Pp. 15-22 Ashamed P

EXCLUSIVE POLITICAL COVERAGE: NEWS, FEATURES, AND ANALYSIS INSIDE BIOTECHNOLOGY POWERS: LEITCH ENGAGE WITH & LIFE SCIENCES SHOULD BE CHINA THROUGH POLICY BRIEFING EMBARRASSED, PP. 15-22 ASHAMED P. 10 YOUTH P. 12

TWENTY-SEVENTH YEAR, NO. 1367 CANADA’S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 $5.00

NEWS OPINION RESEARCH DIPLOMATIC CIRCLES INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT NEWS ELECTORAL REFORM Government Conservatives to polling work DM Peter Boehm tackle election in 2015-16 at earns colleagues’ reform plan lowest recorded respect as in Liberal-red level in a decade Atlantic mentor, mental BY MARCO V IGLIOTTI BY T IM NAUMETZ

Federal spending on public opinion Federal Conservatives are set to take aim research fell slightly last year, though the health advocate at the Liberal government’s electoral reform number of polling contracts remained initiative during a late-summer caucus meet- essentially unchanged despite the nearly ing in Halifax next week, after only three three-month pause caused by the election. Conservative MPs have so far taken up a The government spent $3.8 million special Commons committee invitation to on 51 polling contracts during the 2015- consult constituents on the project through 16 ﬁ scal year that concluded at the end town-hall meetings in their electoral districts. of March, down nominally from the 54 One of the Conservatives who followed projects, collectively worth $4.1 million, up on the town-hall program and has held awarded the previous year, according to three electoral-reform town halls since July the annual report on federally contracted told The Hill Times Tuesday she was prepar- public opinion research, released Sept. 1. ing a summary of her sessions at the request The spending total is the lowest of caucus organizers for the Conservative recorded in the past decade, represent- gathering in the heart of Liberal-red Atlantic ing a nearly $28-million decline from the Canada in advance of the resumption of high-water mark in 2006-2007, when 562 parliamentary sittings later this month. contracts for public opinion research were awarded. Continued on page 4

Continued on page 5 NEWS CRA INVESTIGATIONS

NEWS PUBLIC WORKS Saskatoon MPs

Procurement Peter Boehm, a longtime foreign service offi cer recently made deputy minister of international see big rise in development, attributes his determination to advance mental health initiatives and to reduce ombudsman stigma to his own experience. One of Mr. Boehm’s sons, who was born abroad, is autistic. The Hill child benefi t raises issues about Times photograph by Chelsea Nash reviews by CRA independence, Leading the government’s foreign aid portfolio, BY CHELSEA NASH the new DM has worked his way up his Members of Parliament in all Saskatoon government ridings are complaining that the Canada department over 30 years in the public service. Revenue Agency has stepped up reviews of indifference the Canada Child Tax Benefi t (CCTB) for their constituents. BY MARCO V IGLIOTTI BY CHELSEA NASH Toronto said, “When people become deputy An email from the CRA clarifi ed that minister, every fi ve minutes counts.” She these are reviews, however most MPs have The head of the offi ce responsible for hen I emailed Peter Boehm, the new herself has not spoken to him since he referred to them as audits when talking to mediating disputes between the federal Wdeputy minister for international assumed his new role, as acting deputy The Hill Times. government and suppliers says greater in- development, for an interview, he respond- minister in November, and as confi rmed Three of the four Saskatoon ridings are dependence would help alleviate concerns ed almost immediately. He’d be happy to deputy minister in March. held by Conservative members, while the about potential departmental interference. speak with me, either over the phone or But open and approachable are exactly fourth seat is occupied by NDP MP Sheri Acting procurement ombudsman Lo- to meet me in person at his offi ce. It was a the words former colleagues and friends Benson. All four offi ces, including those renzo Ieraci told The Hill Times that it is pleasant surprise: high-level government use to describe the career diplomat. He’s of Conservative members Kelly Block, “diffi cult” for the offi ce he oversees to be offi cials such as Mr. Boehm are rarely so the “quintessential diplomat,” says former Brad Trost, Kevin Waugh, and Ms. Benson, perceived as wholly independent when it is accessible and generous with their valu- Canadian diplomat Colin Robertson, and told The Hill Times there has been a notice- legally part of Public Services and Procure- able time. “uniformly highly regarded,” says Tim Hodg- able increase in case fi les pertaining to ment Canada (PSPC). As Janice Stein, a friend of Mr. Boehm’s es, former head of the Canadian diplomats these reviews, and have witnessed fi rsthand and founding director of the Munk School Continued on page 6 of Global Affairs at the University of Continued on page 25 Continued on page 7 2 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 FEATURE BUZZ FEATURE DIPLOMATIC PARTIES Pakistan hosts Independence Day bash The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia ON HEARD THE HILL BY KRISTEN SHANE

Pakistani High Commissioner Tariq Azim Khan addresses a crowd of community members at a ﬂ ag-raising ceremony in A brief history of honour of the Independence Day celebration. naughty words

Mobeen Khaja, president of the Association of Progressive Muslims of said in the House Canada, with Abrar Hashmi, counsellor at the Pakistani High Commission, at the Rabia Kaleem and Musa Kaleem, members of celebration on Aug. 14. the Ottawa Pakistani community.

Community members Naushaba Khan, left, Sasha Aman, and Balaj Aman.

Fallen Turkish diplomat remembered

University of Toronto researchers have digitized the debates of the House of Commons going back to 1901. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

ibrarians and parliamentary nerds funded Social Sciences and Humanities Lrejoice! and Natural Sciences and Engineering You can easily search the House of research councils. Commons debates going back to 1901 us- A team of about three or four students Turkish Ambassador Selcuk Unal, fourth from left, and ing a nifty new website painstakingly put in computer and political sciences then together by University of Toronto political worked full tilt for a couple years to trans- Senator Anne Cools, second from right, with a number and computer scientists and historians. form the scanned Library of Parliament of defence attachés, stand behind a portrait of fallen LiPaD, also known as the Linked Par- Hansard pages into computer-readable Turkish defence attaché Col. Atilla Altikat on Aug. 27. liamentary Data Project, is a searchable text. That involved clearing up lot of little digital database of Canadian Hansards snags along the way, like when the technol- since 1901. By going to lipad.ca, you can ogy they were using converted all refer- use the search bar to quickly pinpoint ences of “honourable” to another word. when certain words were used in decades While the researchers from the other of parliamentary debates. countries have yet to put their databases While this is available through the Li- online, the Canadians felt it was important brary of Parliament’s Canadian Parliamen- to do with their own data. tary Historical Resources site for debates Tanya Whyte, a U of T PhD candidate Mr. Unal delivers remarks in front of the bowl- dating from Confederation in 1867 through and political scientist with a computer pro- shaped wood and metal memorial constructed to when the Canadian parliament’s parl. gramming background, described putting Turkish defence attaché Ersin Ozkan stands next to Mr. in honour of Col. Altikat, as well as all fallen gc.ca site picked up the archive in 1994, it online as a “labour of love.” Unal as they pay their respects to the fallen diplomat. diplomats. the beauty of the LiPaD site is that it’s a lot The site launched in April but only last easier to digest. week received a lot of attention on Twitter, Search for a term on the Library of including by members of the Parliamen- Parliament site, for instance, and you get tary Press Gallery who were keen to test scanned images of Hansard pages that you it out. Trinidad & Tobago celebrate independence on Aug. 31 have to read through to fi nd the search “This new House of Commons Hansard term you’re looking for. The LiPaD site search tool back to 1901 is fun. Wheee…” helpfully has digitized all the written text wrote Ottawa Citizen Hill reporter Jason of the scanned Hansard pages, and added Fekete, tweeting a link to the search results in additional valuable information like for “shit.” The site records 10 instances the speaker’s photo and party affi liation when it was used, as far back as 1919 and as well as a link to their biography on the as recently as 2009 by former MP Massimo Parliament of Canada’s parlinfo site. It’s Pacetti, who told then-Conservative MP user-friendly in the same way openparlia- Paul Calandra he was “full of shit” during ment.ca is. debate on the proposed Italian-Canadian The project began in 2013 when Recognition and Restitution Act. researchers from Canada, the United “Don’t pretend you’re not using the Kingdom, and the Netherlands, who were new Hansard search to look up the offi cial all digitizing parliamentary records, were use of swear words since 1901,” wrote the High Commissioner of Brunei Kamal given a grant from national granting CBC’s Aaron Wherry in another tweet. Bashah Ahmad with Mr. Chatoor at Carol Chatoor, spouse of the new high commissioner of Trinidad agencies to do the work. The Canadian the high commission Aug. 31 to mark and Tobago, Garth Chatoor, with Carla Hogan Rufelds of the high team at the University of Toronto got about Continued on page 26 T&T’s independence. commission. $200,000 from the federal-government- A thirst

At the University of Saskatchewan, our world-class expertise is matched only by our determination. With our Global Water Futures program, supported by a $77.84-million Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) grant, we’re taking on one of the most urgent challenges in the world today—the future of water.

WaW ter is a fundamem nttala need, and we are facing and quality. Through better prediction, we will unprece edennted thhreats tto this vital resource reduce the costs of extreme weather events, heree in Canan da andn aroounu d the world— like floods, droughts and wildfires. ndA d we shrinking glaaciers, reedduced snnowo cover, floods will unravel the social, health, envirronnmenttal, aand droughtss, ana d ppoooor wata ere quualityy, too nama e political and economic implicatioons of changges ononlyly a fewew. to our future water.

WWe haavve aann unnparallleeled wwater researchh team Thhe U of S is the only univerrsity to hoolld twwo aannd kkey pparttneersshih ps with thhe Universis ty of CFRER F grantss. With the suppoorrt of oour firrsstt WaW terlooo, McM MaM steer Universsity and Wilfrid granant, we recently marked thhe laauunnchh of ththe Lauriier UUniversiity. Workkini g wiw th Firi sts Natioi nss, PlP ant Phhenotyping annd Imaging ReR seeara chc cities, farmers, global researchc pror grama ss, CCenttree (P2IRI C)—anonotheer steep toowawardd feeeedid ngng governments, industry and other universities, a hungry world and improvingg fooood seeccuurirityy.. we will bring together a diversity of perspectives across disciplines and traditional The groundbreaking work happening at the boundaries to find real-world solutions to this U of S to protect and foster two of the world’s daunting challenge. most necessary resources—water and food— is unmatched. Working together with our Suppported by new sensors, models and data, numerous partners, our work will improve we will betteer fooreccast water disasters, supply the lives of people around the world.

Learn more about the world’s largest university-led water research program at usask.ca. 4 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 NEWS ELECTORAL REFORM

Conservative MP Scott Reid speaks with Conservatives to Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam tackle election Monsef during a break in her testimony to the Electoral Reform reform plan in Committee. The Hill Times photograph by Liberal-red Atlantic Jake Wright

invitation for all MPs to sponsor town halls Gladu, Genuis and in their electoral districts and report fi ndings to the committee by Oct. 14 has been Stanton have already termed a “boycott,” but Ms. Gladu, fi rst elected to the House of Commons in the organized town hall 2015 general election, said the reluctance among Conservatives to take part is likely meetings to gather rooted in suspicion the government intends feedback on possible to put in place a system it expects would favour the Liberal party. changes to the “It’s been no secret that the Conserva- tives think the Liberals have a hidden agen- electoral system. da. We believe that regardless of the fact they say they’re going to consult broadly, that they’ve already decided the system that Continued from page 1 they want and they have already stated that the Liberal cabinet currently is the one that ing in their own way,” said the Sarnia MP, a Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef “I’ve been asked to bring a report, because will make the decision, regardless of the petroleum industry engineering executive (Peterborough-Kawartha, Ont.) I’ll have had all of my town halls and have the input,” Ms. Gladu said in a phone interview and consultant before her election last year. Conservative MP and Deputy Speaker report ready to present to folks, so that they from her constituency offi ce. The Conservative Party’s selection of Bruce Stanton (Simcoe North, Ont.) has can see how did we do it, how did it go over “I think with that, they did not just want Halifax as the site for its fall caucus retreat organized three town halls and Edmonton and evaluate whether or not they want to do to follow what the minister of democratic before Parliament resumes sittings on Sept. Conservative MP Garnett Genuis (Sher- that themselves,” southern Ontario MP Marilyn reform requested, which is that all MPs 19 signals a long-term intention to regain wood Park-Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.) has Gladu said, as she expressed widely-held Con- hold town halls,” said Ms. Gladu. seats it lost in the region as Mr. Trudeau’s organized one, although he told The Hill servative views that the Liberals under Prime “They decided to consult in their own Liberal candidates swept all 32 of the Com- Times Tuesday he was using a round-table Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) have way. Many of them have sent out house- mons seats in the four Atlantic provinces. format to hear from constituents. already decided on a system they prefer. holders and asked for input back, some of Coincidentally, the vote results in about At the time of the interview, Mr. Genuis The nearly unanimous Conservative them have been canvassing door to door, one quarter of the ridings refl ect some of had been unsuccessful in trying to get Ms. snub of the special Commons committee’s phoning people, so they have been consult- the concerns election reform activists have Monsef’s department to correct its post on about Canada’s electoral system. his events, which had incorrectly stated the Liberal candidates were elected in conversations would only take place on one APPOINTMENT NOTICE nine of the 32 ridings with less than 50 per day, Friday Sept. 9, while Mr. Genuis had cent of the popular vote, with only one of told constituents locally the events would be the nine minority wins in Nova Scotia. Liber- Friday and Saturday. The department had The Hill Times is pleased to al candidates won six of the 10 New Bruns- corrected the error by press time Tuesday. wick Commons seats with less than 50 per Ms. Gladu, whose notices require proof announce the appointment cent of the popular vote, another in Prince of residency from electors who want to Shruti Shekar Edward Island and one other in St. John’s, attend, said she scheduled fi ve town-hall of as editor of the only electoral district in the region where sessions in her riding at the request of The Lobby Monitor. a New Democrat candidate placed second. constituents. Ironically, despite the fact that more “For myself, I was prepared to do the than one quarter of the Atlantic electoral householder (as other Conservatives have Shruti joined the Hill Times districts were decided by plurality leads done), which I had done and then I was rather than majorities, the Special Com- taking phone calls and emails, but when publishing group in 2015 as a mons Committee on Electoral Reform people started emailing me requesting a invited only one witness connected with town hall, I’m here to serve my constitu- reporter for The Wire Report. the Atlantic to its 23 public hearings on ents,” Ms. Gladu said. She moved over to The Lobby Parliament Hill—transplanted New Bruns- “If that’s what they want, that’s what wick native David McLaughlin, a former I’m going to give them,” she said. Monitor in April 2016. top Conservative political aide in Ottawa Ms. Gladu said she would not describe and Fredericton, N.B., who once headed her fi rst two sessions as “overly well at- an electoral reform commission in the tended”— a total of about 40 constituents. Prior to becoming a journalist, Shruti Shekar province and is now an energy consultant Many questioned the cost of the reform Editor, The Lobby Monitor in the federal capital. initiative while others were concerned about Shruti worked at the United The committee chair, Montreal Liberal the government plan for a committee report Nations High Commission for MP Francis Scarpaleggia (Lac Saint-Louis, by Dec. 1, with legislation by May, 2017. Que.), told The Hill Times the committee “I would say there is a substantial num- Refugees in Ottawa as a communications officer. will hear testimony from experts as well as ber who are wondering why we’re spend- the public in the Atlantic region next month ing all this time and money on this when before it wraps up a whirlwind tour of 16 hundreds of thousands of people are out of She holds a double BA honours in communication studies provincial capitals and cities, including two work and there are many other more im- smaller communities, across the country. portant things and we have a system that’s and human rights from Carleton University, and an MA in The committee is scheduled to hold its made our country wonderful for a hundred last four meetings in southern Canada in and fi fty years, so there certainly is that Journalism from Western University. Halifax, St. John’s, Charlottetown and Fred- sentiment,” said Ms. Gladu. ericton from Oct. 4 to Oct. 7, before a fi nal The all-party Board of Internal Econo- set of hearings in Iqaluit, Nunavut, following my that controls House of Commons purse She was born in India, but grew up mostly in Singapore. Parliament’s one-week October recess. strings approved a committee travel budget In her spare time, Shruti creates lifestyle-related videos for “If I’m not mistaken, we’re going to be of $540,008.55 for the cross-country tour, meeting provincial chief electoral offi cers while the government set aside $10.7 mil- her YouTube channel, and also works as a videographer. and so on (in the Atlantic),” Mr. Scarpaleg- lion over four years for undefi ned “out- gia said in an interview. reach” and consultations through to 2020. “We’re going to be reaching out to every “I think in the camp of people that Shruti resides in Ottawa, but her heart and home is part of the country,” said Mr. Scarpaleggia. would like to see the system change, their Of the at least 119 electoral reform main concern is to make sure if we do a Toronto (she is a huge Raptors fan). She lives for food and meetings MPs held in July and August and change that we do it right, that we don’t the gym, loves a glass of craft beer or wine. planned until Sept. 29, Ms. Gladu has orga- just hurry it in, there is concern there about nized fi ve. The past and planned town halls being in haste,” said Ms. Gladu. are posted on the web site of Democratic [email protected] THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 5 NEWS DIPLOMACY Bangladesh mission working to repatriate body of cyclist killed last week

mission in Ottawa and a diplo- Global Affairs Canada has ex- which includes getting clearance A spokesperson for Tomlinson En- The Ottawa Mosque mat from Bangladesh’s foreign pressed “sincere condolences” to for the body to travel through vironmental Services, which owned held a funeral ministry. His daughter, 23-year- the high commission, according the airport, according to the high the truck, told Postmedia that it was old Nusrat Jahan, was killed by a to spokesperson Jocelyn Sweet. commission. co-operating with authorities inves- ceremony Saturday truck while cycling to school last Mr. Rahman was scheduled to The Ottawa Mosque in the tigating the accident, and that the for Nusrat Jahan. Thursday. present his credentials to Gover- city’s west end performed a driver had been sent for counselling. Mr. Seraj, who looked after sal- nor General David Johnston as funeral ceremony for Ms. Ja- Ms. Jahan’s death prompted a ary, payments, and similar issues Bangladesh’s new high commis- han Saturday. That was to be crowd to gather at Ottawa’s city for the Bangladeshi mission to sioner on Tuesday. done once an autopsy had been hall that day, including city coun- BY PETER MAZEREEUW Canada, is currently on leave, ac- The accident occurred as Ms. completed, according to the high cillors Jeff Leiper and Catherine cording to the high commission. Jahan was biking to Willis College commission. McKenney. Two other cyclists were he Bangladeshi diplomat Bangladeshi High Commis- in downtown Ottawa, where she Ms. Jahan was hit by a large seriously injured after being struck Twhose daughter was killed sioner Mizanur Rahman visited was studying accounting. Ms. Ja- truck at about 7:50 a.m. that by vehicles in Ottawa last week. while cycling to school last week Mr. Seraj’s home in Ottawa to han was set to begin studying for appears to have turned right Ms. Jahan and the family came is on leave from his job, as the convey his condolences to the a master’s degree in accounting at across a bike lane at the corner of to Canada from Bangladesh three Bangladeshi High Commission family personally and would not Carleton University next year, ac- Laurier Avenue and Lyon Street, years ago, the CBC reported. works towards the repatriation of be discussing the matter with the cording to the high commission. according to photos published by Ms. Jahan’s brother, Mohd Abdul- the young woman’s body. press, according to a high com- The high commission and an Postmedia. Ottawa Police are still lah Al Nasser, told the CBC the family Shahjahan Seraj is the ad- mission ofﬁ cer reached by phone Ottawa funeral home are work- looking to speak with witnesses was devastated by her death. ministrative ofﬁ cer for accounts last week who asked not to be ing through the standard process to the accident, according to a [email protected] in the Bangladeshi High Com- named. for repatriating Ms. Jahan’s body, police press release. @PJMazereeuw

NEWS PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH Government polling work in 2015-16 at lowest recorded level in a decade

This chart appears in the Industry players, government’s annual report on though, say that public opinion research for 2015- 16, released last week. Report work is beginning screenshot to pick up under the Liberals. Continued from page 1

Several pollsters told The Hill Times last month, citing anecdotal evidence, that federal polling work had been picking under the Liberals. The Conservatives were in power for the fi rst six months of the last fi scal year before the Lib- erals took over the reins in early November. The regular business of Harris/Decima Inc. was the faction survey by Heritage Cana- “aligns” with the fi ndings of a sur- The reversal of the policy by government, including public pollster used most frequently by the da and another by it on Christmas vey her group conducted earlier the current government “frees up opinion research, however, was government last year, securing eight lights to ones on consumer views this year. the ability of public servants to “restrained” by the federal general contracts worth just over $630,000. on genetically modifi ed foods and Most participants, which it provide sound advice and coun- election period, which lasted 78 Ekos Research Associates Inc. on marijuana by Health Canada. said included former privy counsel,” she said, blaming the former days, according to the report, was awarded four contracts col- Despite these early fi gures, cil clerks, ministers and prime set-up for creating an “operational from August to October. lectively worth nearly $272,000, Kara Mitchelmore, CEO of the minister’s offi ce staffers; lead- log-jam.” An industry veteran said the while Ipsos-Reid Corp. performed Marketing Research and Intel- ing policy and thought leaders; Some pollsters have argued Liberal government treaded cau- three polling projects for just ligence Association, an indus- political strategists; and members that the Federal Accountability tiously in its fi rst months in offi ce, under $400,000. try advocacy group, expressed of the media, stated that they Act, which changed the rules but said things have accelerated Other top suppliers included: optimism about government- believed POR was “valuable” and around reporting public opinion since. Nanos Research Corporation with funded public opinion research is an “important tool in a healthy research work by outside fi rms, Stephen Kiar, CEO and two projects for about $284,000, (POR) under the Liberals, saying democracy.” discouraged governments from founder of Ottawa-based public and the Earnscliffe Strategy early evidence suggests it’s im- The overriding impression, contracting polling work. opinion and market research fi rm Group Inc. with two projects for proving after a decade of sparse she said, was that POR improves The legislation, brought in Phoenix SPI, told The Hill Times about $275,000. funding. federal government policy and 2006 by the Conservatives, prom- last month that his company only Health Canada and the “While it’s too early to see an decision-making. ised transparency in procurement started to see an increase in pub- Heritage department awarded the uptick in POR spending, we know Ms. Mitchelmore pointed to for advertising and public opinion lic opinion research work in the most contracts for public opinion anecdotally that more research changes to the government’s com- research and for the release of last month or so. research in 2015-16 at six each. projects are being approved and munications plans, announced in reports on all government polls to He said his company didn’t see The Finance Ministry, though, that POR is valued as an important May by Treasury Board President the Library of Parliament within any increase in work before the spent the most on polling, fork- tool for consulting with Canadians,” Scott Brison (Kings-Hants, N.S.) six months. government’s fi scal year ended ing over nearly $600,000 for fi ve she said in an emailed statement. as improving the climate for public David Coletto, CEO of Abacus on March 31, though work picked contracts, while the Privy Council “The current government has opinion research funded by Ottawa. Data, told The Hill Times last year up afterwards, as departments be- Offi ce spent just over $437,000 for greatly advocated the importance Specifi cally, she referred to that the Accountability Act was gan putting together their research four projects. of evidence-based decision- changes allowing deputy depart- still a “barrier” against govern- plans for the coming year, and Health Canada spent more making—this is at the core of our ment heads to approve POR ments using more polls. seeking the necessary approvals. than $459,000 for its polling work, service offering and our value as plans instead of having to go “Government, regardless of its Phoenix SPI won three while Heritage Canada spent just an industry.” through ministers, as required political stripe, is still sensitive contracts collectively valued at under $170,00. Ms. Mitchelmore said this em- under the Conservatives follow- about bad press,” he said. $303,000 in 2015-16, the annual Polling topics ranged from a phasis from the government on ing the passage of the Federal [email protected] report shows. Canada Day in the Capital satis- evidence-based decision-making Accountability Act. The Hill Times 6 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 NEWS PUBLIC WORKS Procurement ombudsman raises issues about independence, government indifference

