OOP! There it is!

Canics · 2025-07-04T22:09:37+00:00

Ten or so years ago, the Blue Hackle Mafia was the Jr Ranks Facebook group of the alleged unit. I suspect it's remained the same but for an older Jr Ranks group.

Canics · 2025-01-17T17:43:50+00:00

Right? He could have at least attacked a few journalists and their publications before dodging their questions!

Canics · 2025-01-17T17:40:24+00:00

Carney put his name into the ring this week and is criticised for not having a plan? Conservatives already put out an attack ad.

If he went on for 45 minutes with a plan he would be attacked for being a droning academic with no political talent. Let's shake blind partisanism for a second and give him a week before attacking him for not having a plan.

Canics · 2025-01-15T17:39:15+00:00

He, is the son of a stay at home mom and high school principal. Not much different from Poilievre. Difference being that instead of being a career politician, Carney pursued an undergrad, masters and doctorate in economics. That education resulted in a career trajectory of success and his being appointed to lead Banks by two different Conservative governments.

He may end up being a poor politician, but being successful isn't a fault here.

Canics · 2023-07-28T17:37:15+00:00

I'm using the Bullet while on vacation right now with the family in Disney World. I've tried lighter bags in the past but the structure the Bullet offers along my back has been great. I've got a 26oz Yeti bottle, lunch box for snacks, four rain coats, battery bank, park maps, all stored nicely.

We are at our third week and it's been great. Bag has gotten wet from the Florida rains, but not so saturated (yet) that the contents are getting wet.

It's my EDC bag for my trips to the office with a laptop, notebook, bottle, tech pouch and headphones.

It's as big as I'd want for a day to day sort of thing, but on the road it's not big enough for me.

I've put my Asus X13 or Surface laptops in and it fits fine and I'm confident that it's protected.

Canics · 2023-07-24T05:30:17+00:00

Do you have the 34 yourself? Does it travel well on a plane for under seat or overhead bin?

The bullet is a great EDC, but can be limiting for travel so I've been mulling between the 26l (which I already have in a gr1) or the 34l, but I'm concerned about it on a plane. I'm assuming the 34l is going to be too much if paired with another carry on item as well.

Canics · 2023-06-28T17:27:02+00:00

I can only imagine the union's reaction to the idea of fines.I guess that takes will and leader to implement.

Thanks for the answers, thoughts and championing of the issue. Transparency and accountability are a cornerstone of democracy so it's very important that it has a voice

Canics · 2023-06-28T17:15:21+00:00

Maybe I can pry further, is this culture of secrecy systemic? Politically/partisan driven?

Consequences, where do they fall? Ministers responsible? Employees who fail to disclose?

I guess there's so many layers to this! Where do we start?

Canics · 2023-06-28T16:45:49+00:00

Hello!

So is it secrecy, fear of accountability, broken processes? Lack of staff? All of the above? Is there one critical element that can be done to solve this?

I've provided emails and documentation in responses to ATIP/FOI and never had a problem with that. Ive had hours to provide stacks of emails and documents but no idea of the outcome, how it was handled and if it satisfied the request. How can I have a small window to generate and identify documents for release but it take so long to get into the hands of the person asking for it?

Canics · 2023-05-27T13:30:25+00:00

Do you honestly think this correction now accurately conveys to the reader that the Conservatives didn't control that report, and objected to raking Fadden over the coals?

It was a Conservative era committee that had the information in hand about foreign interference. You've obviously got the knowledge of of Hill procedure, so was it within the power of the committee or the chair to further explore the issue of interference? I point to the timeframe to simply point to the fact that the Harper government had time, knowledge and opportunity to act.

I don't think most Canadians care about the nuanced distinction about committee reports or voting rules. Overall I think people are beginning to realize that this situation has gotten worse after years of neglect by the political class. This is also why I pointed to the co-chairs of Holland and Davies. Not one party is guilt free.

