Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 THIRTY-FIRST YEAR, NO.1714 L News ranging new government powers down, after oppositionrejects wide- COVID-19 bailout billbogged compromise ontheLiberal govern- BY PETER MAZEREEUW What was supposed to bea quick,co-operative sitting of the House turned intoa negotiatingstalemate. Intelligence and5G Artifi Intelligence and5G Artifi struggled onMarch 24tofi iberal andoppositionMPs Legislation nd a cial cial hours-long negotiating stalemate. short sittingofParliament intoan ing what was supposedtobea the COVID-19 emergency, stretch- ment’s proposed billtorespond C ANADA ’ S P OLITICS and beyond the changesneeded for itselfthrough thebill, above clude wide-ranging new powers government’s proposals toin- The oppositionrejectedthe

AND G OVERNMENT N EWSPAPER country announcedMarch 17. financial bailoutpackage forthe to implementits$82-billion its sittingafterParliament House ofCommonsopens The HillTimes photograph help Canadianswiththe pandemic onMarch24. effects oftheCOVID-19 emergency measuresto offers hisparty'sHouse Yves-François Blanchet was recalledtodiscuss Bloc QuébécoisLeader leader, AlainTherrien, hand sanitizerasthe Continued onpage 20 policy briefing pp.13-19 by AndrewMeade WEDNESDAY, MARCH25,2020$5.00 T A work from homewhere possible. vice departmentstoallow staffto initial directive toallpublicser- sential” work arose following an constitutes “critical”versus “es- unions afterconfusionover what departments andpublicservice services lists update ‘critical’ to identify, departments confusion, asks worksquell to Chief HR offi News member NAFTA Council pandemic, says amid coronavirus be pushedback trade pact could North American Start datefor new News the government’s NAFTA advi- beginning ofJune, amemberof can trade dealinforce by the BY MIKE LAPOINTE BY NEIL MOSS offered upsomeclarityto he federal government has have thenew North Ameri- s the White House seeksto Public service NAFTA 2.0 Continued onpage 23 Continued onpage12 cer 2 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES

In a tweet that evening, Mr. Trudeau encouraged to tag their friends Peace Tower bells to be and remind them to stay home. The friends the PM tagged in his own tweet: actor silenced Ryan Reynolds and singer Michael Bublé. Heard on the Hill “I think in times of crisis, I think we all With life on the Hill know, it’s the celebrities that we count on dramatically changed most,” Mr. Reynolds quipped on Twitter. due to COVID-19, the by Neil Moss “They’re the ones that are going to get us Peace Tower carillon through this.” will be added to the list “Right after health care workers of of cancellations, accord- course, fi rst responders, people who work ing to a CTV report. in essential services, ping pong players, The performance Trudeau calls on some takes place on every mannequins—they’re great—childhood imaginary friends, sure, like 400 other weekday throughout the types of people.” year, from 12 to 12:15 “Look, stay at home, practice social p.m. Performances are celebrity friends to urge extended in July and distancing, wash your hands. We are going to get through this thing,” the Deadpool August to a full hour star said. The Peace Tower from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Soon, Canadian celebrities of all sorts carillon typically But, given the Canadians to stay inside takes place every were calling for Canadians to “plank the construction to Centre curve” on Twitter, including Jann Arden, weekday throughout Block, Dominion Seth Rogen, Hayley Wickenheiser, Steven the year, from 12 to Carillonneur Andrea Page, and Tom Green, among others. 12:15 p.m. The Hill McCrady needs to Times photograph be escorted through by Andrew Meade the building and with COVID-19 social Green Party lowers distancing requirements in place, having two people in the elevator that leads to the leadership contest barriers carillon is unsafe, according to the report. The carillon has 53 bells ranging in size, with the largest at 10,090 kilograms— known as the bourbon—and the smallest weighing in at 4.5 kilograms.

Prime Minister , centre, recently reached out to singer Michael Bublé, left, and PSPC, fi rms behind Senate actor Ryan Reynolds, right, on Twitter to encourage Canadians to practice social distancing. The of Building reno Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade and photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons win architecture award fter a day spent imploring Canadians “Go home and stay home. This is what Ato stay inside, Prime Minister Justin we all need to be doing, and we’re going to Trudeau took to Twitter to encourage some make sure this happens, whether by educat- Hollywood friends to share the message. ing people more on the risks, or by enforc- Earlier in the day on March 23, Mr. ing the rules, if that’s needed. Nothing that Trudeau told the Canadian public “enough could help is off the table,” he said from his is enough.” self-isolation hideout at Rideau Cottage.

The Building has won 10 awards since its renovation was completed in late 2018. Green Party interim leader Jo-Ann Roberts says The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade that her party’s leadership convention has not been suspended, but a delay remains an option. The federal department and contracted The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade fi rms responsible for the recent renovation of the Senate of Canada Building won the As the Conservative Party debates 2020 Civic Trust Award earlier this month. whether its leadership vote will be moved Public Services and Procurement due to the COVID-19 crisis, the Green Par- Canada, Diamond Schmitt Architects, and ty is making changes to ease roadblocks KWC Architects were awarded the prize in for its leadership candidates to make the Manchester, England on March 6. ballot. “This award demonstrates our ability The party announced in a March 23 to successfully deliver complex rehabilita- tion projects which support the evolving press release that the 100 signatures re- st quired for each leadership candidate to be needs of a 21 -century Parliament,” Public offi cially nominated can now be gathered Services and Procurement Minister Anita online. Anand said in a press release. The fee for candidates has also been The Civic Trust Award is given to projects lowered to $30,000 from the original that show excellence in “architecture, sustain- $40,000. But the deadline for both will ability, inclusiveness, and universal design.” remain the same: June 3. The renovation transformed ’s Interim Green Party leader Jo-Ann old train station, which had been used as a Roberts announced that, as of yet, her conference centre since the 1960s. Now, the party’s October leadership convention has building hosts a temporary Senate Cham- not been cancelled, but said in the release ber, offi ces, and three committee rooms that “remains a possibility if members are as Centre Block undergoes a more than not able to travel or gather in large groups.” decade-long renovation. The convention is scheduled for Oct. 2 to 4 “The architects behind the Senate of in Charlottetown, P.E.I. Canada Building balanced conservation “We are not suspending the leadership and innovation to transform a century- contest at this time because we realize how old landmark into a modern home for important leadership is during a crisis and Canada’s Upper Chamber, and a space for this is an opportunity for those seeking all Canadians to enjoy,” Senate Speaker this position to demonstrate their values to George J. Furey said in the release. members in this diffi cult time,” Ms. Roberts The Senate of Canada Building was said in a statement. also nominated for the Selwyn Goldsmith Current Green Party leadership candi- Award for Universal Design—the only dates include Judy Green, Amita Kuttner, North American project to be nominated. Dimitri Lescaris, David Merner, Annamie Since renovations to the building com- Paul, and Alex Tyrell. The six individuals pleted in 2018—at a total estimated cost of $219-million—it has been given 10 awards. are seeking to be the fi rst leader of the [email protected] party since 2006, when now-parliamentary The Hill Times leader took the helm. THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 3 COVID-19

infrastructure underneath the northern end of Parliament’s Great Lawns ahead of the deeper excavations required to build the fi nal phase of the new Visitors’ Welcome Centre is also underway. The East Block building won’t be fully renovated until after work on the Centre Block completes—and is currently still occupied by some 40-plus Senators and staff—but some work has been bumped up out of necessity in the meantime, in- cluding exterior work to restore masonry and install seismic upgrades, particularly on the building’s southern ends and tow- ers. Helping to keep moving work along is the fact that, even in regular circum- stances, construction workers are required to don safety gear to protect them from the dust and dirt swirling around as a result of renovations. “As a general construction requirement, all workers are required to wear personal protective equipment at all times to per- form their work, which includes gloves. The nature of the work performed, as well as the large footprint of the construction sites, enables social distancing to be ap- plied on site,” said Ms. Roy. Construction teams are now being “lim- ited in size and are not working in close proximity,” she said. “Additional protective measures, such as staggered breaks, additional clean- ing and maintenance of shared facilities, as well as additional cleaning of shared The Centre Block building, pictured on Jan. 20. Pictured in the forefront is the site of excavation work related to construction of the fi nal phase of the equipment, have been put into place.” new Visitors' Welcome Centre. Work on both sites continues amid COVID-19. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade Ms. Roy said the PSPC team is working “daily” with parliamentary and industry partners involved in Hill renovations to 100-year-old building’s walls, including as- “ensure that health and safety is front and bestos, began on the fourth, fi fth, and sixth centre during this extraordinary time.” fl oors in December. Outside, excavation [email protected] Construction work to unearth and ultimately relocate The Hill Times work continues Who is turning leading academic research into new companies to help Canada become a on Parliament world leader in Hill, with new life sciences? precautions

side of Canada were told to self-isolate for Work inside the Centre 14 days—so, too, for anyone feeling sick. Block building continues, PSPC, as a department, acts as custodians for the Parliament Buildings, and is re- but modifi cations have sponsible for overseeing any work ongoing in and around them. been made to workers’ daily Work inside occupied Parliament buildings is being limited to “emergency schedules in light of the work only,” explained Cecely Roy, press Our name is adMare. We’re building the Canadian life sciences industry secretary to PSPC Minister from sea to sea. We do this by identifying therapeutically and commercially COVID-19 outbreak. (Oakville, Ont.). But interior work in empty buildings—namely, the Centre Block build- promising research from leading Canadian academic and biotech partners BY LAURA RYCKEWAERT ing—continues, as does exterior work, to create new companies of scale, and by providing specialized expertise including exterior renovations to the East and infrastructure to help existing companies scale-up. arliament is adjourned amid heightened Block building, “but in a modifi ed manner.” Pself-isolation measures to try to “fl at- “Directives issued by public health au- Why do we do what we do? Because ten the curve” of COVID-19’s spread, but thorities are being followed carefully and construction work, including work related measures have been put in place through- Canada has what it takes to become to the Centre Block building’s massive out construction sites on Parliament Hill to a world leader in life sciences. renovation, continues, albeit with some ensure the health and safety of all workers health and safety modifi cations. and to mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” On March 12, all Public Services and said Ms. Roy. To learn more visit admarebio.com Procurement Canada (PSPC) staff, along In the Centre Block building, demolition with all employees working on current work, as well as work to abate the vari- construction sites who have travelled out- ous hazardous substances hidden in the 4 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES COVID-19

“I think at this point we’re err- ing on the side of fearing recidi- Release low-risk prisoners to prevent vism, when the greater hazard might be well public health,” said Ms. Latimer. Prison infections ‘not if, but COVID-19 outbreak, say advocates when,’ says Sen. Pate It’s a matter of “not if, but when we see outbreaks” of CO- calling for ‘immediate action’ VID-19 in prisons, given such fre- quent movement in and out of the prisons, said Sen. Pate, who fears Pate, adding she’s concerned the “Any alternative to incarcera- Both Sen. Pate and Mr. Harris “the impact could be devastating” It’s not a matter of ‘if, agency “seems to be dismissing” tion in times of crisis should be on pointed to Mr. Zinger’s report within a setting where people but when’ COVID-19 the option, which she said could the table… . It certainly should be as evidence prisoners could be cannot self-isolate. be done without affecting public considered but its up to the minis- safely released, with existing rec- “The time to act is now,” she will reach Canada’s safety, such as through compas- ter of public safety to make those ommendations CSC could follow. said, and the agency should be sionate and work releases. calls and he has the discretion and Still, Mr. Zinger said CSC is working on several options to prisons, says Sen. A “planned, structured ap- legal authority to do that,” said taking “positive steps and encour- release prisoners so that those proach” to releases is possible, Mr. Zinger, who, overall, offered aging steps.” left—both staff and inmates—can , who, like said Sen. Pate, and she expects a positive assessment of CSC’s So far, he described the re- have as much space as possible to anywhere from 25 to 50 per cent mitigation efforts, saying he’s “en- sponse as “everything is cool and effectively combat COVID-19. NDP MP Jack Harris, of the population could be re- couraged” by the steps being taken collected,” adding it’s clear CSC The fear with the prison sys- sees it as a matter leased safely in the community. and that it’s clear they are ramp- is getting ready, stockpiling a tem is “cluster amplifi cation” with “It’s urgent and needs to be ing up every area where they can. large quantity of personal protec- a group in such close quarters, of ‘life and death,’ happening now and not waiting Overcrowding isn’t a problem in tive equipment and medicines, noted Ms. Latimer. until COVID-19 is exploding in Canada’s prisons, he said, though and co-ordinating increased “So if there’s a dense popula- and is demanding the prisons.” By March 23, more there are some detention centres access to health care, including tion, and we know prisoners are than 1,600 confi rmed cases and at greater risk. extended-hours access to medical not particularly healthy—they’re ‘immediate’ action. 24 deaths from the virus had been “If you’re asking me ‘Are there support and hiring nurses where undernourished, they’ve got a reported across Canada. individuals in penitentiaries that available. That includes discus- lot of underlying conditions—it could sweep through at a greater BY SAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN Public Safety rate than in the normal popula- Minister Bill tion,” said Ms. Latimer, who sent anada should be releasing Blair says the recommendations to Mr. Blair Clow-risk inmates as part of government is and the commissioner last week, the prison system’s response to ‘committed to but said she has yet to receive a COVID-19, say advocates who reducing the risk’ response. worry a strategy that doesn’t of COVID-19 in The best advice says to drop the vulnerable popula- prisons, where reduce the density, both for the tion’s numbers to facilitate better there is yet to be safety of the prison population social distancing is unnecessarily a confi rmed case and for those staffi ng federal risking lives. in the inmate institutions, she said. Inmates Keeping the estimated 14,000 population, but already approved for release and inmates housed in close confi nes would not say awaiting placement are a prime is a matter of “life and death” whether his offi ce is population for release, said Ms. given the “terribly contagious” vi- considering release Latimer, adding the CSC should rus, said NDP MP Jack Harris (St. of low-risk prisoners also be “looking seriously” at John’s East, N.L.), while Indepen- as advocates have those recommended for parole dent Senator Kim Pate urged. The Hill and those who could be kept said she’s “extremely concerned” Times photograph by safely under house arrest with with the approach the Correc- Andrew Meade electronic monitoring or other tional Service of Canada is taking restraints on their liberty. Others by solely focused on hygiene could include the immunosup- methods and social distancing pressed, the old, and those with within the institutions. underlying conditions. CSC said as of March 23 it had Federal rules around prison re- no confi rmed COVID-19 cases, leases also allow the commission- and was “well positioned” to make CSC spokesperson Martine could be managed in community sions with local hospitals where er to determine what constitutes a the necessary clinical and opera- Rondeau said the service is under less severe restrictions?’ I they’d need to transfer patients penitentiary, said Ms. Latimer, so tional decisions to protect staff, “examining” available options would say yes,” said Mr. Zinger, if necessary, and increasing their CSC could also be looking at des- inmates, and the public. with the Parole Board of Canada, invoking his offi ce’s 2019 report, own capacity to do testing and The ignating other facilities, focused CSC did not respond to including “what fl exibilities there called “Aging and Dying in Prison” screening. Hill Times’ on healthcare for example, in this questions about how are to safely release offenders which found many prisoners were Mr. Zinger said his offi ce is manner. many tests it has done on prison- into the community.” at low risk to reoffend given they monitoring the situation “very During ministerial briefi ngs to ers. Sen. Pate said she’s been ask- At the moment, she suggested are bed-ridden, need palliative closely,” keeping in contact with all critics last week, Mr. Harris said ing that question almost every day the opposite direction is being care, have restricted mobility, the institutions in Canada and the his concerns about the prison since last week, and is frustrated taken, with “all temporary absenc- or chronic diseases, including inmate committees at least once a population weren’t addressed, by the lack of response to what es from institutions for offenders, dementia. week. His early concern is whether and he’s “anxious” to see the gov- should be public information. unless medically necessary, as The report made it “very clear” staff will refuse to go to work. ernment do more with the vulner- Last week, the Congress of well as work releases for offend- that the agency should “immedi- Public safety is “paramount for able population. Conservative MP Aboriginal Peoples sent a letter to ers” being suspended. The CSC has ately and urgently” review these CSC,” said Ms. Rondeau, adding Pierre Paul-Hus (Charlesbourg- Canada’s premiers and attorneys also cancelled in-person visits. cases and take steps to release it’s “prepared” to handle respira- Haute Saint Charles, Que.), his general urging them to prioritize In a March 23 emailed state- them in the community rather tory illnesses like COVID-19, and, party’s public safety critic, did not the release of low-risk offenders ment to The Hill Times, Public than corrections acting as a if there are any cases, core health respond by deadline. to limit transmission of the novel Safety Minister (Scar- nursing home, he said. More than services would be maintained. “There’s got to be a will to do coronavirus. borough Southwest, Ont.) did not one quarter of Canada’s prison “We continue to balance public this and a will to do this right, The John Howard Society’s ex- say whether such releases would population from 2009 to 2015 was and health safety as we fulfi ll our and that has to come from the ecutive director, Catherine Latimer, be considered, instead offering between 65 and 74 years old, the legal obligations with respect to top,” said Mr. Harris, adding the also said she’s worried and has that the government “is commit- report said. care, custody, release, and super- government must also respect in- urged CSC to pursue better prepa- ted to reducing the risk of CO- “The response of the service vision of offenders during this mate’s right to life, health, dignity rations in anticipation of COVID-19 VID-19 in our federal institutions was not positive to that recom- time,” said Ms. Rondeau, noting and respect. making its way into the system— and protecting the safety of staff, mendation,” said Mr. Zinger, not- the agency is screening employ- COVID-19 has proven “ter- including releasing prisoners. inmates, and the general public.” ing it instead launched a research ees who enter and suspending ribly contagious” and it can be Prisoners are not as healthy as project, the results of which have visits as part of its response. especially deadly for vulnerable the general population, the CSC Release should be on the yet to be made public. It comes down to a question of populations, said Mr. Harris, who critics noted, and are likely at a “The end result is that if the balancing public safety from two warned against further delay. greater risk of experiencing the table: prison watchdog services would have responded angles, suggested Ms. Latimer, “You add those two together serious side effects brought on by While Correctional Investiga- more aggressively, we would where the minister must weigh and put it in the prison popula- COVID-19, which early evidence tor Ivan Zinger said it wasn’t his have fewer vulnerable people in the “risk of recidivism,” with the tion, I think this could result in suggests is particularly danger- place to say whether prisoners our prisons right now,” said Mr. potential health risk to inmates terrible consequences if we don’t ous for the elderly and those with should be released—calling it a Zinger, who admitted he was and the wider population “if this act soon,” he said. “This is a life underlying health conditions. decision for health offi cials and frustrated by that fact, given virus incubates in the prison.” and death matter.” The agency should be taking Mr. Blair—he said it’s an option those over 65 have a greater risk Both, after all, will be sent to the [email protected] “immediate action,” said Sen. that should be on the table. of dying from the virus. same overburdened hospitals. The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 5 Comment A health crisis is no time to double down on political peeves

