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p. 17 p.2 2 MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES

Calls for free menstrual products pick up Liberal MP Peter Fragiskatos showed his support for a petition calling on Ottawa to Heard on the Hill provide free menstrual products in the wash- rooms of all federally regulated workplaces by Palak Mangat last week. Linking to an online petition that garnered more than 1,200 signatures since opening up on July 7, the Ontario politician wrote it’s one “worth learning about and supporting. Kudos to @RachEttinger and Media shakeups in Longtime Liberal MP Ralph Goodale, pictured many others for continuing to raise this very in June 2019 at West Block, was awarded a important issue so passionately and persua- recognition from the Churchill Society for the sively.” Among the demands are that Ottawa Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy last provide free tampons and pads and “address Ottawa and beyond: week. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade menstrual equity at the national level by recommencing its work on this proposal.” agriculture and agri-food, natural resources, Globe bids adieu to government House leader, public works, finance, and finally public safety. After his defeat in the 2019 election, his cabinet post was handed to Bill Blair, but he continues to Leblanc, HuffPo readies hold the unique distinction of serving under both Trudeau prime ministers. After first being elected in 1974 at the age of 24 for Assiniboia, he went on to lead for new editor-in-chief the Saskatchewan Liberal party in 1981 and reached the provincial legislature in 1986 for two years, crossing paths with a Veteran Globe young Jason Kenney, who was a staffer in and Mail Liberal MP Peter Fragiskatos is among the MPs his office. Ian MacDonald, editor and pub- reporter Daniel supporting a call for Ottawa to bring in free lisher of Policy Magazine, congratulated Leblanc, shown menstrual products in workplace washrooms. the nine-term MP for the “well deserved” at right in Photograph courtesy of Peter Fragiskatos’ Twitter honour, jokingly adding “one of the great this 2005 file parliamentarians and House leaders of photograph The feds had committed to the move in the modern era. And [long] suffering SK with colleague May 2019 when Patty Hajdu was labour Riders fan!” Mr. MacDonald was a speech- Campbell Clark, minister. Ms. Hajdu said it was about equity, writer for prime minister Brian Mulroney is leaving the dignity, and removing the stigma women in 1985 to 1988. paper at which face “for something that happens to their Mr. Goodale, who also marked 46 he has spent body every month.” As noted by Postmedia at years to the day last week since first be- more than two the time, it can take between 18 to 24 months ing elected in the July 1974 election, is decades. Mr. to follow through on regulatory changes to the 37th recipient of the society’s award, Leblanc is the Canada Labour Code, but the pandemic which is usually presented at the group’s now headed to has since taken hold of much of the govern- annual dinner in November. Because of Radio-Canada. ment’s attention. In 2015 Ottawa ditched the pandemic, it is looking at other ways to The Hill Times what has been coined the “tampon tax” when celebrate this year, noted a July 7 release. file photograph it announced it would no longer be collecting GST on sanitary products. More Progressive Senators The Progressive Senate Group gained Politicos share summer reads lobe and Mail veteran reporter Daniel Ms. Lau has helped lead live broadcasts, another member last week in Senator Wan- Last week’s sweltering conditions might GLeblanc split his time last week longer-term projects, daily news, and guide da Thomas Bernard, who previously sat as have had you wondering if we’re really between digging into the government’s overall newsroom strategy. She is a 13-year an Independent. PSG leader Jane Cordy only just three weeks into the summer, but $343-billion deficit and announcing his veteran of CBC News as a TV reporter, welcomed the new addition on July 8, say- at least that means a lot more (physically resignation from the paper at which he producer, editor, videojournalist, and web ing on Twitter Sen. Bernard “has devoted distant) downtime to relax at the beach, spent more than two decades. “The news reporter, and hails from Vancouver. Ms. her career to social justice, and brings with patio, or living room with a good book. is trickling out… After nearly 22 years, I Lau also worked with CTV in the past and her an abundance of expertise in social Conservative MP Eric Duncan shared his have resigned from the Globe and Mail. has been with HuffPost since 2012. work, racial justice and systemic change.” summer reads for the season, which include It was a pleasure, an honour and a great Sen. Bernard added she is “honoured” to veteran Liberal operative Pat Sorbara‘s Let source of pride. My best work was always join the group “and continue representing ’Em Howl: Lessons from a Life in Backroom teamwork and I leave behind fantastic all Nova Scotians and Canadians of Afri- Politics. The book, which made it onto The journalists, but the friendships are intact,” can Descent in the Senate.” Hill Times’ Top 100 Best Books List last year, tweeted Mr. Leblanc on July 8, just hours was launched last October and in Ottawa before the government unveiled its deficit in March, and logs Ms. Sorbara’s love of figures. byelections, among other things. The seasoned political journalist got his start at the paper in August of 1998, shortly after a one-year internship at the Ottawa Citizen. His areas of focus have included cannabis, the RCMP, procure- ment, and Canada-Quebec relations—the latter of which could come in handy in his new role with Radio-Canada. “I will have more to say later, both on my career at the Globe and my new duties. For now, I let the dust settle. Thank you all for the kind HuffPost Canada’s editor-in-chief, Andree Lau, words. Back to work!” added Mr. Leblanc, will be heading over to CBC News to manage who had been working with Bill Curry at its digital news. Photograph courtesy of Andree the time to help in the paper’s coverage of Lau’s Twitter Nova Scotia Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard Ottawa’s fiscal “snapshot.” (Mr. Curry is, announced last week she has joined the coincidentally, a former Hill Times reporter, Goodale gets nod Progressive Senate Group. Photograph courtesy Conservative MP Eric Duncan shared three who focuses on finance and federal policy Longtime Liberal Hillite and expe- of Wanda Thomas Bernard books on his summer reading list. Photograph at The Globe). rienced federal cabinet minister Ralph courtesy of Eric Duncan’s Twitter Goodale added another accolade to his Appointed in 2016 by Prime Minister Moves at HuffPost Canada resume last week, earning a nod from the Justin Trudeau, the Senator has worked as Others on Mr. Duncan’s docket include The Globe isn’t the only news outlet Churchill Society for the Advancement a professor at Dalhousie University and The Conservative Soul by British-born Ameri- that will see some changes within its ranks. of Parliamentary Democracy. The group a community activist before coming to can author Andrew Sullivan, and former On the afternoon of July 8, editor-in-chief named Mr. Goodale, who is currently serv- Ottawa, and also founded the Nova Scotia British prime minister David Cameron‘s For Andree Lau announced her eight years at ing as a special advisor to the government branch of the Association of Black Social the Record. Sarah Fischer, who ran in Don HuffPost Canada will be coming to an end. in its response to the Flight PS752 take Workers in 1979. Her addition brings the Valley North under the Conservative Party Like Mr. Leblanc, Ms. Lau is not leaving down near Tehran in January, the recipient count of PSG members to 10 now, after banner in the 2019 election but lost to Liberal the field: she is moving to CBC News as its of its annual award for excellence. it recently grew from six to eight within Han Dong, listed Michael Pillsbury’s The managing editor of digital news. The public “It’s a privilege to receive this award from one week in May. That month, the group Hundred-Year Marathon: China’s Secret broadcaster is not a foreign place to Ms. the Churchill Society to whom I extend my welcomed Senators Patricia Bovey and Strategy to Replace America as the Global Lau, who jokingly tweeted: “I think it will sincere thanks,” tweeted Mr. Goodale on July Peter Harder to its ranks. Senator Pierre Superpower as among her summer reads. be different from 1999 when I worked the 7. Throughout his tenure, Mr. Goodale has Dalphond also joined the group later that [email protected] overnight CBCNews.ca shifts.” held several ministerial portfolios including May. The Hill Times SPONSORED BY ECOJUSTICE

would also destroy the habitat of two endangered species of trout Dear Minister Wilkinson, – potentially driving them to extinction.

e are writing as environmental, Indigenous, health, civil In addition to these local impacts, the expansion will worsen the society and faith organizations from across Canada climate crisis by causing massive emissions of carbon pollution to ask you to require that the proposed expansion of when the coal is shipped overseas and burned in power stations, Wthe Vista coal mine near Hinton, Alberta undergo an assessment mainly in Asia. Vista’s expansion plans would lead to 33 million under the Impact Assessment Act. tonnes of carbon emissions each year – that’s nearly as much pollution as from every car in Canada. Canada can’t ignore this Vista is already one of the largest thermal coal mines in Canada. pollution just because it happens overseas. In the Prime Minister’s The proposed expansion could almost triple its capacity to mine own words: coal: the world’s dirtiest fossil fuel that is responsible for half the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and an estimated 800,000 early “The atmosphere doesn’t care where carbon is emitted. It requires deaths each year from air pollution. us to take action all around the world.”

Coalspur, the company behind the Vista mine, has not been As a founding member and co-chair of the “Powering Past Coal straight with you or with the public. Last year, you declined Alliance”, Canada has led global efforts to phase out thermal to order an impact assessment based on the information that coal and made this a cornerstone of its climate plan. Canada Coalspur provided. It has since come to light that they failed to has committed up to $275 million to the World Bank to help disclose material facts about the size and scale of the mine. And developing countries phase-out their dependence on traditional it now appears that they have further expansion plans, with the coal-fired power. The Vista mine expansion would undermine company now saying publicly that they want to increase their these efforts and harm Canada’s credibility as a climate leader in annual production to 20 million tonnes of coal per year. the run up to next year’s crucial climate conference in Glasgow. Canada can’t expect to be taken seriously in asking other This new information warrants that you order a federal impact countries to get off coal if we’re still willing to sell it to them. assessment. It is inevitable that expanding this massive coal mine will cause severe harm to the environment, the climate, human We don’t have time to be hypocritical when it comes to phasing health and to Indigenous people. A federal impact assessment out the world’s dirtiest fossil fuel. We are in a climate crisis. The is the mechanism developed by your government to fully science tells us that, globally, we must halve emissions by 2030. understand and limit the harm caused by major natural resource Extracting and burning more coal, whether at home or abroad, development projects like this. is fundamentally incompatible with that goal. The COVID-19 recovery requires Canada to envisage a path towards a cleaner The mine’s expansion will increase local water, air, and noise economy. Coal has no place in that future. pollution and infringe on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, including local First Nations who use the land near the mine for We are counting on you to make the right call this time by traditional hunting, fishing, and gathering, and whose health will ordering a full federal assessment of the Vista coal project under suffer from the further poisoning of their air, water and food. It the Impact Assessment Act.

Signed,

350.org Divest Waterloo MiningWatch Canada Alberta Environmental Network Eau Secours North American Native Plant Society Alberta Wilderness Association Ecojustice* Notinto Sipiy Conservation Authority Canadian Association of Physicians for the Edmonton River Valley Conservation Our Lady of Sion Environment (CAPE) Coalition Protect Our Winters Canada Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – Energy Mix Productions Northern Alberta Shift: Action for Pension Wealth & Planet Environmental Defence Health Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice Équiterre Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul CAN-Rac - Climate Action Network Canada Global Catholic Climate Movement - Canada Social Justice St. Joseph’s Parish - Salmon Castle-Crown Wilderness Association Arm Grant Riverkeeper Labrador, Inc. Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada Southern Alberta Group for the Greenpeace Canada Environment Climate Change Toronto KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Stand.earth Climate Justice Saskatoon Initiatives The Canadian Voice of Women for Peace ClimateFast Keepers of the Athabasca Villa St. Joseph Ecology & Spirituality Centre Creating Healthy and Sustainable Keepers of the Water Environments (CHASE) West Athabasca Bioregional Society Lac St Anne Métis Crooked Creek Conservancy Society of Wildsight Athabasca Laudato Si’ Animator Women’s Healthy Environments Network David Suzuki Foundation Leadnow Youth Climate Lab

*ECOJUSTICE LAWYERS ARE COUNSEL TO KEEPERS OF THE WATER, KEEPERS OF THE ATHABASCA AND WEST ATHABASCA BIOREGIONAL SOCIETY IN THIS MATTER 4 MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News

know where this money is going, important to try to determine if and the government should be they had made a concerted effort Opposition MPs decry lack accountable for how they use this to try to do outreach specifically money,” said Mr. Barsalou-Duval. in communities which might not “While we are in COVID-19, be accessing mainstream media,” everyone understands that the said Mr. Green. “And the fact that of transparency around government spends more to the person responsible, Mr. Ken sustain the economy, but it’s not MacKillop didn’t have a direct an- a reason for us not to watch out,” swer leads me to believe that they said Mr. Barsalou-Duval. didn’t have an intentional policy government’s COVID-19 Mr. Green said he would “sub- directive to do that.” mit that it’s crucial for us to have “I think it’s important for public messaging on this, but Canadians to know, that with when you look at how the budget the order of magnitude of money is ever-expanding, the questions that is going out the door at the advertising spending that I had in particular was, federal level, it is incumbent that where are they advertising, how we continue to have checks and are they advertising, and to what balances in place,” said Mr. Green. money allocated in the estimates vote 5 up to now—that’s in the effectiveness?” “Despite the fact that we’re in a Just over $48.5-million includes a $10-million exten- online report—has all been for “Do you they have any kind of crisis, or specifically because of sion of the $30-million Public COVID-19 measures.” performance metrics from which it, now more than ever we need to was added to the Health Agency campaign that’s they can gather evidence-based ensure that there’s transparency Privy Council currently underway. Another Advertising campaign inputs to determine if they’re and accountability in government $12-million will be used for an creating any kind of meaningful contracting.” Office’s budget for extension of the $10-million Fi- launched in late March public health change?” said Mr. nance Canada ad campaign, and The federal government Green. ‘communications $2.9-million will be used for the launched the initial advertising During the June 16 commit- ‘No Treasury Board rules “PCO COVID communications campaign to the tune of $30-mil- tee meeting, Mr. MacKillop said, were violated’ and marketing response team.” lion in late March to raise aware- “we know that with the Public According to Alain Belle- “The remainder of the funds, ness of COVID-19, including a Health Agency of Canada, more Isle, in media relations with the (COVID-19)’ in the approximately $25 million, will video by Chief Public Health than 80 per cent of that placement Treasury Board Secretariat, “as a most recent round be held to keep flexibility on com- Officer Theresa Tam. was in Canadian media,” with “16 central agency, [the Privy Council munications; for instance if we “COVID-19 is a serious public per cent in print media, includ- Office] is well positioned to coor- of supplementary have upcoming campaigns on a health threat. All Canadians must ing dailies, weeklies, ethnic and dinate the whole-of-government vaccine that becomes available,” act now to reduce the spread,” Aboriginal newspapers.” communications marketing effort estimates, which were said Mr. MacKillop. said Ms. Tam in the video. “Avoid Mr. MacKillop also told the in response to COVID-19, which Mr. McCauley also said he crowded places and practise committee that the “recall rate on has and will continue to include a passed by Parliament believes the government was social distancing. Avoid non- the advertising was 85 per cent,” number of departments and agen- on June 17. violating the Treasury Board’s essential travel and stay home as which means that “when we go cies throughout the government of Canada.” “As part of the normal supple- BY MIKE LAPOINTE mentary supply process, funds were allocated and approved by pposition MPs from the Con- Parliament to support ongoing Oservatives, the NDP and the COVID-19 advertising campaigns, Bloc Québécois condemned the as listed in the recent Supple- government’s spending plan for mentary Estimates (A),” wrote Mr. advertising related to the COV- Belle-Isle in a statement to The ID-19 pandemic last week, follow- Hill Times on July 10. “No Trea- ing the allocation of an additional sury Board rules were violated in $48-million for the ad campaign how funds were allocated.” in the most recent round of Regarding the Treasury supplementary estimates. Board’s vote 5 rule, Mr. Belle-Isle The government has already wrote “government contingen- spent tens of millions on commu- cies were not used because these nications and marketing related funding needs did not meet the to the pandemic. required criteria of being urgent, During a June 16 Government unforeseen, and unmanageable Operations committee meet- before supply through regular ing, opposition MPs, including mechanisms.” Conservative MP Kelly McCauley NDP MP Matthew Green, Bloc Québécois MP Xavier Barsalou-Duval, and Conservative MP Kelly McCauley. Mr. Barsalou- “Additionally, the use of Privy (Edmonton West, Alta.), NDP Duval says he was 'very surprised' that the government still needs more money for COVID-19 advertising, and that they Council Office vote 1a supports MP Matthew Green (Hamilton need more money than they needed before. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade, photograph courtesy of Facebook continued government spending Centre, Ont.), and Bloc Québé- oversight, requiring Parliamen- cois MP Xavier Barsalou-Duval tary approval to allocate these (Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes— rule on spending by setting aside much as possible. Self-isolate if out to research this after the fact, funds to protect the health and Verchères, Que.), grilled govern- $25-million “for future spending you may have been exposed to we can ask Canadians: ‘have you safety of Canadians,” wrote Mr. ment officials on the additional in case something comes up.” COVID-19. Stay connected with seen this ad?,’ and the recall rate Belle-Isle. funding. “Under Treasury Board rules, neighbours, friends and family.” is 85 per cent.” According to Pierre-Alain Just over $48.5-million was that belongs in what’s called a “When you take care of your- “That compares to previous Bujold, spokesperson for the added to the Privy Council Of- vote 5, which is a contingency self, you take care of others,” said years at 34 per cent for govern- Privy Council Office, “a line-by- fice’s budget for “communications fund through Treasury Board, for Ms. Tam. ment of Canada advertising— line breakdown of the campaign and marketing (COVID-19)” in the unforeseen circumstances,” said Mr. Barsalou-Duval told The that’s roughly 34 per cent for the expenditures is not available at most recent round of supplemen- Mr. McCauley. Hill Times that he was “very sur- past two fiscal years—so we’re this time as the campaigns are tary estimates, which were passed “I think it’s a complete waste prised” that the government still seeing that advertising being re- ongoing.” by Parliament on June 17. of taxpayers’ money,” said Mr. needs more money for COVID-19 called very well. Of course, if you “The government of Canada “I think it’s garbage, I think McCauley. advertising, and that they need encounter advertising that doesn’t issues an annual report on ad- it’s the government promoting When asked by Liberal MP more money than they needed work quite as well, it gives you an vertising that details the various itself,” said Mr. McCauley in an Francis Drouin (Glengarry— before. opportunity to adjust your future ad campaigns and expenditures,” interview with The Hill Times on Prescott—Russell, Ont.) why Trea- “At first, they had a budget of campaigns,” said Mr. MacKillop. wrote Mr. Bujold in a statement July 8. sury Board uses vote 5 spending, $30-million,” said Mr. Barsalou- Mr. Green also noted that he’s to The Hill Times on July 10. “This has got to be the most or why a department would be Duval. “I don’t think we need any still unclear about where that “These efforts have and will reported story in my lifetime, forced to use vote 5 spending, ads now, and I don’t understand click-through was happening and continue to provide critical infor- [and] yet the government needs Glenn Purves, assistant secretary, why the budget should be bigger with whom it was happening. mation to Canadians throughout $120-million on top of provincial expenditure management sector than it was before.” “So my question was about the pandemic in four key ar- spending, on top of municipal with the Treasury Board said, Mr. Barsalou-Duval said whether or not the department eas: public health information, spending, to tell you to keep six “payments arise.” there’s “clearly a lack of transpar- used the stated gender-based financial support for individual, feet away from people,” said Mr. “They’re urgent payments and ency on how the money is used.” analysis plus, which is something financial support for business and McCauley. “I think it’s a great they have to be made before the “We don’t know where the that’s in the mandate letters of the economy and public safety exercise in self-promotion.” next supply cycle. Vote 5 is there money is going. The government the minister for public services, and security information, includ- Assistant secretary to the to facilitate circumstances when is saying that this is also help- the minister of public health—and ing travel advice. The funds are cabinet, communications and these unforeseen expenditures ing local media, but we don’t see the plus is very important to me.” planned to be spent in the 2020- consultations with the Privy that are often urgent and for it, and there’s also the fear that “We recognize that COVID has 2021 fiscal year ending on March Council Office Ken MacKillop important initiatives need to be this money could not be spent in had a disproportionate impact 31, 2021,” wrote Mr. Bujold. told the committee on June 16 made,” said Mr. Purves during a good way, so clearly we need on racialized communities, on [email protected] that the “first bit” within the the June 16 meeting. “The use of to have more transparency to newcomer communities, so it was The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 5

