Canada-Korea ties Danish Embassy gets strong 70 years on p. 11 northern exposure Diplomatic Circles p. 7

Does Israel have the right to exist? U.S. finally pulling the Andrew Caddell p. 9 plug on faulty Afghan campaign Scott Taylor p. 11 Tim Powers p.10

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News News Canada ‘Breathtaking’ childcare pledge to continues pay dividends beyond recouping to delay decision pandemic losses: labour experts

BY SAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN work to track the high cost of & BEATRICE PAEZ fees in Canada was used in on COVID the budget’s rationale. he Liberal government “They put in place some Tdeserves some praise important initiatives that vaccines for centring in its budget a will hopefully strengthen the billion-dollar plan to address position in the labour market the pandemic-propelled she- of women,” she said, add- IP waiver cession that has seen women ing extending deadlines on exit the labour force in record pandemic supports for rent and wage subsidies would BY NEIL MOSS numbers, say labour ex- perts, who note a more even help women, along with the temporary changes to em- he Canadian government economic recovery is likely to ployment insurance eligibility maintains it hasn’t made up hinge on smaller-ticket items, T to facilitate wider access. its mind on a waiver that poten- at least in the short term. The feds vowed to ex- tially could allow increased vac- Childcare as the big-ticket tend some pandemic-relief cine production around the world, $30-billion promise is impor- tant and “completely funda- measures, committing to an a delay some say is equivalent to Deputy Prime Minister and mental to women’s equitable opposing the initiative. Finance Minister Chrystia participation,” but broader Continued on page 4 The waiver was brought Freeland walks to the measures to address women’s forward to the World Trade Or- Sir John A. Macdonald recovery was a clear “thread ganization’s (WTO) Council for Building for a press throughout the budget,” For more on the 2021 Trade-Related Aspects of Intel- conference ahead of observed Katherine Scott, a lectual Property Rights (TRIPS) budget, see: tabling her first budget on senior researcher with the last October by South Africa and Les Whittington p. 9, April 19. The Hill Times Canadian Centre for Policy Erica Ifill p. 10. photograph by Sam Garcia Continued on page 6 Alternatives (CCPA), whose

News News ‘It’s good for the political soul’: historic Time for widespread gender-neutral language ‘Kitchen Accord’ room to be turned into Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 Senate prayer, meditation space in federal policy, legislation, say advocates BY ALICE CHEN neutral language. It’s an issue According to Ravi Kahlon, BY LAURA RYCKEWAERT to find a space for that purpose the federal government says it’s B.C.’s minister of jobs, economic near the interim Red Chamber he very act of not being in- trying to fix, piece by piece. recovery, and innovation, these room whose history is tied in the newly renovated Senate of Tcluded in government policy This area has recently been changes were made in an effort to Aup in the historic 1981 debate Canada Building. is discriminatory, says Estefan a focus for the B.C. govern- increase accessibility. over the patriation of the Cana- “I’m just thrilled,” said B.C. In- Cortes-Vargas, former Alberta ment, with sweeping changes Sherwin Modeste, executive dian Constitution will soon be dependent Senators Group Sena- MLA, diversity consultant, and made to more than 70 laws and director of Pride Toronto, praised converted into a prayer and medi- tor Mobina Jaffer, who is Muslim, one of the first openly non-binary regulations in March, replacing tation space for Senators and people elected in Canada, refer- 600 clauses with gender-neutral Continued on page 13 Continued on page 12 staff, ending a lengthy process ring to the sparse use of gender- terms. 2 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 2021 | THE HILL TIMES