we have the U.S. president deliberately One has to hope that our stigmatizing the disease as the “Chinese vi- rus,” in both his speeches and social media international leaders will posts. The World Health Organization strongly quickly realize that you recommends against naming viruses after cannot close the borders specifi c locations to avoid creating undue fear and racism. Donald Trump petulantly U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. President Donald Trump, pictured at the 2018 to a virus that is already maintains that he is deliberately using the NATO Summit in Brussels, have in recent days positioned COVID-19 as something drummed up by term “Chinese virus” because he “didn’t ap- China and Iran, writes Scott Taylor. Flickr photograph courtesy of NATO expanded to all corners of preciate the fact that China was saying that our military gave it to them.” tance to battle COVID-19. Scott Taylor is the editor and publisher the world. In response to Iranian claims that the We have a common enemy. Together, of Esprit de Corps magazine. U.S. military was responsible for the CO- let’s defeat this thing. The Hill Times VID-19 outbreak, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo referred to it as the “Wuhan virus” and accused the Iranians of help- ing to spread the disease. “They know the truth: The Wuhan virus is a killer and the ȶȉȦȟ3SZIP(SVSREZMVYW (4:.)Ȧȟ Iranian regime is an accomplice,” Pompeo stated at a March 17 press conference. Going far beyond this exchange of ac- What you need to know cusations, the U.S. is using the health crisis to maximize its political pressure on Teh- Scott Taylor ran by increasing sanctions against Iran. to help you and your Inside Defence With its health-care system already struggling to cope with the COVID-19 pan- demic due to the strict economic sanctions family stay healthy. TTAWA—One would like to imagine imposed upon it since 2018, Iran appealed Othat, in the face of a global threat of to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) the magnitude of the current COVID-19 for $5-billion in emergency relief funds. pandemic, humankind would be unifi ed In order to bring maximum pressure on • Only visit an assessment centre if you have into a common defence. the Tehran regime, Trump is using the U.S. Just like the plot line of the classic 1996 veto to block the funds from IMF. been referred by a health care professional. Hollywood action movie Independence Similarly, sanction-ravaged Venezuela Day, wherein planet Earth is threatened also requested $5-billion from the IMF • Avoid non-essential travel. by invading aliens, in order to defeat the to help them deal with the COVID-19 threat, all pre-existing squabbles between pandemic. As of March 17, there were 33 • Monitor for symptoms after travel. nations are set aside. reported cases in Venezuela and President It is a Hollywood production, so natural- Nicolás Maduro has ordered the entire • Avoid large gatherings. ly it is Americans who create the fi rst dent country to enter into quarantine. in the alien force’s armour. However, it is The reason that the IMF denied the • Be prepared, but avoid panic stocking. then up to the Russians, the Chinese, Brit- funding request from Venezuela was ish, French, Germans, Israelis, and every because there was “no clarity” among the other modern airforce (sadly, with no refer- IMF’s member states as to who is actu- • Caring for those who are ill? Take precautions. ence to the RCAF) to collectively eliminate ally the leader of that country. The elected the alien fl eet of spaceships. Maduro maintains fi rm control over Ven- • Clean high-touch surfaces regularly. The COVID-19 pandemic is not a so- ezuela, but the Canadian-led Lima Group phisticated enemy from outer space, but of 14 states recognized Juan Guaido as the • Order your prescription medication. it is a deadly threat to the human race. It president of our choice in January 2019. also sees no artifi cial borders, nor does it As a result of this impasse, the poor • Practice cough and sneeze etiquette in transit. discriminate by race or social status. people of Venezuela will suffer the ravages of Given the latest data from China, which COVID-19 without the requested relief funds. puts the disease’s lethality rate for those In Canada, the enormity of the chal- infected at 1.4 per cent, it is 14 times more lenge posed by COVID-19 led to the almost If you have symptoms, take the self-assessment deadly than the common infl uenza. While unprecedented political non-partisanship at ontario.ca/coronavirus. Or call Telehealth these are not doomsday apocalyptic num- to enable the Trudeau minority to an- bers, if the projected potential infection nounce an $82-billion national emergency Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007) rate of 40 to 70 per cent of the population expenditure with virtually no opposition. materializes, that will result in the death of One has to hope that our international or your public health unit. tens of millions worldwide. leaders will quickly realize that you cannot Despite the potential severity of the close the borders to a virus that is already crisis, there has been no sign of our world expanded to all corners of the world. leaders fi nding common ground and the This is not the time to punish regimes Paid for by the Government of Ontario unity forged in Independence Day. Instead by denying their people fi nancial assis- 6 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES COVID-19

Ministerial staff wait and questions from constituents in the wings during a related to COVID-19. press conference with “Our normal caseload would ministers leading the be—in our instance, massively— federal government’s immigration cases, Revenue COVID-19 response in Canada cases, EI cases, you know, the West Block on March passport applications. Right now, 20. The majority of staff it’s overwhelmingly just reas- are now working remotely, suring people and giving them but some essential staff the best information that we can are still needed on site. based on what we know about Pictured are Véronique what they should be doing, and Simard, left, senior what we’re trying to do as a gov- communications and ernment to try and deal with the media relations adviser situation,” said Mr. Holland. to Innovation Minister Ms. Blaney, who has remained ; Thierry in Ottawa thus far, said her Bélair, second from right, constituency offi ces (she has two) communications director are currently closed to the public, to Health Minister Patty with all staff working remotely. Hajdu; and Andrée-Lyne “There’s a clear sense of urgen- Hallé, deputy chief of staff cy, I know everybody is feeling that to Deputy Prime Minister across Canada, around addressing . The issues like people who are travel- Hill Times photograph by ling internationally, who are trying Andrew Meade to fi gure out what the best way is to proceed,” said Ms. Blaney. “We’re working with a lot of fi les like that,” she said, along with helping constituents navigate the federal EI system, identifying gaps that exist, and “trying to fi nd a way to make sure that they are able to fi nancially sustain themselves during these ‘It’s a diff erent world we’re all living in’: very particular times.” “Constituents have a lot of questions, so I know all of our of- vast majority of staff working remotely, fi ces are busy, wherever the staff are actually located at this point,” said Ms. Blaney. All NDP constituency offi ce focused on COVID-19 response staff are currently considered “essential,” said Ms. Amrov, as riding offi ces are the “go-to” point On March 13, Nancy Chah- “The House administration is around the clock, whether it’s of contact for many Canadians, ‘Constituents have a wan, chief human resources offi - still in operation and prioritizing from the offi ce or from home, to who “turn to their MP to get the cer for the federal public service, its activities to maintain essential deliver the best service possible information that they need and lot of questions. So I sent out a message to all deputy services to Members,” reads a to Canadians,” she said. “All staff- the services that they need from know all of our offi ces heads, heads of agencies and of March 16 memo. ers working from home have the the federal government,” and human resources, encouraging Work-from-home directions tools they need to do their job,” often from other levels of govern- are busy, wherever them to be “as fl exible as possible to the hundreds of ministerial including laptops, cellphones, and ment as well. in leveraging your authorities and MP staff followed a similar remote access to government net- Technology has its challenges the staff are actually around existing telework and al- timeframe. works through a virtual private in the best of times, and while ternative work arrangements.” In NDP staffers, on the Hill and network (VPN). Ms. Blaney noted there have located at this point,’ it she noted, among other things, in constituency offi ces across Kelsie Chiasson, acting direc- been some bumps along the way, that the Treasury Board Secre- Canada, are federally unionized, tor of communications to Con- with people being dropped off says NDP Whip tariat, along with Shared Services and Nina Amrov, an NDP caucus servative Leader conference calls and “some chal- . Canada and Chief Information press secretary who is currently (Regina-Qu’Appelle, Sask.), lenges with overload” for internet Offi cers, has been working to president of the NDP staffers’ confi rmed that the “majority” of systems across Canada, she said “maximize internet bandwidth to union, confi rmed that NDP staff staff in the offi cial opposition people are working hard to adapt. BY LAURA RYCKEWAERT support and prioritize network began working from home on leader’s offi ce (OLO) are now “It’s a different world we’re all access tied to critical operations.” March 16 and that now “if not all, working from home. living in right now as we’re trying he vast majority of staff—from On March 21, that message was the huge majority are working Modern technology means to combat this, so we’re all trying Tministerial offi ces on the Hill to upgraded, with the government from home,” including those in offi ces are able to tackle most to fi nd a way to get our work the constituency offi ces of Members now asking “that employees, at constituency offi ces across the work remotely through the use of done virtually as best we can,” of Parliament—are now working all work sites, work from home country, which have largely been laptops and cellphones. Meet- said Mr. Holland. from home and busy working to an- whenever and wherever possible, closed to the public. ings can be held via conference There are currently in the swer high volumes of public queries and that managers identify an Prime Minister’s Offi ce press call or video group chats, calls range of more than 1,300 MP and implement new measures being approach that is fl exible while secretary Ann-Clara Vaillancourt to offi ces can be forwarded to staff, upwards of 500 ministerial announced to help Canadians amid ensuring continued critical gov- provided a response to questions new numbers, and government staff, about 94 PMO staff, and al- the COVID-19 outbreak. ernment operations and services on work arrangements for staff networks—through which staff most 80 OLO staff (in the leader’s “I think that all of our offi ces to Canadians.” on behalf of all ministers’ offi ces: access internal House services and offi ce and caucus research are seeing high volumes of calls, Aside from “essential employ- “Similar to the directive that was portals—can be accessed remotely bureau), along with other party just people looking for informa- ees,” House administration staff given to the public service, all using VPNs and secure ID keys. leadership offi ces. tion, trying to understand the were directed to begin working ministers’ offi ces were given the Mr. Holland said his own staff Ms. Amrov said, along with announcements that we’ve been remotely, if possible, as of March directive that all staff should be in Ottawa are all now working reminding staff of their rights making as a government, what 16, with the majority now doing working from home unless it is remotely, and only a “reduced under the collective agreement, access to health they might have, so, confi rmed Heather Bradley, essential that they come into the complement” of his constituency a “major concern” for her union you know, those kinds of ques- director of communications to offi ce.” offi ce are still going in to work, right now is the mental health of tions,” Liberal Whip the House Speaker. Among the Some offi ces, like those of though they’re “operating only on staff, and in turn, she said they’ve (Ajax, Ont.) told The Hill Times. essential staff are those “manag- ministers participating in the daily a call or video-conference basis.” been encouraging people to reach “It’s been quite busy, quite robust ing the House response,” she said. COVID-19 updates, like Deputy “There’s a lot of Whip func- out to their colleagues. sort of staying on top of that.” Staff who are not essential and Prime Minister Chrystia Free- tions where there may be a “[For a] lot of people their Each Member of Parliament are not able to work remotely, land (University-Rosedale, Ont.) requirement to be in the offi ce to workplace is their place of acts as the employer for their including those needing to care and Health Minister access infrastructure, but for the interacting with people,” she individual offi ces, meaning it’s for children, as well as those who (Thunder Bay-Superior North, most part, we’re trying to limit said. “Isolation can affect your ultimately up to each MP to are sick or have been directed Ont.) “have different needs” that our interactions going in and out mental health, it can affect your decide how to direct their staff, to self-isolate have been granted involve staff needing to be “physi- of the offi ce,” he said in an inter- well-being, so that’s why we do but Mr. Holland said MPs have “other leave with pay.” While Ms. cally present.” In those cases, staff view March 18. encourage people to reach out to been advised to follow guidelines Bradley was not able to confi rm are being reminded to follow the Both Mr. Holland and NDP their colleagues on a daily basis, issued by Health Canada, and to which staff are considered es- government’s social distancing Whip Rachel Blaney (North to make sure they’re interacting his knowledge, the “vast major- sential, the list no doubt includes guidelines and recommendations. Island-Powell River, B.C.) said with people even though they’re ity” of offi ces, “unless there’s an people like security, translators “We can assure you that all their respective constituency of- not there in person.” absolute necessity,” are now being (albeit a reduced complement), ministers’ offi ces are functional fi ces have been particularly busy [email protected] staffed remotely. and cleaners. and that everyone is working tackling high volumes of requests The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 7 COVID-19 Embassies in Ottawa off er ‘around the clock’ Ottawa-based heads of mission say responding to the novel coronavirus outbreak has lead to ‘around the clock’ efforts, including from left, Japan’s Yasuhisa Kawamura, Ecuador’s Diego Stacey, Jamaica’s Janice Miller, and Germany’s Sabine Sparwasser. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia, Andrew Meade

forward. This will have an end,” very exposed situation,” she said, if they have symptoms or for support in Mr. Stacey said in a phone inter- but is doing as much as it can to preventive purposes. view March 23. slow the spread of the virus. “Kuwait commends the mea- Given the “very unusual and In Canada, offering consular sures being taken by Canada, unprecedented” times, Japanese support in the face of a pandemic which are based on science and Ambassador to Canada Yasuhisa and closing borders becomes an expert opinion. As such, we are Kawamura said solidarity is one increasingly “complex thing to do learning the best practices from the new of the most important things. As in the circumstances where ev- each other,” she said. G7 countries, Japan and Canada erybody’s stretched to the limit,” Stressing that the offi ce is are “major partners and players” she said. there to offer a helping hand, she and he said the foreign ministers Throughout the diplomatic said she’s confi dent that with have agreed to co-ordinate in a corps in Ottawa, there’s been the necessary measures taken to work-from- number of areas, including public widespread cancellation of prevent COVID-19, “we are fully health measures and economic events, with embassies sending confi dent that together we will growth to create a “rather encour- out apologies in mid-March. Most pass this dreadful ordeal. We shall aging environment” within the ambassadors who spoke to The unwaveringly join hands to defeat international community. Japan Hill Times said staff were working the evil COVID-19 outbreak and home reality had reported more than 1,000 on reduced offi ce hours and keep- we will ultimately succeed.” cases and 41 deaths to the WHO ing staff separate, with most of- Slovenia’s Embassy moved to as of March 22. fering one or two at the embassy have all locals work from home on “Not a single country can cope for urgent in-person matters. All March 16, while the ambassador, except to four major airports, with alone,” he said. “International co- said they are offering 24-7 sup- Melita Gabric, and the diplomat Envoys comment major carriers like Air Canada operation is the key word for the port through email and telephone taking charge of consular affairs on the ‘uncharted saying they would “gradually strategy we should employ.” lines, which they say are busy. both work from the offi ce. Like suspend the majority of overseas Several diplomats told The Hill The Slovak Embassy, for other embassies, it stressed use of territory’ brought fl ights by the end of March.” Two Times sharing experiences in re- example, limits required per- social media as an avenue to keep fl ights will leave this week from sponding to the outbreak is crucial, sonal visits only for emergencies. citizens informed, with updates forward by the Toronto to Ecuador’s capital, Qui- and they looked forward to such co- While plenty of embassy staff from Global Affairs Canada to, to return stranded Canadians operation with Canadian offi cials. are spread all across the city, relayed publicly to their audience, ‘dreadful ordeal’ who had no chance of returning “It would be welcome for any Slovak Ambassador Vit Koziak the offi ce said by email March 19. COVID-19 brings, and home with airports closed until contact or co-operation between said they’re at an advantage with The Afghanistan Embassy said April 5, Mr. Stacey said. public health authorities today practically all its staff living and by email March 19 it had taken urge co-operation in Nationals stranded outside and in the future,” Mr. Stacey said. working in the same compound. all precautionary measures listed their home country is a common Mr. Koziak said the “primary in Canadian guidelines, cancel- concern diplomats are currently the global response. ‘We’re in uncharted task” now is helping Slovak citi- ling planned events and meetings dealing with, including many zens in Canada or those who had ”until further notice,” while half Ecuadorians in Canada, said Mr. territory’ planned to travel here and are the staff work from home and BY SAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN Stacey whose offi ce is fi elding German Ambassador Sabine dealing with the fallout of “this consular services limited to the calls, mainly from students at- Sparwasser has spent time posted quickly evolving situation.” most urgent cases. mbassies in Ottawa are shut- tending Canadian schools. in the Middle East and Afghani- “Providing reliable, continu- Afghanistan, where WHO Eting their doors, restricting Canada announced its own stan and has experienced her ously updated information at this had reported 40 cases and one hours, staffi ng 24-7 emergency operations to help Canadians share of “diffi cult and critical situ- time is crucial,” he said by email death as of March 22, has not yet lines, and co-ordinating fl ights for get home on March 21, telling ations” over a long career. March 19. Slovakia had 185 requested any kind of support for those stranded in Canada in what travellers to register with Global “But none of us has ever seen confi rmed cases and no deaths as the outbreak, the embassy said, diplomats describe as “around- Affairs Canada, though Foreign anything like this,” she said in a of March 23, among the least in though it believes the country “can the-clock” support dealing with Affairs Minister François-Philippe phone interview March 20. “We’re neighbouring countries though benefi t from experience sharing at the demands of “unusual and un- Champagne (Saint-Maurice– in uncharted territory.” Austria, to its west, had the most, this very important time.” precedented” times brought on by Champlain, Que.) said some may “It is an unprecedented situ- at more than 3,600. Jamaican High Commissioner the novel coronavirus pandemic. be stranded for weeks as borders ation and I think we all now un- Janice Miller echoed Ms. Spar- Ecuador Ambassador Diego close. derstand how severe this crisis is. wasser’s assessment that with Stacey said his consular offi cials The novel coronavirus has It took us a while to understand Working ‘around the clock’ a global crisis, countries need are busy supporting their most spread rapidly across the world how serious this is going to be but Like most in the international to answer globally, especially in vulnerable nationals, including and is “accelerating,” warned I think now we do have the kind community, Kuwait’s Ambassador researching a vaccine and fi nding fi nding lodging for those who WHO Director-General Tedros of response and now it depends to Canada, Reem Al Khaled, said effective testing as quickly as cannot afford a hotel. That’s Adhanom Ghebreyesus on March on what our governments do and she and her staff had been follow- possible. meant generous members of the 23, with more than 335,000 cases very much on what our citizens ing the unfolding escalations with Ms. Miller said her offi ce is Ecuadorian community in Cana- and more than 14,500 deaths do,” she said. COVID-19 and “did not expect it to sending constant messages out da opening their doors, he said. recorded in 190 countries and Last week, German Chancellor be spreading in such a massive way.” to the large diaspora of about “You don’t know how big is territories. Angela Merkel offered a similar, They are working “around 300,000 Jamaicans in Canada and the heart of Ecuadorians [who] Like most, Mr. Stacey’s sobering message, saying the the clock” to address citizens’ while isolation is important for open their houses in these very country offers its own directives country had not faced as serious concerns, Ms. Al Khaled said by containing pandemic, she hopes diffi cult conditions,” said Mr. Sta- but also suggests its embassy a challenge since German uni- email March 20, with prepara- it’s temporary. cey, whose country had 532 cases in Canada follow the advice of fi cation. As a leader often “very tions underway to evacuate Ku- “I hope it doesn’t become modus of COVID-19 and seven deaths, local authorities, and so, the 90 sober” and “very moderate” in her waiti citizens in Canada in case of operandi for everything going for- according to World Health Orga- diplomats at the mission and approach, Ms. Sparwasser said an emergency. ward in terms of movement of per- nization (WHO) data as of March three consulates are working “100 such a serious message from the The embassy is “fully opera- sons and so on,” she said in a phone 22. “The solidarity is impressive per cent from home” in light of chancellor made it so that people tional,” but with reduced working interview March 19. “As everything even though they have to take recommendations from Canadian “took heed and listened to it.” hours, and adopting “strict per- settles down, I hope that [people] care of their families as well.” health offi cials, he said. Germany, which the WHO sonal hygiene measures and con- will not take isolation as a way that On March 18, Canada closed “We are extremely concerned, reported had almost 25,000 cases ducting the recommended social things should be all the time.” its borders to nearly all foreign na- but we think that fear should not of the novel coronavirus and 94 distancing,” she said, though staff [email protected] tionals and all international fl ights paralyze us, that we should go deaths as of March 22, is “in a are permitted to work remotely The Hill Times 8 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES

EDITOR Kate Malloy MANAGING EDITOR Charelle Evelyn PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY BY PUBLISHERS Anne Marie Creskey, DEPUTY EDITORS Peter Mazereeuw, Laura Ryckewaert HILL TIMES PUBLISHING INC. Jim Creskey, Ross Dickson ASSISTANT DEPUTY EDITOR Abbas Rana 246 Queen Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5E4 GENERAL MANAGER, CFO Andrew Morrow DIGITAL EDITOR Beatrice Paez

