Dear Readers,
I wanted to wish you all the best for the holidays and if you celebrate Christmas, I hope it is a merry one.
If you need some added cheer, try the lovely albums by jazz artist Samara Joy, “A Joyful Holiday,” and the trio of songs released last month by Icelandic singer (and future Ottawa Jazz festival visitor), Laufey, “A Very Laufey Holiday!”
Don’t miss some binge watching of the TV adaptation of Mick Herron’s Slow Horses, Season Three. The cast is terrific. Season Four please!
And for motorsports fans, don’t miss “Ferrari,” debuting on Boxing day, hopefully in a theatre near you.
Some plans for the substack:
I want to come back to the issue raised by the NSIRA report about the GSRP operating in a “grey zone.” I’d like to try to pin down this assertion before it becomes conventional wisdom.
January will bring two expected news stories and whatever black swans are in store.
Cameron Ortis will face sentencing hearings in early January. There will be a battle between the Crown’s desire for a 20+ year sentence for his offences under the Security of Information Act and the criminal code and the defence plea that time served (4 years less bail) is adequate.
The Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference (PIFI, alas) will draw back the curtain and hold an initial week of public hearings in the first phase of its inquiry, starting January 29. The Conservative Party recently tried to appeal for full standing in the first phase and was again denied by Justice Hogue. But watch out for political fireworks.
The independent review reports on foreign interference from the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians and the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency are in the pipeline. February, anyone?
Thank you for reading! Please stay tuned.
We live in a world of walled media gardens in which you often have to pay for good journalism. It's very generous of you to share your insights in well-written pieces that are available for free.
Thanks Wesley. Please accept my sincere wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to both you and your loved ones. Your journalism is balanced, informative and very beneficial.