Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 I Feds’ tree-planting program faces hurdles, with many questions left unanswered, say experts News committees Chamber, in the masks mandatory example’ andmake colleagues to ‘lead by Senator presses ‘It’s not about us’: News THIRTY-SECOND YEAR, NO.1787 don’t applytoSenators, said and committeerooms, therules ees working intheChamber required forallSenate employ- masks orfacecoverings is not at risk.” satisfied that healthandsafetyis Senate Speaker GeorgeFurey “is That shouldbeineffectuntil vening inadebate orproceeding. a mask “at alltimes” unlessinter or committeerooms shouldwear says allSenators intheChamber example.” “And tome, that’s leadingby of dignityandrespect,” shesaid. regions tobehave withadegree in ourcommunitiesandfrom our isolation inthe Yukon ended. 4, aday beforehertwo weeks of Sen. Duncaninaninterview Dec. ger pointingorlaying blame,” said ter tomy colleagueswithoutfin- best methodofdrawing themat- situation andadopted thisasthe for Senators. no rulesgoverning thesespaces ter upfordebate sincethereare unless speaking, puttingthemat- the Chamberormeetingrooms to wearing amaskat alltimesin to “lead by example” andcommit BYSAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN T BY AIDANCHAMANDY Whittington racism high cost of lawsuit the servant Black public For more onCanada’s potentially green future, see the Natural Resources policy briefing can iscallingonhercolleagues ndependent Senator Pat Dun- While wearing non-medical Her motion, presentedDec. 1, “We’re calleduponasleaders “I recognizetheurgency ofthe economic statement provided he government’s recent fall Les p.10 Continued onpage14 p. 4

- 'realistically optimistic'aboutpassingthebill. to rushthroughtheSenate,asIndependentSenatorandSenatesponsorChantalPetitclerc,centre,sayssheis Conservative SenatorDeniseBatters,left,andProgressivePierreDalphond,right,sayBillC-7istooimportant W News for RedChamber amid tight timeline rush important to dying billis too Senators say assisted for theyear, afast-approaching BY NEIL MOSS promise expertswarn willface by 2030, peggedat $3.2-billion, a pledge toplanttwo billiontrees the firstofficialcostingofits until the Red Chamber rises until theRedChamberrises ith lessthantwo weeks C anada plans LTVP latest BOIE OKs p. 6 ’ s P oliti

Progressive Senator iscallingthe pushes forswift passage, butone sisted dying billasthe government timeline forthefeds’ amendedas- deadline loomsover thelegislative (Papineau, Que.)firstpromised dles given theshorttimeframe. big ecologicalandlogistical hur Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau TheHillTimes photographsbyAndrewMeade c s

and G overnment -

N ews Liberal electionplatform. The through treeplantinginthe2019 air andprotect ourcommunities” to spend$3-billion “to cleanour the federal government hasuntil frame “unrealistic.” time In lieuofajudicialextension, p a p er don’t mask failings on Continued onpage24 Bad+Bitchy p.9 MMIWG Feelings WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER9,2020$5.00 H vestment toachieve thispromise, platform laidouta$3-billionin- says Bloc Whipsays translation issues, discrimination’ over MPs ‘feel some Francophone News have worked “as muchaspossible” administration, which notedstaff financial update from theHouse her concernsinresponsetoa having the “necessary equipment.” have stemmedfrom witnessesnot ties,” shesaid, addingissuesoften are experiencingalotofdifficul- BOIE onNov. 19. when first raising theissue at the tions,” saidMs. DeBellefeuille Members couldbeaskingques- seconds arelostduringwhich language meansthat important the interpretation intheirown witnesses donotunderstand discrimination. The factthat cophone Membersfeelsome meeting. of InternalEconomy’s Nov. 26 Que.) duringtheHouseBoard Debellefeuille (Salaberry-Suroît, parties,” saidBloc Whip Claude for francophone MPsfrom allthe meetings iscreating problems for Housesittingsandcommittee discrimination. cerns over perceived language Bloc Québécoishasraised con- of witnessesspeakEnglish—the or intoFrench, given amajority tion—most oftentranslation from repeatedly impactingtransla- ference, andwithaudioissues taken placeentirelyby videocon- BY LAURA RYCKEWAERT Ms. DeBellefeuillefirst raised “We, in theBlocQuébécois, “I cantellyou that fran- “The hybrid format being used timony sinceSeptemberhas ouse committeewitnesstes- Continued onpage16 Continued onpage13 Diplomatic

Circles pp. 15-23 p.26

2 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES

media. At the centre of public debate.” Mr. Bellegarde pointed to the work that had been done in the past six years, including advocating for an inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous Heard on the Hill women and girls, advocating for UND- RIP legislation, and for the passage of the Indigenous Languages Act and the by Neil Moss Child and Family Services Act during the last Parliament. The national chief of the AFN is elected every three years to represent more than 600 First Nations. Previously, Mr. Bellegarde was a re- Former Liberal gional chief of the AFN and the chief of the Saskatchewan Indian Nations. He is a member of the Little Black Bear First Nation. Mr. Trudeau told reporters that Mr. Bel- MP, diplomat Ron legarde has been a “tireless leader and an advocate for First Nations.”

MPs toast birth of Todd Irwin dies at 84 Doherty’s granddaughter It was one time that the House of Com- mons’ rules against props was happily snubbed. Mr. Saint-Jacques addressed the card to Chinese Ambassador Cong Peiwu. Former diplomat Charles Burton, now a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier In- stitute, is also supporting the campaign, as is Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, a former senior bureaucrat in the public service and a current senior fellow at the University of Alberta’s China Institute. Mr. Kovrig and Mr. Spavor were detained on Dec. 10, 2018, in apparent retaliation to Canada’s arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou at the behest of the U.S. Reuters and The Wall Street Journal reported last week that the U.S. Justice Department is negotiating with Ms. Meng’s legal team to make a deal Conservative MP Todd Doherty shows off his where she would be released in exchange granddaughter, Ren Kathleen. Screen capture for admitting guilt. courtesy of ParlVu China last granted “on-site virtual con- Conservative MP Todd Doherty held up sular access” to Mr. Spavor on Nov. 10 and his cell phone with a picture of his grand- to Mr. Kovrig on Nov. 19. Canada was de- daughter while taking part in a Dec. 2 vote. nied access to the two for nearly 10 months “Do you want to see a picture of my with China citing pandemic restrictions for Ron Irwin served two non-consecutive terms in the Liberal caucus and later represented Canada in withholding consular access. Dublin and Boston. The Hill Times file photograph granddaughter?” the proud grandfather asked his parliamentary colleagues after casting his vote in favour of a Bloc opposi- ast Liberal MP Ron Irwin, who served Mark Sabia named new DM of “No one campaigned harder or better tion motion, holding up a picture of Ren in prime minister Jean Chrétien’s cabi- Finance Canada P than Ron.” Kathleen. net, died Dec. 5. He was 84 years old. After six years, Canada will have a new After the vote, he offered his unreserved Mr. Irwin served two terms in the deputy minister of finance. apology for breaking House rules. House, from 1980 to 1984 and 1993 to 1997. Michael Sabia was named to the role on Perry Bellegarde announces he “This is my first granddaughter, and I In his second term in the Chamber, he Dec. 7. Mr. Sabia is the current chair of the hope, Mr. Speaker, that you will find it in served as the minister of Indian affairs and won’t seek re-election as AFN board of directors of the Canadian Invest- your way and in your heart to see past this northern development. He also was Mr. ment Bank and director of the University national chief slip. I cannot promise it will not happen Chrétien’s parliamentary secretary when One of the most influential voices in of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs again, but I do unreservedly apologize to the then-future PM was Pierre Trudeau‘s federal politics is leaving his post. Perry and Public Policy. all,” he said. justice minister. After retiring from Parlia- Bellegarde announced on Dec. 7 that Green MP Elizabeth May rose next on a ment, Mr. Irwin worked in the PMO as Mr. he won’t be running for a third term as point of order. Chrétien’s special assistant. national chief of the Assembly of First Na- “If it is not pushing our luck here as He was later appointed Canada’s am- tions. we approach Christmas, I would like to bassador to Ireland and consul general in suggest that, if you seek it, you will find Boston. unanimous consent for the following mo- In a statement, Prime Minister Justin tion: that the House thank the Member for Trudeau said he was “saddened” to learn of Cariboo—Prince George for sharing this Mr. Irwin’s death. joy with us today and encourage him to “He will be remembered as a vision- continue to do so.” ary leader. Mr. Irwin was invested into the Mr. Doherty thanked MPs for making Order of Canada, a recipient of the Queen’s him “cry once again.” Jubilee Medal, and received the Sault Ste. The celebratory occasion came just days Marie’s Medal of Merit for his exceptional after Mr. Doherty was thrown off balance public service career spanning over 35 during a Nov. 30 Question Period when his years,” he said. wife texted him that his daughter’s water Liberal MP Rob Oliphant also remem- Michael Sabia is the current chair of the board broke, just before he was set to ask Health bered the former Parliamentarian. of directors of the Canadian Investment Bank. Minister Patty Hajdu a question on his 988 “It was an honour to have worked on his suicide hotline initiative. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade campaigns and a privilege to have counted on his advice always,” he tweeted. CSG Senator Percy Downe tweeted that Former diplomat Guy Saint- Paul Rochon, who has held the post Mr. Irwin was a “great guy who worked since 2014, will become a senior official at hard for the voters who sent him to Ot- Jacques pens Christmas letter the Privy Council Office. tawa,” noting that he served Canada “well” Perry Bellegarde won’t be seeking a third term for detained Canadians The role change will start on Dec. 14. in his two diplomatic postings. as AFN national chief. The Hill Times photograph As the two-year mark approaches since Mr. Sabia is a former senior official at “Never forgot where he came from and by Andrew Meade Chinese authorities detained Michael the Finance Department, and a past chair loved [Sault Ste. Marie]. Always down to Kovrig and Michael Spavor, a former Ca- of Quebec’s pension fund. He has been earth with great humility,” he wrote on Mr. Bellegarde has held the post since nadian ambassador is sending a Christmas informally serving as an economic adviser Twitter. 2014. card to the Chinese Embassy for Mr. Kovrig. to the prime minister during the pandemic. From 1972 to 1974, Mr. Irwin was also “Being National Chief of the Assembly Guy Saint-Jacques’ card is a part of Speaking in French, Mr. Trudeau told the mayor of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., which of First Nations, has been the greatest job I the #FreeChinaHostages campaign, which reporters that Mr. Sabia’s skills will be he also represented in the House. could have imagined,” he tweeted. is encouraging people throughout the invaluable to Canada as it rebuilds its Sault Ste. Marie MP Terry Sheehan He said issues that had been talked world to inundate Chinese embassies with economy. tweeted the Liberals lost an “amazing rep- about “only among ourselves, around the Christmas cards for those that have been [email protected] resentative.” kitchen table, are now out there in the arbitrarily detained. The Hill Times

4 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News Black civil servants’ $900-million proposed class action lawsuit against feds a ‘logical, natural’ next step, says NDP MP Green

NDP MP Matthew In an earlier emailed response dians,’” said Chris Aylward, PSAC’s ‘Racism is expensive. Green, pictured at to The Hill Times, a spokesperson national president in an emailed Racism costs people a House Access from the Treasury Board Secretar- statement to The Hill Times. “While to Information, iat said “systemic racism and dis- laudable as a principle, many who face it, and in a Privacy and crimination is a painful lived real- Canadians, particularly Black Ethics Committee ity for Black Canadians, racialized Canadians, have experienced a just world, it ought to meeting on July people and Indigenous people,” different reality. The government 23, 2020, says and that the most recent Speech must do what is necessary to right cost the people who that 'within a from the Throne announced an these wrongs and ensure that these justice framework, action plan to increase representa- injustices do not continue.” perpetrate it,’ says NDP compensation tion and leadership development Former MP Celina Caesar- MP Matthew Green. for harm done is within the public service. Chavannes, who represented the something that “As the matter is currently riding of Whitby, Ont., as a Liberal is considered in before the courts, the Treasury from 2015 before sitting as an In- BY MIKE LAPOINTE every aspect of the Board Secretariat cannot com- dependent after resigning from the law.' The Hill Times ment on this suit at this time,” Liberal caucus in March 2019, told proposed class-action lawsuit photograph by according to the spokesperson. The Hill Times that after “years Aby 12 former and current Andrew Meade and years of saying the same thing Black federal public servants al- Federal Black Employee and getting promise after promise leging that Black employees have of action in some kind of way, been systematically excluded The proposed suit alleges that tion Period on Dec. 4, asking “if Caucus stands in shape, or form—that doesn’t mat- from advancement and subjected the Employment Equity Act has the majority of the Liberal cabi- solidarity, PSAC to serve eralize—to seeing either changes to discrimination within the gov- “failed in its goals and mandate net agrees that anti-Black racism to the federal public service or ap- ernment for decades is a “logical, to Black employees,” as it “fails exists within the federal govern- as intervener pointments or anything, I think it’s natural next step, given that it’s to break down the category of vis- ment, what specific measures Atong Ater, member of the brilliant that they’re finally saying clear that many people feel like ible minorities and thus ignores within the federal workplace, if Federal Black Employee Caucus’ ‘enough is enough.’” their issues haven’t been resolved the unique, invisible and systemic any, has the government taken to (FBEC) core team, told The Hill Ms. Caesar-Chavannes, whose or dealt with in a meaningful racism faced by Black employees actually address it?” Times that although her organiza- book Can You Hear Me Now? is way,” says NDP MP Matthew relative to other disadvantaged Liberal MP Greg Fergus (Hull- tion is not part of the class-action scheduled to hit bookshelves in early Green. groups that are covered by the Aylmer, Que.), the parliamentary suit, FBEC stands in solidarity February 2021, also said “one would The representative plain- categories established by the Act.” secretary to Treasury Board Presi- with anyone who’s working to hope that the government takes it tiffs are seeking $900-million in “I think what we’re seeing in dent Jean-Yves Duclos (Québec, give voice and address issues of serious enough that it doesn’t need damages as well as a mandatory this statement of claim is a very Que.) and Minister of Digital Gov- anti-Black systemic racism within to be drawn out for years and years order to implement a Diversity clear, step-by-step definition ernment Joyce Murray (Vancouver the federal public service. of legal proceedings.” and Promotional Plan for Black and expression of the ways in Quadra, B.C.), replied by saying “We continue to work in collabo- She introduced a private mem- Public Service Employees related which systemic anti-Black racism “we cannot ignore that racism is a ration with senior public officials ber’s bill in the dying days of the last to the hiring and promotion of impacts workers in Canada,” Mr. lived reality for Black Canadians, and different employment, equity, Parliament to change the Employ- Black employees within the pub- Green said. Indigenous peoples, and people of and diversity groups to advocate ment Equity Act. The bill called for a lic service. “And [there’s] the disconnect colour” and that “we have to make for measures,” said Ms. Ater. “We requirement of the Canada Human “Racism is expensive, is the that we have between [those] sure that our public service is not stand in solidarity, and we’re going Rights Commission to provide an lesson to be learned. Racism experiencing this, and those in only representative of the popula- to continue to work with the federal annual report to the minister “on the costs people who face it, and, in power, for instance, the govern- tion it serves but that it offers an public service to address the same progress made by the Government a just world, it ought to cost the ment, which will talk about opportunity for all employees to issues that were brought about and of Canada in dismantling systemic people who perpetrate it,” said Mr. systemic racism [and] use expres- express their full potential.” highlighted within this class action.” barriers that prevent members of vis- Green (Hamilton Centre, Ont.) in sions of individual experiences to ible minorities from being promoted an interview with The Hill Times. individualize stories that they can Former within the federal public service “Within a justice framework, then pretend to remedy in a way Liberal and and in remedying the disadvantages compensation for harm done is that never seeks to address the Independent MP caused by those barriers.” something that is considered in systemic barriers to begin with,” Celina Caesar- “One would hope that the prime every aspect of the law, and so if said Mr. Green. “For a government Chavannes says minister, in all his take-a-knee people have worked their entire that seeks to benefit from identity ‘one would glory, would actually sit down with careers subjugated to systemic politics without the class analysis, hope that the the plaintiffs or sit down before anti-Black racism, then they this is a wake-up call and a reck- government it even gets that far and say ‘let’s have retired with lower pensions oning that people will no longer takes it serious deal with this,’ like he’s done with presumably, with lost opportunity be managed by the shallow words enough that it other issues with the RCMP and cost of having equal and equi- of things like reconciliation and doesn’t need to with Indigenous people,” said Ms. table compensation, and that’s things like Black Lives Matter if be drawn out Caesar-Chavannes. a considerable thing in labour there is not a meaningful move- for years and “If the prime minister does not practice.” ment towards actual justice.” years of legal take it upon himself to lead from “That is a fundamental claim The NDP MP said he’s 100 per proceedings.’ the top and say that we’re going within labour law, so I’m not cent in solidarity with the lawsuit, The Hill Times to sit down in trust, like we’ve surprised by the number,” said Mr. and that it’s “a beautiful act of soli- photograph by done with other communities Green. darity that 12 individuals have be- Cynthia Münster with the plaintiffs or the lawyers The proposed class proceed- gun this claim, which takes a tre- of the case, and deal with it be- ing, which has not yet been mendous amount of courage in an fore it has to go through the legal certified, includes plaintiffs from environment where going along to system, if he doesn’t do that, then a wide range of government get along is perhaps a much better it will absolutely show his true agencies, including the Canada tool for survival within systems of Mr. Fergus also noted the The Public Service Alliance of colours on this one.” Revenue Agency, Employment anti-Black racism.” $12-million over three years Canada (PSAC), Canada’s largest Mr. Green also said he was and Social Development Canada, “These folks have certainly that was recently committed by federal public service union, sup- reminded about “all the theat- Corrections Canada, the Depart- shown courage, and this is also the federal government in the ports the legal action taken on be- rics that this prime minister has ment of National Defence, and not about 12 individuals,” said Mr. fall economic statement to a half of nearly 30,000 past and pres- undertaken from taking a knee, the RCMP. Green. “My hope is, people read- dedicated centre on diversity and ent federal public service workers to the language of reconciliation Many of the experiences of ing this story, people reading this inclusion. who identify as Black, Caribbean with Indigenous people. And yet, class members delineated in the news, will find the courage to file “This will accelerate the gov- or of African descent, according to time and time again, has failed court document centre on their their own claims.” ernment’s commitment to achiev- a Dec. 4 press release. to actually address the systems lack of promotions within the ing a representative and inclusive PSAC intends to serve as an which oppress these peoples.” public service after many years public service,” said Mr. Fergus. intervener in the proposed lawsuit. The Prime Minister’s Office on the job—promotions which Proposed suit raised in The Liberal MP declined to com- “Canada’s public service declined to comment, as this is have been made available to Question Period ment further following an interview presents itself as a ‘merit-based, before the courts. other members of visible minority Mr. Green highlighted the request from The Hill Times, as the representative and non-partisan [email protected] groups. class-action claim during Ques- matter is before the courts. organization that serves all Cana- The Hill Times

