving refinery for them, that is the only way it would ever happen. They won't even pay property taxes on the ship yard we built them.
So you are going to vote Scheer? Ninty percent of what he told Atlantic Canadians during his last visit was untrue, Energy East is dead, because there is no business case for it with Keystone approved and it never was going to lessen East Coast reliance on foreign oil under any circumstance. Unless you want the tax payer to upgrade the Irving refinery for them, that is the only way it would ever happen. They won't even pay property taxes on the ship yard we built them.
William Joseph Westcott Sr.
@Jerry jordan you are so
right...and that’s why Jody’s resignation was mind numbing for JT. She
gave up 200+ k in salary plus perks etc. Not many seals would throw away
susceptible tasty morsels...
Jennifer McIsaac
@Denis Dalore
I am unclear how his explanation has shifted. He has maintained all along that neither he nor the PMO pressured JWR.
He has given more details over time but it is all consistent with his first statements.
I am unclear how his explanation has shifted. He has maintained all along that neither he nor the PMO pressured JWR.
He has given more details over time but it is all consistent with his first statements.
Jennifer McIsaac
@James Holden
Yes, indeed, A Scheer government would be many times worse given a complete lack of constructive ideas from the Conservatives, nearly everything he says is either factually challenged or completely ill informed.
They exist to be wannabe paparazzi and National Enquirer reporters who slither about trying to find slime to throw.
Yes, indeed, A Scheer government would be many times worse given a complete lack of constructive ideas from the Conservatives, nearly everything he says is either factually challenged or completely ill informed.
They exist to be wannabe paparazzi and National Enquirer reporters who slither about trying to find slime to throw.
@Arlond Lynds
The other issue is that Quebec will be just as difficult for this pipeline as BC is over TMX.
It is also very true that the Saint John refinery cannot handle heavy oil as a feed-stock so it will not stop light oil imports.
Scheer lives in some sort of dreamland.
The other issue is that Quebec will be just as difficult for this pipeline as BC is over TMX.
It is also very true that the Saint John refinery cannot handle heavy oil as a feed-stock so it will not stop light oil imports.
Scheer lives in some sort of dreamland.
david mccaig
@Denis Dalore
If Trudeau is guilty and has damaged the liberal party at such a crucial time just before an election, he should be figuratively hung drawn and quartered politically.
If Trudeau is guilty and has damaged the liberal party at such a crucial time just before an election, he should be figuratively hung drawn and quartered politically.
david mccaig
@david mccaig
And i voted for the guy.
And i voted for the guy.
David Amos
@david mccaig "And i voted for the guy."
Cry me a river
Cry me a river
Arlond Lynds
@Denis Dalore
Yeah sure, like you voted for him last time. Sure didn't take your new entity long to get up to speed on all the talking points.
Yeah sure, like you voted for him last time. Sure didn't take your new entity long to get up to speed on all the talking points.
Rick Guthrie
So in Canada it's ok to allow
a crime to occur as long as it saves jobs. I'll not allow that in my
country. Will you? I don't care how many jobs are at stake.
Elma Fayerrly
@Rick Guthrie They use the same in the USA and UK. This is not unusual.
Anthony Montana
@Rick Guthrie hmmm...what crime?
Tom Smith
@Rick Guthrie too late, the
DPA assumes that there is a reasonable prospect of conviction among
other requirements. And since the DPA is/was being considered, it would
suggest that jobs, at least jobs in Quebec, outweigh criminal behaviour.
Rick Guthrie
@Elma Fayerrly
So, it's still wrong. Why can only large corporations take advantage of 'prosecution agreements'. I can't, you can't.
So, it's still wrong. Why can only large corporations take advantage of 'prosecution agreements'. I can't, you can't.
Anthony Montana
@Rick Guthrie Cause, money talks, bs walks...
Rick Guthrie
@Anthony Montana
Bribery to start with. Don't follow the news much, Ah.
Bribery to start with. Don't follow the news much, Ah.
Denis Dalore
@Anthony Montana Obstruction of justice.
harry richard
@Rick Guthrie ... let the mighty fall and hard
Anthony Montana
@Rick Guthrie SNC yes for
sure , sorry I wrongly interpreted your original statement. Government
has done nothing criminal though.
Matt Thuaii
@Rick Guthrie
Actually in the UK and USA too...and anywhere that large companies operate...because DPAs are now standard when dealing with crimes SNC Lavalin is accused of...Scheer knew that when he met with them too...which all makes it seem strange the prosecution was so dead set against using one...oh well...
Go Conservatives!
Actually in the UK and USA too...and anywhere that large companies operate...because DPAs are now standard when dealing with crimes SNC Lavalin is accused of...Scheer knew that when he met with them too...which all makes it seem strange the prosecution was so dead set against using one...oh well...
Go Conservatives!
@Matt Thuaii Dream on
William Ben
@Rick Guthrie Only if its in a
tactical riding that keeps this level of deceit in power apparently -
Alberta would not stand a chance
Richard Donald
@Rick Guthrie There would be
very very few jobs at stake. The talented people at SNC -- the
engineers and workers would not miss a pay check when they started to
work for Stantec or whatever other company would take on the SNC
contracts.
