THIRTIETH YEAR, NO. 1601 ’S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 $5.00

Liberal gun bill What Phoenix: after three McCallum set to get rough Trudeau years, departments still inputting HR fi red for ride in Senate p. 6 must data do to months telling the boost the past economy deadline: truth Whittington Qualtrough Editorial p. 8 p. 9 p. 4

News Public serviceOpinion Hill renos News Politics PSAC concerned Brison’s Nova about plan to House returns to new digs, Scotia riding privatize heating as MPs ramp up for feisty ‘diffi cult’ for plants serving Liberals to hold: the Hill, 80-plus ex-Grit minister federal buildings fi nal sitting before election BY SAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN in national capital New home: Deputy sergeant-at-arms ith seven-time MP Scott Pat McDonell leads BY EMILY HAWS WBrison out of the picture in House Speaker Kings-Hants, N.S., this fall, the into the he Public Service Alliance of riding is “one to watch” in Atlan- House of Commons tic Canada and a “diffi cult” win TCanada is pressuring the gov- interim Chamber ernment to drop its plan to contract for the Liberals, says a former in West Block in Chrétien-era cabinet minister. out work on fi ve heating plants that the fi rst Speaker's serve more than 80 buildings in the A well-liked representative for parade in the the riding north of Halifax, Mr. National Capital Region, saying renovated building that the proposed public-private Brison’s longevity was a credit to on Jan. 28. Read his personal popularity, said Rob- partnership compromises health how MPs marked the and safety, promotes precarious ert Thibault, a federal fi sheries occasion in Heard minister in Jean Chrétien’s Lib- work, and could cause environ- on the Hill, p. 2. The mental issues. eral government who represented Hill Times photograph the riding west of Kings-Hants About 30 union members braced by Andrew Meade the frigid -20 C temperatures Jan. 28 from 2000 to 2008. to raise awareness of the campaign, “It’s certainly one to watch. It’s one of the more diffi cult holds for High stakes: NDP MP Continued on page 5 , with the Continued on page 7 party's parliamentary leader Guy Caron, speaks to reporters in the House foyer. News Lobbying NDP Leader Jagmeet News Politics Singh's chances as leader hang on whether he can win a Feb. 25 Innovation byelection, one of the Bernier says he things politicos will be minister, Finance watching this sitting, ‘won’t spend a writes Tim Powers. Committee chair, Read his column, cent’ on internal member top p. 11. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew People’s Party most-lobbied Meade Re-election on the polling MPs of 2018 mind: New Treasury Board President Jane BY BEATRICE PAEZ & SAMANTHA Philpott enters the BY CHARELLE EVELYN WRIGHT ALLEN House on Jan. 28. She'll be part of the he People’s Party of Canada Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 committee chair, a minister, process of crafting Thas less than two per cent Aand a backbencher were 2018’s the Liberals' last support, nationally, according top-lobbied MPs, according to a pre-election budget to the latest polls, but leader Hill Times analysis that observers this winter, which Maxime Bernier says polling isn’t said made sense given the Par- could spell out their something that’s part of his new liamentarians’ close contact with game plan for trying party’s process. budget planning and the Liberals’ to keep control of the Where other parties conduct much-touted innovation mandate. House come October, internal polling to help gauge Chair of the House Finance writes Tim Powers on their next move or base support, Committee notched p.11. The Hill Times Mr. Bernier (Beauce, Que.) almost photograph by Andrew Continued on page 12 Meade Continued on page 14 2 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 | THE HILL TIMES

resigned nine months before the scheduled Innovation Minister , election—before Jan. 21. Intergovernmental, Northern Affairs, and In- ternal Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc, Brit- tany Kerr, Nikki Hipkin, and Sylvie Paradis Guy Lauzon not seeking will lead the national campaign committee. Heard on the Hill Ms. Paradis is a Quebec-based political re-election consultant. Ms. Hipkin is the former presi- dent of the Blackstrap, Sask., federal Liberal by Neil Moss After fi ve-terms in the House of Com- mons, Conservative MP Guy Lauzon an- nounced that he will not be on the ticket in the next federal election. “Both of us, jointly, have made a deci- Paul Henderson gets sion that we’re going to go on to hopefully bigger and better things, and bring our po- litical career to a fi nish after 19 years,” Mr. Lauzon announced in a Facebook video House support for Hockey with his wife, Frances. Mr. Lauzon said he plans to spend more time with his wife, according to a Cornwall Hall of Fame honour Seaway News report. She was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma before the The Liberals have selected the leadership for their “This space is a unique marriage of 2015 election, which she has recovered national campaign committee. , tradition and modernity, of the familiar and from, but has ongoing health issues. th middle is pictured with with his wife Sophie the new,” House Speaker Geoff Regan said Mr. Lauzon is the 10 Tory MP to an- Grégoire Trudeau and daughter Ella-Grace before as the House met for the fi rst time in West nounce that they will not seek re-election, casting his vote in the 2018 election. The Block on Jan. 28. representing more than 10 per cent of the Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took time caucus. in his fi rst answer in West Block’s debut He was the Conservative caucus chair riding association. She was also the cam- Question Period to thank those who made the from 2008 to 2015. paign co-chair for northern Saskatchewan move possible. By the time the House rises in June, Mr. for the party during the 2015 election. Ms. “We need to take a moment to recognize Lauzon will have served about 15 years Kerr is a former staffer in the Prime Minis- and applaud the extraordinary women as an MP. In 2015, he won the riding of ter’s Offi ce, serving as the regional adviser and men who worked so hard to build this Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry, Ont., Paul Henderson, left, meets with Conservative for . She currently runs her beautiful chamber for us to serve in and to with 51.1 per cent of the vote. Before Mr. own consultancy fi rm, called Kerr Advisory. Leader , right, in on Jan. remember that if we who serve 28. Photograph courtesy of Twitter For the fi rst Public Safety Minister in this place work even half as hard as they time since and Liberal MP were previ- ere’s a shot. Henderson made a wild worked to build this place for us, we will be 2004, Tory MP ously announced as the co-chairs of the “Hstab for it and fell. Here’s another very well served as a country indeed,” Mr. Guy Lauzon committee leading platform development. shot. Right in front. They scored! Henderson Trudeau said. won’t be on Chris MacInnes is the Liberals’ national has scored for Canada,” legendary broad- For some MPs, their new home will take the ticket in campaign co-chair. caster Foster Hewitt exclaimed as Paul some adjustment to. An NDP MP spoke with the October —with fi les from Laura Ryckewaert Henderson put Canada on top, clinching a reporters in the new foyer with a map in hand. election as a 6-5 victory for the home team in the 1972 “It feels like Hogwarts with its moving Conservative Summit Series against the so-called amateur staircases. Defi nitely takes getting used to!” Party candidate. Independent Sen. Paula Soviet Union team, which had dominated NDP MP Matthew Dubé tweeted on Jan. 28. Photograph international hockey for the past decade. The move isn’t without growing pains, courtesy of Guy Simons nominated for a Now MPs want to see the man behind as there was fl ooding on multiple fl oors in Lauzon’s offi ce Canadian Atheist award Canada’s most iconic goal enshrined in the West Block on Jan. 29, which forced the Lauzon, the riding was held by former Lib- Hockey Hall of Fame. closure of the parliamentary cafeteria. eral MP Bob Kilger from 1988 to 2004. It New Independent Senator Paula Si- A motion, put forward by Liberal MP reported that a burst was Liberal-held for 26 of 30 years before mons was selected as one of the nominees James Maloney, passed the House unani- sprinkler pipe soaked a whole end of the Mr. Lauzon won in 2004. for Canadian Atheist’s persons of the year. mously to encourage the hall of fame to building, including a third-fl oor cabinet Mr. Lauzon was nominated to be the The blog gives the award for a “person induct Mr. Henderson for his “incredible meeting room, though the prime minister’s riding’s Tory candidate in October’s elec- who had greatest positive impact in Cana- contribution” to Canadian hockey and its offi ce itself was unaffected. tion in December 2017. dian secularism, humanism, atheism, and cultural history. freethought” in that year. Speaker Geoff Regan, NDP MP Brian Nicola Di Iorio fi nally Sen. Simons was selected as a nominee Masse, and Conservative MP all Shuffl ing the deck: new for “taking her outspoken humanism all the made statements in support of Mr. Hen- bows out way to the Senate.” derson, visiting the Chamber on his 76th parliamentary secretaries birthday, Jan. 28. After his self-imposed resignation date “Speaking for all goalies, I urge the passed, Liberal MP Nicola Di Iorio has named Hockey Hall of Fame to complete this won- fi nally resigned. derful story by giving us relief by getting him House Speaker Geoff Regan informed The government has named two new out of our crease and into the hall where he the Chamber of the vacancy on Jan. 29. parliamentary secretaries following the belongs,” Mr. Masse told the House as Mr. The lawyer announced in April minor Jan. 14 cabinet shuffl e. Henderson was sitting in the gallery. that he was planning on stepping down from Liberal MP Rémi Massé was appointed During the eight-game grudge match, his seat, to which he was fi rst elected in 2015, as the parliamentary secretary to Innova- Mr. Henderson scored seven goals and for family reasons, but did not say when. tion, Science, and Economic Development Independent Senator Paula Simons, middle, three assists. Over 13 NHL seasons—play- Over the summer months, he reconsidered Minister Navdeep Bains, replacing David is nominated for an atheist award for bringing ing for the Detroit Red Wings and the his decision and said that he was refl ecting Lametti who was named justice minister humanism to the Senate. The Hill Times Maple Leafs—he had 236 goals on his future plans. During that time, he had and attorney general. photograph by Andrew Meade and 241 assists. Mr. Henderson was a only appeared in the Chamber twice since Marc Serré was named the parliamen- two-time NHL all-star, as well as a Memo- June 13, on Dec. 13 and on Jan. 29. tary secretary to new Rural Economic “OMG. (Or not?) I don’t actually con- rial Cup champion with the Hamilton Red In response to his long absence, he had Development Minister . sider myself an atheist–more a secular Wings. He is a member of the International previously announced he would step down Mr. Serré represents the northern Ontario humanist,” she tweeted on Jan. 21. “But I’m Hockey Hall of Fame. as an MP earlier this month. riding of Nickel Belt and is chair of the honoured to be honoured in this company.” In a Jan. 29 point of order, Mr. Di Iorio gave Liberals’ rural caucus. The former Journal columnist a lengthy speech lamenting NDP MP Nathan Parliamentary secretary to the justice joined the Senate last October. Her Twitter MPs settle into new digs Cullen’s criticism of Mr. Di Iorio’s absence, but minister had his duties ex- account–@Paulatics–is a must-follow for her didn’t state if he would resign. Mr. Cullen had panded, taking on the role of being the live tweeting of Senate proceedings. parliamentary right hand to Democratic MPs moved been calling for an ethics probe into the now- [email protected] Institutions Minister —a job into the new erstwhile MP’s attendance record. The Hill Times previously held by Ms. Jordan. temporary In December, Mr. Cullen raised a ques- On the same day as the PS shuffl e, Prime House of tion of privilege with Mr. Regan, asking if Minister Justin Trudeau released the mandate Commons Mr. Di Iorio had misled the House regard- CORRECTIONS: The Hill Times letter for Ms. Jordan’s new post. She is tasked on Jan. ing his absence and if he was receiving with leading development of high-speed 28. The pay. A Jan. 29 ruling by the Speaker found Re: “Election-year heavy hitters: the broadband coverage in rural Canada, as well Hill Times there was insuffi cient evidence to conclude 100 most infl uential fi gures to watch as working in step with Public Safety Minis- photograph the outgoing MP had deceived the House. in federal politics in 2019,” (The Hill ter Ralph Goodale to improve Canada Post by Andrew An MP can either resign by submitting a Times, Jan. 28, p. 43). The article incor- services in rural and remote areas. Meade resignation letter to the House Speaker, or by rectly stated that the Assembly of First

announcing his resignation in the Chamber. Nations’ national chief Perry Belle- He was the MP for the Liberal strong- After the much-anticipated move out of garde will be applying pressure on the hold of Saint Léonard-Saint Michel, Que. Grits name national Centre Block as it prepares to undergo what government to deliver on legislation A byelection is prohibited from being could be at least a decade-long renovation, campaign committee chairs for an Indigenous rights framework. In called by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, MPs are adjusting to their new temporary fact, the AFN has voiced its opposition as a byelection would only be mandated home in West Block. The Liberals named fi ve co-chairs for their to the proposed legislation. under the Elections Act if Mr. Di Iorio had national campaign committee on Jan. 25. Celebrate Canadian Ag and Food Sir John A. Macdonald Building February 12 from 5:30 – 8 p.m. You’re invited to a networking reception. Canada’s Agriculture Day is the perfect time to come together to showcase our pride Register at: AgDay.ca/Ottawa in Canadian agriculture and create a closer connection to where Enter code our food comes from and the people who produce it. Celebrate CAD2019_AMTE with local farmers, agricultural leaders and other stakeholders. before checkout.