the minister’s team on March 30 and tackles work related to the Canada Eco- nomic Development for the Regions of Quebec, one of the six regional economic development agencies under the minis- hill climbers ter’s purview, in the Greater Montreal Region. Prior to joining Ms. Joly’s office, Mr. by Laura Ryckewaert Lukofsky had spent the last almost five years working as a specialist for real estate acquisition and municipal affairs for Rog- ers Communications. He also previously worked at Quebec’s national assembly as a political adviser to then-minister Kathleen Ministers Chagger, Weil, starting during her time as justice minister and through to her post as minis- Adam Joly add to political Lukofsky is a Gabrielle Labadie-Johnson is Ms. Joly’s executive senior policy assistant. Photograph courtesy of LinkedIn adviser for Quebec to Also in March, Gabrielle LaBadie-John- Ms. Joly. son was hired on as executive assistant to staff teams Photograph Ms. Joly, moving over from National Rev- courtesy of enue Minister Diane Lebouthillier’s office LinkedIn to take on the role. Diversity, Youth, Ms. LaBadie-Johnson had been working and Inclusion for Ms. Lebouthillier since the fall of 2016, Minister starting out as a scheduling and administra- Bardish tive assistant to the minister and chief of Chagger and staff and ending as a special assistant for Economic operations. In between those roles, she also Development spent time as the revenue minister’s regional Minister affairs adviser for Quebec and the Atlantic. Mélanie Joly Daniel Lauzon is chief of staff to Ms. Joly. have some ter of immigration and cultural communi- Also currently working in the minis- new faces in ties, according to his LinkedIn profile. ter’s office are: Sandra Aubé, director of their offices. Mr. Lukofsky joins fellow senior policy parliamentary affairs; Jérémy Ghio, direc- The Hill Times advisers Richard Léger, who’s focused on tor of communications; Alexander Cohen, photograph by the minister’s official languages file; Mi- press secretary; Emma Kristensen, opera- Cynthia Münster chel Breau; and Kelsey MacDonald, who tions manager; Philippe Lafrance, senior and Andrew tackles economic development and tourism adviser; parliamentary affairs advisers Meade files. There’s also policy adviser and Que- Karine Aprahamian and Jessica La Forge; bec regional affairs adviser Gabriel Cyr, Catherine Mounier-Desrochers, legislative West and North regional affairs adviser assistant; Alison Murphy, issues adviser; parliamentary affairs and Quebec adviser Galen Richardson, Atlantic regional affairs and Joshua Arless, manager of executive Mathée Warnett is a to Ms. Chagger. Though as yet unreported, adviser Pavan Sapra, and Ontario regional operations. he took on that role back in late January. adviser James Leask. Caroline Séguin is [email protected] new special assistant to Previously, Mr. Alexandre was working director of policy to Ms. Joly. The Hill Times for Mary Ng as minister of small business Economic Development and export promotion (she’s since added Minister Mélanie Joly. on the international trade portfolio), start- ing in September 2018 as a press secretary and issues manager. Before then, he was Diversity, Youth, and Inclusion Minister working for then-public safety minis- Bardish Chagger has recently added a new ter Ralph Goodale, starting as an issues member to her ministerial communications manager for the Quebec region in early team, with Emelyana Titarenko having 2016. While in Mr. Goodale’s office, he also been hired as a special assistant for com- served as the then-minister’s liaison to the munications and issues management. government’s Cross-Cultural Roundtable Ms. Titarenko officially began working on Security advisory body, according to his for the minister on June 1. LinkedIn profile. A recent graduate of Mount Allison Uni- In other political experience, Mr. versity in Sackville, N.B., from which she Alexandre previously served as cam- received a bachelor’s degree in psychology paign manager to now former Liberal MP with minors in biology and political sci- Richard Hébert during the 2017 byelection ence, Ms. Titarenko served on the school’s campaign in Lac-St-Jean, Que. Mr. Hébert students’ union, including as president for ultimately won the seat, which had been the last year of her degree. At the same vacated by former Conservative minister time, she spent the last two years up until Denis Lebel, with roughly 38.6 per cent May as a director with the Canadian Alli- support, but he was defeated last fall by ance of Student Associations, including as now Bloc Québécois MP Alexis Brunelle- its director of equity, diversity, and inclu- Duceppe. During the 2015 election, Mr. Al- sion. exandre was a Quebec field and mobiliza- In Ms. Chagger’s office, Ms. Titarenko tion lead for the national Liberal campaign. will be reporting to director of communi- Jamie Kippen is chief of staff to the cations and issues management Danielle minister, whose office also currently Keenan. includes: Marilla McCargar, director of In more belated—but nonetheless perti- policy and cabinet affairs; Dilys Fernandes, nent—news, Allen Alexandre is director of policy adviser for youth and Atlantic regional affairs adviser; Riley Schnurr, Emelyana policy adviser for inclusion and West and Titarenko North regional affairs adviser; Myriam has joined Djossou, executive assistant to Mr. Kip- Ms. pen and Ms. Chagger; and Humna Shaikh, Chagger’s regional affairs adviser for Ontario and ministerial assistant to the minister’s parliamentary office. secretary, Adam van Koeverden. Photograph Over in Economic Development and courtesy of Official Languages Mélanie Joly’s office, LinkedIn there are three more staff to note, including Mathée Warnett, who’s been hired on as a special assistant for executive operations. Ms. Warnett previously worked in pro- vincial politics in Quebec and is a former assistant to the Liberal MNA for Hull, Que., Maryse Gaudreault. Adam Lukofsky is a senior policy adviser for Quebec to Ms. Joly. He joined 6 MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion Economic recovery plan must help those at the bottom first

A sign alerting customers to the Lord Elgin Hotel’s closure hangs on the door in Ottawa on May. 5, 2020. The hotel was forced to shut its doors to customers in March as the COVID-19 pandemic began to devastate the travel and tourism industry. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Low earners have Rebuilding the post-pandemic happening in Canada since the The bad news is that the position pension plan in 2016, compared economy, then, must include both early 1980s, a long enough period for male workers—from full- to 44.6 per cent in 1981. been hit the hardest building a more productive econ- to identify changing patterns or time jobs to pensions—has been At the same time, the median omy but also a fairer economy. trends. declining. hourly wage, after inflation, rose during the COVID-19 As the Organization for According to Statistics Just as the gap in after-tax just 13 per cent between 1981 and Co-operation and Development Canada, the after-tax income income between those at the top 2018. One factor that could be recession, and were points out in its recent report, of those in the top 0.1 per cent and those much further down has affecting the level of workplace already being left Employment Outlook 2020, CO- grew by 97.8 per cent between widened, so has the distribution pay has been the decline in union VID-19 is accentuating inequality 1982 and 2017, while the bottom of wealth. In 1999, the top quintile membership. In 1981 some 37.6 behind by the richest in Canada—47 per cent of those 50 per cent saw their after-tax of Canadian families owned per cent of employed Canadians in the lowest earnings quartile incomes rise by a much lower 45.1 per cent of the country’s 17-64 belonged to a union. By 2015 in our economy. have stopped working, compared 21.8 per cent. Those in the 51- net wealth, and the next quintile this had fallen to 29.0 per cent. to just 14 per cent of those in the 90th percentiles saw their after- owned 22.6 per cent. By 2012, The consequences of poor The government’s top quartile. tax income rise by just 15.3 per the top quintile owned 46.7 per economic gains for the bottom 50 Moreover, only 15 per cent cent. In 1982, the top 0.1 per cent cent and the next highest quintile per cent in particular go beyond economic recovery in the bottom quartile can work had average after-tax income 37 another 23.1 per cent. For those economic insecurity. Healthy plan should prioritize from the safety of their home times the bottom 50 per cent; in in the bottom three quintiles their life expectancy is also affected. compared to almost 50 per cent in 2017 it was 61 times the bottom shares of net worth declined: for According to Statistics Canada, reducing income the top earnings quartile. And as 50 per cent. the bottom quintile, from five per healthy life expectancy for a the report adds, between Febru- The closer you were to the top, cent to 3.9 per cent, for the second 25-year-old male in the bottom in- inequality. ary and April employment among the greater your after-tax income lowest quintile, from 10.9 per cent come quintile this decade was 41 temporary workers with tenure growth between 1982 and 2017. to 9.7 per cent, and for the middle years, compared to 52 years for of one year or less declined by The top one per cent saw their quintile, from 16.4 per cent to 16.3 those in the top quintile, a differ- 30 per cent and by May youth after-tax incomes rise 60.8 per per cent. ence of 11 years; for women the employment had dropped by 33 cent, the top five per cent by 42.1 The changing workplace is numbers were 42.5 years for the per cent. per cent, and the top 10 per cent likely one factor in the growth in bottom quintile, rising to 56 years Looking at where the biggest by 35.1 per cent. inequality. A Statistics Canada for the top quintile, a difference gains in after-tax income from There’s some positive news. study on the changing character- of 13.5 years. economic growth, along with the Over the past decade, the istics of Canadian jobs from 1981 We pay an economic cost with biggest gains in net wealth, have bottom 50 per cent have seen to 2018 found that the jobs held rising inequality. But we also pay gone over the past 20-25 years, an improved rate of after-tax by Canadian employees in 2018 a social cost, since rising inequal- it will be no surprise to see that income gains, in part probably differed in many respects from ity can undermine trust in our those at the top have been the big the result of changes in public those held by their counterparts institutions as a significant share David Crane winners while those at the bottom policy, such as a more generous in the early 1980s. There were of the population feels left behind, Canada & the 21st Century have only marginally gained. But child benefit, increases in the proportionately fewer full-time as well as widening the gap in what are the actual numbers? guaranteed income supplement or permanent jobs, fewer union- health outcomes between those While per capita GDP rose 64.3 for seniors and increases in the ized jobs and fewer employees at the top and those nearer the ORONTO—Even before the per cent between 1982 and 2017, minimum wage. covered by a Registered Pension bottom. Our post-pandemic chal- Tpandemic, increased inequality most of the gains went to those at Likewise, the position of Plan. lenge is to build a better Canada, in income and wealth between those the top. women in the workforce has im- In 1981, 42 per cent of Cana- which means addressing the at the top and those in the bottom To get a clearer picture on in- proved—in pay and pensions—in dian employees had a defined- sources of inequality as well as 50 per cent had become a major equality, I asked Statistics Cana- part because women more than benefits pension plan; by 2016, the outcomes. challenge that had to be addressed. da, which responded by providing men have been pursuing jobs in this had fallen to 25 per cent. In David Crane can be reached at The pandemic threatens to make a vast array of data which gives a the public sector, which provides fact, only 37.5 per cent of employ- [email protected]. inequality an even bigger challenge. detailed picture of what has been more generous pay and benefits. ees had any kind of registered The Hill Times TheHill_OFVGA_0720.qxp_Layout 1 2020-07-09 10:17 AM Page 1

COVID-19 has changed all of our lives. And although Canada continues down the path of re-opening, the pandemic remains an ever-present threat to our health, our livelihoods, our communities and our domestic food supply.

As fruit and vegetable farmers, we are devastated by the recent deaths of three Ontario farm workers from COVID- 19 and we are very concerned about the recent outbreaks that have affected our farms, our dedicated employees A LETTER and our ability to produce food for you.

FROM Seasonal farm workers play an essential role on our fruit and vegetable farms. The federal government created ONTARIO the seasonal agricultural worker program (SAWP) in 1966 and many of us have been welcoming the same international workers for years (even generations). We care about their health and well-being and we are FARMERS committed to doing everything possible to protect the health and safety of our employees.

Part of this is ensuring that farm workers are treated with respect and dignity, are paid fairly, have access to health care and benefits, and importantly, are safely housed. Our farms, and employee living and working conditions, continue to be regularly inspected by multiple agencies and government. Seasonal agricultural workers have the same labour, human rights and social protections as all other Canadian workers.

As we learn more about recent outbreaks on local farms, our farmers and our sector are working to quickly remedy IN PARTNERSHIP WITH issues and prevent them from happening elsewhere. While we don’t have all the answers and know there might be more challenges ahead, what we have learned is that some recent outbreaks were associated with the use of unregulated local recruitment agencies whose contract workers moved from farm to farm.

So, we are taking action.

• We are calling on all fruit and vegetable farmers to limit the movement of local temporary contract workers from one farm to another to reduce the risk of community spread. This also means separating local and international guest workers to decrease the risk of infection. • We are helping to inform workers about available testing, and doing our part to make sure workers’ legal rights for job protection and income protection (e.g. WSIB) are respected if they have to go into isolation. • We continue to work with all levels of government to provide COVID-19 health and safety training guidelines for farmers.

We look forward to working with government to ensure these unregulated agencies are held to the same ethical and legal standards as the federal regulated seasonal agricultural worker program.

We all have a responsibility to do the best that we can to keep people safe during this pandemic and there is no tolerance for employers who don’t follow the rules when it comes to public health and worker safety.

During these challenging times we must all work together to ensure the health and safety of our farmers and agricultural employees so that we can continue to ensure that locally grown fruits and vegetables are available to you, our customers, year round.

We are proud of farm workers, we are proud to be Canadian farmers and we are proud to grow the food you eat.

Sincerely, Ontario’s 3,500 farm families who grow your fruits and vegetables 8 MONDAY, JULY 13, 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 WE Charity deal shows Liberals haven’t—and probably won’t—learn from past ethical transgressions Why is Canada acting as the he WE Charity scandal is just the latest organization that has received sizable pay- Texample of high-ranking members of outs from the government. The second, for bag holder between two very the Liberal government disregarding ethical pressuring his former justice minister, Jody laws, or common-sense ethical guidelines. Wilson-Raybould, to make sure that Mon- The government awarded a contract for treal’s SNC-Lavalin could cut a deal to avoid powerful nations without delivering $900-million worth of government a corruption prosecution. benefits to the WE Charity without holding a It’s not just Mr. Trudeau who has disre- competition. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau garded ethical rules and best practices. Bill extracting concessions? claimed that no other charity, not even the Morneau also chose not to recuse himself federal government itself, was capable of from the cabinet decision on the WE Charity f the U.S. expects Canada to incur the reason to complain about our exports to doing that job instead. However, a collection contract, even though one of his daughters wrath of China regarding the current them, the latest being our lumber. of experts in Canada’s charity sector inter- works for the charity. He also saw no need to I extradition process for one of its citizens, Canada needs to grow up and take viewed by the CBC cast doubt on that claim. put his substantial business interests into a Canada needs to insist the U.S. step back adult-like control of its governance, be Mr. Trudeau said it was the federal civil blind trust when he became the finance min- from the pipeline blockages that are im- it internal or external, and the above service, not himself or his advisers, who ister and gained economic influence rivalled pacting our prices and our ability to move examples are but a few of shoddy gover- made the decision to award the contract to by few in the country. François-Philippe “product.” nance oversight. WE. Perhaps the high-ranking civil servants Champagne chose not to move his mortgage As for the lumber that the Chinese say If Canada has less than satisfac- who were involved in that decision were un- with a state-run Chinese bank when he be- is insect riddled—yes, insects do like to tory standards for services delivered aware of the Trudeau family’s lengthy history came foreign affairs minister, and the point- infest trees. And what of our compliance to Canadians, what of items it shifts in with the charity, and the obvious conflict of person for Canada’s feud with China. and quality control when exporting to trade? interest in doling out a sole-sourced con- None of these men saw need to adhere to China? Is it of a lower standard than that And why is Canada acting as the bag tract in light of that relationship; more than common-sense ethical best practices or rules. used for products that are still moving to holder between two very powerful na- $300,000 were paid to Mr. Trudeau’s immedi- None of their advisers pressed them to do the U.S. or elsewhere? tions without extracting concessions to ate family members by ME to WE, a for- so—or if they did, they were ignored. Our standard of oversight has been compensate for the collateral damage we profit organization aligned with the charity, The federal Liberals who run the govern- proven to be patchy and deeply problem- are bound to suffer? Canadaland revealed last week. Mr. Trudeau ment are sending an unmistakable message atic for long-term care in Canada, and Bev Kennedy has volunteered for the charity in the past, that ethical rules are for others to follow, that other issues. So maybe China has good Fredericton, N.B. and his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, is an real or perceived conflicts of interest for the “ambassador” for the charity. country’s caretakers are of no consequence. Mr. Trudeau and his legion of “issues” That sets a dangerous precedent, beyond any advisers had an opportunity to make the harms the indiscretions themselves may or decision-makers aware of that personal and may not cause. financial relationship. Mr. Trudeau could have For Mr. Trudeau, three strikes is enough. recused himself from the decision-making He has demonstrated that he can’t or won’t Stop testing? Stop voting Trump process entirely. They didn’t and he didn’t. prioritize ethical boundaries. He has shown Federal Ethics Commissioner Mario he is unwilling to come clean about his ethi- resident Trump has jokingly(?) said, If, in November, the vote counters Dion has begun an investigation into the cal lapses—“the allegations in the Globe story P“Slow the testing down please,” as were to slow down or stop counting scandal, the third time Mr. Trudeau has been this morning are false,” Mr. Trudeau famously they were finding too many cases of Trump votes, the world might be a better investigated by the ethics watchdog. The first said in the early days of the SNC-Lavalin COVID-19. This is a preposterous idea place. two investigations found that Mr. Trudeau scandal—until all doubt has been removed. and dangerous, although it could find an Dennis Fitzgerald had indeed broken federal ethics rules. The When it comes to ethics, Mr. Trudeau and his application in other areas. Melbourne, Australia first, for accepting a helicopter ride while government have broken the public trust, and vacationing on the private island of the Aga it will be difficult to earn it back. Khan, another Trudeau friend who leads an The Hill Times Canada can do more to help world’s poor

n Canada Day, while enjoying my For some reason, Canadians remain Omorning coffee on the balcony, I abysmally ignorant about the minimal thought about how lucky we are to live Canadian foreign aid dollars we actu- here. There were no crowds ooh’ing and ally spend. They seem to think a great aah’ing at the fireworks on Parliament Hill amount of money is flowing daily to this year, but I look forward to a few days poorer countries. In terms of govern- of distance-visiting with family. I have a ment COVID-19 spending, only 0.13 per roof over my head, food in the fridge, and cent has gone to aid. So, we are asking money in the bank. Yet I worry. the government to increase this spend- There are so many less fortunate. ing to at least one per cent of the overall Those who live in poorer countries do not COVID cost. have the strong health system we have in There are Canadians who will say Canada. Indeed, 64 nations spend more that charity begins at home, and that we on their debt than on health care for their have our own poor in Canada. I agree. citizens. Canada needs to do more to And I hope they are donating to the ensure these nations have access to the food bank and local charities supporting same treatments and vaccines that we do low-income and at-risk kids. But Canada in Canada. Our prime minister has said is one of the wealthiest countries in the that the pandemic is not over until it is world and we can do more, both at home over everywhere, and we have stepped and abroad. up on a number of fronts, but it is not Sherry Moran enough. Ottawa, Ont.

