Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 L A the tensionsat play between the “guide forward” inreconciling on Indigenousrightsprovides a News say experts of authority, over questions communities Indigenous tensions among to resolving provides ‘guide’ UNDRIP process feds’ new staffi concerns around manager, employee report fi hiring up,but Public service News there areconcernsamongboth service forthesixthyear inarow, in thepromotion rate withinthe service, as well asanincrease tial growth inthefederal public BY BEATRICE PAEZ BY MIKE LAPOINTE THIRTY-FIRST YEAR, NO.1705 policy briefi Transportation ment theUN’sdeclaration egislation that would imple- Sara Kirk, & Alec Soucy Pedro Antunes, Roger Francis, Todd Doherty, Ashley Morton, Philip Cross, report shows fairlysubstan- lthough arecentgovernment HOH HOH e’ue’nPrimeMinister Wet’suwet’en Public service p.2 Continued onpage28 Continued onpage 33 nds nds ng T cabinet minister, pollsters reconciliation, say former to his political credibility, Wet’suwet’en blockades critical of handling Trudeau’s News has facedinhis politicalcareer, that PrimeMinisterJustin Trudeau biggest publicpolicy challenges Wet’suwet’en Nation isoneofthe tation routes insupportofthe BY ABBAS RANA BY ABBAS blockades ofkey transpor- he issueofIndigenous C ANADA pp. 17-25 ’ S P OLITICS ng: ng: improve hereover thenextfew fairs ministerandpollsters. tion, say aformerIndigenous Af- sensitive situation andreconcilia- his abilitytohandlethispolitically dians willraise questionsabout to thesatisfaction ofmostCana- and afailuretoresolve the crisis “If thisdoesn’tchange, and Central Central Party

AND p.37 G OVERNMENT Climbers crisis in relationship crisis inrelationship N p.38 Hill EWSPAPER interview withThe Hill Times. Jean Chrétiencabinet, inaphone and NorthernDevelopment inthe former ministerofIndian Affairs [him], forsure,” said BobNault, impact onhisgovernment andon days, thisisgoingtohave ahuge Trudeau, picturedonFeb. 21, blockades andreconciliaiton. now comedown.’Theprime 2020, attheNationalPress Theatre inOttawawherehe The Hill Times photograph photograph Times Hill The the lineashehandlesrail minister’s credibilityison with Indigenous with Indigenous said ‘thebarricadesmust We’re adding to Prime MinisterJustin Continued onpage 35 by Andrew Meade Andrew by Rose Lemay MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24,2020$5.00

S T (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) saidthework process, say someparliamentarians. influence over thetrade negotiation parts tolookformoreoftheirown has inspiredtheirCanadiancounter- talks with House talks with future trade objectives of share pledge to NAFTA, Liberals to amendnew power to have for Parliament Downe calls News says one complaint, blocked bullying ‘loophole’ on harassment, spotlight back Senators put News week, while allthegovernment’s outside oftheSenate Chamberlast workplace harassment inand BY NEIL MOSS BY PETER MAZEREEUW peoples: CSG Senator Percy Downe called out each other about called outeachotherabout enators calledforchange, and ers to modify trade agreements ers tomodifytrade agreements he power of American lawmak- Senate & harassment NAFTA 2.0 Continued onpage30 Continued onpage 6

p. 4 p. 4 2 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES

Liberals announce Volpe takes shot at World Series cheating Freeland as co- Astros at House Trade Committee chair for Ontario Heard on the Hill Sometimes those appearing in The fraught negotiations in- by Neil Moss leadership front of House Committees bore volved very public and very dra- MPs to sleep, but Flavio Volpe had matic twists and turns, including convention a few solid zingers mixed into his personal attacks aimed at Prime testimony in front of the House Minister Justin Trudeau follow- Deputy Prime Minister Committee on International Trade. ing the G7 meeting in Charlevoix, Chyrstia Freeland was selected The president of Automotive Que., from senior White House Energy, reconciliation, as one of the two chairs of the Parts Manufacturers Association— advisers and angry tweets from Ontario Liberal leadership and son of former Liberal MP Joe U.S. President Donald Trump convention that is taking place Volpe—took a swipe at the Hous- himself. between March 6 and 7 in Mis- ton Astros baseball team, which is “It was a non-partisan, public- and Canada-China sissauga, Ont. in the midst of a cheating scandal. private effort. It was amazing and Joining the intergovernmental The 2017 World Series win- I was proud to be a footnote in affairs minister as the other co- ning Astros were found to using this history’s chapter,” Mr. Volpe chair is interim Ontario Liberal technology to fi nd out what type said at committee. relationship in the Leader John Fraser. of pitch their opponents were Mr. Volpe also took time remi- Steven Del going to use next, and banging a niscing about his father’s career Duca is cur- garbage bin to alert their bat- on the Hill, even noting some spotlight at Pearson rently the ters. They are also facing on the committee had served front-runner an allegation that some with him, such as Liberal MP for the nomi- players were wearing Sukh Dhaliwal. nation. buzzers underneath “My father was a 7-time Conference “Free- their jerseys—a claim Member of Parliament. I land is a that Astros players deny. spent over two decades champion But unlike those coming to [the House of of Liberal cheaters, Mr. Volpe told the Commons] to visit him values committee, the Canadians at work,” he wrote both at renegotiating NAFTA on Twitter. home had to react on “Every time and the fl y. I’m here abroad, “Unlike the on busi- fi ght- Chrystia Freeland Houston Astros ness I’m ing to will serve along hitters, nobody reminded preserve with interim Ontario hit the gar- what a liberal Liberal Leader bage bins privi- democ- John Fraser as the for us,” he lege it racy and chair of the Ontario said. “We Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ was to national Liberal leadership had to react Association president Flavio Volpe learn how unity,” On- convention. The Hill to pitches on took aim at the Houston Astros during government tario Lib- Times photograph by skill with no his appearance at the House Trade works at the eral Party Andrew Meade warning and Committee. The Hill Times photograph by feet of the president we won.” Andrew Meade master.” Brian Johns said in a statement. Since being shuffled as the foreign affairs minister into Murray Sinclair to host launch for book on her new file, Ms. Freeland has early Canadian interpreters been tasked with managing Conservative MP Dean Allison, left, Green Party Parliamentary Leader the rocky relationship between Elizabeth May, middle, and Associate Finance Minister Mona Fortier, right, Ottawa and the West, as well will be speaking at the two-day Pearson Conference this week. The Hill Times as overseeing the Canada-U.S. photographs by Andrew Meade and The Hill Times fi le photograph relationship and the ratification of the new NAFTA. Along with Mr. Del Duca, ith three crises unfolding Peter Boehm, as well as Chinese MPP Michael Coteau, past pro- rd Win the early days of the 43 ambassador to Canada Cong vincial Liberal candidate Kate Parliament, current events have Peiwu, former New Brunswick Graham, Ottawa lawyer Brenda dominated the political landscape premier Brian Gallant, former Hollingsworth, MPP Mitzie on the Hill. An upcoming confer- MPs Robert-Falcon Ouellette and Hunter, and former candidate ence will look at what Canadians Guy Caron, and The Hill Times’ Alvin Tedjo are running to be the want to see tackled in the coming managing editor Charelle Evelyn, Liberal leader heading into the sittings of the new minority Par- among others. next Ontario election. liament by the government and The conference will the opposition parties. take place at the Associate Finance Minis- Delta Hotel. ter Mona Fortier will give the keynote address for the two-day Maxime Bernier conference, which will focus launches YouTube show on energy, reconciliation, and Canada’s turbulent relationship Murray Sinclair, left, will host a launch for Jean Delisle’s new book, Interprètes with China. He may not have speaking time in the House any- au pays du castor, on Feb. 27. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade and There will also be a talk be- more, but Maxime Bernier has another book cover image courtesy of Presses de l’Université Laval tween Business Council of Can- space to be heard. The People’s Party leader ada president Goldy Hyder and has launched a YouTube show. During the height of pre- important and yet little-known Canadian Labour Congress In the fi rst show, which was launched Confederation trading, interpret- role in the history of Canada,” ac- leader Hassan Yussuff. Feb. 16 and runs nearly 45 minutes, he spoke ers served as important links cording to the book’s description. Panels at the Pearson to former Statistics Canada chief economic between settlers and Indigenous “The interpreters brought to life Conference, happening analyst Philip Cross. peoples. A new book looks at 15 in these pages all had an extraor- from Feb. 24 to 25, will The show is hosted on the People’s Party of them and their impact on Ca- dinary destiny.” include discussions on the YouTube Page and as of Feb. 21 it has just nadian culture, politics, and trade. Some interpreters have been new political dynamics, the over 15,000 views. Independent Senator Murray named persons of national his- economy, energy, the envi- The former Harper cabinet Sinclair will host a launch for toric signifi cance by the Canadian ronment, and reconciliation, minister also spoke about why Jean Delisle‘s new book, Inter- government, including Pierre as well as foreign affairs he won’t be rejoining the Con- prètes au pays du castor, on Feb. Boucher and Jean Baptiste Lolo. and Canada’s relationship servative Party, and opined 27 at 1 Wellington St. Prof. Delisle is a Royal Society with China. on the Wet’suwet’en protest. Sen. Sinclair was the chief of Canada fellow and a University In addition to Ms. Fortier, In the October election, commissioner of the Truth and of Ottawa emeritus professor. panelist speakers will include Mr. Bernier lost his Beauce, Reconcilliation Commission, and The book launch will start Green Party Parliamentary People’s Party Leader Maxime Bernier Que., seat and the Peo- the fi rst Indigenous judge ap- at 6 p.m. The 374-page book is Leader Elizabeth May, Conser- is pictured at the English-language ple’s Party failed to gain pointed in Manitoba. being published by Presses de vative MP Dean Allison, Lib- federal debate on Oct. 7, 2019. traction, only garnering “As key actors amongst l’Université Laval. eral MPs Ruby Sahota and Julie The Hill Times photograph by 1.64 per cent of the Indigenous peoples, Caucasians, [email protected] Dzerowicz, Independent Senator Andrew Meade national vote. and Inuit, interpreters played an The Hill Times Brands you can bank on.

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A drummer, pictured on Feb. 7, 2020, sings at the corner of Metcalfe Street and Laurier West Avenue in a march in support of the Wet’suwet’en land defenders in Ottawa. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

We’re adding to the crisis in the relationship with Indigenous peoples

TTAWA—We are adding to the crisis in associations, emotions, and past experiences; speaking. Let’s pretend that some people in the This is also about Othe relationship with Indigenous peoples. and the slower, more methodical system based neighbourhood agree and take the payout, and It’s a crisis. Many people are scrambling on logic and reason. Our culture and socializa- some don’t. Those who disagree with the pipe- government overreach in to come up with policy options. Tensions tion give us the “software” or content for the line stand in front of their schools and libraries are high. We all want it resolved. And that, automated quick response part. Sometimes it to protect them. Here’s where the analogy Indigenous governments, Ottawa, is pretty much all that we can works. Sometimes it isn’t helpful. starts to show itself: I highly doubt journalists the oil and gas industry’s agree on. Those are the facts. Everything The colonial hangover in Canada is the would slay Rockcliffe people because they lack else is contested and/or complicated. unconscious bias against Indigenous peoples. consensus. And I know the RCMP would not hardening grip on a dying Is it about pipelines? Yes. And it’s also about It shows itself in the intentional lack of storm down Buena Vista Road to clear the way government overreach in Indigenous govern- inclusion of Indigenous peoples, and in the for the pipeline developers. energy source, the alarming ments, the oil and gas industry’s hardening tendency for non-Indigenous peoples to speak This is how we challenge unconscious grip on a dying energy source, the alarming on Indigenous perspectives. It shows itself in bias. We slow it down and we think about tendency of the RCMP to tendency of the RCMP to use excessive force a hundred different ways that combine and it. We consider if this is how we would talk use excessive force when when Indigenous peoples are involved, and a result with the RCMP aiming rifl es at Indig- about it if it were any other group, and then desperation that Canada doesn’t really want enous women and taking away their ceremo- we get to decide whether or not we want to Indigenous peoples are to do reconciliation. There’s a desperation nial drums, as reported by Amber Bracken in perpetuate the racism or choose respect. that Canada doesn’t value Indigenous com- The Narwal on Feb. 10. The change required is not going to be involved, and a desperation munities, and a fear that the daily racism and Here’s some of the evidence of the uncon- easy, because it’s bigger than we thought, unconscious bias against Indigenous peoples scious bias fl aming the crisis. The Liberals’ and it’s not a change Ottawa gets to “do that Canada doesn’t really might continue to risk our daily lives. lines of “everyday Canadians” and “middle- to” others or through law on others. The The rhetoric that criminalizes Indigenous class Canadians,” which clearly never include change required is that Ottawa itself needs want to do reconciliation. peoples’ perspectives and rights, for example Indigenous peoples. The use of the word “pro- to take responsibility for its unconscious Andrew Sheer, and also the social media fl am- test” when Indigenous peoples are involved, bias. Politicians, political insiders, govern- ing against Indigenous writers, this is precisely and “demonstration” when it’s everybody ment executives, this is on you. Until this what prolongs and deepens the crisis. Because else. The number of panels in the news with fundamental change occurs, Ottawa will this is proving the fears of Indigenous peoples, non-Indigenous journalists weighing in with continue to contribute to the crisis. that racism and unconscious bias are alive and their ideas of what Indigenous peoples want. Rose LeMay is Tlingit from the West Coast well and perhaps untouchable. The tendency to dismiss Indigenous knowl- and the CEO of the Indigenous Reconcilia- What’s next? I have a few thoughts, and edges (hereditary systems, connection to the tion Group. She writes twice a month about I only speak for myself. No, I don’t speak land), and belittle Indigenous perspectives. Indigenous inclusion and reconciliation. In for all First Nations. Let’s put it another way. Hypothetically, Tlingit worldview, the stories are the knowl- It would benefi t Ottawa to take responsibil- let’s pretend a national oil conglomerate de- edge system, sometimes told through myth and sometimes contradicting the myths told Rose LeMay ity for its own unconscious bias against Indig- cided it needed a new pipeline and demanded enous peoples. Our brain has two “systems,” the that it will run straight through Rockcliffe by others. But always with at least some truth. Stories, Myths, and Truths automated quick response based on implicit Park because it’s the least risky, economically The Hill Times ADVERTISEMENT                      <    #& '                              5  !             )   )     7    ! $,      !  !   ()(*+$,(+**-. /*,0,12%10$,--324,$4%(,*-3%*1,$-,*$,  @AB 5       '   C::D              !  1                       !               #                  !           *  2   !  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more closed, less fl exible system (Nunavut); over whether or not than what we have now,” she said. Sen. Patterson was fi libustering, Senators put spotlight back on Senator says she or explaining his amendments; and over attempts by Sen. Dyck was harassed during to curtail his speaking time for those amendments, among other committee meeting things. Conservative Sen. David harassment, ‘loophole’ blocked Non-affi liated Senator Lillian Tkachuk, who retired from the Dyck (Saskatchewan) started Senate Feb. 18, interjected repeat- a Senate inquiry—an ongoing edly, arguing that Sen. Dyck series of speeches by Senators— was wrongly limiting the right bullying complaint, says one into “defi ciencies or gaps” in the of Senators on the committee to Senate’s policies on harassment speak. Non-affi liated that occurs during parliamentary Sen. Dyck told The Hill Times ‘It’s gotten worse Saskatchewan proceedings. that constant interruptions and Senator Lillian Sen. Dyck said in the Senate challenges to her decisions as as the Senate has Dyck says on Feb. 6 that some Senators on chair during the meeting by more diversifi ed,’ says harassment has the Aboriginal Peoples Com- than one Senator constituted gotten worse in mittee “continually patronized, harassment in her mind. Saskatchewan the Chamber in demeaned and belittled me in my “They just totally disrespected recent years, as role as chair of the committee” any rulings that I had, and just Senator Lillian Dyck. an independence during a June 11, 2019 meeting. disrespected the will of the [com- movement and She declined to name the mittee] majority,” she said. more diversity Senators who she alleges mis- Senators should be allowed Continued from page 1 have changed treated her—both in the Senate to complain about decisions to the Senate. and a subsequent interview with limit their speaking time during The Hill Times legislation was still working its way The Hill Times —“as a matter of committee meetings, she said, through the House of Commons. photograph by courtesy,” she said. “but there are limits. You can’t A powerful Senate committee Andrew Meade Senator Dyck was appointed complain about it for 90 minutes also heard testimony in a closed to the Senate by prime minister solid.” door meeting Feb. 20 from two Paul Martin. She sat as a mem- “In my mind what happened former staffers who were abused ber of the Senate Liberal caucus to me was much more complex by former senator Don Meredith. before it dissolved, and before several members of his staff. ment, rose to defend herself and demeaning than unparlia- Senators are still talking about that as an NDP Senator. She is Two of them told their story to immediately afterwards. She mentary language,” the use of whether or how to compensate one of the Senators who now sits Senators on CIBA Feb. 20. said she was aware of some of which is already barred under Mr. Meredith’s victims in the Sen- informally in the Progressive Sen- The former staff and Senators the harassment, and spoke to Mr. the Rules of the Senate.“This was ate. ISG Senator Pierre Dalphond ate Group, which does not have had “a good interaction” during Meredith “quite strongly about constant belittling of my role as (De Lorimier, Que.) says Mr. enough members to gain recogni- the meeting, said Brian Mitchell, what he had said and what he had chair.” Meredith should lose his Senate tion by the Senate. a lawyer representing the two done.” She said she later sat for an Sen. Patterson raised a point pension, as well as his title. She said that the behaviour of former staffers, who spoke to re- interview with Senate Ethics Of- of privilege in the Chamber June A new policy for dealing with those Senators fi ts the defi nition porters following the closed-door fi cer Pierre Legault as part of his 11 to complain about his speaking harassment cases is still working of harassment under the Sen- meeting. investigation into Mr. Meredith, time being cut off by Sen. Dyck its way toward approval in the ate’s harassment policy. She said “We look forward to moving and turned over her notes on the during the meeting, saying he had Red Chamber, but ISG Senator she tried to fi le a complaint with this forward in a collaborative matter to him. been “muzzled and disrespected.” Marilou McPhedran (Manitoba) the Senate’s Human Resources way to ensure resolution,” he said. Sen. Housakos rose in the Sen. Tkachuk told The Hill says its secret process for resolv- directorate, but was told the Mr. Mitchell declined to say Chamber as well, and said that Times that Conservative Senators ing complaints could make it no harassment policy doesn’t apply whether the victims were seeking privilege was invoked by the wanted to debate the UNDRIP better than the policy it aims to to what happens during Senate compensation from the Senate Internal Economy Committee bill until the end of the commit- replace. proceedings, which are covered for their treatment—which some because human resource issues tee meeting, that they opposed it Non-affi liated Senator Lillian by parliamentary privilege. She Senators have called for on their are discussed in camera by the and did not feel obligated to pass Dyck (Saskatchewan), mean- said she got a similar response behalf already. committee, and the steering it quickly at committee. He said while, called out some of her from the Senate ethics offi cer. “There are many options that committee wanted to respect the it would be “preposterous” to say colleagues for what she says was “There is no way for a Sena- are on the table at this time. We’re confi dentiality of the victims. he was harassing Sen. Dyck by harassment during a committee tor to bring forth a complaint going to take one day at a time,” objecting to the limitations on his meeting last summer. of harassment during Senate he said. speaking time. Canadian Senators Group New harassment policy proceedings by another Senator,” Sen. Dalphond said he thinks “If anyone has a claim to Senator Josée Verner (Montar- Sen. Dyck said in the Chamber, the Senate should consider hir- ‘more closed, less fl exible’ harassment, it’s me,” he said, ville, Que.) also rose in the Senate calling it a “loophole” in the Sen- ing a retired female judge with CIBA approved a new draft noting that at one point Sen. last week to challenge fellow ate’s harassment policy “that must experience in labour law to meet policy for workplace harassment McPhedran, who was also at- Senators to answer a series of be rectifi ed as soon as possible with the victims, review all of the earlier this tending the meeting, asked that questions about the Meredith to ensure that senators are held reports into their harassment, and month. It he leave the room. case, saying the Senate “failed as accountable for their conduct at make a recommendation to CIBA has now Sen. Dyck said relationships an institution” in its response. committee meetings.” about how they should be com- gone to the between Senators had deterio- On June 11, Senators on the pensated for their treatment— Senate for rated in the time since Prime committee were at odds over Meredith staff should whether through help getting debate, and Minister Justin Trudeau (Pap- a motion from Sen. Murray counselling, monetary compensa- is expected ineau, Que.) triggered reforms be compensated by Sinclair (Manitoba) to interrupt tion, or whatever else they need. to go before to the Senate. He kicked Liberal a clause-by-clause examination summer: Dalphond “By the summer this whole the Sen- Senators out of his caucus in of a government bill, C-91 on Four months after the election thing should be fi nished,” he said. ate Rules 2014, then began appointing Indigenous languages, in order to the Liberal government has only He also said Senators should and Ethics Senators without ties to any po- do a clause-by-clause examina- introduced four bills into Parlia- consider trying to strip Mr. Mer- committees litical party, most of whom now tion of a private member’s bill to ment, in part due to the prolonged edith of his Senate pension, as for further sit in the Independent Senators implement the UN Declaration on Christmas break and other break well as his “honourable” title as a study with a Group. the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, weeks in the parliamentary calen- former senator. deadline of Sen. Dyck said the strained C-262, before returning to C-91. dar. All of those bills still remain April 30. Independent Senator relationships and harassment Before that meeting, ISG in the House of Commons. Senate ‘failed,’ says Verner Sen. Marilou McPhedran within the Chamber had “got- and Conservative Senators had Several Senators have used Sen. Verner, who has also McPhedran, says a proposed new ten worse as the Senate has sparred in the Senate Chamber the available time to press for called for compensation for Mr. however, harassment policy diversifi ed”—particularly with over the progress of C-262 and answers or action on the issue Meredith’s former staff, rose in the said that could discourage the appointment of more “highly other private member’s bills. of workplace harassment in the Senate last week to challenge her policy has complaints. The Hill accomplished women who don’t The Conservatives used delay Senate. fellow Senators to answer a series serious Times photograph by back down.” She said that men tactics to disrupt the progres- The Internal Economy Com- of questions about the way the fl aws—par- Andrew Meade had also harassed her when she mittee heard testimony for Senate dealt with his harassment ticularly a sion of those bills in the Senate. was in a position of authority dur- the fi rst time from two of Mr. of staff. She asked why those staff requirement for those who fi le Conservative Senate Leader Don ing her career as a professor and Meredith’s former staffers. Mr. had been afraid to fi le a formal complaints under the new process Plett (Landmark, Man.), then the associate dean of neuropsychiatry Meredith resigned from the Sen- complaint about the harassment to stay silent about the matter, Conservative whip, argued that at the University of Saskatch- ate in 2017 on the eve of a vote by Mr. Meredith, and why Sena- with consequences for those who the Senate shouldn’t spend time ewan, before she was appointed to expel him from the Chamber, tors on CIBA had invoked privi- don’t. on private member’s bills in June, to the Senate. after details of his sexual relation- lege to avoid participating in an “It’s exactly the kind of when the Senate had a heavy She said she hoped the Senate ship with a teenage girl became investigation by two consecutive language that causes fear, and roster of government bills to work Rules Committee would close the public. Mr. Meredith was also Senate ethics offi cers. She said the causes people to be silent,” she on. “loophole” in the Senate’s harass- under investigation for workplace Senate had “failed as an institu- told The Hill Times. During the June 11 commit- ment policy regarding behaviour harassment at that time; a report tion” in its handling of the case. “At the heart of my concern is tee meeting, committee members during parliamentary proceed- by Senate Ethics Offi cer Pierre Conservative Senator Eliza- that—I think with the best of in- squabbled across group lines—at ings during its review of the new Legault later revealed that he had beth Marshall (N.L.), her caucus’ tentions—what this subcommittee length—over amendments to harassment policy for the Senate. harassed and sexually harassed whip at the time of the harass- has generated is a more diffi cult, the bill introduced by Conserva- [email protected] tive Senator Dennis Patterson Canada is a world leader. Let’s keep it that way.

