Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 F A THIRTY-SECOND YEAR, NO.1788 growth agenda Canada’s long-term taskedSabia with Finance DM the budget’:new will travel through ‘All policy roads News with theappointmentofMichael of theCOVID-19 pandemic, but in one” throughout thecourse a manwho has “lived two years minister Paul Rochon’sservice as are laudingoutgoingdeputy Department, MPsandexperts Climbers the government needs toappoint News PS for decades diversityin the been fighting for senator who’s says former its structure,’ deeply inside ‘to lookservice will force public servants’ lawsuit Black public BY MIKE LAPOINTE BY MIKE LAPOINTE criteria eligibility meet the whothose right for a human MAID is has arguedfordecadesthat ormer Senator DonOliver, who at thehelmof Finance fter morethanhalfadecade Hill p.19 Continued onpage17 Continued onpage 4

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N ews Darrell Bricker, CEOofpublic the factsareonground,” said “It’s gonnacomedown towhat p a Senate to reform chance appeal a Duffy Mike p er Continued onpage 16 Andrew Meade photograph by The HillTimes strategist. political high-profile Alberta based Carter, an says Stephen political risks, carries serious the pollsearly as goingto for anelection, before asking government four yearsin to complete should try on theHill, Dec. 7,2020, pictured on Trudeau, Justin Prime Minister p.4 MONDAY, DECEMBER14,2020$5.00 T A scheduled to adjourn for the winter scheduled toadjournforthewinter a springelectioncirculating. son isuponus, andspeculation of maining untilfederal budgetsea- just ahandfulofsittingweeks re- legislative agendaquickly, with say unionreps next budget, come before should Transition’ bill Liberal ‘Just News News find funding program can’t suicides ifPTSD warn ofmore first responders, military, vets, centre for trauma support Graduates of that lives could beonthelineif graduates oftheprogram warn struggling tofindfunding, and post traumatic stressdisorder is first responderssufferingfrom BY PETER MAZEREEUW BY PETER MAZEREEUW The HouseofCommonswas begun toroll outpartsofits he Liberal government has tary personnel, veterans, and treatment program formili- Continued onpage18 Continued onpage 6 Susan Riley p.12

2 MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES

West Block Christmas decorations: Heard on the Hill nice try, but kind of hum-drum by Palak Mangat Women community leaders urge Trudeau cabinet ministers to stop funding new nuclear reactors

Really? That’s all you've got? Two wreaths and a Christmas tree, outside Room 125-B in the West Block, pictured Dec. 8, 2020. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

n normal times, there’s usually a gigantic ways, in the Reading Room, the Railway Itree inside Centre Block’s main rotunda Committee Room, and thousands of little all dressed up with hundreds of little red white lights and wreaths and garlands, and bows, from top to bottom, and little white more poinsettias everywhere inside Centre lights, and surrounded at its base by a cir- Block. But these aren’t normal times. cle of poinsettias. And it doesn’t stop there. Centre Block is closed for massive renova- Centre Block’s beautiful archways are tions until 2030 and beyond. And we’re in strung with garlands and little white lights the middle of a pandemic. So there aren’t and they’re everywhere. There are usu- many around on the Hill, Centre Block’s ally Christmas trees outside the Library of stand-in is the West Block and its Christ- Parliament’s main door, trees in the Centre mas decorations just don’t cut it. They’re Block foyer, the Senate foyer, down hall- even beige.

One hundred women community leaders sent a letter to Treasury Board President Jean-Yves This just in: CBC’s parliamentary Duclos, Digital Government Minister Joyce Murray, Diversity and Inclusion Minister Bardish Chagger, Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, and bureau looking for three new hires Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson urging the federal government to stop funding new nuclear reactors. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

omen community leaders across the Wcountry sent an open letter to several federal cabinet ministers last week urging them to stop funding new nuclear reac- tors and saying it’s a serious mistake “that blocks swift action on climate change.” “Canada is a member of an interna- tional nuclear waste treaty and has a legal obligation to minimize generation of CBC’a Salimah Shivji and Chris Rands, pictured A gutted section of offices along a north-south radioactive waste. Federal funding for new on Oct. 21, 2019, at an election night work at hallway on the sixth floor is pictured during a tour of nuclear reactors would be an abnegation an election night rally at the Palais des Congrès the ongoing Centre Block revitalization on Dec. 2, of this treaty obligation,” reads the letter in Montreal. CBC’s parliamentary bureau has 2020. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade sent Dec. 6 to Treasury Board President about 55 members in the press gallery. The Hill Jean-Yves Duclos, Digital Government New Liberal MP Marci Ian is on the Christmas Times photograph by Andrew Meade The massive project, dubbed the “renova- Minister Joyce Murray, Diversity and Liberal fundraising circuit. Image courtesy of tion of a century,” is led by PSPC and is expect- Inclusion Minister Bardish Chagger, In- Liberal Party of Canada BC’s Parliamentary Bureau, which has ed to take at least decade to complete, if that. frastructure Minister Catherine McKenna, Cabout 55 accredited members in the Par- The historic building will be basically taken Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, and “Right now, our teams are working liamentary Press Gallery, is looking for a na- apart, strengthened and reinforced, updated, Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson. toward our important mid-month online tional senior reporter to cover politics, major and put back together again, piece by piece, for Activist Johanna Echlin sent the letter, fundraising deadline, as the Liberal Party national stories, and Parliament Hill, Chris use during the next 100 years and beyond. which was signed by 99 other women, of Canada moves toward our big grassroots Carter, CBC’s new parliamentary bureau including Indigenous and non-Indigenous fundraising goals for the end of this year,” chief, tweeted on Dec. 7. “We are looking for Writers’ Trust gives a record community leaders in science medicine, the fundraising letter states, adding that if someone with ideas and who can produce law, and environmental protection. All the donors give $99, they’ll get a glass coffee impact journalism.” Mr. Carter and CBC also $375,000 to Canadian writers cabinet ministers are members the Trea- mug with the Liberal logo on it, and for tweeted that the bureau is also looking for a ust an FYI: the Writers’ Trust announced sury Board’s cabinet committee. $199, they’ll get a pair of black and red plaid senior assignment producer to work with the Jlast week, that despite the pandemic, The women leaders say solar and wind oven mitts, or for $299 or more, donors will producers and reporters, and it’s looking for lack of in-person events, and fundrais- power are the cheapest and fast-growing get both. All last week, the Libs were push- a senior digital producer to lead the bureau’s ing galas, it raised a record $970,000 in electricity sources in the world and are urg- ing fundraising efforts, including Liberal digital coverage of politics. 2020 for Canadian writers and delivered ing the government to put more funding into MP Adam van Koeverden, the party’s $375,000 this past spring to more than energy efficiency and energy conservation. senior communications director Braeden 250 writers through the Canadian Writers’ Caley, party president Suzanne Cowan, As- PSPC officials offer two more Emergency Relief Fund. “In spite of the sociate Finance Minister Mona Fortier, and obstacles, we were delighted to step up and Rookie Liberal MP Ian helps Azam Ishmael, the party’s national director. media tours inside Centre support Canadian authors at a historically fundraise for Grits The Liberal Party has been doing “virtual Block’s ‘renovation of a century’ record level,” it declared in a press release ew Liberal MP Marci Ian, who weekends of action” fundraising phone ublic Services and Procurement Cana- last week. “We have even bolder plans for Nwas sworn in two weeks ago as the MP banks, recently held a virtual town hall with Pda officials will be offering more media the next year with exciting announcements for Toronto Centre, didn’t waste any time Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance guided tours inside the massive renovation and new initiatives we can’t wait to share last week fundraising for her party’s mid- Minister Chrystia Freeland, and says it has project on Centre Block on Tuesday Dec. with you in 2021.” month financial quarter deadline at the end 10,000 volunteers making nearly a million 15. The English media tour is at 8:30 a.m. [email protected] of this month. phone calls to Canadians. and the French at 1 p.m. The Hill Times CN wants to build a world‑class, environmentally advanced intermodal facility — in Milton, Ontario

The proposed shovel‑ready, privately funded CN Milton Logistics Hub would support Canada’s economic recovery from the COVID‑19 pandemic, while benefiting the environment.

The purpose‑designed Hub would be a world‑class, environmentally advanced intermodal facility, with leading‑edge technology at every stage, and served by Canadian‑made, electric, zero‑emission trucks.

CN is investing in a strong, sustainable future for Canada. It’s why we want to build the Milton Logistics Hub.

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Milton_Recovery_Ad_Hill_Times_12_11.indd 1 12/11/2020 10:40:52 AM 4 MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News

Former Senator equipment technician for more Don Oliver has than 20 years, told The Hill Times worked for over that the class action lawsuit “is two decades with the next step in doing what I can several eminent do, and what seems to be happen- deputy ministers ing now is that people are actu- and clerks of the ally listening.” Privy Council Mr. Guerra said that when trying to find he first began working for the ways to change department in 1999, he was very the culture of excited and happy to be there and some 300,000 considered it the next step in his employees and automotive career. root out systemic “I worked at General Motors anti-Black racism. for 13 years, I was proud of that, He says we was and I was really good at my job, not surprised and I figured, why not take my to hear about a skills to the next level and try to planned class do something better to serve my action lawsuit on country?” said Mr. Guerra. “So I behalf of current moved to [DND], and I was well and former Black received there until I started to employees within try and advance, even though I the public service, had the support of my military and that he had supervisors.” 'predicted and Kathy Ann Samuel, who works warned about within the Department of Public one for 20 years.' Prosecutions as a legal assistant The Hill Times file for the last 19 years, said she’s photograph “tired of being tired.” “Throughout the years, we have marched, we have come together, we have asked, we’ve begged, we’ve done different actions, and no change has Black public servants’ lawsuit will force been done,” said Ms. Samuel. “The change has to start from the top, it has to start with the government and the law has to be public service ‘to look deeply inside its changed.” “It’s just time, it’s the right thing to do,” said Ms. Samuel. When asked about the brutal structure,’ says former senator who’s been death of George Floyd in the summer, an event caught on video that galvanized thousands of peo- fighting for diversity in the PS for decades ple in Canada and in the United States, Ms. Samuel said the spirit of that moment is still alive. Plaintiff Kathy Ann 22 years while a Senator to teach has been extremely open and a number of senior bureaucrats of “For what other people think, diversity in the public service to forthcoming in helping us meet good will. This will continue.” it may have passed for them,” said Samuel, who has ‘simply accept difference,’ I was our 3.5 per cent targets looking to Ms. Samuel. “For us, for the Black community it has not passed. I often a lone voice in the wilder- the future,” said Mr. Oliver. “That ‘People are actually worked within the ness. But given what facts in the is most encouraging. The planned have children—I have a Black planned suit we know to be true, lawsuit looks to actions in the listening’ now to ongoing male and I have a Black female department of public daughter, and anything can hap- because they are backed by data, past.” issues, according to prosecutions as a I accept and support that.” In regards to the highly pub- pen—they can be in the wrong “I have deep respect for the licized death of George Floyd, a plaintiff place at the wrong time, and it’s legal assistant for public service of Canada,” said Mr. Minnesota man who was killed by Nicholas Thompson, who very troubling.” Oliver. “Over two decades I have a police officer who pinned him works for the Canada Revenue “When it happened with the last 19 years, said worked very closely with several down with a knee to his neck in Agency as a collections contact George Floyd, every single video eminent deputy ministers and June 2020, Mr. Oliver called it a officer and is a plaintiff in the made me cry, because I put my she’s ‘tired of being clerks of the Privy Council trying “pivotal moment” that “brought suit, told The Hill Times that the son in that situation, I put my to find ways to change the culture to light the insidious but pain- lawsuit started with the Canada nephews in that situation, and it tired’ and that ‘change of some 300,000 employees and ful truth in Canada about white Revenue Agency, calling it a “focal could be anybody, and it’s dis- has to start from the root out systemic black racism.” privilege.” point” of this issue last week. heartening that in 2020, the Black Mr. Oliver said that the class “The ‘perk’ that white people As a union president in To- community is still going through top, it has to start action lawsuit immediately get by virtue of their colour,” said ronto, representing 800 workers these types of incidents that have reminded him of a class action Mr. Oliver. “The lawsuit is a logi- in two offices, Mr. Thompson said happened in the past,” said Ms. with the government.’ lawsuit filed by current and for- cal and natural next step after the he’s been advocating around this Samuel. mer African American employees necessary data has been secured.” issue for years. Courtney Betty, a Toronto- “In one of my buildings I have based lawyer involved in the pro- Continued from page 1 against Coca Cola in the United “The lawsuit will force the States, something which Mr. Oli- Public Service to look deeply 1,100 workers, and there’s 20 posed class action suit, told The more Black judges, deputy and ver addressed in 2000 in a major inside its structure and systems to Black people,” said Mr. Thompson. Hill Times that “immediately, we associate deputy ministers, and speech to the Senate. find ways to eradicate white privi- “I asked them to address this would like to see the government chiefs of staff in government of- “As in the Canadian suit, they lege in performance evaluations issue, to provide developmental prepared to enter into a dialogue fices, says he was not surprised to alleged racial discrimination that and all other known forms of opportunities to Black people so with the parties to come up with a read about a planned class action produced lower pay, less promo- systemic Black racism,” wrote Mr. when staffing processes come resolution.” lawsuit on behalf of current and tions, and poor performance Oliver. “It must start with some out, they have the experience to “It would avoid litigation and former Black employees within evaluations,” wrote Mr. Oliver in profound personal soul search- apply.” what I would say, is also some the public service, and that he had an emailed statement to The Hill ing that will require all white “They are giving the experi- incredibly embarrassing stories “predicted and warned about one Times. “The Black employees won managers to learn to accept some ence to other visible minorities of the pain and suffering that so for 20 years.” the largest settlement ever in a uncomfortable truths.” and Caucasian employees, who many individuals [have expe- Twelve plaintiffs are involved corporate racial discrimination “The machinery of govern- are getting that opportunity,” rienced], and I think it would in the proposed class-action law- case, $192-million.” ment, i.e., getting a new govern- said Mr. Thompson. “So that’s be a public embarrassment for suit by former and current Black Mr. Oliver also said he’s ment department, is something why we say ‘Black employee ex- Canada internationally when federal public servants, which warned that given the systemic directed from PMO and when that clusion,’ and that’s why it’s not these stories become public,” said alleges that Black employees have racism that exists in our largest directive comes to PCO one way about visible minorities, because Mr. Betty. “It is just really beyond been systematically excluded corporations and institutions in or another, the Clerk of the Privy by far, they are allowing other description in terms of the pain from advancement and subjected Canada, the same thing could Council and all the deputy minis- visible minorities to move ahead and suffering that these plaintiffs to discrimination within the happen here. The former Senator ters must fall in line. The ongoing and get into the management have faced.” government for decades. They are now chairs the Black North Initia- work we are doing in the Black program and into the executive The Prime Minister’s Office seeking $900-million in damages. tive committee on public relations North Initiative to find ways to program.” declined to comment for this “It’s happening now,” said Mr. and the public sector. break down systemic Black rac- Duane Guy Guerra, a full-time story. Oliver. “I am not part of the law- “I can state that the clerk [of ism is going well,” wrote Mr. Oli- employee at the Department of [email protected] suit. But having fought hard for the Privy Council], Ian Shugart, ver. “We have been working with National Defence as a heavy The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 5 Opinion

from scrutiny or even, in an overtly parti- Mike Duffy appeal is a chance san context, settle political scores.” With CIBA replacing Sen. Verner in September, and then later Sen. McPhedran when committees were struck in October, the female Senators who defended the to reform the unelected Senate victims are now no longer in CIBA. In the meantime, McPhedran continues to person- Vaillancourt, found that Duffy complied and as Justice Vaillancourt found, is instead ally maintain a confidential hotline she set The Senate has shown it will with all of the Senate’s expenses rules and malicious, unjust, and driven by politics— up almost three years ago for other victims broke no laws. The Senate’s auditor, De- not the rule of law. experiencing harassment in the Senate. not voluntarily respect the loitte & Touche, made the same finding. The Senate’s position is parliamentary Let us hope that the Supreme Court of So, while the Senate knew Duffy was privilege which means both the Charter and Canada grants leave to appeal and dis- Charter of Rights and the innocent even before they called in the the constitutional right to the rule of law abuses the Senate of this unjust claim. rule of law. However, the RCMP, it punished him for violating a resi- simply do not apply to the Senate. The un- By its actions, the Senate has shown it dence requirement rule that didn’t exist. elected Senate—an entire branch of the Ca- will not voluntarily respect the Charter of Supreme Court of Canada The Senate has never had, and even nadian government—is in their view, above Rights and the rule of law. However, the today, four years after Duffy’s acquittal in the law that governs all other Canadians. Supreme Court of Canada can do what the can do what the Senate 2016, still has no rule requiring a Senator Unlike the House of Commons, where Senate refuses to do. It can use the Duffy to spend any specific number of days at a democracy permits voters to throw out Mem- case to define and limit both the scope and refuses to do. It can use the principal residence in the province from bers of Parliament, unelected Senators are abuse of parliamentary privilege. Duffy case to define and limit which the senator is appointed. unaccountable to voters, and they now claim Then, Senate staff and Senators will So here’s the legal issue: parliamen- they are also unaccountable to the courts. have the protections of the Charter and the both the scope and abuse of tary privilege was meant for a legitimate Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s first rule of law, just like all other Canadians. purpose—the proper administration of the representative in the Senate, Sen. Peter Daniel Tsai is a lecturer in law at Ryerson parliamentary privilege. Senate. Therefore, in Duffy’s case, disci- Harder, saw the dangers of an old boys’ University and editor of ConsumerRights.ca plining a Senate member for violating a club where “powerful Senators … may Follow him on Twitter at @dtsailawyermba non-existent rule goes outside of privilege, protect their own allies, shelter the Senate The Hill Times