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aged many cyberspace luddites to start using their computers instead of their cars to go shopping. That Pandemic forcing big changes change in consumer habits could have a long-term, positive impact on our environment, cutting down our transportation footprint, as people stop driving to do their in Canada, not all of them bad shopping. The same can be said for fashion statement in Canada, infected droplets to others. Why As Canadians are becoming renewal of our neighbourhoods. The COVID-19 while in the United States, they not use the mask as a tool in the more comfortable with virtual With more Canadians COVID-ing have taken the place of guns in fight to protect his citizens? journeys, their shopping habits outside, we are now using front crisis has actually the geopolitical divide marking Instead, in our country, the are changing with them. Grocery porches in the way our grand- that country. wearing of masks has taken on a chains have seen an unprec- parents intended, as a gathering encouraged many The only difference between designer look. In his much-await- edented hike in online purchases. place to enjoy the community. cyberspace luddites gun lovers and the growing num- ed fiscal update, finance minister While retail giants are falling like Travel habits will also change. ber of anti-mask “freedom fight- Bill Morneau traded in the usual dominoes across the economic With the southern border still to start using their ers” is that the latter cannot hide shoes for a wine-coloured COVID landscape, Canadians are spend- closed, and most air travel behind the constitution to defend mask, complete with an under- ing more online than ever before relatively limited, Canadians are computers instead their right to spread infection. stated Canadian maple leaf em- and there is no sign that trend will being encouraged to take stayca- At the end of this COVID saga, broidered into the upper corner. end in a post-COVID space. The tions by visiting sites within their of their cars to go Americans will have to look in own communities and provinces. shopping. the mirror and ask themselves That will not staunch the hemor- why individual freedom is more rhaging of the airline industry, important than collective safety but it may help those tourism in a pandemic. providers on the ground by One startling statistic should encouraging the rental of motels be all they need: as of last week, and campsites. Americans suffered 24 per cent of It will also have the added global pandemic deaths with only benefit of encouraging Canadians four per cent of the world’s popu- to get to know their own coun- lation. Why would a country as try. You would be surprised how developed as the United States be many of us have not been outside unable to rally around a national of our own province, preferring pandemic strategy? instead to vacation in warmer Sheila Copps It may sound ridiculous, but southern destinations or exotic European locations. I was at a Copps’ Corner President Donald Trump and his followers simply do not believe in cocktail party once with a well- collective responsibility. They are travelled Montrealer, who knew TTAWA—The Paris runway so enamoured of the notion that every stop on the Paris subway Ojust featured virtual models. each American is responsible for line but had never taken his fam- The good news was that they his own Manifest Destiny, that The rise in online shopping during the pandemic could cut down our ily to Toronto. looked a little heavier than usual they cannot fathom or support transportation footprint and help the environment, writes Sheila Copps. COVID-forced separation has because the camera has a ten- any measure that would restrict Photograph courtesy of Pixabay also included a greater appre- dency to add a few pounds. The their individual choices. So, they ciation of the outdoors, because bad news is that this may not be ignore national health distanc- Many not-for profits are using savings attributed to virtual versus this is one place where we feel the only year for COVID haute ing guidelines, reopen economies masking as a fundraising op- in-person shopping are enormous. relatively safe. How ironic that couture. too soon, and refuse to even don portunity. Canadian Geographic It is no surprise that the list of the a pandemic helps us rediscover With the unrelenting rise in a simple mask as a gesture of partnered with Roots to launch world’s billionaires is topped by Mother Nature! Americans testing positive for the concern and protection. a reusable face mask last week. people who got into the internet Sheila Copps is a former Jean Coronavirus, we won’t be getting Someone should tell Trump Within hours, it became the hot- world early, like Jeff Bezos, Mark Chrétien-era cabinet minister and out of the COVID bubble any time that the mask is not for him. It is test selling item on their virtual Zuckerberg, and Jack Ma. The a former deputy prime minister. soon. Masks have become a new to ensure that he does not spread store site. COVID crisis has actually encour- The Hill Times

Calgary, Edmonton and Vancou- ver elect NDP and Liberal MPs Wexit threat has yet to be proven due to the splitting of the right-of- centre vote.” Surely all this makes the game once told me what he loved most arisen over the emergence of the gesting Wexit will be a force that seem more fun; yet, the reality The creation of about his profession was playing Wexit Canada Party, which aims could threaten Canada’s Conser- might be more mundane. the “game.” to be Western Canada’s version of vative Party. Keep in mind, this same sort Maxime Bernier’s In other words, what endeared Quebec’s Bloc Québécois. For instance, some media of theorizing and conjecturing People’s Party him to politics wasn’t policy plat- As one of the party’s founders, reports have indicated the Wexit emanated from pundits after forms or ideological dogmas or Peter Downing, put it, “Our politi- movement has gained “traction” Maxime Bernier bolted from the inspired similar the analysis of issues, it was the cal class has failed us and this is based on the fact that, in the days Conservative Party and formed rush he got from plotting cam- the reaction. This is the response following the last federal election, his People’s Party. words of alarm, but paign strategy or devising tactics and this is the natural conse- it attracted hundreds of thousand The People’s Party too, we or creating brands. quences of poor political rep- of followers to its two Facebook were told, might drastically sap had little impact on I know that sounds a little resentation in Western Canada. pages. away Tory votes; yet, at the end of flippant, but a lot of people who Now we’re going to have good The party also got a media the day, Bernier’s party basically the last election. work in politics think that way political representation.” boost when the 67 year old for- fizzled. and so too, by the way, do lots of At any rate, the rise of this mer Reform Party MP, Jay Hill, Now, I’m not saying Wexit will people who write about politics. new party, which will run candi- came out of pasture to take over be a similar flop. All I’m saying Indeed, many pundits, jour- dates in the next federal election, as party leader. is Facebook metrics don’t really nalists and columnists are either raises all sorts of important ques- As Calgary Herald columnist, reflect a party’s true support; former political strategists tions: is Wexit good or bad for Lisa Corbella, ominously noted, Hill—experienced politician themselves or they’re “armchair” the West? What is the new party’s this is “bad news” for Canadian though he may be—has not yet political strategists. agenda? Does the party actually federalists. proven himself in this new arena, So like my friend, it’s the game have any popular support? Meanwhile, Kory Teneycke , and while speculating about a of politics they find fascinating. Yet, none of that stuff seems the former communications direc- new party is certainly interesting, And there’s nothing wrong to interest pundits, who would tor for Prime Minister Stephen it’s just that—speculation. with that, except if you concen- rather imagine how this new Harper, recently warned Wexit So before Conservatives panic Gerry Nicholls trate too much on this “inside party will impact on Canada’s could lead to serious “vote split- about the rise of Wexit, I suggest baseball” aspect of politics, you political balance of power. ting.” Post Partisan Pundit they calmly keep the game in sometimes risk losing sight of the And “imagine” is the right As he put in a column, we perspective. bigger picture. word, since, without any real “might actually see a number of Gerry Nicholls is a communi- AKVILLE, ONT.—A politi- To see what I mean, let’s con- evidence to back it up, they’re close seats in urban areas like cations consultant. Ocal consultant friend of mine sider the recent discussion that’s already creating a narrative sug- Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina, The Hill Times 10 MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion The price of everything and the value of nothing

Prime Minister The Trudeau government Justin Trudeau's government has has made mistakes, learned, already borrowed hundreds of and adjusted while trying billions of to ward off the COVID-19 dollars to send to Canadians pandemic. Other world and businesses harmed by public leaders have stuck their lockdowns during the COVID-19 heads in the sand, and their pandemic. No one knows how citizens have paid with their long the virus will lives. remain a threat to public safety. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

That hasn’t stopped elements of the you have your bad ones. That’s why it’s so Instead, Sweden ended up with a CO- political opposition from howling about easy to criticize anyone in charge of an VID-19 death rate worse than its Nordic Michael Harris irresponsible spending and a lack of gov- emergency that descends like an invisible neighbours. The final irony of the Swed- ernment transparency. Some people are avalanche. ish approach? In the end, there was no Harris legitimately terrified about the long-term There are a lot of bad days until the tide economic benefit from trying to pretend it impact on the economy, about rising deficit turns. could be business as usual in the middle of ALIFAX—The King of Quip once said and debt numbers, and the country’s weak- Minister Morneau doesn’t have all the a pandemic. Hthat the cynic knows the price of ev- ened fiscal position. answers because no one does. He doesn’t Finally, there is the experience of Brazil, erything and the value of nothing. No one likes the prospect of a 10 per- know how much more it will cost to fight where President Bolsonaro seems obsessed Oscar Wilde could have been writing cent unemployment rate that may linger COVID-19; whether the virus will mutate; with out-Trumping the president of the about how some people are reacting to on for years. No one likes to see borders how bad a second wave expected in the United States. Bolsonaro’s approach to the staggering sums run up in Canada’s closed, or airline routes cancelled, or no autumn might be; and whether a vaccine fighting COVID-19 has been to compare fight against COVID-19. The Trudeau tourists. But part of the hue and cry over will be developed sooner than later. No it to a small cold and laugh it off. Bolso- government is on track to post a deficit the raw costs of fighting the pandemic, government can responsibly shift its prior- naro’s gaudy show of denial and misplaced of $343.2-billion, and Finance Minister dizzying as they are, is politics, plain and ity from fighting the pandemic to economic machismo included downing hydroxychlo- Bill Morneau said that spending could go simple. And myopic politics at that. recovery until more of these things are roquine on social media and urging Brazil- even higher. By the end of the fiscal year Most of what some are calling a fiscal known. Patience, prudence, and science are ians to follow his example. next March, the government could spend “bloodbath” has been spent on two pro- the watchwords of the day. Not very sexy Hydroxychloroquine is the same anti- $469-billion more than it planned to when grams: the Canadian Emergency Response to be sure, but the wiser path. malarial drug touted by Trump in March. it last set spending targets in December, Benefit (CERB), and the Canadian Emer- The more people obsess about the sheer Since then, it has been banned as a treat- 2019. gency Wage Subsidy (CEWS). CERB is the cost of these enormous emergency expen- ment for COVID-19 by the European Union, Those are unimaginably huge numbers program that gives $2,000 per month to ditures, made under extraordinary circum- and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. that have understandably raised more Canadians who have lost their jobs as a stances, the greater the pressure will be on For all his bluster and bull, Bolsonaro him- than a few eyebrows. Fitch Ratings, one result of the pandemic. CEWS gives belea- the government to re-open the economy self has caught the “small cold” and is now of the Big Three U.S. credit rating agen- guered employers 75 percent of employee while this deadly virus is abroad in the trying to recover from COVID-19. Mean- cies, downgraded the country’s rating from wage costs. land, without a vaccine. In other words, while, 1.7 million of his citizens are now AAA to AA+. But Canada’s debt ceiling The government expects both programs before the country is ready. infected and nearly 70,000 have died. still enjoys a triple-A rating with Fitch, as to cost more than its original estimates. In They have tried that in the United Bolsonaro, Trump, and governors in does it short-term debt. the case of CERB, which has been ex- States with a quack president who believes states like Texas and Florida knew the tended to October 4th, the costs have more that the answer to COVID-19 is the stock price of fighting the pandemic, and in than tripled from an original estimate of market, an injection of bleach, and opening defence of the market economy, decided $25-billion. Not good, cause for concern, all the schools as infections surge in more not to pay it. So thousands of their citizens and a clear sign that tweaks for both subsi- than thirty states. have—with their lives. dies are needed. Finance Minister Morneau Places like Arizona, Texas, and Florida Canada has been far from perfect in has all but assured Canadians that those are reaping the benefits of following its handling of the pandemic. Slow off the tweaks are imminent. “Cadet Bone Spur” over the cliff of CO- mark on testing, the virus got a foothold The trouble with critiquing Trudeau’s VID Denial: exploding infection rates; across the country, especially in Ontario response to COVID-19 based strictly on the hospital intensive care units approach- and Quebec. The country was woefully financial costs goes to the heart of Wilde’s ing overload; and front line workers short on medical equipment. As for long witty observation. The Conservatives, and burnt out trying to keep their patients term care homes, elderly Canadians were some business leaders, may know the price alive without either the protective gear shockingly exposed to the fatal virus, of fighting the pandemic, but not its value. or resources to do so. And even with all leaving this country with one of the worst They criticize Morneau for being foggy on that, some of the governors still refuse to death rates in the world amongst seniors. the timing of reining in expenditures, and mandate something as simple as wearing But the Trudeau government has erred vigorously re-starting the economy, as if he a protective mask. Instead, they preach and corrected, learned and adjusted, ulti- is withholding information. rugged individualism. mately realizing that no economy could be Guess what? Planning during an un- Other countries too have taken a course healthy or open without healthy citizens. Order a Romantic precedented pandemic is one part facts and far different from the one chosen by the Which is to say, Ottawa saw beyond the nine parts grasping at straws. The nature Trudeau government. Sweden opted to do price of fighting COVID-19 to the absolute Italian Dinner of an emergency, let alone a catastrophic next to nothing to fight COVID-19 and kept value of doing so. one, is that you learn on the job. You see its economy open. There was never a lock- As Wilde so keenly understood, some- the problems more clearly only by being down. The Swedish government reasoned times cynicism is part of the problem. 356 Preston St. • 613-749-7490 immersed in, and sometimes, overwhelmed that once enough people were infected Michael Harris is an award-winning lafavoritapreston.com by them. That means you make mistakes with the virus, a so-called “herd immunity” author and journalist. and adjust. You have your good days, and would be achieved. The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 11 Opinion

Thousands protested anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism and police violence on Parliament Hill on June 5. ‘It seems impossible to deny the systemic discrimination experienced by First Nations and Inuit peoples in relation to the public services investigated,’ retired Quebec Judge Jacques Viens said in his 2019 report on that province’s treatment of Indigenous people. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

1971 the political weight of Indig- enous peoples contributed to a reversal on The White Paper. Indigenous peoples have learned the ways of political ac- tion. Indigenous peoples will not put up with this continued refusal Forty-nine days of to admit there is racism. About 490 years ago, Cartier travelled and met with First Na- tions in what is now Canada’s east coast through to Montreal. First Nations communities could share stories of their first contact in the racism in the news 1530s, and how the early tenuous relationship soured into the era of “the Indian problem” in the 1800s. the street, all rightfully covered in resistance to act in the U.S.A. Indigenous peoples remember Calls for investigations into the existence of media, is somebody’s daughter or Police officers have been disci- the long history of failed rela- son or cousin. plined and fired in the States due tionships and blatant and subtle racism are akin to asking Indigenous people It has been exhausting be- to their acts of police brutality. acts of racism in an attempt to to prove they have suffered. cause too many well-meaning In Canada the crime seems to be eliminate us. leaders want to do research and to hold police officers and police Please consider that Indig- investigate the allegations of leaders to account. It’s all too rare enous peoples have been living It’s been 49 exhausting days for racism. If instances of physical for people to face consequences with racism, some of us dying due many Indigenous peoples, black assault were documented in the for racism in this country. to racism, for a long time. What is Canadians and people of colour. hundreds in an organization or Shame. new is that people want to know To question the lived experience locale, one would not call for Forty-nine years ago, the fed- more, and that’s a good thing. But of others as if it’s an academic de- research, one would demand eral government withdrew “The Indigenous peoples should not bate ignores the painful fact that consequences now. So why do White Paper,” a draft policy that be asked to prove their pain. It’s Indigenous peoples and people of leaders want to do more research attempted to address the “Indian exhausting. colour live through experiences of on systemic racism? Would you problem.” Indigenous people were Want to help? Believe the racism with emotions and perhaps rather start doing something to so marginalized in society they stories of racism, and act to chal- trauma too. When one says “I fix it? Or not? were considered to be “citizens lenge racism when you see it. Rose LeMay doubt systemic racism”, one is also Shame. Shame on leaders minus,” according to UBC anthro- Rose LeMay is Tlingit from the Stories, Myths, and Truths saying, “I don’t believe all these who need more evidence before pologist Harry Hawthorn in his West Coast and the CEO of the Indigenous people who say they action. More research is an act 1963 report titled A Survey of the Indigenous Reconciliation Group. didn’t receive equitable service or of resistance to change, an act Contemporary Indians of Canada: She writes twice a month about TTAWA—It’s been 49 days treatment.” So it’s our fault we are of resistance to enact equity for Economic, Political, Educational Indigenous inclusion and recon- Osince George Floyd died. It has 10 times more likely to be arrested Indigenous peoples and people of Needs and Policies. ciliation. In Tlingit worldview, the been forty-nine days of internation- for “driving while brown” or shot colour. The White Paper attempted to stories are the knowledge system, al rally and protest, demands for for “walking down street while This resistance to act against eliminate the “special” in the spe- sometimes told through myth change, system outrage at demands brown”? racism and systemic racism cial relationship between Canada and sometimes contradicting the for change, and general confusion. It has been exhausting be- in Canada is astounding. The and Indians, and download all myths told by others. But always On that day a Black Canadian was cause every instance of racism at resistance to act here in our own federal responsibility for Indians with at least some truth. also assaulted by police in Laval. stores, at the hands of police, on backyard is stronger than the to provinces and territories. In The Hill Times 12 MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion The first rule of spy club: you do not talk about spy club

the fact that a pact was agreed upon some as they are in the absence of this club. It makes sense for nations 75 years ago by the leaders of the world’s When I was in the business there were five major anglophone countries to share always rumours of analogous agreements to share intelligence where intelligence. Those five were, and remain, among other countries. They did not seem as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and important nor as massive as ours, of course, they can. the U.S. but they did tweak our curiosity. Information The amount of intelligence, both raw and on the details was, surprise, surprise, hard Shelly Bruce, a linguist and former intelligence finished, which is passed back and forth is to get. analyst, leads Canada's codebreaking agency, beyond description. Suffice to say it is a lot, Imagine my shock then to read in a the Communications Security Establishment. including some very, very sensitive data. recent edition of The Economist of the exis- CSE, National Defence, and CSIS, the Canadian How do I know this? Simple: I worked at tence of the “Maximator” agreement—named Security Intelligence Service, are responsible for CSE (Communications Security Establish- after a beer, apparently—between Denmark, doing Canada's foreign intelligence work. The ment, our signals intelligence, or SIGINT, Germany and Sweden (the Netherlands and Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade agency) from 1983 to 2001, and then at CSIS France joined later) since 1976! The sharing from 2001 until my retirement from the civil seemed to revolve around SIGINT collection have been forced to share intelligence with service in 2015. Thirty-two years of exposure and codebreaking: very similar to what the 5 “partners” who are “not like us”, sometimes to some really cool stuff which, as the saying Eyes also did. I do not have a good sense as with dire consequences (see the Iacobucci Phil Gurski goes, I could tell you all about but then I’d to their level of finished assessments passed Commission‘s findings on dealing with Syria National Security have to kill you (just kidding!). around, a big part of our anglophone club. for example). While Canada is a competent player in It takes a lot for an intelligence organiza- Those working in Canadian intelligence this alliance it is much smaller than two of tion to share with another. We are naturally go to the office every day with one goal and ttawa—It should come as no surprise to the partners (the UK and U.S.), marginally skeptics at heart, trusting no one and bent one goal only in mind: to produce the best Oany Canadian that what our intelligence larger than a third (Australia) and heaps big- on keeping our own secrets for our own ad- intelligence possible to further Canada’s agencies do on a daily basis is rarely, if ever, ger than the fifth (New Zealand). Neverthe- vantages. Nevertheless, during the Cold War, interests and keep Canadians safe. Anyone disclosed publicly. These are secret organiza- less we receive much more than we contrib- a few Western nations saw enough benefit who maintains we can do this in a vacuum tions after all, and nothing is more sacred to ute. This is not a dig at our spies: it is simply in collaboration to keep at bay the elephant without allies is dreaming in technicolour. the nation’s spies than the protection of their a matter of fact. in the room: the Soviet Union and its allies. I We have been very fortunate to have good sources and methods. To cite the old WWII It is thus clear that holding membership would guess that counter terrorism provides allies, both traditional and new. I hope this saw: “Loose lips sink ships”. in such a spy cabal is a privilege. Canadian a similar rationale these days. continues. It’s well known that Canada belongs to foreign, security, defence, and cyber policies As an aside, CSIS has the ability to enter Phil Gurski is the Director of the Security a rather exclusive spook club, and has since and decisions derive much benefit from this into a sharing relationship with any country Program at the University of Ottawa and the Second World War. It has the somewhat arrangement and I am not certain that our outside the traditional 5 Eyes under Section the author of five recent books on terrorism. scary title of the “5 Eyes,” which refers to actions would be, at least in theory, as good 17 of the CSIS Act. In this post 9/11 world we The Hill Times

