O'toole's Pitch for Inclusiveness a Salve After Losing Election Dogged
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Tim Ross O’Connor p. 9 Montebello To the SoCons Powers go the spoils p.7 memories Les Whittington p. 6 Parties of the Past p. 14 Prioritize COVID Can Canada make care for refugees p. 5 America great again? Heard on the Hill p.2 THIRTY-FIRST YEAR, NO. 1757 CANADA’S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2020 $5.00 News New ministerial anchoring of Canada-U.S. file is a return to regular operations, say experts BY NEIL MOSS Canada-U.S. file, experts say it with an unconventional approach. (Saint-Maurice-Champlain, Que.) aged the ministerial dealings with is a normalization of ministerial International Trade Minister will have increased roles in the its most important ally before s cabinet ministers take on responsibilities after the chaos of Mary Ng (Markham-Thornhill, relationship that will see a shift Deputy Prime Minister and Anew roles and more voices the Trump administration and the Ont.) and Foreign Affairs Minister back to the traditional way the new Finance Minister Chrystia are being added to the crucial NAFTA renegotiations was met François-Philippe Champagne Canadian government has man- Continued on page 4 News News Lobbyists eye ‘high stakes’ O’Toole’s pitch for throne speech as opportunity for inclusiveness a salve after client interests in Liberal reset BY SAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN The same day Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Que.), he throne speech is a “high announced he had asked the losing election dogged by Tstakes” government relations Governor General to prorogue opportunity for businesses and Parliament, the pollster sent out a groups to get their interests on pitch for the company’s services, the agenda, say public affairs arguing the moment presents an divisive internal issues, pros, as the Liberals offer what opportunity for organizations to many are calling a reset and the influence the agenda between first explicit outline of a pandem- that Aug. 18 announcement and ic recovery plan. the Sept. 23 throne speech. say strategists, MPs How an organization or busi- For the first time, the govern- ness positions itself and tells its ment has been explicit it’s turning story is really important over the BY BEATRICE PAEZ next month, said David Coletto, Continued on page 3 CEO of Abacus Data. onservative MP Erin O’Toole’s Cvictory speech delivered a “forward-looking” vision for the party, say political strategists and MPs, that offers a preview of how News he will seek to straddle the dispa- rate factions within its blue tent. The MP for Durham, Ont., clinched a thumping victory over Promised confidence vote a former Harper cabinet minister Peter MacKay early Monday ‘golden’ opportunity for NDP, morning. He won 57 per cent of the vote to Mr. MacKay’s 43 per cent on the third ballot; lawyer but can’t be seen as ‘blank Leslyn Lewis, a relative unknown Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 in political circles less than a year cheque,’ say strategists ago, took one-third of the votes on the second ballot. Fellow so- The NDP is the only party that cial conservative MP Derek Sloan BY SAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN has the balance of power that has (Hastings-Lennox and Addington, said it’s willing to negotiate ahead Ont.) dropped off after the first rime Minister Justin Trudeau’s of a throne speech, noted former ballot with roughly 14 per cent of promise to couple a confidence P NDP MP Peggy Nash. When the the vote. vote with a throne speech is a “gold- government abruptly prorogued Mr. MacKay’s vision, as some- en opportunity” for the NDP to make Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole painted an image of an expansive Parliament last week until Sept. 23, one who had staked his campaign party inclusive of all, regardless of race, one's religious beliefs, or sexual some gains, say strategists, who orientation, in his victory speech. He doubled down on that message in his warn propping up the government Continued on page 11 first news conference.The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade can’t be seen as a “blank cheque.” Continued on page 13 2 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Check out smart, independent, objective “Hello! I see a couple of new friends organizations that are growing all the time, from Canada this morning… Just so you like the Post Millennial or True North.” know, I may not be the Erin O’Toole you’re Both news organizations highlighted looking for,” tweeted Erin O’Toole, host of the endorsement on their Twitter accounts. KUNC’s Colorado Edition. Heard on the Hill The Post Millennial is owned in part by Jeff Not spared from the typical treatment Ballingall, who served as digital