HILL CLIMBERS: DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS MINISTER MONSEF WITHOUT D. COMMS AS FALL SITTING HEATS UP P. 12 PIERRE GRATTON p.10 EQUAL VOICE p. 12 SNEH DUGGAL p. 4 TIM POWERS p. 11 CHELSEA NASH p. 26 ROLF HOLMBOE p. 20 Harper’s CEAA Electoral Kosovo president makes NDP needs to Mexico A new overhaul Reform fi rst visit to Canada, amid show Canadians hosts opening for failed mining Committee warming ties they matter hot party peace in Syria

TWENTY-SEVENTH YEAR, NO. 1371 CANADA’S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 $5.00

NEWS NDP NEWS IMMIGRATION NEWS DEFENCE Mulcair to take Feds expected to scrap Feds will face a back seat, pave controversial ‘safe-countries’ budget ‘strain’ in way for leadership boosting army candidates to refugee system: insiders reserves: AG shine in coming BY CHELSEA NASH BY MARCO V IGLIOTTI A controversial so-called The Liberal government will face dif- months “safe-countries” system the fi culties in adequately training an expand- Harper Conservatives brought ed Canadian reserve contingent with the BY CHELSEA NASH in to speed up the process- resources available in the existing defence ing time of the thousands budget, according to Auditor General Mi- ARLIAMENT HILL—NDP Leader Tom of inland refugee claims in chael Ferguson. PMulcair will continue to hold the gov- Canada annually is expected Speaking before the Senate National ernment to account in Question Period, but to be scrapped by the Liberal Security and Defence Committee on Tues- he will likely take a back seat elsewhere government, insiders say. day, Mr. Ferguson said that if the Canadian over the coming months to allow “stars” The contentious system Army was tasked with training the number to gain profi le before the party elects a came with a slew of other of reservists it planned to accommodate, new leader next year, say NDP MPs and changes to the inland refugee it would likely squeeze available funding pundits. system which were implement- channels. With the NDP leadership race offi cial- ed in 2012 by the Conservative ly underway, although no candidates have government of Stephen Harper. Continued on page 5 offi cially announced, Mr. Mulcair (Outrem- The system puts certain coun- ont, Que.) will have an evolving role within tries on a “designated countries the party until a new leader is elected next of origin” list in an attempt to October, say NDP MPs. speed up refugee claims from “Defi nitely, you will see emerging mem- those countries that “do not NEWS GOVERNMENT RELATIONS bers of caucus and other members of cau- normally produce refugees, but cus step to the forefront side by side with do respect human rights and Tom Mulcair. And that’s Tom’s choice as offer state protection,” as stated Ex-PMO aide well,” said New Democrat MP Don Davies on the government’s website. (Vancouver Kingsway, B.C.). Instead of the typical Bruce Carson’s NDP pundit Ian Capstick said at this 60-day claim period, refugee point in Mr. Mulcair’s leadership it’s “a little claimants from any of the 42 late in the days for him to be the messenger” countries are required by law conviction for for the new progressive vision that the NDP to be processed in 30 to 45 needs to put forward in order to counter the days. Some say this puts refu- illegal lobbying Liberals’ popularity and progressive image. gee claimants from countries Immigration Minister Continued on page 7 on the DCO, or so-called safe- John McCallum has said countries list at a disadvantage sheds light on he is open to killing the by having to prove their case Designated Countries of in half the time as a refugee disclosure rules NEWS CONFLICT OF INTEREST Origin list altogether, say from a non-DCO country. insiders. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright Continued on page 21 BY MARCO V IGLIOTTI ‘This is not exactly The success- ful prosecution the Pentagon last week of Bruce Carson on illegal Papers’: Lobbyists lobbying charges Leitch says Trudeau a ‘Canadian should further dispel confusion about concerned over what’s necessary identity denier,’ but he’s pointed to to trigger reporting ethics czar’s requirements under ‘shared values, openness, respect’ the federal Lobby- gifts ruling ing Act, according BY T IM NAUMETZ Ms. Leitch surprised a handful of jour- to Ottawa lawyer BY MARCO V IGLIOTTI nalists as she was entering the House of and lobbyist Scott A New York Times Magazine story Commons on Monday, into the fi rst sitting Thurlow. Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson has about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last of the Commons following a 12-week par- Former PMO adviser Mr. Carson, a ruled that a member of Canada’s telecom- December that prompted Conservative liamentary recess, and took several minutes Bruce Carson. former top adviser to munications regulator violated confl ict leadership contender Kellie Leitch to ac- to criticize Mr. Trudeau for allegedly deny- prime minister Ste- of interest rules by accepting fl owers and cuse Mr. Trudeau of practising “dangerous” ing Canadians have a national identity. phen Harper, was found guilty last week chocolates from operators of a radio sta- politics and being a “Canadian identity de- A journalist noted it had been a “very, of three counts of illegal lobbying while he tion on her birthday, in a decision that has nier” also contains references by the newly very big summer” for Ms. Leitch, following was still under the fi ve-year prohibition for drawn criticism from some lobbyists. elected prime minister to values Canadians a controversy she stirred at the beginning former designated public offi ce holders. share, including “openness, respect, and Continued on page 14 compassion.” Continued on page 17 Continued on page 6 2 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 FEATURE BUZZ

eteran Hill journalist Stephen Maher acclaim for his coverage of the robocall Vis joining iPolitics as its new executive scandal in which phoney telephone mes- ON editor. sages instructed voters to go to the wrong The Truro N.S. native is returning to polling stations during the 2011 federal HEARD THE HILL the nation’s capital after spending the election. past year as a Nieman Fellow at Harvard For their exhaustive investigate work BY MARCO V IGLIOTTI University. on the robocall scandal, Mr. Maher and His fi rst day was Monday. the Ottawa Citizen’s Glen McGregor, who The prestigious Nieman fellowship of- now works for CTV News, won a National fers short-term research opportunities Newspaper Award, a Canadian Association to those interested in working on special of Journalists Award, and the prestigious projects designed to advance journalism. Michener Award for outstanding public Maher joins iPolitics, In his new position, Mr. Maher service journalism. will write stories and work with his coun- He left Postmedia in June. terparts at iPolitics on news coverage, he Mr. Maher, who got his start as a told The Hill Times as he strode over to journalist in 1989 as a reporter for a small Milewski retiring the Parliamentary Precinct to pick up his newspaper in Newfoundland and worked temporary parliamentary press gallery for a variety of newspapers before com- pass. ing to Ottawa for the Chronicle Herald, He said he decided to join iPolitics has also penned two published novels, the after a study he conducted as a Nieman fel- political thriller Deadline, and Salvage, a from the CBC low about the media piqued his interest in gritty neo-noir piece of fi ction set on the the subscription news service model. South Shore of Nova Scotia. The newspaper “advertising business is He will be hosting an event at the Met- very diffi cult right now,” Mr. Maher said, ropolitain Brasserie at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 28 Michener-award-winning with cheaper online competitors cannibal- to promote Salvage. journalist Stephen izing sales. Maher, pictured in 2014, However, subscription news services, Continued on page 25 has joined iPolitics as in which readers pay to access journalistic its new executive editor work, provide interesting opportunities for after spending a year CORRECTIONS political reporters, he said. as a Nieman fellow at Although he enjoyed his time south of Harvard University. The Re: “Global Affairs Canada orga- the border, Mr. Maher said he’s excited to Hill Times photograph by nizational chart” (Sept. 14, p. 15). The return to Ottawa and political reporting. Jake Wright chart included a few spelling mistakes: “It’s great to be in the Harvard envi- Associate Deputy Minister of Foreign Af- ronment...but at the end I felt like ‘Okay, fairs Diane Jacovella, Deputy Minister of I want to go back and try to use some of International Trade T. Christine Hogan, what I learned,’” he said. ADM for Partnerships for Development “I am really keen to get back to work Innovation Elissa Golberg, and Direc- and hopefully get some stories.” tor General for Market Access Marvin An accomplished journalist and author, Hildebrand. Mr. Maher served as the Ottawa bureau • chief for Halifax’s The Chronicle Herald Re: “U.S. lobbyists cheesed off over pro- from 2004 to 2011, according to his Linke- posed Canadian dairy policy” (Sept. 14, p. dIn page. 1). The article stated that the Dairy Farmers He then joined the Postmedia chain as of Canada did not respond to requests for a political columnist, where he attracted comment. In fact, it did.

4 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 NEWS FOREIGN AFFAIRS Kosovo president makes fi rst visit to Canada amid warming political ties

meant to ensure Canadian investments in The head of the disputed Kosovo are safe from nationalization, for territory makes a pitch instance, began in June 2014. The document is undergoing translation for Canadian investment, and a legal review, wrote Global Affairs though his country faces Canada spokesperson Austin Jean in a Sept. 16 email. an ongoing struggle with “Some of the investors are waiting corruption. for this. But at the same time, we cannot stop; we need to move forward,” said Mr. Thaçi, who met with representatives of BY SNEH DUGGAL Vancouver-based mining company Avrupa Minerals Ltd. while in Canada. The com- ORONTO—The president of Kosovo pany is currently doing exploration work Tmade his fi rst visit to Canada last week in Kosovo and has plans to invest in a gold to pitch for more Canadian investment to mining project. match warming political ties. Ms. Goldsmith-Jones said bilateral trade Hashim Thaçi visited Toronto Sept. 11 to is currently modest with most Canadian 15 to meet with diaspora members, speak exports to Kosovo being meat products or to Canadian offi cials, and speak as a panel- electronics, but she said there is potential list at the Toronto Global Forum, an annual for growth in energy, mining, and infra- event bringing together government of- structure, “which Kosovo is happy about, fi cials, businesspeople, and bankers from we’re happy about,” she said. around the world in Canada’s fi nancial Mr. Jean noted that foreign investment is important for Kosovo’s economic devel- capital. Hashim Thaçi, Kosovo’s president, says he has ‘zero tolerance towards corruption and organized opment. “The investment climate in Kosovo The president’s inaugural visit comes at crime.’ Kosovo ranks 103 of 168 on Transparency International’s 2015 Corruption Perceptions a time of growing ties between Canada and is steadily improving, although challenges Index. The Hill Times photograph by Sneh Duggal Kosovo, a territory in southeastern Europe remain with regard to transparency and that broke away from Serbia in 2008. It administrative capacity,” he said. followed the break-up of Yugoslavia and a There are businesses that recognize ‘Growing engagement’ UN and EU membership,” he said, adding bloody confl ict in the late 1990s that saw the possibility of making a quick profi t Meanwhile, Serbian Ambassador Mihai- that the Canadian government is discuss- Canada and other NATO members drop despite possible instability in a country, but lo Papazoglu wrote in an email: “Serbia is ing with its NATO allies how to respond to bombs in support of the ethnic Albanian small- and medium-sized enterprises are devoted to the [normalization] of the situ- Kosovo’s request for an enhanced relation- majority, who were fi ghting against Ser- more hesitant to invest because there are ation in our southern province of Kosovo ship with NATO. bian forces. issues that could make Kosovo a bit of a and Metohija” and trying to sort out issues Though more than 110 countries have risky investment, said Dusan Reljic, head like security for internally displaced Serbs Special court controversy since recognized Kosovo as a sovereign of the Brussels offi ce of a foreign policy to go back to their homes. Meanwhile, a court is being set up in state, many have not including Serbia, and security think-tank called the German Mr. Papazoglu also said “whoever wants The Hague, Netherlands, to try members Russia, China, and fi ve European Union Institute for International and Security Af- to buy a mine, land, a good, a public-owned of the Kosovo Liberation Army for alleged countries. fairs. This includes its non-recognition by enterprise in Kosovo...has to deal with crimes committed around 1999-2000, ac- Canada recognized Kosovo in March some countries and the need for improve- Serbian authorities.” cording to the Dutch government. The KLA 2008, one month after Kosovo declared ment in ensuring the rule of law and safety Despite the continued controversy over was an ethnic Albanian paramilitary force independence from Serbia. And in the last for investments. Kosovo’s independence declaration, its ties that sought independence from Serbia. year, these ties have tightened. Kosovo The World Bank Group’s 2016 Doing with Canada have been moving forward. Media reports have alluded to questions opened an embassy in Ottawa after Business report ranked Kosovo 66th out of “There is growing engagement with about whether Mr. Thaçi himself, who was chargé d’affaires Lulzim Hiseni arrived 189 countries surveyed, a boost from 75th Kosovo at senior levels,” wrote Mr. Jean. political chief of the KLA, would be called last fall, and just this spring, Parliamen- place in 2014, according to Global Affairs “Global Affairs Canada supports economic to the court. tary Secretary to the Foreign Minister Canada. and political participation of women, “I have led this process fi rst as prime Pamela Goldsmith-Jones (West Vancouver- Mr. Thaçi said his country’s government reconciliation of ethnic communities, and minister of my country and then as deputy Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country, B.C.) is working on passing a law aimed at facili- transparency.” prime minister and minister of foreign af- visited Kosovo for Mr. Thaçi’s swearing-in tating foreign investment into the country Ms. Goldsmith-Jones said Canada was fairs, in close co-operation with the EU and ceremony. Her visit to Kosovo in April was and easing bureaucratic hurdles. one of the fi rst countries to recognize the United States,” he said. “We don’t have the fi rst by a federal parliamentarian, she Kosovo has also been plagued by cor- Kosovo, and she credited the former gov- anything to hide...I see this special court as told The Hill Times in an interview. Canada ruption problems. It ranks 103 of 168 on ernment for taking that step. an advantage for Kosovo and not as some- and Kosovo also have an investment deal Transparency International’s 2015 Corrup- “So I think that is a very important thing that will damage us.” in the works. tion Perceptions Index. beginning for relations between our two “He has to answer in a diplomatic way, Mr. Thaçi’s pitch to Canadian inves- Mr. Thaçi said his government is also countries and also demonstrates our effort he is between a rock and a hard place,” said tors at the Toronto conference last week taking steps to fi ght corruption, a move the in supporting Kosovo and Kosovo’s stability Mr. Reljic. “There are credible reports...by the was this: “Kosovo is a young country with Canadian government has welcomed. and economic progress in the region,” she Council of Europe, Amnesty international, plenty of opportunities, has a very good in- “It will be zero tolerance towards cor- said. “So we went [to the inauguration] obvi- and other independent organizations point- vestment climate, has plenty of resources, ruption and organized crime,” he said. He ously to strengthen that strong beginning.” ing out that Thaçi and his Kosovo Liberation could serve as a hub for further invest- said charges have been laid against plenty In its quest for global recognition, Army have been involved in terrible crimes, ments in the region,” Mr. Thaçi told The of government offi cials, there is an anti- Kosovo has also been trying to gain mem- and they have to get clear with this, and the Hill Times through an interpreter during a corruption council within the president’s bership into several international organiza- only way to do [that] is to have an interna- Sept. 13 interview. offi ce, and he has launched a campaign “on tions. It has joined the International Mon- tional court getting the whole thing straight But while Kosovo is counting on friends the decriminalization of politics.” etary Fund and the International Olympic and whether they are culprits or not.” like Canada to help it boost its international The problem is not particular to Kosovo, Committee. It’s still working on gaining A Council of Europe report alleged recognition, gain membership in global said Mr. Reljic. “It’s something that is com- entry into NATO, the European Union, and criminal activity such as assassinations or groups, and spur investment and economic mon to the region and it has to do with the United Nations. detentions by members of the KLA, allega- growth, it also faces problems like corrup- poverty and poor results in development.” “In my opinion, Canada is our strategic tions Mr. Thaçi and his government have tion, unemployment, and its disputed sover- While in Canada, Mr. Thaçi also met partner,” Mr. Thaçi said. “Our excellent co- repeatedly denied. eignty, as well as continued calls for account- members of the diaspora community operation is the biggest endorsement.” Mr. Thaçi said that while individuals ability of its political leadership for alleged (which ranges between 10,000 and 15,000) Mr. Jean said Canada supports the full within the Albanian community might crimes committed during the 1990s war. at a reception in Mississauga. In Toronto, integration of Kosovo within the interna- have done “bad things,” individual acts he met Governor General David Johnston tional community and international insti- should not be identifi ed as acts committed Investment deal in the works and Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne. tutions, as a key factor in strengthening by the collective resistance of the KLA. Negotiations wrapped up in August last “I did thank [Ms. Wynne] for the fact regional stability. He added that “politics should stay away year toward a Canada-Kosovo Foreign In- that Canada is one of the fi rst countries “Canada actively encourages other and the process should not be personalized.” vestment Promotion and Protection Agree- recognizing Kosovo, for supporting Kosovo countries to recognize Kosovo’s sovereign- [email protected] ment (FIPA), after talks towards the deal, in its international path,” Mr. Thaçi said. ty and welcomes Kosovo’s aspirations for The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 5 NEWS DEFENCE

Auditor Conservative Senator General Daniel Lang, chair of Michael the Senate National Ferguson Security and Defence testifi ed Committee, right, Tuesday pictured alongside before the Senator Grant Senate Mitchell, says the National auditor general’s Security and testimony raises Defence serious questions Committee about whether that it would reservists are being be diffi cult for ‘adequately trained.’ the Canadian The Hill Times Armed Forces photograph by Jake to cover the Wright expenses of a 21,000-troop strong reserve force with the money allocated. The Hill Times photograph by Marco Vigliotti