ADVERTISEMENT 29 years of the Independence of Kazakhstan

Akylbek Kamaldinov, Ambassador of digitalization, protection of human rights, development of Kazakhstan to Canada health care and education and environmental protection. Despite negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Daniel Tsai n December 16 this year Kazakhstan is celebrating the general economic situation, the Ministry of National Opinion 29th anniversary of its Independence. We traditionally Economy of Kazakhstan expects GDP growth of the Opay special attention to this significant date, as we Republic by 2.8% in 2021, and by 4.6% in 2025. consider our independence as the highest value. Foundations of Government measures to stimulate the growth of small ORONTO—Canada’s Supreme Court Kazakhstan’s Independence were laid by Elbasy - First President and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) suggest that by Tonly accepts a fraction of the thousands Nursultan Nazarbayev. Such fundamental principles as secular 2025 the share of SMEs in GDP will increase to 35%. of applications it’s asked to consider every ideology, unitary form of government and a democratic, legal In the context of the fourth industrial revolution, year. To be heard, the case must be novel and social state are enshrined in its Constitution. Kazakhstan is betting on the development of artificial and of overriding public interest. Kazakhstan’s foreign policy is based on such principles intelligence technologies and big data analysis. For Those criteria would seem to apply as peaceful coexistence, openness and multi-vector policy. Kazakhstan, a country with a relatively low population to Senator Mike Duffy’s argument at the From the very beginning of its independent development density, digitalization and development of artificial centre of his appeal—that the Charter of our state has been pursuing a multi-vector foreign policy. intelligence technologies are key tools for achieving national Rights and the rule of law should apply to Currently we have mutually beneficial relations and competitiveness, which makes it possible to improve lives of the unelected Senate. no unsolved issues with any country. Our country has citizens and business climate in the country. Importantly, there are other victims of comprehensively registered its all state borders which is a In addition, digital technology played an important role the Senate’s abuse of privilege: its female significant achievement of Kazakhstan. Over the years of during the pandemic, providing government services and employees. Independence, we managed to agree with all neighboring benefits to citizens remotely. Today our government is working Notably, the Senate’s over-broad claims states on the demarcation of our all borders, ensuring on the implementation of the “Data-Driven Government” of immunity frustrated—for more than territorial integrity and inviolability of state’s territory. concept to improve the public administration system and the seven years—female victims of sexual ha- Our Republic is recognized as a leader in non- quality of decisions based on big data and artificial intelligence rassment and abuse who suffered unwanted proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and nuclear 10, 2021. Owing to new legislative amendments for the in forecasting. For this, the necessary ecosystem is being built first time the Institution of parliamentary opposition has on the basis of leading analytical centers in Kazakhstan. kissing, touching, humiliating, demeaning, disarmament, our military forces are involved in the UN been established in Parliament. Now one chairman and two intimidating and belittling behaviour by peacekeeping operations. It was the decision of the First Bilateral political and economic cooperation deserves President of Kazakhstan to close the world’s second largest secretaries of the standing committees of the Mazhilis of the special attention. Kazakhstan and Canada have the former Conservative senator Don Meredith. Parliament will be elected from the opposition party members. When the Senate ethics officer contacted test site and abandon the fourth largest nuclear arsenal natural synergy and interests in developing mutually which gave impetus to the global nuclear test ban and the One of the best indicators of Kazakhstan’s achievements is beneficial bilateral cooperation. As important events in the Ottawa police to conduct a criminal inves- adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. the level of tolerance in our multi-ethnic and multi-confessional the countries’ history were the visits of the First President tigation of the claims against Meredith, the Experts in the field of nuclear disarmament wholeheartedly society. Kazakhstan is one of the safest states in its region, of Kazakhstan - Elbasy N.Nazarbayev to Canada in June Senate again invoked parliamentary privi- endorse Kazakhstan’s leadership and contribution to nuclear civil rights and freedoms are guaranteed by the country’s 2003 and the first historic visit of the Governor General lege. That protected Meredith and impeded disarmament and express their commitment to work constitution. The created unique model of public peace and of Canada Her Excellency Julie Payette to Kazakhstan in the Ottawa police investigation. Ultimately, together to achieve our collective aspiration for achieving a harmony in Kazakhstan has real constitutional powers. The December 2018. A good impetus to bilateral relations the police could not find enough evidence to nuclear-weapon-free world by the UN’s Centennial in 2045. Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan plays an important role was given by a meeting of President Tokayev with the meet the “beyond a reasonable doubt” crimi- Kazakhstan is actively interacting with all major in the formation of a unique model of social unity. Its main Prime Minister of Canada Trudeau in Munich this year. nal standard required to lay charges. international fora and organizations, including the United goal is to implement the national policy, ensure social and The COVID-19 pandemic has made its own adjustments Had the victims sued in court, they Nations, International Monetary Fund and World Bank political stability in Kazakhstan and increase the efficiency of to the schedule of bilateral interaction. At the same time, faced the same wall of parliamentary Group, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe cooperation between state institutions and civil society in the we positively assess the results of our bilateral economic privilege and immunity used against Duffy. (OSCE), Organization for Islamic Cooperation, Shanghai field of interethnic relations. cooperation. On November 26 this year, the 4th meeting of The parliamentary privilege that cloaked Cooperation Organization, Collective Security Treaty Over the years of Independence, Kazakhstan has become the Kazakhstan-Canada Business Council (KCBC) was held Meredith’s misdeeds in secrecy to protect Organization, Commonwealth of Independent States and an economic powerhouse in Central Asia in terms of GDP. in online format for the first time and has been absolutely the Senate had deterred his victims from others. By Kazakhstan’s proposal the Forum on Interaction Our country is rightfully called a regional investment hub. successful. Following KCBC meeting its participants agreed to pursuing their cases civilly. and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), an As a result of successful reforms between 1991 and 2020 adopt a Roadmap for implementation of reached agreements. Senators Marilou McPhedran, Josée analogue of the OSCE in Asia, has been created and is Kazakhstan attracted 330 billion USD of foreign direct Thus, in historic terms the 29 years are not a considerably Verner, Raymonde St. Germain, and oth- successfully operating. investments to its economy. During independence years its long period of time. But during specified time period our ers mounted a concerted public pressure In June 2019 Kazakhstan’s people elected a new GDP grew 18-fold, population’s income increased nine times country has proven to the whole world that Kazakhstan has campaign with the media, which forced President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Currently under his and poverty level was reduced 10 times. passed the test of time and is on the trajectory of rational and CIBA—the Senate’s top-secret manage- presidentship our state is implementing large-scale In 2013 according to the World Economic Forum’s Global strategic development. Kazakhstan is open to Canada and is ment committee, to finally agree to appoint political and economic reforms and has introduced a new Competitiveness Index our country entered the top-50 looking forward to mutually beneficial and fruitful cooperation. retired Quebec Justice Louise Otis to in- legislation package. President Tokayev is determined to competitive countries of the world. In 2015 Kazakhstan vestigate. Otis recommended a settlement continue the reforms that have begun in the country. On became a full member of the World Trade Organization. of $498,000 plus legal fees for nine victims, September 1, 2020 he has delivered his annual Address In 2018, the Astana International Financial Center has without having to go to court. to the Nation «Kazakhstan in the new reality: time to been established and English common law operates on its But we will never know whether these vic- act», which is a logical continuation of initiated reforms. territory. In the World Bank’s report for 2020, Kazakhstan achieved 25th place among 190 countries in terms of tims would have received much greater com- Political landscape in Kazakhstan is going to change convenience of doing business in our country. pensation in a lawsuit and in less time than the evolutionary and smooth in following year to come. According seven plus years it took to get this settlement. to the Kazakhstan’s Constitution the next elections for Lower Kazakhstan intends to achieve its strategic goals to Duffy was suspended without pay for Chamber of Parliament «Mazhilis» by party lists and elections enter the top-30 most developed countries by 2050. nearly two years, criminally charged, and of deputies of provincial parliaments and local legislative And as President Tokayev said, the year 2021 will pass assemblies «maslikhats» of all levels will be held on January under the course of political and economic reforms, after a long trial, acquitted of all 31 charg- es against him. The trial judge, Charles 6 MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News

Project Trauma The organization relies heavily on also now struggling, however, as Support volunteers. She has paid for some donations have lagged amid the participants, of the program’s attendees out of pandemic. pictured on her own pocket. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau the facility She said she regularly receives (Papineau, Que.) announced on grounds near requests from people seeking Nov. 10 a new program to provide Perth, Ontario, treatment for themselves or their $20-million for organizations that in September friends who don’t have a way to support veterans,with $17-million of 2019. pay for it. She said she won’t ask of that sum earmarked for the The program veterans or first responders to Legion, True Patriot Love, ANA- brings together pay for their own treatment, as a VETS, and VETS Canada. veterans and matter of principle. Veterans Affairs, under the first responders “We’re optimistic that we’re direction of Veterans Affairs suffering from going to keep going, but we sure Minister Lawrence MacAulay PTSD and takes would love some help,” she said. (Cardigan, P.E.I), reached out them through a Mr. Stokan said he believed to other organizations to make series of exercises there would be more suicides them aware of the program, ac- together, many of among first responders and vet- cording to his office. They were them outdoors, to erans if Project Trauma Support given 12 days to apply for a help build trust shuts down. So did Rob Martin, share of the remaining $3-mil- and come to terms a Canadian Forces veteran who lion. Dr. Joannou said she was with what some graduated from the program. not aware of that program until call their 'moral “I would honestly say that the it was brought to her attention injury.' Photograph consequences of Project Trauma by The Hill Times last week, well courtesy of Project Support shutting down would after the deadline for applica- Trauma Support be more suicides among first re- tions had closed. sponders and veterans,” he said. Veterans Affairs imposed a A 2013 study by Statistics tight deadline on the applications Canada found that 11 per cent of in order to get the money out the Canadian Forces members expe- door quickly—they are planning Graduates of trauma rienced PTSD in their lifetime. to send out the cash by the end of First responders are twice as December—and help the ailing likely as the general population to veterans organizations to stay experience PTSD, and 22 per cent afloat, according to a spokesper- support centre for military, of all paramedics develop PTSD, son for Mr. Macaulay, Cameron according to the Calgary-based McNeill. Centre for Suicide Prevention. “Many organizations have The union for rank-and-file been faced with significant short- vets, first responders, warn OPP officers, the OPPA, now falls in revenue—along with fixed sends its members to Project costs for things like utility and Trauma Support for treatment, mortgage payments—that risked as do some other municipal first their continued ability to provide of more suicides if PTSD responder organizations. The On- support to veterans and their tario government ultimately foots families. the bill for the OPP officers, who “As has been the case for attend through the Encompas a range of programs created program can’t find funding Mental Health Wellness Program throughout the pandemic, our launched by the OPPA earlier this goal has been to get emergency year. financial assistance to those orga- “We’re bringing people Times said they believed it was a That program was put together nizations as quickly as possible,” ‘We’re bringing through with no funding, and it’s more effective and less expensive by now former-OPPA president he wrote in an emailed statement. killing us,” said Dr. Joannou in an program than some of the other Rob Jamieson, who also suffered Dr. Joannou said she has people through interview with The Hill Times. “We forms of therapy they had tried what he calls an operational applied for some federal grants, with no funding, have a facility. We have to keep before arriving at Project Trauma stress injury during his time but wasn’t able to keep track of the lights on, we have to feed Support, or that have been made in the OPP, and who attended all of the provincial and federal and it’s killing people, we have to pay the staff.” available to other veterans or first Project Trauma Support as a avenues for funding that come Project Trauma Support responders they know suffering participant and later as a mentor and go. us,’ says Manuela started treating veterans and first from PTSD. this year. He called it a “phenom- Several MPs and Senators responders—police officers, para- “What Project Trauma Support enal program” in an interview have met with Dr. Joannou and Joannou, an ER doc medics, firefighters—in 2016, and has over everybody else, and this with The Hill Times. He did not toured the grounds of Project became a charitable organization is including trained psycholo- disclose the number of OPP of- Trauma support, she said, includ- and the founder in 2018. The program initially gists and trained psychiatrists—I ficers attending the program, but ing Liberal MP Karen McCrim- of a treatment included groups of 12 participants had both—is, everybody in the said it would likely not be enough mon (Kanata-Carleton, Ont.), a at a time, twice a month, though program understands PTSD. Ev- to sustain Project Trauma Support Canadian Forces veteran, and program for military that has been decreased to 10 erybody’s had PTSD. And they’ve on its own. Senator Gwen Boniface (Ontario), participants during the COVID-19 all gotten through it, and they’re The Canadian Forces pro- a former OPP chief of police. They personnel, veterans, pandemic. The program includes teaching people to get through it vides a range of treatments for were supportive, said Dr. Joan- group discussions and outdoor themselves,” said Steve Stokan, members suffering from PTSD, nou, but those meetings haven’t and first responders. activities together that aim to a police officer with nearly three according to its website, including opened up any channels to gov- build the participants’ confidence decades of experience on a mu- from psychologists, psychiatrists, ernment funding. and trust in each other. nicipal force in Ontario. social workers, family and peer Ms. McCrimmon did not re- Continued from page 1 The program keeps gradu- “[It] takes some of the most counsellors, and through special- spond to an interview request last the program is forced to down- ates in touch after they leave the suicidal people into the program, ized clinics. Veterans Affairs con- week. Sen. Boniface was unavail- size. facility, forming a virtual sup- and they come out of it not com- nects veterans with many of the able to comment, according to her Project Trauma Support is a port group. It costs about $7,000 mitting suicide,” he said. same treatment options, including office. six-day program run on a rural to send someone through the Mr. Stokan said he had psychotherapy, and physicians, The fact that the empirical re- property near Perth, Ont., by ER program, once a share of all of experienced several multi-year including psychiatrists. search on the program’s efficacy doctor Manuela Joannou, Lt.-Col. the associated costs has been bouts of PTSD during his time on Veterans Affairs also provided is not yet complete has been a Markus Besemann, the Canadian accounted for, according to Dr. the police force. Psychological funding for 96 veterans to partici- barrier to getting funding, said Forces chief of rehabilitation Joannou. counselling had not resolved it. pate in the Project Trauma Sup- Dr. Joannou. She said she hoped medicine, and Canadian Forces Instead of relying on psychiat- He withdrew from his family, and port program as part of a funding to convince potential funding Sgt. Jeremy Blair. It is about to ric medication, or psychological eventually broke down at work. deal struck with the Mood Disor- agencies to consider testimonials treat its 500th first responder or counselling to address the trau- He said he was planning his ders Society of Canada in 2018. from graduates of Project Trauma veteran, and graduates of the matic incident behind the PTSD, suicide when his wife contacted That money for treating veterans Support and their family mem- program who spoke to The Hill part of Project Trauma Support’s Project Trauma Support, and Dr. has now run out, and the remain- bers while that research is being Times say its unusual treatment program takes aim at what Dr. Joannou called him to invite him ing funds from that deal will go compiled. program has saved lives—includ- Joannou calls “moral injury”—the to participate in the program. towards a research project run Mr. Martin, a veteran of the ing theirs. sense of injustice that comes from He completed the program in through the University of Alberta war in Afghanistan, echoed that However, with federal funding witnessing or being subjected to 2017. He hasn’t been able to re- that aims to measure the efficacy point in his interview with The running out, and previous large trauma, and the sense of abandon- turn to work, but said he believes of the program. Hill Times. donors short on cash amid the ment and isolation that often sets Project Trauma Support saved his The Royal Canadian Legion “This has been a program COVID-19 pandemic, the program in for veterans and first respond- life. and True Patriot Love foundation that has proven its worth and its is running out of ways to pay for ers sidelined by their symptoms. The program is struggling to have supported Project Trauma value,” he said. some of the veterans and first Several graduates of the find a sustainable source of fund- Support in the past, said Dr. [email protected] responders seeking treatment. program who spoke with The Hill ing, however, said Dr. Joannou. Joannou. Those programs are The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 7 News With most MPs grounded in constituencies, House posts $9.3-million dip in second quarter

