the Holiday Edition, 2013 | iPolitics.ca REVENGE OF THE CHINCHILLA, pg. 5 BEST DRESSED ON THE SOCIAL SCENE, pg. 9 and pan-Canada culinary pairings, pg. 7 Good to go. A guide to the holidays for the politico on your list. iPolitics.ca 3

iPolitics FEATURED OPINION

Editorial Editor and publisher LAWRENCE MARTIN: James Baxter 2013: The year everything changed, pg. 13

Deputy editors Ian Shelton, Doug Beazley PAUL ADAMS: The Pope and Mr. Harper, pg. 14 Reporters Laura Beaulne-Stuebing, What’s on Sonya Bell, Annie Bergeron-Oliver, Harper’s list Kelsey Johnson, James Munson, this year? We took Olesia Plokhii, BJ Siekierski, a guess, Elizabeth Thompson, pg. 12 Michelle Zilio Tree tips from Columnists Parliament’s resident Michael Harris, Tasha Kheiriddin, expert, Gerald Lawrence Martin, Paul Adams, Keddy Peter Clark, Peter Burn, Paul Boothe, Devon Black, Phil Gibson, Andrew Mitrovica, Derek Burney, Fen Hampson, Scott Clark, Peter DeVries and Elizabeth Gray-Smith THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME: Picks from the year’s hottest Graphic designer political reads, pg. 15 Jessie Willms

Photographers Cynthia Münster, Recipes from the Hill’s Matthew Usherwood master chef, pg. 6

Wire editors Deane McRobie, Lisa Van Dusen “I vowed to redeem my kind”: Charlie the chinchilla plots his takedown of Stanley, pg 5

Alpheus Danelia Bolivar

Marketing and sales 2014: The year of election preparation Deputy publisher Sally Douglas Party leaders’ election promises to Mr. Claus

COO : Santa, John Butterfield the Green Party’s top priority is making sure Business development manager your Christmas is white! Callie Sanderson : Account managers Santa, as a white man Matthew Gumley & of a certain age, you’ll Yamina Tsalamlal find yourself in good company with the Contact Conservatives! Office: 613-216-9638 : Santa, 201-17 York Street, the New Democrats , , Canada, will ensure that as a K1N 9J6 seasonal worker, you’ll

Who we are: Independent and get your EI! non-partisan, iPolitics delivers up- : Santa, to-the-minute news, information the Liberals will stand and analysis of Canadian politics and the business of government. up for the middle class — so that one day you All illustrations by can finally retire! Sarah Lazarovic (longliveirony.com) 4 The iPolitics holiday print edition Keep your tree alive Tips from Parliament’s resident tree expert — and former tree farm owner — Nova Scotia MP Gerald Keddy

Tip #1: Treat Christmas trees like take a fir needle between your even if the tree is going in cut flowers hands, it’ll break,” Keddy the corner. Having all the “Bring ‘em home, put a fresh explains. “When you pull on ornaments on one side can put cut on the stem and put them a branch, the needle should the tree off balance, making in water right away.” Keddy break rather than pull off.” it more likely to fall over, he says. The cut for Christmas warned. tree, he explains, should Tip #3: Buy a good tree stand and be about an inch above the keep it straight We’re not aiming for a Charlie original stump. Even Keddy has had a Brown Christmas tree, here. Christmas tree teeter over in When the tree first arrives the living room. “There’s no Tip #5: Balsam firs smell the best. in your home, it will be very shame in that. It happens, but “I wouldn’t have anything in thirsty, Keddy says. Key to its the secret really is to have good the house except the balsam survival is a lot of water over tree stand and one a good broad fir, because they have the the first 48 hours. base on it that can hold a lot of aroma.” water.” Tip #2: When picking a tree, the “When you open them up in needles should snap Tip #4: Decorate the whole tree your house, everyone walks by “The needles are like fresh Keddy suggests trying to and says ‘oh my, isn’t that fan- lettuce, it should snap. You decorate all the way around, tastic,” he says.

photos: Matthew usherwood

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To purchase tickets or for more information visit: macdonaldlaurier.ca/events iPolitics.ca 5 A Chinchilla’s Christmas carol Charles C. Chinchilla vs. Stanley: round two