“Following up on previous review in August, with the devel- recommendations from the audi- opment of a formal defence policy tor general, the Canadian Armed paper expected in early 2017. Forces is taking steps to make im- On Monday, the committee Feds will face budget provements [including] ensuring heard from several academics, funds are appropriately allocated experts, and retired military across the army reserve force, im- brass, including retired Liberal proving recruitment and retention Senator and lieutenant-general strategies, resolving training gaps Romeo Dallaire. ‘strain’ in boosting during the pre-deployment phase The topic largely centred on for international operations, and the future of Canadian peace- investigating a plan to address keeping, with the Liberal govern- the accessibility of equipment to ment pledging this summer up support Reserve Force training,” to 600 troops for a still to be de- army reserves: AG she said in an emailed statement. termined peacekeeping mission, Conservative Senator Daniel likely in Africa. Lang (Yukon), chair of the committee While acknowledging poten- Michael Ferguson In his presentation, Mr. Fergu- the equipment that they need... said that Mr. Ferguson’s testimony tial diffi culties in staffi ng, Mr. son also raised pointed concerns and they have enough money to raises alarms about sparse resources Dallaire urged Canada to step up also raises concerns about training, and the avail- be able to carry out what they’re being allocated to the reserves. and contribute to international ability of crucial equipment for supposed to do.” “The information that he has peace operations. with reservist reservists. Recruitment has also proven provided us [shows] the reserves “We fully understand the com- training, and A study released by his offi ce to be challenging for the reserve are obviously, at the present time, plexity of peace operations, but last spring as part of its annual force. in a state of fl ux, and the fact is we cannot be an island of stabil- availability of spring report found that train- Mr. Ferguson said his offi ce the necessary fi nancing is being ity in an ocean of turmoil. Canada crucial equipment. ing of the army reserves “was not found many units failed to meet put in place for the necessary needs to do its part,” he said. fully integrated” with that of the desired troop levels, with 12 of the training that they need,” he told The opposition Conservatives regular army units, and though 123 army reserve units “smaller The Hill Times, calling on the are demanding that any deploy- Continued from page 1 they received clear guidance than half of their ideal size.” federal government to review the ment be debated and voted in when preparing for domestic as- But while the government is situation and determine what it Parliament. Mr. Dallaire, who “I think it’s very clear that if signments, reserve units did not pushing to grow the reserves, fi g- expects out of the reserve forces, accompanied Minister Sajjan on the Canadian Armed Forces... receive the same level of guidance ures continue to show a precipi- which comprise roughly 20 per his study trip of African peace- had 21,000 troops in the reserves in how to train troops for interna- tous slide in recruits. cent of those being deployed. keeping operations in August, to fully train, that would put a tional missions, he said. “[The government] has set a “It brings up a real question said that the Liberal government signifi cant strain on the resources Army reserve courses, he said, goal to increase the army reserve that we have to ask in respect would welcome a debate on the they’ve already allocated,” he told were designed to teach signifi - by 950 soldiers by 2019 but, in our to any future deployments: are merits of a peacekeeping mission, the committee, which is meeting cantly less skills than regular army opinion, this goal will be diffi cult people being adequately trained though stopped short of promis- this week to study issues relat- courses and this skills gap was to achieve given that the number and are we meeting the objectives ing a vote. ing to the government’s ongoing “not always addressed” prior to the of army reserves soldiers declined we need to meet?” “We are going to take a thor- defence policy review. deployment of reserve soldiers. by about 1,000 soldiers for the Mr. Lang also touched upon ough effort before we put all the “I think there very much is For example, when Canadians three years we audited,” Mr. Fer- safety concerns voiced by Mr. Fer- facts together and before we have a strain in terms of how much troops began to deploy as part guson told the committee. guson, saying that training gaps a thorough debate on this,” he budget they have been allocated of the NATO mission in Eastern As of May 15, the number of raise questions about whether said. compared to what they’ve been Europe earlier this year, a gap active and trained army reserve sol- reservists are being adequately Defence chief General Jona- asked to do,” he said, noting that remained in weapons training diers has declined by a further 1,000 prepared to safely perform what than Vance has said that the mili- $166-million of the reserves’ between reservists and regular soldiers to 13,180, he said, charging is being asked of them. tary was not recommending any roughly $700-million budget is members, he said. that “National Defence knows that “It’s a very serious issue and missions that would stretch it too sent back to National Defence to “We identifi ed that a number the current reserve recruiting sys- something that I think the govern- thin, though he was comfortable pay for infrastructure. of reserve soldiers weren’t receiv- tem doesn’t work, and that it needs ment has to address,” he charged. that the military could conduct a Although the army has provided ing the number of days of training to take steps to improve retention.” The Senate committee is peacekeeping mission in Africa funding for 21,000 reservists, who that was predictive for them,” Mr. Jordan Owens, spokesperson expected to conclude meetings while operating in the Middle are part-time soldiers, only about Ferguson said. for Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan on the defence policy review this East and Latvia, the Canadian 14,000 are active and trained, and “It’s very important that the (Vancouver South, B.C.), said that week, and produce a report with Press reported. when reserve units met for their Canadian Forces determine what the Liberals are committed to en- recommendations to the govern- He is scheduled to testify be- annual large-scale elective training that is that they expect from the suring reservists are “fully trained ment by the end of October. fore the committee on Wednesday. events across Canada in 2015, only Canadian reserves, that they and ready” for international and The federal government con- [email protected] about 3,600 showed, he noted. make sure that the reserves have domestic deployments. cluded public consultations on the The Hill Times 6 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 NEWS GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Former PMO adviser Bruce Ex-PMO aide Carson, left, pictured with his lawyer Pat McCann Bruce Carson’s in front of the Ottawa courthouse on Sept. 14, conviction for 2015, has been convicted on three counts of lobbying illegal lobbying while under the fi ve-year cooling- off period sheds light on for former designated public offi ce holders. The Hill Times photograph disclosure rules by Mike Carroccetto National Public Relations manag- Bruce Carson is ing partner Beth Diamond; and only the second Larry Clausen, a former senior vice-president with National, ac- individual convicted cording to his LinkedIn page. “All paid board members of “I fi nd that the Crown has In early 2009, an Industry after a trial with At the meeting, Mr. Carson any organization should be aware proved beyond a reasonable Canada bureaucrat initiated con- was named co-chair, alongside of this. There is nothing new here, doubt that Mr. Carson, a DPOH tact with Mr. Carson to discuss violating the 2008 Mr. d’Aquino, both of whom were but it is a very good demonstra- [designated public offi ce holder], whether the grant agreement Lobbying Act. to be provided with an honorari- tion [of] how easily a remuner- for payment, undertook to com- needed to be amended, and Mr. um of $60,000 per year, according ated board member could run municate, on behalf of EPIC, an Carson reached out to various to the documents. into trouble under the act,” Mr. organization, with POHs [public public offi cials prior to the agree- Mr. Black was appointed Thurlow warned. offi ce holders] in respect of the ment being extended to 2014, ac- Continued from page 1 president for a two-year term, and Justice Kehoe delivered the development of any policy or cording to information contained received $10,000 a month for his verdict in an Ottawa courtroom program of the Government of in the ruling. The federal Lobbying Act bars work, while Mr. Clausen served on Sept. 16 following a three-day Canada,” Justice Kehoe wrote. Justice Kehoe dismissed argu- designated public offi ce holders as secretary/treasurer. trial held in May. She also referred to Mr. Car- ments from Mr. McCann that Mr. from lobbying the federal govern- The board of EPIC was later Mr. Carson remained emotion- son in her ruling as the “primary Carson was covered by an exemp- ment for a period of fi ve years. reconstituted to include Gerry less as the verdict was read to a point of contact” for EPIC in re- tion in the act allowing lobbyists The charges against Mr. Protti, later appointed chair of the largely empty courtroom, a stark gards to communications with the to avoid registering if they are Carson relate to his work for the Alberta Energy Regulator, and contrast to his high-profi le trial federal government, noting that responding to a written request Canada School of Energy and former foreign affairs minister last fall on a single count of infl u- he regularly updated EPIC execu- from a public offi cial for advice or Environment (CSEE), a research David Emerson, who served in ence peddling, which he was later tive members about discussions comment, saying the communica- group jointly established by the the fi rst Harper cabinet after acquitted of. he had with various federal min- tions he had with public offi ce universities of Alberta, Calgary, crossing the fl oor from the Lib- Sentencing is scheduled for isters, associate deputy ministers holders “were not requests for and Lethbridge; and the Energy eral party in 2006. Oct. 18. and their chiefs of staff. information.” Policy Institute of Canada (EPIC), Daniel Gagnier, who stepped The ruling marks only the In a 2011 email presented to Although he did not make an advocacy group calling for the down as the co-chair of the federal second successful prosecution of the court, Mr. Carson told the fi rst contact, Ms. Kehoe said Mr. development of a comprehensive Liberal Party’s 2015 election cam- an offence under the 2008 Lobby- EPIC committee that he had met Carson had no such obligation to national energy strategy. paign after sending a detailed memo ing Act, put in place by the former and briefed Nigel Wright, who continue discussing the matter A lingering point of conten- advising TransCanada how to lobby Conservative government that Mr. was then serving as chief of staff with federal offi cials and could tion throughout the trial was a new government, was also identi- Carson served under. to the prime minister, on the have simply delegated the task to whether there needed to be a fi ed as a member of the group. Former Liberal party national group and he had read their docu- others at CSEE. formal agreement to trigger the Mr. Carson was collectively pro- director Jamie Carroll was con- ment, presumably an executive “Mr. Carson had alternatives requirement to report lobbying vided $160,000 during his tenure victed in April for failing to fi le a summary that had been sent to other than initiating further activity to the federal Lobbying with EPIC, court documents reveal. return with the Offi ce of the Com- other public offi cials. communications and meetings,” Commissioner’s Offi ce. Crown prosecutor Rob Zsigo missioner of Lobbying. “Told him we would keep him she wrote, noting that he was Since there is no defi nition of countered that it could be “clearly Mr. Carroll was fi ned $20,000, up to date by email—he seemed informed of his status as a former lobbying in the Lobbying Act, Mr. inferred” Mr. Carson was being though is planning to appeal both generally supportive,” Mr. Carson designated public offi ce holder in Carson’s defence attorney Patrick compensated for lobbying based the verdict and the sentence, ac- wrote of Mr. Wright. a 2008 letter and email in 2009. McCann argued that it should be on his communications with EPIC cording to his attorney, Michael The charges against Mr. Since there is no defi nition in seen as anything that triggers the staff and an assessment of his Johnston. Carson relating to his work for the act, Mr. McCann has ar- requirement to fi le a report with experience and skill-set, despite Mr. McCann told The Hill the CSEE centre on the extension gued that activities warranting the commissioner’s offi ce, a legal the absence of a formal contract Times that Mr. Carson would not of a $15-million grant the school registration with the Offi ce of rationale that appeared to be ac- between the two sides. offer any comment on the verdict, received from Industry Canada. the Commissioner of Lobby- cepted in Ontario Court Justice Conversely, Mr. McCann argued and that he would need some time Mr. Carson, who worked in the ing should be seen as lobbying, Catherine Kehoe’s 97-page ruling. in his submission to the court to read the 98-page ruling before PMO under prime minister Harp- which appeared to be the guid- Under the Lobbying Act, a that there needed to be concrete deciding whether to appeal. er from 2006 to 2008 and briefl y ing principle utilized by Justice consultant lobbyist must report to evidence of an undertaking to com- When reached separately, Mr. returned in 2009, joined the CSEE Kehoe in her ruling. the commissioner’s offi ce within municate with federal offi cials to Carson said he would withhold in 2008 as executive director, Justice Kehoe also disputed 10 days of agreeing to work on trigger the reporting requirements, comment until at least a decision on though he took a one-month hia- claims from the defence that Mr. behalf of a client. and that none existed between Mr. whether to appeal had been made. tus to return to government. Carson should avoid conviction be- Mr. McCann, though, argued Carson and EPIC. In her ruling, Justice Kehoe The CSEE paid Mr. Carson cause the CSEE operated as part of that Mr. Carson should be acquit- Justice Kehoe dismissed both also dismissed Mr. McCann’s $258,000 annually and provided Industry Canada, which it received ted of charges relating to his defence arguments in her ruling, argument that the act only re- him with a $900-per-month car al- virtually of its funding from, point- work for EPIC because he was saying the presence of a written quires people to register if they lowance, court documents show. ing to funding agreements signed being not compensated for the agreement was not necessary are lobbying on a specifi c policy Justice Kehoe found that Mr. between the two sides that she said alleged advocacy work he per- to trigger the reporting require- or program of the government, Carson breached the fi ve-year ban clearly demonstrated the CSEE is a formed on behalf of the organiza- ment, and that it was clear Mr. and Mr. Carson was testing the by communicating with multiple separate entity. tion, and instead was paid on an Carson was compensated for all waters about EPIC’s work on the senior ministers, deputy ministers, Federal Lobbying Commis- honorarium basis for policy work. of his work with EPIC, including development of a national energy and senior offi cials at Industry sioner Karen Shepherd said in a Since only those who are paid the drafting of policy documents policy, which did not exist. Canada, Natural Resources, Envi- prepared statement that she was to lobby must register, Mr. Carson and “communicating and meet- In its framework document, ronment Canada, the Prime Min- satisfi ed with the convictions that did not break the law, Mr. Mc- ing with public offi ce holders” on the group listed several key ele- ister’s Offi ce, and the Clerk of the occurred under the Lobbying Act. Cann argued. behalf of the group. ments of what it wanted to see Privy Council Offi ce. Mr. Carson “This sends a clear message to Court documents show that “The court made clear that the in a Canadian energy strategy, was lobbying Industry Canada on high-level government decision Mr. Carson helped found EPIC existence of a written agreement along with corresponding recom- an extension of a $15-million grant makers that they must comply in the summer of 2009, attend- was not necessary for an under- mendations that Ms. Kehoe said awarded to the school. with the Lobbying Act’s fi ve-year, ing the founding meeting of the taking to have been agreed to,” were either proposing regulations The CSEE received a grant for post-employment prohibition on group in August alongside people Mr. Thurlow told The Hill Times. or changes to regulations and the money in 2007 with instruc- lobbying for former designated such as businessman Thomas The ruling should serve as an regulatory processes for federal, tions that it must be spent by the public offi ce holders,” she said. d’Aquino; Doug Black, who was important lesson for boardrooms provincial, territorial, and munici- end of March 2010 or whatever [email protected] appointed to the Senate in 2013; across the country, he said. pal governments. was remaining would be forfeited. The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 7 NEWS NDP LEADERSHIP RACE

past May. The leader won’t be rankings in public opinion polls. chosen until October 2017. To The NDP were at about 13 per date, no candidates have offi - cent nationally in public opinion cially announced, but a number polls for the month of August, of other high-profi le NDP mem- according to ThreeHundredEight. bers thought to be frontrunners, com’s poll, combining Forum and including MPs Nathan Cullen Abacus and CROP’s Quebec poll (Skeena-Bulkley Valley, B.C.), Al- altogether, surveying 4,355 Cana- exandre Boulerice (Rosemont-La dians, while the Liberals were at Petite-Patrie, Que), and former about 48 per cent and the Conser- Halifax MP Megan Leslie, have vatives at 29.5 per cent. ruled out running. And NDP fundraising isn’t Mr. Angus told The Hill Times much better: according to fi gures that he hasn’t sat down to fully from Elections Canada, the NDP consider it yet, and is currently collected $1.08-million in the focused on connecting with the second quarter of 2016, com- grassroots in his role as caucus pared to the Conservative Party chair for the time being. He did at $5.07-million, and the govern- not say he was opposed to run- ing Liberal Party, at $4.9-million. ning, only that he hasn’t given it “We went through a spring enough thought. that was very confusing for us Ms. Brosseau told The Hill in that we had a government Times that she is still having that was extremely popular,” discussions with her family, and Mr. Angus said. Establishing a weighing her options. She is the strategy around a prime minis- single mother of a “very active” ter who’s “more of a celebrity 15-year-old boy, who she said than a politician” is an “amor- is her biggest consideration. phous” task, he said. Then, there Mr. Julian told the CBC during was the element of the Liberals the NDP’s caucus meeting that he “staying very close to us on all has “opened the door” to running, our priorities, so how best do but is still having those discus- we move?” sions within his party and within The New Democrats are his riding. hoping that by late October or Mr. Davies said the public early November, “when all the shouldn’t expect anyone to for- consultations, and task forces, mally announce for another three and committees that the Liber- to six months. But, he did confi rm als have struck come back with that discussions within caucus a whole bunch of recommenda- about who is considering running tions,” it will be an opportunity are happening, and that excite- for the NDP to strike, said Mr. ment is building. Capstick. “The NDP’s No. 1 en- While he agreed that NDP emy has always been relevance. caucus members should be work- They always fi ght to remain ing towards creating a bigger relevant when the Liberal Party, profi le for themselves and speak- particularly, seems to be making ing with the grassroots of the progressive strides forward.” party, Robin Sears, of Earnscliffe Mr. Capstick added that the Strategy Group, said it wouldn’t NDP should be looking at creating a necessarily make sense to have policy that is holistic in its approach anyone but Mr. Mulcair lead- and more progressive than ever. Potential leadership contenders are NDP MPs Charlie Angus, Peter Julian, and Ruth Ellen Brosseau. While no one has ing the charge in the House of NDP MP Erin Weir (Regina- formally announced their intentions to seek the leadership, discussions within caucus are happening. These three MPs Commons. Mr. Sears said people Lewvan, Sask.) said articulating say they are not ruling anything out at this point. The Hill Times photographs by Jake Wright don’t pay attention to Question a “progressive vision” that will Period like they used to, adding distinguish the NDP from the that the NDP would be at fault Liberals will be “essential” for for not using Mr. Mulcair’s abili- their future. ties in the House of Commons, “I would go so far as to say which he described as one of even more progressive than their biggest weapons. have been laid down by Alexa Mulcair to take a back Mr. Angus said caucus defi - McDonough, Jack Layton, and nitely has a role to play in tak- Tom Mulcair. The party needs to ing “up some of the slack” in terms leapfrog all of those positions and of engaging with the grassroots. fi nd new and incredibly different “Right now I think [Mr. Mul- ways to speak about the environ- seat, pave way for cair’s] role is going to be focused ment and the economy,” said Mr. on where he’s very strong, which Capstick, speaking of former is in the House of Commons. But NDP leaders Mr. Layton and Ms. also, the role of the interim leader McDonough. leadership candidates to is also going to be paving the way Mr. Julian said the questions for his successor. I think you’ll the NDP asked themselves in start to see an evolution in the their recent caucus meeting held role of the interim leader in the in Montreal included how the coming months,” Mr. Angus said. NDP can “best perform the role shine in coming months That role will also involve that we’re performing as the pro- members of caucus working hard gressive opposition.” to engage their base, he said. Mr. Mr. Capstick said this fall its convention this past April. Mr. unanimous support to continue his Angus said that, in his capacity Continued from page 1 House sitting will provide an op- Mulcair committed to staying on stewardship of the party. as caucus chair, he spent a lot of portunity for the NDP’s shadow as his party’s leader until a new Mr. Capstick said it is “incum- time travelling around the coun- cabinet critics to step forward “The New Democratic caucus one is elected next October. When bent” on the leader to put people try this summer talking to NDP and criticize the government on is going to be the salvation of the the NDP held its fall caucus meet- like NDP MPs Charlie Angus members about what they want to the decisions they will be making New Democratic Party, if they ing in Montreal on Sept. 14 before (Timmins-James Bay, Ont.), Mr. Ju- see from their party. after the consultations are over. are the ones who are put in the the new session started, the CBC lian, and NDP MP Ruth Ellen “In my role as caucus chair, This, in turn, will boost some window. This cannot be a pros- ran a headline that read, “Will the Brosseau (Berthier-Maskinongé, getting out and meeting people, leadership contenders into the ecutorial sideshow as we lead NDP’s caucus meeting be a group Que.) out front in the House. there’s a real sense of, not so much limelight, he said. into the NDP leadership race. We hug or a coup? They decide today.” “Hearing their voices much louder optimism, but a desire to get back “I think what the NDP needs need to see who has the ability to Initially after the convention, than the interim leader” is what to work. Like, ‘Come on … let’s get to do is see the House of Com- hold this government to account, caucus members were divided over members are looking forward to, to some of the issues,’ ” he said. mons and see the national media and that’s what NDP members whether or not they wanted Mr. Mr. Capstick said. “They’re look- The NDP say they will focus stage as a trial run. If they’re a are looking forward to,” Mr. Cap- Mulcair to remain leader, or if it ing forward to seeing people like on health care and the environ- member of parliament who thinks stick said. might be too “awkward,” as political Brosseau, Angus, Julian, taking ment. they can actually be the leader of Mr. Mulcair has been the sub- scientist Duane Bratt put it at the the lead in this parliamentary ses- After a tough year after last the party, well they have several ject of criticism by many—includ- time. But after the Montreal caucus sion, because that is their job. It’s year’s election results which saw months to attempt to dismantle ing those within his own cau- meeting, NDP MP Peter Julian (New not the job of the interim leader.” the NDP go from offi cial op- the notion that Justin Trudeau is a cus—for remaining on as leader Westminster-Burnaby, B.C.) said his The New Democratic Party position to the third party in the progressive leader.” when his party voted in favour party is “united” and “determined.” announced a leadership race House losing 59 seats, fundraising [email protected] of holding a leadership race at The caucus gave Mr. Mulcair its after its annual convention this numbers have been down, as have @chels_nash 8 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

Editor Kate Malloy Assistant Deputy Editor Abbas Rana Publishers Anne Marie Creskey, Deputy Editor Derek Abma Online Editor, Power & Influence Editor Ally Foster Jim Creskey, Ross Dickson Managing Editor Kristen Shane Deputy Editor Peter Mazereeuw General Manager, CFO Andrew Morrow

EDITORIAL TRADE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Trudeau’s globalist Minister can’t set committee agenda, tendencies could prove says Conservative MP Block e: “Leave Navigation Protection Act ‘as Transport Ris’ say municipalities,” (The Hill Times, Canada’s Sept. 14, p. 5). As the Conservative transport declaration to be a weakness critic, as well as a member of the House that a here is no shortage of adjectives critics Barack Obama, seemingly basking in the Transport, Infrastructure, and Communities committee Tof Donald Trump can use to describe glow of international praise for a variety Committee, I read this article with interest. report on this the Republican presidential candidate. of liberal good deeds, such as accepting It states that the Liberal government has legislation is Some of which cannot be printed in refugees from war-torn Syria and com- tasked the committee to review the Naviga- forthcoming these pages. mitting to slash carbon emissions. tion Protection Act this fall. A Transport is worrisome, For his supporters, though, there’s one But being an unabashed globalist Canada spokesperson is quoted as saying says description that fi ts perfectly with what comes with heavy baggage. that the committee will make its report to Conservative they want from their next president: Don- In his new role, Mr. Trudeau will be Parliament in early 2017. MP Kelly ald Trump, however imperfect, believes in looked upon to champion free trade, in- Transport Canada’s declaration that Block. putting America fi rst. cluding new opportunities with powerful a committee report on this legislation is Photograph It’s the guiding principle of a campaign emerging economies, such as China. forthcoming is worrisome given that the courtesy of that has come the closest to upending the Yet, despite the sunny rhetoric, committee has not discussed a review of the Kelly Block left-right divide dominating America’s two- Canada is not immune from the pressures Navigation Protection Act. party system since the Bill Clinton era. of a globalized trade order. It goes without saying that the govern- Consider that Mr. Trump, the repre- Canada’s manufacturing sector was ment of Canada does not task parliamentary sentative of a staunchly conservative greatly affected by the late-2000s reces- committees with assignments. Committees set party, prides himself as an avowed anti- sion, and has seemingly been unable to their own agendas, and determine who they Unless Liberal members have already globalist, a term largely used by progres- take advantage of fortuitous macroeco- want to hear from and on what matters. Having decided to use their majority on the committee sives, while painting his Democratic op- nomic shifts. been fi rst elected in 2008 in the same class as to set the agenda without input from opposition ponent, Hillary Clinton, as the standard Mr. Trudeau is enjoying sky-high Transport Minister Marc Garneau, I know he members, it is hard to see how the minister’s of- bearer of a dying neoliberal world order approval ratings and should be able to understands this. fi ce considers it a done deal that this review will that has led to decimated industrial easily fend off attacks from a weakened Given that, as of this writing, the House occur and be done in spring 2017. heartlands in the U.S. opposition for the next year. Furthermore, Transport, Infrastructure, and Communities If Minister Garneau has already made up his The reasoning? Free trade hasn’t been bleeding a few seats in the country’s Committee has not met since June 15, and mind on what changes he wants made to the good for the country, and has cost it thou- retracting manufacturing belt likely won’t has not discussed or committed to undertak- Navigation Protection Act, and is looking for a sands of stable, well-paying manufactur- dent hopes for a future Liberal majority. ing a review of this act, I can only speculate positive committee report for political cover, it ing jobs. But a time may come when Mr. Trudeau on why a Transport Canada spokesper- would be a waste of the committee’s time and a Sensing the appeal of the anti-free- will see his globalist sensibilities grappling son asserted that the committee would be disappointing way of doing business. trade message championed by Mr. Trump with palpable economic anxieties of Ca- reporting to Parliament on the Navigation There are far more important affairs for and her opponent in the primaries, Bernie nadians, most likely when it comes time to Protection Act in early 2017. this committee, and this minister, to attend to. Sanders, Ms. Clinton has sought to break fi nally render a decision on the TPP. Here are the facts: on June 20, Minister Gar- For example, Jetlines is waiting for Transport away from this distasteful designation, When Ford announced it would shift neau and Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc Canada’s approval to launch a new low-cost most prominently by voicing her opposi- all small-car production to Mexico earlier wrote the Transport and Fisheries committees carrier in Canada, and Kinder Morgan is wait- tion to the continent-spanning Trans-Pacif- this month, Mr. Trump swiftly condemned a letter asking them to consider examining the ing on marine export permits for the Trans ic Partnership trade deal after champion- the plan and promised to slap a 35 per 2012 changes to the Navigation Protection Act. Mountain pipeline expansion project. ing it while serving as secretary of state. cent import tax on the vehicles. A request was made, nothing more. The Kelly Block Justin Trudeau, though, has had no What would Mr. Trudeau do if that Transport Committee is under no obligation Member of Parliament for Carlton Trail- such ambivalence about assuming the happened here? Would he shed his in- to respond. Eagle Creek, Sask. mantle of champion of the liberal world ternational golden-boy image to become order from the departing U.S. president Captain Canada? Article distorts Turkish role in Syrian crisis, says Turkish ambassador

e: “Is ISIS really losing?” (The Hill Times, other terrorist attacks. Turkey banned 38,000 RSept. 7, p. 12). It is inconceivable to see foreigners with ties to terrorist organiza- that facts as undeniable as the expulsion tions from entering the country, caught and of millions of people by a brutal regime deported almost 3,500, and 1,000 terrorists and the scope of terror organizations’ have been jailed. It has been part of the In- widespread atrocities might still not be ternational Coalition against Daesh since the established in some minds. That is why I am beginning. Turkey supported the Free Syrian compelled to make factual comments. Army to take back Jarablus from Daesh. If Turkey had immediately sealed its bor- The objective of Turkey’s recent operation der when the humanitarian crisis started—as was to ensure the advancement of the Syrian the author suggested, against the emerging opposition on the ground against Daesh and “Islamic State”—we would have witnessed push the Daesh terrorists away from the posi- the greatest carnage the world had ever had. tions where they found shelter and resources. Turkey is not only hosting almost three mil- And that is why we have been pounding lion victims from Syria and Iraq. It is also Daesh targets and losing soldiers in Syria. currently fi ghting against Daesh (also known In these times, one must avoid build- as ISIS, ISIL, and Islamic State), which con- ing false images and distorting the general tributes to this great tragedy, and is aiming at picture, the other side of which is the greatest ending its terror attacks inside Turkey. refugee crisis of mankind. Daesh is a national-security threat to Selçuk Ünal Turkey. Turkey has lost many civilians to Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey Daesh, PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party), and Ottawa, Ont.

