A Green sees red Did someone forward you this newsletter? Sign up here to get it delivered weekday mornings. As MPs tussled over legislation that would clear a path for an election, Green MP Jenica Atwin announced that she will contest that election as a Liberal, not a Green. Atwin, the MP for Fredericton, established the Greens' first beachhead in Atlantic Canada in the last election, but has lately fallen out with leader Annamie Paul over Israel. That "certainly played a role" in her decision to cross the floor, Atwin said. Atwin had expressed disappointment that Paul hadn't condemned Israeli airstrikes in Gaza more forcefully. An aide to Paul responded to that criticism by promising to "work to defeat you and bring in progressive climate champions who are antifa and pro-LGBT and pro-Indigenous sovereignty and Zionists!!!!!" A beaming Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc appeared with Atwin at the news conference where she announced her decision, which ought to make it easier for the Liberals to contest the seat. He said it was a "very, very happy moment." "We're convinced she'll make an enormous contribution to our government and the people of Canada." The defection leaves the Greens with two MPs in the House. Atwin's newser took place mere hours after a news conference by Liberal House Leader Pablo Rodriguez, who complained that the Conservatives are delaying legislation the Liberals need to pass, the Globe reports. “There is one party in the House that is standing in the way of progress,” he said, naming the Conservatives. “They’re obstructing the work of the House of Commons.” Mr. Rodriquez said the bills are the government’s top priorities: Bill C-6, which adds conversion therapy to the Criminal Code; Bill C-10, which amends the Broadcasting Act; and Bill C-12, which would set national targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He added that the government’s budget bill also must be passed. When asked by reporters if this sets the government up for an election in the coming months, Mr. Rodriguez said the Liberals do not want to go to the polls. “We don’t want elections, but we don’t control everything,” he said, adding that the opposition parties could decide to trigger an election. Vaccine pressure: Justin Trudeau landed in England on Thursday for a three-day G7 summit amid growing pressure on Canada to share COVID-19 vaccines with low-income countries. Joe Biden promised the U.S. will donate 500 million doses to speed the end of the global pandemic Canada is the only country in the G7 yet to announce plans to share any of its vaccines Silver cleared: The federal lobbying commissioner has cleared Rob Silver, husband of Justin Trudeau's chief of staff Katie Telford. Nancy Belanger says Silver spent about 70 minutes talking to public office holders about emergency aid programs on behalf of a mortgage finance company, which falls short of the threshold that would have required Silver to register as a lobbyist. Silver contacted officials in the Prime Minister's Office and the finance ministers' office about a rent relief program and the wage subsidy program. RCMP rebuked: Canada's privacy commissioner tabled a report Thursday that determined the RCMP violated Canada's privacy laws by using third-party facial recognition technology Clearview AI. "The use of facial recognition technology by the RCMP to search through massive repositories of Canadians who are innocent of any suspicion of crime presents a serious violation of privacy," Therrien said. "A government institution cannot collect personal information from a third party agent if that third party agent collected the information unlawfully." The Toronto Star points out that the RCMP initially denied using the program: The RCMP initially denied it used Clearview AI, both publicly and to the privacy commissioner, who is an independent officer of Parliament. After a joint Toronto Star and BuzzFeed News investigation found the Mounties had paid for Clearview’s services, however, the force publicly admitted to using the controversial tools on a limited basis—predominantly for identifying victims of child sexual exploitation. But Therrien’s office found that the RCMP could not “satisfactorily” explain the reasons for the majority of its searches in Clearview’s database. No more snow-washing: Canada is on the cusp of taking a leading role in the establishment of an international anti-corruption court, which could go a long way to restore Canada’s reputation as a serious country on the corruption and money-laundering front, writes Terry Glavin in Maclean's. Four former Canadian cabinet ministers—three Liberals and a Tory—are pushing the idea. The Canadians are among more than 100 international figures who have put their backs into the concept of an international corruption court and an enabling treaty, formally unveiled this week by the U.S.-based global non-profit Integrity Initiatives International, which reckons Canada is well-suited to take the lead. Upset in Alberta: Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has sent lawyers after Calgary's Western Standard because of what his lawyer calls "false and defamatory allegations" in an article alleging Kenney has had rule-breaking gatherings at an Edmonton restaurant, according to the CBC. The article, based only on unnamed sources, are "a complete fabrication," according to the letter from Kenney's lawyer. The restaurant also denied the allegations. Western Standard publisher and CEO Derek Fildebrandt said the story had "multiple credible sources." Fildebrandt quit Kenney's caucus in 2017 amid controversy. Kenney apologized earlier in the week for a dinner that everyone agrees did happen. — Stephen Maher | 