We’re adding to Transportation crisis in relationship policy briefi ng: with Indigenous Hill Todd Doherty, Ashley Morton, Philip Cross, peoples: Pedro Antunes, Roger Francis, Climbers Sara Kirk, & Alec Soucy pp. 17-25 Party p.38 Rose Lemay p. 4 Central p.37 HOH p.2 THIRTY-FIRST YEAR, NO. 1705 CANADA’S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 $5.00 News Wet’suwet’enNews Prime Minister News NAFTA 2.0 UNDRIP Trudeau’s handling of Downe calls provides ‘guide’ for Parliament to resolving Wet’suwet’en blockades critical to have power tensions among to amend new Indigenous to his political credibility, NAFTA, Liberals communities reconciliation, say former pledge to share over questions objectives of of authority, cabinet minister, pollsters future trade say experts talks with House BY NEIL MOSS BY BEATRICE PAEZ he power of American lawmak- egislation that would imple- Ters to modify trade agreements Lment the UN’s declaration has inspired their Canadian counter- on Indigenous rights provides a parts to look for more of their own “guide forward” in reconciling infl uence over the trade negotiation the tensions at play between the process, say some parliamentarians. CSG Senator Percy Downe Continued on page 28 (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) said the work Continued on page 30 News Public service Public service News Senate & harassment hiring up, but Senators put report fi nds Prime Minister Justin spotlight back Trudeau, pictured on Feb. 21, manager, employee 2020, at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa where he on harassment, concerns around said ‘the barricades must now come down.’ The prime ‘loophole’ feds’ new staffi ng minister’s credibility is on the line as he handles rail blocked bullying blockades and reconciliaiton. process The Hill Times photograph Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 complaint, by Andrew Meade BY MIKE LAPOINTE says one lthough a recent government BY ABBAS RANA and a failure to resolve the crisis days, this is going to have a huge BY PETER MAZEREEUW Areport shows fairly substan- to the satisfaction of most Cana- impact on his government and on tial growth in the federal public he issue of Indigenous dians will raise questions about [him], for sure,” said Bob Nault, enators called for change, and service, as well as an increase blockades of key transpor- his ability to handle this politically former minister of Indian Affairs called out each other about in the promotion rate within the T S tation routes in support of the sensitive situation and reconcilia- and Northern Development in the workplace harassment in and service for the sixth year in a row, Wet’suwet’en Nation is one of the tion, say a former Indigenous Af- Jean Chrétien cabinet, in a phone outside of the Senate Chamber last there are concerns among both The Hill Times biggest public policy challenges fairs minister and pollsters. interview with . week, while all the government’s that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “If this doesn’t change, and Continued on page 33 has faced in his political career, improve here over the next few Continued on page 35 Continued on page 6 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.