Drops falling from the sloping losing battle against felines for of the animal room. ceiling sent ripples across the internet supremacy, but the red water’s surface in the shot glass cone hat was more dunce cap Occasionally one would at Charlie’s side. It was still than Christmas cheer and stray from the pack and October yet the rain seeping set our battle back nose about his bars. through the roof at 24 Sussex a decade. Mean- He had at first tried was laced with a November while, Stanley’s “I vowed to to be friendly, but chill. But it wasn’t the weather star has risen redeem my smiling wasn’t any that had ruffled the chinchilla’s ever higher.” more an element of grey fur. kind. I vowed I his repertoire than C h a r l i e would not allow small talk about Charlie leaned back on his thought back such indignation the weather and haunch and surveyed his pil- at how he’d soon his seeming fered implements: a golf pencil scowled at the to be overcast sullenness from Camp David worn to a prime minis- repeated.” drove them away. nub; a scrap of wrinkled let- ter’s aid as the terhead from the prime minis- boy in short pants Likely, they talked ter’s office, “good to go” leading — seriously! it was De- about him behind his back, from the torn edge; the glass cember! — clicked a photo and he thought. What a mean ro- with “l’chaim” arched over John tweeted “Charlie the Chinchilla dent, they’d say. What a grouch. Baird’s smiling face. gets into the Christmas spirit at A grouch? He’d show them a 24 Sussex.” Spirit? That’s spin grouch. “Dear Diary,” Charlie they could use in the Senate, he scrawled awkward- thought. And so Charlie had receded ly, clutching the from the days and stored his pencil with both “I vowed then to redeem my energy for his nightly escapes. front paws. “My kind. I vowed then that I would When the lights went out, his attempts to usurp not allow such indignation to unusually dextrous paws com- the fair-haired be repeated. I vowed then that bined to slip the latch of his cage one’s privilege in I, Charles C. Chinchilla, would and he withdrew to the attic this house has yet rise above!” where no bars confined him and to bear fruit and no cat could taunt him. time is running Indeed Charlie had made short. I cannot these vows, though to anybody Now, with a new Christmas abide a repeat of listening it would have sound- season nearing he would show last December’s ed more like a muted mouse them all. He would do what no debasement. squeak than the terrifying lion’s cat had ever accomplished. He Chinchilla roar he imagined. At least cats would star on the Prime Minis- kind have could hiss, growl, meow and ter’s Christmas card. a l w a y s mew. Charlie’s range of expres- waged a sion was limited to angling his “The time for action is now,” round ears up and down. he wrote. Not that many took notice, and even Charlie dropped the pencil fewer took heed. and leaned over the glass, sip- ping at the water. Instead, in a house full of animals, “Bleck,” he thought. “Tastes Charlie was the only like schnapps!” one of his kind, rel- egated most days to a The full story will be available cage while the cats had the run Dec. 25 at iPolitics.ca 6 The iPolitics holiday print edition Fine picks from Parliament’s master chef What to serve on Christmas day

He is Canada’s first certified master chef, has won gold medals in culinary olympic competitions and has cooked for some of the most prominent people in the world.

However, few Canadians get to sample the culinary delights created by Parliament’s Executive Chef Judson Simpson.

In the spirit of the season, Simpson has agreed to share a handful of recipes he has created, including his vegan Chocolate Mousse Cake, so that Canadians from coast to coast can celebrate Christmas or ring in the New Year in parliamentary style.

Chocolate mousse cake down firmly and evenly with Maple salmon an offset spatula. Cover and INGREDIENTS place in the freezer. INGREDIENTS