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CANADA’S AGRICULTURE DAY | February 12, 2019 4 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 | THE HILL TIMES News Public service ‘I need your help:’ Qualtrough pleads for cabinet co-operation to boost Phoenix fi x

Public priority for his Liberal govern- As the three-year pay Services and ment, and this letter, from the Procurement minister responsible, contradicts system anniversary Minister this,” he said. The nearly 500,000 Carla active cases “are completely unac- looms, only about Qualtrough ceptable. I think it’s an indication one-third of HR reiterated that this has not been a priority that for the government.” data comes in on stabilizing In her letter, Ms. Qualtrough said the Phoenix that “stabilizing the pay system is, time, says the PSPC pay system and will remain, my top priority.” is her top To help support others, Ms. head in a letter to priority in Qualtrough’s letter outlines that her ministerial a letter to her department is unveiling a cabinet “business intelligence tool” that colleagues. colleagues will provide direct access to data, dated Dec. and “can help identify issues with 20. The human resources activities and BY EMILY HAWS Hill Times prioritize cases for processing.” photograph “All departments will have he fact that Public Services by Andrew access by January 2019,” Ms. Tand Procurement Minister Meade Qualtrough wrote, which will is only now help departments with their telling her colleagues to step up pay data to identify where to their game when it comes to the improve. Additional benefi ts will accuracy and timeliness of human emerge as departments are “fully resources data getting put into payroll software was confi gured “It’s been clear for years that Normally the human resources engaged and can access the the Phoenix pay system has both to the government’s 32 human timely entering of data is critical and pay system are one and the business intelligence environ- opposition MPs and the head of resources systems; second, it because of Phoenix’s limitations same, as it’s diffi cult to have proper ment,” the letter said, pointing the largest federal public sector centralized the pay staff from 46 in processing any pay informa- pay without proper scheduling, for to Agriculture Canada as an ex- union questioning the Liberals’ departments to the Public Service tion entered late,” he said in an instance. Trea- commitment to fi xing the three- Pay Centre in Miramichi, N.B., emailed statement. “Even if the sury Board is year pay system nightmare. while 55 other departments kept Phoenix software can’t be re- currently in the In a Dec. 20 letter, which their advisers in-house. placed from one day to the next, process of devel- was obtained by The Hill Times Only about 30 per cent of the the government should have at oping the Next through access to information, human resources transactions for least fi xed its internal processes Generation HR Ms. Qualtrough (Delta, B.C.) gives employees serviced by the Public by now to avoid creating more and Pay system her fellow ministers an update on Service Pay Centre were put into fi nancial hardship.” to replace Phoe- the efforts to stabilize the Phoe- the Phoenix pay system before “All departmental and agency nix, while PSPC nix pay system, and says that in they were expected to take effect leaders have a responsibility continues with order to make sure that pay- and pay was supposed to go into for creating conditions that will efforts to ensure cheques are accurate, the human the person’s account, which Ms. minimize the pay problems posed paycheques are resources data entered into the Qualtrough’s letter calls their “effec- by the Phoenix platform until it is accurate and on pay system must be accurate and tive date,” while another 37 per cent replaced,” he added. time. timely, so as not to cause retroac- arrived within a month after they Ms. Qualtrough’s offi ce didn’t In the tive payments. were supposed to take place. respond to questions from The shared-respon- Almost one-fi fth of the data, Hill Times about the letter by sibility process, 17 per cent, was received three deadline. departmental months or more after its effective human re- Conservative MP Rob Nicholson says Minister Qualtrough’s date. Ministers should have sources staff letter shows the Liberal government isn’t prioritizing “We can do better,” Ms. Qual- enter data about Phoenix stabilization. The Hill Times fi le photograph trough wrote. “I ask that you someone on top of this: a change to an support changes in your organi- NDP MP Blaikie employee’s pay ample where it has centralized zation…in particular, reducing The latest fi gures on the into the department’s HR system. its processes and HR to reduce transactions over 90 days old. We Miramichi pay centre from Dec. If the department is serviced by the the amount of manual changes will support you in this.” 26 show that there are 490,000 Miramichi pay centre, a pay adviser that need to be made. The system has caused tens of pay problem cases ready to be from PSPC enters additional data Mr. Blaikie said he was a bit thousands of public servants to be processed, including 363,000 cases into Phoenix. The system then cal- put off by the idea of the “business underpaid, overpaid, or not paid that have a fi nancial impact, such as culates pay, the department reviews intelligence tool,” as it suggests at all. It has cost the government a pay raise. About 283,000 of those the payment amount and authorizes departments didn’t have access to more than $1.2-billion to fi x. It 363,000 cases are backlogged. PSPC to issue pay, which the em- that data all along. was supposed to save $70-million ployee receives as a paycheque. [email protected] annually. However, Phoenix has particu- The Hill Times NDP MP lar problems processing retroac- (Elmwood–Transcona, Man.), tive payments, since that feature his party’s Public Services and was removed from the scope of How Phoenix turns HR PSAC national president Chris Procurement critic, said he was the project during its development Aylward says the government has surprised by the letter, given due to budget constraints. This is data into paycheques, known for years that timely input entering accurate data into the why timeliness is so emphasized if serviced by the into Phoenix is critical. The Hill Times system on time seems like “basic in Ms. Qualtrough’s letter. photograph by Andrew Meade housekeeping.” “I don’t think anybody’s Miramichi pay centre “[Phoenix] has been the focus expecting that ministers are 1. A change is requested to an em- “Some factors that infl uence of a lot of attention,” he said. “It’s forwarding this information on ployee’s pay the speed at which we can stabi- surprising to me that government themselves,” Mr. Blaikie said. “But 2. The department or agency enters the lize pay are beyond Public Ser- is still at the point where they feel they should have somebody in data into its HR system vices and Procurement Canada’s the need to be telling departments their department who’s on top of 3. A pay adviser from PSPC enters ad- mandate, and this is where I need that they need to pass on their ensuring that that information ditional data into Phoenix your help,” writes Ms. Qualtrough. HR information in a timely way gets where it needs to go in a 4. The Phoenix system calculates pay “Pay starts with a human re- in order to ensure that people are timely way.” 5. The department or agency reviews sources action that sends infor- paid properly.” Conservative MP Rob Nich- the pay amount and authorizes PSPC to mation to the pay system in your He added: “That seems like a olson (Niagara Falls, Ont.), his issue pay department. The timeliness and pretty basic step.” party’s PSPC critic, said it’s yet 6. The employee receives a paycheque. accuracy of that information have Public Service Alliance of NDP MP Daniel Blaikie said he found another example that Phoenix a signifi cant impact on pay for Canada national president Chris the letter surprising, as entering stabilization isn’t a true priority — Source: The auditor general’s fall employees.” Aylward, who represents about data properly and on time seems like for the Liberals. 2017 report on the implementation of The Phoenix project happened 140,0000 federal members, basic housekeeping. The Hill Times “The prime minister has said the Phoenix pay system in two parts: fi rst, off-the-shelf agreed. photograph by Andrew Meade that paying public servants is a THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 5 Public service News PSAC concerned about plan to privatize heating plants serving the Hill, 80 federal buildings in national capital

Continued from page 1 through their transition to new roles emerg- Hot water also takes longer to empty out ing within the service management areas.” and repair, he said, which could leave offi ce called the Heat is On, and collected more than The government is also working to buildings freezing, or computer server rooms 275 signatures for their petition to have the change the heating system from steam to overheating, in the meantime. Additionally, privatization stopped. low-temperature hot water, a move expected he said environmental issues could pose a More than 80 federal buildings, includ- to reduce emissions by more than 30 per challenge. The water would likely be emptied ing all those in the Parliamentary Precinct, cent. Without modernization, it will cost into the Ottawa River, he said, and if not are heated and cooled by 14 kilometres of almost $4-billion to heat and cool the build- treated properly, could pose health concerns. underground pipes fi lled with steam gener- ings over the next 40 years, a governement Mr. Bujold said that while hot water ated at fi ve heating plants in the NCR. One webpage about the project said. The modern- systems take longer to repair, the system of the main ones is the Cliff Plant behind ization efforts are expected to save $750-mil- operates with less pressure and therefore the Supreme Court of Canada. lion over that time, Mr. Bujold added. statistically fails less frequently. The government is currently in the Along with the increase in precarious “Further, all…buildings are connected in process of choosing one of two private- work that privatization brings, Mr. Silas such a way that each building can be sup- sector consortiums (Innovate Energy or said he is concerned about the health and plied from two locations,” he said. “There- Rideau Energy Partners) to design, fi nance, safety of the workers in the buildings. fore a break in the distribution piping can PSAC alternate regional executive vice-president modernize, maintain and operate heat- “Imagine the heat cuts out on a day be easily isolated and repaired without Alex Silas speaks to about 30 people at a rally on ing plants for a 30-year contract under a like today when it’s -30. … Imagine if a affecting the heating or cooling services Sparks Street against the government's plan to public-private partnership. pipe bursts and the downtown core gets delivered to each building.” privatize the modernization and maintenance of the Alex Silas, the alternate regional execu- fl ooded,” he said. “These are realities that [email protected] heating and cooling system for 80 area buildings. tive vice-president for PSAC, said his main might happen.” The Hill Times The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade concern is for the health and safety of both its 60 members who work at the plants, as well as the 50,000 workers—many of whom are PSAC members—who work in the buildings. PSAC represents 140,000 federal workers across the country. “We’re concerned that there’s going to be problems,” Mr. Silas said, adding PSAC’s members working at the plant have been Congratulations to trying to tell the government that the plans coming in from the consortiums don’t make sense. The union is calling on the government Opus One Solutions to put an end to the privatization process, and asking it to meet with plant workers to develop a plan that will reduce envi- ronmental impact, reduce energy costs, on being named a and enhance overall safety; starting the modernization process after that. The group has been, so far unsuccess- fully, asking for a meeting with Environ- 2019 Global Cleantech ment Minister and Ottawa Centre MP Catherine McKenna. The Hill Times reached out her offi ce for comment, as well as Public Services and 100 company for Procurement Minister Carla Qualtrough (Delta, B.C.), but neither responded by deadline. PSPC spokesperson Pierre-Alain Bujold a second year! refuted the union’s concerns, saying in an emailed statement that the private sector operator will be “subject to the same health and safety regulations and standards once they take over operations,” and the contract will include provisions to hold the private Opus One Solutions a Canadian leader in transactive sector operator accountable to perfor- mance standards. energy and distributed energy software solutions has been The government “will be retaining control of the security process, including selected as a top leader out of over 13,000 innovators monitoring of all of our retained assets,” he from over 90 countries. It is a recognition of Opus One’s added. “As a result, physical security will not be impacted. Furthermore, the private potential to make an impact on the market and partner will be subject to the same secu- rity requirements and will need to obtain deliver the solutions we all need. proper security clearances.” NDP MP Daniel Blaikie (Elmwood- Transcona, Man.), his party’s public services and procurement critic, and NDP Ottawa Centre MPP Joel Harden both To learn more, visit: www.opusonesolutions.com attended the noon-hour rally, along with Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) vice-president Stéphane Aubry, who represents the engineers and other professionals in the plants. PSAC contends that government shoulders all of the risk in these types of projects, which Mr. Silas said are often delayed and over budget. Mr. Bujold said two of the fi ve plants are already operated by the private sector, and that 35 heating plant operators in the three plants currently operated by PSPC would have their jobs impacted by the project. “More than half of these employees are eligible to retire,” he said. “The govern- ment of Canada will support all employees 6 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 | THE HILL TIMES News Legislation

were delayed from their planned 2019 return of Jan. 29 due to a Senate Conservatives plan to design fl aw in the temporary Chamber in the Government Conference Centre (renamed the Senate of Canada Building during the Centre Block renova- ‘gut’ Liberal gun bill, and they tion). Committees can meet in the two-week interim, but the National Security Committee won’t be. “We just tried to work may have the numbers to do it around what best fi t schedule- wise. So what you’ll see is some extended sitting,” said Sen. Boniface. A 12-member Senate committee, composed Handgun ban talks have of fi ve Conservatives created ‘confusion,’ Sen. Pratte says and at least one Adding an extra layer to a dis- unaffi liated Senator cussion that’s already wrapped up in public safety, gangs, domestic who, like the Tories, violence, and property rights, is the Liberals’ ongoing consultation has criticized Bill on banning handguns. Border Security and Orga- C-71, means some of nized Crime Reduction Minister (Scarborough South- those Conservative west, Ont.) and his parliamentary changes could make it Members of the Senate’s National Security and Defence Committee including, left, Conservative Don Plett, and secretary are still holding discus- Independents Gwen Boniface, centre, and André Pratte, right, are expecting a lively debate over the Liberals’ fi rearms sions relating to his mandated through to the Upper legislation, Bill C-71. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade, fi le photographs task to “lead an examination of a full ban on handguns and assault Chamber as a whole. authorization to move restricted into an online portal. It should affect Indigenous rights, Sen. weapons in Canada, while not im- guns when not between home not be an onerous burden,” Public Pratte said perhaps “there’s a way peding the lawful use of fi rearms BY CHARELLE EVELYN and an approved location, like a Safety Minister Ralph Goodale that we can put something in the by Canadians.” shooting range. (Regina-Wascana, Sask.) told the bill that will reassure them,” but Although the results of the he Liberals’ fi rearms legisla- But the legislation’s critics say House Public Safety and National that it’s too early to determine consultation won’t have a bearing Ttion is going to get a rough the bill imposes further burdens Security Committee last spring. what that is. on C-71 directly, Senators say its ride in the Upper Chamber, ac- on legal gun owners, and doesn’t But this will create more un- “I expect it’s going to be quite presence will be felt. cording to the Conservative Sen- do anything to protect against safe situations, Sen. Plett told The a debate, I think, but an inter- “I think it has created a little ate critic, who says the opposition criminal activity. Hill Times. For example, he said if esting debate, and an essential bit of confusion,” said Sen. Pratte, is planning a set of amendments “We are hearing from stake- someone is taking their gun to a debate,” Sen. Pratte said about the since some people think that the to “gut” Bill C-71. holders what I’ve said in the past: gun show or a shooting range and bill’s future in the Red Chamber. bill introduces a weapons ban. A 12-member Senate commit- that this bill needs to be thrown it becomes damaged or jammed Appointed by Prime Minister Sen. Boniface said she expects tee, composed of fi ve Conserva- in the garbage can,” said Conser- “you are not allowed to take that Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) in the issue to be raised during the tives and at least one unaffi liated vative Senator Don Plett (Land- gun across the street to a gun- 2016, Sen. Pratte said he agreed committee’s study, as she’s “sure Senator who, like the Tories, has mark, Man.). “It…will do nothing smith to have that gun checked. to sponsor the bill because of a that individual Senators will have criticized the bill, means some of about what the government is You have to take that gun home long-standing interest in gun con- an interest in knowing how that those Conservative changes could saying they want to tackle.” and then apply for transportation trol and a desire to see changes fi ts into this bill.” make it through to the whole While he said his preference permits again to transfer that gun made to the “ill-advised measures” Mr. Blair’s consultation includ- Upper Chamber for approval. The would be to fully scrap Bill C-71, to a gunsmith.” taken by the previous Conserva- ed an online questionnaire and bill would still have to go back to Sen. Plett indicated that the tive government in 2015. in-person meetings with experts the House after third reading in committee process will be used ‘It’s going to be quite a Called the Common Sense and stakeholders in rural and the Senate, for discussion of any to propose major changes to the Firearms Licensing Act, the leg- urban areas across Canada, press Senate amendments. legislation. debate’: ISG sponsor Sen. islation relaxed previous trans- secretary Marie-Emmanuelle “We will be coming forward Pratte portation rules, gave the cabinet Cadieux said in an email. with a number of amendments The 12-member National Secu- decision-making Border that will do everything short rity and Defence Committee is power over how guns Security and of gutting this bill completely, composed of fi ve ISG Senators, were classifi ed (which Organized because we cannot accept any of fi ve Conservatives, and two non- is given to the RCMP Crime this,” he said. affi liated Senators. One is former under the Liberal Reduction One of the government’s most Liberal Mobina Jaffer (British bill), and created a Minister contentious pieces of legislation, Columbia), and the other is David six-month grace Bill Blair is opponents have said that Bill C-71 Richards (New Brunswick), a for- period for lapsed wrapping up creates a backdoor long-gun reg- mer ISG member who expressed fi rearms licences. a consultation istry—a charge the Liberals have opposition to the bill during his There is some mis- on the denied. The government agreed second-reading speech on Dec. understanding about prospect to an amendment to the bill after 11. the bill, said Sen. of banning a House committee study, adding Sen. Plett said he’s looking Pratte, adding that handguns language that nothing in it could forward to squaring off with Inde- he hopes the com- and assault be “construed so as to permit or pendent Senator André Pratte (De mittee’s study “will weapons. The require the registration of non- Salaberry, Que.)—both members serve as a platform to Hill Times restricted fi rearms.” of the Senate National Security provide more infor- Public Safety Minister Ralph photograph by Sen. Plett wants to see the Committee—on the bill. mation on what the Goodale says the new transportation Andrew Meade bill’s “terrible transportation One area where the pair may bill really says and authorization rules in C-71 won’t guidelines” changed, among other fi nd common ground is on the not what some people be onerous on gun owners. The Hill amendments, which he said mem- way the bill affects Indigenous say it is.” “This includes , Times photograph by Andrew Meade bers of the Independent Senators communities. The approach to a study on Toronto, Montreal, and Moncton, Group, which holds the majority The government “did not do a bill with as much baggage as and, at the request of local MPs, Introduced in Parliament of seats in the Upper Chamber, a lot of consultation with Indig- gun control is “really just to try Whitehorse, Corner Brook, Red on March 20, the bill arrived in are receiving favourably. enous communities” ahead of to get as much of the facts out Deer, Edmonton, and Kenora, as the Senate on Sept. 25 and got With the exception of taking a tabling C-71, said Sen. Pratte, on the table as you can and work well as forthcoming Bruce-Grey through second reading on Dec. gun home after buying it and tak- which leaves them with a lot of your way through the process,” [Ont.],” Ms. Cadieux said. “The 11. The Senate’s National Security ing it to a shooting range, owners uncertainty about the impact on said Independent Senator Gwen minister is hoping to complete his and Defence Committee will be- of restricted and prohibited fi re- their hunting and other constitu- Boniface (Ontario), who chairs report of all engagement efforts, gin its study of C-71 on Feb. 18. arms (such as handguns) would tionally protected rights. the committee. which will be made public in According to the government, have to get authorization to move At their May special chiefs She said in an interview last early 2019.” the bill would improve public the gun before doing so. assembly, the Assembly of First week that witness lists are still On Jan. 18, Mr. Blair told report- safety by expanding background “It will help the police deter- Nations adopted a resolution call- being fi rmed up for the commit- ers he was hoping to present his check requirements, creating a mine whether it’s being trans- ing for meaningful consultation tee’s study, which won’t begin fi ndings to cabinet “in the next two database of reference numbers of ported for a legitimate purpose. on Bill C-71. until the Senate has moved into weeks,” according to a CBC report. privately sold non-restricted guns, Getting authorization is…a matter While he said he’s “quite its new interim Chamber on Feb. [email protected] and requiring transportation of a simple phone call or logging convinced” the legislation doesn’t 18. Senate Chamber proceedings The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 7 Politics News

