Morneau Ideas for and the remorseless a bold nature of Throne politics HOH Freeland meets Speech p.2 Arezoo Susan Riley p. 7 a glass cliff Najibzadeh p. 6 Andrew Cardozo p. 10 Gwynne Dyer p.11 THIRTY-FIRST YEAR, NO. 1756 CANADA’S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020 $5.00 News News News Black Caucus Carney’s informal ‘This is absolutely no way advisory role on still waiting for recovery could government to treat a minister’; some pose ‘unusual’ action on dynamic, but some say it’s a racial justice Liberals decry anti- ‘complementary’ match with BY BEATRICE PAEZ Morneau leak campaign s the end of summer ap- Freeland Aproaches, members of the Black Parliamentary Caucus say BY BEATRICE PAEZ they are still waiting to see how ‘Any cabinet minister will be scared to say something or else it’s going to get the government will act on their leaked…government can’t function like that,’ says a former senior Liberal. hrystia Freeland’s elevation call for racial justice reforms, Cto the plum post of finance released in June after protests minister while Mark Carney is against anti-Black racism swept advising the government on the the world following the killing of pandemic recovery has created African-American George Floyd an “unusual” dynamic in the politi- by a police officer in Minnesota cal centre, says one Liberal MP, on May 25. Continued on page 16 Continued on page 13 News News Crowded field Contact tracing of candidates app faces big expected in problems the coveted safe in urban Liberal riding of environments, York Centre studies show Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 BY ABBAS RANA Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shuffled his cabinet last week after Bill Morneau resigned his position as finance BY AIDAN CHAMANDY minister following a series of media leaks from Liberal insiders who said he was at odds with Mr. Trudeau. Deputy ollowing the unexpected res- Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was appointed as the new finance minister. Dominic LeBlanc has been appointed as pair of research studies from Fignation of Michael Levitt as a the minister of intergovernmental affairs. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade A June suggest there could be Member of Parliament, a crowded serious flaws in the COVID-19 ex- field of candidates is expected to posure notification app promoted seek the Liberal nomination in by Canada’s federal government. BY ABBAS RANA the outgoing finance minister ministers to offer their frank the safe and coveted GTA riding COVID Alert has been out for have “normalized” leaking damag- opinion on public policy issues of York Centre, say potential can- nearly one month and has been ill Morneau deserved a digni- ing information to the media, in the future, say some Liberal didates and political insiders. downloaded by some two million Bfied exit from politics, and the which will have a chilling effect Continued on page 17 alleged government leaks about on the willingness of cabinet Continued on page 15 Continued on page 14 2 MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES received the environmental award include former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, who was named the UN Special Envoy on Climate Action and Finance last December; New Brunswick Liberal Party Heard on the Hill Leader Kevin Vickers, a former RCMP officer and retired diplomat who was once the House of Commons Sergeant at Arms; by Palak Mangat and retired Ottawa Redblacks quarterback and Grey Cup champ Henry Burris. Respected columnist That makes four: Fotheringham dies Satirical columnist Allan Fotheringham, the self-described “pissy-assed little kid from Vancouver” who arrived in Ottawa an unknown and worked his way up to a na- Conservative MP tional columnist, passed away last week at Sharan Kaur, pictured with former finance the age of 87. Remembered for weaving his minister Bill Morneau, says she didn’t ‘plan on cheeky wit into pieces that packed quite saying goodbye so soon.’ Photograph courtesy of the punch, Mr. Fotheringham began as a Sharan Kaur’s Twitter sports writer, which “was more free-wheel- Finley among MPs ing” than political writing, he told The Hill to doing something new & exciting.” She Times in 2011. ended off with some words of wisdom for her fellow colleagues: “politics isn’t every- ruling out possible thing in life. Be kind to each other & practice what you preach & most importantly treat each other with respect.” Former GG gets conservation nod fall election run Former governor general David John- ston and his partner, Sharon Johnston, were recognized as honourary riverkeepers by the Ottawa Riverkeeper charity last month, at an outdoor ceremony near the banks of the Tenagadino