NSICOP is composed of five lawyers, RCMP and navy veterans and one of the most decorated combat officers to have served in the House of Commons in decades. They are serious.
There is something very wrong in our governmental class. The country and the citizens are not their priority, that much seems obvious. Are we willing to sacrifice this democracy on the pretence of privicy for criminals?
Canada has never struggled for its survival in the form of civil war, internal rebellion or existential threat. (1812 does not count bc Canada did not yet exist) Therefore I do not believe we realize the threat we now face. What crisis will wake us from our drousy current stupor. I do not trust those who govern us in coalition. We need a gifted, ethical, moral voice, and soon.
The Plains of Abraham had a direct effect in the creation of the United States, so you are wrong that the War of 1812 does not count because Canada wasn't an official country at that time. If the British Regulars, Native Allies, Upper and Lower Canadians were defeated then Canada as country would never have existed at all.
Finally the Red River Rebellion and the North West Rebellions were crisis to the nation.
I do agree with you that our institutions and our citizenry need to tear themselves away its current zombieness and become a nation that gives a shit about itself.
As a former member of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles I do recall regimental dates commemorating the battles of Batoche and Fish Creek. These were essentially prairie issues centering on land claims in Saskatchewan, which did not enter into Confederation until 1905. I will stand by my assertion that the War of 1812 was not an existential to Canada as a nation, but rather was a defense against American “Manifest Destiny” threatening the British colonies of Upper and Lower Canada. Time periods are critical to reading history.
The NW territories as western MB, SK and AB were known at the time were newly acquired lands purchased from HBC by a young Canada. So yes your regiment was fighting an uprising within Canadian territory.
Absolutely not. The British would not have been able to recapture Canada. If they had I wonder if the Amercans would have tried again at the conclusion of their Civil War, as some wanted to.
I agree with Don, here. Canada's history and culture includes our time as a British colony, which includes our defence of our territory and government. We didn't switch out the occupants of the territory north of the 49th parallel after we became a sovereign nation.
The Treaty of Paris of 1763 ended the 7 Year's War, but the Quebec Act was in 1774.
the Royal Proclamation of 1763 banned settlement beyond the Appalachians. It also created the provinces of Quebec, West Florida, and East Florida.
Settlement continued, on land taken from the natives, without treaty, resulting in war with Pontiac where the British lost all their western forts except for Fort Pitt and Detroit, lasting until the treaty in 1766.
There was risk of further conflict, so the Quebec Act of 1774 was to both prevent unrest in the French population by restoring French civil law and allowing Catholics to hold office, but also to impose crown rule on Quebec and extended Quebec’s borders all the way south to the Ohio River.
This angered the Virginia elite, since most of the western lands they had claimed in the interim were now part of Quebec or in the Indian reserve.
I am subscribed to a substack written by a journalist who also writes for a legacy media source, and who named names behind the paywall last night. While I wouldn't consider the list complete, nor do I know who the sources are of this journalist, Justin Trudeau was one of the named names. SO - if that is true, then that explains a lot about the secrecy. It feels appropriate to quote Trudeau's comment many years ago about "admiring China's basic dictatorship" - I'm sure that quote has been taken out of context many times, but maybe he was being literal.
IF this claim is true - if Trudeau's name is listed in that section, then what does that mean for the legitimacy of our current government? Obviously, if what you say is true that in previous cases the MP's have resigned, then that would mean the prime minister himself resigning under almost a worst case scenario. How would we actually trust the next election if that scenario played out? (Should we trust it even if it doesn't play out? If the PM is involved or complicit either wittingly or semi-wittingly, then how much of our democracy is independent versus being a puppet of China. Turns out all those worried about the WEF for years have been looking for the wrong puppet-master...)
Guess because NATO, Five Eyes and the G7 are waiting for the results of the elections 2025. Re. Five Eyes, the intel sharing with Canada has been quietly and substantially downgraded several years ago. Some Canadian spies discreetly indicated so.
No need to cut links, just put them in neutral. Guess waiting for the political cycle to turn, for a sensible gov't to get voted in. It is easier and more discreet to stop issuing invites to certain meetings if the situation is wrong, and start issuing invites again when situation is right.
The fact is, is that this Trudeau government tried every trick in the book to avoid a public inquiry already knowing what we know now and more. They really don’t want the truth to come out. That they now suggest that the names of potential traitors should not be made public is just more of the same. This government must fall if we are to remain a democracy.
I wrote my MP and asked simply whether he’s on the list. My supplementary question in the event of either a “yes” or a “no” answer would have been “How do you know?”