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Editorial Letters to the Editor Trudeau shouldn’t ask police Imagine the year 2050, federal to resolve blockade crisis government should reject Teck rime Minister Justin Trudeau said on clear or strong political leadership on the PFeb. 21 that the onus for resolving the Wet’suwet’en solidarity blockades that had n December at the Madrid climate talks, It’s disturbing to watch Mr. Trudeau blockade crisis was now on First Nations shut down major transit ways and railway ICanada told the world that our No. 1 pretend to care about the climate and leaders, but in reality he put it on the police. lines in provinces across the country, priority is climate action. In June of 2019, at the same time continue to champion Mr. Trudeau drew a line in the sand— including Quebec, Ontario, and British Canada declared a climate emergency. If fossil fuel expansion. The Teck approval sort of—during a press conference that Columbia, resulting in 1,000 temporary we’re in an emergency, then we should would mark a new low in climate hy- day, saying in essence that attempts to layoffs at Via Rail and 450 layoffs at CN behave like it. But we’re not. Prime Min- pocrisy. negotiate had failed, and the job of the Rail. Some of the Wet’suwet’en heredi- ister Justin Trudeau is poised to approve If you even can’t stop a brand new police was to enforce the law, and it was tary chiefs are opposed to the proposed the Teck project—a vast new tarsands tar sands mine, then you’re not a climate time for the barricades to come down. $6.6-billion Coastal GasLink pipeline that mine that will spew carbon into our atmo- leader. You’re a climate hypocrite. How, precisely, are decision-makers in would go through the hereditary land of sphere for four decades, contradicting our I’m asking Mr. Trudeau and his cabi- Canada’s police forces supposed to inter- the Wet’suwet’en people in northern Brit- 2050 net-zero carbon emissions pledge. net to imagine the alternative to Teck. To pret that, other than as a signal that they ish Columbia, and over the last two weeks We have 0.5 per cent of the Earth’s imagine it’s the year 2050, and they’re must now make these protests go away, blockades sprung up in support of and in population, but with Teck we’d use up looking back to 2020, that time when and to do it peacefully? solidarity with Indigenous people in cities nearly one-third of the world’s remaining they chose a new path, rising to the chal- Mr. Trudeau’s claim that he can’t tell across the country. carbon budget. At a time when we should lenge of climate change. That time they the police what to do is hard to take seri- But the prime minister should also be be planning a managed phase out of fos- made the right decision. That time they ously. His government’s negotiations with recognized for trying not enfl ame the situa- sil fuels there is no form of twisted logic rejected Teck. the protesters led to the police moving tion and for working behind the scenes for to justify the approval of a new mine that Roland Montpellier off Wet’suwet’en territory. Reporting by a peaceful resolution. He was doing that, will set off another global climate bomb. Kanata, Ont. The Globe and Mail has made quite clear until Friday when he said the barricades that Mr. Trudeau’s Liberals have eagerly must now come down. Most of the Indige- intervened in the process for appointing nous leaders, meanwhile, have shown hon- judges, and Mr. Trudeau himself lobbied est, credible leadership, which is in stark former justice minister Jody Wilson- contrast to most of the tiresome, unsurpris- Raybould to give directions to the Public ing theatrics in the House last week. Where were all the MPs on Prosecution Service for political reasons. Reconciliation is not easy, and politi- If Mr. Trudeau believed it was time for cal leadership on this issue is challenging police to move in and take down the bar- because it is about rights, livelihoods, the Top 100 Most Infl uential? ricades, he should have said so himself. rule of law, and democracy. It’s also about Protests can’t hold Canada’s economy reconciliation and Indigenous people. The e: “Minority rules: 2020’s most elected, and not in cabinet, was so low I hostage indefi nitely. Canada also can’t af- prime minister should take this opportunity Rinfl uential fi gures to watch in fed- think I could have counted them on one ford a setback to reconciliation with First to put his words into action and try to do the eral politics,” (The Hill Times, Jan. 27, hand. If you’re right about your selec- Nations, already far behind schedule, and right thing for Indigenous people, which will 2020). Where were all the Members of tions, then something is out of whack in violence at the blockades would do just also be the right thing for the country. Parliament in your list of the 100 most Ottawa. Can all 300 or so people chosen that. Police offi cers shouldn’t be asked to There is no simple solution to this confl ict. infl uential people in federal politics? by voters in the last election really be of solve that puzzle. Mr. Trudeau and the pre- Canada’s economy can’t be held hostage for Reading the special, I was struck by the so little importance on the Hill that they miers should take a real position in public, weeks on end. But Canada can’t afford to number of people involved in politi- don’t even merit a mention by you folks? and own the issue, one way or another. have its reconciliation with First Nations set cal management, spin, and journalism Nobodies, indeed. (Editor’s note: There Prime Minister Trudeau was quite further back. Mr. Trudeau’s response will be a on the list. I think the names in those were about 28 federal politicians on this rightly criticized last week for his lack of defi ning moment in his tenure as PM. categories outnumbered members of year’s list of the top infl uencers). cabinet, and provincial governments by Jim Cunningham a good margin. The number of people not Calgary, Alta.

Governments need to recognize real value of all our varied natural resources to fi ght climate change, says reader e: “Canada must gear up action for na- called the boreal caribou herd. As the Rture and climate,” (The Hill Times, Feb. herds graze and break through the insula- 15). Jay Ritchlin makes a strong case for tion of snow, they expose the permafrost the benefi ts of using nature-based climate to cooler air temperature which helps solutions as an important way to help it stay frozen. Could there be anything reverse global warming. If a technological invented that would be as effi cient or cost innovation was developed to help main- so little? tain the temperature of the permafrost Governments need to recognize the in the North, which is a vitally important real value of all our varied natural resourc- carbon sink of GHGs, there is little doubt es. Protection and restoration of eco-sys- that it would qualify for support from the tems will pay future dividends and help to federal government. balance the books with Mother Nature. But wait, there is already in place an Ruth Allen important tool to do exactly that—it is Toronto, Ont.

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for weeks to get Wilson-Raybould Illegal occupation of workplac- and Philpott back onside. es should not be negotiable. Trudeau has every right to call He sent caucus members to But in tying the current block- conciliate and did his level best to ades into the reconciliation agenda, win them over in private without Trudeau risks losing the political criticizing them publicly. credit for what his government has Instead, Trudeau simply succeed- already accomplished. for an end to the blockades ed to strengthening Wilson-Ray- Full funding for Indigenous bould’s hand and casting himself as education, an end in sight to boil a weak and indecisive leader. water advisories, framework sion involving opposition leaders That impression of weakness governance agreements, it is fair It is one thing for the should not be exclusionary. was the key reason the Liberals to say that there has been more hereditary chiefs to How can one possibly rally the were unable to garner the na- progress on reconciliation in the opposition, when the leader of the tion’s confi dence with a majority past four years than has hap- demand reconciliation largest opposition contingent in government. pened in the last four decades. the House of Commons is deemed Now in a minority, Trudeau has With all the premiers now de- from the rest of us. persona non grata? no choice but to converse with all manding a solution, the pressure Many have characterized opposition parties. The decision to will mount on the prime minister Scheer’s speech on the blockade as exclude Scheer makes the Conser- to get tough. infl ammatory and destructive, which vative leader the issue, and not in It may go against his grain, but was why Trudeau declined to invite a good way for Trudeau. Trudeau needs to move quickly, him to the opposition discussion. Instead of trying to work with or the unfettered blockades will That certainly was the case, all parties to fi nd a solution em- spiral further out of control. The but in a discussion, you can’t only braced by everyone, the Liberals longer nothing is done, the more invite the people you agree with. have left the door open to making cross-country disruptions will Whoever is advising the prime Scheer the lead spokesperson for spread. minister, is pursuing the same “go law and order. With Indigenous leaders at his Sheila Copps softly” approach that almost cost Trudeau was right to attack side, Trudeau has every right to Copps’ Corner the Liberals the last election. Scheer’s comments in the House. call for an end to the blockades, In the matter of SNC-Lavalin It is not up to the government to as a sign of good faith. and former attorney general Jody call in the police. But it is cer- It is one thing for the hereditary TTAWA—Prime Minister Wilson-Raybould, Trudeau spent tainly up to the prime minister chiefs to demand reconciliation OJustin Trudeau’s conciliatory weeks trying to bring two former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, to speak out loudly and clearly from the rest of us. But they need approach to the barricades is ministers onside with conciliatory pictured on Feb. 8, 2020, shortly about the right of Canadians to to show their good faith as well. wearing a little thin. public statements. He appeared before holding a cabinet meeting in the get to work. If they absolutely refuse to ne- It is fi ne to ask Canadians oblivious to the public shellacking West Block on Parliament Hill. The Hill When a group is blocking gotiate, there is no point in shut- to exercise patience, but when his reputation was taking from Times photograph by Andrew Meade parliament, a passenger train ting down the Canadian economy more than 1,500 people are to Wilson-Raybould and colleague route or freight train links, it is to get them onside. be laid off because of illegal oc- and former minister Jane Philpott. of that commitment. illegally disrupting the right of That wish would be as fruitless cupations, patience comes at a Harsh reactions are not in But when the sun is not shin- other Canadians to go about their as the prime minister’s hope last heavy cost. Trudeau’s DNA. His fi rst elec- ing, leadership sometimes must re- business. year that soft words would settle Trudeau’s decision to exclude tion promising sunny ways was a place conciliation with toughness. The exercise of patience is not the SNC-Lavalin affair. Leader- Andrew Scheer from the opposi- refl ection of his own approach to During the SNC-Lavalin contro- going to solve this dilemma. When ship can be tough. tion leaders’ meeting was also life. His commitment to Indig- versy last year, Trudeau refused to Indigenous chiefs themselves are Sheila Copps is a former Jean ill-considered. enous reconciliation, for example, publicly rebuke caucus colleagues asking protesters to end their Chrétien-era cabinet minister and He may not agree with is personal and very real. And he who were openly attacking his blockades, the prime minister a former deputy prime minister. Scheer’s perspective, but a discus- sees the blockades as a litmus test integrity. He tried unsuccessfully needs to back up the chiefs. The Hill Times How to energize a political campaign

AKVILLE, ONT.—According If a candidate has “charismatic mendous amounts of emotional The energy that Trump is Every leadership Oto the ancient Greek philoso- appeal,” he or she can exude an energy, energy which helped to generating for his campaign is campaign needs a sense pher Aristotle, “the energy of the aura of vibrant energy which will fuel the candidacy of Donald also generating an equal amount mind is the essence of life.” then infuse the entire campaign Trump. of energy for his opponents in the of vitality, a sense of That’s a profound thought that with an infectious enthusiasm. Essentially, Trump validated Democratic primaries, with much I’d like to paraphrase thusly: the Often this charismatic energy the concerns of angry and disil- of it fl owing to the candidacy of excitement, a sense of energy of an electoral campaign is linked to youthfulness and to lusioned Americans, offering Bernie Sanders, who like the U.S. destiny; anything that is the essence of politics. the allure of potential. them simplistic solutions and president, is making a strong And by “energy,” I mean any- To see this in action, one need promising them a better future, emotional connection to his mobilizes followers, thing which injects a campaign look no further than to Prime all of which allowed him to make party’s anxious grassroots. wins over converts, with a sense of vitality, a sense Minister Justin Trudeau, who, a personal connection to millions On the other hand, it’s possible of excitement, a sense of destiny; among other tactics, employed of voters. that Democratic presidential turns doubters into anything that mobilizes follow- a strategy of using imagery to By plugging into the angst of nominee candidate Mike Bloom- donors, undecideds into ers, wins over converts, turns convey the dynamism of his Americans in this way, Trump berg, who happens to be a multi- doubters into donors, undecideds personality, i.e., the Liberals electrifi ed his campaign. billionaire, has found another boosters, and skeptics into boosters, and skeptics into staged photo-ops of him jogging, What’s more, as Republican way to gain political energy: by believers. paddling a canoe, doing yoga consultant Larry Weitzner re- buying it. into believers. Without such energy a exercises and beaming his charm- cently wrote, “Trump matches the At any rate, getting back to campaign fl ounders; it bores ing smile, while surrounded by an energy of his supporters.” Canada’s Conservative Party the media, it defl ates its base, it adoring crowd of fervent young Wrote Weitzner: “Love Trump leadership race, the candidates in stagnates. people. or hate him, there’s no denying that contest must either generate Maybe this is why many were In this way, Trudeau created that people respond to him. That’s their own energy like Trudeau, or, hoping former cabinet minister his own energy, albeit aided by because he understands how to like Trump, fi nd existing energy John Baird would enter the Con- the media, which helped to am- command their attention with au- they can exploit for political gain. servative Party leadership race, plify his message. thenticity, strength, and spectacle, (Believe me, there’s lots of poten- they believed his candidacy might Mind you, not all politicians not poll-tested platitudes, fl owery tial energy sources out there. Just inject some energy into what have Trudeau’s inherent appeal, talking points, and boring, con- read the headlines.) could evolve into a listless contest. so how do they generate energy? ventional political speeches.” I’m sure,st if he could under- Gerry Nicholls So how could Conservatives The answer is, they tap into an Of course, science tells us that stand 21 century politics, Aristo- energize their campaign? already existing energy source. for every action there’s an equal tle would agree. Post Partisan Pundit Well, one way to generate For instance, four years ago in and opposite reaction, and the Gerry Nicholls is a communi- energy is through the persona of America, economic and cultural same is true when it comes to the cations consultant. a candidate. anxieties were generating tre- energy of politics. The Hill Times 10 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion Trudeau must achieve Canada’s emission targets, even at expense of oilsands industry

In what he called “transition risk,” Achieving our climate Canada’s top watchdog over our fi nancial system, warns much will depend on the targets, including the policies imposed by governments to reduce emissions as well as from changes in con- 2050 goal of net zero sumer and investor sentiments. In a recent speech, Jeremy Rudin, emissions for the country, Canada’s superintendent of Financial Insti- tutions, warned that the transition will come is the top priority. in what he called two rounds, in succession. “The fi rst round is the impact of the transition on those industries that will see their activities, and quite possibly their entire business models, strongly and directly disrupted. Industries such as fossil fuel production, electricity generation and transportation are likely to be put on this list, and surely there will be others.” This is a reality that Alberta has to face up to – as a province it will need a new economic model to replace one highly dependent on David Crane continued development of fossil fuels. Canada & the 21st Century The second round, Rudin said, “arises as the decline in profi ts and employment in the disrupted industries ripples through the ORONTO—Can the oilsands industry broader economy.” This will affect the level Treduce its greenhouse gas emissions in of economic growth and will also impact, line with Canada’s climate change commit- for example, government revenues and ments while also remaining competitive expenditures at all three levels. in a decarbonizing global economy? This But if we do it right, Rudin suggested, “the is the question asked in a new report on impact on the economy need not be all nega- Alberta’s oilsands industry by one of the tive.” There could be new Canadian indus- country’s most respected think tanks on In its report, ‘The Oilsands in a Carbon-Constrained Canada,’ the Pembina Institute fi nds that oil tries to replace declining ones. This depends energy and the environment. produced in Canada is associated with 70 per cent more greenhouse gas emissions per barrel of oil though on a much more ambitious energy It’s possible, the Alberta-based Pembina produced than the average crude oil produced in the rest of the world. And as the rest of Canada innovation agenda in Canada – In our ability Institute says. But this depends very much reduces emissions, oilsands emissions will rise from 11 per cent of Canada’s total emissions now to think big and move fast. For Alberta it on major breakthroughs in technology, well to 22 per cent less than a decade from now, in 2030. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright means facing up to the reality of change and beyond what the industry has achieved transitioning to a new kind of economy. to date, along with strict new regulatory Not only did the majority of Canadians to a low-carbon world. And while this will In its report— “The Oilsands in a Carbon- requirements on emission levels. vote in favour of climate action, includ- generate new industries and new jobs as Constrained Canada”—the Pembina Institute Since, as the report makes clear, “de- ing carbon pricing, in the recent federal well as a healthier environment, it will be fi nds that oil produced in Canada is associated creases in oilsands emissions are increas- election. But even more important, there is highly disruptive and it will be expensive. with 70 per cent more greenhouse gas emis- ingly hard to come by, because many of the a new sense of urgency in much of world As Bernard Looney, CEO of BP, said in a sions per barrel of oil produced than the aver- easiest emission reductions have already (the U.S. being the exception) on address- decent speech where he committed the oil age crude oil produced in the rest of the world. been achieved,” the report fi nds the oilsands ing climate change as growth in global giant to become a net zero emitter by 2050, And as the rest of Canada reduces emissions, industry is on a “collision course” with greenhouse gas emissions threatens to climate change is the challenge that looms oilsands emissions will rise from 11 per cent Canada’s climate change commitments. overwhelm any hoping of holding the over the world and “providing the world of Canada’s total emissions now to 22 per cent Yet the Trudeau government really has average global temperature increase to 2.0 with clean, reliable, affordable energy less than a decade from now, in 2030. no choice but to achieve Canada’s emission degrees Celsius, the world target, let alone will require nothing less than reimaging Moreover, as “global shifts toward lower targets, even if this comes at the expense holding the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius, energy.” The world will have to move from intensity energy options, including projec- of the oilsands industry. Achieving our the level seen to be the best hope of avoid- spending $300-billion a year in new energy tions of global oil demand peaking or climate targets, including the 2050 goal of ing catastrophic climate change. systems to $1-trillion (to meet the 2 degrees declining in the coming decade, are likely net zero emissions for the country, is the None of this will be easy. But it is essen- Celsius target) to $2.5-trillion a year (to to put more carbon-intensive crude—such top priority. tial that we move from a fossil-fuel world meet the 1.5 degrees Celsius target). as the bulk of oilsands products—at risk in the near future” the oilsands sector could fall out of favour with investors, leaving Alberta with signifi cant stranded assets. Our name is adMare. We’re changing the Efforts to achieve “clean oilsands” could Who landscape of the Canadian life sciences require massive public subsidies at a time of weakening global demand. has the ecosystem from sea to sea. We do this by When Shell built its $1.35-billion Quest identifying therapeutically and commercially carbon capture and storage facility in Al- Capital promising research from leading Canadian berta, 64 per cent of the cost was covered by direct Alberta and federal subsidies, academic and biotech partners to create with the company also further benefi tting new companies of scale, and by providing through tax incentives. To help boost oilsands exports, the specialized expertise and infrastructure to Trudeau government in 2018 purchased Expertise help existing companies scale-up. Trans Mountain Pipeline for $4.6-billion with a promise to expand capacity, with the Why do we do what we do? Because additional construction cost soaring from Canada has what it takes to become a $7.4-billion to $12.6-billion, so that overall federal taxpayers have committed $17.2-bil- world leader in life sciences. lion to support oilsands exports to Asia. Infrastructure It is time that prime minister gave up on his belief that we can meet our climate To learn more visit admarebio.com commitments and also promote oilsands development. To avoid a collision, some- thing has to give. Meeting our climate Global to help commitments is much more important than Partnerships trying to promote an industry that will Canadian make achieving our climate goals much more diffi cult than they already are. life sciences David Crane can be reached at crane@ interlog.com. companies scale-up? [email protected] The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 11 Politics

Taking it to the streets: Activists, pictured in Ottawa on Feb. 7, 2020, out showing their support for the Wet’suwet’en land defenders. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

protest, since the Wet’suwet’en battle tortions and misleading claims” to paint all those with serious has nothing to do with the environ- about the oilsands and its climate concerns about the environment, ment, but, rather, with a 650-kilo- consequences. This war on and the legacy of colonialism, as Those rascally metre pipeline that will transport “foreign-funded special interests” enemies of the “average” Canadian. fracked natural gas from Peace has not, so far, led to conspicu- It also gives protestors—young River country to a $40-billion liqui- ous victories, but its scattershot Indigenous people, non-Indigenous fi ed natural gas facility at Kitimat. (If and amateurish activities have university students, adult com- built, will become one of the largest sparked considerable amusement. munity leaders and their academic ‘radical activists’ emitters of carbon in the province, Curiously, the same politicians supporters—more power than they but, apart from that, it has nothing to who are furious with these alleged actually command. Does anyone do with the environment.) “foreign-funded” interventions in doubt that the Coastal GasLink In the conservative framing, our economy are unperturbed by pipeline will go ahead, that a hand- are everywhere the crisis is about “rule of law,” the the list of investors in that LNG ful of protesters will prevail against outrage of indolent protesters plant: Dutch-based Shell Oil, the political and corporate forces disrupting the travel plans of hard- Malaysia’s Petronas, PetroChina, that want the project? This moment calls Then someone said: “Wait! That’s working Canadians, interrupting Japan’s Mitsubishi, and South Ko- After his heated denuncia- just Andrew Scheer! And he holds business shipments, provoking rea’s Kogas. These “foreign actors” tion of protesters and the insuf- for humility and a Canadian passport, too.” temporary layoffs of rail workers are, perhaps, less sinister because fi ciently bellicose prime minister, That controversy laid to rest, and damaging Canada’s reputa- they are helping exploit Canada’s Scheer last week portrayed him- understanding the search for radical evildoers tion abroad. That, and the “weak- abundant natural resources and self, stunningly, as a defender of on all sides—not turned elsewhere—mostly to the ness” of Prime Minister Justin creating (fl eetingly) jobs for locals, the Wet’suwet’en—the good ones, blockades that popped up across Trudeau for counselling patience despite associated damage to the who favour resource development infl ammatory the country in recent weeks in instead of sending police to forc- local and global environment. And and the attendant fi nancial ben- support of the Wet’suwet’en chiefs ibly end the protest. Conservatives, of course, love do- efi ts, however short-term. attacks on imagined opposing the route of a natural gas Scheer has been warning of ing business with China. It was Bloc Québécois Leader pipeline through their territory. That this “small group of radical activ- Much of Alberta’s oil indus- Yves-François Blanchet, who ex- provocateurs. territory, in northeastern British ists, many of whom have little try has also been developed and pressed, far better than the prime Columbia, is very far away—too far or no connection to First Nation fi nanced by foreign actors (until minister did, the shallowness of for many, cash-strapped southern communities” for some time. In they fl ed in pursuit of less-green Scheer’s analysis: “Who are we?” news organizations, not to mention December, he accused a “network pastures and cheaper oil in recent Blanchet asked, after disassociat- infl uential pundits, to visit—but not, of foreign-funded activists” of years). This was never an issue ing himself from the opposition apparently, too far for “radical activ- trying “to permanently shut down because these particular foreigners, leader’s remarks. “We are frankly ists” who have the “luxury” of not Canada’s energy sector” and usually known, reverently, as “inves- white society. Who are we to get having to go to work, and are man- called for a ban on environmental tors,” were our friends—like those between them (members of the ning the barricades everywhere. groups receiving foreign fund- charming Texas oilmen who sold Wet’suwet’en nation) and start So far, no specifi c names have ing (not that many groups, not Trudeau a pipeline at an infl ated judging them based on whether emerged, but these shadowy op- that much funding, as it happens) price, then skipped back to Houston they agree with our interests of eratives are nonetheless accused from participating in regulatory with generous personal bonuses for the moment?” Susan Riley by Scheer, Alberta Premier Jason reviews of large energy projects. engineering such a successful sale. The moment calls for humility Impolitic Kenney, Saskatchewan Premier Again last week, Scheer was For all that, however over- and understanding on all sides— Scott Moe, and other conserva- echoing complaints, albeit less stated and narrowly focused, not infl ammatory attacks on tives, of being (a) non-indigenous, cooly and coherently, often made Scheer’s denunciation of “anti-free imagined provocateurs. HELSEA, QUE.—Wild ru- (b) environmental activists, and by Kenney. In fact, the Alberta market radical activists” provides Susan Riley is a veteran politi- Cmours circulated on Parlia- (c) probably foreign-funded. premier famously set up a “war a convenient diversion—a simple, cal columnist who writes regu- ment Hill last week that “radical If they are “eco-colonialists from room,” the Canadian Energy motivating political attack line, larly for The Hill Times. foreign activists” have taken over urban, southern Canada” in Kenney’s Centre, with $30-million public that ignores the complexities of [email protected] the federal Conservative Party. words, they are clearly at the wrong funding to counter the “lies, dis- the current situation and attempts The Hill Times 12 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Politics

you explain their hapless fl irtation 61 per cent of Canadians oppose the all the calls for justice, there is a with the idea that they might put Wet’suwet’en solidarity blockades, terrible gap between the lives of the whole matter to a confi dence and 75 per cent favour government Indigenous Peoples and the Rest vote in the House of Commons? action to take them down. Of Canada. In education, health, Conservative Really? It would also be easy to cave employment, income, and the in- The party has no leader, and to the media coverage, which has carceration and suicide rates, the is months away from deciding almost exclusively incited animus Aboriginal Community continues what it stands for in its November against First Nations protesters to suffer serious defi cits. policy convention. Yet it would by showing all the inconvenience There is not much surprise in response still consider bringing down the their blockades are causing. this given the CPC’s legacy on government and putting itself Instead, Trudeau has opted for this fi le from the Harper decade. up as the alternative to Justin & the path less taken and a brave one The Mikisew Cree and the Frog Company. Could there be any at that—the recognition that the con- Lake First Nation took the Harper clearer way of saying that what text of the current impasse is a big government to court over Bills to blockade the CPC stands for is the naked factor in what should happen next, C-38 and C-45. No consultation. lust for power, full stop? until Friday, Feb. 21, when he said Prime Minister Harper refused And why would the ever-helpful the “barricades must come down.” to meet with Chief Theresa Spence Michelle Rempel Garner choose But context is what is utterly of the Attawappiskat band, despite this precise moment to highlight missing from the CPC reaction to promises of a new era in the rela- shows party Alberta’s grievances with the fed- the First Nations blockades. All tionship made at the Crown-First eration, suggesting in the so-called the party wants to talk about is a Nations Gathering in 2012. Buffalo Declaration that calls for political cage-fi ght with protest- Instead, his government western separatism will increase ers to show them who’s boss. released an audit by Deloitte ques- unless Ottawa “fi xes” what’s wrong Although they claim it is about tioning the record-keeping, i.e., the unready to lead with Canada. law and order, it is really about chief’s honesty, from 2005 to 2011. Talk about being off point. I won- ham-fi sted colonialism that refuses After a 47-day hunger strike, Chief der how the Alberta MP feels about to look itself in the face. The Conser- Spence ended her stay on Victoria Their lame-duck—or is that fi xing what’s wrong with the way In- vatives are fully embracing an epi- Island without getting the “working Conservatives only lame-brained?—temporary leader, digenous peoples have been treated? sode, and utterly missing the theme. meeting” she had sought with the Andrew Scheer, thinks that govern- It appears she could care less. What The Conservatives steadfastly PM. In fact, the icon of the Idle No seem to want to ment can arrest its way to a solution the CPC sees in the current stand- refuse to ask the “what if” question. More movement, with a Grade 8 show the protesters to the impasse that is beginning to off is political opportunity. That is What if Canada is violating the education obtained in the Residen- paralyze commerce in Canada. like watching a house burn down rights of First Nations who have tial School system, was offi cially who’s boss, ignoring I wonder if this soon-to-be-un- and obsess- both treaty humiliated. employed political leader remem- ing over the rights, and And then there was the Harper the long history of bers Ipperwash and the death of building lot court- government’s clumsy, colonial han- Dudley George? Or how success- that will soon backed dling of the so-called First Nations Indigenous rights ful the use of force was at Oka? be available. claims to Control of First Nations Education Corporal Marcel LeMay died All of land title? Act, which would pump $1.9-billion being trampled. there in 1990, and the dispute has this is not to What if into the system over three years. still not really been resolved. say that the Canada has There were big problems. There was The party’s great progressive Liberal gov- reneged no consultation on the new bill, and hope, and Scheer’s presumptive ernment has on consti- the federal minister still had the successor, Peter MacKay, has handled this tutional power to take control of a com- encouraged vigilantes to do what crisis well. promises of munity education program based the Trudeau government has For one thing, Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer, self-govern- on performance outcomes. Those wisely decided not to do—impose the prime pictured Feb. 20, 2020. The Hill Times ment? performance outcomes were in turn a solution through force. minister was photograph by Andrew Meade Doesn’t developed by provincial govern- MacKay’s solution is a couple sluggish in that cast ments with no Aboriginal input. of Albertans in a pick-up truck getting his power to his wheels, too the people manning the bar- Not surprisingly, a Special Michael Harris ready to take things into their busy with lobbying for a seat on the ricades in a different light? Chiefs Assembly of First Nations Harris own hands. No wonder he deleted UN Security Council to pay attention Wouldn’t that make them people leaders, youth, and elders rejected his foolish and incendiary com- to an explosive situation at home. standing up for their rights, Bill C-33 on May 27, 2014. ment from his Twitter feed. Nor was it very leader-like of rather than the lawless anarchists Given the stand the CPC has ALIFAX—The Conservative It is hard to believe that such a Justin Trudeau to initially pass the the CPC says they are? Would the taken on the blockades in solidar- HParty of Canada is back to do- person was ever justice minister problem off to the provinces be- CPC rather promote making the ity with the Wet’suwet’en band in ing what it does best: zebra politics. of Canada. And it is impossible to cause they are the ones who are re- trains run on time, rather than British Columbia, the party is still Everything in black and white. see him as a prime minister, unless sponsible for enforcing the law. That social justice? playing Stephen Harper’s game of If ever a party demonstrated Canadian politics has been Trumpi- was cringe-worthy and cowardly. Opting for justice would mean cowboys and Indians—a game in why it shouldn’t run a country fi ed more than anyone realizes. But Trudeau’s commitment to a the Harper Party (and that is what which the Indians always lose. like Canada, the CPC has done it The CPC’s reaction to this colli- peaceful solution through dialogue it still is) would have to face some Michael Harris is an award- in the current stand-off between sion between First Nations and two has been admirable. It would be obvious realities. One of them is winning columnist, journalist, and First Nation and federal and pro- levels of government has been en- easy to play to the Angus Reid that despite all the royal commis- author. vincial governments. tirely opportunistic. How else can Institute poll, which shows that over sions, all the public inquiries, and The Hill Times

