Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, takes part in a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama at the APEC Summit in Manila, Philippines on Thursday, November 19, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean KilpatrickThe Associated Press
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POLITICS NOTEBOOK
By John Ibbitson (@JohnIbbitson)
Any day now — could it be today? — the Liberal government will unveil details of its plans to bring 25,000 Middle Eastern refugees to Canada before the end of the year. Each day lost now is a major loss. How major? Let's update the clock we set to ticking last week.
As of today, there are 42 days remaining in the year. If the Liberal government is to meet its goal, that means bringing in, on average, 595 people a day, every day. That's the equivalent of two flights a day, give or take, depending on which wide-bodied aircraft is used.
But if the first refugees don't start arriving until a week from now, then you're looking at 714 people and three flights a day. A two-week delay would move you to 893 people.
This task has been made even more complicated as a result of the security concerns raised by Friday's terrorist attacks on Paris. How will the government screen refugees who might not have the proper papers, who can't verify their claims?
That said, the very few attempted acts of Islamist terrorism seen in Canada have typically been committed not by refugees or immigrants, but by people born in Canada.
The assault on Paris makes it even more imperative that the government honour its commitment, or come as close to it as humanly possible. Otherwise Canada would seem to be pulling back in fear from the Liberals' bold election pledge in the wake of a terrorist attack. And that would send entirely the wrong message.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS MORNING
By Chris Hannay (@channay)
> Justin Trudeau and Barack Obama met this morning for a bilateral meeting. "We are both soon to be signatories to the TPP agreement," the U.S. President said, though the Liberals have been officially noncommittal on the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
> Obama's advice for Trudeau? "The first call I made to him I said, Justin, congratulations. You and your family look great. I know Canadians are incredibly inspired by your message of hope and change. I just want to point out that I had no grey hair when I was in your shoes seven years ago and so if you if don't want to [go] grey like me you need to start dyeing it soon."
> A screaming crowd of international press mobbed Justin Trudeau in Manila, eager to get a glimpse of Canada's new Prime Minister.
> The heads of the RCMP and CSIS say it is possible to safely screen and bring in 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of the year. Meanwhile, Ontario is looking at decommissioned hospitals to house refugees.
> Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi talks about racism he's seen in the debate about Syrian refugees.
> Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan says he will make mental health a priority in the military, and that he has personally known soldiers who took their own lives.
> The Mike Duffy trial resumes for the last time today. The senator is expected to testify in his own defence as early as next week.
> And if the last vote had been held with a ranked ballot - one of the electoral reforms the Liberals are looking at - Mr. Trudeau's party would have picked up an extra 20 seats, an analysis suggests. (For subscribers.)
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WHAT EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT
"Quite apart from whether the government can meet its artificial and politically driven timetable for the 25,000, the larger question is whether the government and the Canadian people are willing, ready and able to handle much bigger numbers in the years ahead. No one has thought about this, let alone prepared for it." – Jeffrey Simpson (for subscribers) on the refugee discussion.
Globe and Mail editorial board: "Every time someone burns a mosque or kicks a defenceless Muslim woman in the stomach, the Islamic State cause is advanced, and its soldiers sleep a little better."
Chantal Hébert (Toronto Star): "There was a glaring disconnect between Trudeau's quasi-dogmatic insistence that it was business as usual on the refugee and the war on ISIS fronts and the public's sense that the attacks were a watershed event that deserved a fuller airing."
Neil MacDonald (CBC): "Canada and America more dearly cherish individual rights. Still, a surveillance state is growing here, too."
Tasha Kheiriddin (National Post): "The time has come to move Canadian government into the 21st century. Abolishing the Senate would revive Canadians' faith in democracy and political ethics. "
This newsletter is produced by Chris Hannay and Steve Proceviat.
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