Stand on Guard with David Krayden - February 13, 2024


Pierre Poilievre SLAMS Trudeau for the Arrive-CAN Scandal ｜ Stand on Guard Ep 89


Episode Stats

Length

18 minutes

Words per Minute

140.72821

Word Count

2,663

Sentence Count

223

Hate Speech Sentences

2


Summary

The Auditor General says the Arrive Can program should have cost only $80,000, but it ended up costing $60 million. She can't be sure of the exact figure, because she can't do an adequate accounting.


Transcript

00:00:00.000 Hi, welcome back to another episode of Stand on Guard. I'm your host, David Creighton. And when we come back, two numbers to think about today, 80,000 and 60 million. And there's a vast gap between the two of them.
00:00:17.460 So we are in a very precarious position in this country. We need political change, but we also need to resolve to resist.
00:00:30.000 Yes, and as you see Sasha the cat ringing the bell, please do so. Like the station, be with us, help us out if you can. It's much appreciated.
00:00:49.380 But we need to beat the YouTube algorithm and we need to be true to censorship. So please like us now. If you haven't, ring the bell, give us a thumbs up and subscribe.
00:01:00.000 Make sure you still are subscribed in case you've been taken off that. Before I get into the meat of today's news, I want to thank so many of you, hundreds of you, who sent comments in on my last broadcast after learning that my little Sasha has been taken away.
00:01:22.100 The angels came to the angels. Thank you so much for your empathy, your sympathy, your understanding, your kind words.
00:01:32.880 It means so much right now. I can't tell you how much it means. And it's much appreciated.
00:01:41.140 And it's fine. Monday morning, you have to get up and keep living. And that's hard to do sometimes for all of us.
00:01:50.700 But there is so much in life that is still worth living for. And doing this show is one of them.
00:01:59.140 So thanks for watching today. Of course, the big news today is AdScan and the Auditor General revealing two numbers.
00:02:07.740 She said this program, which was a disaster from the very beginning, all it did was prevent people from coming into Canada or back to Canada, should have cost $80,000.
00:02:21.040 $80,000. That's with a T. It ended up costing $60 million, the Auditor General thinks. But she can't be sure. You know why?
00:02:35.080 Because the program was so bad that she can't do an adequate accounting. It's impossible.
00:02:44.720 Now, let's just listen to this exchange here.
00:02:47.400 Thank you very much for being here today.
00:02:51.860 Did Canadian taxpayers get value for money from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government on the $60 million Arrive Can app?
00:03:00.300 So we concluded that the public service did not ensure that Canada received best value for money.
00:03:07.120 I would tell you that we paid too much for this application.
00:03:09.720 You described it as the Trudeau government having, quote, glaring disregard for management practices, end quote, and poor record keeping, a lack of basic due diligence, and that you were, quote, unable to determine the precise cost of the Arrive Can app, end quote.
00:03:32.320 So $60 million is an estimate. Is that correct?
00:03:36.000 Yes, we estimated that it would cost around $59.5 million.
00:03:42.460 There could be amounts there that should not be linked to Arrive Can, but there also could be amounts that are linked to Arrive Can that were not flagged in the books and linked to that project.
00:03:53.560 So it's reasonable to say that we've put together the best estimate, but it took a lot of effort.
00:04:03.600 We had to go through many journal entries all the way back down to task authorizations to see whether or not items were linked to Arrive Can.
00:04:13.800 Professional judgment was needed.
00:04:15.780 All right, are you hearing this the way I am?
00:04:21.280 $60 million is an estimate.
00:04:24.020 It could be more.
00:04:25.620 And the reason it's an estimate is that this program was so poorly administered that the Auditor General is unable to come up with an exact figure, and she says, yes, it's probably a lot more.
00:04:37.240 Now, I think in normal times, this would be enough to push a government out of office through a non-confidence motion, because clearly this is a crime.
00:04:50.720 Maybe not one for which Justin Trudeau is going to go to jail for, but this is criminal, stealing taxpayer dollars, squandering them on a useless program that did absolutely nothing for anybody except get friends with a liberal party richer.
00:05:10.500 And that's all this program succeeded in doing.
