Today, readers are responding to a column from John Ibbitson in which he argues that the recent leak detailing disagreements over a 2017 Supreme Court appointment only shows how little Justin Trudeau and his team respect the rule of law.
Globe and Mail Columnist John Ibbitson, is photographed at the Globe's Ottawa bureau on on Dec 12 2017. (Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail)Fred Lum/the Globe and Mail
"...with the leak intended to debase the reputation of the former attorney-general." Yes, I expect that was the intent. But as collateral damage, the leak also debased the reputation of Chief Justice Glenn Joyal, who Trudeau rejected for the Supreme Court. Look, it's fair game for politicians to go after other politicians. That's to be expected. But releasing highly confidential information about a completely innocent third party? And a Chief Justice no less? That's a gross, and as far as I know, unprecedented mistake by the Trudeau government.
John Ibbitson in response:
I think you put that better than I did myself.
Please, let's demand an inquiry into this whole mess, including the leaking of confidence to the press, be they from the government side or not. Then, let the chips fall where they may. I would take a leak for justice and truth any day over a leak to hide it.
It looks like the Liberals are suffering a death of a thousand cuts, and almost all of the cuts have been self inflicted. This is now a case of Fremdschamen - a feeling of embarrassment for the Liberals even if they don't feel the embarrassment themselves.
I agree. This is a shocking story. It is an example of the very behaviour on the part of the PMO that caused this scandal. A flagrant disregard for the institutional norms on which the rule of law depends. As Jody Wilson-Raybould said, these are confidential communications and "commentary/reporting in this regard ... could compromise the integrity of the appointments process, our institutions and potentially sitting Justices.” The prime minister and the other lightweights that he surrounds himself with in the PMO just don’t get it. This feels to me like the last straw. The end. The prime minister and the cadre are going to wish they followed the first rule of holes some two months ago: stop digging.
Trudeau has only made the hole deeper by not condemning the leaks of this confidential information, even if your contention about their origin is correct. It seems he has no connection with the people and no idea what to do. Regardless of where they came from, this information is far more damaging to Trudeau and the PMO than for Jody Wilson-Raybould and Jane Philpott.
The author, along with many others, seem to have concluded where the leak came from. A wise person might consider that many were in the know on this matter, including those in the camp of the former Attorney-General. Either way, one has to agree that it is really bad form, and disrespectful to everyone involved.
There would be an awful lot less speculation if the prime minister answered questions asked truthfully and fully, rather than obfuscate, lecture and hector and allowed the two ministers who have resigned the same latitude. The fumbling and stumbling from the PMO allows for the public to consider that there is a major league cover up in play, especially when this issue has resulted in three political resignations, and two government staff resignations/retirements.
The most lamentable aspect of all of this fuss is that I have legitimate concerns about some Liberal policies. But no one is discussing them, including the CPC and NDP, whose only policy.of their own appears to be to try to discredit Trudeau. Sorry Scheer and Singh, but that's not a sufficient nation-building policy. At least the Liberals have a plan, and talk about it. NDP and CPC are leaving themselves vulnerable by being uni-dimensional.
I have never understood why we the people cannot know how judges are selected and promoted. Their decisions can radically affect our lives yet we never know anything about the process. Mr. Ibbitson is so very wrong. This leak not a scandal. It is what should properly happen in an informed and open democracy.
The tradition of secrecy and the whole process of selection has been intended to limit political influence. It is difficult to make it really public without dragging in politics from both the prime minister and the opposition. Then you get something closer to the disgraceful process in the U.S. The leak should be considered a scandal by the Liberals because it violates Cabinet confidentiality.
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