Bring Canada- Cannabis China relations with to the ballot box, says prospective Edibles Tory candidate policy briefing Diplomatic p. 4 pp. 15-19 Lisa Van Circles p.12 Dusen p.11 Hill Climbers p.3 THIRTY-SECOND YEAR, NO. 1775 CANADA’S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2020 $5.00 News were corrected during the course of the inspection, according to Pace of virtual inspections on migrant worker conditions responses tabled by the government in the Senate on Oct. 1. Employ- a concern, say critics, with half completed this summer ment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), which administers the Temporary Foreign Worker Pro- BY SAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN half of employers who hired migrant cases in late August, according to of the 2,055 cases that had been gram (TFWP), did not respond by workers despite launching remote documents tabled in the Senate. referred for inspection. Of those deadline with more recent numbers. y the end of the summer, the inspections in April and returning to Between April 24 and August 21, completed, it reported 10 per cent— Bgovernment had only inspected in-person site visits for “egregious” Service Canada completed 1,118 or 117—had “minor issues” that Continued on page 14 News News Byelection results should give Liberals NDP MP Blaikie urges quick response to Elections Canada ‘pause’ after strong showing from pandemic-related reform asks Greens, Conservatives, say experts BY LAURA RYCKEWAERT wood-Transcona, Alta.), his party’s Liberal MPs-elect democratic reform critic. Marci Ien and fter attempting to jumpstart a “I’m glad that we are finally Ya'ara Saks will be Aconversation on electoral re- turning to that work, although heading to Ottawa. forms needed amid the pandemic I do definitely think that this is Their election during the summer to no avail, something Parliament could have marks the first NDP MP Daniel Blaikie says he taken up much sooner.” time in history hopes to see a quick response to In June, Mr. Blaikie said he that Canada Elections Canada’s recent recom- wrote to the various democratic re- will have 100 mendations. form critics, as well as the govern- female MPs, or “It’s frustrating. We’ve known ment, seeking to start a conversa- represent 30 per about the nature of this Parliament tion about the need to act on what cent of the House. since the election; that it was a was then an advisory on Elections Photographs minority Parliament. We’ve known Canada’s website highlighting courtesy of Marci since the pandemic [was declared] challenges that running an election Ien and Ya'ara Saks that that raises certain challenges, during a pandemic would pose— and you know, I don’t think you but he heard no response. See story by have to be a kind of expert of On Oct. 5, Elections Canada Beatrice Paez on Canadian politics to have foreseen tabled a special report request- p. 13 these kinds of issues might have ing specific amendments to the arisen,” said Mr. Blaikie (Elm- Continued on page 21 News News Senators say publishing details of ‘We need courage’: Bloc, NDP MPs powerful committee’s internal work part push for House to recognize Uyghur Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 of ‘evolution’ to greater transparency genocide in face of Beijing pressure BY SAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN and oversees the administration of the Upper Chamber, Senators say. BY NEIL MOSS Bloc Québécois MP Alexis Brunelle- Duceppe (Lac-Saint-Jean, Que.), vice- recent move to publish the work of Independent Senator Raymonde chair of the House Subcommittee on the Senate Internal Economy Com- Saint-Germain (De la Vallière, Que.) said ollowing a recent subcommittee procla- A International Human Rights, said a House mittee’s subgroups is another step in an it was a move that had support among all mation that the Chinese persecution of F recognition that genocide has taken place evolution towards openness and part of a four groups in the Red Chamber and she Uyghur Muslims amounts to genocide, Bloc should happen swiftly. years-long process to bring more trans- hopes it will give people a better under- and NDP MPs on the subcommittee are parency to the Senate, including the pow- urging the House of Commons to formally erful committee that manages its finances Continued on page 20 recognize that genocide has taken place. Continued on page 22 2 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Conservative Senate Leader Don Plett tweeted that he was “saddened” to hear the news of Mr. Braley’s death. “He was a successful man who re- mained a true gentleman,” he wrote on Heard on the Hill Twitter. Conservative MP David Sweet also shared a