Inside NS Liberal Mps' Push for a Public Inquiry
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Roadmap to advance Black rights exists, it's time to follow it p. 10 Meet N.L’s new Staff moves in the PMO p. 13 Palestine's premier new rep in is one to Ottawa watch: p. 14 Powers p. 7 Heard on the Hill p.2 THIRTY-FIRST YEAR, NO. 1751 CANADA’S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2020 $5.00 News News ‘It’s a national security threat’: ‘I await your response’: DND launches anti-Black inside N.S. Liberal MPs’ racism initiative BY NEIL MOSS ddressing anti-Black racism Ain the ranks of the Canadian military is a matter of national push for a public inquiry security, with recent bad press likely to dampen recruitment, says the head of the Federal Black ‘If the 10 MPs are Employee Caucus. “For a long time this work has articulating the been piecemeal and people kind of do it at the corner of their desk, position for Nova but now there is such a higher level of importance that [is] being Scotia, I would put on it and getting it right,” said Richard Sharpe, founder of the like to think the Federal Black Employee Caucus government (FBEC). The Department of National would consider Defence convened a meeting on July 27 to have its management that as a strong “listen and learn directly from visible minority defence team indicator members about the lived experi- ence and systematic barriers that of what’s they and other colleagues face happening on on a daily basis,” according to a July 28 statement from outgoing the ground,’ chief of the defence staff Jona- than Vance and national defence says Liberal MP While they credit the swell of public outcry for the decision to turn an independent review of Canada's worst-ever mass shooting deputy minister Jody Thomas. into a public inquiry, Liberal MPs Sean Fraser, Lenore Zann, and Darrell Samson are three of the 10-member N.S. federal The meeting came after a Darrell Samson. Liberal caucus who lobbied the government to change course. Screenshot courtesy of CBC News, The Hill Times photographs by June 19 letter that Gen. Vance and Andrew Meade and photograph courtesy of Lenore Zann’s office Ms. Thomas sent to DND mem- bers apologizing for the delay BY NEIL MOSS to have an independent review into and calls to Public Safety Minister The initial decision to have an in addressing the outpouring Canada’s worst-ever mass shoot- Bill Blair and a meeting with a independent review into the April of response to the police killing s Nova Scotia Liberal MPs ing, they continued to push party Prime Minister’s Office aide days mass shooting, and not a public of George Floyd and reports of Awere hearing backlash from leadership on the need for a public before the feds reversed course and their constituents on the decision inquiry, including through letters agreed to a public inquiry. Continued on page 11 Continued on page 4 News News Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 ‘No gotcha moments’: Trudeau’s gambit reflects Introduction of remote voting in the House lessons learned from past ethical entanglements could come without unanimous support BY BEATRICE PAEZ the minute developments of the controversy, BY LAURA RYCKEWAERT but enduring Conservative opposition some political analysts say his testimony may could see the government move ahead rime Minister Justin Trudeau’s “dead of have settled some of the biggest concerns. he House Affairs Committee recently without unanimous support this fall. Psummer” committee gambit may have “For a lot of people, who would just Trecommended the Lower Chamber While it’s seen as good form and spurred fresh questions about the circum- notice the headlines, who would not adopt a system of remote electronic vot- tradition for amendments to the Standing stances that led to the since-cancelled WE ing for use in exceptional circumstances, Charity deal, but for those not tuning into Continued on page 3 requiring changes to the Standing Orders, Continued on page 12 2 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Heard on the Hill by Neil Moss Former UN envoy Marc-André Blanchard has a new gig Marc-André Blanchard served as Canada's ambassador to the UN from The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Aug. 6 and 9, 1945, together had an estimated 2016 until death toll of more than 250,000. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons this week. United reads. “But with respect, there is so much announced that he was resigning earlier Nations more that Canada could be doing, given this year. photograph our history, resources, and privileged posi- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau con- by JC tion in the world.” gratulated Mr. Furey in a statement, as did McIlwaine The group is urging Mr. Trudeau to state Newfoundland MP and Natural Resources at the UN General Assembly in Septem- Minister Seamus O’Regan in a tweet. ber that nuclear disarmament will be one “It will be a tough road ahead, but no one of Canada’s “highest priorities,” as well as could be more ready or able,” Mr. O’Regan “challenge the nuclear security doctrine wrote. “Congratulations, my friend.” within NATO,” and “press” all countries to become part of the Treaty on the Prohibi- tion of Nuclear Weapons or negotiate a new Family of Deepak Obhrai launches treaty that will have the same objective. foundation in his honour The CNANW will host a virtual event The family of past Conservative MP on Aug. 6 from 2-3:30 p.m., to mark the 75th anada’s recently departed ambassador Deepak Obhrai, who died from cancer Mr. Hsu tweeted the news that he plans anniversary of the bombing. Speakers will to the UN, Marc-André Blanchard, one year ago, is launching a foundation C on seeking the Ontario Liberal Party include Setsuko Thurlow, who survived the already has a new job. in his name to continue his human rights nomination for the riding of Kingston and Hiroshima bombing, as well as former am- Mr. Blanchard was named an executive advocacy. the Islands, Ont., on July 30. He previously bassadors for disarmament Douglas Roche vice-president of Quebec’s pension fund represented the Liberal stronghold feder- and Peggy Mason, among others. manager, Caisse de dépôt et placement du ally in the House of Commons from 2011 “If the atomic bombings of Hiroshima Québec (CDPQ). to 2015. He chose not to run for re-election and Nagasaki occurred today, they would He was replaced as Canada’s top dip- in 2015, and was succeeded by current instantly be labelled a war crime because lomat in New York City by former Ontario Liberal MP Mark Gerretsen. in the past 75 years a body of international premier and past interim Liberal lead- During his time on the Hill, Mr. Hsu humanitarian law has been built up,” wrote er Bob Rae on Aug. 4. was the Liberal caucus’ critic for science Mr. Roche in The Hill Times, a former Pro- Mr. Blanchard was the chief campaign- and technology and natural resources, and gressive Conservative MP and Independent er in Canada’s recent unsuccessful bid for served as vice-chair of the House of Com- Senator. “In 1996, the International Court a temporary seat on the UN Security Coun- mons Natural Resources Committee. of Justice ruled that the use of a nuclear cil. Canada finished third behind Norway The provincial riding is currently rep- weapon would contravene international and Ireland for two seats in the Western resented by NDP MPP Ian Arthur, but has humanitarian law.” Europe and Others bloc. He had been been held by the Ontario Liberals for 27 of Canada’s ambassador in the high-profile 35 years since 1985. Former Liberal MPP role since 2016. Sophie Kiwala has also said she will be Furey set to become next N.L. In his new position, Mr. Blanchard will running to be the party’s nominee. oversee CDPQ Global where he will be in Mr. Hsu won his seat in 2011 by a mar- premier charge of the group’s international offices gin of 4.38 percentage points in an election Another Furey is joining public life. and the fund’s work in the United States, which saw the Liberals drop to third party Andrew Furey won the Newfoundland and Latin America, Europe, and the Asia- status in the House. Labrador Liberal leadership vote on Aug. 3. Pacific. He tweeted that he was “very excited” to join the firm. PM urged to do ‘so much more’ Before entering the diplomatic corps, in fight for nuclear disarmament Mr. Blanchard was the chair of the law firm Seventy-five years after the U.S. McCarthy Tétrault. He was also a member dropped two nuclear bombs on Japan— of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s transi- together resulting in an ultimate esti- tion team following the 2015 election. mated death toll of more than 250,000 people—the Canadian Network to Abol- Former Grit MP Ted Hsu wants ish Nuclear Weapons (CNANW) wants the federal government to play a larger Deepak Obhrai was the dean of the to run for provincial office role in ensuring that no nuclear attacks Conservative caucus prior to his death last One-term Liberal MP Ted Hsu is look- happen again. August. The Hill Times file photograph ing to return to public life at Queen’s Park. “Experts around the world have warned for many years that, unless effective action is taken to prevent it, it is not a matter of The Obhrai Foundation is partnering with ‘if’ but ‘when’ there will be another nuclear mAsk the People to “help change attitudes event or series of events that could, liter- towards masks.” The partnership will also raise ally, spell the end of humanity,” members funds for masks for “vulnerable and essential” of the CNANW’s steering committee wrote communities in Canada and around the world.