Crust: 3. In a food processor, puree 2.7 kg Atlantic salmon fillets – 2 cups pecans the avocado with the coconut fresh, boneless, skin off ¼ cup cocoa powder milk, maple syrup, cashew 2 cups maple syrup 30 ml coconut oil butter and vanilla to obtain a 3 cloves garlic, minced Spinach and 60 ml maple syrup smooth creamy consistency. In ¼ cup salt; pepper to taste shrimp salad 5 ml vanilla extract a bowl combine the arrowroot 4 g kosher salt powder and salt, reserve. Here’s how: INGREDIENTS 2. In a large bowl, gently 1. Trim the belly off the salmon toss baby spinach, shrimp, Mousse: 4. Melt the chocolate chips in fillet and square each end so 16 oz Baby spinach, asparagus and onion together. 2 cups avocado, flesh only the microwave until melted that the thickness of the fillet is washed 80 ml coconut milk and smooth. consistent. Reserve end pieces 16 oz shrimp, cooked 3. In a small bowl, whisk 165 ml maple syrup for later use. 1 bunch asparagus, sliced and together lemon juice, Dijon 15 ml cashew butter 5. Add the processed avocado to blanched mustard, olive oil, chives, salt 5 ml vanilla extract the dry ingredients (arrowroot 2. Pour the maple syrup into a ½ medium red onion, thinly and pepper until well combined. 1 tbsp arrowroot powder and salt), combine well, add shallow pan; add the garlic, salt sliced 4g kosher salt the melted chocolate and pepper. 8 oz goat cheese, crumbled 4. Add the dressing to the 220g chocolate chips, and completely 4 oz cashews,roasted spinach and shrimp and gently semi-sweet TIP: Keep combine until 3. Place the salmon fillets in the 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice toss. Serve either individual cold until smooth. pan with the skin side facing 1 tbsp dijon mustard portions or place in Here’s how: ready to up. Cover and marinate for 6 to 4 tbsp olive oil a large serving 1. Lightly oil an 8” serve 6. Remove crust 12 hours. 2 tbsp chives, TIP: bowl. Top with the springform pan and from the freezer and chopped Serve with roasted cashews line the bottom with pour avocado mixture 4. Carefully remove the salmon 2 tsp kosher salt a Sauvignon and crumbled goat parchment paper. on top and spread until even fillets from the marinade, To taste, black Blanc cheese. and smooth, cover and return wiping off any excess with your pepper 2. In a food processor, pulse the to the freezer for at least two hands only. NoTE: Shrimp can pecans until crushed but not hours to firm up. Here’s how: either be purchased too fine. Remove to a bowl and Portion the salmon and either 1. Place cashews on a baking cooked or you can cook from add the cocoa powder (sifted), 7. To serve, remove the mousse BBQ, BBQ/smoke or bake sheet and bake in a moderate raw in a court bouillon and coconut oil, maple syrup, cake from the freezer and allow until cooked. The remaining oven (350F) for 5 to 8 minutes cool. You can also use smaller vanilla and salt, mix until well to stand at room temperature marinade can be used as a or until the nuts are golden or larger shrimp. Very good combined. Scoop mixture onto for 5–10 minutes. Remove from glaze for other fish for up to one brown. Remove, cool and served with warmed garlic the prepared pan and press the pan, portion into 12 slices. week – keep refrigerated. reserve. Naan bread.

TODAY’S WOOD CONSTRUCTION STRONG. SAFE. SOPHISTICATED.

For more info @FPAC_APFC /FPAC.APFC visit fpac.ca 1913-2013 YEARS iPolitics.ca 7 Go pan-Canadian for your holiday pairings Eat, drink, and support Canadian producers. Here is your completely Canadian list of beverage and food pairings to warm the coldest nights of the year. Dig in!

APPETIZERS MAINS Snow crab and wine

New Brunswick snow crab Tips: You will know and Ontario’s Tawse Estate when the crab is done when Chardonnay wine. the shell turns dark red and the meat is opaque through- out. Do not overcook. Add some arugula and spinach salad, with strawberries, to counter the buttery crab. Who might like it: New Brunswick NDP MP Yvon Godin.

1 2

Herring and vodka Steak and beer

Sourdough bread from Tips: Add a piece flank steak the Yukon topped with a of parsley on top of the marinated in Yukon Gold very thin layer of herring sandwich. beer paired with Yukon Gold maple butter, two PEI her- beer. ring pieces and a teaspoon Who might like it: of black BC caviar paired Tory MP , Tips: Marinate each with an Ontario Pine whose riding makes the steak individually in 2 cans Needle Vodka shot, to be vodka (66 Gilead Distill- of beer for optimal flavour, sipped. ery in Bloomfield, ON). for at least 8 hours before cooking. Cook potatoes and apples together, but separate from the steak, as a side. Prefer turkey over steak? We’ve got a pair for that. Who might like it: Tory MP Ryan Leef, whose territory of iPolitics.ca for more culinary fixes. Yukon loves their homemade brew. 3