In practice, the ombudsman The Liberals’ largely fi elds complaints from procurement PS, suppliers about interacting with the government, and issues however, says the recommendations to approve the current structure procurement process. However, the powers of the is working ‘quite offi ce are limited. effectively.’ Most notably, the ombudsman only has the authority to exam- Acting procurement ombudsman Lorenzo Ieraci, left, says it’s ‘diffi cult’ for the offi ce he oversees to be perceived ine contracts worth less than as wholly independent when it is legally part of Public Services and Procurement Canada, though the parliamentary $25,000 for goods and less than secretary to the department’s minister, Leona Alleslev, centre, believes the current set-up has been working well. NDP Continued from page 1 $100,000 for services. procurement critic Erin Weir, right, wants the department to ensure the ombudsman’s independence. Photos by Jake And if the ombudsman does Wright (Hill Times), Public Services and Procurement Canada, Offi ce of the Procurement Ombudsman Strengthening or “reinforcing” fi nd something wrong, they only the independence of the offi ce, he have the power to recommend “Suppliers informed me of ‘Leadership vacuum’ procurement process to be “stream- said, would help alleviate con- compensation, with departments their concerns regarding delays concerning lined, simplifi ed, and standardized cerns in “some quarters” about afforded full discretion on how to in obtaining payment from the Citing another issue raised by across federal organizations.” its relationship with the federal respond. prime contractor for work com- his predecessor, Mr. Ieraci framed Mr. Brunetta, for instance, department, currently overseen Mr. Ieraci released his fi rst pleted, sometimes due to delays the absence of a “single leader- detailed a case in which a sup- by minister Judy Foote (Bonavis- annual report as acting ombuds- in the prime contractor being ship focal point” for procurement plier grumbled to him that “each ta-Burin-Trinity, N.L.). man late last month, where he did paid by the federal organization, in the public service as the most department issuing a media However, Mr. Ieraci stopped not explicitly highlight concerns or sub-contracts being awarded glaring challenge currently facing training solicitation defi ned its short of calling for the offi ce to about the political structure of the in ways that would be considered federal procurement. requirements with such unique be restructured as an indepen- offi ce, although it was something unacceptable if done by federal This absence has left an acute specifi city that the supplier’s bids dent entity, similar to the offi ce of touched upon by his predeces- organizations,” Mr. Ieraci said in “leadership vacuum,” he said, reit- had to be re-crafted and custom- the ethics and confl ict of inter- sor, Frank Brunetta, in his end-of- his annual report. erating Mr. Brunetta’s description ized for each department.” est commissioner, for instance, mandate report. He also cited a comment from in his end-of-mandate report. In a statement, Ms. Foote said who is an offi cer of Parliament. Mr. Brunetta held the position a supplier in Ottawa who said “Many (if not most) of the she welcomed the report and the He commended the department from January 2011 to December that these companies are spend- concerns brought to this offi ce’s role the ombudsman plays. for respecting his offi ce’s unique 2015, after which the offi ce went ing taxpayers’ money and should attention by suppliers could be The department is active- place in the bureaucratic structure. without an ombudsman until Mr. have to follow the “same rules addressed if there was a single ly “revising policies, simplifying “It should be noted, however, Ieraci formally assumed the act- [as federal organizations] so that position within the federal public processes, and cutting red tape” that since the offi ce opened its ing position in May. they don’t just give [sub-]con- service that was responsible for to deliver “value and results for doors in May 2008, [there’s been] He had previously served as tracts to their buddies.” the procurement function for the Canadians and make it easier a respectful arm’s-length relation- deputy ombudsman since Janu- Mr. Weir argued that it would entire federal public service,” Mr. for companies to do business ship” with the department, he said ary 2012. be a “reasonable” extension of the Ieraci said. with the federal government,” she in an emailed statement. ombudsman’s power to allow the Mr. Ieraci urged the govern- added. PSPC spokesperson Nicholas Record number of complaints offi ce to investigate subcontracts. ment to direct senior federal Ms. Alleslev said the gov- Boucher did not directly respond to fi elded in 2015-16 “It doesn’t seem to me that fed- offi cials to “take these issues seri- ernment would welcome any questions about whether there are According to the report, the eral rules and oversight should go ously and to give procurement the “evidence-based” approach that any plans to make the offi ce wholly offi ce handled its highest number out the window as soon as some- attention and focus it deserves.” would help it facilitate streamlin- independent, saying in an emailed of written complaints, 52, in the thing is subcontracted to another Federal organizations, he ing this process and make it more statement only that it operates at 2015-16 fi scal year, including 13 supplier,” he said of the need to said, collectively spend about $18 effective and accessible. arm’s length from the ministry. during the span in which there expand the powers. billion annually, though despite She acknowledged also hear- Liberal MP Leona Alleslev was no ombudsman, meaning they In addition to subcontracts, the the big money involved, only few ing concerns about the diffi culties (Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond were stalled for several months. ombudsman cannot examine sup- give procurement the attention it in ascertaining information and Hill, Ont.), parliamentary secre- NDP procurement critic Erin plier complaints regarding the deserves and are “actively work- doing business with the govern- tary to Minister Foote, said she Weir (Regina Lewvan, Sask.) process used by departments to ing” to ensure their procurement ment, referring complaints about believes the current set-up “works said he was “struck” by the high establish standing offers or sup- practices are solid. the length and complexity of the quite effectively” because it number of complaints received ply arrangements, which allow Unfortunately, in many procurement process. acts independently of the depart- by the ombudsman, arguing that the government to contract out federal organizations, procure- The government is prepar- ment, allowing it to serve as a it shows this area of procurement work to pre-screened suppliers. ment seems to be treated like a ing to do whatever is needed to “check and balance.” disputes is “heating up,” likely be- Mr. Brunetta raised concerns “back-offi ce function that is only improve the federal purchasing However, she refused to rule cause he said the federal govern- about this practice in his end-of- given senior-level attention when process, she said, including e- out a review of the structural ment is increasingly contracting mandate report, saying that since something goes wrong,” he said. procurement solutions. set-up, saying the government is out services and functions. these tools can create a “monopo- “A sustained focus from senior PSPC announced in April that “always looking” for ways to He said that it’s important to ly for a single fi rm and in others a federal offi cials in all organiza- it’s seeking bids for a web-based be more effective. ensure the ombudsman’s offi ce quasi-cartel for a limited number tions, under the guidance of procurement service for federal “We fi nd that it provides a very maintains its independence while of fi rms,” providing assurance centralized leadership would help government departments. valuable perspective that allows fi elding an increasingly high that they are established in a fair, focus attention on fi nding ways to Mr. Boucher said PSPC will us to work with the department number of complaints. open, and transparent manner simplify and modernize procure- continue to work with its part- to make those improvements,” she In the report, Mr. Ieraci high- “would go a long way to alleviat- ment across the federal public ners to address issues raised by said in an interview. lighted complaints from suppliers ing supplier angst.” service,” Mr. Ieraci continued. suppliers and by the ombudsman, Established through the for- about the offi ce’s inability to in- He said his offi ce has limited He said the most common con- and will “apply lessons that we mer Conservative government’s vestigate subcontracts for federal ability to examine the estab- cerns he has heard from suppliers learn from the report to our work Federal Accountability Act, passed projects. lishment of standing offers or about federal procurement is that modernizing our procurement in 2006, the Offi ce of the Procure- As it stands, the ombudsman supply arrangements themselves, it’s “cumbersome, burdensome, practices.” ment Ombudsman is a self- is only allowed to intervene in because they’re not contracts, and heavily paper-based.” The report, however, does not described “independent federal disputes between the govern- per se. “Regulations only permit According to Mr. Ieraci, many identify “glaring” issues for the institution dedicated to promoting ment and direct suppliers, not the review of complaints related suppliers see this as a “disincentive” department, he argued. fairness, openness, and transpar- fi rms hired by those suppliers to to call-ups or contracts issued to participate in federal procure- [email protected] ency in federal procurement.” do the work. against those tools.” ment, and many would like the The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 7 NEWS CRA INVESTIGATIONS

Saskatoon MPs tory criteria using sophisticated Kevin Waugh, left, computerized case selection logic Brad Trost, Kelly with no consideration given to Block, and Sheri the province or territory or resi- Benson. The Hill dence.” This was in response to Times photograph being asked how it is determined by Jake Wright and who gets audited, and when. photographs courtesy Ms. Damien also wrote that “the of the offi ces of fact that reviews are conducted Kevin Waugh, Kelly does not mean that there is sus- Block, and Sheri picion of fraud.” According to her, Benson in the past two years, 65 per cent of benefi t reviews led to changes resulting in either “CRA records being updated with recipients’ information so that they could continue to receive full benefi ts,” or “reduction or elimination of benefi t payment, including the possibility of an overpayment which would require reimbursement.” When asked what percentage of all reviews led to the latter, Mr. Walters said the CRA did not have those statistics. Over the past three years, there has been a noticeable increase in Canada Child Tax Benefi t reviews conducted by the CRA. In the 2012-2013 year, the CRA completed 103,946 reviews. In 2013-2014, the CRA completed 172,040 CCTB reviews, and in 2014-2015, the latest statistics available according to CRA, 196,014 CCTB reviews were completed. The CRA did not offer a reason for the increase in reviews over the past three years. While the number of case fi les in Saskatoon seem to be particu- lower-income constituents like Mr. larly high, it’s not the only area in Sampaga. the country that is being affected Ms. Block, in an emailed state- by a large number of reviews. Saskatonians being NDP Charlie Angus (Timmins- ment, said she wants the minister to “intervene and stop this unneces- James Bay, Ont.) also said his sary auditing of my constituents.” offi ce has seen a defi nite increase Her offi ce also confi rmed in these cases since the Liberal ‘disproportionately’ asked government came into offi ce, and there has been a recent rise in the number of CTB reviews they described the number of child are seeing come through since tax benefi t review cases his offi ce roughly November. was seeing as “disproportionate” by CRA to prove their compared to the other casework “People are being asked to prove that their children reside his staff sees. with them even though they have “It’s a huge problem. It’s com- lived together as a family and re- pounded because you’re dealing children exist, MPs say often with families who have few ceived the benefi t for years. Some families have stopped receiving resources,” he said. After providing baptism certifi cates, photos, and other documentation the benefi t until they are able to “Obviously there are going provide the proof required by the to be cases where you want to of his family, Emery Sampaga says the CRA is still not satisfi ed. department,” she said. verify if it’s the ex-husband or Mr. Waugh, too, brought up the the mother with the child, or is Continued from page 1 time to try to make enough money ing his calls, let alone picking up growing number of reviews his of- the child with the grandparents to support his wife and three chil- the phone in the fi rst place. That’s fi ce was seeing in an interview. “A in another location. You have to the “ridiculous” process for proving dren, aged six, three, and one. what led him to seek out the help lot of people are getting audited. do verifi cation. But it seems that your children exist, and that you “I don’t like asking for any- of his MP, Ms. Benson. Some of these people don’t really these levels of audits are much have custody of them, as described thing, because I got taught not to “What happens is people have a lot of resources to fi ght the more intrusive. I would say if the by Ms. Benson. ask for any money. But the kids said, ‘I cannot get through on audit, meaning they can’t go out minister spent nearly as much This is the same area where are entitled to it,” he said. “Diapers, the phone,’ that is why they are and get a birth certifi cate. But they resources going after interna- the Canadian Press reported that milk. It’s just hurting us. I want my eventually coming in. Or they’ve have to, right. It’s that chicken and tional tax cheats as they’re going a Saskatoon man had been re- kids just to have it,” Mr. Sampaga had CRA say they’ve lost their egg we’re going through here,” he after single mums in my riding, viewed twice by the CRA to prove told The Hill Times, sounding ex- documents. I mean we’ve submit- said, indicating that he has heard Canada might be a little better his children exist and are in his asperated at having to explain this ted documents two or three times a lot of complaints in his riding off,” said the MP of the Northern care in order to continue receiv- situation one more time. and we don’t know where they’ve about these reviews while door- Ontario riding, referring to the ing his child tax benefi ts. Despite the hassle and costs went,” Ms. Benson told The Hill knocking this summer. Minister of National Revenue Emery Sampaga, another associated with providing all the Times. She said one of her con- Mr. Trost’s offi ce has already Diane Lebouthillier. Saskatoon man, has also been proper documentation, Mr. Sam- stituents who was being reviewed, this year worked on more than the Budget 2016, released in Novem- undergoing the same, arduous paga said his fi le continues to be a lawyer, was so frustrated 10-15 child benefi t cases it would ber under the newly elected Liberal review, for almost a year now. He under review nearly a year later, with the process he “went to an receive in a typical year, Alan government, committed “$444.4 says he’s nearing the end of his though he’s not getting much feed- extreme” and started sending the Chant, a staffer for Mr. Trost, million over fi ve years for the CRA patience. Mr. Sampaga worked as back on what is happening with it. CRA pictures of his family. wrote in an emailed statement. to enhance its efforts to crack an electrician in Fort McMurray, “It’s not funny anymore,” She said it’s as if the CRA keeps Often, those cases involve down on tax evasion and combat Alta., when he lost his job due to he said. “We’re going back and adding barriers to the process. “You constituents who didn’t respond to tax avoidance by: hiring additional layoffs and moved to Saskatoon forth, and it’s costing us money provide the birth certifi cate, then it CRA requests for information, and auditors and specialists; developing in an effort to fi nd other work. to get all the papers. Every sheet comes back and they say, well, we’d had their benefi ts cut off, he wrote. robust business intelligence infra- Shortly after arriving, the CRA of paper, we have to get from like, now we want proof of citizen- When asked why it appears structure; increasing verifi cation issued a review of his child tax the doctor, it’s $25 a piece.” Mr. ship...Or that letter from your that the Saskatoon region is be- activities; and improving the quality benefi ts, to prove that he did have Sampaga said he has provided doctor said ‘next of kin,’ instead of ing targeted with these reviews, of investigative work that targets children and that they were in the CRA with “everything,” even ‘legal guardian,’” she said, explain- an emailed response from CRA criminal tax evaders.” the care of Mr. Sampaga and his the baptism certifi cates for his ing a particular situation that one spokesperson David Walters said MP Ziad Aboultaif (Edmonton fi ancée. three children, and photos of the of her constituents was in through there are no statistics available Manning, Alta.) is the Conserva- Mr. Sampaga has had diffi culty family together. this CCTB review. on that. tive critic for national revenue. He fi nding work in Saskatoon, as “It’s not funny that you say we This issue, compounded with Lisa Damien, another CRA told The Hill Times that because he well, but said he has refused em- don’t have any [children]. It kind the fact that there is currently a spokesperson, wrote that “some hasn’t seen the situation arise in his ployment insurance because that’s of offended us,” he said, explain- delay in responses from the CRA cases are selected at random, own offi ce, he won’t be pursuing it not the way he was raised. Re- ing that he has been calling the problem resolution phone line but the vast majority of benefi t with Ms. Lebouthillier at this point. cently, he started his own cleaning CRA every day and leaving mes- for Western Canada MPs, means reviews are selected based on [email protected] business, and is working double sages, because no one is return- there is a signifi cant impact on impartial and non-discrimina- @chels_nash 8 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016

Editor Kate Malloy Assistant Deputy Editor Abbas Rana Publishers Anne Marie Creskey, Deputy Editor Derek Abma Online Editor, Power & Influence Editor Ally Foster Jim Creskey, Ross Dickson Managing Editor Kristen Shane Deputy Editor Peter Mazereeuw General Manager, CFO Andrew Morrow

EDITORIAL IMMIGRATION LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Keep compassion Fitness about more than personal benefi ts e: “New, younger government puts fi tness What these MPs are also showing is that Ron display,” (Aug. 29, p. 11). Congratula- they understand the link between physical tions to those Parliamentarians of all ages activity and the benefi ts to the economy. By for Syria alive and physical condition who, regardless of getting a relatively minuscule 10 per cent their busy schedules, believe that staying of Canadians sitting less and moving more, active throughout their lives is important to health-care costs could be cut by $2.6 billion, their health. and $7.5 billion could be injected into the t’s been one year since three-year-old And in addition to the laudable refu- There is plenty of data showing the economy through reduced absenteeism and IAlan Kurdi’s lifeless body was lifted gee resettlement program, Canada should personal advantages of regular exercise: increased productivity. Health care is about from a Turkish beach. continue its advocacy against the target- less chance of diabetes, heart disease, much more than physical activity, of course; The photo of the toddler, one of thou- ing of civilians and civilian infrastructure cancer, and hypertension. Recent re- however investing in prevention, of which ac- sands fl eeing the war in Syria, hit the front by belligerents in the Syrian crisis. search by the Conference Board of Can- tive, healthy lifestyles is included, needs to see pages of newspapers around the world Canada is a middle-power country ada has shown that a modest increase in more emphasis by politicians at all levels. To and touched a nerve. In Canada amid a without the weight of the United States, physical activity over the next 25 years adapt Susan Riley’s statement: it’s “not an federal election campaign, it prompted all Russia, Turkey, or Iran in this confl ict. would reduce the number of hypertension unnecessary indulgence but an investment in political parties to take a hard look at their But it must still do what it can both to cases by 222,000, to give just one exam- yourself”—and the economy. refugee resettlement promises and see humanely respond to the effects of the ple, while premature mortality would be Bob Elliott what more they could do. Syrian crisis (namely, the refugee infl ux) reduced by 2.4 per cent, translating into Senior Leader, Sport Matters Group After the Liberals were brought to pow- but also deal with the root causes. 6,600 lives saved. Ottawa, Ont. er, they mounted an exceptional campaign The next step Canada should take to resettle thousands of Syrian refugees now is to ensure those who have used in Canada. Faith and community groups chemical weapons in Syria are brought to banded together to raise money and other justice. Following a report by the Organ- Amid China trade talk, remember the resources to host refugees in dozens of isation for the Prohibition of Chemical communities across the country. Weapons-United Nations Joint Investiga- Dalai Lama The UN’s refugee agency says that tive Mechanism showing that the Syrian since Alan Kurdi’s death, “4,176 people government has repeatedly used chemical ith Parliament having most ceremoni- Lester B. Pearson, also a Nobel Peace Prize have died or gone missing on the Medi- weapons against its people and that the Wously recognized the Dalai Lama, a laureate, was with us today, he would fully rec- terranean—an average of 11 men, women, Islamic State (also known as ISIS, ISIL, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, as a Canadian ognize the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people and children perishing every single day and Daesh) has used sulphur mustard, honorary citizen, we Canadians must identify in the completion of their full identity. over the last 12 months.” Foreign Minister Stéphane Dion has said with the Dalai Lama and his people in terms Symbolically, the Dalai Lama opened the The world, including Canada, must not Canada is “deeply concerned.” of full human rights and the complete Tibetan human rights monument on Elgin Street, next forget about the Syrian refugees looking Amnesty International Canada’s Alex culture, which by defi nition includes leader- to City Hall. This is a good reminder to all for resettlement in safer places. Canada Neve has called for Canada to champion ship by the Dalai Lama. Parliamentarians what the Dalai Lama deeply has resettled more than 30,000 Syrian the need for the situation in Syria to be We just cannot have double standards represents. He does “good business” with our refugees since the Liberals began their referred to the International Criminal where we pay full respect to the true Tibetan souls before we trade. campaign last November. But they’re Court. This can only be done by the UN leader of the people and spend more time with Roman Mukerjee still a ways off of meeting their goal of Security Council, he said, which has not China on trade deals. If former prime minister Ottawa, Ont. bringing in 25,000 government-assisted had a good track record of agreeing on refugees by the end of this year. They had what to do about Syria. brought in just over 19,000 from this cat- Still, Canada should use its goodwill Feds should act on tanning limits egory as of Aug. 28. CTV reported Aug. 29 in the international community to press that the government has learned from the council members to refer the Syrian case ttention all parents: there are thousands harmonized with levies on tobacco. The fi rst wave and is preparing to welcome to the ICC. It’s the least Canada can do of free children’s tanning-bed games Canadian Nurses Association, the VP of a second infl ux to meet the end-of-year to try to seek justice in this long-running A online, many featuring (unauthorized) Disney Canadian Catholic Physicians, and the VP goal. Let’s hope it does. and deadly confl ict. princesses and Barbies. Some of the popular for patient and public engagement of the characters are pregnant, sending the mes- Canadian Medical Association, have all sage that tanning is safe and fun, when in tweeted our health minister in support of reality tanning beds are carcinogenic and are this recommendation. banned for minors in all Canadian provinces. We need to curb the rising skin-cancer Urban medical offi cers of health recently complacency in this country. (We also asked Heath Canada to require health-care need to curb rising health-care costs.) The providers (not salon staff) to pre-screen federal government should act on expert individuals prior to commercial tanning. advice to reduce unnecessary human suf- They want prominent and graphic health fering and mortality. We don’t want little warnings on the outside of tanning beds. princess and Barbie fans to be part of a In 2012, the Canadian Paediatric Soci- growing skin-cancer epidemic. ety indicated a tax should be imposed on Linda Jeaurond all commercial tanning bed operations, Victoria, B.C. No reason for more cuts at Canada Post s a Crown corporation, Canada Post is initiatives, such as electric charging sta- Aowned by all Canadians and thereby tions for cars. Dozens of countries around serves the public good, as one of our key the world have adopted these initiatives. public services. Canada Post, contrary to Canada Post can be a beacon of light popular belief, is profi table and has been for for a green economy and enhanced public most of the past two decades. services rather than a relic from the dying There is no reason for more cuts in days of a failing economic system that puts services and increased prices. The govern- profi ts before people. ment should adopt the Delivering Commu- Cheryl Gellman nity Power proposal, which calls for postal Ottawa, Ont. banking, services for seniors, and green