There would be huge loss of investment in Quebec pension plans because they choose to invest in an obviously corrupt company,
There would be huge loss of investment in Quebec pension plans because they choose to invest in an obviously corrupt company,
Michael Gall
@Rick Guthrie
The point is the people who are going to lose job did nothing wrong but they will suffer if the company goes down. Is that fair ?
I believe let the company survive but charge the ones who committed the crime is better way to deal with the case.
The point is the people who are going to lose job did nothing wrong but they will suffer if the company goes down. Is that fair ?
I believe let the company survive but charge the ones who committed the crime is better way to deal with the case.
david mccaig
@Rick Guthrie
"So in Canada it's ok to allow a crime to occur as long as it saves jobs."
How do know that, nothings been proven yet. This could be the RUSSIANS messing with our elections.
"So in Canada it's ok to allow a crime to occur as long as it saves jobs."
How do know that, nothings been proven yet. This could be the RUSSIANS messing with our elections.
david mccaig
@Rick Guthrie
One thing past liberal governments have known and respected , no one is above our system of government and the welfare of Canada.
One thing past liberal governments have known and respected , no one is above our system of government and the welfare of Canada.
John Chow
@david mccaig
Do you think the 'Russians' infiltrated the Globe and Mail to set this in motion?
Do you think the 'Russians' infiltrated the Globe and Mail to set this in motion?
David Amos
@david mccaig "How do know that, nothings been proven yet. This could be the RUSSIANS messing with our elections."
Yea Right Methinks desperate politcal pundits post desperate things N'esy Pas?
Yea Right Methinks desperate politcal pundits post desperate things N'esy Pas?
Lawrence Vickers
@Elma Fayerrly That doesn't make it right Elma!
Eric Meinert
@David Amos Those pesky Russians!
Felicia Kinzburg
@Rick Guthrie Not so many
jobs would be lost. Somebody needs to fulfill the building projects. So,
many other contractors (not only Lavalin) will get the bids for those
projects, will create healthy competition, and will hire engineers and
workers with experience to get the job done.
Derek Gorman
@david mccaig I would think
the Russians would WANT Trudeau in power. He is the perfect puppet.
Destroying our oil economy, destroying our armed forces, dividing our
regions..... Its not the Russians, it is our damn fool PM.
Derek Gorman
@david mccaig The Russians
would WANT Trudeau in power. The perfect puppet who is destroying our
oil economy, destroying our armed forces, dividing our country.
Felicia Kinzburg
@Rick Guthrie Not so many
jobs would be lost. Somebody needs to fulfill the building projects. So,
many other contractors (not only Lavalin) will get the bids for those
projects, will create healthy competition, and will hire engineers and
workers with experience to get the job done.
Derek Gorman
@david mccaig I would think
the Russians would WANT Trudeau in power. He is the perfect puppet.
Destroying our oil economy, destroying our armed forces, dividing our
regions..... Its not the Russians, it is our damn fool PM.
Derek Gorman
@david mccaig The Russians
would WANT Trudeau in power. The perfect puppet who is destroying our
oil economy, destroying our armed forces, dividing our country.
David Amos
@Derek Gorman Its not the Russians, it is our damn fool PM"
Relax everybody knows the Russians are laughing at the nonsense.
Relax everybody knows the Russians are laughing at the nonsense.
Ron Wilson
Bottom line guy here...
Trudeau has not answered one single question straight up. And, now, if
the PMO is limited the people whom the inquiry people can speak to, that
proves they are hiding something.
Simple as that.
Simple as that.
@Ron Wilson .... woah woah woah Ron commonsense doesn't work here
Ron Wilson
@harry richard
You're right, I guess I kinda got carried away...
You're right, I guess I kinda got carried away...
Anthony Montana
@Ron Wilson He answered, no
reason for time wasting inquiries. This issue is a factless based
political election stunt by the conservatives as they are trailing in
the polls and will continue to do so...
Jerry Eldridge
@Anthony Montana
Well there will not be a majority either with the 2 main ones, and the other possibly looking for a new leader. What's left?
Well there will not be a majority either with the 2 main ones, and the other possibly looking for a new leader. What's left?
Matt Thuaii
@Ron Wilson
Bottom line...Canadian jobs were saved and the marijuana industry is booming...
...and that’s all true conservatives really care about.
Bottom line...Canadian jobs were saved and the marijuana industry is booming...
...and that’s all true conservatives really care about.
David Amos
@Matt Thuaii Yea Right
Matt Thuaii
@Anthony Montana
Um...all those downvotes mean you’re wrong. Unless of course they’re made up...
...just like most of the details of this story so far.
Um...all those downvotes mean you’re wrong. Unless of course they’re made up...
...just like most of the details of this story so far.
david kirby
@Anthony Montana
Well Trudeau is certainly doing his best to give the Cons a leg-up
Well Trudeau is certainly doing his best to give the Cons a leg-up
david mccaig
@Ron Wilson
Its a great day for the usual culprits who come here and everyday spout Trudeau is bad, blah , blah.
