I think this is even more simple than a RCMP - CSIS turf war. Elements inside CSIS want to hurt the Trudeau government. They have had two recent kicks at the can, this is the third attempt. The people inside CSIS that are leaking this have no knowledge what has been briefed up or not.
So, medium level leaker decides to call buddy Fife and tells him that there was info that Chong’s family may (and that is a big may) be targeted. He even has a document to show to Fife. Fife asks him if he knows if that was briefed to the PMO and he cannot confirm this, so Fife does not print that. Of course Fife and the leaker know that in today’s political climate Trudeau will be L aimed regardless.
Now, there can be 100s of reasons that the senior people at CSIS did want to take this further. Some of these reasons could be even the right ones. The most obvious one is that this particular diplomat could have a habit of claiming bullshit things to colleagues that are actually not true.
It is time for senior leadership at CSIS to crack down on these leaks. If there is no statement by the end of the week that a CSIS officer has been fired, then the leadership needs to go.
You seem to minimize the Michael Chong story. According to you, senior levels of CSIS either didn't know or sought to minimize the importance of the story. Or perhaps someone just made it all up.
Any of these possibilities could be true, although I find them extremely unlikely. Butin every case, we the Canadian people are left hanging.
So I say again. Someone is responsible for this screwup. In our parliamentary system, that "someone" is either a Minister or the Prime Minister himself. Whoever it is, should resign. Now. That is what accountability means.
Accountability does not mean shrugging one's shoulders, saying "medium-level bureaucrats will be medium-level bureaucrats".
You are making the assumption that this “targeting” was serious in nature and actually happened. There is no evidence for this at all.
Targeting can mean several things. It can range from inquiring about people, subtle harassment, depriving people of economic opportunities, imprisonment or physical harm. It is quite possible CSIS concluded that this would like be on the lower end of the scale.
We also do not know if this actually happened. Mr. Chong was not aware of it and he was well aware of the risks and made deliberate precautions. Nor has there been any reports from Hong Kong that anything material happened. In other words, this so-called diplomat could have been bullshitting to his colleagues and there was no actual action at all. So far, I have not seen any evidence that this targeting actually happened.
Not only are they minimizing it, they are deflecting the facts to make it seem like CSIS fabricated the whole thing. Claiming "There is no evidence for this at all." when the article states it happened.
They are a conspiracy theorist. Even when presented evidence, they'll always find a way to deny it to protect their insane beliefs.
It is an insane conspiracy theory to suggest CSIS reports are fabrications to take out Trudeau.
This is like QAnon saying institutions are satanists who want to eat babies. Your blind loyalty to Trudeau driving you deflect credible facts, is the same way QAnon's loyalty to Trump drives them to deflect credible facts.
A couple of more thoughts on this CSIS report that Bob Fife managed to get his grubby hands on.
In this report CSIS concludes that there is information that Mr. Chong’s in Hong Kong may be targeted. What are the chances that in the same report there is an assessment that this targeting will most likely be in the form of collecting info about the people only and that is unlikely that the family members will be harassed or harmed? I would argue that chance would be pretty high. No CSIS officer would create or approve a report that would not define what this targeting would likely consist of. As a result, CSIS gave a defensive briefing to Chong and nobody thought further action was required.
Now, torquer in chief Fife would obviously report the part of “targeting” and leave the actual threat assessment out of his reporting. Targeting sounds pretty dangerous and that is exactly what our master torquer likes to convey. Our government (both the political and bureaucratic part) may be incompetent in areas, but they are not sociopaths. They would not accept a “no further action” if this to Mr. Chong’s family anything but low.
1-Was it a coincidence that Bob Fife released part one in the Globe and Mail the same day that the POEC finding was released validating the use of the Emergency Act?
2-Was it a coincidence that the now CPC “leader” was feverishly mixing with the “Freedom Convoy” folks during the occupation of Ottawa?
3-Was it a coincidence that mask and vaccine mandates were a major part of the reason for the Convoy, (a coup would have been okay too for the now CPC “leader” as they can’t win the HOC democratically it seems), and that SkiPPy benefited enormously from the Convoy and its participants?
