Robin Shepherd p. 9 Vandal, Follow the Fab Four’s lead Freeland, against Beijing’s bullying Wilkinson see staff Andrew Caddell p. 11 Boosting morale not COVID management more switches worth the catchphrase than constructive Hill Climbers p. 14 human cost Scott Taylor p. 6 THIRTY-SECOND YEAR, NO. 1816 CANADA’S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021 $5.00 News News CPC policy ‘It’s about time we started process tweak lauded as way to push back’: Conservative to hear more ideas, more Alberta MPs support often, from members beleaguered energy war room BY LAURA RYCKEWAERT ew wording added to the Con- Alberta BY ALICE CHEN Nservative Party’s guidance on Premier Jason policy development is being lauded Kenney, espite a string of controver- by party members, who see it as an pictured in sies since its December 2019 avenue to make the party’s policy D Ottawa in launch, Conservative Alberta MPs process more flexible and open to May 2019 say the province’s energy war input from grassroots members. with Energy room is an important support and Minister voice for the energy sector. Continued on page 13 Sonya Savage, The Canadian Energy Centre’s promised an website describes its mandate energy war as being in place “to promote room while Canada as a supplier of choice for campaigning Comment the world’s growing demand for for his seat. responsibly produced energy.” Since its To that end, it’s received mil- inception, Canada’s lions of dollars of funding from it has been the Alberta provincial govern- plagued with ment. While its original annual controversy continuum budget was $30-million, it was cut and criticism. by 90 per cent in March 2020 amid The Hill Times the COVID-19 pandemic, with the photograph by of hate: time tabled 2021 budget for Alberta Andrew Meade noting a continued reduction to to address Continued on page 4 COVID- accelerated Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 Feature on what happens to the landmark bigotry Students set sights on 24 Sussex home is “pretty monumental,” ac- cording to one student. BY LES WHITTINGTON Redesign proposals for 24 rehab, offering ideas for NCC to mull Sussex Drive were presented by TTAWA—How big of a 14 Carleton University architec- Oproblem is hate-motivated BY ALICE CHEN empty in need of major repairs, Though the short-term grades are ture students in the winter term violence in Canada? The fact a group of Carleton University paramount, having the opportuni- of 2020. Designs ranged in theme is, no one knows. Only a small s the prime minister’s official students have weighed in with ty to submit ideas to the body that Aresidence continues to sit ideas to transform the space. will eventually make a decision Continued on page 12 Continued on page 5 2 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021 | THE HILL TIMES Right now, Don Valley East, Ont., is Canadian being represented in the House by Inde- Taxpayers pendent MP Yasmin Ratansi, who left the Federation Liberal caucus last year after coming un- Alberta der scrutiny for a misuse of House funds in director Franco Heard on the Hill light of news that she had hired her sister Terrazzano as a constituency assistant. criticized the Mr. Coteau will stay on as the co-chair government by Alice Chen of the provincial party’s platform develop- for issuing out ment committee. pay raises to A nomination meeting has not currently its MPs during been announced for Don Valley East. a pandemic. Photograph Ford’s critiques courtesy of Mike Lake speaks about his son the Canadian for Autism Awareness Day Taxpayers Inspired by World Autism Awareness Federation of federal vaccine Day, Conservative MP Mike Lake spoke passionately about his own experiences raising his son with autism on March 25. now, so it’s long past time for our MPs to Serving the riding of Edmonton- get off their butts and put an end to their procurement rebutted Wetaskiwin, Alta., Mr. Lake spoke about automatic pay increases.” the 23 years since his son, Jaden, was In the past, in response to the 2008 diagnosed. recession, the federal government stopped automatic pay raises from 2010 to 2013. Last by Minister Anand Conservative year, following a similar outcry, dozens of MP Mike MPs donated the bump in pay to charity. Lake spoke Also coming on April 1 was a federal Public from the carbon tax increase and an increase in the Services and heart about cost of alcohol, noted the federation. Procurement his son with Statistics Canada estimates that 700,000 Minister Anita autism and private-sector jobs were lost over the last Anand, left, the many year. responded things he on CTV to offers to the criticism world. The The Change Conference starts leveled at Hill Times file this week the vaccine photograph The Pearson Centre for Progressive procurement Policy will be