6 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News

thing MPs will no doubt welcome, court—a space that sits above the given longstanding complaints Hall of Honour, the roof of which over a lack of facilities near the comes to the third floor level. Chamber. Two family rooms, a While a plan for this new infill’s quiet room, a coat room with interior is still to come, the gen- lockers, telephone rooms, and two eral idea of its construction was MP meeting rooms will also be endorsed. It will add roughly 600 included south of the Chamber on square meters of space on levels the first floor. four through six. This plan adds a new circula- Mr. Stanton noted there are tion route for MPs, who will still “several options” for how this be able to use the west entrance space could be used, with one to Centre Block (rather than idea being to add three offices going through the underground suites each on floors four and welcome centre, use of which is five, and a common area for MPs aimed at public visitors). Previ- and Senators on the sixth floor. ously, MPs using that entrance He warned that, “for a number of would have to go up a set of stairs reasons,” the number of offices into the foyer, passing media available overall in the Centre camped out there on their way Block will be reduced, so this into the Chamber. These changes idea, if ultimately pursued, helps would allow MPs to head straight “us to catch-up on that.” Previ- to the lobbies from the first floor ously expressed reasons for the entrance, from which they could expected office reduction include head directly into the Chamber. the need for more circulation Centre Block's Hall of Honour is pictured on Dec. 2, facing north. Among the recent plans approved by the Board of “We’ve seen that this space routes and other accessibility Internal Economy was one to enclose the courtyard-like space above the hall and construct an infill that would offer [the lobbies] has often been over- considerations. new space on the fourth, fifth, and sixth floors of the building. The exact use of that space is still to be determined. crowded, and that is before the The Senate Internal Economy, The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade expected growth in MP numbers Budgets, and Administration over the coming five decades such Committee has already given its that these important spaces will stamp of approval to a recom- be under even greater pressure,” mendation to build a partial infill said Mr. Stanton. in the eastern light court to add BOIE approves multiple In 50 years, based on the six Parliamentarian offices, as current representation formula, reported. planners are estimating space With plans now approved for will be needed for roughly 460 all of Centre Block’s light courts plans for Centre Block’s MPs. Fitting in more MPs is a key to be covered over, Mr. Wright challenge for the House when it noted it will ensure architect comes to Centre Block’s renova- John Pearson’s original vision tion, especially in the Chamber it- for “symmetry” in the building is self, which was already stretched maintained. renovation, including to accommodate the current As recently reported, on Dec. 338-MP count. 2, during a limited media tour Plans for how the Chamber’s of the Centre Block site, Mr. seating will be adapted to fit Wright said $655-million has new glass enclosures in more MPs—since the House been allocated for the building’s kiboshed any plan that would decommissioning, removal of change the Chamber’s footprint— heritage artifacts, demolition “Before it closed, [Centre decades ago due to “previous roof are still to come. and abatement work, excavation Multiple Block] was the worst perform- issues,” as Mr. Stanton described The BOIE also agreed to of the new welcome centre, and ing [precinct building] from an it—was approved. For years, the bring the Chamber’s galleries “initial” restoration work. Demoli- recommendations energy usage and GHG emission tion work so far has focused on approved by the BOIE perspective within our portfolio,” floors four through six, which Mr. Wright told the BOIE. are mostly being stripped back to involve covering over The plans approved by the bare bones, and Mr. Wright said BOIE, a body of MPs which acts as demolition and abatement work open courtyard-like the governing board of the House overall is roughly 40 per cent of Commons, on Dec. 3 would see complete. So far, 2,500 metric spaces in Centre the western courtyard, or west light tons of asbestos-containing mate- Block, a step PSPC court, covered with a glass enclo- rial has been removed and 5,000 sure—much like the temporary truckloads of bedrock from the says is ‘essential’ to House Chamber in the West Block— welcome centre’s excavation have and partially infilled. It is from this been shipped out, he said. its plans to make area that visitors to the Hill would Total budget and time esti- emerge after going through security mates for Centre Block’s renova- the building carbon screening in the new underground tion are expected to finally land Parliamentary Welcome Centre cur- when schematic design plans neutral. rently being constructed in front of are finalized—with the BOIE’s Centre Block. recent recommendations bringing BY LAURA RYCKEWAERT New circulation routes—i.e., finalization of those plans a step stairs and elevators—would be closer—something Mr. Wright he House Board of Internal added to the space, by which said he hopes will happen in the An artist’s rendering of proposed changes to Centre Block’s west light court Economy recently green-lit a visitors would travel between the “first quarter” of 2021, when “the T which were approved by the BOIE on Dec. 3. The stained glass windows mark series of recommendations for the welcome centre, the second floor, process of stripping the building” the western wall of the House Chamber. Image courtesy of the House of Commons Centre Block building’s renova- and the Chamber’s galleries on is expected to finish. Next up on tion, including an expansion of the third floor. the agenda is masonry restora- the lobbies into the western court- Covering the space at roof foyer ceiling has been lit instead in line with National Building tion, which alone is expected to yard and an infill in the currently level will add to the building’s by artificial lay lights. Code requirements for accessi- take five to six years, he said. exposed space above the Hall of energy efficiency, explained As previously reported, a plan bility, which mean fewer avail- Mr. Stanton also flagged to the Honour. Deputy Speaker and Conserva- to expand the lobbies that flank able seats, from 553 to 296. NDP BOIE that the MP working group Covering over the open court- tive MP Bruce Stanton (Simcoe the House Chamber has also been House Leader Peter Julian (New has discussed ways to allow other yard-like spaces, or light courts, North, Ont.), chair of the MP pitched—and it was approved by Westminster-Burnaby, B.C.) Parliamentarians to “become in the Centre Block building is working group weighing in on the BOIE on Dec. 3. raised concern about the loss of more involved and informed on “essential” to Public Service and construction plans, and doing Independent stairs and seating capacity, and Mr. Stanton the pace of work” on Centre Block Procurement Canada’s (PSPC) so with glass helps preserve the elevators will be added to both noted it was a concern shared by and even provide “direct input, be- plans to make the building original intent of the space by lobbies—for the opposition the eight-Member working group, fore interior formats and designs carbon neutral once complete, allowing “the light court to con- lobby, those will go west, toward leading them to ask the House are finalized.” Ideas discussed by as well as to its need for more tinue to bring natural daylight to the light court—to allow MPs administration to look into how the group on Nov. 27 included common areas, space for Parlia- the Chamber and other interior to move between two floors of gallery seating could be made regular newsletters through the mentarian offices, and new routes spaces.” lobby space. On the bottom level more flexible, so the space could Speaker, video conference (or to help make the building more Along with this, a recommend- (the first floor of the building), be “scaled-up” to accommodate later, in-person) meetings, and accessible, PSPC assistant deputy ed glass enclosure over the light gender-neutral washrooms will be more bodies for big occasions. “website presence and video.” minister Rob Wright explained to well that sits above the House of added between the government Finally, the BOIE approved a [email protected] the Board on Dec. 3. Commons foyer—covered over and opposition lobbies—some- proposed infill in the centre light The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020 7 Comment On COVID, Conservatives are getting outflanked by Liberals

Whether the Conservatives and the errors, real or imagined. That said, you must The vaccine debate is far other opposition parties got played by watch out for the traps they set for you and the government is still not clear; but the being lead down paths where you might Conservative health critic Michelle Rempel from over, but it might be Conservatives’ lines of attack have been later have been found to have overreached Garner, Leader Erin O'Toole, and Deputy time for the opposition to diminished. They hadn’t moved the needle and acted in a way that puts voters off. The Leader Candice Bergen are pictured at a press with public opinion on their narrative that Conservatives might try a rebrand of their conference on Oct. 22. Conservatives will now assess their strategy and Canada is screwed because we are at the own here, and argue that it was their dogged move, as they have, to critiquing the pace of back of the line for vaccines. Now, they tolerance that has made vaccine delivery in distribution and its methods of allocation. watch more carefully for will be forced to go more granular, which December 2020 a reality. Canadians would The latter has all sorts of challenges around makes it harder to capture attention. They be waiting longer if it weren’t for them. the stoking of division while trying to act government slights of hand. will move, as they have, to critiquing the The vaccine debate is far from over, responsibly in a crisis, writes Tim Powers. The pace of distribution and its methods of but it might be time for the opposition Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade allocation. The latter has all sorts of chal- to assess their strategy and watch more lenges around the stoking of division while carefully for government slights of hand. Tim Powers is vice-chairman of Summa trying to act responsibly in a crisis. The pandemic has produced public opinion Strategies and managing director of Being an opposition politician does suck. benefits for the Trudeau Liberals, and for Abacus Data. He is a former adviser to Your job is indeed to make noise and try now, they have a better sense of the politi- Conservative political leaders. to whack the government of the day on its cal rhythms. The Hill Times

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Tim Powers A just state with strong civil society Plain Speak

TTAWA—On Dec. 8, history was made as is being built in Kazakhstan OMargaret Keenan, a 90-year-old grand- mother from Northern Ireland became the Akylbek Kamaldinov, Ambassador of Despite pandemic, active work is also being first person in the world, outside of a clinical Kazakhstan to Canada carried out within National Council of Public trial, to receive the Pfizer/BioNtech coronavi- Confidence’s framework, which was created by rus vaccine. After nearly nine long months of urrent global crisis caused by the newly elected President Tokayev’s suggestion living with COVID-19, this is reason for all of COVID-19 pandemic is strongly influencing in 2019. Since then, 24 meetings have been us to feel a little positive that the planet is get- all areas of state’s activities and is leading held and President Tokayev participated in 4 ting closer to getting this virus under control C to transformations in political, economical and of them and 7 laws have been adopted. Today and our lives nearer to normal. social spheres. Pandemic in Kazakhstan has National Council’s significant attention is paid Back here across the pond, it seems also significantly affected citizens’ life and new to ensuring a wide involvement of women and we will be receiving 249,000 doses of that requests for improving dialogue’s forms between same vaccine next week, and it will be youth in national Parliament’s activity and local distributed to the provinces accordingly. state and society emerged. representative bodies - maslikhats. After being coy for weeks about Canadian The challenges in social sphere accelerated According to the UN experts, Kazakhstan is delivery dates, the federal government took by the COVID-19 pandemic negatively a leader among post-Soviet countries in terms some satisfaction in announcing help was influenced the competitiveness of our country of women’ share in public administration and on the way earlier than they had set out and its people. Therefore, in September 2020 government. According to them, women make in their original framing. You’ll remember Kazakhstan President Tokayev in his Annual up more than 55% of civil servants and social the Trudeau government’s regular holding Address to the people of Kazakhstan defined workers in our country, 22% of deputies of the line was that Canada would be receiving as priority the continuation of social reforms in Parliament and maslikhats are women, 47% of vaccines in the first quarter of 2021. Could our country. His appeal’s main idea is to develop judges are women. However, women remain they have been playing political games a civil society and strengthen population’s underrepresented in senior management. with their opposition counterparts? Only participation in public administration process. the most cynical and jaded would think Currently, women hold only 5-7% of the top like that. Guilty as charged, I guess. Today, President Tokayev’s administration and management positions. This situation does not Given that the Canadian public has not Government prioritize a fulfillment of state’s allow Kazakhstan to fully use their potential, seen any of the contracts the government obligations to ensure a decent life for its citizens, monitoring the activities of local executive who make up more than half of the country’s has signed with vaccine makers, we won’t protect their rights, strengthen the rule of law authorities. Reforms also have been launched population (51.5%). As a result of discussions know the actual truth about what those and fight against corruption. The government is in law enforcement and judicial systems so that within National Council’s framework a mandatory documents say about Canadian deliveries. moving from a planned to a project management the principles of legality and fairness of decision- quota was introduced to increase proportion of It may be years before we ever get to see principle, increasingly involving civil sector and making are ensured everywhere by default. women in management bodies and companies them. It may be never. Regardless, it is fair public organizations in development of self- During period of economic recession caused with state participation to 30%. According to to assume the prime minister and his team government process. Henceforth, main indicator by pandemic and corresponding restrictions, experts, government quotas will make business were being guided by the old Jean Chrétien of public administration’s effectiveness will be Kazakhstan like all other countries in the world, careers more attractive to women. mantra of “under promise and over deliver.” achievement of goal-oriented results. Currently experienced pressure on its public health In Kazakhstan, special attention is also paid Despite the opposition parties’ daily digital government tools are being developed system and economy as a whole. At the same to the issues of inclusive education, creating a flame throwing at the government for its in Kazakhstan, where almost all services are time, our country’s government continues barrier-free environment, ensuring the availability apparent gross incompetency in cultivating provided to citizens in online format. a better vaccine delivery deal for Canadi- to carry out comprehensive economic and of infrastructure and expanding employment ans, the Liberals stuck to their communi- In January 2021, within next parliamentary administrative measures to provide its all social opportunities for people with disabilities. cations strategy. In part so far, they have elections’ framework, direct elections of local benefits to the population. For these purposes, Thus, President Tokayev’s social reforms are been guided by different public opinion akims (heads of districts) will be held for the first 1 trillion tenge ($ 3.1 billion) was allocated aimed at implementing the concept of a just samplings that showed the public was not time, local budgets of districts will be expanded, until 2023 from the National Fund, which plays state with strong civil society in Kazakhstan nearing a state of hysteria as some opposi- control over local budgets’ expenditures will be the role of national economy’s safety cushion. and are a logical continuation of the tion Members were that doses of medicine transferred to maslikhats (local legislative body). Social payments to the population are indexed, institutional reforms which have already begun weren’t on the way. For example, in a sur- Significant initiatives and infrastructure spending wages and pensions are paid on time. in our country. vey released by our company Abacus Data from 2021 will go through public expertise/ In order to systematize the relationship last week, when asked if the timing (set out scrutiny using online survey tools. between the state and society, a new Social as the first quarter of 2021) they expected In addition, a fight against corruption is Code is being developed in Kazakhstan, which a vaccine to be available for them person- becoming more systemic. Currently, more will reflect the minimum social guarantees ally was excellent, good, acceptable in the attention is paid to the causes of this problem (from preschool education to pension provision circumstances, or unacceptably slow, only and preventive work is being carried out. For of citizens), provided to citizens of Kazakhstan. 17 per cent said it was too slow. Whereas this purpose, a law on public control is being In order to strengthen the protection of 83 per cent said the imagined timing was developed, according to which corresponding acceptable or better than that. Even among children’s rights, from 2022 it is planned to those who identified as Conservative vot- public councils will be created in all regions, introduce a national monitoring mechanism - ers, 74 per cent said the timing they imag- together with maslikhats taking part in the Child Welfare Index. ined was acceptable or better. 8 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES

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Editorial Letters to the Editor Lawsuit a clanging wake-up call on anti-Black Stand united for peace in racism in the public service, but will the feds hear it? Afghanistan: open letter signatories n Dec. 2, a dozen Black public and willingness to contribute to Canadian Oservants filed suit in Federal Court, society through public service,” the claim said. rom Kabul to Kandahar, Herat and that while the specifics of decisions on seeking to launch a class action against There’s no way to know how the gov- FNangarhar, Balkh and Badakhshan, peace and development and the future of the government for decades of alleged ernment will respond or what the court and the outlying provinces, violence Afghan society and governance rest with discrimination and exclusion of Black will rule, but there’s no denying that this spreads with alarming frequency. Afghans, our endorsement of an inclusive employees in the federal bureaucracy. step towards legal action should serve as With the hope of bringing lasting process for the peace negotiations is also “There has been a de facto practice a loud wake-up call. peace to Afghanistan, talks began among of paramount importance. Of significance of Black employee exclusion throughout Over the decades, there have been re- Afghans on Sept. 12 in Qatar amid ongo- should be our role as a member of the the public service because of the perme- peated studies, reports, task forces, working ing conflict, pandemic, and humanitarian international community, facilitating and ation of systemic discrimination through groups, recommendations, benchmarks, crises. supporting a peace agreement’s momen- Canada’s institutional structures,” the and aspirations about improving the work The signing of a formal agreement tum. statement of claim said. environment for people of colour, particularly between the Islamic Republic of Afghani- We believe that sustainable peace in The 45-page statement outlined some of Black people, in the public service. stan and the Taliban will be a historic Afghanistan can only be achieved with the history that the plaintiffs say brought A 2000 report by the Treasury Board- moment for Afghanistan, setting the stage national, regional, and international them to this tipping point, dating back to the created Task Force on the Participation of for ending violence and bloodshed and economic, political, and diplomatic sup- enslavement of Africans in what would be- Visible Minorities in the Public Service launching peace, with enormous possibil- port. International support to Afghanistan come Canada as property, instead of people. noted the federal public service, “which ities open for Afghans’ betterment lives. should include: “However, despite overcoming many can be inhospitable to outsiders, can be Seventy-nine per cent of the respondents • Continuation of economic and social challenges and a rich history of build- particularly so to visible minorities,” and of a recent Afghan survey cite peace and development and humanitarian fund- ing and contributing to Canada, Black recommended, among other things, that the security as the top priority for the intra- ing; Canadians in the public service continue government set a benchmark for one-in- Afghan negotiation. • Assistance with negotiation of Afghan- to experience the legacy of practices and five “visible minority participation govern- While this peace process, with the istan-centred regional economic trade policies institutionalized many genera- ment-wide” within the next five years. myriad of challenges and complexities, and investment agreements; and tions ago, including the practice of Black To date, there has never been a Black must be Afghan-owned, it needs contin- • In the form of technical assistance, a employee exclusion,” reads the claim. person at the highest level of the public ued attention and support of the inter- supply of expertise to provide support The representative plaintiffs, seek- service, and only this year, the very first national community—the political allies, to Afghan decision-makers with op- ing $900-million in damages on behalf of Black woman was appointed as an associ- key donors, and the United Nations—for tions drawn from other countries and public servants since 1970 and their fami- ate deputy minister. a successful end. societies’ experiences. lies, claim Black employees have been In the summer, Prime Minister Justin We, a circle of Canadian friends of Permanent peace with effective de- systemically excluded from advancement Trudeau made sure he got in front of the Afghanistan, are committed to back our livery of such services needs a process, within the public service and that the cameras and took a knee at an anti-Black Afghan friends’ efforts in meeting the ensuring the meaningful inclusion of court should impose on the government a racism protest on Parliament Hill. challenges posed along the way of a com- all sections and levels of Afghan soci- mandatory order to implement a “Diversi- Since then, there have been a couple of plex peace process. We are Canadians ety—women, ethnic minorities, and other ty and Promotional Plan for Black Public announcements about funding initiatives— passionate about Afghanistan, a passion marginalized and vulnerable groups. Service Employees, related to the hiring like the Sept. 9 announcement of a program emanating from years of professional With a particular interest in addressing and promotion” of Black bureaucrats. to support Black entrepreneurs—and the engagement in different capacities—as women’s and girls’ interests, Canada’s “Canada’s employment equity, labour, historic acknowledgement of systemic rac- scholars, diplomats, military and devel- foreign policy promotes such an inclusive and human rights laws and institutions have ism in the Throne Speech, but no real steps opment officers, soldiers, aid and health process. We, a circle of Canadian friends served to exacerbate rather than eradicate towards any substantive change. workers, police officers, political leaders, of Afghanistan, believe that the future of the practice of Black employee exclusion. It’s time for Mr. Trudeau to make his Parliamentarians, and journalists, naming a united, democratic, peaceful, prosper- They have increased systemic racism in a supposed commitment to change just as only a few. ous, and sovereign Afghanistan depends way that has deprived Black employees of visible, and the response to this lawsuit Canada has played a significant role on a society, economy, and government in opportunities and benefits afforded to others may be a prime way to do so. in Afghanistan since 2002, providing mili- which all citizens see their future. based on their races and despite their merit The Hill Times tary and civilian support to Afghanistan Much of the history of foreign en- based on shared values and principles. gagement with Afghanistan is replete Canada’s combat role in Afghanistan with examples of exploitation and ended in 2011, with civilian aid continu- neglect—the exploitation of divisions ing. Canada in Afghanistan profiled high within Afghan society through arming in the Canadian media in the first decade specific groups, exploitation of Afghani- of this millennium. However, with the end stan’s resources, and exploitation of of the Canadian combat mission and the Afghanistan’s position in the Central passing years, Afghanistan-related news Asia region to pursue goals not dedicat- coverage in the Canadian media waned ed to the welfare of Afghans, and neglect gradually. Reporting on the ongoing ne- by the international community when gotiations, carving out the path towards the country was ravaged by civil war, a permanent peace, has been sparse in extremism, violence, bloodshed, and lack Canada. While Afghanistan is no lon- of human security in all forms. ger in Canadian headlines, Afghanistan As Canadian friends of Afghanistan, peace talks that started on Sept. 12, 2020, we continue to watch developments at in Doha, Qatar, deserve our attention this critical time with cautious optimism as this process presents an opportunity and concern. With an end to violence, to promote peace and development in attention can fully turn to build Afghani- Afghanistan. stan’s future as a sovereign and valued The nature of Canadian investment partner within the heart of Asia and in in Afghanistan has changed since the the broader international community. We withdrawal of our combat forces in 2011. expect the Canadian government to con- However, our commitment to providing tinue its support to and partnership with continued support for the reconstruc- Afghanistan. We will not forget the ties of tion of Afghanistan and Afghan people’s loss and hope which bind us together. development through health, education, Dr. Nipa Banerjee, on behalf of Cana- women’s empowerment, and humanitar- dian Friends of Afghan People ian aid has not changed. We acknowledge Ottawa, Ont.