4-Was it a coincidence that the Convoy ended O’Toole’s CPC “leadership” because he chose to follow the advice from the likes of Candice Bergen and friends? (I.e. Let Trudeau Wear This letter)
5-Was it a coincidence that SkiPPy refuses to get security clearance so that he is free to tell tall tales knowing full well that no one can adequately refute the tales without breaching the security of Canada?
There are many more “coincidences” but in reality there are no coincidences in politics.
There are only planned paths and of course opportunistic plans that evolve from the events of the day.
It states “This enactment amends the Canada Evidence Act to protect the confidentiality of journalistic sources. It allows journalists to not disclose information or a document that identifies or is likely to identify a journalistic source unless the information or document cannot be obtained by any other reasonable means and the public interest in the administration of justice outweighs the public interest in preserving the confidentiality of the journalistic source.”
My take on what happened (and is still happening) is one of many possibilities but the fact that so many possibilities exist, is the only way the Canadian people will be able to get the answers that are needed in order to restore their faith in our democracy. The thresholds to force the revealing of both the Leak Source and the Leaked Document(s) were met a long time ago.
Intelligence is not fact. CSIS gathers intelligence that may or may not be found to be facts.
Facts require context. The RCMP may or may not be investigating but if they are they are not going to say anything until it is time to execute warrant(s).
Let’s be clear.
This was an act of treason and is hurting our democracy not helping it in any way, shape of form.
.. Recall my mini dissertation ‘reply’ to you re how Police homicide dicks run a murder case
I think it was the exceptional John Sandford who discussed how one detective explained how he ‘looks for the glue’ or the perp who glues the actual Evidence.. the little clues etc.. which then creates a better ‘snapshot’ to make sense of the crime etc..
So I like how your Jounalism (or opinionation🦎) triggers ‘replies’
I just read Paul Wells re his recent ‘Mini Book’ on The Rouleau Report.. & he kind of approaches the puzzle in a similar way to you. and helpfully remarks upon people who Reviewed The Book then enter his thinking & writing process.
Since I read a fair number of Indy Blogs daily.. I see & read a lot of Replies or Comments or Opinions.. as well
What if a Chinese ‘spook’ working the Canada File.. let’s say a very senior Analyst with a very senior mandate to ‘stir the political pot’ did so because Michael Chong was the Perfect Dupe. Were ‘the two Michaels just another ‘very sensationally senior level’ - stirring of the pot ? I mean those folks turned & churned the entire US of A & NORAD inside out with ‘just a fucking weather balloon’ ! !
You may know me as a former fan of Michael Chong.. yes, something happened to Mr Chong, my old neighbour in Wellington County farm world when we were both running the family farm. He was grotesquely humiliated in two CPC Leadership belly flops.. being the first Candidate who couldn’t find a seat in the Musical Chairs competition that dumped Scheer (an absolute useless F’n Goof) & Then the sillyman O’Toole & wife on the apathetic Vote The Party - voters of Canada.
Mr Chong has become a ‘champion of Pierre Poilievre’ .. why ? It’s my belief he could cross the floor & take the Wellington County Riding Voters with him. I thought he was a ‘man of principle’ - but not anymore.. He’s become sour & shrill.. Why ? He was showing this ‘change’ during the ‘Bullshit Freedom Truck Jamboree ! Sucking eggs for Ms Candace Bergen ? WoW ! How courageous.
Now he has ‘family’ that he hasn’t spoken to in years.. on his Father’s Side.. in Hong Kong.. that he suddenly professes he hasn’t spoken to.. out of his concern for their safety.. and yes yes.. China ‘banished him’ for tabling a motion to criticize China for going after certain peoples in Mainland China
I believe this is where you come in Mr Scrimshaw.. I think Chong is ‘evidence’ of the fine ‘Long Game’ of Communist China. A Perfect Dupe - and Bob Fife is just another Perfect Dupe. Bob Fife is just an arrogant Globe & Mail messenger & so is their ‘Editorial Board’ - all are desperate as The Globe struggles for ‘Relevance’ & Profitability in a strange new World Order.