The House Chamber has been sparsely filled since the onset of the pandemic. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

of Internal Economy Committee (BOIE) and committees online. Each MP, for exam- expenses for computer equipment and PPE The House had to spend on Dec. 3. The committee is the body that ple, has to wear a House-approved headset such as non-medical masks. oversees the finances and administration to minimize the incidence of occupational Increases in expenditures in other areas about $1.5-million to move of the House of Commons. hazards for translators on assignment. include a $4.3-million rise in House person- Since the onset of the pandemic, only Additional costs included $1.2-million nel costs, with employees on MPs’ payroll House proceedings and a skeletal, rotating cast of MPs have been for external printing services; $340,000 for receiving a cost-of-living adjustment that convening regularly in the Chamber, while constituency office reconfiguration and totalled $2.7-million, and some $600,000 committees online. the rest log on remotely over Zoom. COVID-19-related supplies; and $380,000 to cover hikes to MPs’ sessional allowance The House administration also reported for the House administration for computer and additional salaries. Some $2.3-million BY BEATRICE PAEZ a $4.8-million decrease in expenses related equipment and personal protective equip- was also used to cover “economic increases” to the contracting of professional and ment, such as non-medical masks and sani- for some House administration employees. he House of Commons recently posted special services. According to the report, tizing products. Administration also noted Those costs were also offset by a drop in the Ta $9.3-million dip in expenditures, officials saw a “reduction in temporary that there’ve been approximately $500,000 number of employees contracted by MPs thanks in large part to the pandemic help and translation services” for MPs and in administration salaries and overtime, and House officers, according to the report. that has forced MPs—and the rest of the House officers and “a decrease in training specifically related to the activities for the The report also noted a $1.4-million rev- world—to hunker down in their constituen- and hospitality costs.” The House agreed to current situation. enue dip, owing to the temporary shutter- cies and to participate remotely in proceed- limit access to the Parliamentary Precinct Savings in utility costs, and other ing of the precinct’s cafeterias and restau- ings, according to second-quarter filings. to those who carry the requisite entry pass expenses for supplies and materials due to rant. Those facilities have been closed for Some $230.8-million in expenses were year-round and put a hold on all engage- the closure of the printing facility MPs turn most of the year. logged, down from $240-million, or by 3.9 ments with visiting dignitaries and delega- to for their mailers and advertising needs The BOIE also recently approved per cent, the year before. The second-quar- tions and travel abroad for committee work. and food services, were offset by expenses almost $12-million in new House spending ter decrease follows a first quarter that At the same time, some of those savings tied to purchasing personal protective for the fiscal year, adding $11.8-million to also saw the House spend almost $7.4-mil- were “partially offset” by the costs associ- equipment like the tubs of hand sanitizer its budget to partially cover the costs of lion less compared to the year before. ated with getting committees and MPs installed across the House of Commons. complying with new occupational health A “significant” amount of those savings hooked up online with the right technical Not all MPs decided to leave their offices and safety requirements for MPs, Senators, were tied to a $8.1-million reduction in equipment and support, said Mr. Paquette. open to visitors and expensed costs with and their staff. transportation and travel costs, according Mr. Paquette told the committee that rejiggering their space, so the $340,000 re- —With files from Laura Ryckewaert to Daniel Paquette, the House’s chief finan- the administration had to spend about configuration costs did not apply across the [email protected] cial officer, who testified before the Board $1.5-million to move House proceedings board. Additionally, there were $380,000 in The Hill Times We The 2021 E-Class at Star Motors. The most advanced sedan yet, with ground-breaking technologies.

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EDITOR Kate Malloy MANAGING EDITOR Charelle Evelyn PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY BY PUBLISHERS Anne Marie Creskey, DEPUTY EDITORS Peter Mazereeuw, Laura Ryckewaert HILL TIMES PUBLISHING INC. Jim Creskey, Leslie Dickson, 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 Sen. Duncan’s right, Senators Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, should be leading by example Bill C-12, is lame, writes Montpellier he Liberal government declared a cli- Canada has never set a climate target Tmate emergency in June of 2019. And it has met over the last three decades. by wearing masks in Upper now, some 18 months later, it has tabled And we will not meet the 2030 or 2050 Bill C-12, the Net-Zero Emissions Ac- targets until two fundamental changes oc- countability Act which is moving through cur in our climate politics. Chamber and so should MPs the parliamentary review process. First, politicians must cut their um- How any government could table such bilical cords to the fossil fuel industry. a lame piece of legislation as part of its Being tethered to the fossils clouds their nce the World Health Organization So in the Senate last week, Independent emergency response is beyond compre- decisions. A Net-Zero 2050 target cannot Odeclared the pandemic was official last Senator Pat Duncan (Yukon) presented a hension. Rather than showing the politi- include any fossil fuel expansion—LNG, March and the world went into lockdown, motion for debate, asking Senators to “lead cal courage to draft a bill with teeth and tar sands, Trans Mountain or Keystone hundreds of millions of people around the by example” and commit to wearing masks climate ambition, the Liberals have left it XL. world began working from home, forming at all times in the Chamber or meeting to the public and the environmental com- Second, during an emergency, one social bubbles, social distancing, and only rooms, unless speaking, intervening in a munity to propose much needed changes must act accordingly. Bill C-12 sets a 2030 leaving the house to get essentials. They debate or proceeding. She wants it to be in to the legislation. emissions target—a decade away. This stopped travelling, and started hand-sanitiz- effect until Senate Speaker George Furey “is Canadian politicians of all stripes (with is not emergency-like behaviour. It does ing and wearing face masks in public places. satisfied that health and safety is not at risk.” the exception of the Greens) continue however allow for the fossils to dig in Public health agencies across the “I recognize the urgency of the situa- to be plagued by a new brand of climate even more. country, who at first sent mixed messages tion and adopted this as the best method denialism which manifests itself in every To get to Net-Zero 2050, Canada needs about face masks, have since stressed of drawing the matter to my colleagues’ decision taken on climate and energy. Our an accelerated pace of transition away their absolute importance to help prevent [attention] without finger pointing or lay- leaders say they get the climate crisis but from fossil fuels. Bill C-12 fails to deliver. the spread of COVID-19. ing blame,” said Sen. Duncan told The Hill then fail to practice the politics that line up Roland (Rolly) Montpellier But on Parliament Hill, there are no Times. “We’re called upon as leaders in our with what the science says we must do. Ottawa, Ont. rules for MPs or Senators to wear masks communities and from our regions to be- in the House Chamber, the Senate Cham- have with a degree of dignity and respect, ber, or in meeting places. In the Senate, and to me, that’s leading by example.” wearing non-medical masks or face cover- “The pages and all of the Senate ings is required for all Senate employees clerks and Chamber officers are wearing Health, COVID-19, and climate change, working in the Chamber and committee masks,” she said. “I certainly have tremen- rooms, but the rules don’t apply to Sena- dous concerns about health and safety, in time to walk the walk: Grace-Campbell tors. However, the Senate has made it their workplaces and generally. It’s about mandatory for everyone—including Sena- the people around us. It’s not about us.” aving just listened to the prime min- As with the current pandemic, the tors—to wear masks in common areas in Sen. Duncan is absolutely right. Every- Hister announce plans for COVID-19 effects of climate change are different for the Senate precinct, as The Hill Times’ Sa- one should be wearing masks in the Senate vaccine distribution, I started to think different geographies. Burning stuff and mantha Wright Allen reported last week. Chamber, the House Chamber, and in House about health in a broader context. Even destruction of ecosystems seem to be a Over in the House, MPs are required to and Senate committees, unless speaking. prior to COVID-19, many countries and major factor. The stuff we burn is usually wear face masks only if physical distanc- The well-being of parliamentary per- organizations were and are dealing fossil fuel. Although Denmark has finan- ing is not possible in the Chamber, lob- sonnel should be the highest priority, and with another global health issue: the cially benefited from the extraction and bies, and their offices. The policy doesn’t Sen. Duncan is right to be proactive and state of global ecosystems and climate marketing of oil and gas, they have taken require them to wear masks in committee to show leadership on this issue. Perhaps change have and continue to impact the a bold move to abandon that practice. rooms, however, MPs are also instructed to the House will follow. health of the planet and all the organ- They have the advantage of other wear them unless they are sitting. The Hill Times isms living there. Internationally, there energy sources and at the same time a are efforts to protect our life-sustaining vision to indeed walk the talk. That walk ecosystems. would be different for every jurisdiction, As with COVID-19 there are those who but it’s a walk that must be taken, so lace feel the health threat does not exist. There up your walking shoes. are others who have a different experi- Paul Grace-Campbell ence. Kaslo, B.C.

Transition will lead us to a sustainable future, barriers do not lead anywhere: Robinson

he argument about our energy future are considerable, along with contin- Tcurrently seems to be somewhat ued resistance from some individuals, circular and yet there are some clear industries, and government sectors. The indications of a desire for change—a concept of and rationale for this transi- transition to a low-carbon or no-carbon tion is amazingly simple. There seems to energy system. In a systems context, we be a disconnect between the rationale for might consider the role of subsidies and transition, trends that are occurring now how that role could be shifted to facilitate and those who actively resist change. It a transition. Loss of employment as a will be the transition that will lead us to result of transition is an obvious concern a sustainable future. Barriers do not lead and yet we see adaptive innovation and a anywhere. move for change from within the cur- Ron Robinson rent energy sector. Clearly, the problems Nelson, B.C.