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also hold Status under the Indian Act.” As a result, many Indige- Feelings don’t mask the Liberal nous women were forced to leave their community without suf- ficient resources, only a one-time payment of $50. And bad things failings on the Indigenous file happen to isolated and marginal- ized women—both through the system and individuals for whom especially for Indigenous women. the minister feels, only what the member’s Bill C-262, introduced Indigenous lives don’t matter. It’s This human rights Canada has accepted the vio- minister has failed to do. And during the last Parliament, but the Tina Fontaine of it all. lence tax Indigenous women and failed she has. subsequently quashed by a Con- The colonial erasure of Indig- crisis has been girls pay for being Indigenous Indigenous women and girls servative filibuster. Judith Say- enous peoples led to the estab- ignored by this and at times expects payment are disproportionately victim- ers, from the Hupacasath First lishment of residential schools, in the form of their lives. This ized by violence from a system Nation, wrote in The Tyee, “What forced sterilization of Indigenous government, whose human rights crisis has been ig- that targets them for erasure screamed at me is the noticeable women (as recently as 2018), the nored by this government, whose through assimilation; estimates lack of the word racism. System- Sixties Scoop, birth alerts (only claims of feminism claims of feminism and recon- by Indigenous women’s groups ic racism. We have had Trudeau, banned in Ontario, Manitoba, ciliation wear thin without the count the number of MMIWG Minister Bill Blair and RCMP and B.C. within the last year, but and reconciliation appropriate action and resources. at 4,000 and a 2014 Amnesty Commissioner Brenda Lucki all still used by the Saskatchewan Money talks, bullshit walks and International report states that recognizing racism exists in all government) and the welfare wear thin without the this government dishes more of Statistics Canada “suggests that institutions including the justice system. appropriate action the latter than the former. the national homicide rate for system. Why the lack of the term This government will never do Where is the national action Indigenous women is at least racism?” Why, indeed. anything about MMIWG because and resources. plan for missing and murdered seven times higher than for non- Though the doctrine had been it’s not in the Canadian tradition Indigenous women and girls? Indigenous women.” repudiated by the United Nations to do so. Doing something would That’s the question the MP Much of this violence can be in 1960, Canada has yet to do so tacitly mean that the structures from Winnipeg Centre, Man., traced from the Doctrine of Dis- and never will, since that would and laws that preceded it were Leah Gazan, asked Crown-Indige- covery as a pretext to Canadians’ make its claim to the lands of invalid. People might then want to nous Minister Carolyn Bennett in rapaciousness for the land. The Canada more tenuous. It al- fix them and that puts Canada’s the House of Commons on Dec. 7, Doctrine of Discovery “provided lowed the Canadian government entire claim to the land it squats which was also the 50th anniver- a philosophical framework for cover to engage in colonializa- on—and makes money from—in sary of the Royal Commission on Christian explorers, to lay claim tion through the Indian Act—a jeopardy. And we can’t have that. the Status of Women. The govern- to territories uninhabited by means to control the movement Even Ottawa is on unceded and ment was to table a national ac- Christians. Under this belief, of Indigenous people and their unsurrendered territory, which tion plan for MMIWG on June 3, title to lands lay with the govern- alienation from their lands used means it’s stolen. Erica Ifill 2020, a year after the final report ment whose subjects travelled to to make Canada rich—which Instead, this government will of the National Inquiry into Miss- and occupied a territory whose marginalized Indigenous women. continue to feign compassion Bad+Bitchy ing and Murdered Indigenous inhabitants were not subjects As p. 251 of the first volume of when it really means conde- Women and Girls, but abandoned of a European Christian mon- the final Inquiry report reads: scension and when enough ALGARY—Dec. 6, 1989, is the deadline, citing COVID. arch.” No wonder the Liberals “The Indian Act also undermined time passes, and after enough Ca day when 14 women were Instead, Bennett condescend- dragged their feet on UNDRIP, women and girls and placed protesting, it will dust off the massacred at École Polytechnique ingly replied that “our hearts only to table a watered-down them into dangerous situations,” recommendations from the in an anti-feminist attack; it is are with all of the survivors and version after they failed to fix the such as evicting “a woman and MMIWG inquiry and present it now known as the National Day families of missing and murdered longstanding problems of clean her children from her commu- as change. of Remembrance and Action on and two-spirited, gender diverse water on reserves. The tabled Bill nity, forcing her to commute or Erica Ifill is a co-host of the Violence Against Women. In Can- peoples,” as though that matters. C-15 is a remix of former NDP essentially sell off her rights if Bad+Bitchy podcast. ada, this violence hasn’t changed, No one should care about how MP Romeo Saganash’s private she married a man who did not The Hill Times

from bank clients or the travelling public. And most of those compa- Bill 101 applying federally? Time for nies operate in French already, but are able to hire English-speakers in areas of specialization. If Quebec applied Bill 101 to fed- some constitutional common sense eral entities it would exclude Que- bec anglophones from services and opportunities. This would open the AMOURASKA, QUE.—I miss minister, tweeting out in French provincial and federal legislation, door for other provinces to reduce If Quebec applied Bill KEugene Forsey. a list of groups who support the the federal legislation always services to their French-language The late, great former senator idea, including the Legault gov- prevails; there are several judicial minorities. It would be a slippery 101 to federal entities was a source of incredible insight ernment, the mayors of Montreal precedents supporting it. slope to a national unity crisis. it would exclude into the Constitution. And he was and Quebec City, some unions, Of course, the leader of the Bloc There is a way to avoid this always accessible: as a political and his own party, but not Justin Québécois, Yves-François Blanchet, trap: Minister Mélanie Joly could Quebec anglophones assistant or journalist, if I had a Trudeau. Interestingly, he did not doesn’t care about such constitu- deliver on long-promised amend- question on constitutional law, repeat the tweet in English. tional details, as his party doesn’t ments to the Official Languages from services and I would phone him up and he Forsey used to ridicule these believe Quebec should be part of Act to strengthen the use of would settle things with a suc- sorts of schemes to placate Que- Canada. Quebec Premier François French in Quebec, while still pro- opportunities and cinct answer. He was a walking bec as “hemi-demi-semi separat- Legault is offering it to embarrass viding services in English. Like encyclopedia. ism.” But, as he might say, in the the Trudeau government. Why the decision to give Quebec a would be a slippery The former senator was a matter of the Constitution, you can Quebec Liberal leader Dominique “seat” at UNESCO (which is really slope to a national regular contributor of letters to the call a cat a dog or a dog a cat, but Anglade, a federalist, has jumped a spot on the Canadian delegation editor in retirement. Were he alive they would still be a cat and a dog. on board is beyond me. there), both Ottawa and Quebec unity crisis. today, Forsey would likely be on Sections 91 and 92 of the Con- For the sake of argument, let’s could claim victory. Twitter, disabusing the foolish no- stitution Act set out a clear division say Bill 101 were applied to feder- All in all, the whole mess tions of current politicians, such as of powers. Section 91 provides the ally regulated entities, such as doesn’t speak well for politicians Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole, federal government with the power banks, airlines, ports, and federal who should know better, especial- who recently appeared on Radio in a number of jurisdictions, as agencies in Quebec. This would ly those who are lawyers, like the Canada’s Tout le monde en parle. well as for the “peace, order, and mean they would have to address leader of the official opposition. In a presentation showcasing a good government of Canada.” The their customers in French only Andrew Caddell is retired from workmanlike French, O’Toole ex- provinces, meanwhile, have author- and ensure French was the sole Global Affairs Canada, where he pressed a newfound concern for ity over education, roads, hospitals language of work. was a senior policy adviser. He the supposed decline of French and local commerce, inter alia, but But these companies are al- previously worked as an adviser in Quebec, and supported the it stops there. ready subject to the federal Official to Liberal governments. He is a idea that Bill 101 (the provincial It is fairly simple: the re- Languages Act. As I wrote in Sep- fellow with the Canadian Global Andrew Caddell language law) should apply to sidual powers rest with Ottawa. tember, the former commissioner Affairs Institute and a principal of federally regulated companies. This is based on the doctrine of of official languages, Graham QIT Canada. He can be reached With All Due Respect The leader of the official op- paramountcy, which establishes Fraser, never heard one complaint at [email protected]. position then baited the prime when there is a conflict between about lack of service in French The Hill Times 10 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Comment

While many denizens of the White House have reportedly internalized the reality of Joe Biden’s victory, President Donald Trump is demonstrating there is no end to what he will do to pursue his bogus claim of a rigged election. White House photograph by Tia Dufour

Championing a coup in plain sight, Trump’s latest outrage is a lesson in the dangers of post-reality extremism

ized the reality of Joe Biden’s tactic to the next in a concerted, the sanctity of the ballot. And in Viewing this from north of the Viewing this from victory, the president is demon- increasingly extreme effort to the process, he has ignited a dis- border, it’s important to remember strating there is no end to what he upend democracy. turbing wave of distrust and un- that Canadians are not at all in- north of the border, will do to pursue his bogus claim While Trump could suddenly rest among tens of millions of his clined toward someone like Trump. one has to keep of a rigged election. change course, all indications as cult-like supporters swallowing At the same time, though, one has As it all unfolded, no one ex- of the weekend were that he in- his guff about a stolen election. to keep in mind that the currency in mind that the pected Trump to fire Chris Krebs tends to keep at it. He continued to On the weekend, he said any Trump uses is not unknown here. because the Homeland Security rant about state officials—includ- officials who step in to help him Central to the Trump approach is currency Trump uses official refused to buy into lies ing Republicans—who refuse to overturn the election will be re- the obliteration of objective reality, about vote-tampering. Likewise, no betray the public trust on Trump’s membered as national heroes and reason, and information in favour is not unknown here. one expected the Republicans to behalf, amplified his claims of expressed hope the U.S. Supreme of lies, conspiracies, and the emo- mount 50 court cases searching for election fraud, and insisted he will Court will come to his rescue. tional fuel of grievance, hatred, and a judge, so far unsuccessfully, who never concede. He is just getting Some of his base even believe xenophobia. And the more outra- would permit his or her court to be started, he keeps saying. him when he says it’s a matter of geous the message, the better. used as an instrument to further And, for those who think saving Christianity, gun rights, The media can’t just accept Trump’s aims. The legal offensive it’s just a matter of time, keep law and order, and the American as part of the ongoing politi- helmed by the out-of-control Rudy in mind Trump seems crazier way of life from the socialists cal debate concerted efforts to Giuliani and his seemingly drunk- than ever. His Georgia speech and communists. (If that weren’t promote disinformation, personal en chief witness became a joke, but on Saturday was a cascade of enough, Trump used his speech in belittlement of opponents, and it turned out to be only a stage in lies, vitriol, and racial innuendo a Georgia agricultural belt to air a enmity-driven divisions among the president’s escalations. way beyond anything you would white supremacist meme—a dog- Canadians. A case in point was And, of course, no one ex- expect to hear in public life, let whistle lie suggesting Democrats Conservative leader Erin O’Toole’s Les Whittington pected the leader of the United alone from a U.S. president. As if want to confiscate Georgia farms days-long refusal to address the Need to Know States to personally telephone dazed by Trump’s behaviour, U.S. and give them to descendants activities of one of his MPs whose Republican legislators and of- media are absorbed with looking of African-American slaves.) latest move from the playbook ficials at the state level to try to on the bright side toward Jan. Intentionally or not, Trump’s ap- of right-wing discord is promot- TTAWA—It’s interesting to enlist them in a coup. While there 20, and they are probably right proach—including the shameless ing anti-vaxxers. As the U.S. has Olook back at the comments by are precedents in U.S. history of that the U.S. system will confirm attempt to wipe out the votes of shown, both with Trump’s attempt- U.S. analysts in the early after- presidential reluctance to accept Biden’s victory and Trump will be millions of African-Americans ed coup and the horror story of a math of the Nov. 3 election, when election results, this latest insur- out. But the spectacle Americans in Detroit and Philadelphia and politicized pandemic response, the most were saying President Don- rectional foray is a first in modern are showing to the world will not his encouragement of hot-headed road to chaos is paved with com- ald Trump’s refusal to concede, America. And no one expected be easily redrawn. The president and armed right-wing militias—is placency in the face of extremist though troublesome, was likely the vast majority of the Republi- has openly mounted a full-scale flirting with civil war. He’s not chaos, hate-mongering and deceit. to be short-lived. A month later, can party to applaud, or stand by campaign, based on nothing, to calling for blood in the streets, Les Whittington is a regular while many denizens of the White silently, while their party leader denigrate and nullify the most but the underlying message is columnist for The Hill Times. House have reportedly internal- bounced from one outrageous fundamental democratic tenet— dangerous enough. The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020 11 Opinion

This observation should in no way be interpreted as slight to Canadian Armed Forces are the the capabilities of the men and women of the CAF and certainly not to Fortin personally. I have re- peatedly said that, in my opinion, best in the world, but shouldn’t the CAF is not among the best militaries in the world—it is the best in the world. What they are not is a deliv- ery company with a nationwide be at forefront of the vaccine team distribution network. I do believe the military will al Defence headquarters. Fortin’s One would think it would be be able to assist in bringing the most recent posting was in Iraq, far more efficient and cost effec- vaccination teams into remote where he headed up the NATO tive to ship these vaccines using regions, and for this, they are mission to train Iraqi soldiers. private sector airfreight compa- uniquely qualified and equipped. By all accounts, Fortin is nies. The aviation industry has However, we have to remember a charismatic and extremely been economically hard hit by that such aid to the civil power, capable officer and at his initial the pandemic and using Air Force which has also included flood re- press briefings he has proven to planes to deliver freight would lief and fighting forest fires, is not be very telegenic. only further exacerbate their lost the primary role of the CAF. From a government public re- Major-General Dany Fortin will be revenue. The CAF personnel are just as Scott Taylor lations perspective, this has been commanding the Canadian military In terms of a medical chal- susceptible to the COVID-19 virus response team for the vaccine rollout, Inside Defence a very successful formula. The lenge, one of the biggest con- as the civilian population and CAF has earned the trust and but other than disciplined leadership, cerns will be in determining who their close proximity workspaces respect of the Canadian public what exactly is he contributing to the receives the vaccines first, and (ships, aircraft, barracks, etc.) TTAWA—Last week, it was to the point that simply handing vaccine distribution task force, asks who in turn is to wait in line the means that any outbreak could Oannounced that the Cana- over responsibility to the military Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph longest. spread through their ranks like a dian military has received formal and having an officer in uniform by Andrew Meade Despite his sterling career and wildfire. orders to participate in planning command the operation appeases many martial accomplishments The raison d’être of the CAF is the nationwide distribution of the our pandemic-fearing population. like Purolator, FedEx, UPS, and Fortin does not have a doctorate to provide a combat force capable COVID-19 vaccinations. The problem with this equa- DHL, just to name a few. of medical ethics on his resume. of defending Canada’s interests at In an interview with the Cana- tion is that the military solution to The military also does not pos- He is an artillery officer who home and abroad. dian Press, Chief of Defence Staff vaccine distribution provides little sess the specialized refrigeration commanded troops in Iraq. As much as it seems to reas- General Jonathan Vance admitted in the way of actual resources. equipment necessary to store and Of course, Fortin can add a ci- sure us to have a uniformed that long before the order was The challenge of rolling out transport some of the vaccines. vilian medical ethicist to his team soldier handing out vaccines, it delivered, the Canadian Armed vaccines across Canada is both It was reported that one asset but this is not currently a military would make more sense if that Forces had been preparing for logistical and medical. the CAF could use would be its profession. If Fortin is not a logis- same delivery were made by a such an eventuality. The military does have an en- fleet of cargo aircraft—either the tician nor a public health expert, guy in a Purolator jacket. It was also announced that tire logistics branch and a truck C-17 Globemasters or the C-130 other than disciplined leadership, Scott Taylor is the editor and Major-General Dany Fortin will fleet. However, they have nowhere Hercules—to rapidly deliver vac- what exactly is he contributing publisher of Esprit de Corps be commanding the Canadian near the distribution capacity of cines to Canada from either the to the vaccine distribution task magazine. military response team at Nation- existing private sector companies U.S. or Europe. force? The Hill Times