The ‘leaker’ is also just a minor tool.. but emplaced within CSIS.. The Chinese are turning Canada’s crazy archaic Parliament & Government inside out with the help of Harper’s monstrosity - the CPC Party & that posturing prick Poilievre. Said another way ? The Chong Weather Balloon From China
So riddle me this ! What is ‘the Tradecraft employed - for ‘a CSIS leaker’ to communicate with Bob Fife ? Why did MP Candace Bergen suddenly seek More Time With Family ? How deeply are The Plymouth Brethren embedded in The Harper Valley CPC ? How contaminated are Pierre Poilievre & Jenni Byrne ? And finally.. where is Ray Novak these days ? Is he still living with The Harper Family .. perhaps in the ranch house ?
I find it really hard to believe that Chong said nothing before this past week given that we now know he has been briefed by CSIS multiple times over the past two years. If it was a serious threat to him or his family, does anyone believe he wouldn't have said something? I like him, but he just jumped on the bandwagon bashing Trudeau for something he had no knowledge of.
I agree though that CSIS needs to plug the leak or the leadership needs to step aside. They look like fools at this point for not finding the leaker or they're complicit.
Perhaps Trudeau didn't know because his handlers know that he doesn't want to know anything about the China file. There's been an awful lot of camaraderie between politicians (of all stripes) and the Chinese government over the last two decades.
We have known about turf wars between the RCMP and CSIS ever since the creation of CSIS in the 1980s. Remember the failure over Air India because the RCMP and CSIS weren't talking. Why imagine things are better now?
But at the end of the day, as Harry Truman is reported to have said, the buck stops on the desk of the leader. In this case, that would be Prime Minister Trudeau. It doesn't matter whether he knew, or what he knew. It is on his watch that the fuck-up happened -- the most recent in a long list of fuck-ups. He has to carry the blame.
I think that is bullshit. Somehow CSIS decided that it was not important (or credible!) enough to report this up the chain, but it was important enough to break the law and leak it to buddy Fife.
I think this is even more simple than a RCMP - CSIS turf war. Elements inside CSIS want to hurt the Trudeau government. They have had two recent kicks at the can, this is the third attempt. The people inside CSIS that are leaking this have no knowledge what has been briefed up or not.
So, medium level leaker decides to call buddy Fife and tells him that there was info that Chong’s family may (and that is a big may) be targeted. He even has a document to show to Fife. Fife asks him if he knows if that was briefed to the PMO and he cannot confirm this, so Fife does not print that. Of course Fife and the leaker know that in today’s political climate Trudeau will be L aimed regardless.
Now, there can be 100s of reasons that the senior people at CSIS did want to take this further. Some of these reasons could be even the right ones. The most obvious one is that this particular diplomat could have a habit of claiming bullshit things to colleagues that are actually not true.
It is time for senior leadership at CSIS to crack down on these leaks. If there is no statement by the end of the week that a CSIS officer has been fired, then the leadership needs to go.
You seem to minimize the Michael Chong story. According to you, senior levels of CSIS either didn't know or sought to minimize the importance of the story. Or perhaps someone just made it all up.
Any of these possibilities could be true, although I find them extremely unlikely. Butin every case, we the Canadian people are left hanging.
So I say again. Someone is responsible for this screwup. In our parliamentary system, that "someone" is either a Minister or the Prime Minister himself. Whoever it is, should resign. Now. That is what accountability means.
Accountability does not mean shrugging one's shoulders, saying "medium-level bureaucrats will be medium-level bureaucrats".
You are making the assumption that this “targeting” was serious in nature and actually happened. There is no evidence for this at all.
Targeting can mean several things. It can range from inquiring about people, subtle harassment, depriving people of economic opportunities, imprisonment or physical harm. It is quite possible CSIS concluded that this would like be on the lower end of the scale.
We also do not know if this actually happened. Mr. Chong was not aware of it and he was well aware of the risks and made deliberate precautions. Nor has there been any reports from Hong Kong that anything material happened. In other words, this so-called diplomat could have been bullshitting to his colleagues and there was no actual action at all. So far, I have not seen any evidence that this targeting actually happened.
Not only are they minimizing it, they are deflecting the facts to make it seem like CSIS fabricated the whole thing. Claiming "There is no evidence for this at all." when the article states it happened.
