Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 T T THIRTY-FIRST YEAR, NO.1754 one to watch breakout role but Lewis’ MPs, strategists, close to call,say race still too Conservative & PALAK MANGAT race, says onestrategist. once dismissedasalacklustre helped energizewhat punditshad rookie’s strong showing have the government andapolitical the ongoingethicsprobes into two Conservative stalwarts—but started—as atoss-upbetween News Parliament dance partner’ in record as‘junior banking onSingh’s WE bump,NDP lunch’: missinga have eaten their are at, the Liberals up whereNDPthe sum ‘If you’reto News BY BEATRICE PAEZ BY PETER MAZEREEUW Great Rebuilding: Special Report pp.17-27 Michael Harris Harris race may beendingasit he Conservative leadership and Conservatives inopinion railing farbehindtheLiberals p.10 Continued onpage 7 Continued onpage4 T heaven’s sake,’ lessons were learned ‘by someofour senior ministers.’ own government has to fi pollster Frank Graves. Meanwhile, Grit MP Wayne Easter says his catastrophic, and there’s someevidence that it has plateaued,’ says of Justin Trudeau and the Liberalgovernment, but ‘it has not been The WE scandal has had a ‘corrosive impact’ on the public’s trust Liberal insiders, pollster ‘reset’ the agenda, say would help Trudeau New budget,cabinet News ans ithaslearned somethingfrom BY PETER MAZEREEUW take actiontoshow Canadi- he Liberal government should C ANADA ’ Carney inject S P smarter thinking smarter thinking OLITICS at a time of great at a time ofgreat Liberal insiderssay. cabinet ministersandtopstaff, a new budgetandashuffl “reset” thepolitical agendawith the WE Charitycontroversy, then nd a nd way‘forpublic that, message tothe to Can Mark Can Mark uncertainty? uncertainty? HOH

AND p.2 G OVERNMENT p. 27 e of police use- N We’re ina of-force crisis EWSPAPER (Malpeque, P.E..I), who chairs eran Liberal MP Wayne Easter The Hill Times spoke tovet- Continued onpage 15 p. 5 by AndrewMeade Times photograph week. a recessionlast offi cially fellinto and Ontario of thecountry, from allcorners continue tocome assistance for fi pandemic. Calls the COVID-19 afl economy to keepCanada's up recorddebt that hasracked a government Trudeau isleading 16, 2020.Mr. pictured June Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister oat during oat nancial The Hill curb gender violence underscores urgency to Targeting McKenna MONDAY, AUGUST 17,2020$5.00 T A self-identify employees to encouraging establishment and intelligence federal security Canada’s News campaigns toencourage employees Agency have beenconducting and theCanadianBorder Services Department ofNational Defence, and IntelligenceCommunity, the lishment, theCanadianSecurity Communications SecurityEstab- ligence establishment, includingthe six monthshashitdowntown the crunch the crunch bistros alsofeeling pubs, restaurants, neighbourhood’s the future, Hill now andinto working remotely With thousands News BY MIKE LAPOINTE BY MIKE LAPOINTE gripped theglobeforlast he COVID-19 pandemicthat’s Canada’s securityandintel- number oforganizations in Continued onpage 28 Continued onpage16 p. 14 2 MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES

Charity controversy, NDP MP Matthew Green expressed frustration when, while speaking to the Conservative motion, he was interrupted by Liberal MP Patricia Lattanzio on what she said was a point of Heard on the Hill order. “Let’s make sure it’s a point of order though, because I’ve sat through four meet- ings of this. Please name the point of order,” by Palak Mangat said Mr. Green. “Point of order is quite sim- ple. We’re making all kinds of assumptions here,” responded Ms. Lattanzio, before Mr. Green was overheard interjecting: “that’s ‘In my experience, few not a point of order, that’s debate.” “That’s not a debate, you’re bringing in what’s hap- pening in other committees with regards to things are less predictable testimony that are being rendered at dif- ferent levels,” said Ms. Lattanzio, as the two continued to speak over one another. Mr. in a minority Parliament Green in his remarks was speaking to why Gavin Nardocchio-Jones, a former senior adviser he supported the motion and referenced to recently departed ambassador to the UN, Marc- Youth Minister Bardish Chagger’s testi- André Blanchard, shared some of his memories mony to other parliamentary committees at than what might trigger’: from his New York post last week. Photograph the time. courtesy Gavin Nardocchio-Jones’ Twitter Such interactions at committees are not rare, but this one led to both leaning election speculation revved Mr. Nardocchio-Jones’ move is not the only on their prior political chops, and seemed diplomatic change that has happened in to turn a bit testier than usual. “I’ve been the Big Apple: recently departed ambas- on the Hill for six months, I’m a former up after Blanchet delivers sador Marc-André Blanchard was replaced [Hamilton] city councillor, I know the basic by Bob Rae former Ontario premier and rules of order. And to use it as an attempt to past interim Liberal leader on Aug. 4. As continue to disrupt my democratic right, to ultimatum, Liberals noted here last week, Mr. Blanchard has be at this table, that’s also … you can’t just since been scooped up by Caisse de dépôt continue to disrupt people,” said a visibly et placement du Québec (CDPQ), Que- frustrated Mr. Green, before being cut off approach one-year mark bec’s pension fund manager, to serve as by Ms. Lattanzio. (Mr. Green was sitting its executive vice-president. Since 2016, he in for his NDP colleague Charlie Angus, Bloc Québécois oversaw the campaign for Canada’s unsuc- while Ms. Lattanzio is a regular member of Leader Yves- cessful bid for a temporary seat on the UN the group).”I have a point of privilege. We François Security Council, where it fi nished third don’t know each other, Mr. Green, and this Blanchet, behind Norway and Ireland. is not ‘I was and I know and I whatever.’ I’m pictured on a former [Montreal] city councillor myself, Feb. 19, 2020, a school board trustee,” she said, as Mr. is calling on Garry Keller has some baby news Green spoke over her. “You are saying that Prime Minister Former Conservative staffer Garry Keller I don’t know what the rules are, and that Justin Trudeau, and his partner Anna welcomed a new is my point of privilege, to tell you that I’ve his chief of addition to their family last week. The pair also sat and I know the rules.” The chair, staff, and his is “beyond thrilled to announce that baby Liberal MP Emmanuel Dubourg, eventually fi nance minister Claire joined our family,” tweeted Mr. Keller, returned the fl oor to Mr. Green, who later to resign who is now a vice-president at government sided with the Conservatives to pass the amid Ottawa's relations fi rm StrategyCorp, and previously motion. All fi ve Liberal MPs on the com- ongoing served as a chief of staff to then-interim Con- mittee voted down the motion but were out- WE Charity servative leader Rona Ambrose. “Mom and numbered by the six opposition members. controversy. Dad are tired but ecstatic about our new ad- The Hill Times dition!” Mr. Keller has also worked for John Baird, Stephen Harper, and former Reform New head at energy regulator photograph by The Canada Energy Regulator of- Andrew Meade MP John Williams throughout his tenure. A veteran staffer, he came to the Hill in 1997 fi cially got its new CEO last week after and left politics in 2017 before moving to the longtime public servant Gitane De Silva oliticos starting jacking up election ed. “I’m not saying an election will happen. fi rm the following year. was sworn into the role on Aug. 10. “It’s of- Pspeculation last week, less than six I’m not saying that other Ldrs [leaders] will The news prompted congratulatory fi cial,” tweeted Ms. De Silva, adding she is weeks shy of hitting the one-year mark join Blanchet. They probably won’t. But I’d tweets and advice from former and current “excited to get to work overseeing a strong, since the Liberals were reduced to a minor- just be wary of labelling the threat as empty Hillites, as well as other political insiders. safe and sustainable Canadian energy sec- ity government in last October’s fall elec- and without consequence. Weird shit can “Enjoy the newborn snuggles and smell!” tor as Canada transitions to a low-carbon tion. A lot has changed since then: a global happen in politics. We know that because economy.” pandemic has gripped the country, the Lib- weird shit has happened.” For its part, the Former erals are still dealing with the WE Charity NDP has signalled its support for the Liber- Conservative controversy, and the Bloc Québécois has als, if they’re willing to look at changes to staffer regained party status. Perhaps tapping Employment Insurance and making child Garry Keller into that new-found leverage, Bloc Leader care more accessible. The Greens oppose an welcomed a Yves-François Blanchet renewed his calls election during a pandemic, and a new Con- new addition for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his top servative leader, to be named after ballots to his family aide Katie Telford, and Finance Minister have been counted on Aug. 21, will likely this month. Bill Morneau, to resign, or risk facing an decide how the party feels about heading Photograph election. On paper, Mr. Blanchet doesn’t back to the polls. courtesy of have the other political parties’ support to Garry Keller’s force an election, but Liberal insider Scott Twitter Reid, who has advised the likes of former This just in: diplomatic shifts prime minister Paul Martin, cautioned continue in New York City from immediately declaring Mr. Blanchet’s A dual Canadian and British citizen sta- remarks are empty threats. “In my experi- tioned in New York working in Canadian ence, few things are less predictable in diplomacy is adjusting to his new post- a minority Parliament than what might work life this month. “It’s only been a week trigger” an election, tweeted Mr. Reid, also since my last day @CanadaUN but I miss Gitane De Silva, pictured in centre, is heading up the Canada Energy Regulator for a fi ve-year term. a regular on the popular podcast The Herle the team already,” tweeted Gavin Nardoc- tweeted Kathryn Marshall, a Toronto- Photograph courtesy of Gitane De Silva’s Twitter Burly, in an Aug. 12 thread. chio-Jones on Aug. 12. “Maybe it’s the self- based employment lawyer who is married Noting the Conservatives are in the dy- isolation in Canada talking, but it’s tough to Hamish Marshall, a former campaign ing days of a leadership contest, the NDP to go from the hardest-working team in manager for Conservative Leader An- The group was previously under the may struggle with the fi nancial needs of the game to sorting boxes of old baseball drew Scheer. (Ms. Marshall has a toddler leadership of Sandy Lapointe, who had heading to the polls, and while the polls are cards for fun.” According to LinkedIn, Mr. herself). “She’s stunning. Sleep when baby been its acting chief exec, since March “much worse” for the Liberals, they “prob- Nardocchio-Jones served in New York as a sleeps,” added Bessma Momani, a regular of this year, after fi rst joining the orga- ably still favour” the Liberals’ re-election, senior adviser at the Offi ce of the Ambas- international affairs media commentator. nization in 1992. Ms. De Silva’s resumé he added: “BUT … who says these decisions sador for Canada’s permanent mission to includes stints as Alberta’s representative come about neatly and rationally? In 1979, the United Nations since September 2019. to the U.S., a role she was named to by [Joe] Clark was never going to be forced “I can’t believe I won’t see you dancing Rookie MPs clash at committee then-NDP premier Rachel Notley, special into an election by the [l]eader-less Liberals. to some 90s R&B working at your stand- Things got a bit testy last week at a adviser with TransAlta Corporation, and In 2000, Stockwell Day would never dream ing desk when we go back to the offi ce,” meeting of the House Offi cial Languages Alberta’s deputy minister of international to dare [Jean] Chrétien to call an early elec- tweeted his former colleague, Sophie Committee, when two rookie MPs butted and intergovernmental relations. She will tion. In 2008 [Jack] Layton and [Stéphane] Galarneau, in response. According to her heads over decorum. During a discussion serve a fi ve-year term. Dion wouldn’t possibly join with the BQ in LinkedIn profi le, Ms. Galarneau has been about whether the group should pursue [email protected] an effort to unseat” the government, he add- with the mission since September 2017. a study of the government’s ongoing WE The Hill Times Essential to the Economy

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CN_Hill_Times_ad_07_07.indd 1 2020/07/08 19:31:54 4 MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News Conservative race still too close to call, say MPs, strategists, but Lewis’ breakout role one to watch

agers of both teams have pointed Though many to their fundraising numbers Derek Sloan, Leslyn Lewis, Erin O’Toole, and Peter MacKay are in contention to lead the Conservative Party in the next throughout the race as indications election. Twitter photographs, The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade, and The Hill Times fi le photograph acknowledge of their momentum heading into the fi nal stretch. Leslyn Lewis has Ms. Lewis’ campaign manager heavily on divisive issues, things with Mr. O’Toole, who she sup- over the since-cancelled deal for demonstrated her attributed her breakout performance like same-sex marriage and abor- ports, and Ms. Lewis potentially WE Charity to oversee a student in part to her criticism of Prime tion, while also making an effort fi ghting for the No. 1 vote, if Mr. service program. political chops, her Minister Justin Trudeau’s (Papineau, to talk about other policies.” MacKay doesn’t win the fi rst Conservative MP Michael Coo- Que.) appearance at Ottawa’s rally But Ms. Lewis’ social conserva- round. But, she said, Ms. Lewis’ per (St. Albert-Edmonton, Alta.), candidacy is still for racial justice on June 5, when he tism still leaves some feeling uneasy limited French-language skills— who is backing Mr. MacKay, took a knee. She accused him of per- about jeopardizing the party’s often a “deal breaker” thanks to said the position of leader of the seen as a long shot forming allyship and virtue signal- chances at forming government, giv- the fact that Quebec is a seat-rich opposition is “not an entry-level” in a race that some ling without backing those actions en that the departing leader, Andrew province with its 78 seats—could post. At the same time, he said, he with “substantive changes.” Scheer (Regina-Qu’Appelle, Sask.), hurt the candidate’s overall thinks Ms. Lewis could be given a say will be driven by “She was brave and spoke out was dogged by that affi liation. showing. “prominent” role in the caucus. on these issues, and that’s when Former Conservative candi- Ms. Kusie said there were “Any member who is voting, electability in the next the attention really started to date Leo Demarce, who placed many other qualified candidates and making a decision on how to come her way,” he said. third in a race won by the Liber- in the party who could have vote, really needs to ask them- general election. selves who is in the best position to not only lead our party, but who’s in the best position to lead Continued from page 1 Canada,” he said. Andrew Brander, a former That point was echoed by Conservative staffer and now Conservative MP Kenny Chiu senior consultant with Crestview (Steveston-Richmond East, B.C.), Strategy, said the stakes and the an O’Toole supporter. “This is not level of interest in the fi nal weeks a job that could actually [allow of the leadership contest have the leader] a long time for train- been raised. ing,” he said, noting Ms. Lewis “When this race started, peo- would have to run for a seat and ple were looking at this as, ‘You’re familiarize herself with House fi ghting to be the leader of the rules and caucus duties. “I think opposition.’ A lot of people recog- our member base—they know nize now there’s a real chance, a that.” good chance whoever wins could Though the consensus is the be the next prime minister,” said new leader’s biggest challenge Mr. Brander. “The prize at the end will be to unify the party, MPs of the path looks very different and strategists contend that this than when this race started.” race has been no more divisive Presumptive front-runners Conservative MP Stephanie Kusie says every race is Conservative MP Michael Cooper says the job of leading than in previous contests. Peter MacKay, a former Harper divisive, given the ‘winner take all’ system. Photograph the party isn’t an ‘entry-level’ post. The Hill Times Interest in the race also in- cabinet minister, and Conserva- courtesy of Stephanie Kusie’s offi ce photograph by Andrew Meade creased, as allegations from the tive MP Erin O’Toole (Durham, O’Toole campaign surfaced ac- Ont.) are facing off against MP cusing the MacKay campaign of Derek Sloan (Hastings-Lennox Kate Harrison, a consultant als’ Irek Kusmierczyk, now the run, but who are not fluent in hacking internal data and videos. and Addington, Ont.) and Toronto with Summa Strategies and MP for Windsor-Tecumseh, Ont., French. The alleged breaches have been lawyer Leslyn Lewis, who has yet former Conservative staffer, said said many voters didn’t back him Still, because of Ms. Lewis’ denied by the MacKay campaign, to hold public offi ce. there have been “peaks and val- because of the leadership’s views strong performance up against and are being probed by the Steve Outhouse, Ms. Lewis’ leys” in the race. on gay marriage and abortion. two established party names, she RCMP. campaign manager, said her out- “This started out as a question Mail-in ballots are due to be could play an infl uential role in Mr. Cooper said whoever wins sider status has been refreshing about whether or not there’d be counted Aug. 21. Eligible party the party’s future, win or lose, will have to “work hard to unite for many voters. “While a lot of a coronation for Peter MacKay, members have to rank their pref- said Ms. Kusie. “She has a strong Conservatives and recognize that people will spin that as a negative and I think it’s fair to say that’s erences among the four candi- future; I hope she will run. I see this is a big-tent party that needs … the reality is, a lot of people probably not what we’re going to dates, and the victor must obtain her as a future minister.” to welcome all Conservatives” and see a need in our party for a fresh see play out,” she said. “As the race 50 per cent plus one of the votes. Ms. Lewis intends to run in broaden its appeal to voters who start,” he said. “To have someone went on, more and more members The party said that it set a new re- the next election, regardless of have soured on the Liberals. come from virtually outside the were a bit curious in [Ms.] Lewis’ cord for memberships, signing up whether she wins the leadership Ms. Kusie said public brawls establishment and run is wel- candidacy for a couple of reasons.” 269,469 members eligible to vote. race. among candidates is par for the comed quite a bit by many.” She pointed to the fact that Conservative MP Stephanie Though many acknowledge course of any leadership race. Ms. Lewis’ second-quarter fun- Ms. Lewis is the fi rst Black Kusie (Calgary Midnapore, Alta.) Ms. Lewis has demonstrated her “Our system is very winner- draising haul more than doubled woman to ever audition for the said she’s heard a new leader political chops, her candidacy is take-all,” said Ms. Kusie. “I’ve from the previous quarter; she party’s top job and her efforts to could be announced by Aug. 23. still seen as a long shot in a race been around long enough to see raised $996,000, up from roughly “differentiate herself from social Due to the pandemic, the that some say will be driven by whoever gets the spoils is given a $448,000, and beat the other conservatives in the past.” crowning of the new leader will electability in the next general respectful position in the shadow candidates in terms of individual Ms. Harrison said Ms. Lewis be a muted affair, with the an- election—which could be trig- cabinet or within the party.” donors. She has drawn support has been able to “transcend” nouncement likely to be broad- gered at any time in a minority —With fi les from Samantha from social conservative groups. some of the baggage that comes cast virtually, without the tradi- Parliament. Wright Allen Mr. O’Toole pulled slightly with being associated as a social tional fanfare of a convention. The Liberals have seen some [email protected] ahead of Mr. MacKay in the sec- conservative: “She’s been very The race, she said, has tight- of their bump in support amid the [email protected] ond quarter. The campaign man- deliberate on not leaning too ened into a three-way contest, pandemic slip due to the fallout The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020 5 Opinion We are in a police use-of-force crisis

