THE CIRCLE GAME — Canadian Security Intelligence Service Director DAVID VIGNEAULT wanted it known off the top Tuesday night that leaked information on foreign interference has created misunderstanding, confusion and fear.
“It also makes it more difficult for CSIS and our partners to do our jobs," he said in French, "which is exactly what our adversaries want.” During two hours of testimony at the all-party House committee on procedure (PROC), Vigneault shut down multiple attempts to get at details — repeating again and again that he was not at liberty to provide specifics. He did say CSIS wanted BILL BLAIR to read the memo on Conservative MP MICHAEL CHONG — why else would they have written it, he noted at one point. The Globe has more on those details. Vigneault used many opportunities to remind MPs that foreign interference reports are nothing new. “CSIS has produced thousands of intelligence reports on foreign interference and brief extensively on this threat,” he said. At one point, Vigneault agreed the CSIS Act is showing its age. — Neither here nor there: In the middle of last night’s testimony, PROC chair BARDISH CHAGGER stopped to confess that she was multi-tasking on a statement about JAMAL MURRAY of the Denver Nuggets. “I am in the process of drafting an SO31,” she confided to her colleagues. “I would appreciate if members could keep their comments tight, so that I can do some of my other work while also paying attention to this work.” — Yesterday’s news: Earlier Tuesday, RCMP told a morning session of the committee that it is investigating allegations of foreign interference against Chong, ERIN O’TOOLE and JENNY KWAN. Acting RCMP Commissioner MICHAEL DUHEME advised MPs that Canada’s federal police service learned the details of the cases the same way everyone else did. Deputy Commissioner MARK FLYNN told MPs that based exclusively on “the public disclosure of specific individuals,” the RCMP reached out to the commissioner of Canada elections with an offer to help with any investigation. — Nothing to see here: During his turn in front of the committee, former national security adviser DAVID MORRISON told MPs the system is working just fine, thank you. The whole who-didn’t-get-the-memo bit of the foreign interference controversy? A big nothing burger. He said he never advised Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU on the matter because he didn’t believe the intel required action. The memo that former public safety minister BILL BLAIR never got? Not an “action note seeking a decision from the minister.” “The focus on the 2021 CSIS report — who was the [national security and intelligence adviser] at the time, who else read it, whether it went into a black hole — has been misplaced.” — About the black hole: Vigneault said last night that CSIS needs to upgrade its processes. “The world has changed,” he said in French. “Threats to Canadians have changed, and we need to do better.” — Court of public opinion: Most Canadians now say the PM has done a bad job at responding to allegations of Chinese meddling in Canadian democracy, according to a Nanos poll done for Bloomberg. SHE'S RUNNING — BONNIE CROMBIE was still playing coy when she sat down with Playbook on Tuesday at the Bridgehead across the street from the Prime Minister's Office. Crombie, the Mississauga mayor who has for weeks explored an Ontario Liberal leadership bid, headlines a special event today in the sprawling city she governs. She wouldn't confirm she's formally entering the leadership race, but we know she will. As we left the interview, Playbook spotted her name on the official list of candidates. Crombie was wrapping up a few days in Ottawa. She sat with the CTV crew at Saturday's Press Gallery Dinner, and convened a tech roundtable on Tuesday afternoon. Our conversation started with the Parliament Buildings just up the street. — Life in Ottawa: Crombie was here between 2006 and 2008. Some MPs don't actually enjoy the Ottawa part of the job. Did she? “I loved my time in Parliament. I thought I made a major contribution, and I was always in awe of the majesty of it all. And the fact that a second-generation Polish immigrant would have the opportunity to represent the great riding of Mississauga-Streetsville in Parliament. “On the last day, when we rose in a motion of non-confidence, I tried to look around and absorb it. KIRSTY DUNCAN, SIOBHAN COADY and myself said, ‘Let's drink it all in because there's always the chance we wouldn't come back.’ Only Duncan came back — Crombie and Coady were defeated in 2011. — When she knew she was in: Crombie said her “turning point” was a chance meeting with a Mississauga resident on a May weekend in Ottawa. The mayor was attending the federal Liberal convention — read: building support for her potential campaign — when she met a woman who wanted her to stay put at city hall. Crombie rhymed off traits about herself that she hopes to sell on the campaign trail — "transparent," "accountable," "fiscally responsible" and "practical" — and pitched them as a boon to the rest of the province. When the constituent agreed, Crombie said her mind was made up. — That other job: Crombie plans to stay on as mayor, just as fellow contenders YASIR NAQVI, NATE ERSKINE-SMITH and TED HSU have kept their current gigs. "If there comes a time where it becomes too busy, and I need to commit to the race more fully, I will step aside and take a leave of absence,"she says. — The political spectrum: Crombie has said in some media interviews that she'd govern from the center-right, a position pounced on by left-leaning Erskine-Smith. Crombie allies claimed she misspoke. She was concise with Playbook. "I'm a strong centrist, a PAUL MARTIN Liberal. Mayors tend to be very pragmatic. We're very practical. I believe you can't be all things to all people," she says, acknowledging the party's vote bled to the left and right in 2018 and 2022. She directs much of her rhetoric at Red Tories: “I manage a $4-billion corporation. I can't run a deficit. I have to balance my books. And I have to make tough decisions every day on what matters most to my residents, and allocate money according to those priorities." | 