“They can stand up a slab of meat and as Treasury Board president. Judging by there’s a really good chance that the indi- those who have come forward, Mr. Lyons Brison’s Nova Scotia riding vidual could do okay,” Mr. Trites said with said he expects the next candidate will a laugh. “I think it’s a horse race. We’re not have name recognition, a “very important” taking anything for granted, that’s for sure.” factor in a campaign. ‘diffi cult’ for Liberals to In the past, the party has seen “a lot of Ms. MacQuarrie has been door-knock- high-powered help,” said Mr. Trites, and he ing since her nomination in the summer of 2018. Since Mr. Brison’s announcement, Former Treasury she said she’s still hearing the same “time hold: ex-Grit minister Board president for change” rhetoric from residents and small business owners who aren’t happy resigned from with the Liberals’ income and carbon tax Continued from page 1 A successful Liberal candidate will likely cabinet earlier this have to straddle that line like Mr. Brison, initiatives. month and gave “Really my focus is to just stay on the Liberal Party,” said Mr. Thibault. “I don’t who started his federal career in 1997 as notice he wouldn’t the doorsteps and try and meet as many think you can look at it as an easy Liberal a Progressive Conservative but crossed be running in people as I possibly can,” she said. “Getting win. A lot is going to depend on who the the fl oor to the Grits in 2003. He famously this fall's general out there and listening and hearing what candidate is.” said “the party left me, I didn’t leave the election, making his the interests and concerns are… that for With such a strong incumbent out of the party,” noted Mr. Curry, helping keep some riding one to watch me hasn’t changed and that’s my strategy mix, who was well liked across party lines, of his blue supporters. He also “let people in Atlantic Canada, going forward—get out there.” people are now looking at Kings-Hants “as think that he was a Red Tory,” said Peter politicos say. The The NDP was supposed to have a nomi- a race in a way that they haven’t in a really Harrison, acting campaign chair for Ms. Hill Times photograph nation meeting Jan. 27, but it’s been post- long time,” agreed Acadia University asso- MacQuarrie. by Andrew Meade poned, Mr. Curry said, because the federal ciate professor Erin Crandall. It’s shaping To Mr. Thibault, he was Chrétien-type party needed more time for vetting. up to be “very competitive,” she said. Liberal: fi scally conservative, but socially doesn’t see that dropping off now that the That might be a good thing, as he said The Conservatives have the riding’s only liberal. party sees “an opportunity to win—there’s there have been more nibbles for the NDP declared candidate in Martha MacQuarrie, “If we get that kind of candidate again, blood in the water, the sharks are swirling,” nod, and judging by the calibre of candi- a local businesswoman and constituency and [are] able to articulate his or her posi- he said with a laugh. Conservative Leader dates (he declined to give names) he thinks offi ce manager for Kings North Progres- tion, well then, anything’s possible,” said Mr. Andrew Scheer (Regina–Qu’Appelle, the party “can make inroads” in what has sive Conservative MLA John Lohr, whom Thibault. Sask.) is slated for a campaign-style stop in traditionally been a two-horse race with observers said was likely well known in Seeing a popular veteran MP drop out of February. them out of the mix. her community and in Tory circles, but not the race makes a “huge difference” agreed But the Conservatives think the 2011 “It just got a lot more interesting,” he elsewhere. The NDP delayed its nomina- Mr. Harrison, who said he’s less concerned election—when their candidate came said of Mr. Brison’s departure. tion meeting and is now aiming for March, about who the Liberal candidate will be, within 1,000 votes—showed the riding To many, it’s still an open question said the party’s riding association president and more about whether Mr. Brison’s “ma- was winnable even with Mr. Brison as a whether Mr. Brison’s repeated success was Hugh Curry, who carried the party’s banner chine is going to run the campaign.” contender. The 2015 rout, where the former more about the man than the party. in 2015. Liberal riding association chairman Mr. Brison’s Facebook page has 21,000 cabinet minister dominated with 70.7 It’s also not clear to Prof. Crandall to Burnell Lyons said the party is expecting to likes, and the federal Liberals work closely per cent of the vote, was an anti-Stephen what extent he “built the Liberal brand in name its candidate “sometime in April.” with their provincial counterparts, which Harper sentiment rather than a testament the constituency,” though she said the Grits Kings-Hants is seen as a histori- can give a leg-up, noted John Trites, presi- to the Liberals’ strength in the area, Mr. are clearly better off for having him. cally “small-c” conservative riding whose dent of the Conservative riding association. Trites said. “Whatever the results [in October], it population and demographics are shifting. The Liberal Party is “far more integrat- The Liberal riding association met will tell a story not just of the political par- Wolfville, home to Acadia University, is a ed” and therefore has “a lot more horse- last week to discuss next steps, said Mr. ties in 2019, but also about Brison’s legacy,” progressive pocket in an otherwise largely power,” added Mr. Trites, so the Conserva- Lyons, and has heard from “a good variety” she said. rural riding that folds in four provincial tives know, regardless of the candidate, of people expressing interest in the days [email protected] ridings in its borders. they’re still facing a tough fi ght. following Mr. Brison’s Jan. 10 resignation The Hill Times

ANNOUNCEMENT

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Will Adams Bonnie Leask Vice President Vice President Government Relations Strategic Relationships OTTAWA

Will knows Ottawa, and Ottawa knows Will. Indigenous insight. Political instincts. His extensive experience working with officials From the community halls of Muskeg Lake at the highest levels of the federal government, Cree Nation to the halls of Parliament, both in the House and Senate, shapes the Bonnie has worked with individuals, community strategies and messaging he develops for leaders and federal decision-makers to build clients across Canada. relationships that drive positive change. Talk to Will: 613.914.1584 Talk to Bonnie: 306.202.7572 wadams@creative-fire.com [email protected] 8 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 | THE HILL TIMES

EDITOR Kate Malloy MANAGING EDITOR Kristen Shane PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY BY PUBLISHERS Anne Marie Creskey, DEPUTY EDITORS Peter Mazereeuw, Charelle Evelyn HILL TIMES PUBLISHING INC. Jim Creskey, Ross Dickson ASSISTANT DEPUTY EDITOR Abbas Rana 246 Queen Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5E4 GENERAL MANAGER, CFO Andrew Morrow DIGITAL EDITOR Beatrice Paez

Editorial Letters to the Editor McCallum fi red for telling the truth Svend Robinson doesn’t deserve

enerally, journalists prefer interview- ver journalist reported Mr. McCallum said another run at public offi ce, says reader Ging an ambassador who is a political it “would be great for Canada” if the U.S. appointee rather than a career diplomat. The scrapped its extradition request. e: “‘I would respectfully suggest to former politicians are usually more comfort- By weighing in on the Meng case, Mr. RTom Mulcair that he button it up,’ able speaking to journalists and have enough McCallum, a former Liberal minister, could Robinson says Mulcair’s swipes at Singh The Hill Times infl uence to be able to speak their minds, be seen to have prejudiced it himself. He ‘inappropriate’” ( , Jan. 25, or at least to a greater extent than career should have taken the old political line that online). I fi nd it fascinating that Svend diplomats for whom the ability to be discreet “it would be inappropriate to comment on Robinson, someone who was forced from is sacrosanct. Political appointees give good a case before the courts.” His analysis was offi ce due to theft, would have the temer- quotes, while career diplomats tend to couch sound, though. The U.S. president’s com- ity to comment on Tom Mulcair, much less their words carefully. ments could, in the end, help Ms. Meng. even lift his head up in public or think John McCallum, Justin Trudeau’s former And having a China-U.S. deal or another that he should be eligible for public offi ce immigration minister and a 16-year veteran means of making the extradition process again. The NDP should rethink associat- of the House of Commons, learned that the go away would benefi t Canada, caught ing with him and perhaps remember that hard way this week when he was forced to between two bickering superpowers. Mr. Robinson didn’t have the chops to resign as ambassador to China for speak- The Chinese have condemned Mr. Mc- withstand the heat of public offi ce the ing out of turn not once, but twice. Callum’s fi ring. As University of Toronto fi rst time. Mr. Robinson doesn’t deserve Mr. McCallum in a news conference China expert Lynette Ong wrote in The a voice, and certainly hasn’t earned any with Chinese-language journalists in his Globe and Mail, “his dismissal is a setback redemption from the voters. old riding of Markham, Ont., suggested to to our efforts to secure the release of Way to go, ; you just Former NDP MP Svend Robinson plans to run reporters on Jan. 22 that Huawei executive detained Canadians Michael Kovrig and keep picking those winners. in Burnaby North-Seymour, B.C., for the party Meng Wanzhou, out on bail in Vancouver Michael Spavor. For diplomacy to work, William (Bill) C. Macdonell in this year's federal election. The Hill Times after her Dec. 1 arrest, could have good our ambassador to China needs to be , Alta. photograph by Andrew Meade arguments to convince a judge not to someone the government trusts; Mr. Mc- extradite her to the United States for al- Callum was that someone.” leged crimes related to violating sanctions Mr. McCallum was valued as an ambas- against Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump sador who could pick up the phone and get last month mused about intervening in Ms. the PM, but with his benefi ts as a politician U.S. ought to butt out of Meng’s case if it could help the U.S. and also came the risk of his straight-shooting China reach a trade deal, hence Mr. Mc- style. As CBC analyst Chris Hall said, “He Venezuela’s democratic decisions Callum’s reasoning that she had a case to was never one to duck a question. Unlike make against extradition in that she could most diplomats, he never bought into the show it was for political purposes. Mr. Mc- notion of talking without saying anything.” hose who allege that Donald Trump We are then left with a fl imsy case for Callum also said the U.S. could cut a deal But the Trudeau government might have Twon the presidency of the United intervention that hinges on an unsubstan- with China to release two Canadians de- been better served with a career diplomat States illegitimately likely do so with- tiated allegation of electoral fraud. While tained there on national security grounds who could be more discreet. Chris Alexan- out ever considering the possibility of a suspected electoral fraud is not suffi cient in exchange for Ms. Meng’s freedom. der, a former diplomat turned Conservative foreign power using this allegation—true grounds to invade another country under Two days later, he was forced to apolo- MP, noted to StarMetro Vancouver that or not—as a pretense to invade American international law, the veracity of this gize for those remarks, seen as freelancing diplomacy requires a very different skill set soil and unilaterally replace him. Even if charge is also highly dubious. outside the government line, which was than politics, where with the latter “messag- the scenario were conceivable, Americans Unlike in the U.S., where the in- that Canada is letting the judicial process ing can be bolder and risk-taking can more would view it as an affront to democ- tegrity of elections is tainted by mass play out without political interference. often result in rewards.” That’s a lesson both racy, claiming they are entitled to their voter purges, confl icted election offi cials, The straw that broke the camel’s back Mr. McCallum and Mr. Trudeau learned this national sovereignty. “lost” ballots, faulty voting machines, was when on Jan. 25 a StarMetro Vancou- week. Why, then, are Venezuelans not en- and prohibitively onerous identifi cation titled to theirs? requirements, Venezuela enjoys a process In a stunning move, the U.S. is offi cial- that is widely hailed as the gold standard. ly recognizing, and hinting at militarily Venezuela selects poll offi cials by lottery; backing, opposition leader Juan Guaidó conducts mandatory randomized audits, as the new self-declared president of Ven- measuring witnessed hand-tallies against ezuela. We are told that Nicolás Maduro, computed polling centre totals; employs the president Venezuelans elected, is a stand-alone, non-networked machines “dictator” who won his second term “ille- that print paper ballots after voting so gitimately” and is infl icting harsh suffer- that voters can verify accuracy before ing upon his people. fi nal submission; and even has voters However, leaving aside countless confi rm their identity through fi ngerprint- examples of selective American ‘moral recognition software before voting. concern’ (seemingly reserved for coun- It’s unriggable. tries unwilling to surrender economic But don’t take my word for it. Just ask autonomy), years of broad U.S. sanc- former U.S. president Jimmy Carter. In tions aimed at choking Venezuela into 2012, recounting his Nobel Prize-winning fi scal submission have played a signifi - work through the election-monitoring cant role in creating the very crisis that Carter Center, he said: “As a matter of is now cited as justifi cation for interven- fact, of the 92 elections that we’ve moni- tion. tored, I would say that the election pro- Moreover, the fact that the U.S. gov- cess in Venezuela is the best in the world.” ernment continues to openly promote and With the threat of escalating violence strengthen ties with actual dictatorships arising from yet another U.S.-orches- leads one to the inescapable conclusion trated regime change, perhaps Ameri- that altruism is being cynically used as a cans’ energy would be better spent on smokescreen to facilitate the aggressive their own democratic institutions. agenda of American business interests. In other words: Yankee, go home! Venezuela sits on the world’s largest Alykhan Pabani proven oil reserves, after all. Toronto, Ont.