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#1 INDIVIDUAL AGENT RE/MAX BRONSON* 1% Remax Hallmark 2018 THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 13 Politics Scheer’s mea culpa not forthcoming, and that’s the CPC leadership race’s problem

‘power-politics’ achievement of supremacy, and the privileges of candidate will have to address transparent Canadian politician The post-election Scheer’s non-leadership has been being the leader. the “forensic audit” of the leader’s of the century. that he managed— somehow—to What he, Scheer, the lame-duck, offi ce. Scheer, the leadership, the That the CPC seems dys- report has been even run end-runs around the disgraced, almost-former leader Conservative future, and the Con- functional, incapable of doing Conservative Fund. of the CPC still manages to do servative Party’s electoral success anything right, at least right now, delivered to Andrew The investigation, the re- to members of his own party, the are all linked. has to be laid at the feet of the Scheer, but the search, the efforts that candi- media, and Canadians is get away Forget the CPC’s seeming leader (interim, even still). For dates, unsuccessful and suc- with being less than forthcoming; problems with social conserva- instance: protests at the leader- Conservative caucus cessful, and party members, very much less than forthcoming. tives’ “outbursts” of personal ship convention in Toronto, dur- volunteers, and donors made to Facing facts: the Conservative beliefs, Red Tory progressives ing Pride Week are very likely, will never see it as contribute to the post-mortem Party of Canada makes positive moving the party into “Liberal- even if the recent leadership report on what went wrong with headlines—every, single fi nancial Lite” policies, and forget fi scal candidates’ fi ling of applications long as he remains the last election was Scheer’s dis- quarter—for simply having the conservatives, as the ones who to “parade” are accepted. No, play of being willing to say: mea best fundraising apparatus of any would slash and burn any pro- actually, protests are guaranteed. the leader of the culpa—to keep in offi ce until he political party in Canada. Period. gram that does not benefi t, and Regardless of whether or not the party. could bring the government down The claim to fame for political therefore would hurt the major- Toronto Pride Committee decides and try it all once again. Once success the CPC owns, undisput- ity of Canadians who are not, to avoid “controversy” from the it became impossible for him to edly, is that its fundraisers are the successful “business people,” or community by refusing the CPC survive until the planned April best, they can actually deliver. De- merely already “rich.” leadership candidates a position convention which would include liver the money to, well, we will None of these familiar nega- in the parade. a leadership review vote, and he never know where that money tive stereotypes, as presented in Two investigations into fi nally resigned (sort of) and sud- was actually spent. At least not the media, of the individual Scheer’s leadership by his own denly, never before mentioned, under Scheer. elements of a healthy, successful, party will hang over his and, at the report on the last election Some facts have been “leaked” and inclusive Conservative Party any event he attends, the party’s had become top secret. One can out by insiders. I wrote, before, that of Canada, or a “spin” on any one collective head. speculate wildly why that is so— I am loath to praise “anonymous group as the reason that the party At least members of the Con- or one can have a little, tiny, bit of sources”—but the current culture is actually not all that success- servative Fund are doing their job imagination. Scheer did not come of the CPC leadership is such that ful, is missing the real point. The for the donors to the party; and Mark Wegierski out looking good in that report, “leaking” to the media circus has to failure of a conservative party the despised “inside sources” even Comment maybe? be encouraged right now. in Canada has almost absolutely are somewhat noble by compari- son to the (still clinging) leader Conservative of the party of no transparency ORONTO—On Dec. 12, Leader Andrew whatsoever. T2019, Andrew Scheer an- Scheer, who will be The next leader of the CPC nounced his resignation, said he steppping down as will have to spend more than had set a review of the 2019 elec- party leader once the usual amount of time trying tion in motion, and had appointed the party elects a to bring former leadership race respected Conservative, former new one in June, challengers into the fold while foreign affairs minister John says the party’s at the same time trying, desper- Baird, to head the review of what audit of his offi ce’s ately, to distance themselves from went wrong. unprecedented Scheer. The party has to realize The post-election report was expenditures is they will be going into the next subsequently delivered—to ‘private.’ The Hill election saying, repeatedly: “Don’t Scheer. Caucus will never see it as Times photograph judge us by our last leader!” long as he remains the leader of by Andrew Meade The Conservative caucus the party. So much for transpar- must regret not voting to give ency, so much for any exhibition themselves the right to remove a of good intentions acted upon, leader—for valid reasons. Is it too and so much for an expression of late? Let’s hope not. All Canadi- honesty. Scheer, in promising a ans, not just Conservatives, would review, seemed to be addressing be very impressed if the Conser- the concerns of the Conservative vative caucus stood up as one Party, its grassroots and its parlia- and said, “Let’s see the reports mentary caucus. The non-release about you which the party has of the report, a leader’s preroga- conducted.” tive, apparently, has been put on What a shock. It is not a sin on the part of nothing to do with any of the For Conservatives, the single display. Why is the CPC still a circus those who, actually in the current single constituent-group members entity feeding the media circus More recently, Scheer, again, act? Because of Scheer. His sud- climate of absolute non-trans- of the “Big-Tent” party that is the that makes their party look silly stood before the caucus he “leads” den reversal, his decision as party parency-plus-continuing non- reality of the CPC. is Scheer—will all the bad go and said, convincingly, apparent- leader (interim) that the post- leadership, reach out to tell the “Failure” is best attributed to away once he does? Likely not, ly, that the party’s own fundrais- election report he commissioned, story of what is going on in the how the party—in all its former but the knowable, predictable, ing organization’s audit of his to “clear the air,” will not be seen CPC’s collapsing leadership: it is incarnations, even under myriad and seemingly never-ending bad offi ce’s unprecedented expendi- by anyone, casts a pall over the whistle-blowing. different names—has allowed news coverage for the CPC can be tures is “private.” coming leadership vote to replace But the louder that frustrated itself to come across to the media avoided. Two for two. Two CPC “inves- him. Conservatives blow that whistle, and the electorate—since the The leader who avoids any tigations” that might not cast Add to this the entertainment that something is rotten in the age of Macdonald; it has had transparency is transparently Scheer in a positive light. Who that Scheer continues to pro- state of Stornoway, the faster the one consistent historical image guilty of something. This feeds the will ever know though? No an- vide to political commentators, man whose days are numbered. problem: a lack of transparency. circus. swers here. editorial writers, and, literally Every single candidate for Tied to this is that Conservative The party will only be spared The media, and party, and feeding jokes in bars, and lunch Scheer’s job, all future Conserva- politicians seem to love to point future ridicule in “the media electorate are told, yet again, rooms. His lack of transparency is tive leadership debates leading out one another’s hypocrisy. It circus” to come if Scheer chooses by Scheer to move on and that actually not at all surprising—dis- up to June 27 in Toronto, will is the Conservative’s favourite to leave the stage today, or is there’s nothing to see here while played especially after his most have to, constantly, address two blood sport. persuaded to leave. Today. all the actual evidence screams recent facing of the apparently things: why is Scheer still interim And, yet, we wonder exactly Mark Wegierski is a Toronto- the exact opposite. blank faces of his caucus. The leader: and would you, if elected why the Liberal Party is referred based writer and historical Why not release the post-elec- fi nal nail in his political career leader, release the report about to as the “Natural Governing researcher, published in The Hill tion report to, at least, to caucus? coffi n (the CPC audit report of his the 2019 election campaign—at Party”? Times, the Ottawa Citizen, and Why not? The grassroots of the offi ce’s gross overspending) he least to caucus? The party mem- Scheer has become the epit- the Calgary Herald, among oth- Conservative Party have become has managed to avoid, yet again, bership will never see any of it, ome of this one fatal “Conserva- ers. He is a long-time Conserva- very used to being kept in the by claiming some sort of dysfunc- even though the party members tive” fl aw. Scheer is most likely to tive Party supporter. dark. The biggest scandal and the tional aspect of our parliamentary fi nanced it. And every leadership win the award for being the least The Hill Times 45°53'3''49.3"N3N

Je suis fier de travailler dans l'industrie canadienne de la défense et de la sécurité

Yves St-Pierre, Directeur Technique, Soucy Caoutchouc

77272°2°°33222'6.2"W

Mon travail est directeur technique. Ma passion est améliorer le rendement des véhicules militaires pour avoir du personnel plus heureux et en meilleure santé.

Lisez mon histoire sur : Notre Canada, notre responsabilité à tous monnordmonchezmoi.ca THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 15 Global

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyib Erdogan, left, pictured on June 29, 2019, with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Osaka, Japan. Mr. Erdogan, who has ruled Turkey for the past 17 years, says he is going to start a war with Russia at the end of this month. Just in Syria, of course, where both Turkey and Russia have already been meddling in the civil war for years. He’s not completely deranged, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of the Kremlin

Idlib,” in line with the Sochi ac- cord. But what would the Rus- The next Russo-Turkish war? sians actually do if Erdogan carries out his threats? Erdogan is threatening air strikes against targets through- ONDON, U.K.—Turkey has While Russia was determined Western media unanimously out Syria, not just in Idlib. He This could end up as a Lnot won a war against Russia to stop militant Islamists seiz- condemn the ‘ferocious’ Syrian of- has a big air force, and he could since the 1600s, although there ing power in Syria, it was also fensive (so unlike the gentle offen- certainly do that, but Russia has major war, and since have been at least half a dozen angling to lure Turkey out of its sives conducted by Western forces), a bigger one. Would it just sit Turkey can easily block of them. You would think that membership in the NATO alli- and focus only on the refugees who idly by and let its Syrian ally be even the most aggressive Turk- ance, so in 2018 Moscow and have fl ed the fi ghting. They almost pounded from the air? That seems Russian ships heading ish leader would try to avoid Ankara made a deal at Sochi on never identify the people the Syr- unlikely. A ground war between another one, but you would be the Black Sea. The northwestern ians and Russians are fi ghting as Turkish and Syrian troops could for the Mediterranean, wrong. province of Idlib, where all the al-Qaeda, preferring to describe well be accompanied by air bat- President Recep Tayyib surviving rebels had retreated, Turkey’s jihadi allies as “some rebel tles between Russia and Turkey. Russian victory would Erdogan, who has ruled Turkey would remain under Turkish groups in the area.” You can spin the specula- for the past 17 years, says he is protection, at least for the time But there is little chance that tion out endlessly. What would not be quick or easy. going to start a war with Russia being. NATO will come to the aid of its the Israelis do? What would the But they would win in at the end of this month. Just That deal broke down last Turkish ally even if Erdogan acts United States do? But the likeliest in Syria, of course, where both year for several reasons. Almost on his threat to attack the Syrians outcome is that Erdogan backs the end, as they always Turkey and Russia have already all the other rebel forces in Idlib and Russians. And he may well down and the ceasefi re line in been meddling in the civil war were subjugated (after consider- do that: in recent weeks he has Idlib is redrawn to leave Highway do, and Russia’s victory for years. He’s not completely able fi ghting) by the extremist been pouring thousands of Turk- 5 in Syrian hands. deranged. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham organiza- ish troops and hundreds of tanks However, “likeliest” is a long would make it the “We are making our fi nal tion, which is just al-Qaeda with into Turkey’s ‘observation posts’ in way from “certain.” This could warnings,” Erdogan said on Feb. a name change. (You remember the province. end up as a major war, and since paramount power in the 19. “We did not reach the desired al-Qaeda: the 9/11 attacks, head- The Russian response to Er- Turkey can easily block Russian eastern Mediterranean. results in our talks [with Rus- chopping, ‘Islamic State’.) And dogan’s threats has been steadily ships heading for the Mediterra- sia]…. A (Turkish) offensive in Turkey made no effort to stop the hardening. After a last-ditch nean, Russian victory would not Idlib is only a matter of time.” jihadi take-over. meeting between Turkish and be quick or easy. But they would Idlib, in Syria’s northwest, is Turkey also didn’t keep Russian delegations in Moscow win in the end, as they always do, the last province controlled by its promise to free up the M5 on Feb. 18 failed to produce re- and Russia’s victory would make rebel forces, and Turkey is their freeway, which runs between sults, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry it the paramount power in the patron and protector. Russia’s Aleppo and Damascus, Syria’s Peskov warned: “If we are talking eastern Mediterranean. military intervention on the side two biggest cities. (Its northern about an operation against the le- It would also entail the fall of of the Syrian regime in 2015 section, in Idlib province, was in gitimate authorities of the Syrian Erdogan. There’s always a silver saved President Bashar al-Assad rebel hands.) So in December the republic … this would of course lining. from almost certain defeat, so Syrian army, backed by Russian be the worst scenario.” Gwynne Dyer’s new book is there was already strain on the airpower, launched an offensive He added sarcastically that ‘Growing Pains: The Future of Gwynne Dyer Turkish-Russian relationship— to clear the jihadi forces off the Russia would not object if the Democracy (and Work)’. but until recently it was kept M5. They have now succeeded, Turkish military took action [email protected] Global Aff airs under control. and Erdogan is very cross. against the “terrorist groups in The Hill Times 16 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Global

Finance Minister Bill Morneau and Associate Finance Minister Mona Fortier, pictured Dec. Pharmacare’s 17, 2019, during a meeting with provincial fi nance ministers in Ottawa. In this year’s budget, we are asking time is now the federal government of the vote in the October 2019 to invest in phase one With a plan and federal election. These three of the Hoskins report. appropriate funding, parties, together, now hold the This would mean that majority in the House of Com- essential medicines Parliament has mons, which means they now hold would be accessible to the power to change the lives of all Canadians which the opportunity to millions of Canadians. would be a meaningful With a plan and appropri- start, writes Hassan make history and ate funding, Parliament has the Yussuff. The Hill Times completely realign opportunity to make history and photograph by Andrew completely realign the way pre- Meade the way prescription scription medication is delivered and paid for in Canada. medication is delivered The Hoskins report laid out macare in the mandate letters Pharmacare—set up by this prime only speaking for the 3 million the plan that will allow this to four different ministers. It is minister—have shown that univer- workers our affi liates represent. and paid for in Canada. government to implement phar- clear that the federal government sal pharmacare will save federal, We are speaking for one-third of macare that is universal, compre- and cabinet have their marching provincial and territorial govern- working Canadians who don’t hensive, accessible, portable and orders to work with the opposi- ments billions of dollars. have employer-funded drug public, including investments to tion, as well as the provinces and They will remind them that coverage. We are speaking for the start the process. territories, to get this right. Canada is the only developed one in four households who have The report detailed investments Working Canadians are de- country that has a universal seen family members ration or that must be made to begin the pro- pending on progress, and with the health care program that doesn’t fail to take prescribed medication cess of pharmacare—investments help of the opposition, our mem- include universal coverage for because of the costs. this government has indicated they bers are sure it can be achieved in prescription medication. Fundamentally, this is not right. are prepared to make. Now it is up Budget 2020. The experts stand behind na- It is our belief that anyone with a to Parliament to set the standards On Feb. 25, hundreds of union tional, universal pharmacare and health card should have access to for national pharmacare, using the activists from across the country the public does too. Polls show that the medications they need to live. Hassan Yussuff Hoskins report as their guide. will meet with parliamentarians to 90 per cent of Canadians support a Parliament is set up to usher in Opinion In this year’s budget, we are share the expectations they have national pharmacare program that big change. asking the federal government for national, universal pharma- provides equal access to prescrip- It’s time to get down to work to invest in phase one of the care. They’ll bring stories about tion drugs, regardless of income. and improve the lives of millions n the next few weeks, the Hoskins report. This would mean what these changes will mean to These union activists will bring of Canadians. It’s time for this Iminister of fi nance will rise in that essential medicines would be constituents, and they’ll be asking the voices of their coworkers, fam- government to implement na- the House and give a speech lay- accessible to all Canadians which all parties to make them a reality. ily, friends and neighbours to Otta- tional, universal pharmacare. ing out the government’s budget would be a meaningful start. They will remind MPs and wa to remind MPs that a majority It’s time for pharmacare. priorities for the next year. Anything less risks putting us Senators that multiple reports, of Canadians voted for candidates Hassan Yussuff is the president National pharmacare must be behind schedule for implement- including one from their own that support pharmacare. of the Canadian Labour Con- at the top of that list. ing this essential new program. parliamentary budget offi cer and Canada’s unions are not only gress. Follow him on Twitter @ The three parties who prom- The prime minister has shown another from the Advisory Council speaking for the more than 300 Hassan_Yussuff ised pharmacare won a majority political will by including phar- on the Implementation of National activists on the Hill. We are not The Hill Times

would support a business’s IP ac- explore the idea of creating tivity at the various stages of their an IP box to provide favour- Combatting climate change lifecycle. For example, the Univer- able tax treatment for income sity of Cambridge conducted a derived from exploitation of IP study that researched hundreds of in the clean-tech sector. This new green technology companies IP tax break would provide the through better IP policy in the U.S. The study confi rmed appropriate downstream incen- that early patenting activity of a tive for Canadian companies start-up increases by more than to scale and become profi table, uch of the conversation in to be one of the early adopters of 73 per cent on average when it but also upstream to encourage If we truly believe M2019 in politics regarding cli- carbon capture and storage tech- collaborates with a government companies to innovate, conduct mate change revolved around car- nology which allows energy devel- agency. This can be done through more research, and to protect climate change to be bon pricing and its effectiveness opment to be cleaner and greener a ‘fi rst patent’ reimbursement pro- their IP knowing the competitive the fi ght of our time, on combatting the realistic threat than many other jurisdictions. gram, which has been effective edge they will receive once they that Canada and the world faces While the Liberals’ pledge may for Quebec in subsidizing 50 per become profi table. Of course, this and the government from rising temperatures. This, help businesses free up cash for re- cent of the patenting expenses a also creates an attractive regula- coupled with the conversations on investing in growth, many continue small business incurs in getting tory environment in Canada that believes Canadian Trans Mountain pipeline, unfor- to face barriers to growth through- their fi rst-ever patent. could attract and retain clean- tunately took most of the oxygen out their lifecycle. Unfortunately, To support a wider portion of a tech companies and their IP. companies can be away from conversations about intellectual property (IP) continues clean technology businesses life- While there is no magic bullet how to spark growth in Canada’s to be left out of the conversation cycle, Quebec eventually replaced in supporting Canada’s green signifi cant players growing clean technology sector. when speaking about policies to the “fi rst patent” program with an economy and fi ghting climate in the global clean- This is an industry that should be support our green economy. This Innovation Fund providing fi nan- change, we cannot continue to ig- positioned to take advantage of a is despite evidence that shows that cial assistance for innovation of nore the benefi ts that companies tech market, we need global clean technology market businesses who are early users of new products and protection of derive from intellectual property. which is expected to exceed our patent system see signifi cant their IP on a wider basis includ- Cutting corporate taxes in half for to support them $2.5-trillion by 2022. Canada’s growth in sales, employment and ing fi rst and subsequent patents clean-tech companies is a good Economic Strategy Tables have the quality of subsequent innova- or other forms of IP. fi rst step, however, the industry through good IP also set an ambitious goal for tions. While I applaud the govern- In addition to other programs, requires a suite of policies which policy incentives. clean technology to be one of our ment for creating the fi rst ever Quebec has recently dedicated encourage innovation, IP protec- top fi ve exporting industries by National IP Strategy, in its current $18.4-million targeted to sup- tion, and exploitation of that IP at 2025, accounting for $20-billion in form it has a greater focus on porting clean-tech innovation. home and beyond our borders. If annual exports. raising IP literacy and awareness Successful applicants will be we truly believe climate change The path to getting there, than it does on policies that will provided with up to $2-million in to be the fi ght of our time, and the however, is unclear. In their 2019 spark IP activity within Canadian funding that can be used to offset government believes Canadian platform, the Liberal Party of businesses. We need to continue 50 per cent of eligible expenses companies can be signifi cant Canada promised to “cut in half to refi ne and build on the national including the elaboration of an IP players in the global clean-tech the corporate tax paid by compa- strategy and follow it up with poli- strategy and the legal activities market, we need to support them nies that develop and manufac- cies and funding to drive IP activity towards securing IP rights. through good IP policy incentives. ture zero-emissions technology.” and subsequent exploitation of that Finally, to support the scaling Adam Kingsley is executive di- Canada’s clean technology sector IP here at home. rector of the Intellectual Property Adam Kingsley and export business of success- is one of the most innovative in the Specifi cally, this means putting ful Canadian clean technology Institute of Canada. Opinion world. For example, we continue in place fi nancial incentives that companies, government should The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | POLICY BRIEFING | FEB. 24, 2020 TRANSPORTATION

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CLIMATE BETTER RIGHT FOR QUALITY OF ACCELERATING LIFE FLOWS CYCLING IN CANADA, FROM TRADE BUT POLITICAL COMPETITIVENESS, LEADERSHIP AND TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE, NEEDED by Conservative MP by Sara Kirk Todd Doherty and Alec Soucy Clean fleet vehicles. Made by great partnerships.