First, youth everywhere in Canada deserve access to high- Integrated Youth Services: a pan- quality, integrated mental health services and this should be even more widely recognized. All prov- inces and territories should be Canadian movement critical to supporting these services. Second, IYS is an ideal plat- form for delivery of psychological services for youth. This includes addressing youth mental health services for the full spectrum of early-intervention needs—including mild, moderate, and severe illness. he COVID-19 pandemic has Services (IYS) across Canada is formed a partnership in 2020 with Third, more work with First Youth everywhere Timpacted the mental health changing how, when, and where $10-million invested to develop Nations, Inuit, and Métis is need- of many Canadians and all signs young people receive mental IYS across Canada. ed to support the development of in Canada deserve point to a coming surge in the health care. But there is much The first pan-Canadian IYS culturally appropriate, holistic, access to high-quality, number of people needing sup- more to be done to drive this shift project was ACCESS Open Minds, and integrated systems of care for port. But even prior to COVID-19, forward. comprised of 16 sites across Indigenous youth. integrated mental society had many concerns about IYS approaches are designed Canada, including seven in Indig- The Government of Canada mental health care, especially for with close involvement of youth enous communities. The project is can play an important role in health services and this youth. and family carers so that ser- funded by the Canadian Institutes addressing these priorities by col- This is a critical age group, vices meet the needs of young of Health Research and GBF. laborating more with provinces should be even more when early intervention can people aged 12-25 with a focus on Several provinces also cre- and territories, philanthropy, widely recognized. make a profound difference. We equitable access. They take a ho- ated large-scale IYS initiatives and Indigenous peoples. Indeed, know that 75 per cent of mental listic view and offer a variety of in partnership with GBF. These the federal government’s role in All provinces and illnesses begin before age 25, and services including mental health, projects include Foundry in Brit- research, innovation, and knowl- that more than a million children, addictions, primary care, social ish Columbia, Youth Wellness edge sharing is crucial to improv- territories should youth, and young adults will need services, peer support, wellness Hubs Ontario and Aire ouverte ing IYS. mental health support every year. programs, and virtual care. The in Québec, with each initiative Along with governments, be supporting these However, only around 20 per cent services are designed to flex with active in multiple communities. many other organizations share receive adequate care. In many the intensity and type of service Manitoba is also supporting a the goal of helping our youth services. cases, youth and families do not needed so that youth can receive new IYS initiative. thrive, regardless of their cir- know where to find help. They the right service, at the right time. All told, IYS is being devel- cumstances. By combining and face a fragmented system with IYS features a one-stop-shop oped in more than 55 communi- expanding our knowledge and re- large service gaps and long wait model, known as youth hubs. ties, with another 65 commu- sources and supporting integrated times. These hubs offer youth-friendly nities expected to follow over approaches, we will be far more Given these challenges and the services, accessed at a single the next two to three years. able to address the serious mental large numbers of youth that need location and free of charge. Data Moreover, the flexibility of IYS health challenges that our youth help, how can we ensure that collection and research are also models allows implementation face every day. young people get the support they an important component. in urban, rural, and Indigenous Ian Boeckh is the president need? The answer is to deliver a To nurture and drive these contexts. of the Graham Boeckh Founda- holistic suite of easily accessible projects forward, the Graham The speed with which IYS is tion, a private family foundation and evidence-informed services Boeckh Foundation (GBF) has developing is a hopeful sign. But that works across Canada to Ian Boeckh to youth close to where they live. co-developed IYS initiatives with for IYS to achieve its full poten- transform youth mental health We are making progress. The multiple governments. In ad- tial, three important policy priori- services. Opinion emergence of Integrated Youth dition, GBF and Bell Let’s Talk ties need to be addressed. The Hill Times 12 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion New bill seeks to ensure that victims’ rights are being respected

Lisa Freeman, Bill S-219 is essential who became a victim's rights in order to respect, advocate after strengthen, and her father was tragically adequately protect murdered in 1991, the rights of victims approached Conservative of crime, which have MP Colin Carrie with the idea been so difficult to of creating a obtain. bill that would provide clarity on how the Parole Board and Corrections set the eligibility dates for offenders. Photograph courtesy of Sen. Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu's office

Conservative Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu Opinion n Dec. 1, I presented Bill OS-219—An Act to Amend the that would provide clarity on how Corrections and Conditional Re- the Parole Board and CSC set the lease Act (disclosure of informa- eligibility dates for offenders. tion to victims), alongside Conser- She expressed her frustration vative Oshawa, Ont., MP Colin concerning the lack of transpar- Carrie and Lakeland, Alta., MP ency experienced from the Parole Shannon Stubbs, public safety Board when she should have been and emergency preparedness kept properly updated on the critic for the official opposition. status of the man convicted of her It was an honour to be joined father’s murder. by two families who are victims’ “Families such as mine are rights advocates; Lisa Freeman, plunged, unasked, into unfathom- who became a victim’s rights able situations, and then further advocate after her father was demoralized and retraumatized tragically murdered in 1991, and by the actions of government Darlene Ryan and Bruno Serre, institutions that say they are sup- the family of Brigitte Serre, who portive of victims of crime, which was brutally murdered in 2006. is at best, an illusion. … Under Faced with the Liberal govern- the appearance of rehabilita- ment’s poor record over the last tion, victims of crime often have six years in enforcing and up- to stand back and watch while Conservative MP Colin Carrie was approached by Bruno Serre and Darlene Ryan, the family of murder holding victims’ rights under the violent offenders exercise their constituent Lisa Freeman about the need for more victim Brigitte Serre, joined Parliamentarians on Dec. Canadian Victims Bill of Rights, rights, which, as most victims of transparency. Photograph courtesy of Sen. Pierre-Hugues 1 for a press conference about Bill S-219. Photograph we have decided to take action to crime find, are nothing more than Boisvenu's office courtesy of Sen. Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu's office address our concerns and those a mockery of justice and basic of victims and families in a clear common sense.” Conservative fashion by introducing Bill S-219. Stubbs stated: “Conserva- MP Shannon Bill S-219 is essential in tives have always put the rights Stubbs is her order to respect, strengthen, and of law-abiding citizens ahead of party’s public adequately protect the rights of criminals and will continue to safety and victims of crime, which have been do so. Victims of crime and their emergency so difficult to obtain. This new loved ones can be confident that preparedness legislation would also require the we will continue to stand up for critic. Parole Board of Canada (PBC) their right to be heard, and to Photograph and the Correctional Service of participate, in criminal and parole courtesy of Canada (CSC) to comply with proceedings. This change is one of Sen. Pierre- federal legislation, obliging them many that can help ensure a bet- Hugues to inform victims and families ter balance in the justice system. Boisvenu's of victims of crime about the The rights of victims and law- office eligibility of offenders concern- abiding, innocent Canadians must ing dates of reviews, temporary come first.” absences, parole, or statutory While working on this bill, release. Carrie expressed his concern Bill S-219 was originally with the criminal justice system introduced in the House of Com- and how the victims of crime mons by Carrie in the previous and their families are being too Parliament in 2019 and received frequently forgotten. “Often, the support from other opposition institutions that are supposed to Finally, the purpose of this bill victims and families of victims of Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu is a parties, and has now been reintro- be looking out for those who are is to fully apply and respect the crime have transparency about Conservative Senator represent- duced in the Upper Chamber. impacted by the actions of violent right to information, enshrined the information they are entitled ing Quebec. He is the father of Freeman is a constituent of offenders are the ones who create in the Canadian Victims Bill of to receive. It’s another step to- Julie Boisvenu, who was mur- Carrie’s. She approached him a cycle of revictimization and suf- Rights, which must continue to wards equity between the rights dered in 2002. with the idea of creating a bill fering for survivors.” be improved. This bill will ensure of victims and those of criminals. The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020 13 News

mittee participants of the technical rules to follow to ensure good interpretation “10-20 Francophone MPs ‘feel some times a week.” “Working in French in the House of Commons should go without saying. Re- spect for our rights as francophones is at discrimination’ over translation stake.” The matter, including a letter with a breakdown on language use during com- mittee proceedings and suggested solu- issues, says Bloc Whip tions, like adopting videoconferencing best practices, and ways to try to mitigate audio quality issues was referred to the House Can you hear Liaison Committee on Dec. 3. me now? The The letter also confirmed the House ad- Bloc Québécois' ministration now has the issue on its radar representative and “will be continuing to raise the matter at the House internally to further help mitigate these Board of Internal issues,” according to Heather Bradley, com- Economy, munications director to the House Speaker. pictured during As committees are masters of their own its Dec. 3 destinies, it’ll be up to each to consider and meeting, recently decide whether to adopt any new proce- raised concerns dures to ensure MPs are able to work, and over perceived be understood, in the language of their language choice. discrimination Some ideas floated by BOIE members on the part of during its deliberations included applying francophone similar standards for sound equipment as MPs as a result exist around attire. of translation “We could even apply some rough-and- issues during ready rules and tell those who don’t have hybrid meetings. the right headset that they simply can’t Screenshot speak. … As an MP, I’m required to wear courtesy of ParlVu a tie, and I’m also required to wear my headset. Otherwise, I don’t have the right how to change the interpretation channel lack of proper equipment on the part of a to speak. I think we should give this some Since hybrid committee is another,” noted Ms. DeBellefeuille on witness cause translation issues in both consideration,” suggested Conservative Nov. 26. directions. At one point, issues with French House Leader Gérard Deltell (Louis-Saint- meetings began on Sept. “When a witness gives evidence in translation led to Bloc MP Mariléne Gill Laurent, Que.) during a Nov. 26 BOIE French and no English interpretation is (Manicouagan, Que.) being asked to pose meeting. 23, 86 per cent of witness available, there’s sure to be a point of order her question in English so the witness “It’s a bit awkward to do this when it’s interventions have been in within 30 seconds to correct the situation,” could understand. a witness, but we can certainly call out a she said, whereas francophone MPs have “It’s unacceptable for francophone MPs colleague” who appears before committee English, with 14 per cent in had to compromise in cases where inter- to be told they can’t ask their questions in with inadequate sound equipment, he said. pretation has failed. French,” said Ms. DeBellefeuille told the In response to an interview request, French, according to the Ms. Debellefeuille flagged a Nov. 25 BOIE. Conservative Whip Blake Richards (Banff- meeting of the House Citizenship and She said she had “no complaints about Airdrie, Alta.) said by email that “Members House administration’s Immigration Committee as an example. the House administration; quite the con- must be able to fully participate in the findings. In that case, Immigration Minister Marco trary,” but more needs to be done to “make House and in committees in the official Mendicino (Elginton-Lawrence, Ont.) ap- the committee chairs more aware of the language of their choice.” peared to discuss the main estimates but situation.” “There have been many instances did not have a proper headset, leading to Excluding the House Official Languag- where things have been paused to sort out Continued from page 1 general audio issues, including the commit- es Committee, so far this year only 16 per translation issues in both languages and to send headsets to “all witnesses who need tee clerk flagging that the “audio quality is cent of interventions—that is, instances of it’s important that we get it right,” read the them” ahead of committee testimony to not sufficient for interpretation.” an MP or witness speaking—during com- email. ensure interpretation can take place. “If Ms. Normandin, our spokesper- mittee meetings were in French, according His office did not respond to follow-up However, House clerk assistant Eric son, had been a unilingual francophone to an analysis by the House administra- questions. Janse warned on Nov. 19 that “if a witness is MP and had not understood anything in tion, compared to 12 per cent in 2018 and Liberal Whip Mark Holland (Ajax, Ont.) invited at the last moment, it is simply not English, what would have happened?” Ms. 2019. At the Official Languages Commit- also provided an email response to an possible, even with the process we have es- DeBellefeuille asked the BOIE on Nov. 26. tee, that number is higher, with 87 per interview request, writing, “We continue tablished, to send them by private couriers,” “It’s easier for the technicians to tell the cent of its meetings in 2020 conducted in to support the work of the House admin- which enables the administration to send witnesses to speak English, because then French. istration and believe it is imperative that headsets to witnesses in “about 90 per cent” they don’t have to do anything with the Since Sept. 23, 65 per cent of witnesses interpretation services be available, when of the country within 24 to 48 hours. Under interpretation channel, which we all agree have spoken in English only, while eight and as needed, to all Members so that they the agreement to allow for hybrid House pro- has been a problem and a hindrance.” per cent have spoken in French only. Twen- can do their work in either of the two of- ceedings in light of COVID-19, all witnesses At committee and during hybrid House ty-seven per cent spoke in both languages, ficial languages.” are required to appear by videoconference. sittings, MPs and witnesses are required and one witness spoke in a language other NDP Whip Rachel Blaney (North In follow-up information described pub- to switch channels based on the language than French or English. Overall, 86 per cent Island-Powell River, B.C.) was also not licly by Ms. DeBellefeuille on Nov. 26, she they are speaking—with English, French, of witness interventions at committee were available for interview, and there was no noted the administration reported having and “floor” channels available—which itself in English, with 14 per cent in French. response to an interview request from sent 400 headsets to witnesses, covering can cause technical problems, confusion, “We are working to educate our col- the caucus’ lone Quebec MP, Alexandre approximately 20 per cent of witnesses and delays. leagues and Chamber staff about these Boulerice (Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, since hybrid meetings began on Sept. 23. In another case she flagged, the House issues,” said Ms. DeBellefeuille in an email Que.). “The headset problems are one thing, Fisheries Committee’s meeting on Mi’kmaq response to The Hill Times in French, add- [email protected] but trying to get witnesses to understand treaty fishing rights on Nov. 25 saw a ing it’s “not normal” to have to remind com- The Hill Times We The 2021 GLC at Star Motors. The best-selling favourite raises the SUV benchmarks yet again.

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ISG Senator ‘It’s not about us’: Senator Pat Duncan put forward a notice of motion on Dec. 1, saying presses colleagues to ‘lead that Senators in the Chamber or committee rooms should by example’ and make wear a mask ‘at all times’ unless speaking. Photograph masks mandatory in the courtesy of Sen. Pat Duncan’s Chamber, committees office

It’s about the people around us. have been stationed in physically Though the motion It’s not about us.” distanced positions, and handed Public health agencies across revised tasks and procedures to is unlikely to pass the country, including Canada’s minimize close interaction, he quickly, ISG Senator Chief Public Health Officer said. Theresa Tam, have stressed the Pat Duncan says importance of face masks as a Senate should be key tool to prevent the spread of the ‘urgency’ of the COVID-19, coupled with other proactive, Sen. Cordy says safety measures like social dis- Sen. Cordy called Sen. Dun- situation warrants tancing. can’s approach a reasonable com- Plett (Landmark, Man.) said he Yuen Pau Woo (British Colum- debate. In October, the House of Com- promise, given the motion says wouldn’t support it. bia) and Senator Raymonde mons said it would start installing Senators can remove the mask “If that were the rule, I would Saint-Germain (De la Vallière, plexiglass barriers in the Cham- when speaking. deal with it. Even though I don’t Que.)—declined to comment, and Continued from page 1 ber’s opposition lobby following Canadian Senators Group Leader Ross Ryan, press secretary to complaints from pages that some PSG Scott Tannas (Alberta) did not Sen. Furey (Newfoundland and MPs were flouting the rules in that Senator respond by deadline. Labrador). space, according to CBC News, Jane It’s also not the first time face “However, they are recom- including not keeping distance Cordy masks have become a subject of mended in these areas if physical or wearing masks. The House says she controversy in the Upper Cham- distancing is not possible,” he said guidelines adopted by the Board hopes the ber. On Nov. 5, Conservative by email, noting that the Senate of Internal Economy require MPs motion Senator Yonah Martin (British has made it mandatory for any to wear a mask only if physical passes Columbia), the caucus’ deputy person—including Senators—to distancing is not possible in the quickly leader, complained about a mask wear masks in common areas in Chamber, lobbies, and their offices. and being worn by Independent Sena- the Senate precinct. The policy, as written, also doesn’t becomes tor Marilou McPhedran (Mani- require them to wear masks in a rule. The toba) that displayed her support committee rooms either, but sig- Hill Times for a bill before the Chamber. nage and placards in the meeting photograph Parliamentary practice does rooms state that MPs need to be by Andrew not allow the use of exhibits and wearing masks unless they are sit- Meade props, said Sen. Martin in her ting, according to Heather Bradley, point of order before asking Sen. director of communications for the Furey to rule. House Speaker. “We should always put “To further promote a safe “This is a workplace and I agree with it, I would follow the forward our positions through and healthy work environment, think we have to be responsible to rules,” he said. “I believe I need to words, through debate, and not there is ongoing dialogue with protect others as well as our- follow the rules, but I also believe through the use of props,” said House Administration staff about selves,” she said, especially when that I can be outspoken when Sen. Martin. best practices and protocols. In the Senate staff are going “above I believe that they don’t make In response, Sen. McPhedran Senate Speaker George Furey was an extreme situation, staff may and beyond.” Both Senators come sense and are not scientific.” pointed to the common practice praised by his colleague for leading withdraw from any situation they from regions where they said by example, and overseeing Senate feel is unsafe and speak with they’re sensitive to the risk of Conservative proceedings with a mask on, even their supervisor immediately,” Ms. bringing infection in, though with Senate while speaking. The Hill Times Bradley wrote in a Dec. 8 email. the Senate now holding hybrid Leader Don photograph by Andrew Meade There have been cases in the sittings, Sen. Cordy said she’s Plett says Senate that are cause for similar thankful she won’t need to leave he doesn’t It’s become “very clear” that concern, said both Sen. Duncan the Atlantic region to be present support the there needed to be a discussion and Progressive Senate Group for Senate business. motion and about the masks, said Sen. Dun- leader Jane Cordy (Nova Scotia). Sen. Furey is providing a good declined to can, who said there have been Citing confidentiality reasons, example, keeping his mask on comment times she felt Senators should Mr. Ryan said he couldn’t say as he oversees proceedings, she beyond his be wearing masks when they whether there have been any said, making it evident that the comments weren’t. She’s less focused on complaints regarding mask usage Chamber can still hear him. Sen. in the whether the motion will lead to or people not observing proper Duncan, too, said she wore a Chamber last a rule change, and more hope- distance. mask while speaking after going week. The ful the debate pushes Senators He stressed the well-being of without during her first speech Hill Times individually to step up. parliamentary personnel is the back in the Chamber and feeling photograph The former Yukon premier said “highest priority.” uncomfortable. by Andrew her decade in the territorial legis- In March, the Senate brought Sen. Cordy agreed that it’s Meade lature made her used to an “agile in preventative measures to limit unlikely the motion will pass environment,” but the December access to the Senate precinct and quickly, although that’s her pref- 2018 appointee said her short he said more have since been erence. Asked for further comment on of wearing pins or scarves or time in the Red Chamber has added, including increased clean- “I think the motion at least fo- his and the Conservative caucus’ clothes in a particular colour to taught her that change takes time ing in the Senate Chamber and cuses the attention on the need to position, Sen. Plett’s aide said signify support for an issue, but in the Senate. other high-traffic areas; disinfec- be proactive and the need to show his comments stand. During the Sen. Furey agreed she should “We don’t pivot as easily,” she tion of all Senators’ desks, chairs, leadership,” said Sen. Cordy, who intervention, he told the Chamber remove her mask in this instance. said, but Senators should not earpieces, and microphones said she’s pleased her 11-mem- he “faithfully” puts his mask on “If it’s not being used to il- require of others what they aren’t before and after sittings; hand ber group has been consistently when he walks in the hallway of lustrate or promote a remark or doing themselves. sanitizer stations throughout the wearing masks in the Chamber. his condominium building be- a point of view of a Senator, it’s “The pages and all of the Sen- building; and additional signage It’s already sparked some cause it’s the rule and the law. not a prop—unless somebody ate clerks and Chamber officers indicating key health and safety discussion, Sen. Duncan noted, “Decisions need to be based on complains about it, and then we’ll are wearing masks,” she said. measures. who hopes it will again this week science, and then I want to follow have to have another look at it,” “I certainly have tremendous More steps have been taken with the Chamber scheduled to them,” he said. he said. concerns about health and safety, to protect pages, whose numbers sit. The same day of the motion, Both of the Independent Sena- [email protected] in their workplaces and generally. have been reduced per shift. They Conservative Senate Leader Don tor Group’s facilitators—Senator The Hill Times The Hill Times | Dec. 9, 2020 NATURAL RESOURCES POLICY BRIEFING

