Vaccines for the world: charity or self-interest? Gwynne Dyer p. 11 HOH p.2 Michael Hill Harris Climbers p.18 p.10 THIRTY-SECOND YEAR, NO. 1837 CANADA’S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER MONDAY, JUNE 21, 2021 $5.00 NEWS NEWS So far, 18 With O’Toole behind in polls, U.K. consultants unlikely incumbent MPs to be helpful for Conservatives, say some politicos not running BY ABBAS RANA wide margins in polls, the U.K. of any help, say some politicos, would prove to be enormously again, could make political consultants hired by the but others say they have a recent effective. hile Erin O’Toole is running Conservatives for the next elec- proven track record of winning difference between Wbehind Justin Trudeau with tion campaign are unlikely to be high-profile campaigns and Continued on page 20 minority, majority, or government NEWS flipping, says pollster Nanos Public Service Employee BY ABBAS RANA ith the next federal election Wexpected in the August- October window, at least 18 MPs have so far announced they won’t Survey results show increase seek re-election which means the ridings will be in play in the next election, say political players. “We’re in a minority govern- ment, every party has an inter- in job satisfaction, awareness est in trying to hold on to as many seats as they can,” said Nik Nanos, chief data scientist and president of Nanos Research. “If someone won the election in the of mental health supports last round, then there’s probably a reasonable likelihood that they could succeed [again], assum- ing that there’s no controversy. So the way I look at it in a tight amid COVID-19 pandemic race, these 18 seats could make the difference between someone winning a minority or a majority Treasury Board Board or the government flipping.” Jean-Yves Duclos Of the 18 MPs, seven are Liberal, pictured speaking six Conservative, three NDP, and with reporters on two Bloc Québécois MPs. Of these, Nov. 27, 2020 in nine are from Ontario, two from Ottawa. Mr. Duclos Quebec, and one each from New said the government Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince wants any back to Edward Island, British Columbia, workplace process to Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and be 'fully collaborative Labrador, and Nunavut. The total and fully adapted strength of the House is 338. again to the realities Two Independent MPs— of department, the Yasmin Ratansi (Don Valley realities of community, East, Ont.) and Marwan Tab- and the reality of bara (Kitchener South-Hespeler, Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 public servants Ont.)—could also announce they themselves.' The Hill won’t run in the next election. Times photograph by Both were elected as Liberals in Andrew Meade the 2019 election, but now are sit- ting as Independents. Ms. Ratansi, a long-time Lib- eral MP, resigned from the Liberal caucus late last year after a CBC BY MIKE LAPOINTE ingful recognition for their work, And with new questions added picture of how the federal public report revealed that, in violation and psychological health in the around flexible work hours, men- service adapted to the upheaval of parliamentary rules, she had anada’s federal public service workplace last year, according tal health supports, and percep- of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cemployees reported higher to results from the 2020 Public tions of anti-racism efforts, the levels of job satisfaction, mean- Service Employee Survey. annual survey has helped paint a Continued on page 17 Continued on page 19 2 THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, JUNE 21, 2021 Alice Chen Heard On The Hill ing virtual graduation ceremony for more rial anniversary of Jack’s passing had a than 5,600 up-and-coming students. positive impact and reminded Canadians Grenier leaves CBC; Included in these recipients is Senator of his message,” according to the project’s Wanda Thomas Bernard, political journal- website. ist Chantal Hébert, and Supreme Court Co-chaired by Ms. Chow and Brad Lavi- Judge Sheilah Martin. gne, who was national campaign director Petty to guest host Power Sen. Bernard has a long history work- for the NDP during the 2011 Orange Wave, ing in mental health at a provincial level the Layton Legacy Committee members and as a professor at the Dalhousie School include Mike Layton, Sarah Layton, of Social work, where she also served as Libby Davies, Brian Topp, Josh Bizjak, & Politics this summer; a director for 10 years. Her other work George Soule, Anne McGrath, Genevieve includes serving with community orga- Kleefisch, Bob Gallagher, Tania Lui, Na- nizations to bring diversity in political than Rotman, Laura Ziemba, Jeff Slater, processes, and she was one of the founding and Tyler Johnson. Al-Mehdar joins The members of the Association of Black