But I didn’t have to deploy it. I got back a multi-paragraph, barely semi-coherent blast of CPC propaganda. I’d give long odds that it came straight from Party Headquarters. In any case, it didn’t go anywhere near answering my question.
All Canadians should ask their MPs the same question, in preparation for the day, hopefully soon, when The Names are revealed, and we can compare the facts with the answers received.
I don't care who they are, their names need to be public by Friday and every one kicked out of caucus, or have resigned from the Senate. Their political careers are over whether they broke laws of not. There is no acceptable explanation for the accusation. If you're in government, you work for Canada. If you don't understand that, may you enjoy the consequences.
As an odd follow up. Elisabeth May said she's read the report and no current parliamentarians are named. Dominic LeBlanc says he won't name them. PP, or course, has no idea, because he chooses to have no clearance. So what is Dominic worried about?
"Treating our MPs like they're Muppets, even if their behaviour sometimes leads to that conclusion, is a habit our political and journalistic classes need to kick."
May I make two observations, that point in different directions.
FIRST of all, insofar as the MPs’ behaviour is concerned (and this would be the case for public servants, too): it was not that long ago that it was our corporate and intellectual elite who were touting the desirability of cozying up to China, in the expectation that liberalized trade and a cultural rapprochement would produce its own Asian glasnost and rewards.
So, given that encouragement, it would not be surprising if relationships forged in that era where later mis-used or abused or went astray.
But it is important to distinguish what is obviously wrong, from simply being naïve, or credulous, or just plain stupid. Like inviting a former Nazi supporter to address Parliament – laughably misplaced virtue signaling.
Indeed, that is what may have facilitated situations like the one at the Winnipeg virology lab; and who knows whether anyone has paid a price for that misjudgment? Apart from the two Asian scientists.
What we do know, is that the same security oversight bodies now engaged, were critical of the government, in that instance, for its exaggerated claims of “national security”, to hide what looks like bad judgement.
SECOND, political parties are run on the same legal principles as private clubs, so they typically have the ability to expel members or demand resignations for behaviour that compromises the image or interests of the party; and the alleged fault need not be criminal or even justiciable.
Which is how a couple of Ontario Tory MPPs got bounced: one for being a mouthy maverick and another for refusing to get vaccinated. And remember what happened to Carolyn Parrish, once a Liberal star, who became too overtly anti-American? And is now mayor of Mississauga.
Accordingly, whether or not Parliament can act, the political parties are certainly able to do so; and there is no question of trials or having a right to their “day in court”. What matters is whether the party believes it is in its own interest and, maybe, that of the public.
Indeed, isn’t that how both Sarah Jama (a provincial MPP) and Han Dong, (federal MPP) got booted from their respective caucuses?
So, in my submission, the tools are probably there; and we must look elsewhere for the reason for inaction. Which is likely “political” self interest and may explain the appetite to just kick the can down the road.
Isn't this basically an employment issue? Have not these un-named MPs violated the terms of their employment contract and made themselves thereby subject to, at the very least, suspension pending a final decision? That's what I'd do - immediately - with an employee of mine about whom serious allegations of misbehaviour in the office had been made. I wouldn't pre-judge a final determination - which I'd leave to a neutral party - but I'd sure get the accused out of the office while the investigation went ahead.
The spinelessness, mercenary habits and promiscuity of large parts of Canada's political establishment right in the open. The long-known and long-festering sore became open during the tenure of Troodas, very befitting. Long overdue. With this type of slowness inherent to Canadian political culture, I wonder if the electorate has the wherewithal to apply the necessary antiseptics.
"Finally, I accept that intelligence is not evidence."
(?) This puzzling statement doesn't cohere well with the rest of the article. Intelligence by itself may not amount to conclusive evidence, but it certainly qualifies as evidence. Indeed, it's the relevant evidence appealed to by the moral claims made in the article.
Thank you Mr Heimpel for your article. It drives me crazy when Liberals say, for this event and others, the RCMP are investigating and we need to wait and see if they will lay charges. As you mention, there are activities short of being illegal that still very much can and, in this case, must be acted on.
I also have next to no confidence in the RCMP and in this case, I’m guessing they’ll be hamstrung by national security concerns around the potential evidence.
Yet another example in many how multi-ethnic federations don't work well
People are encouraged to celebrate their "home" culture to a degree that many just consider Canada a hotel. No wonder we can't assure that even our MPs have their exclusive loyalty to Canada, we don't demand it.
In this accountability and loyalty adverse country, if we don't start demanding accountability and loyalty we are either going to get kicked out of NATO or the Americans are going to come to Ottawa uninvited and start cleaning house. They won't allow a rogue leadership to run a neighboring country.