woman’s right to choose, our government llamas on the lam in Lanark Country (one knows exactly where we stand—we’ll al- of my favourite ledes ever) to landmark ways protect and defend this right,” Prime moments in history,” she tweeted on her Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted. final day. With Mr. O’Toole announcing that he “To say it’s been a privilege is an un- Heard on the Hill would be voting against the bill, Conserva- derstatement. I believe in the value and tive-turned-Independent MP Derek Sloan mission of the wire as strongly as ever, took the time to call him out on Twitter, and I believe in the value of journalism by Alice Chen blasting him for becoming more Liberal in as strongly as ever too. I’m staying in the an attempt to get more popular. business, and look forward to sharing soon “52% of Canadians have said they’d be where I’m going next.” more likely to vote for a party that legally New language-learning app restricts sex-selective abortion, so who’s he Beverly McLachlin joins Ottawa trying to please here?” Mr. Sloan asked. Ms. Wagantall cited similar stats that Public Library as honorary chair suggest most in the country to be against The former chief justice of the Supreme named after late Liberal deliberate termination based on sex. She Court of Canada, Beverly McLachlin was further emphasized that the bill boosts unveiled April 13 as the new honorary gender equality for women while acting chair of the Ottawa Central Library fund- bilingualism champion as a less polarizing abortion bill. She also raising campaign. called out the Liberal cabinet and prime minister, noting that they describe them- Beverley stitutional law and shut down businesses McLachlin, former and churches. selves as feminists. “Many members have decided to stop chief justice of Independent MP Derek Sloan, who was the Supreme ejected from the Conservative caucus in listening before the conversation even be- gins. Does this issue deserve to be studied? Court of Canada January and who serves Hastings-Lennox from 2000 and Addington, Ont., shared similar senti- Is there an issue that is actually occurring here in Canada that needs to be addressed? to 2017, was ments, but pointed towards less faith-based named as the new reasoning. We cannot know if we are not willing to even start the conversation,” said fellow honorary chair He emphasized that public health au- of the Ottawa thorities didn’t respond to the virus in time Conservative Karen Vecchio. The bill was presented and debated Central Library and that they failed to explore experimen- fundraising tal drug treatments like vitamin D supple- April 14, and will return for its second hour approximately two weeks later. campaign. The Hill mentation. He further pointed to a rapid Times photograph rise in eating disorders, mental health by Andrew Meade conditions, addictions, bankruptcies and MP McLeod presents said that fear and anxiety for children is Late Liberal MP Mauril Bélanger, who was amplified by the continued school restric- government accountability bill Ms. McLachlin was described in the able to preside over the House of Commons as tions. Conservative MP Cathy McLeod says press release as an avid library user, and honorary Speaker on March 9, 2016, before his “All I’m asking is for the sanity to begin there’s need for greater transparency a best-selling author who will act as an death, has a new language-learning app named and to start now,” he concluded. around money given from Ottawa to the ambassador and spokesperson for the in his honour. The Hill Times file photograph private sector. campaign. Independent “Parliamentarians and all Canadians “Ms. McLachlin embodies the Canadian MP Derek Sloan new CBC-based language-learning have a right to know the status, terms, and spirit of democracy, inclusivity, knowledge is a member app, Mauril, hopes to instil the same conditions, especially for repayable loans,” and creativity, which is at the foundation A of the End love of language as its namesake, the late she said, speaking to her private mem- of this new library,” Ottawa Public Library the Lockdown Liberal MP Mauril Bélanger. ber’s bill, C-284. “This bill is not only about chair Matthew Luloff said. Caucus, Mr. Bélanger, who died from ALS in greater transparency and accountability She said she was excited to take on the which held an 2016 at the age of 61, had a long history of but is about our ability to scrutinize the ef- new role. Ottawa news fighting for Canada’s linguistic duality. He fectiveness of spending and more impor- “I am thrilled to be taking on this role conference was decorated as Commandeur de l’Odre tantly the ethics of the spending.” as honorary chair,” Ms. McLachlin said. April 15. The de la Pléiade, an order of La Francophonie The bill would require the industry min- “I believe public libraries are beacons of Hill Times that recognizes contributions made to in- ister to publish an annual report that cov- equal opportunities. They are spaces of photograph by ternational friendship and co-operation. ers the particulars of grants, contributions, connection where everyone, regardless of Andrew Meade The new program is intended to offer and loans of more than $100,000 made by their background, can be an active part of an opportunity to learn English and French the Department of Industry. It comes in the their community, city, and country.” using a variety of “stimulating and enter- The caucus recently lost members, with