Its a great day for the usual culprits who come here and everyday spout Trudeau is bad, blah , blah.
david mccaig
@Ron Wilson
If the conservatives had any integrity and truly cared about Canada , they would see this a blow to our system of government and not use it as tool to just regain power, but of course, i would think thats asking too much from this breed of right wingers.
If the conservatives had any integrity and truly cared about Canada , they would see this a blow to our system of government and not use it as tool to just regain power, but of course, i would think thats asking too much from this breed of right wingers.
David Amos
@david mccaig "If the
conservatives had any integrity and truly cared about Canada , they
would see this a blow to our system of government "
Methinks you should scroll up and down check my work and take it up with the NDP N'esy Pas?
Methinks you should scroll up and down check my work and take it up with the NDP N'esy Pas?
Jim Gurtle
It’s no longer a risk, it is
an issue, as his brand is already irreparably damaged. Between Creston
and SNC, he can no longer claim feminism, aboriginal reconciliation,
transparency or integrity.
Anthony Montana
@Jim Gurtle Save the whales and Polar bears...Climate change is real and its coming to kick our butts.
Matthias Fiene
@Anthony Montana , you on the wrong page , buddy
Anthony Montana
@Matthias Fiene Anyone with a
"axe the carbon tax" sign, is on mother nature's "naughty" list and
will be butt kicked by her...soon enough!
James Holden
@Jim Gurtle
Conservatives love to blow things out of all proportion when then perceive a political advantage can be had.
Conservatives love to blow things out of all proportion when then perceive a political advantage can be had.
@James Holden replace
“Conservatives” with “partisans” and you’d have a more accurate
statement. That is the nature of politics.
David Amos
@Jim Gurtle "he can no longer claim feminism, aboriginal reconciliation, transparency or integrity."
Methinks even the Conservatives should agree that no political party had the right to employ the word integrity since I ran in the election of the the 38th Parliament N'esy Pas?
Methinks even the Conservatives should agree that no political party had the right to employ the word integrity since I ran in the election of the the 38th Parliament N'esy Pas?
David Amos
@David Amos Go figure why this file can be in the public records of courts on both sides of the 49th parallel
https://www.scribd.com/doc/2718120/integrity-yea-right
https://www.scribd.com/doc/2718120/integrity-yea-right
Bort Smith
I wouldn't call it brand damage so much as the mask has slipped and we see the Liberals's true face.
Nothing has REALLY changed since the sponsorship scandal.
This party believes that it has a God given right to do what ever it wants because little things like right versus wrong and basic principles don't matter.
Nothing has REALLY changed since the sponsorship scandal.
This party believes that it has a God given right to do what ever it wants because little things like right versus wrong and basic principles don't matter.
Pierre Filion
@Bort Smith
When someone as been convicted of being Unethical. What would you expect.
When someone as been convicted of being Unethical. What would you expect.
Bort Smith
@Pierre Filion
Well, I go even further.
I don't think the fault is just the PM's, I think the problem is in the whole of the Liberal party. The PM is just the head of the cyst.
Well, I go even further.
I don't think the fault is just the PM's, I think the problem is in the whole of the Liberal party. The PM is just the head of the cyst.
Hamish lawrence
@Bort Smith
Trudeau himself is only a pawn of the liberal power brokers.
Trudeau himself is only a pawn of the liberal power brokers.
Jim conor
@Bort Smith They have yet to
try and bribe a sitting senator. Have also not had people including MP's
sent to jail for election fraud. And they have not threatened bird
watching clubs with tax audits. I could go on.........
Anthony Montana
hmmm...Stephen Harper is gone dude!
Bart Browning
@Anthony Montana So why bring him up?
Bort Smith
@Anthony Montana
What?
What?
Anthony Montana
@Bort Smith You mentioned
being unethical..so I thought you were talking about Harper. First and
only PM to be convicted of influence peddling in parliament.
Bort Smith
@Anthony Montana
Really can you provide an RCMP report on the matter?
Really can you provide an RCMP report on the matter?
David Amos
@Bort Smith Methinks the RCMP
know I would love to tell the folks a lot about them hence my next
lawsuit Then you can read a report N'esy Pas?
Freddie Philpott
@Anthony Montana
JT, first and only PM to be found guilty of 4 ethics violations.
JT, first and only PM to be found guilty of 4 ethics violations.
Stanley Baird
@Bort Smith Hollywood and the
liberal party both need a “me too” awaking. They both talk up
feminism but in the end their actions speak louder
David Amos
@Hamish lawrence "Trudeau himself is only a pawn of the liberal power brokers."
Methinks even a pawn should be clever enough to quit yapping after he Googles the following N'esy Pas?
Jody Wilson-Raybould Federal Court file no T-1557-15
Methinks even a pawn should be clever enough to quit yapping after he Googles the following N'esy Pas?
Jody Wilson-Raybould Federal Court file no T-1557-15
David Amos
@Anthony Montana "Stephen Harper is gone dude!"