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•••CREATING CONDITIONS FOR SUCCESS Public Affairs I Communications I Management Consulting THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 13 Opinion

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised to set Climate leadership Canada on course to become a net- zero greenhouse gas emitter by 2050. The Hill is Canada’s best Times photograph by Andrew Meade path to world stage

What if the undeniable but methane emission regulations Canada could be a short-term prestige of a UNSC in 2018. In April he dedicated seat has kept critics from recog- $1.7-billion to keep oil and gas methane emissions by between 40 ness,” but in its actual expertise leading voice in next nizing a greater, more important workers employed through the and 45 per cent by 2025. and ambition of a major energy fall’s international place for Canada on the global downturn by cleaning up the tens Unfortunately, many other producer working to transition to stage, at precisely the moment it’s of thousands of orphaned and countries have been slow to estab- a cleaner future. climate talks, instead most needed? abandoned wells leaking methane lish oil and gas methane strategies Becoming the leader that Climate change looms as an and other pollution into the air of their own. That’s where Canada galvanizes international action to of one among many ever larger threat not only to the and water. The plan also creates a has a unique opportunity to exert slash oil and gas methane pollu- world’s economies, but to civiliza- $750-million fund to reduce meth- transformational leadership. tion is a singular opportunity for on the UN Security tion as a whole. As a major fossil ane and other emissions from Last year, the UN Environment Canada to play to its strengths. Council. fuel producer and innovative current oil and gas facilities. Program, along with Environ- It will have greater, more lasting leader in environmental steward- Together, the measures are mental Defense Fund and others, impact than a short term stint ship, Canada is uniquely poised expected to create up to 10,000 launched the Global Methane Alli- on the Security Council, where to help usher in a new era of jobs, according to the prime ance (GMA), which brings together Canada would be but one voice in low-carbon energy, both through minister. The plan sends a clear governments, financing institu- a cacophony of others. actions at home and by bringing signal that even in the midst of tions, NGOs, and industry to help The climate math to achieve a other countries along through the COVID disaster, Canada will countries increase their climate net-zero emission future does not the UN and other international address both the immediate needs ambitions and develop concrete add up without methane. Achiev- auspices. of a critical part of its economy commitments to reduce methane ing the necessary global reduc- Canada has been an especially and the longer term necessity to emissions from oil and gas opera- tions in time requires special influential leader on methane, a stabilize the climate. tions as part of their overall green- leadership to help other countries potent greenhouse gas with more While domestic action is cru- house gas reduction targets under to aim higher. Seizing this critical than 80 times the 20-year warm- cial, potential to reshape climate the Paris climate agreement. moment by leading the charge Samuel Kotis ing power of carbon dioxide. Cut- history is even greater at the These commitments will be a for the Global Methane Alliance Opinion ting methane pollution from the international level. This poten- critical element in the success, or will put Canada and its commit- oil and gas industry is our single tial first became evident in 2016, failure, of the international cli- ment to environmental progress fastest, most cost-effective oppor- when Trudeau teamed up with the mate talks scheduled for next fall. squarely in the world’s spotlight undits are wringing their tunity to slow the rate of warming presidents of the United States Canada is the natural choice for years to come. Phands over Canada’s frustrat- right now, even as we continue and Mexico in an ambitious to lead the GMA, because it can Samuel Kotis is the associate ed bid for a temporary spot on the to decarbonize the global energy North American Climate, Clean speak with authority, experience, vice-president for Global Energy United Nations Security Council. system. Energy and Environment Partner- and credibility no other country at the New-York based Environ- But perhaps Canada was audi- The Trudeau government ad- ship, under which the three coun- can match. Its leadership is root- mental Defense Fund. tioning for the wrong role. opted the world’s first nationwide tries agreed to reduce oil and gas ed not in some vague “Canadian- The Hill Times

and ready to invest? Dubai Ports World, operator of terminals in Vancouver and Prince Rupert, Think twice about shipping is investing in an expansion of its terminals, and GCT Global Container Terminals, a Canadian operator with a history of suc- cessful incremental expansions terminal at Roberts Bank under its belt, is hoping that its own proposal for a smart, phased, environmentally-conscious ex- Massive, inflexible he Government of Canada version of the project was first Once you build an enor- pansion can get a fair review. Tshould think twice about how released in 2013, they claimed it mous and enormously expen- The Port of Vancouver argues megaprojects to respond to the Port of Vancou- would cost roughly $2.4-billion. sive artificial Terminal island, that time is of the essence, but the ver’s campaign to secure federal The most recent estimates have it’s there, isn’t it? Even if the softer growth numbers indicate based on dated and economic stimulus monies for the project pegged at $3.5-billion. capacity growth you planned for there is time for reflection. When its expansion project at Roberts And with the start of construction never comes to pass. If RBT2 is big infrastructure projects are inaccurate projections Bank in B.C. still two years off, costs could go permitted by (and funded by) being planned, it is important are not good For one thing, it is not envi- over $4-billion—a whole lot of the government, it will bring on that the government take the time ronmentally friendly. The Port public money. a glut of capacity, all at once, needed to make the right deci- economic stimulus proposes to build a massive, arti- Another Port projection that creating an uncompetitive Port sion. ficial Terminal island (RBT2, they has been way off is the anticipat- at huge financial and environ- Massive, inflexible megaproj- propositions. call it), the size of 150 football ed growth in container volumes. mental risk. ects based on dated and inac- fields, pushing out into the open In January 2010, the Port said Risking taxpayer dollars right curate projections are not good ocean (the ecologically sensitive the number of containers on the now on a massive project like economic stimulus propositions. Salish Sea). The Government West Coast would double over the RBT2, with its inflating costs and Never mind shovel ready, they of Canada should not support next 10 years. But actual growth unrealistic projections, is not are simply not shovel worthy. economic stimulus projects that is more than a million containers wise. Public monies are much Smarter, incremental, more envi- create unnecessary impacts on shy of their projection. This is no better utilized on public priorities, ronmentally sound infrastructure, the environment, yet RBT2 comes rounding error. To put it into con- especially during this economic where risk is borne by the private loaded with high risk impacts text, the gap between projection recovery when the Government of sector should be preferred not on Indigenous fishing grounds, and actual is the entire current Canada should prioritize spend- only by Canadians but by their on migratory shorebirds, and on capacity of the Centerm con- ing on the health and economic government. crabs, salmon and killer whales. tainer terminal in Port of Vancou- security of Canadian families. Roger Emsley is the director of Roger Emsley For another, the Port is basing ver. And it’s a gap that may grow And why even consider Emsley Management and a resi- its plans on dated and inaccurate bigger once the impact of the spending public resources when dent of the City of Delta, B.C. Opinion projections. When the current global pandemic gets factored in. the private sector is standing by The Hill Times 14 MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News

PSAC national normal workload—down from president Chris 137,000 as of May 27. Aylward, left, As part of the agreement who heads the reached between PSAC and the largest federal government, members who have public service already submitted claims for out- union, says of-pocket expenses and financial the tentative losses due to Phoenix should deal with continue with the claims process the Treasury according to the union, as the Board, overseen government continues to process by Minister claims as they are received. Jean-Yves Members who have suffered Duclos, right, severe losses due to Phoenix, 'recognizes including major financial losses the value and and longer-term impacts like ru- commitment of ined credit ratings, will be entitled our members to claim damages. to Canadians.' Earlier this year on March 6, The Hill Times the Treasury Board announced photographs by that software company SAP Can- Andrew Meade ada had been chosen to work on a new human resources and pay system pilot project, almost nine months after the federal govern- ment announced there were three vendors in the running to replace Phoenix, including SAP, Ceridian, and Workday in June 2019.

‘There’s a COVID glow around how well the public service has performed’ According to professor An- drew Graham, who teaches at PSAC reaches tentative the School of Policy Studies at Queen’s University, “there’s no question that there’s a COVID glow around how well the public service has performed, and in many respects, how the public deal with feds on Phoenix service almost outperformed politicians’ expectations if those expectations were really clear in the first place.” “There’s a goodwill sitting damages, wage increases there, that I think, lubricates the process,” said Prof. Graham, who also worked as an assistant ment of our members to Canadi- In a press statement, Trea- Bargaining for a number of deputy minister in the federal Members will soon be ans,” said PSAC’s national presi- sury Board President Jean-Yves other PSAC groups, including government for 14 years. dent Chris Aylward in a statement Duclos (Quebec, Que.) said the for the Education and Library That includes a shared mental- invited to participate to The Hill Times. “Avoiding tentative deal is “testament to our Science (EB) group, the Techni- ity that “we’re still in the middle in online ratification any labour dispute provides sta- commitment to reaching fair and cal Services (TC) group, and the of it,” he said, referring to the pan- bility in the public service for mil- equitable agreements, mindful Canada Revenue Agency (PSAC- demic, and that the public service votes when the final lions of Canadians who continue of today’s economic and fiscal UTE) is set to resume next week. needs to be on board for the next to rely on federal government context.” Bargaining dates for the Opera- wave or the next challenge. text and full details support and services during this In the days leading up to the tional Services (SV) group will be “I really think that there would pandemic.” outbreak of the COVID-19 pan- announced in the weeks to come, be few public union leaders who of the tentative “The strength and stability of demic, however, PSAC was pre- according to the union. would be prepared to take on agreement are made the public sector will also play a paring for strike votes scheduled public ire of having an actual key role in Canada’s economic to begin on March 16. The union’s ‘Long term plan to stabilize strike in this circumstance,” said available, according to recovery,” said Mr. Aylward. He second largest group, the Union Prof. Graham. “It would be dumb noted that members will “finally be of Taxation Employees (UTE), was the payroll system’ for a public sector union to go on the union. compensated for the Phoenix pay already engaged in strike votes In the most recent round of strike in the middle of a pandem- disaster” after four years of “stress, that began on Feb. 17. supplementary estimates, passed ic, and it would be unbelievably uncertainty, and financial hardships At the time, PSAC noted that by Parliament on June 17, the unpopular and the government Department of Public Services Continued from page 1 because their employer couldn’t pay the government had “yet to table would have all the leverage to them correctly or on time.” wage increases that would ensure and Procurement (PSPC) received do whatever it wanted to do with were suspended by the union, and The tentative agreement also rises in the cost of living are met,” slightly more than $203-million in them.” the public service’s performance includes new provisions for care- and that its “Phoenix compensa- funding allocated for the govern- Prof. Graham said that “one of was put in the national spotlight giver leave, extended parental tion proposal remains meagre and ment’s problem-plagued Phoenix the things that strikes me here is by the COVID-19 pandemic. leave, and up to 10 days of domes- unequal across the public service.” pay system. that the government has to have a The Public Service Alliance tic violence leave. The pay system had left thou- During a June 16 meeting of real will and imperative to settle, of Canada’s (PSAC) 70,000-mem- PSAC initially resumed nego- sands of public servants overpaid, the House of Commons’ Govern- and that will and imperative will ber Program and Administrative tiations with the Treasury Board underpaid, or not paid at all. ment Operations Committee, Les be driven by several things.” Services (PA) group will get wage from June 23 to July 3. The nego- Strike votes were suspended Linklater, associate deputy min- “We don’t need this now, we increases averaging 2.11 per cent tiations continued into last week March 13. ister of PSPC, told the committee want to get this done in order to per year retroactive to 2018. If the and concluded with the tentative In a June 19 press release the government has a “long-term carry on with the management three year agreement is final- agreement on July 9. PA members announcing that bargaining was plan to stabilize the payroll of the great unwinding of COVID ized, members will also receive a will soon be invited to participate scheduled to resume, Mr. Aylward system, including the salaries of later on, so we need them ready, $2,500 lump sum in compensation in online ratification votes when said, “elsewhere in Canada, the public servants who have been we need them willing, we don’t for Phoenix, rather than five days the final text and full details of need to provide stability and fair hired to support our efforts.” need them on the picket line,” said of cashable leave—an offer that the tentative agreement are made compensation to public service Mr. Linklater also told the Prof. Graham. was rejected by the union last available, according to the union. workers during this pandemic committee that when the Phoenix “I think the union has a year. The federal government was recognized months ago.” pay system came into effect, the vested interested in making sure Collectively, the agreement reached agreements with 35 “Provinces, municipalities and workforce stood at 550 people—a it’s seen as a big player in this would apply to close to 84,000 other public service groups in large employers across the coun- number that’s now increased to circumstance, and that it’s not represented and unrepresented recent months, including with the try have been negotiating and over 2,500. inappropriately manipulating the federal employees, according to Professional Institute of the Pub- settling contracts,” said Mr. Ayl- According to the Public situation to it’s advantage—espe- the Treasury Board Secretariat. lic Service of Canada (PIPSC), ward. “It’s high time the federal Service Pay Centre dashboard, cially on the economic side.” “This tentative agreement Canada’s second largest public government did the same for their as of June 24, there were 125,000 [email protected] recognizes the value and commit- service union. employees.” financial transactions beyond the The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 15 News Conservatives to put 24/7 live camera on ballot holding area for leadership election

All four Conservative leadership campaigns are watching the voting process ‘like a hawk,’ to ensure nothing untoward happens in the leadership election vote, says former Conservative MP Brad Trost.

