Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Mark Stobbe's avatar

Just a note on the item about bail reform. On May 16, the federal government introduced Bill C-48 to make some changes in bail access for people accused of some violent offences. The bill may or may not do anything useful - the proof of the pudding will be in the eating, if the pudding is ever put in the bowl.

The government made a big deal of Bill 48 - a grand total of four federal cabinet ministers seized the opportunity to sleaze their way into the press release announcing the introduction of the Bill.

Justice Minister Lametti (fair enough, he was the bill's sponsor) said: "We told Canadians that our government would step up and do its part to address how the justice system deals with repeat violent offending. Bill C-48 does that."

Public Safety Minister Mendicino climbed on board, saying, “Today’s announcement is a central part of our government’s comprehensive plan to keep Canadians safe."

Intergovernmental Affairs Minster LeBlanc took the opportunity to tell everyone how the Bill showed the federal government takes the concerns of provinces and municipalities seriously. More partnership was promised.

What's more, Health Minister Bennett assured anyone who was interested that "“Our government is committed to keeping our communities safe." Bill C-48 is one example.

With all this high-powered posturing and preening, one would expect that Bill C-48 would move ahead promptly - particularly since all the Opposition parties said they would support it. After all, a priority bill essential to public safety that is part of a comprehensive plan should get passed into law lickety-split, right?

If you thought that, you obviously have not been paying attention to this government.

As of tomorrow, it will be two months since Bill C-48 was introduced. Nothing has happened. Nothing. Not one of the four eager Ministers has even delivered a second reading speech. Parliament is now on summer break, so another two months will pass before anything CAN HAPPEN. But don't hold your breath.

My prediction is this. Bill C-48 will die on the order paper. It will never become law during this session of Parliament. Down the road, in a year or two, there will be another surge of controversy about catch and release treatment of violent, repeat offenders. The government will be ready with action - it will dust off Bill C-48, introduce it a second time, and issue another press release. Government in action.

Expand full comment
Carole Saville's avatar

We don't have to worry about foreign election interference in Canada - we got our own tax funded election interference right here. We call it the CBC. (re: Danielle Smith, the CBC and the NDP)

Okay, I admit a bit dramatic, but for example, mark the impressive reporting by the globe. Hit piece after hit piece on the Smith issue on the front page of the globe for months before the provincial election. The retraction is buried as an opinion piece.

If media is to be relevant in Canada it has to do much, much better. And, it seems the only way the media will do better is if there is punishment for very bad reporting. Yes, we all make mistakes, but maybe media should be making far fewer mistakes during an election cycle.

Expand full comment
18 more comments...

No posts