EDITORIAL Crane, Jim Creskey, Murray Dobbin, Gwynne Dyer, Michael CORPORATE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Craig DELIVERY INQUIRIES Please send letters to the editor to the above SENIOR REPORTERS Tim Naumetz and Laura Ryckewaert Geist, Greg Elmer, Alice Funke, J.L. Granatstein, Éric Grenier, Caldbick, Martin Reaume, Ulle Baum [email protected] street address or e-mail to [email protected]. REPORTER, POWER & INFLUENCE ASSISTANT Dennis Gruending, Cory Hann, Tim Harper, Chantal Hébert, ADVERTISING MARKETING DIRECTOR Chris 613-688-8822 Deadline is Wednesday at noon, Ottawa time, for EDITOR Rachel Aiello Jenn Jefferys, David T. Jones, Joe Jordan, Warren Kinsella, Peixoto the Monday edition and Friday at noon for the NEWS REPORTERS Chelsea Nash, Marco Vigliotti Camille Labchuk, Gillian McEachern, Arthur Milnes, Nancy Wednesday edition. Please include your full name, PHOTOGRAPHERS Sam Garcia, Andrew Meade, Peckford, Kate Purchase, Tim Powers, Michael Qaqish, PRODUCTION address and daytime phone number. The Hill Times Cynthia Münster, and Jake Wright Jeremy Richler, Susan Riley, Ken Rubin, Sarah Schmidt, Rick PRODUCTION MANAGER Benoit Deneault reserves the right to edit letters. Letters do not POWER & INFLUENCE ASSISTANT EDITOR Smith, Evan Sotiropoulos, Scott Taylor, Ian Wayne, Nelson SENIOR GRAPHIC, ONLINE DESIGNER Joey Sabourin reflect the views of The Hill Times. Thank you. Wiseman, Les Whittington and Armine Yalnizyan GRAPHIC DESIGNER Melanie Brown Christina Leadlay Publications Mail Agreement No. 40068926 EDITORIAL CARTOONIST Michael De Adder WEB DESIGNER Kobra Amirsardari PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Denis Calnan, Simon ADVERTISING BY HILL TIMES PUBLISHING INC. ADDRESSES TO: CIRCULATION DEPT. Doyle, Christopher Guly, Leslie MacKinnon, Carl VICE PRESIDENT MARKETING AND 69 Sparks Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5A5 69 Sparks Street, Ottawa, ON K1P 5A5 Meyer, Cynthia Münster, and Selina Chignall MULTIMEDIA SALES Steve MacDonald ADMINISTRATION (613) 232-5952 Fax (613) 232-9055 COLUMNISTS Keith Brooks, Karl Bélanger, Andrew DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Samim FINANCE/ADMINISTRATION Tracey Wale Canadian Publications Mail Agreement No. 40068926 CMCA 2012 Better AUDITED Newspaper Cardozo, John Chenier, David Coletto, Sheila Copps, David Massoom CIRCULATION SALES MANAGER Chris Rivoire www.hilltimes.com Winner THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 9 INSIDE DEFENCE UK LIBYA REPORT

during the revolution are now in One of the the hands of terrorists, rebels, and only traces Obama’s right, insurgents in 20 other nations. left in August Given that outcome, it is no 2011 of wonder that United States President Libyan leader Barack Obama recently referred Muammar Libya became a to the Libyan intervention as a Gaddafi at his “shit show.” Of course, in the world former home of fi nger-pointing and shirking of in Tripoli was a responsibility, Obama blames the bullet-pierced ‘shit show.’ We British and the French for leading poster of him. the campaign to overthrow Gad- Photograph dafi and then failing to stabilize the courtesy of Scott country following his murder. Taylor need an inquiry At the very least, these nations are admitting the obvious; and in the case of the Brits, they are At that juncture, South Africa selves a massive pat on the back chastising their then-leader for was trying to broker a peace deal by staging an elaborate victory into our role his role in the debacle. that would see a formal partition parade and celebratory fl y-past Where is the clamour in Canada of Libya and leave Gaddafi in over Parliament Hill in November for a similar investigation into our control of his own tribal areas. 2011. Those ceremonies included We claimed we thorizing NATO to protect Libyan country’s role in that massive fail- However, our boy Baird want- the awarding of the Order of civilians from reprisals, the report ure? The prime minister at the time, ed none of that plan, and on June Canada to Lt.-Gen. Bouchard would liberate the concludes that Cameron instead Stephen Harper, and his warmon- 27, 2011, he fl ew secretly into for his successful defeat of the embarked upon the misguided gering foreign minister, John Baird, Benghazi to meet with the Libyan Libyan military. Libyan people from path of assisting Libyan rebels to were quick to trumpet at every op- rebels. Baird’s message was clear: Now that Obama has declared a despot; instead we oust leader Muammar Gaddafi . portunity the fact that the NATO-led NATO wanted Gaddafi gone. the whole intervention a “shit Beyond the singular goal of top- military intervention was command- As soon as Baird’s plane show,” we should feel like complete delivered them into pling the Libyan leader, there was ed by none other than Lieutenant- touched down in Rome following dolts for having celebrated it with anarchy. no clear plan to deal with a post- General Charles Bouchard of the his hours-long whirlwind visit, marching bands and ticker tape. Gaddafi Libya. As a result, once the Royal Canadian Air Force. he told a reporter that he was Like the Brits, we should NATO-backed rebels achieved vic- Canada also furnished six CF- impressed with the rebels. “I saw launch a parliamentary commit- tory, the country quickly descended 18 Hornets to bomb the bejesus a commitment and a passion that tee investigation into the role into a state of violent anarchy. out of Gaddafi ’s loyalists under you can only see when you’re our political leadership played in The country is now a failed state the ironic authority of a UN reso- sitting across the table from these committing Canada to the fore- with no functioning central govern- lution to enforce a no-fl y zone. men and women,” Baird breath- front of the Libyan catastrophe. ment. There are an estimated 2,000 That’s right, folks. NATO lessly said. “It certainly had a We claimed we would liberate the SCOTT TAYLOR separate private militias—many of dropped bombs on Libyans to positive impression on me.” Libyan people from a despot; instead them Islamic extremists, including prevent Gaddafi from dropping For the record, by that stage of we delivered them into anarchy. supporters of Daesh, the militant bombs on Libyans. the rebellion, there were already David Cameron is not the only TTAWA—Last week, a Brit- group also known as ISIS, ISIL, and Diplomatically, Baird was the numerous media reports reveal- one responsible for the ongoing Oish parliamentary committee the Islamic State. Libya is also an most bellicose Western politician ing the fact that most parties in deaths and suffering in Libya; he published a report that roundly unchecked staging area for human demanding the ouster of Gaddafi . the anti-Gaddafi coalition were in has Canadian company in Harper condemned former prime minister traffi ckers preying upon African When a stalemate had developed fact Islamic extremists—some with and Baird. David Cameron’s role in the 2011 asylum seekers desperately striving during the 2011 revolution, the rebels links to al-Qaeda—and an assort- Scott Taylor is editor and pub- international intervention in Libya. to fi nd a better life in Europe. controlled eastern Libya, while Gad- ment of criminal organizations. lisher of Esprit de Corps magazine. Rather than complying with It is also believed that vast dafi loyalists were fi rmly entrenched Following the defeat of Gad- [email protected] the United Nations resolution au- arsenals funnelled into Libya in the western provinces. dafi , Harper and Baird gave them- The Hill Times

GLOBAL AFFAIRS DEFENCE Syria: another ceasefi re bites the dust?

ian army personnel on Saturday, then the extreme Islamists will Nusra Front’s need to break the full text of the Russo-American It looks like but everybody knows that air take over all of Syria. The fantasy public link, and wasn’t angry ceasefi re agreement, but the U.S. the Obama strikes sometimes hit the wrong of a “third force” in Syria, made up at its Syrian branch.) But even insists on keeping it secret. (The people. It was a mistake, that’s all, of democracy-loving non-Islamist Washington could see through Russians, naturally, are pushing administration and the Russians really under- rebels who could defeat both the this fl imsy disguise, and Nusra for it to be made public, but so far has accepted the stand that—but it was a mistake Islamists and Assad, has died (under its new name) is still on they have respected the deal.) that tells us a lot about how far even in the U.S. State Department the hit list. So the ceasefi re, as such, is regrettable necessity the U.S. has moved. and the Pentagon. Unfortunately, the “moderate” probably doomed, but the crab- of leaving Assad in Until recently the United The “moderate” rebels that the groups are not only in close alli- wise, deeply embarrassing shift States, still formally pledged to United States has backed for so ance with Nusra, but are physi- of American policy towards a power, although it still overthrow the Assad regime, long make up no more than 10 cally mixed in with the Islamist recognition of the strategic reali- would not attack Islamic State or 15 per cent of the real fi ghting forces. They will get bombed too ties in Syria will continue. There cannot bring itself to troops if they were fi ghting the strength of the anti-Assad forces, if they do not break their links is therefore hope that the fi ghting say so publicly. Syrian army. (That’s why Islamic and most of them are actually with the Islamist extremists and will stop one day. State captured the historic city of allied to the Islamists. In fact, the somehow move away from them, A year from now, the areas Palmyra two years ago: the U.S. “moderates” wouldn’t survive long so the ceasefi re co-sponsored by controlled by the Assad regime, air force would not strike the long without their Islamist alliance— the U.S. and Russia demands that including at least three-quarters and vulnerable IS line of com- so it’s time for Washington to they do exactly that. Unfortunate- of the Syrian population, will munications across the desert, abandon them. ly, they can’t. probably be the same as now because that would have been The ceasefi re terms show that They can’t do it because on or maybe a little bit bigger. The “helping Assad.”) Kerry has implicitly accepted that their own they could never hope surviving “moderates,” having de- GWYNNE DYER But the U.S. air attack that logic, for they demand that the to overthrow the Assad regime, tached themselves from al-Nusra, went astray at Deir al-Zor last Syrian government and the “mod- and also because the Islamists will hold little bits of territory and weekend was targeting troops erates” stop shooting and bomb- will start killing them as traitors will be observing a real ceasefi re. ONDON, U.K.—As the Syr- with the Islamic State (also ing, whereupon the American and if they even try to break away. The Kurds will still control Lian ceasefi re arranged by the known as ISIS, ISIL, and Daesh) Russian air forces will co-operate So the “moderates” haven’t really a band of territory across the United States and Russia teeters on who were in direct contact with in bombing the Islamists. And the accepted the ceasefi re either, and extreme north of Syria unless the brink of collapse, it’s clear that the Syrian army. It’s because the targets will not only be Islamic the Russians are quite right to Turkey has waged and won a the main problem lies in Wash- two sides were so close together State but also the al-Qaeda-linked complain that they have “not met full-scale war to conquer it. And ington. Moscow’s goal has never that the planes hit the Syrian group that was known until re- a single obligation” of the truce. the Russians and the Americans been in doubt: it wants the regime troops by mistake. American dip- cently as the Nusra Front. Everything we know about the will both be bombing the terri- of Bashar al-Assad to survive. The lomats still deny it, but the U.S. is The Nusra Front saw this ceasefi re argues that the Obama tories still controlled by Islamic Obama administration has been now willing to help Assad, at least coming, so it recently changed administration has accepted the State and the former Nusra Front, reluctantly moving towards the sometimes. its name to Jabhat Fateh al-Sham regrettable necessity of leav- although in less than perfect same conclusion, but it simply The strategic calculation that (Front for the Conquest of Syria) ing the Assad regime in power, harmony. can’t admit it, even to itself. has driven U.S. Secretary of State and said that it has cut its ties although it still cannot bring itself Gwynne Dyer is a United The Russian government bit- John Kerry into this uncomfort- with al-Qaeda. (An al-Qaeda to say so publicly. Kingdom-based independent terly condemned the American able position is brutally simple. If spokeman said that the terror- This conclusion would proba- journalist. air strike that killed 60 to 80 Syr- Assad’s regime does not survive, ist organization understood the bly be even clearer if we knew the The Hill Times 10 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 OPINION ENVIRONMENT

If the mining sector could turn back the clock Harper’s Environmental to 2011, before Stephen Harper’s Conservative government Assessment Act overhaul changed the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, failed mining. Let’s fi x it it would—in a heartbeat, writes Pierre Gratton. indigenous Canadians. can bring to a region are lost The Hill Times The imposition of Let me explain. (including all associated spin-offs, photograph by Mining is the sector that un- layers of process indigenous employment, impact Andrew Meade dergoes the most federal environ- benefi t agreements, etc.), but the on only the mining mental assessments (EAs) under environment is also not protected. industry does not CEAA 2012. Why is this? Because, Currently, three mines—two in in 2012, the number of federal EAs northeast British Columbia and protect Canada’s collapsed from more than 6,000 one in New Brunswick—are faced environment, per year to fewer than 100. Besides with this situation. These are the work of the National Energy regions that could use a new mine further Board on energy projects, mining right about now. is virtually the only activity on the CEAA 2012 has other prob- reconciliation landscape left that Ottawa has a lems. As an act, it is much more with indigenous close look at. In fact, in 2012, the rigid than its predecessor. As a federal government even removed result, we have seen deteriora- Canadians or build most of its own activities from tion in federal and provincial a strong economy. environmental review. co-ordination. For a sector subject with provincial requirements and act that is co-ordinated with other This has affected mining in a to both federal and provincial lacking the capacity for thought- federal permitting and indigenous number of ways, few of them positive. reviews, this means more delay ful follow-up. consultation obligations. The The most serious problem and uncertainty. For these reasons, we welcome imposition of layers of process is how CEAA 2012 gives short Further, the act is poorly in- the Trudeau government’s deci- on only the mining industry does shrift to the cumulative effects of tegrated with post-EA federal per- sion to review CEAA 2012 (and not protect Canada’s environ- human activity on ecosystems, mitting. For mining proponents, the Fisheries Act, where similar ment, further reconciliation with species at risk, and the rights of it’s not the time it takes for an EA problems also exist for our sector). indigenous Canadians, or build a PIERRE GRATTON indigenous peoples. Sure, effects to be completed that matters; it’s We welcome it not without trepi- strong economy. are considered, but only those the whole time from EA through dation, as constant review and Today, I’m delivering these that a prospective mine may to fi nal permitting. Today, some amendments to key environmental messages to the Greater Vancou- he headline may surprise you. contribute to a region; all other federal permits are known to take legislation are a source of much ver Board of Trade, but they also TAfter all, didn’t the mining activities (e.g. logging, oil and gas longer than the EA itself. uncertainty. However, the cur- need to be heard in Ottawa. Make industry benefi t from the “stream- development, construction) con- Finally, CEAA 2012 has cre- rent situation is unsustainable if no mistake: the policy decisions lining” measures of the Harper tinue unexamined and unchecked ated a life-of-mine, stand-alone Canada is to remain a jurisdiction that will be made over the next government in 2012? by the federal government. permit with conditions. This attractive to mining investment. few years will set the direction The answer is no. If mining could If it is concluded that a min- sounds like a good idea, and We need to fi nd a different of the Canadian mining industry turn back the clock to 2011, we ing project would contribute to a many provinces do the same. In way to assess cumulative effects. and our country for decades to would—in a heartbeat. We have a cumulative effect on an area, the fact, we gave qualifi ed support We need an act that fosters rather come. We cannot afford to choose strong interest in the new Trudeau mine faces a signifi cant risk of a to this idea at the time. Unfor- than discourages federal-provin- the wrong way. government’s review of the Cana- “no” decision, even when it’s the tunately, what’s happened is cial co-operation. We need an act Pierre Gratton is president dian Environmental Assessment Act other activities in the region that the federal government is now that doesn’t only evaluate mining and CEO of the Mining Associa- (CEAA) 2012, as it’s a chance to fi x are having greater impacts. In treading further into provincial projects but looks at other, large- tion of Canada. an act that isn’t working fairly for this situation, the enormous eco- jurisdiction than ever before, cre- scale industrial activities and [email protected] the economy, the environment, or nomic contributions that a mine ating new risks of entanglement landscape impacts. We need an The Hill Times

NEED TO KNOW TRUDEAU AT THE UN A fresh voice for Canada in world affairs any Canadian leader in decades, While stepping up Canada’s landscape in the United States, The Trudeau government’s Trudeau, who has is moving to make Canada a play- UN involvement, Trudeau is Britain, and Europe. commitment to helping Syrian attracted more global er again at the international body making it clear his government The suggestion that govern- asylum seekers, including Can- after a long period of anti-UN has a message to deliver about ments can use their fi scal levers ada’s acceptance of more than media attention than posturing by Stephen Harper’s the current dynamic rocking the to improve living standards is 30,000 refugees, drew applause at any Canadian leader Conservative government. political environment in much of particularly potent in the U.S., the UN Monday. The federal Liberals plan the Western world. where the public has been largely This also runs counter to U.S. in decades, is moving to reverse Canada’s declining He is stressing that governments convinced through billions of trends. U.S. President Barack to make Canada a interest in peacekeeping, having can be a force for improvement dollars of negative advertising Obama has been criticized for earmarked $450 million and 600 within their respective societies, and a nihilistic contingent of doing too little, too late to help player again at the troops for UN stability operations, that national leaders can take steps Republican legislators that the asylum seekers from Syria. And probably focusing on Africa. to effectively enhance economic governing establishment must Trump has campaigned on a plan UN. It’s part of a re-engagement growth and that prosperity can be a be purged—opening the way for to slam the door shut entirely. with the UN tied in part to Cana- force for stability in a fast-changing, Donald Trump’s candidacy. Trudeau’s stance is a fresh one da’s intention, announced earlier tension-ridden world. Trudeau is also doing what for Canada. And it will likely be this year by Trudeau, to seek a Domestically, the Liberals he can to offset the dangerous another eye-opener for Canadians prestigious two-year term on the have put this idea in practice growth of xenophobia being gen- who underestimate Trudeau’s am- Security Council in 2021. In what through budgetary measures to erated by politicians like Trump bitious agenda for change—both was widely seen as an embarrass- increase infrastructure spending who blame their country’s prob- domestically and abroad—and his ing condemnation of Harper’s and federal fi nancial support for lems on foreigners, particularly personal determination to make LES WHITTINGTON foreign policy and approach to families—a pro-growth stimulus immigrants. the most of his prime minister- international governance, Canada’s spending plan publicly lauded On Monday, co-chairing a ship. Unlike the occupants of 24 last attempt at a seat on the Secu- last week by International Mon- conference at the UN on refu- Sussex going back to the 1980s, TTAWA—Justin Trudeau is rity Council in 2010 fell fl at. etary Fund managing director gees, Trudeau urged countries to Trudeau is making no apologies Oputting the force of his person- Harper saw the UN as an inef- Christine Lagarde. She added do more to address the refugee for his proactive instincts and ality and fast-growing international fective talking shop and made that she’d like to see it catch on crisis spawned by the Syrian civil willingness to use the power of reputation on the line as he bucks only a half-hearted effort to give globally. confl ict. Canada will raise by his offi ce for what the Liber- the trend toward bitter, beggar-thy- Canada a role in the 193-nation Trudeau’s positive stance at 10 per cent its contribution for als see as positive reforms and neighbour nativism by arguing at organization. Canada’s motiva- the UN is all the more interesting humanitarian assistance in Syria, programs. the United Nations for generous, tion on the world stage “is no because it fl ies in the face of the Iraq and other countries, he said. Les Whittington is an Ottawa inclusive government policy. longer to please every dictator powerful wave of cynicism and He said Canada will increase its journalist and a regular contribu- Trudeau, who has attracted with a vote at the United Nations,” rejection regarding elected lead- overall global humanitarian relief tor to The Hill Times. more global media attention than Harper once said. ers that is reshaping the political allotment by $64.5-million. The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 11 PLAIN SPEAK NDP LEADERSHIP RACE

that 21 per cent of Canadians who voted for the New Democrats in NDP needs to get back in the game, 2015 would now vote Liberal. New Democrats across the country now have many hard choices to make. Do they sit show Canadians they matter back, as they have for years, and let things happen at a more organic pace, or do they become despite it being nearly a year NDP more disruptive about their own Get some of those since that election loss. Hard to Leader circumstances to make their lot dynamic young get the broad public enthused Tom in life better? From the outside, about your party when none of Mulcair it looks as if they are still licking leaders in the party your own yet has put their hand is not their wounds from last year’s loss. and the movement up for the job. going to They need to suck it up and get Let us not forgot the Leapers: let himself past that, because if you feel like to announce they Avi Lewis and his gang who stole be pushed a loser you behave like one. are running now. the show at the New Democratic out the The Liberals are steam-rolling convention in April. While not door, over them. The Conservatives much has been heard of Lewis in writes Tim have numerous candidates put- recent months, he claims the Leap Powers. ting their hands up for leader- Manifesto is alive and well. Lewis The Hill ship. Do New Democrats hope told the CBC’s The House this week Times a few Mulcair master classes in that, “We’re talking about some photograph the Question Period are going to crazy stuff like a national conven- by Jake change their fortunes? Or some TIM POWERS tion a year from now and a plat- Wright strong positioning on the environ- form that actually brings a deeper mental debates or health accord analysis than those 1,400 words in discussions will turn the tide? TTAWA—It has to be a the Leap Manifesto...We’re consid- Hard to imagine that will happen. Ofrustrating time to be a New ering all kinds of things and this They need to get back in the Democrat in Canada. In 2015, be- is not the last you will hear.” Phew, game and show people they matter. coming government seemed like well that is great—or not—depend- Get some of those dynamic young an actual possibility. Currently ing on your political horizon. leaders in the party and the move- fi nding a pulse is a real challenge. When it rains, it pours! If you ment to announce they are running The guy they fi red in April thought the traditional allies of now. Demonstrate to Canadians seemingly won’t leave his job until the NDP—the big unions—would they have a sense of purpose, and a new leader is elected. Nothing cut the leadership of the party shape a debate on their terms. says change like staying the same. some slack, well you’d be wrong. 3.3 million workers, said the NDP effectively masquerading as pro- Learn from Leap: don’t let them Even when you try to dump him, Unifor President Jerry Dias told needed a new leader. My guess is gressives to the delight of many jump all over you. If nothing else, you can’t, as evidenced by a recent CTV a week ago that Tom Mulcair that perspective hasn’t changed, on the left. According to a poll demonstrate some energy and en- caucus retreat, when all NDP MPs should have “stepped down yes- nor will it be undone until Thom- done by Abacus Data at the end thusiasm. Get out of this coma. came out to sing Auld Lang Syne terday.” He also observed that the as Mulcair is gone. However, the of August, 72 per cent of respon- Tim Powers is vice-chairman with Mr. Mulcair. “Na Na Na Na, Dippers were “stuck” and “rudder- gnarly Mulcair is not going to let dents who self-describe them- of Summa Strategies and manag- Hey Hey Hey, Goodbye,” would less” without a new leader. himself be pushed out the door. selves as being on the left said ing director of Abacus Data. He is have been a better anthem. In April, Hassan Yussuff, presi- Identity theft is also a problem they approve of the Liberal gov- a former adviser to Conservative So far no one—yes, no one— dent of Canadian Labour Con- New Democrats have encoun- ernment. Perhaps as disturbing political leaders. has entered the leadership race, gress, which says it represents tered. The Trudeau Liberals are for the NDP, data also revealed The Hill Times