Transformative change within the institutional structure of policing is long overdue. Extensive cultural competency training, starting with senior police ranks, should be mandatory and ongoing. Forging trusting partnerships and relationships with Indigenous and other diverse communities is paramount. The Yukon’s Kwanlin Dün Community If Chief Allan Adam, left, was the white mayor of a small town, would he have been brutally assaulted by police? If Chantal Moore and Rodney Levi Safety Offi cer program and were not Indigenous, would they have been shot dead by police? I fi rmly believe that the answer to both questions is no, writes Heather-Anne Manly. Ontario’s Nishnawbe Aski Photographs courtesy Facebook and handout and Wikwemikong Police based on racist policies relating to assimi- should be mandatory and ongoing. Forg- Reform, restructure, revitalize—real Services serve as examples lation and the denial of rights. The ugly ing trusting partnerships and relation- change depends on the inclusion of Indig- reality is that the face of colonialism was ships with Indigenous and other diverse enous and diverse voices at every step of of the potential for and still is the police. It is a relationship communities is paramount. The Yukon’s the way. Justice demands it. anchored in oppression, discrimination, Kwanlin Dün Community Safety Offi cer Heather-Anne Manly is a member of the Indigenous communities. unjust laws, and violence. program and Ontario’s Nishnawbe Aski Haisla Nation and served for 25 years with Broken Indigenous relationships, train- and Wikwemikong Police Services serve as the OPP. She works with an aboriginal law ing, and internal police culture are the examples of the potential for Indigenous fi rm in Vancouver and is preparing for her issues at the core of this policing crisis. The communities. call to the bar. RCMP and all other police services must take immediate action for reform to happen. Police incidents involving excessive and deadly force against Indigenous peoples are directly related to training. Current use-of- force training is grounded in loud, repeated, aggressive, verbal commands and lacks suf- fi cient time and training in communications and de-escalation techniques. The result is Heather-Anne Manly that excessive and deadly use-of-force is oc- Opinion curring where it has no place—dealing with people in crisis with mental illness who cannot respond rationally. ANCOUVER, B.C.—If Chantal Moore Police training is subject to tight Vand Rodney Levi were not Indigenous, timelines, resulting in insuffi cient training would they have been shot dead by police? and practice in de-escalation techniques. If Chief Allan Adam was the white mayor De-escalation is vital in calls involving of a small town, would he have been bru- people experiencing mental illness and Announcing Sustainable TDDC annonce la tally assaulted by police? I fi rmly believe in possession of edged weapons (knives, Development Technology tenue de son assemblée that the answer to both questions is no. scissors, and sharp objects). Training in de- We are in a police use-of-force crisis. The escalation techniques, edged weapons, and Canada’s Annual Public publique annuelle RCMP and police services across Canada people experiencing mental illness needs Meeting 2020 de 2020 need to confront and address the fact that to be made mandatory and given priority. their institutions are rife with systemic dis- Unconscious police bias such as the crimination and racism against Indigenous “us versus them” mentality is instilled into peoples. While some police leaders have recruits from the day they begin their shown courage and leadership in acknowl- training. Recruits learn to view themselves On September 16, SDTC will hold Le 16 septembre, TDDC tiendra une edging this, others have struggled with it as the “good guys and gals.” The “Thin Blue a public meeting to review our assemblée publique pour présenter and most have had nothing to say at all. Line” in policing is a barrier to trusting re- activities and performance in ses activités et son rendement en ce For transformative change to occur, lationships with Indigenous communities. 2019-2020 supporting Canadian qui concerne le soutien fourni aux police institutions must acknowledge the Advancement and promotion of offi cers cleantech companies. entreprises de technologies propres truth of the broken relationship between to higher ranks heavily favours white canadiennes en 2019-2020. police and Indigenous communities; only males—individuals who “look like us” and then can much-needed reform happen. “fi t in with us.” In this world terms like or more information, Pour plus d’informations, To know where we need to go, we have to “corporate commitment” and “loyalty” are please visit www.sdtc.ca veuillez visiter www.sdtc.ca recognize how we got here. euphemisms for “yes-men and women.” My experience as an Indigenous woman Diversity within all ranks of law en- in law enforcement has given me a unique forcement, not just entry-level positions, insight into the injustices faced by Indig- is a matter of safety. The lack of diversity enous peoples. I served as a police offi cer in within the higher ranks of policing has led Ontario for 25 years—19 of them teaching to a disconnect with diverse communities. use-of-force and fi rearms to recruits at the For promotions to diversify police institu- Ontario Police College and my police service. tions, particularly in the areas of recruiting I served in many remote northern Indig- and training, substantive shifts in policies, enous communities, and I was on the front processes and procedures will be required. lines of numerous police incidents involving The current, narrow focus on recruitment is Indigenous peoples. I obtained my law de- not enough. gree during my police career and have since Transformative change within the transitioned into the practice of law. institutional structure of policing is long Canada’s relationship with Indigenous overdue. Extensive cultural competency peoples is deeply rooted in colonialism training, starting with senior police ranks, 6 MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News

Deputy Prime ‘We just don’t Minister Chrystia Freeland has been stickhandling know:’ some some of the discussions around the Canada-U.S. border closure, MPs with which has been shut to non- essential travel since March. border ridings Some MPs with border ridings say the closure may continue unsure if non- into the new year. The Hill Times photograph essential travel by Andrew Meade will be allowed nesses market and promote as going to be close for the next six and [they’d] investigate,” said Mr. they recover from the pandemic’s months,” he said. Sheehan. impact. Mr. Barlow said his constitu- Liberal MP Marcus Powlowski He added that when a decision ents are “pretty much split … but (Thunder Bay-Rainy River, Ont.), is eventually made to reopen the I’d say when we see the numbers a physician by trade, said most by new year, but border, the feds should pres- south of the border, I don’t think people in his riding support the ent substantive “benchmarks” there’s any good health reason closure, seeing it as prioritizing to prove why that decision was right now to open it.” He said he “health concerns over economic made, as a form of due diligence. has “dozens, if not in the hun- concerns.” not in any rush Until then, the current 30-day dreds” of constituents who own “I think there’s a general approach is a “prudent one” and vacation properties in areas like perception that we’ve done better allows the government to be Montana and Idaho, and said it’s than the States in managing the “nimble” in its decisions. been diffi cult for them to tend pandemic, and we don’t want to open border NDP MP Richard Cannings to those properties because of to have that all undermined by (South Okanagan—West Koote- the limitations. Offi cials at both opening the border,” he said. “One nay, B.C.) said there’s a “huge sen- borders have said in the past that of the saving graces with COVID timent” in his riding that people checking on property is not con- for Canada has been that we’re a “don’t even want to think about sidered “essential travel.” vast country with large distances ‘I think Canadians VID-19 in the U.S., and 121,000 in reopening the border.” Liberal MP Terry Sheehan between a lot of the towns, and Canada. Tourism has been among “I think Canadians are learn- represents Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., we have used that to our advan- are learning to live the harder-hit industries amid ing to live with a closed border,” home to about 80,000 people, tage.” His Rainy River region, the pandemic, thanks to border he said, predicting that about 80 which has a sister city by the according to the Northwestern with a closed border,’ closures and limits on travel that per cent of his constituents want same name in Michigan of about Health Unit, has about 10 cases, have been in place for months to see it closed “for the foresee- 15,000 just across the St. Marys while the greater area has 44. says NDP MP Richard now. Ottawa has extended its ban able future.” River. “I’ve got a brother who lives in on discretion- “There obvi- Geneva. Normally I’m quite jeal- Cannings, predicting ary travel every ously has been ous of people who live in Europe, that about 80 per cent month since a lot of friend- that they can drive in one direc- March. ship and joint tion, and in an hour and half, be in of his constituents Public efforts through- Italy,” laughed Mr. Powlowski. “So Safety Minister out the years,” normally, the fact that there’s a lot want to see it closed Bill Blair (Scar- said Mr. Shee- of people close together, is some- borough South- han, who was thing that I fi nd kind of makes for ‘for the foreseeable west, Ont.) born and raised a more interesting life, but with announced on in the area, COVID-19 [possibly coming] to a future.’ Aug. 14 that the and served as place like Thunder Bay, which is border closure a city council- quite isolated unless you fl y here, BY PALAK MANGAT would be ex- lor for four it’s worked to our advantage.” tended until at terms before Asked how tourism operators s Ottawa continues to mea- least Sept. 21. becoming an like those running fi shing lodges Asure COVID-19 outbreaks on Like MP. “We miss and camps are coping with the a monthly basis to guide its deci- other MPs our American border restrictions, as some rely sions on limiting non-essential and experts, friends dearly, on American visitors, Mr. Pow- travel, some MPs with border Mr. Baldinelli we do, but both lowski said “some people … have ridings say that approach allows agreed there NDP MP Richard Cannings, pictured left on June 15, 2017, at The Hill Times’ sides of the been on board and realized that for fl exibility in an ever-changing is a need for annual party and who represents South Okanagan-West Kootenay, B.C., said border recog- it’s a necessary evil, and some pandemic, and they are not hope- governments there’s a ‘huge sentiment’ in his riding that people ‘don’t even want to think nize the need have in fact encouraged our bor- ful there will be any changes until to promote do- about reopening the border.’ The Hill Times photograph by Cynthia Münster to keep our ders to remain shut” to stamp out the new year. mestic tourism, citizens safe, so the possibility of cases, especially Speaking to The Hill Times “that notion of it’s absolutely given that some Indigenous com- this month, Conservative MP Tony stay-cation, getting into the GTA, “Whether that sentiment critical that we continue to do munities in his riding have poor Baldinelli (Niagara Falls, Ont.) the rubber tire market. But we’re will change through the winter, what we need to do.” sanitation systems, making them said his riding is the “No. 1 tour- missing out on the international depending on elections in the As of Aug. 14, the state of more vulnerable. ism leisure destination in all of market, and that international U.S. and what our own COVID Michigan alone had 99,000 cases He said he’s advocated “lo- Canada,” but his constituents un- market, we can’t expect to fully outbreaks look like, I don’t know,” to Canada’s 121,000. At the time of cally” for more direct fi nancial derstand why the border needs to recover until at least, at the earli- he said. the interview, Mr. Sheehan said the aid for those operators, and has remain closed, given the number est, next spring.” Some experts have suggested state had many more than Cana- spoken in the past about the limit- of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. He said that means a lot more the ban could be in place for da’s total, which “weighed heavily ed federal funding for such relief “COVID hit Niagara hard, is needed than the $4.5-million in one year, or wondered if Canada on the minds of my constituents.” measures. [tourism] is the economic engine marketing dollars that the feds should think on a three- or six- Like Mr. Cannings, he said he “The business community of our community,” he said in a announced in May for Niagara month basis, but Conservative has also been fi elding calls from wants certainty, but unfortunately, phone interview this month. “We Falls Tourism, where Economic MP John Barlow (Foothills, Alta.) people who see American license in some things in life, it’s impos- employ 40,000 workers, we have Development Minister Mélanie cautioned against putting an “ar- plates and have “visceral reac- sible to bring certainty in,” he over 16,000 hotel rooms, and Joly (Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Que.) bitrary date” on the measure. tions.” said. “So we just don’t know, and generate about $2.4-billion in said the “new movement” across “We have seen how quickly “All eyes and ears are open in we can’t give them our assurance tourism receipts in support of our the country is to “visit local.” things can change in this pan- the riding, so certainly if some- that next year everything is going economy.” The money is part of the feds’ demic, so I think going on a 30- body thinks somebody shouldn’t to be all fi ne and dandy.” As of Aug. 14, there were more $962-million regional relief and day basis is fi ne for right now, but be here, the Canada Border [email protected] than fi ve million cases of CO- recovery fund that will help busi- I don’t think we should say we’re Services Agency would be alerted The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020 7 News

NDP Leader ‘If you’re to sum up Jagmeet Singh, pictured on Jan. 22, 2020, in a Hill scrum. The NDP is where the NDP are at, trailing the Liberals and Conservatives by double- digits in several the Liberals have eaten national opinion polls, and in fourth-place in Quebec. The Hill Times their lunch’: missing photograph by a WE bump, NDP Andrew Meade

ing the Canadian Federation of “If you’re to sum up where the Independent Business. NDP are at … the Liberals have banking on Singh’s The party has also taken eaten their lunch,” said Mr. Nanos, credit for the Liberal decision who chairs Nanos Research. to expand the eligibility for the The NDP insiders said they government’s Canada Emergency believe the Liberals will have a Response Benefi t days after Mr. tougher time selling themselves record as ‘junior dance Singh campaigned publicly for to the political left after fi ve years the change. in power, and a record of broken “Now he’s got a record. He’s got promises and moves unpopular a minority Parliament that he made with progressive voters: ditching work,” said Robin MacLachlan, a electoral reform, failing to scrap partner’ in Parliament vice-president at Summa Strategies, mandatory minimum sentencing, and former staffer to NDP MPs Ed purchasing the TMX pipeline, and Broadbent and Paul Dewar. failing so far to deliver a national are ethically suspect, and govern Still, NDP insiders are con- Several NDP insiders said they pharmacare system. ‘When you have a for the benefi t of their friends. fi dent that the party is on the expect the party to continue, what Mr. Singh is “going to ramp up In the wake of the SNC-Lavalin right track. Its polling results Mr. MacLachlan called, its “junior the pharmacare, the childcare, the government that scandal, the NDP ran an election now aren’t far from where the dance partner” role when Parlia- wealth tax, housing arguments campaign ad in which Mr. Singh party stood with Canadians in ment returns. with some vigour. I don’t think is damaged by (Burnaby South, B.C.) told Cana- August of 2014, before it vaulted Bloc Québécois Leader Yves- that the Liberals will be in a posi- scandals, such as the dians that, unlike other leaders, into a serious contender to win François Blanchet (Beloeil-Cham- tion to match them,” said Robin “I don’t work for the wealthy and the 2015 election. The party also bly, Que.) vowed last week to Sears, a consultant at Earnscliffe Trudeau government well-connected. I don’t think gov- raised $1.3-million in the second bring down the government if Mr. Strategy Group who directed four ernment should be run for their quarter of 2020, more than it Trudeau, Mr. Morneau, and Ms. national NDP campaigns. right now, there is benefi t, like it has for decades. I did in the same quarter of 2016, Telford didn’t resign. The Liberals The NDP’s progressive politics believe that government should 2017, or 2018, and just less than only need the support of one of have cost the party some of its an opportunity to work for all of us.” the $1.4-million it raised in the the Bloc, Conservatives, or NDP traditional support in Canada’s Yet, news of the scandal trans- second quarter of 2019, an elec- to maintain the confi dence of the labour unions, however. Opposi- leverage your support lated into a meagre bump in pub- tion year. House. It’s not yet clear how the tion to the Trans Mountain and for priorities in your lic support for both the NDP and However, the party is still dig- Conservatives would handle a Keystone XL pipelines under Mr. Conservatives, at least according ging itself out of a fi nancial hole, confi dence vote this fall, as the Singh and Mr. Mulcair before him agenda,’ says former to national opinion polling. Polls and election campaigns cost a party is set to elect a new leader have alienated unionized trades- from Nanos Research show a party a great deal of money. Elec- at the end of this month. people who stand to gain from national director Karl four percentage point increase for tions Canada has not yet posted The NDP’s support will come such major construction projects. both parties between June 19 and the party’s annual fi nancial re- at a price, said Karl Bélanger, a “I have members that build Bélanger. Aug. 7. turn for 2019, but as of the end of former principal secretary to ex- pipelines. I’m a pipeline guy. That bump put the Conserva- 2018 the party owed $4.5-million NDP leader Tom Mulcair, and the So many of my members will Continued from page 1 tives at 30 per cent support na- more than it had in assets. Since president of the Douglas-Coldwell disagree with the position the tionwide, within striking distance then, the NDP has raised just Foundation. NDP has taken on oil and energy,” polls following the WE Charity of the Liberals, who were sitting more than $10-million, and spent “When you have a government Jerry Dias, the leader of Canada’s controversy, the NDP is betting at 36 per cent on Aug. 7, down roughly the same amount on last that is damaged by scandals, such largest private sector union, Uni- that party leader Jagmeet Singh’s just two points from before the fall’s election campaign. as the Trudeau government right for, told the CBC in October. work to pressure the government scandal. Occasional public grumbles of now, there is an opportunity to le- The NDP has also struggled into looking out for the little guy The NDP, however, has re- discontent from inside the party verage your support for priorities mightily in Quebec, losing seats in will pay off when it matters. mained in a distant third place in have largely ceased since the last in your agenda, priorities that you the province in the last two elec- The WE scandal has dogged the polls. Nanos had them at 18 election, when Mr. Singh turned can use, if successfully imple- tions. It now holds just one—Rose- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau per cent support on Aug. 7. Ekos in a campaign performance that mented, as a record on which to mont-La Petite-Patrie, a Montreal (Papineau, Que.) and his inner had the NDP at 15 per cent sup- likely saved his job as leader— run,” said Mr. Bélanger. riding where one of the party’s best- circle for more than a month, and port mid-way through July—20 even though the New Democrats Mr. Singh performed “excep- known faces, Alexandre Boulerice, counting. Mr. Trudeau, his chief of points behind the Liberals. Léger won 19 fewer seats than they had tionally well” in the last cam- won his third consecutive election. staff, Katie Telford, and Finance had the NDP at 15 per cent sup- captured in 2015. paign, said Ms. Nash. “I expect Recent polls by Nanos, Léger, Minister Bill Morneau (Toronto port, the Conservatives at 29, and NDP insiders largely chalked he’ll do that again in the next Ekos Research, and Abacus Data Centre, Ont.) were dragged in the Liberals at 36, in a poll taken up the stagnant polling results election, and hope that that’s all put the NDP in fourth place in front of an opposition-controlled from Aug. 7 to Aug. 9. to the pandemic, which shifted when people are paying attention, Quebec. House Finance Committee to face “If you’re going to have a scan- public attention squarely onto because that’s when the numbers Mr. Bélanger said he believes a grilling on their involvement in dal, the middle of the summer the governing Liberals, and to the really matter.” Mr. Singh was able to break the award of a big fi nancial con- is probably your best time,” said party’s decision to support the The NDP are in diffi cult politi- through to some degree with tract, $500-million, to an organi- Peggy Nash, a former NDP MP Liberals in the House of Com- cal terrain that will likely carry Quebecers during the last elec- zation with ties to all three. and fi nance critic. mons in exchange for action on into the next election, however, tion campaign, and needs to be The affair dominated news “Am I seeing momentum right NDP priorities—a strategy that according to veteran pollster Nik seen and heard more often in the headlines, beginning in late June, now? No. But I’m not seeing mo- may not pay off in the polls right Nanos. The party has effectively province to turn that into real and continued to generate new mentum right now for any party,” away. been “crowded out” of the picture momentum in the next campaign. coverage through last week. Eth- said Ms. Nash, who now chairs an One senior NDP staffer, by the Liberals, who have tracked Running against two party leaders ics Commissioner Mario Dion advisory committee at Ryerson speaking on a not-for-attribution to the left under Mr. Trudeau. native to Quebec will make the is—for the third time—investigat- University’s Centre for Labour basis, pointed as an example to That dynamic hurts the New task even more diffi cult, he said. ing Mr. Trudeau, and Mr. Morneau Management Relations. the Liberal government’s deci- Democrats, said Mr. Nanos; even “I don’t know if it will be differ- as well. The New Democrats are cur- sion in March to expand its 10 when the Liberals disappoint ent next time. For that to happen, The scandal fi ts neatly into rently the fourth party in the per cent wage subsidy to instead left-wing voters, they have more the NDP will have to recruit some a narrative the federal NDP has House, with 24 seats. The Liberals cover 75 per cent of wages, after appeal to that group than a very strong candidates,” he said. been trying to weave since before have 156, the Conservatives 121, campaigning from Mr. Singh, as Conservative Party that thrives [email protected] the last election: that the Liberals and the Bloc Québécois has 32. well as business lobbyists includ- when the progressive vote is split. The Hill Times 8 MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 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 Time for Prime Minister Trudeau to regain KAIROS joins the mounting call in support of permanent residency for foreign migrant workers: Sorio trust, and to lead better in challenging times AIROS joins the mounting call in sup- could create an effi cient one-step solution Kport of permanent residency for foreign by granting all overseas workers permanent peaking at the House Ethics Committee damaged public trust in the prime min- migrant workers including those who have resident status upon arrival as part of build- Son Aug. 11, Canada’s federal Employ- ister, the fi nance minister, and the gov- fallen through bureaucratic cracks and are ing a fair and inclusive country. ment Minister Carla Qualtrough put it ernment. This is an issue of trust, strong undocumented. We urge the federal govern- There was a time when Canada did bluntly. She said the federal government leadership, and good judgment, especially ment to immediately grant these work- this. Up until the early 1970s, workers from had “dropped the ball” on the whole student in these extremely challenging times, and, ers status and, moving forward, status upon abroad—primarily Europe—who fi lled volunteer program which quickly turned on these fronts, the prime minister hasn’t arrival for all migrant workers. labour shortages were granted permanent into the WE Charity fi asco. Ms. Qualtrough done himself any favours. Prime Minister Unlike migrant workers in other sectors, residency upon arrival. Their services were said she could make “no excuse or justifi ca- Trudeau, his government, the bureaucracy caregivers have a pathway to permanent needed and they were regarded as valued tion” for the roles played by Prime Minister and the provincial premiers have indeed residence if they complete two years of work workers and future citizens. Also, from 1960 Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Bill been working exceptionally hard over the in Canada. However, caregivers who work to 1986 Canada implemented regularization Morneau who should have recused them- last fi ve months to deliver those services for unscrupulous employers can see this programs and provided permanent residence selves from cabinet’s decision to award the to Canadians. That should be acknowl- pathway erode when forced to leave—or be status to illegal/undocumented migrants, in- $500-million contract to the charity to ad- edged, but the prime minister can’t afford forced to endure two years of hardship to cluding the Chinese Adjustment Statements minister the federal government’s student to make any more mistakes, especially fi nally earn status in Canada. Program that ran from 1960 to 1973. volunteer program, one that both men have easily avoidable ones and especially as the Since COVID-19 hit I have been swamped Canada could glean some lessons from family connections to. country heads into choppier waters with with phone calls from migrant workers in these experiences and support our fellow hu- “It was a pandemic and things were an expected second wave of the pandemic various sectors who were fi red, received man beings who fi ll roles in essential sectors. crazy and we were going at break-neck and even more diffi cult economic times. A minimal support after contracting the virus, Connie Sorio speed. But we should have not dropped the Leger and the Association for Canadian or felt trapped in abusive workplaces. Migrant justice coordinator ball on this,” she said. “It’s an unfortunate Studies poll released two weeks ago found Caregivers, like all migrant workers, are KAIROS situation. I don’t think in any way it takes that nearly half of Canadians would sup- vetted prior to coming to Canada. Canada Ottawa, Ont. away from the other really important, and port an election right now if the federal I would say, fantastic work that we’ve done ethics commissioner fi nds the prime for students and for Canadians writ large. minister violated the Confl ict of Interest Families got the public inquiry into Nova But they should have recused themselves Act again over the WE Charity issue, The and they’ve apologized for not doing so, Canadian Press recently reported. Scotia’s shootings, not Liberal MPs: Nick Beaton and I accept that apology and believe If the prime minister wants to regain we’ve learned from this.” some of that lost public trust, he could e: ” ‘I await your response’: inside N.S. From your article, readers would be left “We knew from the start things would shake up his PMO and shuffl e his cabinet, Liberal MPs’ push for a public inquiry,” to believe that Nova Scotia Liberal MPs RThe Hill Times not be perfect, and we were prepared to but he’s also going to have to set a serious ( , Aug. 5, p. 1). This article was were the ones who got us our inquiry. In have to course correct when we needed. legislative and policy agenda for the fall. incredibly hurtful. I know your paper often reality, Nova Scotia Liberal MPs didn’t say There was no time to test or pilot the pro- He’s also going to have to reach out to the covers events in and around the “Ottawa a word about wanting an inquiry before a grams. We had to understand the limits of opposition parties more and show that bubble,” but it would have been nice if you review was announced. Then, Nova Scotia our existing system and work with them,” he’s listening. Good things can happen in had burst that bubble and come talk to me, Liberal MPs signed off on a letter support- she said. minority Parliaments, especially during or any of the other family members who lost ing a review, not an inquiry. It’s not quite the scandal the opposition challenging times. If the prime minister mothers, and fathers and sons and wives Make no mistake, the families ensured parties were hoping for and it’s under- wants to stick around, he’s going to have before putting it out. Let me be honest: what we got an inquiry. We made this happen. standable that mistakes will be made to change his style, stop and think, com- we watched happen over the last two weeks, My fellow Bluenosers made this happen. when the government’s been operating at municate better, and start making good doesn’t match up with this version of events. Sympathetic Canadians across the country “break-neck speed” and under the guiding on some of his political promises left over Losing my wife and my unborn child who I’ll never meet, and who saw something principle to deliver supports “quickly and from the last two election campaigns. It’s is a pain I hope no one reading this ever wrong, spoke up, and made this happen. reliably” to Canadians. But there’s also show time. knows. Knowing it likely could have been Canada’s federal Public Safety Minis- no doubt the WE Charity controversy has The Hill Times prevented with proper use of the emergency ter Bill Blair’s reversal all felt staged, to be alert system makes it even more diffi cult. honest. Inquiries answer those kinds of questions. Can Ms. Zann and Mr. Fraser show a They give families closure, or at least they’re little bit of humility and just say “we were supposed to. wrong,” instead of trying to take credit for So why did the federal and provincial doing something someone else did? Is being governments make this process so hard a Liberal more important than being a Nova on us? Why did it take the backlash from a Scotian? I’m overwhelmed with the love this review that nobody wanted for all the politi- country has shown me and the other fami- cians to crawl out of the woodwork? lies, but I’ll never understand why people in Liberal MPs Lenore Zann, Sean Fraser, positions of power have continued to add to and the others didn’t lift a fi nger before the our pain. politics started to hurt them. They stayed Nick Beaton quiet when we needed their voices. Belmont, N.S. O’Toole leadership win would be victory for Trudeau: reader n this “Era of Wokeness,” along with the on whether he believes it even exists. Iascension of Black Lives Matter into O’Toole will hand the Trudeau Liberals the public consciousness, I believe that an easy victory during the next elec- it would be detrimental to the Conser- tion, should he become Tory leader. vative Party of Canada to have Erin Canada cannot afford another four years O’Toole as its leader. O’Toole recently of Justin Trudeau. refused to use the word “racism” and Gila Kibner did not answer clearly when pressed Toronto, Ont.