Editorial Letters to the Editor In the face of this pandemic, Dyer’s ‘one-state’ solution isn’t let’s hope cooler heads prevail much of a solution, says reader hey say love makes you do the wacky. So By the time the sun rose and MPs began perhaps it’s because of such a deep abid- congregating on Parliament Hill for the e: “Bibi, Benny and Ruvi: the future of the same consequence as the “right of re- T The Hill Times ing love for country that public offi cials and recalled sitting of the House, the Liberals had RIsrael,” ( , March 16, p. 11). turn”—the negation of Israel as a Jewish those who want to join their ranks are mak- already begun to make concessions, with While there’s a virtual consensus for a state. Palestinians, by virtue of a higher ing head-scratching moves and statements. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeting a curt two-state solution to resolve the Israeli- birthrate, would turn Jews into a minority First, there’s the Liberals, who, in a time and generally nonsensical (because the text Palestinian confl ict, Gwynne Dyer’s advo- before voting in favour of another Muslim of unprecedented circumstance and partisan of the bill wasn’t public) message that the cating for the “one-state solution” is being Arab state in place of Israel. co-operation, decided that now was the time “legislation will be tabled without clause 2.” insidiously sold in the language of peace. The one-state solution is therefore a thinly to use a bill—that everyone had already Whatever was going on behind the So why then is the one-state or bi-na- veiled strategy for destroying the State of agreed to support—to give themselves extra scenes, surely the best of intentions were tional solution unacceptable? At its most Israel and questioning its very right to exist. powers no one would ever agree to. there (right?), because it would be uncon- basic level, the one-state solution denies That doesn’t seem like a solution to me. As a draft of the bill set to be intro- scionable for any government, whether the right of Jews to self-determination in Mike Fegelman, duced in the House of Commons on March they hold the majority or the minority of their historical homeland and calls into HonestReporting Canada 24 circulated amongst opposition par- seats in the House, to propose giving them- question the very legitimacy of Israel as executive director ties, and eventually some members of the selves unfettered powers in a time like this. a state. A bi-national state would have Ottawa, Ont. media, the previous night, varying levels of On the other side of the aisle, the Conser- outrage circulated online just as quickly. vatives have their own internal debate going The Conservatives put out a late-night on, with calls for the leadership race to be We must learn from, and remember, statement in reaction to the draft, which suspended coming from most participants. was said to give the fi nance minister the Long-held as the presumptive frontrun- ability to spend, borrow, and tax without ner, Peter MacKay is now going one step tuberculosis in our fi ght to end COVID-19 having to get parliamentary approval further in not only calling for the race to go s we collectively strive to respond larly vulnerable. This is because TB is a until the end of 2021. ahead as planned, but also for it be held even Ato the COVID-19 outbreak, policy- poverty-related disease that thrives within “In a crisis, broad, all-party agreement sooner than the scheduled June 27 date. makers cannot afford to lose sight of populations who are largely neglected. For is essential, especially when the govern- It’s easy for someone whose campaign the important global health lessons and example, food insecurity, poor housing, ment has a minority in the House of is dripping with money to throw down his needs of persisting threats, like tubercu- and systemic discrimination have resulted Commons. And we are prepared to have cash and say “We’ll do it live,” but it doesn’t losis (TB). Like the novel coronavirus, TB in Inuit people facing a burden of active Parliament sit as needed to transact the seem very democratic to force everyone’s is a respiratory infection. It has long been TB nearly 300 times the rate of Canadian- business of Parliament,” said the statement hands while they’re struggling to keep the leading infectious disease killer in the born, non-Indigenous people. In the face of from Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer. themselves and their families safe in the world. In 2018 alone, 1.5 million of the this new global health crisis we must draw “But we will not give the government face of a global health crisis. Even Mr. world’s most vulnerable people died from lessons from the continuing fi ght to end TB, unlimited power to raise taxes without MacKay’s now-former campaign commu- the disease and 10 million became ill. and we must not forget that now remains a parliamentary vote. We will authorize nications director disagreed, quitting the TB is found in all corners of the globe, the time to end this epidemic as well. whatever spending measures are justifi ed campaign—though she’s still backing the including in Canada. Our Indigenous Robyn Christine Waite to respond to the situation, but we will candidate—because she felt it was inappro- peoples and new Canadians are particu- Ottawa, Ont. not sign a blank cheque.” priate to be campaigning right now, accord- Liberal backbencher Nathaniel Erskine- ing to National Post reporter Brian Platt. Smith agreed, tweeting out his own confu- Whether the race should be suspended is sion over the news on the night of March a conversation worth having, but cutting it Race relations can go beyond race, says reader 23: “It isn’t clear to me why sweeping new off and having it sooner is a step too far, and tax and spending powers are necessary, one which the party’s leadership election e: “Law enforcement’s got a racism inter-racial, and inter-religious training of without parliamentary supervision.” organizing committee should not entertain. Rproblem, and it’s set to get worse,” RCMP cadets in the Regina academy and in (The Hill Times, March 4, p. 11). The recent daily police operations. The Commissioner column by Erica Ifi ll brings back memo- also ensured that this work with visible ries, in my retirement. I cannot help but minorities was related to the separate and re- go back in time to when the RCMP took lated initiatives with the Indigenous peoples. groundbreaking leadership in the overall I will share an application of this race relations issue. Yes, we can learn from historic initiative. In Halifax, a serious history. I was privileged to be working in and aggressive confl ict had broken out Canadian Heritage–Multiculturalism and between the RCMP and Black students Race Relations, assigned the dossier of at a high school, over an alleged rac- liaison with the RCMP to address inter- ist incident. It had reached a paralyzed cultural, inter-racial, and inter-religious state, with no good rapport between the relations. What was most revealing was students and the RCMP offi cers. The that the RCMP was prepared to address Commissioner requested that I go from these related issues as “one package,” to be Ottawa to help resolve the incident as a comprehensive and effective in response mediator from the outside. After hearing to underlying race relations. from both sides, to help calm the waters, The commissioner took full leadership I recommended that they go to the lead by establishing the very fi rst federal insti- pastor of the Black community church to tutional committee, the Commissioner’s reach a peaceful solution. Here is where Advisory Committee on Visible Minori- race relations encompasses the religious ties. I was most privileged to help found ties and the cultural bonds of the Black the committee. community to the church. Of course, the He led the committee, which was com- RCMP were more than prepared to fully posed of select men and women from Chi- trust the revered pastor. The issue soon nese, East Indian, Black, Sikh, and Muslim calmed down. There is more to race rela- communities across Canada. Simultaneously, tions than just race, per se. he gave our department the full responsibility Roman Mukerjee to lead in the development of intercultural, Ottawa, Ont.

EDITORIAL ADVERTISING CIRCULATION Please send letters to the editor to the above NEWS REPORTERS Aidan Chamandy, Mike Lapointe, VICE PRESIDENT MARKETING AND DIRECTOR OF READER ENGAGEMENT Chris Rivoire street address or e-mail to [email protected]. Neil Moss, Samantha Wright Allen, and Palak Mangat MULTIMEDIA SALES Steve MacDonald DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Leslie Dickson Deadline is Wednesday at noon, Ottawa time, for PHOTOGRAPHERS Sam Garcia, Andrew Meade, and DIRECTORS OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SUBSCRIPTIONS AND LICENSING EXECUTIVE the Monday edition and Friday at noon for the Cynthia Münster Craig Caldbick, Martin Reaume, Ulle Baum Darryl Blackbird, Lakshmi Krishnamurti Wednesday edition. Please include your full name, The Hill EDITORIAL CARTOONIST Michael De Adder VICE PRESIDENT OF address and daytime phone number. Published every Monday and Times COLUMNISTS Cameron Ahmad, Andrew Caddell, Andrew CONTENT LICENSING SALES Sean Hansel reserves the right to edit letters. Letters do PRODUCTION Wednesday by Hill Times The Hill Times Cardozo, John Chenier, Sheila Copps, Éric Couture, David Crane, PRODUCTION MANAGER Benoit Deneault CIRCULATION MANAGER Dan Lahey not reflect the views of . Thank you. Jim Creskey, Murray Dobbin, Gwynne Dyer, Michael Geist, Publishing Inc. SENIOR GRAPHIC, ONLINE DESIGNER Joey Sabourin Publications Mail Agreement No. 40068926 Dennis Gruending, Phil Gurski, Cory Hann, Michael Harris, Erica DESIGN MANAGER Serena Masonde ADMINISTRATION RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN Ifill, Joe Jordan, Amy Kishek, Rose LeMay, Alex Marland, Arthur WEB DESIGNER Jean-Francois Lavoie HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER Tracey Wale 246 Queen Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5E4 ADDRESSES TO: CIRCULATION DEPT. Milnes, Tim Powers, Mélanie Richer, Susan Riley, Ken Rubin, Evan ASSISTANT WEB DESIGNER Ian Peralta (613) 232-5952 246 Queen Street Suite 200, Ottawa, ON K1P 5E4 Sotiropoulos, Scott Taylor, Lisa Van Dusen, Nelson Wiseman, and Fax (613) 232-9055 DELIVERY INQUIRIES 2012 Better Les Whittington. [email protected] Canadian Publications Mail Agreement No. 40068926 Newspaper 613-288-1146 www.hilltimes.com Winner THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 9 COVID-19

the lead of the Liberal Party of COVID-19 is aff ecting us all, and CPC Newfoundland and Labrador. For those who weren’t aware, the N.L. Liberals had also launched a process to replace outgoing leadership race shouldn’t be exception Premier Dwight Ball. Earlier this week, the party put that race on pause—the new leader, and It isn’t politics on personal level. From social dis- Outgoing in turn premier, was due to be tancing, to working from home, Conservative Leader picked the fi rst weekend of May, as usual, and the home-schooling kids, worrying Andrew Scheer, but given the circumstances, the about whether you will get paid pictured addressing party realized it wasn’t business Conservatives risk or make a payroll if you are a media in the West as usual. It will determine in May business owner, being concerned Block on March 24. the next steps to take. looking tone deaf and about a vulnerable elderly rela- Amid COVID-19, The Leadership Election Orga- tive or a friend who is self-isolat- the Leadership nizing Committee of the Conser- self-interested if they ing and just trying to stay well, Election Organizing vative Party of Canada should march on here. this pandemic is hitting us all. Committee of the also move to delay their vote. Our federal, provincial, and Conservative Party While I certainly have been one municipal leaders and public of Canada should advocating for the early depar- health authorities seem to be also move to delay ture of Andrew Scheer and would putting in solid performances. their vote, writes like to see the Conservatives have Frankly, they have no choice as Tim Powers. The Hill a new leader, this is not the time anxious citizenry is depending Times photograph by for that. upon them more than they have Andrew Meade It isn’t politics as usual, and in almost two decades. But, like the Conservatives risk looking leaders in the 9/11 period, they tone deaf and self-interested if will be on short leashes, and the they march on here. Nothing public will have little tolerance would prevent Conservative lead- for those who step outside their are cheering for a complete in- So far, government and public ership candidates and capable Tim Powers remit of keeping us safe. That is house lock down. health authorities are allowing and Parliamentarians from holding Plain Speak as it should be. Public health is also about recommending people walk or hike the government rightly to account Give the prime minister credit striking a balance between if social distancing measures remain in this environment. But going on for now. His daily messages with managing a savage virus and in place. That is fi ne. Let us hope this with the leadership race now just TTAWA—COVID-19 may be a joint focus on health and eco- making sure people can maintain continues to be an accepted practice. doesn’t feel right. The world has Othe challenge of our time. One nomic measures have been deliv- their mental and physical health. True, people should not be playing changed a bit, surely Conserva- hopes its impact ends as quickly ered with the right temperament Killing COVID-19 is vital, but soccer games on beaches in mass tives can too. as it arrived, but none of us will and tone. He, along with many many of us who manage mental groups, but if a dad and his son want Keep well, everyone, in these be left untouched. It is unlike any- premiers, are also demonstrating health still need the ability to get to play a little street hockey them- challenging times. thing else we have experienced in they recognize that public health fresh air, raise our heart rate, and selves in their driveway, let’s not Tim Powers is vice-chairman most of our lifetimes. It is damn isn’t just about locking everyone escape, albeit briefl y, from the call the cops. Survival and eventual of Summa Strategies and manag- tough, but we are resilient and up until no one is sick again. Lis- never-ending negative tale of the recovery from all of this requires ing director of Abacus Data. He is will get through it. tening to some of the questions coronavirus. An enhanced mental some form of safe normal. a former adviser to Conservative I have yet to fi nd a person who these leaders receive, you could health crisis should not be an ad- Speaking of normal, I hope political leaders. isn’t impacted by the coronavirus be left thinking some in the media ditional feature of this pandemic. the federal Conservatives follow The Hill Times

Help Canada’s workers now—but don’t lock us into a high-carbon future

in crisis are of critical importance. ahead. That means investments Times of high For governments in Canada, and that get money into their pockets elsewhere, that includes fi nancial now, without locking us in to a unemployment and assistance to keep individuals and high-carbon destiny. businesses afl oat. It does not mean cutting Instead of a bailout for the oil and gas sector, government and industry low interest rates The economic impact on carbon taxes, as some have sug- should pursue investments that will help us develop new energy solutions and are the right time Canada’s oil and gas sector has gested. This would only result in markets—ideas such as large-scale wind and solar, geothermal, hydrogen, been particularly acute, driven a scattershot short-term subsidy bioenergy, and storage—the kinds of things forward-thinking industry leaders for new, low-carbon both by a drop in demand and an for everyone, at the cost of our were already considering before this crisis hit, writes Richard Florizone. international price war. As part shared future. Instead, govern- Photograph courtesy of Pixabay investments and of its response, the Government ment and industry should pursue of Canada is now considering a investments that will help us industry, government, and uni- Supporting energy workers infrastructure. multi-billion dollar bailout of the develop new energy solutions and versities came together in new across Canada is essential. Subsi- oil and gas industry. markets—ideas such as large- initiatives like the Crop Develop- dizing the status quo and ensur- Providing support for hard- scale wind and solar, geothermal, ment Centre at the University of ing increased carbon emissions is hit Albertans and other energy hydrogen, bioenergy, and stor- , giving birth to a not. Times of high unemployment workers across Canada is clearly age—the kinds of things forward- multi-billion dollar pulse crop and low interest rates are the the right thing to do. But an thinking industry leaders were industry—creating new jobs that right time for new, low-carbon in- outright bailout that preserves already considering before this feed the world, alongside a vi- vestments and infrastructure. By the industry status quo is not. crisis hit. Now is also the time brant and thriving wheat industry focusing our support on workers When Canada and the United to clean up inactive and orphan that ultimately recovered. and the environment, Canada can States bailed out the automotive wells, improving corporate bal- Looking even further back to address the current crisis while industry in 2009 it wasn’t just to ance sheets and the environment the 1930s, we can fi nd inspiration investing in the future. Dr. Richard Florizone is Richard Florizone continue business as usual—they while putting people immediately in the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation also insisted on new commit- back to work. Administration (PFRA), which president and CEO of the Interna- Opinion ments to fast-track increased As we respond to the sharp helped conserve land, prevent tional Institute for Sustainable effi ciency standards. drop in demand and prices, let’s erosion, and develop water Development, headquartered To be effective, any govern- draw on other lessons from resources—investments that met in Winnipeg, Man. He is also he COVID-19 pandemic is a ment support must focus on the Western Canada’s history, includ- urgent needs during the Great president emeritus of Dalhousie Thuman tragedy. Containing immediate needs of workers ing the collapse in wheat prices Depression while still paying University. the virus and supporting people while also considering what lies in the 1970s. In that instance, dividends today. The Hill Times 10 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES COVID-19

But the Second World War, which killed 60 million, happened 75 years ago. After decades of relative global calm, largely born of the reaction to the horrors of the 1939-45 years, it’s obviously not easy to grasp the This pandemic will size and impact of a threat like COVID-19. Governments all over have failed to come to grips quickly with the looming catastrophe and have been way too slow to take decisive action, not least in the United States. If any proof of this widespread inability to digest the enormity of the crisis is required, change everything one need only look at the hesitation and teeth-gnashing over the decision on athletes not going to the Tokyo Olympics. As sad as TTAWA—Judging from the accounts it may be for the athletes, the decision not to How all this will play out as Oof 20-somethings packing the beaches participate couldn’t have been more obvious. and partying in the face of the coronavirus These Games can’t possibly happen. this current crisis unfolds disaster, the young people who fought the Maybe, then, the reluctance of young is, of course, unknowable. Second World War aren’t in any danger people in the Western world to turn their of having to cede their reputation as “the lives upside down to fi ght the virus wasn’t But what is clear is that one Greatest Generation.” so surprising. After all, we are being asked The “war” metaphor is shop worn, but to stand apart to stand together. day some months from now, there is no doubt that the current emer- But this nihilistic, anti-social behav- gency fi ts the bill. Only an extraordinary iour—an insult in particular to hard-pressed we will wake up to a world Les Whittington national, collective commitment to harness health workers—may also be a reminder of marked by huge changes. Need to Know all of the resources of Canada and other the unknown territory the West has found countries in a lengthy struggle will hold itself in recent years when it comes to back the damage from the epidemic. politics, public affairs, and the exercise of power. Fuelled by economic alienation and distorted information, the populist surge in the U.S., the United Kingdom, and parts of Europe has blown apart longstanding norms related to political discourse, pro- gressive values, and fact-based policy-mak- The Hill Times is offering ing. Instead, in many cases we’ve seen the institutionalization of backward, emotion- ally driven, and extreme thinking. This is an environment that systematically underval- free access to all our ues collective action, in general, and govern- ment, in particular, while simultaneously absolving citizens of personal responsibility. Whatever else this trend means, it does not lend itself to the advent of the social coverage during the cohesion and sense of communal good needed to generate the political will to ef- fectively deal with a public emergency, as the deteriorating COVID-19 situation in the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. U.S. and U.K. amply demonstrates. How all this will play out as this current For the next few weeks, The Hill Times is offering free access to all our news and analysis during crisis unfolds is, of course, unknowable. the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. We are also expanding The Hill Times’ print edition in PDF for- But what is clear is that one day some mat to all elected provincial officials, provincial cabinet ministers, and their respective staff across months from now, we will wake up to a The Hill Times world marked by huge changes—political- Canada. is taking extra steps to ensure the print edition in PDF format is delivered ly, economically, and in many other ways. to all senior decision-makers, in isolation or not. Will the distrust in government that has weighed so heavily on public life in recent All readers of The Hill Times, including cabinet ministers, MPs, Senators, political staff, senior years be reduced? Will there be an increased Hill Times commitment to generous-minded social and bureaucrats, and officials in the PMO and PCO will continue to receive their ’ digital fi scal policies countering the deeply embed- edition (PDF) twice a week, along with our daily coverage on HillTimes.com, along with our seven- ded right-wing austerity creed? Will there be days-a-week special email briefings. Print subscriptions will continue to be delivered twice a week. a renewed sense of national purpose as expe- rienced in Canada and other places after the Second World War? How long will it take the We offer trustworthy political and policy coverage. We’re keeping on top of key policy economy to achieve some sense of normalcy? developments in order to help keep our readers well-informed and we’ll keep shining a light Will whole new sets of policies related to the on Canada’s federal government and Parliament during this critical time. poor, workers, and retirees be needed? On a wider basis, can national leaders ef- fectively work together to mitigate the impact on the global economy? Will the increasing The Hill Times’ newsrooms take pride in delivering resentment of globalization be increased by a pandemic accelerated by international the dependable and in-depth news and analysis connectedness, a worrisome prospect for a trade-dependent country like Canada? Almost certainly, the COVID-19 experi- that decision-makers rely on. ence will usher in a new set of political leaders in many countries. U.S. President hilltimes.com/subscribe Donald Trump has shredded any claim to being a credible national spokesperson. While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has done fairly well, he is nonetheless likely to be badly hurt by the onrushing economic meltdown. If anyone has gained in terms of EnergyEnergy policypoliiccy Which federal personal stature, it has been Deputy Prime departments briefifi ng saw pp. 15-26 Minister Chrystia Freeland, who looks Deborah Carloss RRiRichardich Philippe results? HHarfordarford A. MurMurillouriillloloo CCaCanningsan Le Billon pp. 6-7 increasingly like the Liberals’ best choice Transportation We’re adding to as the next leader. As for the Conservatives, crisis in relationship the utterances of their would-be leaders policy briefi ng: with Indigenous THIRTY-FIRST YEYEAR,AR, NO. 1710 CANADA’S POLITICSA AND GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020 $5.00