Zibi, also known as the Gatineau River. “It’s an honour for us to stand for the stewardship, protection, and celebration of this most treasured resource,” said Mr. Johnston in a video shared to Twit- ter, after elbow bumping Geoff Green, the organization’s chair. The group works to promote, protect, and improve the ecologi- cal health of the Ottawa River, and such positions are mainly symbolic. Beloved columnist Allan Fotheringham, pictured at right, with journalist Peter Newman, died last week at the age of 87. Photograph courtesy of Charles Pachter’s Twitter Speaking after the release of his book, Boy From Nowhere: A Life in Ninety- One Countries, he said then that “I guess Conservative MP Diane Finley, pictured in May 2017 at an event honouring her late husband, that influenced me when I got into political former senator Doug Finley, will not be running in the next election. 'I want the riding association writing. I just thought these guys are just to have time to find a new candidate,' she says of her announcement. The Hill Times file photograph like my old athletic enemies or friends, so I described them the way I described my he rumblings of a possible fall election MP Michael Levitt announced his plans to athletic people, and that is maybe how I got Thave Parliamentarians taking stock leave his York Centre post. Both GTA rid- the humour into the situation.” of their long term future on the Hill these ings are considered historically safe Lib- The Saskatchewan-born, B.C.-educated, days, with Hillites learning in recent weeks eral seats. Conservative MP Bruce Stanton and nationally-revered writer graced the of three names that will not appear on the announced in June that he would not be back pages of Maclean’s magazine for ballot when Canadians next hit the polls. running for re-election in Simcoe North. 27 years, taking aim at, and often, get- Former governor general David Johnston Conservative MP Diane Finley, 62, an- ting under the skin of, the likes of Pierre and his partner Sharon Johnston earned a nounced in an Aug.18 Facebook post that Trudeau, Jean Chrétien, and Brian Mul- conservation award last month. Photograph she will not seek reelection. Morneau staffer bids adieu roney. Mr. Fotheringham’s wife, Anne, told “Every person, at some point, takes At least one of Mr. Morneau’s staffer courtesy of Michael McSweeney’s Twitter The Canadian Press that a cause of death stock and decides it’s time to hit the reset will be taking some time off before pursu- had not been officially determined, but he button,” said Ms. Finley, as noted by the ing a new endeavour. Sharan Kaur, who The pair was presented with a hand- was not generally in the best of health. His Simcoe Reformer. “There are sabres rat- served as director of operations for the crafted paddle from Echo Paddles in birthday was on Aug. 31, “but we knew he tling about a fall election. I want the riding outgoing MP and minister, posted a mid- Wakefield, Que. “Just as the river gives to wouldn’t make it. So I staged a birthday association to have time to find a new night thread on Twitter Aug.17, just hours us, so too must we give back. Living in party for him yesterday. We got balloons candidate.” after Mr. Morneau announced he would be harmony and in the splendour of nature, is and decorated the room and put up a big The 16-year veteran MP, who has served leaving his post and pursuing a position a duty we all must fulfill,” said Mr. John- sign,” she said. He “understood the power of under Stephen Harper, Rona Ambrose, and with the Organisation for Economic Co- ston. “I grew up on the St. Marys River, and the pen. But he was, in real life, the kindest Andrew Scheer, has held various cabi- operation and Development. when I was a child, it’s where we learned man. And caring.” net posts throughout her tenure. In 2006, “I never planned on saying goodbye so how to canoe and boat, but you didn’t go in Columnist Aaron Wherry, who has cov- she announced she has Graves’ disease, a soon but all great things must come to an the river because it was so polluted,” added ered Parliament since 2007 for Maclean’s, thyroid condition that makes one sensitive end,” wrote Ms. Kaur, describing her team’s Ms. Johnston. “However, when our chil- The Globe and Mail, and The National to light, and she was often seen around the work as “nothing less than herculean” dur- dren would go to St. Sault Marie, and they Post, tweeted that Mr. Fotheringham’s “col- Hill sporting black sunglasses and a cane ing the pandemic. were in the St. Marys River, they learned umn on the back page of Maclean’s was in hand. Ms. Finley has held the riding Among the notable accomplishments, she to waterski, so that’s what the riverkeeper my real introduction to political writing.