Pie and beer NYE WILD CARD: DESSERT Maple Sugar Pie from Quebec or a Nanaimo bar Bannock and Truro wine* from B.C. with a B.C. Red Racer India Pale Ale. Great White of Truro The most powerful base wine from Nova Scotia possible is recommended, so Tips: Thank us later. paired with numerous doses go with either poutine or ban- Sweets and ales are magical. of bannock from the North- nock. You know what, go with west Territories. both. Lots of both. Implant On the other hand, if you a microchip in your wrist in don’t feel like pairing this top- Tips: This motor oil of case your loved ones have to notch beer with sugar, opt for a wine — which is 20 per go find you in the woods. some Quebec poutine instead. cent alcohol — will either At least that what NDP MP leave you dead or wishing And welcome in the new Jasbir Sandhu would do: you were. But before it turns year — and a goodbye to bad your digestive tract into a old habits like Truro wine — “This hoppy IPA cuts shrivelled remnant of its for- with style. through the richness of the mer self, it will take you on gravy, cheese curds and fries, a plunge into madness for Who might like it: The making it the perfect Cana- the ages. Its citrus under- leader of every federal party. dian pairing to enjoy while tones will barely register in Each has something they’d watching a hockey game,” your memory as it begins to rather forget. he said. Fun fact: the beer is warp your sense of space and made in Sandhu’s B.C. riding time, as well as clothing and *Not for the lightweight of Surrey North. decency. or conscientious drinker. 4 8 The iPolitics holiday print edition

Paul Wells at the launch of The Longer I’m Prime Minister

Julie Pellissier-Lush performing

Shelly Glover at the launch of Christmas Lights Across Canada

Peter MacKay with his wife, Nazanin Afshin-Jam nster u m nthia y : c :

The crowd at Ottawa social hotspot, Play with a slider at Hope Live hotos p The anatomy of the Ottawa cinq-à-sept How to party like a politican

The cinq-à-sept. The French martini-sipping politicos to at- stakeholders…there is a very that after a long day, people will say that there is no guaran- moniker describes the block tend in numbers. small window when you can ac- don’t really want to be lobbied. tee of knowing who will show up of time after work and before cess them.” Rather, they simply want to have at what time but a little strategy dinner when folks head off Make no doubt about it. The –Greg MacEachern of a drink, grab a bite to eat and can go a long way. court, grab a drink or two, cinq-à-sept is alive and well in Environics talk, absorb some meaningful mingle, nibble, network and Ottawa. Understanding it takes and relevant information. They “You have to survey the wind down. just a few steps in breaking it “The point of it is to be a drop also – because they are human landscape when you’re planning down to its basic elements. in… it is candid, off-the-cuff.” – want to have a little fun doing ­— you can’t bump up against a While it is challenging to –Angela Christiano of Sum- all that.” marquee event…and you have gather hard data on this so- Cracking the code ma Strategies –Jacquie Larocque of to make it worth [MPs’] valu- cial phenomenon, anecdotal ENsight able time to attend.” evidence confirms that Ottawa The cinq-à-sept formula is When in Ottawa, many –Susan Smith of Bluesky claims its very own cinq-à-sept shaped by members’ schedul- MPs are far from their ridings Some nights will witness Strategy Group culture, one that throws lobby- ing, occupying the social calen- and far from their families. upwards of five or six events, ing into the mix and one that is dar when the House is sitting They don’t want to eat alone. equally competing for MPs’ The lifetime of the strictly tailored to the needs of and falling right off the radar They don’t want to drink alone. attention. cinq-à-sept MPs. when MPs take their parlia- Thecinq-à-sept offers them a mentary breaks. chance to mingle and to have The increase from previous The cinq-à-sept is here to There is ample rationale for a cocktail in the company of years can be blamed on the pro- stay. How it will evolve will de- associations, lobbyists, and GR With Mondays and Thurs- others. rogation of Parliament. A com- pend on changes in political cul- pros to organize their relation- days being travel days and pressed session equates to less ture and parliamentary reform. ship-building soirées according lunches taken over by other “They live out of a suit- time to engage MPs outside of to the established cinq-à-sept responsibilities, members only case…that is the appeal of the parliamentary hours. Then you “It will always be important formula. have Monday, Tuesday and cinq-à-sept.” have committee meetings going to build relationships in an in- Wednesday evenings open to let –Angela Christiano of Sum- later and let’s not forget the votes. formal setting…there will al- And, plenty of incentives their guard down in Ottawa. ma Strategies ways be an active circuit.” exist to lure members, Sena- Any GR or PR pro who knows –Susan Smith of Bluesky tors, staffers, media and “It is like speed dating for “The tricky part of it all is how to navigate the invite list Strategy Group iPolitics.ca 9 Heralds of Hill fashion In the House, if a member wants airtime they are expected to show up for QP in appropriate dress. The House of Commons Procedure and Practice actually lays down a loose dress code. It pushes for “contemporary business attire” promoting the jacket and tie and frowning upon turtlenecks and ascots.