Hill News Conservative lleadershipeadership race News House committees , Ashley Morton, Philip Cross, Climbers peoples: have left many people shaking their heads. Pedro Antunes, Roger Francis, No committee pp. 17-25 p.38 Rose Lemay Sara Kirk, & Alec Soucy Party p. 4 Deadline looms fforo low-profi le or caucus roles, Central longtime Postponing the Conservative leadership p.37 CPCCPC candidates, wwho say party Tory MP still HOH nneedseeds more fresh faces,f ideas sidelined after vote at this time of turmoil could only help. p.2 TheThe ‘traditional‘traditional playbooksplaybooks of smallersmaller government, llowerower taxes, ttough on crime,’ won’t work to widen the blue breaking rank ttent,ent, sasaysys one candidate. ‘We need to break the ceilingceiling and win tthe support of more Canadians.’ BY LAURA RYCKEWAERT Wars change everything. Only the scale THIRTY-FIRST YEAR, NO. 1705 CANADA’S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 $5.00 fter being stripped of his Acritic duties during the last Parliament for voting against the party line, longtime Conservative News Wet’suwet’enNews Prime Minister News NAFTA 2.0 MP Scott Reid has been entirely left off of House committee mem- of it all remains in doubt. bership lists this time around. Downe calls Up until this Parliament, Mr. UNDRIP Reid had spent 15 years as a Trudeau’s handling of for Parliament member of the Procedure and provides ‘guide’ House Affairs Committee (PROC). to have power “I did not request to be free Les Whittington is a regular columnist to resolving Wet’suwet’en Toblockades subscribe, critical call 613-288-1146 or email [email protected] a committee assignment,” Mr. Reid (Lanark-Frontenac- to amend new Kingston, Ont.) said in an email tensions among response to questions from The NAFTA, Liberals Hill Times. Indigenous to his political credibility, Mr. Reid declined an interview for . by phone during the break week pledge to share last week on the subject, and did The Hill Times communities not respond when asked whether reconciliation, say former objectives of There are fi ve lesser-knowns running to be Conservative Party leader, including, from left, Jim Karahalios, , Rick Peterson, Rudy Husny, and Leslyn he believed his lack of committee over questions Lewis.Lewis. PhotographsPhotographs courtesy ooff JJimim KarahalKarahalios,ios, RRickick Peterson, Rudy Husny, TwTwitter,itter, and FaFacebookc assignments this Parliament was down to continued punishment future trade for his having previously voted of authority, To advertise, call 613-688-8841 or emailBYBY SAMANTHASAMANTHA WRIGHTWRIGHT ALLEN to [email protected] of the lesser-knownlesser-known leader-leader- BeyondBeyon Mr. MacKay, Mr. have struggled to get much air The Hill Times cabinet minister, pollsters against the party line and for ship candidates whowho say the front- O’Toole (D(Durham, Ont.), and two- time in a race that was ramping talks with House he Conservative Party needs runners,runners, formerformer cabcabinet ministers ttermerm CoConservatn ive MP Marilyn up even before the federal elec- speaking out about it. ement #40068926

e “Unfortunately, responding say experts reement #40068926 Ta new face fresh ideas and to Peter MacKay and ErinO’Toole are Gladu (Sarn(Sa ia—Lambton Ont ) THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 11 COVID-19

ing more susceptible to transfor- mation, or more corruptible, than Clash of the aftermaths: which world a tabula rasa—a life destroyed, a company on the ropes, a country degraded beyond recognition. And any society where normal rituals, order will prevail post-pandemic? institutions, expectations, routines, and rights have been suspended for a signifi cant length of time is Beijing knows from experience, a target for existential disruption Donald Trump has human beings generally don’t above and beyond a pandemic, consent to their own disempow- especially when its people have called himself a erment or enslavement, cyber or been pre-conditioned to expect the analog. That consent suddenly previously unthinkable. After years wartime president. becomes more obtainable when of democracy being degraded from The question is: the calculation is not “This could within—its institutions, its pro- destroy your life” but “This could cesses, its credibility, its appeal— whose side is he on? save your life.” most fl amboyantly from the White The choice between national- House, that vulnerability is now ist isolation and global solidarity looking less like an unintended was skewed when Donald Trump consequence than an endgame. oddly repurposed nationalism as It seems obvious to say that a form of systematic diminish- decisions made now in this crisis ment rather than loony aggran- will determine the aftermath. But dizement, an operational twist many of those decisions are being telegraphed with the classic made by leaders—Trump, Eng- The ineptitude of U.S. President Donald Trump—pictured at a March 21 misdirection of “Make America land’s Boris Johnson, Brazil’s Jair White House COVID-19 press briefi ng—in the face of this pandemic is as Great Again,” the fi rst and biggest Bolsonaro, the Philippines’ Ro- performative as the rest of his presidency, writes Lisa Van Dusen. White House of the 20,000 lies he’s told. Global drigo Duterte, Israel’s Benjamin Lisa Van Dusen photograph by Andrea Hanks solidarity of the kind America Netanyahu, and Hungary’s Viktor What Fresh Hell led at the post-crash, April 2009 Orbán—who’d already been cal dust settles on this pandemic, Those trends had brought free London G20 has been replaced taking sides in the global battle Trump—if he continues on his cur- societies closer to the new model by a vacuum assiduously created between democracy and authori- n this time of crisis, we face rent trajectory—will have proven of totalitarian surveillance before by Trump and energetically fi lled tarianism as heads of government “Itwo particularly important to be the greatest public asset the coronavirus fi rst surfaced in by China. As has been widely re- claiming to be defending democ- choices. The fi rst is between to- to authoritarian China’s global Wuhan, China, on New Year’s ported in the past week, China is racy while doing everything in talitarian surveillance and citizen ascendancy since, well, ever. Eve. The fact that citizens can’t winning the battle of the corona- their power to undermine it. empowerment. The second is For two decades, the standards be empowered if they’re function- virus narratives because America Trump’s ineptitude in the face between nationalist isolation and and norms of non-democracies ing in a daily vortex of state- is forfeiting. In the borderless of this pandemic is as performative global solidarity.” — Israel histo- have crept, with the help of new sponsored lies within an invisible battlefi eld of totalitarian surveil- as the rest of his presidency. He’s a rian Yuval Noah Harari, Financial technology, into democracies; web of monitoring, hacking, and lance versus citizen empower- crisismonger, not a crisis manager. Times Weekend, March 21. fi rst covertly in the intelligence tracking is at the core of Harari’s ment, that means totalitarian Lisa Van Dusen is associate While Donald Trump’s labelling realm with massively funded, choice, and a reality that becomes surveillance is winning because editor of Policy Magazine and of the COVID-19 coronavirus last unfettered surveillance and hack- far less abstract when ostensibly America is forfeiting. Somewhere, was a Washington and New week as the “Chinese virus” was as ing, then overtly in the political democratic governments are al- Ronald Reagan is incandescent. York-based editor at UPI, AP, and diversionary as it was racist, it was realm with the weaponization of ready using this pandemic as a So, as we all do our utmost to ABC. She writes a weekly column also terribly ironic. By the time lying as a form of psychological rationale for adopting China’s prevent the virus from spreading, for The Hill Times. the epidemiological and geopoliti- warfare and propaganda. surveillance-state innovations. As it’s worth noting that there’s noth- The Hill Times

but there will be younger victims who are smokers, vapers, or have We should be inspired by the compromised immune systems. We know doctors and re- searchers are working overtime to develop a treatment or a vac- ‘greatest generation’ to pull together cine. Until they do, each of us has to make sacrifi ces. In the darkest days of the Sec- Que., a city on the west side of 15 years of economic woe, unem- of humour, and their willingness ond World War, a song was popu- What was their the island of . One day, ployment, dust bowl, confl ict, and to sacrifi ce—attributes some of lar among the troops. “There’ll be he skinned his knee and needed slaughter. us today seem to lack. We see our blue birds over/The White Cliffs secret? I think it was stitches. His mother said, “Let’s go When the Second World War “fellow citizens,” in disgraceful of Dover/Tomorrow, just you across the street to the hospital ended, it was the seeming end of displays of selfi shness, hoarding wait and see,” sang Vera Lynn in their optimism, their and get that patched up.” three decades of misery. But in goods like toilet paper, or parad- 1942. After the bombing of the sense of humour, and He refused, saying, “Everyone Europe, people were starving: the ing around beaches and public Battle of Britain, the prospect of who goes into that hospital comes Marshall Plan was put to work places, a clear threat to public a Nazi invasion was still ripe. In their willingness to out in a box.” It was the summer because there was no other alter- health. spite of all this desolation, people of 1919, and the hospital had native. In Britain, rationing was In my Feb. 5 column, I pre- believed one day there would be sacrifi ce—attributes stacked coffi ns outside. Thou- maintained until the early 1950s. dicted millions would catch CO- peace. sands were dying of the Span- In Canada, those who returned VID-19 and thousands would die. Seventy-fi ve years ago this some of us today ish fl u, including doctors and were determined to make a bet- Clearly that has happened, but week, my father came home to seem to lack. nurses. In Montreal, a streetcar ter world than the one they had with a speed few expected. But I Montreal after fi ve and a half was equipped to carry coffi ns to known. added, “The public and the media years at war, and married my cemeteries. The global epidemic Today, we face a crisis that is should not panic, just do what is mother (whom he had not seen killed up to 50 million people, not dissimilar to what our parents advised and listen to the experts.” since October 1939) two days more deaths than the bloody war faced. We are being asked to It seems my faith in human later. They were blissfully happy that preceded it. So, the six year make sacrifi ces by staying home nature was misplaced: there has for 50 years. Like so many of old stayed out of the hospital and to ensure we do not make others been panic, and many, including their generation, they knew life survived. sick. Our economy is in decline, the president of the United States, was not easy, but they always The 20th century was a time of but the prospect remains of a have not heeded the advice of believed in happy endings. So quiet desperation for the genera- return to normalcy within the experts. should we. tion born between 1910 and 1925. year. Our homes are intact and In Canada, thanks to the Andrew Caddell is retired from Some grew up during the First we do not lack for food. Compare daily interventions of the prime Global Affairs Canada, where he World War, separated from their that to the 15 years of deprivation minister, the premiers, and public was a senior policy adviser. He Andrew Caddell fathers, many of whom came from 1930 to 1945. We know there health offi cials, the seriousness previously worked as an adviser With All Due Respect back damaged or wounded, if will be hardship: many may die of this crisis seems to be resonat- to Liberal governments. He is a they came back at all. This was and others will be laid off, but it ing. It has to: if not, thousands fellow with the Canadian Global followed by the Spanish fl u and is nothing compared to what the will fl ood emergency rooms, Affairs Institute and a principal of TTAWA—When he was six epidemics of polio and tuberculo- “greatest generation” faced. overwhelming medical staff, and QIT Canada. He can be reached Oyears old, my father lived sis. Then came the Great Depres- What was their secret? I think preventing other emergency care. at [email protected]. opposite the hospital in Lachine, sion and the Second World War, it was their optimism, their sense Many of the dead will be elderly, The Hill Times 12 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES

‘Yes, there’s still some confusion out there, but it’s been a week, and I think Civil Circles everybody realizes this is by Mike Lapointe going to last a little bit longer than what people initially thought,’ said Chief HR offi cer works PSAC national president Chris Aylward. The Hill Times to quell confusion, photograph by Andrew Meade asks departments example that, if you’re an administration have access to the essential safety and clerk in an offi ce and you’re being told precautions to make sure that they too are you have to work, “that’s going to be a far safe when they’re doing their job for the to identify, update stretch from that defi nition.” public,” said Ms. Simpson. Mr. Aylward said the Treasury Board “People are unsure, people are scared, has been very receptive and responsive to this is a whole new time, so we have to the issues that all of the bargaining agents have some clear messaging from our gov- ‘critical’ services lists have raised, and that they’ve been having ernment letting our people know of what daily conference calls with Treasury Board they need to do, what the requirements offi cials all last week and every day this are, and talk to the different ministers in Nancy Chahwan, Chief week to discuss issues. the different provinces and set in place Human Resources Offi cer “I can’t say enough about Sandra Has- uniform guidelines around processes in with the Treasury Board san, [assistant deputy minister for com- regards to being safe, around self-isolation Secretariat, issued a pensation and labour relations with the and who needs to come to work.” message to all deputy Treasury Board],” said Mr. Aylward. “She’s In a March 23 press release, Canada ministers and heads of been absolutely outstanding and she’s ad- Post announced it is reducing hours of human resources on dressed many of the issues that have been service—opening one hour later and clos- March 21 defi ning a brought forward by the bargaining agents ing one hour earlier—to clean, restock, 'critical service' as one with the individual agencies and depart- and provide relief to employees. It will also that 'if disrupted, would ments, which is absolutely fantastic.” offer priority service to individuals who result in a high or very “Yes, there’s still some confusion out are at higher risk, including the elderly and high degree of injury to there, but it’s been a week, and I think those with compromised immune systems. the health, safety, security everybody realizes this is going to last a It has also asked waiting customers to or economic well-being little bit longer than what people initially space themselves two metres apart and of Canadians, or to the thought,” said Mr. Aylward. will limit the number of customers allowed effective functioning of the The Association of Canadian Financial in smaller offi ces at one time. .' Offi cers, which posted Ms. Chahwan’s let- The Hill Times photograph ter to its website on March 21, declined to by Andrew Meade comment for this story. Continuity plans a valuable The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), which also re- resource ‘you hope you never sued a directive from the government ask- quested a clear defi nition of “critical work” use,’ says former PCO clerk ‘People are unsure, people ing deputy heads, heads of agencies and from the Treasury Board on March 18, The Hill Times reached out to former HR heads to make arrangements to allow also declined to comment, telling The Hill clerk of the Privy Council Offi ce, Mel are scared, this is a whole telework for employees whenever possible. Times it preferred to fi rst get reaction from Cappe, who was head of the public service But, with “essential” and “critical” be- its members on the defi nition of critical from 1999 until 2002 and deputy secretary new time, so we have to ing used interchangeably by media and services and potential impacts. to the Treasury Board Secretariat in the have some clear messaging government in discussions around new The Hill Times also reached out to Ms. early 1990s, for some insight into public workplace arrangements as a result of CO- Chahwan for comment and was redirected service emergency preparations. from our government letting VID-19, it left some managers and union to the Treasury Board’s communications Mr. Cappe highlighted government heads confused on how to proceed. department, which did not respond by planning around Y2K leading up to New our people know of what In turn, on March 21, Nancy Chahwan, publication deadline. Year’s Day in 2000, and said one of the the federal government’s chief human “really, really valuable” things they built they need to do,’ said CUPW resources offi cer, issued a new message to on then from the 1998 ice storm were the national president Jan all deputy ministers and heads of human ‘We want to ensure the health departmental business continuity plans. resources, defi ning “critical service” as one and safety of our members,’ says “We had something called COG—the Simpson. that “if disrupted, would result in a high or Continuity of Government Plan, and this very high degree of injury to the health, postal worker union president was a plan of what we would do if lost Continued from page 1 safety, security or economic well-being of Jan Simpson, national president of the electricity and heating in January [1998] in Canadians, or to the effective functioning Canadian Union of Postal Workers, told The North America—not a small threat,” said On March 13, President of the Treasury of the Government of Canada.” Hill Times that her union has been working Mr. Cappe. “We knew where all the minis- Board Jean-Yves Duclos (Québec, Que.) is- It also notes that “a number of depart- closely with Canada Post, and that right now, ters were on midnight of that night and the ments have also activated their Business they consider themselves a vital service. next day, and we told some ministers they Continuity Plans (BCPs) in response to the “Our members represent a very valu- couldn’t go back to their constituencies evolving situation” and that “all departments able part of the public,” said Ms. Simpson. and they had to stay in the Ottawa area— are required to identify their respective criti- “We want to continue doing the work the same with deputy ministers—and lots cal services and related supporting resources.” that we’re doing currently, but we also of holidays got postponed or cancelled “Given the nature of the crisis, your want to ensure the health and safety of our waiting until we got over the hump.” existing list of critical services may not members,” she said, noting her union is Mr. Cappe said the COG plan was “very be up to date,” according to Ms. Chahwan. asking for masks, sanitizers, wipes, plexi- elaborate” and was “literally a binder about “If you have not done so already, I invite glass to go up at retail counters, and social two inches thick as to who was going to do you to revise it accordingly and to identify distancing measures within the workplace. what,” and led to the installation of a diesel redundancy for the highest demand jobs, to Ms. Simpson said postal workers are un- generator in the basement of the Prime account for possible absences or to prevent able to work remotely, and are trying their best Minister’s Offi ce and a diesel tank on the burnout of staff should the situation persist.” to ensure they are safe while doing their work. roof in preparation. PSAC national president Chris Aylward, “I think the government has to have a “A lot of the operational plans, like who’s union requested clarifi cation on plan federally, because they are doing this who’s going to do what and how to stay the distinctions on March 18, said he was provincially, patchwork, right now,” said in touch, and a lot of those things, even “quite confi dent” that it will defi nitely help Ms. Simpson. “Unfortunately our mem- though they are 20 years old, still apply,” clarify who should be working, calling the bers—and even though Prime Minister said Mr. Cappe. defi nition recently provided by the govern- Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Bill “You plan because you hope you never ment “comprehensive.” Morneau are praising us—our members use it, but you’ve got it just in case, so “When I received that on Saturday [March are still without a contract currently and when something less signifi cant happens, BASTIENPRIZANTOPTOMETRY.COM 21] from the chief human resources offi cer, I they’re still doing the work they need to do you take advantage, and people know who thought it was great,” said Mr. Aylward. on the front-lines for all Canadians.” to call,” he said. 613.236.6066 • [email protected] “Hopefully it does clear up a lot of the “[They need] to make sure that the [email protected] confusion out there,” he said, noting for people who are on the front line working The Hill Times The Hill Times

Speeding up on Here’s how AI the information can help, and is highway: already helping, Canada’s drive Canada fi ght towards 5G is COVID-19, by not designed for Aidan Chamandy its citizens, by PAGE 14, 16 Sarah Ganter PAGE 18 The 5G opportunities are there, but is The Canada ready to take undeniable advantage of them?, AI-5G by Conservative MP convergence, Michelle Rempel by Harry Garner Sharma

PAGE 17 PAGE 19 14 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Artifi cial Intelligence & 5G Policy Briefi ng

Minister of Wuhan, China, on Dec. 30, 2019, projects are using artifi cial intel- Innovation, nine days before the WHO issued ligence. Science, a public warning. The program and Industry uses artifi cial intelligence to Navdeep Bains scan news reports, airline ticket From HIV to COVID-19 Richard Lester is a professor speaks with data, and other sources of data of infectious disease at the Uni- reporters after to predict the spread of diseases, versity of British Columbia and the Liberal like COVID-19. It was founded by the founder of WelTel, a mobile cabinet meeting University of Toronto professor health program that uses random- at West Block in Kamran Khan in 2014. ized text messages to check up Ottawa on Jan. Mr. Khan, who worked as an on patients. Prof. Lester received 28. AI projects infectious disease specialist in $500,000 in funding from the fed- are part of a Toronto during the 2003 SARS eral government to adapt WelTel’s $275-million outbreak, said he was motivated mobile health technology to fi ght effort to enlist to create the program after he COVID-19. WelTel has already industry and “watched the virus overwhelm the been deployed in Rwanda to fi ght the research city and cripple the hospital,” he COVID-19, and Prof. Lester said community in told Wired in a Jan. 9 interview. he is currently working with Ca- the fi ght against Part of the reason for nadian and international health COVID-19. BlueDot’s success was that they authorities to deploy it elsewhere. The Hill Times used data that is not normally Prof. Lester fi rst got the idea photograph by associated with diseases, such while helping the World Health Andrew Meade a fl ight data, said Dan Lizotte, Organization manage an AIDS professor of epidemiology and outbreak in Kenya in 2005. He biostatistics at the University of noticed how ubiquitous cellphone Western Ontario. usage was, and created a program A similar approach that used that uses text messages instead of unconventional data was ap- checklists to track symptoms and plied to a 1993 cryptosporidium Here’s how AI can help, monitor patients. A study by Prof. outbreak in Milwaukee, Wis., Lester and several colleagues said Greta Bauer, a professor of published in The Lancet in 2010 epidemiology and biostatistics at showed “patients who received the University of Western Ontario. SMS support had signifi cantly and is already helping, The outbreak was identifi ed when improved antiretroviral therapy anti-diarrheal medication—since adherence and rates of viral diarrhea was a symptom of the suppression compared with the infection—started fl ying off the control individuals.” shelves. Canada fi ght COVID-19 “We don’t need to use technol- “AI enables analysis of data ogy like checklists anymore. We sources that you previously can let people speak freely,” Prof. wouldn’t have been able to think Lester said. “Instead of sending a of Canada, will use BlueDot’s about analyzing as an epidemiologi- BY AIDAN CHAMANDY checklist to the patient that has The federal disease analytics platform to cal enterprise,” Prof. Lizotte said. fi ve predetermined symptoms, support modelling and monitor- The partnership is part of a he federal government we simply have open language. government has ing of the spread of COVID-19, larger effort to mobilize industry Thas signed a contract with That is far more powerful because and to inform government and the research community in already announced BlueDot, a Toronto-based digital now we have an infi nite number decision-making as the situa- the fi ght against COVID-19. The health fi rm that was vaunted of things they can talk about, tion evolves,” Véronique Simard, federal government announced nearly $2-million in for its early identifi cation of the even things we never knew to talk senior communications adviser to a $1-billion COVID-19 response COVID-19 outbreak, to track the about.” Innovation, Science, and Industry fund on March 11, with $275-mil- artifi cial intelligence spread of the virus, the latest tool “One of the areas we’ve really Minister Navdeep Bains (Missis- lion dedicated to research. A little in the artifi cial intelligence tool- worked at is looking at natural funding to fi ght box being deployed against the sauga–Malton, Ont.), wrote in an less than $52-million has already The Hill Times language processing and metada- public health crisis. email to . been doled out to the 96 research- COVID-19. BlueDot identifi ed an out- “The Government of Canada, ers and research teams across Continued on page 16 through the Public Health Agency break of “unusual pneumonia” in the country, and three of those

Source: Statistics Canada. Table 27-10-0367-01 Use of advanced AI usuage by industry, all business sizes or emerging technologies by industry and enterprise size

35%

32.2% 30%

25% 25.5% 23.6%

20%

15%

10%

6% 5% 5.8% 5.1% 4.7% 4.5% 3.9% 3.8% 3.7% 3.4% 3.4% 2.3% 1.8% 0% Finance and Information Professional, Retail trade Postal services, Real estate Administrative, Manufacturing All Transportation Mining, Construction Utilities Wholesale Agriculture, insurance and cultural scientifi c and couriers, and rental and waste man- transportation and quarrying, and trade forestry, fi shing industries technical warehousing, leasing agement and warehousing oil and gas and hunting services and storage remediation extraction services OUR EXPERTS: INNOVATORS IN CYBERSECURITY AND CYBER-RESILIENCE

Prof. Frédéric Cuppens Prof. José Fernandez’s researches data protection research addresses personal and analyzes cyberattacks privacy protection and critical with the aid of artificial infrastructure security. intelligence.