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sia’ theme, how could Brig.-Gen. In 1999, NATO bombed the Janzen not remember the Soviet bejeezus out of Serbia in order Credible news sources the only Union’s decade-long occupation to wrest away the sovereign of Afghanistan from 1979 to 1989. territory of Kosovo. That entity In 1982, Argentina invaded the declared independence in 2008, way to defeat disinformation Falkland Islands to seize terrain. but remains a failed state awash Thanks to the prowess of the Brit- in crime, corruption, and poverty. ish military, the Argentines didn’t In 2001, the U.S. invaded According to Brig.-Gen. Jan- his head and said, “We can’t let [Rus- get to keep it. In 1983, the United Afghanistan, toppled the Taliban, Canadian Brig.-Gen. zen, average Canadians need to sia] destroy the rules we’ve set up.” States invaded Grenada. and established the most corrupt be aware of the fact that Russian regime on the planet. Canadian This month, Jay Janzen and I agree President Vladimir Putin has soldiers fought and died prop- the Canadian “weaponized” information and ping up that Afghan regime from on that, at least. But Armed Forces’ his trolls are actively targeting 2001 to 2014. The U.S. remains in Jay Janzen, seen Canada’s upcoming provincial Afghanistan; the Taliban is resur- who decides what’s being interviewed and federal elections. gent; the drug trade has fl our- at the opening of a Ironically, it was Canada’s ished and the country remains credible is another NATO exercise in own chief of defence staff, Gen- embroiled in a bloody civil war. Poland in 2013, question. eral Jonathan Vance, who imple- In 2003, the U.S. lied to the said Canadians mented a policy in 2015 wherein world by claiming Iraq’s leader, should be wary he called for the “weaponization” Hussein, possessed weapons of of disinformation of the mass destruction, in order to campaigns meant public affairs. justify an invasion based on self- to infl uence the This effort is headed by none defence. Since then, that once- electorate. SSgt Ian other than Brig.-Gen. Janzen, progressive country has been Houlding/GBR Army hence it would seem the pot is reduced to a failed state awash in photograph courtesy calling the kettle black. violent anarchy. of NATO Reading a transcript of Brig.- In, 2011, a Canadian-led NATO Gen. Janzen’s Calgary presenta- So, off the top, Brig.-Gen. Janzen Iraqi President Saddam Hus- mission bombed the crap out of tion, I was startled to see just how makes a ridiculously wrong over- sein invaded Iran in 1980 and he Muammar Gaddafi in order to far this strategic communicator view of the past 74 years and then invaded Kuwait in 1990. He didn’t ensure a victory for the Libyan Scott Taylor was prepared to stretch the truth points to the West as the purveyors get to keep it, but he did seize ter- rebels. Then it turned out those Inside Defence in order to dis-inform his audience. of peace and the ones who set up rain with military forces. rebels were a collection of crimi- At one point, Brig.-Gen. Janzen the rules for the world to follow. The collapse of the Soviet nals and Islamic extremists. To asks, “Does Russia have the right On his fi rst claim that Putin Union and the breakup of Yugo- this day, Libya remains awash in TTAWA—Last week, Canadian to invade Crimea and Ukraine? To and the Russians are the fi rst, it slavia in 1991 led to the military violent anarchy. OBrigadier-General Jay Janzen seize terrain for the fi rst time since seems, to use military force to seizure of a lot of terrain by a mul- According to Brig.-Gen. gave a presentation at Mount Royal the Second World War, by force?” seize terrain since the Second titude of factions. This resulted in Janzen, the way for Canadians to University in Calgary wherein he That’s right, folks: not only did World War, how is it possible that widespread ethnic cleansing and, defeat the alleged Russian cam- exhorted all Canadians to be wary Putin grab this land, but accord- this man rose to the rank of briga- in many cases, ongoing instances paign of disinformation is to get of Russia’s alleged disinformation ing to Brig.-Gen. Janzen, it seems, dier and yet remained completely of frozen confl icts and unrecog- their news from credible sources. campaign. Brig.-Gen. Janzen’s of- this is the fi rst such occasion unaware of the multitude of wars nized breakaway separatist states. I second that motion. fi cial title is the director general of anyone has used military force to that have taken place, not only in As for Brig.-Gen. Janzen’s Scott Taylor is the edi- military strategic communications, grab land since 1945. his own lifetime, but also while assertion that we in the West set tor and publisher of Esprit de so it is safe to say the he is dutifully In response to his own rhetorical he served in uniform? Even if you up the rules, let’s hope that Putin Corps magazine. spouting the government line. question, Brig.-Gen. Janzen shook want to stick with the ‘bash Rus- does not follow in our footsteps. The Hill Times

scenario of 2007. But the outlook lower business investment, and ing from fewer labour unions; the is freighted with risk, and Canadi- a U.S. failure to ratify the deal increasing practice of temporary ans could easily fi nd themselves would only spell signifi cant eco- hiring; technological develop- How Trudeau in a much worse situation than nomic trouble for Canada. ments that have left less-educated most are anticipating. Trump’s heedless trade battle workers behind; and demographic The past year recorded strong with China is beginning to bring trends that are seeing retirees GDP growth of two per cent in down global economic growth. being replaced by low-paid young needs to boost Canada, and 2019 was expected This, plus risks associated with people. Add to that the dismal until recently to be another Britain’s Brexit gong show and participation rate in the economy fairly robust economic story. But political turmoil in Europe, by young Canadians. the Bank of Canada this month have darkened the international It’s easy to see why Canadians the economy, as reduced its forecast for 2019 sub- outlook and fanned volatility on are restless and why, looking out stantially, to 1.7 per cent growth fi nancial markets. over the coming election year, the from 2.1 per cent. Even if the headline numbers economy is likely to be the decid- Bank governor Stephen Poloz hold up here in 2019 despite these ing issue. it emerges as key cited the sharp decline in oil pric- crosscurrents, Canadians will still The federal Liberals have es last fall, a slowdown in Canadi- be dealing with the momentous been struggling to address these an housing activity resulting from changes that have redefi ned liv- issues. And their latest move, the tighter mortgage rules and rising ing standards and economic pros- capital cost allowance tax break to mortgage rates, belt-tightening pects in the post-recession era. encourage missing-in-action busi- election issue by the new Ontario government, There had been widespread ness investment, is well-positioned and global uncertainties linked expectations that the current to provide job-creating spending mer of 2007 reading the fi rst sto- to trade policies and mounting historically low 5.6 per cent on new productive machinery and Canada’s pre-election ries about the fi nancial cliff the international friction. unemployment rate would drive equipment, including the innova- world was about to tumble over. Many of the unknowns up wages, as has happened in tive investment needed to boost economic outlook is I think the original articles had Canada faces at the start of 2019 the past. But this isn’t proving to the economy over the long term. to do with an angry consumer are of course traceable to United be the case, with wage growth At the same time, the fed- getting worse. vandalizing a car belonging to the States President Donald Trump’s nationally hovering at or below eral government should be head of a big Scottish bank. disruptive antics and protectionist infl ation, meaning people aren’t doing more to assist Canadians, Most Western countries have fi xation. getting ahead or are actually los- particularly youth, with better long recovered from the searing The renegotiation of NAFTA, ing ground on the cost of living. educational opportunities and job economic collapse of 2008-09. In while completed, is a long way Economists pondering this un- and skills training. Stepped-up Canada, the past 10 years have from being ratifi ed by the U.S. welcome development have come regional development, actually for the most part been a period of Congress and the timing of up with several explanations. But doing something about internal slow but steady economic expan- ratifi cation is very much up in they all come down to the fact that, trade barriers, and a more urgent sion. the air. Democrats in control of with globalization and the structur- commitment to infrastructure But, despite this long period the House of Representatives al shifts in the economy that held investment and the greening of growth and an unemployment seemed inclined to slow approval true for the past decade, expecta- of the economy would also be rate hovering at 40-year lows, of NAFTA 2.0, perhaps demand- tions for average Canadians just welcomed. the overall economic picture has ing revisions, even before politics aren’t what they were pre-2009. Prime Minister Justin Les Whittington never been the same after 2009. in the U.S. capital descended into Among the reasons for this are Trudeau’s election hopes may Need to Know And the change isn’t lost on most outright gridlock over the presi- the cost-driven shifts in a corpo- hang in the balance. people. dent’s vaunted wall along the rate sector seeking cheaper labour Les Whittington is an Ottawa At the start of 2019, Canada’s Mexican border. Uncertainty over and less interested than in the past journalist and a regular contribu- TTAWA—I remember sitting economic landscape doesn’t bear the fi nal disposition of NAFTA in investing in workers; declining tor to The Hill Times. Oin London, U.K., in the sum- any resemblance to the doomsday is already being felt in terms of employee bargaining power aris- The Hill Times 10 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 | THE HILL TIMES Comment

a groundbreaker for women vying for the presidency of the United States. CBD: Risky Women, Trump, and the The absence of the heavily enforced and ultimately illusory Clinton inevitability that kept other women out of the 2008 and 2016 Democratic primaries has opened a space for a business to redefi nition of power record number of women contenders already. They include California Senator Kamala Har- Trump’s caricature of white male privilege ris, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, regulate this The disruptive lunacy of run amok to Nancy Pelosi’s conniption- New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Min- squelching, new-sheriff-in-town sangfroid. nesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, and Rep. Tulsi the American president “I’m a mother of fi ve, grandmother of Gabbard. With almost a year to go before the cannabis nine,” Pelosi said of Trump’s Drama King Iowa caucuses, which start the presidential pri- has amplifi ed the appeal of performance during the government shut- mary season, they belong to the most diverse anyone who doesn’t look, down he staged to coerce a border wall. “I fi eld of presidential contenders in history. product as know a temper tantrum when I see one.” The fact that none of these women is the sound, and act like him. That’s The newly reinstalled House speaker’s only woman in the race means that, already, tour de force in calmly taking the wheel they are being defi ned not by their gender recreational excellent news for women. of the United States government back but by their professional accomplishments, from the madman who’d been holding the personal narratives, and character. Their Helen Long country hostage from the Oval Offi ce was strength in numbers is also refl ected in the a victory not only for sane Washington but fact that, at least so far, they haven’t taken Health also for a particular kind of power. even veiled shots at each other. Trump’s shutdown gambit was a tribute And, it means that candidates whose he two most well-known compounds in to a tactical politics so shameless it doesn’t demographic had a lock on the White Tcannabis are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) bother pretending to be anything other House for more than two centuries will and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is the compound than a power grab. be competing on the same basis of ac- that gets you high. CBD does not. How and why that brand of politics complishments, personal narratives, and We know that since medical access to can- found a home in the most powerful offi ce character—criteria by which some of these nabis was fi rst introduced in 2001, Canadians in the world, in a democracy where purely women are exceptionally competitive. have faced challenges fi nding health profes- Lisa Van Dusen tactical politics is usually masked by a fog Above all, democracy and human rights sionals who support their interest in medicinal are being threatened worldwide by a malig- cannabis. As a result, on Oct. 17 not only did What Fresh Hell of misdirectional Febreze, may take years to fully excavate. nant strain of 21st-century corruption. And cannabis become recreationally available, but Meanwhile, the fact that the initial women, like everyone else whose life stories in the eyes of Canadians, THC and CBD prod- hether it’s happening because so many chapter of the 2020 presidential election is have been complicated by discrimination, ucts also became “non-prescription.” Many are Wof the most powerful men in the world about the number of women running for disenfranchisement, and systemic misrepre- now choosing to treat themselves. have careened beyond reliable competence the Democratic nomination refl ects two sentation, have a very real sense of what’s a As it pertains to CBD, this is problematic, into an uncharted realm of chaos and cor- realities: Trump has provoked an urgent stake. At this moment in history, that makes as it is not a recreational product. In fact, the ruption or because it would have happened reconsideration of the proposition that their gender a distinct advantage. World Health Organization’s Expert Commit- anyway, women are redefi ning power. white men should resume their role as the Lisa Van Dusen is associate editor of Poli- tee on Drug Dependence last year stated that: Before the fi rst month of 2019 was over default possessors of power after eight cy Magazine and was a Washington and New “To date, there is no evidence of recreational in Washington, where global power shifts years of a Black American president; and, York-based editor at UPI, AP, and ABC. She use of CBD or any public health-related prob- are still defi ned, the story had shifted from Hillary Clinton may have been, over two writes a weekly column for The Hill Times. lems associated with the use of pure CBD.” the two-year sensory assault of Donald election cycles, as much of an inhibitor as The Hill Times Canadians buying CBD through the recre- ational route are not buying it to get high, they are buying it to get well. In Canada, natural substances like CBD, when used without a pre- scription, are classifi ed as natural health prod- ucts (NHPs) and regulated under the Natural Health Products Regulations. Just like laws for Canada is a target of Russia’s over-the-counter and prescription drugs, these regulations protect consumers by requiring manufacturers of natural health products to obtain approval from Health Canada prior disinformation. Let’s be ready to marketing products. They outline require- ments for safety, effi cacy, quality, labelling, post-market monitoring, and reporting of Vesti Nedeli program, hosted by the infa- ing fall federal election as an opportunity to adverse events. A whole-of-government mous Kremlin propagandist Dmitry Kisely- carry out an infl uence campaign and spread Unlike recreational products, NHPs must strategy on neutralizing the ov. Kiselyov is under Canadian sanctions for division through lies and manipulations. inform consumers of what the product does, promoting Russia’s war against Ukraine. Canada needs to take this threat seriously. how much to take, for how long, and warn- spread of disinformation In the past, Kiselyov has made ludicrous A recent report by the Macdonald-Lau- ings about when to seek professional help statements, such as that if people who are rier Institute, Stemming the Virus: Under- or avoid use. Canada’s regulatory regime for must be developed in gay “die in a car crash, their hearts should standing and Responding to the Threat of natural health products is one of the most be burnt or buried in the ground as unsuit- Russian Disinformation, points out that “As stringent in the world. the lead-up to this year’s able for the continuation of life.” He refused long as Vladimir Putin remains in power, so We believe that when it comes to CBD, to retract the statement, and said it was too does the menace of information warfare Canadians are being forced to experiment election. taken out of context and that he’s not homo- and the escalating danger of allowing our and fi gure things out on their own. We phobic. But such is the rhetoric of Russian own democracies to spin into the venomous believe that this is risky business especially President Vladimir Putin’s go-to propagan- political dysfunction that we have [seen] in given the growing amount of rhetoric and dist, who was appointed by Putin as head of the U.S. and elsewhere. Canada’s response hype surrounding CBD. This scenario is the state “news” agency, Rossiya Segodnya. must be robust and take into account all exactly what the Natural Health Products The assertions made in the Russian sources and methods of how foreign infor- Regulations are meant to address. report are, of course, so ridiculous that they mation warfare and democratic interference Canadians have access to CBD. The issue need no refuting. But that isn’t the point. The are conducted. Most importantly, we must is that they have been given access in a way point of Russian propaganda isn’t to con- be prepared for a very long fi ght.” that doesn’t provide them with the right sup- vince; it is to muddy, obfuscate, and confuse. Canada has to be proactive in counter- port and information to make well-informed In the past, most of Kiselyov’s hate ing this insidious propaganda campaign. decisions about their health. That’s a concern. Alexandra Chyczij rhetoric and vitriol has targeted Ukraine, A comprehensive, whole-of-government After years of access to medical marijuana, and at a time when interest in CBD is grow- Foreign aff airs against which Russia has waged a war of strategy on neutralizing the spread of dis- aggression for the past fi ve years. Sup- information must be developed. ing, Canadians still risk being marginalized by porters of Ukraine, such as the European Canadians from coast to coast to coast mainstream medicine. With the introduction of n Jan. 15, CBC’s The National ran a Union and the United States, have been in can do their part by behaving responsibly nationwide access to non-prescription or so- Ostory exposing Russia’s disinforma- his crosshairs as well. on social media. The experience of the called recreational products, now, more than tion campaign targeting Canada and That Canada is now under attack points United States has taught us that social ever, is the time to embrace these Canadians the Ukrainian-Canadian community. As to the fact that Canada’s strong sup- media is a favoured platform of Moscow’s and support them in their health. Canada’s federal election draws nearer, I port of Ukraine, and Canada’s respected troll factories. Let us not blindly “like” and The NHP industry wants the ability to believe the Kremlin’s propaganda machine voice in the international community, is of “retweet” without fi rst checking the source seek Health Canada approvals for CBD-based will increasingly target our country with increasing concern to the Kremlin. Russia and veracity of the sender. natural health products. Health Canada has anti-Canadian fabrications in an attempt to 24 singled out Foreign Minister Chrystia Putin is dedicating signifi cant resources closed this door to our industry. They consider sow discord, confl ict, and to undermine our Freeland and Members of Parliament Borys and efforts to undermining our democracy. CBD either a prescription drug or a recre- democratic institutions. Wrzesnewskyj and , all known Canada must be more vigilant in defending it. ational substance. We don’t think they’ve got The CBC reported the bizarre claim that for their outspoken support of Ukraine. Alexandra Chyczij is national president of it right and it is consumers who are now tak- Canada’s foreign policy is controlled by The Kremlin is clearly trying to under- the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and a vice- ing all the risk. “Nazi-loving Ukrainians,” which aired on the mine Canadians’ trust in our democratic in- president of the Ukrainian World Congress. Helen Long is the president of the Cana- Russian government-controlled Russia 24 stitutions. And Russia surely sees the upcom- The Hill Times dian Health Food Association. THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 11 Comment What to watch this parliamentary sitting