00:05:12.680 And this is an outrage, but I don't see the NDP threatening to overthrow or to change their close proximity to the liberal government.
00:05:27.780 I don't see the NDP saying, the coalition's over.
00:05:30.940 I don't see the NDP saying, no more nice guy.
00:05:35.160 We're not going to keep propping up the liberal government, because the NDP and Jagmat Singh are in Justin Trudeau's pocket, and they will remain in his pocket no matter what he continues to do with your tax dollars.
00:05:49.260 This is a power play.
00:05:51.040 And the Bloc Québécois will continue to prop up Justin Trudeau, as we learned last December.
00:05:56.360 There's a secret deal between those two, the Bloc and the liberals.
00:06:01.080 So we're not going to see a non-confidence motion.
00:06:03.800 We should see the downfall of this government over this travesty, over this outrage.
00:06:11.160 But we're not.
00:06:12.400 Now, Fair Polly, a conservative leader, Fair Polly, have brought this up today in a news conference.
00:06:17.620 But I want to show you this exchange, because you recall my last episode was about how Bell Media has fired 4,800 journalists.
00:06:28.300 Just after Justin Trudeau, of course, announced in the fall economic update that he would be subsidizing the mainstream media more than he already has.
00:06:40.800 He's already subsidizing the mainstream media by paying for reporters' jobs.
00:06:45.400 So what does Bell Media do?
00:06:46.620 They don't fire all the reporters.
00:06:48.320 Of course, CTV is a skeleton of what it was.
00:06:53.800 Of course, this is going to make Justin mad, because he thought he bought off all those journalists.
00:06:58.380 He thought they were in his pocket.
00:07:00.000 Now they're looking for unemployment.
00:07:01.800 And what happened to this backroom deal he had with the mainstream media?
00:07:09.620 Well, I'll grease your palms if you continue to give me good media.
00:07:13.180 Give me good press.
00:07:14.340 The money will keep coming.
00:07:16.360 They're not playing the game the way Justin wants them to.
00:07:19.320 But here's an excellent exchange today between Polyev and a Canadian press reporter who tries to make the ridiculous assertion that Polyev somehow doesn't care about jobs.
00:07:35.220 He just wants to see people fired.
00:07:37.500 And Polyev puts the reporter in her place by saying the government, the federal government, should not be buying off journalists.
00:07:47.300 We should not be subsidizing the mainstream media.
00:07:49.860 This is a great exchange.
00:07:51.060 Let's watch.
00:07:51.620 Your agenda to axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget, stop the crime.
00:07:56.760 Axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget, stop the crime.
00:08:00.020 It's common sense.
00:08:00.900 Let's bring it home.
00:08:01.720 Why did your party want to grant over $100 million in regulatory relief to the mainstream media?
00:08:09.700 We don't want to give any tax dollars to the mainstream media.
00:08:13.040 Our belief is that the mainstream media and all...
00:08:16.040 Your party's decision then, your party's decision to grant regulatory relief?
00:08:19.640 So I'll answer your question.
00:08:22.100 The media that is bought and fade poor...
00:08:24.680 Where are you from, by the way?
00:08:26.340 Which outlet are you in?
00:08:28.960 Which outlet?
00:08:30.420 Which outlet?
00:08:31.000 Canadian Press.
00:08:31.760 Ah, okay.
00:08:32.400 Canadian Press.
00:08:33.460 So you're talking about tax dollars for media.
00:08:36.700 Isn't CBC your biggest...
00:08:38.040 I can answer.
00:08:39.220 I asked regulatory relief.
00:08:40.140 You want to answer?
00:08:41.260 Your party wants to grant $100 million.
00:08:43.000 Okay, let's get this straight.
00:08:45.140 This reporter's making an accusation.
00:08:47.820 First of all, she's saying it's the conservatives who wanted regulatory relief for the mainstream media.
00:08:54.520 Where did that come from?
00:08:56.320 Anyone who's been listening knows that Polyev and the conservatives have been against subsidies for the mainstream media.
00:09:03.340 And they want to defund the CBC of its $1.3 billion.
00:09:08.200 So, Polyev's right to say, hold it, stop, where is this question coming from?
00:09:13.240 It's inaccurate.
00:09:13.900 Do you regret the decision, then, your party's decision, to go to the mainstream media?
00:09:18.760 Do you regret the decision, then, your party's decision to grant regulatory relief?
00:09:45.120 So, I'll answer your question.
00:09:47.840 The media that is bought and fade poor...
00:09:50.500 Where are you from, by the way?
00:09:52.160 Which outlet are you in?