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as an Afro-Asian American. She Here she that drinking bleach can help Kamala Harris and has political experience at the lo- comes: clean out COVID-19. cal, state and national levels and Kamala Harris can expect some negative Joe Biden will be an she represents the generational Harris was pushback from Trump supporters change that the American presi- revealed as in the media, but they are becoming unbeatable ticket dential race desperately needs. the vice- fewer and farther between. in the United States The same day she joined the presidential Her selection will motivate American ticket, Andrew Scheer choice of women, uplift minorities and as Donald Trump’s spent his last day in Parliament as Democratic inspire a younger generation, all the leader of the Conservative Party. White decisive players in the presiden- mishandling of the And, oh, what a bitter exit it House tial election in November. was. His fi nal public statement was nominee As for Scheer, his replacement pandemic has caused to challenge the prime minister to Joe Biden. will be voted on shortly and an- him continued sue him, a reference to the heated Photograph nounced as soon as the com- campaign rhetoric when leaders courtesy of plexities of the mail-in balloting erosion within his were calling each other liars. Flickr system are conquered. Scheer presented a rather If it is Peter MacKay, you can own party. sorry picture of a political leader expect Scheer’s standing in his who was wanted neither by his His exit speech last week solidi- Donald Trump weighed in party to diminish even further. party nor his country. fi ed that impression. Instead of using immediately, pointing out one of MacKay’s success will be de- It was a disappointing fi nale his time in Parliament to refl ect on Harris’s few fl aws; she did not pendent upon distancing himself for a politician whose star seemed some of the positive things he was do very well in the presidential from the Rebel right, and that was to shine brightly throughout his able to accomplish, the outgoing runoff against Biden. the crowd that Scheer cultivated career. leader sounded like he was still on Trump hit the tweet scene to so successfully to gain power. An eastern-born westerner with the election campaign. Painfully trash her. As one American com- If Erin O’Toole wins, Scheer a good command of French, he vitriolic was the tone of his fi nal mentator noted, the president will still enjoy a place of honour was the natural choice for House speech in Parliament, a far cry from seems to glean special pleasure in a party with well-entrenched Speaker during the 10-year tenure the smiling young man who took his when he gets a chance to trash- Western Canadian roots. of prime minister Stephen Harper. place as the youngest House Speaker talk women, particularly women Meanwhile, Harris and Biden will Sheila Copps The position came with its in the history of Canadian politics. of colour. be an unbeatable ticket in the United Copps’ Corner own set of perks, a house and a Why would Scheer not follow But as others pointed out, States as Trump’s mishandling of the private apartment in Parliament. in the footsteps of other outgoing Biden’s decision to embrace a pandemic has caused him continued It also gave him a hospitality leaders, with a gracious state- former opponent also illustrates erosion within his own party. TTAWA—Leaders came and budget to wine and dine his fel- ment that unites people instead of the glaring difference between If the launch was any indica- Owent last week. low parliamentarians, preparing dividing them? the two presidential hopefuls. tion, Harris will be a positive And the coming was so much the way for his ascendance to the It is to be expected that your Trump pushes every opponent force for Biden. better than the going. Conservative leadership. fi rst days in power are your best. away, even when they are public The same cannot be said of the Kamala Harris was revealed All the while, Scheer was So, it is not surprising that Har- servants dishing up the advice that outgoing Conservative leader. as the vice-presidential choice of nurturing his brand as a smiling, ris’ week in the news was a far cry he appointed them to provide. He left Parliament with a bitter Democratic White House nomi- softer Tory who managed to make from Scheer’s snarling exit. Just look at his relationship taste in his mouth. nee Joe Biden. friends on all sides of the House. She immediately hit the cam- with Anthony Fauci. Sheila Copps is a former Jean She ticked all the boxes. With It wasn’t until he actually grasped paign trail with Biden and showed Fauci speaks truth to power Chrétien-era cabinet minister and a family tree straddling three con- the brass ring that we began to see exactly why she was the perfect and Trump simply cannot abide a former deputy prime minister. tinents, she can literally classify the seedier side of Scheer. choice to be his running mate. someone who disputes his claim The Hill Times

An impenetrable mist is masking our political future

elling episode, so let’s just begin tum to the progressive cause in brand new leader, it’ll also need Never before in our history have political tea- our exercise. Canada. to redefi ne itself in a time of ex- Here, in no particular order, ceptional economic and cultural leaf readers had to contend with so many are some key questions that need Will Canadians blame turbulence. What will that rede- answering to fully understand our fi ned party look like? Will it focus unstable variables, so many unknowns, so political future: Trudeau for a bad on policy or on the personality of many constantly shifting narratives, and so economy? its leader? Will it take sides in the What happens if Joe Experts keep warning us that, raging culture wars? What kind many unprecedented situations. Basically, of fi scal stances will it take? Will Biden wins? thanks to the recent societal it all makes for a future that’s like a distant lockdown, Canada is headed for the party be united? On a more As we all know, Americans an extreme economic downturn, tactical level, will Conservative shore shrouded in an impenetrable mist. are slated to go to the polls in a perhaps even a recession. Typi- strategists fi gure out a way to ex- few months to elect a president cally, of course, such dreadful ploit Liberal vulnerabilities? Only and who they choose will have economic news would be bad time will tell. readers had to contend with so real implications here in Canada. for the incumbent. But will that many unstable variables, so many For example, if the Democratic be the case now? Keep in mind, What will happen with unknowns, so many constantly nominee, Joe Biden, wins the Trudeau can always blame any shifting narratives, and so many White House (and for what it’s future economic downturn on the virus? unprecedented situations. worth, current polls say it’s likely the global pandemic and, if need Finally, perhaps the biggest Basically, it all makes for a he will) how will that impact on be, he can always blame Com- question of all concerns CO- future that’s like a distant shore Canada’s political scene? On one munist China. So, maybe voters VID-19; specifi cally, will there be shrouded in an impenetrable mist. hand, you could argue a Trump- will cut Trudeau some slack and a “second wave?” If COVID surges So rather than making any less America might hurt Prime won’t hold him responsible if a in the fall or winter, does that wild guesses about what’s to Minister Justin Trudeau chances mean another round of lock- Gerry Nicholls recession occurs. Or maybe they come, I thought it’d make more as this would remove one his will. When economic anxiety downs? What will that do to the Post-Partisan Pundit sense to list and examine some of most potent pitches: “Vote for me actually starts to soar, rightly economy? How will voters react? the questions lingering in the air. because I’m Canada’s progres- or wrongly, the guy in charge Hard to say. Knowing the extent of the sive answer to Trump’s dangerous might get the blame. Politics So, yeah. Lots of questions out AKVILLE, ONT.—Anyone chaos could perhaps present us populism. Only I have what it isn’t always fair. there muddying up the waters. Owho dares to make predic- with an overall picture of where takes to stand up to him.” In short, But that’s okay. Sometimes tions about Canada’s political we stand now, which might help no Trump, means no longer any How will the questions are more interesting future right now, does so at their us come to grips with possible need for an anti-Trump. On the than answers. peril. alternative futures. other hand, however, perhaps a Conservatives react? Gerry Nicholls is a communi- After all, never before in our Okay, this is beginning to Biden victory would help Trudeau, The Conservative Party of cations consultant. history have political tea-leaf sound like a Star Trek time-trav- since it might help give momen- Canada not only has to choose a The Hill Times 10 MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Politics

guns, an M-14 rifl e, and a hand- gun breached security on the It’s perception politics, Rideau Hall estate where Trudeau and his family live while 24 Sus- sex Drive is under renovation. The man had driven all the way from Manitoba seeking out the PM. where the scent of blood in The RCMP later laid 22 criminal charges against Corey Hurren, including uttering a threat to “cause death or bodily harm” to the prime minister. Luckily, the political water’s enough to Trudeaus were not at home. It must have seemed like déjà vu. In August of 2014, Trudeau’s wife and children were asleep in their Ottawa residence when cause a feeding frenzy of someone broke in. Trudeau was in Winnipeg at the time and was understandably rattled. He has always been aware of an assas- sination threat, and that was one of things he considered with his half truths, misinformation, closest advisers before agreeing to run for his party’s leadership. Finally, the near term pros- pects for leading any government in the COVID-19 era are poor, and garden-variety slander to say the least. Politicians, who can read a balance sheet but not a scientifi c report, are already clamouring for the transition from fi ghting the pandemic to And according reopening the economy. They are fools. to people like Dr. If Trudeau is imprudent enough to take that route, he will Anthony Fauci, that be confronted with the defi cits he second phase could has incurred battling COVID-19 with his massive economic aid be far worse than the package. Compassion will quickly be turned into allegations of fi rst one that caused mismanagement. Most people liked the meal Trudeau served up. a shutdown of the They will like it less when the bill economy. Under appears. But there is something far those circumstances, worse about rushing into the reopening of the economy than anyone running the the unavoidable necessity of re- covering some of the vast amount country will be the money that’s been spent. The Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, PM's chief of staff Katie Telford, Finance Minister Bill Morneau, Conservative MP Pierre pandemic is not only not over, the PM of chaos and Poilievre, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, and Mark Carney. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade world is almost certainly headed catastrophe. for a second phase. program handed to the WE Char- Rob Silver. Like WE, MCAP previous fi ndings that Trudeau According to people like Dr. ity on a sole-source basis. got the contract to administer a has broken the ethical guidelines, Anthony Fauci, that second phase The Bloc will inevitably get federal program, this one dealing a lot of people will be talking could be far worse than the fi rst help from the new CPC leader. with rent subsidy. about what usually happens when one that caused a shutdown of Regardless of who that is, they Unlike WE, MCAP won the you take a strike three. the economy. Under those cir- will be straining at the leash to contract through a competitive The PM’s personal conduct is cumstances, anyone running the show that they are more san- bidding process administered by not the only thing raising ques- country will be the PM of chaos guine than the feckless Andrew the public service. And unlike the tions about his judgment. and catastrophe. Everything Scheer when it comes to caveman PM, who did not recuse himself Trudeau was thrilled when he else in, that may not prove to be politics. Club the victim fi rst, let from the cabinet decision to found out that former astronaut an attractive proposition—just scholars worry about the facts shower WE with cash for running Julie Payette was available to fi ll as it didn’t for Liberal premier later. the student volunteer program, the Governor-General’s post. The Stephen McNeil of Nova Sco- Michael Harris And while they’re trying to Telford removed herself from all hurrays turned to horror when tia. Exhausted by his province’s Harris bring down the PM, they will also discussions about the MCAP deal. the CBC broke a story alleg- battle with the pandemic, and the be going for Bill Morneau’s throat The opposition parties could ing widespread harassment and recent mass shooting, McNeil an- because the fi nance minister care less about ethical walls or abuse of staff at Rideau Hall. nounced he was stepping down. ALIFAX—It has been the was so sloppy, or so entitled, that screens or recusals. They practise Payette and her secretary No one could be totally surprised Hsummer of discontent for he forgot to pay for $41,000 in perception politics, where the were accused by multiple staff if Trudeau took the same path. Justin Trudeau. travel lavished on him by the star- scent of blood in the political wa- members of allegedly creat- And hovering behind all that Despite a stumble start when crossed WE Charity. He also fool- ter is enough to cause a feeding ing a “toxic” work environment, is the redoubtable Mark Carney, COVID-19 fi rst appeared in ishly participated in the cabinet frenzy of half truths, misinforma- charges that convinced the Privy a person some are already saying Canada, he should be basking decision to outsource the massive tion, and garden-variety slander. Council Offi ce that an indepen- is the understudy-in-waiting to in praise for his solid handling contract to WE. Nor can the PM be happy that dent investigator had to look into assume the fi nance minister’s job of the pandemic, once he real- Even the PM’s senior offi ce the WE scandal has drawn in his these serious and unprecedented should Morneau end up under ized the gravity of the situation. staff will be in the crosshairs of own family—wife Sophie, mother complaints. the bus for his blundering on the Instead, the newspapers are full opposition snipers. Having forced Margaret, and brother Alexandre. As Trudeau refl ects on the WE fi le. of stories about cronyism, dishon- out Trudeau’s principle secretary, His fate on that score is in the state of his political karma, he Depending on the result of esty, and scandal besmirching his Gerald Butts, over the SNC- hands of Mario Dion, the ethics must be haunted by the grim fact Justin Trudeau’s soul-searching government. Lavalin Scandal, now the target commissioner. that threats against himself and about his own future, the former When Parliament gets back is Katie Telford, his chief-of-staff If Dion fi nds that either other members of the government governor of the Bank of England to full-time business, the Bloc and long-time acolyte. Trudeau and Morneau broke the have gone up 30 per cent over last and the Bank of Canada could be Québécois will be leading the Telford’s alleged confl ict of confl ict-of-interest rules, Ca- year. That point was brought into aiming much higher than that. pack in demanding the PM’s interest? Federal money, $84-mil- nadians will be inundated with sharp focus on July 2. Michael Harris is an award- resignation for botching the now lion, going to a mortgage com- editorial screeds about how unfi t A member of the Canadian winning journalist and author. moribund student volunteer grant pany that employs her husband, for offi ce both men are. With two military armed with two shot- The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020 11 Opinion

from the PBO released earlier this month found that a tax on Wealth tax is key to a green, the richest Canadians’ wealth would net $5.6-billion in annual revenue. Most Canadians, even across political parties, support just recovery—and long overdue such a tax. Abacus Data polling suggested that 75 per cent of re- spondents supported a one to two dous—in human lives, socially, to anyone that, to date, certain ing access to drinking water for per cent tax on the value of assets While COVID-19 culturally and, of course, eco- socio-demographic groups have all Indigenous communities in of Canada’s wealthiest people nomically. This pandemic has also been disproportionately affected Canada—I could go on. to help pay for the recovery. It is has had dramatic thrown the realities of inequality by this pandemic; we need only When it comes to the money, time for tax reform to ensure that right in our faces. Everybody is think of women, Indigenous I fi nd myself wanting to shout the cost of the pandemic is fairly consequences on the talking about recovery now, and Peoples, racialized communities, my response to these naysayers, shared. wallets of ordinary many (fortunately) are talking and migrant workers. A green “Let’s go fi nd it where it is!” Still think I’m too radical? about a green and just recovery. and just recovery must absolutely While COVID-19 has had Millionaires disagree with you. people like us, the I’ve seen these concepts used in identify and recognize these in- dramatic consequences on the Several of them have chosen to all kinds of ways, depending on equalities and take urgent action wallets of ordinary people like co-sign an open letter asking their wealthiest have who the person is and where they to correct them. us, the wealthiest have become respective governments to tax stand on the political spectrum. In this respect, Greenpeace richer during this pandemic. A them more: “Immediately. Sub- become richer during Whatever your political lean- is among several environmental, TaxCOOP report released at the stantially. Permanently.” Because, ings, the reality remains the social, and civil society organi- end of May showed that the fi ve as they so eloquently put it, “We this pandemic. same: the current health crisis zations presenting our elected richest billionaires in Canada must rebalance our world before is going to be very expensive. In representatives with recom- saw their wealth increase by it is too late.” April alone, just one month after mendations for a recovery that nine per cent between March 16 We can’t miss the boat with the start of lockdown, nearly 5.5 addresses inequality and injustice and May 16, 2020. In fact, one this recovery plan. We will not million Canadians lost their jobs and which implements major per cent of Canadians own 25.6 see investments of this magni- or had their hours cut by more structural measures aimed at per cent of the wealth, accord- tude from our governments again than half, according to Statistics mitigating the climate crisis. This ing to the Offi ce of the Parlia- any time soon. If we really want Canada. Finance Minister Bill is what we mean by a green and mentary Budget Offi cer. Such to build back better, we have an Morneau, for his part, is forecast- just recovery. staggering wealth inequality is opportunity—today—to seize it. ing a $343.2-billion defi cit for the With these recommendations directly tied to the environment: The climate crisis cannot wait. fi scal year 2020-2021. The neces- come doubts and questions about the world’s top 10 per cent of Inequalities will not go away by sity of a stimulus plan is not in the feasibility of such a recovery. income earners are responsible themselves, and we must give Marie-Christine Fiset question, but the kind of recovery How will we fi nance it? Where for 25 to 43 per cent of environ- ourselves the means to achieve Opinion we want defi nitely is. will we fi nd the money? It’s al- mental impact. our ambitions. The impacts of COVID-19 are ways the same old story when we So when we ask ourselves Marie-Christine Fiset is the unlikely to be shouldered equi- talk about raising the minimum how we can fi nance a green and head of media at Greenpeace ONTREAL—The cost of tably by all people in Canada. I wage, when we talk about going just recovery, two words, come to Canada. MCOVID-19 has been tremen- don’t think it comes as a surprise green, when we talk about provid- mind: wealth tax. Another report The Hill Times

