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These are the top stories:
Lobbyists are still attending Liberal fundraisers
Nearly half of the federal Liberal fundraisers organized since the party’s new restrictions took effect in early 2017 had registered lobbyists in attendance. A Globe analysis has found that the party is applying its lobbyist ban narrowly – and that those narrow restrictions have been violated. The Liberals are allowing lobbyists to attend fundraisers if they’re a “Laurier Club” donor-appreciation event; a $1,500 a year donation is required for entry into the exclusive Laurier Club events. And when lobbyists do attend fundraisers, they need to sign a declaration that states they’re there in “personal capacity only.” But a Liberal spokesperson acknowledged there were cases where lobbyists attended fundraisers in violation of the party’s rules.
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‘We will never, ever back down,’ Ontario’s Ford declares at midnight session to slash Toronto city council
Hundreds of spectators and protesters chanted and pounded on the walls of the Ontario legislature early Monday as MPPs debated a hotly contested bill to slash the size of Toronto’s city council.
Security and police blockaded the door at the front of the building as the protesters demanded access.
“We will never, ever back down,” Premier Doug Ford said. “Last week, I told the people of Ontario that our government will do whatever it takes to get this legislation passed as quickly as possible.”
The city clerk has expressed concern that the uncertainty over the council size will make it difficult to administer the upcoming election, which is set for Oct. 22. Meanwhile, about 500 Ontario lawyers and law professors have signed petitions calling on the province to respect the Constitution and not override the court ruling.
John Ibbitson argues that the political War for Toronto is generational: “Today, the fight is over the size of Toronto council, which forced the legislature into a rare weekend sitting. Two decades ago, it was over amalgamation, and the legislature sat round the clock for more than a week. That’s how much uglier things got back then. Also back then, the critics raged, the public shrugged, the deed was done and everyone moved on. The same will happen this time, too.” (for subscribers)
‘Worst is yet to come’ as Florence continues to flood Carolinas
Deadly storm Florence moved across western North Carolina early on Monday and continued to dump rain that has nowhere to go except to swell rivers, flood highways and homes, and threaten more lives as it heads towards Virginia and New England.
For the water-logged Carolinas, “the worst is yet to come” as river levels rise to historic levels, said Zach Taylor, a meteorologist with the U.S. National Weather Service.
Here’s the view from Glenn McGillivray, the managing director at the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction: “As Earth’s atmosphere continues to warm, there are places that will see more water, from heavy rainfall, storm surge and sea-level rise. Make no mistake: This is not just a coastal problem, as many residents of Toronto found out when heavy rains inundated parts of the city in August. A big lesson to come out of Hurricane Harvey, and likely out of Florence, is the need to learn to live with water, including the need to retreat entirely from some areas when it is prudent. We must, as we will have little choice. What we are experiencing now is just climate change on training wheels. We ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”
Russian-Canadian Pussy Riot member Pyotr Verzilov is showing improvement after a suspected poisoning
Verzilov was transported via a medevac flight to Berlin, where he’s now undergoing treatment for a mysterious illness that initially left him unable to see or walk. He’s now able to see and move his limbs, his father said. Yury Verzilov said he helped spearhead the effort to get his son out of Russia because he was concerned for his safety: “I was worried about something else. If he was poisoned, maybe they can do something more.” Justin Trudeau has said Ottawa is concerned about Verzilov’s situation amid poisonings in Britain that have been blamed on Russian agents. Verzilov and other activists served 15-day jail sentences for going onto the field during this year’s World Cup to protest excessive Russian police powers.
Here’s our editorial board’s take: “We should not presume Russian guilt at this stage, but nor should we give them much benefit of the doubt. If the Kremlin actively interferes with Canadian attempts to find out what happened, and especially if evidence emerges that Mr. Verzilov was poisoned, Russia must face consequences. Expelling diplomats and imposing sanctions should be on the table.”
Federal prosecutors are using expanded powers to target terrorist propaganda online
It’s the first time the provision put in place by the previous Conservative government is being used – and it comes as the Liberals propose changes to narrow the scope of the anti-terrorism legislation. The 2015 law defines “terrorist propaganda” as any messaging that “advocates or promotes the commission of terrorism offences in general … or counsels the commission of a terrorism offence.” The Liberal government has drawn up new legislation to remove the language about “advocates or promotes”; critics say the new phrasing will place a higher barrier on efforts to remove terrorist messaging and also remove criminal exposure for journalists simply calling attention to terrorist videos. The federal prosecution service is refusing to say whether its current case could be pursued under the reworded legislation.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
A woman has come forward accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct
Christine Blasey Ford says that during high school, in the early 1980s, Kavanaugh pinned her to a bed at a party and tried to remove her clothing. When she tried to scream, Ford said Kavanaugh put his hand over her mouth. “I thought he might inadvertently kill me. He was trying to attack me and remove my clothing,” Ford told the Washington Post. Kavanaugh denied the allegation, saying: “I did not do this back in high school or at any time.”