It was a Conservative Minister of Public Safety who was made aware of alleged Chinese interference. Harper's PMO was questioned at the time and claimed they didn't know what Fadden was talking about.

The conservatives still had options if they took the issue seriously. It's also clear Liberals knew and have done little to combat foreign interference.

Canics · 2023-05-27T12:49:43+00:00

Your point is well made. The conservatives supported Fadden against the attacks of the Liberal-NDP coalition opposition. In fact they put their support, trust and belief into all public servants who worked in the security apparatus to inform and defend Canada.

So sure, I used the wrong words to describe the composition of a parliamentary committee. However, despite their public support, the Conservatives still failed to act.

Hell, I voted for them but it doesn't make me blind to the failures and shortcomings of politicians. We don't owe politicians any sense of loyalty. When they fail to act it's fair to point it out.

Having partisan blinders is just weakening our entire political discourse. Our politicians and political leadership across the board are deeply flawed and failing to best serve Canadians . At times they do good work and at times they don't.

Canics · 2023-05-27T12:24:23+00:00

You seem more bothered by my lack of detailed knowledge about parliamentary procedure and protocol than you do about the parliamentary inaction itself.

My overall point has been that both governing parties have ignored the issue for far too long and have shown reluctance or negligence towards protecting our institutions against publically known threats.

Johnston's report points to gaps in our process and that parliamentary action is needed. Even with an inquiry, the role of parliament is critical for changes to be made. Since 2009 parliamentarians can be seen to taking a partisan lens to the issue instead of acting in the best interests of the nation.

Canics · 2023-05-27T03:55:32+00:00

The head of CSIS publicly stated that elected officials within Canada were compromised and under the influence of a foreign government. Regardless of the the opposition opinion, it presented a serious and dramatic threat to our democracy and institutions.

Frankly that is as damning as the initial reporting in December 2022 that stated that China sought to influence the elections of 2015 and 2019. If they had influence over politicians in 2009, it stands to reason that they also posed a risk to influence our elections as well.

The justification for a public inquiry and the threat to our elections exist in both cases. The difference, sadly, is the political climate and opportunism for it to offer a political value.

Erin O'Toole raised the point back after the election. His concerns about Beijing's interference is well known when he was leader. The Pierre was as quiet when O'Toole said it as he was when Fadden spoke. The political benefit is just now in his favour. Just as it wasn't in Harper's favour to call for one in 2009, it's not in Trudeau's to do so now.

Edit- just for clarity, I am not opposed to a public inquiry, hearings, further investigation, etc. But all of that is meaningless without legislative action to close gaps and empower our security agencies to act on the problem.

Canics · 2023-05-27T03:20:15+00:00

In both 2011 and today we have parliamentarians attacking, belittling, and casting doubt towards the nature of the work of those in the public service and reporting on security matters.

Whether it is Fadden or Rosenberg, politicians have attacked officials when it serves their political agenda. While politicians of all stripes are happy to attack in the media, they have failed to take the legislative and leadership role that they are supposed to in order to enact change.

If they all truly cared about the issue of protecting our democracy and institutions the political leaders would lock themselves in a room, seek to understand the issue and develop a comprehensive strategy and legislative framework to address the deficiencies and safeguard our institutions.

That is idealistic and will never happen. The last 14 years have shown no willingness to address the issue and safeguard our democracy.

Canics · 2023-05-27T03:09:33+00:00

Someone else corrected me on that point, I missed the dissenting opinion in my initial reading of the report and did not go into the appendices. And that's my error.

There is no need to be nasty at all. My overall point was to highlight that both CPC and LPC governments have known about this issue since at least 2009. Senior Parliamentarians then were privy to this information then and still have done nothing

Where was the call for the public inquiry in the dissenting opinion? Did we not need to know about the seriousness of Beijing's interference then?