cians’ extra-billing by amending the Canada Health Act to deduct Fiscal federalism: driving in any extra billing from that prov- ince’s fi scal transfer. The Supreme Court has just upheld the federal government’s genetic privacy leg- islation as constitutional despite the dark without lights or a map objections from Quebec. In the current pandemic emer- gency, high-quality, standardized, the Safe Restart Program, though Once we have standardized real-time data on excess deaths, Feds should make without any details so far. individual-level data on COVID COVID cases and hospitaliza- What does the federal govern- cases, including factors like tions, and details on the opera- data a priority, tie it to ment receive in return? Almost age, sex, neighbourhood, other tions of the thousands of nursing nothing, not even decent data. diseases, the individual’s homes and retirement residences new health funding. Canada suffers profoundly from household composition, race, across Canada are essential. a major lack of high-quality pan- hospitalization rates, disease For nursing homes, we need Canadian data, especially high- severity, and deaths, as the these data to learn why some were lighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. U.K. has been able to do for completely successful in avoid- While U.S. analysts are able in near 17 million of its residents in ing any novel coronavirus cases real time to estimate and project near real time, then Canada amongst residents and staff, while COVID cases, hospitalizations and will be able to support far more others suffered tragically. In turn, deaths down to the county level, sophisticated analysis and such statistical information will Canada is barely able to produce projections to deal with the provide the federal government the comparable data by province. current top pandemic issues— strong evidence base needed to take A portion of the $19-billion not least, whether to open bars or the lead in establishing national announced is meant to help fund schools, writes Michael Wolfson. standards for nursing home staffi ng Michael Wolfson COVID testing and tracing, and Photograph courtesy of Pexels levels, though action on staffi ng Opinion improvements in long-term care. must not wait for perfect data. There is widespread agree- But the federal government has after its initial funding in 2004, would Once we have standardized ment that a major failing in the essentially no data in this area. have enabled a very different out- individual-level data on COVID cas- TTAWA—Yet again, the fed- tragic and disproportionate CO- The provinces have typically come this year, with likely far fewer es, including factors like age, sex, Oeral government looks like it VID-19 mortality rates in nursing objected that health care is a pro- cases and deaths from COVID-19. neighbourhood, other diseases, the is about to transfer tens of billions homes was due to poor staffi ng vincial jurisdiction, so the federal Paper agreements and cajoling individual’s household composition, of dollars to the provinces with es- levels. As strongly recommended government cannot compel them the provinces with optional sub- race, hospitalization rates, disease sentially no strings attached. in a just published Royal Society to provide sorely needed data. sidies have clearly failed. It’s time severity, and deaths, as the U.K. has We’ve seen this before. The of Canada report, it is essential to However, we have had almost two for a much tougher stance. been able to do for 17 million of 2004 First Ministers’ Health Ac- have high-quality data on current decades of cajoling the prov- The federal government has its residents in near real time, then cord transferred $40-billion to the staffi ng levels, and to have these inces with the federally funded the necessary constitutional pow- Canada will be able to support far provinces with homecare as one connected at the individual level Canada Health Infoway paying ers, including explicit jurisdiction more sophisticated analysis and of the priorities. In the 2017 Health to health outcomes. This crucial at least half the cost to develop for statistics, plus criminal law projections to deal with the current Accord, $11-billion was trans- information is fundamental for and implement standardized and and spending powers, and the top pandemic issues—not least, ferred with money earmarked for the federal government to develop interoperable software systems general peace, order and good whether to open bars or schools. homecare and for mental health the evidence-based national stan- for electronic health records. government (POGG) power, to Michael Wolfson, PhD, is a and addictions. We have no evi- dards for long-term care so many Most relevant for the current compel the collection and fl ows of former assistant chief statistician dence of any signifi cant progress have been calling for. pandemic, Infoway was specifi cally 21st century kinds of data. at Statistics Canada and a mem- in the provision of home care. The issue of inadequate staffi ng tasked with producing a system for Monique Bégin, as Canada’s ber of the Centre for Health Law, The most recent transfer an- levels has been known for decades anticipating and dealing with infec- federal minister of health from Policy and Ethics at the Univer- nounced July 23 by the prime and has been pointed out repeat- tious disease outbreaks. This system, 1977-1979 and 1980-1984, success- sity of Ottawa. minister promises $19-billion for edly in various reports and studies. had it been working even 15 years fully ended the practice of physi- The Hill Times 12 MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion Japan can be Canada’s partner in combatting COVID

Organization (WHO). While the WHO’s han- Canada has maintained a dling of COVID-19 has been seriously fl awed, diplomatic relationship global pandemics require a global response. We need to reform the WHO, not abandon it. with Japan for more than 90 Japan is an even larger fi nancial contributor to the WHO than Canada and our two countries years, but that relationship should work together to reform and strengthen the institution. We need to learn the lessons remains underdeveloped. from COVID-19 and to increase transparency and information-sharing among members. Secondly, we must increase our efforts to support trade fl ows of medical goods. The early days of the pandemic were marked by a scramble for governments and businesses to secure personal protective equipment. As economies continue to reopen, the acute need for these products will only grow. Export controls enacted around the world became a huge problem as they disrupted the Dear fellow PEN supporter, fl ow of medical supplies and equipment when Perrin Beatty they were needed most. Efforts to resolve this I’m writing today to ask you to join me in donating to PEN Canada at this Opinion issue are currently at an early stage at the critical time. World Trade Organization, but Canada and Japan can take a leadership role through the TTAWA—The world as we knew it before Ottawa Group to develop transparent and Since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, PEN Canada has experienced a 70 OCOVID-19 is gone and not likely to return. predictable rules on the trade in medical prod- percent drop in fundraising revenues. In addition to the transformation being forced ucts. It’s in our mutual self-interest to ensure by the pandemic, the great power rivalry and we have the supplies we need to protect our economic decoupling between the United citizens. Like many human rights organizations, PEN’s ability to deliver the important States and China have left Canada adrift in a Another area for joint activity is in sharing work it does depends predominantly on private donations. Not surprisingly, world without the structure that has been the best practices. Fortunately, we don’t each have this unprecedented decline in donations presents a significant challenge to the bedrock of Canadian foreign policy. to fi gure out how to deal with the pandemic by sustainability of PEN's work for the remainder of this fiscal year and perhaps In the absence of American leadership, ourselves. Instead, we can share best practices Canada needs to redouble its focus on key and learn what works and what doesn’t in its very survival in the future. bilateral relationships. Traditional allies like other countries. The numbers show that the the United Kingdom, France, and Australia will Japanese, despite living in one of the most In these days of growing social and political inequity and unrest, we need more remain key. However, our low-profi le relation- densely populated countries, are among the than ever to ensure that the voices of writers are heard. But without the support ship with Japan offers considerable opportu- world leaders in fl attening the curve. They nity for stepping up collaboration to the benefi t have developed innovative ways of identifying of donors like you and me, PEN Canada’s programs and indeed the organiza- of both countries. and isolating new clusters, and their rate of Our two tion itself are in real danger of collapse. Foreign Affairs Minister infections and countries François-Philippe deaths is one have much in Champagne, pictured July of the lowest So today, I am pledging to match up to $25,000 in your donations until we common. They 22, 2020, on the Hill. In reported. reach our goal of $50,000. are strong and the absence of American And, like increasingly leadership, Canada needs Canadians, the complicated Please join me in supporting PEN Canada. Share our message with your to redouble its focus on Japanese have economies key bilateral relationships. ready access friends and colleagues on Facebook and Twitter. that need Traditional allies like the to a modern much of what United Kingdom, France, health insur- the other pro- and Australia will remain ance system duces. Both key. However, our low- within a are parliamen- profi le relationship with complex web tary democra- Japan offers considerable of responsi- PENCanadaCentre @PENCanada pen_canada cies, possess opportunity for stepping up bilities at the strong public collaboration to the benefi t municipal, health care Donate today and help us continue to celebrate literature, protect freedom of of both countries, writes provincial/ systems, re- prefecture and Perrin Beatty. The Hill Times expression and ensure that our voices are heard. spect the rule photograph by Andrew Meade national levels. of law, support Finally, our Sincerely, multilateral- countries need ism, have interesting and powerful neighbours, to continue our efforts to develop a vaccine. enjoy a web of free trade agreements and Japan has recently launched human clinical possess well-educated workforces. As the two trials and the Japanese company, Medicago, is largest players in the Comprehensive and doing vaccination research in Canada. Deliver- Margaret Atwood Progressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacifi c ing vaccinations on a global scale will require Partnership, we were just starting to leverage an unprecedented global effort. As countries Honorary Vice-President, PEN International the opportunities presented by CPTPP before with some of the best scientifi c minds, bilateral the pandemic struck. cooperation can help us achieve our mutual The spread of the virus has disrupted some goals that much more easily. PEN Canada • www.pencanada.ca of the plans that were being formed, but it has Canada has maintained a diplomatic also created both an opportunity and an im- relationship with Japan for more than 90 401 Richmond St. W., Suite 258 Toronto, ON, M5V 3A8 perative for closer collaboration. As the world’s years, but that relationship remains underde- third-largest economy, Japan can be a crucial veloped. The current global environment has partner in the fi ght against COVID-19 and in both created new opportunities to engage with protecting Canadian interests. one another and has made collaboration even There are four main areas where we can more urgent. work bilaterally to combat the pandemic. Perrin Beatty is the president and chief First, preparing for a second wave of COV- executive offi cer of the Canadian Chamber of ID-19 or future pandemics will take global col- Commerce. laboration organized through the World Health The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020 13 Opinion India: the weight of history

Very few of today’s Muslims in India (or Pakistan or Bangladesh, for that matter) are descended from Central Asian conquerors. Most are descended from native-born Hindus who were forcibly converted to Islam, or changed their religion later to escape the Hindu caste system or the higher taxes paid by non-Muslims, or even sometimes for genuinely religious reasons. In a truly secular India, it wouldn’t matter, which is why the country’s founders insisted that it should be secular. But that’s not what Narendi Modi wants, and Modi is winning.

this is not going to end well for the Muslims. Indeed, it has al- ready ended very badly for some. Kashmir, the only Indian state with a Muslim majority, suddenly had its special status stripped away last August by Modi. Kashmir has been split in two and is occupied by hundreds of thousands of Indian troops. Most Gwynne Dyer of its politicians were kept under Global Aff airs arrest for six months without charge, and the most senior ones have been charged under the ONDON, U.K.—“India is emo- Public Safety Act, which allows Ltional as decades of wait has detention without trial for up to ended,” declared India’s Prime two years. Minister Narendra Modi, laying Five years ago, Indian-born the cornerstone of a new temple artist Anish Kapoor called Prime in Ayodhya a week ago. “For years Minister Modi a ‘Hindu Taliban,’ our Ram Lalla (the infant Lord and Modi’s role in promoting an Ram) lived beneath a tent; now he anti-Muslim pogrom that killed will reside in a grand temple.” As 2,000 (including some Hindus) if infants cared about the size of when he was chief minister of their dwelling. Gujarat state in 2002 gave early The 16th-century mosque evidence of his promise. But he that once stood on the site was was surprisingly low-key about India can never expel 170 destroyed by a Hindu mob in religion during his fi rst term as million Muslims. There’s 1992, sparking riots that killed prime minister of all India in nowhere else for them to go. more than 2,000 people. Modi had 2014-19. The goal of Narendra Modi visited the location the previous That went well economically, and his Hindu supremacist year, swearing not to return until and Modi was rewarded with a Bharatiya Janata Party the mosque was gone and a Hin- landslide majority in the May, (BJP—Indian People’s du temple was under construction 2019 election—whereupon he Party) is to redefi ne them on the site, and lo!—there he was dropped his mask of modera- as an underclass without laying a 40 kilogram foundation tion and went on an anti-Muslim rights, and at the same stone of pure silver for the new spree. Kashmir last August, Ayod- time to preserve them as temple. hya this August—and in between, a permanent ‘threat’ that Does Narendra Modi really be- a pair of new laws that threaten keeps Hindus united behind lieve that Rama, 7th avatar of the to take away the citizenship of the BJP, writes Gwynne Hindu god Vishnu, was born at many of India’s Muslims. (They’re Dyer. Photograph courtesy of this particular site in Ayodhya at less trouble if they can’t vote.) Commons Wikimedia 12:05 p.m. on Jan. 10, 5114 BC? As One new law is the National with any politician who exploits Register of Citizens, which every- religion to gain power, we’ll never one must be inscribed in. To be reg- really know, and in any case it istered, however, you have to prove immigrants, that will give them Why do so many Hindus go converted to Islam, or changed doesn’t matter. you are a citizen, which would pose automatic citizenship if they are along with this vicious nonsense? their religion later to escape the What does matter is the a problem for many people who Hindu, Sikh, Christian or Bud- Because for about seven centuries Hindu caste system or the higher exploitation, which is destroying lack the necessary documents to dhist. Muslims, however, do not waves of Muslim invaders from taxes paid by non-Muslims, or the secular Indian democracy of prove they were born in India. It’s get a free pass. No documents? central Asia ruled over most of even sometimes for genuinely the past. And, of course, not only a particular problem for Muslims, Problems. India. It ended in the 18th century religious reasons. Hindu extremists exploit religion: who are on average poorer than India can never expel 170 mil- with the establishment of British It was all a very long time ago, on Aug. 9, police opened fi re on Hindus, and therefore less likely to lion Muslims. There’s nowhere rule (which didn’t interfere with and it shouldn’t matter now. In Muslim demonstrators in Banga- have such documents. else for them to go. The goal of religion), but by then one-third a truly secular India, it wouldn’t lore, killing three, after local Mus- But never mind: the Citizen- Narendra Modi and his Hindu su- of the population of the subconti- matter, which is why the country’s lim leaders spotted a Facebook ship Amendment Act, passed at premacist Bharatiya Janata Party nent was Muslim. founders insisted that it should be post by a Hindu politician that the same time, says that most (BJP—Indian People’s Party) is to Very few of today’s Muslims in secular. But that’s not what Modi allegedly “offended” the Prophet illegal immigrants and refugees redefi ne them as an underclass India (or Pakistan or Bangladesh, wants, and Modi is winning. Muhammad. (Does he really take will be allowed to register without without rights, and at the same for that matter) are descended Gwynne Dyer’s new book is offence so easily?) such documents. Since undocu- time to preserve them as a per- from Central Asian conquerors. ‘Growing Pains: The Future of But there are six Hindus in mented people living in India will manent ‘threat’ that keeps Hindus Most are descended from native- Democracy (and Work)’. India for every Muslim Indian, so effectively be treated as illegal united behind the BJP. born Hindus who were forcibly The Hill Times 14 MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion

Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna, pictured Aug. 10, 2020, outside her Ottawa Centre constituency offi ce, addressing reporters following an incident at her constituency offi ce involving a man who launched into a invective- fi lled diatribe directed at her female staffer. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

province’s economic mainstay. Whipping up this kind of rancour Latest incident targeting has consequences, as McKenna might point out. In this context, Kenney and outgoing Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, and his impend- McKenna underscores urgency ing successor, might want to think twice about their strategy of blaming Trudeau for all of Canada’s problems in the most of eff ort to curb gender violence personally vituperative manner possible. This approach obviously breeds hatred among alienated, “This isn’t an isolated inci- overall effort that is required if he was avenging his status as angry people—the kind who call There’s a direct line dent,” McKenna said. “It’s not just Canadians are going to do some- an incel (involuntary celibate), a the prime minister a traitor or involving me, my staff members, thing serious about the poisonous term for men who blame society think it’s cute to wear T-shirts over the decades my family. Too often there are in- scourge of hate and violence be- for their failure to attract women. bearing threats to lynch him (the cidents against politicians, often ing amplifi ed by political polar- The term became infamous in type of thing seen on Parliament connecting the female politicians.” ization and the extremism and 2014 when a California man left a Hill on July 1). Montreal massacre It’s been eight months since dangerous conspiracy theories misogynistic manifesto after kill- The Trudeau government is Montreal marked the 30th year generated by social media—much ing six people. seized with the issue of gender- to the outpouring since the murder by a Quebec of which is focused on politicians Some analysts see anti- based violence and the need to do man of 14 women at the École and women leaders. feminist messaging as a prime more to confront this hate-driven of sexualized hate Polytechnique by offi cially nam- There’s a direct line over the gateway for alienated young men reality. An effective response will ing the incident for was what it decades connecting the Mon- transiting into the wider realm have to be wide-ranging, includ- and threats against was—an attack on feminists. treal massacre to the outpouring of extreme racism and poten- ing more support for women’s Catherine McKenna, That recognition was a long- of sexualized hate and threats tially violent behaviour fuelled by shelters, improved legal protec- overdue but important reminder against McKenna, which were of conspiracy theories prominent on tions, a crackdown on online hate which were of such of the violence and hate-monger- such concern last year that the the web. speech, education of judges in ing, particularly against women, government had to give her a Speaking at the UN following sexual assault law, and continued concern last year that that is increasingly being seen security detail. the Christchurch, New Zealand, efforts to curb workplace harass- here, and globally. But events And this aggression echoes terrorist attack in early 2019, ment. the government had since have only driven home in a worldwide phenomenon. No then-foreign affairs minister And the commitment will have the most appalling way the need doubt U.S. President Donald Chrystia Freeland said “neo- to be long-term and vigorous to give her a security to take action on an extremely Trump’s repeated vilifi cation Nazis, white supremacists, incels, enough to encourage real change. detail. urgent basis to confront this prob- of his female opponents—as in nativists, and radical anti-glo- On guns, for instance, the power lem. suggesting rival Hillary Clinton balists who resort to violent acts of the gun lobby is formidable, On April 18, Gabriel Wortman, should be jailed or maybe shot— are a threat to the stability of my as the reaction to the Liberals’ a man with a history of abusing has given licence to extremists country and countries around the outlawing of assault rifl es has his common-law wife, assaulted everywhere. Globally, illiberal world.” shown. Besides Conservative her in an outburst that kicked off populist strongman governments The upsurge of extremism in party opposition, the new gun a murderous, 13-hour rampage in Poland, Brazil, Turkey, the Phil- Canada has gained momentum regulations have infl amed intense in Nova Scotia, which led to the ippines, and other countries have from the angry reaction in the resentment among gun-owners worst-ever mass killing in Cana- fl ourished as they built various West to the economic downturn wedded to their misguided U.S.- da, with 22 people murdered. strains of anti-feminism into their in Alberta caused by the endur- style obsession with military-style On July 2, a heavily armed policies. ing oil price slump and resent- fi rearms. Canadian Armed Forces member The overall picture is deeply ment of non-Prairie Canadians’ And there’s no time to lose. A from Manitoba crashed his truck disturbing. According to the attitudes on climate change, woman or girl is killed every 2.5 Les Whittington through the gate at Rideau Hall World Health Organization, one pipelines, and oil and gas devel- days in Canada, according to a Need to Know and crossed the grounds on foot in three women globally, and one opment. report last year by the Canadian toward Prime Minister Justin in fi ve women in rich countries, Alberta Premier Jason Ken- Femicide Observatory for Justice Trudeau’s home. Besides alleged have experienced sexual and/or ney has politically weaponized and Accountability. And 90 per TTAWA—A hateful and fi rearms violations, the man is physical violence from a partner these hard-done-by feelings, ac- cent of the accused in these cases Oinvective-fi lled diatribe by a accused of uttering a threat to or sexual violence from a non- cusing Trudeau of purposely and are men. man at Infrastructure Minister “cause death or bodily harm” to partner. systematically putting Albertans Les Whittington is a regular Catherine McKenna’s constituency the prime minister. In Canada, a Toronto man who at a disadvantage. Part of Ken- columnist with The Hill Times. offi ce—now being investigated by The Liberal government was charged with fi rst-degree ney’s communications has been Editor’s note: This column was the Ottawa police hate crimes unit— is moving to tighten fi rearms murder after a 2018 van attack, an attempt to demonize envi- originally published on Dec. 11, is only the latest incident in a trend restrictions. Although welcome, which killed 10 pedestrians, in- ronmentalists as foreign-backed 2019, and was updated last week. that should alarm every Canadian. that’s only a small part of the cluding eight women, told police interlopers out to destroy his The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020 15 News New budget, cabinet would help Trudeau ‘reset’ the agenda, say Liberal insiders, pollster