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development legacy: McBrearty minister António Costa, who assumes the As Boris Johnson dithers EU presidency next month. e: “If we’re going to spend a billion the public. Since Chalk River Laborato- over whether to cave in Costa’s suggestion is that they split the Rdollars a year managing our nuclear ries is already a nuclear research facility EU in order to save it. Let all the ‘awkward waste, let’s do it right,” (The Hill Times, with approximately 3,800 hectares of land to the European Union’s squads’—the aspiring dictatorships, the Dec. 7, by Lynn Jones). I am writing to and all of the necessary support services, other Eastern European states that just correct the many inaccuracies published including environmental monitoring, terms for a post-Brexit free hate all migrants and refugees, and the in the opinion article submitted by Ms. security and licensing, our proposed solu- so-called ‘frugal states’ (the Netherlands, Jones. tion is to construct a highly engineered trade deal, people reckon Austria and the Nordic countries) that To start, let’s agree on the facts: containment mound to contain this mate- hate high spending and fiscal transfers to Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) rial and protect the surrounding environ- it’s his last face-saving poorer EU members—just go off on their provides management and operations ser- ment. own. vices to our client, Atomic Energy of Can- Known as the near surface disposal show of defiance before There would still be an EU, but it would ada Limited (AECL). As a federal Crown facility (NSDF), this proposed facil- he surrenders to the bitter be a two-speed Europe and they’d be the corporation, AECL owns the assets and ity would feature a base liner and final slow-moving part. German, France, Italy, environmental liabilities that CNL man- cover systems that are more than two truth that Brexit with no Spain and some others would stay in the ages. It is true that in 2015, CNL was metres thick each, both of which include core group, forging ahead with ambitious hired to provide these services to AECL layers that are impermeable over the deal would be brutal for initiatives like the recovery plan and ‘ever following a rigorous and transparent facility design life, and a state-of-the-art closer union.’ procurement process that began in 2013, wastewater treatment plant to remove Britain. But he might jump Costa didn’t mention it, but this core and only after a lengthy, government-led radiological and chemical contaminants. the other way. group could also be the foundation for a restructuring The NSDF more self-sufficient defence strategy as review. It is will contain the United States gradually withdraws its also true that only low-level old NATO security guarantee to Europe. CNL is owned radioactive (Trump might have done it eventually, by three global waste, which Biden won’t do it, but it’s bound to happen engineering contains eventually.) firms. And radionuclides Thanks, António, but no, thanks. as Ms. Jones that require Germany won’t play. It has a deep-rooted contends, CNL isolation and horror of having to underwrite the debts of is commit- containment other EU members, all of whom it sees as ted to doing for only a spendthrift and improvident, so ‘no’ to the “it right,” as few hundred two-speed Europe. is AECL, and years. CNL Gwynne Dyer And ‘no’ also to French President Em- the Canadian has designed Global Affairs manuel Macron’s ambition for a ‘global Nuclear Safety the NSDF Europe’ with an independent European Commission to last well defence strategy that matches the clout of (CNSC), Can- in excess of ONDON, U.K.—In Brussels, the the United States and China. It would cost ada’s nuclear 550 years, at LEnglish-speaking journalists are all too much, the Germans think, and besides regulator. This which point speculating about which way British Prime they’d rather go on clinging to America’s Minister Boris Johnson will jump. is where the A model of the proposed site for the near surface the radioactiv- skirts. He’s there now, dithering over whether accuracies disposal facility at the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories ity from the In the words of Germany’s defence to cave in to the European Union’s terms end. campus in Chalk River, Ont., picture on May 27, 2019. waste will minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer: for a post-Brexit free trade deal. Most First, this The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade have decayed “The idea of strategic autonomy for Eu- restructuring to levels you people reckon it’s his last face-saving show rope goes too far if it nurtures the illusion established would find of defiance before he surrenders to the bit- that we could ensure Europe’s security, a basis for short-term and long-term in the natural environment, posing no ter truth that Brexit with no deal would be stability and prosperity without NATO planning. Prior to 2015, funding to AECL harm to the public or the environment, brutal for Britain. But he might jump the and the U.S., Germany, and Europe can- came on an annual basis, without cer- all while protecting the river that our other way. not protect themselves without America’s tainty for future years. For a large nuclear employees swim in and drink from. The If Johnson thinks that surrendering nuclear and conventional power. This is research facility, this rendered things NSDF is very similar to what has already to reality would infuriate the fanatical simply a fact.” difficult to manage and to properly plan a been built and now capped in Clar- Brexiters in his own Conservative Party The hell it is. In the mid-1980s NATO’s program of work. The restructuring also ington, Ont., as well in other countries so much that it endangers his job as prime total population was about 675 million and came with an important commitment by around the world. Regardless, our solu- minister, he will bluster some more about the Warsaw Pact’s was around 390 million, the Government of Canada to acceler- tion is undergoing a rigorous technical ‘sovereignty’ and lead Britain out into the but almost half of NATO’s population was ate AECL’s environmental remediation and safety review as part of the environ- cold and the dark. His own future is all that far away across the Atlantic so each side efforts. This is why Ms. Jones may have mental assessment process conducted matters, ever. did pose a plausible threat to the other noticed an apparent “jump” in funding— by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Com- However, the EU’s leaders aren’t really in terms of the strength they had on the we are getting more funding to accelerate mission (CNSC) to ensure that the NSDF holding their breaths about this any more. ground in Europe. our activities, reduce risks and protect the is ultimately safe to the public and the A ‘no deal’ Brexit would cause minor dam- Now it’s 2020. The Warsaw Pact was environment. environment. age to a couple of European economies long gone and all the former Eastern Euro- This funding is also given to AECL, Most importantly, all of these activi- too, but the presidents and prime ministers pean satellites had joined NATO. Even the not to CNL. Each year, AECL sets annual ties, including our proposed decommis- (who are meeting in Brussels this week) Soviet Union’s 15 republics broke apart, objectives, outlining “what they want.” sioning projects for old research reactors have bigger fish to fry. leaving 145 million relatively impoverished CNL then shows AECL “how it will ac- in Rolphton, Ont., and Pinawa, Man., are Top of their agenda is Poland’s and Russians all alone to face a NATO alliance complish” the work. This is reviewed subject to AECL approval, and a federal Hungary’s threat to veto the EU’s $1.8-tril- now drawing on the resources of 870 mil- by AECL, adjusted, and then approved, government-led, and very public, environ- lion euro budget ($2.2-trillion), which lion people. enabling CNL to execute the work mental assessment process by Canada’s includes a desperately needed 750 billion The NATO-Warsaw Pact population against the agreed scope and budget. The nuclear regulator, the CNSC. euro ($900-billion) post-COVID recovery ratio used to be about three-to-two. Now funding is then provided by AECL. For In closing, CNL is working to accom- plan to rebuild Europe’s shattered econo- the NATO-Russia ratio in population is example, these funds have recently been plish precisely what Ms. Jones and others mies. more like five-to-one. In terms of wealth used to build three new facilities, conduct are demanding—responsible action in The two Eastern European countries, it’s around 15-to-one. Local and limited research to help strengthen Canada’s managing Canada’s nuclear research and both ruled by authoritarian governments clashes here or there are still conceivable, counter-terrorism posture at the border, development legacy—a legacy that has on the extreme right-wing of politic, are but it is not possible to write a convincing pay for utilities, and, as mentioned by Ms. provided Ontario with 60 per cent of its the ‘awkward squad’ of the EU. They face scenario for a continent-spanning conven- Jones, decommission more than 100 out- electricity, carbon-free; nuclear medicine financial sanctions for their attacks on de- tional war in Europe today. dated buildings and pieces of infrastruc- to more than one billion patients; and mocracy in their own countries, so they are As for a nuclear deterrent, the French ture on the shores of the Ottawa River. continues to responsibly support ongo- blackmailing the EU by vetoing the whole one is big enough if you really feel you This is referred to as our ‘environmental ing research and development in order to seven-year budget, including the recovery need one. It’s still a bit bigger than the remediation management’ mission. prevent climate change, fight cancer, and plan. Chinese one, and that seems to work. Grow Some of AECL’s old buildings contain create thousands of jobs in the Ottawa That’s what the EU summit in Brussels up, guys. low-level radioactive contamination. Valley and beyond. this week is really about, but the lead- Gwynne Dyer’s new book is ‘Grow- They are also well beyond their useful life Joe McBrearty ers are probably not going to solve the ing Pains: The Future of Democracy (and and must be decommissioned and safely CNL president and CEO problem there. There is a plan on the table, Work)’. isolated to protect the environment and Chalk River, Ont. however, put there by Portuguese prime The Hill Times 10 MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion Trudeau pulls a huge rabbit out of his hat personal protective equipment tion and overlap when patient who live on their own, or who By procuring almost one-quarter million and direct support for those who records are often lost in transfer are in continuing care facilities lost their jobs because of the between hospitals or provinces, where visits have been limited for doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the virus. when people move. almost a year. government will be able to start distribution But Trudeau is also under The senior official involved in The vaccine has finally given pressure to increase the fed- the offer, then heading up online people hope that there is a light at immediately so that frontline workers and the eral financial share of provincial initiatives for the government, the end of this tunnel. health funding, as the provinces shut the conversation down in The first person in the world vulnerable elderly will get protection. And once were seeking an increase from 22 five minutes. She said a single to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech per cent to 35 per cent. That in- health information system would vaccine was a 90-year-old British the procurement deal was announced, Health crease would represent additional never happen because the federal woman who pleaded with every- funding of $28-billion annually, government would not impinge one to follow her example. Canada moved quickly to approve the vaccine. up from the current $42-billion on provincial jurisdiction. Her message to anti-vaxxers yearly transfer. That was long before this was that if she could take it, any- By doing so, Canada joined Trudeau will not be able to global pandemic infected the one could. She said the vaccine the United Kingdom, and Bah- meet their full demands, which world and exposed gaping holes would finally allow her to reunite rain, becoming just the third some premiers have privately in provincial delivery of Canadian with her family, from whom she country in the world to approve acknowledged as unrealistic. health care. had to isolate because of the the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Four But any increase in ongoing Our collective treatment of virus. thousand people will be receiving funding will also be tied to the seniors living in long-term care Her message was meant to the vaccine next week with prior- introduction of common stan- facilities has been disgraceful. It encourage those who might have ity given to frontline health-care dards into health-care delivery, was so bad that premiers actually doubts about the test. According workers. while the provinces want to called in the Canadian military to the American Food and Drug It also gave Trudeau some spend the money in their own to save patients. In the financial Administration, only 61 per cent Sheila Copps much-needed good news in ad- jurisdiction with no strings at- update, Freeland announced of Americans are likely to get the Copps’ Corner vance of last week’s first minis- tached. $1-billion to be spent in long-term vaccine. Many vaccine opponents ters’ meeting on health that was In normal times, the federal care facilities on the condition see their refusal as an anti-gov- not going to be an easy ride. involvement in provincial health that provinces and the federal ernment political statement. The rime Minister Justin Trudeau The federal government has matters is a no-go zone. There is government work together to vaccine is supposed to be taken Ppulled a huge rabbit out of his been the major contributor to simply too much jurisprudence devise national standards. by at least 70 per cent of citizens hat last week. funding during the COVID crisis. that the matter falls under provin- The provinces are resisting but for the best chance to achieve By procuring almost one-quarter According to Finance Minister cial authority. the population is not impressed herd immunity. million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Chrystia Freeland, the national More than two decades ago, after what they have witnessed in The vast majority of Cana- vaccine, the government will be able government has been responsible BlackBerry co-founder Mike filthy nursing homes across the dians will likely be lining up to start distribution immediately for 80 per cent of the extraordi- Lazaridis offered to develop a country. eagerly for a vaccine. Their annus so that frontline workers and the vul- nary costs associated with the chip for health care that would Seniors and single young horribilus is finally coming to an nerable elderly will get protection. pandemic. record and retain health records people are probably those who end. And once the procurement And last week’s first ministers’ for every single Canadian from have suffered most during this Sheila Copps is a former Jean deal was announced, Health meeting gave the prime minister cradle to grave. world crisis. Chrétien-era cabinet minister and Canada moved quickly to approve a chance to outline some of those That technology could have Isolation from family and a former deputy prime minister. the vaccine. successes, including funding for been critical in reducing duplica- friends is most difficult for those The Hill Times

That’s a bad thing for an op- position party leader, who should Christmas gift ideas for our leaders always be on the attack. Indeed, right now O’Toole Prime should be doing everything he Given the sad state Minister can to deck the halls with attacks Justin on Trudeau. of 2020 I think at Trudeau, This now brings us to NDP Conservative Leader Jagmeet Singh, who, in this point we need Leader Erin my view, needs Santa Claus to to grasp whatever O'Toole, and deliver him some communica- NDP Leader tions advice. opportunity we can Jagmeet I say that because Singh, who Singh. The has been NDP leader for three to inject a little festive Hill Times years now, has so far been unable photographs to generate the kind of media at- joy into our lives. by Andrew tention he needs if he’s ever going Meade to promote himself as a viable alternative to Trudeau. Basically, I’d say Canadians still don’t really know who he is or what he stands for. Interestingly, the best news opportunity we can to inject a If, thanks to the COVID With all this in mind, I think coverage Singh received this year little festive joy into our lives. lockdowns, Canada’s economy Trudeau’s letter to Santa Claus wasn’t a result of anything he did Anyway, getting back to the heads into a recession next year, included the line, “I’d like a book politically, but because he played topic of possible Christmas pres- Trudeau’s popularity could plum- which explains how to keep a a popular online video game with ents for party leaders, let’s begin met faster than a lump of coal virus-ravaged country prosperous American Congressperson Alex- by considering Prime Minister dropped into a Christmas stocking. and healthy, while its government andria Ocasio-Cortez. Gerry Nicholls Justin Trudeau. Also, potentially problematic runs a $400-billion deficit.” But while that stunt might help Post Partisan Pundit At first glance, you’d think for Trudeau is the COVID vaccine As for Conservative Party his game score, it won’t help him Trudeau wouldn’t need much in situation. Leader Erin O’Toole, I think, in lieu in the polls. the way of gifts since, all things Simply put, Trudeau needs the of a present, he’d like a sneak peek In short, Singh must be like AKVILLE, ONT.—Now that considered, he seems to be doing vaccine rollout in this country to at Santa’s “naughty or nice” list, so Scrooge; he needs to wake up on OChristmas is just around alright. be perceived as timely, fair and he’d be forewarned if one of his Christmas morning with a new the corner, it’s time to ponder Certainly, he’s absorbed the effective. MPs was thinking of misbehaving, public relations plan. that most important of seasonal blow of the world-wide COVID On such an important issue, such as when Derek Sloan decided At any rate, I’m running out of questions: what gifts would each pandemic fairly well, as polls when so much is at stake, he can’t it’d be a good idea to champion an Christmas clichés so I’ll close off of the main federal party leaders generally indicate his support has afford any logistical screw ups, he anti-COVID vaccine petition. this rant by wishing everyone a like to see under their tree this remained steady, with Canadians can’t afford to look incompetent. After all, I’m sure O’Toole Merry Christmas and Happy New year? giving him more or less good Regular rank-and-file Cana- would embrace any help he could Year! Okay, a trite way to start marks for his overall handling of dians might not care too much get to impose discipline on his Gerry Nicholls is a communi- things off I know, but given the this unprecedented crisis. about the WE Charity scandal, caucus, since whenever a Con- cations consultant www.ger- sad state of 2020 I think at this Yet, things can change quickly but they certainly care about their servative MP goes off message, it rynicholls.com point we need to grasp whatever in politics. own wellbeing. puts him on the defensive. The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 11 Opinion A timely gift this season could be Canada taking a stand against racism

put First Nations at the head of Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister, Indigenous peoples face a much higher risk the line, even as First Nations in pictured on the Hill on Nov. 8, Manitoba passed a 20 per cent 2019, recently said when he of most diseases, and much higher risks for COVID-19 positivity rate in testing? heard that the federal government Indigenous peoples face a allocated COVID-19 vaccines for COVID-19. One of the largest factors contributing much higher risk of most dis- First Nations in his province: 'this to this inequity today, is the historic racism which eases, and much higher risks for hurts Manitobans, to put it mildly COVID-19. One of the largest fac- … this is unfair,' which is racist to denied health care outright or denied health-care tors contributing to this inequity Indigenous people and the silence today, is the historic racism which from public health experts, funded equitably to non-Indigenous Canadians. denied health care outright or de- politicians, and Canadian leaders nied health-care funded equitably has been deafening, writes Rose ada was to use the Indian reserve to non-Indigenous Canadians. LeMay. The Hill Times photograph to keep diseases out of the settler There are four takeaways at by Andrew Meade population. When smallpox was this moment in Canada’s sup- rampant, governments were posed era of reconciliation. known to forcefully keep First Racism is alive and kicking and was the time to speak up. Because against Indigenous peoples. Nations infected with smallpox it continues to blatantly get in the silence is support. We are a country of haves and on the reserve and unable to ac- way of doing health care well. Pallister needs to make a pub- have-nots. The newest measure is cess health care. But it protected Two, First Nations in Manitoba lic apology. the degree to which settler gov- the settler. When tuberculosis was were angry, but seemed to react as But this goes beyond one man. ernments provide for and protect rampant, the sentiment was that if this type of hatred isn’t new to Manitoba’s chief public health Indigenous citizens, and Mani- Rose LeMay the less civilized were less worthy them. Three, there was very little officer needs to rebuild trust and toba and Quebec are competing Stories, Myths, and Truths and more likely to get TB anyhow, negative response from Canadian relationships with First Nations. for the have-not prize. so what’s a settler government leaders to Pallister. Four, now we We need to ensure that a political Indigenous peoples are reso- to do but let it burn through the understand why Indigenous health leader in this country never feels the lute against this racism. It would TTAWA—The original intent Indigenous population? never gets the funding it needs— freedom to speak such racist words be nice if Canada was, too. Oof First Nations reserves was And one might think that is there are people in this country against Indigenous peoples again. Rose LeMay is Tlingit from the noted by Lt.-Gen. Sir Francis just a horrible thing to say. who truly don’t support it. The Public Health Agency West Coast and the CEO of the Bond Head in a report to Upper Except Manitoba Premier Brian The silence from public health and Indigenous Services Canada Indigenous Reconciliation Group. Canada in 1836: places for Indi- Pallister just said that again. When experts, politicians, and Canadian together need to take a stand She writes twice a month about ans to go die in peace away from he heard that the federal govern- leaders has been deafening. Sys- against this racist comment, or Indigenous inclusion and recon- the horrified eyes of the settlers, ment allocated COVID-19 vaccines temic racism is buttressed by the re- will not be able to build trust and ciliation. In Tlingit worldview, the because obviously Indians “should for First Nations in his province, petitive incidents of racism against refute the fake news that Canada stories are the knowledge system, still continue to wither, droop, and his words were “this hurts Mani- Indigenous peoples, plus the lack of is testing vaccines on Indigenous sometimes told through myth vanish before us like grass in the tobans, to put it mildly … this is response by others with influence. peoples. That trust from Indig- and sometimes contradicting the progress of the forest in flames.” unfair.” How dare anybody put First This was the time to speak up when enous peoples is fragile, and you myths told by others. But always For the next 120 years through Nations first, as they aren’t real Pallister made a comment that put have to earn it. This is how you with at least some truth. to the 1950s, the approach in Can- Manitobans? How dare anybody First Nations at risk yet again. This earn it—by challenging racism The Hill Times