INSIDE POLITICS CONSERVATIVE PARTY LEADERSHIP MacKay’s opt-out likely benefi ts Bernier most

Quebec comes Kellie Leitch, or Michael Chong. colleagues have not rushed to line not address them effi ciently in Many were convinced more up behind him. The Beauce MP is French and English. There are second only to compelling aspirants were still to more popular outside his prov- no brownie points to be had for come. ince’s caucus than inside it, as are knowing the difference between Ontario in terms The addition of Tony Clement, his libertarian prescriptions. bonjour and bonsoir. of its weight in the Deepak Obhrai, and Brad Trost to And few federal parties would The last party to try to turn the list of candidates has funda- contemplate having two Quebec back the clock to a non-bilingual leadership ballot mentally altered the wait-and- leaders in a row. On that basis, a prime minister was the Reform box. None of the see dynamics in evidence at the caucus rising star such as former under Preston Manning. By the convention. provincial leader Gérard Deltell, time Manning set out to re- other declared If anything, with the two for- who is not running this time but brand the party as the Canadian mer ministers who were widely might want to do so in the future Alliance in the late 1990s, his candidates considered as de facto front-run- would not necessarily be inclined inability to address voters in both has anything ners to succeed Harper last spring to support Bernier. offi cial languages was costing approaching a not on the ballot, the search for Still, it is one thing to not want votes not only in Quebec but also Peter MacKay’s decision not to enter alternatives has resumed with a to support a fellow Quebecer and in other parts of Canada. the Conservative leadership race may profi le in Quebec. vengeance. another to come up with a viable At the time of Manning’s cam- help Maxime Bernier, pictured, but As the dust settles on MacK- alternative. In Quebec, as else- paign to for the Alliance leader- Mr. Bernier’s Quebec colleagues have ay’s announcement, here are where, there is much searching ship, I followed his tour in some not rushed to line up behind him. The some early observations as to its outside the offi cial stable for a bedrock Reform communities of Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright impact—and a note of caution. horse to back. southeastern Ontario. Looking at the declared candi- That quest even has some Con- The people who came out to dates and the inevitable numbers servatives—in particular but not his events genuinely liked the he lost the Canadian Alliance game a leadership campaign ulti- exclusively among fans of former Reform party founder. Many had leadership to the more bilingual CHANTAL HÉBERT mately comes down to, MacKay’s transport minister Lisa Raitt—ar- supported the nascent party since Stockwell Day. decision probably most benefi ts guing the case for a leader who is its inception. They were more If Manning could not convince Bernier. not up to the task of campaigning than happy to welcome Manning some diehard Reform activists to ONTREAL—With Peter The former Tory leader was effi ciently in French. in their homes. overlook his language shortcom- MMacKay and Jason Kenney Bernier’s main and possibly only Good luck with that. I was the only francophone in ings 16 years ago, no 2016 Con- on the sidelines of the Conserva- serious competition in Quebec—a Canada has not had a prime sight. In more than a few places, servative hopeful should expect tive leadership battle, a critical province that may not account for minister who was not fl uently party members would wait until to attract support for a party led number of votes are up for grabs a lot of Conservative members bilingual since 1968. Over that Manning’s car had pulled out by a less-than-fl uently-bilingual in the campaign to fi nd a succes- but one that comes second only to period, every attempt by an oppo- of the driveway to ask me if his leader from enough voters to sor for Stephen Harper. Ontario in terms of its weight in sition party to sell Canadians on French was up to debating Jean bring it back to power. When the party gathered for the leadership ballot box. the superior merits of a unilingual Chrétien in an election debate. Chantal Hébert is a national a national convention last spring, None of the other declared leader has ended in defeat. Most For all his efforts Manning affairs writer for The Toronto most of the delegates were not candidates has anything ap- of today’s voters have never lived never became fl uent enough Star. This column was released on ready to commit to then-declared proaching a profi le in Quebec. under a federal government led to pull off a debate. In the end, Sept. 17. candidates Maxime Bernier, For all that, Bernier’s Quebec by a prime minister who could that was part of the reason why The Hill Times 12 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 EQUAL VOICE DEMOCRATIC REFORM

PCO offi cial Isabelle Mondou and Minister of Electoral Reform Democratic Institutions Maryam Monsef were among the 20 per cent of female witnesses at Committee must hear the Electoral Reform Committee this summer. The Hill Times photograph by from women this fall Jake Wright It heard this summer from many men as women. Of the 62 witnesses Moreover, with Canada ranked a dismal proved otherwise. During these sessions, who appeared before the committee this 64th internationally for women’s representa- women and men both told Minister of nearly fi ve times as many summer, just 13 were women. That’s a mere tion in national parliaments, it is essential that Democratic Institutions Maryam Monsef 20 per cent. In almost half of all meetings, the committee’s review and decision-making that they want a system that is more inclu- men as women. fully 100 per cent of the witnesses were process for electoral reform recognize and sive of women—both as candidates on the men. At one point, the committee convened consider the effects on women’s representa- ballot and, ultimately, in the House. seven meetings in a row without hearing tion in all parts of the federal political system, No doubt, none of this is lost on Minister from a single female witness. including democratic engagement. Monsef. As a younger minister and the fi rst Af- Nonetheless, some of the most provocative In a submission to the committee ghan-born woman to serve in Parliament, she testimony this summer came from this pool of authored by political scientist Grace Lore embodies some of the best of what Canada’s 13 women. Melanee Thomas of the Univer- on behalf of Equal Voice, we have recom- democracy has to offer. She is acutely aware NANCY PECKFORD AND GRACE LORE sity of Calgary told the committee that “the mended a number of measures. of the impact of a Parliament that isn’t fully suggestion that Canadian women, Canadians First, the federal nomination process— inclusive or representative of the population. who are not white, and indigenous Canadians not just the voting system—should be fully As the all-party committee begins its n 2016, the days of parliamentary com- need major institutional reform to achieve evaluated during this process to address is- cross-country consultations with Canadi- Imittee meetings dominated by often representation in anything close to fair num- sues of transparency, cost, and predictabil- ans, Equal Voice is encouraging women in well-meaning but largely male experts bers is completely indefensible.” ity. It remains a key barrier and gateway all of their diversity to come to the table. and organizations that often speak for This is because informal barriers to for women’s electoral participation. This includes political scientists, women’s only half of the population should be long political engagement prove to be far more Second, the pervasive issue of retaining organizations, former candidates, and gone. This should be especially true for the pernicious than any one electoral system. talented women to serve in an often-toxic elected offi cials, as well as younger women special committee convened by Parliament Jane Hilderman, executive director of political culture also needs to be addressed. who aspire to participate in federal politics. this past June to consider the fundamental Samara, cautioned that, while we can learn Finally, when evaluating electoral sys- Seeking out and listening to these wom- question of viable alternatives to Canada’s from other countries, each system has its tems, it is imperative to consider not just the en will provide MPs with the chance to bet- current fi rst-past-the-post electoral system. trade-offs, partisan advantage is hard to outcomes for descriptive representation (in ter understand the signifi cant limitations But, not surprisingly, despite Canada’s predict, and that no system eliminates the other words, the number of women elected), and enormous opportunities for women laudable aspirations for gender equality, need for Canadians to think strategically but also the consequences for women’s within each of the electoral systems under they don’t stand a chance of translating about their vote. capacity to substantively address issues that consideration, including our current one. into gender-equitable policies without con- Given the fact that Canada’s fi rst-past- disproportionately affect women. When the all-party committee issues certed effort and clear intentions. the-post system has been woefully imper- Equal Voice’s submission also contains its fi nal report by Dec. 1, its fi ndings and Despite having a mandate to evaluate fect in terms of the electoral outcomes it an analysis of the strengths and weak- recommendations must fully consider the the inclusivity and accessibility of Cana- has shaped for women who remain severely nesses of the three categories of electoral effects of changes to the political process da’s electoral system, the House Special under-represented, the committee—going reform systems being considered by the writ large on women’s participation in poli- Committee on Electoral Reform this forward—must be much more thoughtful committee: majority/plurality systems, tics. In 2016, anything less is unacceptable. summer heard from nearly fi ve times as about whom precisely they hear from. mixed systems, and proportional systems. Nancy Peckford is the executive direc- If anyone doubts women’s interest in tor of Equal Voice, a national, multi-parti- the issue, a full house for two quickly con- san organization dedicated to increasing vened consultations on women and elec- women’s participation in politics. Grace toral reform, co-convened in Toronto last Lore is Equal Voice’s senior researcher. week by Equal Voice and YWCA Canada, The Hill Times

GENDER BALANCE COMMITTEE WITNESSES THIS SUMMER

FEMALE Québec à Montréal Maryam Monsef, minister of democratic institutions Larry LeDuc, professor emeritus, University of Toronto Isabelle Mondou, assistant secretary to the cabinet and Dennis Pilon, associate professor of political science, York University counsel to the clerk of the Privy Council Jonathan Rose, associate professor of policital studies, Queen’s Maryantonett Flumian, president, Institute on Governance University Nathalie Des Rosiers, dean, faculty of law, civil law, Ottawa University Benoît Pelletier, law professor, University of Ottawa Nicole Goodman, director, Centre for e-Democracy, assistant Arend Lijphart, research professor emeritus of political science, professor, Munk School of Global Affairs University of California, San Diego Pippa Norris, professor, University of Sydney, McGuire Lecturer Christian Dufour, political scientist, analyst, and writer in Comparative Politics, Harvard, director of the Electoral Integrity Project Harold Jansen, political science professor, University of Lethbridge Yasmin Dawood, associate law professor and Canada Research Barry Cooper, professor, University of Calgary Chair in Democracy, Constitutionalism, and Electoral Law, Emmett Macfarlane, assistant professor, University of Waterloo University of Toronto Thomas S. Axworthy, public policy chair, Massey College, Katelynn Northam, electoral reform campaigner, Leadnow.ca University of Toronto Melanee Thomas, assistant professor of political science, Matthew P. Harrington, law professor, Université de Montréal University of Calgary Ed Broadbent, chair and founder, Broadbent Institute Mary Pitcaithly, Electoral Commission convenor, Electoral Jean-Pierre Charbonneau, Quebec democratic reform minister Management Board for Scotland (2002-2003) Jane Hilderman, executive director, Samara Jean-Sébastien Dufresne, president, Mouvement Démocratie Dara Lithwick, analyst, Library of Parliament Nouvelle Erin Virgint, analyst, Library of Parliament Peter John Loewen, director, School of Public Policy and Governance, and associate professor of political science, MALE University of Toronto Marc Mayrand, chief electoral offi cer Eric Maskin, Adams University Professor of economics, Harvard Stéphane Perrault, deputy chief electoral offi cer, regulatory affairs University Michel Roussel, deputy chief electoral offi cer, electoral events Louis Massicotte, political science professor, Laval University Jean-Pierre Kingsley, chief electoral offi cer, 1990-2007 Joachim Behnke, political science professor, Zeppelin University, Kenneth Carty, professor emeritus, University of British Columbia Germany Canadian Health Food Association’s New Director, Brian Tanguay, professor, political science, Wilfrid Laurier University Friedrich Pukelsheim, professor, Institut für Mathematik, Nelson Wiseman, director, Canadian studies program, and Universität Augsburg, Germany Regulatory Affairs and Policy Development political science professor, University of Toronto Andy O’Neill, Electoral Commission head, Electoral Management Michael Gallagher, professor of comparative politics, Trinity Board for Scotland College Dublin Darrell Bricker, CEO, IPSOS Public Affairs he Canadian Health Food and quality assurance. Her Michael Marsh, emeritus professor, Trinity College Dublin Gordon F. Gibson TAssociation is excited to background in food, natural Patrice Dutil, professor, Ryerson University Richard Johnston, political science professor, University of welcome Sherry Casey as our health products and other Peter Russell, professor emeritus of political science, University British Columbia of Toronto Taylor Gunn, president, Civix new Director of Regulatory consumer health products will Robert Peden, chief electoral offi cer, New Zealand Electoral Dominic Vézina, strategic adviser, Institut du Nouveau Monde Affairs and Policy Development. be an asset to CHFAs members Commission Graham Fox, president and CEO, Institute for Research on Sherry has extensive senior and the $7 billion industry they Tom Rogers, electoral commissioner, Australian Electoral Commission Public Policy David McLaughlin André Blais, political science professor, Université de Montréal Craig Scott, professor, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University experience in regulatory affairs support. Alex Himelfarb, clerk of the Privy Council, 2002-2006 Marcus Pistor, senior director, economics, resources and Henry Milner, senior researcher, chair in electoral studies, international affairs division, Library of Parliament Université de Montréal Ian McDonald, principal clerk, committees and legislative WWW.CHFA.CA Leslie Seidle, research director, Canada’s changing federal community, services directorate, House of Commons Institute for Research on Public Policy Eric Janse, clerk assistant, committees and legislative services Hugo Cyr, political science and law faculty dean, Université du directorate, House of Commons THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 13 OPINION MONTREAL GLOBAL FUND CONFERENCE

U2 front- culminated with a free concert or- man and ganized by Global Citizen featur- philanthropist Canada is back on ing Canadian and international Bono shares stars and attended by thousands a laugh with of activists from across Canada. Prime Min- The Global Fund, launched ister Justin the global stage in 2002 to provide resources to Trudeau at fi ght HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and the Global malaria, is considered a successful Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Fund pledging If the goal was to partnership model that is saving Governor General David Johnston, conference in lives in an effective manner. To date, International Development Minister Montreal on show that Canada the fund says it has helped save 20 Marie-Claude Bibeau, Health Min- Sept. 17. PMO can be called ister Jane Philpott, Foreign Minister million lives. With the new amounts pledged this past weekend, it will photograph by upon to rally the Stéphane Dion, Parliamentary Adam Scotti Secretary to the International De- save another eight million in the international velopment Minister Karina Gould, coming three years. More important- community around Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, and many ly, it aims to eliminate these three more were hosting and championing diseases by 2030, when the UN’s urgent global issues, the conference, soliciting generous Sustainable Development Goals are pledges from the many presidents, set to end poverty globally. it was achieved. prime ministers, and ministers pres- Canada’s own pledge, which ent, some pledging for the fi rst time. was already announced last May, Other key players at the con- was among the top seven pledges the global stage on international ference included Michaëlle Jean, at the conference. It was also 23 was much talk about the integrated development issues; that was made secretary general of the Organisa- per cent higher than its previous nature of the global challenges we abundantly clear over the week- tion internationale de la Fran- Global Fund pledge. currently face: improving health end. It must use this position wisely cophonie, Ban Ki-moon, secretary What we do not know is where and education, enhancing peace and to champion the critically impor- general of the UN, and Bill Gates, this additional money comes from. equality, adapting to and mitigating JULIA SÁNCHEZ tant, but often neglected, causes co-chair of the Gates Foundation Will it refl ect new funds in Budget climate change, and more. that will dramatically change the (and sustained supporter of the 2017 and beyond for international Canada also needs to recog- lives of millions of people around ast weekend, the Canadian fund, which seeks to fi ght AIDS, assistance? Will it be shifted from nize that the days of dealing with the world, with a focus on the most government successfully hosted tuberculosis, and malaria). other development priorities? If issues in silos are over—including L marginalized, those living in fragile the fi fth Global Fund replenish- Civil society groups were in- yes, which ones? These are im- the need to address these issues states, and women and girls. ment conference in Montreal. If volved in all aspects of the confer- portant questions that should be at home as we champion them Canada can make an invalu- the objective was to demonstrate ence. Some private sector partners of answered to strengthen the leader- internationally. For all of this, more able contribution to the world at that Canada can be called upon to the global fund were also engaged. ship momentum that has been put resources are urgently needed, and this complex juncture, but it will rally the international community The very important task of in place at the conference. Canada has a lot of room for im- not go far enough if important new around urgent global issues, it was garnering momentum in Canada To build on this momentum, proving its standing on this front. resources are not put on the table. achieved. The fund almost reached and globally for this conference Canada needs to do two things: fi rst, Second, Canada needs to use its Julia Sánchez is president- the $13-billion pledge target was spearheaded by a network of it needs to put its money where its leadership and convening capacity CEO of the Canadian Council ($12.9-billion on last count, with advocacy groups, including Re- mouth is, as suggested by global to tackle issues that have not been for International Co-operation, some pledges still outstanding) and sults Canada and the Interagency leaders including Ban Ki-moon, and championed or addressed by oth- Canada’s national coalition of the government was successful in Coalition on AIDS and Develop- increase the international assistance ers, such as the full range of sexual civil society organizations work- mobilizing its top representatives, ment. Other groups hosted side budget so that it can continue to play reproductive health and rights for ing globally to achieve sustain- civil society partners, and other events with their supporters, such this leadership and catalyzing role women and adolescent girls. able human development. stakeholders to put together an as the ONE campaign co-founded on a host of other pressing priorities. Canada is uniquely placed The Hill Times engaging, world-class event. by U2’s Bono. And the conference During the two-day summit there to provide critical leadership on 14 The Hill Times, wednesday, september 21, 2016 The Hill Times, wednesday, september 21, 2016 15 news Conflict of Interest