The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to vote Thursday on whether to recommend the full Senate confirm Kavanaugh to the top court. While Republicans outnumber Democrats on the committee 11 to 10, GOP member Jeff Flake said he’s “not comfortable” voting for Kavanaugh until he learns more about the allegation.
MORNING MARKETS
Markets slip
European share markets followed Asian counterparts lower on Monday, but later settled, as investors took fright at news Washington was set to announce a new round of tariffs on Chinese goods in the latest escalation of their trade conflict. Tokyo’s Nikkei was closed, but Hong Kong’s Hang Seng lost 1.3 per cent, and the Shanghai Composite 1.1 per cent. In Europe, London’s FTSE 100, Germany’s DAX and the Paris CAC 40 were down by between 0.4 and 0.5 per cent by about 6 a.m. ET. New York futures were also down. The Canadian dollar was above 76.5 US cents.
WHAT EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT
Trudeau faces major decision on NAFTA as Parliament resumes
“For all the other political dramas that will unfold as MPs come back to Ottawa – Trudeau’s Liberal government must decide how it will revive the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion after a court setback, and Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer faces new competition on his right from Maxime Bernier’s fledgling People’s Party – the NAFTA decision is in another class. It’s a choice between a string of unpalatable concessions that weaken Canadian access to the export market that makes up about a fifth of this country’s GDP, or taking the risk that U.S. President Donald Trump will follow through on threats to scrap the trade agreement and impose punishing tariffs on autos that could tip Canada into recession. Trudeau has to make that call within days.” – Campbell Clark (for subscribers)
Now it’s the BC NDP’s turn to square the circle on LNG and greenhouse-gas emissions
“The BC NDP government has set itself up for a major test this fall: It promises to unveil a clean-growth strategy that will drive the province’s greenhouse-gas emissions down dramatically, somehow making room for a huge new GHG-producing industry. … If it goes ahead, it will be an economic coup for the NDP – it was former BC Liberal premier Christy Clark who laid the foundation for an LNG industry, but she never got to cut a ribbon. For the New Democrats, who were branded by Clark as the ‘party of no’ on economic development, it will be a delicious irony to secure this investment.” – Justine Hunter (for subscribers)
Why Vladimir Putin’s popularity is sinking - despite his best efforts
“Young people view the regime as outdated, and Putin himself as an obstacle to the changes – such as increased investment in social programs – needed to raise living standards. Entrepreneurs are questioning whether Putin’s assertive foreign policy of militant nationalism, which won him so much domestic support in the past, is worth the price, including the actual cost of Russia’s military activities and the impact of Russia’s increasing economic and political isolation from the West. Putin’s image as a steward of Russia’s greatness and a symbol of hope is slipping away, and his tried-and-true tactic for renewing his popularity – say, annexing territory from a neighbouring country or intervening in a civil war – is not a practical long-term strategy. Unless Putin makes real changes within Russia, his rating will continue to slide, increasing the chances that one way or another, he will finally leave the presidency when his current term expires in 2024, if not before.” – Nina Khrushcheva is professor of International Affairs at The New School
LIVING BETTER
What to expect at tonight’s Emmy Awards
While it’s a big night in TV, the Emmys aren’t typically a ratings hit. With that in mind, critic John Doyle writes, the show is getting a promised reboot: “Lorne Michaels, who runs Saturday Night Live, is producing the broadcast and SNL’s Weekend Update anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che are the hosts. This might mean an extra-large dollop of Trump-related drollery, or it might mean the kind of stoner-tomfoolery that falls flat in an awards-show setting. We await the results.” Red carpet coverage starts at 6 p.m. ET on E! Canada, with the awards show itself airing at 8 p.m. on NBC and CTV.
And if you’re looking for new TV shows, we have you covered: From the British import Hang Ups on CBC to Netflix’s Maniac starring Jonah Hill and Emma Stone, here are 11 must-watch productions airing this fall.
MOMENT IN TIME
Twiggy in Toronto, 1967
For more than 100 years, photographers, photo editors and photo librarians working for The Globe and Mail have amassed and preserved an extraordinary collection of 20th-century news photography. Every Monday, The Globe will feature one of these images, and throughout September we’re working with the theme of “fashion."
James Lewcun/The Globe and Mail
At 5-foot-6 and 92 pounds, Twiggy “jounced” into a news conference at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto to publicize her fashion line for Eaton’s. The swinging sixties fashion icon with the signature pixie haircut, just in from Expo 67, wore blue pants and a “posy-sprigged blouse.” Photographers elbowed each other for a good shot, and The Globe and Mail’s James Lewcun captured this image, which ran alongside several head shots of the model. At the news conference, reporters asked questions such as “Do you think you’re sexy?” (“I don’t know”) and “What would you like to be doing in 10 years?” (“Hope it’s not what I’m doing now. I’d like to be married and have kids.”) Born Lesley Hornby, Twiggy, now 68, did marry in 1977 and in 1978 had a daughter, Carly, with whom she now collaborates on a fashion line for M&S. – Marsha Lederman
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Arik Ligeti