Politics Insider for Oct 8, 2020: Trudeau Try Again; Kenney faces leadership pressure; antivaxxers out of work
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On Thursday, the Tḱemlúps te Secwépemc First Nation agreed to meet with Justin trudeau but they have rejected his apology for ignoring his previous invitations and instead vacationing in Tofino on Canada’s first National Truth and Reconciliation Day, the Star reports. “We are not interested in apologies that do not lead to widespread institutional change,” the First Nation said in a written statement.
In May, more than 200 anonymous graves were discovered on the grounds of a former residential school near the band. Subsequently, Tḱemlúps te Secwépemc sent two invitations to the Prime Minister’s Office requesting Trudeau’s presence at an event honoring the national holiday, which his office apparently ignored. The prime minister publicly apologized for the snub on Wednesday.
Much humiliation: Tanya Talaga, author of two major books on the struggles indigenous youth face as a result of Canadian colonialism, has a strong column at Balloon in which he praises the First Nation for agreeing to meet with Trudeau.
This is the beauty of so many indigenous peoples: no matter what shit is thrown at us, from genocidal laws and policies designed to extinguish us, to racists who yell at us to get off the sidewalk, we get up. Our existence is our resistance. That is not just a slogan. It’s the truth. That Kúkpi7 [Chief] Rosanne Casimir and the band council are willing to reach out, once again, after he turned down their offers to attend the first National Truth and Reconciliation Day events not once but twice, it’s amazing.
And he criticizes Trudeau for not showing up.
The Prime Minister, after all, had a a lot of humiliation to do. Following the discovery of nameless graves of young children at the Kamloops Indigenous Residential School, Mr. Trudeau has not bothered to come forward to the community to express his remorse personally. The unspeakable discovery of children’s bones seems like the kind of thing a leader should give up almost everything for, and yet he didn’t.
Burning for Kenney: At least 10 UCP constituencies are pushing for a leadership review for Jason Kenney by March 1, instead of April, CBC reports, citing three confidential sources. At least CA 22 is required to pass the motion to compel the party to act on it. Kenney is unpopular.
Voting problems: The NDP has written to Elections Canada to request an investigation into whether the organization did not follow correct procedures, denying citizens the right to cast their vote, CP reports.
Tough Singh: Jagmeet Singh was speaking harshly after the NDP caucus met on Thursday, saying he is willing to “withhold votes” for liberal legislation, signaling a tougher stance on cooperation with liberals in Parliament, CTV. reports. Liberals also met in Ottawa, bidding farewell to their defeated colleagues, but apparently did not give MPs many hints about the agenda for the coming months. Balloon reports.
Murder charge: The CBC has a interesting and sad story about Rakesh David, a CCP volunteer who has been accused of murdering three family members in Trinidad and Tobago. Add more facts later a similar story at National mail.
Manning seeks input: US Intelligence Whistleblower Chelsea Manning Is Fighting To Be Allowed To Enter Canada, CBC reports. Canada is trying to prevent her from visiting. “I really like Canada,” he told the Immigration and Refugee Board.
Canned antivaxxers: A hospital in Windsor, Ontario. has fired more than 60 workers who refused to be vaccinated, Postmedia reports.
Not so fast: Lawrence Martin, at Balloon, have a good column suggesting that other commentators are quick to declare Trudeau a lame duck, and he might as well run again.
He is only 49 years old and has been in office for only six years and there is no apparent heir. Men his age do not give up the enormous power of prime minister unless forced. He has a vision of progressive politics to implement, slanderers to screw up, and his Liberal Party backs him. Why wouldn’t the party endorse it? Although he did not obtain a majority and obtained a pathetic total of popular votes, Trudeau still crushed its closest rival by 40 seats. He extended his own mandate while leaving other leaders fighting for their positions or losing them. He gave life to the Popular Party, which adapts very well to his party since it divides the right.
– Stephen Maher
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