Continued from page 1 a party spokesperson says are intended to ensure the process is “transparent and fair.” The Conservative Party has started to mail ballots to all party members eligible to vote in the leadership election. Former Conservative cabinet minister Peter The party also had a webcam Mackay, left, and Conservative MP Erin O’Toole are running neck and neck in the leadership election. Lawyer Leslyn Lewis and Conservative MP Derek Sloan are streaming the ballot holding area also seeking the party’s top job. The Hill Times file photographs during the last leadership election in 2017. That contest finished with Andrew Scheer as the winner, start his own People’s Party of taking measures to ensure the “There’s always room for im- Jim Karahalios, a Cambridge, and several of the losing cam- Canada in 2018. fairness of the process and the provement,” said Mr. Delorey. Ont. lawyer from the leadership paigns complaining about irregu- The Conservative Party is us- privacy of the voters. Steve Outhouse, who is man- contest. The Conservative Party larities in the election process. ing mail-in ballots for this year’s He also said that the bal- aging Ms. Lewis’s campaign, said never officially said why they had “The party and the LEOC leadership election in order to lot processing centre would be so far the party’s measures to barred Mr. Decarie’s from seeking [Leadership Election Organization avoid a large public gathering staffed by “vetted workers, and ensure the voting process is fair the party’s top job, but in January Committee] take the process and amid the COVID-19 pandemic. campaign scrutineers will be seem to be transparent. He said he made national headlines for rules of this race very seriously, Four candidates are running for required to keep all information the Lewis campaign would speak saying in a CTV interview that and we’ve continually updated all the party’s top job, including from ballots confidential.” out if its membership observed being gay is a choice and that the campaigns on the measures in former cabinet minister Peter Former Conservative MP John anything untoward. he was against same sex mar- place to ensure a fair and transpar- MacKay, Conservative MP and Reynolds, who supported Mr. Ber- “Our campaign’s focus is riage and government funding of ent leadership election, one that has former cabinet minister Erin nier in the last leadership but now solely on identifying supporters, abortion services. A number of Deloitte overseeing every aspect O’Toole (Durham, Ont.), rookie is supporting Mr. MacKay, said he and getting them out to vote,” said senior conservatives from both from ballot printing to processing Conservative MP Derek Sloan, was not satisfied with the party’s Mr. Outhouse. “We will scrutinize inside and outside of the caucus and counting,” wrote Cory Hann, and Toronto lawyer Leslyn Lewis. responses to the allegations of every part of the balloting pro- condemned these comments. director of communications of the The Party is using a ranked ballot impropriety after the 2017 leader- cess, as will other campaigns, and The Conservative Party also Conservative Party in an email to system for the leadership elec- ship election. He said he had not if any irregularities are seen, we blocked Mr. Karahalios’ leader- The Hill Times. “And even beyond tion. All ridings are weighted seen anything alarming about will not hesitate to speak out.” ship bid after the O’Toole cam- that, there’s also measures like how equally in the contest, regardless this year’s leadership election Former Conservative MP Brad paign filed a complaint saying the campaigns will be able to scrutinize of how many members they have. process so far, and said he has Trost, who ran in the 2017 leader- Toronto lawyer had made “racist every ballot, and we will bring back The contest is expected to full confidence in the measures ship contest and came in fourth Islamophobic remarks” against our ballot vault public live stream wrap up Aug. 21, the deadline put in place by the party. place, said that it’s not unusual to Walied Soliman, the chair of the that 24/7 monitors the scrutineer for mail-in ballots. The party has “There was great concern see dirty tricks and vote rigging former cabinet minister’s cam- area, and the secure room where started to mail ballots to party as you know at the last conven- in nomination and leadership paign. Mr. Karahalios took the ballots are kept under lock and key.” members, and the party must tion and rightfully so,” said Mr. elections. He said the contest is Conservative Party’s decision to In 2017, where 14 candidates receive the completed ballots by Reynolds, who is holding online very close this time and all cam- court, arguing that the decision ran for the party’s top job, Andrew 5 p.m. on Aug. 21. The party had campaign events for Mr. MacKay. paigns are watching the voting was made by a subcommittee of Scheer (Regina-Qu’Appelle), Sask.), about 170,000 members in Janu- “More ballots cast on the last day process, which will likely ensure LEOC which did not have the now the outgoing leader, won on ary, but candidates for the leader- of the convention than there were a fair outcome. authority to make it. The court the 13thballot with a razor thin ship have signed up thousands people around. So, obviously, “There’s always shenanigans overturned the party’s deci- margin of 1.9 per cent of the votes. more supporters so they will be something went wrong there but in nomination races and leader- sion, but a day after that the 18 Right after the contest was over, eligible to vote. The last date to you know, that’s life. But I believe ship races,” said Mr. Trost who member LEOC decided to bar Mr. supporters of the runner up, Max- sign up new members eligible to this [current leadership election] has endorsed and is unofficially Karahalios again. ime Bernier, pressured the party to vote in the leadership contest was system.” advising Mr. Sloan and Ms. Lewis, Mr. Fonseca said that the party explain a discrepancy of more than May 15. The party had not pub- Mr. Reynolds said that because the two social conservative can- should not have disqualified Mr. 7,000 votes between two differ- licly announced the total number of what happened at the last didates. “I would say there’s no Decarie and Mr. Karahalios. The ent lists showing ballots counted of members eligible to vote in the convention, all four leadership if, and, but, or maybe about it. Campaign Life Coalition has en- in the election, and why the party leadership election as of late last campaigns are watching the vot- Both the O’Toole and Mackay dorsed Mr. Sloan and Ms. Lewis destroyed all the ballots right after week. ing process very closely. campaigns are highly suspicious and has urged members to vote the vote. Members of Kellie Leitch’s Mr. Hann told The Hill Times “Last time, as you know, the of each other and they are going only for these two candidates, sixth-place campaign also ques- that the party was still in the auditors didn’t check every ballot to be watching each other and and not choose the remaining two tioned whether the results of the process of setting up the ballot and the ballots were destroyed party headquarters like a hawk. as their third or fourth choice. election were audited by Deloitte, as processing centre. He said the immediately,” said Mr. Reynolds. And that will keep out 99 per cent “They had no legitimate claimed by the party headquarters. party had briefed all the cam- “So there was no way to follow of any funny business that people reason to disqualify them,” said Former candidate Kevin O’Leary paigns on the detailed plans for up. … And this time, there’s a may want to engage in.” Mr. Fonseca. “So if you’re will- also alleged “widespread vote rig- doing so. Mr. Hann said the ballot lot more attention being paid to Jack Fonseca, director of ing to rig the ballot in terms of ging” by rival campaigns that were processing centre will be in a what’s happening.” political operations for the whose names appear on them, to using pre-paid credit cards to sign “fully secure location” in Ottawa Fred DeLorey, campaign man- Campaign Life Coalition, a pro- get rid of the candidates that you up what he called fake members. with only “limited and controlled ager for the O’Toole campaign, life organization, expressed his don’t like, you’re totally capable The party denied any wrongdoing access, 24/7 video monitoring, confirmed that the party has com- reservations about the fairness of rigging the actual votes by and said that all proper procedures and oversight of everything by municated with all campaigns on of the leadership election process discarding thousands of ballots in place were followed. Deloitte.” He said in an email that the voting process. He said his in an interview with The Hill that might have Leslyn Lewis or Mr. Bernier’s dissatisfaction scrutineers from all campaigns campaign submitted some ideas Times. He blasted the party for Derek Sloan as the number one with the process was the starting would be present to monitor the on how to further improve the disqualifying two social conserva- on them,” he said. point of the former MP’s decision whole ballot processing opera- process to the party, but did not tive candidates, including Richard [email protected] to leave the Conservatives and tion. Mr. Hann said the party is say what they were. Decarie, a former Hill staffer, and The Hill Times 16 MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News Ex-Liberal MPs running in next election eagerly await start of nomination process

Former The Liberal Party is Liberal MP Dan Ruimy, consulting MPs and right, grassroots members pictured with Liberal to determine rules MP Ken Hardie. Mr. for candidate Ruimy lost the 2019 nominations in held federal election but and unheld ridings for is planning the next election, says on running in the next spokesman Braeden election. The Hill Caley. Times file photographs Continued from page 1 In interviews with The Hill Times, some former Liberal MPs said nominations for unheld rid- ings—those currently occupied by MPs from other parties—will likely start after the Liberal Par- ty’s biennial convention, which is scheduled to run between Nov.12 and Nov. 15 in Ottawa. They said the nominations contests were originally planned for March, but Even after losing the last elec- of March. COVID has changed all This would mean a marked Mr. Trudeau has said the deci- were delayed by the COVID-19 tion, Mr. Aldag said he’s never of that.” increase in popularity for the Lib- sion to award the contract for the pandemic. discontinued his outreach with National public opinion polls erals compared to before the pan- Canada Student Service Grant “The latest update that I’ve people living in the riding. He taken not long before the WE demic, when the Liberals and the to the WE Charity was made by been able to get is that they may said he agrees with the party’s Charity scandal erupted last week Conservatives were in a statistical public servants, but it was also start looking around when our decision not to call nomination suggested that the Liberals would tie at 31 per cent and 32 per cent approved by the cabinet, and Mr. national convention is going to contests when the country is deal- win a majority government if an respectively, according to a Léger Trudeau did not recuse himself be, which is after Remembrance ing with the COVID-19 pandemic, election were held at the time. The poll conducted on Jan. 22. The NDP from that decision. Day this year, so sort of mid- but he also said it’s always bet- numbers suggested that Canadi- support was at 19 per cent, and the Ethics Commissioner Mario to-late November,” said former ter if a politician can introduce ans supported the way the Liberal Green Party at eight per cent. Dion is currently investigating the Liberal MP John Aldag, who themselves to voters as a party’s government was managing the It however remains to be seen scandal. represented the riding of Clover- nominated candidate as early as pandemic so far. if the WE Charity controversy The Conservative Party an- dale-Langley City, B.C. from 2015- will have any serious effect on the nounced its nomination rules 2019, but lost the last election to popularity of the Liberal Party. for held ridings in April. A party Conservative MP Tamara Jensen This is the first major ethics con- spokesman told The Hill Times by a margin of 2.5 per cent of troversy that Mr. Trudeau has run last week that nominations in the vote. Ms. Jensen won 20,937 into since the last federal election. unheld ridings will likely start for votes, Mr. Aldag 19,542, NDP During the last Parliament, his the Conservatives sometime after candidate Rae Banwarie received popularity was severely damaged the party elects its new leader 10,508 votes, and Green Party by the SNC-Lavalin scandal and next month. candidate Caelum Nutbrown also his family and friends’ trip to According to the Conserva- garnered 3,572 votes. the private Caribbean island of tive Party’s nomination rules for In 2015, Mr. Aldag had carried the Aga Khan, whose charity has incumbent MPs, if an election the riding by a margin of 11 per received millions of dollars from were to be called between now cent of the vote over Conservative the Canadian government. and June 2021, all MPs would be candidate Dean Drysdale. That The WE Charity controversy acclaimed as party’s candidates year, Justin Trudeau’s (Papineau, surrounds a now-cancelled, automatically. If an election is Que.) Liberals won a majority untendered $900-million contract held after June of next year, Con- government with 184 seats. They to handle a student volunteer servative MPs can still run unop- were reduced to a minority in program that was handed to posed without going through the 2019, ending up with 157 of the the charity. The Trudeau family nomination process if they raise total 338 seats. The Conservatives is close to the WE Charity; Mr. $15,000 by Dec. 31, 2020. won 121, the Bloc 32, the NDP 24, Trudeau has volunteered for it If any Conservative MP is not the Greens three, and one Inde- in the past, his mother Marga- able to meet the threshold by that pendent MP was elected. ret and brother Alexandre have deadline, they would have to then In a minority government, received a total of about $300,000 raise $25,000 by April 30, 2021. If an election could happen at any Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressing the national Liberal caucus during the over the years in speaking fees an MP is not able to meet either time if the governing party loses Jan. 23 winter caucus retreat. Recent polls showed the Liberals would win a for WE Charity events, and his of the two deadlines, they will a vote of confidence. In compari- majority government if an election were held at the time, but that was before the wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, have to earn their nomination son, under majority governments WE Charity scandal erupted last week. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade is an official ambassador for the through the regular nomination the dates of elections are fixed in charity and hosts a podcast for it. process. advance. She received a $1,500 honorarium Those fundraising thresholds In minority governments, possible, rather than as someone A Léger poll released last for hosting a WE Charity event are relatively low, and all Con- political parties try to nominate who is seeking a nomination. week suggested that if an elec- in 2012. servative MPs are expected to be their candidates sooner rather “I am planning on putting tion were to be called now, 39 per Late Friday, Canadaland re- acclaimed as party candidates for than later, given the inherent un- my name forward again, and I cent of Canadians would vote ported that Finance Minister Bill the next election. predictability of how long a gov- know it’d be a lot easier when we for the Liberal Party, 25 per cent Morneau (Toronto Centre, Ont.) Some Conservative sources ernment will last. Early nomina- are able to start campaigning or Conservative Party, 20 per cent also did not recuse himself from told The Hill Times that the tions give nominated candidates getting out in public to actually NDP, and five per cent for the cabinet approval of the WE Char- caucus had recommended that more time to campaign, gain be there as the candidate, as op- Green Party. ity contract although two of his financial target as the only condi- name recognition, raise funds, posed to the person seeking the The online poll of 1,517 Ca- close family members have been tion for qualification to carry and develop contacts in commu- nomination,” said Mr. Aldag. nadians was conducted between directly involved with the charity, the party’s banner for the next nities in their ridings. The average “They were originally looking, July 3 and July 5, and had a one as a contractual employee. election to the elected National life of a minority government in pre-COVID, at having some of the margin of error of 2.5 percentage The Conservatives have called on Canada is 18 months. nominations starting by the end points, 19 times out of 20. the RCMP to investigate the issue. Continued on page 30 The Hill Times, July 13, 2020 The Great Rebuilding Part 2 A Special Report on Canada’s Economic Recovery

Remote working NDP calls for brings a new set wealth tax bill of challenges ‘immediately’, PBO pegs revenue p. 24 at $5.6-billion Post COVID-19: p. 18 reopening our cities means restructuring Keep the new older adult care pedestrian spaces, COVID or not p. 25 p. 20 Government must help businesses, The other side not just households, to sustain economic of Canada’s recovery deficit coin p. 26 p. 22

In the next wave of Aviation sector economic recovery, needs help to ‘speed, scale, and Time to take urban join economic simplicity’ need to make recovery way for sustainability policy seriously p. 27 p. 23 p. 28 18 MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES The Great Rebuilding II

The governing Liberals were slow to introduce new legislation when the forty- third Parliament began, and the COVID-19 NDP calls for wealth tax pandemic sidelined the legislative process in mid-March. The House is now in sum- mer recess. “We need to start taking action on the bill ‘immediately’, PBO revenue side, so that we can continue to maintain services and support through the pandemic, and look to enhance public in- vestments coming out of the pandemic,” Mr. Julian (New Westminster-Burnaby, B.C.) pegs revenue at $5.6-billion said in a July 10 interview. On July 8 four non-profits released a statement of their own calling for a wealth tax. “Canada should immediately bring in The governing Liberals ‘will legislation to tax the extremely rich as a pay a heavy political price,’ means to not only raise revenues, but curb worsening inequality,” read the statement if they don’t introduce a signed by the Broadbent Institute, Canadi- ans for Tax Fairness, Resource Movement, new wealth tax, said NDP and Leadnow. The July 8 economic update showed a finance critic Peter Julian. federal debt over $1-trillion and a deficit of $343-billion. It also showed that the federal debt-to-GDP ratio, which the Liberals have BY AIDAN CHAMANDY often touted as a key financial marker, is expected to rise to 49 per cent in fiscal year DP finance critic Peter Julian is calling 2020-21, up from 31 per cent the year prior. Non the federal government to imme- GDP is expected to shrink by 6.8 per cent diately introduce legislation to bring in a this year before rebounding by 5.5 per cent wealth tax, which a new report from the next year. Parliamentary Budget Officer says could Mr. Julian asked the PBO to estimate bring in $5.6-billion in new revenue. the potential revenues from a one per Finance Minister Bill Morneau (Toronto cent tax on families with a net wealth Centre, Ont.) said on July 8 that the gov- NDP MP Peter Julian, left, and Leader Jagmeet Singh have again called for a tax on Canada's over $20-million. Released July 8, the PBO ernment was on track to run a $343-billion wealthiest residents, with the government expected to run a $343-billion deficit this year.The Hill estimated that 13,800 Canadian economic deficit this year alone, as the government Times photograph by Andrew Meade families would be subject to the tax, and it continues to borrow and spend to keep would net $5.6-billion in revenue in fiscal households and businesses afloat amid the wealthiest residents. The NDP has called to introduce a new tax on luxury boats, year 2020-21. Administering the program COVID-19 pandemic. for a tax on the wealthiest one per cent of cars, and personal aircraft, and to do an Both the federal Liberals and NPD have Canadians, while Mr. Morneau’s mandate analysis to “ensure that wealthy Canadians Continued on page 27 promised to levy new taxes on Canada’s letter from the prime minister instructs him do not benefit from unfair tax breaks.”

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CN_Hill_Times_ad_07_07.indd 1 2020/07/08 19:31:54 20 MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES The Great Rebuilding II Keep the new pedestrian spaces, COVID or not

Ottawa’s Queen Elizabeth Driveway, ca. 1912 was designed to be enjoyed at slow speeds, so it is an ideal candidate to convert for walking, cycling and other forms of active transportation, writes David Gordon. Photograph courtesy of David Gordon and the Ottawa Improvement Commission

First, housebound citizens needed equity issues. It is difficult to create more room for pedestrians, the 1970s. These networks have COVID showed us some exercise and gradually function in our vast suburban en- cyclists and transit. New York City expanded during the pandemic. emerged to walk, run, cycle, or vironments if you are too old, too was a frontrunner in these tactics Of course, some roads are what’s possible when rollerblade. Unfortunately, walk- young or too poor to own and op- under the visionary leadership of better candidates for closure than the roads aren’t ing is difficult, because our side- erate a car. In the denser central Mayor Michael Bloomberg and others. The Ottawa River parkways walks are just not wide enough— parts of the city, they also pose an Janet Sadik-Kahn. They used tem- have pleasant waterfront views clogged with cars. they were squeezed down to a urban design challenge, because porary “pilot projects” to convert and offer the opportunity for long, minimum of 1.2 metres in many automobiles require a great deal automobile traffic lanes in Times uninterrupted walks and rides, Let’s hang onto that places to create the maximum of space to be operated at speed Square, with careful surveys of which are a rarity in big cities. The possible room for cars. Keeping and then parked. Almost all the before and after conditions to NCC’s closure of the Queen Eliza- when things get back a two-metre separation for safe space in public streets is devoted demonstrate the value of newly beth Driveway (QED) was particu- social distancing is simply not to moving and storing cars. created public spaces. Although larly appropriate. It runs along the to ‘normal.’ possible, so walking needs to spill Some citizen activists pushed critics predicted a Carmaged- Rideau Canal, adjacent to denser into the street, to join the cyclists. back against this trend before the don of congestion and downtown downtown neighbourhoods in The second push came from coronavirus, using tactical urban- store closings, an amazing thing need of outdoor exercise. Fast- restaurants, cafes and pubs that ism techniques to make temporary happened: traffic levels remained moving traffic is a menace on the wanted to re-open. The folly of and small-scale changes to local the same and retail sales in- Driveway, since its narrow lanes indoor re-opening has been dem- streetscapes that demonstrate better creased. Pedestrians and cyclists and tight curves were designed for onstrated in Texas and Florida, so use of public space. On Park(ing) take up much less space and cycling and “driving” a carriage in expanded outdoor patios to serve Day, some activists feed the meters spend more money than drivers. the pre-automobile era. customers safely are a better and transform curbside parking Toronto used similar tech- The NCC recently announced choice. These patios often require spots into pop-up cafes or mini- niques in its controversial King that the Driveway closure will more public space outside the parks. In Hamilton, tactical urban- Street pilot project and acclaimed continue to September. As work front door. ists used paint and traffic cones to transformation of Queen’s Quay restrictions are gradually lifted in David Gordon These two forces signalled an demonstrate that sidewalks could West into a multiuse waterfront the meantime, we have a golden Opinion urgent need to rebalance public be improved, and intersections boulevard. The coronavirus pushed opportunity to assess whether streets to focus on accommodat- made safer near schools. many other Canadian cities to ex- these “temporary” urban interven- ing people rather than cars. Auto- A few municipalities adopted periment with converting a lane to tions are worth retaining to in- he “great re-opening” of our mobiles are remarkable personal these tactics, notably Halifax wider sidewalks, cafes, and cycle crease more sustainable forms of Teconomy has been accompa- mobility machines, probably transforming its winter curbside lanes in downtown streets. transport and keep the improve- nied by an extraordinary burst the most important appliance parking into outdoor patios in Completely closing an entire ments to our quality of life. of experimentation in the use of developed in the first half of the summer. The coronavirus has street to automobiles has long A traffic-free Queen Elizabeth public space in Canadian cities. twentieth century. Canadian pushed many Canadian mu- been a common tactic for low Driveway may turn out to be a After automobile traffic evapo- planners spent the second half of nicipalities to experiment with traffic periods, such as Sunday “keeper.” rated during the lockdown, we the twentieth century trying, and similar pop-up cafes this summer, mornings. Bogota’s Cyclovia net- David Gordon is a Professor noticed that our streets had lots of failing, to adapt our cities to this which is a boon to our service work is a global inspiration and and Former Director of Queen’s space for other modes of travel. disruptive technology. sector and also to public life. the National Capital Commission University’s School of Urban and There was a double imperative Automobiles impose substan- The next level of intervention has provided Sunday Bikeways on Regional Planning. for experimentation and change. tial environmental and social is to close entire traffic lanes to the Ottawa River Parkways since The Hill Times THE COMPLETE, MADE IN CANADA PROPELLER SHAFT SOLUTION Thordon Bearings Inc., Dominis Engineering Ltd. and Patriot Forge Co., three world-class, family-owned and operated high-performance manufacturing businesses in Ontario, have joined forces as a consortium to provide fully integrated and complete vessel shaftline systems for Canada’s most important vessels included in Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy. These global industry leaders will provide the highest quality shaftline system to significantly improve operational performance, lower costs for Canada’s Navy and Coast Guard and create sustainable jobs in the critically important Canadian manufacturing sector. For the past 30 years some of the most critical and core major ship equipment have been supplied from overseas. Now more than ever the times call for world quality, Canadian manufactured components for Canada’s ships; supporting high skilled, high tech, high paying jobs right here in Canada.