Changing dynamics need changing focus in natural While building resource sector back better we p. 18 need #naturenow p. 22

Renewables are driving a clean and just recovery Rethinking towards a low- resources towards zero- carbon economy carbon next- p. 19 generation cities p. 23 16 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Natural Resources Policy Briefing Feds’ tree-planting program faces hurdles, with many questions left unanswered, say experts

Environment and pal or private, to plant trees,” Prof. ‘Just planting the trees Climate Change Minister Innes said. Jonathan Wilkinson, Garth Frizzell, president of the isn’t enough, they have along with Prime Minster Canadian Federation of Munici- Justin Trudeau and now palities and a city councillor in to be looked after, Infrastructure Minister Prince George, B.C., said in an particularly in urban Catherine McKenna, is email to The Hill Times that mu- pictured announcing nicipalities are “ready and eager situations,’ says UBC the government’s plan to do our part to build a greener, to reach carbon net-zero more sustainable Canada and professor John Innes. ‘A by 2050 at Ottawa's strengthen our country’s natural Ornamental Gardens on infrastructure, including by help- lot of the effectiveness Nov. 19. A 2019 study ing to plant two billion trees.” led by Thomas Crowther Cost sharing with other juris- of this program will in Zurich claimed that dictions and organizations will be dependent on the an additional 500-billion also be important, as it’s unlikely trees could remove that the allotted $3.2-billion will aftercare.’ two-thirds of all carbon actually get two billion trees, sug- produced since the gested Prof. Innes. industrial revolution. The Continued from page 1 Seedlings can be purchased Hill Times photograph by for cheap, but in order to plant as part of a “commitment to better Andrew Meade a viable tree in an urban area, conserve and restore forests, that tree will need to have grown grasslands, agricultural lands, wet- enough to be able to withstand lands, and coastal areas.” It was Urban sites should be priori- 2005 levels by 2030 in the Paris planting trees as long as you’re an urban environment, mak- also included in Natural Resource tized, Prof. Duinker suggested, Agreement. Canada is currently planting them where they should ing it more expensive, said Prof. Minister Seamus O’Regan’s (St. but not because of differences in on track to fall at least 15 per cent be planted,” he said. Duinker. John’s South-Mount Pearl, Nfld.) carbon sequestration. short of that promise, according Focusing on afforestation will “We generally plant them mandate letter. When Mr. Trudeau “A gram of carbon sequestered to a 2019 UN report. ensure the program is additive, [urban trees] as balled and bur- first made the promise in Septem- by trees in the deep wilderness John Innes, professor and Prof. Duinker said. Otherwise, lapped trees that might be three ber 2019, he said it would create has the same positive effect on dean of forestry at the Univer- he said, it would likely not be a metres tall and have been grow- about 3,000 new jobs, and though the atmosphere as a gram of sity of British Columbia, said worthwhile endeavour. Around ing in the nursery for five to 10 the fall update made no mention carbon captured by urban trees. given how long it takes trees to 600 million trees are already years,” he said. of potential jobs created, it styled However, the other benefits or grow, tree-planting efforts won’t planted per year in Canada. The program will also need the program as also intended to values of trees are overwhelming- make much of a contribution to The amount of carbon seques- to ensure the trees are properly “create jobs in the clean economy.” ly greater for urban trees rather Canada’s 2030 climate targets. By tered shouldn’t be the only factor cared for in the years after they’re The economic statement than rural trees,” he said. 2050 and beyond, however, they and will have to be balanced planted, said Prof. Ensminger. delivered on Nov. 30 showed the A June 2020 review of 201 could make a “significant contri- against how fire-prone a particu- “You just don’t go out and and feds plan to spend $1.3-billion on studies across the world—exclud- bution,” he said. lar species is, Prof. Innes said. For plant two billion tree seedlings, the 10-year program by 2025- ing Africa—by the International regions that deal because that’s just a plan to fail. 26, with an initial $71-million Journal of Environmental Re- with forest fires There’s a lot more involved,” he said. coming in 2021-22. The program search and Public Health on how “the last thing Prof. Duinker also noted there will significantly scale up by trees benefit human health found they want to do is no general answer as to how spending $209-million in 2021- trees help decrease stormwater is plant fire- many trees can reasonably be 23, followed by $301-million in runoff, reduce the “heat island prone trees,” he expected to survive. 2023-24, $357-million in 2024-25, effect” (cities are hotter than said. “Competition from other and $372-million in 2025-26. Over outlying areas because urban in- “They have plants and herbivory by animals ten years, “up to” $3.16-billion in frastructure absorbs and re-emits to plan it really are critical stressors on planted federal funding will be provided heat), lower the prevalence of carefully and en- seedlings. Sometimes plantings for the program. respiratory problems by removing sure that they’re have survival rates of one in 10— The federal government, air pollutants, provide a range of dealing with this is disastrous, but it occurs. through Natural Resources mental health benefits, and more. fire-smart plan- Planted trees need good growing Canada, plans on partnering with Different kinds of trees thrive ning,” he said. conditions and protection. If both other jurisdictions, non-govern- better in different areas. Natu- “It depends on of these can’t be assured, trees mental organizations, and Indig- ral Resources Canada divides the situation, but should not be planted,” he said. enous communities to administer Canada into 15 terrestrial eco- broadleaves— “You can talk about plant- the program, according to the zones and further subdivides it other than ing trees, but really what you’re statement. into 53 eco-provinces and 194 Eucalyptus— wanting to do is grow trees. Just But experts say that while the eco-regions. tend to be less planting the trees isn’t enough, promise is well intentioned and “Regardless of the level in the prone to burning they have to be looked after, could achieve both reductions in hierarchy, each unit is distin- than coniferous. particularly in urban situations,” carbon emissions and improve- guished from others by its unique Coniferous will Prof. Innes said. “A lot of the ef- ments in overall quality of life for mosaic of plants, wildlife, climate, grow faster, but fectiveness of this program will Canadians, it will face big eco- landforms, and human activities,” the broadleaves be dependent on the aftercare.” logical and logistical hurdles in the department’s website states. Prof. Ensminger said it will are more fire-resistant.” Drone technology can help such a short timeframe. Questions Certain regions and climates be important to balance fast- and The program will also run into reduce some of the physical like where the planting will take are better suited for fast-growing slow-growing trees in planting, jurisdictional issues, because the burden tree planting and tree place, what kinds of trees will be trees, while others are better which he said shouldn’t be dif- federal government “can’t just go care require, said Prof. Innes. planted, who will be responsible suited for slow-growing trees. ficult to achieve with such a large and plant trees other than on fed- For example, a drone could do for planting, and how trees will A fast-growing tree, such as number of trees. eral lands,” Prof. Innes warned. the “initial reconnaissance” to be cared for after being planted certain coniferous, are better for Another key consideration The vast majority—more than determine an appropriate site and remain unanswered. quickly sequestering carbon out when it comes to the feds’ prom- 75 per cent—of Canada’s forest deliver the seedlings. “It would be unfair not to lavish of the atmosphere, but they also ise is the need to focus on affor- footprint is owned by provincial “You can also use drones the riches of this program some- die quicker. Slow-growing trees, estation rather than reforestation, governments, according to Natural afterwards to assess the suc- what equitably across the 10 prov- like oak, take time to sequester Prof. Duinker said. Afforestation Resources Canada. Territorial gov- cess, because you’ve got an exact inces and two territories,” said Peter a meaningful amount of carbon, refers to planting trees where ernments own nearly 13 per cent, location of where each tree was Duinker, a professor emeritus at the but store much more carbon over they haven’t been growing for private interests own a little more planted,” he said. They can be school of resource and environmen- time, said Ingo Ensminger, an as- some time, whereas reforestation than six per cent, Indigenous com- used to monitor germination, tal studies at Dalhousie University. sociate professor of ecology at the is planting trees where they grow munities own two per cent, and plant damage, and more. Prof. Duinker said he thinks Nuna- University of Toronto who runs a naturally and would be replaced the federal government owns just “There’s a lot of things you vut would probably not be targeted research lab on plant biology. by nature. 1.6 per cent of Canada’s forests— could use the drone for, in terms of because of its climate. “If you want quick effects, you “Lets make sure we’re not the lowest of any jurisdiction. monitoring the growth of trees, that “Every province has good would go with fast-growing spe- doing what Mother Nature would “The jurisdiction is going to be would be much faster and more growing ground for trees, but not cies,” he said. do for us,” said NDP MP Richard quite difficult. The way that they effective than doing on the ground every corner of every large prov- The federal government Cannings (South Okanagan- are most likely to get buy-in is by surveys with people,” he said. ince would be good for growing committed to reducing carbon West Kootenay, B.C.) his party’s offering grants to organizations, [email protected] trees,” he said. emissions by 30 per cent below natural resource critic. “I’m all for whether it be provincial, munici- The Hill Times 12-03-20_TheHillTimes_Full-Page10.375x13.5.pdf 1 2020-12-03 11:53:58 AM

Canada’s Forests: Powering Green Growth and a Lower-Carbon Economy

Canada’s forestry workers are ready to kickstart economic recovery. We have over     that are ready to go, right here in Canada.

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Forest Products Assocation of Canada Association des produits forestiers du Canada 18 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Natural Resources Policy Briefing

per, and renewable technologies and storage solutions will require Changing dynamics need changing rarer metals such as lithium, graphite, cadmium, and cobalt, as well as base metals such as nickel, lead, and zinc. The projected focus in natural resource sector demand for most of these mineral resources is rising faster than the global environmental concerns have demand for fossil fuels is falling. We live in interesting significantly changed the dynamics Finally, forestry is also becom- of this critical sector. ing recognized as a key contributor times, and changes The oil and gas industry has to our fight to reduce greenhouse seen most of the headlines in this gases. Globally, forests sequester in resource prices, regard, with prices tumbling to about one-third of human-pro- international trade negative territory earlier in 2020 duced carbon dioxide each year, before climbing to about two-thirds and the Canadian Forest Service tactics, technological of pre-COVID levels. New projects has advanced modelling programs are not viable at these prices and that can help us develop best innovations, and those prices are unlikely to rise practices for harvest techniques significantly over the next 30 years. across the country that can maxi- global environmental The recent report by the Canada mize emission reductions. One of concerns have Energy Regulator on Canada’s the most important factors in that Energy Future 2020 for the first The best path for climate action in the forest sector is to use sustainably is what we do with the wood we significantly changed time posted scenarios based on as- harvested logs to manufacture more mass timber products for use in large harvest. If it is turned into two-by- sumptions that Canada would actu- buildings, writes Richard Cannings. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay fours, it has a half-life of about 35 the dynamics. ally act to meet its Paris Agreement years, but if it is turned into wood climate obligations. That “evolving Métis Association, recently opened per cent of our overall greenhouse pellets for energy production, that scenario” clearly shows that two a 5,760-panel solar farm that meets gas emissions, and the best way to carbon is released into the atmo- pipeline expansion projects—the 25 per cent of the community’s tackle reductions there is through sphere in only a few months. Trans Mountain Expansion and energy needs and replaces 800,000 energy efficiency. Efficiency The best path for climate ac- Keystone XL—will not be needed litres of diesel per year. Other First Canada laid out a pre-budget 2020 tion in the forest sector is to use at all by Canadian exporters if we Nations communities are engaged strategy for some $25-billion in in- sustainably harvested logs to are serious about climate action. in similar projects to replace vestments in deep retrofits in build- manufacture more mass timber To decarbonize the Canadian diesel generators with renewable ings of all sizes, but in the recent fall products for use in large build- energy sector, we must increase energies such as solar, wind, and economic statement, the govern- ings. Not only would this create the use of electricity across the biofuels. The federal government is ment’s response was timid at best. more jobs for workers in rural country—powering vehicles, heat- touting experimental, small modu- Its answer was basically a revival Canada for each tree cut, it would NDP MP Richard Cannings ing homes, and running factories. lar nuclear reactors to play this of the Conservative’s ecoENERGY also produce beautiful, safe build- Opinion And that electricity must be clean, role, but First Nations governments program, which, while welcome ings that can stand for a century without greenhouse gas emis- have rejected that strategy—they news to homeowners who might or more. The government should sions. The cost of renewables— want technologies that they can access those funds, represents only support this new technology with anada’s natural resources have especially wind and solar—has develop and manage themselves, about one-tenth the amount we procurement strategies that will Calways been the backbone of our dropped drastically in the last providing local jobs and reliable need to be spending in the coming grow the engineered wood pro- national economy, supporting work- decade to the point where they energy at a low cost. years to do the heavy lifting needed ducers that have made significant ers and rural communities across are the cheapest source of energy Any strategy for electrification to reach net-zero by 2050. investments across the country. the country, while driving central in the world. must have efficiency at its heart, The mining industry will be Richard Cannings is the MP financial markets. But we live in Three Nations Energy, a joint since there is simply no way we can one of the most important sectors for South Okanagan–West Koote- interesting times, and changes in re- venture of the Mikisew Cree First reach the needed levels of power in the global effort against climate nay, B.C., and the NDP critic for source prices, international trade tac- Nation, Athabasca Chipewyan First generation without it. Energy use change. Electrification projects natural resources. tics, technological innovations, and Nation, and the Fort Chipewyan in buildings makes up 30 or 40 will require vast amounts of cop- The Hill Times

Resource sector making progress on reconciliation

he resource sector is moving hand that will create a road map to move Indigenous peoples is a business Collin and Michael L. Rice explored The Truth and Tin hand with Indigenous peoples forward with Baffinland’s iron asset isn’t unique to the mining and this topic in their Macdonald-Lauri- in Canada and the outcomes will be ore mine. Royalties from the mine energy sector. The recent announce- er Institute (MLI) paper Evening the Reconciliations theirs to own together—literally. will increase to three per cent over ment of fishing giant Clearwater’s Odds: Giving Indigenous Ventures From early equity to preferred the next five years. Baffinland has billion-dollar sale to a coalition of Access to the Full Financial Toolkit. Commission’s procurement, Canada’s resource committed to local employment Mi’kmaq First Nations in partner- Sharleen Gale has also unpacked it Call to Action 92 sector has been making strides and procurement opportunities, ship with Premium Brands Hold- in a 2018 Globe and Mail op-ed, as toward implementing the Truth and backstopped by a $10-million bond. ings Corporation shows this is just have publications by the National implored the private Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Several weeks ago, Golden the beginning of a Canada-wide Aboriginal Capital Corporations Action 92 (CTA 92), which implores Predator Mining announced full-scale private resource sector Associations and the Canadian sector to bring the private sector to bring recon- the completion of its 2020 drill realignment towards CTA 92. Council for Aboriginal Business. ciliation into policy and operational program—an activity enabled by And there’s more to come. This Panellists on an MLI webcast this reconciliation into frameworks. This trend will set the their socio-economic accord with past October, the First Nations Major past September also shared ideas policy and operational stage for the future of domestic re- Tr’ondëk Hwëchin First Nation. Project’s Coalition’s Annual Report about capital. It’s a known problem source development and will change There’s a common narrative noted it will be releasing new ideas with plenty of space for private- frameworks, which the value propositions of projects arc here: industry and communi- about how First Nations can work sector and market-led solutions. from something done by companies ties win by working together. with investors and companies to At this point, it’s becoming the resource sector and investors “to” communities, to This trend will almost certainly define Environment, Social, and cliché to say good relationships business-driven outcomes achieved continue into the future and First Governance (ESG) standards. ESGs with Indigenous peoples are good has been acting on. “with” communities. Nations are gearing up for it. are defining investment trends business. That’s a good thing. Buried under the headlines This year, Waubetek, a business around the world—Bank of America It means CTA 92 is becoming a of contentious battles related to development corporation serving referred to a “tsunami” of capital normalized and embedded part energy and mining are a plethora 27 First Nations along the north moving into ESG assets—and a First of Canada’s business culture. And of positive CTA 92 stories over shore of Lake Huron, announced Nations voice in setting standards as we head into post-pandemic the last few years. an agreement with Laurentian in Canada is another positive step economic recovery, it means the For instance, a high-voltage University to create a Centre of down the road of CTA 92. ESG as- resource sector will be leading the transmission line completed in Excellence for Indigenous Mineral sets are currently worth more than pack in helping to close the socio- 2019 from Wabamun to Fort Mc- Development. Rio Tinto has agreed $40.5-trillion globally and there is economic gap between Indigenous Murray, Alta., was completed with to contribute $1-million over the a real opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians. 20 First Nations across the route next five years to the school. Going peoples and corporate Canada to Dan Pujdak is a senior fellow at approving the project. Today, a con- forward, First Nations in the region create a positive investment-driven the Macdonald-Laurier Institute sortium of seven First Nations now will be poised to be more than feedback loop that reflects the sub- and a former policy director to the Dan Pujdak owns 40 per cent of the project. simply “employed” by the mining stantial value of their partnerships. Crown-Indigenous relations min- Opinion This past July, the Qikqitani sector—they’ll be ready to run it. The trends are positive, but ister, for whom he worked overall Inuit Association signed an agree- It’s a good win-win for the sector. there’s still work to be done regard- from early 2016 to early 2019. ment worth more than $1-billion The idea that partnerships with ing access to capital. Dominique The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020 19 Policy BriefingNatural Resources

investment in fossil fuel development. Further, experts agree that overall, clean R&D is more Renewables are driving a clean and just effective than general R&D and clean con- nectivity infrastructure is more effective than traditional transport infrastructure. recovery towards a low-carbon economy The stars are aligning for a clean and just recovery: public buy-in, support from such as COVID-19. Activities which lead to cli- The recovery must generate sustainable business and community leaders, back- While major oil companies mate change, along with climate change itself, gains over time, distribute social benefits ing from economists, and precedent set are major contributors to our current situa- equitably and respect the ecological limits by other jurisdictions. This is an opportu- operating in Canada tion. For example, encroachment into wildlife of the planet we inhabit by reimagining nity to fend off the current economic and habitats and factory farming increase the the ways we produce, store, transmit, and environmental crises and to strengthen our are laying off rather proximity of humans to animals and pollution use energy. A well-designed clean and just institutions so that we can meet inevitable than creating jobs, the increases the severity of illnesses. recovery allows the private sector to effi- future pandemics as well as the ongoing A clean and just recovery targets stimu- ciently converge on the most cost-effective climate change emergency with resilience. renewables and clean lus towards sectors of the economy that method while being held accountable for Rosa Galvez is an engineer and expert contribute to environmental protection, as their environmental and social impacts in pollution who serves as an Independent technology sector has well as improve the well-being of Cana- through conditionality and transparency. Senator for Quebec. She chaired the Commit- dians and help Canada meet its net-zero If we have learned from previous crises, tee on Energy, the Environment, and Natural demonstrated its resilience emissions target by latest 2050. the recovery stage of our response must im- Resources in the 42nd Parliament and current- in the face of crises. It encourages the development and con- prove upon the foundations of our economy ly serves on the Senate’s National Finance struction of low-carbon energy sources, rather for it to become truly resilient and prosperous. Committee, which oversaw the federal eco- than keeping wasting subsidies on high-risk Those who invested in “green recoveries” after nomic response to the COVID-19 pandemic. fossil fuels. It incentivizes the construction of the 2008 crisis recovered quickly, attaining She recently published a white paper entitled energy-efficient buildings and retrofitting old low unemployment rates and high economic Building Forward Better: A Clean and Just ones to use less energy rather than business- rebounds. Investments in renewable energy Recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic. as-usual construction methods. and efficiency also create more jobs than The Hill Times

