Nicholls p. 9 Where Make Opioid politics will p.4 Leslyn CBC TV Lewis relevant run? again p. 17 p. 6 O'Toole's ghost problem Gwynne Dyer p.18 THIRTY-FIRST YEAR, NO. 1758 CANADA’S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2020 $5.00 News News Ontario MPP New Statscan data ‘indispensable’ Baber, former senior staffer for understanding systemic anti- Lantsman, and former candidate Willson said Black racism, says professor to be eyeing StatsCan has released a number of large-scale, disaggregated studies on the Black population Conservative in Canada since early 2019. nomination in York Centre BY AIDAN CHAMANDY Thousands gathered on BY ABBAS RANA ata released by Statistics Parliament DCanada over the past year Hill for a he yet-to-be-scheduled byelec- and a half could help to dispel the rally to call Ttion in York Centre is shaping myth of a single, uniform Black attention to up to be a high profile contest population in Canada, and will be anti-Black with prominent Conservative and “indispensable” for researchers racism and police studying systemic racism in the Continued on page 14 country, say professors from three violence universities across the country. against Statistics Canada has released Black people a spate of data on the Black popu- on June 5, News lation in Canada in stages since 2020. Prof. February, 2019, to honour the In- Afua Cooper ternational Decade of Peoples of said symbolic 29 of 92 African Descent, which runs from action, like 2015 to 2024. The studies span a the prime Conservative 15 year period beginning in 2001 minister and use data from the census, the kneeling at general social survey, academic the rally, MPs failed to studies, and more. is not good The data shows the diversity enough. The deliver their of the Black population is often Hill Times “obscured” by anti-Black racism photograph by own ridings to Andrew Meade and stereotypes that lead to a view their endorsed Continued on page 10 leadership Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 News candidate BY ABBAS RANA ‘He’s not exactly a household name:’ Erin O’Toole’s oughly one-third of Conserva- Rtive MPs who endorsed a can- didate for the party’s leadership ‘well-funded’ team ready for a fall election, say strategists couldn’t deliver enough votes in their riding to put their choice on BY MIKE LAPOINTE into a campaign if an election is Fred DeLorey has put together Erin O’Toole was announced top, according to an analysis by triggered by the government’s a leadership organization which the winner of the months-long The Hill Times. onservative strategists say the upcoming Throne Speech, and can be quickly converted for a Cparty is in good shape to jump that national campaign manager Canada-wide campaign. Continued on page 15 Continued on page 16 2 MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES planning to run candidates in B.C., Sas- katchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta. Heard on the Hill Docs ‘game’ to join TikTok Could Canada’s two top doctors be coming to TikTok? In a moment of lev- by Palak Mangat ity during a briefing on the county’s fight against COVID-19 earlier this month, chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam and her deputy, Dr. Howard Njoo, were asked by CBC national politics reporter David Thurton about that possibility. Speaking about the need for Ottawa to better reach Longtime Edmonton advocate Salma Lakhani ‘Campaigns do younger audiences in their messaging about was sworn in as Alberta’s first Muslim-Canadian the virus, especially as schools reopen and lieutenant-governor last week. Photograph Canadians adjust to living under the “new courtesy of Nicholas Milliken’s Twitter normal,” neither doctor ruled it out. “To your question, or maybe a challenge earned herself the vice-regal role on top of matter’: Wexit’s at the end, I’m pretty game for all sorts of accolades like the Queen’s Diamond Jubi- things,” smiled Dr. Tam. lee Medal. Among the politicos on hand for the ceremony were Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, his aide Zain Velji, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, Conservative MP Matt Jen- Jay Hill votes in eroux, and Liberal MP Dan Vandal. CTV’s Molly Thomas eyes move to Toronto Hillites learned last week that they will Conservative lose Molly Thomas, a national correspon- dent who joined CTV’s Ottawa bureau last year, to the network’s investigative W5 program. What’s a loss for Ottawa will be a gain for Toronto, as Ms. Thomas takes leadership race, Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. her passion for social justice stories to The Theresa Tam, and her deputy, Dr. Howard Njoo, Big Smoke, where she will be aided by are both game to be featured on TikTok if it CityNews alum Avery Haines in her new helps the government reach younger audiences. role as investigative correspondent. “What a whirlwind year and a half in The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade resigns CPC Ottawa! Fed election, minority mandate, global pandemic, largest $ programs in “I think if people think I’m the kind of [Canadian] history, race realities,” tweeted person that they would want to see on Tik- Ms. Thomas on Aug. 26. “BUT…it’s time to Tok, absolutely. But I’ll also depend on my move on.” communications experts [and] colleagues Ms. Thomas previously worked with membership to tell me [that]. Dancing is probably not CPAC and CTV in Regina, and has cov- something that I would engage in, but who ered stories in Somalia, Bangladesh, Haiti, knows. I don’t have coordination, but other France, and Iraq. Though she joined the Veteran politician exercise, yes.” Hill fairly recently in 2019, she will be re- Jay Hill, pictured Dr. Njoo noted he and Dr. Tam had al- membered (by this rookie reporter, at least) in 2012, says he ready done outreach videos for the Public for always sporting a smile and willing to supported Erin Health Agency of Canada in the earlier offer a helping hand at committees. O'Toole early on in days of the pandemic. “Both of us are the Conservative game,” he laughed. It wouldn’t be the first time TikTok has Choquette joins Crestview leadership race but Crestview Strategy scooped up experi- was 'convinced' made its way onto the federal scene; NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh used it extensively enced Liberal strategist Jackie Choquette to put another last week, the firm announced in an Aug. contender as his during the 2019 election campaign in a bid to pull in younger voters. 27 release. “Jackie is a proven strategist first choice. Now who understands how to build and lead interim leader of the successful public affairs engagements on Wexit Party, he said Lakhani sworn in as first both a national and a local level,” said Gin- he will resign his Muslim-Canadian lieutenant ny Roth, the group’s national practice lead CPC membership for government relations, in the release. as it would be governor 'unethical' to be In a historic move, Alberta welcomed its a member of two first Muslim-Canadian lieutenant-governor parties. The Hill last week when Salma Lakhani was sworn Times file photograph in on Aug. 26. A small, COVID-friendly ceremony marked the beginning of her olitical veteran Jay Hill, interim leader by the constant negativity of the O’Toole five-year term in the post, which was previ- Pof the newly emerged Wexit Party, left campaign directed at Mr. [Peter] MacKay.” ously filled by Lois Mitchell. his former party, the Conservatives, with Mr. O’Toole, who was named the victor “I have been passionate about women’s one last hurrah by voting in its recent lead- last week after a six-hour delay because health, education relating to human rights ership race. of glitches with the ballots, asked the and, in particular, making higher learning Speaking to CBC’s West of Centre pod- police to investigate the alleged hacking accessible to newcomers and others who cast, Mr. Hill said he did so “for my grand- of private campaign information from Mr. have been marginalized by life’s unpredict- children and the well-being of Canadians MacKay’s team during the race. He took 57 able challenges,” Ms. Lakhani said in her in general.” per cent of the votes on the third and final address. “Helping those in need take that “I felt, in fact, it was a civic duty, hav- ballot to Mr. MacKay’s 43 per cent. first step up the ladder to better opportuni- ing been involved in the Conservative Mr. Hill, who served in the House for 17 ties is one way of making a lasting dif- Liberal strategist Jackie Choquette is joining Party from its very birth when [there] years (1993-2010) under the Reform Party, ference in the lives of so many. It ensures Crestview Strategy, the firm announced last was a merger between Reformers and the the Canadian Alliance, and then Conserva- that these individuals become even more week. Screen capture courtesy of Hill and Progressive Conservatives; that I owed it to tive Party as MP for Prince George-Peace productive members of the community and Knowlton Strategies the past and future to participate and cast River, B.C., was tapped to lead the separat- much better able to provide for their entire a ballot,” he said. ist Wexit Party in June. The party is looking families going forward.” Ms. Choquette, now a vice-president Mr. Hill confirmed he will be resign- to run candidates in the next election, In 1977, Ms. Lakhani came to Edmonton with the group, was previously vice-presi- ing his CPC membership “because of which could come in the fall if all opposi- from her hometown of Kampala, Uganda, dent of public affairs with Hill and Knowl- course I feel that going forward, it would tion parties vote against a Throne Speech after all Ugandans of Asian background ton Strategies, and served as chief of staff be unethical, to say the least, to belong to that will be delivered upon Parliament’s were expelled from the country.