www.ThordonBearings.com/CISSpartners 22 MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES The Great Rebuilding II Government must help businesses, not just households, to sustain economic recovery

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held a photo op at the Régimbal Awards and Promotions plant in Ottawa in June to promote the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, one of his government’s programs to help businesses during the COVID-19 crisis. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Ensuring firms survive only to be a result of the squeeze between no guarantee that revenues will dence, it has to be government, It will be a hollow swamped by too much accumulat- a sudden drop in revenues and return to pre-crisis levels. and ultimately, taxpayers, who ed debt just postpones the stress high fixed costs, even busi- The underlying stress on firms, absorb these losses. So far, house- victory to help on our financial system, govern- nesses with a fundamentally especially small businesses, is holds have been on the receiving individuals survive ment finances, and ultimately the good business model (such as why polls show over a quarter end of the bulk of government recovery itself. dentists) assumed large levels are uncertain they will survive largesse; indeed, a sharp jump in the first stage of the The key to recovery for busi- of debt during the lockdown. the current crisis even with the personal deposits at banks since nesses is finding a mechanism This debt risks pushing many current level of government aid. February suggests, overall, more crisis, but then have to help firms deal with their into insolvency. Despite such a major threat to the aid to households was provided excessive debt loads. Firms in Governments have traditional- sustained recovery of jobs and in- than was necessary. It is now time their jobs disappear Canada already entered the ly adopted the so-called Bagehot come in Canada, this draws little for governments to step up and government-mandated shutdown rule as a guide for emergency interest from governments, which help firms directly. later this year or next. of non-essential services with his- lending to the private sector, remain fixated on households. It The real risk in the huge torically high levels of debt. High which is to lend generously will be a hollow victory indeed to increase of government transfers indebtedness is partly the result against good assets to solvent help individuals survive the first to households during the pan- of years of tantalizingly low inter- firms in order to assure that no stage of the crisis but then have demic is that government will est rates offered by central banks; taxpayer money is at risk. This their jobs disappear later this soon test the limits of its bor- even corporations with huge cash treats the fundamental problem year or next. rowing capacity, as reflected in reserves like Apple issued bonds as a crisis of liquidity and not The traditional Bagehot the recent downgrade of federal to take advantage of interest rates solvency. However, this approach approach to lending during a debt, even before a wave of busi- reaching lows that may never be has some serious flaws. financial crisis won’t work in the ness bankruptcies puts more repeated. So far, governments have suc- current downturn because corpo- demands on its resources. If the After the pandemic arrived in cessfully kept loans flowing to rate debt has reached too high a federal government is unable Canada, firms saw their revenues businesses—bank loans jumped level and because the unpredict- to help firms, then much of the Philip Cross plunge. In some of the hardest- eight per cent between February able course of both the pandemic short-term aid to individuals will Opinion hit industries such as airlines, and May—while sending money and government’s response make have been wasted as people lose accommodation, food, recreation, with no strings attached directly it impossible to differentiate be- their jobs and return to govern- auto dealers and personal ser- to households. While preventing tween good and bad debt. ment support. Then the demands hat should the federal vices, revenues dropped by 65 per a rash of business failures, the Jeremy Stein, chair of the on government may prove to be Wgovernment be doing to cent or more. problem is that the high and ac- Department of Economics at unsupportable, and our nascent help the private sector sustain its Meanwhile, even with ex- celerating indebtedness of firms Harvard and a former Gover- economic recovery unsustainable. recovery, rather than sustain its tensive layoffs, companies still at a time of declining revenues nor of the US Federal Reserve Philip Cross is a senior fel- mere survival for another quarter have to pay some fixed costs means many eventually will Board, has argued that the federal low at the Macdonald-Laurier or two? such as property taxes, rent, become insolvent. For example, government has to be prepared Institute and the former chief Without a recovery of the mortgages and other debt, a delaying rent payments means to take on some debt from firms economic analyst at Statistics business sector, there will be skeleton headquarters staff, that this expense will increase to assure their ability to survive. Canada. no ongoing growth in Canada. security, utilities, and so on. As when the moratorium ends, with To protect central bank indepen- The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 23 The Great Rebuilding II In the next wave of economic recovery, ‘speed, scale, and simplicity’ need to make way for sustainability

But conditions must be applied to used to expand the development of large Putting ‘green strings’ on government, too, to ensure they are CO2 emitters via the expansion of oil, gas, allocating funding and developing or coal. government spending and programs and policies across all sec- The forthcoming report from the Task tors in line with their commitments to Force for a Resilient Recovery, of which the subsidies should be a key a green recovery. With many invest- International Institute for Sustainable Devel- part of Canada’s effort to ments flowing through the provinces, opment is a founding member, will provide provincial and territorial govern- further specific policy proposals later this fight climate change. ments also need to apply conditions month. to spending. Ottawa could encourage Speed, scale, and simplicity were the this as well; one example would be to right principles for this government to follow tie provincial stimulus to the adop- in the early days of the pandemic. But now tion of net-zero building codes, while we need new principles and conditions that supporting building retrofits across will take this nation to a climate-safe future the country. that puts the wellbeing of people and the Funding should support enter- planet first. prises using innovative technology Vanessa Corkal is an energy policy analyst Hundreds gather on Parliament Hill to call the or providing tangible social benefits at the University of Ottawa’s International government to take action on climate change on May 3, to communities, who could use the Institute for Sustainable Development. 2019. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade money to scale-up; it should not be The Hill Times Vanessa Corkal Opinion

hen Finance Minister Bill Morneau Wprovided Canadians with a fiscal update July 8, he described how the federal government helped pull Canadians and busi- nesses back from the brink of financial insol- A Rural Community in Need of vency due to the country entering lockdown in response to COVID-19. Three principles, he said, were applied to all new programs: Financial Services at the Post Office speed, scale, and simplicity. Programs had to be implemented quickly, haletown on Cortes Island in British Columbia accessible to everyone, and easy to apply for. The government understood the conditions was featured in Ruth Ozeki’s acclaimed novel that needed to be met to ensure these efforts WA Tale for the Time Being. Its tiny Post Office, did what they needed to do—help Canadians the smallest free-standing post office in Canada, has manage financially in a time of emergency. served its community for over 70 years. And yet, despite a $343-billion deficit and the second highest debt-to-GDP ratio in The residents of Whaletown would like their Post Canada’s history, even more spending will be required to help get the economy back on Office to increase its financial services. According to track. The need for recovery spending is not Postmaster Mary Clare Preston, “We lost our Credit up for debate; how those funds will be spent, Union a few years ago now… it is more than a two on the other hand, will be a hotly debated hour trip that includes a forty minute ferry ride to get topic in the months ahead. While leading companies are committing to the nearest financial institution.” to net-zero emissions and calling for invest- ments to support the zero-emissions transi- In a recent poll, 67% of Whaletown residents tion, there are others who are committed to voted for Canada Post to offer more financial the status quo. If funding is allocated without services. An additional 33% voted in favour of having sustainability in mind, especially in high-car- Canada Post partner with financial institutions. None bon sectors, we could end up undermining Financial Services at Your Post Office vital climate change and equity goals. were opposed. Whaletown wants financial services at Internationally, organizations such as the their post office. International Energy Association, more than 155 businesses, and countries such as Ger- That possibility is now closer to reality because many and the UK are calling for a green re- Canada Post has agreed to work with the Canadian covery that will build a resilient, low-carbon Postmasters and Assistants Association, the union economy that puts workers and well-being at the forefront. representing rural post office workers, to study and Canada has signalled its interest in test financial services in several pilot projects. moving in this direction, and Morneau’s speech July 8 stated, “We need to invest in an The closure of institutions such as post offices economy that is greener and more diverse.” and bank branches in rural communities eventually But we need more than statements—we starves them of the resources they need to keep need a commitment. thriving. Consolidating postal and financial services If the federal government is truly dedicated to its promise of net-zero by 2050, and if it actu- would give a boost to both types of infrastructure, ally wants to invest in a green economy, now is helping to maintain beautiful historic communities the time for Trudeau to commit to the princi- like Whaletown for generations to come. ples that will ensure this new wave of spending takes Canada in a sustainable direction. A message from the Canadian Postmasters and A recent report by 14 environmental groups Assistants Association. titled Green Strings: Principles and Conditions for Green Recovery from COVID-19 in Cana- da offers a framework for doing so. One of its key messages is that conditions must be ap- plied to all companies receiving funding. This would include requiring applicants to have effective and measurable plans to reach net zero emissions by 2050, disclose climate risk to shareholders, and ensure the financial support secures the labour force—either through exist- ing jobs or a fair transition to new jobs. cpaa.ca acmpa.ca 24 MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES The Great Rebuilding II Remote working brings a new set of challenges

In remote working, the nature of the work related interaction, and to Building structure into a work does not change, but everything else chat and share lighter moments. does. So, work-life balance becomes im- All of this creates the routine and remote working routine portant. We are used to a routine at work. preserves work-life balance. We For remote work to be productive one must also need to give ourselves little will help to ward off have a routine. Introverts and extroverts rewards for accomplishments dur- ‘presenteeism.’ react quite differently to remote work and ing the day, and enforce discipline their routines will reflect that. While the to respect the schedule we made for specifics vary, the essential components ourselves. We are social beings and include space, structure, rhythm, schedule, prolonged isolation is not conducive interaction, reward, and discipline. It is to robust mental health. The breaks, good to have a dedicated space for remote if carefully planned, can contrib- working that does not double as a dining ute to the enhancement of mental table during worktime. A work schedule health. So does the ambience that that distributes various tasks through the envelops the workday and space. day and aligned to our work rhythm for Perhaps all this will eliminate pre- efficiency and creativity is a must. senteeism in remote work. We need structure that stabilizes the Vishwanath Baba is a profes- workday with start and finish times that sor of management at McMaster Vishwanath Baba suit our needs, with breaks to recharge, University’s DeGroote School of In remote working, the nature of the work does not Opinion and lunch to reenergize. It is good to have Business. change, but everything else does, writes Vishwanath a fixed time to have virtual meetings for The Hill Times Baba. Photograph by Junjira Konsang, courtesy of Pixabay

resenteeism,” in general, refers to “Pbeing physically present at work but ADVERTISEMENT functionally absent. It results in suboptimal productivity. The reasons vary. You are unwell; you have reason to be absent but you are at work because you have a deadline to meet, you have expectations to fulfill, you fear Paving the way being “out of sight and out of mind,” your coworkers may doubt your commitment to work, you want to demonstrate your for innovation and competitiveness in the Canadian plant protein sector loyalty to your boss, and let your team know that you are strong. This is sickness anada has the opportunity to become a global agricultural powerhouse, which includes taking a presenteeism. leadership role in the production of plant-based products to meet growing global demand. To that end, Or you are not sick at all, but you are C the Agri-Food Economic Strategy Table set a goal of growing agriculture and agri-food exports to $85 not focused on your task; you have other billion by 2025, up from $64.6 billion in 2017, along with ambitious goals for increases in domestic sales. things on your mind. Nevertheless, you are at work and people see you at work, but Protein Industries Canada is committed to helping drive Canada toward these goals by working collaboratively you are not exactly working. Presentee- across the industry and investing in projects that will transform the food processing sector in Canada, create ism occupies the grey area between total jobs and stimulate local economies. work engagement and total absence. If your job has enough latitude, you can hide The key to delivering on this potential is attracting investment into innovative new technologies such as gene your presenteeism, but its organizational editing. These technologies will support the development of exciting new crop varieties and will benefit the costs are high, often higher than plain old economy, the environment, and consumers. A fundamental component of our nation’s competitiveness is absenteeism. All this matters when you ensuring an environment that fosters research and the commercialization of these technologies. Bill Greuel work with people in a shared space in an CEO, Protein Industries Canada organizational setting. Over the course of our current mandate, Protein Industries Canada, along with our members, will invest more We now have a pandemic. We must than $300 million to help revolutionize the Canadian agrifood sector including significant investments focused practice social distancing. Remote working on plant breeding to improve Canada’s protein rich crops, such as canola. The research plan for increasing is the order of the day. Likely, it is here to canola protein value is a first-of-its-kind using gene editing to improve protein quality and quantity. High stay. Recent polls tell us that only one in protein canola meal will lead to new markets and create new economic benefits throughout the value chain. three will be back at the office on a regular basis after the pandemic, and one in five Gene editing is critical to making innovations like this one a reality. Gene editing is a technology that works within a plant’s genome to make will permanently work from home. We still precise enhancements to the plant. The outcome of using gene editing is the same, safe results as conventional plant breeding, but the process have deadlines to meet, expectations to is faster and more predictable. It is on the verge of revolutionizing agriculture around the world. But Canada may miss out. fulfill, projects to complete, but there is no seeing eye—we are not directly visible ei- Unfortunately, many of our major trading partners are outpacing Canada by providing regulatory clarity on gene editing and positioning ther to our supervisor or to our coworkers. themselves to capitalize on its potential while maintaining a high standard of safety. The United States Department of Agriculture If we are unwell, we can take time off recently recognized that the results of precision gene editing within the genome are indistinguishable from conventional plant breeding and to recover without social consequences. confirmed that it would therefore not be subject to additional regulatory oversight. The regulatory certainty is already pulling investment out of There is no need for sickness presenteeism. Canada and giving the U.S. a significant head start. We can meet goals with redoubled effort upon recovery. But we may be afflicted by The U.S. is not alone in recognizing the safety of gene editing. Countries including Australia, Argentina and Japan have made similar decisions. presenteeism of a different sort. It is easier The lack of a clear and predictable regulatory system is limiting investment in Canada. We also run the risk that the investments we are making to be distracted when there is no one to in new product developments may not make it to market. Or worse yet, they will make it to market in other countries and Canada will miss out on enforce social control. When we work from all the potential benefits. home, it is also a shared space, but those who share that space have different inter- We have too often seen Canada export its high-caliber intellectual property for the benefit of other countries. Keeping that intellectual property ests. The challenge is how not to fall prey here in Canada will create growth for the primary producer and processing sectors, create new choices for consumers, and lead to jobs that to presenteeism in remote work. stimulate our local economies. Work must be intrinsically interesting for us to be fully engaged. Many tasks con- To its credit, the Government of Canada has recognized the need to update regulations to consider new innovations like gene editing and the stitute work and not all of them are equally positive impact they can and should play in making Canadian agriculture a global powerhouse. Modernization of our regulatory system is a interesting. The physical and social context priority for the industry and government. of work often compensates for the irksome parts, allowing for spontaneous exchanges The Treasury Board’s regulatory roadmaps set a clear path forward for enabling this kind of growth in the sector, which included modernizing the with coworkers that moderate the occa- regulatory system for plant breeding innovations. The work has largely been done. Now is the time to act so that Canada can begin to move into sional tedium. Arrival and departure mark its rightful place as one of the world’s top producers of innovative, sustainable, and high-quality crops and plant-based ingredients. the beginning and end of the workday, while schedules and structure punctuate Given the impact that COVID-19 has had on the Canadian economy, now more than ever, we must take the next steps to attract investment and the order of work. The permeability of innovation, to create jobs and opportunities in Canada. The investments made through the Innovation Supercluster Initiative was a significant first step, the workspace and shared organizational but we need the right regulatory environment so that we can enable the sector to attract safe, cutting-edge innovation to Canada. rituals tend to discourage presenteeism at “work”. In remote working, sickness pre- Bill Greuel senteeism is less of an issue but one must CEO, Protein Industries Canada create a working environment at home that is conducive to concentration. THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 25 The Great Rebuilding II

Liberal MP Marie- Deb Schulte is France Lalonde, a Canada’s minister former retirement responsible for home operator and seniors. She told social worker, is one reporters in April of several MPs who that her mother-in- have called on the law and father-in- government to set law were both in national standards long-term care. The for long-term care in Hill Times photograph Canada. Photograph by Andrew Meade courtesy of Marie- France Lalonde

more autonomy in their care deci- vides care recipients with more sions, ultimately improving their control over the care being pro- quality-of-life and the delivery of vided to them. Self-direction re- older adult care. fers to a growing trend in health First, we have to come to terms care that provides people with with the unique care needs of more autonomy in deciding what older adults, as they represent an care they need and how their increasingly large proportion of needs should be met. The notion the global population. In Ontario of self-direction highlights that alone, the number of adults age 65 it may be reasonable for a client or older is expected to almost dou- to select a family member as one ble from 2.4 million in 2018 to 4.6 of their formal care providers million by 2046. Within Ontario, and this family member should older adults have been among the therefore be formally employed most vulnerable to the COVID-19 and compensated as such. Self- pandemic, a truth supported by direction isn’t new to Ontario, it many disturbing statistics: 16 per was introduced by the govern- cent of all of Ontario’s 33,000+ ment in 2017 and dismantled cases have been residents of long- soon thereafter by a coalition of term care facilities, a population for-profit and not-for-profit home that also accounts for 64 per cent care providers, citing concerns of the province’s 2,600 deaths. All with increased bureaucratization, Post COVID-19: told, roughly 1 in every 50 resi- ultimately delaying care. Their dents in Ontario’s long-term care concerns may have been valid, facilities have died of COVID-19. as older adults don’t need more In Ontario 12,230 people aged 60 hurdles to get through in order and over have tested positive for to access appropriate care, but it the virus, representing around seems increasingly evident dur- 37 per cent of all cases. Compare ing this pandemic that familial reopening our that number to the around 12 per and informal caregivers continue cent of all Ontarians that fit in this to be undervalued in our home age group, and you can see the and long-term care systems. disproportion. We must learn to value the very The pandemic has also ex- important role they play in older posed challenges in delivering adult care and begin to redesign cities means care to this population through our care systems to demonstrate long-term care facilities. The this. terrible conditions inside some Home care isn’t right for of these care homes have been everyone, and there will be those discussed in national and inter- whose needs are best met by national media, and on May 19th, institutions like long-term care Ontario’s Minister of Long- homes. But the tragedies of the restructuring Term Care, Merrilee Fullerton, pandemic have made it increas- announced that she would be ingly evident that these two launching an independent com- systems cannot function without mission to investigate Ontario’s familial caregivers supporting long-term care system in Septem- their loved ones both at home and ber. The focus on long-term care in institutional settings. As the older adult care homes has opened up an oppor- sector responds to the crisis, and tunity for home care, where older the conditions in Ontario evolve, adults continue to receive the researchers and policymakers and support our fragmented care support they need from informal must think about what can be Home care and informal care givers must be system, have been reduced to caregivers and health care profes- done to better support older adult little more than “non-essential” sionals while staying in their own care moving forward. The need utilized and better supported in any re-think and thus removed from the circle home. The question of why home for reform is evident, and as more of care during a time when older care hasn’t been given enough research into the home care sec- of Canada’s approach to caring for its oldest adults may need these people attention during this crisis is puz- tor becomes available, there can residents. most. It is clear that reform is zling. Even for individuals who be greater opportunities to learn desperately needed. may not be good candidates to from the strengths and weakness- As we begin to reopen our cit- receive care at home, the ques- es of the two delivery models. As he COVID-19 pandemic has ies and consider transformations tion of what can be learned from cities reopen across Canada, let’s Taffected aging populations post-COVID-19, governments home care delivery models is a welcome the myriad of innova- in countries around the world, must restructure older adult care. valuable one and may illuminate tions developing in older adult bringing to light many longstand- Given the LTC system appears in- how we can improve care in gen- care and ensure restructuring ing and severe challenges for creasingly overburdened and we eral for older adults. better values the important role of older adult care sectors. know many older adults would A recent study by a team of families and informal caregivers, Both home care providers and prefer to remain at home, why not researchers at the University of for the benefit of all. long-term care facilities have look to existing innovations in the Toronto’s Munk School of Global Anna Cooper Reed is a social found themselves ill-equipped to home care sector and try to im- Affairs & Public Policy, in part- worker and PhD student at the respond to the current emergency, prove coordination and balance nership with the Reach Alliance, Institute of Health Policy, Man- Anna Cooper Reed leading to tragic consequences. between home and long-term explored an innovative model of agement and Evaluation at the Opinion Familial and informal caregiv- care? By doing so, we could allow care called “consumer-directed” University of Toronto. ers, who continue to supplement older adults and their families or “self-directed care” that pro- The Hill Times 26 MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES The Great Rebuilding II