tribute. by Neil Moss “Few people I have known who felt the obligation that David Braley did to give back to the communities he loved. He gave much but seldom asked for the spotlight. His passing is a deep loss for our commu- A quartet of former nity and our nation,” he tweeted. A middle finger and a missing shirt: just an ordinary day in the NDP MPs win seats hybrid House If political junkies tuned into the hap- The CBC’s Salimah Shivji is pictured at Prime penings of the House of Commons on Oct. Minister Justin Trudeau’s election night rally at 23, they were treated to a strange sitting Palais congrès in Montreal on Oct. 21, 2019. in B.C. election that included a questioned middle finger The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade and a missing shirt. video producer Glen Kugelstadt and it will “likely” be based in Mumbai. Ms. Shivji has been a reporter in the Parliamentary Precinct since 2018. Previ- ously, she worked at CBC as a national reporter covering arts and entertainment. She has also covered the Quebec National Assembly. “I’m so thrilled to be heading to India to help set up CBC’s new bureau,” Ms. Shivji tweeted. “An opportunity to cover impor- tant stories that often get overlooked and to highlight what it all means for Canada.” Mr. Fenlon also announced that the CBC would be hiring a reporter and field producer to bolster its reporting in the North. “These are just a few important steps we are taking to better reflect this coun- Former NDP MPs Fin Donnelly, left, Sheila Malcolmson, Murray Rankin, and Nathan Cullen will Conservative MP Blaine Calkins’ hand gesture try, its peoples and their connection to the be caucus colleagues once again after they won their ridings in the Oct. 24 B.C. election. The Hill wider world. And they’re core to our public Times photographs by Andrew Meade and file photograph at Question Period on Oct. 23 caused a stir. Screen capture courtesy of ParlVu service mandate,” he tweeted. The CBC has international bureaus in our MPs who sat together on the NDP According to preliminary results, the Washington, D.C., New York City, Los An- Fbenches during the 42nd Parliament will NDP won 55 of the legislature’s 87 seats. The middle finger in question came geles, Beijing, London, and Moscow. take a spot on the governing side of the from Conservative MP Blaine Calkins dur- B.C. legislative assembly after their party’s ing Question Period. landslide win in the Oct. 24 provincial elec- Former Tory Senator David Mr. Calkins was criticizing the Liber- Patty Hajdu pictured without tion. Braley dies at 79 als “assault on Alberta and the West.” He mask at Pearson airport, says it Nathan Cullen, Fin Donnelly, Sheila Known for owning three different CFL asked: “Why does the prime minister not Malcolmson, and Murray Rankin all won teams, former Conservative Senator David just show the West what he truly thinks was removed to eat and drink Health Minister Patty Hajdu came their respective ridings in the election, Braley died on Oct. 26. of us, just like his father did?” At the same under fire after a picture was circulated on which saw B.C. Premier John Horgan re- time, he made a hand gesture with his Twitter showing her without a mask while elected. middle finger. at Toronto’s Pearson airport. Ms. Malcolmson was previously elected Others took notice. “Following public health rules is im- to the B.C. legislature in a 2019 byelection. Liberal MP Sherry Romanado called portant to me. I wear my mask at all times Before then, she was an NDP MP from the gesture “inappropriate” and “disrespect- at Toronto Pearson, and only take it off to 2015 to 2019. ful.” eat or drink, as allowed,” she tweeted in For the other three former MPs, it will Mr. Calkins said it is “not uncommon for response. be their first time in provincial politics. people to be able to wave or to use hand The picture was circulated by a They have more than 30 years of experi- gestures in the House of Commons.” Twitter account that belongs to a self- ence in the House of Commons between “If there is a particular hand gesture described staffer to Alberta UCP Min- the three of them. Mr. Cullen is the most that I have used that has been offensive to ister of Advanced Education Demetrios experienced, serving in the House from someone, then I unreservedly withdraw Nicolaides. 2004 to 2019. The former NDP House that gesture,” he added. “The health minister, with no food and leader won a provincial seat for the riding Green MP Elizabeth May wasn’t satis- drink in sight, explaining that she doesn’t of Stikine. fied. need a mask because she’s at the Super Mr. Rankin, who served as the chair “I think a non-apology apology is not Elite lounge is peak entitled Liberal.