Nope that dude hangs his hat at the Denton's law firm right beside Jean Chretien's
Nope that dude hangs his hat at the Denton's law firm right beside Jean Chretien's
Leslie Rowe
"Liberals risk 'brand damage' over Wilson-Raybould controversy, says former Martin government official"
All on Justin Trudeau's watch. Who didn't see this coming? Unfortunately, with this incompetent, in 2015 Canadians chose fashion and pop culture over brains and common sense.
Heave Ho In-com-pe-tent Tru-deau 2019
All on Justin Trudeau's watch. Who didn't see this coming? Unfortunately, with this incompetent, in 2015 Canadians chose fashion and pop culture over brains and common sense.
Heave Ho In-com-pe-tent Tru-deau 2019
Ron Wilson
@Leslie Rowe
Yep, and we got tons of "selfies" and "he's SO hot" from all the 20 year old females.
Yep, and we got tons of "selfies" and "he's SO hot" from all the 20 year old females.
Anthony Montana
@Ron Wilson yes true but I guess you are more into Scheernonsense Pillsbury dough-boy looks...hey, to each his/hers own!
Leslie Rowe
@Ron Wilson
Oh, and let's not forget pot. Because of him, youth now have more access to pot than ever before. They got "their guy" plus the Trudeau-endorsed "legal" supply chain.
Oh, and let's not forget pot. Because of him, youth now have more access to pot than ever before. They got "their guy" plus the Trudeau-endorsed "legal" supply chain.
Anthony Montana
@Leslie Rowe Ya mon, herb is life! Thank you Justin!
Karen O'malley
@Leslie Rowe Trudeau wasn't
voted *for*, he was voted in because there were no viable alternatives
and promised electoral reform. It was a vote against this type of
politics, rather than a vote for him.
David Amos
@Karen O'malley Methinks many
would agree he got more votes over the promise to legalize dope so he
made certain that he kept that promise N'esy Pas?
Rod Poirier
The damage alreafy started in 2015.
David Amos
@Rod Poirier Methinks many would agree that it started with Trudeau the Elder in 1968 N'esy Pas?
Charles Smith
Harper was not well known for
transparency but even he immediately waived attorney client privilege
during the Duffy affair. The PM may be totally innocent in this but he
is sure making himself look guilty.
Robert Swanson
@Charles Smith
Former P.M. Harper also agreed to waive privilege in the Adm. Norman affair with ties to P.M.O. and Privy Council interference... jus' sayin'...
Former P.M. Harper also agreed to waive privilege in the Adm. Norman affair with ties to P.M.O. and Privy Council interference... jus' sayin'...
David Amos
@Robert Swanson Methiinks thats saying a lot N'esy Pas?
Phil Mein
@David Amos Methinks? Jar Jar Binks..? is that you?
Content disabled.
David Amos
David Amos
@Phil Mein Google Fundy Royal Debate
Phil Mein
@David Amos You bring up soe
very well thought out points, not once did you say "Methinks" though!
Unfortunately , even though I think you would have been a fine choice in
the election, you had no chance due to your appearance , as shallow as
it is, the long hair and beard probably didn't help.
David Amos
@Phil Mein You forgot my lawsuit
Phil Mein
@David Amos Lawsuit ?
@Phil Mein Check the comments
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fundy-royal-riding-profile-1.3274276
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fundy-royal-riding-profile-1.3274276
David Amos
@Phil Mein Federal Court File no T-1557-15
David Amos
@Phil Mein Google David Amos wiretap
David Amos
@Phil Mein Still think I am shallow?
David Amos
@Phil Mein Google RCMP Sussex David Amos
Liberals risk 'brand damage' over Wilson-Raybould controversy, says former Martin government official
Scott Reid: Government 'knew it was headed for trouble' with comments about former attorney general
In the week since the SNC-Lavalin story broke, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has changed his talking points several times.
After the story first hit, Trudeau insisted that the allegation in the Globe and Mail story — that Jody Wilson-Raybould had been pressured by the Prime Minister's Office while serving as minister of justice to help the Quebec-based engineering firm SNC-Lavalin avoid criminal prosecution in a bribery case — was false.
He said Wilson-Raybould's continued presence in cabinet, as minister for Veterans Affairs, spoke for itself.
Then she quit — and the message changed. Wilson-Raybould, Trudeau said, had never raised with him the suggestion that the PMO was pressuring her to go easy on SNC-Lavalin, and he made it clear to her that any decisions on the file were hers alone to make.
Scott Reid, who served as the director of communications to Martin during the sponsorship scandal that led to a public inquiry, said that if enough voters conclude that Wilson-Raybould was thrown under the bus, it could leave a stain on the Liberals that would be hard to shed in an election year.
"If a conclusion was reached that that suggests that the only way to defend the actions and the integrity of the government is to put the boots to a former cabinet minister — who is a woman, who is Indigenous, who is from British Columbia, who's very sympathetic — then I think that would have brand damage," he told host Chris Hall on CBC Radio's The House.
"And I think that's why you've seen the government shift its tone over the course of the week, because I think it knew it was headed for trouble on that front."
Wilson-Raybould has yet to speak publicly on the matter. Reid said the story is so murky at this point that it might be worth calling in a former Supreme Court justice to do a month-long investigation and release its conclusion publicly.
