December 18, 2024 | Advertise with us

Presented by

Fallout continues from Freeland’s resignation

Fallout continues days after the shock resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland.

The Globe and Mail reported new details about the ordeal, including the fact that Trudeau informed Freeland she would be shuffled out of her role into a ministry with no staff or budget over a Zoom call on Friday. Trudeau also expected Freeland to deliver the fall economic statement days after demoting her. They also reported that Trudeau told Freeland Mark Carney would replace her.

Seven elected Liberal MPs have now called on the Prime Minister to resign and so have former notable female Liberal MPs Jody Wilson-Raybould, Catherine McKenna, and Celina Caesar-Chavannes.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe reacted to the news by saying, “I talked with Chrystia Freeland late last week as well and have appreciated always working alongside her.”

The next president of the United States also commented on the news. In a post to Truth Social, US President-elect Donald Trump did not mince words making his feelings towards Freeland well known. Trump said, “The Great State of Canada is stunned as the Finance Minister resigns, or was fired, from her position by Governor Justin Trudeau. Her behavior was totally toxic, and not at all conducive to making deals which are good for the very unhappy citizens of Canada. She will not be missed!!!”

The Canadian dollar hit its lowest point in four and a half years compared to its US counterpart trading at 69 cents for one USD.

Yesterday was the final sitting day of the House of Commons. The chamber is now adjourned until the third week of January, which means a vote of non-confidence is off the table until February.

The Liberals also brutally lost yet another federal by-election for a seat they previously held. The Conservatives saw a 52% swing in their favour garnering 66% of the vote in Cloverdale-Langley City.

It is reported that there may be a further cabinet shuffle this week to fill the nine vacancies while the Prime Minister continues to consider his political future.

Sponsored by the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association

Learn more about the great work the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association and its members are doing at saskheavy.ca.

Conflict of interest commissioner says minister did not intentionally breach rules

The Conflict of Interest commissioner ruled in a report published Monday that Saskatchewan Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill’s connection to a family-owned window company breached conflict of interest laws; however, the intent in doing so was not deliberate, the commissioner said.

The Battlefords MLA was elected in 2020. In 2021, Fortress Windows and Doors received $179,137 in contracts from the Battleford Housing Authority (BHA). A public disclosure form filed that year listed Cockrill as an advisor for the company and, in 2022, he was listed as holding a part-time sales position.

In the report, Conflict of Interest Commissioner Maurice Herauf says Cockrill “acted appropriately" by seeking advice from his office on disclosure, but that no specific advice was “sought or provided” to him regarding his continued employment. He said, “I have no reason to believe these contracts were not awarded through the usual competitive process.”

“I do not consider his breach of the Act to have been intentional or deliberate,” Herauf said in the report. “I also acknowledge that his interest in Fortress was remote, albeit captured by the Act.”

The commissioner has recommended Cockrill receive a reprimand as a penalty, arguing that anything beyond that, such as a fine, suspension or “declaration of vacancy”, would be “wholly disproportionate.”

The commissioner also ruled on a complaint regarding Minister Cockrill’s investments in a helium company. Herauf said, “It is my opinion that Mr. Cockrill has not committed the breaches of the Act alleged by [NDP MLA] Ms. [Meara]Conway.”

In response to the commissioner’s decision Cockrill released a statement saying, in part: “After fully cooperating with the Commissioner over the last several months, I am pleased to see he has come to a decision on both matters. I accept his finding in the Helium matter. I also accept his finding in the Fortress matter and agree that any breach of the Act on my part was neither intentional nor deliberate.”

Cockrill added: “This matter has been difficult for my family as NDP MLAs and candidates have tried to sully the reputation of both me and my family to score political points ahead of an election. I look forward to continuing to work with the Commissioner and continuing a demonstrated track record of transparency.”

Herauf is expected to rule in the near future on complaints made about NDP MLA Aleana Young’s social media promotion of her Regina cheese shop.

Time for change? Abacus releases snap polling data

The past few days have felt like a lifetime in political news. Following the shock resignation of Chrystia Freeland, one of Canada’s top pollsters conducted a snap survey of the electorate.

According to David Coletto of Abacus Data, Trudeau’s net favourability has dropped to -43 as only 19% want him to stay on as Prime Minister. The Conservatives hold a 25% lead in federal vote intention. The polling says “As of this morning, 81% of Canadians say they heard about Chrystia Freeland’s resignation and 42% say they are following the story fairly or very closely. Conservative supporters were following it more closely than Liberal or NDP supporters.”

The Abacus research shows a staggering drop in support for the Trudeau-led Liberal Party. 56% of Canadians believe it is time for a change and see a good alternative. 33% of people believe it’s time for a change but do not see a good alternative, and just 11% of Canadians feel like Justin Trudeau deserves to be re-elected for a fourth term as Prime Minister.

Coletto shared a preview of his polling on social media. He said “1 in 4 current Liberal supporters say they would consider voting Conservative. That’s 4% of the electorate.”

When the desire for change numbers are broken down into political affiliation, they become quite grim for the government. More than 1 in 4 Liberal voters say Trudeau does not deserve to be re-elected, but more staggering 1 in 3 Liberal voters say they are comfortable voting for an alternative like Poilievre or Singh.

Coletto said, “The question is whether this is the bottom or whether things can get worse. Given that 1 in 5 Canadians are still unaware of yesterday’s political events and another sizeable group hasn’t followed it closely, the damage could run deeper as more and more people talk about politics over the holiday season. It’s clear from this data that Chrystia Freeland delivered a body blow on Prime Minister Trudeau and the government finds itself in the weakest position it has been in public opinion since it was elected in 2015.”

You can view the full poll here.

Sponsored by Advertiser

Moe in Toronto, Beck in Regina during busy political week

It has been a very eventful week in politics - and its only Wednesday! This week Saskatchewan’s political leaders had full schedules despite the Legislature on break.

Saskatchewan Party leader Premier Scott Moe was in Toronto meeting with the Council of Federation. Moe said, the importance of the premiers' table "today, given where our nation is, I think could never be more overstated. "It is so very important for us to come together."

Moe said, “After a productive day of meeting with my fellow premiers in Toronto, I would like to extend my thanks to each of my 12 provincial and territorial counterparts. The consensus gained at the COF table by premiers is a tremendous benefit to all Canadians.”

A statement released after the council's meeting said that "premiers agree the priority is to act to avoid tariffs." The statement did not mention retaliatory tariffs, but noted that "the imposition of tariffs by the U.S. would be a significant failure on the part of the Government of Canada."

The premiers are also urging Ottawa to accelerate reaching the NATO defence spending target of two per cent of GDP — which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada is on track to meet by 2032.

NDP leader Carla Beck was also on the road this week. Beck was at a food bank in Prince Albert on Monday and delivered poinsettias and Christmas baking to senior homes and schools in her constituency of Regina Lakeview on Tuesday. The NDP has been sending requests to sign petitions related to health care and ethics.

More news and info

• Conservatives win B.C. federal byelection amid turmoil in Ottawa (Canadian Press)

• Trump trash talks Freeland in blast from her political past (CBC News)

• YWCA Canada apologizes for its involvement in residential schools and Indian hospitals (CBC Saskatchewan)

• Long-awaited parkade opens at Regina General Hospital (Regina Leader-Post)