But, these rules were drafted in 2000 – over a decade ago – when business casual was just beginning to threaten the traditional work suit and bright argyle socks were overpowering the black knee-high. The protocol has successfully acted as a wrench in the style wheel of the majority, essentially blocking contemporary clothing trends from entering the arena. The fashion landscape on the Hill remains monochromatic – a sea of grey and navy blue still dominates the House.

But, in a handful of seats, style prevails. There is a small but mighty group of fashion-conscience members chipping away at the mould, making their own statement. Celebrating those who flaunt with the rules of convention, here is our Top 10 list of the best dressed MPs, chosen for their extra thought on style each and every day they wake and get dressed to serve those who elected them.

Leona Candice Aglukkaq Bergen Aglukkaq makes a point of Andrew Eve Adams making fur stylish. She is what Now sitting behind the PM the ITK’s Stephen Hendrie Scheer in QP, Bergen is on the style Her wardrobe embodies a wide calls, “loud and proud of seal ball when Harper is in the range of en vogue items from skin fashion.” She is seen here Points go to the Speaker of House and she’s on screen. a floor-length gold gown to the in seal and fox fur. the House for pulling off the She is a fashion mentor for royal blue blazer. The now- classic look. In a time when wrap dresses, perfectly- blonde MP continues to change Slim ties, trim blazers, plaid Speakers abroad are hanging tailored blazers and chunky her look, keeping fashion eyes pants, shirts of all colours and up their traditional garb, jewelry. watching her every move. shoes with just the right amount chooses to don of point. All ingredients in a the tricorne hat and perfectly perfect outfit, but probably not pressed bands. purchased at the family store, .

Justin Jonathan Trudeau Genest- Jourdain Here is a guy who invests in The many stylish shades of the just the right shoes for JT hands us all plenty of Paul Dewar his moment in the spotlight. fashion fodder. He has few A lawyer by trade before Flaherty also gains notoriety couture critics simply because Dewar makes the list again While he resigned from politics entering the political arena, the in image-conscious circles for he pulls it off – the jeans, the this year for his rockstar suits in July, some say to make way Deputy Critic for Aboriginal establishing his own style opened shirt, the cowboy hat, intentionally-tailored to align for new faces in cabinet, he Affairs has his suits custom brand – he comfortably owns the tuque, even the leather with today’s call for slim lapels leaves big shoes to fill with his made at Holt Renfrew… and it the green tie trademark. shoulder bag. and tapered pants. clean-cut presentation. shows.

For a commentary on MPs’ fashion choices by our very own style pundits, go to In the City at iPolitics.ca. 10 The iPolitics holiday print edition Tie one on In the Ottawa political bubble, some stories seem more fable than fact. The twists and turns keep the bubble on its toes, and provide fodder for the Sunday shows. Here, we give you a turn to write a too good to be true fiction fit for the holiday season.

member of parliament for , left his downtown Ottawa apartment just before 9 a.m. on a cold December morning. It had taken PERSON FICTIONAL PLACE him minutes to choose today’s holiday tie — he’d picked out one given to him by his — with a snowman with a black , and number noun noun bedazzled . was known around Parliament Hill for his Christmas spirit. It was infectious, he often told himself. He noun same person ADJECTIVE always decorated his office door with . And he often roused the House of Commons with merry member’s statements. That morning, ADJECTIVE nOUn same person arrived at his office in Centre Block to a surprise waiting for him. On his desk lay a(n) basket filled with , wrapped up with a large ADJECTIVE PLural noun colour bow. On a card, attached to the gift by ribbon, was a note from . “Happy holiday greetings,” the card read. “Thank ADJECTIVE 2nd person you again for your help with the Christmas party last week. It was a event that helped bring our team together. Inside this basket you’ll find ADJECTIVE some and for you and yours. Merry Christmas.” Smith smiled. Today was looking like it would be a day. He sat same PLural noun 2nd PLural noun ADJECTIVE down in his desk chair, booted up his Apple i and went to his favourite website: www.awesomechristmasties.com. He needed to find a present for ADJECTIVE noun

Prime Minister , to thank him for his generosity and kindness, maybe one with a nice sparkling red right in the middle. 2nd person noun iPolitics.ca 11 Resolutions from the naughty list When the clock ticks down to 2014, what some politicos should be resolving Thomas Stephen Jason Andrew Scheer: Find new Mulcair: Harper: MacDonald: ways to pronounce ‘order.’ Get Buy bigger Start Speaker Scheer needs to come up with some variations on ‘testiphony’ bus. Be very, reading help the word ‘order’ to control the rowdy MPs during QP. added very clear wanted ads. to the about who Given the turnover of Harper’s directors of com- dictionary. was involved munications, it’s about in the time that MacDonald start Grilling Harper the hunt for his next stint. in purchase. about Irving Gerstein’s involvement in the Senate Just in case the Prime scandal, Mulcair mixed Minister has more former BONUS TIP: up the words ‘testify’ and confidants he beneath Upgrade to ‘testimony,’ coining the the wheels. With Duffy, word ‘tesimphony.’ The Wallin, Wright, and LinkedIn Pro. House erupted in laughter. Lebreton already down there, it’s getting crowded.