EDITORIAL Crane, Jim Creskey, Murray Dobbin, Gwynne Dyer, Michael DIRECTORS OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DELIVERY INQUIRIES Please send letters to the editor to the above SENIOR REPORTERS Tim Naumetz and Laura Ryckewaert Geist, Greg Elmer, Alice Funke, J.L. Granatstein, Éric Grenier, Samim Massoom, Craig Caldbick, Martin Reaume [email protected] street address or e-mail to [email protected]. REPORTER, POWER & INFLUENCE ASSISTANT Dennis Gruending, Cory Hann, Tim Harper, Chantal Hébert, CORPORATE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE 613-688-8822 Deadline is Wednesday at noon, Ottawa time, for EDITOR Rachel Aiello Jenn Jefferys, David T. Jones, Joe Jordan, Warren Kinsella, Ulle Baum the Monday edition and Friday at noon for the NEWS REPORTERS Chelsea Nash, Marco Vigliotti Camille Labchuk, Gillian McEachern, Arthur Milnes, Nancy Wednesday edition. Please include your full name, PHOTOGRAPHERS Sam Garcia, Andrew Meade, Peckford, Kate Purchase, Tim Powers, Michael Qaqish, PRODUCTION address and daytime phone number. The Hill Times Cynthia Münster, and Jake Wright Jeremy Richler, Susan Riley, Ken Rubin, Sarah Schmidt, Rick PRODUCTION MANAGER Benoit Deneault reserves the right to edit letters. Letters do not POWER & INFLUENCE ASSISTANT EDITOR Smith, Evan Sotiropoulos, Scott Taylor, Ian Wayne, Nelson SENIOR GRAPHIC, ONLINE DESIGNER Joey Sabourin reflect the views of The Hill Times. Thank you. Wiseman, Les Whittington and Armine Yalnizyan JUNIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Melanie Brown Christina Leadlay Publications Mail Agreement No. 40068926 EDITORIAL CARTOONIST Michael De Adder WEB DESIGNER Kobra Amirsardari PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Denis Calnan, Simon BY HILL TIMES PUBLISHING INC. ADDRESSES TO: CIRCULATION DEPT. Doyle, Christopher Guly, Leslie MacKinnon, Carl ADVERTISING ADMINISTRATION 69 Sparks Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5A5 69 Sparks Street, Ottawa, ON K1P 5A5 Meyer, Cynthia Münster, and Selina Chignall ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Amanda Keenan FINANCE/ADMINISTRATION Tracey Wale (613) 232-5952 Fax (613) 232-9055 COLUMNISTS Keith Brooks, Karl Bélanger, Andrew VICE PRESIDENT MARKETING AND RECEPTION Alia Kellock Heward Canadian Publications Mail Agreement No. 40068926 CMCA 2012 Better AUDITED Newspaper Cardozo, John Chenier, David Coletto, Sheila Copps, David MULTIMEDIA SALES Steve MacDonald CIRCULATION SALES MANAGER Chris Peixoto www.hilltimes.com Winner THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 9 INSIDE DEFENCE UN PEACE OPERATIONS Mali mission reminiscent of Afghanistan

A rocket-hit The safe bet now is that container is Mali will be the ultimate pictured after an attack dur- destination for our blue- ing which six helmet offering. But if peacekeepers from Guinea Canadian troops had no were killed luck with nation-building and others injured at a in a divided Afghanistan, UN peacekeeping camp why would we do the in Kidal, Mali, same in the Sahara? on Feb. 13. UN photograph by Marco Dor- mino

SCOTT TAYLOR

TTAWA—The military and Liberal Ogovernment communications teams are in full spin to sell Canadians on an im- minent peacekeeping mission in Africa. To date, the entire exercise has been a convo- luted inversion of all basic principles concerning the implementation of a military deployment. The Liberals had campaigned through the last election on the promise of returning to the era of Pearsonian-style peacekeeping under the United Nations banner rather than employing combat forces in support of United States- or NATO-led adventures. The fi rst indication the Liberals were intending to make good on that promise was a cryptic comment by Chief of Defence Staff General Jonathan Vance at a as to the purpose or objective of sending Afghanistan cost Canada more than 155 former colony. The French were able to change-of-command ceremony on July 14. soldiers into harm’s way. soldiers killed, 2,000 wounded, and an esti- reclaim the conquered territory, but the In addressing the soldiers on parade, and The safe bet now is that Mali will be the mated $18 billion, why on earth would we unrest has persisted and inept Malian reporters there, Vance stated that Canadian ultimate destination for our blue-helmet want to jump into yet another even more security forces have proven incapable of soldiers would soon be deployed on a new offering, as a small team of diplomats, challenging confl ict? Mali is defi nitely a containing the rebels. mission in Africa. Defence Minister Harjit military offi cers, and RCMP offi cials were mess, and it is considered the most danger- As France has drawn down its com- Sajjan said that Africa was the intended in the capital, Bamako, last week. ous UN peacekeeping mission, with 105 bat force, the UN force of approximately continent the day prior, but neither gentle- The usual military cheerleaders have peacekeepers killed and hundreds more 13,000 peacekeepers and 2,000 interna- man could identify an actual mission. already opined that this will be a mission wounded since April 2013. tional police are fi lling the vacuum. As the From Aug. 9 to 16 Sajjan and his advis- well suited to Canada’s robust, well- The main threat to Malian security is casualty fi gures would indicate, it doesn’t ers set off on an African adventure to equipped, veteran combat troops. The con- posed by the militant Tuareg separatists in matter whether it is Malian troops, French investigate potential confl icts and ongoing sensus among these warmongering hawks the northern region of Azawad. In early soldiers, or blue-bereted UN peacekeepers; peacekeeping missions to which Canada is that the confl ict in Mali could pose an 2012 the Tuaregs launched an armed revolt, the Tuaregs remain widely opposed to ac- could lend a helping hand. Following that even greater challenge for our military equipped largely with the weapons and cepting the regime in Bamako. fact-fi nding tour, which included stops in than our deployment to Afghanistan. munitions that had been left unsecured in Tens of thousands of Canadian troops the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethio- In their eagerness to get Canadian sol- neighbouring Libya, following NATO’s top- had no success in trying to force Pashtuns pia, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, Sajjan diers back into the midst of a real shooting pling of Muammar Gaddafi . in Kandahar to adopt the corrupt regime held a press conference. There was still no war, these Colonel Blimps fail to acknowl- With some of them allied with al-Qaeda the U.S. had installed in Kabul, and now announcement as to where our soldiers edge that, despite our best efforts, we did in the Islamic Maghreb, the Tuareg rebels we are likely sending 600 soldiers and $450 would actually be going, but Sajjan did tell not win in Afghanistan. The combined won a series of decisive victories over the million to force Tuaregs in the Sahara to the media that this new deployment would might of NATO members failed to destroy Malian security forces. This in turn led to a accept the central authority in Mali? involve about 600 soldiers with a mission the Taliban in 15 years of confl ict and our demoralized Malian military staging a coup Good luck with that. budget of $450 million. experiment with democracy in Afghanistan in March 2012. The Tuareg rebels seized the Scott Taylor is editor and publisher of To recap: Canadians have now been told produced one of the most corrupt regimes cities of Gao, Timbuktu, and Kidal. Esprit de Corps magazine. the continent, the size of the contingent, on the planet. To stem the tide, France deployed a [email protected] and the cost, but there is still no clarity That being the case, and given that large combat force to restore order to its The Hill Times

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

were close. Not the pre-convention e-vote executive veto—what incentive do we have (open to all members, even those who did not to participate? Greens’ policy review amounts attend the convention), nor the workshop vote Yes, there was always the chance that (a stage that was almost skipped entirely, due the resolution would be revisited by mem- to the resolution’s overwhelming support at bers at the next convention and reversed to top-down meddling the e-vote stage), nor the fi nal vote on the fl oor. legitimately, but this “special meeting” The fi nal vote passed with so many amounts to top-down meddling, and should (Editor’s note: the following is an open let- acquiesced. The fl oor (including you) then raised ‘yay’ signs that neither you, nor Mr. be cause for concern to anyone, regardless ter to Green Party Leader Elizabeth May.) voted in favour of adopting this procedure. Melamed, nor anyone else opposed even of their position on this particular issue. e all looked on early this August I ask you: had the BDS (boycott, divest- felt the need to call for an actual count. Finally, given the enormous outpouring Was you went to the microphone to ment, and sanctions against those sectors And now you want to nullify the deci- of support that you claim to have received express your reservations with Robert’s of Israel’s economy that directly profi t sion, retroactively change the rules, and to stay on as leader since suggesting that Rules of Order at the Green Party of Can- from the illegal occupation of Palestinian start again. This not only violates the you might step down over this, how can you ada’s biennial convention (a format that territories) resolution failed to pass, can Green Party of Canada’s own constitution be sure that the possibility of losing their you are now blaming for the results that you honestly say that you would still be (see articles 6.2 and 6.4 under Account- leader will not infl uence the way members ensued). After some brief reassurance from advocating for a “review” on the grounds ability), but is also extremely condescend- would vote the second time around? And, the chair/facilitator Ken Melamed, (who is that the majoritarian (Robert’s Rules) vote ing and disrespectful to the members of are you comfortable being the kind of supposed to be neutral, but is on the record was a departure from the consensus-based our party, while setting a very dangerous leader that uses the threat of resignation as opposing the BDS resolution before, dur- “values” of the party? precedent. If we cannot, as members, have a tactic for getting your way? ing, and after the convention) asserting his Three votes (and two vigorous debates) faith that the decisions voted upon at our Alykhan Pabani familiarity with Robert’s Rules, you then were held for this resolution. None of them conventions are binding—and immune to Toronto, Ont. 10 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 PLAINSPEAK CANADIAN VALUES

Conservative leadership candidate Kellie Leitch, pictured in 2013, is ask- Kellie Leitch ing whether the Canadian government should screen potential immigrants for ‘anti-Canadian values.’ The Hill Times photograph should be by Jake Wright embarrassed and ashamed

who is going to defi ne these Good political “values.” leadership should If you haven’t heard, the good Dr. Leitch has been polling Cana- not be about going dians on, “Should the Canadian to the bottom of the government screen potential immigrants for anti-Canadian values barrel to fi nd votes. as part of its normal screening for refugees and landed immigrants?” She is steadfast in her view ac- knowledging in a statement, “We candidate seems prepared to pur- ion in Canada. According to Abacus lenges and mistakes, the Liberals are going to have an open discus- sue an agenda of selectively defi n- Data, at the beginning of 2015, all have governed like Canadians ex- sion about what Canadian values ing and discarding people. This is three major parties had accessible pected they would. They promised are and what they are not.” not acceptable. The strength of the voter pools of a similar size. Today, a progressive, positive, and ambi- Frankly, Kellie Leitch should Conservative Party and Canada the Liberals have a 20-point advan- tious government. Most progres- TIM POWERS be embarrassed and ashamed. has been the embrace of different tage over the NDP and a 22-point sive Canadians, and even some of She is smart, hard-working, and perspectives, not the acceptance of advantage over the Conservatives. those on the right, are happy with wise enough to know that her poll some homogenous manifesto. Now, 67 per cent say they would what they have seen so far.” TTAWA—Kellie Leitch appar- question is an infl ammatory ploy The Conservatives are in a lead- consider voting Liberal, compared Good political leadership should Oently wanted to get some at- that plays on people’s fears as well ership contest and candidates can to just 47 per cent for the NDP, and not be about going to the bottom tention in what so far has been a as misconceptions. Does she want put forward whatever ideas they 45 per cent for the Conservatives. of the barrel to fi nd votes. It might catatonic Conservative leadership to win the Conservative leadership want. That is a good thing. But the The gap in accessible voter pool sound like a cliché but it really race. Well, she certainly has! so badly that she is prepared to only Conservative leadership candi- is arguably the Liberals’ strongest ought to be about bringing more Just like over the past decade, take the party backwards by divid- dates publicly challenging Leitch’s asset and the critical factor that new people to your side with well- some smarmy campaign offi cial ing Conservatives and Canadians position as of Sept. 6 were Michael leaders of the NDP and Conserva- reasoned, principled arguments, not somewhere is patting himself or against each other? Does she, like Chong and Maxime Bernier. What tives will need to change if their playing off ignorance and insecuri- herself on the back compliment- Donald Trump, have one rigid way do the other declared and potential goal is to form a government. ties. Making Canada better is about ing their sublime political genius of looking at the world and pre- candidates have to say? If Leitch As my colleague and CEO of creating opportunity, not getting for fi nding the winning formula scribing that to the rest of us? wants a debate, give her one. Surely Abacus Data, David Coletto has into a pissing match about who can for their candidate: a values I really fi nd this astounding, as the rest of you can see the future of observed: “the popularity of Mr. best defi ne Canadian values. discussion. I can’t imagine Dr. Kellie Leitch, the Conservative party is not to be Trudeau and his government is a Tim Powers is vice-chairman Kellie Leitch’s path to the the well-regarded physician, refus- found in race baiting, fear stoking, result of its approach to governing of Summa Strategies and manag- top job apparently is going to be ing to treat a patient because she and some nostalgic desire to return and the emotional connection it ing director of Abacus Data. He is propelled by who has Canadian thinks that person has “anti-Cana- to the Victorian era. has made with millions of Cana- a former adviser to Conservative values and who has anti-Canadi- dian” values—whatever they may Wake up Conservatives. Look at dians, including many who didn’t political leaders. an values—to date, it is unknown be. Yet Kellie Leitch the leadership what is happening with public opin- vote Liberal. Despite some chal- The Hill Times

INSIDE POLITICS DEFENCE New era of peacekeeping will bring new risks

from some corners has been so This is one reason a lot of “I’ve been quite honest about my in Canada—will matter more. Let’s hold off on the hearty that a lot of what Sajjan told countries have gotten out of the approach on this,” Sajjan said. “Just Sajjan’s list of possible tasks for self-congratulation me stands as a useful corrective. peacekeeping business. It’s fun to because I visit an area doesn’t mean Canadians in Africa kept growing. Please stow, if you will, your no- blame Stephen Harper for the fact we’re going to be contributing troops “Everything from violence until we know what ble image, from some half-forgot- that only 103 Canadians served in (there). And just because I didn’t visit against women, preventing child we’re getting into. ten high school social studies class, UN peace operations in July. But to an area doesn’t mean we’re not go- soldiers from being recruited, [to] of blue-helmeted soldiers, sternly make that theory stick you’d need to ing to be contributing troops.” actually taking child soldiers off guarding a neat line between two explain how it’s Harper’s fault that So: Canada is sending up to the battlefi eld.” Canadian soldiers carefully separated armies some- the United States contributed only 600 soldiers, plus some number of and civilians were doing similar where. Those days are gone and 68 soldiers and police to the UN in civilians, to provide expertise and work in Afghanistan by the end. they are not coming back. the same month; Australia 39; Bel- services. Sajjan just doesn’t know Results were mixed. “This is not the peacekeep- gium 13; Denmark 75; and even the where yet. Sajjan’s agenda may offer a ing of the past,” Sajjan told me. United Kingdom, which will host When will he know? “I haven’t hint as to Canadians’ eventual des- PAUL WELLS “There’s no peace to keep. We’ve next month’s peacekeeping summit, set a date for when we’re actually tination. Four of the countries he also made it clear that peace op- a relatively meagre 336. going to make a decision.” visited are big donors to UN peace erations are going to be risky.” Sajjan and his colleagues need This, arguably, makes more operations. Uganda has about as TTAWA—Harjit Sajjan’s Traditional peacekeeping was a to make up a new way for Canadi- sense than it seems to. In 2001, it many soldiers in the fi eld as Cana- Ooffi ce offered me an inter- relic of 19th- and early 20th-century ans to be helpful in Africa. That’s was really clear where Canadian da is offering, Ethiopia 14 times as view with the defence minister. industrial war, when massed armies the work he was pursuing when he troops were going: Afghanistan. many. But the Democratic Republic This was after Sajjan landed in would hurl themselves at one anoth- visited fi ve African countries. “This They then spent a decade learning of Congo has fi elded only 20. Vancouver from a weeklong visit er in ways that actually made them trip was about getting the direct the regional politics, extending at But a UN force of 20,000 has to Africa. And if you want the relatively easy to separate, delineate, facts, talking to the political leader- least from India to Iran, and the been stationed in the DRC since truth of it I sat on the interview and track. Latter-day asymmetric ship,” he said. “Talking to the vari- infernally complex tribal sociology 2010. It’s a tricky business. All told, for days because I wasn’t entirely combat, led in many cases by ragtag ous programs within the UN...We that affected soldiers’ work every 102 soldiers have been killed in that sure what to make of it. groups of militants armed with a even talked to some business folks day. Sajjan wants to front-load the operation. Let’s hold off on the self- After our conversation, Sajjan few trucks and sidearms, follows no in the area. Because you need to homework, and pick a mission later. congratulation until we know what and two other ministers announced neat lines. Civilian and paramilitary get a really good, deep understand- Any eventual mission will have our soldiers are getting into. Canada will contribute 600 soldiers groups intermingle, as do friendly ing of what’s really going on.” almost nothing to do with walking Paul Wells is a national affairs and $450 million over three years, and unfriendly armies. Allegiances Great. Going on where? Africa is a ceasefi re line. Capacity-building writer for The Toronto Star. This to United Nations peacekeeping. shift. It’s hard to even know where to three times the size of Canada, with for local troops—including, per- column was fi rst released Aug. 31. The sound of self-congratulation send the blue helmets. more than 30 times its population. haps, training their offi cer corps The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 11 NEED TO KNOW CUBA

U.S. President Despite shifts in Barack Obama has moved towards Washington, major reconciliation with Cuba, despite opposition changes in Cuba remain from many in the Republican- far down the road controlled Congress. The Hill Times photograph by For more than half a century, ordinary Cu- Jake Wright For more than half a bans have paid the price of being caught in the century, ordinary Cubans stalemate between Castro and Washington. It’s been an extraordinary saga: the have paid the price of U.S.’s angry reaction when Castro nation- being caught in the alized the American businesses that had been calling the shots in the Caribbean stalemate between Castro nation for decades; the failed CIA-led and Washington. invasion; the world’s brush with nuclear annihilation over Soviet missiles on the island; the Mariel boatlift that saw 125,000 people—many of them criminals—arrive in the U.S. in 1980; the assassination of John F. Kennedy by a man with sympathies for Cuba and Castro; the abandonment of Cuba by the failing Soviet Union and LES WHITTINGTON fi nally the arrival in Havana by U.S. Presi- dent Barack Obama, the fi rst such visit TO CELEBRATE 40 YEARS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION IN CANADA, since 1928. remember standing on the famed Havana No matter how you look at it, Cuba has THE EUROPEAN UNION DELEGATION TO CANADA Iwaterfront, watching Fidel Castro speak- been the tail wagging the dog of U.S. poli- ing to thousands of his fellow Cubans one tics for many years. IS ORGANISING: night, whipping them into a frenzy about a Most Americans, according to the polls, rumoured attack by American warplanes. favour normalization of relations between the It was great political theatre: the ocean two countries. But politicians’ fears of alienat- pounding on the seawall, the crowd under ing the anti-Castro Cubans in the swing state the lights, Castro bellowing on and on in of Florida have made that impossible. EU – CANADA ENERGY CONFERENCE 2016 thundering histrionics. Obama has taken steps to wind down the Of course, this was 1990 and the Cuba-U.S. standoff, including legalization of FINDING ANSWERS TO THE ENERGY surprise attack never happened. But the commercial fl ights, easing fi nancial exchang- Cubans had every reason to be paranoid— es and, resumption of diplomatic relations, the CHALLENGES OF TOMORROW after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, the by latter enabled in part by Canada. then decades-old hostility of the U.S., and In the context of fossilized American the CIA’s assassination attempts on Castro. policy on this issue, these are big moves. It’s interesting to look back now, a few But they fall short of ending the trade em- days after the fi rst fl ight in recent times to bargo. That’s the one change that is widely Cuba from the U.S. by a commercial air- seen as the key to loosening the Castro line. A JetBlue aircraft took off from Fort brothers’ grip on the island. And, barring Lauderdale with 150 passengers headed an unexpected shift in the makeup of the for Santa Clara, breaking a nearly 55-year Republican-dominated U.S. Congress in hiatus in such commercial fl ights. November, that’s not going to happen. I always thought Castro (and now his Without the likely opening up of Cuba brother Raul) only managed to keep their to the world that the end of the embargo communist hold on the country of 11 mil- could bring, Raul Castro and the rest of the lion because it was an island. island’s elite are likely to keep the current The lack of a common border with an- system in place for many years, heading other jurisdiction seemed to cement Cubans’ off anti-communist pressures with police isolation and helped to enable the state appa- crackdowns and grudging, incremental ratus installed by Castro to keep the popu- economic adjustments that push real lace from expanding its horizons through change further into the future. the usual channels of travel and information How this will all end up for Cubans is exchange, whether clandestine or otherwise. hard to say. No one should make light of Beyond that, on the political front, there their situation. Anyone who hasn’t expe- seems little doubt that the U.S.’s anti-Cas- rienced life in a society without human tro campaign, particularly the trade em- rights, equality before the law and open bargo decreed in 1960, provided the threat government can’t imagine how harrowing that Castro needed to justify his repressive and soul-destroying it can be. regime for all these decades. Rather than On the other hand, looking around at weakening Castro’s hold on his country, some of the democracies in the Caribbean the embargo gave him the propaganda and Latin America these days, one has to tools necessary to stay in power despite wonder if democracy would be that much of widespread unrest and hopes for some- an across-the-board improvement for Cubans. VICTORIA HALL thing better among the populace. Haiti shows no signs of ever throwing JOHN G. DIEFENBAKER BUILDING Canadians, of course, treated Cuba dif- off its reputation as one the world’s most ferently and many thousands are familiar poverty-ridden nations. Oil-rich Venezuela, 111 SUSSEX DR., OTTAWA with the island and its beaches. once a Cuban sponsor, is in the midst of a The frozen-in-time aspects of the place, desperate crisis, with millions struggling to particularly the 1950s cars that have been feed themselves amid food shortages. And THURSDAY 22/09/2016 preserved with loving care and great parts of Central America are immersed in ingenuity, are a staple of Cuban culture to hopeless economic situations, offi cial cor- 8:30 – 17:00 tourists. But I’m not sure how many visitors ruption and unimaginable violence arising get to experience the cramped, crumbling from gangs and drug-traffi cking—condi- apartment complexes, the ration books and tions so dire that hundreds of thousands are #EUENERGY the empty store shelves or the real fear of risking the long, dangerous trek to the U.S. #EUCANADA40 police reprisal by those who break the rules border in hopes of escaping to a better life. or publicly question the Cuban government. One can only hope Cubans can avoid That kind of socialism, where the some of the worst of these types of problems REGISTER NOW AT government controls everything and the when democracy fi nal comes to the island. EUCANADA40.CA people at the bottom have no rights and Les Whittington is an Ottawa journalist little recourse to any kind of justice, is a and a regular contributor to The Hill Times. disturbing sight up close. The Hill Times 12 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 OPINION PM’S CHINA VISIT

