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Politics

    • Don Martin: I've never seen anything quite like the control-everything regime of Trudeau's government

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    On the bright side, there was no sign of Chinese interference.

    Voters in four byelections delivered status quo results on Monday that show, if you squint hard enough, that the severely tainted Liberal brand has staying power while the Conservatives aren鈥檛 resurging enough to threaten as a majority-government-in-waiting.

    So now, with the summer solstice dawning Wednesday, it is time for party leaders to adjourn into the real world to listen more and talk less, the better to figure out why voters may desire prime ministerial change but not enough to embrace the opposition alternative.

    The polls suggest there鈥檚 more weariness than fury in the land at the frontrunning leadership choices as we reach the midterms of Justin Trudeau鈥檚 NDP-supported mandate.

    Ask around. You鈥檒l find voters severely fed up with a past-his-prime Trudeau, but wincing at the snark and snarl of a Pierre Poilievre they don鈥檛 yet trust with governing power. And they can鈥檛 even consider an NDP protest vote because they view leader Jagmeet Singh as the crutch for Liberals who don鈥檛 deserve an easy walk for the next two years.

    With the Commons adjourning this week, there鈥檚 plenty of speculation about a reset for the governing Liberals in the form of a major cabinet shuffle, prorogation and a throne speech relaunch in October.

    It is a government that needs all three.

    'BIZARRE PRAISE' FROM BRIAN MULRONEY

    While there鈥檚 some validity to this week鈥檚 bizarre praise of the government from former Conservative prime minister Brian Mulroney, who hailed Trudeau as a leader delivering big-picture, massive-budget, nation-defining programs, it鈥檚 the government鈥檚 attitude, operations and ethics that rate concern.

    Denialism reigns, finger-pointing is epidemic, consultation delays are chronic, public information is suppressed or scripted into meaninglessness, woke-overkill is rampant, ministerial accountability has all but disappeared and fiscal prudence vanquished.

    Even the simple business of making decent appointments seems too much to ask. The government has botched anointing a governor general, RCMP commissioner, human rights advocate and one reputation-ruined special rapporteur.

    And that assumes it鈥檚 capable of making appointments. As the Supreme Court chief justice noted last week, it won鈥檛 even fill much-sought-after federal judge jobs that allow bad guys to walk for want of a timely trial.

    Meanwhile, this government can鈥檛 deploy a modestly equipped military for overseas exercises, blows $30 billion-plus to subsidize car battery plants that the parliamentary budget officer predicts will deliver little economic bang for jaw-dropping megabucks and remains addicted to overpriced consultants with friends in high places.

    But most of all, it鈥檚 a government that casts suspicion on itself by appearing hesitant to aggressively expose Chinese interference in our elections lest it hurt the party鈥檚 political self-interests. With no next step in sight, it would seem the government wants to delay the inevitable public inquiry beyond the next foreign-influenced election.

    This column was originally conceived as a cabinet report card on Trudeau鈥檚 ministers, but the list of the lousy performers became too long to bell curve into anything above a D-grade average.

    CABINET HAS 'DEADWEIGHT IN NEED OF SHUFFLING'

    The cabinet has entire drawers filled with deadweight in need of shuffling. Yes, that鈥檚 you Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair, International Development鈥檚 Harjit Sajjan, Housing鈥檚 Ahmed Hussen, Heritage鈥檚 Pablo Rodriguez, Justice鈥檚 David Lametti, Environment鈥檚 Steven Guilbeault and Transport鈥檚 Omar Alghabra.

    And there鈥檚 not a person with a pulse in Ottawa who believes Marco Mendicino will survive his consistently awful performance in public safety. The only suspense is whether he鈥檚 even in cabinet when the shuffle dust settles. Bet against it.

    Even the semi-bright lights, such as Immigration鈥檚 Sean Fraser and Families鈥 Karina Gould, have delivered head-shaking performances, to wit the simple release of an updated passport filled with a controversial colouring-book level of pictorial history.

    But I digress.

    There鈥檚 plenty to trash in Poilievre鈥檚 just-not-ready performance if space permitted equality of criticism.