Finance Minister Bill Morneau will guide the government’s plan to bring Canada out of the Covid-19 recession. The federal deficit is already on track to reach $343-billion this year. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

debt, resulting in massive deficits among households—deficits that households have been running since the early-2000s. Given the uncertain trajectory of the pandemic in the months The other side of ahead, as well as historically high unemployment that is dispro- portionately impacting women, racialized, and low-wage work- ers, massive government spend- ing cuts would only make a bad situation worse. And importantly, Canada’s deficit coin if CERB or EI support were cut, it would shift the deficit from the prise, given the scale of what was those sectors that would have but who were, instead, supported federal government onto exactly Cutbacks to downsize necessary to support Canadians shouldered deficits. Thankfully through various payroll supports those workers. during the initial phases of the most of that desperation and such as the Canadian Emergency There will be a need for Canada’s national COVID-19 crisis, which forced deficit shifting was avoided Wage Subsidy as business rev- continued federal investments the shut down of our economy in because the federal government enues tanked. through the COVID-19 recovery debt would come on order to protect public health. stepped up and the deficit cre- As expected, austerity hawks and rebuilding period on things the backs of Canadian The real question around ated by COVID-19 appeared on are already making the rounds like universal affordable child deficits isn’t if they should occur, federal books. calling for spending cuts and care, public health care, and long- households. which they do for all sectors, For households alone, CO- privatization. That would be a term income support moderniza- even households. The question is: VID-19 emergency response mistake. What is often missing tion. Every one of those invest- which sectors are on the benefit funding reduced the deficit that from the “deficit=bad” debate is ments will pay off for generations or surplus side of any deficit? Canadian households would have the context that a deficit in one to come. In the case of the national faced without federal support sector of the economy, like the Spending cuts aren’t the only deficit, the flipside of that coin is by a whopping $224-billion. The federal government, always re- way to reduce deficits. Address- this: government spending shifted corporate sector was cushioned sults in a surplus of the same size ing long-standing fiscal revenue substantial economic burden by $41-billion in spending. in another sector—in this case, issues through progressive tax off of the shoulders of workers, Provinces and municipalities, households and businesses when reform measures, like wealth students, families, seniors, and which are in line to receive a pro- they needed it most. taxation, is not only a solution corporations at a time when they posed $15.9 billion support pack- The opposite is also true. Fed- that most Canadians support, it desperately needed the support. age, were also spared a harsher eral surpluses achieved through would help Canada with its recov- David Macdonald Without help, households financial blow. public service and program cuts ery and rebuilding efforts. Opinion would have faced their own Overall, the largest beneficia- must force another sector into Government leadership in a deficits as they lost jobs and in- ries of the federal deficit were deficit by the same amount. When time of unprecedented global cri- comes plummeted, but everyday those who’ve lost their jobs or the federal and provincial govern- sis saved lives, and kept workers or every transaction in the expenses remained. They would their hours during the pandemic. ments ran consistent surpluses and businesses afloat by invest- Feconomy, there is someone on have withdrawn more from their This portion of the deficit encom- during the 2000s, they did it at the ing in emergency programs that the other side: someone who is savings, racked up credit card passes the Canadian Emergency expense of households. The fed- made public health the priority. paying money always has some- debt and drawn down lines of Response Benefit (CERB) but also eral government reduced EI pay- This wasn’t just a one-time deal. one on the other side receiving it. credit to pay for food and hous- the Employment Insurance (EI) ments and health care transfers, The future of Canadians relies on Last Wednesday’s economic ing. In the worst cases, more benefits that will continue long for example, in the mid-1990s. The steady government leadership in and fiscal snapshot revealed a jobless Canadians would have after the CERB wraps up in Au- direct effect was on households, the months and years to come. historic $343-billion deficit, 15 turned to other sectors like the gust, as is presently the plan. which didn’t get as much support David Macdonald is senior econ- times higher than where the provinces for social assistance, The second largest group ben- when laid off or sick. They made omist with the Canadian Centre for federal deficit stood at the end or non-profits for things like efiting from deficit spending were up that difference by digging Policy Alternatives in Ottawa. of last year. This came as no sur- food. Then it would have been those at risk of losing their jobs, into savings or taking on more The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 27 The Great Rebuilding II Aviation sector needs help to join economic recovery

returning from international ‘The airlines have government action to minimize With all the flight and travel to self-isolate for 14 days been hammered the spread of the COVID-19 virus. after their arrival. Canada has by this pandemic,’ If there is one segment of Canadi- travel restrictions also issued travel advisories to Transport Minister an economic activity that is truly Canadians leaving Canada for Marc Garneau told a at the mercy of government poli- in place during international destinations to limit House of Commons cies, aviation, and consequently COVID-19, the such travel for only essential pur- committee in June, tourism are prime candidates. poses, warning that entry and exit while defending his Much has been said about the aviation industry is conditions throughout the world decision not to force dire straits being faced by avia- are subject to potentially sudden the carriers to refund tion globally, and governments truly at the mercy of change. passengers for flights have taken the initiative to shore So who wants to risk air travel cancelled by the up the financial viability and the government policies. given this state of affairs? Thus, pandemic. The Hill economic engine that aviation the dilemma facing the commer- Times photograph by provides. Notwithstanding the cial aviation industry in Canada Andrew Meade relatively good financial situa- today. Airlines have boldly an- tion of Canadian carriers at the nounced a significant restart of start of this pandemic’s impact on both domestic and international success or failure of this sector of management of the current health travel, the ongoing reduction in flights for the latter half of the the Canadian economy. We have emergency with unwavering air travel demand will put most of summer, anticipating a lessening observed national governments in focus on maximizing Canadians’ Canada’s carriers at greater risk. of travel restrictions and a sub- the developed world take ex- health. Efforts to gain additional liquid- sequent return of demand for air traordinary steps to maintain the The issues being debated about ity through public and private services. This increase in air ser- financial stability of their respec- aviation sectoral support revolve financial vehicles can only go so vice requires an intense amount tive aviation industries, from primarily around the form of far. There is a limit to the ability John Gradek of effort in getting both human Germany to France to the United such support, whether as loans, of Canada’s aviation industry to Opinion and physical resources ready to States of America. Canada has of- grants, or other financial support increase their financial burden by operate. The ultimate validation fered numerous financial lifelines mechanisms, and the conditions weakening their balance sheets. of this effort will be whether pas- to industry throughout the course that such support would carry. With the country undergoing s the Northern Hemisphere sengers do in fact purchase this of the COVID-19 public health Typical government support has to phased restart of portions of the Acountries move to gradu- increased service offering in light emergency, a number of which date been in the form of outright economy, one must not forget that ally reopen their economies post of the government’s continued the aviation industry has benefit- grants, term loans, funding with aviation is a key underpinning of lockdown, it is very apparent that advisories on limiting potential ted from. There remains, however, equity participation and in some the Canadian economic engine. A consensus is lacking in the extent transmission occurrences. It a further, and more urgent need cases funding with sustainabil- failure to provide a level playing to which commercial air travel is remains a—hopefully—calculated for specific sectoral support for ity targets focusing on reduced field for this industry to begin the being addressed. risk by the airline industry that tourism and travel service organi- energy consumption and reduced long road to recovery will have We see new travel phenomena their increased service levels zations, including hotels, airports, emission levels. Is there an appe- long-term implications on how and emerging such as bubbles, cor- will attract sufficient traffic to and airlines who remain hard-hit tite for such funding models? when Canadians will once again ridors, and quarantine-free entry, improve their financial picture. by continuing government advice When historians write the feel better about our economic all done in the spirit of minimizing Given the economic and social to avoid non-essential travel. about the successes and failures strength, and the future state of the the risk of COVID-19 infections value that the aviation industry While Canadian airlines of government actions during this Canadian aviation industry. from travellers originating or trav- brings to Canada and the indus- remain wary of government fund- pandemic, the Canadian aviation John Gradek is a Faculty elling through territories with high try’s valiant attempt to stimulate ing and potential government industry should be characterized Lecturer and Coordinator of the rates of confirmed cases. air travel, it is now more appro- involvement in their strategic as one that attracted govern- Global Aviation Leadership Pro- Canada maintains a require- priate than ever to consider the choices, it remains the govern- ment’s attention for financial gram at McGill University. ment for visitors and Canadians role of government policies on the ment’s obligation to oversee the support in the light of continued The Hill Times

Mr. Wurdrick said he fears study commissioned by the advo- NDP calls for wealth tax wealthy families would rearrange cacy group North 99. In late May their finances to reduce their tax 2020, Abacus did another poll burden, resulting in an overall commissioned by the Broadbent reduction of federal revenues. Institute that found 75 per cent bill ‘immediately’, PBO “I’m less concerned about the of Canadians support a wealth impact on the rich themselves. tax. The poll found majority sup- They’re going to be fine whether port in all parties, regions, and or not they have to pay a little age groups. Just 13 per cent of pegs revenue at $5.6-billion more tax. But I am concerned Canadians said they oppose a about what happens to the rest wealth tax. of us if we lose that revenue. Be- In May, Mr. Morneau told CBC Balance Sheets Accounts, and non-financial assets and paid off cause it’s a lot to make up. It only News that the government is “not Continued from page 18 Canadian Business magazine’s all its liabilities.” takes a few really rich people to thinking about raising taxes.” Mr. would cost an estimated $113-mil- Richest People List. The PBO said The report took into account rearrange their affairs or leave Morneau doubled down on that lion, or about two per cent of the they will use the new HFD data- the likely behavioural changes and that leaves a real big fiscal comment in June, when he ap- total projected tax revenue. base for similar analyses going that would result from a wealth hole but the rest of us have to end peared on CTV’s Power Play and A few weeks before the July 8 forward. tax. The PBO assumed that up paying,” he said. said raising taxes is “not on the report, another PBO report was Previously, the PBO had wealthy families would manage During Question Period on table.” released that offered new and used SFS to analyze Canada’s to reduce their wealth by 35 per July 9, NDP Leader Jagmeet Mr. Julian said the current more comprehensive data on the wealthiest families. The June 17 cent, based on adjusted findings Singh (Burnaby South, B.C.) state of federal finances coupled wealthiest families in Canada. PBO report showed that “Can- from the U.S. Internal Revenue asked Prime Minister Justin with the broad support for some The PBO created a database us- ada’s wealthiest families have Service. Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) if the kind of wealth tax presents a ing this new information, called significantly more wealth that For Aaron Wurdrick, head of the government would consider good opportunity to implement the High-net-worth Family Data- recorded in the SFS.” Canadians Taxpayers Federation, the imposing a wealth tax similar to such a policy, but said he doesn’t base (HFD), that allows the office The SFS showed the top one likely behavioural response would that which was outlined in the expect the government to move to “produce cost estimates and per cent of Canadian families make a prospective wealth tax PBO report. Mr. Trudeau did not on it. analysis of measures affecting held 13.7 per cent of total wealth, extremely hard to implement, and answer the question directly, but “I think they have a lot of Canadian families with wealth whereas the HFD reported that likely render it counterproductive. said “everyone must pay their fair friends in high places that are in the millions and billions of number at 25.6 per cent. The “Its not a simple matter of, share of taxes” and highlighted saying ‘don’t do this,’” Mr. Julian dollars.” report said the discrepancy is we’ll raise taxes on the rich and that the government raised taxes said. The PBO was forced to “likely due to sampling and non- they’ll pay it. The rich have a lot on wealthy Canadians when they “If the Liberals aren’t prepared develop the new database after sampling errors, especially higher of resources and they tend to use were first elected in 2015. to look at” a wealth tax, he said, their election platform costing survey non-response among high- them to minimize their tax bur- Polls suggest that Canadians “at some point in the next year efforts were hampered by a lack net-worth families.” den,” Mr. Wurdrick said. “Because are largely supportive of Mr. or two, there will be an election. of publicly available data on The PBO measured family they stand to lose a lot, even with Julian’s proposal for some kind This is a minority government,” he high-net-worth families. The HFD wealth in the report “in terms a small increase in tax, they will of wealth tax. In May 2019, 67 said. “I think they will pay a heavy incorporates data from Statistics of marketable net worth: the spend a lot of money to avoid per cent of Canadians supported political price.” Canada’s Survey of Financial amount of money left to a family paying more tax. So you’re kind or somewhat supported a wealth [email protected] Security (SFS), the National if it liquidates all its financial and of chasing your tail.” tax, according to an Abacus The Hill Times 28 MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES The Great Rebuilding II

of challenges faced in our cities. Cities are crucial to both effective implementation of federal inter- ventions; and, federal-provincial agendas will require the front line policy innovations which are tailor-made in cities to address the varied dynamics of the chal- lenges they face. The countries that have fared best during COVID-19 have been those with high-performing multi- level governance systems. As the OECD summarizes: “The most effective responses are coming from systems characterised by flexibility, where there is room to act ‘on the ground’ combined with effective leadership at the national level.” It’s time for Canada to get on board. The federal government has committed to a “whole-of- government” approach to the crisis and recovery. But it isn’t priori- tizing the collection and report- ing of city-level data, and it has essentially ignored calls from city leaders for greater federal support. An essential first step is the creation of a Canadian urban policy observatory, a “one-stop shop” for qualitative and quan- titative data on Canadian cities and city-regions, and the political systems which govern them. A national urban policy obser- vatory would have several distinct benefits for federal policy makers. It would provide comprehensive data on the unique realities in each Canadian city and com- munity, bringing local challenges to the attention of federal and provincial governments to inform policy implementation; it would help direct resources toward cit- Montreal has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, while other Canadian cities have had far fewer cases. Photograph by Germán Poo-Caamaño, courtesy of Flickr ies with the greatest needs by pro- viding current and comparable data on municipal fiscal pressures and revenue tools; it would pro- vide race and ethnic-based data, as well as neighbourhood level data where possible, facilitating the execution of equity seeking policy solutions; it would sup- port national economic recovery Time to take urban strategies based on analysis of local assets and regional resil- ience; and it would facilitate coordinated intergovernmental policy learning, and thus serve as a building block for greater inter- governmental dialogue on urban policy seriously priorities across Canada. Where we look determines what we see. In a nation as urban- So far, the loss of life and the pacting marginalized and racial- ized and as diverse as Canada, we The loss of life and the financial devastation financial devastation associated ized populations. must use a cities lens if we want with COVID-19 have been con- Unfortunately, Canada’s daily to really understand, and address, associated with COVID-19 have been centrated in Canada’s cities. The epidemiological summaries— the challenges we face together. concentrated in Canada’s cities, but the data is largest 20 cities in Canada ac- as well as the vast majority of The time for action is now. count for 42 per cent of Canada’s nationally collected and reported Dr. Kate Graham is director of often reported in a way that makes us blind to population and yet have 67 per data in Canada—ignores the local research at the Canadian Urban cent of total cases and 75 per cent scale, creating a form of insti- Institute, and teaches part-time this reality. of total deaths. People who live tutional blindness to the highly in the Political Science depart- in cities report a more profound varied and localized ways that ments at Western University and impact on their quality of life and our nation experiences all man- Huron University College. She BY DR. KATE GRAHAM, reached the 100,000 case mark personal financial situation. ner of crises. This is a legacy of a studies urban politics, local gov- th DR. NEIL BRADFORD, just one day short of the 100 day More importantly, a look at federalism that prioritizes prov- ernment, and gender and politics. & DR. GABRIEL EIDELMAN of the pandemic. Every day, the how each city in Canada has inces, most of which are large and Dr. Neil Bradford is director of the government of Canada releases fared reveals a high level of varia- diverse enough that this scale of Governance, Leadership, and Eth- very good photographer an epidemiological summary tion. The case and death counts in data reporting is of limited utility. ics Program at Huron University Eknows that getting a clear of how the pandemic has pro- Montréal, for example, are more It is the Simpson’s paradox College at Western University. image requires choosing the right gressed, including data on how than 25 times higher per capita of Canadian federalism, hinder- He studies urban and community lens. The same can be said for each province and territory has than they are in Edmonton. In ing our ability to meaningfully development with a focus on good policy making: how we look fared since the day before. some cases, the variation between address the most pressing chal- multi-level governance. Dr. Ga- at a problem or phenomena deter- The problem with this is that cities within the same province lenges facing our nation. briel Eidelman is director of the mines how clearly we see it, and it doesn’t give us a clear picture is greater than the variation be- With more than 82 per cent Urban Policy Lab at the Univer- how effectively we can address it. of how COVID-19 is affecting tween neighbouring provinces. of Canadians now living in cit- sity of Toronto’s Munk School of Take the COVID-19 pandemic. Canadians. A new report released The Signpost report, as well ies, Canada is long overdue for Global Affairs and Public Policy For the past 16 weeks, the rapid by the Canadian Urban Institute, as neighbourhood-level data a new era of multi-level urban and a contributing member of the rise of global case and death COVID Signpost 100, reveals the released by cities such as Toronto, governance. No level of govern- Canadian Municipal Barometer counts have dominated head- disproportionately urban nature reveals strong patterns in how ment in Canada is equipped on research partnership. lines around the world. Canada of this crisis. COVID is disproportionately im- its own to address the complexity The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 29 News Too soon to say if StatsCan will bring in more racialized researchers, says official; ‘we’re just