00:09:54.780 Which outlet?
00:09:56.220 Which outlet?
00:09:56.800 Canadian Press.
00:09:57.560 Ah, okay.
00:09:58.220 Canadian Press.
00:09:59.280 So, you're talking about tax dollars for media.
00:10:02.500 Isn't CBC your biggest...
00:10:03.820 I can answer.
00:10:05.180 I asked regulatory relief.
00:10:05.940 You want an answer?
00:10:07.080 The party wants to grant $100 million in regulatory relief to the mainstream media.
00:10:12.640 When would you like me to respond?
00:10:13.600 Okay, good.
00:10:16.600 Okay, great.
00:10:17.660 So, of course, you are a tax-funded media outlet, and spreading Justin Trudeau's message.
00:10:22.700 Why did you...
00:10:23.240 And, and, and...
00:10:24.040 So, you're, you're interrupting me again.
00:10:25.920 You're interrupting me again.
00:10:27.120 I am answering the question.
00:10:28.580 Do you regret granting $100 million in regulatory relief to the mainstream media?
00:10:35.260 Your question is false.
00:10:36.480 So, if you can allow me to correct your falsehoods, then we can, we can answer the question directly.
00:10:40.840 So, false.
00:10:42.800 Canadian Conservatives do not believe in giving tax dollars to media outlets.
00:10:46.600 That's Justin Trudeau.
00:10:47.680 That's Justin Trudeau.
00:10:48.840 That's Justin Trudeau.
00:10:50.180 Okay, if you, if you don't want me to answer the question, I'll move on to someone else.
00:10:53.860 You're, you're a tax, you're a tax-funded mouthpiece to the PMO.
00:10:57.000 That's the reality.
00:10:58.500 So...
00:10:58.740 I would love the question answered.
00:10:59.880 You committed to answer the question.
00:11:00.340 I'm trying to.
00:11:01.420 I'm trying to.
00:11:02.160 But you're heckling.
00:11:02.840 Are you going to, are you going to let me answer the question, or are you just going
00:11:05.760 to heckle on behalf of Justin Trudeau?
00:11:09.040 Which is it?
00:11:09.660 I would love the answer.
00:11:10.580 Great.
00:11:11.120 So, our, our party does not support tax dollars for media outlets, because that's when we
00:11:14.880 end up with bias media like you, who come here and articulate the PMO talking points,
00:11:20.500 rather than delivering real news to the Canadian people.
00:11:25.520 Justin Trudeau gave Bell Media and other media tax dollars, supposedly, to protect media
00:11:31.580 jobs.
00:11:32.300 And then, what happened?
00:11:33.460 They all got laid off.
00:11:35.040 So that, so that the supposed justification for giving, giving Bell all this money was
00:11:41.600 that it was going to save media jobs.
00:11:43.340 Well, they all got fired.
00:11:44.500 So, I guess that wasn't the real reason for giving tax dollars to the media.
00:11:49.180 The real reason was for him to buy support from the media, which is what it actually did.
00:11:53.640 So, we believe that media should be driven by readership, viewership, and listenership.
00:12:01.100 And that's what allows it to represent the Canadian people, rather than taking marching
00:12:06.680 orders from the PMO.
00:12:09.560 Okay.
00:12:11.560 Exactly what I was saying on the weekend in my last broadcast.
00:12:15.960 Has all of this money, has Trudeau has shuffled over to the mainstream media, didn't save a
00:12:21.260 single job.
00:12:23.640 And they are playing games with him.
00:12:26.980 And this is all a grand scheme, in the end, just to buy off the media.
00:12:33.120 But sometimes, the media just isn't cooperating, and it's going to fire these journalists.
00:12:39.000 And so, really, this is, as Pahaliev says, this is about government control of the means
00:12:47.640 of communication in this country.
00:12:49.260 This is a very frightening concept.
00:12:52.020 You don't want the government buying off your national media.
00:12:56.360 And I think you'll, and Pahaliev is probably the first conservative prime minister of the
00:13:03.900 modern era, at least, who stands up to the national media and says, we're not going to take the
00:13:10.740 premise of that question.
00:13:12.240 We're not accepting the premise of that question.
00:13:13.940 We're not going to take the bullshit.
00:13:16.180 Excuse my language.
00:13:17.800 We're not going to start from where you want me to start, because it's not true.
00:13:22.940 I mean, what absolute balderdash.
00:13:24.900 Where did this reporter come up with the idea that the conservatives, who wanted some regulatory
00:13:29.460 framework around the national media?
00:13:32.020 Clearly, it's been Justin Trudeau, who's been hawking this for quite some time.
00:13:38.900 But good for Pahaliev.
00:13:40.540 By the way, I had a comment the other day, when somebody says, I never say anything about