We need to start arresting these implicated Parliamentarians on suspicion of treason, and if these treacherous folks are found guilty they should be punished severely. The noose shouldn't be out of the question. (The old Ottawa jail still has its hook and trapdoor intact near Parliament)
Or perhaps Canadians prefer some technocratic junta take over and dispense with democracy all together?
Melting pot works, artificially created and artificially maintained (with tax money) multiculturalism does not work, all multiculturalism does is maintain divisions, an example is today's Canada.
Canadians think they a saving money on the Armed Forces, while .....
A lot of Canadians do not realize this, but Canada has increasingly outsourced its sovereignty to USA since the first Trudeau, so I would not be surprised if the Americans do what you mention, exactly for those reasons.
Amen! and thank you, Mitch Heimpel!!! And now, can you put this in the MSM? or somehow make it "shareable" (You may recall Trudeau's little strong arm tactic against Meta/Facebook resulted in no "Canadian News" /s)
You have mentioned China and Iran , but where is India, Russia, and Israel.
How many MPs have flown to Israel on the Israeli government dime ?
We also have the Tax free donation zionist organizations like CIJA, JNF, the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, etc., that host fund raisers for politicians and urge their supporters to vote for certain candidates,
Time to lift all the rocks and shine a bright light on all foreign interference .
Israel is an ally of Canada's. We support Israel against its enemies, especially those who support those who kidnap, kill and rape Jewish kids. The other countries you list aren't our allies.
'best argument I've read so far for releasing the names, assuming they're actually known. I haven't decided yet if I support your argument ... 'couple of points still niggling, but I'm willing to listen.
There is something very wrong in our governmental class. The country and the citizens are not their priority, that much seems obvious. Are we willing to sacrifice this democracy on the pretence of privicy for criminals?
Canada has never struggled for its survival in the form of civil war, internal rebellion or existential threat. (1812 does not count bc Canada did not yet exist) Therefore I do not believe we realize the threat we now face. What crisis will wake us from our drousy current stupor. I do not trust those who govern us in coalition. We need a gifted, ethical, moral voice, and soon.
The Plains of Abraham had a direct effect in the creation of the United States, so you are wrong that the War of 1812 does not count because Canada wasn't an official country at that time. If the British Regulars, Native Allies, Upper and Lower Canadians were defeated then Canada as country would never have existed at all.
Finally the Red River Rebellion and the North West Rebellions were crisis to the nation.
I do agree with you that our institutions and our citizenry need to tear themselves away its current zombieness and become a nation that gives a shit about itself.
Don,
As a former member of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles I do recall regimental dates commemorating the battles of Batoche and Fish Creek. These were essentially prairie issues centering on land claims in Saskatchewan, which did not enter into Confederation until 1905. I will stand by my assertion that the War of 1812 was not an existential to Canada as a nation, but rather was a defense against American “Manifest Destiny” threatening the British colonies of Upper and Lower Canada. Time periods are critical to reading history.
The NW territories as western MB, SK and AB were known at the time were newly acquired lands purchased from HBC by a young Canada. So yes your regiment was fighting an uprising within Canadian territory.
Correction taken, thx
Do you think that Canada would have existed if the USA had captured the Canadian colonies?
Absolutely not. The British would not have been able to recapture Canada. If they had I wonder if the Amercans would have tried again at the conclusion of their Civil War, as some wanted to.
I agree with Don, here. Canada's history and culture includes our time as a British colony, which includes our defence of our territory and government. We didn't switch out the occupants of the territory north of the 49th parallel after we became a sovereign nation.
Fair comment, except that the Prairie fights were extra-terrestrial vis a vi Canadian territory at the time.
Don,
Unless I am misreading your comment, or misunderstanding, I hope you are not conflating the Battle of the Plains of Abraham with the War of 1812?
The capture of Quebec directly caused the American Revolution.
26 years later? I thought it had to do with taxation and representation? Even tho alot of that taxtion was to pay for the earlier war with the French?
The Treaty of Paris of 1763 ended the 7 Year's War, but the Quebec Act was in 1774.
the Royal Proclamation of 1763 banned settlement beyond the Appalachians. It also created the provinces of Quebec, West Florida, and East Florida.
Settlement continued, on land taken from the natives, without treaty, resulting in war with Pontiac where the British lost all their western forts except for Fort Pitt and Detroit, lasting until the treaty in 1766.
There was risk of further conflict, so the Quebec Act of 1774 was to both prevent unrest in the French population by restoring French civil law and allowing Catholics to hold office, but also to impose crown rule on Quebec and extended Quebec’s borders all the way south to the Ohio River.