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, pictured on May 1, is among those who have acknowledged that where race-based data has been available in years past, it has sometimes been used to ‘stigmatize minority and racialized populations.’ StatsCan has building those hired 11 Indigenous liaison officers, but an official says it is too soon to say if the agency will be bringing in more racialized researchers to beef up its efforts in race-based data collection. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

diversity and inclusion as well as the University of Toronto’s faculty for the Aboriginal Peoples Survey relationships’ families of indicators to be able to of medicine, noted in an earlier over concerns that it infringed on track relevant ‘inclusion’ indica- interview that “there’s a lot of their right to control and govern tors over time,” according to a information that’s out there that’s that information. officers’ salaries and non-salary July 6 statement from the agency, partially used or distorted in the In 2019, Statistics Canada In July 2019, the needs like travel are covered. which also said the committee usage, and there’s no underlying shared data on suicide among In- “Funding may vary from year to had been formed and already met [questioning of] what are the con- digenous populations, a sensitive agency established year based on the level of activi- once, with another meeting slated tributors to this.” She noted that in topic, as part of an effort to en- ties and engagement, but typi- for last week. some cases, data has been used to gage communities about the data the Centre for cally peaks during the conduct of Mr. Lachance said it’s possible justify racism and discrimination, it is collecting, said Mr. Lachance. Indigenous Statistics the census,” Mr. Frayne added. that the agency will create other a fact that Public Safety Minister “Usually, we can go ahead and They are stationed across the “ambassador”-like roles for other Bill Blair (Scarborough South- just print the suicide rates, but and Partnerships. country and look after a particu- racial groups, but he said “we haven’t west, Ont.) also acknowledged without the proper context and lar region, said Mr. Lachance. A made that decision yet, we’re just this month. proper process…that report can It also employs 11 StatsCan webpage lists advisors building those relationships.” Mr. Lachance said Statistics also have some unintended conse- as covering Atlantic provinces, His comments come in the Canada’s researchers are well quences, because it does provide Indigenous liaison Manitoba, Inuit Nunangat, and wake of an influx of public calls aware of this history. sometimes a negative picture,” he others. “That program is prob- for better race-based data collec- “When we come to the analy- said. advisors to help ably one of our most established tion. The COVID-19 pandemic has sis [stage], we need to ensure That report, shared in June it collect data on programs to engage communities harmed Black people in the Unit- that the analysis that we do and 2019, comes with an introduction such as the Indigenous [one] on ed States at a greater rate than it analytical products [we put out] that references intergenerational Indigenous people in Indigenous data,” he said. has white people. Canada has not are sensitive to the perspectives trauma and the effects of coloni- “Their role is very key, spe- tracked pandemic outcomes by of the communities,” he said, add- zation and ongoing marginaliza- Canada. cifically in ensuring there is trust race or ethnic background. ing StatsCan consults national tion, specifically “the loss of land, with the data and a good rapport To better understand the pan- Indigenous organizations in traditional subsistence activities and relationship with StatsCan.” demic’s disproportionate impact creating or testing the Aboriginal and control over living condi- Continued from page 1 When the agency starts work on some communities, the agency Peoples Survey, which gathers tions” and a “suppression of belief did a lot of work on the Black for its census, for example, these has already made a push to col- figures to track the “social and systems.” populations before, how do we officers act as ambassadors who lect more disaggregated data. economic conditions” of those liv- “We always feel that we’re do this?” said Mr. Lachance in a promote it and in some cases seek It has been releasing a series of ing off reserve. Groups consulted accountable to our respondents, phone interview July 9. permission to be able to go into voluntary questionnaires, which include the Assembly of First so the trust comes in different lev- In July 2019, the agency estab- communities, or at least notify change about every two weeks, Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, els,” said Mr. Lachance. “It comes lished the Centre for Indigenous Indigenous leadership about the and tap into a range of topics like and the Metis National Council, from the fact that the data that Statistics and Partnerships, which agency’s intentions. parenting during the pandemic he said. people provide us is confidential consolidated “long-standing work- Mr. Lachance said it is too and the impact faced by those liv- The agency said that in 2017, … and [in the assurance] of the ing relationships” with commu- soon to say whether the agency ing with disabilities. Indigenous people were hired as quality and statistical rigour that nities and organizations across will bring in Black community re- “How we continue this rela- interviewers and guides during we are bringing to the data,” he the country into one centre. All searchers to help it gather better tionship depends on what the the collection period, and organi- said. research at the agency involving race-based data. community needs and how we zations promoted and reviewed Jeff Latimer, director general Indigenous people is “channeled “We’re working with experts want to work closer with them,” the analytical findings of the and strategic adviser for health through” this centre, which helps right now. The plan is in the said Mr. Lachance. Aboriginal Peoples Survey. data with Statistics Canada, told “provide relevant expertise and fall, we do more consultations “We are accountable to Cana- “This ensures that findings the House Health Committee last co-ordinate outreach to part- with racialized communities, dians about the data. The data is are presented in an appropriate week that a lack of standards ners,” a July 6 statement from the specifically to get their input on about what individuals are telling manner and ultimately results between provinces and territories, agency read. new approaches on how we can us about themselves, and they’re in stories that are balanced and for instance, makes it difficult to Included in the centre are 11 disseminate information” to those taking the time to answer the include essential contextual in- get other data like figures around Indigenous liaison advisors, some communities, he said. questionnaire and surveys.” formation,” said a statement from deaths in the country. Part of that of whom, according to Mr. La- Statistics Canada received Some experts who spoke to the agency, which also noted that is because some jurisdictions still chance, might work on reserves, $4.2-million over three years The Hill Times this month noted those interviewers and guides rely on paper-based processes and most of whom identify as through the government’s anti- that authorities and government help to improve the reliance and for death registrations, making Indigenous. The agency did not racism strategy last year. A por- institutions might face an uphill quality of the analysis. it difficult for the agency to paint provide an exact breakdown, nor tion of that funding was to allow battle as they go about collecting A lack of consultation has cre- a complete national picture, as it a dollar figure of cost, for these the agency to set up an advisory race-based data, thanks in part to ated barriers for Indigenous com- relies on these authorities to filter positions. The program began in committee on ethno-cultural “longstanding disparities” in areas munities in the past, according up data to the federal government the 1980s and positions are cur- and immigration statistics. That like housing, healthcare, and food to a January 2019 report prepared through the Public Health Agency rently funded through the centre, advisory committee will guide insecurity in these communities. for Indigenous Services Canada of Canada. said StatsCan spokesperson Peter the body in setting up a “concep- Anna Banerji, a director of and the AFN. In 2006, for exam- [email protected] Frayne in a July 10 email. The tual framework on ethnocultural global and Indigenous health at ple, the AFN withdrew its support The Hill Times 30 MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News Ex-Liberal MPs running in next election eagerly await start of nomination process

Liberal delegates at the Halifax biennial convention. Liberal MP John Aldag says it appears the nomination process will start after the party’s biennial convention in mid-November in Ottawa. The Hill Times photograph by Cynthia Munster

Continued from page 16 pared to Conservative candidate Mike Mur- ray, who won 16,373 votes, 31.4 per cent of the Council, the 20-member governing body of total. The NDP candidate Bob D’Eith received the party. The council accepted it without 15,450 votes, 29.6 percentage of the total; and any amendment. the Green Party candidate Peter Tam won Conservative MPs told The Hill Times in 2,202 votes, or 4.2 per cent of the total. April that the COVID-19 pandemic is the Mr. Ruimy lost the 2019 election by a reason the threshold is so low. Canadians margin of 6.5 per cent of the votes. In that are facing daunting economic and health election, Marc Dalton garnered 19,650 challenges, and fundraising is going to be a votes, 36.2 per cent of the total. Mr. Ruimy challenge for politicians for at least for the won 16,125 votes, for 29.7 per cent of the next year or so. total, while the NDP’s Jack Mogk carried Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Liberal 12,958 votes or 23.9 per cent of the total, Party told The Hill Times last week that the and the Green Party’s Ariane Jaschke won party is still in the process of consulting 4,33 votes, eight per cent of the total. MPs and rank and file members about the Former Liberal MP Gordie Hogg, who nomination rules for held and unheld rid- represented the British Columbia riding ings. He did not say when the nomination of South Surrey-White Rock from 2017 to contests would start. 2019, but lost the last election, said that his “Over the course of this year, we’ve decision to run in the next election will de- been continuing to hear ideas from Liberal pend on when election is called. He said if MPs, past candidates, EDAs, and registered the election is called in the next year or so, Liberals across Canada on the best process he would run. Otherwise, he might not run. to help elect even more Liberal MPs when- A former provincial cabinet minister, Mr. ever the next campaign eventually arrives,” Hogg, who holds a PhD, said he’s looking at wrote Braeden Caley, senior director of some teaching opportunities at universities communications for the Liberal Party, in in British Columbia and other possibilities. an email to The Hill Times. “We anticipate “I’ve been invited to do a number of those consultations being finalized shortly, things and participate in a number of and we’ll have more to share about the boards in the community,” said Mr. Hogg. new nominations process in due course.” “So I’ve been waiting to make some deci- Liberal MP Dan Ruimy, who repre- sions on that and certainly the pandemic sented the riding of Pitt Meadows-Maple has made it a little more difficult to make Ridge, B.C. from 2015 to 2019, but lost the decisions around that.” election to Conservative MP Marc Dalton, Mr. Hogg and other former MPs said said he is also planning on running in the early nominations would give more time next election, but does not know when the to candidates to get ready for the election. nomination contest will happen. Since the They also agree that the health conse- last election, Mr. Ruimy said, he has stayed quences of the pandemic are preventing in regular contact with people in the rid- the party from nominating candidates. ing. In his conversations with constituents, Mr. Hogg, a former provincial MLA, won Mr. Ruimy said he always asks what they the riding in a 2017 byelection by a margin think about the government’s response to of 5.3 per cent of the votes. He won 47.4 per the pandemic, and so far he has received a cent of the vote, while second place Con- positive feedback. servative candidate Kerry-Lynne Findlay He said he’s not worried about when garnered 42.1 per cent of the vote. The third the nomination contests will happen, but place NDP candidate Jonathan Silveira car- wants to ensure that he’s ready whenever ried 4.8 per cent, and the Green candidate the contest is called. Larry Colero won 4.1 per cent of the vote. “We don’t know when the next election In 2019, Ms. Findlay, a former Harper era is going to be: it could be two months from cabinet minister, bested Mr. Hogg by a margin now, it could be two years from now,” said of 4.5 per cent of the votes. Ms. Findlay won Mr. Ruimy. “So, I try not to worry about when 41.9 per cent of the votes, Mr. Hogg 37.4 per that’s gonna happen. It’s more about making cent, NDP candidate Stephen Crozier 11.6 per sure that I’m ready for whenever it happens.” cent, and the Green Party candidate Beverley Mr. Ruimy won the 2015 election by a Hobby won 7.7 per cent of the votes. margin of only 2.4 percentage points. He won [email protected] 17,673 votes, or 33.8 per cent of the total, com- The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 31 Events Feature

Election Organizing Committee, also known MONDAY, JULY 13 as LEOC, announced on April 29 that Aug. House Not Sitting—The House has not 21 is the deadline for mail-in ballots, after met regularly since mid-March, when it was the leadership was suspended on March suspended amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Chinese ambassador 26 due to the global pandemic. The party The regular summer recess was scheduled says the winner will be announced once the to begin on June 24, but MPs agreed to ballots can be safely counted. meet as a committee of the whole on July THURSDAY, OCT. 15 8, and are scheduled to do so again on July 22, Aug. 12, and Aug. 26. The House is PPF Testimonial Dinner and Awards—Join to take part in virtual rd then scheduled to return in the fall on Mon- us at the 33 annual event to network day, Sept. 21, for three straight weeks, as and celebrate as the Public Policy Forum per the original House sitting calendar. honours Canadians who have made their Senate Not Sitting—The Senate has mark on policy and leadership. Anne adjourned until Sept. 22. McLellan and Senator Peter Harder will ‘roundtable’ talk July 15 take their place among a cohort of other TUESDAY, JULY 14 stellar Canadians who we’ve honoured The Pearson Centre Webinar: Infra- over the last 33 years, people who have structure and Economic Recovery, Featuring dedicated themselves to making Canada Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna— Cong Peiwu, China's a better place through policy leadership Hosted by Pearson Centre president Andrew and public service. The gala event will be ambassador to Canada, held on Thursday, Oct. 15, at the Metro Cardozo, this event will happen on Tuesday, will take part in a virtual July 14, 2-3 p.m. EDT. Just as govern- Toronto Convention Centre, 255 Front St. ment investments have driven the economy roundtable discussion W., Toronto. through the COVID-19 pandemic, the scale, on July 15 organized SATURDAY, OCT. 24 scope, and types of economic stimulus by the Canada China that will be included in Canada’s economic Business Council. The Parliamentary Press Gallery Dinner—The recovery will have immense impacts on two countries are in the Parliamentary Press Gallery Dinner happens Canada’s economic future. Canada’s midst of a diplomatic on Saturday, Oct. 24, in the Sir John A. Macdonald Building on Wellington Street Minister of Infrastructure and Communi- and trade feud triggered ties Catherine McKenna talks about how in Ottawa. by Canada's detention of infrastructure can play a role in Canada’s FRIDAY, OCT. 30 economic recovery. Will Canada need a new Chinese executive Meng Marshall Plan? And how can government Wanzhou over fraud CJF Awards Celebrating 30 Years of centre recovery objectives with issues such charges in the United Excellence in Journalism—The Canadian as environmental sustainability and gender States. The Hill Times Journalism Foundation Awards will be held equity? photograph by Sam Garcia on Oct. 30, 2020, at the Ritz-Carlton, Toronto, hosted by Rick Mercer, former host WEDNESDAY, JULY 15 of The Rick Mercer Report. The CBC’s Anna Cross Canada with Ambassador Cong Maria Tremonti will be honoured. Tables Peiwu—The Canada China Business Coun- are $7,500 and tickets are $750. For more cil hosts a webinar on policies to encourage information on tables and sponsorship investment in China and liberalize trade. opportunities, contact Josh Gurfinkel at The webinar is geared to all five of its [email protected] or 416-955-0394. Canadian chapters simultaneously, followed TUESDAY, NOV. 3 by a roundtable discussion with Cong Peiwu, China’s ambassador to Canada. U.S. Presidential Election—The U.S. Wednesday, July 15, from 11-11:45 a.m. presidential election is scheduled for Tickets are available for this Zoom webinar Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. U.S. President via Eventbrite. Donald Trump is the Republican candidate Webinar: Impact of COVID-19 on and former vice-president Joe Biden is the Cancer Patients and their Ability to Receive presumptive Democratic candidate. The Treatment—Hosted by the The Canadian winner is scheduled to be inaugurated on Cancer Survivor Network. The COVID-19 Jan. 20, 2021. pandemic has put cancer patients in the THURSDAY, NOV. 12 untenable situation of limiting access to essential cancer care, including tests, Liberal Party National Convention—The treatments and clinical trials, while at the Liberal Party of Canada announced the same time having to worry about contract- 2020 Liberal National Convention will be ing COVID-19 in their immune-compro- Infrastructure Minister hosted in Ottawa, from Nov. 12-15. For mised condition. To assess the extent Catherine McKenna more information, please contact: media@ to which the disruption of cancer care will lay out the roll liberal.ca, 613-627-2384. caused by COVID-19 in Canada is impact- infrastructure can play FRIDAY, NOV. 13 ing cancer patients and their caregivers, in Canada’s economic the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network Bridging Divides in Wake of a Global (CCSN) engaged Leger, an independent recovery in a July Pandemic—The University of Victoria (UVic) market research agency, to conduct 14 webinar, as the and the Senate of Canada are bringing a national survey of more than 1,200 country grapples with together change-makers at the Victoria cancer patients and caregivers across the a recession caused Forum to help generate solutions to some country. Join CCSN and Leger as we pres- by the COVID-19 of the world’s most divisive problems. The ent the results of the COVID-19 & Cancer pandemic. The Hill two-day virtual forum will be held Nov. Care Disruption in Canada Survey. 13-14 to examine issues that fall under the Times photograph by theme of “Bridging divides in the wake of a THURSDAY, JULY 16 Andrew Meade global pandemic.” The forum will draw on Confronting Anti-Black Racism in emerging trends and lessons learned from Corporate Canada—The Canadian Club of the COVID-19 pandemic through biweekly Toronto hosts a webinar on “Confronting webinars. For more information or to regis- Anti-Black Racism in Corporate Canada,” ter, visit www.victoriaforum.ca. featuring retired Canadian senator Dr. The Parliamentary Calendar is a free Donald H. Oliver; Andria Barrett, CEO of events listing. Send in your political, the Diversity Agency and president of the cultural, diplomatic, or governmental event Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce; in a paragraph with all the relevant details Wes Hall, executive chairman and founder, under the subject line ‘Parliamentary Cal- Kingsdale Advisors and founder and endar’ to [email protected] by Wednes- chair, BlackNorth Initiative; Rola Dagher, day at noon before the Monday paper or by president and CEO, Cisco Canada; and Friday at noon for the Wednesday paper. We David Simmonds, senior vice-president, can’t guarantee inclusion of every event, communications and public affairs, but we will definitely do our best. Events McKesson and president-elect, Canadian can be updated daily online, too. Club Toronto. Thursday, July 16, online The Hill Times only, from noon to 1 p.m. Register via canadianclub.org. Webinar: Canada’s New Drug Pricing Rules, What Are the Implications for Cancer Patients?—Hosted by the The Canadian Extra! Extra! Cancer Survivor Network. New federal and implications for cancer patients, and July 23, from 3:30-5 p.m. Register for the order to safely welcome back audiences to regulations governing the Patented Medi- receive guidance to support the cancer Zoom event via Ryerson. watch live concerts, the Drive-In series will Read the full cine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) and community’s engagement at this stage of FRIDAY, JULY 31—SATURDAY, AUG. 8 offer a physical distancing experience that the regulation of drug prices will come regulatory reform. respects reopening measures and protocols. Parliamentary into effect in six months’ time (on January THURSDAY, JULY 23 #CanadaPerforms at RBC Bluesfest Canadians will also be able to watch online 1, 2021). These changes have been very Drive-In—The National Arts Centre and RBC the live-streamed concerts. Concerts will Calendar controversial. The PMPRB has just released Mastering the Elements of Clear Political Bluesfest are pleased to announce they are take place on Friday, July 31, Saturday, its proposed guidelines to implement the Communication—Ryerson University hosts coming together to present #CanadaPer- Aug. 1, Friday, Aug. 7, and Saturday, Aug. new regulations and is now consulting on a webinar, “Cutting through the Noise: forms at RBC Bluesfest Drive-In, a summer 8. Tickets on sale now. For the details, them with stakeholders and the public. Join Mastering the Elements of Clear Political weekend series of live concerts at the Place including additional dates and performers, online CCSN and our presenters, Ryan Clarke from Communication,” featuring Alison Broddle, des Festivals Zibi site, by the Kitchissippi go to: canadaperforms.ottawabluesfest.ca/ Advocacy Solutions and Wayne Critchley managing editor of digital content at the River (Ottawa River). Concert-goers, as FRIDAY, AUG. 21 from Global Public Affairs, to learn more CBC; and Elamin Abdelmahmoud, news small pods or families, will be encouraged about the new drug pricing rules, the curation editor with BuzzFeed News and to drive to the site and watch live concerts Conservative Party Leadership Contest— expected impact of the latest changes a columnist for CBC radio’s Q. Thursday, from their individual dedicated space. In The federal Conservative Party’s Leadership Stay connected to decision-makers Inside Ottawa & Inside Canada Inside Now in stock Ottawa Directory Save time, have all political phone numbers and email addresses at your fingertips. 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