countries that are worthy of Canada’s attention. Promote youth engagement The Australia-China Youth Association, initiated and led by university-student leaders, is one of the earliest of its kind. Its decentralized model allows university- based chapter committees to organize to foster Canada-China ties training and events for local communities. It currently has more than 20 chapter com- Investing in building Cheng Hong, wife of Chi- mittees throughout various campuses in nese Premier Li Keqiang, Australia and China. A national secretariat China literacy among our greets Ella-Grace Trudeau, co-ordinates these local efforts, raises the Prime Minister Justin organization’s profi le and seeks funding youth today will allow Trudeau and his wife from various sources. It holds an annual us to reap benefi ts for Sophie Grégoire Trudeau’s conference to bring together Australian daughter, as they watch, in and Chinese youth and prominent leaders decades to come. Beijing, China on Aug. 31, from both countries to create and sustain 2016. PMO photograph by meaningful dialogues. Adam Scotti The U.S.-China Strong Foundation in the U.S. is a non-profi t and non- governmental organization that works to strengthen U.S.-China bilateral relations through educational exchange and LYNETTE H. ONG the study of the Mandarin language. The purpose is to bridge the stark gap between the number of Chinese studying English n his recently concluded trip to China, and Americans studying Mandarin, which IPrime Minister Justin Trudeau has is 600 times difference. walked a fi ne line between balancing the At the heart of these programs are national interest to engage with China, our shows Canada lags behind countries such as Keeping in mind this reality, the politi- platforms to bring together young Aus- second-largest trading partner and a rising Australia, New Zealand, and even the United cally optimal China strategy is not neces- tralians or Americans with an interest in superpower, on the one hand, and raising States in our basic China literacy. sarily an offi cial push for closer ties. Do China, and young Chinese with an interest our concerns about its human rights and Canada as a nation falls behind in Chinese- that too soon and too quickly, and we risk in these countries. And this is fundamen- fundamental lack of freedom of expression language skills, comprehension, and under- swinging the pendulum of public percep- tally lacking in Canada. Effective youth on the other hand. standing of the rising power. This is a direct tion of China further from the desired engagements that focus on language-study The reasons why Canada needs to consequence of our long-term neglect and equilibrium. abroad, mentorship programs, and youth actively engage with China go beyond absence of government support for China-re- Instead, we propose youth engagement— summits that assemble like-minded inquis- economic imperative. In order to exert our lated language training and cultural programs, a form of non-governmental enterprise—as itive minds from both Canada and China positive infl uence on China, we need to in spite of our changing demography. a second-best solution to invest in Canada’s will go a long way to enhance our mutual create dialogues and build bridges with This is hardly surprising, however. Politi- future in China. Youth are the most dynamic understanding. What Chinese youth take the Chinese, rather than turn our back cians do what gets them elected and what segment of the population who are not only home about Canadian values will stay with on them. Given our population size and sustains their popularity, rather than what is receptive to new ideas but have the potential them for their lifetime. While the ground- political clout, it would be naïve to assume necessarily right. The fact that it appeared that to make a real difference in the future. In- work will be driven by entrepreneurial we could pressure China into improving no party candidate uttered a word about their vesting in building China literacy among our youth, government initiatives will help to its human rights records by “acting tough” China policy in the lead-up to the federal elec- youth today will allow us to reap the benefi ts kick-start it. alone. This approach has been tried and tion last year came as no surprise to seasoned for many decades to come. Lynette H. Ong is a professor at the has proven to be futile. political observers. It was not that the candi- As part of a broader study on improving University of Toronto specializing in Chinese Despite a growing proportion of Asian dates did not care; they just did not want to Canada-China relations, we have surveyed politics. Follow her on Twitter @onglynette. population across all major cities, evidence risk being the unpopular kids in school. various youth initiatives across several The Hill Times

GLOBAL AFFAIRS DEFENCE

Assad’s regime in Syria that was teetering Islamic State. But that just makes them a on the brink of collapse. bigger threat in Erdogan’s eyes, and so he Is ISIS really losing? Russia’s military intervention in Syria sent his army into Syria last week. last September saved Assad, and it will Not very deep into Syria so far, and of probably be the Turkish military interven- course to justify this intervention to the tion in Syria this year that saves Islamic United States Erdogan has said that it is to It may seem that way, but Turkey’s attacks in Syria State. Not that President Recep Tayyip fi ght “Islamic State and other terrorists.” But may turn the tide in its favour. Erdogan loves Islamic State—he used to let since Turkey always offi cially refers to Wash- it use Turkey as a transit route for recruits ington’s Kurdish allies in Syria as “terrorists,” and supplies, but that largely stopped a it doesn’t take great geopolitical insight to ONDON, U.K.—The word on the streets year ago—but he doesn’t see it as Turkey’s fi gure out who Turkey’s main target is. Lis that Islamic State (ISIS, ISIL, or main enemy. Islamic State is well aware of this, which Daesh to its many enemies) is going under. For Erdogan, the big threat is the seces- is why it evacuated the border town of Ja- In late December 2015 it lost control of the sion of the southeast corner of the country rablus, where the Turkish army crossed into city of Ramadi in Iraq after a long siege; in where Kurds (20 per cent of Turkey’s popula- Syria, without a fi ght. Why not just step aside GWYNNE DYER June it also lost Fallujah. In March it lost tion) are the local majority. All the countries and let the Turks make contact with their Palmyra to Syrian government troops, and next to that corner of Turkey (Iran, Iraq, and real target, the Syrian Kurdish army, without last month it lost Manbij in northern Syria Syria) also have Kurdish majorities living wasting everybody’s time? to the United States-backed Syrian Kurds along the border, and the Turkish nightmare Contact has now been made, and Turkey after another long siege. is for one of those areas to become an inde- is busily shelling and bombing Kurdish-led These are all places that ISIS took in mid- pendent Kurdish-ruled state. forces in Manbij, the next town south from 2014 in its initial surge of conquests (which That is exactly what has been happen- Jarablus. The coming months will prob- ended with the proclamation of the Islamic ing in northern Syria. The Syrian Kurds ably see a steady expansion of Turkey’s State), or in the subsequent year of slower ad- made themselves available to Washington offensive against the Syrian Kurds, and a vances that ended with the capture of Ramadi as America’s main ally on the ground, and corresponding drop in the latter’s military and Palmyra in May 2015. Since then it has with huge help from American air strikes effort against Islamic State. been nothing but retreats—and last week Tur- their army has driven Islamic State back Naively (or was it just fake naïveté?), key entered the ground war in Syria as well, to all along the border. It now controls a U.S. Secretary of State Ash Carter called fi ght Islamic State and “other terrorists.” deep strip of territory along 80 per cent of on Turkey to stay focused on the fi ght To cap it all, Abu Mohammad al-Adnani, Syria’s border with Turkey, a proto-state against Islamic State and not to engage the closest associate of ISIS leader Abu Bakr that the Kurds call Rojava. the Kurds. Turkish Prime Minister Binali al-Baghdadi and the man who proclaimed him This is entirely Erdogan’s fault. If he had Yildirim curtly replied that “operations to be the head of a revived caliphate (“Islamic been loyal to Turkey’s alliance with the United will continue until all terrorist elements State”) only 26 months ago, was killed in an air States and closed the border with Syria, have been neutralized, until all threats to strike on Aug. 30. He was the organization’s neither Islamic State nor the rival Islamist our borders, our lands and our citizens are chief propagandist and a senior operational movement, the Nusra Front, would have grown completely over.” commander, and he will be missed. to dominate the entire Syrian rebel movement. So the Syrian Kurds will be busy fi ghting But the streets on which “the word” But he didn’t close it, because he was so keen the Turks, and Islamic State will survive. It is about Islamic State’s impending defeat is to overthrow Assad that he backed anybody an iron rule of Middle Eastern politics that being heard are in Washington, not in the who was fi ghting against him. everybody always betrays the Kurds eventu- Middle East. People on the ground know Faced with the threat of an Islamist- ally—and Washington will too. that things have not been going well for ruled Syria, Washington made a de facto Gwynne Dyer is a United Kingdom- Islamic State recently, but they remember alliance with the Syrian Kurds, and they based independent journalist. that just one year ago it was Bashar al- have served it well in the fi ght against The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 13 OPINION SOCIAL POLICY Poverty reduction didn’t happen under Harper, but it is possible

nize as adequate. He did throw in ment of the long-form census is Better policy, some less rosy Statistics Canada an important step forward. Better and better low-income data as a follow-up. and fuller data can inform better Now, there are a number social policy. understanding, can of ways to measure poverty in This leads to Mr. Poilievre’s Canada. An increasing number main point, which seems to be make a difference. of social policy organizations use that a tax-cutting government the Low Income Measure, after helps those in poverty more suc- tax, as a common measure of low cessfully than a government that income in Canada, as it is a rela- raises and invests tax dollars in tive and internationally compa- socially directed programs and rable measure. Statistics Canada services. Again, ask those most provides historical data on this affected by poverty. DARLENE O’LEARY measure. Mr. Poilievre’s piece Even the “money-in-your- excluded any mention of it. pocket” benefi t that Mr. Poilievre Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre, pictured, argues that Stephen Harper’s These data show a higher highlights doesn’t make his case. government was successful at reducing poverty, while Pierre Trudeau’s Liberal rate of low income, or poverty, He refers to the “pro-family” government was not. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright ast Wednesday’s Ottawa in Canada. Currently, 4.9 mil- Universal Canada Child Benefi t LCitizen published an op-ed lion people in Canada live in that Mr. Harper’s government by Pierre Poilievre, the Member poverty, and this number saw no introduced. However, the UCCB inter-connected areas of income improvements in addressing of Parliament for Carleton, Ont., signifi cant improvement under was actually taxed back and security, health care, housing, the need for adequate, afford- that leaves those of us working in the government of Mr. Harper. In not signifi cant enough to cover food security, child care, and job able housing for everyone. This the area of poverty eradication in addition, there has been a 26 per the costs of child care for any development. could be a key component to any Canada quite confounded. cent increase in food bank usage family. The current government’s Campaigns like Dignity for All broader poverty-reduction efforts. The article makes the claim since 2008, and increasing num- Canada Child Benefi t (CCB) is an have called for a comprehensive But, again, we’ll wait and see that Stephen Harper’s govern- bers of Canadians face housing improvement on this (with loads national anti-poverty plan to ad- what really happens. ment was successful at reducing and employment precariousness. of credit due to organizations like dress the complexity of poverty So, when it comes to signifi - poverty, while the Pierre Trudeau Certainly, those most affected by Campaign 2000). Although, as the in Canada. In fact, the campaign cant poverty reduction in Canada, government was not. Yes, Pierre poverty in Canada, particularly parliamentary budget offi cer has actually launched its own model no federal government can claim Trudeau, not Justin Trudeau. indigenous communities, would indicated, even the CCB won’t be plan in 2015 on Parliament Hill. victory. But better policy, and To back up his argument, Mr. challenge the claim that there a help for long if it isn’t indexed, Mr. Harper’s government had no better understanding, can make a Poilievre fi rst refers to histori- have been great improvements in which the Liberals have claimed interest in developing such a plan. difference. In fact, it has to. cal data from a poverty measure the last decade. they’ll do—in 2020. The current Trudeau govern- Darlene O’Leary is a socio- outlined by the Fraser Institute Of course, more data are need- For years, social policy and ment has committed to a Cana- economic policy analyst with researcher Chris Sarlo. This is ed for a comprehensive under- poverty organizations have been dian Poverty Reduction Strategy, Citizens for Public Justice, a a measure that the majority of standing of the reality of poverty calling for better, more compre- but we have yet to see what it national faith-based organization organizations doing work in the in Canada. Income is not the only hensive policy development and might entail. As well, a National whose goal is to act for justice in area of poverty eradication and indicator of poverty. The current funding for poverty eradication. Housing Strategy consultation Canadian public policy. social policy simply do not recog- federal government’s reinstate- This includes support in the is in the works, which could see The Hill Times

OPINION NATURAL RESOURCES Canada-Africa economic ties at a crossroads

diversifi cation and poverty reduc- ada-Africa partnership unique, image, and fostering host-country can Natural Resource Centre, the tion due to limited institutional, considering the growing competi- growth to increase trade and African extractive sector could legal, and human capacities. tion by emerging economies like reduce aid. become a signifi cant driver of in- Yao Graham—co-ordinator China and India as major inves- Moreover, adopting an dustrialization, as was the case in with Third World Network-Africa, tors and consumers in Africa’s industrialization-driven model in the United States between the late th th BENJAMIN MUSAMPA a civil society group based in extractive sector, while assur- the extractive sector may position 19 and early 20 centuries. Accra, Ghana—recently argued ing the perpetuity of Canadian Africa’s resource-rich economies While the private sector is a that despite the fact that mining investments in this increasingly on the path of poverty reduction key driver of growth, it did not and natural-resource exploitation competitive fi eld. while stimulating sustainable eco- historically yield sustainable job tephen Harper’s Conservative has been a critical factor in the The Harper government heav- nomic growth. Considering the creation across resource-rich Sgovernment focused on eco- highest level of growth in Africa ily promoted bilateral trade and Liberal government’s quest for African countries. Going forward, nomic diplomacy over develop- for more than three decades, investment agreements through leadership in global development, Canada should contribute both ment challenges in Africa. Now, the commodity boom reinforced its Global Markets Action Plan, will it fi nd the right equilibrium fi nancially and technically to the Ottawa’s policymakers under Africa’s traditional place in the a policy meant to create jobs between the needs of natural-re- development of the extractive/ Justin Trudeau’s Liberal govern- international division of labour and business opportunities for source-based industrialization in mining sector in alignment with ment face the daunting challenge as a supplier of primary goods to Canadians. Canadian strategy sub-Saharan Africa and Canada’s the AMV’s main objectives. of managing Africa’s socio- industrial economies. toward Africa essentially focused narrow commercial interest in the Considering that artisanal and economic development impera- Overcoming this obstacle and on advancing Canada’s corpo- continent? small-scale mining creates sub- tive with Canada’s commercial in- promoting natural-resource-based rate mining interests. According stantially more jobs than large- terests, especially when it comes economic diversifi cation will to Natural Resources Canada, Curtailing the curse scale mining companies in Africa, to natural-resources governance require connecting extractive in- Canadian mining assets in Africa Embracing the African Mining Canadian policymakers should throughout the continent. dustries (mining, oil and gas) with in 2014 reached $27.4 billion, with Vision (AMV), adopted in Febru- be keen to promote entrepreneur- broader economic sectors such 133 companies active throughout ary 2009 by African Union heads ship while encouraging rural, so- Challenges ahead as manufacturing and services the continent. of states and widely recognized cial, and economic development. The African region possesses through the value-addition of re- Philippe Le Billon, professor at for developing mineral resources Benjamin Musampa is a re- vast mineral and oil reserves sources like diamonds and gold. the Liu Institute for Global Issues in Africa, could be the start- search associate at l’Observatoire essential for modern production As a major international play- and the geography department at ing point. In fact, the AMV has des Amériques affi liated with the and consumption worldwide. This er in the mining sector, Canada is the University of British Colum- become the initial policy frame- Centre d’études sur l’intégration region hosts large deposits of well positioned to share with its bia, identifi ed among Canada’s work promoting mineral-based et la mondialisation in Mon- platinum, cobalt, gold, and oil, to African counterparts how it has rational motivations to support manufacturing and the economic treal, and Thinking Africa of name few. Paradoxically, the vast transformed its mineral-resource Africa’s extractive-sector gover- diversifi cation of Africa’s miner- the Institut de recherche et majority of resource-rich Afri- wealth into a global competitive nance: the promotion of Canadian al-resources-dependent countries. d’enseignement sur la paix en can countries have failed on the advantage. extractive ventures abroad, ensur- According to Pietro Toigo, Afrique based in Dakar, Senegal. promise to foster both economic This approach makes the Can- ing extractive sectors a better chief macroeconomist at the Afri- The Hill Times 14 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 OPINION MEDICAL COVERAGE

Health Minister Jane Philpott. Canada is one of few countries in the world with a universal health system that doesn’t include prescription drug coverage as a medically necessary beneﬁ t. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

vidual coverage, medical evidence of good health must be provided to the insurer, and Why private health insurance anyone in the family with a pre-existing medical condition may be offered only limited coverage or even denied coverage completely. coverage in Canada needs a review The alternative is for Canadians to pay out-of-pocket for private health expenses Isn’t it time to use the costs, with only around 70 per cent covered or forego some health services altogether by our publicly funded health system. because they can’t afford them. group life-insurance Private health-care costs in Canada So what about all those individuals have grown dramatically over the last 40 and families across Canada who want conversion model for years. Adjusting for population growth and private insurance coverage and can’t get infl ation, private health-care costs have it, or can’t afford it? This is a question our group health insurance increased by over 220 per cent on average provincial and federal governments need since 1975, or around $1,800 per person. to address. when someone in That’s no small fi gure for most Canadian The loss of health-care coverage Canada is laid off? families. through loss of job may actually have a What’s driving up the cost? Some of this simple insurance solution. increase is due to overall aging of the pop- Existing group life-insurance regula- ulation, but most is due to increased costs tions and guidelines could offer a path for health services as well as expanded forward. In stark contrast to group health use and availability of services. Drug costs insurance, when someone is laid off work, over the years have increased dramatically, group life contracts in Canada must allow and may continue to do so with the emerg- the employee to convert their group life JOHN HAVE AND ROBERT L. BROWN ing use of personalized medicine and drugs insurance to individual life insurance plans for rare conditions. up to a maximum of $200,000 (for those In fact, Canada is one of few countries under age 65). he news media recently carried a in the world with a universal health system The key component? They do not have Tstory about a nine-year-old boy in that doesn’t include prescription drug to provide any evidence of insurability. In New Brunswick who was denied private coverage as a medically necessary benefi t. other words, they are guaranteed the pos- health coverage because of his weight (at 5 Some health policy experts have been call- sibility of purchasing a reasonably priced foot 2 inches and 135 pounds). His family ing on the federal government to increase life insurance plan without having to pass was shocked—as were many reading the publicly funded health coverage by estab- any health tests to get it. story—that a child could be denied private lishing a national pharmacare program. Isn’t it time to use the group life-insur- health coverage in Canada. In fact, it’s not This is currently being discussed at both ance conversion model for group health only possible—and entirely legal—it may federal and provincial levels. insurance when someone in Canada is laid be a sign of things to come. In the meantime, many Canadian rely off? This would allow families access to The boy’s father had been laid off work on private insurance to help with the 30 adequate private health coverage without in January and, as a result, the Doiron percent of health needs not covered by our punishing their fi nances or making them family lost their extended health insurance public health system. go without. provided by his employer. So they wanted For many, the private health-care This simple solution won’t address all to buy private coverage to “top up” what is component is provided through group the concerns around private health costs not covered by Canada’s publicly funded insurance at their workplace. Families lose in Canada, but it is something govern- health system. this coverage if the employee is laid off, or ments and insurers could work together Canadians tend to think that we have don’t have it in the fi rst place if they work to implement without too much diffi culty. completely publicly funded health care. on contract or part time. It would’ve helped the Doiron family and While this is true for medically-neces- Some insurers do offer limited cover- many others like them. sary care, such as hospital, diagnostic, age to those who recently lost their jobs John Have is a fellow with the Cana- and physician services, most Canadi- (within the last 60 days) without having dian Institute of Actuaries, and president ans must fund their dental, vision, and to provide medical evidence; however, of Have Associates. Robert L. Brown is an pharmaceutical drug costs privately, maximum annual benefi ts are typically expert adviser with EvidenceNetwork.ca along with other health-care services, very limited compared to their previous and a fellow with the Canadian Institute such as chiropractic or physiotherapy, plans. of Actuaries. He was professor of actuarial not deemed “essential” under the Canada For those unemployed, under-employed, science at the University of Waterloo for 39 Health Act. or self-employed, purchasing individual years and a past president of the Canadian Canadians must insure or pay out-of- private health plans for their families is the Institute of Actuaries. pocket a whopping 30 per cent of health only option. But to be eligible for indi- The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES POLICY BRIEFING WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 BIOTECH & LIFE SCIENCES

BIOTECH ADVOCATES MPS SET LEGAL STATUS CALL ON THE FEDS TO TACKLE OF PATENTED TO STRENGTHEN GMOS THIS GENES IN CANADA INDUSTRY INCENTIVES FALL REMAINS UNCLEAR

by Marco Vigliotti by Peter Mazereeuw by Marco Vigliotti PAGES 16, 17 PAGES 18, 19 PAGE 20

ADVANCEMENTS IN INVESTING INVESTING IN BIOTECHNOLOGY IN SCIENCE INNOVATION: PROVIDE ROBUST DRIVES GETTING TO THREE BENEFITS FOR CANADA INNOVATION PER CENT OF GDP by INNOVATION MINISTER by SCIENCE CRITIC by SCIENCE CRITIC NAVDEEP BAINS MARILYN GLADU KENNEDY STEWART PAGE 21 PAGE 22 PAGE 22 16 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 BIOTECHNOLOGY & LIFE SCIENCES POLICY BRIEFING

NEWS INNOVATION

Canada, advocates say. capable of relocating to take advantage Andrew Casey, president and CEO of more attractive economic climates, Mr. of BIOTECanada, an industry advocacy Casey said. Biotech advocates group, said Canada needs to continue to of- By refusing to provide enough fi nancial fer robust incentives for fi rms or else they support to allow these companies to scale could be lured to other countries offer- up, he argued Canada would run the risk ing more enticing fi nancial supports. of losing out on reaping the economic ben- call on the feds “There’s a huge economic opportunity efi ts provided by the sector. for Canada,” he said in an interview about “If you’re in Canada and you got a the sector. great idea...and you’re not able to attract “The challenge is that all other nations investors to Canada, then what you’ll do is to strengthen in the world recognize this opportunity as take that idea and move it to wherever the well, so they’re moving very quickly to sup- investors are and from there you will do port their domestic industries.” your development,” he said. Mr. Casey said Canada has a “hugely “Eventually Canada will get that inno- industry incentives innovative population” that is developing vation back here but we’ll have missed out “great science out of our universities, post- on all the economic benefi ts that go with secondary institutions [and] hospitals.” developing and commercializing it in this Advocates press for BY MARCO V IGLIOTTI However, that is no guarantee that the country.” country will reap the economic benefi ts of Mr. Casey said government programs support from Ottawa to The Liberal government must maintain its domestic talent and ideas. play an essential role in jumpstarting help the domestic biotech or strengthen current fi nancial supports Unlike mining or oil and gas extraction, smaller companies and making them at- for biotechnology companies to ensure which are tied to unmovable resources, tractive to investors. industry grow. the industry can continue to prosper in biotechnology companies are mobile and This is especially crucial in the biotechnology fi eld because the process of commercialization can be extremely lengthy, he said, citing as an example the development of new medicines, which must pass rigorous government trials before being available for distribution. According to Mr. Casey, government programs help to stabilize companies during the tumultuous initial phase and pre- pare them to seek out investment in the international market. Specifi cally, he signalled out the popular Scientifi c Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax incentive, calling it “hugely important” for the industry. The long-standing federal program allows eligible companies to deduct research and development expenses from their income tax and also provides them with an investment tax credit. Generally, a Canadian-controlled company can earn the refundable tax credit at the enhanced rate of 35 per cent on qualifi ed research and development expenditures, up to $3 million, according SAFER to information available on the Canada FOOD Revenue Agency website. They can also earn a non-refundable tax credit at a 15 per cent rate for spending above the $3 million threshold. Under a non-refundable credit, the government will not provide a refund that goes beyond the taxes owed. IMPROVED The Trudeau government maintained the tax credit in their inaugural budget un- HARVESTS veiled in March, and have sent no signals NON-INVASIVE they would consider eliminating it. “We’re hoping they [maintain it] for the TESTING foreseeable future if not make it more attractive for some of the smaller companies to do more research and development here in this country,” Mr. Casey said of the SR&ED. However, Elaine Campbell, interim president of Innovative Medicines Canada, an advocacy group for the domestic pharmaceutical industry, said other jurisdic- The world’s biggest promise? tions offer more “favourable treatment” for the type of R&D spending covered by SR&ED. In fact, she told The Hill Times that certain companies working in Canada don’t even apply for the SR&ED, and they Research that unlocks the genome may be the most powerful receive more lucrative tax-based incentives in other countries, such as the United innovation of all. It has already led to better food, healthier forests, States and the Netherlands. and new, affordable medicines. Canada is among the world’s leaders “They don’t even bother with SR&ED; they don’t fi nd it helpful and they don’t today, and every dollar invested by Ottawa draws more private investment, fi nd it attractive on a global level,” she said. meaning more jobs, stronger growth and renewal of our economy. Ms. Campbell said SR&ED hasn’t evolved to refl ect the increasingly dis- persed research environment in the indus- Learn more at genomecanada.ca try, which is now marked by collaborations with post-secondary institutions, and innovation and research clusters, among providers.