Independent Senator Rosa Galvez Opinion

here is a clear and urgent need to Thasten the transition to a low-carbon economy. Indeed, the transition we sorely needed over the past few decades has been WHAT’S so delayed and unenthusiastic that we now INSIDE? require a transformation in order to meet our Paris Agreement commitments, includ- ing limiting dangerous warming to 1.5 C. Nonetheless, the clean energy sector C has demonstrated its value and capacity for CARBON growth. Fantastic new solar power generation facilities in Alberta will provide electricity for less than five cents per kWh—below that of natural gas. Wind generation has undergone H a similar trajectory with costs dropping by 70 HYDROGEN per cent over the past decade, positioning it as the lowest-cost subsidy-free option for new electricity supply. Together, the two sources have doubled their share of the global power mix in only the last five years. Cu While major oil companies operating in COPPER Canada are laying off rather than creating jobs, the renewables and clean technology sector has demonstrated its resilience in the face of crises through exceptional financial Li performance even throughout the pandemic. LITHIUM For example, as of this week, the TSX Re- newable Energy and Clean Technology Index is up 130 per cent over the past decade, while the fossil fuel-heavy Energy Index is down by 69 per cent over the same time period. The renewables and clean tech sector does not face the same geopolitical vulnerabilities, uncertainty due to insufficient climate action CRITICAL MINERALS. and disclosure practices, and market volatil- ity that plague the outgoing incumbent. Those most affected by this transition CANADIAN SUPPLY. want in: Iron and Earth, an oilsands worker- led, not-for-profit organization urges the federal government to invest in “climate ca- reers that will kick-start Canada’s economic The video conferencing technology we use to share our recovery and transition to a net-zero emis- sions economy.” Their prosperous transition experiences and connect in today’s new normal depend plan also clearly states that “Canada’s energy workers have the skills needed to build the on critical minerals and energy products. For products that new, net-zero economy and kickstart Cana- da’s recovery from the pandemic.” I agree. spur economic recovery and come with an exceptional Drawing from my experience as an envi- sustainability standard, Canada is the world’s best choice. ronmental engineer and participant in both the Senate National Finance and Energy, Environ- ment, and Natural Resources committees, I recently published Building Forward Better: A LEARN MORE AT MINING.CA Clean and Just Recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic. The paper explains how a clean and just recovery meets each of these criteria all while, suitably, addressing the climate and inequality crises which both contribute to the risk of transmission and lethality of diseases

SPARKADVOCACY.CA APPROVED FILENAME SPARK-MAC-HT-HALF-CDN_SUPPLY-2020-EN1 MODIFIED DECEMbER 7, 2020 2:41 PM DATE 2020

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COMMENTS SPECS INSERTION DATE --- 20 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Natural Resources Policy Briefing It’s not too late to make Canada a world biodiversity champion with conservation finance

If Canada chose to invest today in nature- based climate solutions, such as restoring wetlands or building ecosystem corridors, the country could become one of the most resilient economies and societies on the planet when the biodiversity crisis hits in the next decade, writes Diane-Laure Arjaliès. Photograph courtesy of Pexels

Between 1970 and 2016, more had already invested $10.6-bil- and economic needs of a specific tion impact bonds, are numer- Through the design of than 68 per cent of the mammals, lion in projects that demonstrated region. The Deshkan Ziibi Bond, a ous. Public money is leveraged birds, amphibians, reptiles, and the potential to yield measurable conservation impact bond aimed thanks to the participation of innovative financial fish on earth disappeared and environmental benefits. Yet this at building ecosystem corridors in private outcome payers. Inves- instruments blending more than 85 per cent of wetlands investment represents only a tiny the southwestern Ontario region, tors are bearing the risks, which were lost. More than 10,000 spe- fraction of the capital needed for is one example of a pay-for-per- means that outcome payers need public and private cies become extinct each year, conservation. It is estimated that formance system that enables a to pay only if the projects are a rate that is estimated to be $260-billion to $390-billion in ad- community to act together for the successful. By including Indig- actors, natural between 1,000 and 10,000 times ditional capital per year is needed benefits of all. enous impact assessment metrics higher than the natural extinction to finance the preservation of the The Deshkan Ziibi Bond and adopting a community-based habitats can be rate. The biodiversity loss puts world’s most precious ecosys- works as follows. First, a pri- approach, habitats can be re- the survival of the planet and its tems, either by creating healthy vate investor, Verge Capital, is stored integrating the knowledge funded in a way that inhabitants at risk. Healthy eco- habitats or by changing the investing the upfront capital. of both conservation science and accommodates both systems are more likely to survive modes of exploitation of natural A conservation organization, Indigenous communities, guar- disasters, and greater species resources. Carolinian Canada, together anteeing better outcomes. Last the ecological and diversity tends to ensure sustain- Time is running out, but it with a land trust, Thames Talbot but not least, more biodiversity ability for all life forms—humans is not too late. If Canada chose Land Trust, are facilitating the results are obtained thanks to economic needs of a and animals alike. to invest today in nature-based restoration work. An Indigenous the upfront capital that enables Biodiversity is also essential climate solutions, such as restor- community, Chippewas of the planting numerous trees in the specific region. to our economy. According to ing wetlands or building ecosys- Thames First Nation, is acting as first year, which has trickled the Convention about Life on tem corridors, the country could a partner by sharing its ecologi- down effects in the follow- Earth, at least 40 per cent of the become one of the most resilient cal knowledge and offering to ing years—unlike an approach world’s economy and 80 per cent economies and societies on the plant native trees on their land. through yearly grants when only of the needs of the poorest people planet when the biodiversity The Ivey Business School at patches of land can be restored on the planet are derived from crisis hits in the next decade. Western University is helping year after year. biological resources, while 75 per Investing in healthy ecosystems design the impact assessment At a time when Canada is cent of global food crops rely on will also help fight the effects of metrics used to decide whether thinking about the recovery post- animals and insects such as bees climate change. It is estimated the project could be considered pandemic, conservation finance or bats to pollinate them. The that protecting 30 per cent of the successful. An independent could be one of the pillars of the ecosystem services delivered by ecosystems priority areas in the auditor assesses the success of future country’s success. The biodiversity, such as crop pol- world could help reduce carbon the project, based on the impact effects of the biodiversity crisis Diane-Laure Arjaliès lination, water purification and emissions equivalent to 49 per metrics collectively decided by will be of a magnitude never felt, Opinion carbon sequestration, are not only cent of all the carbon emitted all the stakeholders involved in nor envisioned. In retrospect, vital to life, but are also estimated over the last two centuries. the bond. If the project is suc- COVID-19 will certainly look like to be worth between US$125- and Conservation finance, or the cessful, outcome payers, a public a ballon d’essai. Although painful, f you believe COVID-19 was $140-trillion per year, more than channelling of capital towards actor, a foundation or a corpora- it is time to learn from the current Ia costly calamity and climate one-and-a-half times global GDP. the protection of ecosystems, is tion, here 3M, are paying back struggles and get ready for the change a global disaster, just wait New business opportunities from one of the solutions. Through the the investors: the upfront capital next wave. for the biodiversity crisis set to be investing in natural resources design of innovative financial plus a five per cent return, for Diane-Laure Arjaliès is assis- in full motion 10 to 15 years from alone are valued at between instruments blending public and each year of the duration of the tant professor of accounting and now. We are actually entering US$2- and $6-trillion by 2050. private actors, natural habitats bond (three to five years). sustainability at the Ivey School the sixth period of mass extinc- Between 2004 and 2015, can be funded in a way that ac- The benefits of financial of Business at Western University. tion since the Earth was formed. members of the private sector commodates both the ecological instruments, such as conserva- The Hill Times Sustainably Canadian

Sustainability guides everything we do. With over 100 years of experience as a Canadian mining company, responsible development is core to who we are.

Learn more: teck.com/sustainability 22 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Natural Resources Policy Briefing Canada’s forestry and While building back better tree-planting policies we need #naturenow While trees are the planet’s ultimate If we are to meet our carbon capture system, they are only part of what nature has to offer. NCS involves emission reduction goal not just the restoration of ecosystems, but must count both of 30 per cent by 2030 and also includes nature-based approaches for management and protection of the land- net-zero emissions by 2050, based ecosystems we already have. Peatlands, for example, which cover sides of the ledger we need to leverage nature three per cent of the planet’s surface, store twice as much carbon dioxide as the as an ally. world’s forests. Luckily, Canada houses the world’s largest peatland ecosystems cover- In between the credit and ing 12 per cent of our total land area. They are estimated to have the capacity to store debit side is an incredibly 150 billion tonnes of carbon. complex world involving Additionally, with the longest coastline in the world, preserving Canada’s coastal our choices about what ecosystems can help foster a huge blue carbon sink, removing carbon dioxide from forests we log and what we the atmosphere through a natural process. Coastal wetlands have the potential to do with the trees we log. capture more carbon dioxide per unit area A tree logged and turned immediately into Roger Francis than any other natural system and could pellets is a very different thing from a tree Opinion capture more carbon dioxide as sea-levels logged and turned into boards that then frame rise. Atlantic Canada alone has approxi- a house, writes Ben Parfitt. Unsplash photograph mately 287 square kilometres of salt marsh by Markus Spiske re-pandemic, the climate crisis was habitat. Protecting these pristine ecosys- Palready critical. The Intergovernmental tems can result in huge gains for our low- Ironically, one forest product that has Panel on Climate Change had released its carbon future. exploded in use in the past two decades is landmark report, the United Nations had In addition to their potential to reduce wood pellets, which are being burned to cre- declared 2020 a “Nature Super Year,” and Canada’s carbon footprint, a focused ap- ate heat and thermal power. Several countries a record number of communities across proach to NCS offers a many other syn- claim that burning wood is preferable to coal, Canada declared climate states of emer- ergistic benefits. Protecting vital wildlife Ben Parfitt natural gas, or oil for energy because only gencies. habitat, supporting the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, increasing Opinion wood is “renewable.” Yes, carbon is released COVID-19 may have slowed our pace of when wood is burned, but the carbon stored life and created a temporary dip in emis- our collective resiliency to climate change, in planted trees eventually offsets what is sions, but our need to address the climate and improving food and water security are here was every reason to believe in the released, making it an “emissions-free” energy challenge is still very much alive and all examples of these benefits. Not only that, Tearly spring of this year that the most source—or so the European Union claimed urgent. NCS has low maintenance costs. ambitious tree-planting program in British when it signed the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. The federal government’s recent Throne Using cost-effective solutions, NCS has Columbia’s history would be scuttled by But as demand for wood pellets has accel- Speech highlighted a resiliency agenda the potential to provide up to 37 per cent COVID-19. erated, something not foreseen just years ago for the nation of the greenhouse gas emission reductions A record 310 million seedlings were has materialized. Instead of the wood waste that focuses on required for us slated to be planted. But with the unfolding at milling operations becoming the feedstock building back to keep global pandemic, all bets were off. for wood pellets, entire forests are now being better, includ- temperatures Only after tree-planting companies, First levelled with the express purpose of turning ing increasing below a two Nations, provincial health and forestry offi- carbon-storing trees into carbon-emitting fuels. green spaces, degree rise by cials, local governments, and others agreed British power company Drax used to protecting 2030. But there to rigid social-distancing protocols within burn coal to produce electricity. Now it more of Can- is a catch. tree-planting camps themselves and in burns wood. Of the 6.8 million tonnes of ada’s lands The longer interactions between the camps and nearby pellets it burns annually, 4.1 million tonnes and oceans, we delay, the communities did the program proceed. comes from the southern United States and using less poten- And, remarkably, it was pulled off with where environmental campaigners have nature-based tial NCS has no camp shutdowns or positive tests. documented whole forests being cut down solutions to for reducing The 25 per cent increase in trees plant- just to supply that one power plant. fight climate greenhouse ed is a taste of what’s coming, if a federal The same creep toward using living trees change. Can- gas emissions. climate action pledge to plant an additional as the feedstock for something to be burned ada’s forests, If we wait until two billion trees across Canada over the is gaining ground in Canada, too, where en- land, water, after 2030, the next decade is realized. vironmental campaigners have documented and oceans are Going forward, we need to protect spaces, elevate understanding potential drops The pledge is grounded in the undisput- old-growth trees from some of the country’s critical natural of their value, consider natural environments in mitigation and from a 37 per ed fact that trees absorb carbon dioxide, rarest ecosystems being turned to pellets. resources. If infrastructure, and expand natural climate solutions to increase cent reduction the dominant greenhouse gas warming This debit side of the ledger is rarely we are to meet their contribution to the climate challenges Canada faces, writes of emissions to the earth. But an equally undisputed fact discussed. our emission Roger Francis. Photograph courtesy of Pexels 33 per cent. As is that there is no guarantee that a tree That is why the Canadian Centre reduction the amount of planted today will be there tomorrow. for Policy Alternatives and others have goal of 30 per time shrinks Underscoring that point, some of the pressed the Canadian and provincial gov- cent (compared to 2005 levels) by 2030 before taking action, so does the impact. federally funded trees planted in B.C. this ernments to embrace policies that thor- and net-zero emissions by 2050, we need While we are making strides both glob- year were sunk into the ground where oughly count both the credits associated to leverage nature as an ally. Our natural ally and within Canada, NCS only take up wildfires in 2017 and 2018 burned a com- with planting trees and conserving forests resources are key to natural climate solu- a small amount of public discussion and bined landmass greater in size than four and the debits associated with logging for- tions (NCS). only three per cent of public funding for Prince Edward Islands. ests and the products we make from them. Natural climate solutions are nature- emissions reductions. For solutions that The greenhouse gas emissions as- A tree logged and turned immediately into based approaches that result in avoided can offer more than one-third of the green- sociated with such fires are massive. For pellets is a very different thing from a tree and captured greenhouse gas (GHG) emis- house gas emission reductions required to perspective, the emissions from wildfires in logged and turned into boards that then frame sions. Globally they are gaining momen- meet our goals by 2030, that’s not enough B.C. in 2017 were 176 million tonnes, or 2.5 a house. Pellets almost immediately go up in tum. China recently tabled a “Nature-Based awareness or investment. times higher than emissions from all other smoke and emit whatever carbon was once Solutions for Climate Manifesto” and New Going forward, we need to protect spac- sources that year. stored, whereas the wood framing in a house Zealand is supporting a Nature-Based es, elevate understanding of their value, Author Naomi Klein has said that can last a century or more, continuing to store Solutions Coalition. consider natural environments in mitiga- climate change “changes everything.” And the carbon from the trees from whence it came. Canada, too, is moving in this direction. tion and infrastructure, and expand NCS nowhere may that observation be more ap- Such differences matter. If we want to In February 2020, government, private sec- to increase its contribution to the climate plicable than with our forests. have healthy forests in future years, we tor, and conservation leaders convened to challenges Canada faces. On the credit side of the ledger, planted need to think beyond the trees that we discuss the potential for NCS in Canada. In Our success depends on leveraging trees store carbon. On the debit side, plant to what we do with them. the recent Throne Speech, Canada commit- nature’s contribution to our climate resil- burned trees release it. In between is an Ben Parfitt is a resource policy analyst ted $2-billion to plant two billion trees by iency. We need #naturenow. incredibly complex world involving our with the B.C. office of the Canadian Centre 2030. This is in addition to the approximate Roger Francis is director sustainability choices about what forests we log and for Policy Alternatives. 600 million trees planted across Canada at The Conference Board of Canada. what we do with the trees we log. The Hill Times each year. The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020 23 Policy BriefingNatural Resources Is the time right for nuclear energy? it is going to be to reach our goals of reducing GHG emissions, fuel of traditional nuclear reactors, fuel molecules further apart and There are no easy for decreasing greenhouse gas switching is going to have to oc- producing between one and 300 decreasing the fission reaction. (GHG) emissions, the main driver cur rapidly, and nuclear power megawatts (MW), compared to This action is an inherent physi- answers. But we have behind climate change. has to be considered as a serious the 500-4,000MW output typical cal property of the salt matrix; it An analysis done by the option. of conventional nuclear power doesn’t require operator interven- also reached the time International Energy Agency in Nuclear energy has a number plants. SMRs are easier and less tion. There are now four com- when we must decide May 2020 found that lockdowns of advantages. Its operation cre- expensive to construct; for exam- panies in the U.S. and Canada resulted in a 25 per cent decrease ates no greenhouse gas emis- ple, the U.S. Department of En- that have announced plans for how to manage the in energy use for areas in total sions, but unlike solar and wind, ergy has found a way to 3D print commercial-scale MSR reactors, lockdown, and an 18 per cent the power output is constant and an SMR core, complete with sen- as well as substantial interest trade-offs among all decrease for areas in partial lock- doesn’t rely on weather condi- sors and controls integrated into from China, Denmark, France, down. The associated decrease in tions. It produces a high-energy the core itself. And SMRs are the Germany, Japan, Russia, and our imperfect energy GHG emissions appears to have output suitable for industrial right size for powering industrial others. sources. been similar—close to 25 and 18 uses that require intense heat. It processes like mines or SAGD Thorium-fuelled reactors offer per cent, respectively. has a very small site footprint, (steam-assisted gravity drainage) an alternative to uranium as the This compares with a “needed avoiding knock-on problems facilities. primary fuel. Thorium is both decrease” of 25 per cent of GHG around land use and biodiversity. SMRs may soon be a reality in more abundant and more easily emissions (compared to 2018) And it supports electrification of Canada. The federal government extracted, and unlike uranium, if we are going to hold to a 2 C processes currently powered by produced an SMR roadmap in thorium atoms can’t start a fis- warming scenario—and a de- fossil fuels. 2018, which Natural Resources sion process on their own. It is crease of 55 per cent if the goal is This is not to downplay the Minister Seamus O’Regan has also extremely difficult to use 1.5 C of warming. problems, however. Although sur- committed to implementing. On the fuel byproducts for nuclear What the lockdowns showed veys have shown that many Cana- the provincial side, Saskatch- weapons. Perhaps most impor- is that even with much of the dians are open to nuclear en- ewan, New Brunswick, and On- tantly, there is much less waste world’s population staying at ergy as a way to address climate tario signed a joint agreement in from spent thorium fuel and home, next to no air travel, change, the public also has strong December 2019 to promote SMRs, it is much less radiotoxic than Marla Orenstein decreased purchasing, and the concerns around safety, contami- with Alberta joining the group in uranium. Opinion almost complete shuttering of the nation, waste, and security. August 2020. There are no easy answers. commercial sector in many coun- However, advances in mate- Molten salt reactors (MSRs) Those who point out the potential tries—unsustainable behaviours rials, technologies, and safety address one of the biggest factors hazards are right to do so. But we ight now, there is both a over the long term—this wasn’t systems make a case for seriously in the safety of nuclear power have also reached the time when Rproblem and an opportunity enough to reach our GHG reduc- re-considering nuclear energy, plants: the potential for over- we must decide how to manage that nuclear energy—particularly tion targets. with three technologies particu- heating or meltdowns. Rather the trade-offs among all our im- in the form of small modular Why not? Because behaviour larly worth noting: small modular than using water to cool fuel perfect energy sources. reactors—may be ready to step in changed, but fuels did not. reactors, molten salt reactors, and rods, MSRs suspend the fuel in Marla Orenstein is the director and fill. What this points to is clear: if thorium reactors. a molten salt solution. Any rapid of the Natural Resources Centre The COVID-19 lockdowns of Canada and other countries are Small modular reactors increase in temperature causes at the Canada West Foundation. 2020 highlighted just how difficult serious about hitting the target (SMRs) are smaller-scale versions the salts to expand, moving the The Hill Times