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Designated Goods), one admin- ing sure he’s bringing the latest istrative tribunal, his ministerial intelligence from the folks in the offi ce, as well as his MP and rid- transportation sector,” Mr. Hughes ing offi ces. said. For the last few weeks, Mr. Mr. Garneau has been in Garneau, like much of the federal close contact with Via Rail and government, has been consumed CN, the companies told The Hill with the nation-wide protest Times. CP has not responded to a movement against the proposed request for comment. $6.6-billion Coastal GasLink pipe- The complexity of the issue line in British Columbia. for government, with overlapping On Dec. 31, the B.C. Supreme ministerial responsibilities and Court granted an expanded the historical context of Crown- injunction that the RCMP began Indigenous relations, make to enforce in early February. The Mr. Garneau’s job all the more Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs diffi cult, Mr. Hughes said. Mr. responded with an eviction notice, Garneau has taken a responsible saying TC Energy, the company be- approach to his job so far, he said. hind Coastal GasLink, was violat- “He’s not been over-promising Transport Minister Marc Garneau, ing Wet’suwet’en traditional laws. anything about when we’re going pictured talking to reporters in Eleven protesters were arrested by to be expecting a decision and an the West Block on Oct. 2, 2018, the RCMP, causing solidarity pro- end to this. He’s been out in the is described by former staff as a tests to pop up around the country. media providing what he knows voracious reader who is well informed The most consequential is in the in a timely fashion. I think in a about his fi les. ‘He’s a very direct Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory near situation this complex and as dif- manager. You never leave a room Belleville, Ont. On Feb. 6, members fi cult as this one, that’s that’s all saying, ‘I don’t know what he wanted,’ of the Mohawk First Nation began you can really ask for from from ’ says Dan Dugas, who is the former blockading a rail line. The next day, your ministers,” Mr. Hughes said. director of communications at Via Rail cancelled service between Mr. Garneau was heavily in- Transport Canada. The Hill Times photograph Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal. volved behind the scenes with the by Andrew Meade CN Rail cancelled their Eastern rail industry during the CN strike Network service, and have since in November 2019, an approach announced layoffs. At the time he is likely to replicate in dealing of writing, CN annouced they’re with the Wet’suwet’en protests, said laying off about 450 workers in Sheamus Murphy, vice-president of Eastern Canada after cancelling federal advocacy at Counsel Public 400 trains. Via also announced Affairs, who frequently lobbies the It’s Garneau’s 1,000 workers will have their jobs federal government on transport “temporarily suspended.” issues. The lobby registry lists Mr. Conservative Party Leader Murphy in 31 communications Andrew Scheer and Conservative reports with Transport Canada, 18 agriculture critic John Barlow with MPs, and eight with the Prime (Foothills, Alta.) called for police Minister’s Offi ce on transport second tour atop to enforce the injunction, but issues from 2017 to today. It also Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shows Mr. Murphy actively regis- (Papineau, Que.) and several min- tered to lobby Transport Canada isters have invoked the spectre of for six clients, including Toyota, Ipperwash and Oka, instead opt- Domtar, the Air Canada Pilots As- ing for continued dialogue. sociation, Athabasca Chipewyan Transport Canada Perrin Beatty, president and First Nation, the Motion Picture CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Association of Canada, and the Commerce, penned an open letter regional municipality of Durham. to Mr. Garneau urging him to act The government’s successful to reopen the rail lines “without resolution of the November strikes years and two months, during the bureaucracy, and would use his further delay.” without the use of back-to-work leg- Transport Minister King and St. Laurent cabinets. clout with the “Prime Minister’s Of- Mr. Trudeau was overseas islation could serve as an example Marc Garneau is facing Dan Dugas, former direc- fi ce and the Department of Finance trying to win votes for a UN for the government as it seeks to re- tor general of communications to get the bureaucracy moving.” Security Council bid as the issue solve the protests, said Mr. Murphy. criticism over how he’s at Transport Canada, said Mr. Mr. Dugas said Mr. Garneau boiled over, but cancelled his On Feb. 20, Public Safety Minister Garneau (Notre-Dame-de-Grâce- was a demanding boss who would trip to CARICOM last week and Bill Blair (Scarborough Southwest, handled the recent Westmount, Que.) is “a great brief” impose shorter timelines on the returned to Ottawa. During his Ont.) said the RCMP had agreed to who is “exceptionally well-in- bureaucracy, but knew when to absence, Indigenous Services leave Wet’suwet’en territory, poten- blockades, but behind formed about his fi les.” push hard or pull back. Minister Marc Miller (Ville-Marie- tially paving the way for a resolu- the scenes in political “He reads everything in detail, “There were times when the Le Sud-Ouest-Île-des-Sœurs, tion to the blockades. and it’s always embarrassing department would say, ‘This is Que.) and Crown-Indigenous Re- Mr. Garneau is currently spend- Ottawa, he’s considered when he fi nds a typo. You’ll be going to take a year,’ and he’d say, lations Minister Carolyn Bennett ing a lot more time dealing with sitting in a briefi ng and he’ll say, ‘Do it in six months.’ Then the (Toronto-St. Paul’s, Ont.) led the current events, such as the rail ‘a great brief’ and ‘Page 17, the fi fth paragraph, lawyers would say, ‘It takes a long federal government’s response blockades and the shooting down ‘exceptionally well- that’s not spelled right,’ ” said Mr. time to draft regulations,’ and he and sought meetings with the of Ukrainian International Airlines’ Dugas, who recently retired from would say, ‘It has to be done in six Indigenous communities. On Feb. Flight PS742 by Iran, than was the informed about his fi les.’ the federal public service. months,’ ” Mr. Dugas said, who was 17, Mr. Trudeau convened the case in 2015 when he assumed the Jean-Philippe Arseneau, head also former longtime Hill reporter Incident Response Group, during role of transport minister on the of communications and public before he joined Transport Canada. which Mr. Miller and Ms. Ben- heels of a Liberal majority win. BY AIDAN CHAMANDY relations for NorthStar Earth and “He would push the depart- nett updated the participants on “The fi rst months were about Space Inc. and Mr. Garneau’s ment when he had to push it, outreach efforts, and Mr. Garneau consultation,” said Mr. Arseneau. arc Garneau may be the chief of staff from November 2015 which I think is a sign of a good “briefed the group on the eco- In the early days of the last Mfi rst astronaut in cabinet, to July 2018, echoed Mr. Dugas’ boss, is that you pick your battles. nomic impacts of the disruptions Parliament, Mr. Garneau met with but serving as Canada’s federal comments. And not everything is a No. 1 on business, farmers, travellers, stakeholders to get a better idea of transport since 2015 has ground- “I was impressed by how seri- priority, which I think is always and communities across Canada” what he and the department should ed him. He’s already one of the ously he consumes everything that a sign of the good boss, you pick according to a press release fol- prioritize, said Mr. Arseneau. Mr. longest serving transport minis- is available. He religiously reads your priorities,” Mr. Dugas said. lowing the meeting. The group Garneau had already received his ters in Canadian political history. all pages,” Mr. Arseneau said. “He’s a very direct manager. You met again on Feb. 21 to discuss mandate letter, but Mr. Arseneau The post was created by William Both Mr. Dugas and Mr. Arse- never leave a room saying, ‘I don’t the blockades. said the stakeholder consultations Lyon Mackenzie King in 1936, neau said Mr. Garneau is a skilled know what he wanted.’” “Garneau is going to be bring- raised some issues not included in succeeding the minister of rail- manager of people and depart- Mr. Garneau is responsible for ing the position of the transporta- the mandate letter that soon made ways and canals. C.D. Howe was ments who effectively delegates overseeing a budget of more than tion sector, and those will feed it to the top of list of priorities, the fi rst minster of transport. Mr. tasks to subordinates, and wields a billion dollars annually, as well into the broader discussion the including the air passenger bill of Garneau has served for four years infl uence within cabinet that he as 42 shared governance organi- other ministers bring to the Re- rights, which was not mentioned in and three months. He trails only leverages to advance his priorities. zations, nine Crown corporations, sponse Group,” said Elliot Hughes, Mr. Garneau’s 2015 mandate letter. David Collenette, who served for “I had his full confi dence on one administrative agency (the senior adviser at Summa Strate- The passenger bill of rights became six years and six months from day one to hire the staff and man- Canadian Transport Agency), gies and former policy director law when bill C-49 received royal June 1997 to December 2003 age the offi ce,” Mr. Arseneau said. three funds (the Ship-source Oil to Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan assent on May 23, 2018. The law, under Jean Chrétien, and Lionel “It was a treat to be empowered.” Pollution Fund, the National Trade (Vancouver South, B.C.). which is being rolled out in phases, Chevrier, who served two non- Mr. Arseneau said Mr. Garneau Corridors Fund, and the Fund Mr. Garneau’s job is “not consecutive terms, totalling nine had a good relationship with the for Railway Accidents Involving necessarily advocating, but mak- Continued on page 24

THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 21 Policy Briefi ng Transportation

integrated market of 650 million Better quality of life fl ows from trade ambitious souls with substantial investments being undertaken, notably in Thailand with its Eastern Economic Corridor, Philippines competitiveness, combination of trade with its more than 100 programs in the Build Build Build program, Indonesia investing $500-billion in airports, ports and a new capital policy and transport infrastructure city and Vietnam upgrading every piece of its trade infrastructure. All this investment will grow the appetite for exactly what Canada The Canadian anadians are in many ways exports. The sub-continent of South Cblessed geographically—we Asia, with a population of 1.9 billion Transportation Act share a continent with the world’s people and some of the fastest GDP largest economy, the United States, growth rates in the world (particu- Review of 2016 contains and one of the more dynamic larly Bangladesh at 7.7 per cent) emerging economies of the world, also needs to be tapped into. Deep- many important Mexico. We have an Atlantic coast- ening our commercial connectivity recommendations line facing the 500 million-plus rich to India, set to be the next economic consumers of Europe and a Pacifi c giant, is a crucial medium-term play. for upgrading our coastline, dotted with ports, facing We must remember that Canada the great continent of Eurasia with has no major export that is not rep- transport system and its nearly $5-billion consumers and licated somewhere else by another encompassing the world’s second, country with access to seaports, can be the basis on third, and seventh-largest econo- We must remember that Canada has no major export that is not replicated airports, and decent rail. We cannot reaching agreement for mies (China, Japan and India). We somewhere else by another country with access to seaports, airports, and decent force our way into any supply chains are literally surrounded by markets rail, writes Conservative MP Todd Doherty. Photograph courtesy of Pxfuel.com or a consumer’s life; they have to see legislation change and for our farm produce, our oil, gas, the benefi t for themselves, their com- minerals, autos, forest products, and system and block a pipeline that will lower cost than what our competi- panies, their governments, of work- signifi cant investments electronics and machinery. bring prosperity to a great many tors can. The bar for what counts as ing with our exporters, of buying our However, Canada is also chal- Canadians, it’s worth remembering a ‘consistent, reliable and economic’ goods rather than someone else’s. going forward. We lenged—by the geography of our that our competitors and customers transport system is continually being The quality and development need to push the country and by our global competi- are watching, and that our transport raised both by our competitors and plans of our freight rail lines, air tors, competitors who are after the system, and its timely upgrading, are our prospective customers. We cannot cargo hubs, container and bulk most impactful exact same growth markets and critical to Canada’s well-being. While continue to see our transport system ports, trucking systems and pipe- integrated supply chains that our the details can sometimes be arcane, through a Canadian-only lens— lines will be determinants of both upgrades forward exporters need to succeed. The vast at its core is a simple equation for ev- rather we must benchmark ourselves our national power as well as our and mostly thinly populated expanse ery Canadian to grasp: better quality internationally and strive to be the citizen’s quality of life. The Cana- on a priority basis. of Canada creates a number chal- of life fl ows from trade competitive- top of the league. dian Transportation Act Review lenges to creating and maintaining a ness which itself is a combination of The opportunities are immense of 2016 contains many important world-class transport system, which trade policy and transport infrastruc- and we need a transport system recommendations for upgrading is a prerequisite to competing and ture. You can have the best trade vision that fi ts the size of this op- our transport system and can be the winning against Australia, Brazil, the agreements in the world (and ours portunity. The potential market, and basis on reaching agreement for United States, Russia, New Zealand, are quite respectable) and yet lose the very real challenges, of China is a legislation change and signifi cant Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the EU, and contest if you cannot get your goods well-known story by now. Japan investments going forward. We need others. These countries are fi ercely to market consistently, reliably and will grow as a market as Canadians to push the most impactful up- competing with us to be fi rst in line economically. Consistency is crucial take more advantage of CPTPP grades forward on a priority basis. to supply the key new market of this for tight supply chains, reliability is and hopefully we can welcome Conservative MP Todd Doherty, century—the giant population of a another way to say “traceable and democratic Taiwan and South Korea who represents Cariboo-Prince George, B.C., is his party’s trans- Conservative MP Todd Doherty growing Asia. safe” which matters for everything into that pact soon. We also need to As we watch protesters attempt to from livestock to wheat to oil, and learn the story of the emergence of port critic. Opinion shut down core parts of the railway economically means delivering at a the ASEAN region, an increasingly The Hill Times

government offi ces always being situated in locations served well by public transit, and walking/cycling Time to reverse federal funding infrastructure in cities. This means restoring something that resembles the Saskatchewan Transportation Company and Western Canadian that prioritizes cars over transit Greyhound bus networks that vanished overnight in the spring of he brought with him federal fund- Federal funding? Zero. The bus one—and one the Green Party of 2017 and the fall of 2018, respec- Somehow our ing for two new highway inter- is funded by B.C. Transit, the local Canada insists we must reverse. tively, without the federal govern- government started changes—one to serve New Minas, hospital district and, of course, Beyond the funding question, ment lifting a fi nger to stop either. a big-box store area of about 6,000 the fare box. (It’s $2.50 per ride, though, transportation is freedom. The federal government un- spending a lot of inhabitants between Wolfville and $60 for a monthly pass.) If people can get where they need to derstands that it has a role to play Kentville in the Annapolis Valley, Rural public transit just isn’t a go, when they need to go, with their in the system-wide success of our money to get urban and one to serve Lantz, a commut- federal responsibility. It’s provincial, dignity intact, then we, as a society, movement of goods. It’s the same er subdivision community of 2,200 right? Well, yes, but so are highways, have taken a massive step forward for air passengers. Those roles commuter cars on in the Shubenacadie Valley. and yet successive federal govern- in levelling the playing fi eld for our are clearly in their jurisdiction. Federal funding? $7.5-million ments have continued to fi nd ways citizens. Whether we speak in the Somehow, though, our government and off highways, for one, $14-million for the other to fund highways and other car language of human rights or simply started spending a lot of money to too, while ignoring (both matched with equal provin- infrastructure projects that increase policy priorities, the Green Party of get urban commuter cars on and cial money). carbon emissions, separate our com- Canada believes that all citizens of off highways, too, while ignoring national, regional At the other end of the coun- munities rather than bringing them Canada must be able to get where national, regional and rural public try, the Bella Coola Bus continues together and, at the end of the day, they need to go, when they need to transportation. Greens want to and rural public to see grand success. It operates generally leave rural and Indig- get there, with their dignity intact— reverse that. We need active federal 66 hours a week, serves a mixed enous communities out in the cold. all without destroying the planet. But participation in national, regional transportation. Greens (Nuxalk and non-Indigenous) (Sure, there’s the Trans Canada and we will never be able to do that by and rural public transportation. want to reverse that. community of 2,000, providing Yellowhead highway networks, and paving more wilderness for highway For all its glory, the Bella Coola door-to-door public transit service they do serve some rural communi- interchanges so that more people Bus service ends at Firvale, 40 km over a 40 km route. It serves a ties, but there are far more that are can commute longer distances. It is from its start point. It’s 410 km to ASHLEY MORTON hospital, schools, government served by only provincially funded clear that solutions must be locally the next bus stop, and our govern- offi ces, and occasionally rescues roads, or not even that.) driven, evidence-based, use existing ment should be helping to fi x that he winter of 2016-2017 was people affl icted by cougar-bite Every reader of The Hill Times infrastructure where possible, and before funding more highway exits. Ta good one for paving and injuries. Bella Coola is 450 km knows that the federal spending always prioritize low-carbon modes. Ashley Morton is co-president of civil engineering companies in from the next larger community, power is pretty broad, so long This means funding for rural the Green Party of Nova Scotia and Kings-Hants. Then-Treasury Board and the bus is a lifeline of service as they show up with a large and remote transportation. This former vice-president of Transport president Scott Brison was in mid- and safe transportation to its enough cheque. So the choice to means passenger rail at a mini- Action Atlantic, a public transpor- mandate and on trips back to his residents. There were 25,000 rides fund highway interchanges over mum restored to standards of the tation advocacy organization. Nova Scotia riding from Ottawa last year. rural public transit is an active early 1990s. This means federal The Hill Times 22 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Transportation Policy Briefi ng Climate right for accelerating cycling in Canada, but political leadership is needed

Maximizing cycling your postal code, gender or munici- Across Canada, cling strategies. These strategies set pal priorities. there are many national modal share objectives and rates and achieving Cycling is recognized around the Canadians who commit to concrete actions to meet world as an important solution to a would like to them, such as developing support- the benefi ts that will number of the most pressing issues cycle more often, ive public policies, and investing in accrue for all levels of that we face as a society, including but a lack of infrastructure and public education. global climate change, the rising safe, connected Canada lags behind other countries, government requires costs of public health care, and the infrastructure lacking comprehensive national fi nancial and societal burden of ex- prevents them guidelines for the development of federal leadership. panding road networks. This is good from doing so, safe cycling infrastructure and traffi c Many other countries, news because investing in cycling write Sara Kirk calming. Furthermore, no national infrastructure for transportation, and Alec Soucy. level modal share targets for cycling including Australia, tourism or recreation offers the very Photograph have been established to date. Finland, Germany, best return on investment, by any courtesy of Pexels The Canadian government government in any sector. should take advantage of the ben- France and Austria The case for investing in cycling efi ts that cycling offers by creating as a climate change mitigation meet Canadian physical activity to an unhealthy population, our a national cycling strategy and a have adopted national strategy is compelling. On Oct. 8, guidelines. The cost of physical car-centric society is costly in other dedicated federal fund for the devel- cycling strategies. 2018, The UN Intergovernmental inactivity alone to our society was ways. About a third of family in- opment and improvement of cycling Panel on Climate Change issued estimated as $10.8-billion in 2013. come goes towards transportation, infrastructure and related traffi c a special report declaring that net Within urban environments, about with cars costing between $8,000 calming in Canadian municipali- SARA KIRK AND ALEC SOUCY human-caused emissions of carbon 40 per cent of hazardous air pollut- to $15,000 to operate annually in ties. The evidence is clear that such dioxide would need to fall by 40 ants are generated from transpor- Canada. This represents a fi nancial a strategy will address our current ALIFAX—Across Canada, per cent from 2010 levels by 2030. tation, and 21,000 Canadians die burden that exacerbates social in- pressing societal challenges; the Hthere are many Canadians In Canada, the oil and gas sector is prematurely each year from breath- equalities. As a society we also pay missing ingredient is political will. who would like to cycle more often, responsible for 27 per cent of total ing polluted air. The economic cost dearly for our current, car-centric Sara Kirk, PhD is a professor but a lack of safe, connected infra- emissions and transportation is re- associated with exposure to air transportation systems. In the year of health promotion and scientifi c structure prevents them from doing sponsible for 24 per cent. A forecast pollution is approximately $8-bil- 2000, when assessed in terms of director of the Healthy Populations so. In the East Coast city of Halifax, by the Institute for Transportation lion. Yet cycling is associated with modes of transportation, the an- Institute and founding fellow of for example, around 50 per cent of and Development Policy and UC a 41 per cent lower risk of prema- nual full cost of the transportation the MacEachen Institute for Public residents would like to cycle more Davis predicts that supporting more ture death relative to non-active activities ranged between $198-bil- Policy and Governance at Dalhou- often, but feel their city is less safe people commuting by bicycle could commuting. Canada’s Chief Public lion to $233-billion with road sie University, Halifax. She is also for cycling, relative to residents of cut CO2 emissions from urban pas- Health Offi cer’s Report in 2017 transportation alone accounting for a volunteer board member of Vélo cities that have accelerated safer senger transport by nearly 11 per explicitly acknowledged the value $169-billion to $201-billion. Canada Bikes. Alec Soucy, PhD is cycling infrastructure. This reveals cent in 2050 compared to a scenario of cycling and called on leadership Maximizing cycling rates and a cultural anthropologist, profes- startling issues of equity, both in without a strong cycling emphasis. from all levels of government and achieving the benefi ts that will sor and chair of the Department geography and because women ex- The case for investing in cycling partners to take concrete actions accrue for all levels of government of Religious Studies, and research press greater safety concerns than to contain the rising costs of health to improve the health of Canadians requires federal leadership. Many associate at the Centre for the men. In a country like Canada, care is equally compelling. Three through healthy community design. other countries, including Austra- Study of Sport and Health at Saint access to safe infrastructure for quarters of adults and over 90 per Aside from the economic lia, Finland, Germany, France and Mary’s University, Halifax. cycling should not be dependent on cent of children and youth fail to burden of providing health care Austria have adopted national cy- The Hill Times

services, provinces have the capac- in Canada. The GTF is already ef- ity to tax a growing revenue base. fectively administered, provides fl ex- Off the track: transit funding On the other hand, revenue sources ibility for municipal investment in for cities are limited—largely con- transit and transportation expansion strained to new development and and maintenance, and is predictable land values, and the gasoline tax. which remains the most important and the low carbon transition The federal government has consideration for mid- and long-term recently provided additional funds capital projects. Municipalities need albeit through current transfer permanent solution that can accom- If climate change tion, building, electricity and other needed to ensure future economic and budget mechanisms. Budget modate the current multi-billion gap sectors. The burden of reducing growth while transitioning to a 2016 made $3.4-billion available in infrastructure funding. mitigation is to begin emissions will then fall more heavily low-carbon future. over three years through the Public Municipalities also need to act. on cities. But is the funding available Transportation and transit are Transit Infrastructure Fund for up- Municipal leaders need to ensure in cities, we should proportional to the task at hand, or critical to Canadian’s economic and grades and improvements to public that taxes rise with infl ation. They be discussing how are municipalities off the track in social well-being. Today, Canada’s transit systems across Canada. should also avoid promises of no meeting these requirements? cities account for 74 per cent of our Budget 2017 added $25-billion over tax hikes during elections. Facili- municipalities can The public infrastructure economy and typically contribute the next decade, including $5-bil- tating public private partnerships, access additional and magazine ReNew Canada recently more than 85 cents to every $1 lion from the newly minted Canada by encouraging projects with user published it’s top 100 infrastruc- of growth in real GDP. Moreover, Infrastructure Bank—whose source fees, would also help some munici- predictable revenue ture projects list. According to the productivity growth in Canada has of funds will include private inves- palities invest in the assets they list, planned transit expansions been driven by infrastructure in- tors. While those are big numbers, need, even if user fees can some- sources to support and transportation projects total vestment primarily in urban centres the math gets challenging. times be unpopular. Investments required investments $118-billion in investments—ac- or their catchment areas. Municipalities directly fund fi nanced by the Canada Infrastruc- counting for roughly half of over Transportation is also the second about 50 per cent of government ture Bank have been slow to take and in turn, support $240-billion in projects that make biggest expenditure for Canadians, infrastructure that is not educational off in part because of the lack of our national economy. up the list. Of the $240-billion in at $202-billion in 2018. In 2018, about services, hospitals, defence, or nurs- proposed projects that provide re- projects, $154-billion in funding is 3.3 million daily trips took place ing care facilities. The Conference turns on investment that help bring forecast to come from the provin- on Canada’s light, commuter and Board of Canada has calculated that private funders to the table. PEDRO ANTUNES cial governments, $36-billion from transit rail systems. But transporta- local governments collect 11.5 cents We’re asking a lot of our cities. AND ROGER FRANCIS the federal government, $31-billion tion also accounts for about 25 per of every tax dollar collected. But over They are being asked to balance from private sources, and about cent of emissions. As such, if climate 83 per cent of municipal funding Canada’s mobility and transporta- unicipalities in Canada are $20-billion from municipalities. change mitigation is to begin in is spent on operating expenditures tion needs with a growing economy Mon the front lines of climate The Canadian Urban Transit cities, we should be discussing how outside of infrastructure. One of the within a low-emissions future. Do change mitigation. Decarbonizing Association’s (CUTA) most recent municipalities can access additional most important tools available to we increase the GTF and target cities through greater transit use Infrastructure Needs Report found and predictable revenue sources to augment that source revenue chal- more investment to transit and and more effi cient transportation transit systems require in excess of support required investments and in lenge is the Gas Tax Fund (GTF). transportation? It’s worth evalu- systems is key to transitioning to $133-billion over the next 10 years, turn, support our national economy. Budget 2019 announced a ating as one avenue to help put net zero carbon emissions by 2050. nearly $60-billion of which remains Municipal and provincial one-time increase to the GTF from municipalities back on track. This is especially true because the unfunded by government. governments own the lion’s $2.2-billion to $4.4-billion in 2018-19. Pedro Antunes is chief econo- federal government is pursuing a These estimates of planned and share of local and regional transit While that additional revenue is mist and Roger Francis is the direc- policy of allowing resource and future requirements for transit and infrastructure. Despite the fi scal positive, we would argue a per- tor, energy and environment, at energy development, while cutting transportation infrastructure pro- burdens associated with delivering manent expansion of the GTF is The Conference Board of Canada. carbon pollution in the transporta- vide only a portion of what may be health care, education and social needed to help keep transit on track The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 23 Policy Briefi ng Transportation Time to build a national transportation corridor Not being able to quickly and effi ciently Everybody deserves a safe move goods across the and comfortable experience nation and to export at Canada’s airports markets further damages Canada’s airports have invested more than $27 billion into their infrastructure Canada’s attractiveness to since 1992 to improve services to travellers and support traffic growth. international investors. Here are seven ways that the Government of Canada can help Canada’s airports and their industry partners:

1 2 3

Philip Cross Opinion Canada’s federal Transport Minister Marc Transform CATSA Protect Canada’s Increase funding Garneau, pictured March 13, 2019, at the to better serve borders and aviation for small airport anada has traditionally excelled at travellers through system through infrastructure for transportation, especially over long dis- National Press Theatre in Ottawa. Instead C of preparing a contingency plan, last week international innovations that safety and security. tances. This refl ects the necessity of carrying reduce risk. showed the federal government was caught standards and people and goods across our country, often innovation. in diffi cult conditions, and the opportunity completely off-guard, writes Philip Cross. from access to lucrative export markets. As The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade a result, Canada built world-class companies in sectors ranging from ships to railways to It turns out Canada’s transportation as- pipelines and some areas of aeronautics. sets are more susceptible to attacks on its 4 did you know? Today, trade inside and outside of Cana- hardware than its software. These vulner- da is more important than ever. So what is abilities have been plainly evident for some Canada doing to preserve its comparative time. In 2016, all vehicle transport between advantage in this essential service? east and west via the Trans Canada Highway The National Trade Corridors Fund (NTCF) is Not much, judging by the federal govern- was severed by the failure of the Nipigon designed to increase the flow of trade through ment’s plan called Transportation 2030: Trade River Bridge, which had no alternative our transportation system and borders. To Corridors to Global Markets. Or perhaps I routes. Redundancy needs to be built into the Invest in strategic support air travellers’ freedom to move, we should say too much, given its unwieldy policy transportation system at critical junctures. transportation must increase funding to the NTCF and other infrastructure goals of lowering ineffi ciencies, collaborating programs that expand transit options to The ongoing blockades of rail transport projects that more with industry, boosting infrastructure demonstrated how easily it can be disrupted airports, reduce bottlenecks and address enhance airport regional airport safety infrastructure challenges. and innovation, making data a priority, sup- by protest groups. The government should connectivity. porting progressive trade and clean growth have had a back-up plan; six years ago, and dealing with the effects of climate change. Douglas Bland wrote a report for the Mac- Having so many confl icting goals means not donald Laurier Institute highlighting how identifying which are priorities. much of Canada’s transportation system Nowhere is there a strategic vision of how passes through Indigenous land, notably rail, trade corridors will have to adapt to new roads, pipelines, and electricity. Any cred- 5 6 7 trade patterns. Instead of the north-south ible plan to secure the system would start corridors built to facilitate trade with the U.S., with prioritizing transportation assets by the the University of Calgary’s School of Public value of the goods they carry. Policy proposes a new National Transporta- Instead of preparing a contingency plan, CANADA’S AIRPORTS tion Corridor stretching from east to west. last week showed the federal government $5.6 Billion Pre-approved routes for roads, pipelines, was caught completely off-guard. Transport Fund programs Eliminate federal Remove obstacles railways, and electrical distribution would fa- Minister Marc Garneau initially denied the that promote rent on small preventing cilitate trade within Canada and with markets federal government even had a responsibility Canada as an airports and cap or Canada’s airports in Asia and Europe, while avoiding the sort of in resolving the dispute, although Indigenous international travel reinvest rent from from offering drawn-out process for building infrastructure relations and governance and rail safety are hub for visa-free larger airports. services such as projects such as pipelines in British Columbia. clearly under federal jurisdiction. transit. Arrivals Duty Free. The confrontations and blockades pro- Not being able to quickly and effi ciently testing against the LNG pipeline in British move goods across the nation and to export Columbia underscore the failure of the federal markets further damages Canada’s attrac- government’s transportation corridor plan to tiveness to international investors. What is prioritize the security of critical transportation the point of negotiating free trade deals with infrastructure. Nearly a decade ago, Canada’s North America, Europe and our Pacifi c part- approach to security was described as “a ners if fi rms do not believe they can deliver combination of muddling through and ad hoc products effi ciently? Setting aside partisan- problem solving.” That would have been an ship to undertake building a National Trans- improvement on the government’s response to portation Corridor would send a powerful this month’s protests and rail blockades. signal to investors here and abroad that Corridors, by defi nition, concentrate Canada is serious about carrying goods and transport in a small number of areas. For people safely and effi ciently to their destina- example, most of our truck transport with tions, reinforcing our traditional expertise in the U.S. passes through six border cross- these areas. As importantly, it would demon- ings. This concentration raises effi ciency, strate that governments in Canada are still Canada’s Airports: Working for travellers and communities but makes security a priority because of capable of delivering results the goods when their openness to attack or disruption. And it comes to transportation. yet, governments have still failed to recog- Philip Cross is a senior fellow at the Learn more at nize our transportation system’s vulnerabil- Macdonald-Laurier Institute. canadasairports.ca/workingfortravellers ity, especially for East-West transport. The Hill Times 24 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Transportation Policy Briefi ng

emergency response capabilities; It’s Garneau’s working with Via Rail to make Transport Minister travel to national parks cheaper; Marc Garneau and improving the effi ciency and arrives for the carbon footprint of Canada’s Liberal cabinet major ports. meeting on May 7, second tour atop On Feb. 14, 2020, Mr. Garneau 2019. The Hill Times announced Sudbury, B.C., will photograph by Andrew run a pilot project for seat belts Meade on school buses. After two train Transport Canada crashes near Guernsey, Sask., on Dec. 9, 2019, and Feb. 6, 2020, Mr. Garneau reduced the maximum marine ports, and on highways allowable speed for “higher risk Continued from page 19 and railways. Budget money was key trains” and “key trains.” The gives airlines passengers the right also allocated to support the gov- former refers to trains “loaded with to compensation for being bumped ernment’s zero-emission vehicle a single dangerous goods commod- off a fl ight, more money for dam- strategy by building electric ve- ity moving to the same point of aged or lost baggage, and requires hicle charging infrastructure and destination; or trains that include airlines to clearly communicate the funding electric vehicle research any combination of 80 or more new rights and how to claim them, and development. tank cars containing dangerous among other things. The fi rst phase Mr. Garneau also initiated a goods,” while the latter refers to was rolled out in July 2019, the review of the Canada Transporta- trains with “one or more tank cars second in December 2019. tion Act, which led to Transpor- of dangerous goods that are toxic During the 42nd Parliament, tation 2030, the government’s by inhalation; or trains that include Mr. Garneau also sponsored four “strategic plan” for improving 20 or more tank cars containing Department of Transport and Canadian Transportation bills, all of which received Royal transportation in Canada. Mr. dangerous goods,” according to the Assent. The most high-profi le bill Garneau’s new mandate letter notice from Transport Canada. On Agency expenses, 2018-2019 was C-48, known as the Oil Tank- makes clear that Transportation Feb. 18, Mr. Garneau and Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe er Moratorium Act, which made 2030 now guides much of Mr. Entity Service Expense Champagne (Saint-Maurice— permanent and then-voluntary Garneau’s second mandate. Department of Transport Business services $22,945,830 Champlain, Que.) announced their ban on large oil tankers from the The plan has fi ve main themes: Department of Transport Engineering and architectural services $52,516,532 support for a global ban on ship- North Coast of B.C. He also in- making travel better and cheaper Department of Transport Health and welfare services $1,304,309 ping heavy fuel oil in the Arctic. troduced Bill C-10, which allowed for Canadians; a safer transporta- Department of Transport Informatics services $21,696,789 Earlier in February, Mr. Gar- Air Canada to locate its mainte- tion system; reducing the sector’s Department of Transport Interpretation and translation services $4,453,645 neau had a private meeting in To- nance operations anywhere in environmental impact; improving Department of Transport Legal services $14,651,571 ronto with relatives of Canadians Manitoba, Quebec, or Ontario, transportation infrastructure in Department of Transport Management consulting $17,998,739 who died in the March 10, 2019, whereas the past requirement the North; and making it easier Department of Transport Protection services $5,136,825 Boeing 737 crash over Ethiopia. mandated the maintenance facili- and more effi cient for Canadian Department of Transport Scientifi c and research services $15,285,738 Mr. Garneau offered an apology ties be in Winnipeg, Montreal, and companies to export. Department of Transport Special fees and services $2,266,361 for not meeting sooner, and said Mississauga. Bill C-49 eased re- The mandate letter has action Department of Transport Temporary help services $1,912,855 the government would make men- strictions on foreign ownership of items under the Transportation Department of Transport Training and educational services $8,200,596 tal health support services avail- Canadian Transportation Agency 2030 plank that all relate to the Department of Transport Other services $12,498,305 able, according to a CBC report. airline licences and codifi ed the report’s fi ve themes, such as Department of Transport Total Department of Transport $180,868,095 His offi ce also told The Globe passenger bill of rights. Bill C-64 continuing to invest in trade cor- Canadian Transportation Agency Business services $24,867 and Mail that it would improve the regulated abandoned or hazard- ridors to boost exports, which is Canadian Transportation Agency Health and welfare services $7,725 way aircraft are vetted to give Trans- ous ships in Canadian waters by the fi rst specifi c point mentioned. Canadian Transportation Agency Informatics services $452,667 port Canada more oversight power. making their owners liable. Mr. Arseneau said he believes Canadian Transportation Agency Interpretation and translation services $286,405 In late-January, he mulled over On the regulatory side, Mr. this will likely be a very high Canadian Transportation Agency Legal services $1,393 expanding the electric vehicle Garneau introduced the Loco- priority because “it easily benefi ts Canadian Transportation Agency Management consulting $114,300 rebate, according to The Canadian motive Emissions Regulations, so many sectors like agriculture, Canadian Transportation Agency Special fees and services $91,061 Press. The $300-million program which sought to regulate harm- mining, and forestry that are so Canadian Transportation Agency Temporary help services $38,844 was introduced last May to incentiv- ful emissions from trains, and key to our prosperity,” he said. Canadian Transportation Agency Training and educational services $313,760 ize electric vehicle purchases, and retired the DOT-111 rail tanker “You can have the best trade Canadian Transportation Agency Other services $288,318 Canadians have used up nearly half cars that were involved in the Lac agreements and the best products Canadian Transportation Agency Total Canadian Transportation Agency $1,619,340 Megantic disaster. Internation- in the world, but if you don’t have the fund in just eight months. [email protected] Total CTA + Transport $182,487,435 ally, Mr. Garneau helped broker a an effi cient transport system, you The Hill Times Source: Public Accounts of Canada 2018-2019, Vol. III, Additional information and analyses UN agreement to limit the airline can’t be competitive.” industry’s emissions. The mandate letter also Mr. Garneau was also a key calls for improved accessibility; player in the Ocean’s Protection development of high-frequency Plan, a $1.5-billion program intend- rail between Québec City and To- Transport Canada departmental budget, past and planned ed to make Canada’s waterways ronto; transferring the Canadian safer, greener, and more economi- Air Transport Security Authority 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 cally prosperous. Mr. Garneau de- to an independent not-for-profi t, Statutory $254,383,748 $218,684,146 $226,389,615 $210,070,454 $211,476,342 $209,302,351 livered several funding announce- continue to improve transporta- Voted $936,775,036 $987,036,619 $1,112,024,696 $1,490,266,881 $1,344,350,077 $1,220,598,107 ments as part of the plan. tion network safety; making Total $1,191,158,784 $1,205,720,765 $1,338,414,311 $1,700,337,335 $1,555,826,419 $1,429,900,458 Successive budgets secured airports more effi cient; continu- Source: Transport Canada 2019-20 departmental plan millions of dollars for improved ing to incentivize zero-emission safety at Canadian airports and vehicles; improving marine

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cn.ca 26 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion

On March 24 and 25, the Supreme Court of Canada, pictured, will Supreme Court must begin a signifi cant and potentially transformational hearing in Ottawa, and the Assembly advance reconciliation of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) confl ict with corporate interests government’s fi rst attempt to will be present to The Assembly of and governments over who has a impose a national carbon pricing address the court Manitoba Chiefs argues say on what happens on reserve scheme in Canada. First Nations as an intervener, lands. Such confl icts have led to are in agreement with dissenting writes Arlen that the Supreme solidarity actions, violence, and provinces that it is a constitution- Dumas. The Hill police confl icts as First Nations, al debate on nation-to-nation rela- Times photograph Court case exposes an land defenders, and corporations tionships and reconciliation. Not by Andrew Meade outdated, inaccurate battle over control of who has the only is it a federal responsibility right to access natural resources. to acknowledge the existence of and destructive In the midst of this tension, First First Nations laws; but federal Nations continue to assert their and provincial governments do narrative about rights and sovereignty as the not understand the implications, original stewards of the land. It or the unconstitutional intrusion Canada yet poses an does not have to be this way. of exclusive provincial legislative been recognized by the Supreme laws as equal and distinct from opportunity to address There is national acknowl- jurisdiction when they mitigate Court. The lack of clarity has led Euro-Canadian laws, and calls for edgement that tackling climate greenhouse gas emissions. to a patchwork of inconsistent recognition of First Nations as pro- the reality that First change and reducing our carbon AMC argues that the Supreme decisions and, due to this void, tectors of Mother Earth—as a living, emissions is both necessary and Court case exposes an outdated, First Nations people are impacted sacred spirit. It requires a return to Nations people and laws urgent. For the fi rst time ever, inaccurate and destructive narra- on a daily basis. the intent of the treaty relationships ‘have always been here.’ environmental issues and climate tive about Canada yet poses an op- Our First Nations laws com- on which Canada was built. action were top issues in the 2019 portunity to address the reality that prise Canada’s fi rst constitutional Now, more than ever, we must federal election. Youth, in record First Nations people and laws “have order, alongside French civil law work together, as the existential numbers, are marching glob- always been here.” These laws are and English common law. Nature crisis of climate change is too ally to effect change and create grounded in mutual respect and is giving us signs that human be- complex for one treaty partner a more secure future; while First the treaty relationship continues to ings are out-of-balance, and First and one legal tradition. First Nations from coast-to-coast- govern First Nations’ relationships Nations laws provide clear guid- Nations laws can no longer be to-coast have resolved to make with the Creator, Mother Earth, ance on climate change. excluded when the future of our climate change an urgent global and all living beings. Again, this court case offers children and health of our planet priority. The current political climate an opportunity for a fundamental is at stake. It is our sincere hope On March 24 and 25, the regarding the Wet’suwet’en Na- paradigm shift in the relationship that the Supreme Court recog- Supreme Court of Canada will tion exemplifi es the rights of all between First Nations and non- nizes that First Nations laws can Arlen Dumas begin a signifi cant and poten- First Nations who live, assert, First Nations people, to usher in a assist in alleviating the tension Opinion tially transformational hearing and defend their sovereignty and more meaningful implementation and restoring environmental and in Ottawa, and the Assembly of land rights every day. Recent of reconciliation, grounded in the constitutional balance. Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) will be Lower Court decisions have sent spirit and intentions of treaties. Arlen Dumas is the grand chief here is a simmering tension present to address the court as contradictory signals about the Reconciliation, as outlined in the of the Assembly of Manitoba Tacross Canada. For decades, an intervener. On the surface, the relationship between Euro-Cana- seminal Truth and Reconciliation Chiefs, which represents 62 First we have witnessed First Na- case is about the Greenhouse Gas dian laws and First Nations laws, Commission’s Calls to Action, Nations across Manitoba. tions and their allies come into Pollution Pricing Act the federal despite First Nations laws having requires respect for First Nations The Hill Times Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review report is a threat to freedom of speech

opinion column “No need to cry remain liable for slanders, frauds, regulation is “neither necessary tered. This is not about sales tax for We do not need foul over broadcast review panel’s and other criminal and civil of- nor appropriate to achieve media Netfl ix, or other online services, report” (The Hill Times, Feb. 5) by fences. Broadcasting requires a content policy objectives” (R58), which Canada might impose. This more governmental Friends of Canadian Broadcasting’s government licence. The original the exemption power. There will is about transfers within the media control of speech. If Daniel Bernhard is a case in point. justifi cation for this was that the always be a reason why regula- communications system, so as to The thrust of the column was number of ‘speakers’ who could tion is necessary or appropriate. treat domestic fi rms favourably. you see a disconnect that we have nothing to fear from ever broadcast were few, their You need not have gone to law The issue is what to do about the the proposals, whether for free- audiences large, and they used pre- school to read this—correctly—as power of large platforms to control between the stated dom of speech, regulation of the cious radio spectrum to speak to a formula for state regulation of speech and advertising revenues. internet, or taxation of it. Let’s be- their audiences. Over time, the jus- the Internet. To be required to The Broadcasting and Telecommu- problems and the gin with our points of agreement. tifi cation for licensing has become register is to be subject to fees nications Legislative Review tries to Bernhard is right when he says detached from the use of radio and conditions. To be exempt get at the problem through hugely proposed solutions, that the platform giants can act as spectrum, and has been grounded from registration is to be subject expanding government powers over censors and shapers of expres- in concerns for Canadian content. to the terms and conditions of the speech. The diagnosis has some you are not alone. sion. He is right when he observes The Broadcasting and Tele- exemption order. The boundaries merit but expanding state control of that the newspaper business is in communications Legislative Re- of what is exempted can shift with what is said on the internet fails to decline, as advertising revenues view (BTLR) goes even further, to a changed CRTC commission, solve the problem of the large plat- shift away from printed media. recommend that ‘media content’ whose appointees change with the forms. Using an expanded Broad- He argues that a robust exten- be covered by the Broadcast- passage of time and governments. casting Act in this way is like trying sion of Canadian broadcasting ing Act, and that media content Thus the claims of Bernhard to lift the gross national product law to the internet will solve these should include ‘alphanumeric that freedom of speech and of with a set of tongs. The solution to problems. Expand government news content’ (R51). Those carry- the press are not under attack by the problems of large private power powers under the Broadcasting ing on a ‘media content undertak- the BTLR rest on a complacent may require corporate break-ups: I Act by licensing and registering ing’ via the internet would be re- misreading of facts, and a naivety don’t pretend to know, yet. But for on-line entities, including ‘print’— quired to register with the CRTC about the tendency of govern- sure, we do not need more govern- Timothy Denton primarily alpha numeric—media, (R56) and the regulator would be ments to exercise powers they mental control of speech. If you see Opinion and exempt from regulation what able to establish requirements believe they have for what they a disconnect between the stated is not commercially signifi cant. and payments of fees for classes consider to be the public good. problems and the proposed solu- There are two legal regimes for of registrants (R57). The Canadian The claim that prices will not tions, you are not alone. he apologists for Canadian ‘speech’ through artifi cial means: Radio-television and Telecom- be raised for consumers is equally Timothy Denton is a former Tbroadcasting have a habit of print and broadcasting. Print- munications Commission would without merit. The CRTC will be national commissioner of the saying that “it won’t hurt a bit” ing requires no prior permission have discretion not to require given powers to establish fees for CRTC, 2009-2013. and “it won’t cost very much.” The from the government, though you registration when it judged that websites it deems fi t to be regis- The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 27 Global Canada’s China-U.S. conundrum

In a multi-polar world, Though we must not smaller, less powerful countries like Canada have illusions about can gain leverage by Canada’s relative playing off one power against another rather lack of power in this than being at the mercy of their whims. triadic relationship, In this case, Canada there is an alternative could use the prospect of extraditing Meng way of thinking about Wanzhou, and banning Huawei to see if China this situation, as our offers better terms than European allies are existing agreements with the U.S., write David quickly learning. It’s Carment and Richard Nimijean. Ms. Meng is okay to say no to both pictured right, on Oct. the U.S. and to China 2, 2014, with Andrey Kostin, left, and Vladimir and be true to ourselves Putin, at the Russia Calling Investment in the process. Forum in Moscow, Russia. Photograph courtesy of Commons Wikimedia

tures for a free trade deal were powerful, determined, and capable kind.” So why have the Liberals litically loaded process more than rebuffed. Strategically, China China and the U.S. by following refused to consider a prisoner one based on security needs. On David Carment and Richard Nimijean outright rejected the progressive public opinion. That is because swap involving the two Michaels, the one hand, much of the world Comment trade agenda, central to Prime most Canadians believe that Cana- as former Chrétien adviser Eddie is unconvinced by U.S. claims Minister Justin Trudeau’s political da’s actions in defence of Meng’s Goldenberg suggested? After all, that Huawei technology poses a image. Even as China faced a cri- detention are consistent with the even hardliner Benjamin Netan- major security risk. The U.K. is here is one basic truism in this sis in its pork industry, Canadian rule of law and an expression of yahu of Israel, a staunch Canadian ambivalent, while Germany and Tera of geopolitical competi- pork imports were targeted. the importance Canada places on ally, completed a prisoner swap France remain open. Huawei is tion: the strong do as they will On the other hand, Canada a rules-based system and national because of a strong national belief competitive in Finland, the home and the weak do as they must. has been squeezed by the U.S. sovereignty. While Canadians in solidarity over the state’s geopo- of Nokia. On the other, countries Growing tensions between the Notably, the USMCA makes it wish for the two Michaels’ speedy litical interests. that have imposed an outright U.S. and China have placed diffi cult for partner countries to release, they support the Liberals’ In fact, backroom manoeuvres ban, like Japan and Australia, are Canada in a diffi cult spot. pursue free trade discussions with refusal to compromise in order to involving hostages and prisoners dependent on U.S. security. Re- China and the U.S.’s intense “non-market countries,” i.e. China. secure their release. In fact, the are not without precedent. Cana- cently, the Canadian military has rivalry forces them to focus on The extradition request, followed Liberals have publicly rejected dian embassy staff in Tehran res- come out in opposition, ensur- weaker states. Rather than mak- by U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposals for the release of the cued U.S. hostages in Iran through ing a big political fi ght but also ing direct hits on their adversary, declaration that Meng could be two Michaels that involve Meng bold moves that circumvented raising questions about who is these rivals increase economic released if China acceded to other Wanzhou. Iranian sovereignty. Canada has in running the show in Ottawa. pressure on the allies of their demands, shows how little lever- While politically popular, this the past, according to one former In a multi-polar world, smaller, main opponent to shift their part- age Canada wields in the Canada- approach frustrates those who diplomat, paid ransom for kid- less powerful countries like Can- nership priorities. Canada is the U.S. relationship. Hope that the want a broader and more coher- napped Canadians, saving lives. ada can gain leverage by playing weaker player caught up in this Trump administration would push ent long-term strategy for dealing According to allies, despite offi cial off one power against another confl ict and has not only taken hard for the release of the two with the complexity of relations government denials, a signifi cant rather than being at the mercy of hits from both sides; it is increas- Michaels has evaporated. between China and the U.S. We ransom secured the release of Ca- their whims. In this case, Canada ingly pressured to render short- This is perplexing for the Lib- ask if such approaches are the nadian diplomats Robert Fowler could use the prospect of extradit- term choices without due atten- erals, given that they continued right ones. Indeed, there are good and Louis Guay when they were ing Meng and banning Huawei to tion given to national interests. the tradition of pursuing short- reasons to question the entire taken hostage in the Maghreb by see if China offers better terms For example, adhering to the sighted trade deals that produced premise underlying the Liberals’ forces sympathetic to al-Qaeda. than existing agreements with the American extradition request of immediate returns, especially for short-sightedness. Under this current govern- U.S. As well, Canada can use the Meng Wanzhou resulted in the resource exports, over the devel- First, in acceding to the U.S. ment, standing up for Canadian spectre of increasing Chinese in- detention of the “two Michaels”: opment of longer-term strategies extradition request, Canada has values has become a substitute fl uence to try to improve existing Michael Kovrig and Michael that allow the economy to adapt tacitly approved of unilateral for a projection of strength, agreements with the U.S. Though Spavor—and the retrial of Robert to an increasingly decarbonized American sanctions on Iran that statecraft, and diplomacy. The we must not have illusions about Schellenberg, resulting in a death economy. Canada wanted more were not upheld or endorsed by government is taking a popular Canada’s relative lack of power sentence. This shows how weaker deals and less friction with both the UN Security Council or by position: resist Chinese pressure, in this triadic relationship, there countries can bear the brunt of countries yet still fi nds itself at any formal agreement between even if the two Michaels must pay is an alternative way of thinking powerful nations promoting their the mercy of both. the U.S. and its allies, includ- the price. about this situation, as our Euro- interests on a global scale while Meanwhile, Canadian public ing Canada. This position seems This sounds principled, but pean allies are quickly learning. avoiding costly and potentially opinion towards China is harden- at odds with Trudeau’s quest to what about the commitment to It’s okay to say no to both the destructive direct confrontation. ing. The new parliamentary com- win a seat on the UN Security protect and promote the human U.S. and to China and be true to Canada’s ability to pursue mittee on China is more an outlet Council because of a belief in the rights of all Canadians at home ourselves in the process. its interests are constrained by for political partisanship than it is importance of multilateralism and and abroad? Is standing up for David Carment is editor of the this great power rivalry. On the a forum for deep thinking about respect for the rule of law. our principles while two inno- Canadian Foreign Policy Journal one hand, Canada has pursued Canada’s long-term geopolitical Second, Canada’s international cents suffer and a third might and a fellow at the Canadian greater investment from China, strategy. human rights commitments require be put to death really the core of Global Affairs Institute. Richard but China does not appreciate So what is the Trudeau govern- it to “respect and ensure the human Canada’s values? Nimijean is a member of the holdups of foreign investment ment doing? Instead of insightful rights of all individuals within its The conundrum extends School of Indigenous and Canadi- over national security concerns. statecraft, Trudeau is attempting territory and subject to its jurisdic- beyond the two Michaels. The an Studies at Carleton University. The Trudeau government’s over- to deny the advantage of the more tion, without discrimination of any upcoming decision on 5G is a po- The Hill Times 28 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News Wet’suwet’en protest What Indigenous MPs and other UNDRIP players have to say about the provides ‘guide’ Wet’suwet’en solidarity demonstrations