Prime Minister re-election chances. This will be a The last pre-election Justin Trudeau central moment. It will spell out to speaks with some degree the Liberals’ game plan budget, a contested reporters next to for continuing control of the House. the portrait of his What happens to Bill C-69 is environmental father, former prime one of the must-views of the last assessment bill, and minister Pierre days of this Parliament. The bill, Trudeau, before which would change the federal the Burnaby South Question Period environmental assessment process, on Jan. 28, in the has become the biggest domestic byelection are all on House’s new home lightning rod or tool of transforma- in West Block. The tion, depending on where you sit, politicos’ radars. PM started off Day 1 for the Trudeau government. Some of the winter sitting view it as a grand bargain with on the defensive Satan, while others see it as divine after he fi red his intervention to save the planet. The ambassador to Liberals need to pick a lane and a China the weekend winning narrative. The Conserva- before. The Hill tives see attacking this and chal- Times photograph by lenging the government’s carbon- Andrew Meade pricing plan as two of the most prominent weapons in their arsenal. Speaking of the prime minis- In line with the theme of ‘what is round kicked off because he is out This will be one 69 that is unlikely ter, he is probably not delighted old is new again,’ the fi rst editions trying to punch his ticket to town to produce a lot of gratifi cation. Tim Powers about the way this last dash has of the 2019 House of Commons by winning a byelection in Burn- One good thing did happen Plain Speak begun. Over the weekend he had Hansard will record that the prime aby South, B.C. That is arguably with Parliament’s relaunch. All the to fi re John McCallum, his own minister still believes he is bat- one of the most important things parties did get together to unani- appointee as Canada’s ambas- tling , and Andrew to watch in the calendar. If Singh mously consent to a motion that TTAWA—Parliamentarians sador to China, for twice making Scheer, the offi cial opposition leader, loses, you can consider the NDP Paul Henderson, the Team Canada Ohave returned to Ottawa ill-conceived public comments thinks Trudeau is a spoiled rich kid in a full-blown crisis. If he reigns player who scored the winning for their last sitting prior to this at a time when our relationship detached from reality. I suppose such victorious, gets a regular place on goal in the 1972 Summit Series year’s federal election. The theat- with China is precarious. Trudeau predictability is more appetizing the national stage, and holds his against the Soviet Union, fi nally be rics of what happens in the House started off Day 1 on the defensive, than getting a dose of the discourse caucus together, the public percep- inducted into the Hockey Hall of of Commons are often overstated as the opposition tried to make out of the United States. But I’m tion of the NDP on life support Fame. Hockey is potent and power- when trying to analyze what elec- the state of affairs with China not sure it does much to advance may temporarily dissipate. ful in forging consensus, even in an tion outcomes might look like. more about the prime minister’s what should be the bigger issues of Sometime this winter or early election year where gross miscon- For example, just before the last competence than the ambas- the day: like truly fi nding a balance spring will usher in the Liberal gov- duct is the order of the day. election then-NDP leader Tom sador’s mouth. Competence and between energy and the environ- ernment’s last budget of its mandate. Tim Powers is vice-chairman Mulcair was seen as a master of connection to the public, not ment; or fi guring out how we remain Who will be rewarded? Who will of Summa Strategies and manag- the House and Justin Trudeau a unlike the 2015 campaign, will be competitive in a fractured, poten- be punished? Finance Minister Bill ing director of Abacus Data. He is minnow. The minnow became centre stage again during Ques- tially inward-looking world. Morneau, not the government’s a former adviser to Conservative prime minister and the master a tion Period over the dwindling NDP leader Jagmeet Singh best communicator, will get a political leaders. political pundit. days of this session. wasn’t in Ottawa when this new fi nal chance to jazz up his party’s The Hill Times

At this moment, we are being squeezed by the United States on In this parochial country, do we trade, as tariffs remain on steel and aluminum, and NAFTA 2.0 (also called USMCA and CUSMA) has not been ratifi ed. Our own have what it takes to unite in a crisis? citizens are being held hostage by an authoritarian Chinese govern- ment. At home, we can’t build We should support Union hockey series, in the eighth animosity, after handing Prime tard;” in Newfoundland, a “come anything anywhere to grow our game in Moscow, on Sept. 28, Minister Justin Trudeau a list of from away.” In Quebec City, I was economy, while our cities struggle leaders who fi nd ways 1972. The elation felt by the mil- demands including funding for disliked more for being a “mon- to deal with the fl ow of new arriv- lions of Canadians watching at transit, more provincial control tréalais” than a “maudit anglais” als, both legal and illegal. More to unite us, not divide home that afternoon was tangible. in the selection of immigrants, (damned English). In time, I was people want to slag our history I was studying at University and Ottawa turning over some accepted in each place. than defend it. Those of good faith us, as we approach of Ottawa, and the hundred or taxation authority to Quebec. But on the plus side, Cana- want to do better, but know noth- so students crammed into the Legault then jetted off to Paris, dians know their communities ing can be accomplished unless the next federal residence common room exploded where, styling himself as Que- intimately, and are proud of them. we work together. election. with cheers. Complete strangers bec’s “head of state,” he met with They welcome people into their There has to be a way to solve hugged and cried at the narrow France’s President Emmanuel homes and stay where they are our problems, to revel in our 6-5 victory. English and French, we Macron. because they are fi ercely loyal. differences as well as our simi- went into the streets and sang O The Angus Reid study is a Unfortunately, they don’t larities. We live in one of the best Canada in both offi cial languages. reminder Canada is “provincial” in realize how much they have in countries in the world and we I have seen that expression of nature, not surprisingly, given we common: the people in my village need to be reminded of that, by unity a few times in my life, nota- live on a land mass second only of Kamouraska, Que., share much meeting our fellow citizens, our bly when the “No” sides managed to Russia in size, with a popula- with Atlantic Canada and the friends, neighbours, and relatives to win the referendums on Que- tion less than that of Poland and a West Coast. Our urban neigh- and engaging them in discussion bec separation of 1980 and 1995, little more than that of Peru. bourhoods are so much alike. And about our own country, not some- and when Canada triumphed I know the vastness of our millions joined with Humboldt, one else’s. in the 2010 Winter Olympics in country, having travelled it by car, Sask., when that town suffered In this federal election year, Andrew Caddell Vancouver. train, and bicycle. At 25, I decided such a grievous loss upon the we should support leaders who With All Due Respect This week, Henderson was to travel to every region and work deaths of 16 local hockey players fi nd ways to unite us, not divide in Ottawa on his 76th birthday to in journalism or politics for at least in a collision with a semi truck us. Perhaps we need another Hen- meet MPs, on the heels of an An- a year. Over a decade, I worked in last year. derson to score a winning goal. TTAWA—There are moments gus Reid study detailing growing Quebec City, Calgary, Montreal, St. However, more Canadians Andrew Caddell is retired from Oembedded in our minds as resentment between Canadians. John’s, Ottawa, and Toronto and seem to care about their neigh- Global Affairs Canada, where he Canadians that we remember so It stated that “As a federation, visited every province. bours to the south than their own was a senior policy adviser. He vividly that we can say where we Canada has long been home to I learned our parochialism fellow citizens. The same people previously worked as an adviser were, what we were doing, and simmering regional tensions,” is both a liability and an asset. who have never travelled east to Liberal governments. He is a who we were with when they and emphasized antagonism On the downside, few people I or west have been to the United fellow with the Canadian Global occurred. between the West and East, in met in Western Canada had ever States dozens of times. Hundreds Affairs Institute and a principal of One of those moments was particular Quebec. travelled east of Winnipeg, and of thousands winter there. And QIT Canada. He can be reached the winning goal scored by Paul Quebec Premier François few in the East knew the West. In we obsess about the politics of a at [email protected]. Henderson in the Canada-Soviet Legault did not help change that Calgary, I was an “Eastern bas- foreign country and not our own. The Hill Times 12 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 | THE HILL TIMES News Lobbying Innovation minister, Finance Committee chair, member top most-lobbied MPs of 2018 From left, Lobbying isn’t just a one-sided vice-president of federal advocacy Innovation operation. In her meetings with at Counsel Public Affairs. “There Minister Navdeep environmental groups, Ms. May was a long, drawn-out stalemate, Bains, Trade said she’s been trying to push and so, I don’t know that there Minister Jim them to speak more bluntly about was as much engagement.” Carr, Agriculture C-69. “They should do more to That has to do with “the Minister Lawrence promote amendments to the bill, lifecycle of the issue,” agreed Mr. MacAulay, and and to tell the truth about it, and Baran, noting it makes sense Finance Minister not get corralled and say, ‘We to see more interactions at the were have to pass C-69 because the oil beginning of the process, and the top-lobbied and gas industry is against it.’ It towards the end, when it came ministers in 2018. doesn’t make it a good bill.” down to the negotiating team The Hill Times As a party leader, Ms. May acting on a few key issues where photographs by said she meets with a variety of there was less need for broad Andrew Meade groups, regardless of their politi- lobbying input. cal leanings. “With the increased “As 2018 wore on, you were relevance of the Green Party, seeing a lot more of Global Af- stakeholders and lobby groups fairs reporting out to stakehold- of all kinds have me on their list ers,” he said. Continued from page 1 “There’s so much in the the proper questions with bureau- country that relates to fi nance,” cracy in Ottawa,” because there of people for whom they would Still, the slump in activity like to have a meeting,” she said. came as a surprise, said Mr. Lar- 182 mentions in communications like innovation, taxes, the oil and is sometimes a “need to push the “I probably learn a lot more when kin. He said he expected consulta- reports from registered lobbyists, gas industry, social programs, envelope with ministers in certain I talk to industry groups, because tions with associations and busi- followed by Innovation Minister and “on and on,” said Mr. Easter areas in their departments.” their perspective is different.” nesses to hold steady throughout Navdeep Bains, with 141, and (Malpeque, P.E.I.). “You do cut “In my view, the bureaucracy in Agriculture was among the the talks. Liberal MP , across all departments to a cer- Ottawa lives in a bubble,” he said. busiest fi les in 2018, and the with 140. tain extent.” top-30 list partly refl ects that. Observers said there weren’t Some of Mr. Easter’s col- Lobbyists seek out Environment, Agriculture Minister Lawrence too many surprises in the top-50 leagues on the Finance Commit- MacAulay (Cardigan, P.E.I.) opposition MPs more list, created from a Hill Times tee have to say no the infl ux of agriculture among racked up 127 reports, tying with More Conservative MPs made analysis of 35,000 fi lings from requests, he said, though not Mr. busiest fi les Trade Minister (Win- the top 30 than in 2017 when only 2018 pulled from the federal lob- Sorbara (Vaughan-Woodbridge, Environment and Climate nipeg South Centre, Man.) for three appeared on that list. Con- bying registry on Jan. 19. Ont.), or perhaps the three other Change Canada saw a 21 per cent the second ministerial spot. The servative Leader Andrew Scheer Twenty-one of the top 50 are committee members of the Fi- uptick in lobbying activity, from Conservatives’ agriculture critics, (Regina-Qu’Appelle, Sask.) was cabinet ministers or parliamen- nance Committee who made the 1,013 reports in 2017 to 1,226 in along with members of the House mentioned in 86 communications. tary secretaries—popular targets top 50. 2018. Lobbyists cited Bill C-69, a Agriculture Committee, were high Opposition MPs can be a good for groups trying to sway the Mr. Easter said one-on-one sprawling environmental assess- meetings are “a real learning ex- vehicle for infl uencers to pressure government. That breaks down government. to 35 Liberals, 13 Conservatives, perience” because the people he’s meeting with often have “in-depth “You become a lightning rod for and one each for NDP MP Tracey Innovation Canada (ISED) disgruntled stakeholders looking Ramsey and Green Party Leader knowledge about a certain sector you may not have.” for a champion,” noted Mr. Baran, (Saanich-Gulf pointing to Conservative MPs Islands, B.C.) whose 89 mentions Finance Canada is always a Environment and Climate Change Canada popular institution, and last year like innovation critic also puts her in the top 20 most (Central Okanagan-Similkameen- active MPs. its numbers stayed fairly static, Natural Resources Canada Nicola, B.C.), who beat the drum Mr. Bains (- with 1,309 fi lings compared to 1,351 in 2017. Finance Minister against the Liberals’ tax changes as Malton, Ont.) was Canada’s the former critic for small business. top-lobbied in cabinet for the Bill Morneau (Toronto Centre, Finance Canada Ont.) was fourth most-lobbied Among the Tories, John Bar- second year in a row, overseeing low was the most sought-after a department that had a 7.6 per among ministers, with 124 men- Global Affairs Canada MP. Many of the 119 reports tied cent increase in lobbyist interac- tions, and his policy advisers were top of the list among politi- to him were because of his role as tions, from 2,300 reports in 2017 the party’s associate agriculture to 2,475 in 2018. cal staffers. Prime Minister’s Offi ce Pre-budget consultations critic, a position he held until Two of his policy advisers, and the fall. (In September, he was always spark interest, especially ,, ,,,,,,, his chief of staff made the top elevated from his junior post to 10 among most-lobbied political the House Finance Committee’s report on them, which has lobby- the party’s labour critic.) staff, a showing that lobbyists Mr. Barlow (Foothills, Alta.) like Yaroslav Baran, a principal at ists clamouring to get their clients The most lobbied departments in 2018, compared to 2017. Source: Offi ce of or their initiatives mentioned, attributed much of the attention Earnscliffe Strategy Group, say the Lobbying Commissioner he got in 2018 to a string of policy “makes sense,” given Mr. Bains said Tim Powers, vice-chairman at Summa Strategies and a regis- on the list, too. proposals from the Liberal gov- has the most important role, ment reform package now in the With Canada’s Food Guide, ernment, including the overhaul effectively as “minister of the tered lobbyist. Senate; the proposed clean fuel “That often helps reinforce grain shipping problems, and of Canada’s Food Guide and the economy.” standard, a plan to curb emissions; the agriculture minister as “No. proposed tax changes for small The department Mr. Bains [the lobbyist’s] value to whoever’s and the carbon tax as issues that paying the bills,” he noted. 2” when it comes to international businesses. By comparison, in leads is in charge of program likely dominated conversations trade discussions, Mr. Baran said 2017, only 58 reports cited him. “It funding and grants given to Mr. Sorbara, like Mr. Easter, said with departmental offi cials. he makes a point of being open to it made sense to see those with started heavily with the small- Canadian businesses to help spur Amid lobbying from the oil agricultural ties atop the list. business tax changes. There was innovation and job creation. meetings to “immerse” himself in and gas industry, the government the issues. An economist by train- potential there for family farms adjusted the timeline for introduc- to be a thing of the past,” he said. ing, the fi rst-term MP’s 23 years ing the clean fuel standard, with Lobbying of Global Finance Committee in working in global fi nancial markets “These things caused a lot of fi nal regulations for one part of Aff airs dips 14 per cent anxiety among the agriculture focus make him a quick study on issues this plan expected in 2020, after that come up at the Finance Com- There was a 14 per cent drop sector, and they had good reason Mr. Easter’s 182 mentions put the next election. in lobbying traffi c at Global Af- to talk to MPs.” him up 45 per cent from the 125 mittee. His 140 mentions (up from Kyle Larkin, manager of 106 in 2017) mean he has to manage fairs Canada, which was cited in The Liberals retreated from mentions he had in 2017, though public affairs at Impact Pub- 1,429 reports in 2018, compared some of the controversial changes the eight-term MP said the pace his time carefully, but it helps that lic Affairs, said many industry he’s used to working 12- to 16-hour to 1,670 in 2017. NAFTA rene- fl oated in the face of backlash. felt about the same as years past. groups are concerned about the gotiations only wrapped up in , the Conserva- (The federal registry does not days and that he has a “ferocious cumulative impact the carbon work appetite,” he said. October, but most of the lobbying tives’ shadow minister for interna- capture all types of meetings MPs tax and the clean fuel standard activity would have likely taken tional trade, was also high on have with lobbyists.) Invoking the Liberals’ mantra will have on business. “They see of growing the middle class, he place in 2017 and early 2018, dur- the list of targets, with 95 reports As chair of the House Finance [the standard] as an add-on to ing the fi rst several months of the attached to him in 2018, a slight Committee since 2016, Mr. Easter said this is his way of support- the carbon-pricing scheme that ing that goal and understand- talks, said lobbyists. uptick from the 77 reports the is used to being in demand, not- the government is bringing in,” he “There was a big fl urry of year before. As vice-chair of the ing its work on the budget, fall ing what’s going on in various said. “That number is up because industries. activity around the start of the House International Trade Com- economic statement, and a fi ve- of the messaging we’re hearing renegotiation and that led to the mittee, Mr. Allison (Niagara West, year statutory review on money- This kind of direct contact from all parties about climate gives valuable information that overall drop. They would have in- Ont.) said he has largely been laundering rules were all points change. I don’t think it’s going to formed their negotiating positions Mr. Easter said he can use to “raise Continued on page 13 of focus. stop in 2019.” [early on],” said Sheamus Murphy, THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 13 Lobbying News

