Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - September 9, 2020, Winnipeg, Manitoba <§> < > C M K PAGE A5 ■e- i ■ i ■ WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2020 • WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM NEWS I CANADA A 5 Scheer remains as Conservative critic as party readies for Parliament O'Toole lays out Opposition front bench STEPHANIE LEVITZ OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole unveiled Tuesday the list of who will sit on the Opposition front benches, ahead of the party’s first caucus meeting since he won the leadership race last month. Wednesday’s gathering comes two weeks before the return of the House of Commons and the minority Liberal government’s throne speech laying out its priorities for the C0VID-19 recovery in Canada. O’Toole said Tuesday his own party’s plans won’t be far behind. “In the coming weeks, we will be presenting a plan to put hard-working Canadians first, lead our nation out of this crisis and rebuild our great country,” he said in a statement. In choosing those who will serve as critics for the Liberal government ministries, O’Toole picked a mix of loyal supporters, some who backed his rivals and several key players in the party who had remained neutral in the leadership race. Among them: his predecessor Andrew Scheer, who will serve as infrastructure critic; Ontario’s Pierre Poilievre, who remains as finance critic; and Alberta MP Michelle Rempel Garner, who will take on the health portfolio. Ontario MP Michael Chong becomes the Conservatives’ critic for foreign affairs, considered one of the most high-profile portfolios. That was the portfolio O’Toole himself was granted in 2017 after he lost the leadership race that year to Scheer. Unlike Scheer, however, O’Toole didn’t have a long list of MPs who had challenged him for leadership to try and place on the front benches. There were only three other contenders, including only one other MP — Ontario’s Derek Sloan. Sloan’s campaign had been primarily focused on winning support among SEAN KILPATRICK / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole picked a mix of loyal supporters for his front benches, some who backed his rivals and several key players in the party who had remained neutral in the leadership race. social conservatives, though he secured no endorsements from MPs from that cohort of the party during the race. A controversy over remarks he made about the country’s chief public health officer nearly saw him kicked out of caucus, and he ultimately finished last in the leadership contest. He didn’t get a critic’s job. But, O’Toole did acknowledge the supporters of his other rivals. Two MPs who backed Leslyn Lewis, the Toronto lawyer who ran with the support of many social conservatives and finished in a strong third place, were given critic roles. Richard Brag-don, a New Brunswick MP who backed her bid will serve as the critic for fisheries, while Rosemarie Falk from Saskatchewan will be the critic for seniors. Lewis herself has said she will run in the next election for the Conservatives. Several of those who backed Peter MacKay for leadership were given critics jobs, including some who had supported O’Toole in 2017 but switched sides this time around. They include Manitoba’s James Bez-an, who O’Toole has left in place as defence critic and Todd Doherty, who was given a special position by O’Toole as an adviser on mental health issues. Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Fran-cois Blanchet said Tuesday that Que- becers need to scrutinize O’Toole. He is against many of the province’s priorities, Blanchet said, including its support for medical assistance in dying, and its opposition to pipelines. “We want Quebecers to really know him,” he said. Blanchet, who had previously suggested his party was ready to trigger an election on the basis of the ethics scandals plaguing the Liberals, appeared to tone down his battle rhetoric Tuesday. Speaking at his party’s own caucus meeting in St-Hyacinthe, Que., he put down some new markers, including a desire for the conclusion of the various ethics reports into the government’s Morantz gone from critic role NEWLY minted Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole has removed a Manitoba MP from the party’s shadow cabinet. In the list of critics announced Tuesday, Charleswood-area MP Marty Morantz is no longer the Tories’ point-man for scrutinizing tax policy and the Canada Revenue Agency. The former Winnipeg city councillor was not available Tuesday. His staff did not say whether Morantz had asked to leave the role, but instead said he will focus on support for sectors such as small business, airlines and tourism. Meanwhile, Kildonan-St. Paul MP Raquel Dancho has gone from diversity to immigration critic, a much higher-profile role as the Tories