Prof. Nora Cuppens- Prof. Gabriela Nicolescu Boulahia is an expert explores advanced system in intrusion-response and cybersecurity solutions, cyber-resilience when namely as they relate to it comes to critical the security of the Internet of infrastructure attacks. Things and edge computing.

A powerful and international scientific team, dedicated to resolving one of society’s pressing issues.

polymtl.ca/cybersecurite/en 16 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Artifi cial Intelligence & 5G Policy Briefi ng Here’s how AI can help, and is already helping, Canada fi ght COVID-19

in urologic sciences, received Continued from page 14 Prime Minister Justin $990,000, the largest sum yet ta to support the modelling,” Prof. Trudeau gave an update on doled out to help AI fi ght CO- Lester said. “We’re able to use the government’s measures VID-19 in Canada. these natural language processing to help Canadians with the Prof. Cherkasov is using tools to analyze the conversation, effects of the COVID-19 artifi cial intelligence to fi nd de-identify them for privacy rea- pandemic from Rideau compounds that can inhibit the sons, and put them together so we Cottage in Ottawa on SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) main can actually learn about priorities March 23, where he protease, 3CLpro. from people, from patients, from announced a partnership A protease is a type of enzyme Prof. Richard Lester is one of a providers in a very natural way.” with BlueDot to use their that breaks proteins into smaller number of UBC professors who’ve Prof. Lester said using text technology to model and units, such as peptides or amino received government funding to fi ght messages as the basis of a mobile monitor transmission in acids. Proteases are essential to COVID-19. Photograph courtesy of the health platform, as opposed to Canada. The Hill Times the life cycle of the virus. University of British Columbia an app, is particularly useful for photograph by Andrew Viral RNA is translated into a a disease like COVID-19, where Meade long polypeptide chain. Protease “Our research program will some of the most at-risk patients, cuts the long polypeptide chain signifi cantly contribute to global such as seniors, are less techno- within the virus into smaller response to the COVID-19 out- logically literate. Prof. Lester did parts, which allows for the pro- break by rapidly identifying small a study of patients at the Vancou- duction of new viruses. Without anti-viral drug molecules in an ver General Hospital and found this, “everything gets stuck,” said extremely condensed timeframe,” 24 per cent didn’t know how to Richard Overall, a UBC professor reads the research description. use an app. who specializes in proteases. Prof. Cherkasov was also not “We use basic text messaging “If it’s not working properly, available to speak with The Hill as the base of our communica- then the long chain of protein Times. tion, and the reason for that is can’t be cut up into pieces, each simply access and simplicity,” one of which has its own function Prof. Lester said. in the new virus,” he said. Looking ahead Prof. Lester said not only does Protease inhibitors, what Prof. Prof. Bauer said using AI for the program allow for a bet- Cherkasov is trying to fi nd for risk modelling and outbreak ter understanding of symptoms methods for analyzing news on the COVID-19, interfere with the tracking could prove particularly and any problems patients may Watch the news for clues internet to understand how com- virus’s ability to replicate and useful as the outbreak and large- encounter, but the data collected McGill’s David Buckeridge, munities and public health agencies spread. This is the same method scale societal response continues, and later interpreted by natural professor in the department of around the world are responding to used to treat HIV. with no apparent end in sight. language processing can also be epidemiology, biostatistics, and the coronavirus epidemic,” the de- Prof. Cherkasov has devel- “Right now, we’re entering into made readily available to support occupational health, also received scription reads. “These methods will oped an algorithm that has this pandemic surge where we quick response. $500,000 for his digital disease help to understand the impact of the already scanned a 1.3-billion have a new virus that’s going into “One of the greatest limita- surveillance program. epidemic, identify effective strate- compound library and identi- a totally naive population, mean- tions we have right now in AI Prof. Buckeridge was not avail- fi ed 1,000 compounds that could ing we don’t have immunity that The Hill Times gies for controlling the epidemic, in health care is access to re- able to speak with , and contribute to improved global inhibit the protease within anybody’s acquired at this point,” ally good data. That’s one of the but a description of his research disease surveillance in the future.” COVID-19, and therefore reduce Prof. Bauer said. “We don’t know reasons we’re focusing on just was provided by the Canadian its virality. The algorithm al- if reinfection is possible, if those getting the platform out there Institutes of Health Research. lowed Prof. Cherkasov to comb cases will be more mild or more to support people fi rst, but then “We will work with the Public Reducing the rate of through the compound library in severe. At some point, this will that automatically generates real Health Agency of Canada and infection just one week, compared to past settle into some kind of pattern of world data which we can evalu- the World Health Organization to UBC’s Artem Cherkasov, a programs that have taken three a known infection unless we have ate.” development artifi cial intelligence professor with a specialization years. a vaccine that is highly effective that we’re able to get worldwide,” she said. Source: Statistics Canada. Table 27-10-0367-01 Use of advanced “Unless we’re able to eradi- AI usuage by industry and business sizes or emerging technologies by industry and enterprise size cate this new virus, we’re going to have some long-term needs in 35% terms of identifying where out- breaks may be happening locally. all sizes combined small (20-99 employees) Because this new virus doesn’t medium (100-249 employees) large (250 employees and up) produce any really specifi c, really unique symptoms, that’s where 30% something like AI is going to be 32.2% really strong,” Prof Bauer said. She suggested the idea of a smartphone app that takes 25% peoples temperature every day. The data garnered from that app 26.4% could be used to inform a map, so 25.5% other people could see on the map 20% 23.6% areas where there is a concentra- tion of high-temperature, and potentially infected, individuals. Prof. Bauer also suggested AI

19.1% could be used to build risk models 15% to identify the most severe cases. 16.8%

16.4% Some of the drugs currently 16.1%

15.6% approved for other diseases that 14.7% 14.7% could be adapted to help with CO- 14.2%

10% 13.2% Data for small and VID-19 could “change the natural medium sized utili- course of the COVID-19 disease,” 11.5% ties; small postal she added. 10.4% services, couriers, Prof. Bauer said that if these 5% warehousing and drugs are able to prevent some storage; and medi- of the most severe outcomes and 6.8% um sized manage- hospitalizations, and there isn’t ment companies an unlimited global supply of 4.7%

3.2% 3.2% 3.4% was deemed 2.1% these drugs, a risk model would 0% unreliable by be essential to “identifying who is Finance and Information and Professional, scientifi c Administrative, waste Management of compa- Utilities Statistics Canada at risk to be a severe case.” insurance cultural industries and technical services management and nies and enterprises and therefore not [email protected] remediation services included. The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 17 Policy Briefi ng Artifi cial Intelligence & 5G

Or, we could look at ways that we could The 5G opportunities are there, but is treat telecommunications services like we do most essential services, as a public good. Networks are like highways. We all have to use them, they need to be main- Canada ready to take advantage of them? tained, and they are an essential function of transporting goods for the productivity it enables lower latency and will improve To ensure a quick transition to 5G, we of our economy. It will never be profi table Canada’s economic consumer experiences and business utility also need to advocate for these Canadians to build a cell tower for a couple of farm- through faster data transmission and more who don’t currently have access at all. ers, but the increased productivity of those competitors are adopting reliable connectivity. This means increased We have to make sure that the “hardest farms as a result of high-speed internet is use of machine-to-machine technologies to reach” Canadian has an internet con- a net benefi t for Canada. The latter part of 5G faster than Canada, like autonomous vehicles and m-com- nection and a cellphone network. But the that equation is not something that the big and this represents a merce. major telcos are managing to profi t in loss telcos are factoring. However, Canada’s economic competi- via the current oligopoly model, not to con- We also need systems to ensure that signifi cant opportunity cost tors are adopting 5G faster than Canada, nectivity, and herein lies the problem. Canadians can benefi t from the produc- and this represents a signifi cant op- As we are quickly learning just how vi- tive value of their data. The concept of data and potentially long-term portunity cost and potentially long-term tal an internet and wireless connection is; dignity, or the ownership of personal data ripple effects due to lost investments and it is rapidly becoming apparent that these resting in the hands of its creator, could ripple eff ects due to lost contracts. Experts don’t expect 5G to be are essential services. To meet the very real address privacy issues in ways that could investments and contracts. fully operational in Canada until 2025. The need of Canadians and prevent our eco- create economic growth through innova- spectrum auction, kit rulings, technology nomic productivity from slipping, we need tive new systems like data co-operatives. development, privacy framework develop- to ask ourselves if Canada’s existing model Article 20 of the European Union’s ment, and municipal permitting are all of delivering telecommunications services, General Data Protection Regulation and factors that will inform the full deployment via the regulations and systems that enable California’s new Consumer Privacy Act timeline. the telco incumbent oligopoly, is in the best are beginning to address ways to enable Further, nearly one million Canadians interests of Canadians in the 5G operating this, however, Chapter 19 of CUSMA may don’t even have broadband internet ac- environment. hamper Canada’s ability to move forward cess, or they have excessively expensive There are many innovations we could in this regard. More study is needed. access compared to other G7 countries. In explore to address this issue. We could We also need new frameworks to ad- an increasingly technology-driven world, move away from the existing system dress the security issues that will be inher- people who don’t have access to fast, reli- of spectrum auctioning, which creates ent to the 5G operating environment, as able broadband services are victims of monopolies by auctioning off long-term well as frameworks to address what data Conservative MP a new type of social inequality. It affects leases. Real competition requires making the government can harvest and use, and Opinion students who need high-speed internet to sure these rights are always contestable in what situations. do research and complete assignments. It and can quickly be transferred to innova- The House of Commons Standing Com- affects farmers who can’t use new technol- tive entrepreneurs when they need them. mittee on Industry will begin a major study he introduction of 5G presents all ogies that require high-speed internet, and For example, we could explore spectrum of the 5G operating environment. These TCanadians with great opportunity, but so many more. This has become a barrier leasing or Self-Assessed Licenses Sold are issues we should address, across party Canada may not yet be in a position to to equality of opportunity. These inequali- at Auction (SALSA). Or, we could look at lines, for the benefi t of all Canadians. capitalize on it. This is a situation that we ties will become more pervasive as 5G and structural separation and require that the Conservative MP Michelle Rempel must rectify. related Internet of Things tech become builders of networks are not also the ser- Garner represents Calgary Nose Hill, Alta., The technology of 5G will have an in- ubiquitous; and it will be one of the most vice providers, as the United Kingdom has and is her party’s industry and economic credible impact on the future of economic pervasive economic growth determinants done. This could increase competition and development critic. productivity. It is transformational in that in the next 10 years. less network hoarding. The Hill Times

Suicide is preventable

Learn more about how to help and get free tools and Today, 11 of our resources at www.mentalthealthcommission.ca. loved ones, friends Suicide Prevention Toolkits and helpful resources or neighbours will Online modules for family physicians die by suicide. and nurses

Tomorrow, it doesn’t have to be that way. Roots of Hope: community-led suicide prevention projects Together, we can take action to prevent suicide.

Together, we accelerate change

8482 CSMC - Suicide prevention Hill Times Half Page Ad REV.indd 1 2020-02-07 11:00 18 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Artifi cial Intelligence & 5G Policy Briefi ng

Many of us depend now, more than ever, on stable and speedy connections to work from home, to socialize, to receive information and distraction all at once, writes Sarah Ganter. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay

governments around the world. To that end, 5G is being promoted as a promise for a safer, healthier, Speeding up on the information and much faster moving life, and the Canadian government fi rmly advocates for this promise. Con- sequently, they issued an invest- highway: Canada’s drive towards ment of $125-million into the Pan- Canadian Artifi cial Intelligence Strategy (CIFAR) with its focus on innovation and commercializa- 5G is not designed for its citizens tion supported through research into development, implementa- tion, distribution, and adaptations used to video-conferencing with established, time has now come transfer of 10 gigabits per second of 5G wireless networks. The driver behind family, friends, and colleagues, for network mobility vendors, to a mobile device. This is often The least considered and streaming our favourite series and such as Huawei, Ericsson, Nokia, illustrated by stating that the most important issues in all 5G is not to enable video games, taking part in online ZTE, and Samsung to release new technology would allow for these activities concern citizens’ fi tness classes, ordering groceries, their current innovation into the downloading a 4K high-defi nition rights. As communication policy super-fast downloads and asking for health counsel- market and they are pushing it movie in 25 seconds. The real frameworks are currently being of movies, so ling online. In times of COVID-19, forward at an unprecedented spark, however, is that this next reviewed, the risk is that addi- however, we have come to rely on speed. Rogers installed 5G generation wireless network tional pressures 5G technologies consumers can have many of these services to maintain networks in Montreal, Ottawa, To- promises to facilitate undisturbed will put on established regula- at least some sense of normality, ronto, and Vancouver earlier this communication between gadgets tory frameworks are disregarded. a better experience. vitality, and productivity. year. This quick move to occupy of a whole new technology gen- Particularly the right for privacy Many of us depend now, more strategic spots in the market hap- eration. This includes objects such and data protection, and the This is about than ever, on stable and speedy pened even though, at this time, as smart tennis rackets, self-driv- guarantee of equal access and net enhancing industrial connections to work from home, devices to use the new technology ing cars, and smart fridges, which neutrality will have to be closely to socialize, to receive informa- are not accessible at all to every- are dependent on the ability to protected. As it stands, 5G tech- productivity and tion and distraction all at once. day consumers. Or, in the words communicate with other devices nology, and the production of its Already now, only some days of William Gibson, “the future at super high speed whilst gener- devices and chipsets is globally automation of into this unprecedented situation, has already arrived. It’s just not ating more and more consumer dominated by few big companies. some have voiced concerns that evenly distributed yet.” data in less time. If data has been Rogers has already achieved services. in the long-term, COVID-19 will Right now, the four Canadian described as the new oil, 5G will signifi cant competitive advantage take its toll on network perfor- 5G cities provide the higher ca- help businesses fi nd uncount- where even its big competitors mance around the world. This pacity network in only some very able oil springs that will never are falling behind on the Cana- fearful environment provides select city areas in which people run dry. These data will feed back dian market. fertile soil for telecommunica- were to use novel 5G devices with into AI-powered products, such The government should work tion companies’ hard push for a low latency, which means higher as Samsung’s recently presented to circumvent further consolida- fast, nationwide implementation speed for data transfer. Several artifi cial “Neon” humans, that look tion of the communication market of 5G. It is easy to argue for 5G years will pass, however, until and behave like real humans. and aim to create an environment as the ultimate network solu- wider access will be guaranteed. Just to be sure, the driver be- in which smaller market play- tion that will make all our lives The Ericsson Mobility Report hind 5G is not to enable super-fast ers can exist, so that consumers better, when preoccupations of estimates up to 65 per cent of the downloads of movies, so consum- can be provided with reasonable being further disconnected and world’s population will be sub- ers can have a better experience. choices. Innovation can only be Sarah Ganter interrupted are spreading just as scribing to 5G in 2025, but these This is about enhancing indus- successful in the long term if it is Opinion exponentially as the coronavirus. fi gures are likely to be lower with trial productivity and automa- designed with the public interest Therefore, it is important to slow the current globally occurring tion of services through moving in mind. down and reconsider for whom exogenous shocks. whole industries completely to Sarah Ganter is an assistant t this historic moment, we are 5G will be implemented, really. The difference in capacity the clouds. Some say that this is professor at Simon Fraser Univer- Aall seeking some comfort and Ten years after the current that 5G promises means higher the fourth industrial revolution, sity’s School of Communication. normality. Over the years, we got network standard, 4G, had been speed at a level that allows for the which is actively supported by The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 19 Policy Briefi ng Artifi cial Intelligence & 5G Canada needs to own critical IP and data assets to inspire generational economic prosperity