Social The project will hand out $5,000 to a Workers. She was appointed to the Senate group engaging in some sort of activism in 2016. and another unspecified award to specifi- cally spotlight Indigenous activist leader- Hill Times’ news team ship. A new Jack Layton Scholarship will also be handed out in honour of the former university professor. These awards will be given out during a free, virtual event—promising “an incred- ible line-up of passionate advocates, tal- ented artists and many special guests—on Aug. 22, the anniversary of Layton’s death. Former Harper staffer Bonokowski joins Ottawa Crestview team Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard, political journalist A former senior Harper aide will be Chantal Hébert, and Supreme Court Judge Sheilah adding her insider experience to the Crest- Martin. The Hill Times file photographs view Strategy team. Erin Bonokowski has joined the firm’s Ottawa office as a senior campaign strate- Ms. Hébert started her career in Radio- gist, Crestview announced in a June 17 Canada in Toronto, before moving on to press release. cover provincial politics at Queen’s Park, then eventually federal politics before The family and working as a bureau chief for Le Devoir friends of the and La Presse. She’s currently a national late Jack Layton, affairs writer with the Toronto Star. the former leader Lastly, Ms. Martin comes from a This just in: Zainab Al-Mehdar, left, has joined The Hill Times, while Kathleen Petty will guest host of the NDP, background of civil law and common law Power & Politics this summer, and long-time polls analyst Éric Grenier left CBC's parliamentary have launched a education from McGill University. She’s bureau with nary a peep about what comes next. Photographs courtesy of Linkedin and CBC memorial project worked as a researcher and law profes- to commemorate sor at the University of Calgary, and has the 10th ric Grenier, the popular polls analyst “A byline third day on the job … my life practiced criminal and constitutional litiga- anniversary who still goes by @EricGrenierCBC is pretty awesome,” said Ms. Al-Mehdar. tion in the area. She was appointed to the É of his death. on Twitter, left the CBC’s parliamentary She said her tenure at Global News Supreme Court in 2017. The Hill Times bureau last week and was mysterious “spurred” her interest in covering federal Other degree recipients include Harriet photograph by about what’s next. “After nearly seven politics, and while she expected to do it later Burdett-Moulton, Stephen Jarislowsky, Cynthia Münster years working with the CBC in parliamen- in her career, she took the opportunity of Monique Leroux, and June Pimm. tary bureau as the CBC’s polls analyst, I’ve the new job when given. She’s most excited These seven will be delivering gradua- decided it is time to move on and do some- for the meaning her stories could have. tion addresses via video to be released on thing different,” he tweeted on June 14. Mr. “I [want] to learn more about different June 18. “As a former political staffer, she brings Grenier, who launched ThreeHundredEight aspects of government and get to report on “We look forward to celebrating the 13 years ago, said he will keep running really powerful stories.” political insight and first-hand experience accomplishments of all our graduating stu- working across all government depart- the Poll Tracker for the CBC for the next She’s replacing Palak Mangat, who’s dents, and I know they will appreciate the election, but is working on a new project. been with us since 2019 and is leaving for ments to influence decision makers and words of wisdom offered by our honorary implement results driven campaigns,” Jo- Mr. Grenier has written for The Globe and a start-up called Politics Today, covering doctorate recipients,” university president Mail, Huffington Post Canada, The Hill Parliament Hill. seph Lavoie, Crestview’s national practice Benoit-Antoine Bacon said in a June 10 lead for digital, campaigns, and mobiliza- Times, Le Devoir, and L’actualité. Both have a strong passion for journalism. press release. Kathleen Petty, executive producer of For Ms. Al-Mehdar, the fun is in the process tion, said in the release. Ms. Bonokowski spent roughly five CBC New in Calgary and host of West of of unravelling something and capitalizing on Project marks decade since Centre political podcast, will be guest host- her “knack for exploring different topics.” and half years on the Hill, beginning in ing CBC’s Power & Politics this summer. For Ms. Mangat, the joy comes from Layton’s passing then-transport minister John Baird’s office “So—it’s been 15 years since I’ve hosted/ talking to smart, insightful, and candid With the 10-year anniversary of his in May 2010 before moving up to Stephen anchored on TV. This ol’ gal is getting strangers.