This angered the Virginia elite, since most of the western lands they had claimed in the interim were now part of Quebec or in the Indian reserve.
Excellent lesson. Thx!! Now I fully understand your earlier comment.
Unfortunately, anyone gifted, ethical and moral wants nothing to do with the circus that the Government of Canada has become.
I am subscribed to a substack written by a journalist who also writes for a legacy media source, and who named names behind the paywall last night. While I wouldn't consider the list complete, nor do I know who the sources are of this journalist, Justin Trudeau was one of the named names. SO - if that is true, then that explains a lot about the secrecy. It feels appropriate to quote Trudeau's comment many years ago about "admiring China's basic dictatorship" - I'm sure that quote has been taken out of context many times, but maybe he was being literal.
IF this claim is true - if Trudeau's name is listed in that section, then what does that mean for the legitimacy of our current government? Obviously, if what you say is true that in previous cases the MP's have resigned, then that would mean the prime minister himself resigning under almost a worst case scenario. How would we actually trust the next election if that scenario played out? (Should we trust it even if it doesn't play out? If the PM is involved or complicit either wittingly or semi-wittingly, then how much of our democracy is independent versus being a puppet of China. Turns out all those worried about the WEF for years have been looking for the wrong puppet-master...)
How the hell are we still a member of NATO, Five Eyes and the G7?
Guess because NATO, Five Eyes and the G7 are waiting for the results of the elections 2025. Re. Five Eyes, the intel sharing with Canada has been quietly and substantially downgraded several years ago. Some Canadian spies discreetly indicated so.
So they basically took away Canada's clearance without firing Canada. Wonder why they thought that was the preferable option?
No need to cut links, just put them in neutral. Guess waiting for the political cycle to turn, for a sensible gov't to get voted in. It is easier and more discreet to stop issuing invites to certain meetings if the situation is wrong, and start issuing invites again when situation is right.
That makes perfect sense. They must have a Plan B though
My understanding is FIve Eyes keeps Canada OUT of things from time to time. For reasons we can probably draw reasonable assumptions about.
Manchurian prime minister.
The fact is, is that this Trudeau government tried every trick in the book to avoid a public inquiry already knowing what we know now and more. They really don’t want the truth to come out. That they now suggest that the names of potential traitors should not be made public is just more of the same. This government must fall if we are to remain a democracy.
I wrote my MP and asked simply whether he’s on the list. My supplementary question in the event of either a “yes” or a “no” answer would have been “How do you know?”
But I didn’t have to deploy it. I got back a multi-paragraph, barely semi-coherent blast of CPC propaganda. I’d give long odds that it came straight from Party Headquarters. In any case, it didn’t go anywhere near answering my question.
All Canadians should ask their MPs the same question, in preparation for the day, hopefully soon, when The Names are revealed, and we can compare the facts with the answers received.
Keep hammering our 'parliamentarians'.
All of them.
The longer this goes on without action, the more they all look complicit.
I don't care who they are, their names need to be public by Friday and every one kicked out of caucus, or have resigned from the Senate. Their political careers are over whether they broke laws of not. There is no acceptable explanation for the accusation. If you're in government, you work for Canada. If you don't understand that, may you enjoy the consequences.
As an odd follow up. Elisabeth May said she's read the report and no current parliamentarians are named. Dominic LeBlanc says he won't name them. PP, or course, has no idea, because he chooses to have no clearance. So what is Dominic worried about?
"Treating our MPs like they're Muppets, even if their behaviour sometimes leads to that conclusion, is a habit our political and journalistic classes need to kick."
Well put.
May I make two observations, that point in different directions.
FIRST of all, insofar as the MPs’ behaviour is concerned (and this would be the case for public servants, too): it was not that long ago that it was our corporate and intellectual elite who were touting the desirability of cozying up to China, in the expectation that liberalized trade and a cultural rapprochement would produce its own Asian glasnost and rewards.
So, given that encouragement, it would not be surprising if relationships forged in that era where later mis-used or abused or went astray.
But it is important to distinguish what is obviously wrong, from simply being naïve, or credulous, or just plain stupid. Like inviting a former Nazi supporter to address Parliament – laughably misplaced virtue signaling.
Indeed, that is what may have facilitated situations like the one at the Winnipeg virology lab; and who knows whether anyone has paid a price for that misjudgment? Apart from the two Asian scientists.
What we do know, is that the same security oversight bodies now engaged, were critical of the government, in that instance, for its exaggerated claims of “national security”, to hide what looks like bad judgement.