    But I鈥檝e covered the cautious 鈥渇riendly dictatorship鈥 of Jean Chretien, the dithering of Paul Martin and the secretive control freak kingdom that was Stephen Harper鈥檚 PMO and never seen anything quite like the combined preachy rectitude, chronic dithering and control-everything regime of Trudeau鈥檚 government.

    And yet, as the byelections suggest, even after regularly lighting itself on fire the Liberals inexplicably contend as the odds-on favourite for re-election.

    Perhaps, as my summer shutdown begins, the most startling insight from the year thus far was the testimony by Trudeau chief of staff Katie Telford. As the personified epicentre of all government decision-making, she swears the prime minister is handed everything that crosses her busy desk 鈥 and reads it all.

    Absorbing the information must be a different issue entirely, but that revelation means Trudeau was informed and responsible during his government鈥檚 SNAFU avalanche of missteps, mistakes, scandals and ethical lapses.

    So launch that summer reset, prime minister. Whatever emerges in the fall can鈥檛 be any worse.

    That鈥檚 the bottom line.

    IN DEPTH

    Opinion

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    • A man is facing numerous drug trafficking charges after Dufferin OPP seized a large assortment of drugs and weapons in Orangeville earlier this week.

    • The London Police Service (LPS) is currently investigating a suspicious death in the east end.

    • The British Columbia election campaign is set to officially start today, with Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin issuing the writ for the Oct. 19 vote.

    • A sea lion swam free after a rescue team disentangled it near Vancouver Island earlier this week.

    • A northern Ontario man is facing a $12,000 fine after illegally shooting a moose near the Batchawan River.

    • A body has been found in the vicinity where a woman went missing on the Ottawa River near Pembroke, Ont. while kayaking Tuesday night, according to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

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    • Tattoos are becoming more common in today's society and, as a result, appear to be more acceptable in the workplace than they used to be.

    • How to win the fight with kids over phone use

      The end of the day 鈥 when school, extracurricular activities and homework are (hopefully) finally done 鈥 is the window that many kids have for downtime. It can be a struggle to convince them not to go on their phones.

    • While slang may come and go, experts say the phenomenon behind them, which constantly churns out brand-new bon mots, is as old as language itself.

    Sports

    • Jonathan Aranda homered for the second consecutive game, helping Taj Bradley and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 on Saturday.

    • Kiefer Sherwood spent several nights last spring chasing Quinn Hughes around the ice and generally pestering the Vancouver Canucks.

    • Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.

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    Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.

    Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.

    An anonymous business owner paid off the mortgage for a New Brunswick not-for-profit.

    They say a dog is a man鈥檚 best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.

    A growing group of brides and wedding photographers from across the province say they have been taken for tens of thousands of dollars by a Barrie, Ont. wedding photographer.

    Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.

    The search for a missing ancient 28-year-old chocolate donkey ended with a tragic discovery Wednesday.

    The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is celebrating an important milestone in the organization's history: 50 years since the first women joined the force.

    It's been a whirlwind of joyful events for a northern Ontario couple who just welcomed a baby into their family and won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot last month.

    • A six-year-old girl who was reported missing in northern B.C. earlier this week remains unaccounted for, and "significant resources from across the province" have joined in the search, police said Saturday.

    • Volunteers and staff members gathered along Vancouver鈥檚 Stanley Park Seawall Saturday to pick up litter as part of International Coastal Cleanup Day.

    • A heritage home in Vancouver suffered "extensive damage" in a fire that broke out late Saturday morning, according to firefighters.

    • Toronto police are investigating a shooting in Scarborough that left one person injured Saturday night.

    • A pedestrian was struck by a vehicle involved in a collision in Scarborough Saturday evening, Toronto police said.

    • A 23-year-old man has been arrested after one person was found dead at a home in Richmond Hill Saturday morning.

    • Milla White from Cochrane literally drew her way into a meeting with former boxer and actor Mickey Rourke.

    • The water coming from your taps might be a bit murky Saturday, but Calgary remains on schedule to end all water restrictions on Sunday.