tred on active mobility, such as Rethinking resources towards walking or cycling, should be a key part of our community retro- fit programs. City density should be leveraged to create neighbour- zero-carbon next-generation cities hoods where all basic services are accessible by active mobil- tainable form of human develop- inclusive, connected, collabora- for waste minimization, treat- ity. To connect these polycentric To transform cities ment, with a density that allows tive, ecological, healthy, mobile, ment, and re-use of grey water and neighbourhoods, we need to build for efficient transportation, hous- and encourage engagement. develop local energy generation us- extended public transit infrastruc- towards zero carbon ing, and services. Yet, accounting Next-generation cities encourage ing this wastewater. Most material ture now rather than later. for 75 per cent of carbon emis- connectivity, human relation- and resource flows create carbon Autonomous shuttles can pro- we need pilot projects sions worldwide, cities in their ships, and knowledge exchange. emissions and we need to close vide flexible mobility options in current form are not sustainable. With the advent of smart cities, these loops to maintain sustainable the future, but electrifying today’s to demonstrate viable To de-carbonize Canadian cit- urban districts are increas- operations over decades. massive fleet of private cars will technical and social ies, we need to transform all major ingly connected, automated, and To transform cities towards not reduce congestion or reduce energy consumers such as our interwoven with technology. A zero carbon we need pilot projects the cost of maintaining our roads. innovations that can building sector, transportation sys- next-generation city approach to demonstrate viable technical Green and biodiverse neighbour- tems, industry, and commerce and critically engages with the smart and social innovations that can hoods in walkable cities are the be implemented at our waste and water infrastructure. city idea and asks, “How can we be implemented at the city scale, most effective way of creating In other words, we must fundamen- create zero carbon cities that such as the planned Lachine-East the healthy, lively, and thriving the city scale. tally change the way we build our focus on quality of life?” eco-district in Montreal. communities that many cities and cities and we need to start now. Concordia University’s Next- A multi-step community citizens want. Canada is already a highly Generation Cities Institute (NGCI), engagement approach is required It will take a mixture of urban country with 81 per cent of launched on Nov. 26, 2020, brings to build the spirit and enthusiasm engagement, community build- our population living in cities— together more than 200 researchers necessary for community retrofit ing, and strong policy with many much higher than the global aver- and 14 research centres to tackle projects to succeed. Retrofit- regulatory sandboxes to enable age of 55 per cent. This means these urgent questions. NGCI is ting should be thought of as an and test such city transformations. that our strategies to achieve a committed to help find solutions integrated set of services at the Conceiving a truly carbon neutral zero-carbon society must start with our broad network of partners district or municipal level. Retro- next-generation city needs a cohe- with and in our cities. from industry, cities, non-for-prof- fit projects can be combined with sive and inspiring story to be told Cities are the locus of innova- its, and community groups. street design for active transpor- to overcome the psychological, tion and productivity and are It is not enough to increase tation, waste collection and re-use legal, and financial barriers. Ursula Eicker growing well organized in the energy efficiency standards in centres, rainwater retention and Ursula Eicker is the Canada Opinion push for sustainable development. the building codes because these integration of renewable energy Excellence Research Chair for The Global Covenant of Mayors, mainly apply to new buildings. systems thus improve the whole Smart, Sustainable, and Resil- the largest global alliance for city For real change, we need ambi- neighbourhood’s quality of life. ient Cities and Communities at any countries have promised climate leadership represents 961 tious retrofit programs to better This requires systemic busi- Concordia University. She is a Mto become carbon neutral by million people in 10,000 cities. Cit- insulate every building and drasti- ness models that are able to con- professor in the Department of 2050. In the Paris climate agreement, ies are also the world’s economic cally reduce our energy consump- nect these diverse activities to the Building, Civil, and Environmen- Canada committed to a 30 per cent powerhouses. The top 600 cities tion. The challenge is to convince same contracts. For example, city- tal Engineering at the Gina Cody carbon dioxide reduction by 2030, alone hold 1.5 billion people and building owners with vastly run open data platforms can help School of Engineering and Com- and recently proposed draft legisla- produce 60 per cent of the world’s diverging interests and budgets to standardize contracts, reduce puter Science and the director of tion to reach zero carbon by 2050. gross domestic product. participate in these programs. procurement costs, and involve Concordia’s new Next-Genera- Cities are great drivers of What we need are next- Next-generation cities also need local companies and citizens. tion Cities Institute. change and can be the most sus- generation cities—cities that are to adopt circular economy concepts A public transit system cen- The Hill Times 24 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News

“We all realize that it’s going to A spokesperson be extremely busy, extremely tight, Senators say for Justice but it is not impossible,” she said. Minister She noted the bill won’t be David Lametti rushed in the sense of not review- wouldn’t ing the bill properly. say whether Conservative Senator Denise assisted dying the attorney Batters (Saskatchewan), vice- general will ask chair of the Senate Legal and for a judicial Constitutional Affairs Committee, extension. said there needs to be a “thought- The Hill Times ful debate” in the Senate to make bill is too photograph by sure that Canada is protecting its Andrew Meade most vulnerable citizens. During the pre-study, she said the committee heard from many important to witnesses who had “widespread concerns” on the new law, such as its potential unconstitutionality, the lack of consultations with dis- ability and Indigenous communi- rush amid tight ties, and the proposed removal of safeguards. Sen. Batters noted the Sen- ate has already worked to fill timeline for gaps left by the House Justice Committee on the study of Bill C-7, especially for the disability community and their Charter arguments. Red Chamber “I’m not concerned about the unfortunate,” said Government “This is about reducing the government’s deadline on this House Leader Pablo Rodriguez suffering of people, and we must bill, because this issue is simply suggesting it will be easier to ac- (Honoré-Mercier, Que.) in the act now,” he said. too important to rush,” said Sen. Progressive Senator cess MAiD than needed supports. Chamber on Dec. 3 during his Conservative Leader Erin Batters, noting that the govern- “The process has to be respect- Thursday statement, which is O’Toole (Durnham, Ont.) said ment could have prioritized Pierre Dalphond says ful of the complexity of the issues intended to outline the legislative his party is prepared to continue the issue instead of proroguing it is ‘unrealistic’ for and the right of each Senator to calendar for the following week. debate in the House. Parliament. come to his or her own conclu- Conservative House Leader Independent Senator Chantal “This is not the kind of bill to the Senate to pass Bill sions on the issue,” he said. Gérard Deltell (Louis-Saint- Petitclerc (Grandville, Que.), the rush,” she said. “This is as impor- Sen. Dalphond said the gov- Laurent, Que.) said his party is sponsor of Bill C-7 in the Senate, tant as it gets—the literal matter C-7 before the Dec. ernment needs to ask the Quebec not filibustering and asserted that said the timeline is tight, but she of life and death. There is no way court for an extension, adding he its parliamentary work has been is “realistically optimistic.” that the Senate should be forced 18 judicial deadline thinks it would be “quite surpris- “rigorous and thorough.” “We need to get the bill as into rushing it or rubber stamp- ing” if a judge refused such an “With respect to Bill C-7, if the soon as we can,” she said. “The ing it.” and is urging the extension given the complexity government had not prorogued sooner we get the bill in the Sen- Sen. Dalphond said it is his government to ask for of the bill, the need to consult Parliament this summer, we could ate, the more latitude that we feeling that most Senators are Canadians, the pandemic, and have immediately continued our have. It’s going to be tight.” of the view that the bill has to an extension. the minority Parliament setting. work, since it was at second read- She said Dec. 18 is the date in be handled “properly after due He said the government should ing. If that had been done instead, her mind when the bill has to be consideration.” avoid letting the “reasonably we would have had at least 25 finished. Continued from page 1 “This cannot be rushed foreseeable” death provision lapse more sitting days than we have “My intent and my hope is that through,” he said. Dec. 18 to pass medical assistance in Quebec without passing new now,” Mr. Deltell told the House. we do everything that we can do, The ability to place amend- in dying legislation (MAiD)— legislation, noting that having ments on the bill may also be lim- Bill C-7—to comply with a 2019 one set of rules for Quebec and ited if the government is to meet Independent Quebec Superior Court decision another set for the rest of Canada the deadline, as the House would Senator that struck down a clause of the would be the “worst scenario.” have to be recalled to vote on any Mobina government’s 2016 legislation “The only way to prevent a Senate changes if they are made Jaffer chairs that restricted assisted death to mess is to say that we need more after the House rises for the year the Senate those whose deaths are “reason- time to fix the problem,” Sen. on Dec. 11. Parliament’s hybrid Legal and ably foreseeable.” Dalphond said. sitting arrangement expires the Constitutional The Senate will be up against A spokesperson for Justice same day as the House is set to Affairs the clock once Bill C-7 passes Minister David Lametti (LaSalle- adjourn. Committee, the House, with only eight sit- Émard-Verdun, Que.) did not Disability Inclusion Minis- which had ting days left until the court’s answer whether the government ter Carla Qualtrough (Delta, five marathon deadline. As debate on the bill would seek a judicial extension, B.C.) told the Senate Legal and meetings for continued in the House, the saying the focus is on passing the Constitutional Affairs Committee a pre-study Senate has been undertaking a legislation by the judicial dead- that the government is open to on Bill C-7. pre-study of the legislation, with line. amendments and would consider The Hill Times five marathon meetings at the If an extension isn’t sought, Sen. all Senate amendments “very, very photograph by Legal and Constitutional Affairs Dalphond said the Senate won’t be seriously.” Andrew Meade Committee already complete. pressured by the deadline. Sen. Dalphond said the Bill C-7 was at third reading “[The Senate] will take pre-study showed there were in the House as of publication whatever course it thinks is the many concerns with broadening deadline. proper course to follow,” he said. MAiD, which could be addressed Despite the lengthy pre-study, “We will do it according to our through amendments. Progressive Senator Pierre Dal- timeframe. We are not respon- Sen. Batters said it is “foolish” phond (De Lorimier, Que.) said it sible [for] the timeframe of the to think that the Senate can finish is “unrealistic” to expect the Sen- House of Commons … the reality its work to return amendments to ate to pass the bill by Dec. 18. is the government is way behind the House before it rises. “It’s impossible to have it done the announced schedule and the “I don’t think we can tell by the 18th,” he said. Senate doesn’t have to give up its Senators that they have no time “The whole Senate has to role because the schedule has not for amendments,” Sen. Petitclerc be brought up to speed on this, been complied with by the House “If we are rushing to meet a court the best that we can do, with pro- said. “My advice, and my request which will take some time,” said of Commons.” deadline, the Liberal government fessionalism, co-operation, and for Senators is, ‘let’s be thorough, Sen. Dalphond, a member of the The Liberals have accused the has no one but itself to blame.” we go step-by-step until the 18th let’s be proactive, let’s work really Legal and Constitutional Affairs Tories of filibustering the legisla- In a statement, Mr. Lametti and we see where we land,” she hard, and let’s be very conscious Committee and a former Quebec tive process, while the Conserva- said he was “disheartened to see said. “My hope … is that we can of the timeline of the court Appeals Court justice, noting tives rebut that the Grits have the Conservative Party continue make it happen by the 18th.” extension and conscious of the that the 12-member committee stalled the passage of the bill due its delay tactics to prevent the She added that the sooner individuals who, until the bill is heard “numerous concerns” about to its prorogation of Parliament. medical assistance in dying bill the Senate gets the bill, the more passed, still have to go through a broadening access to MAiD and “I get the impression that from moving forward,” accusing realistic that is. very difficult process to have their potential safeguards. they do not really care about the the Conservatives of undermin- Sen. Petitclerc said the com- rights respected.’” Disability advocates have deadline imposed by the Quebec ing the “urgency” of the court’s mittee’s pre-study is a “good start” [email protected] raised concerns with the new bill, Superior Court, which I think is deadline. on reviewing the bill. The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020 25

Canada played a major role during the nine-month campaign to liberate the Diplomatic Circles country from Nazi occupation at the end of the by Samantha Wright Allen Second World War. The annual Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa is in recognition of that wartime Dutch envoy sees support, with the Netherlands gifting the bulbs every year. The Hill Times photograph Canada as ‘fertile by Andrew Meade

Henk van der Zwan compared to feeling to revive them next year as the country ground’ to address like “cold turkey” as he departed Ottawa heads into recovery, dubbing it “Beyond 75” without much of a goodbye. or “After 75.” It was the same leaving Stockholm and Canada played a major role during the the big network she’d built during five nine-month campaign to liberate the coun- years as ambassador to Sweden, and head- try from Nazi occupation at the end of the climate change ing immediately for Ottawa, she said. Second World War, where more than 7,500 “That’s something that I really regret- Canadians died. At home, Canada gave ted. It’s really a huge disadvantage of refuge to Dutch Princess Juliana and her compared to 1990 levels, Canada to 2005 this strange time, but arriving as a new family. The annual Canadian Tulip Festival ‘We have to start, we have levels). As with all of her postings, address- ambassador is also not rosy,” said Ms. Cop- in Ottawa is in recognition of that wartime ing the Sustainable Development Goals poolse, a 28-year career diplomat who also support, with the Netherlands gifting the to stimulate, we have to set out by the United Nations and climate recently directed the foreign affairs human bulbs every year. change are “big chunks” of the work she resource department and served as deputy Canada was “essential” in freeing up get our acts together in prioritizes, combined with traditional trade director of the Asia and Oceania depart- the southwest region of the country where and cultural promotions. order to achieve our goals,’ ment. her father’s family is from, she noted, and “I have a strong passion for climate Still, she said, COVID-19 has been “a though the 75th anniversary has passed, she change or greening of the economy. I have says Goverdina Christina trigger,” driving the embassy to work more said the year matters less than the act of a daughter who is 18 years old, and I’m online, including webinars, podcasts, and remembering. Coppoolse. genuinely concerned about the planet that digital missions, and she estimated she’s “It’s just a number … It won’t change we are leaving for the next generation. So I connected with much more people in her the feeling that comes with it,” she said, feel responsible, put it that way.” first few months than she would have pre- adding that sacrifice is one of the many anada and the Netherlands have the The call to “build back better” after the viously with an in-person focus. things that bind the countries together. “same drive” to address climate change pandemic is also a way to drive equality C Though many of the embassy’s spring “We owe our freedom partly to the Cana- and make the economy greener as the through economic means, she said in a plans to commemorate the 75th anniversary dians.” globe rebuilds from COVID-19, says the phone interview Nov. 30. of the liberation of the Netherlands had to [email protected] new Dutch envoy in Ottawa, who commit- Much of her promotion will be on the be cancelled, Ms. Coppoolse said she hopes The Hill Times ted to making that her primary focus as concept of the “circular economy,” which she kicks limits off her new resource posting. extraction “We and tries have to to generate ONE start, we reuse of have to products to WORLD stimulate, limit waste we have to and con- REFUGEE get our acts sumption FILM together of finite in order to resources. FESTIVAL achieve our “Totally goals,” said circular December 1-14, 2020 owrff2020.eventive.org Goverdina means that Christina you will Coppoolse, not extract who ar- anything rived in anymore Canada from the in August planet,” straight she ex- from her plained, but posting as acknowl- Swedish edged that ambas- might be sador, her a difficult first head Goverdina Christina Coppoolse is the Netherland’s new ambassador sell in some of mission to Canada, landing in August and handing over her letter of provinces, posting. credence in an October virtual ceremony. Photograph courtesy of the given Cana- A month Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands da relies on after she its natural arrived, resources. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed “We don’t want to preach anything that the country to start the second session we think is right because every country of the 43rd Parliament following a Throne will come up with its own model what suits Speech that reaffirmed Liberal climate the national interest best. But it’s nice to change commitments, calling them a “cor- start this discussion,” said Ms. Coppoolse, nerstone” to the government’s plan to cre- who said there needs to be global dialogue ate new jobs amid pandemic recovery. She about rethinking our way of treating the pointed to that speech as a good jumping- planet. off point for her diplomatic posting. “It’s just a different way of thinking.” “I hit fertile ground,” she said, making it possible for the countries to do things together concretely “rather than just state- ‘Beyond 75’ war ments” about how much the countries like commemoration planned each other. Working as an ambassador amid the Both have signed the Paris Agree- pandemic breaks many of the traditional ment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions methods for connecting, with the focus by 30 per cent by 2030 (the Netherlands on the virtual world one her predecessor 26 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES

Families, Children, and Social Development Minister hill climbers Ahmed Hussen, pictured by Laura Ryckewaert during a press conference on Oct. New press secretaries for 27, has a couple of new staffers on his ministers Garneau, Fortier ministerial team. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Before joining Ms. Fortier’s team, she Now in Ms. Fortier’s office, she’s work- served as press secretary to then-science ing under director of communications and and sport minister Kirsty Duncan, spend- operations Blue Knox. ing a little more than a year in that role, David Burkholder has been hired on and almost half a year as press secretary as a new executive assistant to Ms. Fortier to then-government House leader Bardish and her chief of staff, Lucy Hargreaves. Chagger before that. Ms. Medlej first He’s spent the last three and a half years began working for Ms. Chagger in Janu- staffing Deputy Prime Minister and ary 2017 as a special assistant in her office Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s con- as then-minister of small business and stituency office as the MP for University- tourism. When Ms. Chagger was shuffled Rosedale, Ont. into the House leader post in November of that year, Ms. Medlej followed, and was David later promoted to press secretary in August Burkholder 2018. recently In Mr. Hussen’s office, she’ll be work- joined the Transport Minsiter Marc Garneau, pictured on March 16, and Associate Finance Minister Mona ing under Mike Maka, director of commu- ministerial Fortier, pictured on Oct. 20, both recently welcomed new press secretaries to their ministerial nications and parliamentary affairs, and staff teams. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade alongside press secretary Jessica Eritou. ranks on Mr. Maka is also currently acting as chief Parliament team where she’d been doing the same of staff to the minister while Zubair Patel Hill. Plus, Daniele Medlej has since the beginning of the year. is filling in as acting director of outreach in Photograph Ms. St-Jean has previously been an as- the PMO. courtesy of joined Families, Children, sistant to Ontario MPP John Fraser, and is Ms. Medlej’s addition follows the recent LinkedIn and Social Development also a former community funding special- departure of senior special assistant for ist with the Canadian Cancer Society and communications Maya Dura, who left Minister Ahmed Hussen’s an ex-public and corporate affairs consul- Mr. Hussen’s office in early November. A tant with Hill and Knowlton Strategies. former correspondence writer in the PMO, office as a senior Hill Climbers understands that Mr. Van- Ms. Dura had joined the families minis- dal does not yet have a new press secretary ter’s team at the beginning of the year. communications adviser. in place, but stay tuned for an update on Before then, she was a special assistant for that. parliamentary affairs to then-environment Alexandre Boulé and Nicholas Wright minister Catherine McKenna. ransport Minister Marc Garneau has also both recently joined Mr. Garneau’s of- Mr. Hussen also has a new special assis- Ta new press secretary on his team, fol- fice, as a senior issues manager and special tant for operations on his team, with Aliya He’s been active with the party’s riding lowing Livia Belcea’s recent exit to work assistant for Atlantic regional affairs and Deria starting on the job a few weeks ago. association for years in a number of roles, for the National Arts Centre. appointments, respectively. Meanwhile, Ms. Fortier has made a starting in 2015, and during the 2019 elec- Ms. Belcea had been working for Mr. Mr. Boulé comes from the Prime number of staffing changes of her own, tion, he was a canvass co-ordinator for Ms. Garneau since February, before which Minister’s Office (PMO), where he’d been including hiring Isabella Brisson-Urdaneta Freeland’s successful re-election campaign, she’d spent roughly four years as press working as an advance tour officer, under to replace Ms. Medlej as press secretary. which saw the MP returned to the House secretary to Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, in- PMO tour director Gavin Menzies, since Ms. Brisson-Urdaneta has most recently with roughly 51.7 per cent of the vote. cluding serving as head of communications February. A former associate with McCar- been away on maternity leave, but she Mr. Burkholder also previously helped and media relations for his 2018 re-election thy Tétrault, prior to joining the PMO, he previously served for a year as press sec- out the Ontario Liberal Party during the campaign. was senior adviser for media relations and retary to then-international trade minister 2018 provincial election as a field manager public affairs for CN Rail in Montreal. Mr. in Barrie, Ont., according to his LinkedIn, Livia Belcea Boulé is also a former aide to then-Quebec Isabella and before joining Ms. Freeland’s constitu- is now minister of municipal affairs, public safety, Brisson- ency office, spent years as a DJ and event working for and Montreal Martin Coiteux. Urdaneta production specialist with the MBE Group, the NAC. He has both a master’s and a bachelor’s is back on amongst other past jobs. Photograph degree in law from the University of Sher- the Hill as Malcolm McEachern has also recently courtesy of brooke. Ms. Fortier’s joined Ms. Fortier’s office—and Ms. Free- LinkedIn Families, Children, and Social Develop- new press land’s. He’s been hired on as the new assis- ment Minister Ahmed Hussen has seen a secretary. tant to parliamentary secretary Liberal MP few staffing moves of late, including welcom- Photograph Sean Fraser, who is parliamentary secretary ing Daniele Medlej to his team as a senior courtesy of to both the finance and associate finance communications adviser as of Nov. 30. LinkedIn ministers. Previously, Emily Dewolfe (née Ms. Medlej comes fresh from Associ- Gale) had filled this role, but she left in Sep- ate Finance Minister Mona Fortier’s office, tember, as already reported by Hill Climbers. where she’d been press secretary since Mr. McEachern has spent the last January. almost two years working as a special as- sistant in Mr. Garneau’s ministerial office, Daniele starting in early February 2019. Before Medlej has then, he spent almost a year and a half as joined Mr. a general assistant with the PMO’s public She’s also a former communications Hussen’s appointments team. He’s also a former cor- assistant for the Ottawa Public Library and office. Jim Carr during the last Parliament, from respondent with Your Commonwealth in a former programs and communications Photograph November 2018 to November 2019. Before London, U.K., a website for the Common- assistant with the Global Organization of courtesy of her work for Mr. Carr, she spent two years wealth Secretariat, for which he provided Parliamentarians Against Corruption. LinkedIn as a senior field organizer for the federal research and articles on relevant issues. Now off the Hill, Ms. Belcea is busy as a Liberal Party in Montreal. Mr. McEachern has a bachelor’s degree marketing and communications officer for She’s also a former internal communi- in politics and international relations from NAC Dance. cations consultant for CN Rail and a for- the University of London and a master’s Allison St-Jean has already been re- mer communications and special projects degree in conflict, security, and develop- cruited to take over as press secretary in co-ordinator for the fundraising agency ment from King’s College London. Mr. Garneau’s office, arriving straight from Public Outreach Group, amongst other past [email protected] Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal’s experience. The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020 27 Parliamentary Calendar

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9 MONDAY, DEC. 14 AFN General Assembly—The Assembly of Data, AI, and Corporate Leadership in a First Nations will hold a two-day virtual 41st Trudeau, LeBlanc sit down Post COVID-19 Economy—Minister of Small Annual General Assembly from Dec. 8-9. Business, Export Promotion, and Interna- This event was postponed from the sum- tional Trade Mary Ng will take part in a pan- mer, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each el discussion on “Data, AI, and Corporate day will run from 10:45 a.m. to 6 p.m., with premiers to talk health- Leadership in a Post COVID-19 Economy,” and feature addresses from National Chief hosted by the Economic Club of Canada. Perry Bellegarde, council updates, resolu- Other participants include Arlene Dickinson, tion plenary sessions, as well as messages general partner, District Ventures Capital; and question-and-answer sessions from the care funding on Dec. 10 Hossein Rahnama, founder and CEO, Flybits prime minister and members of his cabinet. Inc.; and Alex “Sandy” Pentland, director Information available at https://www.afn. of the MIT Connection Science and Human ca/2020-annual-general-assembly/. Dynamics Lab. Monday, Dec. 14, 8-9:30 In Conversation With Peter Mans- a.m. Tickets available at economicclub.ca. bridge—A Pearson Centre webinar with Book Launch—The Macdonald-Laurier Peter Mansbridge about his new book, Institute host the launch for Dr. Shawn Extraordinary Canadians. Thursday, Dec. Whatley’s new book, When Politics Comes 9, 12-12:30 p.m. (ET) In his new book, Before Patients: Why and How Canadian Mansbridge recounts the stories from some Medicare is Failing. Whatley will read from of his favourite Canadians —advocates, his book and moderate a panel discussion politicians, doctors, veterans, immigrants, on health care, featuring Pat Rich, health- business leaders, and more. After 50 years care journalist and commentator; former with the CBC, Mansbridge has anchored editor-in-chief of The Medical Post and some of the most important events in publisher, CMAJ; Dr. David Jacobs, chair of recent Canadian history, from federal the Ontario Specialists Association and vice- elections, to visits from the Queen, and 12 president of the Ontario Association of Radi- Remembrance Day ceremonies. Hosted by ologists; and Dr. Hal Berman, palliative care Andrew Cardozo, president of the Pearson physician, former federal NDP candidate. Centre. register.gotowebinar.com/regis- Monday, Dec. 14, 2-3:30 p.m. Register for ter/5131918157198718736 this free event at madconaldlaurier.ca. Book Launch—The Group of 78 hosts the launch of the new book, Recovery: The Parliamentary Calendar is a free Peace Prospects in the Biden Era by former events listing. Send in your political, senator Douglas Roche, Canada’s former cultural, diplomatic, or governmental event UN ambassador for disarmament. Wednes- in a paragraph with all the relevant details day, Dec. 9, from 1-2 p.m. Register for this Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc will host a First Ministers’ meeting under the subject line ‘Parliamentary Cal- free event at group78.org. on Tuesday, Dec. 10 to discuss, among other issues, health-care transfers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade endar’ to [email protected] by Wednes- Too Small to Fail—The Canadian Club day at noon before the Monday paper or by of Ottawa hosts a panel discussion on “Too Friday at noon for the Wednesday paper. We Small to Fail: Canada’s Economic Recovery Collaboration for Human Rights—Par- Populism in the American Election: Les- individual gifts, a magic show, a message from can’t guarantee inclusion of every event, Needs a Small Business Rebound.” The liamentary Secretary to the Minister of sons for Canada—A Pearson Centre webinar Santa, arcade games and colouring. Families but we will definitely do our best. Events Toronto Star‘s Heather Scoffield will moder- Foreign Affairs Rob Oliphant will deliver re- with Justin Gest, author and associate pro- are also asked to send in video messages of can be updated daily online, too. ate the discussion featuring Paul Thompson, marks at “Collaboration for Human Rights: fessor of policy and government at George good cheer, or family photos. The Hill Times associate deputy minister of Innovation, Sci- Canadian Embassies and LGBTIQ Move- Mason University in Washington, D.C., in ence, and Economic Development Canada; ments Globally,” hosted by Dignity Network conversation with former Ontario premier Perrin Beatty, president and CEO, Canadian Canada. Speakers will reflect upon the role Dalton McGuinty, on Thursday, Dec. 10, 7-8 Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Wendy Cukier, of Canada in supporting the human rights p.m. (ET) Prof. Gest has written extensively professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategy, of LGBTIQ people globally. Oliphant will be on the growing sense of marginalization driv- Ted Rogers School of Management; and joined by Steve Letsike, executive director, ing people to the extremes while the middle CLASSIFIEDS John Stackhouse, senior vice-president, Of- Access Chapter 2 (South Africa); Nguyen is getting hollowed out, or at least is getting fice of the CEO, RBC. Wednesday, Dec. 9, 3 Hai Yen, program manager, ASEAN SOGIE squeezed out of the political discourse. Information and advertisement placement: 613-232-5952 p.m. Register at canadianclubottawa.ca. Caucus (Vietnam); and Danilo Manzano, Megaphone politics, bumper sticker slogans Moyra Davey: The Faithful—National executive director, Dialogo Diverso (Ecua- and tweets are the main forms of political CONDOS FOR RENT HOUSES FOR RENT PROFESSIONAL Gallery of Canada hosts this new exhibition, dor). Thursday, Dec. 10, from 10-11 a.m. discourse. So, that’s in the United States, SERVICES Moyra Davey: The Faithful, featuring the Register via Eventbrite. but it’s in Canada, too. register.gotowebinar. work of one of Canada’s most innovative Nation Builder of the Year Award—The com/register/119286427589080075 conceptual artists, on now until Jan. 3, Empire Club hosts the second annual Na- 2021. National Gallery of Canada, 380 Sus- tion Builder of the Year Award. Canada’s FRIDAY, DEC. 11 sex Dr., Ottawa. This new exhibition features front-line workers will receive this year’s Last Scheduled House Sitting Day—Today 54 photographs and 6 films by Davey, along award. Among the list of speakers thanking marks the last scheduled sitting day of with more than a dozen works from the and congratulating the men and women who 2020 for the House of Commons. Gallery collection. Developed by the artist have kept us safe and functioning during On the Horizon: Security challenges facing the and curator Andrea Kunard, the exhibition the COVID-19 pandemic are Speaker of the Indo-Pacific—The Macdonald-Laurier Institute GLEBE COACH HOUSE LOVELY 2BED 2BATH explores the artist’s trajectory from early im- House of Commons Anthony Rota, Chief hosts a webinar on “On the Horizon: Security Charming updated 2-storey, 1 @1000CAD PERSONAL DRIVE AWAY ages of family and friends, through portraits Medical Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam, challenges facing the Indo-Pacific,” discussing bdrm house (w/alcove); hardwood This Turnkey home is ready and SERVICE FOR SNOWBIRDS of the detritus of everyday life, her mailed Assembly of First Nations National Chief the security challenges facing the Indo-Pacific throughout; patio; private; parking. waiting for you to move right in & TRANSPORT OF VEHICLES photographs, and films examining the work Perry Bellegarde, World Health Organization and why they matter to Canada. Participants Perfect Glebe location. $1900. + and start living. @1000CAD. Personal Vehicle Transport across the of authors, philosophers and artists. https:// Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghe- include Ken Jimbo, professor at Keio University; utils. Dec. 1, 613-563-4101 Contact: [email protected] USA and Canada, Senior Responsible www.gallery.ca/whats-on/exhibitions-and- breyesus, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and Commodore (Ret’d) Eric Lerhe, Macdonald- Driver, I drive your vehicle, door to galleries/moyra-davey-the-faithful former governor general Adrienne Clarkson. Laurier Institute; Eva Pejsova, Vrije Universiteit door. All Inclusive. [email protected] THURSDAY, DEC. 10 Thursday, Dec. 10, at noon. Register at Brussel; Greg Poling, Center for Strategic and empireclubofcanada.com/nb2020. International Studies. Friday, Dec. 12, 9-10:30 Prime Minister to Host First Ministers Meet & Greet With Erin O’Toole, Hosted by a.m. EST. Register at macdonaldlaurier.ca. Meeting—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will Jordan Kupinsky—Jordan Kupinsky will host host a first ministers meeting on funding this virtual meet and greet with Conserva- SATURDAY, DEC. 12 Do you have a house to rent or for health care on Dec. 10. The premiers tive Party Leader Erin O’Toole on Thursday, Press Gallery Children’s Christmas Party sell? Items or products to sell? want to focus on the annual federal transfer Dec. 10, 5 p.m. EST. It’s a Zoom virtual 2020—The annual Press Gallery Children’s payments to the provinces and territories event. www.conservative.ca/events Christmas Party will be moving to your living 1 BEDROOM 1 BATH IN THE EAST Advertise them in The Hill Times' for health care, but the government also Meet & Greet With Erin O’Toole, Hosted by room on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 1 p.m. Members MARKET (383 CUMBERLAND ) wants to talk about strengthening health Stewart Lyons—Stewart Lyons will host this of the Hill media who have small children tak- Totally renovated 1 bedroom on classfieds section. care. Premiers had been asking for a first virtual meet and greet with Conservative ing part in this year’s virtual party should pick 2nd floor facing west. New floors, ministers meeting with the prime minister Party Leader Erin O’Toole on Thursday, Dec. up their loot bags and gifts for the children kitchen and appliances, bathroom, FOR INFO, CALL OR EMAIL since September. For more information, call 10, 6 p.m. EST. It’s a Zoom virtual event. on Dec. 7 at the National Press Theatre in Ot- Parking available at additional the PMO Press Office at 613-957-5555. www.conservative.ca/events tawa. This year’s party will include: loot bags, $200,-/month. 613-884-9108 [email protected] • 613-232-5952

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More at hilltimes.com/calendar HOGS AT THE TABLE: Why It’s So Hard for ISPs to Grow in Canada

Imagine, for a second, someone making fun of you for being too skinny. Then they take all your food away.

Got that image in your mind? You’ve just pictured what trying to grow a telecom business in Canada is like.

For years, that’s what big companies such as Bell, Rogers and Shaw and their armies of lawyers and lobbyists have been doing to TekSavvy and other independent service providers.

They’ve argued that the only good telecom company is one that fully builds its own networks. It’s an ideology known as “facilities-based competition,” and it has historically been backed by the CRTC and federal government.

Meanwhile, wholesale-based internet providers that pay the big companies to use portions of their networks to deliver competitive services are treated like ugly stepchildren. The big companies hate them. Policy makers seemingly support them, but you can’t help but get the feeling that they would rather not have to.

The problem with this ideology has always centred on how to fund it. The fact is that building telecom networks is expensive.

The supposed point of the wholesale system is to give consumers more choice while allowing indie ISPs to build their businesses so that they too can invest more in facilities. Big network owners also get a fair rate of return on their investments.

The system obviously isn’t working because the big companies routinely deploy every dirty trick they can think of to hobble indie ISPs. They mess with them so that they can’t provide competitive services or grow into building their own full networks.

The ongoing, seemingly never-ending battle over wholesale rates – the single biggest factor that determines internet prices in Canada – is a case in point. After a long, arduous investigation, the CRTC found that the big companies had significantly overinflated the rates. Last year, they were ordered to correct those rates and to repay indie ISPs the hundreds of millions of dollars they had overcharged.

The big companies have since delayed with multiple appeals to the CRTC, federal government and courts. The regulator is still considering its appeal, but cabinet and the Federal Court of Appeal have rejected theirs, for arguments of “dubious merits.” The companies are now trying to appeal to the Supreme Court while TekSavvy – and consumers – continue to overpay. In spite of that, some indies continue to move toward this facilities-based ideal. TekSavvy alone is investing $250 million over five years through a number of projects:

• $100 million to connect 60,000 homes and businesses in underserved communities in Southwestern Ontario. • Fibre for 38,000 homes and businesses in Chatham-Kent. • LTE to 30,000 rural homes and businesses in Elgin, Lambton and Middlesex counties. • Fibre to the Delaware Nation Moravian of the Thames, in Chatham-Kent. • Fibre in Stoney Point and Lighthouse Cove, connecting 1,486 households by late 2021.

These investments aren’t peanuts and can’t happen without wholesale working as it’s supposed to, without delays gaming the system. The big companies don’t really want facilities-based competition. They just want to hog all the food at the table. They can’t be allowed to gobble it all up.

Stay up to date on the FIGHT for FAIR prices and real COMPETITION in Canadian telecom, go to blogs.teksavvy.com and SUBSCRIBE today.