The Globe and Mail reported last week that officials in Trudeau's office pressured Wilson-Raybould to tell the director of public prosecutions to draft a 'deferred prosecution agreement' that would allow SNC-Lavalin to avoid trial on bribery and fraud charges in relation to contracts in Libya.
Treasury Board President Jane Philpott took to Twitter after news of the resignation emerged to express her support for Wilson-Raybould.
Liberal government insiders have said in the past that Wilson-Raybould was difficult to work with.
Procurement Minister Carla Qualtrough told The House she didn't share that point of view, but also said she believed the prime minister's explanation of the SNC-Lavalin affair.
The National
SNC-Lavalin affair timeline key to claims of PMO pressure on Jody Wilson-Raybould
In the SNC-Lavalin
affair, one of the key questions remaining is who exactly said what to
then-Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould, and did it amount to
pressure to treat the company lightly. 3:26
Trudeau said Friday that Wilson-Raybould at one point asked him if he was going to encourage her to make a particular decision on the SNC-Lavalin file.
"There were many discussions going on, which is why Jody Wilson-Raybould asked me if I was directing her or going to direct her to take a particular decision," Trudeau said. "And I of course said no, that it was her decision to make and I expected her to make it."
Qualtrough said she wouldn't speculate on why Wilson-Raybould and Trudeau spoke about the matter or what was discussed, but said it's not unusual to have talks about a massive company like SNC-Lavalin, or a new legal tool like the deferred prosecution agreements.
A comms strategy
Reid said that if he were advising Trudeau now, he'd tell him to stanch the bleeding by answering media questions as clearly as possible and to find a way to wrap the controversy up quickly.
He admitted, however, that it's not as easy as it sounds.
"If you work in the Prime Minister's Office, you'd prefer it to not have to peel the onion completely," Reid said. "Sausage-making is ugly."
The National
How is the SNC-Lavalin affair impacting the Liberal Party brand ahead of the election? | At Issue
The SNC-Lavalin affair
has sparked two government-related probes and led to the resignation of a
cabinet minister. What’s been the impact on the Liberal Party brand?
Our At Issue panel is here to discuss. 11:46
At the beginning of the meeting, the Liberals tabled their own motion that severely limited the witness list, leaving only three names. Attempts to amend the motion failed.
Reid admitted it doesn't look good when a government shuts down lines of inquiry, but he argued that, due to solicitor-client privilege and cabinet confidence issues, it's almost impossible to have those conversations in committee without the dialogue descending into a "political gong show."
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-wednesday-edition-1.5017658/no-question-jody-wilson-raybould-will-tell-the-truth-about-why-she-quit-says-her-father-1.5018242
'No question' Jody Wilson-Raybould will tell the truth about why she quit, says her father
Chief Bill Wilson says when his daughter speaks up, it 'could very well topple a government'
Jody Wilson-Raybould will undoubtedly "come forthright and honest and tell exactly what went on" between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, says the former justice minister's father.
Wilson-Raybould quit the Liberal cabinet Tuesday, days after the Globe and Mail reported she was pressured by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to help Quebec-based engineering firm SNC-Lavalin avoid criminal prosecution on bribery and fraud charges in relation to contracts in Libya between 2001 and 2011.
Trudeau denies the allegations and Wilson-Raybould has, so far, remained tight-lipped.
But her father Bill Wilson, a Kwakwaka'wakw hereditary chief, says he knows she will tell Canadians the truth because she was raised with integrity by two strong Indigenous women.
Here is part of his conversation with As It Happens host Carol Off.
Chief Wilson you just heard the prime minister say that if your daughter had a problem, she didn't make those concerns known to him, and it was up to her to do so. What do you say to him?
I think he's full of baloney, obviously.
For him to boldface tell the Canadian public that my daughter is a liar, to me, is as big a farce as his commitment to Aboriginal people.
I certainly hope that we can get to the bottom of this, not just as an Aboriginal person and not just as the father of the former justice minister, but as a Canadian citizen. Because the foundation of the rule of law, as far as I'm concerned — and I'm trained in the law — has been violated.
Is he going to scapegoat a woman who happens to be a Native person, who happens to be a trailblazer, for mistakes made either by him directly or indirectly by his people?
If she had something to complain about … she should have come to him, and she did not. That, to me, is pretty much close to telling the Canadian public that Jody Wilson is a liar. That is absolutely ridiculous.
The reality is that the cabinet system is geared to the prime minister being the boss. Now you have a conversation with the prime minister and the prime minister says he's concerned — what would you do? You might very well just shut up.
Fortunately, Jody hasn't done that. And it's fortunate for the Canadian public that she had the integrity to question it.
I hope to hear her story of exactly what went on.
No, no. I realized when she got elected — especially when she got into cabinet — that, you know, she would be prohibited even from very casual conversation.
And she certainly wouldn't tell me anything about what went on there. I mean, she's an honest person and she was raised properly, and the reality is that, you know, after the fact, I'm sure she'll tell me the whole story.
I'm sure you know better than I, but it appears your daughter is not a quitter. She's not the sort of person who quits. So what would make her quit the cabinet?
I think because she was prohibited from telling the truth.