wind. Energy Storage Canada re- leased a valuation study this year with Power Advisory LLC, that Time to unlock Canada’s concluded if at least 1,000 MW of energy storage were fully enabled in Ontario that ratepayers would enjoy $2-billion in net savings over the next decade. The potential for energy stor- energy storage potential age was recognized by Minister of Natural Resources Seamus O’Regan, who recently told our electrical systems and line infra- ing increased renewables inte- annual conference that “few While the federal government has taken initial structure that makes it easier to gration and optimizing existing areas offer greater potential electrify transportation, and new assets on the system. Technolo- for building that safer, greener steps to achieve a goal of net-zero emissions battery storage and transmission gies such as solar and wind often more competitive future than infrastructure that will address produce electricity at low-demand energy storage.” And Canadian by 2050, it has become clear that energy bottlenecks and unlock America’s periods. Storing this energy so it companies have led the way and storage will need to play a much bigger role full clean energy potential.” Energy can be dispatched when needed can lead the way with storage storage is mentioned a number of during peak-demand periods will technologies such as compressed for the government’s strategy to succeed. times in Biden’s climate and en- be the key to unlocking the poten- air, batteries, power to gas, hy- ergy policies, making it clear that tial of these zero-emitting sourc- drogen, flywheels, and pumped it will be a major area of develop- es. Storage can also improve the hydro solutions, amongst others. emissions by 2050. Achieving this ment. Many U.S. jurisdictions are efficiency of existing electricity However, to date, federal energy goal will require a modernization already ahead of Canada in de- resources, including transmission and climate change programs of Canada’s electricity system. ploying energy storage to improve and distribution assets, to reduce have maintained a blind spot While the federal government their energy systems. Canada may the need for new infrastructure. when it comes to unlocking this has taken initial steps toward this soon find itself even further behind. A study last month by the opportunity. goal by phasing out coal and en- Storage provides a diverse National Research Council found Addressing this “storage gap”— couraging renewables and other spectrum of benefits, reducing that in Ontario, a storage invest- through targeted investments, zero-emission technologies, it has ratepayer costs, improving reli- ment would reduce emissions by and removing barriers in federal become clear that energy storage ability and resiliency of the elec- 11 per cent by 2030. And storage programming that discourage will need to play a much bigger trical grid, and mitigating climate is highly cost-effective. storage development—will be key Justin Wahid Rangooni role for the government’s strategy change. As electricity demands According to the global to meeting the government’s new Opinion to succeed. fluctuate through the pandemic financial and asset management net-zero commitments, and to The election of president-elect and the eventual recovery, storage firm Lazard, storage costs have ensuring a resilient, cost effective Joe Biden south of the border can provide the cost-effective declined across most technolo- electricity system. he recently introduced gives added urgency to meeting flexibility that we will need gies, and it is gaining traction as Justin Wahid Rangooni is TCanadian Net-Zero Emis- this challenge. Biden’s platform through these uncertain times. a commercially viable solution to executive director of Energy Stor- sions Accountability Act aims includes “an historic investment Storage can reduce green- challenges created by intermittent age Canada. to achieve a goal of net-zero in energy efficiency, clean energy, house gases (GHGs) by support- energy resources such as solar or The Hill Times 12 MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured at a press conference on Dec. 7, 2020, Whoville in the Sir John A. Macdonald Building on the Hill. It's time someone who isn’t a Liberal said it: the Trudeau government has done a pretty good and the job managing the pandemic. Not perfect, never perfect. But hardly the train wreck of corruption and incompetence depicted Grinch: a by opposition critics, writes Susan Riley. The Hill Times photograph cautionary by Andrew Meade public servants leading the vac- the front ranks of approving the flying one does not try to change cine effort with good intentions, if first vaccine, she said. And work the engine,” Freeland replied. Not not flawless execution. is ongoing on Moderna and other good enough. The government In a less poisonously partisan vaccine candidates. This simple, can immediately rewrite (again) arena, opposition leaders might if belated, explanation goes some the criteria for the CEWS and even applaud some of Trudeau’s way to dispelling doubts about explain how it is going to recoup tale for front-line ministers for their the efficacy of Canada’s drug any money unfairly syphoned seriousness, focus, and for the regulator. off by greedy, often profitable long evenings dedicated to their Not that the partisanship is companies. Freeland’s reluctance urgent responsibilities. Rookie only on one side. While public to remedy the situation imme- Procurement Minister Anita servants must remain neutral, diately is particularly galling as Anand, for instance, with the help Trudeau and his finance minister, her government moves to recoup opposition of experienced public servants, Chrystia Freeland, fight off op- payments from individual Cana- has managed to procure more position criticisms with their own dians who mistakenly claimed the vaccine orders for Canada, from self-congratulatory spin. Trudeau CERB benefit and are now being more sources, than any other typically dodges direct ques- asked to pay back money (that country in the world. In a highly tions, defaulting to an irritating they often don’t have) before the competitive environment, that is drone of talking points. Freeland end of this month. politicians quite a coup—one that guarantees is crisper in her delivery, but can This is appropriate fodder for us four times as many doses as be equally evasive and, at times, opposition critics. Instead, they our actual population. And this condescending. It is only human waste hours demanding timelines despite Canada’s incapacity to to bristle at the ludicrous over- when everything is in flux, greet- produce the vaccines domesti- reach in some opposition attacks, ing every federal announcement There is appropriate fodder for opposition cally. but that doesn’t justify refusing to with the same level of hostility critics, but instead they waste hours Health Minister Patty Hajdu answer fair questions. and volume, raising worst-case has also handled her portfolio Freeland was challenged last scenarios that make a worried demanding timelines when everything is in with poise and confidence, for the week, for instance, with news public even more depressed. And most part avoiding the content- that several unnamed companies they leave accountability to the flux, greeting every federal announcement free ramblings and needlessly used the Canadian Emergency media, which digs up damning shifty evasions of her boss, Prime Wage Subsidy to pay dividends to stories to which they furiously with the same level of hostility and volume, Minister Justin Trudeau. And, shareholders rather than direct- respond. for the most part, neither she, ing all the money to retaining It is the job of opposition raising worst-case scenarios that make a nor Anand, nor another po- employees. Most egregious were to oppose, everyone says. But worried public even more depressed. And they litical rookie, Indigenous Affairs reports of two companies that run indiscriminate opposition to Minister Marc Miller, have been seniors facilities in Ontario—Ex- everything, at the same deci- leave accountability to the media. excessively partisan. They take tendicare and Sienna Senior Liv- bel level, when there is often journalists’ questions seriously ing Inc.—received $157-million no obvious alternative drives and try to answer them; they do in federal-provincial assistance Whoville to tune out—quite Canada is the third country in the not (generally) respond in kind to to improve staffing and quality of literally. This is particularly true world, after Bahrain and Britain, opposition attacks; mostly, they care at the same time as they paid in the midst of a national crisis to officially approve the U.S.-de- give the impression that helping out $74-million in dividends to that has upended everyone’s life, veloped Pfizer vaccine. Soon the Canadians through this crisis shareholders. many livelihoods, and claimed happy scenes unfolding in Britain is more important than scoring NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh so many victims. will be happening here, bringing political points. rightly expressed the outrage Vancouver-area NDP MP Don joy and hope to Whoville after 10 And while the official opposi- many Canadians will feel, Davies struck the right note in dark months. tion has complained repeatedly particularly since 480 staff and a recent tweet. “Happy to see Even O’Toole acknowledged about a lack of transparency in residents in those homes died of vaccines soon to be delivered in the relatively early arrival of the government’s response to COVID-19. The companies insist Canada. No matter how small the Susan Riley the vaccine was “good news” for COVID, there has been unprec- they spent the government funds number, this is positive news. We Impolitic Canadians going into the holi- edented access to senior fed- on improvements in care. For her can celebrate … as we press for day season. He then sort of took eral health officials in nearly part, Freeland said “the wage sub- details and information. Pres- credit, as opposition politicians daily press briefings, one-on-one sidy must be used to pay workers. sure and accountability are key HELSEA, QUE.—It is time do: “We’ve been asking for a vac- interviews, and regular public That is very, very clear and we responsibilities of an effective Csomeone who isn’t a Liberal cine and we’re happy we’ve got updates. As well, given the scope expect companies to comply with opposition.” So is judgment and, said it: the Trudeau government one,” he said. If all is not forgiven, and uncertainty surrounding this that.” sometimes, restraint. has done a pretty good job man- he appears to be holding fire mo- pandemic, some things—includ- But how clear is it? The ap- Those familiar with Dr. Seuss’s aging the pandemic. Not perfect, mentarily, probably until the first ing hard deadlines—are simply plication form for CEWS con- oeuvre will know that, eventually, never perfect. But hardly the train inevitable glitch in delivery. unknowable. tains pages of clarifications and the Whos down in Whoville, the wreck of corruption and incom- It must have belatedly oc- Dr. Supriya Sharma, chief distinctions, but does not say tall and the small, prevailed over petence depicted by opposition curred to O’Toole, and his medical officer at Health Canada, plainly that the money is not to the tight-hearted Grinch. And he, critics. entourage, that Canadians are for instance, last week outlined be used to pay shareholders, or in turn, was so humbled by his Despite recent claims by in no mood for the Grinch-like the accelerated approval process give bonuses to senior executives. failure to ruin their Christmas Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole sourness that has characterized for the Pfizer vaccine, indirectly Yet, another federal program—the that he finally got the message. and his health critic, MP Michelle his party’s behaviour throughout addressing criticisms of the LEEF (large employers emergency You don’t win people over by Rempel Garner, that Canada is the pandemic. No one wanted this department’s seemingly glacial facility)—specifically prohibits stealing their hope and squelch- at “the back of the line” when it first flicker of happy news doused approach to approving new both practices, along with share ing their joy. comes to receiving vaccines, the in a flood of doubt, groundless therapies—particularly the rapid buy-backs, a firm warning that the It’s no way to woo voters, long-awaited medication is to accusations and predictions of tests, only cleared for use here federal assistance is intended to either. start rolling out this week, and disaster. Many Canadians would months after other countries were sustain jobs, not bolster incomes Susan Riley is a veteran politi- over winter and spring, with most prefer to hope for the best—and deploying them. Extra resources of already wealthy investors. cal columnist who writes regu- vulnerable populations first in the are willing to credit the hard- and prompt co-operation from the “There will be time for post- larly for The Hill Times. queue. Far from being a laggard, working cabinet ministers and drug manufacturer put Canada in mortems, but while the plane is The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 13 Opinion Trump’s Idiocracy is in action

U.S. President They came up with a plan, using Donald Trump, the term loosely. What if they pictured just said the election was cor- delivering a rupt, Trump really won, and he coronavirus wouldn’t concede to Joe Biden? briefing in July. So Donald, Rudy, and a few Mr. Trump has senators like Ron Johnson of downplayed the Wisconsin, who could have been threat posed by an extra in Idiocracy, took to COVID-19 and the telephone. They began call- opposed efforts ing around to good Republican to stem its governors, secretaries of state spread. The virus and members of Congress to get has now killed them to merely decree that Trump nearly 300,000 had really won. Never mind evi- Americans. dence. Never mind that votes had Photograph already been certified. Evidence courtesy of The is for elites and wusses. If you’re White House not a dirty RINO—Republican in Name Only—all real members of the GOP would surely rally round the president in his moment of need. Right? If that sounds a little coup- coup, it is. Trump has found 20 attorneys- general to support another bogus legal attempt, this time by the late, great state of Texas, to throw out Joe Biden’s victory. How crazy does it get? Georgia is one of the states where Trump’s lackeys want the vote thrown out. Two Georgia Republicans back Trump’s latest features as the original. There is ments Clause: who the hell is that, President Trump also came up move, and both are running for One might laugh at one major difference: the sequel a relative of Santa? with a version of the Brawndo the Senate in a special runoff is not a fictive satire or spoof. It is The president did his best to gambit of President Camacho. All election in that state. They are President Comacho’s playing out in real time in front of kill America’s free press, calling Americans had to do was inject actually campaigning to have the antics in Idiocracy, but the world’s eyes. President Cama- the “fake news” media “enemies disinfectant into themselves, and vote of their own constituents cho has come to life like one of of the people”. And you know presto, COVID would be gone! nullified. If that isn’t watering the there is nothing funny the hibernating characters in the what they do with enemies of the Lee Norman, head of the Kan- fields with Brawndo, I don’t know original movie. He has returned people. sas Poison Control Centre, said what is. about Donald Trump’s as Donald Trump. And of course, Trump faced a his office recorded a 40 per cent Trump’s final days have come Like President Camacho, pandemic one hundred times as increase in cases after Dr. Trump down to death threats, destabi- zig-zag exit from the Trump is clinical, or at least he deadly as 9/11. offered his cure. One man in Kan- lizing international assassina- is according to his psycholo- With 293,000 Americans dead sas simply took a slug of cleaning tions, firings, dubious Pentagon White House. gist niece. Both men came up from COVID-19, the nation is now fluid. You can always count on a appointments, armed mobs with bizarre responses to their putting up seriously ill patients good Republican. gathering outside the homes of problems. Camacho faced mass in high-rise parking garages in When Michigan Governor Republican state election officers acne outbreaks, car sickness on places like Nevada. (This could be Gretchen Whitmer sensibly who certified Joe Biden’s victory, an epic scale, a French fry and a scene out of Idiocracy, except it placed restrictions on the size of egregious abuses of the courts, and burrito shortage, and general is real.) And 200,000 people a day public gatherings in her state, and and something very like a crime. starvation after Brawndo irriga- are coming down with the deadly temporarily closed some busi- After all, sedition is conduct or tion with “electrolytes” killed all virus. Americans have a better nesses to fight COVID, Trump speech that incites people to rebel the plants in America. chance of seeing Donald Trump’s attacked her as a “dictator.” First against the authority of the state. Trump had different problems, taxes than getting a hospital bed. came death threats against the One might laugh at President starting with the fact that he was Like President Camacho, governor, then the FBI arrested Comacho’s antics in Idiocracy. an amoral grifter from the day he President Trump tried some un- 14 men who were planning to And the movie had a happy end- Michael Harris occupied the White House. The usual responses to problems like kidnap and kill Whitmer, and ing, sort of: Joe “Smartballs” Bau- Harris president’s idea of truth was his COVID-19. His first instinct was overthrow the state government ers became president. latest lie. That was new to Ameri- to lie. There was no pandemic, by force. They believed a new civil But there is nothing funny cans. It was a long way from “I and even if there were, it would war was imminent. about Donald Trump’s zig-zag ALIFAX—Fourteen years cannot tell a lie. I did it with my disappear like magic. It was de- Then as the pandemic turned exit from the White House, if it Hago, a science-fiction movie little hatchet.” That took getting nial turning to delusion and then into a runaway freight train, be- actually occurs. Coming on the was released called Idiocracy. used to. to towering deception. yond testing and contact-tracing, heels of the assassination of It was set in a dysfunctional The president couldn’t resist When it got worse, when Trump turned to golf. Something Iran’s top nuclear scientist, Trump America where survival of the the impulse to force his atten- it got catastrophic, when the far worse to him than mass death sent two B-52 bombers into the fittest was reversed by reproduc- tions on beautiful women, some president himself got COVID, he had befallen Trump World. He Persian Gulf this week, a multi- tive habits and social collapse. of whom he will soon be facing still refused to wear a mask, and needed to think, something he national mission that included Thoughtful Americans stopped in court. Trump’s former personal encouraged the members of his usually does on a fairway or a aircraft from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, having children, and the less re- lawyer, Michael Cohen, went to Idiocracy to exercise their god- putting green. and Bahrain. Just a year ago, flective multiplied like rabbits. jail for paying hush money to given right to endanger the lives A federal election had ended and senior Iranian commander Maj. The movie depicted an Ameri- one of them, and lying about it to of themselves and others. Trump was thrashed by Joe Biden, General Qassim Suleimani was ca stuck with the worst citizens in Congress. It didn’t always work out for a man he had called the worst can- killed by an American drone its history. They elected a presi- Trump couldn’t resist the im- the best. The Republican Speaker didate in presidential history. The strike in Iraq. dent who watered the fields with pulse to bribe foreign countries to of the House in New Hampshire, unthinkable had happened. Donald What better way to make Brawndo, a sports drink modeled smear his political rivals, a tactic Richard Hinch, died this week of Trump had become a loser. sure Joe Biden can’t reenter the on Gatorade, carried a machine that got him impeached. COVID-19 after attending an in- In Idiocracy, President Cama- nuclear deal with Tehran than gun at the State of the Union Ad- He used the White House as door meeting of his caucus. State cho had the help of a character by suckering Iran into an act of dress, and tolerated the Brawndo an employment agency for fam- Republican William M. Marsh who awakened after hibernating revenge that could have bombs Corporation, which never wor- ily members. Nepotism? What’s blamed a group of Republicans for 500 years to find himself the falling all over the Middle East? ried about product approvals—it nepotism? who refused to wear masks or smartest man in the world. The And President Trump going simply bought the Food and Drug He treated the presidency as a practise social distancing. As he dumbing down had gone so far out, or trying to stay in, with a Administration and produced personal cash-register. No place told The New York Times, “The that even an average IQ made bang. whatever it wanted. to stay in Washington? How about peer pressure from colleagues is a person a genius. But Donald Michael Harris is an award- Now there’s a sequel to Id- Trump’s hotel just down the street the root cause of what happened Trump had no Joe “Smartballs” winning author and journalist. iocracy, with many of the same from the White House? Emolu- to my friend.” to assist him, just Rudy Giuliani. The Hill Times 14 MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion

Minster of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Carla Qualtrough, pictured We need June 16, 2020, on the Hill, has 29 'priorities' in her mandate letter, but developing a forward- looking jobs strategy is not one of them, writes David Crane. The Hill to think Times photograph by Andrew Meade about the future of jobs after the

We don’t know how the pan- employed in manufacturing in cent, compared with 2019, while pandemic demic will affect future jobs. For 2019, compared to about 20 per certifications have fallen 48.7 example, as a Statistics Canada cent in 1981. But a much greater per cent. This could slow an report warned earlier this year, proportion of Canadians were ambitious infrastructure/green one possibility is that “the CO- employed in professional, scien- economy investment agenda in of compensation, and the quality VID-19 pandemic might acceler- tific, and technical services as the years ahead, and the pace of No one can have a of jobs. ate the automation of certain well as in education, health care the recovery from the pandemic. We know that more jobs today tasks. Likewise, the COVID-19 and social assistance in 2019, But there is no need for this to 100 per cent crystal are precarious or gig jobs—they pandemic might lead to a perma- compared to 1981. What will the happen if apprenticeships are giv- ball on the future. But constituted 5.5 per cent of all jobs nent increase in rates of telework job market look like a decade en a higher priority in Canada’s in 2005, rising to 8.2 per cent in and, more generally, to changes from now? labour force strategy (assuming we do need a much 2016, and could be higher today. in work arrangements (e.g., shift The decline in manufacturing there is one). We know that a shrinking share work, configuration of office employment hit young men 25-34 The pandemic has made mat- better analysis on of jobs are permanent or full- spaces) that facilitate physical the hardest while the growth in ters worse. As Statistics Canada time, have pension plans, or are distancing.” jobs in education, health care points out, “apprenticeship is the future of work. In unionized. We know that median We also need a much better and social assistance has become primarily work-based training” so fact, without much salaries and wages after inflation understanding of which jobs more important for women but “apprentices are particularly vul- have shown little growth over the would be most affected—would not for men. Women have also nerable to economic shocks.” With smarter thinking as past four decades, unlike execu- low-skills, low-income workers become a much greater presence the pandemic, “many apprentices tive compensation. We know that be the most affected? There’s an- in public administration. How- have been temporarily laid off the basis for labour 26 per cent of Canadian workers other issue—if work can be done ever, automation has also had an due to the economic difficulties have poor-quality jobs and an- remotely instead of in the office, impact for women. In 1989, 13 encountered by their employers market policies, other 17 per cent jobs are not that why will it all be done in Canada? per cent of women aged 17 to 64 and public health related shut- much better. Will there be more outsourcing were employed in office support downs. In addition, those who still we will fail to build We know as well that automa- of remote work to lower-cost occupations compared to seven have the opportunity to continue back better and risk tion represents a future threat countries? per cent in 2019. But automation their training might have dif- to jobs. In 2016, the jobs of 10.6 Moreover, as Statistics Canada has also created jobs. In 2019, ficulty competing it because of building back worse. per cent of Canadian workers warned a few days ago, “younger some six per cent of men were reduced hours and/or the cancel- were at high risk from automa- generations’ economic well-being employed in occupations related lation of the classroom portion of tion while another 29.1 per cent may be more at risk due to the to computer and information their training.” of jobs were at moderate risk. We COVID-19 pandemic since they systems, compared to 2 per cent No one can have a 100 per also know that the pandemic has depend more on employment in 1989. cent crystal ball on the future. But hugely affected apprenticeship as a primary source of income, One-effective way to boost we do need, and can achieve if training. they have higher debt relative middle class jobs is to encourage we really want to, a much better All of this comes from Statis- to income, and they have less skilled trades through appren- analysis on the future of work—in tics Canada. In fact, the agency equity in financial and real estate ticeships. Yet Statistics Canada fact, without much smarter think- should be given the resources to assets from which to draw upon reports fewer entries into the ing as the basis for labour market do even more since it is our prin- when needed.” Many jobs lost in trades in recent years, despite policies, we will fail to build back cipal source on keeping track of the pandemic will not come back the growing demand for a new better and risk building back David Crane what is actually going on. and more corporate restructuring generation of skilled workers worse. We do have a Minister But we also need much more Canada & the 21st Century almost certainly lies ahead. as the current workforce ages, of Employment and Workforce serious work on the future of jobs In a report earlier this year and growing investment in infra- Development, Carla Qualtrough, from the public, academic, and on the changing job landscape in structure. and her mandate letter sets out 29 ORONTO—There are big the think-tank communities who Canada from 1981 to 2019, René The number of newly certi- “priorities.” Developing a forward- Tquestions about the future of today seem bereft of new ideas. Morissette of Statistics Canada, fied tradespeople fell to 52,368 looking jobs strategy is not one jobs facing us as we move beyond Simply calling for more training, found that today’s jobs are much in 2019, from to 56,628 five years of them. the pandemic next year, includ- or promising more training dol- different from those of the past. earlier, in 2015. And in the first David Crane can be reached at ing the number of jobs we’ll need, lars, is not a strategy. We need a For example, about 10 per cent nine months of this year, new [email protected]. where they’ll come from, the level much more rigorous approach. of Canadians aged 17 to 64 were registrations have fallen 43 per The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 15 Opinion MAID is a human right for those who meet the eligibility criteria

Justice Minister David Lametti is the minister responsible for the legislation. Without Bill C-7's passage, there will be those with access to their constitutional right to MAID, and there will be those who will be denied this same right. We strongly urge parliamentarians to vote yes to Bill C-7 and build in equity to Canada’s MAID law, writes Helen Long. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

lished that the right to liberty and security security for all Canadians. They won be- it part of the person’s long-held values and Bill C-7, if passed, will of a person was infringed and the law was cause the court agreed that every individu- principles? deemed overbroad because it protected al should be considered on a case-by-case In the words of Dr. Jonathan Reggler, “It’s expand access to MAID some, but restricted others. basis and that no group, including the ‘vul- important to understand that the law makes It is now our human right in Canada to nerable’ should be discriminated against. the decision to have a medically assisted death to Canadians with an be assessed for a medically assisted death This decision triggered the government to the patient’s. The clinician does decide whether irremediable condition if we choose. It is our individual choice. No review the details of the law, ensuring the the patient is eligible, but the patient makes the one else can make this choice for us and constitutional right to access MAID for all decision. It is my part of the decision-making and who are suffering most of us will not have to consider MAID Canadians. process to ensure that the patient has all the because we will die of natural causes. We’ve lost sight of the purpose of the information they need to choose. The clinician intolerably, but whose However, some of us will experience proposed changes to this law in Bill C-7. makes sure they understand what their condi- suffering. Whether we are born with a The bill is not about devaluing anyone’s tion is and that they know enough about the natural death is not painful condition or acquire one later in life or coercing groups of people into end- other options for further treatment.” reasonably foreseeable. life, there are many Canadians facing ing their lives early. No one can make this Bill C-7, if passed, will expand access to intolerable suffering that often we cannot choice for us—it must be our own. This MAID to Canadians with an irremediable understand, nor can we judge. At Dying bill is about ensuring that Canadians can condition and who are suffering intolerably, With Dignity Canada (DWDC), we hear exercise their constitutional right and have but whose natural death is not reasonably every day from Canadians who have tried both compassion and dignity in their end foreseeable. DWDC and our supporters many forms of treatment, medications and of life. Contrary to what some are saying, across the country believe this change is supports for their individual condition amendments to the law are supportive and more than a response to the Truchon deci- without relief. Some of these people do not protective of all Canadians. sion. We believe, simply, that it is necessary want to live in pain anymore, their quality MAID is a human right for those who if we consider Canada to be a country of of life has diminished to a point that they meet the eligibility criteria and who want compassion, equality and of justice. With- no longer want to suffer, and they would to pursue it. It is not a decision people out Bill C-7’s passage, there will be those like access to MAID. And that decision make in haste. Every case is unique and with access to their constitutional right to should be theirs. those who apply for MAID have taken time MAID, and there will be those who will be Helen Long In 2019, Jean Truchon and Nicole Gladu to thoroughly consider their decision. Indi- denied this same right. We strongly urge Opinion pushed the conversation of MAID further viduals are carefully and thoughtfully as- parliamentarians to vote yes to Bill C-7 and when they challenged the law’s exclusion- sessed by two independent clinicians, who build in equity to Canada’s MAID law. ary clause that a person’s death must be explicitly assess for coercion. The person Helen Long is the CEO of Dying With Dig- he prohibition on medical assistance ‘reasonably foreseeable’ to be considered must make a formal, written request. The nity Canada, a national human rights charity Tin dying (MAID) in Canada was struck for MAID. They won because a Quebec suffering must be intolerable and docu- committed to ensuring Canadians have ac- down in 2015 when Kay Carter and Gloria court found the law failed to protect the mented and the clinicians must explore the cess to quality end-of-life choice and care. Taylor challenged the law. It was estab- rights to equality as well as life, liberty, and request—is it longstanding or impulsive? Is The Hill Times

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ments only a few months ago, Next election a referendum on but Mr. Carter said that that window is closed, as we’re now in the midst of the second wave of the pandemic and the vaccina- Trudeau’s handling of COVID-19, and tion process is about to start. The minority governments of the New Brunswick Progressive Conser- vatives and British Columbia’s which party has the ‘most compelling New Democrats were converted to majority governments in recent provincial elections. The Saskatchewan Party, which held blueprint for the future,’ say politicos a majority government, was re- elected with a majority. “If you hold this election before The timing of the arrival of Some political vaccination is widely available, the The first anniversary vaccine by the end of this month observers say criticism is going to be levelled on is a remarkable turnaround from that it’s in the you in a way that wasn’t levelled of the lockdowns in the government’s initial posi- best interest in British Columbia [or the other tion, wherein senior government of the Justin two provinces],” said Mr. Carter, March will be a key officials, including Mr. Trudeau Trudeau Liberals president of QED Marketing, date for the Liberals, a (Papineau, Que.) and Dr. Njoo, to go to the polls who was the top strategist on the had suggested different dates for by March, but campaigns of Calgary Mayor Na- time when Canadians the availability of the vaccine, others say the heed Nenshi and former Alberta ranging between January and first reasonable premier Alison Redford. will evaluate how the September 2021. opportunity to go “This is a different situation Mr. Trudeau explained the to the polls will be with a different time. So the vac- government handled earlier-than-promised arrival of in spring. The Hill cination is now available: is it even the pandemic, say the vaccine by saying his gov- Times photograph responsible to consider holding ernment was trying to manage by Andrew Meade an election until such time as the pollsters Darrell expectations. citizenry is widely vaccinated?” “We know there is a tremen- Mr. Carter said that it would Bricker and Frank dous amount of uncertainty, in be a mistake to think that all terms of which vaccines were three provincial governments Graves. going to arrive first, which ones have been re-elected only on the were going to be able to be manu- places that we think are at the which produces a very different basis of their performance in factured quickly,” Mr. Trudeau told same level of development as we future, a different role for govern- handling the pandemic. He used Continued from page 1 reporters on Dec. 7. are, and they’ve got a much, much ment, a different balancing society the example of British Colum- affairs firm Ipsos. “So basically, if “These were always built into higher percentage of their popu- and economy,” said Mr. Graves. bia, explaining that even before they’ve [Liberals] done a great job our process as possibilities, but lation vaccinated and they’re now “Or, the one that has thicker COVID-19 hit Canada, the John rolling out the vaccine, and we’re until we were able to sit down getting back to normal life…… borders, that focuses on rebuilding Horgan New Democrats—who well on our way into recovery, here today and announce firm de- that’s gonna be a big problem.” our own manufacturing capacity, had formed a minority govern- and they brought in an economic livery, pending the final approval Pollster Frank Graves of Ekos is less open to the external world ment in partnership with the plan that shows that we’re gonna by Health Canada, we wanted not Research said that a vaccine and that’s more protectionist.” Greens— were popular based have big job growth and things to get people’s hopes up, because rollout is a critical phase in the Some have said that the on their governance record. At really seem to be picking up, it’s this is something that Canadians government’s handling of the next election could come before the federal level, Mr. Carter said, pretty tough to defeat the govern- have been looking forward to for pandemic. The successful comple- March, but Mr. Graves said that there’s no indication that the ment in that situation.” a long time, getting to these vac- tion of this phase—without falling the first reasonable opportunity Trudeau Liberals will be defeated cines and getting beyond that.” short of vaccines— will be an for the next election is in spring, by the opposition, as they have As of deadline last week, there important factor in Canadians’ as it will not be prudent for the survived several confidence votes were 435,330 confirmed cases of assessment of the government’s opposition to defeat the gov- already in this Parliament. COVID-19 in Canada, resulting performance. I there are any side ernment before that, or for the “I just fear that you can’t in 12,983 deaths, according to the affects from the vaccine, Ca- government to engineer its own necessarily look at these elections Public Health Agency of Canada. nadians are going to blame the defeat right in the middle of the and say, ‘Aha, there’s a lesson Mr. Bricker said that Cana- government for failing to do its second wave of the pandemic, and here that I could just translate dians are going to evaluate the due diligence before giving the the inoculation process that has to the federal scene,’” said Mr. performance of the Trudeau gov- approval, he said. just started. Carter. ernment based on the facts on the “This is literally life or death “What’s the issue that he [Mr. ground, and also on how devel- stuff,” said Mr. Graves. “So if it’s Trudeau] gets to carry forward Pollster Darrell Bricker said that oped countries like the U.S., Brit- handled relatively adroitly and and say, ‘This is why I came [to Canadians are going to evaluate the ain and other G7 countries have competently and things go ac- Canadians].’? You don’t get to go Trudeau government’s handling of performed in comparison during cording to plan, then the public to the electorate and say ‘I did the pandemic, and compare it to the pandemic. The key metrics will say, ‘Great, you passed that such a good job, I want another how the other governments in G7 in this evaluation for Canadians challenge.’ If it’s fumbled, if there four years.’ That’s not how elec- countries did in their respective would be how the health and are some serious problems, if tions work. Elections are about countries. The Hill Times photograph economic impact of the pandemic there’s delays or pratfalls or so the four years coming, not the by Andrew Meade affected them, and whether they forth, then the government could four years that has passed.” received adequate support from well be punished for that. This is Even after the pandemic is The federal government ap- the government. not like an issue of vanity or, you over, asking for an election and proved Pfizer-BioNTech’s CO- March 2021 will be the first know, who do you like. This is Pollster Frank Graves of Ekos a new mandate for the recovery VID-19 vaccine on Dec. 9, making anniversary of the beginning literally…life or death.” Research, left, pictured with veteran phase of the pandemic will still Canada the third country after of public lockdowns in Canada Mr. Graves said that if every- Liberal insider David Herle, said that be a risky move for the Liberals, the U.K. and Bahrain that has au- during the pandemic. If Canada thing unfolds as the government the Liberals should ensure that the Mr. Carter said, as a significant thorized the vaccine. By the end is lagging behind other countries has announced then there could country should get an adequate supply chunk of the population deem the of the year, Canada is expected in terms of receiving vaccines or be a dramatic return to normalcy of COVID-19 vaccines, and the Conservatives to be stronger on to receive 249,000 doses of the returning back to normal life for by April or May. But, if the vac- vaccination process should proceed the economy than the Liberals. If vaccine, which will be given to an average citizen, it will become cination process does not proceed smoothly. The Hill Times file photograph the Liberals go early, they might 125,000 Canadians on a high pri- a serious liability for the govern- as expected, it will be a serious not get the majority mandate that ority list, including elderly people ment, said Mr. Bricker. problem for the government. But, Alberta based political they are hoping for, he said. living in long-term care facilities “It will be based on how I—by Both Mr. Graves and Mr. Bricker strategist Stephen Carter said “Generally speaking, Canadians and the staff who work there. “I” [I] mean, everybody here—how said that the next election will be that his advice to the Trudeau gov- tend to look at the Conservatives Dr. Howard Njoo, Canada’s I am getting access to the vac- about big ideas, and people will ernment would be to try to com- for economic recovery,” said Mr. deputy chief public officer, said last cine,” said Mr. Bricker. “So if I’m make a choice between two compet- plete four years of its mandate, Carter. “So you’re asking a question week that Canada would receive not getting help, then it doesn’t ing visions what kind of country and do a good job governing the that you’re not generally viewed as six million more doses of vaccine matter what’s happening for oth- they want to live in. Broadly speak- country. The risk in going early, a strong answer on. Now, I would by March, provided the vaccines er people. If we get to March, and ing, the two choices will be be- he said, is that it becomes hard argue that that’s a false narrative. prepared by companies such as it’s one year [since lockdowns tween having a greater role for the to predict how voters will react I would argue that the Liberals do Moderna and AstraZeneca also began], and we have a very small government to address the social if they learn that the governing just as well for the economy, if not received the regulatory approvals. number of Canadians that have and economic gaps exposed by the party engineered its own defeat. better, as the Conservatives. But Canadians who are not on the been vaccinated, regardless of crisis, and a smaller government He conceded that three incum- that’s a tricky argument to make priority list will start to receive what’s been promised for longer with a protectionist approach. bent provincial governments—in sometimes. You want to be on your their vaccination in April and the term, and we compare ourselves “Is it going to be some bold New Brunswick, British Colum- strongest ground.” vaccination phase is expected to to other countries like the United transformation. I daresay, I won’t bia and Saskatchewan—were [email protected] conclude next December. States, the U.K., France, other use the term reset, but something re-elected with majority govern- The Hill TImes THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 17 News