Unfortunately, Canada cur- their corporate success. Patents for Indeed, both Google (versus tion strategy for our publicly Intellectual rently has gross incapacity and this technology cover fundamental Levandowski) and Huawei (versus funded projects to ensure that we misorientation when capturing IP. principles of AI and Google could Verizon) have recently and aggres- get a positive return on invest- property is clearly Canada is great at creating ideas use them to stop many AI compa- sively pursued hundred million ment for innovation funding, like and new technologies, but falls nies dead in their tracks. dollar intellectual property lawsuits AI- and 5G-funding programs we important to world- short at commercializing them. When it comes to 5G—the next in the U.S. IP is clearly important currently invest in. We must en- leading technology We’ve seen this in the AI space evolution of wireless communica- to these world-leading technology sure proper stewardship of Cana- where our publicly funded educa- tion—the Canadian government champions—why hasn’t IP been da’s innovation assets by creating champions, so tion system has produced strong has provided hundreds of millions important enough to Canadians? a strategic review of acquisitions talent whose success has been of dollars to research programs, as Fortunately, there are things in key technology sectors. why hasn’t IP been limited to the creation of technol- 5G is expected to provide ultrafast we can and need to do to improve Finally, we must empower ogy that we allow foreign compa- data transmission and enable new our situation and be more com- Canadian companies by support- important enough to nies to swoop in, commercialize, technology creation. However, petitive in the global innovation ing the capture, ownership, and Canadians? and then charge us to use. Chinese fi rms such as Huawei are economy. The launch of Canada’s value extraction of Canada’s data A somber statistic: since 2015, currently the main benefi ciaries National IP strategy in early 2019 assets created by the 5G and AI foreign companies own about 70 of these public investments. Seven is a welcome endorsement of the opportunities. per cent of the roughly 1,600 AI of the top 10 patent inventors for importance of intellectual prop- Canadian national IP strategy and machine-learning patents Huawei Technologies Canada erty in the innovation economy. is being framed in a predatory fi led by Canadians at the U.S. Pat- come out of research done at fi ve Inventors and fi rms need to and aggressive international ent and Trademark Offi ce. Worse different Canadian universities. understand the value of IP and be context with well-resourced yet, Canada is the only jurisdic- This practice of Canadian tax- supported to own and retain it. IP countries like the U.S. and China tion among the top 10 AI patent- payers subsidizing the creation education is a critical underpin- playing a sophisticated game. fi ling countries to actually see a of IP that is ultimately owned ning to understanding and exploit- At a time when the government decrease in the number of patents by foreign tech giants needs to ing opportunities to own innova- is desperately looking for new applied for every year between stop now. First, as investors, we tion. IP generation and associated revenues to sustain our publicly Jim Hinton 2016 and 2018, as reported by The pay for the research but don’t get costs need to be recognized and funded health-care system and Opinion Logic in December 2018. This is all return on the investment. Second, encouraged through government our economy, counterproductive despite the launch of high-profi le Canadians will eventually be funding and tax policy. economic strategies need to be government funding initiatives, paying again as consumers for Because Canada owns very urgently questioned. If Canadian rtifi cial intelligence (AI) and 5G such as the Pan-Canadian Artifi - the technology whose creation we little IP, there is a minefi eld of leaders can similarly create inno- Aare infrastructure layers for fu- cial Intelligence Strategy and the subsidized and invented. existing IP rights that Canadian vation success by owning IP and ture technologies: 5G enables collec- Vector Institute—neither of which Finally, and arguably most fi rms must navigate when com- data when technology is scaled tion and use of data while AI unlocks has the mandate to help Canada importantly, since IP and patents mercializing globally. Initiatives globally, then Canada will ensure the ability to extract value from that accumulate valuable AI assets give the right to prevent others like the patent collective pilot, its economic prosperity for gen- data. For Canada’s economic pros- Indeed, then-Google chairman, from practicing the technology, which is a data-driven, clean erations to come. perity, we need strategic stewardship Eric Schmidt, personally thanked every dollar that we spend fund- technology focused $30-million Jim Hinton is a fellow at the of Canada’s investment in these Canada in 2017 for inventing the ing the foreign capture of our IP mechanism, are needed to in- Centre for International Governance technologies. And that stewardship future of AI and machine learning, substantially reduces any domes- crease the freedom-to-operate of Innovation, an IP lawyer, founder of starts with Canadian fi rms owning saying they now use Canadian tic company’s ability to partici- Canadian high growth fi rms. Own Innovation, and co-founder of the innovation assets—intellectual publicly funded IP throughout pate in that global market and Next, we must develop a so- Innovation Asset Collective. property (IP) and data. their entire businesses to drive secure their freedom to operate. phisticated and robust IP reten- The Hill Times

importance to ensure effective planning, development, and imple- The undeniable AI-5G convergence mentation of AI-based systems. Given our vast geography, we must be mindful that investments ogy point of view, connectivity is to leverage data to make complex cascade beyond major cities to As 5G networks global and omnipresent—and 5G decisions without human interfer- Delivering on the promise rural and northern communities. will take connectivity to a level that ence. When AI is coupled with 5G, it of convergence of AI and 5G As new capabilities emerge, we are rolled out over has never been seen before in hu- is easy to envision the possibilities. The promise of convergence of must ensure that local businesses the next few years man history. With 5G, there will be Humans will become more produc- AI and 5G has led to signifi cant in these communities, notably approximately 1.2 million connected tive than ever before if we can learn excitement in the technology and within the agriculture, mining in communities devices per square kilometre. This to leverage the two technologies (i.e. business communities. The global and manufacturing industries, means that all devices, from shoes AI and 5G) effectively. innovation and technology com- receive their share. Signifi cant around the world, the and refrigerators, to cars and traffi c AI applications will support munity, including The Conference new fi nancial investments are lights, will become part of a global the automation of complex tasks Board of Canada, is currently en- required to further investigate digitization of physical network, with data speeds expected and enable the creation of new gaged in studying the full implica- and implement legal and policy to be at least 1,000 times faster than industries and occupations to tions of the AI-5G convergence. regimes for this new reality. infrastructure will the current speeds and data latencies support economic growth. How- One of the most researched AI and 5G will alter the exist- become more prevalent fl exible enough to meet any applica- ever, as we build the foundations topics in this space is cyberse- ing structure of advanced econo- tion’s requirements. of this paradigm-changing tech- curity. It includes looking at the mies such as Canada. AI-based in our daily lives. For technologists among us, nology, we must ensure that we impact of 5G and AI on citizens’ applications will impact many the current digitization phase is an develop consensus around major privacy rights, industrial assets, current occupations and require exciting one—we are now able to policy issues to ensure sustain- critical infrastructure, and business them to change. Based on our lat- create “digital twins” of simple and able and productive use of AI. For models. To add to the complexity, est research, certain demograph- complex systems. Digital twins example, some leading issues cur- interconnectivity among systems ics (e.g. youth) will be impacted are being used to fi nd effi ciencies rently being discussed include: and digitization of physical more severely than others. We (e.g. workfl ow processes, planned • “Ethical use” principles in cre- infrastructure is blurring the line must ensure that all Canadians maintenance downtime), secure ation of global frameworks on the between physical and cybersecu- are able to benefi t from AI and hazardous work environments (e.g. permissible use of AI applica- rity. To this effect, The Conference 5G driven economies equitably. infrastructure safety), and ensure a tions, such as the current global Board of Canada is coalescing a The Government of Canada’s better return on investments (e.g. in- restrictions on genome synthesis. coalition of partners to establish a Future Skills Centre initiative is creased throughput, reduced costs). • “Ownership and liability” of AI framework to identify stakeholders’ currently investing in projects to As 5G networks are rolled out over algorithms and their actions. roles and responsibilities, formal help inform policymakers on ad- Harry Sharma the next few years in communities Our legal frameworks may and informal information sharing dressing some of these gaps. Opinion around the world, digitization of need to be modifi ed to address mechanisms within the ecosystem, Canada is a leader in early physical infrastructure will become these issues. and establish a forum for peer-to- AI technologies, and by address- more prevalent in our daily lives. • “Inclusion and equity” consid- peer networking. ing these considerations, we can urrent COVID-19-related events erations to ensure that AI al- In addition to cybersecurity, the extend our infl uence within the Cand responses demonstrate the Emergence of artifi cial gorithms are not being trained issue of collaboration and inclu- industry on the global stage. interconnectedness of our world. by using biased data. Inherent sion has also emerged as an area Harry Sharma is the director A virus that began in China has intelligence (AI) biases in training data may lead of signifi cant interest. Collabora- of innovation and technology at spread to more than 100 countries in In laymen terms, AI refers to a set to unequal outcomes from AI tion among private, public, and the Conference Board of Canada. a matter of weeks. From a technol- of technologies that enable machines algorithms. academic sectors is of paramount The Hill Times 20 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES COVID-19 COVID-19 bailout bill bogged down, after opposition Canada's chief public health offi cer Theresa Tam, pictured with her deputy, Howard Njoo, on March 24, says community transmission of COVID-19 is now the main source of infection in the country. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

“There is a simple solution: he did not know how long it Continued from page 1 rejects wide- if the government tables a bill would last. Those powers would have given focused on the relief the prime The Conservative Party is cur- the government the authority to minister has announced to date rently scheduled to elect a new make further changes to some laws, Conservatives are ready to pass it leader on June 27 of this year. Sev- and spend without parliamentary quickly,” said the release. eral candidates have promised to oversight beyond what is needed to The two sides had not yet trigger an election quickly if they ranging new enact the bailout package announced found a solution by fi ling dead- win the leadership, including cur- by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau line March 24. rent front-runner Peter MacKay, (Papineau, Que.) last week, according Government House Leader raising the prospect that the gov- to the opposition Conservatives. Pablo Rodriguez (Honoré-Mercier, ernment’s powers under its initial That stalemate persisted even Que.) started the day’s sitting in proposal could have extended government after Mr. Trudeau agreed to drop the House by immediately asking through to the next election. one proposal that would have the Speaker to adjourn the House, “I’m surprised and disappoint- given the government the power giving the party leaders more time ed,” former Liberal MP and chief to raise or lower taxes without to negotiate a resolution. government whip Andrew Leslie parliamentary scrutiny, and rolled The government had initially said of the government’s attempt powers back a proposal to extend the proposed legislation that would to secure long-term, unfettered government’s de facto emergency have given it nearly unlimited spending and taxation authority. powers until the end of 2021. powers over spending and taxa- “I would have thought that the Conservative Leader Andrew tion until the end of 2021, accord- immediate focus would have been Scheer (Regina–Qu’Appelle, ing to multiple media reports. on using those instruments that What was supposed to be a quick, co- Sask.) issued a press release in the Some public health experts have currently exist, and reinforcing afternoon on March 24, saying that speculated that the public health them. And by introducing such operative sitting of the House turned into a “there are several aspects of the crisis posed by COVID-19 could a radical step, it probably has negotiating stalemate. government’s legislation that are last well into 2021. Mr. Trudeau caused undue friction amongst undemocratic.” told reporters on March 24 that the other parties. And you’re talk- ing to a former whip,” Mr. Leslie, a retired Canadian Forces general Scott Reid stands up who is now working as a con- sultant at the lobby fi rm Bluesky Conservative MP Scott Reid surprised his colleagues and observers by showing up in the House on March 24, despite not being on the list of MPs hand-picked by his party to sit in the recalled Parliament. Strategy Group, said in an inter- He explained his actions in a lengthy post on his personal website, which has been excepted below. view with The Hill Times. “It matters in the sense that Why I cannot obey an illegal order to stay away from the Commons. anything which can nibble away at the bonds that unite us is, of “I can only exercise my right to deny unanimous consent if I am present in the House of Commons at the necessity, not very good,” he said. moment when that consent is sought.” The government’s cabinet committee on COVID-19, which “If the conventional obligation to not impede MPs from attending to the business of the House, and of is led by Deputy Prime Minister voting therein does not extend to the prime minister, then the system of Responsible Government which Chrystia Freeland (University- cost so many lives, in Britain in the 1600s, and in 1837-38 in Canada, is undone. A new convention will Rosedale, Ont.), likely would have emerged: That on any occasion when a new and unexpected crisis arises, MPs may be ordered to stay home by their respective party leaders so that some kind of elite-level deal may be executed to apply their have approved the measures in votes in their absence. The process, underway for several decades, of reducing MPs to mere banner-carriers, that controversial draft of the whose only purpose is to fi ll the blank space on the election ballot beside the party name, will have been bill, said Mr. Leslie, who chose completed.” not to run for re-election last fall after representing Orleans, Ont., A fi nal note, to address the Red Herring that it is dangerous for MPs to travel to for the Liberals during the 42nd Ottawa in the Plague Year. Parliament. “I’m not sure what the commit- “We MPs were given a series of nonsensical arguments about why we must not, in the present crisis, tee on CV-19 was thinking when attend to our duties. One of these arguments was that MPs cannot safely travel to the nation’s capital, from they tried to push that through,” their ridings scattered across the land, because this would cause them to be on airplanes where they might he said. catch COVID-19 from an asymptomatic carrier, or else become carriers themselves.” “It was very poor tactics and bad strategy.” “This seemed instinctively wrong to me. Is it too dangerous to have MPs sit next to each other in the House Defending the government’s of Commons? In that case, as one fellow Conservative MP pointed out to me, we could rent the Ottawa move, from which it later retreat- Convention Centre, and hold our emergency sitting there. In that cavernous space—not currently being ed hours after it became public, used for any trade shows—all 338 MPs could sit without being within two meters of each other. We could to ask Parliament to grant it set up microphones on stands, to allow MPs to participate. What’s that you say? Such arrangements could exceptional spending powers, Mr. not be done quickly enough? Well, back in 1916, when Parliament burned to the ground, the House of Trudeau suggested it was fl oated Commons met the very next day at what is now the Museum of Nature. If the Parliament of Canada is not suffi ciently competent to organize a move down the street in the ten-day period between March 13 and as a measure that would enable it Liberal MP , left, and Conservative MP Scott Reid, right, who defi ed his March 24, then it is clearly not competent enough to respond coherently to the COVID-19 crisis.” to respond rapidly. 's order not to join his fellow colleagues for the vote, speak before House proceedings resumed on March 24. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade — Source: ScottReid.ca: “Why I am in the House today” Continued on page 21 THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 21 COVID-19

The Speaker's Conservative parade kicks off MP , with Sergeant- pictured with at-Arms Patrick and McDonnell Pierre Paul-Hus, bringing the was among the mace on March 11 MPs the 24 to mark the party had agreed resumption of to send to the Parliament after House for the its temporary historic vote. suspension. Shortly The Hill Times after the recalled photograph by MPs took their Andrew Meade seats, the House was suspended to allow for further negotiations on the feds' $82-billion aid package. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

said in a video message posted and long after the health crisis is also be taking on a temporary Hill Times. Sen. Housakos previ- Continued from page 20 to Twitter March 24. He was likely to have come to an end.” role, fi lling in as Senate Speaker ously served as Speaker of the “We recognize that this replaced by caucus colleague Mi- Mr. Reid also wrote that he for the day in place of Sen. Upper Chamber from May to pandemic is moving extremely chael Barrett (Leeds-Grenville- was acting in defi ance of his , who represents December 2015. quickly. It is an exceptional situ- Thousand Islands and Rideau party’s leadership. the province of Newfoundland [email protected] ation that requires extreme fl ex- Lakes, Ont.). The bailout bill also requires and Labrador, a source told The The Hill Times ibility and rapidity of response MPs from all parties had al- approval from the Senate, which by governments to be able to help ready quickly passed another bill is planning to sit to deal with the Canadians react to a situation on March 13 that gave the gov- legislation on March 25. Quorum Parliamentarians who were drafted for the recall we see is moving quickly every ernment broad spending powers for the Senate is 15 members, single day,” he told reporters on while Parliament was adjourned but 26 Senators—mostly from MPs Party Riding March 24. “We’ve been in close amid the COVID-19 crisis. The Ontario and —signalled NDP Burnaby South, B.C. discussion with opposition parties powers provided through that in advance that they were plan- Rachel Blaney NDP North Island-Powell River, B.C. to fi nd a way to get that fl exibil- bill expire on June 24, and it ning to attend, according to NDP London-Fanshawe, Ont. Andrew Scheer Conservative Regina-Qu'Appelle, Sask. ity, to get measures out the door also included provisions to allow a document obtained by The Candice Bergen Conservative Portage-Lisgar, Man. and keep in place our democratic Parliamentarians to scrutinize Hill Times . That included 16 Conservative Central Okanagan-Similkameen, B.C. institutions.” the government’s spending after members of the Independent Conservative Aurora-Oak Ridges, Ont. Earlier that morning, Mr. the fact. Senators Group, which occupies Conservative Wellington-Halton Hills, Ont. Trudeau tweeted that his govern- Conservative MP Scott Reid roughly half of the seats in the Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg-Haute-Saint-Charles, Que. ment was removing one part of (Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston, Chamber; six Conservatives, out Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic-L'Érable, Que. The the proposed bill—one which Ont.) said he was prepared to of 22; three members of the Ca- John Williamson Conservative New Brunswick Southwest, N.B. Globe and Mail reported would deny the government the unani- nadian Senators Group, which Tim Uppal Conservative Edmonton Millwoods, Alta. have given the government the mous consent needed to pass its has 13 members in total; non- Conservative Sherwood Park-Fort Saskatchewan, Sask. authority to raise or lower taxes bailout bill through the House affi liated Senator Conservative Simcoe-North, Ont. without parliamentary approval. quickly, in a blog he posted online (Ottawa/Rideau Canal, Ont.); Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, Ont. Conservative fi nance critic before Parliament convened on and non-affi liated Sen. Peter Scott Reid* Conservative Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston, Ont. (Carleton, Ont.) March 24. He said he planned to Harder (Ottawa, Ont.) Green Fredericton, N.B. tweeted in response that the gov- block the expedited passage of Sen. Harder will serve as Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay-Superior North, Ont. ernment’s initial draft included the bailout bill unless the govern- the government’s only Senator Chrystia Freeland Liberal University-Rosedale, Ont. several other sections giving the ment went through the normal in the Chamber during what is Greg Fergus Liberal Hull-Aylmer, Ont. government the ability to spend, procedural step of sharing the planned to be a one-day sit- Bill Blair Liberal Scarborough Southwest, Ont. and to send money to corpora- legislation with MPs—not just ting. He has taken on the role, Liberal Pontiac, Que. Liberal Delta, B.C. tions without parliamentary over- those in the leadership of other temporarily, of the government’s Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, Que. sight. Mr. Poilievre was expected parties—through the fi rst reading acting legislative deputy in Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, Que. to be among the 11 Conservative stage in the House before asking the Senate for the day, as the Liberal Notre-Dame-de-Grâce-Westmount, Que. MPs present for the vote to pass them to vote on it. government’s representative Liberal Kingston and the Islands, Ont. the feds’ $82-billion relief pack- Panic over COVID-19 is no in the Senate, Sen. Liberal Ville-Marie-Le Sud-Ouest-Île-des-Sœurs, Que. age, which includes direct aid to reason to do away with parlia- (Stadacona, Que.), is currently Liberal York South-Weston, Ont. those without access to EI and mentary conventions “that are in isolation in his home in François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice-Champlain, Que. who are forced to stay home amid the oldest and best protections Quebec. Sen. Harder served as Liberal Toronto Centre, Ont. the pandemic, however he had to that exist for our political liber- the government representative Yves-François Blanchet Bloc Québécois Beloiel-Chambly, Que. stay home. ties,” Mr. Reid wrote. He said he in the Senate between 2016 and Gabriel Ste-Marie Bloc Québécois Joliette, Que. “I am awaiting test results for believed the government was early this year, when he stepped Bloc Québécois La Prairie, Que. COVID-19, which I have no doubt using the crisis “to strip away any down from the role and left the Senators (March 25 sitting) will come back fi nding that I am parliamentary oversight [whatso- government team in the Senate. Peter Harder Non-Affi liated/Acting Legislative Deputy* negative, and that I have noth- ever] between now and December Conservative Senator Leo Jim Munson Non-affi lated ing to worry about,” Mr. Poilievre 2021—21 months in the future, Housakos (Wellington, Que.) will Conservative Conservative Conservative/acting Speaker* Conservative Canada's economic response plan: cost and implementation Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu Conservative Measure 2020-2021 Cost/Impact Implementation Larry Smith Conservative Emergency care benefi t Up to $10-billion “Early April *requires royal assent” CSG Emergency support benefi t Up to $5-billion “Early April *requires royal assent” Vernon White CSG GST credit $5.5-billion “By early May *requires royal assent” Robert Black CSG Enhanced Canada child benefi t $1.9-billion “May *requires royal assent” ISG Temporary business wage subsidy $3.8-billion “Immediately Supporting legislation to follow” ISG Six-month moratorium on Canada student-loan payments $190-million “Early April *requires royal assent” ISG Support for Indigenous communities $305-million “April *requires royal assent” ISG Support for people experiencing homelessness (through Reaching Home) $157.5-million “April *requires royal assent” Rene Cormier ISG Support for women's shelters and sexual assault centres including on reserve $50-million “April *requires royal assent” ISG Lower registered retirement income fund minimum withdrawal amounts $495-million “Immediately Supporting legislation to follow” ISG Tony Dean ISG TOTAL $27.4-billion ISG Other supports ISG Flexibility for individual and corporate taxpayers (tax payment deferreal until $55-billion Immediately ISG September) Marie-Francois Megie ISG Business credit availability program (BCAP) through BDC and EDC $10-billion + Immediately Julie Miville-Deschênes ISG Credit and liquidity support through fi nancial Crown corporations, In the range of $500-billion Immediately Kim Pate ISG Bank of Canada, OSFI, CMHC, and commercial lenders (e.g. Domestic stability ISG buffer, Insured mortgage purchase program, Banker's acceptance purchase facility) ISG 22 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES COVID-19 International COVID-19 conversations

Japan EU Commission (March 24) (March 15) Ethiopia United States (March 23) (March 14) Sweden France (March 20) (March 13) Kenya United States (March 20) (March 12) Ukraine Italy (March 19) (March 12) United States Bosnia and Herzegovina (March 18) (March 10)

Australia European Union Australia (March 21) (March 19) (March 15) Brazil Italy Brazil (March 21) (March 19) (March 15) Germany Republic of Korea Germany (March 21) (March 19) (March 15) Morocco Turkey Italy (March 21) (March 19) (March 15) Peru France Republic of Korea (March 21) (March 20) (March 15) Turkey Barbados Italy (March 21) (March 18) (March 12) United Kingdom Japan India (March 21) (March 18) (March 4) Australia Saint Lucia — Source: Prime Minister’s (March 19) (March 18) Offi ce and Global Brazil United Kingdom Affairs Canada (March 19) (March 18)