try to broaden their support. Selkirk-area MP James Bezan retains his role as defence critic, while MPs Ted Falk, Larry Maguire and Dan Mazier remain without a critic role. decision to award the operation of a student grant program to the WE Charity, known for its ties to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s family. He said he also wants to see the Liberals put in place an amnesty for people who may have to pay back some of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit due to eligibility problems. — The Canadian Press Man who killed five at house party apologizes at hearing EDMONTON — A mentally ill man who stabbed and killed five young people at a Calgary house party six years ago apologized at a review hearing Tuesday, as a psychiatrist said he is making progress. Matthew de Grood, who is now 29, was found not criminally responsible for the 2014 killings of Zackariah Rathwell, Jordan Segura, Kaitlin Perras, Josh Hunter and Lawrence Hong because he was suffering from schizophrenia at the time. He appeared at his annual Alberta Review Board hearing to assess his treatment and whether he should be allowed any increased privileges or freedoms over the next year. The board reserved its decision. De Grood, wearing a face mask at the virtual hearing, told the hearing in Edmonton that he is doing his best to become a contributing member of society. “The magnitude of my actions that night were devastating and caused so much pain and suffering. I’m very sorry for what the families of the victims have endured and continue to feel,” de Grood said. “Every day I feel the weight of the offence and how tragic it is on so many people. My Christian faith gives me the strength to deal with the guilt and the enormity of this tragedy. I pray that someday, those who are suffering because of my actions may find peace.” Some family members of the victims recounted their loss and frustration that de Grood could be released back into society. Kelly Hunter said she misses her son every day and the annual review causes her pain. “The impact this crime has had on me, my life and my family I don’t think will ever get any better. I’ve become a very angry person,” she said. Gregg Perras said he has agonized over every statement he’s given since his daughter was taken away from him. “This review board has heard innumerable heartfelt accounts of all the damage and sorrow... of five wonderful people who were killed. As I see it, these descriptions have fallen on deaf ears,” he said. A psychiatrist treating de Grood said he has made progress but any new freedoms should be granted slowly. Dr. Santoch Rai said de Grood remains at Edmonton’s Alberta Hospital but has stayed overnight at his parents’ home in Edmonton seven times and has taken hospital transportation to scheduled appointments in the city. Rai said de Grood has not yet taken Gregg Perras has agonized over every statement he's given since his daughter was slain. public transit or transitioned to a group home, largely due to a change in his anti-psychotic medication from an oral version to one that is injected. “We’re recommending to the board that there be no changes. But there is a possibility that he could transition to a group home. In my view, that’s probably unlikely in the next year,” said Rai. “In view of his highly publicized and well-known face in Edmonton and in Alberta, our impression was that he should initially go on hospital transport and after a period go on public transport... to manage his stress, or exposure to stress, in a very incremental way.” Rai told the review board he is happy with de Grood’s progress and that the patient has been volunteering with Meals on Wheels. He said de Grood knows the risk if he were to stop taking his medication. Rai also said he couldn’t guarantee his patient wouldn’t be a danger to the public. “If something were to happen, we would be surprised and we would not have predicted that outcome,” Rai said. De Grood’s lawyer, Allan Fay, said his client has made real progress and made every effort to turn his life around. He said de Grood should be granted an absolute discharge. Crown prosecutor Margot Engley said de Grood needs to stay where he is. “I believe there is ample evidence before the board today that Matthew de Grood continues to present a significant risk to the safety of the public and should not be granted an absolute discharge,” she said. — The Canadian Press JEFF MCIN NADIAN m I ROARING DO51 Hope Couture Fashion Gala \ \xA#rWednesday, September 23rd#\/ / A VIRTUAL EVENT PRESENTED BY IN SUPPORT OF Ronald McDonald House Charities8 Manitoba c !i Tickets are selling fast for this exciting evening of fashion, family, and fun. Visit rmhcmanitoba.org to learn more and support family togetherness today. ÉÍ ■e- A_05_Sep-09-20_FP_01.indd A5 9/8/20 10:05 PM I ;