Continued on page 17 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 17 BIOTECHNOLOGY & LIFE SCIENCES POLICY BRIEFING

NEWS INNOVATION

members of BIOTECanada credited IRAP Elaine Campbell, left, Continued from page 16 and SR&ED for being integral to their interim president of growth. Innovative Medicines She said that the broad-based tax credit, In fact, all of the fi rms that are hiring Canada, says the long- which has been in place for 30 years, may people and becoming commercially viable serving Scientifi c Research not serve as an effective incentive for the have “accessed those two programs,” he and Experimental industry, hinting at the need for more fo- said. Development tax credit cused policy instruments. “Many will say that the SR&ED and the offers such negligible “We don’t think SR&ED is measuring IRAP were the two most important factors benefi ts for certain things in the 21st century it needs to mea- in their success,” Mr. Casey said, adding pharmaceutical companies sure, or encourages that kind of behaviours that maintaining the programs repre- they don’t even bothering or collaborations that our industry is more sents a “huge priority” for BIOTECanada. reporting in Canada to interested in making now in Canada and Mr. Casey also commended the Liberals ascertain it. However, across the world,” she said. for refusing to put in place a tax on stock Andrew Casey, president Ms. Campbell called on the government options in the most recent budget. of BIOTECanada, called it to examine what can be done to ensure Offering stock options, which are tax- ‘hugely important’ for the Canada’s competitiveness in the race to free, allow smaller fi rms to compete for biotechnology industry. attract and maintain those companies and attract top talent, he said, crediting the Photographs courtesy of throughout the research and commercial- government for considering feedback from Innovative Medicines Canada and ization process. BIOTECanada and other stakeholders BIOTECanada Start-ups and technologies have been about the negative consequences of such a developed in Canada, but later shifted to policy choice. more lucrative jurisdictions for the value- [email protected] added process, she explained. The Hill Times “We’ll make molecules and small start- ups and we’ll send out into the world and then we buy back the drug in the future,” Ms. Campbell said, adding that Canada needs to be more competitive in terms of tax regimes and intellectual property regimes, among other areas. The Liberal government has embarked on an “extensive engagement process” to develop “actionable initiatives and Can saliva from a shrew policies” to foster an entrepreneurial and creative society; support global science excellence; build world-leading clusters help improve healthcare? of innovation; grow companies and accelerate clean growth; compete in a digital world; and make it easier for companies to do business in Canada, according to Stéfanie Power, a spokesperson for In- novation, Science and Economic Devel- opment Canada. The government has identifi ed 10 so- called innovation leaders to lead round-table discussions with more 400 key stakeholders in various cities across the country over the summer. An interactive website has also been launched to solicit feedback from Cana- dians, and has received more than 80,000 hits and more than one thousand ideas so far, said Ms. Power. In terms of funding, the Liberals have earmarked hundreds of millions to spur economic growth and encourage research and development in Canada, including $200 million annually over the next three years on its new Innova- tion Agenda to expand support for incu- bators and accelerators, and the national network for business innovation and cluster support, Ms. Power said in an emailed statement. The government, she said, also plans on investing an additional $100 million Only one way to find out: annually over that span into the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP), helmed by the National Research Council, which “has a proven track record of help- Biotech the heck out of it. ing small- and medium-sized businesses to innovate and become world leaders.” Mr. Casey offered strong praise for IRAP, which provides innovation assis- Can spit from a shrew help treat cancer? Yes. tance to small and medium-sized Canadian companies, describing it as “really helpful” This is one great example of a biotech solution. From stem cell to the companies that have received sup- treatments to vaccines preventing illness, from manufacturing port. IRAP supports fi rm at all stages of the bioplastics to growing a sustainable food supply, Canada’s biotech innovation process to build “their innova- industry is changing the world. tion capacity and successfully take their ideas to market,” while also helping them identify and understand technology issues and opportunities, according to the Na- More solutions at biotech.ca tional Research Council website. It also provides “linkages” to the best business and research and develop- Canadian biotech. The science of amazing. ment expertise available in Canada, the SEP. 23rd - OCT. 2nd #GBW2016 website says. Mr. Casey said many of the smaller 18 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 BIOTECHNOLOGY & LIFE SCIENCES POLICY BRIEFING

NEWS AGRICULTURE

Conservative agriculture critic Chris Warkentin says Agriculture MPs set to tackle Minister Lawrence MacAulay’s instructions GMOs this fall to the House Agriculture issue of genetically modifi ed animals in the Committee were The House Ag Committee upcoming fall sitting of Parliament, though inappropriate, will try to squeeze in a study it’s still unclear when and how they’ll do it. and call into The House will almost certainly con- question the on GM animals despite a front some of the issues around genetically minister’s faith cross-Canada tour tied to its modifi ed foods before the year’s end one in the federal way or another, with Liberals on the Ag departments look at the next agricultural Committee under pressure from cabinet responsible for policy framework, says the and a private member’s bill on GM label- evaluating the ling set to go up for debate. safety of food. committee chair. How far that discussion goes will be The Hill Times BY PETER MAZEREEUW up to the Liberals, who control the House photograph by Jake and the Ag Committee agenda. That com- Wright embers of the House Agriculture mittee will have to rejig its agenda for the MCommittee are planning to tackle the upcoming sitting after Agriculture Minis- ter Lawrence MacAulay (Cardigan, P.E.I.) requested that it study issues around GM animal products. Mr. MacAulay made that request in May as interest groups voiced concern over the approval of the fi rst GM animal for consumption in Canada, a type of salmon. He gave the committee until the end of the year to produce its report. The Ag Committee had been set to start working on a study of the next agricultural policy framework in the new sitting of Parliament, which starts Sept. 19, also on request from Mr. MacAulay and with an end-of-February deadline, said committee chair and Liberal MP Pat Finnigan (Miramichi-Grand Lake, N.B.). The agricultural policy framework is a set of subsidies, risk management programs, and other tools to help farmers that is refreshed every fi ve years. The current framework, titled Growing Forward 2, expires in 2018. The NDP and Conservative members of the committee had pushed to study other issues such as imports of diafi l- tered milk and mislabelled broiler chick- ens, or grain-transport issues. Conservative agriculture critic Chris Warkentin (Grande Prairie-Mackenzie, Alta.), a committee member, also took issue with the minister’s moves to dictate the work of a supposedly independent committee. THE NORTH The committee will likely have to run both studies at the same time in order to n this important and move to improve surveillance meet those deadlines, said Mr. Finnigan, es- PUBLICATION DATE: timely policy briefing on of the Arctic; we dig into pecially since it is planning to hit the road October 24, 2016 for a cross-Canada tour in early fall as part ICanada’s North, The Hill Canada’s plans to include of the agricultural policy framework study. Times takes a deep look the North Pole when it However, there appears to be confl icting BOOKING DEADLINE: at how climate change is submits its Arctic continental views among the opposition committee mem- transforming the Arctic and shelf claim in 2018; we find bers as to what exactly the committee will study October 19, 2016 when it comes to GM animals, and whether that what it all means; we look out why Canada performs will include a look at GM labelling. into Irving Shipbuilding worst of North American “Everything is on the table,” said Mr. Inc.’s $2-million funding governments in not living up Finnigan. commitment with the to promises to protect their GM regulation under the microscope Nunavut Arctic College; oceans; and we look into the In a letter sent to the Ag Committee in May, we find out the latest on Supreme Court’s hearing of Mr. MacAulay requested that it “examine the legal and regulatory framework around geneti- Transport Canada’s initiative an appeal against seismic cally modifi ed animals and their increasing to buy pilotless aerial testing in Arctic waters. availability for human consumption.” drones for the North and The letter continued: “We must examine the federal government’s whether Canadian standards, regulations, BE A PART OF IT. and law, have evolved to keep up with devel- opments in the fi eld of genetically modifi ed animals. As Parliamentarians, it is important that we take the time to fi nd practices that refl ect this new science.” It also said that GM Communicate with those most responsible for Canada’s plant crops “support an innovative, safe, and public policy decisions. sustainable agricultural sector.” Mr. MacAulay further expanded on For more information or to reserve your government relations and this direction in the House of Commons public affairs advertising space, contact The Hill Times display in June. When asked whether he would advertising department at 613-688-8825. support an NDP private member’s bill that Continued on page 19 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 19 BIOTECHNOLOGY & LIFE SCIENCES POLICY BRIEFING

NEWS AGRICULTURE

Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay has asked the House Agriculture Committee to complete a NDP MP Pierre-Luc Dusseault hopes to be able to debate his private member’s bill on GM labelling report on GM food by the end of the year. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright as early as November. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

Continued from page 18 yet taken a position on the issue. Mr. Casey said BIOTECanada has not the federal lobbyist registry with Health Minis- Mr. Dusseault spent part of his summer lobbied the government specifi cally on the ter Jane Philpott and Maxime Dea, director of knocking on doors in his riding, asking labelling issue, though GM foods in general policy in Mr. MacAulay’s offi ce, in July. would require mandatory labelling of GM constituents for their views on GM label- did come up during meetings over the summer. [email protected] food, Mr. MacAulay responded that he had ling, he said, adding many expressed sup- BIOTECanada reported communications in @PJMazereeuw asked the committee to “explore what steps port for his bill. should be taken to best inform the public C-291 proposes that any genetically about new products involving genetically modifi ed foods sold in Canada bear a label modifi ed animals.” identifying their status as GM foods. The The United States is already further into bill, which went through fi rst reading in the debate on GM labelling. The state of June, is similar to a string of others intro- Vermont passed a law requiring the label- duced by former NDP MP Alex Atamanen- ling of GM foods that came into effect in ko during the last parliament, and other July, and the U.S. Senate passed a bill that NDP and Bloc Québécois sponsors dating month to require GM labelling across the back to 1999. country—though some Democrats criti- “I think Canadians have a right to know cized the bill as too weak. what’s in their food,” said Ms. Brosseau, Mr. Warkentin said he believed Mr. Ma- who took part in Mr. Dusseault’s press cAulay’s request had “nothing to do” with conference launching C-291 near the end GM labelling and everything to do with the of the last session. government’s approval process. Private members’ bills are rarely passed, The new GM salmon was approved by but Mr. Dusseault is hoping that his could be both Health Canada and the Canadian an exception. He deliberately structured the Food Inspection Agency. Mr. Warkentin bill so as to leave as many of the details as said Mr. MacAulay’s request calls into possible up to the government’s discretion, question whether the minister has faith in including the design of the labels and when the the ability of those departments to assess new rules would come into effect, he said. food safety. “At least the answer was not a clear The minister’s offi ce did not immedi- ‘no,’” he said of Mr. MacAulay’s response in ately respond when asked for a response to the House in June. that allegation. Ms. Brosseau said the NDP isn’t against NDP agriculture critic Ruth Ellen the sale of GM food, but rather is respond- Brosseau (Berthier-Maskinongé, Que.), a ing to a demand by members of the public vice-chair of the committee, has a stake to know what what they are eating. She in exploring labelling requirements for pointed out that food products already list GM foods. She supported the launch of a food ingredients, and whether artifi cial private member’s bill calling for labelling fl avours or preservatives are used. of GM products, C-291, by NDP colleague For the biotechnology industry, howev- Pierre-Luc Dusseault (Sherbrooke, Que.) Go organic. er, extra labelling is something that should towards the end of last sitting. be mandated only for potentially danger- Apart from the salmon, all GM food ous products, such as tobacco or peanuts, Knowing where our food comes from – and how its grown products approved for sale now are plants, said Andrew Casey, president and CEO of and so would likely fall outside of the BIOTECanada. – matters to Canadians. The Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) is scope of the committee’s study. However, “We’re not against labelling, we’re a proud partner of Organic Week, helping to raise awareness and educate Canadians on Mr. Finnigan said labelling could come up against compulsory labelling,” he said, in the study, among other issues, and main- drawing his own comparison to voluntary the benefits of organics and the Organic Products Regulations. tained that as chair he would try to remain labelling practices for organic foods. neutral throughout the process. Mandatory labelling could be expen- sive for food producers, who would have Celebrate Organic Week To label or not to label to track and separate GM from non-GM C-291, the GM labelling bill, will likely food at each stage of production, he said, September 17 to 25 be debated in November or December, said echoing arguments made by Canadian Mr. Dusseault. agriculture lobbyists who opposed the That could put the government in the Country of Origin Labelling regime in the awkward position of having to participate United States—with support from all major Visit chfa.ca to learn more. #OrganicWeek in a debate on GM labelling without having federal parties. 20 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 BIOTECHNOLOGY & LIFE SCIENCES POLICY BRIEFING

NEWS INNOVATION

Innovation Minister Navdeep Legal status of Bains helps to oversee intellectual property patented genes management for the federal government. in Canada The Hill Times photograph by remains unclear, Jake Wright though recent settlement should defuse sioner to utilize patented products genes, it provides an alternative that the law in Canada could be and services without consulting way to make sure they just don’t settled as it has been in some the holder of the license if it is have a negative impact on the other jurisdictions.” tension, say for “public non-commercial use,” provision of healthcare in Canada She worried, though, that if the which supporters argue would and research that’s related to it,” courts ruled against the legality of include providers in Canada’s Mr. Gold said in an interview, de- the patents it could spawn a host of public healthcare system. scribing it as a uniquely Canadian thorny legal issues, such as a chal- experts Provincial governments would resolution based on compromise. lenge about whether it violates apply on behalf of the hospitals “Before the case, before the investment and trade obligations. they operate. settlement, there was just a big Mr. Gold said that the deal rep- However, no one has used this question mark on the whole ques- resented a “win-win” for CHEO The CHEO case Alongside Sana Halwani, a legal avenue in the 27 years it has tion of whether genes could be and Transgenomic because it lawyer at Gilbert’s LLP, he repre- been in place, according to Mr. patented. This provides a mecha- allowed the hospital to avoid pay- could clear the sented CHEO as pro bono counsel Lipkus. nism, if the government takes ing thousands of dollars in fees in the case. As a result, the provinces are hold of it, to solve it.” to use the patented genes, while way for Canadian In 2014, CHEO sued Transge- unfamiliar with this process, when Bita Amani, who teaches law allowing Transgenomic to avoid hospitals to work nomic, which holds patents on it would be successful and what to at Queen’s University, called an uncertain litigation process fi ve of the genes underpinning include in a potential submission to the settlement a “good reme- that could have resulted in the with patented the condition and the diagnostic the commissioner, he said. dial cure” for the specifi c issues cancellation of their patents. genes without test for Long QT syndrome. The “I don’t think there’s a capac- highlighted in the CHEO case, In addition, patent-holding com- hospital argued that human genes ity at the provincial level to work though acknowledged that it left panies probably aren’t focused on permission from the should not be subject to patents, on these issues,” he argued. unanswered the bigger question the public healthcare market, but patent holder, say bringing to the Canadian courts a Mr. Lipkus, though, noted that regarding the patentability of on protecting their patents from thorny and complex legal question the legal team drafting the CHEO genes and DNA. uncompensated use by private sec- intellectual property that has already prompted fi erce settlement purposefully designed If anything, she said the settle- tor rivals, according to Mr. Gold. litigation in several countries. it to “fi t within that provision of ment might “wrongly reinforce” In the wake of the deal, he said lawyers. Courts in the U.S. and Australia the Patent Act” in hopes that it public perception about the valid- there has been “greater levels of have banned patents on genetic could be developed as a “pathway” ity of patented genetic material, engagement” from policymakers information, though no such prohi- to make it easier for governments arguing that some might believe if with the issue of gene patents, BY MARCO V IGLIOTTI bition currently exists in Canada, in similar situations. these patents were not legally though it understandably remains reports the Canadian Press. “It should form a practical permissible than a settlement unresolved, with the case only landmark settlement reached CHEO and Transgenomic precedent, a pathway for similar wouldn’t have been necessary. concluding roughly six months Aearlier this year over diag- eventually reached a settlement situations. That’s what we’ve been “That’s a problem in my view,” earlier—a short span in terms of nostic testing is being lauded as allowing all public-sector Cana- doing, mapping out what that she said in an emailed statement. policy reform. a potential solution to the ethical dian hospitals and labs to use its looks like,” he said of the impact “I would have liked to have [email protected] and legal quagmire presented Long QT syndrome test on a not- of the settlement, explaining that seen the test case proceed so The Hill Times by genes patented by private for-profi t basis. it’s not the “kind of thing” that is companies. As a result, hospitals and labs completed the next day. Work is currently underway in Canada will no longer need to Work on the policy front is to help develop a framework send blood samples to licensed currently being undertaken by INDUSTRY STATISTICS for provincial governments, on private labs in the United States Paceomics, a group of researchers behalf of their publicly-operated for testing, meaning patients will in economics, law, health technol- BIOTECHNOLOGY BY THE NUMBERS hospitals, to appeal for legal get their results faster and start ogy assessment, and ethics from use of patented genetic mate- treatment more quickly, CHEO the University of Alberta and Mc- rial without permission from the said in a release following the Gill University, said Mr. Lipkus. patent holder, said Nathaniel Lip- settlement. Richard Gold, a legal scholar $4.2 billion in revenue kus, a Toronto-based intellectual Hospitals will also save con- and law professor at McGill In 2005, when the most recent available data were produced, Statistics Canada estimated property lawyer at Osler, Hoskin siderable money, with it being University and theme leader at Canada’s biotech sector generated this much in revenue. & Harcourt LLP. about 50 per cent cheaper to per- Paceomics, told The Hill Times that The guidelines, he said, would form these tests in the Canadian the CHEO settlement effectively 13,000 employed follow the spirit of an out-of-court public sector, according to CHEO. neutralized the issue for health- Statistics Canada in 2005 estimated this many people were employed by the industry, 8,391 agreement reached between the However, the settlement care providers in Canada, despite of whom were employed in private- and public-sector biotech research and development. Children’s Hospital of Eastern doesn’t address whether patent- failing to provide any clarity on the Ontario and American bio-medical ing genes is legal in Canada. broader legal question. $40 billion in economic activity fi rm Transgenomic Inc. regarding Nevertheless, Mr. Lipkus The precedent set by the pact The Centre for the Study of Living Standards estimated that Canada’s biotechnology sector diagnostic testing for a potentially said he hopes the case serves as lessens the importance of deter- generates this much in economy activity. fatal inherited heart condition, precedent for how governments mining an answer to the thorny known as Long QT syndrome. can handle similar predicaments, ethical question, as it permits usage “We had an enthusiastic arguing the underlying core of of the patented genes by all public 208 fi rms response from government agen- the agreement has basis in exist- healthcare operators, he said. A 2009 Statistics Canada report said the country’s bioproducts industry, which produces cies to the settlement. They were ing patent law. “It really is out of the box products such as biofuels, biopolymers, and chemicals, consists of this many fi rms employing interested in it, and interested in Canada’s Patent Act al- thinking; rather than trying to 3,020 people. It generated an estimated $1.3 billion in revenues. how it would effect what they’re lows governments to apply for a resolve the technical question doing,” Mr. Lipkus said. license from the patent commis- of whether patent law applies to Sources: BioteCANADA, Statistics Canada THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 21 BIOTECHNOLOGY & LIFE SCIENCES POLICY BRIEFING

OPINION INNOVATION Advancements in biotechnology and life sciences sector provide robust beneﬁ ts for Canada

Navdeep Bains, Navdeep Bains, minister minister of innovation, of innovation, science and science and economic development, says economic development, advancements in the says Liberals seek biotechnology and life sciences sector lead to establish ‘optimal to a ‘better quality of conditions’ to foster life’ for Canadians and contribute to job creation innovation, support and economic growth. investment, trade, and economic growth.