The WE scandal conversations with WE before (Beloeil-Chambly, Que.) to bring the way,” said Mr. Easter, who said should think about rewarding that decision was made. Sev- down the government, an election he was “shocked” by errors in “due Atlantic Canada for its support has had a ‘corrosive eral executives and analysts in could come within the next year. diligence” by the Privy Council— for the Liberal government—Ekos Canada’s charitable sector told However, the governing Liber- the highest department in the put support for the Grits at 45 per impact’ on the The CBC in July that WE was not als have yet to deliver on almost federal public service—as well as cent in the region, Nanos at 54 the only charity that could have any of their promises from the among top political staffers in the per cent—and bring more than public’s trust of Justin delivered the student grant pro- last election, after a slow start government. the customary four Atlantic min- Trudeau and the gram, and in fact lacked experi- in Parliament and a quick pivot “They’re going to have to fi nd isters into cabinet. ence and some of the connections to managing the all-consuming a way to message to the public Mr. Easter said a cabinet Liberal government, needed to do so. COVID-19 pandemic. that, for heaven’s sake, lessons shuffl e could help the government Nearly half of Canadians The government needs to [were] learned by some of our get its best team for the pandemic but ‘it has not been polled by Léger and the Associa- “reset the narrative” in federal senior ministers. Lessons learned recovery in place. tion for Canadian Studies at the politics, said Mr. Nanos, the chair in the PMO and at cabinet level,” “The prime minister has to catastrophic, and end of July and beginning of of Nanos Reseach, “because right he said. look at where we are on CO- August said they would support now the narrative is decidedly People in P.E.I. are more VID-19, where we are on recov- there’s some evidence an election call if Mr. Dion fi nds against them, because of the WE concerned with the state of the ery,” he said. “If there has to be that it has plateaued,’ that Mr. Trudeau has again vio- controversy and how it is a nega- economy than the WE controver- some moving of the players, to lated ethics laws. Mr. Trudeau was tive overhang for them.” sy, he said, and whether business- emphasize certain abilities that says pollster Frank found to have broken ethics rules For Mr. Easter, that should start es that rely heavily on ordinarily individuals have in order to move twice before during his time as with a federal budget. The govern- prosperous summer months will us forward more progressively on Graves. Meanwhile, prime minister—once over his va- ment has not tabled a budget for survive until the next season. a recovery plan, then you have a cation on the Aga Khan’s private 2020. Mr. Trudeau and Mr. Mor- “The government needs to shuffl e,” said Mr. Easter. Grit MP Wayne island, and more recently when neau have pointed to the fast- make sure that the fi nancial secu- A prorogation of Parliament he put pressure on former justice changing demands on government rity is going to be there through would be another way to reset the Easter says his own minister Jody Wilson-Raybould spending during the pandemic as to the spring of 2021,” he said. agenda, said Mr. MacEachern. government has to (Vancouver Granville, B.C.) to cut the reason. Federal budgets are Focusing more on the eco- Mr. Easter said a proroga- a deal to help Montreal’s SNC-La- primarily political documents, nomic recovery could help Mr. tion of Parliament was the last fi nd a way to message valin to avoid Trudeau thing the country needed dur- a prosecution with male ing a pandemic— “probably you to the public that, on corrup- Prime Minister voters, a need Parliament to be more in- tion charges. Justin Trudeau, demographic volved”—unless it was only to last ‘for heaven’s sake,’ Still, after pictured on July where the for a day before MPs returned. A lessons were learned a slight drop 16, 2020. The Hill Liberals are prorogation would also trigger a in the polls Times photograph by struggling to Throne Speech and a confi dence ‘by some of our senior during the Andrew Meade get ahead, vote, at a time when Mr. Blanchet height of and who typ- has vowed to try to bring down ministers.’ the contro- ically rank the government. versy, the the economy Mr. Trudeau or Mr. Morneau Liberals have Continued from page 1 and fi scal could just as easily deliver a rebounded. discipline as speech in the House of Commons, the House Finance Committee, Polling a higher pri- laying out the government’s re- former Liberal strategists Greg by Nanos ority than do newed priorities, without trigger- MacEachern and John Delacourt, Research women, said ing a confi dence vote, he said. and pollsters Frank Graves and suggested Mr. Graves. The Liberals should focus on Nik Nanos about the way forward support for Ekos initiatives that will gain support for a Liberal government weighed the Liberals found the from the opposition in Parlia- down by yet another ethics scan- was at 36 per Liberals ment, said Mr. Delacourt. He men- dal. cent nation- trailing tioned pharmacare, a top priority Ethics Commissioner Mario wide as of among men for the NDP, as an example. Dion is investigating Prime Min- Aug. 8, just in July, with Plotting the country’s eco- ister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, two percent- 31 per cent nomic recovery will be the chief Que.) for the third time, as well age points support com- focus when the House returns, as Finance Minister Bill Mor- below where pared to 34 and fi nding consensus with the neau (Toronto Centre, Ont.), after it stood per cent for opposition “will be the overrid- reporting by CanadaLand and the before the the Tories. ing tactical consideration,” said CBC in late June revealed that the scandal. The Women were Mr. Delacourt, who served in the two had close ties with the char- Conserva- far more Liberal Research Bureau and ity to which their government had tives trailed likely to Liberal leader’s offi ce in both awarded a sole-sourced contract at 30 per cent. Polling by Léger publicly pronouncing the govern- favour the Liberals—40 per cent government and opposition, and to deliver hundreds of millions between Aug. 7 and Aug. 9 put the ment’s spending priorities, but are versus 25 per cent for the Conser- now works as a lobbyist for Hill worth of aid to students during Liberals at 36 per cent and the not required by law to be released. vatives. Nanos Research showed and Knowlton. the pandemic. Conservatives at 29 per cent. Poll- “Absolutely we need a bud- similar fi gures earlier this month. [email protected] The WE Charity paid hun- ing by Ekos Research in mid-July get,” said Mr. Easter, who added The Liberals can rebuild their The Hill Times dreds of thousands of dollars to put the Liberals at 35 per cent that the Finance Committee had image in part by highlighting Mr. Trudeau’s immediate fam- support, and the Conservatives already received hundreds of sub- any cooperation with some of the ily members during his time at 30. missions as part of its pre-budget people and organizations that Economy on the rocks as prime minister for speaking Historically, parties in Canada consultations for 2021. Canadians trust most, said Mr. The province of Ontario, Canada’s economic engagements, after telling other with support in the high 30s or “All those issues should be MacEachern, whose fi rm, Proof engine, is now in a recession, the province’s WE speakers that the organiza- above at election time have a laid out in a budget plan on how Strategies, conducted a survey on fi nance minister, Rod Phillips, said on Aug. 12. tion didn’t pay for that service. good chance of winning a major- we’re going to move the country that subject in April and May. Alberta’s economy has been battered by Two of Mr. Morneau’s daughters ity government. forward, and over time, how we’re The survey found that munici- both the COVID-19 pandemic and severe drop have ties to WE as well. Neither The WE scandal had a “corro- going to address the costs that the pal governments were deemed in oil prices, and businesses across the rest of the Mr. Trudeau or Mr. Morneau re- sive impact” on the public’s trust pandemic has created,” he said. more trustworthy than other lev- country are under pressure as well. cused themselves from a cabinet of Mr. Trudeau and the Liberal Mr. Easter said it was “ridicu- els of government, and that doc- Liberal MP Wayne Easter said the dry decision to approve handing the government, said Mr. Graves, the lous” to call the WE charity story tors and scientists, who have been weather and the end of the summer season has contract to WE. They have since president of Ekos, but “it has not a scandal. “There has been no heavily involved in the national people in P.E.I.’s tourism, agricultural, and other apologized and the partnership been catastrophic, and there’s money misappropriated here, the response to the pandemic, were seasonal industries worried. between the federal government some evidence that it has pla- name ‘scandal’ is very much an among the most trusted people in The federal government under Prime and the charity was ended be- teaued.” overreach,” he said. the country. Minister Justin Trudeau has rolled out hundreds cause of the controversy. “In the unlikely event that Still, the government should Mr. Trudeau should also of billions worth of fi nancial relief measures for The government has said the there was an election [now], they take some action to show Canadi- shuffl e his cabinet and senior individuals and businesses to try to stem the decision to award the contract to would win, probably pretty hand- ans that its most senior members staffers in the government, said damage done by the pandemic. Finance Minister WE was made by public servants ily,” Mr. Graves said. have learned something from the Mr. MacEachern, to refocus the Bill Morneau predicted in a fi scal update in July that Canada’s debt-to-GDP ratio would swell alone, though Mr. Morneau’s of- With a minority Parliament, controversy. government on the pandemic re- from 31 per cent to 49 per cent by the end of the fi ce and Youth Minister Bardish and a vow from Bloc Québécois “It’s certainly serious errors in covery. Mr. MacEachern, a Nova 2020-21 fi scal year as a result. Chagger (Waterloo, Ont.) had Leader Yves-François Blanchet judgement at many levels along Scotia native, said Mr. Trudeau 16 MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News

“Overall, the CAF continues to im- Canada’s federal prove upon its self-identifi cation return rates,” said Mr. Smyth. “The fi rst part of the self-identifi cation form is a personal identifi cation portion. For this portion, the security and intelligence regular force achieved its highest return rate yet with 97.5 per cent of [members] having had the opportunity to self-identify establishment encouraging as a member of a designated employment equity group.” “While the return rates are lower in employees to self-identify the primary reserve units, the CAF saw an overall increase in self-identifi cation as designated group members from both The Canadian Border The report notes that one of the chal- regular force and primary reserve mem- lenges in the security and intelligence bers compared to 2017/18.” Services Agency, the committee surrounds voluntary self-iden- “Current representation rates, as of July tifi cation. 2020, for the regular force and the pri- Canadian Security But the report also notes that “self-iden- mary reserves combined, were as follows: tifi cation campaigns and internal commu- women, 16 per cent; visible minorities, 9.3 Intelligence Service, the nications are [a] way organizations try to per cent; and Indigenous Peoples, 2.8 per Communications Security increase awareness on these issues,” and cent.” that the Canadian Border Services Agency DND/CAF did not identify the represen- Establishment, and the (CBSA), Canadian Security Intelligence tation of persons with disabilities in their Service (CSIS), the Communications Secu- response to The Hill Times. Department of National rity Establishment (CSE), and the Depart- The CAF works closely with Statistics ment of National Defence (DND) have David Vigneault is the director of CSIS, the Canada to ensure that “labour market data Defence have conducted a conducted campaigns to “demystify the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. Like they provide, and upon which the CAF sets self-identifi cation process and encourage other security and intelligence agencies, CSIS its employment equity representation rate campaign to ‘demystify the employees to self identify.” is encouraging its employees to self-identify goals, is refl ective of the unique occupa- self-identifi cation process The Hill Times reached out to the four if they are women, Indigenous, disabled, or tions and employment criteria of the CAF.” organizations noted in the report for more members of a visible minority. The Hill Times “DND/CAF is committed to refl ecting and encourage employees information on how they have done that. photograph by Andrew Meade the Canadian ideals of diversity, respect and inclusion. Both long and short term to self identify.’ Communications Security “This included providing data to manag- goals have been created, based on the la- ers, and developing strategies to attract job bour market analysis provided by Statistics Establishment applicants from underrepresented groups,” Continued from page 1 Canada. We review our progress regularly Diversity and inclusion is an important el- said Mr. Foreman, who also noted that CSE to ensure that we are always working to- who belong to one of the four designated ement in ensuring that the Canadian security launched a self-identifi cation campaign wards increasing representation rates,” said groups listed in the Employment Equity Act— and intelligence community can effectively called “Show us what CSE is made of,” Mr. Smyth.” women, Indigenous people, members of a vis- protect Canada, said Ryan Foreman, a media which was designed to encourage employ- ible minority, and people with a disability—to relations representative with the Communi- ees to self-identify. Canadian Border Services Agency self-identify, as part of their efforts to improve “The messaging for this campaign com- cations Security Establishment (CSE). The Canada Border Services Agency’s data collection and hiring practices. municated the importance of employment Mr. Foreman outlined a number of ini- campaign encouraging self-identifi cation The National Security and Intelligence equity data and its impact on other orga- tiatives undertaken by the CSE to encour- began in 2017 and was repeated in 2018, Committee of Parliamentarians, composed nizational initiatives, such as recruitment age self-identifi cation, including a 2017 according to Jacqueline Callin, spokesper- of 11 MPs and Senators and chaired by and training,” said Mr. Foreman. “Both the push to increase organizational awareness son with the agency. Liberal MP David McGuinty (Ottawa South, 2017 initiative and the self-identifi cation of the requirements of the Employment “They stressed the importance of un- Ont.), focused on diversity and inclusion campaign started in 2018 are on-going.” Equity Act, and to explain how a diverse derstanding our workforce composition issues in the security and intelligence com- workforce strengthens CSE’s ability to and reinforced that employee information munity in its most recent annual report. deliver on its mandate. Canadian Security and would be protected. Recognizing that the Intelligence Community Agency’s manual process might be con- “As Canada’s security and intelligence tributing to response rates of 61 per cent, service, it is critical that CSIS refl ects an online form was piloted with success in the communities it protects, wrote CSIS 2019 and was set to be launched in March CAREERS 2020 as part of our ‘Your Voice Matters’ spokesperson John Townsend in an email to The Hill Times. “To this end, CSIS has campaign. It has been postponed due to the implemented an ongoing internal commu- current COVID-19 pandemic and current nications campaign to encourage employ- efforts are focused on how best to virtually ees who belong to one of the four designat- promote self-identifi cation,” she said. ed groups listed in the Employment Equity DIRECTOR, GOVERNMENT AND POLICY AFFAIRS Act to self-identify.” Employment Equity Act ‘has (Term, November 2020 to January 2022, Maternity/Parental Leave Replacement, Ottawa) “The campaign includes an annual served Canada and the public Employment Equity questionnaire among service well,’ says expert ABOUT THE CMPA: The Canadian Media Producers Association is the national advocacy organization for other tools to advise employees on the independent producers, representing hundreds of companies engaged in the development, production, and importance of self-identifi cation.” Andrew Griffi th, who is the former distribution of English-language content made for television, cinema, and digital media channels. We work to Ninety per cent of CSIS employees have director general for Citizenship and Mul- promote the continued success of the Canadian production sector and to ensure a bright future for the diverse engaged with these tools, according to Mr. ticulturalism and has worked for a variety content made by our members for both domestic and international audiences. Townsend. of government departments in Canada and The Hill Times This high-profile position requires the incumbent to represent the CMPA and its key objectives to high- “The work of making CSIS more rep- abroad, told that the Em- level government officials and policymakers. The incumbent will also advise senior CMPA executives on the resentative of Canada is never fi nished ployment Equity Act has served Canada implications of proposed legislation, regulation and other public policy initiatives at both the federal and but our commitment is steadfast and our and the public service well, and that the provincial levels, and provide recommendations on an appropriate response. The Director will also support the efforts continue,” wrote Mr. Townsend. diversity of virtually every group has in- policy work of the CMPA senior staff, as required. creased since the act was introduced. Department of National Defence “So the basic structure of the act, I As the successful candidate you will hold a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or an equivalent level of think, has worked in the reporting struc- professional experience working in government affairs or public administration either provincially or federally and will and the Canadian Armed Forces ture and the data collection, and the public- possess at least seven (7) years of professional experience working in government affairs or public administration at Staff at the Department of National ity that comes with the results,” said Mr. either the provincial or federal level. You will have a thorough understanding of the functioning of Parliament and the Defence and members of Canadian Armed Griffi th, who is a fellow of the Canadian legislative process and have successfully managed the work of external lobby firms and consultants. You will also have Forces have returned self-identifi cation Global Affairs Institute and Environics a proven background of building and maintaining effective working relationships with elected officials and with your forms at a greater rate this year than in Institute. colleagues. Further, you will have developed a solid track record of building and executing on successful advocacy the past, thanks to organizational efforts “But if you re-open the act, I’m just not initiatives including such activities that sought to engage and mobilize constituencies at the grassroots level. You will to spread the word about the importance sure that it’s worth all that much effort, have superior communication skills (oral and verbal) in English, with French as a significant asset. Strong interpersonal of self-identifi cation, according to Major time, and invariable divisiveness and skills and the ability to think and act strategically are critical in this position. Some travel is required. Smyth, spokesperson for DND. controversies that it will raise,” said Mr. Note: Due to the nature of the duties and responsibilities of the position, only candidates not bound by both The Employment Equity Act requires Griffi th. “I’m thinking that if you want to the Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment Code for Public Office Holders and the relevant Rules for Former that every member be provided the op- use government time wisely, it would be Reporting Public Office Holders under the Conflict of Interest Act will be considered for this position. portunity to self-identify as a member of a more, I would think in terms of looking at designated group, but it remains voluntary specifi c anti-racism initiatives and looking A detailed job description is available on our website at to do so. at some of the specifi c barriers rather than www.cmpa.ca. Eligible applicants may submit a CV and As such, employment equity representa- a wholesale of revision of the act, because I cover letter by August 25, 2020 to Debra Bullis, Office tion rates are based on a voluntary process think the challenge is less with the act and Coordinator at [email protected] with the subject and may not represent the actual employ- more with some of the practical stuff.” line: Director, Government and Policy Affairs. ment equity representation in CAF, accord- [email protected] ing to Mr. Smyth. The Hill Times The Great The Hill Times Rebuilding Part 3 Aug. 17, 2020 A Special Report on Canada’s Economic Recovery

Procurement eyed as vehicle for tech stimulus, driving innovation p. 18

Sweden’s COVID-19 crisis is a care home crisis, and so is ours p. 21

Justin Trudeau has no plan to restart our economy: Scheer p. 22

Who should bear the costs of COVID-19? p. 23

Are we letting this crisis go to waste? p. 24

How Canada’s international trade commitments can be utilized for Indigenous businesses challenged by the COVID-19 recession p. 25

