Liberal government found in contempt of Parliament over case of fired Winnipeg lab scientists (Canadian Cover-Up?)

Globe and Mail Canada ^ | 06 07 2021 | Steven Chase

[yesthatjallen]

Opposition parties voted Thursday to declare the Liberal government in contempt of Parliament for refusing to provide unredacted documents to the House of Commons that could explain the firing of two scientists from Canada’s top infectious disease lab in Winnipeg, amid concerns over their ties with Chinese military research.

The motion adopted by the Conservatives, Bloc Québécois and NDP censures the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) for failing to produce the requested records. It also orders PHAC President Iain Stewart to appear before the Commons on Monday to be admonished and to produce the confidential documents.

The vote passed 176-150. There are more than 250 pages of records on the matter that have been withheld from MPs.

Rob Walsh, who served as the House of Commons law clerk between 1999 and 2012, said Thursday’s vote was significant because it asserted the supreme role of Parliament. But he added that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could still stonewall MPs.

Mr. Trudeau could say he won’t provide the unredacted documents, leaving the opposition parties with only one option: force an election through a no-confidence motion.

Still, Mr. Walsh said the attempt by MPs to formally demand the confidential information is significant because it is the first time the House has ever passed a motion that censures a public servant – Mr. Stewart – for refusing to co-operate with MPs.

SNIP

[algore]

if this was the USA I would expect nothing to come of it.

Since it is Canada, ?

maybe someone who follows the Great White North can make a prediction

[sinsofsolarempirefan]

Not Canadian, but I do know that Trudope is running a minority administration with 15 seats short of an overall Parliamentary majority so if there is a no confidence motion, he probably won’t survive it and an election will have to be called.