Horman's Point: Canada's WE Scandal is a warning to Liberals everywhere

The Canadian PM and his wife speaking at a WE charity event in New York MONICA SCHIPPER/GETTY IMAGES FOR WE DAY

The WE Scandal that's engulfed Canadian politics the last few days and weeks has become a dire warning to liberals everywhere, the Express' Politics Editor, Linda Horman writes.

For those who don't know, the WE scandal is a recent scandal in which over $900 million was provided to the WE Charity by the Canadian government for the Student Service Grant Programme, intended to help young people volunteering over the summer, something that was meant to be innocent and most certainly helpful to the government during the pandemic. However, from the get go, it was already clear that the charity had close ties to the government, with Justin Trudeau and his wife having attended and spoken at events. As time passed by, the charity revealed further links to Trudeau's family, as well as that of his Finance Minister, Bill Morneau. When Trudeau and Morneau apologised for not recusing themselves from cabinet meetings, it sounded like it was no longer an issue - they said 'sorry', and they made clear their noble intentions.

Now, there are further revelations that Morneau had forgotten to pay back expenses on a WE-supported trip to Kenya totalling to over $40,000, clearly reflecting badly on the government. So, the question remains, what does this represent, and why is it a warning?

To conservatives, the WE charity is the symbol of the modern woke establishment, with their WE day celebrations full of commitments to progressive and liberal issues. Their links with Canada's liberal establishment make that clearer. The warning is here, loud and clear: Liberal elites are out of touch. The expenses issue is less about conflict of interest, and more a question of how aloof this claim appears.

There is a tendency for us liberals to talk about issues with great largesse, to discuss the big issues, from systemic racism to the direction of the world, but there's a tendency to forget who we're really writing for. The Express Politics is about what the events of the world mean to you and your families, and I'm aware this event won't necessarily affect your income or your lives at home and abroad, particularly in the midst of this global pandemic. However, it does show that things ought to change, and they will.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Express Briefings: Tony Abbott, BBC Proms, and More

Image
This Week: Australia's foreign relations bill faces increasing criticism from within, with critics decrying it as 'Sinophobic'. The bill, which seeks to give the Foreign Minister the power to cancel any trade deals made by state governments, was widely seen as being aimed at the Victoria State government's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, seen as undermining federal government policy. The UK's BBC has been facing a turbulent few weeks, after reports that the BBC's Last Night of the Proms would not be playing 'Rule Britannia!' and "Land of Hope and Glory' due to alleged links to colonialism. After a barrage of criticism, the BBC reversed its decision. Our Int'l Editor George Duff has written on the BBC's status in the UK and the decision itself . US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is under fire by President Trump and his Republican allies for visiting a hair salon without a mask on. Pelosi was accused of hypocrisy, having called...
Read more

Between the Lines: Scotland, the Union, and IndyRef2

Image
What are the chances of a second independence referendum in Scotland and what will that mean? How does the UK government intend to counteract sustained support for independence? James Harrett looks at the issues. Recent polls showing sustained support for Scottish independence, in the wake of Covid-19 and Brexit, are worrying for the future of the union. However, the British government has its levers and its solutions to this problem. The precedent set by the 2014 referendum was that if the ruling pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP) was to win a majority in Holyrood (the Scottish Parliament), there would be an agreement between the two governments of a referendum. As Holyrood is elected via proportional representation, this will give ground for the SNP to implement their referendum plans. In fact, the SNP's Commons Leader Ian Blackford promised a referendum if the SNP won a Holyrood majority. So, how can the government counteract this issue? One thing the British governm...
Read more

‘Soldiers of Destiny’ No More? Ireland’s Role in an Ever Centralising EU

Image
Writing for the Bruges Group , Christopher Lim explains the history of Fianna Fail and Ireland, as well as why Ireland's unique position in the EU is at risk. "Sinne Fianna Fáil, Atá faoi gheall ag Eirinn" are the first two stanzas of Amhrán na bhFiann, Ireland's national anthem, and translates to "Soldiers are we, whose lives are pledged to Ireland". This is the essence of how Fianna Fail, the major party in Ireland's governing coalition, led by Taoiseach (PM) Micheal Martin, sees itself: as the purveyor of heartfelt patriotism. Slowly, however, the EU is centralising, and Ireland's unique position within the union is being compromised, and it's starting to look like Ireland's post-COVID future is in the EU's hands. To understand Ireland, it is key to understand the evolution of Fianna Fail and its relationship with the European Union. What federalism meant and still means to Fianna Fail and Ireland is so vastly different to the UK's...
Read more