Intergovernmental relations and the pandemic p. 26

Wealth tax is key to a green, just recovery and long overdue p. 27

Fiscal federalism: driving in the dark without lights or a map p. 27 18 MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES The Great Rebuilding III

ment to leverage “procurement as stimulus.” Tech sector eyes For Hamid Arabzadeh, president and CEO of the Ottawa- based tech fi rm Ranvous, get- ting a government contract also allows for more innovation and opens the door for Canadian tech procurement as way SMEs to break into other mar- kets. “Once the Canadian govern- ment signs behind you, then then you can actually get more support from other Canadian govern- ment agencies to be able to go to stimulate business beyond the scope and innovate and generate more IP [intellectual property],” he said. He added that securing a government contract in Canada serves as a quasi- Documents information offi cer “around the Angela Mondou, president for meeting the needs of both vetting process that begets more end of September” according to and CEO of Technation, formerly parties. confi dence in the company from released to the Feb. 27 testimony from Karen the Information Technology As- “Challenge-based procure- foreign investors and govern- Cahill, assistant secretary and sociation of Canada, an industry ment is non-proscriptive. It’s the ments. House Government chief fi nancial offi cer at Treasury organization representing tech government saying, ‘Here’s our Board. fi rms of all sizes, has been a key problem we need you to help us Growth halted by Operations player in this new procurement solve. You come back to us with The new reality environment. your recommendations on that,’ ” pandemic Committee give Federal procurement practices Ms. Mondou is part of a work- she said. “They might get 10 great COVID-19 has caused slow- a glimpse into have changed dramatically since ing group made up of businesses recommendations and then work downs in the tech industry. In a the onset of the pandemic, ini- of all sizes across the industry through the data far more effec- survey by the Council of Ca- how lucrative the tially due to the high demand for that’s working with government, tively and getting the technology nadian Innovators, nearly half personal protective equipment, including PSPC and industry innovators and experts coming of Canadian tech companies federal technology and have “demonstrated that the department, to modernize the back with a leading-edge solu- said their company has experi- government can be more nimble,” procurement strategy. tion.” enced a drop in value directly tied procurement space is. said Barbara Orser, a professor in Before the pandemic, the ISG Senator Colin Deacon to the pandemic. the Telfer School of Management industry experienced diffi culties (Nova Scotia) agreed. The Canadian tech sector was BY AIDAN CHAMANDY at the University of Ottawa. Prof. with the administrative side of Government should “really exceeding expectations before Orser has written several aca- the request-for-proposal process carefully specify the problem and the pandemic, according to a 2017 demic papers and reports on gov- and procurement timelines not the constraints the government is government survey. s Canada’s tech sector ernment procurement in Canada syncing with the latest industry working within, versus specifying That survey suggested that grapples with the fallout of A and the United States. developments, according to Ms. the solution,” he said. the Canadian tech sector had COVID-19, more nimble federal “The pandemic arrived and got Mondou. The government had taken more than 43,000 companies and procurement practices are being it done,” she this route be- 666,000 employees. Just under eyed as a lever to stimulate the fore the pan- said. The work of 99 per cent of Canadian tech com- sector’s recovery, particularly demic, but Ms. On May 3, Procurement panies were small- and medium- among small- and medium-sized Mondou said Procurement Minister Anita sized businesses, defi ned as businesses, and to drive innova- the increased Minister Anand, pictured employing fewer than 100 people. tion in the public and private collaboration Anita Anand June 2, 2020, There are approximately 105 sectors. with industry (Oakville, speaking with large fi rms, defi ned as employing during the Ont.) an- reporters in the over 500 people, including sub- The market pandemic has nounced a West Block, sidiaries of foreign multinational proven useful. Documents released to the supply advi- during the corporations, according to the The federal House Standing Committee on sory council pandemic has 2019 Information and Communi- government Government Operations and that included demonstrated cation Technology Snapshot from isn’t sim- Estimates show how lucrative members of federal the Department of Innovation, ply “putting up the potential tech procurement the private procurement Science, and Economic Develop- on a site [that market is in Canada. In fi scal and non- can be more ment. says]: ‘Here’s year 2018-19, Ottawa spent nearly profi t sectors. nimble, says The sector has been grow- a challenge; $7-billion on tech procurement. Although University ing rapidly year over year. In come to us The documents, however, only the council of Ottawa 2019 alone, the tech sector grew in a month.’ include responses from 47 of the was initially professor in terms of total revenue, GDP They’re actu- more than 100 federal depart- billed as be- Barbara Orser. contribution, goods and ser- ally work- ments and agencies. Shared ing primar- The Hill Times vices exports, and research and ing with Services Canada was by far the ily focused photograph by development spending. Despite us to drive single-largest technology pur- on “masks, Andrew Meade employing just 3.6 per cent of the chaser, accounting for nearly gloves, and outreach, to Canadian workforce, the sector $2.5-billion that year. disinfectants,” ensure the contributed nearly fi ve per cent A 2017 study from the Telfer according to tech sector ($94-billion) of total GDP, more School of Management at the the accompanying press release, knows about than 15 per cent ($11.5-billion) of University of Ottawa found that Prof. Orser said the enhanced “RFPs generally are inches the challenge,” Ms. Mondou said. services exports, and more than the federal government is the collaboration “should be the new deep in height. It may take the Knowing federal procure- 40 per cent ($7.5-billion) of busi- largest purchaser of goods and norm.” government two years to develop ment opportunities are out there ness research and development services in Canada, accounting “What this is demonstrating solid, detailed requirements of the is a big issue for all small- and spending. for some $23-billion in spending to small businesses is the ex- technology they want to procure, medium-sized enterprises, but For Sen. Deacon, the only in 2017, according to a report cuses that have been given for and then it goes out to the tech particularly so for tech fi rms. In way to address the government’s from the Government Operations years about why we can’t change sector,” she said. “There are only the 2017 Telfer study, SMEs cited fi nancial issues, while stimulating Committee in June 2018. procurement practices don’t hold certain sized companies with the complexity of the contracting the economy is through disruptive The documents were tabled water. This is a signal that govern- teams, project manager, resources process, the costs, the diffi culty in technologies. in response to a question from ment can be nimble. All small and the time and capability to fi nding opportunities and meeting “We’re going to have to fi nd Conservative MP Ziad Aboultaif businesses are looking for this,” then respond to an RFP. It does requirements as obstacles to sell- more effective and cost effi cient (Edmonton Manning, Alta.), his Prof. Orser said. not allow for the inclusivity of ing to the government much more ways of doing things if we’re party’s digital government critic, She added that the private sec- small- and medium-sized enter- than other industries. going to address this massive back in February, when he asked tor also “isn’t just a token element prises.” More than 52 per cent of tech budget defi cit that will continue Glenn Purves, assistant secretary of procurement policy, but really Another issue has been with SMEs said fi nding contracting as a result of COVID,” he said. “We of expenditure management sec- helps design and comment on the rapidity of technological opportunities was one of the main have to stimulate private sector tor at Treasury Board, for a copy delivery of procurement policy.” changes. If the federal govern- obstacles. SMEs in transportation growth and government produc- of reports on the department’s These joint committees, Prof. ment spends time fi guring out and warehousing were the next tivity growth. The only way to information-technology spending Orser said, help to create “pro- what to buy, then drafting and highest, coming it at just under 39 do that is to bring is disruptive for the 2018-19 fi scal period. cesses that are fair and equitable issuing the proposal, is “possibly per cent. technologies and disruptive ap- Each department provides and effi cient, but also ensure that out of date.” Continuing along this more proaches.” this information annually to the small and medium sized business- Challenge-based procure- collaborative path, Ms. Mondou [email protected] Treasury Board through the chief es are securing contracts.” ment, she said, is the best route said, would allow the govern- The Hill Times From Outbreak Through Recovery, Taiwan Can Help

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Canada’s Chief Medical Offi cer Theresa Tam, pictured June 16, 2020, arriving for that day’s daily press conference in West Block. We all want a full return to normalcy, to a life in which COVID is of no more concern than the seasonal fl u. I am confi dent that science will get us there. In the meantime, science has shown what we can all do to help: masking, physical distancing, frequent hand- washing, and reduced social circles can slow the spread of the virus to a trickle, writes Canada’s chief science adviser to the prime minister Mona Nemer. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

How science is bringing Canada back to life

mental scientists and engineers tion of N95 medical masks was and alleviate its lingering ef- Canada’s scientists stepped up like never teamed up with infectious disease the combined work of materials fects. And thus far, we are seeing before during the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers to conduct simula- scientists, microbiologists and en- remarkable progress at a pace tions in chambers with fl uores- gineers. Testing technologies were never seen before. But even with helping to fl atten the curve and pave the way cent dyes, calculating the distance developed thanks to the work every effort to shorten timelines, that COVID aerosols and droplets of virologists, geneticists, and mass vaccination is unlikely to towards reopening. But with vaccines still could travel. Materials scientists biochemists; from there, public happen before late 2021. then conducted experiments health physicians and epidemi- The novel coronavirus will be months away, researchers are also showing us using different types of fabric in ologists established the test-trace- with us for months to come. We will how to live safely with the virus in our midst. different combinations and thick- isolate model for containing the all remain vulnerable to its spread, nesses to determine which were virus’ spread. Throughout the and we must continue to fi ght it, to- most effective at preventing the pandemic, these efforts have been gether, with the means that we have. friends and colleagues by their virus from spreading. Behaviour- supported by substantial, tar- We all want a full return to masks. And the more ubiquitous ists studied the social barriers geted government investment in normalcy, to a life in which CO- they become, the more effective and incentives to wearing masks. COVID-related research. VID is of no more concern than they are at hindering the spread And mathematicians constructed Over the past few months, as the seasonal fl u. I am confi dent of coronavirus. models based upon all those re- the Government of Canada has that science will get us there. In Cloth masks have enabled our sults, to predict masking’s impact sought out reliable information the meantime, science has shown individual and collective lives to on disease transmission. on how best to manage the pan- what we can all do to help: mask- take an important step towards At every step, researchers pub- demic, Canada’s scientists came ing, physical distancing, frequent normalcy, and provided some lished their fi ndings openly, and forward to lend their expertise. hand-washing, and reduced social helpful stability to the process of every subsequent step was taken I was struck by the sense of ur- circles can slow the spread of the Mona Nemer reopening of our economy. up and built upon by scientifi c gency displayed by my peers from virus to a trickle. Opinion They also happen to be the re- teams around the world. Some all disciplines, across industry These measures are a sig- sult of a massive and coordinated of those teams were already in and academia, as they devoted nifi cant departure from our usual international scientifi c inquiry, place, but many others came their time and energy to assisting social habits, and they feel like a he cloth mask has become one that would have been highly together rapidly, as scientists mo- policy-makers. Across my 30-year sacrifi ce. But they are also simple Tthe pre-eminent symbol of improbable just six months ago. bilized and cobbled together the career as a scientist, I had never actions, easily adaptable by one life in the COVID era. Masks are At the outset of the pandemic, expertise needed to help manage seen anything of that intensity. and all in our daily routines. everywhere now, and as they it was unclear whether cloth the pandemic. Others in government, with de- When we adopt them together become ingrained in our daily masks were effective at stopping And as it went with masks, cades of experience in the public they become a signal of our care social routines, they can even the spread of COVID-19, because so it has gone with nearly every service, told me much the same. and respect for one another, and begin to grow on us. They come no one had studied the issue. aspect of COVID science. New That same measure of com- when those values take hold we in all sizes and colours, often in Like so much of COVID-era sci- types of ventilators are now being mitment is now being applied to are certain to win the fi ght. beautiful patterned fabrics. Many ence, the study of masks quickly manufactured thanks to the work the search for COVID treatments, Dr. Mona Nemer is the chief carry a message or slogan. Some became a kind of relay race, with of respirologists, physicists and whether in the form of vaccines science adviser to Canada’s prime are homemade, some are design- one scientifi c discipline handing design and process engineers. The to prevent infection or antiviral minister. er-stitched. We start to recognize its results off to the next. Environ- procedure for the decontamina- drugs to slow the disease’s course The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020 21 The Great Rebuilding III

indeed, care homes in Sweden are often Sweden’s COVID-19 crisis is a run by companies for profi t, much like here in Canada—but unlike in Denmark or Norway, where non-profi ts, churches and the state take on this responsibility. care home crisis, and so is ours As Canadians, we should be just as hon- est with ourselves and our politicians that our “decisive action” failed to protect the old. It took the Canadian Forces majority of deaths For all we know, the coronavirus is a small As Canadians, we should be to bring the horrendous care occurred in long- risk for the young, dangerous to the old, but home conditions to light. term care homes. It truly lethal if you are in a care home. It took just as honest with ourselves Painful as it may be, let us turns out that lock- the Canadian Forces to bring the horren- not take our gaze off too ing down econo- dous care home conditions to light. Painful and our politicians that our quickly. Could we hold those mies did little to as it may be, let us not take our gaze off too ‘decisive action’ failed to responsible to account? protect the frail quickly. Could we hold those responsible to When we are emerging from and elderly. In the account? When we are emerging from the protect the old. the pandemic, can we start majority, Swedes pandemic, can we start thinking in earnest thinking in earnest about how do not ask, “why about how we pay for decent standards of we pay for decent standards of didn’t we shut care in an aging society? Not only will most care in an aging society? Not down as well?” of us grow old in future, but we owe it to our only will most of us grow old They ask, “how can elders in the present. in future, but we owe it to our it be that in our Mark Manger is associate professor of elders in the present, writes world-renowned political economy and global affairs at the Mark Manger. Photograph welfare state, care Munk School of Global Affairs and Public courtesy Cpl. Myki Poirier-Joyal/ homes turn into Policy at the University of Toronto. DND?Canadian Forces morgues?” And The Hill Times

Mark Manger Opinion

ORONTO—“The Swedish experiment Thas failed,” countless headlines admon- ished us. Sweden has a higher COVID-19 death rate relative to its population than Meet the Citizens of Burin, Newfoundland. They want to be its neighbours, almost on par with Eng- land and Italy. In Denmark, Finland, and a Testing Ground for Financial Services at the Post Office. Norway, far fewer people per million have fallen victim to the virus. These countries he town of Burin sits on a locked down completely while the Swedes allegedly took a gamble. peninsula of some of the world’s Unfortunately, this story does not fi t Toldest bedrock and is part with the facts—the Swedes did act. High of Newfoundland’s rich history of schools and universities were closed. Large fishing settlements dating back to events were cancelled. Public health rec- ommendations about social distancing and the seventeenth century. In 1929, an working from home as much as possible earthquake shook the Grand Banks were issued. Primary schools and daycares and a powerful tidal wave washed over stayed open, reasoning that vulnerable Burin, the second largest seismic event children would be better off there than cooped up without supervision or worse, ever recorded in North America. with abusive parents. Senior citizens were Postmaster Noreen Banfield sees asked to avoid venturing out as much as possible. Non-urgent medical procedures this view from her tiny post office were postponed to free up hospital space. every day. Unfortunately, she and The Swedish government treated citizens other Burin residents are also seeing as responsible adults who would follow cuts gradually erode the postal service. public health guidelines voluntarily. And, by and large, they have done so. Traffi c in In 2014 and again in 2016, Canada Stockholm went down almost as much as Post cut the Burin PO’s opening hours, in Toronto. Yes, Swedes still meet in groups downgrading its services and losing a of friends, but if the noise level around my backyard is any guide, many Torontonians job for the community. are also taking an increasingly relaxed The people of Burin have also lost view of social distancing. their bank. In 2017, after over a century So why the high death rate? First, let’s attempt a fair comparison. Why only look in the community, the Bank of Nova at Scandinavia and Finland? In Canada, Scotia closed its doors, costing the the provinces manage health policy. town an estimated $27,000 in business We could compare Quebec, which has a revenues. They now have to travel 20 population of 8.4 million, with Sweden, and its population of 10.2 million: both have km to Marystown to do their banking. left-leaning values, generous social pro- Elderly residents who don’t drive are to work with the Canadian Postmasters of the resources they need to keep grams, great hockey players and ice-cold losing their independence. For Noreen and Assistants Association, the union thriving. Consolidating postal and winters. We can work out that Quebec had representing rural post office workers, financial services would give a boost 677 deaths per million against Sweden’s and other Burin residents, it makes sense 566. Even Ontario’s 193 deaths per million to expand the services her post office to study and test financial services in to both types of infrastructure, helping looks worrying compared to Finland’s 60. can offer the town by increasing hours several pilot projects. to rebuild historic places like Burin for What’s more, Sweden’s COVID-19 daily and staff to offer financial services. generations to come. fatality fi gures (though not cases) are The closure of institutions such as now in the single digits with fewer than That possibility is now closer to post offices and bank branches in rural A message from the Canadian 35 people in intensive care. We could also reality because Canada Post has agreed communities eventually starves them Postmasters and Assistants Association. look at “excess deaths,” the deaths from all causes. Governments might miscount COVID-19 victims, but democracies do not undercount deaths in general. The EU’s early warning system tracks this fi gure precisely to identify possible pandemics even before a pathogen is identifi ed. On that measure, too, Sweden is long back to normal numbers. What really happened in Sweden? cpaa.ca acmpa.ca Much like in Canada, in Sweden, the 22 MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES The Great Rebuilding III

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured on July 8, 2020, at a press conference in the West Block ahead of the release of the economic and fi scal snapshot. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

a better place to invest and rebuild. Coming out of the pandemic, every single country on the planet will Justin Trudeau has no plan to be desperately competing for the same opportunities and the same investments. So where is Justin Trudeau’s plan to set us apart? restart our economy: Scheer To be competitive, we need to unleash the power of the private sector and help get workers and he last fi ve months have sponse Benefi t (CERB) more fl ex- ment’s troubled business support local businesses back on their The biggest Ttested Canadians. Millions ible so that no one is penalized for programs, which have failed mil- feet as quickly as possible. That have lost their jobs, more than going back to work, and to make it lions of businesses, forcing them is why Conservatives announced misconception right 100,000 people got sick, and sadly easier for businesses to access the to close or to fend for themselves the back to work bonus, a CERB thousands have died. Businesses Canada Emergency Business Ac- as revenues collapsed. The wage top-up that would give workers now on the economy were forced to close their doors, count (CEBA). subsidy paid out less than a quarter the support they need to transi- is that if we simply lift and many have never reopened. As provinces started to re- of what the government expected, tion back into the workforce. We Too many watched their life open, Canadians were optimistic the $40,000 CEBA is too small to understand that the private sector the restrictions and savings dry up before their eyes about their futures and eager help companies facing six months is vital to our economic recovery. and as a result are facing serious to go back to work. Since May, of massive revenue declines, As provinces and territories provinces reopen, our fi nancial hardship. we have seen three consecutive the rental subsidy doesn’t work continue to reopen, Canadians From the very beginning of the months of rising employment, un- because it requires the approval of want to work, and businesses economy will come pandemic, Conservatives have derlining the power of the private landlords, businesses can’t access want to reopen and welcome roaring back to life. been focused on getting Canadi- sector and the resiliency of the the Business Credit Availability back staff and customers. They ans the help they need. We recog- Canadian workforce. But there is Program (BCAP) loans unless are determined to rebuild and are The reality is, it will nized that the biggest economic still a long way to go. they meet stringent criteria, and coming up with innovative new crisis on record necessitated a The Trudeau government’s not a single business has received ways to offer services. take leadership, big serious Team Canada response. Economic and Fiscal ‘Snapshot’ funds from the government’s Large The biggest misconception We rolled up our sleeves and pro- painted a dire picture of Canada’s Employer Emergency Financing right now on the economy is ideas, and a lot of posed constructive solutions to fi nances. A $343-billion defi cit, a Facility (LEEFF). that if we simply lift the restric- improve government legislation $1-trillion debt, and absolutely no As a result, we are now facing tions and provinces reopen, our hard work. and programs. Our focus was, and plan to help Canadians get back a second wave of bankruptcies. economy will come roaring back is, on ensuring that families, busi- to work or to restart our economy. Restaurants Canada is warning to life. The reality is, it will take nesses and workers get the sup- Despite spending more money that half of all restaurants could leadership, big ideas, and a lot of port they need and ensuring that than any other G7 country during fail in this country. The Canadian hard work. no one falls through the cracks. the pandemic, except Germany, Federation of Independent Busi- Throughout this pandemic, Conservatives were successful Canada is falling behind under ness is warning that 14 per cent Conservatives have been focused in signifi cantly increasing the wage Justin Trudeau. We have the high- of Canada’s small businesses, on helping Canadians. Mean- subsidy from just ten percent to est unemployment rate in the G7, 158,000 enterprises, could shut while, Justin Trudeau has been seventy-fi ve percent. We secured we lost our AAA credit rating permanently. wrong or slow to act. Now he has more COVID-19 support for seniors, and we are the only G7 country Today, every Canadian business no plan to restart our economy. students and expectant mothers. without a recovery plan. In fact, association is pleading for a “pivot” So you who do you trust to lead We demanded the Liberals support we have among the highest unem- away from the life support of us through the recovery? Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer farmers, fi sh and seafood harvest- ployment rates in the OECD, fall- CERB and wage subsidies, towards Conservative Leader An- Opinion ers, and Canada’s oil and gas sector. ing fourth right behind Greece. investments, tax cuts and regula- drew Scheer represents Regina- And we put forward proposals to To understand why, you only tory improvements that will build Qu’Appelle, Sask. make the Canada Emergency Re- have to look at the Trudeau govern- competitiveness, and make Canada The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020 23 The Great Rebuilding III Who should bear the costs of COVID-19?

There are no easy answers about how precisely to share the burden of the crisis. More detailed policy discussions are needed. A good starting point would be to agree that when we ask, ‘Who should bear the costs of COVID-19?’ we can collectively answer ‘All of us, equitably.’