They are a conspiracy theorist. Even when presented evidence, they'll always find a way to deny it to protect their insane beliefs.
It is an insane conspiracy theory to suggest CSIS reports are fabrications to take out Trudeau.
This is like QAnon saying institutions are satanists who want to eat babies. Your blind loyalty to Trudeau driving you deflect credible facts, is the same way QAnon's loyalty to Trump drives them to deflect credible facts.
You are the QAnon of Canada.
Losing my ever-loving mind right along with you!
Good analysis.
A couple of more thoughts on this CSIS report that Bob Fife managed to get his grubby hands on.
In this report CSIS concludes that there is information that Mr. Chong’s in Hong Kong may be targeted. What are the chances that in the same report there is an assessment that this targeting will most likely be in the form of collecting info about the people only and that is unlikely that the family members will be harassed or harmed? I would argue that chance would be pretty high. No CSIS officer would create or approve a report that would not define what this targeting would likely consist of. As a result, CSIS gave a defensive briefing to Chong and nobody thought further action was required.
Now, torquer in chief Fife would obviously report the part of “targeting” and leave the actual threat assessment out of his reporting. Targeting sounds pretty dangerous and that is exactly what our master torquer likes to convey. Our government (both the political and bureaucratic part) may be incompetent in areas, but they are not sociopaths. They would not accept a “no further action” if this to Mr. Chong’s family anything but low.
Great article.
Let's add some more to it shall we?
First of all:
1-Was it a coincidence that Bob Fife released part one in the Globe and Mail the same day that the POEC finding was released validating the use of the Emergency Act?
2-Was it a coincidence that the now CPC “leader” was feverishly mixing with the “Freedom Convoy” folks during the occupation of Ottawa?
3-Was it a coincidence that mask and vaccine mandates were a major part of the reason for the Convoy, (a coup would have been okay too for the now CPC “leader” as they can’t win the HOC democratically it seems), and that SkiPPy benefited enormously from the Convoy and its participants?
4-Was it a coincidence that the Convoy ended O’Toole’s CPC “leadership” because he chose to follow the advice from the likes of Candice Bergen and friends? (I.e. Let Trudeau Wear This letter)
5-Was it a coincidence that SkiPPy refuses to get security clearance so that he is free to tell tall tales knowing full well that no one can adequately refute the tales without breaching the security of Canada?
There are many more “coincidences” but in reality there are no coincidences in politics.
There are only planned paths and of course opportunistic plans that evolve from the events of the day.
Second of all:
It is high time that the Journalistic Sources Protection Act (https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/annualstatutes/2017_22/FullText.html) is executed.
It states “This enactment amends the Canada Evidence Act to protect the confidentiality of journalistic sources. It allows journalists to not disclose information or a document that identifies or is likely to identify a journalistic source unless the information or document cannot be obtained by any other reasonable means and the public interest in the administration of justice outweighs the public interest in preserving the confidentiality of the journalistic source.”
My take on what happened (and is still happening) is one of many possibilities but the fact that so many possibilities exist, is the only way the Canadian people will be able to get the answers that are needed in order to restore their faith in our democracy. The thresholds to force the revealing of both the Leak Source and the Leaked Document(s) were met a long time ago.
Intelligence is not fact. CSIS gathers intelligence that may or may not be found to be facts.
Facts require context. The RCMP may or may not be investigating but if they are they are not going to say anything until it is time to execute warrant(s).
Let’s be clear.
This was an act of treason and is hurting our democracy not helping it in any way, shape of form.
What’s behind it all? Is it Trudeau’s reluctance to increase NATO target spending level?
.. Recall my mini dissertation ‘reply’ to you re how Police homicide dicks run a murder case
I think it was the exceptional John Sandford who discussed how one detective explained how he ‘looks for the glue’ or the perp who glues the actual Evidence.. the little clues etc.. which then creates a better ‘snapshot’ to make sense of the crime etc..
So I like how your Jounalism (or opinionation🦎) triggers ‘replies’
I just read Paul Wells re his recent ‘Mini Book’ on The Rouleau Report.. & he kind of approaches the puzzle in a similar way to you. and helpfully remarks upon people who Reviewed The Book then enter his thinking & writing process.