00:13:46.760 the People's Party of Canada and Maxime Bernier.
00:13:50.060 That's nonsense.
00:13:50.860 I've interviewed Maxime.
00:13:52.100 I'm going to have him on again, as soon as possible.
00:13:56.080 Maxime is not in the House of Commons.
00:13:57.980 And unfortunately, that's where most of the news is made.
00:14:00.460 And you know I call out Pahaliev when I disagree with him on anything, especially Ukraine.
00:14:07.160 I'm not supporting and I'm not propping up the Conservative Party position on Ukraine.
00:14:12.740 And I have commended Maxime Bernier for being stronger on a lot of other issues.
00:14:18.700 He's a personal friend, and he always will be.
00:14:21.380 But I got to report what's actually happening in the House.
00:14:24.460 And it was Pierre Pahaliev saying the good things today at a news conference.
00:14:28.160 But thanks for noting, I will always defend myself against that kind of accusation, because
00:14:39.400 I'm in no politician's pocket.
00:14:41.560 I never will be.
00:14:43.940 I've worked in the past for members of Parliament.
00:14:47.760 And I'm free from that today.
00:14:49.980 I'm an independent journalist.
00:14:51.960 I work for the new media.
00:14:55.360 And I say what I please.
00:14:58.320 That was the title of George Orwell's column for years, As I Please, because he liked to
00:15:03.180 talk that way, too.
00:15:04.100 And I do want to speak freely.
00:15:09.000 So that's what happened today.
00:15:11.140 Let's go back to this fascinating exchange between Ontario Conservative MP Michael Barrett and
00:15:18.280 the Auditor General.
00:15:18.980 Just to quote the key facts from your report, it says, quote, this made it impossible to
00:15:24.460 accurately attribute costs to projects, end quote, with respect to the poor record keeping.
00:15:32.380 You've been investigating billions of dollars in government spending over your tenure as Auditor
00:15:38.380 General.
00:15:39.280 Would you say that the Trudeau government's Arrive Can is the worst that you've seen?
00:15:45.960 So I looked at a lot of contracting that happened during the pandemic when the public service
00:15:54.380 was act to acts quickly and serve the public.
00:15:59.660 This would probably be the first example that I've seen where there is such a glaring disregard
00:16:06.140 for some of the most basic and fundamental policies and rules and controls.
00:16:14.360 Wow.
00:16:15.580 Can't make it any clearer than that, can we?
00:16:18.260 Very honest, succinct, and accurate statement from the Auditor General today and the Public
00:16:26.360 Accounts Committee.
00:16:27.600 This is an outrage.
00:16:30.060 And I hope we see the mainstream media follow up on this.
00:16:35.680 It is outrageous to me how little reporting is done on Trudeau's scandals.
00:16:42.160 They have allowed him to get away with so much over his eight years in power.
00:16:49.960 This is another scandal.
00:16:51.960 But will it go the way of the SNC-Lavalin scandal and so many others?
00:16:58.280 Will it be forgotten?
00:17:00.180 Will it be committed to the dustbin of Canadian political history?
00:17:05.740 I hope not.
00:17:06.620 I hope we see some action on this.
00:17:08.860 And I hope we see the mainstream media do their job.
00:17:13.120 Because they need to start doing it.
00:17:15.980 And we need to defund the CBC and stop subsidizing all mainstream media.
00:17:22.080 Because it tends not to do the job it needs to do when that happens.
00:17:27.320 Thank you for watching today.
00:17:30.940 And thank you again for your beautiful, thoughtful, touching, poignant comments on my last broadcast
00:17:41.480 when I talked about the departure of my dear cat, Sasha.
00:17:46.440 She is so missed.
00:17:49.060 And it is like losing a dear family member, as indeed she was.
00:17:54.760 Thank you for continuing to watch this program, for your support.
00:18:00.080 And I'll be back tomorrow with a great interview with the incredible Neil Oliver.
00:18:07.280 He's the archaeologist from Scotland who has turned into a firebrand political pundit
00:18:15.000 who is taking the media not only on social media, but on traditional media, on GBN, Great Britain News, by storm.
00:18:30.780 He is phenomenal.
00:18:32.340 He speaks truth.
00:18:33.960 And he is a very thoughtful and articulate man.
00:18:37.820 And I can't wait to talk to him tomorrow.
00:18:40.160 So that's coming up tomorrow and stand on guard.
00:18:42.880 My guest will be Neil Oliver.
00:18:44.400 The phenomenal Neil Oliver.
00:18:47.020 Please watch it.
00:18:48.620 You will not be disappointed.
00:18:50.880 Thank you for watching today.
00:18:52.680 And God bless you.