Ethics Com- extend invitations to the spouse of at the restaurant, with a receipt missioner Mary an invited public office holder. provided by RED FM showing they Dawson, pic- It was while investigating these paid $8.95 for her bowl of soup. ‘This is not exactly the Pentagon tured in 2015, initial allegations, though, that Ms. Ms. Dawson said that there was ruled that a Dawson said her office became “no evidence of a pattern of pay- CRTC official aware of the birthday gifts. ments for other meals” for her by violated conflict Gift-givers later received pri- RED FM, and that she didn’t con- of interest rules vate meeting sider this “small gesture sufficient Papers’: Lobbyists voice concern over by accepting According to the report, Ms. Ven- to raise an additional concern” flowers and nard’s assistant first invited stake- under the Conflict of Interest Act. chocolates holders to meetings at her office According to documents given by rep- in Calgary and arranged site tours provided by Mr. Samuel, Ms. Ven- ethics commissioner’s ruling on gifts resentatives of to visit stakeholders, in addition to nard’s assistant invited him and a radio station providing them with personal in- Mr. Sanghera on the morning of on her birthday. formation about the commissioner, Ms. Vennard’s birthday to come by Government tesy or protocol, or that are seen on whether such inexpensive and Greg MacEachern, senior vice- on official business. Ms. Dawson The Hill Times including her birthday. the CRTC’s Calgary office during as customary given the position of innocuous gifts could truly influence president of government relations found no such claim was submit- photograph by The RED-branded stations, an the day to help celebrate. relations the public office holder. the conduct of a public office holder. with Environics Communications, ted, and dismissed the allegation. Sam Garcia acronym for Reflecting Ethnic Since Mr. Samuel was not in Ms. Vennard estimated the price “I’d like to believe that we’d be offered a similar rebuke. Another concern was that Diversity, are owned by Kulwinder Calgary that day, he and Mr. Sang- practitioners call of the flowers and chocolates at appointing people...to boards that are “This is not exactly the Pen- Ms. Vennard’s husband attended Sanghera through corporations, hera decided to send an email to for a higher bar in $50 to $60, though the invoice ob- of such a high calibre that wine or tagon Papers or the Watergate meetings with CRTC stakehold- the Multicultural Broadcasting Ms. Vennard and send flowers and tained as part of the investigation hockey tickets wouldn’t sway them in investigation,” he said. ers while working as a registered Corporation Inc. and Asia Broad- chocolates, which Ms. Vennard later determining what showed the cost to be $123.90, any way,” Andrew Balfour, vice-pres- “When these investigations are lobbyist, which Ms. Dawson again casting Corporation Inc., and man- responded to by thanking them for constitutes buying according to the report. ident with Ensight Canada, told The going on, I would assume one has found no evidence to support. aged by Bijoy Samuel. the gifts, Ms. Dawson’s report shows. In her ruling, Ms. Dawson cited Hill Times. “If we’re attracting and to keep in mind that you want to Rather, the investigation found Mr. Samuel described them as The next month, Mr. Samuel and influence. the absence of a pre-existing rela- recruiting people that can be ‘bought’ have the confidence of Canadi- that none of the registered lobbying ethnic radio stations. Mr. Sanghera met with Ms. Vennard, tionship between Ms. Vennard and for flowers and chocolate we have a ans for the utility of the time and activities by Ms. Vennard’s husband The CRTC issued a broadcasting holding a private 20-minute meeting the two radio representatives as a greater problem to address.” resources. It’s going to be up to related to the CRTC, and had taken licence for the RED FM station in over complaints about a rival ethnic Continued from page 1 factor, noting that they had first met Meanwhile, another Ottawa- the office to decide hetherw or not place several years before her ap- Calgary on May 24, 2012, with the radio station in Surrey, B.C. (the only a few months earlier after she based lobbyist dismissed the gifts they’re investigations are worth pointment to the regulatory body. licence ending on Aug. 31, 2018. location of the other RED station), Ms. Dawson delivered the ver- assumed the position with the CRTC. as being more appropriate for the time and investment.” Furthermore, Alberta Corpo- Ms. Vennard’s term with the and interference from a private U.S. dict in a report published last week “She met them for the first time wooing a love interest than win- The investigation into Ms. rate Registry records showed her CRTC ends in May 2020. station, according to the report. that concluded Linda Vennard, a on May 29, 2015. Her only con- ning influence. Vennard was prompted by more husband’s consulting company It was at the invitation of Ms. In response to the allega- rookie Canadian Radio-television nection with them was as stake- “Sounds like [they are] trying to serious and far-reaching concerns was inactive and had been struck Vennard’s assistant that Mr. Samuel tions, Ms. Vennard has argued that and Telecommunications Com- holders. A birthday gift in these date her, not influence her,” joked the of potential wrongdoing that the from the registry since 2008. and Mr. Sanghera of expressed an the gifts were merely a token ges- mission commissioner for Alberta circumstances would be unusual lobbyist, who spoke on a not-for- watchdog ultimately dismissed. Finally, it was alleged that Ms. interest in meeting the commissioner ture and refusing them would’ve and the Northwest Territories, was and unexpected,” she wrote. attribution basis to be more frank. In January, Ms. Dawson was Vennard had received inappropri- at her office so they could become been impolite, and information wrong to accept the gifts sent by Jocelyne Brisebois, a spokes- Scott Thurlow, senior counsel referred by the Public Sector ate invitations for her and her acquainted, and it was the assistant about her birthday was provided representatives of companies that person for Ms. Dawson’s office, with public affairs firm TempleS cott Integrity Commissioner to inves- husband to attend a gala event who arranged a “meet and greet” by her assistant, the report shows. run two RED FM-branded radio said that the Conflict of Interest Associates Inc., argued that Ms. tigate three conflict of interest al- and symposium, and had failed to with the two and the commission- However, Ms. Dawson said stations, including one in Calgary. Act does not “generally provide for Dawson should set a higher bar for legations relating to Ms. Vennard, disclose these gifts to the office of er at a restaurant near the office in she believed, despite the fact that She determined that the pres- penalties for breaches of its sub- what constitutes buying influence. according to her report. the ethics commissioner. May 2015, according to the report. the gifts were provided in part ents could be “reasonably” seen stantive provisions,” and that pub- “Lobbyists have warned that it The first allegation centred Yet once again, Ms. Dawson Mr. Samuel said the purpose as a result of an intervention of as an attempt to influence Ms. lic disclosure is “the only sanction could get ridiculous. Sure, it was on a claim that Ms. Vennard, dismissed the allegation, saying of the meeting was to introduce the assistant, it was an “error in Vennard, and were not covered for such contraventions under the generous, but can’t we draw the line who started in the position in the Ms. Vennard attended the events themselves and provide some back- judgment on Ms. Vennard’s part to by an exception in the Conflict of legislation,” Postmedia reported. at something higher than demonstrat- spring of 2015, was expensing the in her official capacity as a CRTC ground regarding their outlets. accept them.” Interest Act that permits gifts seen Some in the government rela- ing courtesy?” Mr. Thurlow said in a CRTC for costs incurred by her commissioner and that it was a According to the report, Ms. [email protected] as “normal” expressions of cour- tions field, however, cast doubt view echoed by others in the field. husband while travelling with her common and accepted practice to Vennard said she had a light lunch The Hill Times

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Politics

POLITICS Too soon to judge how ‘stunning’ NDP MP Thibeault defection to provincial Liberals will play out

THE HILL TIMES PHOTOGRAPH BY JAKE WRIGHT

Robert Reich tells the Broadbent Institute’s second annual Progress Gala in Toronto that Canada is moving toward exactly the same degree of income and wealth inequality as the U.S.

By KATE MALLOY Jan. 12, 2015

PARLIAMENT HILL—Video evidence that the RCMP has not made public appears to be a key to deciding whether Prime Minister Stephen 300x250 +DUSHUZDVMXVWLÀHGRQ:HGQHVGD\WRGHVFULEHWKHVKRRWLQJGHDWKRID Rec 1 1DWLRQDO:DU0HPRULDOKRQRXUJXDUGDQGWKHNLOOHU·VVXEVHTXHQWDWWDFNRQ 3DUOLDPHQW+LOODVDFWVRIWHUURULVP

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Call Sean at 613-288-1145 or email [email protected] THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 17 NEWS CONSERVATIVE LEADERSHIP RACE Leitch says Trudeau a ‘Canadian identity denier,’ but he’s pointed to ‘shared values, openness, respect, compassion’

containing Mr. Trudeau’s comments, but The Conservative the quotations appear in an article in the leadership contender Dec. 13, 2015, edition of the weekly New York Times Magazine. appears to have quoted The Toronto Sun columnist, seem- from a Toronto Sun ingly on whose description Ms. Leitch was depending, quoted only a small portion of column quoting an the interview comments. extensive New York Times The journalist, who interviewed Mr. Trudeau following the election, in his lead- Magazine interview with up to the contested comments noted how Mr. Trudeau and his party had campaigned Trudeau. on a promise to bring 25,000 Syrian refu- gees into Canada by the end of the year. Continued from page 1 The journalist, Guy Lawson, also referred to the November 2015 terrorist ‘We as a people do have a core identity, we have Canadian values. And I think we’re very proud of of September by fl oating the possibility attacks that had just rocked Paris. them,’ says Conservative leadership contender Kellie Leitch. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright Canada should screen would-be immi- “Trudeau said he wants Canada to be grants for “anti-Canadian values,” and free from the politics of fear and division,” asked the leadership hopeful what “tone” Mr. Lawson wrote. an interview. An assistant said Ms. Leitch’s But as of deadline, Mr. Kouvalis had not she was expecting in the Commons. “Countries with a strong national identity, campaign manager, Nick Kouvalis, would called. “Look, you know, I had a great time and linguistic, religious or cultural, are fi nding call The Hill Times. [email protected] a great campaign, but I do have a concern it a challenge to effectively integrate people today and my concern is that our prime from different backgrounds. In France, there minister has denied that we have a core is still a typical citizen and an atypical citizen. Canadian identity. He’s a Canadian iden- Canada doesn’t have that dynamic.” tity denier,” Ms. Leitch replied. Mr. Lawson described Mr. Trudeau’s “most What’s Your Point: “I’m looking forward to the discussions radical argument” as his statement that “Cana- in our party, but also in the House, over da is becoming a new kind of state, defi ned not the course of the next number of weeks by its European history but by the multiplicity A half-day workshop on and months, you know, I think focusing on of its identities from all over the world.” Canadian values is extremely important,” Mr. Trudeau described a recent vandal- government relations said Ms. Leitch (Simcoe Grey, Ont.). ism attack against a mosque in Cold Lake, “We as a people do have a core iden- Alta. and said “the entire town came out (advocacy and mediation) tity, we have Canadian values. And I think the next day to scrub the graffi ti of the we’re very proud of them,” Ms. Leitch, who walls and help them fi x the damage.” several times described Mr. Trudeau’s posi- ‘‘Countries with a strong national iden- FRIDAY September 30, 2016 tion as dangerous. tity—linguistic, religious or cultural—are Asked what she meant, Ms. Leitch fi nding it a challenge to effectively inte- replied: “The prime minister of Canada is grate people from different backgrounds. What’s Your Point: A half-day workshop on government relations In France, there is still a typical citizen and playing a dangerous game. He denies that (advocacy and mediation). Hosted by Brendan Hawley & Associates from we have a core Canadian identity. He’s a an atypical citizen. Canada doesn’t have Canadian identity denier. I think that is that dynamic.’’ said Mr. Trudeau. 9:00 to 1:00 on Friday June 03, 2016 in the Barrick Boardroom of the dangerous politics because we as Cana- Mr. Lawson recalled how Mr. Trudeau’s Canadian Science Museum, 4th Floor, 240 McLeod St, Ottawa. This will dians share a common set of values, and father, former prime minister Pierre Elliot be of interest to anyone wanting to refresh their advocacy activities or that’s made our country extremely strong.” Trudeau, had argued against cultural and The journalists present were later per- historical nationalism and its negative shorten the learning curve for working with Ottawa. Topics to be covered plexed over the cause of Ms. Leitch’s com- effect on Quebec prior to the 1960s social include: What’s Your Point? Why do you matter; Building a Referral plaint against Mr. Trudeau, and The Hill Times and political change in the province. found a column published in the Toronto Sun “There is no core identity, no main- Network; Introducing your ideas into Federal Policy and Programs ; that had expressed similar sentiment. stream in Canada,” Mr. Lawson quoted Mr. Working with Committees; and building a credible presence. Cost is $ The columnist, Candice Malcolm, Trudeau as saying. 250.00. Seating is limited. For more information or to register contact: weighing in on the critical comments Ms. ‘‘There are shared values—openness, Leitch experienced in response to a Sept. 1 respect, compassion, willingness to work [email protected] or call 613-612-0136. news report of a survey in which she asked hard, to be there for each other, to search prospective leadership supporters whether for equality and justice. Those qualities are Brendan Hawley is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and Canada should screen refugees and po- what make us the fi rst postnational state,” has been an advisor to government and industry for more than 20 years tential immigrants for Canadian values, Mr. Trudeau said, in remarkable similarity criticized Mr. Trudeau and briefl y quoted a even to some of the values Ms. Leitch has covering all sectors of the economy. portion of comments Mr. Trudeau made to mentioned in response to her critics. The New York Times late last year. In a statement to reporters earlier this “There is no core identity, no main- month, Ms. Leitch said: “Screening poten- stream in Canada,” Ms. Malcolm quoted Mr. tial immigrants for anti-Canadian values Trudeau as saying in an interview with the that include intolerance towards other newspaper, adding that Mr. Trudeau also religions, cultures and sexual orientations, BRENDAN HAWLEY said in the interview he sees Canada as violent and/or misogynist behaviour and/ & ASSOCIATES “the fi rst post-national state.” Ms. Malcolm or a lack of acceptance of our Canadian *29(510(175(/$7,216*289(51(0(17$/(6 was a press secretary to Conservative MP tradition of personal and economic free- %UHQGDQ+DZOH\3ULQFLSDO Jason Kenney (Calgary Midnapore, Alta.) doms is a policy proposal that I feel very 7HOHSKRQH when he was immigration minister. strongly about.” &HOO (PDLOEKDZOH\#EUHQGDQKDZOH\FRP A search on the New York Times Ms. Leitch was not in Ottawa on Tues- ZZZEUHQGDQKDZOH\FRP newspaper website failed to fi nd a report day and was by press time unavailable for 18 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 OPINION BYELECTIONS A new era for Ottawa-Vanier As the safe Liberal It is also a riding where poli- and styles, fairly contested without tics have known great stability. personal attacks. Anything less riding prepares for The late Mauril Bélanger was would be disrespectful to those who a Member of Parliament for 21 have held these seats, and to the byelections, residents years and the recently retired residents who count on their elected must be offered more Member of Provincial Parliament offi cials to represent their interests. Madeleine Meilleur held offi ce Still, for Ottawa-Vanier to than Liberal insiders for 13 years. Together, they were come out stronger from this well placed to win stewards of growth in the riding period of political change it also and achieved important progress needs candidates of the highest with the support for social justice. quality to engage in the Liberal of existing party After learning in June of Meil- nominations. Liberal Party faith- leur’s withdrawal from politics, ful, new and old, need a chance to membership. the riding mourned the death of choose leaders for tomorrow. Bélanger after he succumbed to Any candidate in Ottawa-Vanier ALS in August. should be bilingual and have In a few short months, the strong local roots in business and political stability in the riding has community. We also need candi- given way to a complete changing dates with a history of achievement of the political guard. and leadership outside of politics; The late Mauril Bélanger, pictured right with former Liberal leader Bob Rae, As the riding slowly grapples people who know how to create was Ottawa-Vanier’s MP for 21 years. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright with the tragedy of Bélanger’s jobs, who can negotiate with actors NICOLAS MOYER passing and celebrates the legacy in public and private sectors to he has left behind, the importance secure investments for the riding, a new generation of representation Vanier needs leaders who have of the work ahead is starting to and who can work closely with that can build on the achievements vision and can build consensus TTAWA—Ottawa-Vanier is one dawn on those of us who call community groups and non-profi ts of its elders and provide direction to ensure that the new generation Oof the country’s safest ridings Ottawa-Vanier home. Party nomi- to help build a community that can needed for tomorrow. growing up in our riding is able to for the Liberal Party. In its history, nations are pending now at both fi nally take its place as a shining For the people of Ottawa-Vanier build the inclusive, safe, and pros- it has only ever elected Liberals at federal and provincial levels and jewel of the nation’s capital. to pay attention and get involved in perous community they deserve. both federal and provincial levels. byelections are around the corner. As our community confronts the riding’s renewal, they must be For all our sakes, let’s hope we It is a riding with deep Franco- The historic success of the systemic issues and major infra- offered more than Liberal insiders will all embrace this opportunity for Ontarian roots and a staunchly loy- Liberal Party in Ottawa-Vanier structure projects, from the proposed who are well placed to win with the democratic renewal and give space al base of Liberal supporters where means that this party’s nomina- downtown truck tunnel to the rede- support of existing party member- for the best candidates to draw in defence of the French language tions are of great relevance to the velopment of the Rockcliffe airbase ship. Otherwise, we could end up new supporters, present their case has been a defi ning feature of the future of our community. and a proposed supervised injection with leaders so aligned with local to voters and win on merit. political landscape for generations. To ensure the nominations site, we must have a voice whose establishment interests that they are Nicolas Moyer is a local Against that backdrop, the riding refl ect the parties’ commitments to experience translates to action. unable to generate the kind of large- entrepreneur and Lowertown has become increasingly diverse as transparency and representative In Ottawa-Vanier, we need scale progress we all hope for. resident. He is considering running a growing middle class has chosen democracy, they must be openly young blood, faithful to Liberal val- With so many resources, im- for the nomination of the Liberal Ottawa’s east end to work, raise contested. They must showcase a ues but not beholden to traditionally mense diversity, and extraordi- Party of Canada in Ottawa-Vanier. their families, or to retire. strong exchange of ideas, visions, safe policies of days past. We need narily talented residents, Ottawa- The Hill Times

OPINION PUBLIC SAFETY

who felt fear and contempt experiences, no longer trusted the to mirror our communities with toward police. This began with a police. She felt that calling the a cross-section of the public, Declining public violent altercation she witnessed police would only “make things academics, and professionals who several years ago between police worse” in any instance, except transparently advise politicians and what appeared to be an un- where her safety or life was in and police leaders—not the other armed man. danger. way around. confi dence: The recent highly publicized We can dismiss her feelings, Maybe policing organizations incident involving Abdirah- suggest she is overly sensitive or need to earmark substantially man Abdi, who died following an that her opinion is that of the mi- more in their budgets for the well- altercation with Ottawa police nority, but the damage remains: being and mental support of their policing’s quiet (that she did not witness) com- her constitution and behaviour offi cers, protecting their most pounded and sealed her opinion: has been changed and it alters valuable investment and asset. police were brutes who took her social responsibility. Likely, all of the above is every opportunity to exert their And she is not alone. What- needed. crisis? authority. ever race, gender, education, or Public safety is a basic and Through no fault of her own, income level—there are people in essential need for a productive her account of Abdi’s incident our communities who will turn a and functioning society. For that What happens when across Canada ranges from 60 to was incomplete, likely due to the blind eye to another’s distress be- reason, policing must be designed 70 per cent. This is a substantial rapid-fi re reporting of the event cause they believe police will ex- and delivered meeting the re- people who witness increase compared to 2012 when and missing or lack of clarity of acerbate the situation. Is the fear quirements and objectives of our crime feel like confi dence hovered around 40 information. of taking action, and what may communities. per cent after the botched Robert As we talked, a common result, becoming the new threat to If this quiet crisis continues, it calling the police Pickton investigation, the death theme emerged: why did the of- the safety of our communities? stands to unravel the threads of by police using a Taser against fi cer have to draw his fi rearm in Educating the public on the compassion woven into our Cana- would only make Robert Dziekanski, and charges the fi rst incident she witnessed? challenges of policing will not dian identity and may dismantle things worse. of sexual harassment within the Why was an anti-gangs offi cer solve all of the issues; there are our agency that is founded on RCMP. dispatched to the incident with two sides and both must en- the desire to help one another. To While it’s not uncommon for Abdi? Why can’t offi cers spend gage, learn, educate, and evolve. move forward, while it is a matter negative, or even neutral, events more time talking and defusing? Improving this relationship is that must be taken seriously by to have an impact on poll results, Plain and simple, she did not a process that fi rst requires all Canadian police organizations the overall public sentiment has understand why. A police offi cer a paradigm shift to allow for and political representatives, it remained well below the lofty 80 may shake their head at this, but empathy and understanding, and must be members of the public per cent confi dence rating of the there are members of the public then positive communications, who pivot the change by clearly VALARIE FINDLAY late 1990s. who will nod their head in agree- collaboration, and acceptance vocalizing what they view as an Not surprisingly, integrity of ment with her concerns. And that of feedback. Constructive action acceptable policing standard for leadership, ineffective communi- is the issue: a lack of understand- may start with re-sensitizing their communities. t may not be the threat to cations with the public, internal ing between the two groups and a police to the public’s perspec- Valarie Findlay is a research ICanadian policing that one issues, and unacceptable use of subjective truth for both that must tive and addressing use-of-force fellow for the U.S.-based Police would expect, but recent inci- force continue to be areas of con- be addressed. concerns, evolving to a national Foundation and has a over two dents involving police organiza- cern for the public and possibly What shocked me from her standard (not provincial) for a decades of expertise in cyber tions across the country may pull causal factors in the shortfall to was one statement: “Today, I crisis-intervention continuum security for policing, military, and public confi dence down to levels meet society’s expectations of would never call the police if based on human and civil rights government departments. She not seen since 2012. A recent police services. I saw a crime in progress.” An principles. holds a master’s degree in terrorism Angus Reid poll shows the pub- The divide between the public educated, retired woman who was Perhaps our police services studies. She can be contacted at: lic’s confi dence in the RCMP and and police was evident in a recent well-travelled and active in com- boards and oversight bodies need vfi [email protected]. provincial and municipal police interview I had with a woman munity concerns, due to indirect to be term-limited and redesigned The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 19 OPINION FOREIGN AFFAIRS Canada needs to rethink hostage policy