hosting its Change Confer- process ence over a three-week period starting by Ontario April 8 and going until April 21. Premier Doug Over this time period, 10 webinars will Ford, right. be held with more than 30 experts across The Hill Times Canada and beyond. photographs by “Jaden often needs help to navigate the Some of the headliners include Natu- Andrew Meade world around him. Let’s face it—we all ral Resources Minister Seamus O’Regan, need help sometimes,” he said in a state- former Bank of Canada governor Stephen ment in the House. Poloz, president of the Professional Insti- However, he emphasized that his son tute of Public Service of Canada Debi Da- n response to a condemnation of vaccine Meanwhile, Liberal MP Iqra Khalid, also has “many things that the world needs viau, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, Iprocurement by Ontario Premier Doug called out the fact that 800,000 doses were right now.” and special representative for the Prairies Ford, Public Services and Procurement still sitting in Ontario’s freezers. He expanded on that note, pointing to Jim Carr. Also appearing is Independent Minister Anita Anand fired back. the need for quiet in the midst of unrelent- Ontario Senator Frances Lankin, President Mr. Ford called the current vaccine Michael Coteau seeks federal ing noise, with his son challenging them to of the Canadian Labour Congress Hassan acquirement efforts “a joke” on March 26, slow down “to wait for his thoughts to find Yussuff, president of the Progressive Policy pointing to federal procurement processes nomination expression in their own time and form.” Institute Will Marshall, Green Party Leader as the root cause of shortages at the mu- Liberal Ontario MPP Michael Coteau He further said that there is a lot to Annamie Paul, and Independent Senator nicipal level. will be seeking the federal Liberal Party’s learn from his son in terms of grace, espe- Julie Miville-Deschene. He further said they lack the reliable nomination in the riding of Don Valley East. cially with regard to the pure and uncon- Some of the topics covered will include and steady supply of masks and vaccines He confirmed this news March 31. He’s ditional love he offers and in the endless energy Policy for economic recovery, Cana- they need, highlighting the Moderna represented the riding provincially for a encouragement he provides, including the dian broadcasting for the future, transport formula delays that week, while noting decade, and said that in making this step, “enthusiastic high-five [he has] for quite policy and economic recovery, and several that the province has the people and the he wants to inspire people. literally anyone.” conversations with leaders. infrastructure to administer more vaccines “The world needs grati- than it currently is. tude and I’m so thankful for Leaders’ debates producers Taking umbrage with these comments, the tens of millions of people Ms. Anand responded on CTV’s Power around the world with au- announced for next election Play. tism, whose unique abilities While the exact date of the next federal “I’m actually surprised by those re- and perspectives will benefit election still remains unclear, the produc- marks because they’re not supported by all of us if we build societies ers of the leaders’ debates for the next race the facts,” she said. that better include them.” were announced on April 1. She pointed to the fact that 9.5 million A partnership of news organizations— vaccine doses were set to have been deliv- the Debate Broadcast Group—will together ered to Canada as of the week of March Canadian Taxpayers produce two debates during the next 30, including the Moderna doses Mr. Ford Federation criticizes federal race, the Leaders’ Debate Commis- referred to, and said the government has sion said. been transparent about delivery sched- MPs for taking a Included in the hosting partnership ules. More importantly, she said in Ontario pay raise amidst a is CBC News, CTV News, Global News, supply currently outpaces the delivery of and APTN News, which will produce and vaccines. pandemic distribute the English-language debate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau chimed The Canadian Taxpayers and Radio-Canada, Noovo, La Presse, in, too, during a March 31 Liberal Party Federation has levelled criti- Le Devoir, L’actualité, and Les Coops de fundraising event, praising Ms. Anand for cized against the automatic l’information which consists of Le Soleil, doing an “incredible job” and saying that annual pay raise for Mem- Le Droit, La Tribune, Le Nouvelliste, and “one of the easiest things to do is to try bers of Parliament, for taking Le Quotidien et La Voix de l’Est, which will and point fingers and deflect,” as reported place during a pandemic and tackle the French-language debate.