SECOND, political parties are run on the same legal principles as private clubs, so they typically have the ability to expel members or demand resignations for behaviour that compromises the image or interests of the party; and the alleged fault need not be criminal or even justiciable.
Which is how a couple of Ontario Tory MPPs got bounced: one for being a mouthy maverick and another for refusing to get vaccinated. And remember what happened to Carolyn Parrish, once a Liberal star, who became too overtly anti-American? And is now mayor of Mississauga.
Accordingly, whether or not Parliament can act, the political parties are certainly able to do so; and there is no question of trials or having a right to their “day in court”. What matters is whether the party believes it is in its own interest and, maybe, that of the public.
Indeed, isn’t that how both Sarah Jama (a provincial MPP) and Han Dong, (federal MPP) got booted from their respective caucuses?
So, in my submission, the tools are probably there; and we must look elsewhere for the reason for inaction. Which is likely “political” self interest and may explain the appetite to just kick the can down the road.
That gets the offenders out of caucus, but not out of the House of Commons; and it doesn’t speak to the issue of compromised Senators.
Isn't this basically an employment issue? Have not these un-named MPs violated the terms of their employment contract and made themselves thereby subject to, at the very least, suspension pending a final decision? That's what I'd do - immediately - with an employee of mine about whom serious allegations of misbehaviour in the office had been made. I wouldn't pre-judge a final determination - which I'd leave to a neutral party - but I'd sure get the accused out of the office while the investigation went ahead.
The spinelessness, mercenary habits and promiscuity of large parts of Canada's political establishment right in the open. The long-known and long-festering sore became open during the tenure of Troodas, very befitting. Long overdue. With this type of slowness inherent to Canadian political culture, I wonder if the electorate has the wherewithal to apply the necessary antiseptics.
"Finally, I accept that intelligence is not evidence."
(?) This puzzling statement doesn't cohere well with the rest of the article. Intelligence by itself may not amount to conclusive evidence, but it certainly qualifies as evidence. Indeed, it's the relevant evidence appealed to by the moral claims made in the article.
Thank you Mr Heimpel for your article. It drives me crazy when Liberals say, for this event and others, the RCMP are investigating and we need to wait and see if they will lay charges. As you mention, there are activities short of being illegal that still very much can and, in this case, must be acted on.
I also have next to no confidence in the RCMP and in this case, I’m guessing they’ll be hamstrung by national security concerns around the potential evidence.
......... they’ll be hamstrung by "national security" concerns as manufactured by Liebranos' political ass-covering around the potential evidence.
Yet another example in many how multi-ethnic federations don't work well
People are encouraged to celebrate their "home" culture to a degree that many just consider Canada a hotel. No wonder we can't assure that even our MPs have their exclusive loyalty to Canada, we don't demand it.
In this accountability and loyalty adverse country, if we don't start demanding accountability and loyalty we are either going to get kicked out of NATO or the Americans are going to come to Ottawa uninvited and start cleaning house. They won't allow a rogue leadership to run a neighboring country.
We need to start arresting these implicated Parliamentarians on suspicion of treason, and if these treacherous folks are found guilty they should be punished severely. The noose shouldn't be out of the question. (The old Ottawa jail still has its hook and trapdoor intact near Parliament)
Or perhaps Canadians prefer some technocratic junta take over and dispense with democracy all together?
Melting pot works, artificially created and artificially maintained (with tax money) multiculturalism does not work, all multiculturalism does is maintain divisions, an example is today's Canada.
Canadians think they a saving money on the Armed Forces, while .....
A lot of Canadians do not realize this, but Canada has increasingly outsourced its sovereignty to USA since the first Trudeau, so I would not be surprised if the Americans do what you mention, exactly for those reasons.
Amen! and thank you, Mitch Heimpel!!! And now, can you put this in the MSM? or somehow make it "shareable" (You may recall Trudeau's little strong arm tactic against Meta/Facebook resulted in no "Canadian News" /s)
You have mentioned China and Iran , but where is India, Russia, and Israel.
How many MPs have flown to Israel on the Israeli government dime ?
We also have the Tax free donation zionist organizations like CIJA, JNF, the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, etc., that host fund raisers for politicians and urge their supporters to vote for certain candidates,
Time to lift all the rocks and shine a bright light on all foreign interference .
Israel is an ally of Canada's. We support Israel against its enemies, especially those who support those who kidnap, kill and rape Jewish kids. The other countries you list aren't our allies.
'best argument I've read so far for releasing the names, assuming they're actually known. I haven't decided yet if I support your argument ... 'couple of points still niggling, but I'm willing to listen.