Justice Frank Extremists who Iacobucci, beheaded two pictured speaking to reporters in Canadians in the 2008, wrote Philippines this week in a report into the treatment of freed a Norwegian three Canadians unlawfully for whom a ransom detained and was paid. tortured: ‘Several witnesses from both CSIS and the RCMP, told the inquiry that it was not the responsibility of intelligence or GAR PARDY law enforcement offi cials to be concerned about TTAWA—Last Saturday, the human rights ONorwegian Kjartan Sekkings- of a Canaadian tad was freed by Abu Sayyaf after detainee, which nearly a year of captivity in the were for [the southern Philippines. A ransom foreign ministry] was paid but by who remains alone to consider. vague. Mr. Sekkingstad was This approach, is kidnapped on Sept. 21, 2015 along not, in my opinion, with Canadians John Ridsdel and satisfactory.’ Robert Hall and Filipino Marites The Hill Times Flor. photograph by Cynthia Ms. Flor was released earlier Münster this year. As well, several Indone- sians have been freed. Media re- ports differ on whether a ransom was paid. A Dutch citizen remains in captivity. He was kidnapped in 2012. Mr. Ridsdel was beheaded in April when the demanded ransom abdication that has been in the Guay families. Mr. Fowler in his not been used in instances when was not paid. Following a public works for a number of years. book A Season in Hell writes that families try to raise ransoms, but announcement by the prime Central to that abdication has a senior RCMP offi cer, believed has been used in other cases. Its minister that no ransom would been the transfer of responsibility to be Mr. Paulson, told his wife threatened use by the RCMP be paid, Mr. Hall was beheaded for the protection of Canadians that “not one red cent will be against Ms. Lindhout’s mother re- in June. abroad when kidnapped to the paid for the release of these high The fl ects an unwarranted and callous Prime Minister Justin Trudeau RCMP. This transfer has no basis mucky mucks.” Paulson said he “ approach in such matters. in making his statement on the in law, as Global Affairs Canada thought Mr. Fowler was referring Even the United States has non-payment of ransoms to retains this responsibility under to him making those comments, safety and eased its own policies on such rescue kidnapped Canadians fol- federal legislation. While nothing but said that he had been “profes- matters. The New York Times lowed the lead of other leaders. has been said publicly about such sional, cordial, and respectful” in protection of reported this month that Washing- Indeed, it was reported that be- a transfer, there is now suffi cient the meeting. ton made “a sweeping change in fore making his statement the PM evidence to suggest that it is now The kidnapping of Amanda Canadians how the government handles hos- consulted the then-British prime part of the standard approach Lindhout in Somalia in 2008 tages, a shift ordered last year by minister, David Cameron. Given when such kidnappings occur. provides another element in the President Obama after hostages’ Mr. Cameron’s recent history and The RCMP has neither the com- management of such matters by has been families complained of offi cials’ refl ecting his political judgment, petence, nor the training, nor the the RCMP. Ms. Lindhout in an callousness and poor communica- this was the equivalent of con- aptitude, nor the attitude to cope April 20 article in the Ottawa sacrificed tion.” The article goes on to say sulting Neville Chamberlain on with such kidnappings. There is Citizen wrote: “Even as the RCMP that “more than 70 hostages who Europe’s future in 1938. recent evidence illustrating this. packed up and left her [Ms. Lind- are Americans or legal permanent However, the actions of gov- Justice Frank Iacobucci in hout’s mother] to navigate on her on the altar residents of the United States have ernments behind the scenes are a Feb. 23, 2010 supplement of own, they reminded her she could been freed since the revamped ef- just the opposite: ransoms are his October 2008 report on the spend up to 10 years in prison of a policy fort came together.” paid, or facilitated, or paid by actions of Canadian offi cials in for taking this new path [raising All of this leads to a conclu- others, or negotiations are pro- relation to Abdullah Almalki, Ah- money to pay a ransom].” sion that the Canadian govern- longed, all with an aim of obtain- mad Abou-Elmaati, and Muayyed The threat refers to Section 83.03 that has no ment needs to review its ap- ing the release of the kidnapped Nureddin, wrote: “Several wit- of the Criminal Code. It states: proach on such matters. There victims. nesses from both CSIS and the “Every one who, directly validity. will be more kidnappings (Joshua Usually, involved governments RCMP, told the inquiry that it or indirectly, collects property, Boyle along with his American avoid making public statements was not the responsibility of provides or invites a person to wife and two children have been concerning the non-payment of intelligence or law enforcement provide, or makes available prop- held captive in Afghanistan since ransom when lives are on the offi cials to be concerned about erty or fi nancial or other related 2012). The performance of the line. Rather, prudently, statements the human rights of a Canadian services government in the cases of Mr. are kept to generalities, reiterat- detainee, which were for [the “(a) intending that they be Ridsdel and Mr. Hall in the Philip- ing that the government is doing foreign ministry] alone to con- used, or knowing that they will be pines illustrates that the safety everything possible to obtain sider. This approach, is not, in my used, in whole or in part, for the and protection of Canadians has the safe and early release of the opinion, satisfactory.” purpose of facilitating or carrying been sacrifi ced on the altar of a victim; they’re absolutely silent It should be noted that it took out any terrorist activity, or for policy that has no validity. on the matter of ransom. almost a year a half before Justice the purpose of benefi ting any per- The non-payment of ransoms The prime minister in making Iacobucci received permission to son who is facilitating or carrying has nothing to do with the fre- his public statement when he did, publish his view on this mat- out such an activity, or quency of kidnappings. Kidnap- set in motion the almost certainty ter. There is nothing to suggest “(b) knowing that, in whole or pings will continue to occur Mr. Hall would be executed. that either CSIS or the RCMP part, they will be used by or will until their political environment have changed their views on this benefi t a terrorist group, changes. To think otherwise is The RCMP’s role matter. “is guilty of an indictable both naïve and dangerous for the The protection of Canadians During the kidnappings of offence and is liable to imprison- millions of Canadians who travel at home or abroad is an essential Robert Fowler and Louis Guay ment for a term of not more than abroad every year. responsibility of any Canadian in the Mali/Niger area of west 10 years.” Before retirement from the government. The execution of Mr. Africa, now-Commissioner Bob Canadian foreign service, Gar Ridsdel and Mr. Hall is a tragic Paulson was in charge at the Change needed Pardy was head of consular ser- and unnecessary abdication of RCMP on the matter and met Up to now, the use of this vices for more than 10 years. that responsibility. And it is an regularly with the Fowler and section of the Criminal Code has The Hill Times 20 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 OPINION FOREIGN AFFAIRS

A shell lays in the street in Homs, Syria in 2012. For the years- long confl ict to end, there needs to be the establishment of joint security co-operation and a political transitional system involving all the sectarian groups in an equal way, writes Rolf Holmboe. UN photograph by David Manyua

The only possibility of re- establishing a viable Syria and avoiding a massive and perma- A new opening for peace in Syria nent refugee crisis is to establish a new pan-Syrian political sys- tem, in which all sectarian groups But if the key ment on a ceasefi re that took ef- One is if Assad’s attempt destroy ISIS, the militant group participate and have checks and fect on Sept. 12, even if it is being to conquer Aleppo with allied also know as Daesh, ISIL, and balances against the potential players get it wrong, undermined by regime forces on forces fails. In this case, the Islamic State. excesses of any one group. This is it won’t last. a daily basis and the Russians are Russians and Iranians would be Canada can play a key role the Lebanese model and it is the using a mistaken coalition air- faced with either having to com- in applying diplomatic pressure only basis for establishing such a strike on regime troops to make a mit to a new and open-ended to push the parties into a politi- minimum level of trust and secu- collapse in the ceasefi re look like military escalation to keep the cal process and not least argue rity that will allow for the return the U.S. is to blame. military solution on the table, or for getting the basis for a peace of refugees. In fact, the main problem is that they would need to change their process right. The conclusion is simple. there are serious doubts about Rus- strategy. At the risk of becoming just The sustainable way to avoiding sia’s real intentions. Many believe The other way would be to another failure, a peace process a fragmentation of Syria is the ROLF HOLMBOE that Russia is playing a double pick up a stick. has to set the scene for a sustain- establishment of joint security game. All actions on the ground by In August, the Turkish military able outcome of the war. Two co-operation and a political tran- the regime army and their Rus- together with Free Syrian Army main issues are: the need for sitional system involving all the new, if fragile, attempt at a sian, Iranian, and Hezbollah allies rebels launched a major military joining military forces and for sectarian groups in an equal way. Apeace process in Syria could show that they are still pursuing intervention in northern Syria sharing political power in a new This is never going to happen be in the making, even if it is a military solution centred on a coupled with a certain diplomatic Syria. with Assad still in power. unlikely to succeed as long as siege and subsequent defeat of the opening to Russia and the Syrian First, the fragmentation of mil- Any deal that hinges upon Bashar al-Assad is allowed to moderate rebels in Aleppo. This, regime. But a failure of the peace itary power is a key challenge as Assad remaining for any period sabotage any real move towards a it seems in their view, would open attempt would be tantamount to the military forces on both sides of time is little less than double political solution. the door for a rout of the moderate Assad and Russia ditching Erdo- have dissolved into more or less play aimed at achieving the exact A key event could be the rebels altogether. gan’s opening. independent militias. In the likely opposite, namely a perpetuation United Nations General Assembly The only parties that can force In such a case, Turkey, with a absence of a major international of the Assad regime. in New York this week, where all Assad to accept a peace deal are major military force now pres- stabilization force, there is only The losers in such a ruthless the important stakeholders meet. Russia and Iran. But the main ent just north of Aleppo, could one possibility of re-establishing power game on the role of Assad An important opening is a constraint is that Western nego- simply take the stand that there security and territorial sover- would fi rst be ordinary Syrians change of strategic outlook in tiators only have carrots, no stick. will be no regime victory in eignty in Syria. That’s a merger and neighbouring countries, Ankara, Turkey. According to This has allowed the Russians to Aleppo, thereby denying Assad between the Syrian army and the because it would inevitably lead reports, a Turkish intelligence ride two horses. Their fi rst prior- a military solution. A Turkish moderate rebels supported by the to a new cycle of violence, but chief visited Damascus in August, ity is clearly to pursue a military stick-and-carrot approach could airpower and arms supplies of an it would also sink the whole and Turkish Prime Minister solution—and they have delayed be pivotal in changing the dy- international coalition. region into an even deeper Binali Yildirim has indicated that and diluted negotiations many namic of the war from a military Second, Syria is the scene of confl ict between the region’s Assad could stay for a transi- times to allow time for this to to a political one. one of the most massive ethnic major Sunni and Shi’a popula- tional phase. This signals both a work. It is only their second prior- Canada is already heavily cleansing campaigns since the tion groups. renewed engagement by Turkey ity to keep the door for a political engaged in the Syrian confl ict, Second World War. Most of the Rolf Holmboe is a research to fi nding a peaceful solution and solution open, should a military not least in the humanitarian majority Sunni population are fellow at the Canadian Global a softening of Ankara’s stance on solution ultimately prove elusive. fi eld and in receiving refugees, either refugees or internally dis- Affairs Institute and a former removing Assad. In these circumstances, there but also as an important par- placed, whereas most of the key Danish ambassador to Syria, Another key opening was the are two factors that could swing ticipant in the U.S. military’s urban areas and infrastructure Lebanon, and Jordan (2012-2015). United States and Russia’s agree- Russia towards a political solution. Operation Inherent Resolve to are controlled by the regime. The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 21 NEWS IMMIGRATION Feds expected to scrap controversial ‘safe-countries’ refugee system: insiders

Peter Showler, former The Liberals chairperson of the promised to change IRB, says he expects the Liberal govern- the Designated ment to get rid of the Countries of Origin safe-countries system implemented by the system, but are said Conservatives in 2012. to now be open to The Hill Times photo- graph by Sam Garcia killing it, scrapping a process that critics say didn’t have the intended effect in the fi rst place.

Continued from page 1

Additionally, it makes schedul- ing within the IRB diffi cult. Even though decision-makers are legal- ly obligated to process the claims of DCO refugees within 30 to 45 days, it does not always work out that way due to the schedul- ing confl icts that can arise when trying to juggle two timelines of refugee claims. During the last election campaign, the Liberals made a commitment to create a panel to review the countries on the list, which currently includes Mexico, Romania, and South Korea. In an interview with The Hill Times, Mario Dion, chairperson of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, the tribunal responsible for processing inland refugee claims, said Immigra- tion Minister John McCallum (Markham-Thornhill, Ont.) is “considering abolishing the distinction, which would render the creation of the panel a moot requirement.” “The minister is looking at this as we speak, and he’s said so pub- as the dissuasion factor, “from my “But the evaluation is on the the minister was considering be lifted in December. While Ms. licly in several fora this summer,” point of view, it would be advan- web, so if you are in Britain, you abolishing the DCO system, and Dench said it would probably Mr. Dion added. tageous if the distinction was will realize it will take just as what system—if any—might take take months to scrap the DCO The public fora included at least abolished, because we’re having long as it did on average, it’s tak- its place, Ms. Caron wrote in system altogether—something one roundtable discussion, accord- a hard time meeting the very en longer in fact, by a day or two, an email that over the summer, which would have to be done ing to former chairperson of the short deadline. And they don’t for DCO claims to be dealt with consultations with stakeholders through Parliament—one option IRB and refugee law professor Peter appear to make any difference compared to non-DCO claims,” were undertaken, and “one of the minister does have is to sim- Showler, who was present. in the fi nal analysis,” he added, Mr. Dion said. the goals was to discuss how we ply de-designate Mexico, among Mr. Showler said he expects referring to an Immigration, Refu- The evaluation stated that can improve the asylum system other countries. the DCO system to be removed, gees, and Citizenship Canada some of the 2012 changes to the to make it more fair and timely, Ms. Dench said when the despite not having direct assur- internal evaluation of the changes In-Canada Asylum System “did while safeguarding the integrity visa is lifted, “there’s a good ance from the government at implemented in 2012, which was not have the intended results.” of the system, in light of the re- chance that quite a number of this point. “But, we’ve had public released in June 2016. “In particular, DCO claimants cent fi ndings of the evaluation of people from Mexico who are statements from the minister that Those coming from countries were not processed faster than the asylum system.” facing human rights abuses, and he sees no merit to them. Their on the DCO list would perhaps non-DCO claimants and these After adding that feedback there’s plenty of human rights initial intention—it was always a be dissuaded from coming to claimants now have access to the was also sought on the Designat- abuses to fl ee, will be coming in false premise. I think the minister Canada in the fi rst place if they [Refugee Appeal Division],” read ed Countries of Origin policy, Ms. larger numbers.” If the number of understands.” knew they had less time to prove the evaluation. Access to that Caron wrote, “we cannot specu- inland Mexican refugee claim- NDP MP Jenny Kwan (Vancou- their case, Mr. Dion said. That appeal mechanism was originally late on future government policy ants signifi cantly increases, the ver East, B.C.), her party’s im- dissuasion factor was part of the barred for DCO claimants, but a decisions.” IRB’s capacity won’t be able to migration critic, said she was also reason the Conservatives brought court case overturned that. While there is no guaranteed handle the legal obligation it has aware of the comments made by the it in. They were also faced with The intended purpose of the timeline for when decisions sur- to give claimants their decision in minister to that effect, and added mounting claims that were not DCO system was to process inland rounding reforms to the inland a certain period of time. The fact she would fully support any motion being accepted from countries refugee claims from the countries refugee claims process will be an- that Mexico is currently a DCO to scrap the DCO system. such as Mexico and Hungary that on this list in 30 days, instead of nounced, the impending lifting of will only compound this issue, Ms. Kwan said the DCO were perceived to be generally the typical 60 days. But, scheduling visa requirements on Mexico Dec. she said, as the tribunal already system is “two-tiered” and that safe. diffi culty and a lack of decision- 1 is expected to pose a challenge struggles with trying to schedule by creating this designation, “I Initially, once the DCO sys- makers within the IRB meant that to the department. DCO cases around non-DCO think it actually fails to respect tem was implemented, the IRB this rarely happened. On average, Janet Dench, executive direc- cases. The two separate timelines human rights for minority saw a signifi cant decrease in Mr. Dion said DCO claims take the tor of the Canadian Council for make it very diffi cult, Ms. Dench groups, including the [LGBTQ] claims, said Mr. Dion. Since 2012, same amount of time as a claim Refugees, said that the timing said. community...and around gender- however, the number of claims from a non-DCO country. of Mexico’s visa requirement A staffer with Conservative based violence.” has gone from 10,000 to 24,000, Nancy Caron, spokesperson being lifted should be noted by immigration critic Michelle Rem- Asked if he would support the and he said he sees that number for the federal immigration min- the government in terms of the pel’s (Calgary Nose Hill, Alta.) abolishment of such a system, Mr. easily going to 28,000 in the next istry, responded to questions sent challenge it will present, particu- offi ce said she was unavailable Dion said while the government year. The number of decision- to Mr. McCallum’s offi ce. larly if Mexico is still on the list for comment. might want to consider other makers within the IRB has stayed In response to questions of DCOs at that time. Mexico’s [email protected] aspects of the DCO system, such the same. asking if she could confi rm that visa requirement is scheduled to @chels_nash 22 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 FEATURE EVENTS