Since late June, his committee has been Continued from page 12 conducting a study on the effects of those Meet the top-lobbied preoccupied with trying to understand the tariffs, and a report is expected soon. That impact the U.S.’ steel and aluminum tariffs work has also preoccupied vice-chair Ms. are having on industry and affected busi- Ramsey, and has also been “huge issue” in nesses. In the late summer, he said he spent her riding, Essex, Ont., in a manufacturing- political gatekeepers in 2018 a month on the road talking to stakehold- heavy area. Seeing her name atop the NDP, with 61 ers in 28 cities, including Windsor, Ont., years since they’ve spoken, she remembers mentions, was a surprise for Ms. Ramsey— BY SAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN & and Newmarket, Ont. Ms. Demerse to be someone “really knowl- the only New Democrat to crack the top BEATRICE PAEZ Washington and Ottawa have been edgeable” and “top notch” and who has a deep 50—but she said she hopes it’s because locked in a standoff since the U.S. imposed policy understanding of climate change. people see her as “an effective” vice-chair anada’s most-lobbied political aide is In- tariffs in June on steel and aluminum ex- The third most-lobbied political staffer in on the House Trade Committee. It was “an novation Minister Navdeep Bains’ policy ports from Canada over national security C 2018 was Ben Chin, chief of staff to Finance extremely busy year,” on that front and it’s director, a man whose job, as one lobbyist put concerns. Canada retaliated a month later, Minister Bill Morneau (Toronto Centre, “a refl ection of the moment of time that it, is basically to be lobbied. targeting a host of U.S. goods. Ont.), who had 236 mentions last year. In we’re in,” she added. For the second year in a row, David McFar- He noted that he’s tried to help arrange [email protected] lane, like the minister he reports to, racked up 2017, he had just 10. Mr. Chin leads stake- meetings with Finance and Global Affairs [email protected] the most communications reports of politi- holder engagement for the offi ce, and people offi cials to ensure stakeholders’ concerns The Hill Times cal staffers with lobbyists in 2018. Some 334 know he’s accessible, said Mr. Powers,who are heard. reports in the lobbyists’ registry cited contact knew the staffer when he was a journalist. He with Mr. McFarlane, compared to 281 reports was a news anchor for CBC and before that the year prior, representing a 19 per cent up- an Atlantic bureau chief for CTV. Lobbyist communications with cabinet in 2018 tick, according to The Hill Times’ analysis of The former TV anchor joined Mr. Mor- Name Communications Cabinet post 35,000 fi lings from the registry on Jan. 19. neau’s offi ce in October 2017 as a senior Navdeep Bains 141 Innovation, Science, and Economic Development As director of policy for Mr. Bains (Mis- adviser, and took on the role of chief of Jim Carr 127 Trade sissauga-Malton, Ont.), who oversees one staff in May last year. Lawrence MacAulay 127 Agriculture of the government’s busiest fi les, observ- “He’s seen as a capable set of hands and a Bill Morneau 124 Finance ers said it makes to see Mr. McFarlane’s wise counsel, somebody who went in there to 117 Fisheries mentions spike. “His job then is basically to help Mr. Morneau navigate more of the politi- 113 Natural Resources, former Infrastructure be the most important staff person within cal aspects of that ministry and seems to be Catherine McKenna 107 Environment the government system for stakeholder living up to his reputation,” Mr. Powers said. 105 Justice, former parliamentary secretary for innovation dialogue,” said Yaroslav Baran, a principal Mr. Chin has deep roots within the Liberal 93 Transport Party, both federally and provincially in 92 Health with Earnscliffe Strategy Group. The department Mr. Bains leads is in B.C. (though the two are not linked). Before François-Philippe Champagne 89 Infrastructure, former Trade serving as an aide to Mr. Morneau, he led Justin Trudeau 80 Prime minister charge of program funding and grants given communications and issues management 55 Foreign Affairs to Canadian business to help spur innovation 49 Small Business and Export Promotion and job creation. for former Liberal British Columbia premier Carla Qualtrough 48 Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility Mr. McFarlane started in his role in the . He also worked as a senior 43 Employment winter of 2016, not long after the Liberals communications adviser to Dalton McGuinty Ralph Goodale 43 Public Safety formed government. He has a reputation during his run as Ontario’s premier. 42 Science and Sport for being accessible, said Tim Powers, vice- Liberal MP Wayne Easter (Malpeque, Mélanie Joly 41 Tourism, Offi cial Languages, and La Francophonie chairman at Summa Strategies and, like P.E.I.), who chairs the House Finance Commit- Pablo Rodriguez 36 Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism Mr. Baran, a registered lobbyist. “He’s also a tee, said he’s pleased with Mr. Chin as chief 35 Seniors front person with that department, so if word of staff. “[He’s] got an open mind, wants to Marie-Claude Bibeau 34 International Development goes around that someone’s ready and will- work with various players on [the] Finance Jean-Yves Duclos 33 Families, Children, and Social Development ing to meet and able to meet, and that’s their Committee, wants to make sure that we’re 31 House Leader responsibility, it’s not really surprising the involved in the process.” 29 Treasury Board, former Indigenous Services number of contacts would go up.” The Finance Committee works closely Bernadette Jordan 27 Rural Economic Development Senior political aides, who effectively with Mr. Chin and his colleague Ian Foucher, Karina Gould 26 Democratic Institutions function as gatekeepers to the ministers they deputy director of fi nancial sector policy in 24 National Revenue the fi nance minister’s offi ce, who made the 24 Defence serve, are typically frequent targets. And those who topped the list in 2018 tracked top 10. Mr. Easter said that both “understand 23 Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship where MPs are coming from,” even though Seamus O’Regan 23 Indigenous Services, former Veterans Affairs closely with who handles the hottest fi les in they don’t necessarily always agree on the Dominic LeBlanc 19 Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs and Internal Trade any given year. 19 Women and Gender Equality Last year, for example, was a busy one for same points they raise. “They’ve got a tough Bill Blair 17 Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction Environment Minister Catherine McKenna, road to hoe, and they probably have to say ‘no’ 14 Crown-Indigenous Relations thanks in large part to her sponsorship of more than they say ‘yes,’” he added. Jody Wilson-Raybould 11 Veterans Affairs, former Justice Bill C-69, contentious legislation that seeks to The fi nance minister and his team are in overhaul how environmental assessments are charge of putting together the federal budget conducted. Following Mr. McFarlane in the every year. They and the related House com- number of lobbyist reports was Ms. McK- mittee hear from groups and individuals who MPs with 60-plus lobbying communications in 2018 enna’s (Ottawa Centre, Ont.) senior policy want federal money to fl ow their way. Name Communications Party Role adviser Clare Demerse, with 255 reports, Wayne Easter 182 Liberal Chair, Finance Committee; co-chair, compared to 90 in 2017. Canada-United States Interparliamentary Group NDP MP questions staff workload Francesco Sorbara 140 Liberal Member, Finance Committee Top 10 most-lobbied staffers, by communications, 2018 It’s not unusual for staffers to be heavily John Barlow 119 Conservative Ex-associate ag critic, Human Resources Committee vice-chair engaged in stakeholder relations, said Ms. David McFarlane 334 Lloyd Longfi eld 105 Liberal Member, Industry, Agriculture committees May. When she was a senior policy adviser Clare Demerse 255 to the environment minister in the late 1980s, 99 Liberal Member, Agriculture, Government Operations committees 236 Dean Allison 95 Conservative Vice-chair, International Trade Committee Ben Chin she recalled spending a lot of time consulting 218 Rodger Cuzner 92 Liberal Parliamentary secretary, employment Kathryn Nowers with groups to help develop policy. “Staffers 194 91 Conservative Vice chair, Agriculture Committee Parvinder Sachdeva are doing their work,” she said. “They should Elizabeth May 89 Green Party Party leader Ian Foucher 179 be in touch with stakeholder groups.” 89 Conservative Member, Transport, Infrastructure, and Communities Committee Erin Flanagan 174 But looking at the load staffers took Andrew Scheer 86 Conservative Party leader Travis Gordon 168 on in 2018 meetings had NDP MP Tracey 86 Liberal Chair, Transport, Liaison committees Gianluca Cairo 159 Ramsey (Essex, Ont.) questioning “how 84 Liberal Chair, Heritage Committee Mikaela McQuade 157 much is being downloaded to staff in [min- Dan Albas 83 Conservative Vice-chair, Industry, Science, and Technology Committee Source: Offi ce of the Lobbying Commissioner isters’] offi ces” and how stakeholders are Kim Rudd 83 Liberal Member, Finance Committee feeling about the interactions. 83 Conservative Vice-chair, Health Committee Ms. Demerse only joined Ms. McK- “I often hear people feeling frustrated Pamela Goldsmith-Jones 81 Liberal Parliamentary secretary, foreign affairs enna’s team in August 2017, but the volume because they aren’t able to get an audience Bill Casey 79 Liberal Chair, Health Committee of reports suggests she is the go-to person 79 Conservative Vice-chair, Transport Committee with the minister, that they are often having in the minister’s offi ce for stakeholder to navigate through the department offi cials Andrew Leslie 77 Liberal Parliamentary secretary, foreign affairs relations. “She’s highly involved in what in- John Oliver 77 Liberal Parliamentary secretary, health in order to be heard,” Ms. Ramsey said, add- dustry has to say. …I know she’s constantly 73 Liberal Parliamentary secretary, trade ing hearing from offi cials and ministers at Scott Brison 69 Liberal Former Treasury Board president referred to, to take on those meetings,” committee suggests some disconnect in the Alaina Lockhart 64 Liberal Parliamentary secretary, tourism said Kyle Larkin, public affairs manager at information each is working with. 63 Liberal Veterans Affairs, Offi cial Languages committees Impact Public Affairs. “What was clear to me was that the 63 Liberal Member, Transport Committee; vice-chair, Joint Committee for the The former think-tank veteran’s resume department offi cials were not sharing all Scrutiny of Regulations includes a nearly fi ve-year run at Clean the information with the minister. That was 62 Conservative Member, Industry, Science, and Technology Committee Energy Canada, which is based out of Simon shocking to me,” she said, noting “that line of 61 Conservative Member, Agriculture Committee Fraser University, and the Pembina Institute, communication does not appear to be 100 per Karen McCrimmon 61 Liberal Parliamentary secretary, public safety where she served as a senior policy adviser cent open. I think there’s a natural worry that, Tracey Ramsey 61 NDP Vice-chair, International Trade Committee on federal climate policy before serving the when people are meeting with folks in the po- 60 Conservative Member, Finance Committee Trudeau government. litical offi ces, that that’s not actually reaching Green Party Leader Elizabeth May (Saan- the ear of the minister themselves.” —Source: Offi ce of the Lobbying Commissioner ich-Gulf Islands, B.C.) said though it has been The Hill Times 14 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 | THE HILL TIMES News Politics Bernier says he ‘won’t spend a cent’ on internal People’s Party polling It’s too early to tell with assembling regional The frame himself as that vehicle to People’s Network Facebook send a message to Ottawa that People’s Party Leader Maxime how the former Tory’s groups for supporters to self- things need to change.” Bernier says he’s doing things organize. This has now grown In polling published Jan. 29, differently by ‘doing politics new party will aff ect into electoral district associations the People’s Party stood at 1.2 per by conviction.’ A full-time (EDAs) set up in pretty much ev- cent, behind the Bloc Québécois’ staff of four people help run this year’s general ery riding across the country. three per cent and Greens’ 8.1 the show from the party's A full-time staff of four people per cent ballot support. About Gatineau, Que., headquarters. election, say observers, help run the show from the PPC’s nine per cent of respondents to a The Hill Times photograph by but he’s appealing Gatineau, Que., headquarters, weekly Nanos Research tele- Andrew Meade including Mr. Masse and Charles phone survey of 1,000 people said to the dissatisfi ed Lafl amme, Mr. Bernier’s former they’d consider the People’s Party Beauce EDA president. as an option, while 20 per cent of all stripes. “We all have to step up and said they think Mr. Bernier has invent procedures as we go,” said the qualities to be a good leader. Continued from page 1 Mr. Masse. The party doesn’t yet Many of the people on the have a formal executive body, ground are getting involved in visibly recoils at the notion. bylaws, or constitution. politics for the fi rst time, said Na- “We won’t spend a cent on focus The paid staff co-ordinate and than Weber, who is on the Burn- groups, polling, surveys,” he told liaise with hundreds of volun- aby South, B.C., seven-member The Hill Times in a Jan. 28 inter- teers and regional organizers People’s Party electoral district view. “For me, if there’s only 10 per across Canada, and Mr. Bernier association board as an executive cent of the population who believe has been travelling to meet them at large. There have been volun- in one of my ideas, I will speak and spread his PPC gospel. With teers who’ve come to Burnaby about it. The more I speak about it, a goal of having 338 candidates South to get a little experience the more support it will have.” by May, he will continue to travel under their belts in preparation Launched in September, the now that the House has resumed for the general election in Octo- People’s Party of Canada gained sitting, planning to attend to ber, he added. The riding will vote offi cial party status through Elec- parliamentary duties Monday in a Feb. 25 byelection. The Hill Times tions Canada on Jan. 17, collect- through Wednesday, and hitting Mr. Weber told ing enough public support with the road Thursday through the that when out campaigning for a pledge to do politics differently weekend. the party’s byelection candidate to fi eld candidates in the three Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson, upcoming byelections. Bernier’s appeal there’s some opposition, but also a natural fi t for Mr. Bernier, “I’m doing politics by convic- plenty of openness to hearing Too soon to tell how PPC said Kelly Saunders, an associate tion, that’s the big difference. not limited to ex- about the PPC platform. will aff ect October vote professor at Brandon University’s When I’m saying we’re doing Conservatives Having a well-known candi- It’s too soon to tell how much political science department. politics differently, that’s a big ex- And while there is a decid- date is helping to get the party’s of an impact Mr. Bernier will actu- This is a problem for both par- ample,” Mr. Bernier said, turning edly conservative and libertar- name out, he said, noting Ms. ally have on a general election, ties, she noted, given that it’s now to one of his favourite targets: his ian bent to the people who are Tyler Thompson’s support in said Mr. Nanos, who was echoed diffi cult to separate the legitimate former party. drawn to his message—end- faith-based communities. Known by Jim Armour, Summa Strategies economic anxiety from the rising “So that’s why I’m saying in for more than her former role as a vice-president and a former Con- extremism and virulent anti- ing supply management and 700 Club my speeches that Andrew Scheer corporate welfare; scrapping co-host on the , Ms. Tyler servative staffer who helped brand immigration sentiment associated and the Conservatives, they don’t the carbon tax and the equaliza- Thompson also garnered plenty the launch of the CPC and the with the group. have any core values anymore. Conservative Alliance before it. “I think if Bernier keeps the They’re doing polling and…that’s “It sort of struck me he’s pressure on the Conservatives, why people are fed up with that. trying to target the island of the which will be easy because the They want a politician who be- misfi t toys,” Mr. Armour said of Yellow Vest movement is keeping lieves in something.” the PPC’s appeal. “All the people the issue of immigration specifi - When Mr. Bernier left the Con- that just don’t belong, and I cally front and centre, I think … servative caucus in August, he did think that will probably create I wouldn’t want to be in Andrew so in an explosive fashion, calling some problems for him in the Scheer’s shoes right now, trying his former Tory colleagues (whom longer term.” to navigate that, keeping his base he had sought to lead, coming sec- He noted that the Reform happy and sounding tough and ond to Mr. Scheer in the 2017 race) Party, launched in 1987, didn’t not like the Liberals, but at the “intellectually and morally corrupt.” have a real breakthrough until same time, not having such an The People’s Party has more 1993. And while he said to “never extremist position on immigration than 34,000 members, Mr. Bernier say never in politics,” it’s unlikely that he’s going to lose votes,” said said, and the party has raised about that this October will see the Prof. Saunders. $1.o31-million since its launch. People’s Party playing spoiler to Mr. Bernier said he’s not court- According to party spokesman the Conservatives. ing members of the movement, Martin Masse, that fi gure includes “I think dissatisfaction, espe- or any group with more radical the $631,425.77 Mr. Bernier raked cially with some of these folks views, though they may show in between Aug. 23, after his Con- who are understandably upset up at his events, as some did at servative-exit press conference, Maxime Bernier pulled out of a planned Dec. 8 appearance at an anti-UN Global about pipelines and inability to a recent Halifax rally. In Decem- and the mid-September announce- Migration Compact protest on Parliament Hill at the last minute, after a far-right move bitumen outside of Alberta’s ber, he pulled out of a planned ment of his new party’s name. extremist group showed up. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade borders, that dissatisfaction is appearance on Parliament Hill Another $350,256.93 was donated squarely targeted on Mr. Trudeau,” at an anti-United Nations Global after the unveiling of the People’s tion system; asserting federal Mr. Armour told The Hill Times. Migration Compact event, after Party moniker, along with about authority over energy projects; of controversy in the province’s “And if you’re dissatisfi ed with Mr. learning of the presence of far- $20,000 in cheques. Upwards of reforming the immigration recent municipal elections in Trudeau and looking for an alter- right national group La Meute. $300,000 was raised in a fundrais- system—that’s not Mr. Bernier’s her run for school trustee where native, certainly in a lot of parts Those involved with the party ing blitz over its fi rst weekend as only audience. she campaigned against having of the country there’s only one in an offi cial capacity, such as a registered party that could now When looking at parts of the gender-identity resources for choice and that’s Andrew Scheer.” members of an EDA board, have offer donors tax receipts. All told, electorate to which he appeals, students. It’s not enough for Mr. Bernier to been asked to sign a “no-embar- the party has about 10,200 donors, the Conservatives are a natural fi t, Her campaign is being man- do everything right, noted Mr. Na- rassment pledge,” as the CBC Mr. Masse said. but “similar to other populist-style aged by former Conservative MP nos—the other, mainstream, parties reported. But Mr. Masse said it People are coming to the party movements, he’ll probably tap into Gurmant Grewal. and leaders, particularly Mr. Scheer, simply boils down to: “if you’ve based on its ideas, said Mr. Bernier, what I’ll say is the anti-establish- Since the company began will have to have a major misstep done weird things in the past, who doesn’t like to refer to the ment movement, which is neither tracking it in October, the Peo- for Mr. Bernier to do well. go elsewhere.” It can’t possibly efforts to grow his party as “out- right nor left,” said pollster Nik ple’s Party has typically polled The Yellow Vest movement apply to general party members, reach,” saying he’s not pandering Nanos. “It’s just people who think better with people between the that’s taken hold, particularly in though, he said, and shouldn’t. or advertising himself to any par- the system’s not working, that ages of 18 and 29 and with men, Western Canada, seems like a “All the other parties have weir- ticular group to win their support. it’s broken, that it’s not serving which Mr. Nanos said are the de- natural fi t for the Conservative dos,” he said. Social media has been a major people, and that it’s time to send mographics that best fi t into the base to latch on to, given its op- [email protected] factor in this growth, starting a message. And he has to kind of anti-establishment bloc. position to the carbon tax, but it’s The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 15