    • For 12 hours Saturday Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPCK) employees, service personnel and corporate teams rode spin bikes to raise funds and awareness for charities focusing on housing homeless veterans in Canada and the U.S.

    • A potential move to LeBreton Flats for the Ottawa Senators is still years away, but questions and concerns are already being raised about what to do with the Canadian Tire Centre.

    • The Taste of Wellington 2024 wraps up Saturday in Ottawa.

    • A body has been found in the vicinity where a woman went missing on the Ottawa River near Pembroke, Ont. while kayaking Tuesday night, according to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

    • Montrealers can get used to taking a stroll on several car-free streets during the summer in the years to come thanks to a new commitment from the city.

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    • Unusual flippered feet are making their way into the Saint Lawrence River this weekend. Led by underwater explorer and filmmaker Nathalie Lasselin, volunteer divers are combing the riverbed near Beauharnois in Mont茅r茅gie to remove hundreds of tires that have been polluting the aquatic environment for decades.

    • The Edmonton Police Service is looking for a person of interest in connection with a suspicious fire that destroyed a multi-unit building and damaged several townhomes earlier this week.

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    • Two people have been charged after a daylight shooting in Red Deer earlier this week.

    • Halifax Regional Police warned the public of a series of high-value thefts targeting retail stores Friday.

    • Pictou County District RCMP is investigating a fatal crash that occurred in Thorburn, N.S., Saturday.

    • A proposal for additional parking to accommodate upgrades at the Irving Pulp & Paper Mill in Saint John, N.B., would add an estimated 500 parking spots at Wolastoq Park.

    • The search for a missing six-year-old boy in Shamattawa is continuing Friday as RCMP hope recent tips can help lead to a happy conclusion.

    • A herd of dogs paid visit to patients and residents at Riverview Health Centre during an annual event that lifts spirits and wags tails.

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    • Fire officials are investigating after a fire completely destroyed the community fridge in the Cathedral neighborhood.

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    • Protests were held in front of Kitchener City Hall on Friday, both for and against LGBTQ2S+ inclusive education and queer rights in schools.

    • Police said the pedestrian, a 52-year-old man, was taken to an out-of-region hospital with life-threatening injuries and the driver of the vehicle failed to remain at the scene.

    • The 75-year-old building, formerly the Waskesiu Chamber of Commerce building, was relocated to the Parks Canada compound on the edge of the townsite.

    • Saskatchewan RCMP major crimes unit is investigating after a man鈥檚 body was found on Sweetgrass First Nation.

    • Motors were roaring, and tires were spinning as Saskatoon's biggest names in motocross gathered together for the 50-year anniversary of the club's founding on Saturday.

    • A motorcyclist has died following a serious collision that took place in London鈥檚 south end on Friday afternoon.

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    • The St. Thomas police is asking the public for help locating a missing man.

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    • The St. Clair College golf teams were successful at the Niagara Knights Invitational tournament on Friday.

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    • A sea lion swam free after a rescue team disentangled it near Vancouver Island earlier this week.

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    • A pair of runaway pigs are in the custody of an animal sanctuary in the Okanagan after evading police and volunteers for hours earlier this week.

    • The Red Bridge, a historic landmark in Kamloops, B.C., was completely destroyed by fire early Thursday morning.

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    • Despite the heavy rain, plenty of muscle turned up for United Way鈥檚 annual Pull the Bus fundraiser in Lethbridge Friday.

    • Lethbridge County has rescinded its fire restriction as a result of the recent cool, wet weathr.

    • The Lethbridge Hurricanes kicked off the 2024-25 season on a winning note Friday night, defeating the Edmonton Oil Kings 3-1 in a game played at VisitLethbridge.com Arena.

    • A northern Ontario man is facing a $12,000 fine after illegally shooting a moose near the Batchawan River.

    • Following an outbreak of COVID-19 on its continuing care floor and just ahead of the flu season, St. Joseph鈥檚 General Hospital in Elliot Lake has opted to re-introduce a universal masking policy until further notice.

    • A 26-year-old driver from Surrey, B.C., has been charged with three counts of criminal negligence causing death and bodily harm in a crash that killed two youths in northern Ontario last year.

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