NAVDEEP BAINS

s minister of innovation, science and national Convention in San Francisco. My government to help get our made-in-Cana- strengths in these sectors and others to Aeconomic development, my top prior- conversations with top global leaders in da health technologies to market. help build, in partnership with all Canadi- ity is the development and implementation the life sciences sector brought home to me As the minister of innovation, science ans, an even more innovative, healthy and of an inclusive innovation agenda that the importance of our government’s focus and economic development, I am extreme- prosperous society. positions Canada as a global centre for on innovation as a driver of prosperity and ly proud of how vigorous the life sciences Navdeep Bains is federal minister innovation. In so doing the agenda will cre- growth. The economies that succeed in and biotech sectors are all across Canada. of innovation, science, and economic ate well-paying jobs for the middle class, today’s globally competitive environment The development of our inclusive inno- development drive growth across industries and improve will be those that understand and imple- vation agenda will leverage our current The Hill Times the quality of life of all Canadians. ment an innovation strategy for sustain- Since I launched the development of able prosperity. this agenda in June, we’ve embarked on Our inclusive innovation agenda will be an extensive engagement process to hear the foundation of our future competitive- from businesses of all sizes, academia, ness and prosperity. It will be our vehicle different levels of government, indigenous to strengthen industrial capabilities, grow peoples, social and environmental groups, new globally-competitive companies and the non-profi t sector, and individual Cana- generate quality jobs for all Canadians. dians. These conversations are at the heart By way of down payment in support of of a collaborative approach to building the this goal, budget 2016 provided support to frameworks for Canada’s future prosperity. health research, genomics, regenerative Our aim in this process is to put into medicine, brain research and drug develop- place the optimal conditions to foster inno- ment. We also committed $800 million in vation, support investment, trade, and grow support of innovation networks and clus- the economy. ters. More generally, the budget also makes Our world-class biotechnology and life a huge investment to upgrade and enhance sciences sectors will be key players in this the places where science happens in this effort. Their role in Canada’s economy and country. This funding, over $2-billion, will society cannot be overstated: not only does be shared by universities and colleges progress in health research lead to a better across Canada. We are now in the process quality of life for Canadians and contrib- announcing recipients. ute to job creation and economic growth, Looking to the future, Canada is well it also maintains Canada’s position as a positioned for new investments in stem world leader in the fi eld. cell research and regenerative medicine, As the member of Parliament for Mis- oncology, neurology, clinical trials, health sissauga–Malton, I have witnessed fi rst- innovation and other areas. The potential hand the contribution of the life science upside of success in these areas is enor- industries in my community. Over 25,000 mous. World-leading clusters that draw on local residents are employed at over 400 the expertise of industry, entrepreneurs, life sciences and biotech companies. investors, research centres and hospitals, Nationally, it is clear that we have unique academia and health systems can help strengths in health research: Canada ac- drive innovation in these areas. counts for between four and six percent of Through our engagement on the in- global clinical trials and our pipeline of drug clusive innovation agenda, we have heard Pensez bio candidates under development ranks third in loud and clear that for life-science compa- the world, behind only the U.S. and UK. nies, partnerships are essential for success Les Canadiens veulent connaître la provenance, ainsi que le mode Furthermore, we have a strong footprint given the complexities of research, the de culture, des aliments qu’ils consomment. L’Association canadienne des of pharmaceutical research and develop- long product-development cycles and the ment as well as manufacturing facilities, lengthy regulatory process to getting prod- aliments de santé (CHFA) est une fière partenaire de la Semaine Bio, contribuant à informer a track record of attracting international ucts approved for the market. It is clear les Canadiens et à les sensibiliser aux bienfaits des produits biologiques et à l’existence du investment into Canadian biotech fi rms that the public and private sectors need to Règlement sur les produits biologiques. and research institutions, not to mention come together for success. a healthcare system that has both strong This partnership approach extends to national and regional components. how we facilitate the development and Célébrez la Semaine Bio Frankly, the numbers speak for them- growth of Canadian companies, in life Du 17 au 25 septembre selves. Since 2010, over $1-billion worth sciences and other sectors. This includes Voice of the Natural Health Industry of investments has been announced in consideration of what the Government La voix de l’industrie de la santé naturelle Canadian life science manufacturing sites, can do to stimulate further venture capital creating more than 2,100 jobs. funding, particularly in the fi nancing of In June, I had the privilege of leading late-stage commercialization, and how we Pour en savoir plus, consultez le chfa.ca #OrganicWeek Canada’s delegation to the 2016 BIO Inter- might harness the purchasing power of 22 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 BIOTECHNOLOGY & LIFE SCIENCES POLICY BRIEFING

OPINION INNOVATION Investing in science drives innovation

a result, I proposed a plan to main- Support for life sciences re- Pictured, Science We need to tain and, where needed, restore search is a priority, with emphasis Minister Kirsty accelerate to ensure Canada’s leadership position in in areas of vaccine develop- Duncan and fundamental research in targeted ment, brain research and disease Innovation Minister Canada maintains a areas (including biotechnology), elimination. The biotechnology Navdeep Bains. leadership position to maintain the effective applied sector is receiving huge empha- Conservative research granting council funding sis under the “Cleantech” banner. science critic in biotechnology that leverages industry and aca- Increased federal support for Marilyn Gladu says and life sciences. demic institution collaborations, Bioindustrial Innovation Canada even more needs to and to increase focus on innovation was announced in July of this be done to support and accelerate commercialization. year, with additional funding for scientifi c research This direction was agreed on by post-secondary institutions across in Canada. The Hill the minister of science, and was Canada in this area. An empha- Times photograph by refl ected in the budget. sis on genomics and agri-food Jake Wright Examples of the drive to in- refl ects the desire of Canadians novation include: to help feed the world. As this MARILYN GLADU Dr. Maryam Sadeghi, who area is rapidly expanding, there created MoleScope, a smartphone will be increasing pressure on the app that can detect skin cancer federal government to ensure that Improving the access to venture the world. To be competitive and cience policy in Canada and a breakthrough technol- genetically modifi ed food sources capital is critical in this area, and continue to have companies doing Sshould create an environment ogy that will revolutionize how are safe, and to continue to lead Canada should leverage the com- research here and commercializ- that encourages Canadians to healthcare is delivered in remote research in this area. mon funding model from Israel to ing within Canada, we need to be lead in research, to drive innova- communities while establishing However, there remains more enhance our start-up capability. able to do both. And so, these are tion, and should result in eco- new benchmarks for cancer pre- to do. The amount of research Government does have a role to exciting times for the biotechnol- nomic growth and jobs through screening. being done in Canada by many play in ensuring venture capital ogy and life sciences portfolios effective commercialization. Gary Kobinger (now the Direc- multi-national companies has is available at a risk level above in Canada. Policy is headed in As the critic for science for the tor of the Centre for Research in fallen, and so there is a need to what the private sector will sup- the right direction and we need offi cial opposition, the approach Infectious Diseases at Laval Uni- increase the incentives for com- port, in order to increase eco- to accelerate to ensure Canada taken this parliamentary session versity) whose team of experts at panies to conduct their research nomic growth from our Canadian maintains a leadership position in was a fresh perspective; to col- the National Microbiology Labo- (fundamental and applied) here innovations. this growing opportunity. laborate with the minister of sci- ratory in Winnipeg discovered a in Canada. Increasing the SR&ED Within the pharmaceuti- Marilyn Gladu, a professional ence to develop a science strategy vaccine to treat Ebola after the tax credit or broadening the defi - cal industry, in addition to the chemical engineer for 32 years that could be supported on both deadly 2015 outbreak in Africa. nition of qualifying work would challenges already discussed, prior to entering politics, is the sides of the House of Commons, These incredible researchers have be benefi cial. companies also need the gov- fi rst-ever female engineer elected and then to hold the government accomplished work that will ulti- In addition, the increasing ernmental approval process to to Parliament, and serves in the to account. mately save millions of lives. diffi culty of protecting intellec- be agile. The current approval science critic role for the offi cial At the National Science Policy Bio-Amber, a corn-to-bio- tual property on the global stage process in Canada has a better opposition. You can reach her Conference in November 2015, sci- succinic acid facility that has built makes it even more important to record in terms of the protection with your thoughts and ideas at entists and leading researchers and a commercial facility in Canada be able to quickly commercialize of the public, but is not quite as [email protected] organizations gave their input. As and is set to build a second one. innovations. streamlined as in other areas of The Hill Times

OPINION R&D

and development effort per capita is amongst the top fi ve countries Investing in Innovation: Getting in the world.” At the NDP’s 2013 policy convention, party members made science and technology a focus, to three per cent of GDP and debated a resolution calling for Canada to match the percentage of GDP invested in R&D by talented researchers, and innova- and are now woefully behind the Navdeep Bains stated that: “Clear global leading countries. It went Boosting Canada’s tive companies, many Canadians OECD average of 2.38 per cent outcomes and targets will be on to be passed unanimously. research investments would be surprised to learn just and leading countries like Korea used to measure progress toward Make no mistake: Getting to how far behind we are interna- (4.29 per cent), Israel (4.11 per the vision of positioning Canada three per cent won’t be easy. will require tionally when it comes to our cent), and Japan (3.59 per cent). as a global leader in promoting Boosting Canada’s research unprecedented support for research. After nine years of Conserva- research, accelerating business investments will require unprec- A key measure used by econo- tive government, this is hardly to growth, and propelling entrepre- edented collaboration across dif- collaboration across mists in comparing investments be expected. As part of their War neurs from the commercialization ferent levels of government and different levels of across countries is gross domestic on Science, the Conservatives and start-up stages to interna- from all sectors of the economy— expenditures on research and de- slashed over $1 billion in real terms tional success.” higher education, private, and government and velopment—known as “GERD”— from the federal science and tech- While this rhetoric is welcome, not-for-profi t. And we’ll have to as a percentage of GDP. GERD nology budget over the course of let’s hope the Liberals match their rethink and retool existing gov- from all sectors of the measures total public and private their majority mandate, according words with real action. ernment programs and incentives economy. investments in research and, to fi gures from Statistics Canada. Other countries have set fi rm for innovation. when divided by GDP, gives us an Although Budget 2016 was targets to drive investments in re- Most importantly, new leg- estimate of the strength of a coun- a step in the right direction, and search and development. Shortly islation will be needed to drive try’s knowledge economy. included important investments for after being elected, President action, track our progress, and Report after report has found the granting councils, post-second- Barack Obama set an ambitious ensure accountability. When that Canada continues to lag on this ary institutions, and life sciences goal for the U.S. to increase its Parliament returns this month, important measure. The latest data research, we have a long way to research spending to three per and the government puts forward from Canada’s Science, Technology go to rebuild Canada’s reputation cent of GDP. The European Union their agenda for the fall session, KENNEDY STEWART and Innovation Council confi rmed as a knowledge leader. And of the has since followed suit and is now we’ll see just how serious the Lib- that our global competitiveness promises the Liberals made in aiming to hit three per cent by the erals are about building Canada’s continues to fall: “Canada’s GERD the budget, however, many of the year 2020. knowledge economy. n a global knowledge economy, intensity declined from 1.96 per cent details remain to be seen. In fact, the idea for a national Kennedy Stewart, PhD, is the ICanada’s competitiveness de- in 2006 to 1.62 percent in 2013, and The government spent the R&D target in Canada is hardly Member of Parliament for Burnaby pends more than ever on increas- its global ranking fell from 16th to summer consulting on their new new. Following the 2001 Speech South, B.C., the NDP science critic, ing our capacity for research and 24th out of 41 countries.” and fl ashy “Innovation Agenda.” from the Throne, Jean Chrétien and an associate professor on-leave innovation. Despite having some Since then, we’ve dropped When they launched this process, announced his government would from Simon Fraser University. of the best universities, most even further to 1.61 per cent, the offi ce of Innovation Minister aim to “ensure that our research The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES DIPLOMATIC NEWCOMER

very year, hundreds of foreign We’ll provide helpful resources to PUBLICATION DATE: diplomats and their family make it easier for them to make September 14, 2016 Emembers arrive in Canada to the most of life in Canada for spend the next few years on posting. themselves and their families, and BOOKING DEADLINE: They join the close to 8,000 diplomats to understand Canada’s Parliament September 9, 2016 and accompanying family members and government as well as media, stationed in Canada, chieﬂ y in the lobbying, and business worlds. This national capital region. is a must-read for new envoys to Inside this important and timely Canada to understand and reach special section of The Hill Times, out to political, business, and media we’ll give new diplomats to Ottawa movers and shakers in Ottawa. practical tips on how to do their jobs effectively, including sources of information and inﬂ uence. ONLY IN THE HILL TIMES.

Communicate with those most responsible for Canada’s public policy decisions. For more information or to reserve your government relations and public affairs advertising space, contact The Hill Times display advertising department at 613-688-8825. 24 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 OPINION HISTORY Trudeau walks in his father’s footsteps in China

ang (Yangtze) River to attack the A look back at National Party’s troops and liber- Pierre Trudeau’s ate the southern part of China. So he had to stop his visit there, but opening of he was determined to return. diplomatic ties with Canada and China completed their fi rst wheat trade in 1961. The the Asian giant. year prior, Pierre Trudeau had managed to enter China again and continue with his tour. In 1965, Pierre Trudeau jumped into politics, and two years later he was justice minister. In the late 1960s, Western allies were striving to get rid of the MICHAEL MINGYU TAO United States’ control, providing a good external environment for the Canadian government to ad- n Aug. 30, Prime Minister just its policies towards Asia and OJustin Trudeau arrived in Bei- recognize the People’s Republic jing, China. In a speech, Trudeau of China. At that time, Canada said that China should strengthen had already become the ninth trade with Canada. Yes, stimulat- largest trading partner of China, ing and developing Canada’s and China was the biggest buyer economy by strengthening trade of Canadian wheat. with China, a country with nearly Trudeau grasped the oppor- a quarter of the world’s popula- tunity to present a sharp critique tion and the world’s biggest mar- towards former Liberal prime ket, is one of the most important minister Lester Pearson’s out-of- purposes of this visit to China. date policy towards China on be- “In my very fi rst trip to China, half of the Liberal Party’s Young I was just a young boy and I was Turks. They emphasized how Prime Minister Justin Trudeau smiles alongside Chinese Ambassador Luo Zhaohui as he’s presented with a photo of travelling with my father when important it was for the Canadian his dad, prime minister Pierre Trudeau, meeting with Chinese leader Mao Zedong, at a ceremony marking 45 years of he was prime minister. And that’s government to recognize China. China-Canada diplomatic relations on Jan. 27. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia why it is so important to me that Pierre Trudeau was soon elected on this fi rst trip to China as prime Liberal leader and prime minister minister I bring my daughter Ella- of Canada. Grace,” Trudeau told the crowd. Zhou Enlai responded to This speech evokes memory of Right conditions for an opening Trudeau with a smile: “We shall Trudeau’s father who proactively All these phenomena together not say that Nixon visited China established diplomatic relations with internal and external condi- earlier than you because this is with the People’s Republic of tions allowed Trudeau to open already the third time for you to China for Canada: former prime the door to recognize China. visit China, Mr. Prime Minister.” minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. So he instructed the Canadian It has been almost 46 years Embassy in Sweden to fi nd a way History proved Trudeau right since Pierre Trudeau set up of- to contact the Chinese Embassy Pierre Trudeau did not just fi cial diplomatic relations with there and pass a message to the follow existing opinions towards China. That was a diffi cult and Chinese government that Canada China. Instead, he drew an daring move indeed, with fi erce was ready to start negotiating objective and realistic conclusion political opposition from various toward establishing diplomatic about the country based on groups and countries, especially ties. When Chairman Mao and what he saw and experienced the United States. Premier Zhou Enlai received this there. After he realized how Meanwhile in China, when message in China, they decided to benefi cial it would be for Canada Canada and China’s representa- send some representatives to start to establish diplomatic relations tives negotiated the details for negotiating. with the People’s Republic of establishing diplomatic relations On October 13, 1970, Secre- China, he bravely eliminated between the two countries, it was tary of State for External Affairs all obstructions and followed at the height of China’s Cultural Mitchell Sharp in a statement through with forethought and Revolution and the Red Guard in the House of Commons an- courage. street battles. There was strong nounced the establishment of History has proven that he opposition to the establishment diplomatic relations between was right. Diplomatic ties have of diplomatic relations between Canada and the People’s Republic benefi ted both countries’ peoples China and Western countries dur- of China. tremendously. For example, ing that period. Canada was one of the fi rst they ensured sales of Cana- This could make you wonder Western countries to offi cially dian wheat to the China were why Pierre Trudeau took the recognize China during its Cul- strong, educational and culture Chinese Premier Li Keqiang walks with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as Mr. groundbreaking step to initiate tural Revolution. The benefi cial exchanges were enhanced, and Trudeau holds his daughter, Ella-Grace, while in Beijing, China on Aug. 31. diplomatic relations with the relationship between Canada the two countries agreed on a PMO photograph by Adam Scotti People’s Republic of China and and China continued to develop reunifi cation-of-families program how he succeeded. throughout the 1970s, with that allowed Chinese residents to Canada voting for the People’s immigrate to Canada, reuniting Backpacking discovery Republic of China to take a seat relatives who had been separated not only infl uenced his gen- ship and the openness towards After fi nishing studies toward at the United Nations in 1971 because of the Cold War. eration but also the next. This is China that my father taught me, his Ph.D in London, 29-year- and an offi cial visit by Trudeau in Over the last decade, the refl ected through his son, Prime I am certainly hoping to pass on old Pierre Trudeau backpacked 1973. Canada-China commercial rela- Minister Justin Trudeau, who not only to my children, but to through Eastern Europe and the During that visit, Chinese tionship has grown substantially; said “Any economic strategy that generations of Canadians in the Middle and Far East including Premier Zhou Enlai told Trudeau China is now Canada’s second- ignores China or that treats that future.” China—turbulent places in the that U.S. President Richard Nixon largest trading partner, while valuable relationship as anything A graduate of and former post-war world. stayed in the same building when Canada is China’s 13th-largest less that critically important is teaching assistant with McMas- When the People’s Republic of he visited Beijing the year before. trading partner. The rapid growth not just short-sighted, it’s irre- ter University, Michael Mingyu China was about to be founded, Trudeau replied: “I was one in bilateral merchandise trade sponsible. Ta o has an interest in history, he arrived in Shanghai, China. step ahead of Nixon to recognize was even sustained throughout “We know that a stronger and economics, and politics and is During that period of civil war, the People’s Republic of China, the recent global economic crisis. deeper relationship with China familiar with Chinese culture and People’s Liberation Army troops but Nixon was one step ahead of Pierre Trudeau’s unique diplo- is essential if we are to achieve history. were about to cross the Changji- me to visit Beijing.” matic style and strategic thinking our own objectives...The friend- The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 25 DIPLOMATIC CIRCLES INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT DM Peter Boehm earns colleagues’ respect as mentor, mental health advocate

Mr. Boehm in front of Leading the a Neil Young poster hanging in his ofﬁ ce government’s foreign at Global Affairs last aid portfolio, the new week. The Hill Times DM has worked his photograph by Chelsea Nash way up his department over 30 years in the public service.

Continued from page 1 union Professional Association of Foreign Service Offi cers, and a friend and colleague to Mr. Boehm. He has a large presence. A tall man, he stands out in any crowd, but he also has the sometimes-intimidating aura of someone whose approval needs to be earned. “Profes- sional, curious, well-read, well-travelled, and deliberative in his judgments,” is how Mr. Robertson described him in an email. He has a dry sense of humour, and is quite soft-spoken, though he doesn’t hold back while answering questions. Mr. Hodges, who worked directly under Mr. Boehm at Canada’s embassy in Wash- ington, D.C., and regards him as a mentor, said as much. Mr. Boehm was minister in charge of political and public affairs there from 2001 to 2004. “He’s a tough brief, in the sense that he will leaders’ summits. Along the way, he’s earned Former colleague read what you send him, and he will digest the Public Service of Canada Outstand- and union boss Tim it, and you had better be up to speed when ing Achievement Award and the Canadian Hodges, pictured, you get back to have a discussion about what Foreign Service Offi cer Award for his help says Mr. Boehm is a you’ve written,” he said. A demanding boss, but toward achieving peace in Central America. demanding boss, but in in a good way, said Mr. Hodges, because he “It’s fair to say he’s a very results-ori- a good way, because he doesn’t simply ask for the best, but demon- ented person, and he wants to deliver. He’s doesn’t simply ask for strates it. Above all else, he is a leader, he said. focused always on: what’s this going to the best, but demon- “He’s been my mentor, whether he knew deliver? How are we going to execute this? strates it. The Hill Times it or not, for many years. I think he’s been I think that’s a very good combination, to photograph by Sam Garcia a mentor for many other people...He not be open at the front end and focused at the only cares about people, but he cares about back end,” said Ms. Stein. people moving up through the system. That is usually voluntary; it’s not required Aid program review wrapping up for the job. It usually is after-hours, or fi nd Interestingly enough, “open at the front time at lunch time to have a sandwich with end and focused at the back end” seems someone and talk about a problem,” he said, to mirror the format of the international speaking of the extra effort that Mr. Boehm development review the department is in has given the department over the years. the process of wrapping up. Public submis- The DM has been with the department sions on the future of Canada’s foreign aid since he fi rst joined as a foreign service of- program stopped being accepted at the end fi cer more than 30 years ago. He is the only of July, and Mr. Boehm said they are in a deputy minister in the department to bring period of “internal assessment, and trying fi rst-hand experience within the foreign ser- to see what are the policy thrusts we are vice—18 years worth, in fact—to the position. going to suggest to the minister.” Born in Kitchener, Ont., he grew up It was the fi rst review of its kind the de- speaking German and English, and received partment has done, he said. Both in terms a bachelor of arts in English and history of the technology used to conduct the “There is an exponential need for hu- probably the greatest challenge of my from Wilfrid Laurier University in the region review—the department had a portal on manitarian assistance. The needs are high, life,” he said. “I’ve been pushing it and I’ve in 1977, according to biographies of him by its website to accept input—as well as the but we also have traditional development. blogged about it internally in terms of my his alma mater and his department. format of the review itself: the department There’s a squeeze there in terms of how own experience. And if I can talk about it, His time at Carleton University’s Nor- accepted thousands of submissions from we use the budget, the dollars, to greatest and write about it, then why can’t others?” man Paterson School of International “really anyone in the world.” effect. That also suggests looking at new He is the father of three other children Affairs, where he earned his master of Mr. Boehm said “a number of trends are and creative ways of programming and ad- as well, ranging in age from 12 to 33. They arts in 1978, fi rst sparked his interest in the already emerging,” including a focus on dressing these challenges,” he said. are all over the globe, from Vancouver to foreign service. He applied then, but never women and girls, and their rights and em- Budapest, doing “different things.” None heard back. So instead, he went to the powerment. Education and climate change Mental health advocate want to follow directly in his footsteps, he University of Edinburgh on a scholarship, are also important themes, he said. Mr. Boehm also has a reputation for said, though they all seem to have caught where he completed his PhD in history. At “It’s a very exciting moment because advocating for mental health initiatives, his interest in international affairs. the time, teaching seemed to be the natural there’s never been a consultation that has and has made great strides within the de- “My 12-year-old, I have a plan for her,” course of action for him, however, he been undertaken in this way in our history,” partment to provide a support structure for he said with a coy smile. “Prime minister.” wasn’t having much luck with his applica- he said, “in terms of really trying to get the foreign service offi cers. The 62-year-old was reluctant to admit tions. He decided to try the foreign service most input from as many actors as we can, Ms. Stein said mental health “was an im- his age, saying he doesn’t think like he’s again. This time, he heard back. and trying to come out with a policy that portant issue for him long before it became 62. That’s what his 12-year-old daughter Next thing he knew, he was on his fi rst is very 21st century, that is very forward- an important issue for many people...He tells him, anyways. And, having only been posting in Havana, Cuba. He hopped after leaning, and can serve as an example for does it in a very quiet, but very persistent, in his current position since November that to places including Germany as am- other countries.” way—which again, refl ects who he is.” 2015, Mr. Boehm said retirement is not on bassador from 2008 to 2012, and San José, He said in his capacity as G7 sherpa— Mr. Boehm attributes his determination to his horizon anytime soon. Costa Rica. He’s also been ambassador and representative of the prime minister to the advance mental health initiatives and to reduce “Oh I’m not gone yet,” he said. “I’d like permanent representative to the Organiza- G7 summit—he has also been consulting stigma to his own experience. One of Mr. to stay involved in international issues. I tion of American States from 1997 to 2001, with his counterparts from other countries Boehm’s sons, who was born abroad, is autistic. think I have contributions to make.” and from 2005 to 2008, he was the senior for the development review, and talking to “Just travelling with him, and making [email protected] offi cial responsible for the North American them about their challenges and successes. sure he gets the supports he needs was @chels_nash 26 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 FEATURE BUZZ

