EXCLUSIVE POLITICAL COVERAGE:VERAGE: NEWS, FEATFEATURES, AND ANALYSIS INSIDE THE RISE AND FALL HILL PARTY CLIMBERS P.37 CENTRAL P. 36 OF TOM MULCAIR P. 21 TWENTY-SEVENTH YEAR, NO. 1331 CANADA’S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSWEEKLY MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 $5.00 NEWS TAX EVASION Minister Sohi says Revenue Agency fi nally has resources to fi ght offshore tax infrastructure bilateral havens, says Grit Sen. Downe BY DEREK ABMA evaders to pay are “long overdue” and that the Canadian Revenue Liberal Sen. Percy Downe, a Agency fi nally has the resources it agreements coming soon longtime advocate for tougher needs to deal with this issue. crackdowns on offshore tax cheats, says initiatives announced by the Continued on page 33 government last week to get tax NEWS BUDGET TRANSPARENCY Liberals have in some respects ‘lost ground on fi scal transparency,’ says former PBO Page BY DEREK ABMA ment has backtracked on fi scal transparency in its 2016 budget. Former parliamentary budget offi cer Kevin Page says, in some Continued on page 17 respects, the new Liberal govern- Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi, centre, pictured with Environment Minister Catherine McKenna, left, talks about NEWS SENATE infrastructure spending and more in this week’s policy briefi ng pp. 23-31. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright Senate’s Internal Economy to NEWS LEGISLATION decide this week if Sen. Harder Doctor-assisted dying bill a ‘minimalist response’ to needs $850,000 annual budget BY ABBAS RANA it wants to approve the Govern- Supreme Court ruling, designed to pass: Ogilvie ment Senate Representative Peter The Senate’s powerful Internal Harder’s request of $850,000 an- BY RACHEL AIELLO “minimalist response,” designed Committee on Physician-Assist- Economy, Budgets and Adminis- nual budget for his offi ce. to pass with reduced objection, ed Dying. tration Committee will meet on The new medical-assistance- says Conservative Sen. Kelvin Thursday, April 21, to decide if Continued on page 32 in-dying bill introduced by Kenneth Ogilvie, co-chair of the Continued on page 20 the government last week is a special Joint House and Senate NEWS CONSERVATIVES NEWS NDP “Social media channels— Conservative MP Kent wants NDP supporters urge respectful Twitter, texts, and emails— in the New Democratic party to ditch membership fee debate to avoid infi ghting universe were set ablaze by the announcement [on BY ABBAS RANA while he and other Conservative leadership],” said Ian Capstick, BY LAURA RYCKEWEART race and further debate over the MPs are also concerned turnout an NDP analyst and founder of Leap Manifesto, important ques- Conservative MP Peter Kent for the gathering might be low MediaStyle, adding that many After a convention that left tions and conversations lie ahead is planning on arguing to get rid because of the high cost of at- Dippers “are a little bit dazed many NDPers “dazed and con- for members, and party analysts of the party’s membership fee at tending. and confused” at the results. fused,” with divided opinions over urge caution and respect to avoid the Conservative policy conven- tion in Vancouver next month, Continued on page 19 decisions to hold a leadership real schisms and infi ghting. Continued on page 41 2 THE HILL TIMES, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2015 FEATURE BUZZ membership fees, in which Mr. Obhrai was quoted as saying annual costs that Bluesky Strategy adds ON have increased from $15 to $25 will make former Liberal MP Jordan THE it tougher for leadership candidates to HEARD HILL recruit new members. Bluesky Strategy Group announced last The story featured a picture of 10 week that it has added former Liberal MP BY DEREK ABMA people considered potential candidates Joe Jordan as a senior associate. leadership race, including Maxime Bernier Mr. Jordan served as Liberal MP for the and Kellie Leitch, who have already reg- eastern Ontario riding of Leeds-Grenville istered to run, as well as Lisa Raitt, Jason between 1997 and 2004. He has spent most of Kenney, Michael Chong, Michelle Rempel, the time since then as a lobbyist with Capital Baird tweets leadership Tony Clement, Brad Wall, Peter MacKay, Hill Group. For the last two years, however, Mr. and Kevin O’Leary. Jordan has been an independent lobbyist. Mr. Baird added the following commen- “Bluesky has always been a dynamic tary to his retweet: “Why is @deepakobhrai’s company with a breadth of expertise includ- endorsement for Obhrai pic not there. Deepak for Leader!!!!!” ing government relations, communications, The entry attracted some responses and event planning,” Mr. Jordan said in a press from other social media users. For exam- release. “That allows it to take care of clients’ Former Cabinet