p.m. The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, 199 Sussex Prime Min- Parliamentary Dr. Live webcast available. Free. Register via akfcnet- ister Justin work.ca/akfc-events/2016/embracing-complexity Trudeau Calendar The Power of Inclusion & Diversity—On Sept. 21 in New York City, Foreign Minister Stéphane Dion will con- shakes hands vene a high-level panel discussion on the power of inclu- with Chinese sion and diversity moderated by Morris Rosenberg, former Premier Li foreign affairs deputy minister and current president and Keqiang CEO of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation. 6-7:30 p.m. during Mr. United Nations headquarters, 760 United Nations Plaza, Trudeau’s visit Conference Room 3. Registration required. to China, Aug. THURSDAY, SEPT. 22 30. The pre- Leadership in the 21st Century for the Conservative mier is set to Movement—Join Preston Manning, founder and president be in Ottawa of the Manning Centre, for a discussion about leadership and Montreal opportunities for Canada’s conservative movement in the Sept. 21-24. PM to host 21st century. Sept. 22. 10:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m. Hosted by PMO photo by the Albany Club, 91 King St. E., Toronto. $55 members, Adam Scotti $68 guests. RSVP: [email protected] or 416- Chinese 364-5471. manningcentre.ca TD Presents The Walrus Talks Arctic—The Walrus Talks returns to the Canadian Museum of Nature (240 McLeod St., Ottawa) on Sept. 22, at 7 p.m. TD Presents premier this The Walrus Talks Arctic features leading Canadians giving short, focused Walrus Talks exploring the issues New AG, New Priorities—Ontario Attorney General organization), this conference will feature presenta- and opportunities that make the North unique. Featuring Yasir Naqvi describes his priorities as the new attorney tions and discussion on “The Strategic Nexus of Pacifi c week ITK president Natan Obed, research scientist Jeffery M. general. Sept. 27, University Club of Toronto, 380 Seapower.” Scheduled speakers include Vice-Admiral Ron Saarela, aboriginal languages and culture advocate Fibbie University Ave., Toronto; 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. Hosted Lloyd, commander of the Royal Canadian Navy and Admi- Tatti, and more. $12-$20. Full event details and tickets by the Pearson Centre. $29-$89. Tickets in advance: ral Scott H. Swift, commander of the U.S. Navy’s Pacifi c WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 21 available online at thewalrus.ca/events. thepearsoncentre.ca fl eet. Until Oct. 6. Victoria, B.C. mscconference.com. Liberal Caucus Meeting—The Liberals will meet in EU-Canada Energy Conference 2016—This confer- ICAO Triennial Assembly—The International Civil Avia- Caldwell Family Centre’s, 4th Annual Harvest of Hope Room 237-C Centre Block on Parliament Hill. For more ence offers an opportunity to support the promotion of tion Organization, a UN specialized agency headquartered Dinner & Auction—Oct. 3, 5:30 p.m. Chances R Restau- th information, please call Liberal Party media relations at best policies and regulatory practices for effi cient, sus- in Montreal, will host its 39 triennial assembly. ICAO’s rant, 1365 Woodroffe Ave., Ottawa. Featuring dinner, [email protected] or 613-627-2384. tainable, and environmentally friendly energy produc- 191 member states and a large number of international silent and live auction. Tickets $75. 613-728-1800, Conservative Caucus Meeting—The Conservatives will tion and use. It will focus on such topics as unconven- organizations are invited to the assembly, which establish- caldwellfamilycentre.ca. meet for their national caucus meeting. For more informa- tional gas and LNG, smart grids, and renewable energy, es the organization’s worldwide policy. ICAO headquarters, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 5 tion, contact Cory Hann, director of communications, Con- as well as COP21 implementation. The EU ambassador 999 Robert-Bourassa Blvd., Montreal. Until Oct. 7. servative Party of Canada at [email protected]. to Canada will deliver the opening/closing remarks. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 28 Celebrate Beer Fall Fête—The voice of the people NDP Caucus Meeting—The NDP caucus will meet Victoria Hall, John G. Diefenbaker Building, 111 Sus- who brew our nation’s beer hosts the Celebrate Beer from 9:15 a.m.-11 a.m. in Room 112-N Centre Block, sex Dr., Ottawa. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. To register/more info: One Young World Summit—A global forum for young Fall Fête, a bi-annual reception celebrating Canada’s on Wednesday. Please call the NDP Media Centre at eucanada40.ca/events/canada-energy-conference. leaders (18 to 30) from over 190 countries, the annual most popular adult beverage. Event to take place at the 613-222-2351 or [email protected]. Canada 150 Series: Sustainability Panel—Canadian summit allows delegates to network with peers, share Sir John A. Macdonald Building, 144 Wellington St., Prime Minister to Host Chinese Premier—Prime Club Toronto presents panellists Lorraine Mitchelmore ideas, and develop solutions to address urgent global Ottawa on Wed., Oct. 5, 6:30-9:30 p.m. beercanada. Minister Justin Trudeau will host Premier of the State (former CEO of Shell Canada), Ilse Treurnicht (CEO of issues. This year’s speakers include: musician Cher com @BeerCanada. Council of the People’s Republic of China, Li Keqiang, MaRS Discovery District), and Annette Verschuren (for- on wildlife rights and conservation, BBC foreign corre- Eating Disorders: Signs, Symptoms, Stigma—Oct. who is travelling to Ottawa and Montreal for an offi cial mer CEO of Home Depot). Thurs., Sept. 22. 12 p.m. spondent John Simpson, and Academy Award-winning 5, 12 noon-2:30 p.m. 400 Coventry Rd., 3rd fl oor, visit, Sept. 21-24. While in Ottawa, Premier Li will Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, 123 Queen Street W., producer Jon Landau (Titanic, Avatar). Sept. 28-Oct. 1, Ottawa. This educational seminar will feature a panel meet with the PM and other senior offi cials. Toronto, Ont. Dominion Ballroom. $85-$95. But tickets Shaw Centre, 55 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa. discussion with Wendy Preskow, founder/president, Innovation Machine Event—The Canadian American via canadianclub.org David Asper: Freeing David Milgaard the Ugly Way—The National Initiative for Eating Disorders; Dr. Sarah Jane Business Council is bringing together North American Trade Minister to Speak on CETA to EU Trade Min- University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law launches the 2016- Norwood and Dr. Hien Nguyen, Anchor Psychological business leaders to facilitate a dialogue around driving isters—Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland will discuss 17 Cavanagh LLP Professionalism Speaker Series with Services; and Nerys Parry, Ottawa writer and mother innovation to spur economic prosperity and inclusive the EU-Canada trade deal CETA on Sept. 22 with all David Asper, chair of the Asper Foundation and former of two, one of whom struggles with an eating disorder. growth. Featuring speakers including: Innovation, the EU trade ministers on Sept. 22 in Bratislava, Slova- counsel to David Milgaard. He will speak about his experi- Info: 613-236-6636 or [email protected] Science, and Economic Development Canada Deputy kia. For more info, media may contact Global Affairs ences representing and advocating for the wrongfully ENGAGE: Canadian Communities & Energy Decision- Minister John Knubley, and MasterCard Canada presi- Canada: 343-203-7700, [email protected]. convicted David Milgaard. This accredited professionalism Making—Energy development has become increasingly dent Brian Lang. Sept. 21. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The Westin, FRIDAY, SEPT. 23 lecture will take place on Sept. 28. 5:30-7 p.m. Faculty contested at the local level. While opposition to pipelines 11 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa. To be live-streamed via of Law, Fauteux Hall, Room 302. Free. All welcome. The is top of mind, energy projects of all kinds (including oil, Facebook. RSVP to attend via innovationmachine.ca. Canada-India Innovation Conference—The Canada- lecture will be followed by the launch of the new book In gas, electricity and renewable) have confronted powerful Lutsel K’e Dene First Nation and CPAWS—They’re host- India Centre for Excellence will host this conference Search of the Ethical Lawyer: Stories from the Canadian local opposition in various communities. What is driving ing a reception in honour of Thaidene Nene: Land of the at Carleton University from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Legal Profession edited by professors Adam Dodek and Al- these energy confl icts and how do we address them? The Ancestors, a proposed national park reserve at the east conference will bring together experts from academia, ice Woolley. For more information, please contact Joseph University of Ottawa’s Positive Energy Project and the arm of Great Slave Lake, N.W.T. Sept. 21, 12 noon-2 the private sector, and government to identify policy, Jamil at [email protected]. Canada West Foundation present this evening reception p.m., Room 200, Sir John A. Macdonald Building 144 technology, and business collaboration opportunities THURSDAY, SEPT. 29 and all-day conference. Speakers include: Natural Re- Wellington St., Ottawa. Refreshments and a light lunch between the two countries. Speakers: Indian High Com- sources Minister Jim Carr, Canexus’ Dave Collyer, Canada will be served. Please RSVP: Jill Sturdy, jsturdy@cpaws. missioner Vishnu Prakash, Parliamentary Secretary to Bacon & Eggheads Breakfast—The Partnership Group West Foundation’s Martha Hall Findlay. Oct. 5 6-8 p.m. org / 613 569 7226 x 226. Event sponsored by MP Jona- the Trade Minister David Lametti, and others. For more for Science and Engineering presents a talk, Living with reception, Lord Elgin Hotel, 100 Elgin St., Lady Elgin than Wilkinson, parliamentary secretary to the minister of information, visit carleton.ca/india/cu-events/canada- Forest Fires: Lessons from Fort McMurray, with Mike room; Oct. 6: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., University of Ottawa, Social Environment and Climate Change. india-innovation-conference. Free. Flannigan, University of Alberta. Sept. 29, 7:30 a.m. Par- Sciences Building, room 4007, 120 University Pvt. $79- Canadian Universities—A Policy/iPolitics working Ontario Attorney General Yasir Naqvi—The Pearson liamentary Dining Room, Centre Block. No charge to MPs, $399. Buy tickets via cwf.ca. lunch. Featuring panellists Roberta Jamieson, president Centre for Progressive Policy presents Ontario Attorney Senators, and media. All others, $25. Pre-registration FRIDAY, OCT. 7 and CEO of Indspire; Kevin Kee, dean, faculty of arts, General and Ottawa MPP Yasir Naqvi, who will speak required by Mon., Sept. 26 by contacting Donna Boag, University of Ottawa; Andrew Petter, president, Simon about his priorities in the job and take audience ques- PAGSE [email protected] or call 613-991-6369. Arctic Circle Assembly—The Arctic Circle is a net- Fraser University. Moderated by Policy editor L. Ian tions. Sept. 23. 12-1:30 p.m. Tickets $29-$79. Buy Ducks Unlimited Canada Conservation Reception—All work of international dialogue and co-operation on the MacDonald, editor of Policy, and hosted by iPolitics via eventbrite. Lord Elgin Hotel, 100 Elgin St., Pearson MPs and Senators are invited to this event from 5 to 7 future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform editor James Baxter. Also featuring remarks by Paul Room. thepearsoncentre.ca p.m. Sir John A. Macdonald Building, Room 200, 144 with participation from governments, organizations, Davidson, president of Universities Canada, and a SATURDAY, SEPT. 24 Wellington St., Ottawa. The event’s theme is “Conserva- corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental presentation by David Coletto, CEO, Abacus Data. tion for the future.” associations, indigenous communities, and others. The Sept. 21, 12 noon-2 p.m., Rideau Club, 99 Bank St., Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Visit B.C., Yukon— 2016 Korea Week—On the occasion of the opening annual Arctic Circle Assembly is the largest annual Ottawa. Tables of eight, $1,000. Info: info@policy- The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are set for their of the Korean Cultural Centre in Canada, the Korean international gathering on the Arctic, attended by more magazine.ca or 514-943-3868 or [email protected] or second offi cial Royal Tour to Canada, Sept. 24-Oct. 1. Embassy presents a week of Korean culture. Public than 2,000 participants from 50 countries. Until Oct. 613-789-2772, ext. 241. They will visit fi ve communities in British Columbia events include: Movie night ‘Operation Chromite’ at 9. Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Center, Reykja- Consiglio Di Nino Honours Dinner—The former sena- and two in Yukon. In B.C.: Victoria (Sept. 24, 27, 29, the Canadian Museum of History, 100 rue Laurier, vík, Iceland. Register via arcticcircle.org. tor is to be honoured at this dinner, featuring guest Oct. 1), Vancouver (Sept. 25), Bella Bella (Sept. 26), Gatineau, Sept. 30, 7-10 p.m., free; and K-Tigers WEDNESDAY OCT. 12 speakers Peter MacKay, MPP Laurie Scott, Beverly Top- Kelowna (Sept. 27), and Haida Gwaii (Sept. 30). In Taekwondo Performance, Oct. 1, Centrepointe Theatre, ping, and Sam Ciccolini. Albany Club, 91 King Street Yukon: Whitehorse (Sept. 27, 28) and Carcross (Sept. 101 Centrepointe Dr., Ottawa, 6-9 p.m., free. Register Alexandre Trudeau—Alexandre Trudeau, the E., Toronto. albanyclub.ca/events. 28). An offi cial welcome to Canada and British Colum- for both online via eventbrite.ca. Contact: culturalaf- younger brother of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, will The Authenticity Paradox: Is the Public Losing Faith in bia will be held on Sept. 24 in Victoria, including an [email protected], 613-244-5033. present to the Canada China Friendship Society on his Experts?—Does Canada have an authenticity problem? honour-guard review and speeches. A public celebra- The 6th Jaimie Anderson Parliamentary Internship Program new book Barbarian Lost: Travels in the New China, What does ‘authenticity’ even mean in today’s complex tion will be held on Sept. 28 in Whitehorse. Fundraiser—It takes place at the Black Sheep Inn again this at Christ Church Cathedral, 414 Sparks St. 7:30 p.m. landscape of ‘sound bite democracy’ and face-value MONDAY, SEPT. 26 year. Sept. 29. The sold-out country-and-western-themed Free for members of the Canada China Friendship Soci- understanding? Further, in a post-factual world has event raises money for non-partisan paid summer internships ety, $10 for non-members, and $5 for students. ccfso. the demand for expert opinion from governments and Moving Beyond Size: Jamaica’s Interaction with the with MPs. It has become well known as one of the year’s best org/home-top/alexandre-trudeau. leaders changes and what does this mean for fi elds of World and Canada—Carleton University and the Ottawa parties, featuring master of ceremonies Peter Mansbridge, MONDAY, OCT. 17 research, communications, and policy development? Diplomatic Association present this talk by Jamaican and lots of music including guest performances of country Speakers: Earnscliffe Strategy Group’s Allan Gregg; High Commissioner Janice Miller. Sept. 26. 5:30 p.m. songs by MPs. Information on the internship program can be Securing the Future of Immigration in Canada—On CBC/Radio Canada’s Neil Macdonald; Toronto Star and Carleton University campus, Senate Board Room, found at jaimiesinternship.ca. Oct. 17, thePanel will discuss the choices that lie iPolitics’ Susan Delacourt; and N.L. Jamieson Strategic room 608, Robertson Hall. Free. RSVP by Sept. 25: FRIDAY, SEPT. 30 ahead and how Canada can continue to stand out from Consulting Ltd.’s Nancy Jamieson. Presented by the ambassadors-speaker-series-jamaica.eventbrite.com. the crowd as an open, diverse, and cohesive society. Market Research and Intelligence Association. Sept. TUESDAY, SEPT. 27 Nature Canada Ball—Join ball patron Sophie Gré- Panellists: Johannes van der Klaauw, UNHCR represen- 21, 4 p.m.-6 p.m., Rideau Club, 99 Bank St., Ottawa, goire Trudeau and author Margaret Atwood for a spec- tative in Canada; Doug Saunders, national editor, The $50. www.mriaportal.ca/ and go to events. Tickets also Cindy Blackstock—The First Nations child-welfare tacular evening celebrating nature and Nature Canada’s Globe and Mail; Arif Virani, parliamentary secretary to available at the door/dress code in effect. advocate will speak on “Is incremental equality for First work connecting children to their NatureHood. Sept. the immigration minister; Conservative Senator Salma Embracing Complexity: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Nations children compatible with reconciliation?” Sept. 30, Reception 7 p.m., dinner 8 p.m. Fairmont Chateau Ataullahjan, vice chair, Senate Human Rights Commit- Development and Humanitarian Assistance—How do we 27, 7:30-8:45 a.m., Parliamentary Restaurant, Centre Laurier, Ottawa. Information on tickets at naturecana- tee; Candice Malcolm, columnist, Toronto Sun. Modera- know what works in development? In crisis or confl ict Block. $25. Free admission for media. Breakfast da.ca or 613-562-3447 x298. tor: Globe and Mail Ottawa bureau chief Robert Fife. situations, how do we determine the effectiveness of included. Presented as part of the Federation for the MONDAY, OCT. 3 5:30-8 p.m (5:30 p.m. cocktails, 6:30 p.m. debate). humanitarian interventions? Join Aga Khan Foundation Humanities and Social Sciences Big Thinking lecture Fairmont Chateau Laurier, 1 Rideau St. Buy tickets Canada for the fourth event of its series on Measuring series. Register via ideas-idees.ca/events/big-thinking. Maritime Security Challenges 2016: Pacifi c Seapower— via Eventbrite. $18.30-25. Free for Parliamentarians. Development Impact, with Jyotsna (Jo) Puri, deputy Senate Resumes Sitting—The Senate is expected Presented by the Navy League of Canada, the Royal thepanelonline.com executive director and head of evaluation, International to resume sitting on Sept. 27 at 2 p.m. The Senate Canadian Navy, and the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacifi c Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie). Sept. 21. 2:30-4 adjourned June 22. Center for Security Studies (a U.S. Department of Defense Continued on page 27 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 23 POLITICAL STAFFERS

Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam HILL CLIMBERS Monsef, pictured earlier this BY LAURA RYCKEWAERT year, has been busy touring the country on electoral reform, though as of last week she Minister Monsef down was without a communications D. Comms as new director. Photograph courtesy of Jean-Marc sitting starts Carisse

for 4-H Canada. Infrastructure Min- As of last week, no new commu- ister Amarjeet Sohi nications director had been hired yet to replace Ms. Austin in the recently hired a new offi ce, but Jean-Bruno Villeneuve special assistant. continued to serve as the minister’s press secretary and issues man- ager, aided by Jocasta Boone and Wendy Morgan as special assis- emocratic Institutions tants for communications. DMinister Maryam Monsef Ali Salam, who is director of recently bid farewell to her direc- policy and parliamentary affairs tor of communications, meaning to the minister, continues to act remaining communications staff as chief of staff in the offi ce, will have to fi ll in in the interim, an interim role he’s been fi lling with much buzz around ongoing since February after Maxime Dea electoral reform efforts and a switched over to serve as director busy fall sitting ahead. of policy to Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay. Also working in Ms. Monsef’s offi ce are staffers: Laura LeBel, senior special assistant for parlia- mentary affairs and operations; Christopher Evelyn, policy adviser; Byrne Furlong, legislative assis- tant; and Donovan Allen, special assistant to the minister’s parlia- mentary secretary, Mark Holland, who represents Ajax, Ont. Sohi gains assistant, ence and government, Mr. Agbasi Over in International Trade be on the horizon with offi ce Jennifer Austin is no longer director Freeland’s offi ce previously spent a number of years Minister Chrystia Freeland’s min- staffi ng under review, for now at of communications to Democratic working as an aide at Ontario’s isterial offi ce, Eszter Sipos, who least, there have largely been no Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef. loses one provincial legislature in Toronto. had been policy adviser to the exempt staff changes in the Lib- Photograph courtesy of LinkedIn While at Queen’s Park, Mr. minister’s parliamentary secre- eral Government House Leader’s Agbasi served as executive assis- tary, David Lametti, has left. Mr. offi ce since Bardish Chagger be- Jennifer Austin marked her last tant to Mr. McGuinty as Ontario Lametti is the Liberal MP for came the fi rst woman ever to take offi cial day as communications Liberal premier and continued LaSalle-Émard-Verdun, Que. on the role, replacing Dominic director in Ms. Monsef’s ministerial working for him in that capac- Ms. Sipos, who was hired as an LeBlanc, last month. offi ce on Sept. 7, after being hired ity as the MPP for Ottawa South, aide to Mr. Lametti in the minister’s Only ministerial driver to fi ll the role last February. Ont. after Mr. McGuinty stepped offi ce at the beginning of the year, Jacques Roy has been removed Now off the Hill, Ms. Austin down as premier in February recently left the Hill to study law from the offi ce staff list on the has already started a new job as 2013. He was replaced by current at McGill University in Montreal. government’s electronic directory executive director for operations Liberal premier Kathleen Wynne Megan Buttle joined Ms. Freeland’s service, having stuck with Mr. at the International Alliance of and resigned his seat in the pro- staff team as a special assistant to LeBlanc, who’s now focused on Dermatology Patient Organiza- vincial legislature as few months the parliamentary secretary in late his role as the minister for fi sher- tions in Ottawa, a non-govern- later in June. August, as previously reported by ies, oceans, and the Canadian mental organization which seeks Mr. Agbasi has also previously Hill Climbers, replacing Ms. Sipos Coast Guard. to “serve as a global voice for all been a professional speaker with in the offi ce. Staff to House leaders, and to people living with dermatological United Way in Toronto and the Brian Clow is chief of staff to Ms. whips for that matter, often stick conditions and skin traumas,” as York region, and a big brother Freeland, whose ministerial offi ce to their respective offi ces through described on the group’s website. Chike Agbasi is now a special with Big Brothers and Big Sisters also includes senior aides: Owen Teo, various elected offi cials, given the She’s also now as a part-time assistant to Infrastructure Minister of Toronto. director of policy; Vincent Garneau, need for an intimate knowledge professor with Algonquin Col- Amarjeet Sohi. Photograph courtesy of Elections Canada fi les indicate director of parliamentary affairs; of parliamentary procedure and lege’s public relations diploma LinkedIn someone by that name donated to Anne-Louise Chauvette, director of House of Commons strategies program. Michael Ignatieff’s 2006 federal communications; and Alex Law- and precedents required for the “I really enjoyed being on the Infrastructure and Communities Liberal leadership campaign. rence, press secretary. offi ce to perform well. Hill again, after many years of be- Minister Amarjeet Sohi recently John Brodhead is chief of staff Other exempt staff are: Em- Chief of staff Vincent MacNeil ing away. But my passion is really hired a former aide to ex-Ontario to Mr. Sohi. Other political aides ily Yorke, policy adviser; Sarah and director of parliamentary for not-for-profi t work and I have premier Dalton McGuinty to serve working for the minister include: Hussaini, policy adviser; Simon affairs Hugo Dompierre are both chosen to return in this challeng- as a new special assistant on his Mike Burton, director of parlia- Beauchemin, special assistant for House leader’s offi ce veterans ing new role,” said Ms. Austin in an political staff team. mentary affairs; Mathieu Bélanger, parliamentary affairs; André Ca- who remain in place. email response to Hill Climbers. Charles “Chike” Agbasi started director of policy; Leslie O’Leary, paldi, special assistant for Ontario Also currently working in Ms. Austin previously worked work as a special assistant in the director of issues management; regional affairs; Marc-André Po- the House leader’s offi ce head- as a press secretary to then- minister’s offi ce on Sept. 7. Until Kate Monfette, director of com- irier, special assistant for Atlantic ing into the new fall sitting are: leader of the government in the recently, he was a fundraising munications; Brook Simpson, press regional affairs; and Diamond Kevin Fram, director of issues Senate, Bernard Boudreau, a manager with Public Outreach secretary; and policy advisers Gur- Isinger, special assistant. management; Sabrina Atwal, former Liberal Nova Scotia Sena- Fundraising, “an international preet Vinning, Julie Savard-Shaw, press secretary; Barry Lacombe, tor appointed by prime minister face to face fundraising agency and Kelly Rowe. special adviser; Yvon Mar- Jean Chrétien, and before that that recruits and retains high Also in the offi ce are Kath- Government House tin, executive assistant; Lucie had spent time as a legislative value monthly donors for some of erine O’Halloran, senior special Leader’s offi ce Giroux, scheduling assistant; assistant to an MP, as indicated by the world’s most respected non- assistant; Marie-Pascale Des and special assistants Sebastien her LinkedIn profi le. profi t organizations,” according Rosiers, senior special assistant; unchanged for now Belliveau, Stephanie Choeurng, More recently, before join- to its website. Maya Borgenicht, special assis- Jérôme Miousse, and Mark ing Ms. Monsef’s political staff A graduate of the University tant; Sonja Blondeau, schedul- following shuffl e O’Halloran. team, Ms. Austin was director of of Guelph, where he studied for a ing assistant; and Amy Mankal, [email protected] marketing and communications bachelor’s degree in political sci- administrative assistant. While it seems change could The Hill Times 24 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 HILL TIMES CLASSIFIED INFORMATION AND ADVERTISEMENT PLACEMENT: TEL. 613-232-5952, FAX 613-232-9055

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ON Chinese ambassador bids farewell at HEARD THE HILL country’s national day The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia BY MARCO V IGLIOTTI Milewski bids adieu to CBC

Continued from page 2 with reaction to their new life in Toronto. “I forget the nightmares and everything is happy now,” said Daad Sabbagh in the Veteran CBC reporter Terry Milewski is video, who was only 11 when Ms. Doucet Chinese Ambassador Luo Zhaohui speaks with Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion, with Jiang calling it a career after nearly four decades last interviewed her, during which she Slovenian Ambassador Marjan Cencen. Yili and her spouse, Mr. Luo. in journalism. spoke about her fear of the future and He announced his retirement in a cheeky nightmares about dead and injured friends. post on Twitter, where he promised to pop up occasionally in broadcasts and online. “Small news: I gotta go. After 38 years Maude Barlow pens new at CBC, I’m retiring,” Mr. Milewski, who served as a senior correspondent with the book on water issues CBC, wrote on the social media website. “Still gonna show up often on air and The national chairperson of left-of-cen- online, so not going cold turkey.” tre advocacy group the Council of Cana- Born and raised in the U.K., Mr. Milews- dians is releasing a new book on what she ki attended the posh Shrewsbury School sees is the country’s brewing water crisis. before enrolling at prestigious Oxford Uni- Maude Barlow is embarking on a 14- versity, though he later dropped out after city coast-to-coast tour to launch her new a six-month illness, according to a profi le book Boiling Point: Government Neglect, about the journalist by The Globe and Mail. Corporate Abuse, and Canada’s Water Cri- He attended and later left Keele Univer- sis, which began in Ottawa on Tuesday. sity after he was caught sunbathing in the Her 18th book is being touted as a “timely Ghana’s High Commissioner Sulley Gariba, with his spouse Neo Gariba, and Ms. Jiang and Mr. Luo. nude, according to the profi le. and insightful guide” for Members of Parlia- After school, Mr. Milewski worked as ment, environmental organizations, and resi- a lifeguard and a disc jockey, and played dents seeking to protect freshwater in Canada in a blues band. After moving to Canada, and in indigenous communities. he worked in a sawmill before beginning In June, the Trudeau government an- Mexico’s national day: Hot party on a his broadcasting career at radio stations in nounced it would be reviewing environ- Williams Lake and Nanaimo, B.C. mental and freshwater protections that cool night After his spell in B.C., he ventured off to Al- some critics accused the former Conserva- The Hill Times photographs by Jake Wright and Chelsea Nash berta, where he covered the provincial legisla- tive government of dismantling. ture for Edmonton’s ITV station, before joining The federal government also announced the CBC, where he became one of the station’s public consultations about environmental most well-known correspondents, attracting assessment processes in 19 cities, begin- both praise and scorn for his dogged hounding ning the same day Ms. Barlow launches of prime ministers and other politicians. her new book. Following the announcement, Mr. “The water crisis is at our door here in Milewski’s peers in the media praised him Canada. All the issues we thought so far away on Twitter for being an authentic, hard- are upon us now,” she writes in her book. nosed reporter who was never shy about “It is time to abandon our false beliefs that Honduran Ambassador Sofi a Cerrato with Marcela Mexican Ambassador Agustin Garcia-Lopez asking tough questions. Canada has unlimited supplies of water, that Lopez Bravo, the ambassador of Peru, with delivers remarks to the crowd and to Deputy “One of the best. A true shit disturber. Canadians have taken care of this water heri- Peruvian assistant military and defence attaché Minister of Foreign Affairs Ian Shugart, right, Never afraid to speak truth to power & tage and one another or that we still have lots Col. Eduardo Malca Valverde. beside his spouse, Katya Anaya de la Fuente. a fun guy to travel the world with on PM of time to do so. We need a strong, national trips,” wrote Robert Fife, the Ottawa bureau plan of action based on a new water ethic that chief for the Globe. puts water protection and water justice at the Tom Clark, chief political correspondent heart of all our policies and laws.” for Global News, mused on Twitter why In addition to her duties at the Coun- terrifi c journalists like Mr. Milewski always cil of Canadians, Ms. Barlow also works seem to take early retirement, before say- for Washington-based Food and Water ing that his “unique brand will be missed.” Watch, serves as a councillor for the World CTV Ottawa chief anchor Graham Future Council, and as a board member for Richardson described Mr. Milewski as a a number of organizations. “broadcaster we all learned from.” She previously acted as senior adviser on “You always knew a Milewski script water to the 63rd president of the UN General when you heard it,” he posted on Twitter. Assembly, Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann. Soon-to-be-departing Conservative MP Ja- Korean minister and deputy chief of mission In Kyu Park, with Frank son Kenney (Calgary Midnapore, Alta.) also Ming-Cheng Lin, deputy representative of the Taipei Economic and Mr. Garcia-Lopez Loaeza yells, “Viva took to the website to offer his best wishes to FBI chief visits nation’s Cultural Offi ce in Canada, as he snacks on some churros. Mexico!” while holding his country’s fl ag. the veteran journalist in his retirement. capital Journalist reunites with FBI director James Comey was in Ottawa on Monday to visit his Canadian Syrian family counterparts. The national U.S. policing agency Veteran BBC correspondent Lyse Doucet tweeted a photo of Mr. Comey walking on enjoyed an emotional reunion in Toronto re- Parliament Hill, writing that he was in the cently with a Syrian family she met overseas. city to meet with RCMP commissioner Bob While on duty reporting on the resettle- Paulson and CSIS director Michel Cou- Costa Rican Ambassador Roberto Dormond poses ment of Syrian refugees in Canada, Ms. lombe. The mariachi band provided a Latin atmosphere for with his spouse, Gabriela Carazo Barrantes while Doucet, a Canadian, attended a picnic in The meeting comes after a hectic week- the evening dancing. Toronto that brought together refugees end stateside that saw a bomb explode in from the country with those who helped New York City’s Chelsea neighbourhood settle them, the BBC reported. and injure 29 people, while an attacker, Once there, video shows a visibly excited who allegedly claimed allegiance to the Is- Ms. Doucet spotting and embracing members lamic State, stabbed and injured 10 people of the Sabbagh family. When they last spoke in a mall in St. Cloud, Minnesota. in Syria in 2014, they were struggling amid The manhunt for the suspected New the civil war ravaging the country. York bomber ended with a gunfi ght on The Sabbagh family appears to be settling Monday that culminated with the success- fi ne and are enthused about their new home. ful arrest of suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami. The BBC video contrasts Ms. Doucet’s re- Fortunately, neither incident resulted in Some of the tequila available for tasting. porting on the family during their time in Syria any confi rmed deaths. 26 THE HILL TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 FEATURE PARTIES PARTY CENTRAL BY CHELSEA NASH AND KRISTEN SHANE Mexico’s national day: Hot party on a cool night