chance to chart a course that is going to ‘All policy roads will travel through the create a foundation that’s going to better prepare us, better allow us to compete in the 21st century,” said Ms. Dzerowicz. budget’: new Finance DM Sabia tasked NDP MP Peter Julian (New Westmin- ster-Burnaby, B.C.), who also sits on the Finance Committee and is his party’s finance critic, told The Hill Times that he with Canada’s long-term growth agenda was sorry to see Paul Rochon leave the position, as “many of the things that the interpersonal skills,” said Mr. Drummond, of reasons, whether there was already a NDP was able to wrangle out of the Lib- Part of Michael Sabia’s who served as assistant deputy minister of plan for him to leave at a certain point in eral government, many of the investments fiscal policy and economic analysis while time, whether he had felt that he’d reached that wouldn’t have happened otherwise, I job as deputy minister of in the public service as well as senior vice a particular point that he wanted to move would attribute part of that to his steward- president and chief economist for TD Bank on to other things, I didn’t think anything ship.” Finance will be ‘how to from 2000 to 2010. suspicious about it. I don’t think there’s But Mr. Julian said he and the NDP reinvigorate the economy, Mr. Sabia has a “horrendous task” be- anything nefarious about it.” have some concerns with the appointment fore him, according to Mr. Drummond, in “Six-and-a-half years, with the last year of Mr. Sabia. which has to be done in spearheading a situation “at least parallel being one of an extraordinary nature, I “His background includes the Canada to the mid-1990s—and more complicated think someone departing makes sense,” Infrastructure Bank, which is way of using decidedly non-traditional because he has to deal with a big deficit, said Ms. Dzerowicz. public funding to increase private profit— and with the debt.” When asked about Mr. Sabia’s readi- that was the theory, it hasn’t worked out ways,’ according to former “Now you have to figure out how to ness for the role, Ms. Dzerowicz said he that way because it’s been a dismal failure,” assistant deputy minister of reinvigorate the economy, which has to be knows the job he’s walking into, and that said Mr. Julian. “But the principle of using done in decidedly non-traditional ways,” he’s also taken on very significant roles in public funds to enhance private profit has fiscal policy and economic said Mr. Drummond. “The traditional major companies and organizations across been demonstrably shown as a failure in way is you get households to spend more the country, and has been “extraordinarily every country that’s tried it.” analysis, Don Drummond. money, but we’ve overcompensated house- successful.” Mr. Julian noted that Mr. Sabia played a holds for their income loss and the result “For me, he has experience both at the large role in the privatization of CN. is that households are sitting on a massive public sector level as well as the private “Again, taking a public asset that was Continued from page 1 amount of savings.” sector level,” said Ms. Dzerowicz. “We are working effectively, and privatizing it for Sabia as his replacement, former parlia- living in unprecedented times—it’s not just private profit. And certainly we’ve seen mentary budget officer Kevin Page says he ‘We now see the light at the end because we’re coming out of a pandemic— concerns raised about the number of de- will “instantly be one of the most powerful we’re going through a second wave and railments around CN,” said Mr. Julian. deputy ministers in the public service— of the tunnel’ we’re still highly concerned about keep- “For him to be chosen I think sends a first among equals with the clerk of the Robert Asselin, currently the senior ing Canadians safe even though we have signal right across the country under this Privy Council.” vice-president of policy at the Business a vaccine that’s starting to be delivered as Liberal government that the agenda is Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Pap- Council of Canada, told The Hill Times that of next week, and we still have a long way more public funds for private profit,” said ineau, Que.), appointed Michael Sabia to nine months into the pandemic, we’ve now before we are out of following our public Mr. Julian. “Rather than dealing with the the role on Dec. 7, which becomes effective entered into a new phase that has to be health directives.” pandemic and the re-building with publicly on Dec. 14. Mr. Rochon, after more than six reflected in public policy. “But we’re in the process where we’re administered funds that are in the interests years at the helm of finance since he was “We now see the light at the end of the re-starting the Canadian economy and we of every Canadian.” appointed in 2014, was also appointed as a tunnel, we know that this will end at one also have an opportunity to address many [email protected] senior official in the Privy Council Office point,” said Mr. Asselin. “I think there is a of the structural changes, and we have a The Hill Times that day, effective Dec. 14 as well. need to be much more targeted in what is Mr. Page said he believes there were required in terms of support, as opposed two possible scenarios prompting Mr. Ro- to the blanket approach that I think has chon’s departure. been used for the first nine months, which “One, Mr. Rochon was exhausted after in some parts, was necessary, but I think ONE six years of being the deputy minister at we’ve entered this new phase.” Finance. He needed a change. Two, Mr. The second and most important task WORLD Rochon was asked to leave to make way for the deputy minister is to focus on the for a change in direction at Finance. The long-term growth agenda, according to Mr. REFUGEE government wanted a change. Either way, Asselin, who also previously worked as we should thank Mr. Rochon for his long an adviser to former finance minister Bill FILM and excellent service,” wrote Mr. Page in Morneau, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau an emailed statement to The Hill Times. (Papineau, Que.), and former prime minis- FESTIVAL Mr. Page also called Mr. Sabia a “terrific ter Paul Martin. December 1-14, 2020 choice” for the role of top bureaucrat in “The reality is that most countries have owrff2020.eventive.org finance. not waited until the end of the pandemic “Smart. Important experience at the to shift and to focus on their competitive highest levels in the public and private advantage, and there are many examples— sector. It is reminiscent of the selection Germany, U.K., Australia, the European of Mickey Cohen as the deputy minister Union, the United States with [president- of finance in the early 1980s,” wrote Mr. elect] Joe Biden coming in,” said Mr. Asse- Page. lin. “All these countries are taking bold bets “Mr. Sabia could not have a better vis-à-vis the future, and we have not seen position to drive public policy change in that in Canada.” Canada. Right or wrong, all policy roads “The approach has been ‘let’s wait will travel through the budget,” wrote Mr. until this ends’, then we’re going to have Page. “Notwithstanding the large increase an open ended stimulus—we don’t know in public debt, governments around the what, we don’t know when—but this is world are being encouraged by interna- a big task for him to focus on because I tional institutions to use fiscal policy to think it’s urgently needed,” said Mr. As- support the post-COVID economic recov- selin. ery. Investment spending, like infrastruc- There are many things that the govern- ture, should play a key role in any fiscal ment can do that doesn’t cost money, said policy expansion.” Mr. Asselin, including fixing interprovin- Don Drummond, professor at the cial trade, fixing regulatory frameworks, School of Policy Studies at Queen’s Uni- and having a more intentional strategy to versity and involved with the C.D. Howe grow certain sectors. Institute, told The Hill Times that he had hired Paul Rochon into the government Red flags on Sabia’s resume, initially and found that Mr. Rochon had a “rare combination” of technical and inter- says Peter Julian personal skills. Liberal MP Julie Dzerowicz (Davenport, “As I said to him after he’d been there Ont.) said that as someone who has lived for a year, you have the most amazing through the last year as deputy minister of combination of two skills—you’re extreme- finance, Mr. Rochon had “lived two years ly competent, but you somehow presented in one.” your confidence in a non-threatening way,” “He has done double the work at said Mr. Drummond. least in a one-year time period,” said Ms. “People who tend to have those tech- Dzerowicz in an interview with The Hill nical skills quite often don’t have those Times. “For him to leave, for any number 18 MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News Liberal ‘Just Transition’ bill should come before next budget, say union reps

Peoples; C-18, to implement a trade Natural Resources Natural Resources agreement with the U.K.; and C-19, Minister Seamus which would temporarily change Minister Seamus O'Regan is the Canada Elections Act to make responsible for it easier to safely hold a general O’Regan is committed crafting legislation election during the pandemic. to a mandate that to help people As of late last week, none of those put out of work by bills had yet progressed past second includes support for the government's reading in the House of Commons. environmental After a prolonged debate, MPs workers, says his policies. The passed Bill C-7 on medical as- legislation has not sistance in dying on Dec. 10. The spokesperson. yet been introduced House rose for the winter break into Parliament. last week, but the Senate is sched- The Hill Times uled to sit for an additional week. Continued from page 1 photograph by Conservative Senators, like their break last week. MPs are not Andrew Meade counterparts in the House, have scheduled to return to the House signalled their opposition to the until Jan. 25, 2020, and they are assisted dying bill, citing concerns expected to sit for just six weeks that removing the requirement of a before the end of March. Politicos “foreseeable” death would result in have widely speculated that the pressure on people with permanent minority government could fall, disabilities and mental illnesses to one way or another, by this spring, ask for an assisted death. triggering a general election. Senators on the Senate’s Legal The government introduced and Constitutional Affairs Com- eight new bills into Parliament mittee conducted a pre-study of between the beginning of Novem- the bill before it arrived. ber and last week, when it rose for The Just Transition Act promise of spending, promised regula- piece of legislation, based on those Quebec’s Superior Court has the break. Some of the bills would was included in a section of the tions, and other measures to earlier meetings. He said he hoped imposed a deadline of Dec. 18— at least partly address Liberal Liberal platform that also pledged help achieve the 2050 target, and the government would consult with which coincides with the Senate’s election promises, including to legislation to set greenhouse gas jump-start the economy. Those in- stakeholders before drawing up the last scheduled sitting day before the implement the UN Declaration on emissions targets. That legislation, cluded $15-billion in spending on final draft of the bill. winter break—for the government the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Bill C-12, was introduced into the 64 different measures, and a plan Like Mr. Dias, Mr. Wayland to amend the assisted dying law. to overhaul federal privacy legisla- House of Commons on Nov. 19. to raise the carbon tax to $170 per said he hoped the government’s [email protected] tion, to bring large online content The Liberal platform promised tonne of emissions by the year spring budget would provide The Hill Times providers under the Broadcast- the act would give workers “access 2030. The government had previ- funding to support a transition ing Act, and to set up a reporting to the training, support, and new ously promised not to raise the toward low-emission industries. structure for the government’s opportunities needed to succeed in tax beyond $50 per tonne without Government policy-makers Status of effort to create a net-zero green- the clean economy.” Mr. O’Regan’s first consulting the provinces. have already received advice on house gas emissions economy. mandate letter from Prime Minister Unifor union boss Jerry Dias how to transition away from coal government bills Several other promised pieces Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) said the government should in- power from a task force stuck by House of Commons of legislation have not yet been said the act should “support the fu- troduce the Just Transition Act as then-Environment minister Cath- Second reading: introduced, including changes to ture and livelihood of workers and a stand-alone bill before its next erine McKenna (Ottawa Centre, • C-2—COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act Canada’s guns laws, a new au- their communities in the transition federal budget. Ont.) in 2018. The Task Force on thority for First Nations to police • C-10—An Act to amend the Broadcasting to a low-carbon global economy,” The federal government did Just Transition for Canadian Coal Act and to make related and consequential themselves, a ban on single-use and said Employment Minister not release a budget this year, as Power Workers and Communities plastics, tougher penalties for amendments to other Acts Carla Qualtrough (Delta, B.C.) and the government’s regular activities issued its final report in March of • C-11—Digital Charter Implementation elder abuse, and more. Labour Minister Filomena Tassi were thrown off track by the eco- 2019, which included 10 recom- Act, 2020 The Liberals have said little (Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas, nomic and public health challenges mendations. They included creating • C-12—Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Ac- arising from the COVID-19 pan- a pension bridging program, a re- countability Act Jerry Dias demic. The government typically training program, upgrading infra- • C-13—An Act to amend the Criminal Code is the releases its annual budget docu- structure or addressing other needs (single event sport betting) president ment in late February or March. in communities reliant on the coal • C-14—Economic Statement Implementa- of Unifor, When the government tables industry, and more. Mr. Wayland tion Act, 2020 Canada’s the Just Transition Act, it should was a member of the task force, • C-15—United Nations Declaration on the largest make clear which industries will which was co-chaired by Canadian Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act private be affected by the transition to a Labour Congress president Hassan • C-18—Canada-United Kingdom Trade sector lower greenhouse gas economy, Yussuff and Conservation Council Continuity Agreement Implementation Act union. The where new jobs will created, and of New Brunswick executive direc- • C-19—An Act to amend the Canada Elec- tions Act (COVID-19 response) Hill Times “how do we move those workers tor Lois Corbett. photograph from A to B?” said Mr. Dias. Committee: by Andrew The Liberals should introduce • C-6—An Act to amend the Criminal Code Meade the legislation before the next Liberals load up (conversion therapy) budget, he said. Parliamentary agenda • C-8—An Act to amend the Citizenship Act “You want to know, ‘here’s (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of what the plan is,’ and then the before Christmas break Canada’s call to action number 94) budget is about implementing the The Liberals began tabling plan,” he said. new bills in Parliament relatively Report stage: about their pre-election promise Ont.) will share responsibility for The bill could work by au- quickly in November and early • C-5—An Act to amend the Bills of Exchange of a Just Transition Act, a piece the transition bill. thorizing government spending December, including C-10, to bring Act, the Interpretation Act and the Canada of legislation that would lay out a Mr. Trudeau’s government has to retrain younger workers and online entertainment services un- Labour Code (National Day for Truth and support system for workers whose promised to set Canada on the bridge older ones into an early der the Broadcasting Act; C-11, to Reconciliation) jobs are put under threat by feder- path towards a net-zero emissions retirement if the government’s overhaul privacy legislation; C-12, al policies encouraging a switch to economy by 2050—one in which green policies wipe out their jobs, to create a reporting framework Senate energy sources and technologies the total amount of greenhouse said Matt Wayland, the Canadian for the government’s emissions Second reading: that emit fewer greenhouse gases. gas emissions are lower or equal director of government relations reductions targets; C-13, to legalize • C-3—An Act to amend the Judges Act and Natural Resource Minister Sea- to the amount of emissions drawn for a union representing electrical gambling on single sporting events; the Criminal Code • C-7—An Act to amend the Criminal Code mus O’Regan (St. John’s South- out of the atmosphere through workers in Canada, the IBEW. C-14, which would implement (medical assistance in dying) Mount Pearl, N.L.) is responsible man-made projects. Bill C-12 IBEW representatives met with some of the changes promised in for making good on that promise, would require the Liberals to senior staff in the natural resource the government’s Fall Economic and his spokesperson, Ian Cam- Statement; C-15, which would Committee: publish an interim net-emissions minister’s office in late January, and • S-2—An Act to amend the Chemical Weap- eron, told The Hill Times that he “is target for the year 2030 within with Mr. O’Regan in late March. require the government to align committed to fully implementing ons Convention Implementation Act nine months of its passage. Mr. Wayland also said he expect- Canada’s laws with the principles • S-3—An Act to amend the Offshore Health the mandate he received from the On Friday, Dec. 11, the Liber- ed the government to introduce the within the United Nations Declara- and Safety Act prime minister.” als announced a new package Just Transition Act as a standalone tion on the Rights of Indigenous THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 19