BY PALAK MANGAT the streets frustrated during the Idle No to resolving More era of protests under the Stephen ll across the country, demonstrations in support Harper government that saw environ- Aof some Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs, who op- mental cuts and Indigenous cuts. I was pose the construction of the $6.6-billion Coastal Gas- out there with them. … It is important that both Indian Act governments and tensions among Link natural gas pipeline which would run through the Wet’suwet’en traditional hereditary territory in traditional governments work together, northern B.C., have emerged in recent weeks just the same as we in a minority gov- The Hill Times gathered what some Indigenous ernment must attempt to work together.” MPs, Senators, and other players have to say Indigenous about the ongoing situation—either in their public Manitoba Independent Senator Murray remarks to reporters, statements in the House, or Sinclair, former head of the Truth and written pieces shared in publications. Reconciliation Commission, wrote a blog post on Feb. 14. He is from the Ojibway Nation. NDP Leah Gazan (Winnipeg Centre, Man.) “Frankly, given Canada’s intran- communities spoke in the House on Feb. 18, 2020. sigence, and the rising sense of in- She is a member of the Wood justice felt by Indigenous leadership Mountain Lakota First Nation in throughout the country, I do not like Saskatchewan. where this is heading.” over questions “Human rights are not a parti- san issue. Human rights are human rights. Every day, I have to sit in this House and listen to my fundamental Pam Palmater is the chair of Indigenous gover- Indigenous human rights, and the nance at Ryerson University. She is a Mi’kmaw of authority, fundamental Indigenous human rights of Indig- citizen and a member of the Eel River Bar First enous people across this country, be up for debate. Nation in N.B. She wrote about the issue in the I don’t know any other group in this country that Canadian Dimensions magazine on April 24, 2019. has to be satisfi ed with incremental justice of ba- “Canada has a long history of sic minimum human rights in this country.” breaching the rule of law when say experts it comes to First Nations. In the NDP MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq (Nunavut) also spoke Wet’suwet’en case, Canada has in the House on Feb. 18, 2020. She is an Inuit MP. prioritized the extraction interests of territory.” Mr. Ouellette said the “What we are seeing across this a corporation over the constitution- ‘We have to move UN Declaration on the Rights of country is not just about one re- ally protected rights of a sovereign Indigenous Peoples, or UNDRIP, source project. This is about genera- Aboriginal Nation. This is a clear beyond public would allow communities to peel tions of underfunding, broken prom- violation of the law. The Wet’suwet’en right to oc- themselves away from the Indian ises, and broken treaties. The federal cupy and protect their territory is an internation- platitudes and Act and provide an “endpoint” in de- government has backed Indigenous ally recognized human rights norm, now refl ected eloquent statements; ciding their governance structures. peoples into a corner. Food, water, in UNDRIP. Article 8 provides the right of Indige- In his Throne Speech, Prime Min- safe housing, and infrastructure are nous peoples not to be subjected to the destruction we need a reality ister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) fundamental human rights that the federal gov- of their culture— something that would naturally promised to revive legislation within ernment has promised us and continues to deny come from destruction of their lands and waters whereby Indigenous a year of his fi rst mandate that would us. The anger around Wet’suwet’en territories with a pipeline.” implement those rights, with the is about the failed policies that have let Indig- law and institutions intention of harmonizing Canada’s enous peoples down. The federal government has Molly Wickham is a spokesperson of the are placed on the laws with Indigenous rights. ignored or threatened our well-being and our Gidimt’en Clan of the Wet’suwet’en Nation. She “What needs to happen in this very existence as Indigenous peoples. How can spoke to APTN News in a video shared on Feb. 19. same level as common case is communities need to come we talk about reconciliation when the federal “We are not in a position that we’re together and decide what their government has stolen our lands, slaughtered our wanting to fi ght with our own people. law,’ says Grand Chief own functioning government looks sled dogs, refused us our rights and continues to We understand and include all of our like,” Mr. Ouellette said. “This is not give us impossible choices?” people, whether they’re pro-pipeline Stewart Phillip on something the federal government or against the pipeline, members of can do for them, not something the Independent MP Jody Wilson-Raybould our clans, they’re people that we love, reconciliation. provincial government can do for (Vancouver Granville, B.C.) is a member they’re family members. We know that them. … This is a decision for each Continued from page 1 of the We Wai Kai Nation, in B.C. She spoke the hereditary system is our true gov- and every nation.” to Global News’ The West Block on Feb. 16. ernance system and that’s what we’re going to be hereditary chiefs and elected band Over the past two weeks, the situ- “This situation that we’re seeing going by, and that’s what we follow, and that’s what councils, say experts, but requires ation has led to a wave of blockades in Wet’suwet’en territory, as we’ve we’re trying to strengthen and want recognized. Of governments to “make space” to in solidarity with the hereditary seen in other territories around major course there’s going to be some people that want allow communities to determine chiefs, including one involving some resource development projects, are the jobs, and they think that that’s the best way to who ultimately speaks for them. members of the Tyendinaga First going to continue to happen until we move forward, and that’s their own opinion, but it’s Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs Nation, that have crippled major address the fundamental underly- not the opinion of the inherent governance system and the 20 elected band councils railways and left goods and supplies ing reality and of the inherent right of the Wet’suwet’en people.” have been at loggerheads over the stranded, paralyzing parts of the of self-government of Indigenous 670-kilometre $6.6-billion Coastal economy and prompting layoffs at Peoples, and ensure that Indigenous Peoples can Ellen Gabriel was an offi cial spokesperson GasLink pipeline in B.C. that would Via Rail and, temporarily, at CN Rail. fi nally make their way and see themselves in our for the 1990 Oka Crisis. She is of Mohawk move natural gas within the province The company at the centre of constitutional framework.” descent, and spoke to CBC News on Feb. 14. from northeastern B.C. to a planned the dispute, along with federal Con- She also spoke to CTV’s Power Play on Feb. 18. “Over the last 30 years that LNG export facility in Kitimat. The servatives, have leaned on the sup- “This a fundamental issue that is facing our I’ve been doing this, nothing has clan chiefs oppose the route that cuts port the project received from band country. It has been facing our country since we changed in the attitude of govern- through their traditional, unceded councils to assert they have the became a country. It’s one of the reasons why I got ment. They are not respecting the territory, and proposed an alternate consent needed to move forward. involved in politics.” rights of Indigenous people. … We route that the company rejected, cit- Since the blockades have She spoke in the House on Feb. 18. are the ones that are being, and this ing cost overruns and environmental emerged, Mr. Trudeau has repeat- “Some two years ago the prime minister stood is a generous word to call it, incon- concerns. It’s led to a standoff be- edly called for patience in fi nding a in the House and committed to the recognition venienced. We are the ones that tween the RCMP and the hereditary peaceful resolution to the blockades, and implementation of Indigenous title and rights have no potable water, the ones being squeezed chiefs after offi cers moved in to arrest while resisting calls from the Conser- in legislation. That long-overdue work has not onto tiny pieces of land …” demonstrators who have set up camp vatives for the police to intervene. happened, and we continue to see the challenges “Indigenous law prevails over Canadian on the pipeline worksite. The chiefs But he took a tougher tone on across the country due to that inaction.” constitution law because we have never sur- have said the blockades will not come Feb. 21, two weeks into the stale- rendered our law; this is what inherent right down until the RCMP leave. mate, saying the blockades should Liberal MP Jaime Battiste (Sydney-Victoria, N.S.) means. It means the right to protect your land, Former Liberal MP Robert- come down. spoke in the House on Feb. 18. He is a member pre-contact.” Falcon Ouellette said the dispute Speaking to reporters in Ottawa of the Potlotek First Nation in N.S. “This is not about a rule of law that is fl awed, boils down to a question over who at the National Press Theatre, he “I was a protester, or a land protector, as my col- it’s about land dispossession, the theft of our is the “legal and moral authority of said, “Here’s the reality. Every at- leagues have reminded me. I too was out there on lands.” Indigenous people in Wet’suwet’en tempt at dialogue has been made, THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 29 Wet’suwet’en protest News

Demonstrators in Ottawa took to the streets on Feb. First Nations leaders 7, 2020, in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en call for peace, calm hereditary chiefs, Mike Kanentakeron Mitchell demanding Former grand chief and elder, Mohawk territory of Akwesasne the RCMP pull Mike Mitchell was the grand chief of the back from the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne in 1984 and First Nation’s had served almost continuously in that role territory. The until his retirement in 2015. He was also an Hill Times infl uential First Nations fi lmmaker and co- photograph by produced the documentary fi lm on Indige- Andrew Meade nous border crossings in 1969 titled, You Are On indian Land. “We’re at the crossroads and we must invoke the message of the peacemaker if we’re both going to have lasting peace, security, and wellness in our communities. And that goes both ways. For the people in Canada, just beginning to learn, I’m well aware there’s a lot of hatred in this country. It’s directed at First Nations. We’ve got a lot of work to do. We can react or we can sit down and consult with one and other based on that message of peace left by the peacemaker.”

legislation fi rst, and consult second.” “We have to move beyond public Perry Bellegarde Continued from page 28 Such legislation, she added, platitudes and eloquent statements National chief, Assembly of First Nations and discussions haven’t been pro- “can provide guidance” on the “rec- [on reconciliation]; we need a reality Perry Bellegarde was elected on Dec. 10, 2014, ductive. We have no choice but to ognition that Indigenous peoples whereby Indigenous law and institu- and re-elected on July 25, 2018. Before this posi- stop making the same overtures.” have the right to give consent to tions are placed on the same level as tion, he was chief of the Federation of Saskatche- He said the “onus” now falls on In- development. The fact that some common law,” Mr. Phillip said. wan Indian Nations and Saskatchewan Regional digenous leadership to convince their band councils and First Nations Similar legislation had been Chief for the Assembly of First Nations. communities to lift the blockades. have agreed has no bearing on the sponsored by then-NDP MP Romeo “The Wet’suwet’en peoples have asked that “I’m hopeful Indigenous leadership, decision of another First Nation Saganash, but died on the Order they be given space for their own internal over the coming hours and day, will to support or withhold consent Paper in the Senate’s hands. While dialogue and ceremonies to be held. They told see that in order to continue on this on this project. We have to look at proponents say that it would ensure me they want to create their own approach to important path, the barricades need each First Nation on their own.” buy-in from Indigenous communities formalize discussions with the federal provin- to come down.” At the same time, he Naomi Sayers, Indigenous law- and curtail legal disputes, Conserva- cial governments, the Crown, and they need to be given that time.” said, the government’s resolve to pur- yer from the Garden River First Na- tives have opposed the legislation, sue reconciliation has not wavered. tion, said UNDRIP would reaffi rm arguing the provision “free, prior, and Joseph Norton Wet’suwet’en hereditary Chief that “the scope on which parties, informed consent” would open the Grand chief of the Mohawks of Kahnawake Woos of the Grizzly House, speak- states, or corporations might have door for Indigenous people to veto Joseph Norton has been the grand chief ing at a press conference, said there to consult with Indigenous groups is resource projects. of the Mohawks of Kahnawáke, near Oka, hasn’t been a good-faith effort on the much broader than the Indian Act.” Mr. Ouellette said he thinks it’s Que., since 2015 and before that he was the RCMP to retreat. He added there’s Ms. Sayers said UNDRIP doesn’t unlikely that UNDRIP will pass in grand chief for 26 years, from 1978 and 2004, been an increased level of harassment make a distinction in recognizing a minority Parliament, despite the including during the Oka crisis in 1990. and surveillance. “This is completely the legitimacy of elected band coun- Liberal government’s promise. “We know what it is to be imposed on, unacceptable, and far from an assur- cils over hereditary chiefs, instead “The longer the blockades carry you know? And our brothers and sisters in ance of good faith,” he said, following leaving it up to Indigenous commu- on, the more ammunition it gives Wet’suwet’en Territory out in B.C. are suffer- the prime minister’s presser. nities to settle those questions. the opponents, and this is what ing the same circumstances,” Mr. Norton said. On Feb. 20, the prime minister “UNDRIP says the state must we are headed for in the future of “The warmongers out there who are quick held a call with premiers to update consult in good faith with repre- UNDRIP legislation,” he said. to pull the pin and throw the bomb should them on Ottawa’s efforts to broker sentative institutions of Indigenous Prof. Gunn said even without think about what’s happened in the last little while,” Mr. Norton a peaceful resolution, pointing to peoples. It doesn’t say of Indigenous UNDRIP, a landmark court ruling said, referring to the 1990 Oka crisis and Ipperwash. his decision to dispatch Crown- band councils or chief in council. in 1997 set the precedent for recog- Indigenous Relations Minister We see those terms used in legisla- nizing Aboriginal title to unceded Donald Maracle Carolyn Bennett’s (Toronto-St. tion elsewhere in Canada,” she said, land. The case was fought for by Grand chief of Tyendinaga Mohawk Council Paul’s, Ont.) to meet with heredi- pointing to Bill C-69, which, in creat- the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs Donald Maracle is grand chief of the Tyen- tary chiefs when they’re willing ing the Canadian Energy Regulator, and the Gitxsan First Nation. dinaga Mohawk Council, located in the Bay and the RCMP’s conditional offer gave it the power to oversee the “It is frustrating to see the failure of Quinte, where he has held this position to pull back from Wet’suwet’en development of energy projects. of the federal and provincial govern- since 1991. territory. The RCMP’s offer hinges Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, of ments to recognize the authority “The Indigenous Nation of Wet’suwet’en nev- on demonstrators agreeing not to the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, of the hereditary chiefs, especially er ceded or surrendered that land, so they have obstruct the road that Coastal Gas- said UNDRIP would provide clar- when it was the hereditary chiefs the right to make a decision about development Link needs to access the worksite, ity, but is “meaningless” unless who brought the Aboriginal titles that’s going to be on their land. So that’s why this according to National Observer. the government follows through claim that led to the Delgamuuk conversation needs to happen with the traditional He is set to address the press on on its application, pointing to the decision,” she said. “The courts have chiefs there to fi nd out what it is they want.” Friday afternoon after convening a situation unfolding in B.C., which recognized the legitimacy of the meeting with relevant ministers to passed its own UNDRIP legisla- hereditary chiefs to assert Aboriginal Serge Otsi Simon discuss the blockades. tion, Bill 41, in late November. title claims, and so it’s frustrating to Grand chief of the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake “We were in the B.C. legislature see any government take any step Serge Otsi Simon has been the grand on the fl oor; we celebrated a special that further divides communities.” chief of the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake ‘We’re no further moment in the history B.C., and there Ms. Sayers said this situation since 2015, an area located near Oka, Que. ahead,’ says B.C. chief were a lot of speeches made on the marks a “turning point,” and should He was recently locked out of his offi ce Amid the blockades, the govern- path forward, and the means and signal to companies to assess their after suggesting that the blockades should ment postponed introducing legisla- mechanism of reconciliation,” Mr. engagement with Indigenous peoples. come down, even temporarily. He has since tion on UNDRIP, which was set to Phillip said. “But in a matter of days “Other corporations should be retracted that statement. happen earlier this week, according later, we had Premier [John] Horgan paying attention to this matter, “We’ve said it before. Industry has no prob- to CBC. A spokesperson for Justice stating unequivocally the Coastal looking at their policies and how lem throwing a billion here and a billion there Minister David Lametti reiterated in GasLink pipeline would go through. they manage their projects,” she whenever it suits their purpose; but it seems to an email the government’s timeline … We’re no further ahead than we said. “There’s a diversity of opin- me that when it’s to accommodate a First Na- in the Throne Speech, saying, “we will would be with such legislation.” ions in Indigenous communities. tion, in any particular issue, it costs too much,” said Mr. Simon. be moving forward with it shortly.” Mr. Phillip said he was “some- How do we make sure people are “Have you made your point yet? Has the government and the Brenda Gunn, a law professor what shocked” to hear the feds were heard? People don’t feel heard.” industry understood? I think they did,” he said. at Robson Hall at the University of preparing to table the UNDRIP bill, All 10 Indigenous MPs, along “The next one might last longer. It might not be the rails. Manitoba, said she was disappointed saying that he and other members of with Indigenous Senators, reached It might be something else, because it’s the only thing that we the government appears to have cho- his community hadn’t seen the bill, for comment were either unavail- have, the only weapon that we have to have our rights recog- sen to retreat at this time. “I think what despite a commitment by Mr. Lamet- able, or, in some cases, requests nized and affi rmed. It’s a damn shame we have to resort to that the situation warrants is more action, ti that it would be “co-developed.” The were not returned. type of action in a country that wants to reconcile.” With fi les from Palak Mangat The First Nations leaders held a press conference at the not less action,” Prof. Gunn said. “But minister’s offi ce said Mr. Lametti — [email protected] National Press Theatre on Feb. 18 in Ottawa. —Compiled by I do understand if the government is continues to meet with Indigenous The Hill Times David Lochead rethinking a strategy where they draft communities on this matter. 30 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News NAFTA 2.0 Downe calls for Parliament to have power to amend new NAFTA, Liberals pledge to share NDP MP Daniel Blaikie, left, and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, middle, have agreed on changes to the way trade bills will be tabled in the House of Commons, while CSG Senator Percy Downe, right, is calling for the ability to add objectives of amendments to the new NATFA. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and photograph courtesy of Jean-Marc Carisse process with a simple “up or down As fi rst reported by The Cana- committees to study certain vote.” In a “fast-track” process, dian Press, Deputy Prime Minister clauses of Bill C-4 and the clause- amendments can’t be attached to Chrystia Freeland (Univeristy- by-clause review of the bill to be future trade the bill, nor can it be fi libustered, Rosedale, Ont.) told Mr. Blaikie in completed by the House Trade but changes can be made to the a Feb. 19 letter that the government Committee by the end of the day implementing legislation before will table in the House a motion on Feb. 28. it is introduced in the House of of intent 90 days before entering talks with House Representatives. into any future trade negotiations, Senate Foreign In Canada, trade deals are un- and table Canada’s objectives for der the jurisdiction of the execu- the negotiations 30 days before the Aff airs and International America. It was previously agreed tive branch and only require that talks begin. Both would be referred Trade Committee to ‘The precedent that 70 per cent of steel and alumi- Parliament amend domestic laws to the House Committee on Inter- has been set,’ says num used in auto manufacturing in order for it to align with the national Trade. pre-study Bill C-4 had to come from North America new trade agreement. “Often, we have governments Prior to committees being Senator Percy Downe Despite previously saying the “Obviously if you modify it you go into trade negotiations without formed in the Senate, the Red Canadian government wouldn’t have to go back to the other two much clarity in terms of what it is Chamber agreed to form the of Parliamentarians reopen the trade agreement, it parties,” Sen. Dawson said, “and if that they’re seeking in that agree- Committee on Foreign Affairs and signed onto the United States’ they don’t agree with the modifi - ment,” Mr. Blaikie told reporters International Trade to hold a pre- being able to modify changes hours after the deal be- cations you’re back to zero.” on Feb. 18. “So it’s hard to hold study of the new NAFTA while it tween the House Democrats and He added there has been a lot people to account for what they moves through the House. trade agreements, the White House was announced. of work done to fi nalize the new said they would do if they’re not The committee will have the following changes “The precedent has been set,” NATFA and that he is hoping the obligated to actually say what same composition of the previ- Sen. Downe said. “I don’t know deal will be ratifi ed in the “next they’re trying to do.” ous Parliament with Conservative made to the new why Canadians would be treated few weeks.” Ms. Freeland also wrote in the Senate Leader Don Plett (Land- differently.” International trade lawyer letter that an economic impact as- mark, Man.) replacing previous NAFTA by U.S. House “It would be a decision of the Lawrence Herman told the House sessment would have to be tabled committee chair Raynell Andrey- executive to entertain amend- Committee on International Trade at the same time as a trade deal’s chuk, who retired last August. Democrats. ments [and] go back to the other on Feb. 20 that if amendments implementation bill is introduced “We want to give people the parties of the agreement and see were made, it would be mean that in the House. The Conservatives opportunity if they have not been if they would accept them.” Canada could not ratify the deal. have been pushing to see an as- heard in another venue that the Continued from page 1 Sen. Downe added that he “This would be, in my view, an sessment before the House Trade Senate can hear them over the of Democrats in the U.S. House of didn’t know if he would pro- enormous setback for the coun- Committee fi nishes its study on next few weeks,” said Sen. Daw- Representatives to alter the new pose amendments as he has yet try, and in fact would be without Bill C-4, the bill to implement the son, a member of the committee. NAFTA has set a precedent for Cana- to study the agreement, but he precedent. There has never been an Canada-United States-Mexico Sen. Downe said that often trade dian Parliamentarians to have similar wanted the option if needed. instance in Canadian history where Agreement (CUSMA). bills are rushed through the Senate. power to modify the trade agreement. Senator Marc Gold (Stad- Parliament has refused to approve New NAFTA chief negotiator “Often the House of Commons “Why would we be treated as acona, Que.), the government’s a trade agreement and to pass the Steve Verheul told the committee is late sending us legislation,” second class, that we simply have representative in the Senate, said necessary legislation,” he said. on Feb. 5 that an economic as- he said. “In their opinion, [there to accept whatever is given to us, in the Red Chamber on Feb. 18 Canada is the only party of sessment for the trade bill would is] an urgency about it. We hear and other countries can make that it is not the government’s po- the trade deal yet to ratify it. be completed in the “very near about this [for] all trade legis- amendments?” Sen. Downe told sition that “it would be wise to try Once Canada signs on, it starts future” and that he was “fairly lation that it has to be passed The Hill Times. to reopen negotiations with either a legislative process that ends in confi dent” the committee would straight away and there can be no Following the conclusion of Mexico or the United States.” a 90-day countdown towards the see it before their study ends. As delays,” he said. “The reality is the more than 15 months of tumultu- At the request of Sen. Downe, new NAFTA coming into force. of publication deadline, the study purpose of the Senate is to care- ous renegotiations of the original Sen. Gold said he would follow- had not been completed. fully review all legislation and try North American free trade pact, up with the government to see if Feds to table trade Last April, an economic as- to avoid mistakes.” the Trump administration and amendments would be accepted. sessment was performed by the Others like Senator Diane U.S. House Democrats negotiated Sen. Gold’s offi ce said it was pre- talk objectives before U.S. International Trade Commis- Griffi n (P.E.I.), a member of the among themselves for more than mature to comment on amendments entering into future sion, which found that the deal Canadian Senators Group, wants a year before the two sides agreed as none have yet been proposed. would create slight economic the Senate Agriculture Commit- on implementing legislation for Non-affl iated Senator Dennis trade negotiations growth for the United States. tee—which she chaired in the last the trade pact, which was intro- Dawson (Lauzon, Que.) told The Hill The government has agreed to With the NDP’s support, the Parliament—to study the bill. duced and passed by the House of Times that unlike in the American change the way trade deals are Liberals on the committee voted Sen. Downe said given the Representatives last December. system, the Canadian Senate has tabled in the House of Commons, against a Conservative motion complexity of Bill C-4, it is Democrats fought for changes never amended trade agreements. in order to get support from the to have Bill C-4 studied by six “probably a good thing” to have on environmental and labour “We have not in the past NDP for the ratifi cation of the additional House committees and multiple committees study it. provisions, and in the end secured amended trade agreements. We new NAFTA. to report back by April 2 at the But Sen. Dawson disagreed stronger dispute resolution agree- have either rejected them or we The NDP and its interna- latest, and nixed a Conservative with the idea, saying there isn’t a ments; greater environmental have accepted them. We did not tional trade critic Daniel Blaikie amendment on that motion to need for any other committee to protections; and restored intellec- modify them,” Sen. Dawson said. (Elmwood-Transcona, Man.) have have three other House commit- deal with the trade bill. tual property for biologic drugs to Under the U.S. system, trade said Canada shouldn’t be relying tees study the bill and report back “The proven qualifi cations of eight years, down from the agreed agreements are negotiated using on U.S. lawmakers to improve by March 12 at the latest. the Foreign Affairs Committee on upon increase to 10 years; as well trade promotion authority, which trade agreements, and Canadian In the end, a Liberal motion these issues is proof enough that a change in the the use of steel in allows the White House to negoti- lawmakers should have the same passed with Conservative and it’s worked in the past,” he said. auto production which required it ate trade treaties, and gives Con- powers over those agreements as Bloc Quebecois opposition paving [email protected] to be “melted and poured” in North gress the ability to “fast-track” the their peers. the way for three other House The Hill Times

32 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion

in North America.” A 2019 joint federal-provincial panel review Teck mine would be devastating to confi rmed the obvious: the mine is likely to result in “irreversible” impacts on the envi- ronment and “signifi cant adverse effects” on Indigenous peoples. Yet somehow the panel globally signifi cant protected area concluded that the project would be in the public interest. This is nonsense. And here’s why: Wood Buffalo isn’t just signifi cant The proposed Teck project been said about the message an approval nationally; it’s a global treasure. The park would send, given the lack of consistency includes most of the 390,000-hectare would be Alberta’s largest with Canada’s international climate change Peace-Athabasca Delta, which has been open-pit oilsands mine. At commitments. But we also need to consider recognized as a “Wetland of International the shocking risks the mine would present Signifi cance” by the International Conven- 29,000 hectares, this colossal to Wood Buffalo National Park—a globally tion on Wetlands. signifi cant nature treasure. Also, threatened species rely on the mine would cover more than The proposed Teck project would be protected habitat offered by the park. A Alberta’s largest open-pit oilsands mine. At crucial element of the international wet- twice the area of the City of 29,000 hectares, this colossal mine would Graham Saul lands designation is due to the importance Vancouver. And it would be cover more than twice the area of the City of native waterbirds—including the last re- Opinion of Vancouver. And it would be located just maining wild population of highly endan- located just 30 kilometres up 30 kilometres up the Athabasca River from gered migratory whooping crane—that call Wood Buffalo—one of only 10 of Canada’s it home. Wood bison, caribou and lynx—all the Athabasca River from TTAWA—Canadians are holding their natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites. of which are threatened species—are also Wood Buffalo—one of only 10 Ocollective breaths as the government When describing Wood Buffalo, Wood Buffalo residents and are likely to decides whether or not to approve the UNESCO calls it “an outstanding example face habitat challenges. of Canada’s natural UNESCO $20-billion Teck Resources Frontier oilsands of ongoing ecological and biological pro- As confi rmed by the review panel, we’re mine project, proposed by resource extrac- cesses encompassing some of the largest looking at almost two centuries of species World Heritage Sites. tion giant Teck Resources. Much has already undisturbed grass and sedge meadows left habitat loss. Teck’s tailings ponds—like other oilsands tailing ponds—will be lethal to any birds who make the mistake of land- ing on them. In its review, the panel found that there “may be a loss of habitat for many species…including species at risk, for at least 100 years following closure in 2081.” Indigenous communities have grave concerns about adding yet another oilsands project near the Athabasca River. After all, Indigenous groups depend upon the lands and the big rivers that fl ow through them to maintain their ways of life. The Athabasca has already been heavily polluted in recent decades by 150 oilsands projects and associ- ated toxic tailings ponds covering 25,000 hectares. These threats to Wood Buffalo were so grave that in December 2014, the Mikisew First Nation petitioned UNESCO to in- scribe the park on its List of World Heritage in Danger. UNESCO has not yet decided on its inclusion, but last year issued a stern warning to Canada that swift action is required to stop the degradation caused by oilsands mines along the Athabasca River as well as hydro- electric projects on the Peace River. The federal government acknowledges that already “climate change and exter- nal development pressures are seriously impacting” Wood Buffalo to which Parks Canada responded with a strategic envi- ronmental assessment and an action plan. In 2018, the government set aside a mere $27.5-million in funding over fi ve years to support the plan and early implementation. These modest commitments are nowhere near suffi cient to ameliorate the additional harm that would arise if this new mine were approved. Approving this project would make no sense for this government, which has made clear its commitment to the environment. They have committed to economic growth that takes into account Canadians’ deep interest in protecting nature and address- ing climate change. They have promised to expand protected areas to 25 per cent of land, fresh water and ocean territory by 2025 and championed a goal of 30 per cent protection by 2030. Protection must mean protection. There is no sense in creating protected areas for threatened species and safeguard- ing water and forests for all Canadians if massive toxic projects can be developed adjacent. We owe it to our grandchildren and to the planet to safeguard nature. Our very future is at stake. Turning down this Teck mine project is the right thing to do and will show that the federal government is serious about tackling climate change and species loss— the twin existential environmental crises of our time. Graham Saul is executive director of Nature Canada. The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 33 Public Service News