direc- leadership candidates face, a Toronto Star tor for new Conservative Leader Erin reporter asked her about her thoughts on by Neil Moss O’Toole‘s campaign and is a former Hill Quebec dairy farmers and supply manage- staffer. Candice Malcolm, a past press sec- ment. retary to then-immigration minister Jason “I support dairy farmers and the hu- Kenney, is the editor-in-chief of the True mane treatment of cows. I would need to North Centre for Public Policy. brush up on supply management tbh,” she Competing designers “Most journalists I know would be ash- replied. en-faced if a partisan leader bashed most media and singled out their organization. MPs praise Alphonso Davies for But most journalists I know didn’t come named for Canada’s up through a party’s comms shop,” tweeted Champions League title win Maclean’s writer Jason Markusoff of Ms. After Bayern Munich’s 1-0 victory Malcolm’s exuberance to Mr. Scheer’s over Paris Saint-Germain in the Aug. 23 pronouncement. Champions League final, politicos were full national monument to Freelance journalist Justin Ling called of praise for the champion’s starting left the comments “nutty.” back, Edmonton-native Alphonso Davies. “Neither outlet is objective, neither fol- lows any kind of journalism ethics guide,” Afghanistan mission he wrote on Twitter. “What a way to exit the stage,” NDP MP Alistair MacGregor tweeted about Mr. Scheer’s comments. True North was previously barred from covering the official leaders’ debates during the last election by the Leaders’ Debates Commission due to its website stating it is involved in advocacy, but that decision was overturned by the Federal Court. Rodger Cuzner comes to the rescue of stranded former colleague Remembered on the Hill for his quick wit, past Liberal MP Rodger Cuzner came to the rescue of a former caucus colleague who was stranded while driving in Cape Breton. The National War Memorial is pictured on Nov. 11, 2019, during the National Remembrance Day ceremony. From 2001 to 2014, 158 Canadians soldiers died in the mission in Afghanistan. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies is the first Canadian national team player to appear in a Champions League final. Photograph courtesy of he five groups that are competing to a reporter. More than 40,000 Canadians Twitter/Alphonso Davies Tdesign Canada’s national monument served in the mission. to the Afghanistan mission have been There is also a memorial to those who “Alphonso Davies made us proud,” revealed. were killed during the conflict at the tweeted Transport Minister Marc Garneau. The five potential design groups come Afghanistan Memorial Hall at the Depart- The 19-year-old is the first Canadian from all across Canada. Potential bidders ment of National Defence headquarters. national team player to appear in a Cham- include a group led by Montreal-based Although open to guided tours (but not pions League final. architectural firm Daoust Lestage, which currently due to construction), it has come “Who would have guessed it, a kid from is joined by former Supreme Court justice under criticism for being away from the Canada, Edmonton, Alberta. Most people Louise Arbour, who is serving as a stra- public eye. don’t even know where that [is]. Where it tegic adviser. Another potential bidder in- Alaina Lockhart and Rodger Cuzner were snows—I’m talking -40 weather, he’s now cludes Lashley + Associates, which worked a champion league winner,” Mr. Davies on the redesign of Sparks Street. Scheer lauds Post Millennial, colleagues in the Liberal caucus from 2015 to 2019. Photograph courtesy of Twitter/Alaina Lockhart tweeted after the match. “When completed, the National Monu- True North; asks Canadians to “Congratulations to Alphonso Da- ment to Canada’s Mission in Afghanistan vies, 1st Canadian international to win a will provide a fitting tribute and a lasting ‘challenge’ media’s ‘narrative’ “Now this guy is a National Treasure!” men’s [Champions League] title. What an In his final speech as leader of his party, reminder—for their families, their friends, former Grit MP Alaina Lockhart said of inspiring story—from a refugee camp to a Conservative MP Andrew Scheer railed and for the people of Canada—of those Mr. Cuzner. “[He] drove an hour and a championship!” Conservative Leader Erin against the mainstream press and encour- who served and of those we lost,” Veterans half to bring me a jerry can of gas when I O’Toole wrote on Twitter. aged Canadians to explore Tory-linked Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay said found myself on E in Iona, N.S. with no gas Mr. Davies moved to Canada at the age media sources. in a statement. station in miles. Thank you my friend and of five from Ghana, where he was born in a “Challenge the mainstream media,” he The groups have until next spring to great to see you!” refugee camp.