Before joining Mr. LeBlanc’s office Chris Zhou after the 2019 election, Ms. Porter was a has joined policy adviser to then-democratic institu- Ms. Ng’s tions minister Karina Gould. Mr. LeBlanc ministerial became the minister responsible for demo- team. hill climbers cratic institutions after the last election. Photograph Ms. Porter is also a former deputy director courtesy of of party services for the federal Liberal LinkedIn by Laura Ryckewaert Party and a former assistant to Guelph, Ont., Liberal MP Lloyd Longfield. Chris Rodgers continues as director of policy to Mr. LeBlanc, while Jamie Innes is chief of staff. New comms director, Office additions for ministers Through Global Vision, Mr. Zhou was a JTC (Junior Team Canada) Ambassador Anand, O’Regan, Ng, and Duclos on the 2017 trade mission to China and regional advisers for Over in Ms. Anand’s office, the minister attended the 2017 APEC CEO summit in has a new issues manager on her team, Vietnam. He was a member of Prime Min- with Alison Murphy moving over from ister Justin Trudeau’s Youth Council from Economic Development Minister Mélanie October 2016 to June 2018. Minister LeBlanc Joly’s office in late November to take on Mr. Zhou graduated with a bachelor’s the role. degree in health sciences from McMaster Ms. Murphy had been an issues adviser University earlier this year, and while Plus, new staffers join the years as the MP for Thornhill, Ont. She’s to Ms. Joly for about a year in all, starting studying for the degree, did a year-long ex- also married to Rob Jamieson, who cur- in December 2019. Before then, she was a change at Tsinghua University in Beijing, offices of Natural Resources rently works as a senior adviser to Govern- special assistant for communications and during which time he served as executive ment House Leader Pablo Rodriguez. issues management to Transport Minister director of the Tsinghua Students Associa- Minister Seamus O’Regan, Anthony Laporte has returned to Mr. Marc Garneau for a little more than a year tion of Belt and Road Initiative, described LeBlanc’s team as a senior adviser for starting in November 2018. She previously as a youth-led research association. Public Services Minister Quebec, arriving from Public Services and worked in his office as the Liberal MP for He’s also a former policy advocate with Procurement Minister Anita Anand’s of- Notre-Dame-de-Grâce-Westmount, Que. the Canadian International Education Anita Anand, Trade Minister fice, where he’d been a policy adviser since During the 2019 election, she ran com- Policy Working Group, amongst other past Mary Ng and Treasury Board February. munications and issues management for experience. He previously spent a few months as di- Liberal MP Churence Rogers’ successful In other office news, Alex Corbeil, President Jean-Yves Duclos. rector of policy to Mr. LeBlanc as minister re-election campaign in Bonavista-Burin- who’s been director of parliamentary of intergovernmental affairs, internal trade, Trinity, N.L., which saw the MP win with affairs to Ms. Ng since December 2019, and northern affairs at the end of the last roughly 45.7 per cent of the vote—6.2 per- recently went on maternity leave. While ntergovernmental Affairs and Queen’s Parliament. Before then, from May 2017 centage points more than his Conservative she’s away, director of operations Lesley IPrivy Council Minister Dominic LeBlanc until June 2019, he was a Quebec regional challenger. Sherban has been tapped to fill in as acting has seen a number of staffing moves in his affairs adviser to then-public services min- Ms. Murphy is also a former executive parliamentary affairs. office of late, including welcoming Kelly ister Carla Qualtrough. assistant with the Earnscliffe Strategy Ms. Sherban has been working for Ms. Ouimet back to Parliament Hill to serve as Rebecca Parkinson has also joined Mr. Group and spent more than half of 2016 as Ng since she joined cabinet in July 2018, his director of communications. LeBlanc’s team as a new regional adviser, a digital communications assistant for the previously as director of parliamentary Ms. Ouimet has been working in the in her case, covering the Prairies and the federal Liberal Party. affairs. Before then, she was parliamentary private sector for the last decade plus. She North. Until recently, she was a regional af- Stevie O’Brien is chief of staff to Ms. affairs head for then-small business and was last on the Hill as director of com- fairs adviser working out of the minister’s Anand. tourism minister Bardish Chagger. A for- munications to then-social development regional office (MRO) in Winnipeg—an Natural Resources Minister Seamus mer Ontario Liberal staffer, she, federally, minister Tony Ianno, ending in early 2006, office made up of both political staff and O’Regan has a new executive assistant, has also been a senior adviser for Ontario and before then spent a little more than a public servants which supports ministers with Emily Grant having joined the minis- regional affairs to then-public services year-and-a-half as a special assistant for across cabinet, one of 16 operating across ter’s team at the end of September. minister Carla Qualtrough. communications to then-finance minister the country. Jason Easton is chief of staff to Ms. Ng. Emily Paul Martin, ending in September 2000. Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Grant is Mr. She’s spent the last 10-and-a-half years Rebecca Duclos has a special assistant for policy in O’Regan’s running her own public relations firm, and Parkinson his office, Audrey Bernier. new is also a former senior media relations has joined She’ll be working under Mr. Duclos’ executive specialist with the Canadian Council on Dominic director of policy, Dylan Marando, who assistant. Learning and a former director of govern- LeBlanc’s also currently oversees senior policy Photograph ment relations for the Forest Products ministerial advisers Jean-Sébastien Bock, Michael courtesy of Association of Canada. office. Paramathasan, and Caitlin Szymberski, LinkedIn Until recently, press secretary and Photograph and policy advisers Lionel Fritz Adimi and senior communications adviser Corinne courtesy of François-Olivier Picard. Havard was acting as communications LinkedIn Plus, Mr. Duclos promoted special assis- director to the minister. She previously tant for communications and issues man- ran Mr. LeBlanc’s communications shop agement Marie-France Proulx to the title of when he was just the minister responsible press secretary about one month ago. for the Queen’s Privy Council. Mr. LeBlanc added on intergovernmental affairs duties Marie- in August. A newcomer to the Hill, Ms. Grant re- France Meredith Caplan started on the job as a cently graduated with a master’s degree in Proulx now senior adviser for Ontario regional affairs Ms. Parkinson first joined the Winnipeg political management from Carleton Uni- officially in Mr. LeBlanc’s office last week. She’s MRO as a special assistant in May 2017. versity, and also has a bachelor’s degree in wears the spent the last almost five years working She was previously an assistant to Liberal global and international studies from the title of press as a public affairs senior associate with MP Jim Carr in his capacity as the MP for school. secretary to Compass Rose in Ottawa and from 2014 to Winnipeg South Centre, Man., having been While completing her degrees, she Mr. Duclos. 2018 was a municipal councillor with the campaign director on his first successful spent time working for the public service, Photograph Bonnechere Valley Township, which is part election campaign in 2015. most recently for the Privy Council Of- courtesy of of Ontario’s Renfrew County and counts Julia Duncan, who was previously fice, and previously as an administrative LinkedIn Eganville as its biggest village. working in Mr. LeBlanc’s office under the assistant with Immigration, Refugees, and title of special assistant for operations and Citizenship Canada. Meredith the West, now wears the title of regional Mr. O’Regan’s last executive assistant, Caplan adviser for B.C. Victoria Dempster, left the minister’s is now Ms. Duncan joined Mr. LeBlanc’s office office a few months into 2020 to become working on earlier this year, and before then was a an Atlantic regional affairs adviser to In- Parliament special assistant for the West and Atlantic novation, Science, and Industry Minister Mr. Duclos hasn’t had a staffer working Hill. regions to then-seniors minister Filomena Navdeep Bains. under the title of press secretary since he Photograph Tassi. She’s also a former assistant to Ms. Paul Moen is chief of staff to Mr. took over the treasury board portfolio in courtesy of Qualtrough as the Liberal MP for Delta, O’Regan. late 2019. LinkedIn B.C., and went on to work as an assistant Small Business, Export Promotion, and Ms. Proulx joined the minister’s team for parliamentary and Atlantic regional International Trade Minister Mary Ng hired as a special assistant at the beginning of affairs in the B.C. MP’s (now former) office Chris Zhou to work as a special assistant this year, before which she’d spent roughly as minister of sport. for parliamentary and Atlantic regional three and a half years as a constituency Monica Stella Jaillet is another new ad- affairs earlier this fall. assistant to now former Orléans, Ont., dition to Mr. LeBlanc’s office, having been He started on the job on Oct. 25, and Liberal MP Andrew Leslie. hired as a special assistant. before then was working for Global Vi- Karl Sasseville is director of commu- Ms. Caplan is the daughter of Elinor On the flip side, policy adviser Jenni sion, a not-for-profit aimed at empowering nications to Mr. Duclos, with Marjorie Caplan, who served as an Ontario minister Porter has left Mr. LeBlanc’s team, and the “enterprising youth” and creating a “global Michel in charge as chief of staff. under David Petersen and a federal minis- Hill, and is now working at the Canadian network of Ambassadors,” as described on [email protected] ter under Jean Chrétien during her seven Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. its website, last as a program coordinator. The Hill Times Parliamentary Calendar

MONDAY, DEC. 14 Moyra Davey: The Faithful—National Gallery of Canada hosts this new exhibi- Ng to take part in panel discussion on tion, Moyra Davey: The Faithful, featuring the work of one of Canada’s most innova- tive conceptual artists, on now until Jan. 3, 2021. National Gallery of Canada, 380 Sussex Dr., Ottawa. This new exhibition data, AI, and corporate leadership in a features 54 photographs and six films by Davey, along with more than a dozen works from the Gallery collection. Developed by the artist and curator Andrea Kunard, the exhibition explores the artist’s trajectory post-COVID-19 economy on Dec. 14 from early images of family and friends, through portraits of the detritus of every- day life, her mailed photographs, and films Minster examining the work of authors, philoso- of Small phers and artists. https://www.gallery.ca/ business, whats-on/exhibitions-and-galleries/moyra- Export davey-the-faithful Promotion Data, AI, and Corporate Leadership in and a Post COVID-19 Economy—Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion, and International International Trade Mary Ng will take part Trade Mary in a panel discussion on “Data, AI, and Ng, pictured Corporate Leadership in a Post COVID-19 on Nov. 3, Economy,” hosted by the Economic Club of 2020, on Canada. Other participants include Arlene the Hill, will Dickinson, general partner, District Ven- take part tures Capital; Hossein Rahnama, founder and CEO, Flybits Inc.; and Alex “Sandy” in a panel Pentland, director of the MIT Connection discussion Science and Human Dynamics Lab. Mon- hosted by the day, Dec. 14, 8-9:30 a.m. Tickets available Economic at economicclub.ca. Club of Book Launch—The Macdonald-Laurier Canada on Institute hosts the launch for Dr. Shawn Whatley’s new book, When Politics Comes Monday, Dec. Before Patients: Why and How Canadian 14, 2020. Medicare is Failing. Whatley will read from The Hill Times his book and moderate a panel discussion photograph by on health care, featuring Pat Rich, health- Andrew Meade care journalist and commentator; former editor-in-chief of The Medical Post and publisher, CMAJ; Dr. David Jacobs, chair of the Ontario Specialists Association and vice- president of the Ontario Association of Radi- ologists; and Dr. Hal Berman, palliative care physician, former federal NDP candidate. Monday, Dec. 14, 2-3:30 p.m. Register for this free event at madconaldlaurier.ca. TUESDAY, DEC. 15 The Path Forward: Americans and Canadians Working Together on Mi- gration in the Biden-Harris Era—The THURSDAY, DEC. 17 place in Québec City in 2023. For more Refugee Council USA, the Association information, call 1-866-808-8407. for Canadian Studies, and Metropolis Signatures Interview with Adrienne Clark- CLASSIFIEDS North America host a webinar with two son—Leslie Weir, Librarian and Archivist FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 2021 panel discussions on “The Path Forward: of Canada, will speak with former governor Liberal Party National Convention—The Information and advertisement placement: 613-232-5952 Americans and Canadians Working To- general Adrienne Clarkson, part of LAC’s Liberal Party of Canada announced on gether on Migration in the Biden-Harris Signature Interviews series, which interviews Sept. 25 it was postponing its 2020 Liberal Era.” Participants include former NDP CONDOS FOR RENT CONDOS FOR RENT PROFESSIONAL Canadian personalities who have donated National Convention from Nov. 12-14. The SERVICES leader Thomas Mulcair, professor at the their archives to LAC. Thursday, Dec. 17, 7 new dates are April 9-10, 2021. University of Montréal; former Quebec p.m. Library and Archives Canada will broad- immigration minister David Heurtel, gov- cast the event on its YouTube channels in NDP ernment relations counsel at Fasken; and English and in French (with interpretation). former Obama administration Homeland Leader Security official Fayrouz Saad, executive MONDAY, JAN. 25, 2021 Jagmeet director of the Office of Global Michigan, House Sitting—The House will likely be Singh, Department of Labor and Economic sitting in a hybrid format during the pan- pictured Opportunity. Tuesday, Dec. 15, noon to demic, with most MPs connecting remotely. It’s on Nov. GLEBE COACH HOUSE DOWNTOWN 1 BEDROOM + 2:15 p.m. Register online at acs-aec.ca. scheduled to return on Monday, Jan. 25-Feb. 18. The Charming updated 2-storey, 1 DEN (OR 2ND BEDROOM) AT PERSONAL DRIVE AWAY Places are limited. 5. 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The conversation will be broad- 26, will take a two-week break, March 29-April lounge/concierge. $1950/month [email protected] cast on the Maclean’s Facebook page as 9. It’s then scheduled to sit every weekday with locker. Parking negotiable. Contact: [email protected] well as at macleans.ca/live on Dec. 15 at for the next five weeks, April 12-May 14. It New Democratic Party National Conven- 7 p.m. ET. will take one-week break after that, from May tion—The NDP rescheduled its 2020 policy Do you have a WEDNESDAY, DEC. 16 17-May 24. It will sit May 25 every weekday convention to instead take place virtually HOUSES FOR RENT until Wednesday, June 23, and will then break April 9-11, 2021. Riding associations have house to rent or Donald Savoie Talks Democracy in for three months, until Monday Sept. 20. In the until Feb. 8, 2021 to submit resolutions for Canada—The Canadian Study of Parlia- fall and winter, the House is scheduled to sit for consideration. sell? 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