For her to keep the extra $200,000 in salary, which cabinet ministers make more than MPs do, as well as all the perks that go along with it, would be very, very hard to resist. I'm not entirely sure that I would be able to resist that.
But finally, I think, she realized that in order to tell the truth that she would have to come clean and do it. Now she's done it, and I'm very proud of doing that.
She hasn't said that to me, but knowing how she was raised by her mother and by my mother, and the name that she had 'Puglaas,' which is a woman of high rank and nobility, ... indicates to me that there's no question she will come forthright and honest and tell exactly what went on.
I'm afraid that in all probability this is going to cause a huge scandal, if it hasn't already done that.
When you say it's going to cause a lot of damage, a lot of scandal, do you think that when your daughter finally speaks and tells this story, that it will cause serious damage to the Liberal Party?
It could very well topple a government. I mean, it is that serious.
But ... that's not her purpose. I mean, she is standing up in a position of power that no Indian is ever had before to make a decision about whether or not you give a free pass to a company who freely admitted that it was doing illegal activities. And she said no. At least, that's my assumption.
Yeah, it will do damage to the Liberal Party [as] all these things come out in the wash. But don't you think it's better to do the laundry and get it over and start anew?
And maybe she will be the prime minister.
I have two beautiful daughters who are talented and educated and cultured. ... Both of them are our quality people that were raised properly by women.
And that's one of the things that really bothers me about this is it's not only about an Aboriginal person as the highest ranking legal office. You have a woman. And I don't know what that says to women generally that they can be treated this shabbily.
Written by Sheena Goodyear with files from Sarah Jackson. Interview produced by Kevin Robertson. Q&A has been edited by length and clarity.
Part 1: 'No question' Jody Wilson-Raybould will tell the truth about why she quit, says her father
SNC Lavalin: Chief Bill Wilson
Guest: Chief Bill Wilson
NaD:
Justin Trudeau wasn't going easy on his former Attorney General this
afternoon. The Prime Minister was in Sudbury, Ontario. He was questioned
about Jody Wilson-Raybould's resignation -- and allegations that she'd
been improperly pressured about the criminal prosecution of SNC-Lavalin.
Here's what the Prime Minister had to say.
SOUNDCLIP
PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU:
As a government, we take very seriously our responsibility to grow the
economy, to invest in jobs, to invest in a strong future for Canadians.
But the way we do that is always consistent with the rules and the norms
and the principles of the independence of the judiciary and the rule of
law. If anyone -- any minister, including the former Attorney General,
felt that there was -- that we were not living up to that standard, it
was her responsibility to come and speak to me directly about that. She
did not do that in the fall. And she accepted another position in this
government when I made the cabinet shuffle. So we are going to continue
to work hard, to build a stronger economy, and always respect the rule
of law in this country.
NaD:
That was Prime Minister Trudeau speaking to reporters in Sudbury,
Ontario. As we go to air Jody Wilson-Raybould has yet to respond. Nor
has she explained her resignation. Bill Wilson is Jody Wilson-Raybould's
father. We reached him in Vancouver.
CO:
Chief Wilson you just heard the Prime Minister say that if your
daughter had a problem, she didn't make those concerns known to him --
and it was up to her to do so. What do you say to him?
BILL WILSON:
Well I think he is full of baloney. Obviously this is the fifth version
of his truth. The reality is now he's campaigning in Quebec through
this fiasco. And the SNC-Lavalin of course, a major major contributor to
the Liberal Party, and a major contributor to the economy of Quebec. I
understand and appreciate that. But the reality is -- for him to
boldface tell the Canadian public that my daughter is a liar, to me, is
as big a farce as his commitment to Aboriginal people. He lied about
that. I happen to believe that he's lying about this as well and I
certainly hope that we can get to the bottom of this -- not just as an
Aboriginal person and not just as the father of the former Justice
Minister, but as a Canadian citizen because the foundation of the rule
of law has been violated.
CO: When you say that he's accusing her of being a liar, what are you referring to?
BW:
Well if she had something to complain about...she should have come to
him, and she did not -- that to me, is pretty much close to telling the
Canadian public that Jody Wilson is a liar. That is absolutely
ridiculous. I mean the reality is that the cabinet system is geared to
the prime minister being the boss. I mean you are really lower down on
the hierarchy. And when he kicked her out of the Attorney General's
portfolio -- I mean he was exercising his authority of control over her.
She is removed from one of the highest offices in the country. She's
the highest legal authority. She's a woman. She's a native. She's a
trailblazer. She's an example to all Canadians. And then she's demoted
-- kicked in the teeth by the Prime Minister, and then given the carrot
in front of the donkey -- low cabinet portfolio -- the cabinet
portfolio, with all due respect to veterans. The only one lower than
that is Indian Affairs -- and that's already occupied by two people who
are not doing anything. So there's no question about the fact that she
was demoted -- and I think put, if we can give her a cabinet post maybe
she's dumb enough to accept it and then she'll keep quiet.
CO: Has your daughter talked to you even indirectly? Has she given you any indication as to what happened?