Wilson Prichard Opinion

ORONTO—This is not a Tnormal economic crisis. The pain has been distributed un- evenly—and arbitrarily. Those who have suffered most were not, for the most part, reckless, poorly prepared or irresponsible. Overwhelmingly, it has been Contrary to blanket statements that taxes would harm growth and recovery, such measures would pose little threat to the economy: if used to fund transfers to lower-income a matter of luck. The bad luck groups, who are more likely to spend their income. They may actually stimulate demand and economic recovery, writes Wilson Prichard. Photograph courtesy of Pexels has been concentrated among those in face-to-face sectors, who have struggled less have a support programs will likely need pose little threat to the economy: if address the immediate crisis, and those with more insecure corresponding responsibility to to continue for years, not months. used to fund transfers to lower-in- and the longer-term rise in the contracts—disproportionately do more? Growth will be slow to resume. come groups, who are more likely concentration of wealth around women, younger workers, vis- Doing more would mean sup- While infl ation can reduce the to spend their income. They may the world. Others have advocated ible minorities and those with porting larger and more sustained defi cit as a share of GDP, it is the actually stimulate demand and eco- for increased rates of property lower-incomes. Meanwhile, a programs to support those worst worst kind of tax—invisible, and nomic recovery. tax for high-value properties, smaller minority—often already affected—large enough, at mini- often regressive. If we don’t turn This same logic of burden increased taxes on capital gains wealthy—have seen their wealth mum, to avoid any enduring in- our focus to raising new revenues sharing applies within large orga- or increases in top income tax and profi ts expand further. crease in inequality. This requires it will be refl ected in reduced nizations. Currently, one group of rates. Enhanced carbon taxes, Absent substantial and contin- a willingness, collectively, to pay services – including within cash employees is likely to bear almost with rebates targeted specifi cally ued support, vulnerable groups for that additional support. strapped municipalities – with the all of the costs of layoffs and fur- to lower-income groups, could will likely exit the crisis worse What should a strategy to pay impacts felt most acutely by those loughs, while others remain rela- combine achievement of the same off than when it began, and our for a broader response to the cri- already suffering most from the tively unaffected. Genuine burden goals with tackling the urgent country will be more unequal. sis look like? Governments have crisis. Now is the time to think se- sharing would mean that those threat of climate change. But that does not need to be been reluctant to discuss revenue riously about the future revenue who have remained employed There are no easy answers the case. A crisis like this al- raising in the midst of the crisis. needed to prevent an expansion make sacrifi ces—including tem- about how precisely to share the lows for new ways of thinking. But as the economic downturn of poverty and inequality. porary salary sacrifi ces—in order burden of the crisis. More detailed Concerns about moral hazard in continues, serious discussion of Second, burden sharing. We that others keep their jobs. Across policy discussions are needed. providing large-scale and contin- revenue raising now appears to should ask more of those who industries we have seen examples A good starting point would be ued support to the worst affected be on the horizon. Those discus- have been least affected. This is of salary sacrifi ces from small to agree that when we ask, “Who are limited. Instead of safety nets, sions should be guided not only primarily a question of tax policy: business owners, executives and should bear the costs of COV- we can and should be thinking in by concerns about economic those who have kept well paid better paid employees. Landlords ID-19?” we can collectively answer terms of burden sharing—about effi ciency, but by principles that jobs, or whose companies have providing rent relief have done “All of us, equitably.” Historically, how we ensure that the weight of refl ect the uniqueness of the cri- fl ourished, can afford to pay a bit the same. If the crisis continues, countries have frequently levied this crisis, of no one’s making, is sis, and its impacts. more tax in order to fund broader more will be warranted. That is new taxes, particularly on the best truly shared more broadly. First, openness. We will need support. When the crisis fi rst hit what healthy burden sharing off, in times of wartime mobiliza- Deciding how to share that open dialogue about adequate the International Monetary Fund looks like in practice. tion—and have found expanded burden isn’t just a technical responses, and who should bear and OECD suggested “solidarity Third, solidarity: it’s crisis public support for doing so. Those exercise, but a broader statement those costs. There has been a surcharges” on top incomes and on of no one’s making that risks moments of national mobiliza- about what we value as a society. temptation to argue that the bill higher than normal corporate prof- lasting damage to our collective tion—and innovation—are the best Do we accept that we will soon will never fully come due: govern- its. This remains a compelling idea. well-being, demands increased guide to our current response. live in a more unequal society be- ments of rich countries can carry Strengthening taxation of digital contributions from those most Wilson Prichard is an associ- cause of the crisis? That women’s additional one-off debt increases, fi rms in particular—including able to pay—designed in ways ate professor at the Munk School equality, or that of visible mi- at historically low interest rates, through international tax reform— that are least likely to deepen the of Global Affairs and Public Policy norities, will be set back? That, and emerge from that debt should also be central to this story. recession. Wealth taxes, though at the University of Toronto, and relatively speaking, the crisis through growth and infl ation. But Contrary to blanket statements not without challenges, have CEO of the International Centre will make the rich richer, and the these rosy predictions disguise that taxes would harm growth and been advocated by many—in- for Tax and Development. poor poorer? Or do those of us likely future needs. Economic recovery, such measures would cluding the IMF—as a means to The Hill Times 24 MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES The Great Rebuilding III Are we letting this crisis go to waste?

The Black Death in As Arundhati Roy has written in her new Europe in the mid- essay, ‘The Pandemic is a Portal,’ the 1300s created the pandemic is a chance conditions for the to imagine the world anew. ‘It is a portal, a Renaissance. We have gateway between one world and the next. the opportunity to use We can choose to walk through it, dragging this crisis to create the carcasses of our our own rebirth. We prejudice and hatred, our avarice, our data can build back better. banks and dead ideas, our dead rivers and smoky skies behind us. Or we can walk through lightly, with little luggage, ready to imagine another world. And ready to fi ght for it,’ writes Sarah Kaplan. Photograph courtesy of Commons Wikimedia

Sarah Kaplan Opinion

ORONTO—We are in the Tmidst of one of the great- est health and economic crises in more than a century. Policy- makers and business leaders are struggling to fi gure out how we can get the economy back on track while at the same time keeping people safe. We all are wishing we could “get back to normal,” but we have to remember that the old “normal” wasn’t great for everyone. While we once had thought that the pandemic would be the great leveller because viruses don’t see wealth or gender or race, it turns out that, in fact, COVID-19 has laid bare the eco- nomic and social inequalities in our society. In Canada, the people most likely to be affected by both the economic downturn and the threat of illness are those at the bottom of the income ladder, particularly women, Indigenous people and racialized minorities. In Toronto, for example, the poorest neighborhoods are the hardest hit. And, when the strict stay-at-home orders were put never thought were possible. We it, dragging the carcasses of our As a proud immigrant to Can- For businesses, this means re- in place, it led to an immediate can make changes that had been prejudice and hatred, our ava- ada and a newly minted Cana- thinking how work is designed to decrease in cases in the wealthi- resisted in calmer moments. At my rice, our data banks and dead dian citizen, I believe that Canada accommodate everyone’s access est neighborhoods, but not else- own employer, the Rotman School ideas, our dead rivers and smoky can be a global beacon of light if to good jobs, reorienting priori- where. This is because those in of Management, we had debated for skies behind us. Or we can walk we get our recovery right. ties to consider social responsi- poorer areas cannot afford to stay years about whether we should add through lightly, with little lug- For government policy-mak- bility and not just the bottom at home. If they were not laid off, any online offerings for our courses. gage, ready to imagine another ers—as detailed in the recent line, and reconfi guring corporate their jobs are more likely to be in Imagine many (many!) committee world. And ready to fi ght for it.” feminist economic recovery plan governance to give a broader set service industries or care work meetings, studies and reports. Then, But, our window is short. If we from my institute and the YWCA of stakeholders a seat at the table. that put their bodies in harm’s over one weekend in March, we don’t embed principles of gender Canada—this means focusing on Some might say that these way. They often cannot afford to moved all of our programs to online equality, racial justice, and sustain- reconciliation and anti-Black rac- changes are not feasible. But, this cri- have groceries delivered and may learning. Crises reveal that radical ability into the government and ism as we strengthen social infra- sis makes all sorts of futures possible, live in housing situations that put change is possible. corporate recovery plans, we will structure. A good recovery will be so let’s imagine a more just one. them in direct contact with many The Black Death in Europe in have gone back to an “old normal,” an egalitarian recovery in which Sarah Kaplan is distinguished other people. the mid-1300s created the condi- only one that has been degraded migrant workers can do their jobs professor and director, Institute for So, in some ways, nothing tions for the Renaissance. We by our experience in the pandemic. safely, women are not held back Gender and the Economy at the could be worse than a return have the opportunity to use this Our country will be worse off, not because we don’t have adequate Rotman School of Management to normalcy. We need instead crisis to create our own rebirth. the same as in the past. childcare and eldercare, rural and author of The 360º Corpora- to think about how the grand We can build back better. A more just recovery will also citizens can access high-speed tion: From Stakeholder Trade-offs rebuild that we are undertaking As Arundhati Roy has written create a more resilient economy internet and clean water, small to Transformation. Last month as a country, and as a world, can in her new essay, “The Pandemic as we prepare ourselves for a businesses—especially those led the Institute for Gender and the create a better, more equal society is a Portal,” the pandemic is a 21st century that will bring only by women, Indigenous people and Economy and YWCA Canada in which we heal the fractures chance to imagine the world more crises, driven by global other marginalized communi- published A Feminist Economic that the coronavirus revealed. anew. “It is a portal, a gateway warming, political uncertainties ties—don’t get left behind, and Recovery Plan for Canada. https:// One thing we know about between one world and the next. and dislocations created by tech- everyone has adequate housing to www.feministrecovery.ca/ crises: we are able to do things we We can choose to walk through nological advance. keep them safe. The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020 25 The Great Rebuilding III

for Indigenous. Also lacking is the reporting on how the federal How Canada’s international trade and provincial authorities plan to reach their self-proclaimed targets of awarding government contracts to Indigenous SMSEs commitments can be utilized for and individuals. Challenges regarding unreliable or painfully slow internet access for remote Indigenous communities add to Indigenous businesses challenged the informational defi cit. Lessons drawn from the early days of COVID-19, when many public and private institu- tions pivoted towards online and by the COVID-19 recession remote delivery of services, can be helpful in designing changes to the Indigenous procurement regime. While the switch was Government and remains disruptive, useful procurement can lessons can be drawn that can further help recalibrate Indig- become a very enous procurement. COVID-19 demonstrated that internet access useful instrument is part of our critical infrastruc- ture for every dimension of life; as a second stage, social, economic, and educational. post-stimulus tool, During restrictions in movement, most Canadians—as most people to ensure the full in the world—relied on their internet access to be able to virtu- maximization of ally socialize, communicate with their doctors, shop, educate their Indigenous SMSE children or continue with their own post-secondary education. potential and long- Unreliable internet access does term prosperity. not just impede an Indigenous procurement expansion initiative; it exacerbates extant economic and social disparities. Communi- ties underserved by ISPs cannot access critical services, not to mention accessing educational opportunities or pivoting towards online delivery of services. Canadian procurement governance needs to implement a robust regime to support the delivery of online services by Maria Panezi Indigenous SMSEs. Following Opinion immediate fi nancial assistance, new policy and legislation needs to combine fi ve elements: fi rst, REDERICTON, N.B.—The dire continue to provide preferential Feconomic consequences of the access for Indigenous peoples to global pandemic are particularly government jobs and procure- felt by remote communities, own- ment contracts; second, emphasis ers of small and medium-sized and set-asides of jobs and servic- enterprises (SMSEs) and Indig- es that can be offered remotely; enous entrepreneurs. Research third, continuing education pro- conducted by the Canadian Coun- grams that are offered via online cil for Aboriginal Business on platforms; fourth, immediate COVID-19’s impact on Indigenous provision of reliable, high-speed enterprises strongly supports this internet access to geographically conclusion. The overwhelming remote Indigenous communi- majority of Indigenous busi- ties; and fi fth, transparency and nesses are SMSEs, so any relief Considering the Government of Canada spends approximately $22-billion a year on public procurement and that reporting with respect to mea- provided to SMSEs will also SMSEs receive approximately three-quarters of the contracts awarded annually to suppliers in Canada, the potential sures adopted to reach targets for benefi t Indigenous business own- economic impact for Indigenous businesses from securing additional procurement contracts is enormous, writes Maria awarding government contracts ers. Beyond the general support Panezi. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade to Indigenous applicants. Rede- provided to SMSEs, Indigenous signing procurement policy by SMSEs require direct stimuli, as thority enters into a contract with normative framework. Canada advantage, particularly in view of using lessons from COVID-19 will well as coordinated government individuals or corporations in has negotiated and reserved the economic consequences of CO- not only assist long-term econom- action, through more sustainable order to receive goods or services. almost unlimited privileges for VID-19. The question is, why isn’t ic sustainability of Indigenous economic participation options, Historically, public procurement Indigenous people and businesses the government—both federal and SMSEs, but will increase their by increasing government pro- has been used to provide govern- and a large margin of fl exibility provincial—taking advantage of domestic business capacity, keep curement opportunities. Consid- ments with goods and services for all SMSEs in its WTO and this framework to give Indigenous procurement dollars in Canada ering the Government of Canada but also strategically, to achieve other bilateral and regional trade businesses the opportunities and and will allow Indigenous busi- spends approximately $22-billion industrial policy and socio-eco- obligations. Specifi cally, a pro- benefi ts that Canada has negoti- ness to achieve export readiness. a year on public procurement and nomic goals. With preferential gram could be designed so that ated on their behalf? Maria Panezi teaches interna- that SMSEs receive approximate- procurement, governments are any Indigenous business can be The current procurement tional trade law at the University ly three-quarters of the contracts able to support vulnerable groups awarded government contracts regime is not geared to assist of New Brunswick’s school of law. awarded annually to suppliers in which otherwise would not be regardless of the size of the con- Indigenous SMSEs, especially She is the author of the chapter Canada, the potential economic able to participate in the formal tract, and in priority to all other during a major disruptive event, “The Complex Landscape of Ca- impact for Indigenous businesses economy on equal footing with bidders. Canada’s international such as a pandemic. For example, nadian Indigenous Procurement” from securing additional procure- others. trade obligations, and internal the Offi ce of Small and Medium in the recent book, Indigenous ment contracts is enormous. The Canadian Procurement trade obligations, are fully com- Enterprises, the mechanism Peoples and International Trade: Government procurement can Strategy for Aboriginal Business patible even with sole sourcing providing technical assistance to Building Equitable and Inclusive become a very useful instrument includes policies for preferential for Indigenous-owned businesses; SMSEs for procurement, has up- International Trade and Invest- as a second stage, post-stimulus access to federal procurement that is, opening the competition dated its webpage to include op- ment Agreements, edited by John tool, to ensure the full maximiza- for Indigenous peoples. Current for government contracts exclu- portunities for SMSEs to provide Borrows and Risa Schwartz and tion of Indigenous SMSE poten- Canadian international trade obli- sively to Indigenous applicants. products and services in support published by the Cambridge Uni- tial and long-term prosperity. In a gations and cross-border procure- This would grant Indigenous of Canada’s response to COV- versity Press, 2020. procurement process, a public au- ment outline a very permissive SMSEs and individuals a true ID-19, but there is little guidance The Hill Times 26 MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES The Great Rebuilding III Intergovernmental relations and the pandemic

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured May 21, 2020, holding a press conference outside the Rideau Cottage in Ottawa. While the contrast between the situation in Canada and the drama playing out south of the border might make Canadians feel better about their country’s response to this global pandemic, the crisis revealed major challenges that must be tackled. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

next. The highest number of cases wave of the pandemic, the fact cratic governors at the state level. our care the most. Renewing the are found in Quebec, and less than that the Liberals are in power in In Canada, the fact that parties are Are there signs of transfor- 50 cases in Prince Edward Island. Ottawa but in only two of the 10 not integrated means that Con- mative changes at work in the horizontal policy Similarly, as the shutdown has provinces (Nova Scotia and New- servative premiers, like Ontario machinery of intergovernmental initiated a sudden and widespread foundland and Labrador) have Premier Doug Ford, can work with relations? As the old adage goes, dialogue among economic downturn, some sectors not created signifi cant tensions the federal Liberal government “plus ça change, plus c’est la provinces and of the economy were harder hit, between the federal government if it’s in their interests. Finally, même chose.” Similar patterns and regional variations are prov- and the provinces. Furthermore, the absence in the U.S. of any and traditions persist in the territories is an ing signifi cant here too. Provinces dramatic measures like internal permanent structure for federal- management and operation of already experiencing declining border closures were instituted state relations means that states intergovernmental relations in objective worth revenues, like Alberta and New- and upheld with virtually no struggle to get the attention of the Canada. Despite their consider- foundland and Labrador, are in confl ict or debate. Put together, federal government during the able signifi cance on the front- prioritizing in the dire fi scal situations, while others, coordinated actions combined pandemic. By contrast, pre-exist- line of managing the pandemic, months to come, as like British Columbia, are better with rigorous physical distancing ing networks in Canada facilitated municipalities remain entirely positioned to weather the crisis. protocols seem to have worked communication, information, and sidelined, represented principally we await a potential In an effort to stave off the po- for Canada, a situation that con- ultimately collaboration during by provincial interlocutors rather tential fi nancial hardships caused trasts with the one prevailing in the pandemic. than having their own seat at the second wave of by the pandemic, the federal gov- the United States, where sheer in- However, while the contrast table. Indigenous peoples have ernment moved quickly to enact competence and divisive rhetoric between the situation in Canada also remained largely outside of COVID-19. temporary, yet massive emergency on the part of the Trump admin- and the drama playing out formal discussions, despite the measures to assist families, work- istration, combined with political south of the border might make federal government’s commit- ers, employers, and specifi c eco- fi ghts between the Republican Canadians feel better about their ment to “reconciliation.” Horizon- BY JENNIFER WALLNER, DANIEL nomic sectors. The federal govern- president and Democratic gover- country’s response to this global tal work among the provinces BÉLAND, & ANDRÉ LECOURS ment also recently announced the nors have hindered the response pandemic, the crisis revealed and territories also appears to creation of a one-time, somewhat to the COVID-19 crisis. major challenges that must be have ceased. Where they could he moment Prime Minister conditional, block transfer to the Intergovernmental relations tackled. For instance, in public be pooling resources to devise TJustin Trudeau took to the provinces and territories to assist during the pandemic have been health surveillance and data new strategies to re-open schools, airwaves and announced the in the reopening of the economy. much more confl ictual and less sharing, leading experts in public for example, no efforts at formal lockdown on March 13, 2020, it Meetings and sudden cash collaborative in the U.S. than in health have argued that Canada collaborations have appeared. was clear that responding to the injections are great, but how has Canada for three reasons. First, has performed poorly. Here, offi - Renewing the horizontal policy COVID-19 pandemic would re- federalism functioned through the presidentialism: the presidential cials missed the potential lessons dialogue among provinces and quire unprecedented intergovern- pandemic? In terms of rhetoric, system makes it easier for populist that should have been learned territories is thus an objective mental activity. Since then, fi rst federal, provincial, and territorial outsiders to gain control of the from the 2003 SARS outbreak, as worth prioritizing in the months ministers’ meetings have been leaders have had largely positive executive branch while favouring Canada still lacks the federal-pro- to come, as we await a potential held weekly, via conference calls, appraisals of each other, which a personalization of politics where vincial-territorial collaboration second wave of COVID-19. which is a remarkable feat in a is somewhat surprising, given a president skeptical of science that is necessary to assure that Jennifer Wallner is an associ- federation where such meetings the acrimony in certain parts of and experts holds the Oval Offi ce. we have access to reliable and ate professor of political studies have been held at best annually, the country, especially in prov- Second, the territorial structure comprehensive data and testing the University of Ottawa. Daniel and always at the pleasure of the inces with right-to-centre govern- of political parties: in the U.S., regimes to reopen the economy Béland is director of the McGill prime minister. ments such as Alberta, Manitoba, parties are completely integrated safely. Simultaneously, the trag- Institute for the Study of Cana- While the pandemic has af- Ontario, and Saskatchewan, over across federal and state levels of edy in long-term care homes falls da. André Lecours is a political fected all Canadians, the direct such policy issues as carbon pric- governments, meaning that U.S. on all our shoulders as all govern- science professor at the Univer- effects of COVID-19 have varied ing, pipelines, and equalization. President Donald Trump has many ments throughout the federation sity of Ottawa. greatly from one province to the More generally, during the fi rst incentives to demonize Demo- have abandoned those who need The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020 27 The Great Rebuilding III