In turn, Jennifer Lawrence recently the offi ce, but his new role had yet to be joined Mr. Champagne’s team, marking her fi nalized by fi ling deadline. day on the job as executive assistant to the In other offi ce news, policy adviser Annie minister’s new chief of staff, Joseph Pickerill, Lagueux recently left Ms. Freeland’s offi ce, on Jan. 21. Mr. Pickerill, who was previously and the Hill, and is set for a new job with in hill climbers director of communications to the trade The Hague, with the United Nations’ Interna- minister, has been running Mr. Champagne’s tional Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). offi ce since Jan. 14, replacing Leslie O’Leary Ms. Lagueux has a background in law, and by Laura Ryckewaert who left to become director of issues man- previously interned with the ICTR in Tanzania, agement in the Prime Minister’s Offi ce. amongst other past jobs. She’d been working Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia for Ms. Freeland since October 2017. Freeland has a new ministerial executive Laurence Deschamps-Laporte is direc- Ministers Hussen, Duncan assistant staffi ng her, with Sason Ross tak- tor of policy to the minister, overseeing ing on the job in December. policy adviser Trevor Harrison and Joseph Previously, Mr. Ross was a parliamen- Singh. Jeremy Broadhurst is chief of staff hire new policy advisers tary assistant to Ms. to Ms. Freeland. Freeland in her capacity As well, Finance Minister Bill Morneau as the Liberal MP for recently bade farewell to one of his aides: mmigration Minister Ahmed Hussen has a ister Kirsty Duncan recently hired on a University-Rosedale, Ont. Natalie Brender. Ifew new faces on his political staff team, in- new senior policy adviser, Michael Para- He’s also a former as- A former national director with Ge- cluding new senior policy adviser Jade-Émilie mathasan, who started on Jan. 14. sistant to Liberal MP Rob nome Canada, Ms. Brender had joined the Daigneault who recently arrived from Trade Mr. Paramathasan is a former Queen’s Oliphant, who represents minister’s team as a senior special assis- Diversifi cation Minister Jim Carr’s offi ce. Park Liberal staffer, having last worked at Don Valley West, Ont., tant for communications last October; she Sason Ross. Ms. Daigneault spent roughly six months the Ontario legislature as a senior adviser whom he fi rst started marked her exit the week before last. Photograph courtesy working as a policy adviser in Mr. Carr’s to then-minister of government and con- with as an intern through Jeni Armstrong is director of commu- of LinkedIn trade offi ce, having fi rst joined his team in sumer services Tracy MacCharles. the Centre for Israel and nications to Mr. Morneau, while Pierre-Ol- July 2018. Before then, she spent roughly a His LinkedIn profi le indicates he’s also Jewish Affairs’ internship program in Sep- ivier Herbert is press secretary. Ben Chin, year as a policy and Quebec regional affairs previously worked in the executive offi ce of tember 2016. who himself as a strong background in adviser to Innovation, Science, and Econom- the consul general of the United States in To- Mr. Ross has a bachelor’s degree in communications as a former broadcaster, ic Development Minister Navdeep Bains. ronto; spent roughly three years as director of political science from McGill University. is chief of staff to the minister. She’s also a former executive assistant Project Hatch: The Social Enterprise Incubator; The minister’s former executive as- [email protected] to then-heritage minister Mélanie Joly, worked as a contract consultant on Canadian sistant, Maaz Yasin, is expected to stay in The Hill Times who is now the minister for tourism, offi - energy markets for the World Trade Group; cial languages, and La Francophonie. That and spent two years as a strategy and opera- was her fi rst job on Parliament Hill, which tions adviser for IBM, amongst other past jobs. she began in March 2016. He’s studied at the London School of Amongst other past jobs, Ms. Daigneault Economics and Political Science in the United previously worked on contract as a research Kingdom as well as Royal College Colombo, analyst for Coalition Montréal, a municipal a boys’ school in Sri Lanka’s largest city, and party that formed in 2013 behind may- has a master of business administration from oral candidate Marcel Côté, who went up Queen Mary University, also in London, U.K. against then-mayoral candidate Ms. Joly Stephanie Muccilli is director of policy and former Liberal MP Denis Coderre. Mr. to Ms. Duncan, while Marilla McCargar is Coderre won the election that year. a senior policy adviser and Jagmeet Sra is She has a master of arts in sociology and a parliamentary affairs and policy assis- another master’s degree in international and tant. Anne Dawson is chief of staff. public affairs, so it’s no surprise she worked Meanwhile, in a move related to this as a sociology teacher at LaSalle College in month’s cabinet shuffl e, Victoria Dempster Montreal and as a web editor at the University has followed now-Indigenous Services of Montreal’s Centre for International Studies Minister Seamus O’Regan to his new offi ce (CÉRIUM), according to her LinkedIn profi le. as executive assistant. In Mr. Hussen’s offi ce she’ll be working A former correspondence writer in the under Kyle Nicholson, director of policy, and Prime Minister’s Offi ce, Ms. Dempster had alongside policy adviser Sacha Atherly. only recently left the top offi ce to serve as ex- Two new special assistants also recently ecutive assistant to Mr. O’Regan in his former started working in Mr. Hussen’s offi ce: Mat- capacity as the minister of veterans affairs. thew Gallagher and Nilgiri Pearson. Ms. Dempster and chief of staff Cyndi Mr. Gallagher previously spent roughly the Jenkins were, as of fi ling deadline last last two and a half years week, the only two staffers so far to follow as an assistant to Mr. Mr. O’Regan to his new offi ce. Hussen in his capacity as the Liberal MP for York South-Weston, Ont. A Health minister bids farewell to Carleton University alum- Quebec regional adviser nus, he’s got a bachelor’s Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor, degree in public affairs who last week unveiled the much-awaited and policy management new Canada Food Guide, recently bade Mathew Gallagher. from the school, as well farewell to one of her staffers: parliamen- Photograph courtesy as a master’s degree in tary affairs adviser and regional adviser of LinkedIn political management. for Quebec, Jamee St-Hilaire. Overlapping his studies, Mr. Gallagher Mr. St-Hilaire had been with the offi ce spent brief stints (between fi ve and eight since December 2017. He offi cially made months each) working as a junior offi - his exit at the beginning of January. cer with Service Canada, Infrastructure A former parliamentary assistant to Lib- Canada, Public Safety Canada, and for the eral MP Linda Lapointe, he’s already started Public Health Agency of Canada, as indi- in a new role off the Hill as director general cated by his LinkedIn profi le. of the Espace Entrepreneuriat Région Thet- For his part, Mr. Pearson has spent the ford (E2RT) in Thetford Mines, Que. last three years busy at work as a con- Mr. St-Hilaire had not yet been replaced stituency assistant to Liberal MP Paul in the minister’s offi ce by fi ling deadline Lefebvre, who represents Sudbury, Ont., last week. Adam Exton remains as director in the House of Commons. Before then, his of parliamentary affairs to Ms. Petitpas Tay- LinkedIn profi le indicates he was manager lor. Currently covering the other regional and co-owner of Babushka Grand Hostel in desks in the minister’s offi ce are Helen Ukraine’s Odessa region. Gao (Ontario), Aamar Yasseen (Western and Mr. Pearson’s profi le notes he studied for Northern Canada), and Jake Beal (Atlantic). a bachelor’s degree in history at Laurentian Monique Lugli is chief of staff to the University, a bachelor of laws at Trinity health minister. College Dublin in Ireland, and a master’s Infrastructure and Communities Minister degree in international humanitarian action François-Philippe Champagne saw assistant © Tom Arban Photography at Uppsala University in Sweden. Amy Mankal exit his offi ce at the end of 2018. While in Sudbury, he was also a volunteer She’d been working there since March co-ordinator of Lifeline Sudbury, connecting 2016, starting under then-minister Amar- MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, CHERS DÉPUTÉS ET DÉPUTÉES, private sponsorship groups sponsoring Syr- jeet Sohi, and before then was working as WELCOME TO YOUR NEW NOUS VOUS SOUHAITONS ian refugees resettling in and around the city. an executive assistant at Health Canada. WEST BLOCK HOME! LA BIENVENUE CHEZ VOUS DANS L’ÉDIFICE DE L’OUEST. So he’s got some on-the-ground experience She’s now returned to work as an executive We are proud to have worked with the federal immigration fi le. assistant in the director general’s offi ce in alongside PSPC to bring this Nous sommes fiers d’avoir collaboré project to fruition. avec SPAC pour mener à bien ce projet. Zubair Patel is chief of staff to Mr. Hussen. the Cannabis Directorate at Health Canada. In other news, Science and Sport Min- Sara O’Connor is currently director general. 16 MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 | THE HILL TIMES