Justin Brent Rathgeber: Trudeau: Establish and lead a Choose paint colours Backbench Spring. for the baby’s room at 24 Sussex. If more Conservative MPs revolt from the backbenches, Rathgeber, the now-indepedent MP for St. Albert, could lead his former colleagues in Canada’s very own Backbench Spring. Early election? The Liberal leader is betting he’ll be the next prime minister, so he better begin preparing a room for the new Trudeau baby (due in May). We hear the animal room could be freeing up.

BONUS Paul TIP: See if Mulcair Calandra: will go Answer a question. Any question. splitsies on registration The Prime Minister’s parliamentary secretary fes. has faced repeated criticism from opposition parties and pundits for his refusal to provide good-quality answers in Nigel question period. Wright: Charlie the Trademark “good Chinchilla: : to go.” Seek appointment In an email to some to Red Chamber. Recall Ford PMO officials on Feb. 22, Nation; Harper’s then-director of communications referenc- With more and more cracked ing a deal to have Duffy’s vacancies in the Senate, expenses — $32,000 at the Harper family rodent Leader. the time — covered by the has his eyes on a seat in Conservative party, said the Red Chamber. After Time to rally the fleet “We are good to go from all, he is probably one of of Ford supporters. Reason the PM.” The term has Harper’s closest remain- for recall: their leader is since caught on — note our ing confidants. cracked. cover. 12 The iPolitics holiday print edition What’s on Harper’s wish list this year An imagined letter to jolly Saint Nick

Dear Santa, Conservative attack ads. Game is already half off at Amazon — I could send a pallet Thank you for last year’s By the way, any idea what to the North Pole! sweater vest (the blue plaid his secret to a lustrous head one). It really rounded out the of hair is? My stylist and I are I’m thinking my next book collection. The matching one starting to work on my 2015 will be titled An Irrelevant for Stanley was a nice touch, election image, we’re thinking Response — Calandra’s ghost although I think Charlie felt a Elvis meets Mr. Dress-up. A writing that one. I just know little left out. Can you send him little something for everyone, it’s going to be a Globe and a blue top hat? Lil’ guy likes to don’t you think? Mail bestseller. feel fancy. As for Mulcair, I suspect Yours truly, This year, I’d love for you to his beard holds all his power work your magic in a different — can you spot me a trimming Stephen J. Harper way. PLEASE just make this accident? Would sure help out (a.k.a. Stevie) Senate stuff go away. Do you in QP! think you could lend me a P.S. There’s couple of your elves? The kids Laureen’s asked me to a new Beatles in short pants could use the put in a request for a Senate Greatest Hits help. Just make sure that help makeover. I think a new paint album out. Would isn’t in the form of a $90,000 job is in order. Get rid of the make a nice cheque… Liberal red and replace it with stocking stuffer... good ol’ Conservative blue. And hey, I do have others at P.P.S. Did heart. For instance, if you could If you could cross check you know we’re slip a new Rob Ford video into current senators and staff with looking to annex the Press Gallery’s stocking, your naughty list and let me your home turf? I’m sure I would they would know who’s due for the Duffy Tax breaks love that. treatment, that’d be great. and labour code Maybe you could even suggest loopholes will be As for Justin Trudeau, a few replacements? commensurate please make sure his missing with your platform lends itself nicely Finally, if you’re looking for generosity. for the latest and greatest any more gift ideas, A Great iPolitics.ca 13

“The year has given vent to the ‘will he or won’t he’ question. Most every day from now on you will be hearing speculation on whether Harper will run again.”

