What Trump's Accused Of, Trudeau Did

by Mark Steyn
Steyn on the Air
March 7, 2019

https://www.steynonline.com/9236/what-trump-accused-of-trudeau-did

Tomorrow, I'll be back behind the Golden EIB Microphone for Open Line Friday. As for today's guest-hosted excursion into Excellence In Broadcasting, you can find a few moments from the show here - and more details on that Mark Steyn Cruise I mentioned here.

North of the border, I kept my fortnightly date with John Oakley on Toronto's Global News Radio 640. We discussed the ongoing SNC-Lavalin corruption scandal, and I pointed out that nice boy-king Justin actually did what Trump's been accused of for over two years: straight-up obstruction of justice. The Prime Minister demanded that Canada's Attorney General interfere to his political advantage in the Crown's prosecution of a criminal case - and, when the Attorney General refused to do his bidding, he fired her. Click below to listen:

We had a grand turnout from Canadians on last year's Steyn cruise, so we hope more than a few Oakley listeners will want to join us this September, sailing from Vancouver to Alaska, with Dennis Miller joining our merry crew.

See you tonight on the telly with Tucker.

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7 Reader Comments

PK33 • Mar 8, 2019 at 10:23

Random thoughts on the SNC-Lavalin "affair"...

During the run-up to marijuana legalization in Canada, Justin Trudeau mentioned that his brother Michel had been charged with drug possession and his father, the former PM Pierre Trudeau, intervened to have the charges dropped. Trudeau junior learned that the law does not apply to everyone equally at his father's elbow, so to speak. As an adult, people who are not instinctively corrupt will eschew such learning. So much for the most ethical and transparent government.

The Canadian Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Jody Wilson-Raybould presided over crafting the new Deferred Prosecution Agreement legislation that is central to this affair, which SNC lobbied hard for, and she was apparently fine with burying it in an omnibus BUDGET bill. She was well aware that it was specifically being passed in order to let SNC off the hook and indeed they were the first up to bat.

Her office added legislation that allows police to pull anyone over at any time and subject them to a sobriety test without any suspicion that they may be impaired. A sobriety test allows them to look into your vehicle and may have you exit the vehicle, while they take a look. The same legislation allows police to charge you with impaired driving TWO HOURS after you have stopped driving so if you come home stone cold sober and down a few tequila shots with your pals on the back deck you could be charged with impaired driving at the knock on the door. It allows police to come to your house, question and test you without any evidence of wrongdoing.

JWR also was actively involved, with her good friend former Health Minister Jane Philpott to create the Medical Assistance in Dying law, which was promptly used to deny a chronically ill man treatment that was deemed to expensive and to propose he choose euthanasia himself.

I am no supporter of Trudeau. Butts and Wernick make my skin crawl. My point is to not canonize JWR (some people are saying she would make a great PM). JWR is a Liberal who promotes the progressive Left agenda and even wants to stay in the Liberal party after all this, but unlike the three men I just mentioned I believe that she draws the line at corruption and lies and that is laudable.

JWR is the only person who is bound under confidentiality rules that have not been lifted, the rest of the witnesses in the commission can speak freely. The PM has refused to drop the confidentiality requirement. JWR has offered to return to the commission for more questions, related to the testimony of Butts and Wernick, however - surprise, surprise, the Liberals have decided not to recall her.

A Conservative member of the commission put forward a motion that Butts testify under oath and all the Liberals on the commission voted it down - they have a minority. Very telling. A criminal investigation is required to subpoena all the communications, require witnesses to testify under oath and allow JWR to answer any and every question.

Then there's the Vice-Admiral Mark Norman trial....

Segnes Schonken • Mar 8, 2019 at 00:33

Coolest thing: given enough rope, some positions invariably hang themselves. I speak advisedly of "positions", because the people involved do not do likewise. Few, unfortunately, review their positions. Well, they must be made to carry their albatrosses and rejoice in the stench. They seem to like it.

On a more serious note, I'd enjoy a view as to why their supporters are so seduced the stench.

Dennis • Mar 7, 2019 at 19:57

The CBC, or the taxpayers, have paid for anti Trump billboards that idiotically compare Trump's wall to the Berlin Wall. (From Ezra's twitter site) I wonder if Justin approved or promoted these outrageous ads.
Are the people of Canada trying to further sink their sputtering economy by once again angering millions of Trump supporters who might not visit or buy Canadian?

Trudeau's, poorly timed, "I won't be pushed around" comment and Chrystia Freeland's attendance at a "Trump is a Tyrant" gathering during trade negotiations likely angered Trump and the US negotiators enough that it caused a worse USMCA agreement for Canada. I think a majority of Americans want a secure border so why alienate them? The Democrat party and Obama etc are likely influencing the Canadian networks etc regardless of what price Canada pays for interfering in their affairs. Canada has enough problems with Justin's and his gov't's policies and abuses.

Note-Rasmussen's poll today gives Trump a 50% favorable rating for likely voters while Justin is in the mid 30 %.in a Canadian poll.

Dennis • Mar 7, 2019 at 19:30

I always enjoy these discussions but I notice John does not identify as a Conservative talk show host according to his Network's profile. Can any radio host on one of Canada's main radio networks survive if they call themselves Conservative or make any pro Trump comments? I listened to a radio host on another network while driving LD and when he said Trump is lying about the border emergency and referred to Trump supporters as basic idiots that only watch alt right Fox News, I turned him off .Are there any other reasonable, rational and funny hosts other than John Oakley in Canada? .

AB43

Dennis • Mar 8, 2019 at 08:56

You can listen to John Oakley on the internet Just google The John Oakley show It gives you various option to listen to that including past episodes . I chose https://player.fm/series/2342421 and listened to John Oakley show listeners comment following the the current episode with Mark Steyn. I listened to later discussion with Lisa Reit about the game the liberal play to with hold information and truth about the SNC Lavalin Fiasco

John Francis • Mar 7, 2019 at 18:54

He almost certainly shuffled her out of the post in order to appoint as Attorney General David Lametti, whose riding includes SNC Laveln. He would presumably be more "persuadable" than JWR.

Brawndo • Mar 7, 2019 at 17:25

Oh, Mark. When woke progressives do it it is called "being pragmatic" or "allowing alternative justice." The Left and the media always seem so very uninterested.