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Egypt hosts festive holiday party MIGRAINES ARE NOT The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia FOREVER!

Newer drugless therapies Can solve the mystery

Liberal MP Fayçal El-Khoury and Kuwaiti Ambassador Abdulhamid Alfailakawi laugh together at a Dec. 11 Kaoru Ishikane, wife of the ambassador of Japan; Greek holiday reception hosted by the Egyptian ambassador at Ambassador Dimitrios Azemopoulos; and Maria Enrica his home. Francesca Stajano, the wife of the Italian ambassador.

Call to consult Call to 613 875 2654 or 234 5758 Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani, ambassador [email protected] Yemeni Ambassador Jamal Abdullah of the United Arab Emirates; his wife, Mr. Azemopoulos speaks to Yahya Al-Sallal, Christian Embassy Abeer Al Jasim; Aliaa Adel Saadeldein Bosnian Ambassador Srdan executive director Darlene McLean, and Elsherif; and her husband, Egyptian Lalic. Roy Norton, chief of protocol of Canada. Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid.

Kazakhstan welcomes Parliamentarians Performance Realty to Independence Day party

2012,2012, 2017, 2017 2018 Brokerage, Independently Owned and Operated

Direct: 613-799-7253 Office: 613-744-2000 [email protected] www.mazkarimjee.com Top 1% Nationally Royal LePage Argentine Ambassador Eugenio María Curia laughs Maz Karimjee with Ambassador of Kazakhstan Akylbek Kamaldinov at Mr. Kamaldinov, parliamentary secretary to the trade          Kazakhstan’s Independence Day party on Dec. 6 at the minister Omar Alghabra, Conservative Senator Victor Oh, Maz Karimjee Chateau Laurier. and Liberal Senator Joseph Day.         

Christian Embassy senior international representative David CAREERS Imbrock, Conservative MP Harold Albrecht, Mr. Kamaldinov, his wife Olga Kamaldinova, and Christian Embassy executive Mr. Kamaldinov, Mr. Day, his wife Georgie Fraser Day, director Darlene McLean, Mr. Albrecht’s wife. and Ms. Kamaldinova.

Ambassador of Qatar hosts National We are looking for a motivated professional eager to take on a leadership role. Day event at Chateau Laurier

As a senior strategist possessing 7-10 years of public policy experience, you will understand and engage the government process throughout Canada, with a focus on the federal government in Ottawa. With an eye for business development, you will have the opportunity to share in the We’re revenue you generate for the agency. ° Civic, issues or political campaign experience will be highly valued as will government experience. Hiring. Project management level experience is considered an asset. We are Crestview Strategy, a growing digital-first public affairs To apply, please send resumes and cover letter to Jamaican High Commissioner Janice Miller, left, Guyanese High agency. You are a senior strategist. [email protected] Commissioner Clarissa Sabita Riehl, right, and Qatari Ambassador Saoud Abdulla Zaid Al-Mahmoud at Qatar’s National Day party on Liberal MP Robert-Falcon Ouellette and Mr. Dec. 6 at the Chateau Laurier. Al-Mahmoud. THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 19 Events Feature

Famous Five, Equal Voice, and the Parlia- Party Central mentary All Party Women’s Caucus. Parliamentary Politics and the Pen gala by Emily Haws Probably the hottest ticket in town during Calendar the winter/spring parliamentary session, the Politics and the Pen gala is always a blast and well attended by high-powered politicos. This invitation-only event is hosted by No snow pants allowed: here’s the Writers’ Trust of Canada, and the night’s highlight is the awarding of the Shaugh- nessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing, your guide to the hottest which is a $25,000 prize given out annually for an exceptional book of literary non-fi c- tion with political relevance to Canadians. Policy Options to winter and spring shindigs Last year, the night was hosted by Gov- ernment House Leader Bardish Chagger Lyon Street, as well as any MPs and staffers and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, with top host tax-system who want to celebrate, said organizers. honours being taken home by journalist Tanya Talaga for her book Seven Earnscliff e’s post-budget party Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard talk on Jan. 31 Held on the day the budget is released— Truths in a Northern City. The gala date has been set for May normally late February or early March— WEDNESDAY, JAN. 30 this party is always a good place to spot 15, according to the event’s website, and high-profi le politicos and reporters after a once again will be hosted at the Chateau House Sitting—The House is sitting until Feb. 8 and hyped-up day of announcing the govern- Laurier. The shortlist will be announced in will take a one-week break from Feb. 11 to Feb. 18. It ment’s annual fi scal plans. April, according to the website, and Party will resume sitting on Feb. 19 and will sit until March Central plans to give all the fi nalists a read. 1, followed by a two-week break from March 4-March For at least the last two years, it has 15. It will sit for one week, March 18-March 22, will been held at popular political hangout the break again for one week, March 25-29. The House Métropolitain Brasserie, which is just a few Party on the Hill will resume sitting April 1-12 and will take a two-week Ensight’s John Delacourt, left, with Brian steps away from the Hill, and it’s normally break from April 15-26. It will sit again on April 29 Bohunicky, senior adviser in Public Services well attended by politicians, lobbyists, and and will sit for three consecutive weeks, April 29-May Minister Carla Qualtrough’s offi ce, and Monique members the media alike. One of several 17. The House will break again May 20-24, and is then post-budget parties, this one, which last scheduled to sit from May 27-June 21, four consecu- Lugli, chief of staff to Health Minister Ginette tive weeks before the House adjourns and Parliament Petitpas Taylor, at the 2018 Politics and the Pen year was hosted by Earnscliffe Strategy iPolitics is dissolved for the October 2019 election. The Sen- gala. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade Group and as well as the Chamber ate will resume sitting on Feb. 19, 2019 at its interim of Commerce and the Métropolitain, it location at the Senate of Canada Building (formerly seems is a staple on the downtown Ottawa known as the Government Conference Centre), though ust so we’re all clear, snow pants are party circuit. Senate committees resume this week. Jokay for commuting, but they’re not Last year, folks from the PMO includ- Liberal Caucus Meeting—The Liberals will meet in proper party attire. ing principal secretary Gerry Butts and Room 025B West Block on Parliament Hill. For more The wintry outerwear has sparked a hot information, please contact Liberal Party media rela- executive director of communications and tions at [email protected] or 613-627-2384. debate among Ottawa residents lately about planning Kate Purchase dropped in. whether snow pants are in fact needed to Conservative Caucus Meeting—The Conservatives Popcorn and Prosecco are normally will meet for their national caucus meeting. For more wear to work during Ottawa’s bone-chilling on the menu, and last year included more NDP MP stole the show with his information, contact Cory Hann, director of com- winters or too hideous to wear in public. casual snacks like grilled sandwiches, daughter Mariah at last year’s Hill Times Party on munications with the Conservative Party of Canada at Party Central is of the opinion that they’re the Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade [email protected]. could cocktail shrimp, and poutine. great for walking to work, and be The date obviously depends on the date NDP Caucus Meeting—The NDP caucus will meet considered acceptable if commuting by bus, Last year this shindig, hosted by The from 9:15-11 a.m. in the Wellington Building. For more the budget will be unveiled, which hasn’t Hill Times, was held in the Sir John A. Mac- information, please contact the NDP Media Centre at but they’re defi nitely something to leave at been announced yet, but Earnscliffe says home when it comes to parties. donald Building and saw more than 700 613-222-2351 or [email protected]. it’s prepping for this year’s event to take Bloc Québécois Meeting—The Bloc Québécois caucus While the party season is generally skewed politicos turn out for a night of great food, place again at the Métropolitain. a variety of beverages, and entertainment will meet on Wednesday morning starting at 9:30 a.m. to the spring, there are still a few hot winter Prime Time in Ottawa—The Canadian Media Produc- shindigs to check out. From the Earnscliffe/ provided by a live band. NDP MP Charlie ers Association is hosting its annual Prime Time in iPolitics post-budget do to The Hill Times’ Party Women on the Hill reception Angus and his daughter Mariah stole the Ottawa conference, a national networking event for on the Hill to the exclusive Politics and the Pen show with their swing-dancing moves. some 600 of Canada’s most prominent business leaders gala, there are lots of opportunities to get out Cardboard cutouts of the main federal from the feature fi lm, television, interactive media, your fanciest suit or dress. party leaders were also on hand last year, and broadcasting, and telecommunications industries. Jan. 30-Feb. 1. primetimeinottawa.ca. Many dates for this year aren’t yet set in are expected to again make an appearance. stone, but stay reading Party Central and An ode to the old All-Party Party, which THURSDAY, JAN. 31 The Hill Times’ Parliamentary Calendar for brought together Parliamentarians of all Policy Options Pre-Election Breakfast Series: Improv- the latest updates. stripes in addition to political staff and Hill ing Canada’s Tax System—Policy Options, in partnership employees, this year’s Party on the Hill will with the Max Bell School of Public Policy, is hosting be one of the last non-partisan bashes in a series of in-depth conversations on key policy issues Agriculture Day networking the Precinct before MPs and staffers hit the for the federal election campaign in 2019. Join in the campaign trail for the 2019 election. fi rst event for a discussion on how to improve Canada’s reception tax system, with Jennifer Robson (Carleton University), Known as the party with the best food Dates and places are still to be confi rmed, Hill Times Allison Christians (McGill University), Bruce Bell (CPA all year, this event is hosted by industry but publisher Anne Marie Creskey Canada), and moderator Jennifer Ditchburn (Policy Op- group Agriculture More Than Ever, which says it will take place at the end of May. tions). Jan. 31, 2019, 7:30-9 a.m. Ottawa. Details and includes groups made up of dairy, turkey, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May with Liberal registration: https://options-po.li/2Hdl9FR. canola and other farmers. This year, the MP Karen McCrimmon at last year’s Women on Parliamentary Press Gallery The Parliamentary Calendar is a free events listing. networking reception will once again be the Hill reception. The Hill Times photograph by Send in your political, cultural, diplomatic, or governmental held in the Sir John A. Macdonald Build- Andrew Meade Dinner You might want to start planting the event in a paragraph with all the relevant details under the ing’s main-fl oor ballroom, Room 100, from subject line ‘Parliamentary Calendar’ to news@hilltimes. 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 12. Celebrating women in politics, the inau- seeds to this Nerd Prom now, as this party com by Wednesday at noon before the Monday paper or by Last year, the menu included pasta with gural party attracted nearly 500 guests last isn’t one to miss, but you can’t get in without Friday at noon for the Wednesday paper. We can’t guaran- sun-dried tomatoes and pesto sauce, and year, including Status of Women Minister an invite from a Parliamentary Press Gal- tee inclusion of every event, but we will defi nitely do our risotto with mushrooms and cheese. There Maryam Monsef, Environment Minister lery member. Usually, the guest list includes best. Events can be updated daily online too. were also little cups fi lled with dressing Catherine McKenna, and MPs Anita Van- party leaders, politicians, staffers, media, and The Hill Times and vegetable sticks, tacos, sliders, and denbeld and . senior bureaucrats and lobbyists. Beer Canada brought along a variety of The name of the event was coined after Guests sip cocktails, eat dinner, listen to craft beer from across the country. the book of the same title, Women on the self-deprecating speeches from party lead- Extra! Extra! MPs who are strong on the agriculture Hill, which was an account of U.S. attorney ers, and bust a move on the dance fl oor. Last fi le or from rural ridings are known to at- Anita Hill who testifi ed in 1991 before the year, Mr. Singh, the NDP leader, taught a few RReadead the full tend. Last year, Party Central spotted Lib- U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee to accuse well-known journos how to dance the Indian eral MPs Francis Drouin and T.J. Harvey; Associate Justice of the Supreme Court bhangra dance, and everyone made plenty of ParliamentaParliamentaryry NDP MPs Ruth Ellen Brosseau, Alistair Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment. jokes about the PM’s disastrous India trip. MacGregor, and Brigitte Sansoucy; and Last year, it was held shortly after Inter- A time-honoured tradition, the party CCalendaralendar Conservative MPs Bev Shipley, Kerry Di- national Women’s Day, which is on March was known to go until 7 a.m. back in the otte, and , among others. 8, in the Sir John A. Macdonald Building. day, but now most head out around mid- online Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAu- The date and place this year haven’t yet night with some staying as late as 3 a.m. lay was also in attendance, as were the heads been confi rmed, say organizers, but they’re This year, it’s once again going to take of several agriculture-related lobby groups. thinking it will take place in early April. place at the Canadian Museum of History The reception is open to anyone at- The event was championed by groups on May 4. tending a related conference earlier in the that support women’s equality, empower- [email protected] day, which will be held at the Delta Hotel on ment, and women in politics, including The Hill Times