ormer Harper government cabinet ple, one Joseph Ayoub replied, “yeah right. needs in a more comprehensive way. I’m look- minister John minister John Baird has endorsed MP Good luck with that,” to the idea of Mr. ing forward to being part of the team.” Baird was on F Deepak Obhrai for leader of the Conserva- Obhrai becoming leader. Bluesky principal Tim Barber said: “Joe Twitter last week, tive Party. Ottawa Sun columnist Susan Sherring Jordan is a well-known and trusted voice expressing his While Mr. Obhrai—the longest con- suggested the source of the endorsement in Ottawa. His track record of success and support for MP tinuously serving MP in the Conservative might want to consider running himself. his extensive knowledge of the relationship Deepak Obhrai as caucus—has not been at the forefront of “This it’s time for: @Baird for Conservative between business and government will a potential leader discussions about who might take over the leader!” she tweeted. help advance our clients’ work.” of the Conserva- party, he did not rule it out when asked dur- Mr. Baird used Twitter to promote Mr. tive Party. The Hill ing a recent episode of CTV’s Power Play. Obhrai as a potential party leader the Times photograph by Last week, Mr. Baird retweeted a story previous week as well, in response to his Foster replaces Jake Wright by The Hill Times about the Tories’ new interview on Power Play. Vongdouangchanh as Hill Times online editor A strong year-round offshore shrimp fishery builds a Ally Foster, left, is the new online editor at The Hill Times and editor of Power & Infl uence magazine, replacing Bea Vongdouangchanh. The stronger economy. Hill Times photographs by Jake Wright The Hill Times has a new online editor in Ally Foster. Ms. Foster started a week ago, learning the ropes from her outgoing predecessor, Bea Vongdouangchanh. But as of this week, Ms. Foster is offi cially working without a net, as Ms. Vongdouangchanh has departed for a new job with government-relations fi rm Com- pass Rose Group, run by Jacquie LaRocque. Ms. Foster grew up in and still lives in the west-Ottawa community of Carp (or Narnia, as downtown folk refer to it). After graduating from Carleton University’s journalism pro- gram in 2012, she worked as a reporter for Hill Times sister publication Embassy until 2014. She then took a two-year hiatus to travel, go back to school, and freelance. Bolstered by a post-grad degree in marketing and advertising from Algonquin College, she said she is excited to work on growing The Hill Times’ online presence, use the newest digital techniques to share breaking news and engage readers, and put her newfound marketing skills to work on Power & Infl u- ence magazine, of which she is also editor. “I’m so thrilled about being back on the Hill,” Ms. Foster said. “Coming to work ev- ery day with the opportunity to learn more about the people, ideas, and policies that shape not just our country, but the world Good jobs. outside of our borders, is something I feel really lucky to do. And then to have the chance to do so with such a fun, smart, and talented team makes it all the better.” Sustainable fishery. Ms. Vongdouangchanh fi rst joined as a reporter The Hill Times in 2005. She became deputy editor of the newspaper in 2008 and held that job for the six years. After a one-year sabbatical, she returned to The Hill Times as the editor of the website and P&I in 2015. CANADIAN “Although I will miss journalism, I am ASSOCIATION OF excited by this new challenge and the op- StrongShrimp.ca PRAWN PRODUCERS portunity to work with Jacquie LaRocque, one of the best consultants in the nation’s capital,” she said. Continued on page 40 3 On Canada’s Side. Sophisticated marine engineering made for our Arctic climate goes into each Coast Guard vessel built by Canada’s defence and security companies. Not only are our ports and channels, DEFENCEANDSECURITY.CA from coast to coast to coast, kept safe and secure, but our equipment is used on world-leading expeditions to map and chart the Great North. IMAGE: CANADIAN COAST GUARD-FISHERIES AND OCEANS CANADA. 4 THE HILL TIMES, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 FEATURE ATTAWAPISKAT Angus, Bennett to fl y to Attiwapiskat, MPs get emotional in debate on suicide crisis ity whereby children and young people are NDP MP Charlie More funds and youth denied mental health services on a routine Angus, pictured involvement are crucial basis, as a matter of course, by the federal in this fi le government,” he said. photo, made for a long-term solution Eleven people attempted to take their an emotional for remote First Nations lives in Attawapiskat two Saturdays ago, appeal in last prompting the First Nation to declare a week’s emergency communities, says NDP state of emergency—the fourth one since debate.