Thread by @timethief

@Limbictweets I stayed up late watching all of the proceedings of #TheProcedureandHouseAffairsCommittee on #ForeignElectionInterference and admire how skillfully the Chair Bardish Chagger has handled MPs Micheal Cooper's witch-hunting and continual interference by speaking over witnesses, etc.

@Limbictweets MP Michael Cooper is at it again today and IMO he's attempting to hijack proceedings. And, the audio has failed. I cannot hear at all 🤬

@Limbictweets I have audio on youtube and this is NOT a computer issue. What happened to the audio?
In Committee from the House of Commons
Foreign Election Interference: Procedure and House Affairs Committee Continues Study
Procedure and House Affairs – March 2, 2023:
cpac.ca/episode?id=592…

@Limbictweets cpac.ca/episode?id=592…

@Limbictweets SNARL 😠 I missed all that due to the audio failing and now MP Peter Julian is giving his notice of motion.
Foreign Election Interference: Procedure and House Affairs Committee Continues Study
cpac.ca/episode?id=592…

@Limbictweets "Please note: Audio problems originate at the source."

@Limbictweets It's Cooper again wanting to amend Jukian's motion. Chagger required the written motion to be circulated to all in attendance. As Cooper's amendment completely alters the text of the motion by Julian the Chair and Clerk are deliberating on its admissibility.

@Limbictweets Chagger rules the Cooper amendment narrows the scope of Julian's motion so the members will now listen to Cooper discussing his motion and then the members will vote on whether to accept the amendment or not. Cooper ....

@Limbictweets is rambling on alleging elements of a faux scandal based on leaked "classified" documents ie. unsubstantiated media reports we cannot see (Fife and Cooper) means another investigation involving all political parties & documents witnesses etc. of classified documents is required⬇️

@Limbictweets for reasons of public transparency. 🙄
MP Luc Berthold speaking: What did the PM know, when did he know it, and what did he do or not do ... and rambles on saying, in essence, he supports Cooper's amendment. He's unhappy that the PM and the 5 security advisors made the decision.

@Limbictweets MP Greg Fergus says he is "on the fence" re: the scope of Julian's motion. Says there is a weak spot re: what can be shared with the public re: the classified nature of the information, exposure to foreign govt's and the potential of jeopardizing the lives of agents in the field.

@Limbictweets MP Greg Fergus says he fears the Official Opposition will veto the person who would be in charge of such an investigation and he will vote against Cooper's amendment. MP Sherry Romanado now speaking ...

@Limbictweets saying we cannot have the impact of the 5 eyes info out in the public sphere. Is there not another venue we can use?
MP Christine Normandin suggests dividing the amendment to split into 2 parts (1st paragraph of Cooper's amendment) and then the rest and voting on each part.

@Limbictweets (Chagger consulting with the clerk.)
MP Ryan Turnbull now speaking and agreeing with Romanado. He refers to a 2-3 yr process and asks are we comfortable with that? Is it the best option? It runs into the same problems of dealing with highly classified documents & info. ⬇️

@Limbictweets Beijing is not the only threat referring to narrowing the scope of the motion. I don't think I would support Cooper's amendment narrowing the scope from what Julian's motion was. I think for me we ought to consider a timeline that goes back further than the last two elections

@Limbictweets that have protective structures & procedures in place. Cooper's amendment at the end is troubling. Setting up a public inquiry and still studying in this committee & studying numerous other committees as well. Is that what Cooper is trying to get us to agree to? ⬇️

@Limbictweets Are we certain the fact-finding mission of a public inquiry is the way to go?
Back to MP Peter Julian referring to Normandin's suggestion of splitting the motion into two makes sense. And the limit to 70 days and only to Beijing and only to those 2 elections ⬇️

@Limbictweets - what are the Conservatives afraid of? Now refers to the Russian network and the Freedom Convoy and more and how disturbing that is. Russin interference is not limited to election periods and is persistent and continually aimed to undermine our democracy. ⬇️

@Limbictweets he finds it disturbing the Conservatives want to play a limiting game, a circus that won't give answers to Canadians. He thinks it's strange the Conservatives want to limit it to 70 days, Beijing. and 2 elections only and finds that partisan. ⬇️

@Limbictweets He does not accept and will not vote for the first clause of the Cooper amendment. It will not give any answers to the public. Julian quoted from several relevant reports. Bertold gives his speaking time to Cooper who launches a partisan attack on Julian's past voting on⬇️

@Limbictweets Iranian regime matters, etc. and rambles on and on.