“So it’s a bit in the eye of the beholder,” be asking employees as well whether or not said Mr. Borbey. “Obviously, if you’re an they believe that job opportunities are well Public Service employee who was hoping for a promotion communicated in their organization, and Commission President and didn’t get it, then you might question whether they feel they are being kept well- Patrick Borbey as to whether the process was fair, trans- informed by their hiring managers regard- says that according parent and led to merit.” ing staffi ng decisions.” to survey results, “But one of the things that we’ve we Mr. Borbey also noted that the govern- managers had a very did a little bit more digging on is to make ment uses investigations as a way to pro- different perspective a link between employees’ perception and vide the commission with a sense of how on the complexity of managers being comfortable in terms of satisfi ed or unsatisfi ed people are with the the staffi ng system applying the fl exibilities of the new regime staffi ng system. than employees, and communicating both their intentions “Notwithstanding the important chang- ‘because they felt as well as the results to employees,” said es we made to the system a couple of years that by and large, the Mr. Borbey. “And we did see a certain ago, we haven’t seen a big bump in terms people that they were correlation—those departments where of the number of cases that are referred to hiring did meet the managers seem to be more comfortable us with allegations that either managers or requirements of the with the change, and perhaps could speak individuals committed fraud or mistakes or position.’ The Hill more completely about their intentions and other issues related to the staffi ng system,” Times photograph by the justifi cations behind their results, their said Mr. Borbey. “We’re monitoring those Andrew Meade departments had higher levels of satisfac- results as well to make sure that again, we tion on the part of employees.” make whatever changes we can if we’re Mr. Borbey said he thinks it’s a question seeing any trends from an investigations of a transition within the system, as well perspective.” as providing the right tools to mangers to be able to properly plan and communicate Perception of staffi ng fairness their intentions and decisions around staffi ng. highest in Northern regions “The other thing that we wanted to According to the SNPS, managers who check is whether there was, in fact, a indicated that the administrative process change in terms of merit being applied in to staff positions in their organizations is staffi ng processes,” said Mr. Borbey, which burdensome was highest in both Quebec prompted a system-wide compliance audit (excluding the National Capital Region) and following the survey. in British Columbia, at 92 per cent each. “The results that we got were extremely However, 62 per cent of managers in the high,” said Mr. Borbey. “[There] was a 95 National Capital Region (NCR) and in Que- plus per cent compliance rate, and in those bec (excluding the NCR) indicated that the cases where there was not compliance with NDS has improved staffi ng in their organi- merit, at the end of the day, we’re down zation, with managers in British Columbia Public service hiring to errors of interpretation on the part of coming in at the low end at 43 per cent. managers, particularly when it came to In terms of fairness, employees in applying preference for Canadian citizens Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the or for veterans. Yukon, 58 per cent of employees surveyed “And so we felt that that was a pretty indicated that staffi ng activities are con- up, but report fi nds ducted fairly in their work unit, compared good result that indicated that, notwith- standing the perceptions, merit is being to 37 per cent in Ontario (excluding the preserved across the system.” NCR)—and 46 per cent public service-wide. Mr. Borbey manager, employee said the govern- ment will be conducting their next round of concerns around feds’ surveys in the spring, and said they’ve taken steps to modify the survey to bet- new staffi ng process ter capture more information that will be valuable job, and only 46.4 per cent of employees for future plan- A recent government viewed staffi ng as fair. ning. survey found that “We weren’t surprised that the results Stan Lee, were a little bit lower than we would want vice-president although just under 92 them to be, said Patrick Borbey, president of oversight and of the Public Service Commission in an investigations per cent of public service interview with The Hill Times.“There was with the public a lot of change in the system and there service commis- managers believe that was still a fair amount of confusion or sion, said one of adjusting to the new reality, both on the the things they appointees can do the part of employees, as well as on the part of observed in the Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos, pictured arriving to Rideau Hall job they were hired for, managers.” previous survey, on Nov. 20, 2019, for the swearing in of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s The New Direction in Staffi ng (NDS) was that there cabinet. Mr. Duclos was tasked with ‘working with the Public Service just under 54 per cent of was introduced in 2016, which the govern- was an asso- Commission to reduce the time it takes to hire new public servants, with ment called “the most signifi cant change to ciation between the goal of cutting in half the average time from ten to fi ve months,’ in his employees agreed. the staffi ng system we have seen in over 10 organizations mandate letter. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade years.” that had hiring Designed to promote more variety in managers who understood NDS and the According to the commission’s report, Continued from page 1 the hiring processes, “agile approaches” to perception of fairness.” as of March 31, 2019, hiring in all regions managers and employees around a new staffi ng and policies, allow for more room “So an organization that has hiring man- outside of the National Capital Region staffi ng policy—as well as perceptions of for managers to apply their own judgment agers that understand the new direction in combined increased by 6.2 per cent, and fairness around hiring. when staffi ng, as well as “increase focus on staffi ng really well generally have employ- the total population (indeterminate, term, The Public Service Commission tabled outcomes, including the quality of the per- ees who have a higher perception of merit casual and student) was up across all re- its 2018-19 annual report on Feb. 6, which son hired, and less on process,” the report in the staffi ng system,” said Mr. Lee. “We gions except Nunavut. found that hiring was up 4.6 per cent highlights how the NDS reduces times to were interested by this, so we added an ad- Despite this growth, according to the re- across the public service with close to staff, makes it easier for candidates to fi nd ditional question to employees, as well as to port, the regional population as a percent- 60,000 hires in the fi scal year. Slightly public service jobs, as well as modernizing hiring managers, and one of the questions age of the workforce has been in decline, more than 8,000 of those hires were from recruitment tools like GC Jobs. we want to ask hiring managers, is whether from 56 per cent fi ve years ago to 53 per the federal student work experience pro- “As you can see in the results, managers they feel comfortable explaining their staff- cent in 2018-19. gram, with slightly less than 5,400 from the continue to think that the staffi ng system ing decisions to their employees.” In 2018–19, 69.1 per cent of all external post-secondary co-op/internship program. is too complicated, too lengthy,” said Mr. “The reason why we’re adding this, is indeterminate and term hires from adver- But the report also found that according Borbey. “However, when it comes to merit, because hiring managers who have a poor tised processes were of applicants from to a “staffi ng and non-partisanship” sur- managers had a very different perspective understanding of NDS may have diffi culties outside the National Capital Region. This vey (SNPS), 87.9 per cent of managers fi nd on the issue than employees, because they explaining their staffi ng decision to employ- share has been steadily decreasing since a new staffi ng policy framework “burden- felt that by and large, the people that they ees, and employees walk away unsatisfi ed 2013–14, when it was 79 per cent. some,” that only 53.8 per cent of employees were hiring did meet the requirements of or dissatisfi ed with the answers that they’ve [email protected] say people hired in their unit can do their the position.” been provided,” said Mr. Lee. “We’re going to The Hill Times 34 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Book Excerpt

in-depth knowledge of Indigenous for the Métis people was inevitable. culture, ways, and traditions, Potts Indigenous peoples were up against had a profound effect on the pace overwhelming odds. Their way of Interpreters built and direction of development in life was becoming unsustainable. Western Canada at the time. Potts’ people would have to partly Potts spoke many languages abandon their traditions to live including English, Sioux and the like settlers, farming the land and many dialects of the Blackfoot na- raising cattle. It was profoundly bridges between First tion. He knew the territory like the humiliating for such proud warriors back of his hand. to undertake what And, because had been thought of he was on such until then as women’s Nations and newcomers good terms with work. the chiefs of the thThroughout the Blackfoot tribe, 19 century, colonial- Les interprètes au pays du anada’s history is an epic of also hunters, guides, teachers, he was able to ists devised policies to Cmanifold encounters between civil servants, soldiers, missionar- explain the details assimilate the Indig- Castor relates the gripping Indigenous peoples living on a ies’ helpers and fur traders. of Treaty 7 and enous peoples or, at and thought-provoking vast continent of forests laced They were of diverse origin: reluctantly advise very least, keep them with lakes and rivers, and bold American, British, Canadian, them to sign it. out of sight by confi n- stories of the people who adventurers who had crossed the French, Indigenous, and Inuit. Potts was a prag- ing them to reserves. were among Canada’s Atlantic to explore a new world. Among them were English speak- matist. He saw the This attack on their It is at the crossroads of race, ers, French speakers. treaty as the lesser traditional ways of life fi rst interpreters. This peoples, and civilizations that of two evils. brought great suffer- collection of in-depth Canada was born. Jerry Potts, interpreter Potts’ infl uence ing to the peoples of From the very beginning of extended beyond the First Nations who, portraits casts new light this incredible human adventure, for the North-West Alberta. For ex- Interprètes to this day, grapple on some 15 interpreters Indigenous, Métis, and white Mounted Police at the ample, he advised au pays du with its aftermath. interpreters turned their hand to the Blackfoot Truly, the past begets and their impact on the building bridges between First end of the 19th century chiefs to remain castor the future. Nations and newcomers. Soon after Jerry Potts—a Métis neutral during the Jean Delisle is a culture, politics and trade by Jean With the passing of time, inter- interpreter from Alberta—joined Red River Métis professor emeritus Delisle, PUL, of Canada, the ‘Land of the preters grew in number, becom- the fl edgling Mounted Police in uprising led by at the University of 365 pp., ing key players in the new social 1874, he began guiding most of Louis Riel. Ottawa and a fellow Beaver.’ $39.95. order. Fur traders paid them well, the important patrols, training Just imagine. of the Royal Society granting them special privileges scouts, and acting as the liaison If the Mounties of Canada. His book to retain their services. offi cer with Indigenous people. did not have Potts how the West will be launched on Thursday, Feb. By facilitating communication, Thanks to him, the small and un- might be different then and today. 27, at a wine and cheese reception interpreters fostered understand- derstaffed police force managed There is no way of telling, hosted by Senator Murray Sinclair ing that sometimes grew into to keep law and order while gain- given the many economic and which will take place at 1 Wel- alliances, mutual support, even ing the trust of the First Nations. sociopolitical factors coming into lington Street (room W110) from lasting friendships. What would have become of play in history. Still, Jerry Potts, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. This excerpt has These interpreters were com- Western Canada were it not for without a doubt, had a hand in been reprinted with permission. Jean Delisle mercial agents, conciliators, ad- Jerry Potts? fashioning the history of the West. Interprètes au pays du castor, by visers, diplomats, treaty negotia- Surely, with his fi rm grasp, the Sad though this made him, Potts Jean Delisle, PUL, 365 pp., $39.95. Books tors and peacemakers. Some were Mounted Police’s mission, and his was resigned to the fact that change The Hill Times

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pecially Conservative Party Leader always been the fact that they build fi nd it impossible to vote with the Andrew Scheer (Regina-Qu’Appelle, expectations that they can’t meet,” government in the face of its grow- Sask.), blasted the prime minister for said Mr. Nault, who lost his riding in ing unpopularity on a given issue. not being forceful enough in his ef- the last election to rookie Conserva- “It clearly is becoming a mo- forts to diffuse the situation. On Feb. tive MP Eric Melillo by a narrow ment in Canada where everyone’s 18, Mr. Trudeau met with opposi- margin of about four per cent of the paying attention,” said Mr. Lyle. tion leaders to discuss strategy and vote. “And that’s been frustrating for “If they [the Liberals] handle update them about the government’s Canadians simply because they ex- it wrong, if they create a situation efforts to resolve the situation, pected that, you know, governments in which the NDP and Bloc know but excluded Mr. Scheer (Regina- can [turn things around quickly] and that they can no longer support the Qu’Appelle, Sask.) from the meeting just do this right away. And obvi- Trudeau government and maintain because he didn’t like Mr. Scheer’s ously, that’s not going to happen.” their credibility with their own speech in the House. Kenora is one of the largest voters, then if the Tories move a “Mr. Scheer disqualifi ed himself ridings in the country geographi- motion non-confi dence, in a minor- from constructive discussion with cally and Indigenous people ity, the government is precarious, Prime Minister Justin his unacceptable speech earlier make up a signifi cant portion of and any big issue could topple the Trudeau, pictured on Feb. today,” Mr. Trudeau told reporters. the population. Mr. Nault said government,” Mr. Lyle said. 5, 2020, outside the While the Conservatives have that high expectations were one Mr. Lyle said this issue could be House Chamber. The prime been pushing the government to of the key reasons why he lost the politically damaging in swing rid- minister’s credibility is be more forceful to resolve the is- riding. He said he has not seen ings across the country, especially on the line with how he’s sue, Mr. Trudeau has said he wants any government in recent history in the GTA, which plays a key role handling the blockades and to address this issue by talking to do more for the community than in the outcome of every election. reconciliaiton. The Hill Times Indigenous leaders. In addition to what the Trudeau government did, The Liberals have to be careful photograph by Andrew Meade meeting with opposition leaders, but still the Liberals did not meet about the reaction by the “victims the prime minister has also held the expectations they had set. of the blockade,” such as people a conference call with premiers Mr. Nault also said there’s a lot running out of propane, workers to listen to their concerns and to of room for improvement in the who have been laid off, or people Trudeau’s handling update them on the government’s way the government communicates who had travel plans but were not efforts. Also, Indigenous Services with Indigenous people. He said able to proceed, he said. Minister Marc Miller (Ville-Marie- that during his time as minister, “This set of circumstances Le Sud-Ouest-Ile-des-Soeurs, then-prime minister Jean Chrétien, have the big risk to Trudeau. … of Wet’suwet’en Que.) has met with some First a former Indian Affairs minister Those people in the line of fi re Nations leader, and Crown-Indig- himself, advised him to provide will look at him and say, ‘He’s not enous Relations Minister Carolyn details about what the govern- up to the job.’” Bennett (Toronto-St. Paul’s, Ont.) ment wanted to achieve, and how, According to an Ipsos poll blockades critical have made it known that she’s whenever he dealt with people in released last week, 61 per cent of available to meet with Indigenous the Indigenous community. Canadians said that they disagreed leaders any time they want. On Feb. 13, Mr. Trudeau said, with the demonstrators disrupt- On Friday, Mr. Trudeau held a “We’re concerned with the rule ing the transportation system to his political press conference in Ottawa and of law and we need to make sure across the country, and 39 per cent expressed his frustration that the that those laws are followed” in said they agree with the protests, government tried for more than reference to the rail blockades. considering them justifi ed and two weeks to resolve the situation Mr. Nault said it would have been legitimate. The poll indicated that credibility, peacefully with the Wet’suwet’en better if the prime minister had Canadians between the age of 18- leadership but have not received a explained what that meant. 34, women, Quebecers, and Ontar- positive response. He warned that “Saying that and explaining it ians are more inclined to see these now the barricades must come down in detail is probably much more blockades as justifi ed. Canadians reconciliation, say or the police will have to intervene important than just making that aged 55 and over, men, and resi- to ensure that the injunctions are statement,” said Mr. Nault. He dents of Alberta, the Prairies, and obeyed. Mr. Trudeau however added said that he did not know what British Columbia are more likely to that the government would still be the statement means, and that it disagree with the protests. The poll former cabinet willing to negotiate with the Indig- would have been very helpful if showed that 60 per cent of Cana- enous leaders anytime they decide to the prime minister or his minis- dians are following these protests change their mind. ters had provided more details. closely. Also, 38 per cent of Canadi- In response, the hereditary chiefs “I couldn’t tell you [what this ans see these protests as a sign of held their own press conference means] unless you ask them. But healthy democracy and freedom of minister, pollsters demanding that before starting a expression, and 34 per cent see this [probably] what it means is that… dialogue with the government, they the courts….[and] the police forces as a sign of unhealthy democracy want the RCMP to leave, and all the have an obligation to fulfi ll what the and a declining rule of law. B.C. As of last week, the economic Coastal GasLink pipeline construc- rule of law entails. And that means The online poll of 1,300 Ca- ‘It clearly is becoming damage was estimated to be close tion activities to cease on their in every sense, so you can’t just sort nadians was conducted between to half a billion dollars and count- territory. They said there has been an of say, ‘Well, you know, we know Feb. 13-Feb. 17 and had a margin a moment in Canada ing. The blockades have disrupted increased level of harassment and that they’re not following the rule of error of plus or minus 3.2 per- commuter and freight train traffi c in surveillance on their unceded land, of law, and we’re just going to try centage points, 19 times out of 20. The Hill where everyone’s different regions across the country, adding they want the government to and fi nd a different way to do this.’ I In an interview with Times paying attention,’ says including Ontario, British Columbia, show respect to the community. don’t think that’s very helpful.” , Ipsos president Darrell Quebec, and Alberta. Meanwhile, Mr. Nault, a former Mr. Nault said that both the gov- Bricker agreed with Mr. Nault’s Innovative Research In the midst of ongoing tensions, fi ve-term Liberal MP who repre- ernment and the Indigenous com- opinion that the Trudeau govern- some Indigenous leaders have called sented the riding of Kenora, Ont., munity should settle their outstand- ment had set Canadians’ expecta- president Greg Lyle. for calm and to resolve the outstand- for about almost 19 years, on and ing issues by engaging in dialogue tions too high, and the government ing issues through negotiations. off, said the Trudeau government as Canadians across the country are will be judged based on that. He “We’re calling for calm, we’re has made a mistake by raising the suffering because of the economic said if the government fails to re- Continued from page 1 calling for creativity, and construc- public’s expectations too high about consequences of the blockade. solve this issue to the satisfaction “A lot of people will be question- tive dialogue,” National Chief of progress on reconciliation with In- Going forward, Mr. Nault sug- of most of Canadians, it could take ing his abilities as a leader to get the Assembly of First Nations digenous peoples and not delivering. gested that once this confl ict is a major political hit on its credibil- tough things done, the diffi cult Perry Bellegarde told reporters in That has now become a problem for resolved, the government should ity. At the same time, he said, if the fi les dealt with. And this is one of Ottawa on Feb. 18, at a joint press the government, said Mr. Nault. set up a non-partisan committee prime minister emerges success- those for sure.” conference with Mohawk lead- Canadians assumed that the consisting of experts to deal with ful, it will boost his credibility. The protests started early ers from Ontario and Quebec. He prime minister would change Indigenous issues. Mr. Bricker said the Liberals have this month in support of some of added that he has been reaching things around quickly and all the Mr. Nault declined to say if he to ensure that the crisis remains Wet’suwet’en First Nation’s heredi- out to Indigenous leaders and the wrongs done to the Indigenous would run in the next election, framed as an Indigenous affairs issue, tary chiefs who oppose the $6.6-bil- provincial and federal govern- community over the years would saying “you never say never.” and does not spin out of control to lion Coastal GasLink pipeline proj- ments to resolve the contentious be addressed, said Mr. Nault. That Pollster Greg Lyle of Innova- become a law and order issue. If that ect that would go through northern issues through negotiations. hasn’t happened, and, as a result, tive Research, meanwhile, said happened, the Conservatives would British Columbia. The disruption When these protests fi rst started, the government has not been suc- that the blockades are one of the have a clear advantage, he said. of rail traffi c as a result of these Mr. Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) was cessful in meeting the expectations issues at the top of Canadians’ “This is a very slippery ice,” protests has caused the cancella- on an international tour in Africa, of Canadians and the Indigenous minds and that they have the po- said Mr. Bricker. tion of Via and CN Railway routes the Middle East, and Europe seek- community, Mr. Nault said. tential to gain more prominence if “If you’re not able to manage an in different regions of the country, ing support for Canada’s bid to win Since becoming party leader they are not resolved quickly. issue that you put a high amount of causing economic disruption. The a seat on the UN Security Council. in 2013, Mr. Trudeau has made He said that Mr. Trudeau’s early priority on, and in particular, if this rail companies have said 1,500 tem- He returned to Canada on Friday, Indigenous reconciliation a top response was slow and the Liber- moves from being an issue about porary layoffs have resulted from Feb. 14, and was scheduled to start priority and a part of his brand. als have lost some ground, but the Indigenous rights to being one the blockades. The British Columbia a two-day to trip to the Caribbean Indigenous reconciliation is also damage so far appears unlikely about law and order where Conser- and Ontario provincial courts have early last week, but cancelled it to included in all cabinet ministers’ to be permanent. Mr. Lyle said vatives are stronger, it’s a problem granted injunctions allowing police handle the crisis at home. mandate letters as a top priority. that public opinion is even more for the government.” [email protected] to break up the blockades, result- With the House back in session “One of my biggest complaints important than usual in a minority The Hill Times ing in the arrest of several people in as of Feb. 18, opposition parties, es- about the Trudeau government has Parliament, as political allies may 36 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES CLASSIFIEDS

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Award winners and presenters at the eBay Canada Entrepreneur of the Year, hosted by Proof Strategies, awards at the Métropolitain Brasserie in Ottawa on Feb. 19, 2020. Domenic De Giogrio of IHL, NDP MP Lindsay Mathyssen, of the year Bloc MP Sébastien Lemire, Andrea Stairs of eBay Canada, Nan Xu of IHL Canada, Small Business, Trade, and Export Promotion Minister Mary Ng, Johann and Jessica Oman of Storage Warriors, 2016 award winner Adrien Lavoie, and Conservative MP James Cumming. It was the 15th anniversary materials. In 2017, the company used their partnership with UPS Canada to of the event, and the offer free-expedited shipping to help Puerto Rico rebuild after Hurricane Irma seventh year eBay devastated the island. Minister of Small Business, partnered with Proof. When Ms. Stairs introduced Ms. Ma- Export Promotion, and thyssen, the former had to offer a small International Trade Mary Ng Tory MP James Cumming, his Proof Strategies’ Amy Bonwick and NDP MP Lindsay correction. Ms. Stairs said Ms. Mathyssen delivered the keynote address party’s critic for small business Mathyssen, her party’s deputy critic for small was the NDP critic for women and gender bay Canada and Greg MacEachern’s to kick off the evening. and export promotion. business, export promotion, and international trade. EProof Strategies celebrated Canadian equality, which is true, but had scant rela- e-commerce entrepreneurship at their 2019 tion to the event’s entrepreneurial theme. Entrepreneurs of the Year party on Feb. 19 Ms. Mathyssen then had to correct the at Ottawa’s favourite watering hole, the record, stating she is also deputy critic Métropolitain Brasserie. for small business, export promotion, The warm, homey scent of fresh and trade. She’s also the NDP’s deputy baked bread besieged Party Central’s whip. With more roles to go around than a nostrils as he, Hill Times assistant dep- 24-member caucus can handle, Party Cen- uty editor Abbas Rana, and Hill Times tral understands how Ms. Stairs missed photographer Andrew Meade came in one of Ms. Mathyssen’s many titles. Andrea Stairs, president of eBay Canada, and Ms. Ng and Ms. Stairs laughing at one of Party Central’s jokes. from the cold. Finally, it was Bloc MP Sébastien Minister of Canadian Heritage Steven Guilbeault. That’s not true, but let’s pretend as such. It was the 15th anniversary of the Lemire‘s turn to present Simon Duguay awards, and the 2019 winners were an- with his award. Party Central’s French nounced in October. Three awards are skills are lacklustre, so there are no bad handed out each year: the entrepreneur jokes about Mr. Lemire’s speech. Party of the year, the micro-multinational of the Central can, however, joke about Mr. year, and the integrated entrepreneur of Lemire’s neckwear and how he’s taking a the year. The latter was renamed this year, run at Senator Dennis Dawson for best (or and was previously known at the omni- worst?) bowtie on the Hill. channel entrepreneur. Party Central no Heritage Minister Steven Guibeault idea what those buzzwords mean. made an appearance later in the night, Ebay Canada president Andrea as did Liberal MPs Francesco Sorbara Stairs (who will soon assume the chief (Vaughan-Woodbridge, Ont.) and Bob marketing offi cer role at eBay North Bratina (Hamilton East-Stoney Creek, America while staying on as president of Ont.) after the speeches had concluded Mr. Cumming presented an award to Johann Furrer Ms. Mathyssen presented an award to Nan Xu eBay Canada) and Small Business, Trade, and attendees were enjoying the open and Jessica Oman of Storage Warriors and Domenic De Giorgio of IHL Canada. and Export Promotion Minister Mary Ng bar. Ethics be damned, an open bar gets gave brief opening remarks about the im- you favourable coverage. Seafood, how- portance of entrepreneurship, and Ms. Ng ever, does not. quickly plugged the new NAFTA’s benefi ts A few esteemed members of the Par- to the Canadian economy. liamentary Press Gallery also attended. Conservative MP James Cumming The Toronto Star‘s Susan Delacourt, red (Edmonton Centre, Alta.), offi cial op- boots and all, huddled with CBC’s Chris position critic for small business and Hall for a good portion of the night. Ms. export promotion, presented the micro- Delacourt appeared to still be on the multinational of the year award to Jessica clock, with two phones and a tablet go- Oman and Johann Furrer of Vancouver, ing, while still managing to enjoy her red Mr. Lavoie, Quebec Senator Dennis Dawson, and Mr. Durrer, Mr. Cumming, and Dan Mancuso, senior B.C. Their company, Storage Warriors, is wine. Party Central was double fi sting Mr. Lemire, who will now duke it out for best vice-president of fi nancing and investments at Export exactly what you think: they buy and sell pints. There’s probably a reason one of bowtie on the Hill. Development Canada. the contents of defaulted storage lockers, us is a well-respected journalist and the just like the subjects of reality TV show other is me. Storage Wars. After chatting with Johann Party Central rounded out the night about recent trades made by his home- chatting with Pascal Chan of the Cana- town Vancouver Canucks, Party Central’s dian Real Estate Association, and his faith in his business acumen was slightly old history professor, Stuart MacKay, shook. who now does contract work for Proof. NDP MP Lindsay Mathyssen (Lon- Mr. MacKay recently defended his dis- don-Fanshawe, Ont.) then took the sertation on Republican Party political stage to present Nan Xu of Investments organization in the border states during Hardware Ltd. with the entrepreneur of the lead up to the American Civil War, the year award. Mr. Xu, who will soon the war itself, and the Reconstruction Era become a father, was joined by his busi- that followed. The Hill Times’s assistant deputy editor Abbas Rana, The Hill ness partner Domenic De Giorgio. IHL [email protected] Stephen Yardy, Kevin Labatete, and Daniel Times reporter and Party Central columnist Aidan Chamandy, specializes in power tools and building The Hill Times Duff, a staffer to Ms. Mathyssen. and Pascal Chan of the Canadian Real Estate Association. 38 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES

Malcolm McEachern remains a Pacifi c regional affairs adviser in place as a special assistant in the offi ce. A former senior man- in the offi ce. He fi rst joined Mr. ager of development and market- Garneau’s team one year ago and ing for Samara Canada, she was hill climbers before then had spent almost a last working as a senior issues year and a half as a general as- manager for the Prairies and Brit- sistant in Prime Minister Justin ish Columbia to then-public safety by Laura Ryckewaert Trudeau’s offi ce. minister Ralph Goodale. Benoit Michon has been hired Stephanie Choeurng remains on as executive assistant to Mr. director of parliamentary affairs Garneau and his (previously in the fi sheries offi ce. reported) chief of staff, Marc Ms. Choeurng has been in Roy. Mr. Michon spent the 2019 this role since late August 2018, A rundown of Transport election as executive assistant to starting under then-newly minted the Liberal Party’s Quebec cam- fi sheries minister Jonathan paign director, Marie-Laurence Wilkinson. Before then, she’d Lapointe, after being hired on as spent roughly the last two and a riding readiness co-ordinator a half years tackling parliamen- Minister Garneau’s for the party in the lead-up to the tary affairs for then-government campaign in August 2018 after House leader Bardish Chagger. spending the summer there as an She’s also a former assistant to intern, placed through the party’s Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux. summer leadership program. Neil MacIsaac is back on the 12-member team, so far Hill, having been hired on as di- rector of operations to Ms. Jordan. Transport Mr. Duran is also a former Fisheries Minister He was last on the Hill when Minister Marc lawyer with Robinson Sheppard Jordan brings old policy the Liberals were in opposition, Garneau, Shapiro in Montreal, having having spent about a year and a pictured Feb. studied civil law at the University director to new team half ending in the spring of 2013 4, 2020, of Ottawa. as a special assistant for Atlantic speaking with Miled Hill continues as a Canada in then-interim Liberal reporters after a policy adviser to the minister. He leader Bob Rae’s offi ce. Since Liberal caucus fi rst joined the team in August then, he’s been busy working for meeting in the 2018, after spending the summer the Nova Scotia Liberals as direc- West Block on working in Mr. Garneau’s offi ce tor of regional caucus operations. Parliament Hill. as a practicum student through Mr. MacIsaac is also a former The Hill Times Carleton University’s master’s of constituency assistant to former photograph by political management program. Nova Scotia Liberal MP Mike Andrew Meade While studying his degree, Mr. Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan, Savage, among other things. Hill also worked as an assistant pictured in the West Block on Dec. Jennifer Kuss is director of com- to Quebec Liberal MP Peter 11, 2019. The Hill Times photograph munications. She’s spent the last ith recent rail blockades as been hired on at the beginning of Schiefke. He spent the 2019 elec- by Andrew Meade year and a half as a stakeholder en- Wa result of the Wet’suwet’en February. tion as a regional fi eld organizer gagement and issues management solidarity protests, Transport She arrives straight from Ot- for the Liberals. Fisheries, Oceans, and Cana- adviser in the trade minister’s offi ce, Minister Marc Garneau and his tawa Mayor Jim Watson’s offi ce, Philip Kuligowski Chan is dian Coast Guard Minister Berna- starting under Mr. Champagne and 12-member political staff team so where she’s been busy as press a new addition to the offi ce as dette Jordan also currently has a ending under then-minister Jim far have been busy of late. secretary to the mayor for the last policy adviser. He was previously 12-member ministerial staff team Carr, during which time she briefl y So, who all is on the minister’s four years. At the same time, Ms. in British Columbia working as a in place, including Alison “Allie” served as acting press secretary. A team? Glad you (hypothetically) Belcea has been contributing to constituency assistant to Liberal Chalke as director of policy. former communications co-ordi- asked. Ottawa’s Apt613, including as an MP Terry Beech, and was an aide Ms. Chalke previously led nator for the Liberal Party leading First, the art and theatre writer. She ran to the MP during his success- policy work in Ms. Jordan’s offi ce up to the 2015 federal election, Ms. communica- communications for Mr. Watson’s ful 2019 re-election campaign in as rural economic development Kuss has since also been a com- tions branch: successful 2018 re-election cam- Burnaby North-Seymour, B.C. minister during the last Parlia- munications strategist in the Liberal Amy Butcher is paign. Before joining the mayor’s It seems worth noting that Mr. ment. She joined that team in research bureau and an issues man- director of com- offi ce in February 2016, she was Kuligowski Chan is the fourth February 2019, and before then ager to Crown-Indigenous Relations munications and a communications assistant with member of Mr. Beech’s 2019 was working for Finance Minister Minister Carolyn Bennett. parliamentary the Ottawa Pub- campaign team to appear in Hill Bill Morneau, Jane Deeks is press secretary affairs to Mr. lic Library. Climbers this month (read on for starting in Janu- to Ms. Jordan. Ms. Deeks has spent Garneau. Elisabeth a fi fth), the others being now- ary 2016 as a the last year and a half tackling Ms. Butcher D’Amours has PMO special assistant Chantal special assistant communications for Ms. Bennett as Amy Butcher. was previously been hired on Tshimanga; Ryan Budd, now a for Atlantic minister, ending as press secretary, Photograph running Interna- as a special as- policy adviser to the treasury regional affairs and before then was an assistant courtesy of tional Develop- sistant for com- board president; and Ayesha Kh- and ending as in her offi ce as the Liberal MP for LinkedIn ment Minister munications and aira, now a Western regional ad- a senior policy Toronto-St. Paul’s, Ont. Karina Gould’s operations. viser to the employment minister. adviser. Aidan Strickland has followed Mr. Beech, who’s riding includes communications shop. She started She left Elisabeth Working un- Ms. Jordan to her new offi ce as a the Vancouver terminus of the out working for Ms. Gould during Liberal Party D’Amours. der Ms. Chalke special assistant for communica- Trans Mountain pipeline, was her time as minister of democratic headquarters, Photograph are policy advis- Jennifer Phillips. tions. She was previously a special ultimately re-elected with 35.5 per institutions in October 2018 and, where she’d courtesy of ers Marianne Photograph assistant for operations and cent, defeating a challenge from up until January, had stayed on been executive LinkedIn Brisson, Jason courtesy of executive assistant to Ms. Jordan’s briefl y to support the minister dur- assistant to the former NDP MP Svend Robinson Rondeau, and LinkedIn chief of staff as rural economic ing her transition into the interna- party’s national director, Azam by a margin of 1,585 votes. Jennifer Phillips. development minister, Cory Pike. tional development portfolio. Ishmael, for a few months shy of Jean Proulx is another hold- Ms. Brisson also covers Que- As previously reported, Mr. Ms. Butcher has experience three years, to join Mr. Garneau’s over from Mr. Garneau’s team last bec regional affairs for Ms. Jor- Pike has followed Ms. Jordan handling sensitive communica- team in January. She spent the Parliament, now working under dan. She’s a former junior policy to her new offi ce, continuing as tions fi les from her time at the 2019 election as part of the Lib- the title of senior special assis- analyst with the Meteorological chief of staff. Public Health Agency of Canada, eral campaign’s operations team. tant. Mr. Proulx has been part of Service of Canada and spent Terri O’Neill has also followed where she worked from 2006 to Heading Mr. Garneau’s policy Mr. Garneau’s offi ce as transport a few months in 2018 tackling Ms. Jordan to her new offi ce as 2016. Among the various roles team is Shane McCloskey, who’s minister since December 2015, policy as a special assistant in executive assistant to the minister, she held with the agency over the been bumped up from senior starting as a special assistant for then-international trade minister having spent the last year in her years was manager of communi- policy adviser to director of policy parliamentary affairs. He was pro- François-Philippe Champagne’s offi ce as rural economic develop- cations during the H1N1 pandem- this Parliament. moted to policy adviser in 2018. offi ce while in the midst of a ment minister. Ms. O’Neill is also ic in 2009, which saw her tasked Mr. McCloskey fi rst joined the Before the 42nd Parliament, master’s degree in international a former assistant to then-Nova with co-ordinating communi- minister’s offi ce as a policy advis- Mr. Proulx was an assistant to business from HEC Montréal. Scotia Liberal MP Scott Brison. cations to support the federal er in April 2016, before which he’d Mr. Garneau in his capacity as a Mr. Rondeau also covers Finally, rounding out Ms. government’s re- been an undergraduate instructor Liberal MP; Mr. Garneau’s riding Atlantic regional affairs for the Jordan’s team so far is Alexann sponse, as noted at Concordia University, teaching name changed with the 2013 elec- minister. He was previously an Kropman as assistant to the on her LinkedIn courses on climate change, natural toral redistribution, and is now issues manager in Ms. Jordan’s minister’s parliamentary secre- profi le. She’s disasters, and paleoclimatology, called Notre-Dame-de-Grâce- offi ce as rural economic develop- tary, Mr. Beech. A former assistant also a former according to his LinkedIn profi le. Westmount, Que. ment minister, and before that to Liberal MP Dan Ruimy, Ms. press secretary Anson Duran remains in Mr. William Harvey-Blouin has was a policy and Atlantic regional Kropman fi rst joined the fi sheries to then-prime Garneau’s offi ce, now as a senior returned to Mr. Garneau’s offi ce as affairs adviser to Mr. Champagne offi ce in September 2018 as execu- minister Paul policy adviser. He fi rst joined the a special assistant. He previously as then-infrastructure minister. tive assistant to then-minister Mr. Martin, among minister’s team as a policy ad- held that title in the offi ce from the Before joining the ministerial Wilkinson. She spent the 2019 other past jobs. viser in January 2018 and before fall of 2016 until May 2019, when staff ranks on the Hill, he was election as a volunteer co-ordi- Livia Belcea then was an assistant to Liberal he left to join Liberal Party head- an assistant to Ms. Jordan in her nator for Mr. Beech’s successful is now press MP Steven MacKinnon. During quarters as a mobilization and capacity as the Liberal MP for re-election campaign. secretary to Mr. the election, he was a fi eld orga- candidate support strategist ahead South Shore-St. Margarets, N.S. [email protected] Garneau, having Livia Belcea. nizer for the Liberal campaign. of last year’s federal election. For her part, Ms. Phillips is also The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 39 Events Feature

many.” Speakers include Dr. Keith Neuman, Environics Institute for Survey Research; Dr. Daniel Stockemer, Parliamentary Black History Month University of Ottawa; Dr. Jennifer Elrick, McGill Uni- Reception—Diversity and versity; and Jessie Thomson, CARE Canada. This event Inclusion and Youth Minister will take place on Thursday, Feb. 27 in Room 4004, Calendar Bardish Chagger hosts the FSS Building, 120 University Pvt., Ottawa, beginning Government of Canada’s at 5:30 p.m. Register via Eventbrite. The Science of Tomorrow—Come celebrate the sci- reception in celebration ence of tomorrow with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories of Black History Month (CNL). CNL invites Parliamentarians and staff to join on Monday, Feb. 24. This them at their annual cocktail reception to learn about year’s theme is ‘Canadians our ongoing research in the fi elds of energy, environ- of African Descent: Going ment, health, safety, and security. Reception is hosted Forward, Guided by the Past.’ by the Canadian National Energy Alliance (CNEA) and By invitation, the event starts its members. Thursday, Feb. 27, at Métropolitain, 700 Sussex Dr., Ottawa, from 6-9 p.m. RSVP to Lauren. at 6 p.m. at the National Arts [email protected]. Centre, 1 Elgin St., Ottawa. Chagger to host The Hill Times photograph by FRIDAY, FEB. 28 Andrew Meade WAMS Gala Luncheon—Women Against Multiple Sclerosis (WAMS) is a collective of professional women Government dedicated to building awareness and raising critical research funds for better treatments and a cure for MS. The luncheon will feature a VIP champagne reception, of Canada’s gourmet meal, silent auction and an inspirational talk by a nationally recognized keynote speaker. Friday, Feb. reception in 28, VIP reception from 11 a.m., seated lunch from 12-2 p.m. Ottawa Conference and Event Centre, 200 Coventry Rd. Tickets for individuals and tables of 10 celebration of are available at wamsottawa.ca or by phone at 613- 728-1583 ext. 3326. Parliamentary Press Gallery Annual General Meet- Black History ing—National Press Theatre, 150 Wellington St., 12:30 p.m., Feb. 28. Members of the press gallery will deal with the president’s report; the treasurer’s report; Month on Feb. 24 results of the elected offi cers; nominations of directors and voting; life and honorary memberships; new busi- ness; and results of directors elected. at the NAC Members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery will meet for their annual general meeting at the National Press Theatre on Feb. 28. The Hill Times photograph MONDAY, FEB. 24 by Andrew Meade House Sitting—The House of Commons will sit Mona Nemer Speaks in Montreal—The Montreal Coun- Monday, Feb. 24 to Friday, Feb. 28. It will take a one- cil on Foreign Relations hosts a luncheon presentation week break and resume on March 9 to March 13. It with Dr. Mona Nemer, Chief Science Advisor to Canada. adjourns again for one week and will sit from March 23 This event will take place at the Sofi tel Montréal, 1155 to April 3. It will then take a two-week break and will Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal. Friday, Feb. 28, from resume sitting again on April 20 and will sit for four 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Advance registration required. straight weeks until May 15. It will take a one-week Immigration Minister Mendicino Speaks in Toronto— break and will resume again on May 25 and will sit Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Minister Marco straight through for the next four consecutive weeks, Mendicino will deliver remarks on “Immigration: A until it’s scheduled to adjourn on June 23. The House Driver of Economic Growth in Canada” at a luncheon adjourns again for three months and will return in the presentation hosted by the Canadian Club of Toronto. fall on Monday, Sept. 21, for three straight weeks. It This event will take place at the Fairmont Royal York will adjourn for one week and will sit again from Oct. Hotel, 100 Front St. W., Toronto. Friday, Feb. 28, from 19 until Nov. 6. It will break again for one week and or [email protected]. Murray Sinclair will deliver remarks as part of the 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. will sit again from Nov. 16-Dec. 11. And that will be it Farm to Plate Reception with Canadian Produce University of Ottawa’s The Sage Advice Speaker Series. SATURDAY, FEB. 29 for 2020. Marketing Association and Canadian Horticultural Coun- This event will take place in The Chapel, AllSaints Book Launch: The Citizen’s Guide to Climate Suc- cil—Join industry leaders from across the fruit and veg- event space, 330 Laurier Ave E., Ottawa, from 6:30-8 Global Community Alliance 11th Annual Gala cess—Join environmental economist, professor, and etable supply chain as the Canadian Produce Marketing p.m. and Awards Ceremony—Enjoy an evening of network- author, Dr. Mark Jaccard, for a genuine conversation Association and Canadian Horticultural Council host THURSDAY, FEB. 27 ing, recognition, and entertainment in celebration of on Canada’s fi ght against climate change, the steps their Farm to Plate reception. The event takes place on Black History Month. Saturday, Feb. 29, 6 p.m.-1 a.m. government and citizens should be taking now, and Feb. 25, 2020, in the Drawing Room at the Château Interprètes au pays du castor book launch—The As- Sheraton Ottawa Hotel (Rideau Ballroom), 150 Albert the myths and misconceptions that are hindering our Laurier (1 Rideau Street), from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and is sociation internationale des interprètes-Région Canada St., Ottawa. This event is sold out, with proceeds to be progress. The reception will take place Monday, Feb. open to all Parliamentarians and their staff. To confi rm (AIIC-Canada), in collaboration with the Presses de donated to Children at Risk, Ottawa. For more informa- 24, from 5-8 p.m. at the Rabbit Hole, 208 Sparks St., your attendance, please email [email protected]. l’Université Laval, invites you to join them for the tion: please email: [email protected]. Ottawa. Copies of the book will be available. Presented WEDNESDAY, FEB. 26 much-anticipated release of Interprètes au pays du TUESDAY, MARCH 3 by Renewable Industries Canada. RSVP: d.pfeffer@ castor, by Jean Delisle. Thursday, Feb. 27, 6 p.m. Free ricanada.org. Liberal Caucus—The full national Liberal caucus admission, wine and cheese, 1 Wellington St. (Room Rachel Notley Presents 2020 Bell Lecture—Rachel Black History Month Reception—Diversity and Inclu- meets in Room 225-A West Block from 10 a.m. to W110), next to the Château Laurier Hotel, Ottawa. Notley presents the 2020 Bell Lecture on Tuesday, sion and Youth Minister Bardish Chagger hosts the Gov- noon every sitting Wednesday after early morning re- Hosted by Senator Murray Sinclair, former chair of the March 3, hosted by Carleton University’s Faculty of ernment of Canada’s reception in celebration of Black gional caucus meetings. Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleg- Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Come meet the Public Affairs. 7 p.m. at Carleton Dominion Chalmers History Month on Monday, Feb. 24. This year’s theme gia is chair of the national caucus. author and have your copy signed. Special book launch Centre, 355 Cooper St., Ottawa. More info and registra- is “Canadians of African Descent: Going Forward, Conservative Caucus—The full national Conserva- price: $35 including tax. RSVP to Brenda.LeBouthilli- tion at: https://carleton.ca/fpa/cu-events/2020-bell- Guided by the Past.” By invitation, the event starts at 6 tive caucus, including Conservative Senators, meets [email protected] lecture-rachel-notley/ p.m. at the National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin St., Ottawa. in Room 025-B West Block at 10 a.m.-12 noon every RBC Taylor Prize—The fi ve fi nalists for this year’s Super Tuesday Watch Party—Join Fasken LLP’s Su- Pearson Centre’s Year One Conference—The Pearson sitting Wednesday and after the early morning regional RBC Taylor Prize Best Books in Literary Non-Fiction per Tuesday Election Watch Party on March 3 at 8 p.m. Centre hosts a two-day “Year One Conference: Navigat- caucus meetings. Conservative MP Tom Kmiec is chair are: Bush Runner: The Adventures of Pierre-Esprit RSVP by Feb. 20 by contacting: Kai Olson at kolson@ ing the New Parliament,” focusing on the fi rst year of the national caucus. Radisson, by Mark Bourrie (Biblioasis); Had It Coming: fasken.com. and beyond of the newly elected government and NDP Caucus Meeting—The NDP caucus meets from What’s Fair in the Age of #MeToo? by Robyn Doolittle Parliament. What do you want to see the government 9-11 a.m. in Room 425 Wellington Building when the (Allen Lane); Highway of Tears: A True Story of Racism, and opposition parties accomplish? The two-day event House is sitting. NDP Brian Masse is chair of the NDP Indifference and the Pursuit of Justice for Missing and The Parliamentary Calendar is a free events listing. will happen Feb. 24-25 in Ottawa. Business, labour, caucus. Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, by Jessica Send in your political, cultural, diplomatic, or govern- academia, NGOs, and others are invited to put forward Green Caucus Meeting—Parliamentary leader Eliza- McDiarmid (Doubleday Canada); The Reality Bubble: mental event in a paragraph with all the relevant de- their top priorities for the year ahead and engage with beth May chairs the three-member caucus which meets Blind Spots, Hidden Truths and the Dangerous Illu- tails under the subject line ‘Parliamentary Calendar’ to lawmakers. Party leadership, ministers, MPs from all from 10 a.m. to noon in Room 300 Wellington Building sions that Shape Our World, by Ziya Tong (Allen Lane); [email protected] by Wednesday at noon before the parties, and Senators are being invited to address what every Wednesday when the House is sitting. and The Mosquito: A Human History of Our Deadliest Monday paper or by Friday at noon for the Wednesday they plan to do in the year ahead. On Feb. 24, there National Health and Fitness Ski Day—Please join Predator, by Timothy C. Winegard (Allen Lane). Public paper. We can’t guarantee inclusion of every event, but will be an opening event, panel discussion, and a re- Senator Marty Deacon and Nordiq Canada for National events already confi rmed for the fi nalists include a free we will defi nitely do our best. Events can be updated ception. On Feb. 25, the draft agenda includes a forum Heath and Fitness Ski Day on Wednesday, Feb. 26 from 90-minute roundtable discussion with the shortlisted daily online, too. on the new political dynamics (media and observers); noon to 1 p.m. on the Supreme Court of Canada lawn, authors in the Lakeside Terrace at Harbourfront, hosted The Hill Times a forum on the big issues with senior business, labour 301 Wellington St., Ottawa. Bring your own cross- by Toronto Star books editor, Deborah Dundas, on and civil society representatives; a political forum with country ski equipment and boots, or use the equipment Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, at 7 p.m., presented by the MPs from all parties to discuss their party priorities fol- provided. Hot chocolate will also be provided. RSVP: Toronto International Festival of Authors. There is also Extra! Extra! lowed by a working lunch for all participants and table [email protected]. the Ben McNally authors’ brunch on Sunday, March 1, discussions; a policy panel on the economy and the Diplomats Meet Canada’s Parliamentary Leaders— at the Omni King Edward Hotel in downtown Toronto ReReadad tthehe ffullull future of work; a policy panel on health care and hous- Carleton University’s Initiative for Parliamentary and (for tickets, please contact Ben McNally Books at 416 ing; and a policy panel on energy, the environment, and Diplomatic Engagement and Kareen Rispal, Ambassa- 361-0032 or visit benmcnallybooks.com). ParliamentaParliamentaryry reconciliation. Further details to be announced. dor of France to Canada, will host a networking recep- An Insider’s View of Brexit—The Empire Club of tion “Diplomats Meet Canada’s Parliamentary Leaders.” Canada hosts a luncheon presentation on “An Insider’s CCalendaralendar TUESDAY, FEB. 25 This event will take place at the French Embassy View of Brexit: The Impact on Canada and the Globe,” Marine Day on the Hill—The Chamber of Marine Residence, 42 Sussex Dr., Ottawa, on Wednesday, Feb. featuring British Conservative MP Andrew Percy. On- Commerce is hosting a Marine Day on the Hill recep- 26, from 5-7 p.m. tario MPP Donna Skelly will moderate the discussion. online tion for all MPs and Senators. The event will highlight Pat Sorbara Book Signing—Hill and Knowlton hosts This event will take place at Omni King Edward Hotel, climate change resiliency and infrastructure invest- a book signing, Q&A and reception with Pat Sorbara 37 King St. E., Toronto, from noon to 1:45 p.m. Tickets ments, which are vital to support Great Lakes–St. and her new book Let ‘Em Howl: Lessons from a Life in available online. Lawrence shipping as a national trade and transporta- Backroom Politics. This event will take place at Métro- Public Sentiment Toward Immigrants And Refugees— tion corridor. It takes place from 5-7:30 p.m. in Room politain Brasserie Restaurant, 700 Sussex Dr., Ottawa. The Canadian International Council hosts a panel dis- 425, Wellington Building, 180 Wellington St., Ottawa. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 5:30-7:30 p.m. cussion on “Public Sentiment Toward Immigrants And RSVP by Feb. 18 to Sarah Douglas at 613-899-6417 Sage Advice Speaker Series—Independent Senator Refugees: Current Perspectives In Canada And Ger- Your privacy and security t½á³íæ½ˏ]íùÎѽC¥ŜÑç Ā½ŞÑçÉĀˏ made easy.

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