mariachi band, margaritas, tacos, foreign affairs adviser Roland Paris, who’s Aand tequila: Mexico’s national day now back at the University of Ottawa. celebration brought all the elements of a Diplomatic guests arrived to the party killer party, and a fun and vibrant crowd of fi rst, and were the exclusive guests while guests brought the rest. speeches took place in between some Parliamentarians have been trickling cordial mingling. United Kingdom High back to Ottawa this past week with the Commissioner Howard Drake was there, House resuming on Sept. 19, and diplomats and was seen chatting with Mr. Paris. returning from late-summer vacations— Argentina’s Ambassador Marcelo Suarez Mexican Ambassador Agustin Garcia-Lopez and his spouse, Katya Anaya de la Fuente, share a just in time for party season to kick into Salvia caught up with Peru’s Ambassador dance. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright high gear. Marcela Lopez Bravo. A couple high-profi le parties last week About halfway through the evening, was seen balancing a plate of tacos with One of his priorities, he noted, was “to hosted by the Chinese and Mexican embas- community members and other guests multiple tequila shots as they wove through promote co-operation while managing sies were perfect places to catch up with arrived, the sun went down, and the party the crowd. Whether they were intended for differences.” During his tenure, “we have colleagues and get back into the swing of was turned up a notch. While some within sharing or not, Party Central wasn’t judging. handled some sensitive issues properly,” he things (both in the dancing sense, and the the diplomatic community left, others hung added. networking sense). around, including former Canadian dip- Foreign Minister Dion also spoke, after The Mexican evening, hosted Thursday lomat Colin Robertson, Poland’s defence Chinese ambassador a toast with red wine, with the vigour of evening at the Mexican residence, kicked attaché Colonel Cezary Kiszkowiak, and giving a campaign speech, and read a letter off with Ambassador Agustín García- Honduran Ambassador Sofi a Cerrato. bids farewell from PM Trudeau aloud. López Loaeza and Foreign Affairs Deputy At 7 p.m., Mr. García-López performed Regarding China-Canada ties, he said Minister Ian Shugart delivering remarks a fl ag ceremony known as the “grito de Guests waited as much as 20 minutes in “trade alone will not work. If you want to to guests from the diplomatic, government, independencia,” or “cry of independence.” a line that snaked through the halls of the succeed with the Chinese, you need to be and business communities (including some Several of Mexico’s defence attachés Chateau Laurier to attend China’s packed interested in the people of China—that’s of the event’s sponsors) in a large backyard marched onto the stage and handed Mr. national day and farewell party for Ambas- the key.” tent fi lled with chandeliers and paper mon- García-López a Mexican fl ag, which he sador Luo Zhaohui last Wednesday night. Though the Chinese state is young, he arch butterfl ies hanging from the roof. raised, waved, yelling, “Viva Mexico!” to The hotel’s ballroom was packed to said the civilization is thousands of years old. The venue was enough to impress in which the crowd responded by repeating the brim with Chinese community mem- “Canada is a young nation, when you itself, but it only got better from there. En- the phrase back at him. bers and diplomats for Mr. Luo’s goodbye compare with China. And Canada has a th tertainers from Cirque Du Soleil’s Luzia, “a The butterfl y-fi lled tent was fi lled with speech, which also marked the 67 an- lot to learn in our relationship with China. waking dream of Mexico,” moved around guests by the time the mariachi band took niversary of the founding of the People’s And the best way to know it is to ask the the room making funny faces and breaking to the stage, and it was clear the party was Republic of China. 1.5 million Canadians of Chinese back- the ice for guests. in full force. Lines formed for all the food Mr. Luo is set to become China’s ambas- ground; they will tell you how much we While Mr. García-López assured his stations, especially the churros which had sador to India, wrapping up two years have to learn,” he said. guests he would be delivering a short speech, been brought in from Toronto by the “I Love and four months at his Canadian posting, Taking in the night (though some were heeding the advice given in The Hill Times’ Churros” food truck, who have previously alongside his wife Jiang Yili, a counsellor forced to leave before the speeches started, Sept. 14 Diplomatic Newcomer issue for six served both Mr. Nieto and Mr. Trudeau. at the embassy. given the time it took for all guests to get tips on how to host a great party, his enthu- After bellies were fi lled with tacos, The ambassador is scheduled to leave into the room) were Le Devoir reporter siasm for the occasion overcame him. His churros, tequila, and Corona, it was time Canada on Sept. 26, after a whirlwind last Marie Vastel and Global Affairs Canada’s speech—which while a bit long was nonethe- to dance. Mr. García-López took to the month. He was just in China to welcome Michael O’Shaughnessy, Austrian Ambas- less entertaining—prompted Mr. Shugart to fl oor with EU Ambassador Marie-Anne Prime Minister Trudeau there for his fi rst sador Arno Riedel, German Ambassador joke, “Your speech was short, but you also Coninsx. Costa Rican Ambassador Roberto offi cial visit as PM earlier this month. And Werner Wnendt, Canada’s Chief of Pro- included my short speech.” Dormond-Cantú let loose with his wife this week Mr. Luo is set to welcome Chi- tocol Roy Norton, Foreign Affairs Deputy The recent visit to Canada by Mexican Gabriela Carazo Barrantes. And it wasn’t nese Premier Li Keqiang to Canada for an Minister Ian Shugart, Japanese Ambas- President Enrique Peña Nieto was men- long before the pairs came together to offi cial visit Sept. 21 to 24. sador Kenjiro Monji and his wife Etsuko, tioned several times, and Mr. Shugart was form a big circle, holding hands. Later in Throughout his busy posting, Mr. Luo Serbian Ambassador Mihailo Papazoglu, sure to bring up the bromantic moment the evening, a conga line was seen weaving was able to visit all 13 provinces and ter- Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, Brunei High when Mr. Nieto and Prime Minister Justin in and out of the crowd. ritories. “I learned what [a] double-double Commissioner Kamal Bashah Ahmad, Hill Trudeau went for a jog together one morn- The excitement for the evening didn’t end means,” he said, to chuckles. “I know that + Knowlton Strategies president and CEO ing during his visit. there: the grand prize for a raffl e included an London does not need to be in the U.K.” of public affairs Goldy Hyder, Gowling Other guests from Global Affairs Cana- all-inclusive vacation to Mexico courtesy of He noted a long list of accomplish- WLG partner Jacques Shore, and many, da included Minister Stéphane Dion’s chief Air Canada Vacations, and pico de gallo fea- ments, including the establishment of a many others. of staff Julian Ovens. Former Liberal MPs turing Mexican avocados was also offered to renminbi currency-trading hub in Canada, For more photos from these parties, see Gar Knutson and Don Boudria were also guests, as were tables of 10 different brands and Canada’s desire to join the China-led Page 25. spotted, as was the prime minister’s former of tequila for tasting. More than one guest Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. [email protected] is The all-new E-Class at Star Motors

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Please contact Lynn Raby at lynn_raby@railwaysuppliers. Parliamentary ca or 613-237-3888. Movie Nights Across Canada Ottawa Launch—Tele- Calendar fi lm Canada and Minister of Canadian Heritage Mélanie Joly, in partnership with private and public partners, are bringing Movie Nights on the Hill on tour across the country in 2017. In conjunction with Canada 150, and in celebrating Telefi lm Canada’s 50th anniversary and Presents its Talent Fund’s fi fth birthday, Movie Nights Across Canada is poised to be the country’s most exciting, coast-to-coast celebration of homegrown talent, creativ- ity and excellence in Canadian fi lm. The launch of the series of events is happening in Ottawa at the foot of Parliament Hill on Nov. 1 in the soon-to-be-renovated Southam Hall at the National Arts Centre. WEDNESDAY, NOV. 2 The Conference Reach Annual Celebrity Auction—Nov. 2, St. Elias Centre, 750 Ridgewood Ave., Ottawa. Proceeds will help provide access to justice for persons with dis- of Defence abilities. Enjoy a reception with live music, threecourse meal, and a live and silent auction. Silent auction 5:30 Associations p.m.; dinner 7 p.m.; live auction 8 p.m. Visit reach.ca to purchase tickets and preview silent auction items. Walrus Info: 613-236-6636 or [email protected] Institute to host FRIDAY, NOV. 4 Meet Liberal Anita Vandenbeld at Tim Hortons—Fri- Veterans minister day, Nov. 4, 5:30-6:30 p.m., 2970 Carling Ave., Ottawa, Ont. Ottawa-West Nepean. Oct. 20 in Ottawa CDA Institute Vimy Award Gala Dinner—This annual Talks gala takes place Nov. 4. Reception 6 p.m., dinner 7 p.m. Canadian War Museum. $300 per person. Regis- Continued from page 22 ter via cdainstitute.ca. SUNDAY, NOV. 6 TUESDAY, OCT. 18 Canada-Africa Business Summit 2016—The second Arctic GreenPAC Breakfast—GreenPAC will be hosting a Canada-Africa Business Summit will take place starting breakfast event in the Parliamentary restaurant between Nov. 6. The Canadian Council on Africa presents this 7:30 and 9 a.m. It will bring together environmentally- conference. Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, 123 Queen Exploring the issues and opportunities focused Members of Parliament from four political parties St. W. Until Nov. 9. ccafrica.ca/event/cabs. as well as other people, associations, and corporations. THURSDAY, NOV. 10 that make the North unique WEDNESDAY, OCT. 19 First Conservative Leadership Debate—The fi rst Bank of Canada Release—The bank is expected to debate of the leadership campaign will be on Nov. 10 in make its latest interest rate announcement as well as Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and will be an English debate. Seven speakers. publish its quarterly Monetary Policy Report. 10 a.m. Debates will be streamed live online for all party members EU-Canada Arctic Conference—The conference aims and all Canadians to see. All debates are open to Conser- to bring together Northerners and other decision-makers vative Party members to attend. The Conservative Party Seven minutes each. from both sides of the Atlantic and to highlight the pos- leadership election will be on May 27, 2017. sibilities for close co-operation between Canada and the MONDAY, NOV. 14 Natan Obed EU on Arctic matters. Presented by the EU Delegation in Canada. The event is part of the celebration of the 40 CCPPP National Conference on Public Private President, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami years of the EU in Canada. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Adam Room, Partnerships—The Canadian Council for Public Private Chateau Laurier, 1 Rideau St. To register/more info: Partnerships will hold its annual conference, Innovating Fibbie Tatti eucanada40.ca/events/the-arctic-region. Our Future, at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel Nov. THURSDAY, OCT. 20 14-15. For more information: p3-2016.ca/Program. Advocate for Aboriginal languages and culture WEDNESDAY, NOV. 16 CDA Institute Roundtable with Veterans Minister Kevin Kablutsiak Kent Hehr—Minister Hehr will appear alongside Nick CDA Institute Roundtable with Lt.-Gen. Paul Wynnwk— Carleton, associate professor, University of Regina in this This talk with the commander of the Canadian Army is Executive director, Arctic Inspiration Prize talk presented by the Conference of Defence Associations presented by the Conference of Defence Associations Institute. Not for attribution and no media reporting. $15- Institute. Not for attribution and no media reporting. Clint Davis $50. Oct. 20. KPMG, 150 Elgin St., suite 1800. 9:30 $15-$50. Nov. 16. KPMG, 150 Elgin St., suite 1800. a.m.-12:30 p.m. Register via cdainstitute.ca. 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Register via cdainstitute.ca. Board chair, Nunatsiavut Group of Companies WEDNESDAY, OCT. 26 Home Depot Canada Foundation Reception—The foundation invites Parliamentarians and political staff Candice Lys Deliverology for Defence Procurement—The Univer- to their parliamentary reception in Ottawa on Nov. 16. sity of Calgary’s School of Public Policy and the Cana- The event will celebrate the results of the foundation’s Executive director, FOXY dian Global Affairs Institute present this fourth annual three-year $10-million commitment to help end youth defence policy symposium. Oct. 26. 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m, homelessness in Canada. Time: approx. 5:30 p.m. Jeff ery M. Saarela followed by a networking cocktail until 6 p.m. Chateau Location: TBC; more details will follow. Laurier, 1 Rideau St., Ottawa. FRIDAY, NOV. 18 Research scientist and director, A Roundtable with Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force—The Conference of Defence Halifax International Security Forum—This annual Centre for Arctic Knowledge and Exploration, Associations Institute presents a roundtable with gathering of the international defence and security Canadian Museum of Nature Lieutenant-General Michael Hood, commander of the community will feature journalists, politicians, top bu- Royal Canadian Air Force. Oct 26. KPMG, 150 Elgin reaucrats, and diplomats. Until Nov. 20. Halifax, N.S. Joel Heath St., suite 1800, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Not for media halifaxtheforum.org attribution and no media reporting. $15-$50. Includes WEDNESDAY, NOV. 23 Executive director, Arctic Eider Socie lunch/refreshments. Register via cdainstitute.ca. Shaw Rocket Prize—The Shaw Rocket Fund will THURSDAY, OCT. 27 host its annual Shaw Rocket Prize event to award three EU-Canada Summit—European Union and prizes of $25,000 for the best in Canadian children’s Thursday, September 22, 7 p.m. Canadian leaders are scheduled to meet in Brussels, programming on Nov. 23 from 6-9 p.m. at the Shaw Belgium. The EU Commission sees this “as the occa- Centre in downtown Ottawa. Ministers, MPs, media, and Canadian Museum of Nature sion to confi rm tangible progress on the lifting of the special guests will be in attendance to celebrate the best visa requirement for Bulgarian and Romanian citizens.” preschool program, the best children’s (6-12) program 240 McLeod St., Ottawa The two sides are also expected to sign the EU-Canada and the best youth/family program, as chosen by an inter- trade deal CETA. Until Oct. 28. national and children’s jury. Invite only. More information: TUESDAY, NOV. 1 rocketfund.ca/initiatives/shaw-rocket-prize/. TUESDAY, DEC. 6 Tickets and information GTEC—This is a forum for enabling and celebrating information and communication technology leadership, Second Conservative Leadership Debate—The second thewalrus.ca/events innovation, and impact in Canada’s public sector. Sandra debate will be held on Dec. 6 in Moncton, N.B., and will be Cascadden, Nova Scotia’s associate deputy minister a bilingual debate. Debates will be streamed live online for General: $20 | Students: $12 of internal services, is a keynote speaker on Nov. 3 at all party members and all Canadians to see. All debates are 8:50 a.m. discussing the Shared Services Model that is open to Conservative Party members to attend. The Conser- transforming provincial public service delivery. Until Nov. vative Party leadership election will be on May 27, 2017. 3. Shaw Centre, 55 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa. gtec.ca. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 7 Annual National Railway Day Conference—This year’s team, Innovation and Investment: Building for Bank of Canada Release—The bank is expected to the Future, will be hosted by the Canadian Association make its latest interest rate announcement. 10 a.m. of Railway Suppliers and the Railway Association of The Parliamentary Calendar is a free listing. Send in Canada, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., followed by a networking recep- your political, cultural, diplomatic, or governmental event in tion where participants will meet MPs, suppliers, and a paragraph with all the relevant details under the subject railway representatives. Continental breakfast and buffet line ‘Parliamentary Calendar’ to [email protected] by lunch will be served. Early bird registration before Oct. Wednesday at noon before the Monday paper or by Friday at 1: members and government offi cials $350 and non- noon for the Wednesday paper. We can’t guarantee inclusion members $450. Registration after Oct. 1 for members of every event, but we will defi nitely do our best. and government offi cials $450 and non-members $550. [email protected] HOW THE 2017 BUDGET CAN HELP ALL OF CANADA’S CHARITIES Removing the Capital Gains Tax on Gifts of Private Company Shares and Real Estate

To: The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P. The Honourable William Morneau, P.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Canada Minister of Finance cc: Honourable Rona Ambrose, M.P. Honourable Thomas Mulcair, M.P. Honourable Lisa Raitt, M.P. Mr.Nathan Cullen, M.P. Interim Leader of the Official Opposition Leader Finance Critic Finance Critic rous spirit of giving Canadians. This measure would provide crucial private Conservative Party New Democratic Party Conservative Party New Democratic Party ons. These organizations are facing unprecedented demands for services at the same time The 2017 Budget presents a unique opportunity for the government to stimulate charitable giving and in doing so, honour the gene sector funding for Canada’s hospitals, universities, social service agencies, health charities and arts and cultural organizati ns tax by 50% and the 2006 budget removed the remaining capital gains tax on such their revenue sources are being constrained. began in 1997 when the Chrétien government cut the capital gai virtually every year since 2006. Removal of the capital gains tax on gifts of private e fiscal cost to the federal government of foregoing the capital gains tax on such The removal of the capital gains tax on gifts of listed securities ld be the same as for cash donations. gifts. It has been an enormous success as large and small charities across Canada have received over $1 billion in gifts of stock company shares and real estate would stimulate an additional $200aritable million Donation in donations Tax Credit every foryear these for theincreased foreseeable donations future. wou Th ares or real estate sold his or her assets to an arm’s-length party and donated gifts is estimated at only $50-65 million. The fiscal cost of the Ch than having to sell the asset. y receives the cash proceeds rather This measure was included in the 2015 Budget and addressed any concern about valuation abuse. If the owner of private company sh the cash proceeds to a registered charity within 30 days, he or she would be exempt from capital gains tax on his or her gift, theanada. same asThese currently sectors applies include to giftsour managementof listed securities. and employees, This structure our boards is much of simpler and less costly than the U.S. system because the owner of the asset monetizes the gift at the best possible price and the charit profit organizations. This measure will create a vital new incentive for charitable Budget 2017 is an opportunity for the government to demonstrate its support for the not-for-profit sector which is so vital to allC Canadians. directors, our donors, and, particularly, the millions of Canadiansng these who appreciated benefit from capital the assets vital servicesto charities provided which byis aour benefit not-for- giving. It will enable people to share their wealth by donati Yours tr uly,

Malcolm Burrows David Barnard Author Robert Foster President & Vice Chancellor Scotia Wealth Management Nichole Anderson Chair University of Manitoba Bruce MacDonald President Canadian Arts Summit President & CEO Business for the Arts Imagine Canada Feridun Hamdullahpur J.P. Gladu President & Vice Chancellor Richard Florizone President & CEO University of Waterloo Thomas D’Aquino President & Vice Chancellor Canadian Council for Amit Chakma Chair, National Gallery of Canada Dalhousie Uiversity Aboriginal Business President & Vice Chancellor Foundation and Distinguished University of Western Ontario Lifetime Member, Canadian Council of Chief Executives Alan Shepard President & Vice Chancellor Jaclyn Nyman Jory Pritchard-Kerr Concordia University President & CEO Regional Director, Dan Kelly United Way Canada - Canada President & CEO Ruth MacKenzie Centraide Canada CFIB Executive Director (Privacy Officer) Canadian Association of Gift Planners Michael Wilson (Representing 1,330 members) Chancellor Meric Gertler University of Toronto Bill Tholl Mamdouh Shoukri President President & CEO University of Toronto President HealthCareCAN York University Franco Vaccarino President & Vice Chancellor University of Guelph Janet Yale Roseann Runte President & CEO President & Vice Chancellor Canadian Arthritis Society Carleton University Janice Price President & CEO, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity Donald K. Johnson, O.C., LL.D. Member of the 2016 Major Individual Giving Cabinet, United Way of Greater Toronto; Director, Toronto General and Western Hospital Foundation, Business for the Arts, Advisory Board, Ivey Business School at Western; Chair, Vision Campaign, Toronto Western Hospital