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Mercedes Stephenson Profile picture
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6 Apr, 5 tweets, 2 min read
Today Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan's former Chief of Staff Zita Astravas had been called to testify at the defence committee loking into sexual misconduct in the CAF. Instead of Astravas, Minister Sajjan is appearing. #cdnpoli #CAF
Astravas was the staffer who contacted PCO about the allegations against Vance in 2018.

Opposition MPs say that Liberals are "ignoring the house" and "contemptuous" for substituting the Minister for the former Chief of Staff.
NDP MP @r_garrison says he looks forward to speaking about the concept of ministerial responsibility with Minister Sajjan since he is pointing to that to justify staff not appearing, there are questions on ministerial responsibility after Sajjan refused to accept evidence
Conservative MP @jamesbezan says the committee will not be dropping their request for Astravas to appear and expect her to do so.
FWIW governments always try to stop their staff from testifying at committee and opposition always try to call them. Same cycle every government.

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More from @MercedesGlobal

Mercedes Stephenson Profile picture
6 Apr
Former Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick admits that PCO lost sight of the questions about allegations against Vance. They were looking at massive turn over at the upper ranks of the military and Vance's "ambition" to become top NATO General.
Wernick says PCO never closed file looking into allegations against Vance but reached "an impasse" determining it would be inappropriate to confront Vance, there were not witnesses (although they hadn't interviewed anybody to determine this) and victim didn't want to come forward
Wernick says in hindsight more could have been done and he regrets that this issue fell off the radar. He says that Minister Sajjan was in fact involved in discussions about Vance's term, that Wernick and Sajjan had those conversations.
Read 5 tweets
Mercedes Stephenson Profile picture
22 Mar
#Breaking LGen Chris Coates is suddenly and unexpectedly retiring from the military. Coates' posting to NATO was pulled after @davidpugliese reported he had an affair with an American while he was NORAD Deputy Commander.
In a letter Coates says his retirement was for his own personal reasons and says it was his decision to retire. It also says that he believes his retirement is in the best interests for the Canadian Armed Forces.
"Last week I asked the CDS for my release. I want to emphasize that this is my decision. After much reflection, I made this decision for my own personal reasons, including what I believe would be in the best interests of the Canadian Armed Forces." LGen Coates
Read 4 tweets
Mercedes Stephenson Profile picture
22 Mar
Former PM Harper's Chief of Staff Ray Novak is testifying about what the Conservative govt was aware of when they appointed General Vance Chief of the Defence Staff.
Novak says Harper asked Vance about the info briefed to PMO by PCO on questions around Vance's relationship with a subordinate officer who Novak says PMO was told was "not in his chain of command." Novak says Harper asked Vance if there was anything else he should know.
Novak does not remember Vance saying anything in response beyond the officer in question was now his fiancée.
Read 6 tweets
Mercedes Stephenson Profile picture
16 Mar
In light of recent events I've been thinking a lot about how life is different for women owing to the quiet but ever present concern for our physical safety. I've decided to tweet this thread because because I believe there is still a serious lack of awareness. Here we go.
I do not live in fear, but I am always aware. I'm aware of who is around me. Who is behind me. Where the dark corners are that I can't see into. Whether those footsteps behind me are picking up. I hate wearing a hood in the winter because I can't see who is close.
Like all of my female friends, I have walked with my keys between my fingers on the way to my car or home, hidden in my pocket in the winter. I get uncomfortable with earbuds in when it's dark and I'm out walking because I want to know when someone is close.
Read 13 tweets
Mercedes Stephenson Profile picture
3 Mar
Former Military Ombudsman Gary Walbourne says he tried to present Defence Minister @HarjitSajjan with evidence of he allegations being made against the CDS and Min Sajjan refused to accept the evidence and pushed back from the table #cdnpoli
Liberal strategy here so far by @Yvan_Baker seems to be questioning whether the Ombudsman's office did a through investigation of the complaint. Libs framing this as Ombudsman not doing his job, not addressing Minister allegedly refusing to accept evidence.
Libs ask why Ombudsman did not go to the police 'isn't that the normal flow of events?'
Ombudsman: Not at all, sexual harassment & sexual assault are different things...
The Libs are implying the Ombudsman should have called the police, does that mean the Minister should have?
Read 4 tweets
Mercedes Stephenson Profile picture
3 Mar
I attended a press conference with the Chinese Embassy today. I asked if Michael Kovrig or Michael Spavor's families will be able to visit as Meng Wanzhou's family came to Canada to see her. The Ambassador did not answer that question. What he said below:
"As I just mentioned, the two Canadian citizens detained and prosecuted in China because they have been involved in suspected crimes endangering national security..." Ambassador Cong Peiwu
"...The relevant Chinese judicial organs are handling that case according to law and their local rights are ensured and guaranteed, so that’s my answer. All their local rights are ensured and guaranteed."
Read 8 tweets

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