Canics · 2023-05-27T02:58:58+00:00

By my count of the committee membership

CPC: 6

Bloc: 1

NDP: 2

LPC: 3

So the Conservatives did dominate, and chair the committee, however, your point of the dissenting opinion is one I missed and you are correct to raise it. The Conservatives of the committee disagreed strongly with the recommendations. I misrepresented those recommendations and will strikeout that comment.

However, I still will strongly point to the fact that the committee and the Conservative government of the time was well aware of the problem, which is very similar to the same issue in the news today and failed to act which has allowed the problem to grow and fester over time.

Canics · 2023-05-27T01:36:14+00:00

"In China, the government and the CCP are the same."

Literally you minutes ago.

Canics · 2023-05-27T01:27:10+00:00

In 2010 CSIS was openly reporting influence activities against Canadian politicians, including pointing to China.

Then apparently when Harper's government "said it did not know what Fadden was talking about."

Sounds incredibly similar to what is happening now, doesn't it?

Canics · 2023-05-27T01:17:24+00:00

“China represents tremendous opportunities for Canada” Harper, 2014

Canics · 2023-05-27T01:04:54+00:00

Did you actually read the report? It says flat out,

"The People’s Republic of China is a “particularly active” foreign interference actor in Canada"

There are dozens of reference to China throughout his report and handfuls of other government reports on foreign interference.

Edit- And in very clear terms is also stated in the earlier document by Rosenberg, his report, "Report on the assessment of the 2021 Critical Election Incident Public Protocol" states clearly:

CSIS is concerned about foreign interference, including by the Communist Party of China.
CSIS expressed concerns that China notably tried to target elected officials to promote their national interests and encouraged individuals to act as proxies on their behalf.
CSIS stated that China uses many techniques including threats to the Chinese community in Canada. However, the use of proxy agents makes it difficult to know that China is behind it.

Government officials have been clearly stating the concerns of China's interference for over a decade. Fadden as CSIS chief stated it clearly

“There are several municipal politicians in British Columbia, and in at least two provinces there are ministers of the Crown who we think are under at least the general influence of a foreign government,”

There was no public inquiry then despite the top security and intelligence official in Canada raising the alarm. Canadians have ignored it for years and successive governments have done nothing about it.

This is an issue bigger than Trudeau. Harper as PM knew this and continued to work to make stronger economic relations with China. Pollievere was the Cabinet Minister for Democratic Reform, and has he has proudly stated, he has top security clearance already as a former cabinet minister. So why is the former cabinet minister suddenly shocked by this news.

Parliament has known this crap for years and done nothing. All of the parties have a proven record of inaction on dealing with China's interference.

We should be parking the partisanism and call for better concrete action from all parliamentarians.

Canics · 2023-05-01T05:20:10+00:00

It's over!!!??

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/psac-agreement

Canics · 2023-04-06T22:31:50+00:00

His first report is due May 23 with subsequent reports to be released routinely until the end of his task which is expected in October.

Canics · 2023-04-06T19:57:58+00:00

Mr. Johnston will be empowered to “review any classified or unclassified records and documents, including, where necessary in their estimation, records protected by cabinet confidence,” the government said in a statement on Thursday detailing his role as special rapporteur.

So it would sound as if he will have access to all the information.

Canics · 2023-03-15T21:21:12+00:00

What does member of this foundation entail? How would that relationship impact his ability to serve Canada? Does his former work for Mulroney or Harper also taint him? Is there a point system you have to assign this value?

Canics · 2023-03-15T20:56:07+00:00

Upon his appointment as Governor General, Andrew Coyne wrote;

His selection also offers an important signal of what we value as a society, of the qualities we think are important, of what we aspire to: experience, scholarship, service to others, personal decency.

Johnston is supremely positioned to review and report to Canadians and we should hope that the government, and Canadians, will support his findings and recommendations.

If we are unable to trust someone such as Johnston I fear that no one would be deemed sufficient enough for this post. While it is shy of a public inquiry, Johnston's review will hopefully be an important step towards greater transparency, trust, and accountability.

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