MARCH 15, 2020 waiting period for employees who need to claim Employment A timeline of Canadian COVID-19 developments • Emergency cabinet meeting held in Ottawa where ministers said Insurance sickness benefi ts on account of being quarantined or new measures were coming, but rebuffed reporters’ questions having to self-isolate. MARCH 24, 2020 MARCH 18, 2020 about why the government was waiting, and why there was MARCH 8, 2020 • A smattering of MPs return to the House of Commons, recalled to • The new border measures come into effect, with only four insuffi cient screening at several airports. • First COVID-19 death recorded when a B.C. resident in a nursing deal with legislation aimed at providing fi nancial aid to Canadians airports in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary accepting • Canada’s public health offi cer Dr. Theresa Tam warns the window home died. Offi cials said the man was in his 80s and had other and businesses dealing with the economic effects of COVID-19. international fl ights. to fl atten the curve is closing. • Canada and the U.S. announce that non-essential travel between underlying health issues. MARCH 23, 2020 MARCH 13, 2020 the two countries will be barred, not including trade and MARCH 4, 2020 • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces a $5-billion credit commerce. • Parliament agrees to suspend for fi ve weeks until at least April 20 package for the farming industry, with loans to be dispensed • Bank of Canada cuts interest rates by 50 basis points to 1.25 • Mr. Trudeau announces $82-billion support package, which after unanimous agreement among all parties. through Farm Credit Canada. That includes a six-month deferral per cent amid coronavirus concerns, following in the U.S. Federal includes two packages nearly totalling $15-billion of employment • Senate is recalled to sit on Friday (after it adjourned the day for the repayment of existing loans, amounting to $173-million. Reserve’s footsteps, in an effort to soften the economic impact. insurance support for Canadians facing unemployment who are before) to fi nish business, most notably to pass the new NAFTA. He also pledges another $192-million to fund efforts to fast track • Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland is named chair of not eligible for EI, as well as $300-million to address “immediate the development of a potential vaccine. • Canada upgrades advice that international travellers should a new cabinet committee tasked with managing the federal needs” in Indigenous communities, and a six-month moratorium self-quarantine, but over the weekend, some passengers coming • The feds’ COVID-19 ad campaign starts airing. response to the outbreak, convened to “complement” the on student loans, among other measures. from abroad said they weren’t properly screened, prompting some • The prime minister schedules a call with premiers to discuss work of the Incident Response Group that typically meets • Deadline for Canadians to fi le taxes is extended from April 30 to provinces—like Quebec, Alberta, and Nova Scotia—and Montreal during a crisis. the possibility of enforcing the Emergencies Act, which would June 1. city offi cials to send their own personnel to make sure the federal temporarily grant the federal government the authority to, if FEB. 26, 2020 • COVID-19 deaths in Canada increase to nine with seven dead job was being done. necessary, curtail movement within the country to curb the spread in British Columbia, one in Ontario, and one in Quebec—the • Treasury Board Secretariat issues directive to federal public • Deputy chief public health offi cer Dr. Howard Njoo tells the of COVID-19. He says no province has “formally” asked it to province’s fi rst. servants permitting them to work from home during the House Health Committee that the government is looking at the invoke the act. coronavirus pandemic, per their managers’ discretion. possibility of calling for social-distancing measures, which would MARCH 17, 2020 MARCH 22, 2020 involve the cancellation of mass public gatherings. Such measures MARCH 12, 2020 • Mr. Trudeau announced Parliament will be recalled for an • Health Minister Patty Hajdu warns that the feds could impose are outlined in the government’s pandemic infl uenza plan. emergency session to pass legislation and that the government • The prime minister’s wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, who returned criminal penalties if travellers continue to defy advice to self- FEB. 6, 2020 would announce a major economic aid package on March 18 to from a trip to the United Kingdom, was tested after having fl u-like isolate after returning home from abroad. help workers. symptoms, and by evening, the PMO reported she had tested • Ottawa begins repatriating what will eventually be hundreds of • The government announces it is launching an ad campaign, which • A fi fth Canadian person, a 77-year-old man, dies with COVID-19 positive. residents, chartering two planes to China and airlifting others from will begin airing on March 23, to appeal to Canadians to practice detected post-mortem, the fi rst in Ontario. • Justin Trudeau starts 14-day self-isolation, but with no symptoms, Japan on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship. The Diamond social distancing and good hygiene. offi cials said he would not be tested. The in-person First Ministers’ Princess had been quarantined off the coast of Japan since Feb. 3 MARCH 16, 2020 MARCH 21, 2020 Meeting, planned for the same day, was cancelled, with Mr. with about 3,700 passengers on board. It wasn’t until early March • Mr. Trudeau announces major new measures, including banning when Canada’s public health offi cer started warning Canadians to • Canada-U.S. border closes to non-essential travel for a period of Trudeau instead speaking with premiers over the phone. entry to most foreign nationals, except for U.S. citizens. Anyone with “think twice” about cruise travel. 30 days, with the possibility of an extension. • The impact of the outbreak, combined with diving oil prices, helped symptoms, regardless of citizenship, will also be denied boarding of push the Canadian stock market to its worst one-day plunge in JAN. 28, 2020 MARCH 19, 2020 fl ights to Canada. eight decades. • B.C. records its fi rst case of the virus, and within a week, several • Mr. Trudeau announces that closure of the Canada-U.S. border to • Canadian death toll rises to four, and all are connected to the B.C. MARCH 11, 2020 more are confi rmed, but all who had been connected to people nursing home where the fi rst Canadian victim died. discretionary travel will likely take effect on Friday night, March 20. who had travelled to or visited from the affected region in China. • He says the U.S. and Canada have also struck a deal to temporarily • Conservative Party says leadership race and rules will go forward, • World Health Organization declares COVID-19 a pandemic. extend the Safe Third Country Agreement to unoffi cial ports of entry. but it will give leadership candidates online tools to support efforts • The federal government announces a $1-billion fund aimed at JAN. 25, 2020 That means refugee claimants will not be allowed to cross the border to canvas members from a safe social distance, including making it mitigating the spread of the coronavirus, including $500-million • Canada records fi rst “presumptive positive” case in Ontario, a and remain in Canada while their claim is heard, a reversal from the easier to gather online signatures, but declined calls from some to in support to provinces and territories, an additional man in his 50s who fell ill after returning from the Chinese city of government’s initial position. push off the March 25 candidate cut-off deadline. $275-million in funding for research, and waiving one-week Wuhan, where the outbreak started. THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 23 COVID-19

could come into force. He said has said the June 1 date will re- under the U.S. Trade Promotion main, according to an Inside U.S. Authority, the United States has Trade report. to certify that Canada and Mexico Trade consultant Eric Miller, have taken the appropriate steps a former senior policy adviser at to ensure that they will meet the the Canadian Embassy in Wash- provisions of the new NAFTA. At ington, D.C., and current presi- the meeting, Mr. Verheul said that dent of Rideau Potomac Strategy process was in the “fairly early Group, said U.S. President Donald stages.” He added that Canada Trump will want the new NAFTA was working with the U.S. and in force so it can be viewed as a Mexico on details over the appli- victory, given the U.S. is less than cation and administration of rule eight months away from the next of origin provisions (called uni- presidential election. form regulations). He also noted “I think if Trump has anything a roster also needs to be recruited to do with it, which he has a lot for the dispute settlement body. to do with it, he’s going to be “All of that has to be complet- pushing for June 1,” Mr. Miller ed, in our view, before entry into said. “But the question is: are president Hassan force,” Mr. Verheul said earlier this they going to be operationally Yussuff is one of 13 individuals on Deputy month. ready?” Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland's NAFTA The Hill Times understands “They’ll try to cast it as a boost Council who feels the new trilateral pact that multiple steps still have to to the economy,” he added, “but may not be coming into effect on the U.S. be completed before the three fundamentally we’re almost at president's desired June 1 timeline. The Hill countries can notify each other a point where there are bigger Times photograph by Andrew Meade that each are in a position for the problems at the moment.” new trade agreement to come Mr. Miller said one issue will into force, and those steps include be around companies that are uniform regulations. seeking advanced guidance and After the three countries have rulings over provisions in the notifi ed each other in a letter that agreement before it comes into Start date for new North they are in a position for the new force, as the liability for knowing NAFTA to come into force, the the rules falls to the traders and pact will do so on “the fi rst day of if they misinterpret the text, they the third month following the last can be fi ned. American trade pact could notifi cation.” “There’s going to be concerns Independent Senator Peter and issues,” he said, adding that Boehm (Ontario), who was the he would hope that if a company Senate sponsor of the CUSMA is seen to be acting in good faith, be pushed back amid implementation bill, said given there will be a period where pen- the technical aspects that still alties would be waived. have to be worked out, it will Conservative MP Randy “take a little bit more time.” Hoback (Prince Albert, Sask.), his coronavirus pandemic, says He added that the current party’s international trade critic, crisis might “put a damper” on the said the sooner that the deal time that it will take to deal with comes into force would be the the technical matters. better, but added a delay wouldn’t NAFTA Council member “It’s full speed ahead,” Sen. bother him, given all the other Boehm said. “It’s just that the demands on Canadians with the and [they] didn’t think the time- body, including the folks [on] the speed might not be as full as it coronavirus crisis. U.S. Trade line will be met,” said Mr. Yussuff. business side who are hoping, of looked a month ago.” “It’s one less thing that [the “And I think, similarly, businesses course, to be ready to take advan- The former career diplomat business community] need to Representative Robert are of the view that they would tage of the new provisions of this added: “I would not bet too much worry about if it’s … implemented be requesting government to punt agreement,” Mr. Yussuff said. on it all coming into force on June and put into process and they can Lighthizer notifi ed the timeline to something much Canada, Mexico, and the Unit- 1.” focus on things that are really Congress on March 17 different than the one that was ed States all have to go through Before Parliament adjourned important to them at this point in agreed to.” in the face of time,” Mr. Hoback said. that new NAFTA will go U.S. Trade the coronavi- He said there should be a soft Representa- rus crisis on implementation of the deal with into eff ect on June 1. tive Robert March 13, the a grace period as companies get Lighthizer CUSMA im- used to the new provisions. notifi ed plementation “You don’t have the capacity Continued from page 1 Congress bill passed right now to go and train people, sory group says that timeline is on March through the you can’t take them to confer- unlikely to be met. 17 that the House and the ences, you can’t take them to Canadian Labour Congress Canada-Unit- Senate with meetings to get them up to speed,” president told The ed States- unanimous he said. Hill Times that the group held a call Mexico consent and With the onset of the CO- earlier this month and the feel- Agreement received royal VID-19 pandemic, the trade deal ing among members was the deal (CUSMA) assent follow- that has taken hold of so much wouldn’t come into force by June 1. will go into ing weeks of of the Canadian government’s “There was a general sense effect on procedural attention since Mr. Trump vowed that it ain’t going to happen,” he June 1—ex- wrangling. to renegotiate it in 2017, has been said. actly two “Going pushed to the sidelines. Mr. Yussuff is one of 13 mem- years after into this crisis Mark Agnew, senior direc- bers of Deputy Prime Minister the U.S. put without a tor of international policy at the Chrystia Freeland’s (University- hefty tariffs ratifi cation Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Rosedale, Ont.) NAFTA Council, on Canadian wouldn’t have said the coronavirus issue is gen- which includes former Harper-era steel and been a very erally the sole focus for Canadi- cabinet ministers Rona Ambrose aluminum good thing ans businesses. and James Moore, as well as exports in at all, so I With the lack of bandwidth Assembly of First Nations na- the middle of think it is very companies have for non-COV- tional chief Perry Bellegarde and an acrimoni- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is pictured with U.S. President Donald Trump, and important that ID-19 issues, Mr. Agnew said the Marc-André Blanchard, Canada’s ous rene- then-Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto at a signing ceremony for the new we got our government should set aside the permanent representative to the gotiation of NAFTA on Nov. 30, 2018. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead bit done and non-critical, regulatory consulta- United Nations. The advisory the original the work now tions and processes. council was formed in 2017 as a NAFTA. Those tariffs have since yet another negotiation process continues,” “Given how all consuming non-partisan effort by the then- been removed. with each other in order for the Sen. Boehm said. COVID has been, it is important foreign minister to assist in the “I think this thing is pushed trade pact to go into effect. U.S. business groups have for all three NAFTA governments government’s NAFTA renegotia- off for some time yet, until the Steve Verheul, Canada’s CUS- called for a delay to the trade bill to take a step back and look at tion efforts. COVID-19 pandemic has been MA negotiator, told members of coming into effect, as have some perhaps some kind of grace pe- “I have had conversations with defeated, and then I think govern- the Senate Committee on Foreign U.S. lawmakers including Repub- riod for certain issues within the the folks in the [Global Affairs] ments will turn their mind as to Affairs and International Trade on lican Senator Chuck Grassley. agreement,” he said. [email protected] department who were working on what should be the effective date, March 11 that several details have Dan DiMicco, an adviser in the The Hill Times the negotiation of the agreement given the distraction [for] every- to be addressed before the deal U.S. Trade Representative Offi ce, 24 WEDNESDAYDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES CLASSIFIEDS

Information and advertisement placement: 613-232-5952 • classifi [email protected]

Suite 607 & 608 of 151 Bay FINANCIAL SERVICES EMPLOYMENT Street in Centre Town. FREE CONSULTATION DAVISON INVENTORS WANTED! This rarely available $$ MONEY $$ • 1ST, 2ND & 3RD Do you have a new product idea, converged space creating MORTGAGES FOR ANY PURPOSE • DEBT CONSOLIDATION • BAD but you’re not sure where to start? 2570 sq.ft. features CREDIT • TAX OR MORTGAGE CALL DAVISON TODAY: 1-800-256- 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, ARREARS • DECREASE PAYMENTS 0429 OR VISIT US AT: Inventing. LR/DR, study and family UP TO 75% • SELF-EMPLOYED Davison.com/Ontario and get your room. Available for sale • NO PROOF OF INCOME. We FREE Inventor's Guide!! for $869,000 or for lease Can Help! Even in extreme situa- tions of bad credit. FOR MORE for $4,500/mth for two INFORMATION OR TO APPLY NOW Have a house years minimum. BY PHONE OR ONLINE: 1-888-307- 7799. www.ontario-widefinancial. to rent or sell? 613-422-8688 com. ONTARIO-WIDE FINANCIAL. www.odeateam.evrealestate.com 1801347inc. FSCO Licence #12456. Advertise [email protected] !! WE ARE HERE TO HELP !! $$ CONSOLIDATE them in The YOUR DEBT NOW $$ Hill Times HOME OWNER LOANS FOR RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE HOUSES FOR RENT ARTICLES FOR SALE/WANTED ANY PURPOSE!! Pay down FOR INFORMATION: other high interest debt! Bank [email protected] RARE FIND, RETREAT BEAUTIFUL HOUSE 1ST & 2ND MORTGAGES turn downs, Tax or Mortgage 613-232-5952 from 2.90% 5 year VRM and arrears, Self-Employed, Bad 2.74% 5 year. FIXED OAC. Credit, Bankruptcy - We Can All Credit Types Considered. Help! Even in extreme situations Serving all Ontario for over 36 of bad credit. Borrow: $50,000 years. Purchasing, Re-financing, Pay Monthly: $268 • Borrow: Debt Consolidation, $100,000 Pay Monthly: $537. Construction, Home LARGER AMOUNTS AVAILABLE!! Renovations... CALL 1-800- Decrease monthly payments. 225-1777, www.homeguard- up to 75%!! Based on 5% APR. funding.ca (LIC #10409). OAC FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO APPLY NOW BY PHONE CAR COLLECTOR OR ONLINE: 1-888-307-7799. 25 minutes from Ottawa in SEARCHING ... 10 mins from Ottawa, $279,000. Vars, 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 bath- www.ontario-widefinancial.com Idyllic Chelsea Village, 2 bedroom, rooms, storage space, pool, I want your old car! Porsche ONTARIO-WIDE FINANCIAL den. Close to supermarket, walk/ tennis court, pond, hottub, 356/911/912, Jaguar E-Type or 1801347inc, FSCO Licence bike trail, world-class spa, restau- 3-car garage, finished base- XKE. Tell me what you have, #12456, !! WE ARE HERE TO rants, ski resort, schools. 29 mins ment, 14 acres, perfect for I love old classics especially HELP !! to airport. 819-827-0781 families. gloudon1790@ German and British. Whether AVIATION Publication date: April 6, 2020 • Advertising deadline: April 1, 2020 gmail.com. it's been in the barn for 25 HEALTH CONDOS FOR RENT years, or your pride and joy that ARTICLES FOR SALE/WANTED is fully restored. I'll pay CASH. DISABILITY? ADHD? 1 BEDROOM IN Call David 416-802-9999. PREVIOUSLY DENIED DISABILITY CLAIM? Within a few months, the Canadian THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE STEEL BUILDING SALE ... "BIG BLOWOUT SALE FINANCIAL SERVICES We can help you get up to Transportation Agency received $50,000 back from the Canadian ALL BUILDINGS PRICED TO Government. BBB Rated A+. FOR more than 3,000 complaints from CLEAR!" 20X23 $6,249. DETAILS CALL US TODAY Toll-Free 25X27$7,334. 28X29 $7,877. 1-888-875-4787 or Visit us at: dis- passengers questioning why their 30X31 $8,965. 32X31 $9,863. abilitygroupcanada.com. One End Wall Included. Pioneer LOWER YOUR MONTHLY Steel 1-855-212-7036 www. PAYMENTS AND airlines denied them compensation pioneersteel.ca CONSOLIDATE YOUR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY DEBT NOW!!! for delayed fl ights under the new Air FIREARMS WANTED FOR 1st, 2nd, 3rd MORTGAGES APRIL 18TH, 2020 LIVE & Debt Consolidation Refinancing, Passenger Protection Regulations. 1 bedroom condo in the Golden ONLINE AUCTION: Renovations Tax Arrears, No CMHC Triangle at 71 Somerset, unit Rifles, Shotguns, Handguns, This represents almost 40 per cent 1606. Steps away from the canal Fees $50K YOU PAY: $208.33 / Militaria. Auction or MONTH (OAC). No Income, Bad ATTN: ONTARIO INVENTORS!! and dowtown with large balcony Purchase: Collections, Estates, of all complaints. How is the new and amazing views. Immediate Credit. Power of Sale Stopped!!! Need Inventing Help? Call Individual Items. Contact BETTER OPTION MORTGAGE. Davison!! Ideas Wanted! occupancy. $1950/month includes Paul, Switzer's Auction: Toll- regime working for passengers? utilities, appliances, 1 under- FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL CALL DAVISON TODAY: 1-800- Free 1-800-694-2609, sales@ TODAY TOLL-FREE: 1-800-282- 256-0429 OR VISIT US AT: ground parking, and storage. switzersauction.com or www. Contact Erin at 613 617 3746 or 1169 www.mortgageontario.com Inventing.Davison.com/Ontario switzersauction.com. (Licence # 10969) FREE Inventor's Guide!! As air travel produces large amounts [email protected] of greenhouse gas emissions, what is the government and the industry sector If you washed your hands doing about reducing these emissions? How is the federal government and your hand bled responding to pressure to lift foreign ownership caps on airlines, help You would think discount carriers take fl ight, ease “THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF” airport rental fees, and lower taxes on the aviation sector. Why are bleeding gums when After shedding its commercial and you floss any different?? propeller aircraft business, and agreeing to sell its passenger train equipment unit to Alstom SA, Bombardier’s only remaining product will be making and servicing corporate jets. Is this the end of aircraft manufacturing in Canada? Be a part of this policy briefi ng.

