Justin Trudeau’s minority government picked a fight with parliament and just learned what the underside of its boot feels like.
In a ruling of 176 to 150, the Public Health Agency of Canada was found “to be in contempt for its failure to obey the order of the House, adopted on June 2, 2021, as well as the orders of the Special Committee on Canada-China Relations, and, accordingly, order its President to attend at the bar of the House.”
BREAKING: @GovCanHealth The Public Health Agency was just found in contempt of the House of Commons.
— Michelle Rempel Garner (@MichelleRempel) June 17, 2021
“And while the Liberals may rightly have concerns about the sensitive nature of the documents, there are no arguments that can be made against Parliament’s right to send for these papers,” said NDP MP Alistair MacGregor.
These documents would have detailed the crisis within the Public Health Agency after two of its top scientists shipped Ebola and other deadly virus samples to the Chinese.
Xiangguo Qiu and Keding Cheng the two responsible, are currently missing.
Despite Dr. Theresa Tam’s high profile role in the agency, Iain Stewart is currently the President of the Public Health Agency of Canada and has been ordered to appear at the bar of the House, not doing so could trigger the Sergeant at Arms to enforce the order.
Stewart reports directly to Justin Trudeau and his Minister of Health, and will be obligated to attend the House of Commons for “an admonishment delivered by the Speaker,” with an expectation that the June 2 documents then be forfeited to the House.
This story is developing.