Since I read a fair number of Indy Blogs daily.. I see & read a lot of Replies or Comments or Opinions.. as well
Thus - My Scenario
What if a Chinese ‘spook’ working the Canada File.. let’s say a very senior Analyst with a very senior mandate to ‘stir the political pot’ did so because Michael Chong was the Perfect Dupe. Were ‘the two Michaels just another ‘very sensationally senior level’ - stirring of the pot ? I mean those folks turned & churned the entire US of A & NORAD inside out with ‘just a fucking weather balloon’ ! !
You may know me as a former fan of Michael Chong.. yes, something happened to Mr Chong, my old neighbour in Wellington County farm world when we were both running the family farm. He was grotesquely humiliated in two CPC Leadership belly flops.. being the first Candidate who couldn’t find a seat in the Musical Chairs competition that dumped Scheer (an absolute useless F’n Goof) & Then the sillyman O’Toole & wife on the apathetic Vote The Party - voters of Canada.
Mr Chong has become a ‘champion of Pierre Poilievre’ .. why ? It’s my belief he could cross the floor & take the Wellington County Riding Voters with him. I thought he was a ‘man of principle’ - but not anymore.. He’s become sour & shrill.. Why ? He was showing this ‘change’ during the ‘Bullshit Freedom Truck Jamboree ! Sucking eggs for Ms Candace Bergen ? WoW ! How courageous.
Now he has ‘family’ that he hasn’t spoken to in years.. on his Father’s Side.. in Hong Kong.. that he suddenly professes he hasn’t spoken to.. out of his concern for their safety.. and yes yes.. China ‘banished him’ for tabling a motion to criticize China for going after certain peoples in Mainland China
I believe this is where you come in Mr Scrimshaw.. I think Chong is ‘evidence’ of the fine ‘Long Game’ of Communist China. A Perfect Dupe - and Bob Fife is just another Perfect Dupe. Bob Fife is just an arrogant Globe & Mail messenger & so is their ‘Editorial Board’ - all are desperate as The Globe struggles for ‘Relevance’ & Profitability in a strange new World Order.
The ‘leaker’ is also just a minor tool.. but emplaced within CSIS.. The Chinese are turning Canada’s crazy archaic Parliament & Government inside out with the help of Harper’s monstrosity - the CPC Party & that posturing prick Poilievre. Said another way ? The Chong Weather Balloon From China
So riddle me this ! What is ‘the Tradecraft employed - for ‘a CSIS leaker’ to communicate with Bob Fife ? Why did MP Candace Bergen suddenly seek More Time With Family ? How deeply are The Plymouth Brethren embedded in The Harper Valley CPC ? How contaminated are Pierre Poilievre & Jenni Byrne ? And finally.. where is Ray Novak these days ? Is he still living with The Harper Family .. perhaps in the ranch house ?
I find it really hard to believe that Chong said nothing before this past week given that we now know he has been briefed by CSIS multiple times over the past two years. If it was a serious threat to him or his family, does anyone believe he wouldn't have said something? I like him, but he just jumped on the bandwagon bashing Trudeau for something he had no knowledge of.
I agree though that CSIS needs to plug the leak or the leadership needs to step aside. They look like fools at this point for not finding the leaker or they're complicit.
Perhaps Trudeau didn't know because his handlers know that he doesn't want to know anything about the China file. There's been an awful lot of camaraderie between politicians (of all stripes) and the Chinese government over the last two decades.
We have known about turf wars between the RCMP and CSIS ever since the creation of CSIS in the 1980s. Remember the failure over Air India because the RCMP and CSIS weren't talking. Why imagine things are better now?
But at the end of the day, as Harry Truman is reported to have said, the buck stops on the desk of the leader. In this case, that would be Prime Minister Trudeau. It doesn't matter whether he knew, or what he knew. It is on his watch that the fuck-up happened -- the most recent in a long list of fuck-ups. He has to carry the blame.
I think that is bullshit. Somehow CSIS decided that it was not important (or credible!) enough to report this up the chain, but it was important enough to break the law and leak it to buddy Fife.