Can Mark passenger rail recapture lost busi- Carney, ness—or will they need far fewer pictured at the people? Hotels are reopening but National Press at what level of business? What is Theatre on the future for tourism? This sum- July 19, 2012, mer, restaurants and coffee shops inject smarter have set up outside patios on side- thinking into walks and roads to stay alive. But improving what happens in November? opportunity at And what about the huge a time of great human costs? We have skated uncertainty, though the pandemic so far David Crane by spending tens of billions of asks. The dollars to provide families with Hill Times fi le income. But as these programs photograph by taper off, as they will, then what Jake Wright happens? Low-wage workers are the most vulnerable. They also tend to be renters and so face the risk of increasing evictions if their income falls. And what about young families that have committed to costly housing with high mortgages? Will there be more foreclosures if these fami- lies face a loss of income? What we have already seen is that the country’s employment rate—the percentage of Canadians of labour force age who actually have a job—has fallen signifi cantly. In July last year, before the pan- demic, 61.9 per cent of Canadians of labour force age were employed. A year later, with the pandemic still Canada’s unskilled workers—the a black cloud over the economy, most vulnerable members of 57.3 per cent of Canadians of la- the workforce—for better jobs? bour force age were employed. Big risks lie How do we boost jobs by more If we had had the same em- aggressive action on climate ployment rate in July of this year change? Is this the time to boost that we had a year ago, then the the Canada Workers Benefi t to number of employed Canadians increase incomes for low-wage last month would have been 19.3 ahead, and we’ll workers? Can Mark Carney inject million, or 1.4 million more than smarter thinking into improving a year ago. Instead, the number of opportunity at a time of great employed Canadians in July this uncertainty? year was 17.8 million. This is one The risks are clear. Will more way of measuring the impact of small businesses close because the pandemic on jobs. need to do more they face evictions as temporary The age group most drastically rent relief ends or there’s no affected is the 15-24 age group, longer a reason to justify trying which includes young people to hang on? If people are cutting entering the work force to launch back on spending what will this their careers and also those young mean for manufacturing jobs— people still pursuing their educa- to avoid economic even more so if the U.S. and other tion. A year ago, the employment foreign markets are weakening rate for this age group was 57 per as well? cent, with an unemployment rate Will remote work at home of 11.4 per cent. Last month, their increase while work in the of- employment rate was just 47.9 per fi ce declines—and will those cent and their unemployment rate and social crises remote workers be in Canada or 24.2 per cent. elsewhere? Will there be more The fi ve industries with the e-commerce instead of going to largest job losses over the past shops? Will there be a movement year have been accommodation away from big cities to smaller and food (277,000 jobs gone); Restoring and rebuilding the economy is a national project, not communities? Will there be more transportation and warehous- e-learning rather than classroom ing (down 121,000); construction something to be done behind closed doors. As we are often told, we are learning? Will there be less travel (down 110,000) manufacturing and fewer visits to restaurants? (down 109,000); and wholesale in this together. The risks are great. And big changes are on the way, Will there be more protectionism and retail trade (down 100,000). and fewer global value chains? Addressing the challenges even if we have little understanding on how they will unfold. That’s We don’t know how soon—and through public policy will require why we need a better kind of politics and policy-making if we are to whow many—people will return to a much greater capacity for dem- the offi ce. In the meantime, what onstrating that proposed policies manage this successfully. happens to all those service jobs will actually deliver the benefi ts that support the offi ce economy— promised. Every new plan should food courts, restaurants, hair have to include the basis for there are hopes that we will There will be a huge challenge in salons, boutiques, coffee shops, expecting it to work—and that regain jobs lost and that those on trying to determine what public convenience stores, drug stores, analysis should be public. furlough will go back to work as policies have the best chance of and the many other retail clusters Restoring and rebuilding the economic growth resumes, big delivering results. that we fi nd around every offi ce economy is a national project, not risks lie ahead. More will need How quickly can we speed up complex. Some of these business- something to be done behind closed to be done if an economic/social infrastructure projects without es are already gone, others depend doors. As we are often told, we are crisis is to be avoided. wasting money? What do we need on temporary rent relief and many in this together. The risks are great. But what to do? Planning for to do to accelerate the growth of may be hanging on in the hope And big changes are on the way, future job creation has to take the drivers of future economic that things will get better, though even if we have little understanding place in a hugely uncertain world. growth—our broadly defi ned they cannot do that indefi nitely. on how they will unfold. That’s why David Crane We don’t know the future course technology sector? How do we What about gyms, sporting events, we need a better kind of politics and Canada & the 21st Century of the pandemic. Nor do we know incentivize business to boost the performing arts—they all sup- policy-making if we are to manage the longer-term economic and capital spending rather than cut- port an array of services. this successfully. social changes that will result, in- ting back—this year, businesses What about travel? Will more David Crane can be reached at ORONTO—The pandemic jobs cluding those that are already un- expect to cut spending by about people rely on Zoom instead? [email protected]. Tcrisis is far from over. While derway although below the radar. 17 per cent? How do we retrain Can airlines, intercity buses and The Hill Times 28 MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News

Jeff downtown Ottawa who depend O’Reilly, on the government breakfast, general lunch, and dinner rushes have felt manager the crunch. at D’Arcy A perennial hotspot for politi- McGee’s, cos, lobbyists and people in the pictured on media, the Metropolitain Bras- Wednesday, serie, located next to the Fairmont Aug. 12. Château Laurier, was shut down The popular for almost three full months, ac- political cording to Sarah Chown, manag- watering ing partner of the restaurant. hole was A lot of their business is built preparing on events surrounding what’s go- for St. ing on in and around Parliament, Patrick’s and the loss of those events “was Day a huge hit for us.” festivities “To lose that was devastating— when the when we re-opened in June, we pandemic would have hosted a budget party hit. The here which we do every year. It’s a Hill Times huge day, it’s a super fun day, you photograph get people in here from all differ- by Andrew ent parties, everyone is mixing and Meade mingling, there’s staffers, there’s media, there’s MPs, Senators, lob- byists, it’s just a hodgepodge of a good time,” said Ms. Chown. “Losing out on those big patio barbecue buyout patio events, the House rising events in June, House warming in September, all of those things are just not hap- pening anymore. You can pivot, but you can’t pivot enough to make up for that.” There are about 55 staff members, all of whom have been brought back, according to Ms. With thousands working remotely Chown. “Some of that is part-time staff—high-school and university students—but they all got laid off now and into the future, Hill immediately on [March] 17,” said Ms. Chown. “We got them their paperwork right away so that they could get in the queue really quick, neighbourhood’s pubs, restaurants, but most of them had already got- ten on the EI train early on.”

‘The coronavirus just bistros also feeling the crunch seemed to come out of nowhere’ three months, and revenue has Continued from page 1 General manager of D’Arcy The historic Fairmont Château Laurier hotel, been reduced to essentially zero McGee’s Jeff O’Reilly told The located above the Rideau Canal locks and just Ottawa businesses hard, includ- at the normally bustling Friends Hill Times said they were busy ing all Parliament Hill’s favou- Coffee’s on Queen Street. gearing up for one of their busiest south of the Ottawa River, closed its doors rite pubs, restaurants, and food With thousands of public days—St. Patrick’s Day—when courts. servants, political staffers and the pandemic hit. temporarily for the fi rst time in its history The historic Fairmont Château lobbyists working remotely for “[It’s] a celebration of life, of mu- Laurier closed it doors for the the last six months—and likely to sic, of culture, and then something since 1912 at noon on March 21. fi rst time since 1912, the Métro- continue to do so for the foresee- politain Brasserie shut down for able future—local businesses in Continued on page 29

Sarah Chown, managing partner at the Metropolitain Brasserie in Ottawa, sits for an interview with The The patio of the Metropolitain Brasserie in Ottawa on Aug. 12, 2020. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade Hill Times on the restaurant’s patio on Aug. 12, 2020. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020 29 News

Continued from page 28 that we have more information, affairs with the Canadian Fed- everyone is wearing a mask, all eration of Independent Busi- more pressing comes along,” said of those precautionary measures ness, “it’s a very tough situation Mr. O’Reilly. “The coronavirus just were put into place, and during for downtown businesses in seemed to come out of nowhere—we the time that we were closed, we Ottawa, but it’s not unique to were aware of it, but we certainty were able to put together all those Ottawa,” said Ms. Pohlmann. “I could never have imagined the [measures] that were important think they’re feeling it in a lot scope, or that we’d still be in this into for re-opening.” of the bigger downtown cores, August, and in a couple of weeks There was a skeleton staff because most office jobs are trying to fi gure out what’s going on working during the closure, but not fully back. But one of the with kids going back to school.” other staff members have been messages we’ve been sending to “So when you take away the progressively coming back into government is that while things public service, Parliament, and the fold in the past few weeks. appear to be re-opening, we the tourists from the hotels, the have to be cognizant that it’s National Arts Centre, the events, ‘Everybody knows what very mixed, and there are a lot and even just people who still of businesses that continue to aren’t ready to come out and sit happened in March’ struggle.” on a patio let alone inside a res- Nasser Aboueldaoule came “Some of these programs are taurant, it’s huge.” to Canada in 2000, and opened coming to an end, and we have Mr. O’Reilly said he’s more Friends Coffee on Queen Street to really refl ect on whether this worried about people’s safety in 2002. is the right time to do that when than he is about the economy, “We’ve been hit on this street, businesses are still struggling, which he thinks will come back in here in downtown Ottawa, three through no fault of their own,” some way, shape or form. times,” said Mr. Aboueldaoule. said Ms. Pohlman. “We’re over 20-million cases “The fi rst one was in 2011-2012, Ms. Pohlman noted that the worldwide, it’s mind-boggling when the government laid off Canadian Emergency Commer- that we’re in this, but we’ll weath- 35,000 people. And because we cial Rent Assistance Program er the storm,” said Mr. O’Reilly. are working in this government (CECRA) has had a small take-up “We’ve done what we can to make area, we were hit with 50 per cent and has not been “anywhere near sure that our guests are safe and of our income.” what they thought it would be.” our staff is safe, so when we get “In 2014-2015, when the City “It doesn’t allow tenants to ac- La Terasse at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa on Aug. 13, 2020. The to that point, we’ll be ready.” of Ottawa started construction cess the money directly, they have Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade “It’s a learning experience daily.” on the street, that was the second to rely on a landlord, and it’s up hit,” said Mr. Aboueldaoule. “We to landlords, who also have bills Fairmont Château were losing business [in terms of] to pay, who have circumstances 70-80 per cent of our income.” that don’t always give them Laurier closed it’s doors Following the fi nish of Ot- opportunities to forego certain for the fi rst time in it’s tawa’s LRT in 2019, Mr. Aboueld- funds either, so that particular aoule decided to change the busi- program has just not worked,” history since 1912 ness from a small, local business said Ms. Pohlman. The historic Fairmont Châ- to make into a small franchise. According to an August 13 teau Laurier hotel, located above The plan was to have everything press release from the CFIB, the Rideau Canal locks and just fi nished by the beginning of the the organization estimates that south of the Ottawa River, closed spring, including the unveiling of 1580,000 businesses (one in its doors temporarily for the fi rst a re-furbished room seven) may close their doors. time in its history since 1912 at “But everybody knows what “Government needs to un- noon on March 21. happened in March,” said Mr. derstand that there is a growing “We met with our colleagues, Aboueldaoule. “Now, we have anger on the part of business we met with out leaders to give zero income, we have nothing left owners who are left out by them as much information as we to survive, and if the government these critical supports,” said had, and things were in fl ux and didn’t help us with the rent since CFIB president Dan Kelly in the changing very quickly,” said De- April until now, I would not be release. “The CECRA program neen Perrin, director of public re- opening my store again.” has created massive frustrations lations with the Fairmont Château “This is a message for the as even those businesses who Laurier, when asked about the government and the landlord—if are eligible for the subsidy are fi rst few days of decision-making they don’t help us to continue in not getting it as landlords are when the pandemic hit. this dramatic story, I’ll be the fi rst required to apply on behalf of “We looked at business vol- one to close my store.” their commercial tenants. And umes, but also keeping in mind the there are huge gaps in cover- safety and security of our guests ‘There are a lot of age for the CEBA loan program, and our colleagues, and that was of businesses that continue despite a promise to expand the course at the forefront when mak- program from the Prime Minis- ing that decision,” said Ms. Perrin. to struggle’ ter in mid-May.” Brixton’s patio along Sparks Street on Aug. 11, 2020. The Hill Times They have since re-opened as According to Corinne Pohl- [email protected] photograph by Andrew Meade of July 1, “with the same notion mann, senior VP of national The Hill Times

Nasser Aboueldaoule, owner of Friends Coffee, which was slated to become Happy Goat coffee before the pandemic hit, pictured in his store on Queen Street in Ottawa on Aug. 13, 2020. The Hill The normally bustling food court, pictured at 1 p.m. on Aug. 11, 2020, in the C.D. Howe Times photograph by Andrew Meade Building on Queen Street is closed. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade 30 MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Feature

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Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, pictured July 20, 2020, wearing a blue disposable If you washed your hands surgical mask at his press conference in the Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, West Block to criticize Prime Minister Justin pictured July 21, 2020, also in the West Block to hold and your hand bled Trudeau’s confl ict with the WE Charity. a press conference and wearing a white cloth mask. You would think “THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF” Why are bleeding gums when you floss any different??

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured July 8, 2020, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, pictured July before starting his presser ahead of the economic and 8, 2020, before his press conference fi scal update in the West Block and wearing a black in the West Block, takes a pragmatic cloth mask. approach and style with his mask. Call to consult • 613 234 5758 [email protected] • [email protected] Outgoing Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, pictured again on July Have a house to rent or sell? 20, 2020, before his press conference in Items or products to sell? the West Block The Hill Times on the Hill. Advertise them in The Hill Times photographs by For information contact Kelly: Andrew Meade [email protected] • 613-232-5952 THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020 31 Parliamentary Calendar

MONDAY, AUG. 17 Roach. For information and sponsorship, contact Julia Yu, events manager, at jyu@ The Benefi ts and Challenges of Sending writerstrust.com Children Back to School—The Jean-Luc MPs scheduled to meet SUNDAY, SEPT. 26 Pépin Research Chair and the CN-Paul M. Tellier Chair on Business and Public Green Party Leadership Online Voting Policy at the University of Ottawa are Begins—Online voting to choose the next presenting two luncheon webinars on leader of the federal Green Party begins “The Benefi ts and Challenges of Sending today and will continue until Oct. 3. Children Back to School” on Aug. 17 and in House as a committee SATURDAY, OCT. 3 Aug. 18 at noon. The fi rst webinar offers a panel discussion about the economic, Green Party Leader Announcement—The education, labour, and health perspectives Green Party of Canada is set to announce of sending children back to school in the its new leader in a virtual event at 8 p.m. fall. The second webinar shines a particular of the whole on Aug. 26 EST. spotlight on children and youth with dis- THURSDAY, OCT. 15 abilities. Each webinar requires a separate online registration. The link to access the PPF Testimonial Dinner and Awards—Join webinars via Zoom will be available in the the Public Policy Forum at the 33rd annual respective tickets and confi rmation e-mails event to network and celebrate as the once registration has been completed. The Public Policy Forum honours Canadians events are open to all and free of charge. who have made their mark on policy and For more information and registration, leadership. Anne McLellan and Senator please go to https://uocal.uottawa.ca/en/ Peter Harder will take their place among a node/25495 and https://uocal.uottawa. cohort of other stellar Canadians who we’ve ca/en/node/25496. For questions, please honoured over the last 33 years, people contact Christina Charles at CN-Tellier@ who have dedicated themselves to mak- uottawa.ca. ing Canada a better place through policy House Sitting—MPs are scheduled to leadership and public service. The gala meet as a committee of the whole on Aug. event will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 26. The House is then scheduled to return the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 255 in the fall on Monday, Sept. 21, for three Front St. W., Toronto. straight weeks, as per the original House SATURDAY, OCT. 24 sitting calendar. Senate Not Sitting—The Senate is Parliamentary Press Gallery Dinner—The adjourned until Sept. 22. Parliamentary Press Gallery Dinner happens WEDNESDAY, AUG. 19 on Saturday, Oct. 24, in the Sir John A. Macdonald Building on Wellington Street Ipsos COVID-19 August Update: Ask Me in Ottawa. Anything Webinar—Join Darrell Bricker, FRIDAY, OCT. 30 global CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs for another interactive and frank “Ask me any- CJF Awards Celebrating 30 Years of thing” webinar examining how the public Excellence in Journalism—The Canadian mood around COVID-19 has evolved, where Journalism Foundation Awards will be held concerns are most focused now, and how on Oct. 30, 2020, at the Ritz-Carlton, the crisis is affecting Canadians’ behaviour Toronto, hosted by Rick Mercer, former host now and in the future. Aug. 19, 1:30 p.m. of The Rick Mercer Report. The CBC’s Anna (ET), online. It will last 60 minutes. Regis- Maria Tremonti will be honoured. Tables ter at Ipsos.com. are $7,500 and tickets are $750. For more FRIDAY, AUG. 21 information on tables and sponsorship opportunities, contact Josh Gurfi nkel at Conservative Party Leadership Contest— jgurfi [email protected] or 416-955-0394. The federal Conservative Party’s Leadership TUESDAY, NOV. 3 Election Organizing Committee, also known as LEOC, announced on April 29 that Aug. U.S. Presidential Election—The U.S. 21 is the deadline for mail-in ballots, after presidential election is scheduled for the leadership was suspended on March Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. U.S. President 26 due to the global pandemic. The party Donald Trump is the Republican candidate says the winner will be announced once the and former vice-president Joe Biden is the ballots can be safely counted. presumptive Democratic candidate. The MONDAY, AUG. 24 winner is scheduled to be inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2021. Innovation and Manufacturing in the Time THURSDAY, NOV. 12 of COVID—The Pearson Centre will host this talk with Innovation Minister Navdeep Liberal Party National Convention—The Bains on Monday, Aug. 24 from 1:30 to 2 Liberal Party of Canada announced the p.m. to discuss his government’s plans to 2020 Liberal National Convention will be assist the private sector in the rebuilding hosted in Ottawa, from Nov. 12-15. For and recovery of the Canadian economy. He more information, please contact: media@ will be discussing this issue with Rhonda liberal.ca, 613-627-2384. Barnet, president & COO at AVIT Manu- FRIDAY, NOV. 13 facturing, and past chair of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters. Mr. Bains Bridging Divides in Wake of a Global is expected to talk about how he believes Pandemic—The University of Victoria (UVic) the Canadian industry can return to its and the Senate of Canada are bringing strong footing in the global economy in the together change-makers at the Victoria coming years. Go to the Pearson Centre’s Forum to help generate solutions to some website to register. of the world’s most divisive problems. The WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 2 two-day virtual forum will be held Nov. 13-14 to examine issues that fall under the 43rd FIPP World Media Congress —Susan theme of “Bridging divides in the wake of a Goldberg, editor-in-chief of National Geo- global pandemic.” The forum will draw on graphic and editorial director of National emerging trends and lessons learned from Geographic Partners, is the latest speaker the COVID-19 pandemic through biweekly to be confi rmed for the 43rd FIPP World Minister of Economic Development and Offi cial Languages Melanie Joly, pictured July 22, 2020, speaking with webinars. For more information or to regis- Media Congress, which will take place reporters outside the West Block on Parliament Hill. MPs are scheduled to meet as a committee of the whole on Aug. ter, visit www.victoriaforum.ca. online from Sept. 2-30. To fi nd out more, 26. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade The Parliamentary Calendar is a free www.fi ppcongress.com. events listing. Send in your political, MONDAY, SEPT. 21 cultural, diplomatic, or governmental event WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 23 attracts 500 guests from Canada’s political Council: A Small Power on a Large Scale, in a paragraph with all the relevant details House Sitting—The House is scheduled and literary circles. The 2020 digital event by Adam Chapnick; Peace and Good Order: under the subject line ‘Parliamentary Cal- to return in the fall on Monday, Sept. 21, Politics and the Pen 2020: Digital will feature a special presentation of the The Case for Indigenous Justice in Canada, endar’ to [email protected] by Wednes- for three straight weeks, as per the original Edition—Politics and the Pen will hold a 20th Shaughnessy Cohen Prize as well as by Harold R. Johnson; Claws of the Panda: day at noon before the Monday paper or by House sitting calendar. virtual event on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Poli- memorable moments from past galas. To Beijing’s Campaign of Infl uence and Intimi- Friday at noon for the Wednesday paper. We TUESDAY, SEPT. 22 tics and the Pen is a highlight of political date, Politics and the Pen has raised more dation in Canada, by Jonathan Manthorpe; can’t guarantee inclusion of every event, Ottawa’s social calendar and an important than $4.5-million to support the programs Truth Be Told: My Journey Through Life and but we will defi nitely do our best. Events Senate Sitting—The Senate is scheduled annual fundraising event benefi ting the of the Writers’ Trust. This year’s fi nalists the Law, by Beverley McLachlin; and Cana- can be updated daily online, too. to return in the fall on Tuesday, Sept. 22. Writers’ Trust. The in-person event regularly are: Canada on the United Nations Security dian Justice, Indigenous Injustice, by Kent The Hill Times More at hilltimes.com/calendar CANADIAN WINE GROWERS WANT TO INCREASE THEIR ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION TO CANADA

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