2013: The year everything changed

LAWRENCE MARTIN can still capture the public im- every day from now on you will established before the election his expenses, it is far more dif- agination. The Liberals didn’t be hearing speculation in the campaign. ficult to believe he didn’t know The year 2013 was the one, you undergo any dramatic policy media on whether Harper will that his office was involved in might say, that brought clarity, changes. They jumped from run again or step down. If he had his druthers, what his director of commu- that crystallized the record. On third place to first in the polls Harper would like to lead nications calls a “cover-up”. If the plus side, it established the essentially because of the arriv- The assumption was that he the party into another cam- the opposition establishes he Stephen Harper government as al of the untested son of Pierre was very much likely to run in paign. He is probably right in did know of it, he is a crippled a strong and successful one in Trudeau. 2015. But now, with the scandal thinking Justin Trudeau is leader. conservative policy terms. On casting such a pall, it’s become vulnerable. the downside it established the The year’s most impres- no better than an even-money An exceedingly tough deci- government as one of the most sive political performer was bet. His director of communica- Trudeau had a strong first sion awaits Harper. On balance politically immoral the country NDP leader Thomas Mulcair. tions assures us he won’t step half of 2013 but, in the latter it would appear that his best op- has ever seen. Because of him, 2013 may go down. But not much can be read months, slips of the tongue tion would be to pass the torch. down as the year when ques- into that. Even if he was intent showed him to be an inexperi- He has advanced the Conserva- The year brought forward tion period became meaning- on leaving, the PM wouldn’t tip enced leader and enthusiasm tive cause in many policy areas. what will likely be Harper’s ful again. His dramatic court- his hand at this point. for him dampened. most memorable policy achieve- room-style interrogation of the The European free trade ment — the European free prime minister — featuring deal gives him a legacy piece. trade pact. It produced, on top short, succinct questions in- “The year’s most impressive political On the political side, having led of so many other examples of stead of long-winded lectures performer was Mulcair. Because of him, the movement to merge the par- abuse of power, what will likely — was highly effective. It was ty and having given the party be his most memorable scan- a change long overdue. We can 2013 may go down as the year when QP three election victories, he has dal — the Senate expenses expect to see other leaders pick became meaningful again.” a record that will sit well in the cover-up. up on this, producing question history books. periods worth watching. The year was also signifi- By staying, he risks getting cant in that it restored the nat- Though the New Democrats But we will probably know But the PM’s hand may be tarred more and more with the ural political order of things. slumped in opinion polls and for sure in the first half of the forced by continuing revelations scandal brush — and he risks The notion that a paradigm fared poorly in the recent bye- new year. If he is departing he on the Senate scandal and/or in losing to a name, the Trudeau shift took place in the last elec- lections, it is still a party very will have to announce by June connection with electoral fraud name, which he has always de- tion took a drubbing as the much in the game. The latest or so that there can be a leader- being investigated by Elections tested politically. NDP fell back into its tradition- Harris-Decima poll put them at ship convention in the fall. Canada. al third place lodging and the 24 per cent, only two behind the Rationally, the arguments Liberal party re-established it- governing Conservatives. If he waits longer, he puts On the Senate scandal, stack high for Harper’s leaving. self as a top player. his successor up against the while there is reason to believe But as history has often dem- The year has given vent to wall. A leadership convention the prime minister didn’t know onstrated, it is very difficult for The year provided ample the “will he or won’t he” ques- next spring would leave the the details regarding a payment those who wield great power to proof that the Trudeau name tion. Get ready for it. Most new leader with no time to get to Senator Mike Duffy to cover abandon it. 14 The iPolitics holiday print edition