BW:
No. No. I realized when she got elected and especially when she got
into cabinet, that you know she would be prohibited even from very
casual conversation. She certainly wouldn't tell me anything about what
went on there. I mean she's an honest person and she was raised
properly. And the reality is that you know after the pact I'm sure
she'll tell me the whole story. But she's an honourable person and she
will exercise her integrity within the bounds of the law -- as it
describes. I hope by the adequate counsel that she's retained.
CO:
But I'm sure you know better than I -- but it appears, your daughter is
not a quitter. She's not the sort of person who quits. So what would
make her quit the cabinet?
BW:
Well I think because she was prohibited from telling the truth. Now,
for her to keep the extra 200,000 dollars in salary -- which cabinet
ministers make more than MPs do, as well as all the perks that go along
with it -- would be very very hard to resist. I'm not entirely sure that
I would be able to resist that. But finally I think she realised that
in order to tell the truth that she would have to come clean and do it.
Now she's done it, and I'm very proud of her for doing that.
CO:
So the reason why she has resigned is in order to tell the truth, do
you believe that she will do that? Do you have any sense that she's now
going to come forward and tell us what happened?
BW:
Well she hasn't said that to me, but knowing how she was raised there's
no question -- she will come forthright and honest and tell exactly
what went on. And I'm afraid that in all probability this is going to
cause a huge scandal.
CO:
When you say it's going to cause a lot of damage, a lot of scandal, do
you think that when your daughter finally speaks and tells her story
that it will cause serious damage to the Liberal Party?
BW:
Well it could very well topple the government. I mean it is that
serious. I mean that's not her purpose. I mean she's standing up in a
position of power that no Indian has ever had before to make a decision
about whether or not you give a free pass to a company who freely
admitted that it was doing illegal activities. And she said no. At least
that's my assumption that she has said no -- and when she comes out and
confirms that then all the country should applaud her because she's
standing up for the basic laws that we all supposedly support -- and
maybe she will be the Prime Minister.
CO:
That reminds us there is a clip, a tape, from you in 1983 basically
saying that you told another Prime Minister Trudeau, which was Pierre
Trudeau, you said that your daughter might want to become Prime Minister
one day.
BW:
I have two beautiful daughters who are talented and educated and
cultured. One's name is Kory Wilson -- and her name is Puglid. One is
named Jody Wilson Raybould -- and her name is Puglaas. Puglid means the
lady who feeds people well. Puglaas means high born, noble, honest
person. So my mother educated them -- and couldn't have predicted better
the kind of integrity that's necessary for the obvious firestorm that
Jody finds herself in. But both of them are quality people that were
raised properly by women. And that's one of the things that really
bothers me about this -- you not only have an Aboriginal person as the
highest ranking legal office -- you have a woman. And I don't know what
that says to women generally that they can be treated this shabbily.
CO:
You said in 1983 -- you told Justin Trudeau's father, you told Pierre
Trudeau, that one of your daughters might become Prime Minister. So how
do you think Jody Wilson-Raybould feels about that job today. Do you
think she wants it?
BW:
I'm sure she would love to have it based on the kind of integrity and
honesty that she wants to bring to the party and to Canada and more
importantly. The fact is that she is a Liberal in the sense of a small
'l' liberal with basic human rights consideration -- and that was bred
in her by her relatives.
CO: Do you think that she would in telling the truth -- she would do so, even if she knows it might bring down the government?
BW:
I have no question about that. Really that's what this controversy is
about. Don't you think cover up -- and the whole question of [inaudible]
the support from SNC-Lavalin and other groups like that is an
indication of the kind of measures to which companies will go, and to
which governments will bend in order to have access to more money and
more power.
CO: If you could speak with your daughter right now, what would you say to her?
BW: I love you.
CO: Anything else?
BW:
She's probably smarter than I am, so what advice I could give it right
-- I don't know. I'm 75 years old almost, and I've only got another 40
or 50 years to live. So stay strong and remember who you are -- you are
Puglaas -- you are a descended from royal blood in our tribe.
CO: Chief Wilson I appreciate speaking with you thank you.
BW: Thank you very much.
NaD:
Bill Wilson is a hereditary chief, and Jody Wilson-Raybould's father.
We reached him in Vancouver. In Ottawa today, the Liberals shot down the
opposition's hopes of having Ms. Wilson-Raybould appear before an
inquiry of the House of Commons Justice Committee. Here's NDP MP Nathan
Cullen.
SOUNDCLIP
NATHAN CULLEN:
We are given this role on behalf of Canadians to simply say this is a
sophisticated legal bookclub -- that we can explore and study and
contemplate these things would be to forego our responsibilities when we
see something like this here. The witnesses you've offered are suspect
in the sense that they've already made themselves known and their
opinions on this. The other principal actors -- and I'm going to say
this now and I'll say it again, we should perhaps stop trying to speak
for Jody Wilson-Raybould. We can invite her. If you do want to hear from
her, put her on the list. If my Liberal colleagues think that hearing
from Jody Wilson-Raybould isn't of interest to Canadians -- if my
Liberal colleagues think that not hearing from the principal secretary
to the prime minister who is implicated in this affair is not of
interest to Canadians, and that his senior adviser Mr. (Mathieu)
Bouchard is not of interest to Canadians -- I'll let you try to explain
that. This is as obvious as the nose on my face. This is something that
we've got to do. The nose on my face is pretty obvious. So I think we
should get on with it.
