Testimony and evidence from Tuesday's Rouleau Commission hearings show Liberals Justin Trudeau and Jim Watson blaming Doug Ford for their Freedom Convoy problem.
Watson wanted to protect Trudeau, embarrass Ford during convoy | Toronto Sun - Brian Lilley:
Oct 19, 2022 - "If you thought partisan politics disappeared in the middle of a crisis, say like Ottawa’s reaction to last winter’s trucker convoy, think again. What we’ve seen in testimony at the Emergencies Act inquiry is an attempt to score political points. On Tuesday, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said that all three levels of government failed in their response. Yet he went out of his way several times to single out the province – not the city or federal government – on specific failures.
"It’s important to remember the partisan stripes of those involved in all of this. Watson is a Liberal who served as a cabinet minister at Queen’s Park under former Liberal premier Dalton McGuinty. He’s been a vocal booster of the current Liberal prime minister.... By comparison, Doug Ford leads a Progressive Conservative government, and despite Ford saying as recently as Monday that he doesn’t deal in partisan stripes, Watson most definitely does. The two men have had an uneasy relationship during Ford’s time in office.
"On Tuesday, Watson opened his testimony by falsely claiming the convoy had shown up in the nation’s capital to protest against the province. 'They were upset with the mask mandates, which were primarily, as you know, a provincial matter,' Watson said. That’s patently false and Watson knows it. While plenty of people involved in the convoy also didn’t like masks, the whole reason for the convoy in the first place was to protest the cross border vaccine mandates that were imposed just weeks earlier. That was in story after story, briefing after briefing and there is zero chance that a politician as accomplished as Watson didn’t know it....
"We also see two distinct incidents that happened on Feb. 8 that show Watson is reluctant to do anything to embarrass the Trudeau government or put them in a bad light but happy to call out the Ford government. These two incidents clearly illustrate that partisan politics was still on Watson’s mind even as he sought help from other levels of government.
"In his testimony Monday, Ottawa’s city manager, Steve Kanellakos described approaching Watson after being asked to meet with convoy organizers, a meeting that eventually took place. Kanellakos said that Watson didn’t like the idea because of the position it might put the Trudeau government in.... 'His initial reaction was we shouldn’t and thought that doing that was going to put pressure on the federal government in terms of, you know, if we meet with them, someone else would have to meet with them,' Kanellakos said.
"That conversation with Kanellakos happened the same day as a phone call between Watson and Trudeau – two Liberals discussing how they don’t think Ontario’s Progressive Conservative premier is doing enough.
"'Doug Ford has been hiding from his responsibility on it for political reasons,' Trudeau said according to a readout of the call submitted into evidence at the inquiry. 'If they keep dragging their feet, I’m happy to call them out on it,' Watson replied. On the same day, Ottawa’s mayor is worried about how his actions will affect the Liberal PM, ... he’s 'happy' to put public pressure on the Conservative premier.
"Watson’s goal Tuesday was clear, deflect as much blame as possible to Ford, not Trudeau. Perhaps there is a senate appointment in the future for the soon to be unemployed Watson, perhaps it’s just partisan loyalty. That politicians act in a political way is hardly shocking and Watson won’t be the only one to do so while testifying. The public just needs to be aware of this, know that what is coming out of their mouths is equal parts evidence, spin and self-preservation."
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