ON HEARD THE HILL BY KRISTEN SHANE Jeneroux gets hitched

The researchers themselves were not Also on Tuesday, CTV announced vet- immune to using the database to look up eran news anchor Kevin Newman would naughty language of parliaments past. One taken the helm of the network’s investiga- of the lead researchers, Chris Cochrane, tive show W5 starting Oct. 1. He succeeds an associate professor of political science, Lloyd Robertson, who took over as host in said he searched “fuddle duddle,” the term 2011 after leaving his national news anchor former prime minister Pierre Trudeau job. Mr. Newman has been a correspondent used when pressed by reporters about op- with the show for four years, and had a position MPs’ allegations he mouthed the previous hosting gig with Global National. words “fuck off” to them in the House of On the Hill, David Akin is back with Commons in 1971. The National Post as a senior political Aside from the fun, though, the data- reporter. He tweeted a statement from the base can be used for serious—and fasci- Post’s executive producer of news, Jordan nating—political research, explained Ms. Timm, on Sept. 1 noting that he “was a Whyte, like analysis of whether Question member of the Post’s Day One staff, and Period is getting more or less vitriolic, or has been reporting on federal and provin- whether a particular MP normally stays cial politics for more than a decade.” on-topic in debate, or to measure the level Mr. Akin was most recently the Ot- of positive or negative emotion in debate. tawa bureau chief for Sun Media, which is The researchers’ next steps are to digi- now owned by the Post’s parent company, tize the French parliamentary records as Postmedia. well as Senate debates and House records Mr. Akin has been around the report- from prior to 1901. Problems with charac- ing block, writing for everyone from CTV ter recognition and the clarity of the early to Canwest/Global News and the Orillia records and the French text led them to Packet. start with the English House debates from Over at the Ottawa Citizen newsroom, Insider’s Guide 1901 onwards. they’ve welcomed two new reporters, including Susana Mas, formerly a senior online writer with the CBC. Tory MP gets married Her last day at the CBC was Aug. 19 to the fall session and she joined the Citizen on Aug. 29, according to her Twitter account. nd Ms. Mas had been at the CBC for nearly 42 six years, she tweeted Aug. 15. of the Many Hill and CBC colleagues gave her shoutouts before she left, including Kathleen Petty, John Paul Tasker, David parliament Cochrane, and others. Joining Ms. Mas and the rest of the Citizen crew is reporter Joe Lofaro, who previously worked for Metro Ottawa. He Publication Date: Advertising Deadline: was there for almost three years. Also leaving the Metro Ottawa ship is Sept. 19, 2016 Sept. 14, 2016 Photograph courtesy of Twitter Lucy Scholey, a senior reporter who is off to be the paper’s managing editor in Win- Edmonton Riverbend MP Matt Jener- nipeg. When the House returns on Sept. 19 The Hill Times will be ready oux is now married to Elizabeth Clem- The free local daily’s managing editor is with our Insider’s Guide to the fall session of the 42nd Parliament. ent. Friend and fellow Conservative MP Steve Rennie, a former Hill reporter for the Michael Cooper, the MP for St. Albert-Ed- Canadian Press. Building on the success of our popular 2015 Rookie’s Guide, this monton, tweeted his congratulations and a [email protected] photo of the two getting hitched on Sept. 4. @kristenshane1 standalone wrap will offer a comprehensive look at the activist Mr. Jeneroux was fi rst elected last October. He serves as his party’s Western legislative agenda, the top political players, and insider views on Economic Diversifi cation critic. the House, the Senate, and cabinet. Ms. Clement has been studying to be a doctor. With an in-depth look at the top issues facing the new session, the Insider’s Guide will be a keepsake feature for those with an interest Media on the move in the 42nd Parliament. The Hill has been busy lately with job shuffl es. While long- Be a part of it. time CBC anchor Peter Mansbridge’s departure from The National after Communicate with those most responsible for July 1 of next year was the most high Canada’s public policy decisions. profi le of the recent moves, it tops a sizeable list. For more information or to reserve your government relations Mr. Mansbridge and public affairs advertising space, contact The Hill Times announced his retire- display advertising department at 613-688-8825. Longtime Hill reporter ment from the CBC’s David Akin is now fl agship nightly a senior political newscast next sum- reporter with The mer after 28 years as National Post. The Hill chief correspondent Times photograph by and fi ve decades in Jake Wright the news business. Susana Mas. Photograph courtesy of Twitter THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 27 POLITICAL STAFFERS

HILL CLIMBERS BY LAURA RYCKEWAERT Science Minister Duncan’s chief of staff joins Veterans Minister Hehr’s ofﬁ ce

Rob Rosenfeld is ment, Chris Ethier, is now also acting as chief of staff to the min- now director of ister until a permanent replace- ment is found. Before the Liberals communications and formed government in the fall of 2015 and Ms. Duncan was sworn issues management to in as a minister, Mr. Ethier was Kent Hehr. her assistant as the Liberal MP for Etobicoke North, Ont. Also currently working in Ms. Science Minister Kirsty Duncan, left, has bid farewell to her chief of staff, Rob Rosenfeld, right. The Hill Times photographs Duncan’s offi ce are: John Bur- by Sam Garcia and Jake Wright cience Minister Kirsty Dun- nett, director of policy; Michael Scan has bid farewell to her Bhardwaj, director of communi- Liberal party in 2011, a role she fi le. During her undergrad, she Peterson was elected as an MP chief of staff, Rob Rosenfeld, cations; Véronique Perron, press later returned to in 2014. interned at both Deloitte Canada for the fi rst time in October 2015 who left the minister’s offi ce the secretary; Stephanie Muccilli, During the 2013 Montreal in Vancouver, B.C. and at the Van- with roughly 45 per cent sup- week before last to join Veterans policy adviser; Diana Mendes, mayoral race, in which now-Heri- couver Economic Commission, port, beating out Conservative Affairs and Associate Defence special assistant for parliamen- tage minister Mélanie Joly ran as and is a former co-op student incumbent Lois Brown who he Minister Kent Hehr’s political tary affairs; and Donna Popo- a candidate, Ms. Cadieux was a with Tides Canada, among other had previously unsuccessfully staff team as the new director vic, assistant to the minister’s communications and organization past experience. run against as the riding’s Liberal of communications and issues parliamentary secretary, Liberal co-ordinator for mayoral candi- Rachel Bendayan is chief of candidate in the 2011 election. management. MP Terry Beech. date Marcel Côté’s campaign, staff to Ms. Chagger as small busi- Now an MP, Mr. Peterson is a Mr. Rosenfeld made the switch Coalition Montréal. ness and tourism minister. Also member of the House of Commons to Mr. Hehr’s ministerial offi ce Former Liberal MP Denis working in the now fully-staffed International Trade Committee, as at the end of August, replacing Chagger down a Coderre was ultimately elected offi ce are: Daniel Arsenault, direc- well as a member of its steering former retired lieutenant-colo- press secretary but mayor, and a number of former tor of parliamentary affairs; John committee, meaning Ms. Buttle nel Norbert Cyr in the role, who campaign staffers involved in the Matheson, director of policy; James already has some knowledge of once served as a public affairs up two new staff race have since moved to Ot- Fitz-Morris, director of communi- the trade fi le under her belt. adviser to former chief of the de- tawa to work on the Hill for the cations; Yanique Williams, policy Before being hired by Mr. fence staff Walter Natynczyk. Mr. Small Business and Tourism new federal Liberal government, adviser; and Farees Nathoo, special Peterson last February, she was a Rosenfeld had been hired as chief Minister Bardish Chagger, who including Ms. Cadieux. assistant. consultant with National Public of staff to the science minister last month also took on the role She’s also previously briefl y Now also the government Relations in Ottawa, as indicated at the beginning of the year, and of government House leader, worked as a project manager for House leader, Ms. Chagger by her LinkedIn account, and is before that was director of public marking the fi rst time a woman public relations fi rm Octane Stra- inherited Fisheries and Oceans also a former research associate affairs to the U15 Group of Cana- has held the job, recently lost her tégies, and spent four months as Minister Dominic LeBlanc’s staff with Environics Research Group. dian Research Universities. press secretary, but last week a public relations consultant with team, led by chief of staff Vin- In other Hill experience, for Mr. Rosenfeld is also a former welcomed two new staffers to her LaSalle International Academy cent MacNeil, and so far at least just over half a year starting in consultant for StrategyCorp Inc. ministerial team. Istanbul in Turkey in 2013, ac- there’s no indication of any staff September 2013, Ms. Buttle was and is a former aide to then-Lib- Former MAtv host Vahid cording to her online profi le. Ms. changes following this shuffl e. an assistant to Ontario Liberal eral MPs Keith Martin and Irwin Vidah is no longer press secre- Cadieux has a bachelor’s degree Senator Art Eggleton. Liberals Cotler on the Hill. tary and senior policy adviser to in politics from the Université de Another new in the Senate are no longer part Christine Tabbert is chief of Ms. Chagger as the minister for Montréal and a graduate diploma of the Liberal party caucus, and staff to Mr. Hehr, who is also the small business and tourism and in public relations and communi- assistant joins haven’t been since the beginning Liberal MP for Calgary Cen- returned to Montreal, Que. last cations management from McGill of 2014. They now refer to them- tre, Alta. Other political staff- month, after joining the minister’s University. Freeland’s offi ce selves as independent Liberals. ers working for the minister offi ce in April. Leah Hanvey also joined Ms. Ms. Buttle has briefl y been a include: Jeff Valois, director of A new press secretary has yet Chagger’s small business and International Trade Minis- crisis management intern with parliamentary affairs; Paul Mc- to be named, but it’s expected one tourism staff team last week, as ter Chrystia Freeland—who was Gowlings in Ottawa, which is a Carthy, director of policy; Sarah will soon be promoted to the job an adviser for the Northern and in China last week alongside the Canadian and international law McMaster, press secretary; Al- from within existing staff, which Western region. PM, Finance Minister Bill Mor- fi rm, according to her online pro- exander Slusar, policy ana- grew by two as of Aug. 29. She was previously legisla- neau, and Foreign Affairs Minis- fi le, and is a former youth justice lyst; Sarah Nasser, junior policy Marie-Emmanuelle tive assistant to Liberal MP Pam ter Stéphane Dion—has another assistant with the John Howard offi cer; Daniel Bourque, special Cadieux has moved to Ottawa Goldsmith-Jones, who represents new assistant in her ministerial Society of Hamilton, Burlington, assistant; Annabelle St-Pierre from Quebec to serve as an ad- West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast- offi ce, following the recent ad- and area. The John Howard So- Archambault, special assistant; viser for Quebec and the Atlantic Sea to Sky Country, B.C. and is dition of André Capaldi, special ciety is “committed to providing and Katherine Heus, legislative region in Ms. Chagger’s offi ce as also parliamentary secretary to assistant for Ontario regional effective services that assist in assistant. small business and tourism minis- Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane affairs. reducing crime and its causes,” as There’s also Ben Charland, ter, starting last week. Dion. During the 2015 election, Megan Buttle is now serving described on its website. executive assistant to the min- Before joining Ms. Chagger’s Ms. Hanvey helped with media as a special assistant to the minis- She studied a bachelor’s ister; Emilie Simard, executive team, Ms. Cadieux was press and communications efforts for ter’s parliamentary secretary, Da- degree in political science with a assistant to the chief of staff; Ali- secretary to Quebec’s Liberal the federal Liberals in B.C. vid Lametti, who represents the specialization in law and politics sha Adat-Nurani, assistant to the tourism minister, Julie Boulet, Last year, she completed a Montréal-area riding of LaSalle- at the University of Windsor and chief of staff; and Peter Cul- who is also the minister respon- bachelor of commerce in interna- Émard-Verdun, Que. is a graduate of Carleton Uni- len, assistant to the minister’s sible for the province’s Mauricie tional business at the University She joined the minister’s versity’s political management parliamentary secretary, Liberal region. Her LinkedIn profi le of Victoria, having already studied exempt staff team on Aug. 22, master’s program. MP Karen McCrimmon. indicates she’s worked with the international relations and af- and was previously working on Brian Clow is chief of staff to With this change, Ms. Dun- Quebec Liberals for a number of fairs at the University of British the Hill as an executive assistant Ms. Freeland. can’s director of parliamen- years, fi rst as a communications Columbia for roughly two years, to Liberal MP Kyle Peterson, the [email protected] tary affairs and issues manage- co-ordinator for the provincial according to her LinkedIn pro- MP for Newmarket-Aurora. Mr. The Hill Times 28 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 HILL TIMES CLASSIFIED INFORMATION AND ADVERTISEMENT PLACEMENT: TEL. 613-232-5952, FAX 613-232-9055

0010 RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE 0030 CONDOS FOR RENT 0211 ARTICLES FOR SALE QUALICUM $990,000 STEEL BUILDING SALE FOR RENT: “MADNESS SALE-CRAZY PRICES ON Queen Elizabeth Towers, 500 Laurier NOW!” 20X19 $5,645 25X27 $6,424 W, 20th floor. Beautiful, spacious, 28x29 $7,558 32X33 $10,297 renovated 2-BR 2-BTH condo. Walk to 42X47 $15,590. One End wall Parliament Hill, 2 balconies with fabu- included. Pioneer Steel 1-800-668-5422 lous views. Hardwood floors. Central www.pioneersteel.ca AC. W/D, F, S, DW, Indoor parking. Amenities: indoor pool, sauna, fitness room, party room, guest suites. Available 0410 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS now. $1,790 + util. Call 514-487- WANTED: OLD TUBE AUDIO All brick 5 bedroom on a picturesque 8353 or 514-865-6006 or email: nijad. [email protected] EQUIPMENT & private 90’ x 164’ lot backing on 40 years or older. Amplifiers, Stereo, Graham Creek. This large family home Recording and Theatre Sound Equipment. has been meticulously maintained with 0032 TOWNHOUSE FOR RENT Hammond organs, any condition. Call many updates! A unique urban setting Toll-Free 1-800-947-0393 / 519-853- @ www.31Chinook.com MLS 1023761 LUXURY TOWNHOUSE, ALMOST NEW, 2157. Jeff Greenberg, Sales Representative 1800 SQF +, 10 MINUTES FROM Royal LePage 613-725-1171 DOWNTOWN OTTAWA AND NEXT TO GATINEAU PARC 0850 FINANCIAL SERVICES 0020 CONDOS FOR SALE $$ CONSOLIDATE YOUR DEBT $$ HOME EQUITY LOANS FOR ANY $244,900 - 1 BEDROOM CONDO IN PURPOSE!! BYWARD MARKET Bank turn downs, Tax or Mortgage arrears, Self Employed, Bad Credit, Bankruptcy. Creative Mortgage Specialists! No proof of income 1st, 2nd, and 3rd’s Up to 85% LARGER AMOUNTS AND COMMERCIAL FUNDS Large garage, two bedrooms, loft, AVAILABLE!! Decrease monthly pay- 2.5 bathrooms, finished basement, 5 ments up to 75%!! Based on 3% APR. Appliances + TV included + central air. OAC 1-888-307-7799 ONTARIO-WIDE Address: 34 Bourrasque, Plateau area FINANCIAL 1801347inc FSCO Licence (Aylmer). Contact : Antoine Baker : #12456 www.ontario-widefinancial.com Bright open concept Condo in the !! LET US HELP !! heart of the market. Hardwood & 819.431.1001 Link : http://www. ceramic floors. Spectacular view of the kijiji.ca/v-house-rental/gatineau/wow- Do you have a DISABILITY? Gatineau’s from 7th floor balcony. In unique-propriete-luxueuse-unique-a-louer- Physical or mental. We can help you get suite laundry. Condo fee includes heat, faite-vite/1189619366 up to $40,000 back from the Canadian water & C/Air. Contact: Mark Duncan, Government. FOR DETAILS check out Sales Representative Royal LePage 0040 HOUSES FOR RENT our website: disabilitygroupcanada.com Team Realty, Brokerage 613-825-7653 or CALL us today Toll-Free 1-888-875- [email protected] EXQUISITE 4 BEDROOM CHELSEA 4787. FINANCE 268 FIRST AV. PENTHOUSE SUITE 5B HOME LOWER YOUR MONTHLY PAYMENTS $1,050,000. AND CONSOLIDATE YOUR DEBT NOW!!! 1st, 2nd, 3rd MORTGAGES Debt Consolidation Refinancing, Renovations Tax Arrears, No CMHC Fees $50K PUBLICATION DATE: YOU PAY: $208.33 / MONTH (OAC) No Income, Bad Credit Power of Sale Stopped!!! BETTER OPTION MORTGAGE October 19, 2016 FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL TODAY TOLL-FREE: 1-800-282-1169 www.mort- Enchanting landscaped property gageontario.com (Licence # 10969) with mature trees. 4 bedroom multi- Exceptional quality, unique design, REACH MILLIONS OF CUSTOMERS IN BOOKING DEADLINE: impressive space! Award winning level home. Bordering Gatineau Park with access to trails and bike paths. ONTARIO WITH ONE EASY CALL! Heritage condo, open concept, rich Your Classified Ad or Display Ad would hardwood, 2 fireplaces, soaring ceilings, Hardwood and ceramic floors throughout. Only 10 minutes from downtown appear in weekly newspapers each October 14, 2016 huge master suite and spacious loft, stor- week across Ontario in urban, suburban age room and 2 parking spaces. A”must Ottawa. [email protected] 819-360- 5020 and rural areas. For more information see”! MLS# 1020864 Derry and David Call Today 647-350-2558, Email: Cullwick Sales Representatives Royal Exquisite heritage home for rent [email protected] or visit: www. Lepage Performance Realty, Brokerage January 2017. OntarioClassifiedAds.com 613-733-9100 info@derryanddavid. 64 Glebe Ave.Call 613-668-2305 n this timely and important together to put in place higher com www.derryanddavid.com wwwnesbittproperty.com STRICTLY EQUITY LENDING 1st, 2nd mortgages 85% LTV (Loan to brieﬁ ng, we’ll check in contributions to the Canada WALKING DISTANCE TO PARLIAMENT HOUSE FOR RENT IN THE GLEBE Value). Not requiring unsecured debts I HILL AND DOWNTOWN OTTAWA payout. Come in with IDQuick approval AND HULL Principals only CBIC-10234CALL TODAY: on how a working group Pension Plan to help workers 2-bedroom condo, outstanding view, 416-410-8477. low condo fees / costs, pool, gym, Finance Minister Bill Morneau save for retirement. garage and visitor parkings. The 0920 BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY complete description of this prop- established to study the hot And we’ll check in on the erty can be viewed online at duproprio. BREAST CANCER RESEARCH BUSINESS com/710769 or you may call 819-777- OPPORTUNITY housing market is doing, and House Finance Committee’s 2279 for further details. Earn High Cash Income. Rewarding Financially Independent Lifestyle. Ground what policy changes might be consultations with Canadians 0029 PROPERTY RENTALS Furnished 4 bedroom house, close to Floor - Financing Available. Full Details canal, available weekly or monthly from CALL NOW 1-866-668-6629 Website in store. to inform the creation of the RENTINOTTAWA.COM Oct 1st to June 15th. New kitchen, 3 www.vendingforhope.com. bathrooms, laundry, garage. $4,000/ month +utilities 613-715-4383 We’ll take a look at how 2017 budget. 0929 EMPLOYMENT the federal and provincial 0041 APARTMENTS FOR RENT MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION! In-demand career! Employers have governments are working BE PART OF IT. 2 BEDROOM APARTMENT AT 169 work-at-home positions available. LISGAR STREET Get online training you need from Available Immediately for Remainder of an employer-trusted program. Visit: lease to Dec 31, 2016. $1,750/Mth. CareerStep.ca/MT or 1-855-768-3362 Please contact [email protected] or to start training for your work-at-home Ottawa apartments, houses and condos call (867) 445-4659 if interested. career today! for rent. Call Joe 613-612-7368. www. LARGE 2-BEDROOM PLUS DEN, DECK rentinottawa.com ADMIN ASST. Downtown, near river, in 4-plex. Temporary position. Processing Parking/laundry/AC included. $1595. payments,Accounts Payable,check and 0030 CONDOS FOR RENT [email protected] or 613-789- answer emails from clients, Word and 6337 Excel. Send resume to survey.services@ BEAUTIFUL 2 BEDROOM MCLEOD STREET accountant.com or call 208-906-0704 . CONDO (1,030 sq.ft.) FOR Executive apartments. Tastefully deco- rated. All inclusive, long-term, available 1030 PERSONAL RENT, VILLAGE NORMANDIE, now. View apartments at mcleodapart- Communicate with those most responsible 2 DE DEAUVILLE STREET, ments.wordpress.com 613-232-7939 ARE YOU TIRED of the internet, blind dates & people HULL. MONTHLY RENT OF 0211 ARTICLES FOR SALE who aren’t serious about a long for Canada’s public policy decisions. $1,100 INCLUDES UTILITIES, term commitment? MISTY RIVER INTRODUCTIONS can help. Matching FULLY FURNISHED. SAWMILLS from only successful, attractive singles for 22 yrs. Consists of 2 bedrooms, Kitchen and 1 full CALL 613-257-3531, www.mistyriver- For more information or to reserve your government relations bathroom, open concept living room and dining $4,397 - MAKE MONEY intros.com. area accesses large balcony; furnished with all & SAVE MONEY and public affairs advertising space, contact The Hill Times appliances included. For showing appointment with your own bandmill - Cut lumber any and information please contact: Monique at: dimension. In stock ready to ship. FREE Info display advertising department at 613-688-8825. (613) 290-4454 or email: monicroy@icloud. & DVD: http://www.NorwoodSawmill. com. Available September 1st, 2016. com/400OT 1-800-566-6899 Ext:400OT. AVIATION

PUBLICATION DATE: n this timely and important brieﬁ ng, airport rental fees, and lower taxes Iwe’ll offer informative content on: on the aviation sector? October 26, 2016 • Moving people securely: How will • Environmental impacts: Speaking BOOKING DEADLINE: the implementation of new passenger of fees, how are airlines responding to screening and tracking tools such as the idea of a new Canadian carbon October 21, 2016 the Electronic Travel Authorization tax? And what’s the latest on how the affect air travel? Montreal-based International Civil Aviation Organization is grappling with • Economics of air travel: How is reducing greenhouse gas emissions the federal government responding from the aviation sector globally? to pressure on it to lift foreign ownership caps on airlines, help discount carriers take ﬂ ight, scrap BE PART OF IT.

