Scott Taymun

Retired public servant. Former Chief of Staff to Clerk. Love family, friends, sports, privilege of being 🇨🇦. Views my own. Retweets not endorsement.

[Scott Taymun @ScottTaymun]

Whoa Jen ... On this one, the #GHIB is a federal success story ... how about some credit where credit is due ...

[Jen Gerson @jengerson]

On the up side, Canadians have been conditioned by decades of our own political dysfunction to have managed expectations about timelines on infrastructure projects.

As long as this thing opens by 2030, I think no one will be overly fussed.

[Scott Taymun @ScottTaymun]

That's optimistic ...

[Warren Kinsella @kinsellawarren]

We were told the war was necessary to:
• remove the ayatollahs and IRGC from power
• get Iranians to rise up and take control
• eliminate Iran's nuclear weapons capacity
• end Iran's support for terror around the globe
• create stability in the Middle East

None of those things happened. None.

Instead, Iran is getting billions. Its homicidal regime is intact, worse than ever before. It keeps its weapons-grade uranium. It gets to keep its proxy armies in Hamas and Hezbollah. It is getting de facto control of the Strait of Hormuz and has been transformed into regional superpower.

This "deal" is a fiasco. Not just for Israel, but for the world. And it will take years to repair the damage.

[Scott Taymun @ScottTaymun]

"Addressing Alberta’s longstanding and legitimate grievances is not giving comfort to the province’s separatists. To the contrary, it’s doing something that Ottawa should have done long ago, in the cause of a strong and united Canada." ... 👇https://t.co/ROjalXcyUh

[Scott Taymun @ScottTaymun]

@kinsellawarren @oliviachow Sigh ...

[Scott Robertson @sarobertson_]

Andrew Coyne: "The fastest growing spending item in the budget is not for health or defence or anything else. Its interest on the debt ... it's not a crisis, let's say, it's not an emergency, but it's a far too high degree of complacency in the face of gathering storm clouds."

[Scott Taymun @ScottTaymun]

Me, I like the idea of greater transparency & accountability. You know, like the link between vote & representation means something ... "Going forward, a rule should be made that any desire to change parties should trigger an automatic byelection" ... 👇 https://t.co/F5EDD4iXOS

[Scott Taymun @ScottTaymun]

Awful, awful power play ... really, really poor decision making ...

[Scott Taymun @ScottTaymun]

Great read of state of gov't comms by former colleague @WHMTE ... "silence is not neutral — it is a vector for doubt, confusion, misunderstanding $ disinformation. When government communicates poorly, others fill the void & capture the narrative" ... 👇 https://t.co/EfwFmsPyuh

[Scott Taymun @ScottTaymun]

@WHMTE @RotaryVictoria @MLB120012 @junonewscom @CherylR09307747 Thanks for the mention, Brett. Much indeed has changed. Sadly, not the same commitment to public engagement and keeping the public and stakeholders informed now as then ... and spin today appears to take precedence over substance ...

[Scott Taymun @ScottTaymun]

Well said ... 👏

[Jason Kenney 🇨🇦🇺🇦🇮🇱 @jkenney]

The Blame Canada crowd is angry with the appointment of Janice Charrette to lead trade negotiations with the US. (When are they not angry?)

They claim that she’s unqualified, and a Liberal patronage appointee.

Some facts:

- Madame Charette actually started her career in Ottawa as a Conservative political
staffer;

- She served as Deputy Minister in some of the largest and most complex government departments;

- She was appointed Clerk of the Privy Council (ie head of the Public Service and top advisor to the Prime Minister and Cabinet) by Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper;

- She was then appointed to Canada’s second most important diplomatic head of mission role, as High Commissioner to the Court of St. James, ie representing Canada in the United Kingdom;

- She was then re-appointed Clerk at PCO, the first person ever to serve in the highest role in Canadian public service twice, a reflection of the broad confidence in her ability.

There is literally no one in Canada with more senior leadership experience in the public service, dealing with the most complex issues, systems, and crises.

Some are trying to tie her to the Trudeau government’s invocation of the Emergencies Act. (N.B. I was the only Premier in Canada to challenge the constitutionality of its invocation.)

To be clear: the role of the Clerk is not to provide the Prime Minister with their personal advice or opinion, but rather to offer an objective summary of the views of relevant government agencies and departments on a particular issue, and to outline the pros and cons of a course of action. That’s what Madame Charette would have provided to the Prime Minister per his request for advice on the EA. Per the motto of the Public Service: fearless advice, loyal implementation.

In our system of responsible government, the Prime Minister and Cabinet are accountable for decisions, such as the EA invocation.

Canada will be well served by having someone of Madame Charette’s ability and experience in such an important role.

[Harsh Goenka @hvgoenka]

In 1969, Norway found oil. Instead of spending the oil riches, they saved almost all of it in a global investment fund. Today, the fund is worth over $2 trillion and now it earns more from investments than from oil. Norway’s oil may run out but because they chose their grandchildren over themselves, the prosperity will last forever.

[Scott Taymun @ScottTaymun]

LoL ... but I don't recall this episode ... 👇

[Scott Taymun @ScottTaymun]

@nspector4 LoL ...

[Tasha Kheiriddin 🇨🇦🇬🇱🇺🇦 @TashaKheiriddin]

In times like these we see what our leaders are made of. Ours showed unity, strength, comfort and hope. Very proud to be Canadian today. 🇨🇦
https://t.co/lFzqzIKvA1

[Scott Taymun @ScottTaymun]

LoL again ...

[Rep. Greg Stanton @RepGregStanton]

Canada is one of America’s biggest trading partners and closest allies.

I’m urging my Republican colleagues to vote to cancel Trump’s illegal tariffs on them tonight so we can work to repair our economic and security relationship before it’s too late.

[Scott Taymun @ScottTaymun]

LoL ...

[Michael de Adder @deAdder]

https://t.co/lGg3hrfV8z

[CTV Power Play @CTV_PowerPlay]

U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which he had endorsed in 2017 during his first term.

Former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder helped broker the deal with Canada to build the bridge.

@VassyKapelos asked him if he was surprised by Trump's change in position. #cdnpoli #ctvpp

More: https://t.co/TKuQ0ifKuZ

[Alexander Panetta @Alex_Panetta]

Aaaand there you go: Trump’s sudden about-face on the most important Canada-US border crossing came hours after a meeting with the billionaire Moroun family that owns the rival bridge. Nice scoop, confirming suspicions of everyone who has followed this file and is familiar with Trump. https://t.co/ZpTp5wfULh

[Lorrie Goldstein @sunlorrie]

Bridge Owner Lobbied Administration Before Trump Blasted Competing Span to Canada
Detroit billionaire met with Howard Lutnick hours before Trump said he would block the opening of a new bridge connecting Detroit to Canada, officials said. https://t.co/m77mk6RrfA