Call to consult • 613 234 5758 For more information or to reserve your government relations [email protected] • [email protected] and public affairs advertising space, contact The Hill Times display advertising department at 613-688-8841. THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 25

special projects section, having previously interned there over the summer of 2019. But, back to Ms. Lebouthillier’s offi ce. Rounding out the minister’s current communications team is Marjolaine Pro- hill climbers vost, a former aide to Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains, as senior communications by Laura Ryckewaert adviser, as previously reported. Faizel Gulamhussein, a former senior policy adviser to the heritage minister, took over as director of policy in Ms. Leb- outhillier’s offi ce in December, as already A few fresh faces on mentioned in Hill Climbers. Working under Mr. Gulamhussein is policy adviser Matthew Gray, a new addi- National Revenue Minister tion to the revenue minister’s team. Lebouthillier’s busy team Justin Bérubé is covering Ontario, Western, and Northern regional affairs for Ms. Lebouthillier. National Photograph courtesy of LinkedIn Revenue Minister Covering the Quebec and Atlantic Diane regional affairs fi les is special assistant Ga- Lebouthillier, briel Bourget, as previously reported. pictured Ms. Lebouthillier and team are a busy addressing bunch these days, working to realize new media in measures announced by Prime Minister the National Justin Trudeau to help Canadians affected Press Theatre by the COVID-19 wind down in the midst in May 2019. of tax season. The Hill Times On March 18, the PM announced that, photograph by among other things, a new Emergency Andrew Meade Care Benefi t of up to $900 every two weeks for up to 15 weeks will be provided for certain individuals—including those quar- antined or sick with COVID-19 who don’t Matthew Gray is a new policy adviser to Ms. qualify for EI sickness benefi ts—through Lebouthillier. Photograph courtesy of LinkedIn the CRA, applications for which will be available by next month. Mr. Trudeau also Mr. Gray is a former senior policy announced a new Emergency Support adviser for digital government with the Benefi t of up to $5-billion to support indi- Ontario Digital Service, having been part viduals facing unemployment who aren’t of the team that helped the provincial gov- eligible for EI, a one-time special Goods ernment launch it in 2017. Late last year, and Services tax credit for low- and mod- he wrote about the importance of digital est-income families, and a $300 per child government issues in an opinion piece for boost to the maximum annual Canadian The Hill Times, “Don’t dismiss the dire need Child Benefi t for this year. Changes to the for digital government.” EI sickness benefi t were also announced, Plus, there are a couple of in Ottawa, having previously worked as “Digital government is not just an but implementation is being managed by a marketing manager for interior design agenda for making shiny websites or better Service Canada. staff additions to Associate company L3 Builders and as a creative databases. It’s about a fundamental re- director for Ottawa General Contractors, a thinking and re-tooling of how government Finance Minister Mona home renovation company. operates in a world that is deeply intercon- He’s recently studied a bachelor’s nected by digital technologies,” he wrote in Fortier’s team to note, degree in international development and the piece. globalization at the — Ms. Lebouthillier’s ministerial mandate including Émilie Gagnon as with his LinkedIn profi le indicating he’s letter includes direction for her to work director of communications. expected to graduate this year—and has with Digital Government Minister Joyce an architectural technician diploma from Murray on “additional steps” to improve Algonquin College. the Canada Revenue Agency’s services, N APARTMENT NEAR PARLIAMENT Now in Ms. Lebouthillier’s offi ce, and to work with Ms. Murray and Social AHILL—National Revenue Minister Mr. Bellefeuille is working under Janick Development Minister Ahmed Hussen to held onto her portfolio Cormier, the minister’s director of commu- “implement a voluntary, real-time e-payroll from the last Parliament post-election, but nications and parliamentary affairs. system with an initial focus on small busi- has added some new staff to her offi ce, Ms. Cormier spent most of 2019 as nesses.” including new press secretary Jeremy director of parliamentary affairs and issues Mr. Gray is also a former digital product Bellefeuille. manager to the revenue minister, whose manager with Metrolinx and a former cam- Mr. Bellefeuille is a former assistant to offi ce she fi rst joined in March 2017, as paign specialist with Groundforce Digital. then-Ottawa Liberal MP Andrew Leslie previously reported. Andrew Richardson has joined Ms. and to new Nova Scotia Liberal MP Jaime Previously, including for a brief period Lebouthillier’s team as an issues manager Battiste. In recent years, he’s also run his after last fall’s federal election, Émilie and assistant to the minister’s parlia- own digital marketing strategy fi rm based Gagnon was press secretary to the revenue mentary secretary, Liberal MP Francesco Janick Cormier, director of communications minister, a job she fi rst took on in Septem- Sorbara. to the national revenue minister. Photograph ber 2018. Mr. Richardson has spent the last courtesy of LinkedIn Ms. Gagnon exited Ms. Lebouthillier’s roughly four and a half years working for team in January, and is now director of National Public Relations, starting in 2015 “We have been quite busy since this communications to Middle Class Prosper- as an associate consultant and ending all started,” said Ms. Cormier in an email ity and Associate Finance Minister Mona earlier this year as manager of political to Hill Climbers. “In addition to the CRA Fortier. In her new post, Ms. Gagnon, a insights and strategy for the fi rm. He’s being in the middle of tax season, we are former parliamentary interpreter who’s previously been active with the Beaches- now asking the CRA to implement addi- previously run her own style and travel East York, Ont., and the Flamborough- tional measures to provide fi nancial help website “Dear Emilie G,” is working closely Glanbrook, Ont., federal Liberal riding to Canadians, all while having a reduced with Ms. Fortier’s press secretary, Daniele associations, and has a history of work workforce.” Medlej. Ms. Gagnon is also a former senior on political campaigns, including that of “Our offi ce is quite busy responding account manager with Alphabet; a former then-Ontario Liberal candidate Stephanie to media requests as well as stakeholders digital strategist with Banfi eld, a market- Maghnam in Kanata-Carleton during the and MPs who have a lot of questions. That ing, design, and creative fi rm in Ottawa; 2018 provincial election. Ultimately, PC said, we are also very thankful to CRA’s es- and a former social media cultivator for MPP Merrilee Fullerton won that riding sential employees who have been working Destination Canada, among other past with roughly 43.2 per cent of the vote. tirelessly in the last few days to develop jobs. Justin Bérubé is special assistant for these new programs and to those who will Another recent addition to Ms. Fortier’s Ontario, Western, and Northern regional process the applications,” said Ms. Cormier. team since Hill Climbers last checked affairs to Ms. Lebouthillier. Mr. Bérubé is As previously reported, former Quebec in is Veniecia Laylor as executive assis- a former constituency assistant to Ottawa Liberal staffer Bernard Boutin remains in tant to the minister’s chief of staff, Lucy Liberal MP David McGuinty, helping to place as chief of staff to Ms. Lebouthillier, Jeremy Bellefeuille is now press secretary Hargreaves. Ms. Laylor was previously tackle immigration, CRA, and Service a role he’s fi lled since July 2018. to the national revenue minister. Photograph working in the Prime Minister’s Offi ce as Canada-related case fi les and issues for Mr. [email protected] courtesy of LinkedIn an assistant under its administration and McGuinty’s offi ce. The Hill Times 26 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES COVID-19 Politicians dip into Border closures may not marine day reception be legal and won’t stop The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia spread of COVID-19

nouncement that asylum seekers crossing This division between into Canada irregularly at the Canada-U.S. border would be returned to the U.S. Canadians and foreign Many lawyers and advocates have long identifi ed problems with the asylum nationals, us and them, system in the U.S. that put refugee claim- risks stoking racism and ants at risk of being returned to countries Anne Legars, Ship-source Oil Pollution Fund where they face persecution or torture. administrator; Mario Pelletier, Commissioner of xenophobia, which has been Some of the many problems include the the Canadian Coast Guard; and , inability to make gender-based refugee minister of fi sheries, oceans, and the Canadian Sarah Douglas, of the Chamber of Marine Commerce; Bruce frequently reported in the claims and the indefi nite detention of mi- Coast Guard attend the Chamber of Marine Burrows, Chamber of Marine Commerce president and CEO; grants, including children. Commerce’s Marine Day on the Hill reception on Windsor Port Authority president and CEO Steve Salmons; NDP wake of the outbreak. It is now also unclear what Canada would Feb. 25 at the Wellington Building. MP ; and Conservative MP . do with respect to asylum seekers arriving by ways other than irregular land-crossing. If any of these individuals are returned to a country where they face persecution or torture, Canada may be violating its le- gal obligations under the Refugee Conven- tion and the Convention Against Torture. The border closure also impacts foreign nationals who are resident in Canada but had temporarily left. Some of them are now separat- ed from their families who remain in Canada. Y.Y. Brandon Chen & Jamie Liew This not only puts Canada at odds with Opinion the right to family life guaranteed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, but it also raises practi- anada announced unprecedented cal questions of what Canada should do Liberal MP speaks to Cmeasures last week to restrict the with people who depend on their foreign- representatives of the marine shipping industry. Mr. Burrows and Ms. Jordan. movement of people across our borders national family members for support. as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. There are emerging international legal Starting on March 18, most foreign nation- norms recognizing that people with tem- als—people who are not Canadian citizens porary immigration status should enjoy no or permanent residents—were no longer less favourable treatment than nationals of a allowed into the country. state. Given that we have already approved Affected by this ban are many foreign their entry into Canada, and given their Kuwait, Bulgaria host nationals who live in Canada but had tem- contributions to our society and economy, porarily left the country. Initially, this ban the exclusion of these foreign nationals with included international students and foreign clear ties to Canada seems arbitrary. workers but that appears to have since In fact, recognizing the importance of commemorative events been rolled back. international students and migrant workers This ban also covers anyone who wants to many industries, the government walked to make a refugee claim. back its initial ban against these foreign Are these measures justifi ed? We think not. nationals. Although details on this reversal Canada has a legal obligation under the remain scarce at this time, this is a step in International Health Regulations to adopt the right direction. We hope it applies to all public health measures that do not unduly international students and foreign workers, interfere with international traffi c. and this policy change should be clearly The World communicated to Health Organi- Public Safety border offi cials zation has not Minister Bill Blair, and airline em- recommended pictured at a ployees immedi- travel restric- March 18 press ately. tions for the conference in Legality purpose of curb- Ottawa, has said aside, Canada’s ing the spread the reciprocal border closure of COVID-19. agreement with the in response Rather, it advis- United States to to COVID-19 es countries to turn away asylum reinforces the take appropriate seekers irregularly stereotype that screening mea- crossing the U.S.- foreign nationals The Embassy of Kuwait organized a lunch award ceremony at their embassy sures at ports of Canada border are a vector of honouring the Canadian veterans of Kuwait liberation war in 1991 on Feb. 19. entry and exit, is a ‘temporary’ disease. It feeds and it urges the measure. The Hill into the narrative public to follow Times photograph that COVID-19 is good hygiene by Andrew Meade a “foreign illness,” practices and to despite the fact maintain social distancing. Many of these that everyone is equally at risk of contract- actions are already in place in Canada. ing this virus and anyone can spread it. This Even if travel restrictions are deemed division between Canadians and foreign necessary, a more individualized assess- nationals, us and them, risks stoking racism ment of who can enter the country based on and xenophobia, which has been frequently people’s actual health status would argu- reported in the wake of the outbreak. ably achieve the same public health objec- A pursuit of public health that neglects tive as banning nearly all foreign nationals. scientifi c evidence and human rights will do By going beyond these less restrictive more harm than good. And unfortunately, the but scientifi cally proven courses of action, brunt of these harms will be borne by people Canada’s border closure contravenes the who are already marginalized in our society. International Health Regulations. Y.Y. Brandon Chen and Jamie Liew are Canada’s border policies must also be law professors and members of the Uni- Bulgarian Ambassador Svetlana Stoycheva-Etropolski in line with international humanitarian versity of Ottawa Centre for Health Law, delivers a speech at Ottawa City Hall at the raising of and human rights law. We are extremely Policy, and Ethics. Kuwait Ambassador Reem Al Khaled greets her country’s fl ag to celebrate Bulgaria’s national day concerned by the government’s recent an- The Hill Times Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay. on March 3. THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 27 Events Feature Senate comes back to pass COVID-19 response legislation

House of Commons staff clean desks before cabinet ministers give an update on the government's measures to help Canadians with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa on Mar. 18. The Senate was recalled on Wednesday, March 25, at 10 a.m. to consider measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

November possible Senate days are: Nov. 2, 6, 16, 20, will be held on June 10, 2020, at the Ritz-Carlton, To- Public Policy Forum honours Canadians who have made 23, 27, 30. It’s scheduled to sit Nov. 3-5; it will take a ronto, Ont., hosted by Rick Mercer, former host of The their mark on policy and leadership. Anne McLellan break from Nov. 9-13; it will sit Nov. 17-19; and Nov. Rick Mercer Report. The CBC’s Anna Maria Tremonti and Senator Peter Harder will take their place among a Parliamentary 24-26. The possible December Senate sitting days are: will be honoured. Tables are $7,500 and tickets are cohort of other stellar Canadians who we’ve honoured Dec. 4, 7, and 11. The Senate is scheduled to sit Dec. $750. For more information on tables and sponsorship over the last 33 years, people who have dedicated Calendar 1-3; Dec. 8-10 and it will sit Dec. 14-18. opportunities, contact Josh Gurfi nkel at jgurfi nkel@ themselves to making Canada a better place through FRIDAY, APRIL 17 cjf-fjc.ca or 416-955-0394. policy leadership and public service. The gala event SATURDAY, JUNE 27 will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15, at the Metro Toronto Conservative Party English-Language Debate—The Convention Centre, 255 Front St. W., Toronto. Conservative Party will host two offi cial leadership Conservative Party Leadership Election—The 2020 SATURDAY, OCT. 24 debates—one English debate in Toronto, and one Conservative Party of Canada leadership election will French debate in Montreal. The Toronto debate will be held on June 27, in Toronto to choose a successor to Parliamentary Press Gallery Dinner—The Parliamenta- take place on April 17 at the Metro Toronto Convention Andrew Scheer. ry Press Gallery Dinner happens on Saturday, Oct. 24, Centre. Further details around ticketing, the format of in the Sir John A. Macdonald Building on Wellington the debates, and moderators will be announced later. WEDNESDAY, JULY 8 Street. Both debates will be streamed live online. Canadians Canada’s Foremost Fintech Conference FFCON20— THURSDAY, NOV. 12 who wish to vote in the Conservative Party leadership Featuring high-growth start-ups and leading industry election have until April 17 to purchase a membership experts across fi ntech sectors including digital banking, Liberal Party National Convention—The Liberal Party WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25 to be eligible to vote in the Conservative leadership P2P fi nance, AI, capital markets, Wealthtech, pay- of Canada announced the 2020 Liberal National House Not Sitting—The House has been suspended election. For more information, contact the Conserva- ments, crypto, and blockchain. July 8-9. Speakers Convention will be hosted in Ottawa, from Nov. 12-15. until Monday, April 20, due to the COVID-19 virus, but tive Party at 1-866-808-8407. include: Robert Asselin, senior director public policy, For more information, please contact: media@liberal. it’s expected to return this week for a short time to pass THURSDAY, APRIL 23 BlackBerry; Paul Schulte, founder and editor, Schulte ca, 613-627-2384. emergency measures in fi nancial aid for Canadians Research; Craig Asano, founder and CEO, NCFA; Conservative Party National Convention—The Conser- and businesses to get through the COVID-19 crisis. As Conservative Party French-Language Debate—The Con- George Bordianu, co-founder and CEO, Balance; Julien vatives will hold a convention in Quebec City from Nov. of April 20, it is then scheduled to sit for four straight servative Party will host two offi cial leadership debates— Brazeau, partner, Deloitte; Alixe Cormick, president, 12-14. For more information, please contact 1-866- weeks until May 15. It will take a one-week break and one English debate in Toronto, and one French debate in Venture Law Corporation; Nikola Danaylov, founder, 808-8407. will resume sitting again on May 25 and will sit straight Montreal. The Montreal debate will take place on April keynote speaker, author futurist, Singularity Media; The Parliamentary Calendar is a free events listing. through for the next four consecutive weeks, until it’s 23 at the l’Amphithéâtre du Gesù. Further details around Pam Draper, president and CEO, Bitvo; Justin Hartz- Send in your political, cultural, diplomatic, or govern- scheduled to adjourn on June 23. The House adjourns ticketing, the format of the debates, and moderators will man, co-founder and CEO, CoinSmart; Peter-Paul Van mental event in a paragraph with all the relevant details again for three months and will return in the fall on Mon- be announced later. Both debates will be streamed live Hoeken, founder & CEO, FrontFundr; Cynthia Huang, under the subject line ‘Parliamentary Calendar’ to day, Sept. 21, for three straight weeks. It will adjourn for online. Canadians who wish to vote in the Conservative CEO and co-founder, Altcoin Fantasy; Austin Hubbel, [email protected] by Wednesday at noon before the one week and will sit again from Oct. 19 until Nov. 6. It Party leadership election have until April 17 to purchase CEO and co-founder, Consilium Crypto; Patrick Mandic, Monday paper or by Friday at noon for the Wednesday will break again for one week and will sit again from Nov. a membership to be eligible to vote in the Conservative CEO, Mavennet; Mark Morissette, co-founder & CEO, paper. We can’t guarantee inclusion of every event, but 16 to Dec. 11. And that will be it for 2020. leadership election. For more information, contact the Foxquilt; Cato Pastoll, co-founder & CEO, Lending we will defi nitely do our best. Events can be updated Senate Sitting—The Senate has also been suspended Conservative Party at 1-866-808-8407. Loop; Bernd Petak, investment partner, Northmark daily online, too. due to the COVID-19 virus, but will sit on Wednesday, MONDAY, MAY 4 Ventures; Ali Pourdad, Pourdad Capital Partners, The Hill Times March 25 to approve emergency legislation sent from Family Offi ce; Richard Prior, global head of policy and the House of Commons. When it’s scheduled to return, International Day of Pink—In celebration of the 50th research, FDATA; Richard Remillard, president, Remi- the possible sitting days are April 20, 24, 27, and May anniversary of the Stonewall Riots/Pride; and the 30th llard Consulting Group; Jennifer Reynolds, president & 1. The Senate is scheduled to sit April 21-23 and April anniversary of the International Day Against Homopho- CEO, Toronto Finance International; Jason Saltzman, Extra! Extra! 28-30. The possible Senate sittings are May 4, 8, 11, bia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, we are proud to invite partner, Gowling WLG Canada; James Wallace, co-chair 15, 25, and 29. The Senate is scheduled to sit May 5-7 you to Stonewall 50 across Canada, in Vancouver, and co-CEO, Exponential; Alan Wunsche, CEO & chief RReadead the full and May 12-May 14. The Senate will break May 18-22. Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, token offi cer, Tokenfunder; and Danish Yusuf, founder It is scheduled to sit May 26-28. The June possible sit- and Cape Breton, from May 4-21, featuring Stonewall and CEO, Zensurance. For more information, please ParliamentaParliamentaryry ting days are June 1, 5, 8, 12, 15 and 19. The Senate riot activist Martin Boyce. Stonewall 50 across Canada visit: https://fi ntechandfunding.com/. is scheduled to sit June 2-4; June 9-11; June 16-18; is a free speakers’ series in cities across the country SATURDAY, OCT. 3 CCalendaralendar and June 22, 23, it breaks June 24 for St. Jean Baptiste featuring Stonewall Riot activist Martin Boyce. Boyce is Day; and it’s scheduled to sit June 25 and June 26. The among a handful of surviving Stonewall activists whose Green Party Convention—The Green Party will hold online Senate breaks from June 29 until Sept. 22. The Sen- contributions have had a signifi cant impact on our its convention and elect a new party leader Oct. 3-4, at ate’s possible September sitting days are Sept. 21, 25, communities. Join us as he shares his stories of upris- the Delta Hotels Prince Edward in Charlottetown, P.E.I. 28. It’s scheduled to sit Sept. 22-24 and Sept. 29-Oct. ing and rebellion, what motivated him that night. For more information, contact 613-562-4916. 1, with a possible sitting day on Friday, Oct. 2. The pos- sible Senate sitting days are Oct. 5, 9, 19, 23, 26, and WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10 THURSDAY, OCT. 15 30. It’s scheduled to sit Oct. 6-8; it takes a break from CJF Awards Celebrating 30 Years of Excellence in Jour- PPF Testimonial Dinner and Awards—Join us at the Oct. 12-16; it will sit Oct. 20-22; and Oct. 27-29. The nalism—The Canadian Journalism Foundation Awards 33rd annual event to network and celebrate as the Turn it on. cČüçÑćíŌ˙ You control what data gets saved.

We keep your data private, safe, and secure. g.co/privacy