Communicate with those most responsible for Canada’s public policy decisions. For more information or to reserve your government relations and public affairs advertising space, contact The Hill Times display advertising department at 613-688-8825. 30 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 FEATURE DIPLOMATIC PARTIES

PARTY CENTRAL BY CHELSEA NASH

Chilean defence attaché Capt. Fernando Borcoski, left, with Peruvian assistant defence and naval attaché Capt. Marco Antonio Montero Gallegos, Turkish military attaché Col. Ersin Ozkan, Polish Turkey’s Victory Day defence attaché Col. Cezary Kiszkowiak, and Col.-Maj. Walid Zaouali, defence attaché for Tunisia. has new meaning in light of coup attempt

urkish Ambassador Selçuk Ünal wel- the garden. Ergul Ozdemir, fi rst secretary Tcomed guests to his beautiful Rock- at the embassy, told Party Central that the cliffe home on Aug. 30 to celebrate Turkey’s residence was purchased from the New Victory Day. Zealand high commissioner years ago, and Commander Brad Vizard of Australia, with Wing Commander The celebration commemorates the the Turks added to it later. Simon Hulme of the United Kingdom. Turkish victory over Greek forces in the Some of the guests arrived a bit late, Battle of Dumlupinar in 1922, a fi ght in- including the British defence adviser strumental in the Turkish War of Indepen- Brigadier Jonathan David Calder-Smith. dence. “Wicked traffi c,” he remarked to the Having just experienced a coup attempt doorman. It’s a safe bet that when hosting in which a portion of the military tried any event in Ottawa during the summer, to overthrow the Turkish government on construction will delay at least some of your July 15 of this year, the event carried more guests, (Party Central included, in this case). weight than in years past, with multiple Remarks went on without delay, how- comparisons made between the 1922 ever. As the president’s message wrapped battle and the Turkish government’s and up, the crowd responded with polite, if people’s success in stopping the coup this at fi rst awkward, applause. Servers, who July. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, us- must have been waiting around corners, ing FaceTime, asked the Turkish people to immediately descended on the crowd with fl ood the streets to defend the democrati- plates of hors d’oeuvres. Spouses of defence attachés, Anyela Lozano of Colombia, cally elected government. Smoked salmon on toast, olive Kinga Kiszkowiak of Poland, Aida Hamza of Tunisia, Pilar The tone of the tapenade, Turkish Montero of Peru, and Funda Ozkan of Turkey. event was sombre meatballs consisting while the president’s of lamb and beef, and message, one deliv- vine-leaf wraps known ered at all Turkish as sarma were served. embassies around the While there were no Fun and games at annual ASEAN picnic world on that day, was alcoholic beverages, The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia delivered by Hakan there was a variety of Cengiz, counsellor at juices and sparkling the embassy. water to counter the “Aug. 30 is the most salty Mediterranean obvious proof of what food. a nation can venture It being a day to and accomplish to commemorate a mili- save its independence tary battle, the crowd and its dignity when consisted in large part confronted with the of defence attachés. choice: either inde- There were a few pendence or demise,” new faces who were read the president’s mingling with their message, stated by Mr. Col. Ozkan with Brigadier colleagues after only Cengiz. General J.E. Medina Rodriguez, arriving in Ottawa re- “Victory of Aug. 30 military attaché of Venezuela. cently. Korean defence should be a lesson par- attaché Colonel Chang ticularly today for the Bae Yoon, who arrived terrorist organizations and evils targeting the in July, was there mingling with his spouse, unity, welfare, and existence of our country and there was new German defence attaché in these lands...The stance displayed by the Lieutenant Colonel Nico Huelshoff. A few Turkish people during the bloody 15 July defence attachés from the American Em- Thai Ambassador Vijavat Isarabhakdi has a bit of fun in a tug of war. coup attempt is a vivid display of the vitality bassy were present as well, including assis- of the ‘Great Offensive’ spirit.” tant air attaché Captain Matthew Gardner, Since July 15, the Turkish govern- army attaché Colonel Robert Worsham, and ment has labelled the coup as the work of naval attaché Captain James Sigler. what it calls the terrorist organization of Ottawa Senators president Cyril Leeder Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish cleric living in was there with his spouse, Lydia. He said the United States who denies involvement he knew Mr. Unal as a result of the part- in the coup. The Turkish government has nership the Sens has with Turkish Airlines. detained thousands of judges, public ser- Slovenian Ambassador Marjan Cencen Party-goers dig into authentic Asian food at the vants, academics, journalists, and others, was present, and spent some time chat- annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations including two Turkish-Canadians and Tur- ting with Bulgarian Ambassador Nikolay picnic on Aug. 26 at Vincent Massey Park. key’s former ambassador to Canada, Tun- Milkov. cay Babali, many for suspicion of collabo- From Global Affairs, Kevin Rex, director rating with the coup plotters. Turkey has of the Eastern Europe and Eurasia unit, was been widely criticized for its actions after present. According to his LinkedIn, Mr. Rex the coup attempt, including by Canadian just returned to headquarters after a posting Parliamentarians Judy Sgro, a Liberal MP as the counsellor and head of political sec- and chair of the Canada-Turkey Parlia- tion at the Canadian Embassy in Serbia. mentary Friendship Group, and Foreign Journalist and Hill Times columnist Ambassador of Indonesia Teuku Community members cheer on Minister Stéphane Dion. Scott Taylor was also present. Faizasyah, and Dimas Firmantoro participants in the friendly tug of war, Thankfully, the rain held out for the [email protected] evening party, as the event was hosted in @chels_nash of the Indonesian Embassy. at a laughter-fi lled event. THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 31 FEATURE EVENTS

tion and no media reporting. $15-$50. Includes lunch/ Saskatchewan Parliamentary refreshments. Register via cdainstitute.ca. MP Randy China’s Rising Cyber Power: Assessing the Implica- Hoback, centre, Calendar tions—China’s emergence as a major global power is reshaping the cyber domain. The Canadian Internation- is seen at a 2013 al Council’s national capital branch in partnership with Conservative others presents this talk by Nigel Inkster, director of caucus meeting. future confl ict and cyber security at the London-based Conservative International Institute for Strategic Studies. Sept. 13. Parliamentarians 5:30-8 p.m. Sheraton Hotel, Rideau Room, 150 Albert are set to meet in St. $15-$65. Register via thecic.org, ottawa@thecic. Halifax Sept. 13- org or 613-903-4011. UN General Assembly 71st Session Opening—World 14 to plot strategy leaders will fl ock to New York for the opening of the 71st for the upcoming regular session of the United Nations General Assembly sitting. The Hill at the UN headquarters. General debate will begin Tues., Times photograph by Sept. 20. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to Jake Wright attend at one point during the opening activities. Conservative THURSDAY, SEPT. 15 The Leap Manifesto: A Climate Change Debate— caucus Group of 78 presents this debate between Avi Lewis and Thomas Homer-Dixon. They will be debating the Leap Manifesto’s approach to current issues of Cana- retreat starts dian politics and climate change. Sept. 15. 6:30-9 p.m. The Glebe Community Centre, 175 Third Ave., Ot- tawa. $10 ($5 students, unwaged; University of Ottawa Tuesday in faculty and students, free). More info: 613-565-9449, [email protected]. FRIDAY, SEPT. 16 Canadian Urban Transit Association Policy Forum— tainable, and environmentally friendly energy produc- Hear from some of Canada’s top transit experts on the tion and use. It will focus on such topics as unconven- Halifax Parliamentary Press Gallery Barbecue and Unveil- future of Canadian urban mobility. Includes keynote tional gas and LNG, smart grids, and renewable energy, ing—The Parliamentary Press Gallery will hold its annual from MP Pablo Rodriguez, parliamentary secretary to as well as COP21 implementation. The EU ambassador barbecue mugging for full-time members only in the East the minister of infrastructure, and remarks from Ottawa to Canada will deliver the opening/closing remarks. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 7 Block Courtyard on Friday, Sept. 16, at 12 noon. The Mayor Jim Watson. Delta Hotel, 101 Lyon St., Ottawa, Victoria Hall, John G. Diefenbaker Building, 111 Sus- gallery will also unveil the members’ photo portrait to 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Register at cuta.ca. sex Dr., Ottawa. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. To register/more info: Bank of Canada Release—The bank is expected to commemorate the gallery’s 150th anniversary. If it rains, TUESDAY, SEPT. 20 eucanada40.ca/events/canada-energy-conference. make its latest interest rate announcement. 10 a.m. the BBQ will be held in Room 237-C Centre Block. FRIDAY, SEPT. 23 Parliamentary Delegation to Korea, Mongolia—House Carleton University’s School of Journalism 70th Cabinet Meeting—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is Speaker Geoff Regan will lead a parliamentary delegation Anniversary of Granting of Canada’s First Bachelor of expected to hold a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Sept. Canada-India Innovation Conference—The Canada- on a visit to Korea and Mongolia, Sept. 5-10. They will Journalism Degrees—Women in Journalism Luncheon, 20 on the Hill. For more information, call the PMO India Centre for Excellence will be hosting the Canada- meet with their counterparts in Seoul and Ulaanbaatar. featuring CBC’s Susan Ormiston, The Toronto Star’s Press Offi ce at 613-957-5555. India Innovation Conference at Carleton University from Delegation members: deputy government whip Ginette Alyshah Hasham, Complex Media’s Anita Li, and CBC Canadian Urban Transit Association Hill Day— 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The conference will bring together Petitpas Taylor, assistant deputy speaker and deputy chair Ottawa’s Joanne Chianello. Sept. 16, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 Members of the Canadian Urban Transit Association experts from academia, private sector and government of committees of the whole Carol Hughes and opposition p.m. River Building, Carleton University. Tickets are will be meeting with Parliamentarians in Ottawa to to identify policy, technology, and business collabora- critic for infrastructure and communities Dianne L. Watts. $25 per person, includes lunch. discuss the benefi ts of transit investment as well tion opportunities between the two countries, and how Media contact: Heather Bradley, 613-995-7882. Leap to Where? Elements of a Canadian Climate Policy as some of the challenges facing the industry. Any Canadians can build long-term relationships with their THURSDAY, SEPT. 8 That Could Be Both Feasible and Enough: Thomas Homer- Parliamentarians interested in meeting should contact Indian counterparts. For more information, visit http:// Dixon—Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, 7 p.m. (doors open at [email protected]. carleton.ca/india/cu-events/canada-india-innovation- Scandal and the Road to Redemption—How do you 6:30 p.m.), Carleton University, River Building Theatre 2016 Canadian Inland Ports Conference—On Sept. conference. It is free to attend. protect your organization’s reputation before and after (RB2200), 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa. Registra- 20-21, 2016, the Van Horne Institute will be hosting the SATURDAY, SEPT. 24 scandal strikes? Using real-life examples, this session tion: carleton.ca/fpa. For more information, call Cassie 2016 Canadian Inland Ports Conference in Winnipeg, looks at the core elements of reputational protection Hodgins, Carleton University, 613-520-2600 x 2995. Manitoba. This conference will bring together leading Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Visit B.C., from a legal and public relations perspective. This is part Fifth Replenishment Conference of the Global Fund to experts from around the world to discuss inland ports and Yukon—The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are set of Gowling WLG’s Risk to Reward seminar series, 10 Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria—Prime Minister Jus- their importance to their local, provincial, and national for their second offi cial Royal Tour to Canada, Sept. breakfast seminars on critical business and legal issues to tin Trudeau will host this world summit in Montreal. The economies. It will showcase fi ve of Canada’s Inland Ports 24-Oct. 1. They will visit fi ve communities in British be held at the fi rm’s Ottawa offi ce throughout 2016. This conference aims to help raise US$13 billion, for 2017 to located across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and BC; Columbia and two in Yukon. In B.C.: Victoria (Sept. seminar series is suited toward business owners, execu- 2019, to support the fund in fi ghting three of the world’s as well as major Canadian ports, airports, and stake- 24, 27, 29, Oct. 1), Vancouver (Sept. 25), Bella Bella tives, and in-house counsel in eastern Ontario. 7:30-9 most deadly diseases. Canada has pledged $785 million, holders. Early bird registration before Aug. 22: $495. (Sept. 26), Kelowna (Sept. 27), and Haida Gwaii (Sept. a.m. Sept. 8. Gowling WLG, 160 Elgin St., 20th fl oor for 2017 to 2019. Sept. 16. Hyatt Regency Hotel, 1255 Registration after Aug. 22 $600. Please contact Bryndis 30). In Yukon: Whitehorse (Sept. 27, 28) and Carcross (suite 2600), Ottawa. No cost, but registration necessary Rue Jeanne-Mance. All media representatives must regis- Whitson at [email protected] or 403-220-2114 for (Sept. 28). An offi cial welcome to Canada and British as space is limited. gowlingwlg.com/risktoreward. ter online for the conference by Sept. 9. more information. http://www.vanhorneinstitute.com/ Columbia will be held on Sept. 24 in Victoria, includ- UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial: London SATURDAY, SEPT. 17 event/2016-canadian-inland-ports-conference/. ing an honour-guard review and speeches. A public 2016—British Secretary of State for Defence Michael Canada to Co-Host Leaders’ Summit on the Global celebration will be held on Sept. 28 in Whitehorse. Fallon will host this meeting of defence ministers. Canadian Press/CBC Parliament Hill Open—Mont Cascades Refugee Crisis—United States President Barack Obama Lancaster House, London, U.K. Sept. 8. Golf Club, Cantley, Que., (30 minutes from Ottawa). Tee will host this summit on the margins of opening of the TUESDAY, SEPT. 27 SATURDAY, SEPT. 10 times start at 11 a.m.; best-ball format, with prizes for fi rst 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York Senate Resumes Sitting—The Senate is expected place, second place and “most honest” scores, plus closest- City. Sept. 20. Canada is co-hosting this summit with to resume sitting on Sept. 27 at 2 p.m. The Senate Savour Fall at Rideau Hall—Governor General David to-the-pin and long drive prizes for both men and women. the United States, along with Ethiopia, Germany, Jordan, adjourned June 22. Johnston and his wife Sharon will host this event celebrating Sign up as a complete foursome or as a single or pair. Cost: Mexico, Sweden, and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. ICAO Triennial Assembly—The International the harvest season. Taste culinary delights prepared by the $95, includes green fee, power cart, and steak dinner. Email Discussion on Digital Government—The Institute of Civil Aviation Organization, a UN specialized agency Rideau Hall kitchen brigade and leading chefs from across CP Ottawa’s James McCarten (james.mccarten@thecanadi- Public Administration of Canada, National Capital Region, headquartered in Montreal, will host its 39th triennial the region, with the assistance of local culinary students. anpress.com) or the CBC’s Paul MacInnis (paul.macinnis@ presents “Delivering on Digital Government for Canadi- assembly. ICAO’s 191 member states and a large num- Tour the kitchen garden, the private gardens and greenhous- cbc.ca) for more information or to hold your space, or reach ans” from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Rideau Club in Ottawa, ber of international organizations are invited to the as- es, and get gardening tips from National Capital Commission James at 613-231-8602 or 613-794-0848 and Paul at 99 Bank St., 15th fl oor. It will feature the federal govern- sembly, which establishes the organization’s worldwide horticultural experts. Explore the residence’s state rooms and 613-288-6611 or 613-293-3494. ment deputy chief information offi cer Jennifer Dawson policy. ICAO headquarters, 999 Robert-Bourassa Blvd., get tips from the governor general’s hospitality experts on Fifth Replenishment Conference of the Global Fund to and William Eggers, executive director of the Deloitte Montreal. Until Oct. 7. how to receive guests for special occasions. 12:30-4 p.m. Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria—Prime Minister Center for Government Insights. Dress code: suit jackets, Family-friendly. Free. Rain or shine. Non-perishable food Justin Trudeau will host this world summit in Montreal. collared shirts, and ties for men, Free event, but online WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 28 items accepted for the food bank. The leaders’ conference will be held on Sept. 17, registration is required at https://digigov.eventbrite.ca. One Young World Summit—A global forum for MONDAY, SEPT. 12 at the International Civil Aviation Organization, 999 WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 21 young leaders (18 to 30) from over 190 countries, the Robert-Bourassa Blvd. The conference aims to help annual summit allows delegates to network with peers, Toronto Global Forum—The International Economic raise US$13 billion, for 2017 to 2019, to support Liberal Caucus Meeting—The Liberals will meet in share ideas, and develop solutions to address urgent Forum of the Americas presents this annual summit on the fund in fi ghting three of the world’s most deadly Room 237-C Centre Block on Parliament Hill. For more global issues. This year’s speakers include: musician topics including fi nance, innovation, energy, trade and diseases. Canada has pledged $785 million, for 2017 information, please call Liberal Party media relations at Cher on wildlife rights and conservation, BBC foreign infrastructure. Confi rmed speakers include: Interna- to 2019. All media representatives must register online [email protected] or 613-627-2384. correspondent John Simpson, and Academy Award- tional Monetary Fund managing director Christine for the conference by Sept. 9. Conservative Caucus Meeting—The Conservatives will winning producer Jon Landau (Titanic, Avatar). Sept. Lagarde, Finance Minister Bill Morneau, Infrastructure Trudeau to Attend Global Citizen Concert—International meet for their national caucus meeting. For more informa- 28-Oct. 1, Shaw Centre, 55 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa. Minister Amarjeet Sohi, Ontario Premier Kathleen advocacy organization Global Citizen in support of the Global tion, contact Cory Hann, director of communications, Con- David Asper: Freeing David Milgaard the Ugly Way—The Wynne, Canadian Ambassador to the United States Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria is host- servative Party of Canada at [email protected]. University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law launches the 2016- David MacNaughton and his U.S. counterpart Bruce ing Usher, Half Moon Run, Metric, Grimes, and Charlotte NDP Caucus Meeting—The NDP caucus will meet 17 Cavanagh LLP Professionalism Speaker Series with Heyman, Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi, Guinea Cardin for a free-ticketed concert on Sept. 17. Bell Centre, from 9:15 a.m.-11 a.m. in Room 112-N Centre Block, David Asper, chair of the Asper Foundation and former President Alpha Condé, and the CEOs/presidents of 1909 avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal, Montreal. Prime on Wednesday. Please call the NDP Media Centre at counsel to David Milgaard. He will speak about his experi- companies including Suncor, CAE, Monsanto, and Minister Justin Trudeau and Bill Gates, co-founder of the 613-222-2351 or [email protected]. ences representing and advocating for the wrongfully UPS. Until Sept. 14. Fairmont Royal York, 100 Front Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, are set to attend as special Consiglio Di Nino Honours Dinner—The former convicted David Milgaard. This accredited professionalism St. W., Toronto. forum-americas.org/toronto/2016. guests. The event will celebrate progress in global health and senator is to be honoured at this dinner. Albany Club, lecture will take place on Sept. 28. 5:30-7 p.m. Faculty TUESDAY, SEPT. 13 development. Earn the chance to win tickets by following the 91 King Street E., Toronto. albanyclub.ca/events. of Law, Fauteux Hall, Room 302. Free. All welcome. The steps via globalcitizen.org/canada. THURSDAY, SEPT. 22 lecture will be followed by the launch of the new book In Conservative Caucus Retreat—The Conservatives will SUNDAY, SEPT. 18 Search of the Ethical Lawyer: Stories from the Canadian hold a two-day summer caucus retreat Sept. 13-14 in TD Presents The Walrus Talks Arctic—The Walrus Legal Profession edited by professors Adam Dodek and Al- Halifax. For more information, contact Cory Hann, di- Canada Army Run—This event raises money for injured Talks returns to the Canadian Museum of Nature (240 ice Woolley. For more information, please contact Joseph rector of communications, Conservative Party of Canada and ill soldiers and military families in need. It welcomes par- McLeod St., Ottawa) on Sept. 22, at 7 p.m. TD Presents Jamil at [email protected]. at [email protected]. ticipants from across Canada and the world as they run, walk, The Walrus Talks Arctic features leading Canadians The Parliamentary Calendar is a free listing. Send NDP Caucus Retreat—The NDP are gathering Sept. and roll across Ottawa. The half-marathon is 94 per cent sold giving short, focused Walrus Talks exploring the issues in your political, cultural, diplomatic, or governmental 13-15 in Montreal. Please call the NDP Media Centre out, while the 5K is already at 79 per cent sold out. The Com- and opportunities that make the North unique. Featuring event in a paragraph with all the relevant details under at 613-222-2351 or [email protected]. mander’s Challenge, a new addition this year, is sold out. For ITK president Natan Obed, research scientist Jeffery M. the subject line ‘Parliamentary Calendar’ to news@ A Roundtable with ex-PCO Special Adviser Ward more information, including how to register, visit armyrun.ca. Saarela, aboriginal languages and culture advocate Fibbie hilltimes.com by Wednesday at noon before the Monday Elcock—The Conference of Defence Associations In- MONDAY, SEPT. 19 Tatti, and more. $12-$20. Full event details and tickets paper or by Friday at noon for the Wednesday paper. stitute presents a roundtable with former Privy Council available online at thewalrus.ca/events. We can’t guarantee inclusion of every event, but we will Offi ce special adviser on human smuggling and CSIS House Resumes Sitting—The House resumes sit- EU-Canada Energy Conference 2016—This confer- defi nitely do our best. director Ward Elcock. Sept. 13. KPMG, 150 Elgin St., ting on Sept. 19 at 11 a.m. after a 13-week break. The ence offers an opportunity to support the promotion of [email protected] suite 1800, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Not for media attribu- House adjourned June 17. best policies and regulatory practices for effi cient, sus- The Hill Times DEFENCE

PUBLICATION DATE: n this important defence policy Canada’s vulnerability and how Ibriefi ng, The Hill Times looks into the Canada should invest in sensors to September 26, 2016 latest on where the government’s at improve maritime surveillance and on the F-35s and on the Saudi arms work more closely with the U.S. BOOKING DEADLINE: deal. We follow up on the current We also look into DND’s launch of September 21, 2016 defence review and how Defence energy effi ciency upgrades on seven Minister Harjit Sajjan does not want military bases and we followup on to cut military personnel or major Chief of Defence Staff Jonathan infrastructure. We look into how Vance’s comments on how confl ict Eastern European NATO allies have prevention is going to be a key job been pressing Canada to deploy up for Canada’s military and its allies in to 1,000 soldiers into the region and an uncertain world. concerns about Russian aggression. We look further into the outgoing BE A PART OF THIS IMPORTANT head of the Navy’s comments on POLICY BRIEFING.