The Pope and Mr. Harper PAUL ADAMS Harper is, we know, an Protestants once portrayed the of a complacent yet covetous For Stephen Harper, it evangelical Protestant Chris- Pope as the “purple whore of heart, the feverish pursuit seems, this invasive force has The Christmas season seems tian, though he has never Rome,” in the silky raiment of a of frivolous pleasures, and a been too much. Notwithstand- like as good a journalistic talked about his faith much in decadent landed class. blunted conscience.” ing his Civitas speech, he has hook as any to talk about public. always been wary of the dan- Christianity, politics and the It is no coincidence, as the The Pope draws attention ger the outspoken views of his economy. Historically, Protestantism Marxists like to say, that the to the grisly fact that inequal- backbenchers on abortion and has been closely intertwined current Pope is the first ever to ity and deprivation literally kill same-sex marriage might pose In Canada — unlike the with capitalism, in part be- name himself after Francis of some people, besides bringing to his party. His values agen- , a more religiose cause they both emerged in Assisi, the 12th century men- much suffering to others. But da has shrunk to not much society — our politicians don’t their modern form in Europe in dicant friar. It isn’t easy dedi- he also argues that the relent- more than a populist horror of talk much about their faith. overlapping epochs. Max Weber cating yourself to poverty at the less quest to satiate consumer crime. JFK, Mario Cuomo, Barack famously argued in The Prot- Vatican, one of the most sump- appetites dehumanizes those of Obama and Mitt Romney all estant Ethic and the Spirit of tuous palaces on earth. us who are the supposed win- The international trade felt called upon to explain Capitalism that with its empha- minister, , recently an- their specific religious convic- sis on relentless hard work and nounced anew approach to for- tions, and of course no end of abstemious living, Protestant- “While the Pope has called us to reawaken eign policy under which “all” mainly Protestant politicians ism naturally produced pools of of Canada’s diplomatic assets south of the border talk about capital that created the condi- our sense of a larger self, Harper has doubled will be “harnessed to support their faith as effortlessly as tions for the modern economy. down on a view of us as consumers.” the pursuit of commercial suc- they do football, the flag and He attributed to Protestantism cess by Canadian companies”. apple pie. what he called the “peculiar Though this is surely an over- idea” than men had a moral Over the centuries since ners in the modern economy. statement, it does suggest a cast In Canada in modern times, duty to increase their capital capitalism took its grip, the of mind that puts other values only has ever and possessions. Catholic church has in various Not surprisingly, this has such as family, society, develop- publicly explained in detail the places at various times allied it- provoked a furious reaction ment, peace and human rights relationship between his faith And yet great wealth inevi- self with landowners, peasants, from market conservatives, in their much-diminished place. and his politics. tably leads, perhaps with a lag workers and yes, sometimes many of whom argue that by was challenged to but never of a generation or two, to lavish market millionaires. But at creating such great wealth, In the recent throne speech, could. consumption. And the “creative least in theory it has tended to capitalism lifts up the poor just the government’s chosen spin destruction” that capitalism cel- cast a jaundiced eye on capital- as it does the rich. was an emphasis on those vi- One of the unremarked vir- ebrates also disrupts and some- ism — in the last century or so tal human issues of cell phone tues of Paul Wells’ excellent re- times destroys families and sometimes lumping it together More than a few conserva- rates and cable unbundling. cent book on Stephen Harper other social networks that most with Marxism as an example of tives have criticized the Pope is his dissection of the then- Christians believe are helpful if the materialist philosophy the for being economically naive. Sigh. opposition leader’s 2003 speech not essential to a well-governed church rejected. Perhaps that’s a cue for us to behind closed doors to the shad- moral and spiritual life. So ask some embarrassing ques- So while the new Pope has owy conservative group Civitas. there’s an inevitable tension. Pope Francis seems more tions about the moral and spir- called on us to reawaken our Speaking of what he called the serious than some of his prede- itual sophistication of the works sense of a larger self, Harper “Left” (which apparently in- Catholicism has a different cessors about this mission and of the Chicago School. has doubled down on a narrow cluded the Chrétien Liberals) history with capitalism. It was recently released his mildly ti- view of us as consumers and he warned of moral “nihilism” deeply embedded in two previ- tled but far-reaching economic The problem with free mar- producers, a view he himself and argued that there was more ous political and economic sys- tract ‘Joy of the Gospel’, which ket ideas has never been that once saw as inadequate. to than free-mar- tems — Roman imperialism has been denounced by no less a they don’t describe the economy. ket economics. and medieval feudalism. For thought-leader than Rush Lim- It is that they are like oregano I am not a Christian. Not that reason alone, the Catholic baugh as communistic. in a garden — growing like top- even a theist. “Serious conservative par- church was suspicious of capi- sy, crowding out other ideas and ties cannot shy away from val- talism from the start. Capital- “The danger in today’s sometimes smothering them. But in the debate over ues questions,” he said. “Social ism threatened to undermine world,” Francis says at the start whether the tonic for our mod- values are increasingly the re- the material and cultural basis of the document, which runs to They invade our moral and ern ills lies with more or less ally big issues.” This was the of the ancient church. hundreds of pages, “pervaded political reasoning and replace emphasis on the narrowest eco- case, he said, from family life to as it is by consumerism, is the it with the mechanical logic of nomic facet of our being, I’m foreign affairs. It wasn’t for nothing that desolation and anguish born homo economicus. with the Pope. iPolitics.ca 15 Under the tree this year Paring down the best books for the Canadian politics lover on your list

Need help completing your Christmas shopping list? We asked the authors of some of the year’s hottest political books to help us help you get the right book into the hands of your cherished family members. Here’s what they told us.

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FSNA wishes you a safe and happy holiday season. HonourYourPromise.ca