@Limbictweets The bottom line is he wants an investigation ASAP alleging the PM is covering up and Julian is recognized on a point of order asking the Chair that Cooper stops repeating himself, speaks to relevance and addresses the amendment motion only. Cooper responds by rambling on

@Limbictweets and the Chair gives the direction to take a breath, settle down and speak to the amendment only. Cooper starts up again accusing Julian of a tantrum yesterday that shut down the meeting ...
the Chair gives the direction again to remain relevant and address the amendment only

@Limbictweets Now Cooper days it's critically important the PM doesn't get to do a do-over of the Rosenberg report. He rambles on attacking Rosenberg.
Delete paragraph A of Cooper's amendment via sub-amendment. Nornandin says yes it was the first part. ⬇️

@Limbictweets MP Mark Garretson speaks re: 2014 Did Harper keep quiet then re: the foreign investment. is the only reason Cooper focused on the last two elections. All the conservatives are focused on is the sound-bite gotcha moments. That's their game. ⬇️

@Limbictweets He feels the NDP and Bloc are focused on transparency but this can't happen in a public inquiry. Is this genuinely about foreign interference and not about taking cheap shots at the PM? Debating endlessly in circles to appease Conservatives seeking gotcha moments, rather than ⬇️

@Limbictweets allowing the national security experts to do the work of oversight that they are intended to do.
MP Greg Fergus wants the chair of the commission to be chosen by 3 of the 4 political parties to find the right compromise. Rather than all 4 parties only 3 ⬇️

@Limbictweets to agree to eliminate a veto.
Vote on Normandin's sub-amendment being called.
The sub-amendment is defeated.
Back to Cooper's amendment.
Fergus speaks and rejects Cooper's amendment as it limits the scope and unanimous agreement and he does not support it.
Julian now speaks⬇️

@Limbictweets saying he wasn't sure everyone understood before voting.
The Chair suspends proceedings for a 10-minute health break.

@Limbictweets NOTE: MY summarization is not official. It is not verbatim. Consult the video for the word-for-word proceedings. Do not rely only on my summarizations.

@Limbictweets The Chair asks Julian if he wants the floor back and he requires a few minutes first. MP Gerretsen is asking to reconsider the last vote and asks for instruction on that. The Chair asks for approval. The sub-amendment will remove paragraph A by unanimous agreement.

@Limbictweets The Chair clarifies this by reading it out and removing the second occurrence of the word "all" re: political parties. A request for circulation of the written amendment is made and is under way.

@Limbictweets The Chair asks for clarification if Julian wants to proceed clause by clause. The response is positive. Fergus is concerned about a slew of sub-amendments now provided by the clerk. It's confusing but I get it now. No one is on the speaking list and the vote is called. ⬇️

@Limbictweets Yas 11 Nays 0. The amendment of amendment passes. The next one is being read by the Clerk. The votes is taken. Yays 6 Nays 5 and the amendment carries. The main motion by Julian and amended is called for a vote. Yays 6 Nays 5 and that motion carries.

@Limbictweets Now they are voting on whether to resume the debate of the sub-amendment from yesterday at 9 PM. Suspending for 5 minutes to reboot the telephone system.

@Limbictweets They are back and voting on the sub-amendment now but some who are online are having trouble hearing. They hear both languages at once. The Cjhair requests this be changed: Can we change this to only one language? There is now a pause while this is being addressed.

@Limbictweets Resuming the vote. Yays? Nays? I missed the count but the motion was defeated.
Cooper moves for the meeting to be adjourned.
Yays 6 Nays 5
Adjourned until Tuesday.

@Limbictweets My conclusion is that MP Micheal Cooper is focused on conducting a witch-hunt. He wants only a quick investigation (as if any are 🙄) narrowed down to only Chinese interference in the two 2019 and 2012 elections and only to Trudeau's knowledge & decision against public release.

@Limbictweets As drive-by trolls abound on Twitter these days and honk off in responses stating nothing of value, and as responses are longer linked to tweets they were submitted to, I'm now changing the replies on this thread to only accounts I follow.

@Limbictweets @threadreaderapp please unroll this thread.