NaD: That was NDP MP Nathan Cullen speaking at the House of Commons Justice Committee this afternoon.
SNC Lavalin: Quebec
Guest: Patrick Lagace
NaD:
The allegations of wrongdoing on behalf of SNC-Lavalin have another
layer of meaning in Quebec. Patrick Lagace is a La Presse columnist.
He's no stranger to SNC's reputation for dodgy deals. But in his column
today, he says the price of prosecuting the company could simply be too
high. We reached Patrick Lagace in Montreal.
CO: Patrick just how big a deal is SNC-Lavalin in Quebec?
PATRICK LAGACE:
It's a huge deal. It is a behemoth. An economic powerhouse -- 3000
employees in Quebec. A huge headquarters in downtown Montreal. 50,000
employees worldwide. But it's also a point of pride -- symbol of 'Quebec
Inc' as we call it. So yeah it's a huge huge deal.
CO:
But you write in your column today that the company got itself into
this situation -- it put its own foot in the trap and it is responsible
for this. So first of all maybe remind our listeners just how deep into
hot water is SNC?
PL:
A number of their officials -- starting with the former CEO Pierre
Duhaime -- pled guilty to charges, criminal charges, that they acted on
behalf of the company to get contracts -- for instance in Montreal where
this huge hospital was being built and Duhaime looked the other way as
he said when he pled guilty to this saga where I think it was 20 million
that was paid to some individuals at the hospital to secure the
contract. So you could say that there's been a huge downfall for this
company. And yesterday actually one of my colleagues from La Presse got
his hand on some affidavits that the RCMP submitted to the court to raid
SNC-Lavalin last March -- in another affair where SNC got into a
127-million dollar contract to repair a bridge in Montreal. And the guy
who took the money -- a guy named Michel Fournier -- he was the head of
the federal bridge corporation here -- took a bribe of 2.5 million
dollars around the time that SNC-Lavalin got a 127-million dollar
contract to repair the Jacques Cartier Bridge. And this guy Fournier
never said who gave him the money, but the RCMP is on the track of the
people who gave money to this guy -- and they've named two former senior
officials from SNC-Lavalin.
CO:
So that is just the Canadian cases. I mean then we go around the world.
And in particular the situation in Libya of bribes that were paid. And
that's the case that they were hoping to have differed. They were hoping
that they would have something called a remediation agreement so that
they didn't have to take a criminal prosecution -- they could come up
with some kind of a deal. A woman by the name of Kathleen Roussel who is
the director of public prosecutions. She looked at this -- she said
nope, I'm going to go ahead with the public prosecution. So everything
you've just said including all the other things we could spend 10 more
minutes talking about all of this with SNC-Lavalin, isn't that what we
should expect to see happen?
PL:
Look the general consensus among the commentary here in Quebec and the
business world and even layperson you know because we all know people
who work at Lavalin -- it's 'let's get a deal' because the 3000 people
work at Lavalin. The thousands of former employees who depend on Lavalin
for their pensions, they don't deserved to be punished if the company
is crippled or the company is sold or if the company folds. But we don't
know why Ms. Roussel is refusing to allow Lavalin to go into this
deferred prosecution agreement. Maybe she has got very good arguments --
but we don't know. And you know I wrote in La Presse today -- I just
want to remind people that this old thing is not this anonymous
prosecutors fault. It's not Mrs. Wilson-Raybould's fault. I don't think
it's even Justin Trudeau's fault. It all starts with a culture of
corruption in one of our biggest symbol in Quebec Inc --SNC Lavalin. It
starts with SNC-Lavalin. If they had not been [inaudible] this whole
thing would not be unfolding in Ottawa right now. And you know reading
some of the comments I was getting a bit mad because a lot of the
analysis passed over the facts.
CO: Is that how Quebecers feel? I mean is this ambivalence at the heart of Quebec thinking right now?
PL:
I don't think that there's much ambivalence. I think everybody is
holding its breath. Nobody wants to see Lavalin fail, being crippled,
bought, sold, or destroyed. So people are focusing on that and people
are kind of saying you know why this anonymous prosecutor in Ottawa
unwilling to accommodate SNC-Lavalin? And I understand these questions. I
understand the preoccupations. But at the same time grudgingly you know
I agree with them, but I feel the urge again to remind people that
SNC-Lavalin had a culture of corruption. And you know people will say
you know they changed governance, they've cleaned house -- that's all
very well, but at the time when these guys were corrupting officials
here and elsewhere SNC-Lavalin's board was always first in class for
governance. I remember them being you know in all of these Globle and
Mail top 10 list of corporate governance. So you know I think there's
something to be said about how sometimes corporate governance, as they
call it very poetically, is kind of useless if you have individuals who
are enthralled in a culture of paying their way to get contracts.
CO: We'll leave it there. Patrick thank you.
PL: Thank you.
NaD: Patrick Lagace is a columnist with La Presse. We reached him in Montreal.
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