wake of a significant federal government The new Ottawa Central Library is part taining video and audio content from CBC/ Alberta United Conservative Party MLAs loan/investment to Air Canada, worth up of the Ottawa Public Library and Library Radio-Canada, offered totally free,” reads Drew Barnes and Angela Pitt withdrawing to $5.4-billion in low-interest loans and and Archives Canada Joint Facility at the app’s website. from the group, which also includes former paired with the purchase of $500-million in Lebreton Flats. Construction is planned The app, financed and endorsed by MP and People’s Party Leader Maxime company stocks. through late 2024, with the official opening the federal government, is “meant to help Bernier, after founder Randy Hillier, an The $100,000 cut-off figure was selected scheduled to take place in 2025. improve oral comprehension and integrate Ontario MPP, compared the province’s re- in efforts to keep small businesses from [email protected] language knowledge in everyday life.” sponse to the third wave of the COVID-19 being factored in. The Hill Times “We wanted to present a learning pandemic to the Third Reich. Ms. McLeod told Kamloops This Week method that was virtual, that was new, and The pair said they “can no longer be that the current process for private sector money infusions was “very elusive” and CLARIFICATION: adapted to our culture,” Economic Devel- affiliated with someone who trivializes the The Hill Times, April 19 issue opment and Official Languages Minister horrific history of Adolf Hitler and Nazi noted that an annual report would make Mélanie Joly said in a Twitter video. “I am Germany.” the status clear. Re: “If the plan is to turn Labrador excited to see Canadians use this app and She also called out the WE Charity or some other part of the country into controversy as an example of unethical a nuclear dump, the public should I’m sure that it’ll help many people learn Conservative leader allows free French or English.” use, wherein the charity was chosen by the know why,” (The Hill Times, April 19, It’s available now on the Apple App vote on sex-selective abortion bill feds to distribute a student summer grant by Michael Harris). Natural Resources Store and Google Play. Erin O’Toole, leader of the Conserva- program. It fell through amid media atten- Minister Seamus O’Regan says he and tive Party, announced April 14 that he tion and controversy. his government are against importing nuclear waste from other countries to End the Lockdown Caucus talks will allow a free vote on the Sex-Selective Abortion Act, presented by a member of Job moves at The Globe and Labrador or any other part of Canada. religion, morality his caucus, as it is a vote of conscience. He told Enquete: “Importing nuclear “One of the things that we need to Cathay Wagantall, serving Yorkton- Canadian Press waste from other countries to Labra- realize in the middle of this crisis is that Melville, Sask., introduced Bill C-233 in Menaka Raman-Wilms has joined dor—where I grew up—or any other science is not a moral authority,” Michael the House in February. According to a post The Globe and Mail’s Ottawa team while part of Canada has never been on the Thiessen, campaign manager for Liberty on her website, the bill, if passed, would Stephanie Levitz is saying goodbye to The table, nor is it now. When it comes to nu- Coalition Canada, a group of clergymen, amend the Criminal Code to prohibit a Canadian Press. clear, the health and safety of Canadians elected officials, and others, said at a news medical practitioner from performing a sex Ms. Raman-Wilms announced the news and protection of the environment and conference for the End the Lockdown Cau- selective abortion. on Twitter April 12. The formerly Toronto- local communities is our top priority.” cus held April 15. The decision sparked the requisite par- based reporter left her position at the CBC During the Ottawa media availability, tisan commentary. where she first worked as a part-time members presented arguments for why Liberal MP Jennifer O’Connell, parlia- web writer, before entering a Donaldson Re: “Liberals tight-lipped on labour lockdowns are ineffective, and as the press mentary secretary to the health minister, Scholar internship, and moving up to an standoff near party’s Montreal heart- release stated, “have created a political said she didn’t believe that the bill truly associate producer position at Cross Coun- land,” (The Hill Times, April 19, p. 35). crisis that is now destroying the fabric of targets sex-selective abortion. try Checkup. Prior to the CBC, she wrote This story quoted Michel Murray as our country and society.” “If the bill is truly about banning sex- book reviews at the Ottawa Review of saying the Maritime Employers Associa- Mr. Thiessen continued on to emphasize selective abortions then why did her own Books and served as a reporter for Capital tion had threatened to lockout workers. that while science is a “wonderful thing” it must leader come out saying he doesn’t support Current at Carleton University. In fact, the MEA had given notice that be guided by another discipline. To that end, he it? … If it’s truly not a backdoor way to re- Inversely, Ms. Levitz shared the news it would change the compensation for emphasized the moral law of God as the foun- move women’s rights, why doesn’t her own on April 9 she was leaving her post as a workers, not stop them from working dational principles for life, liberty, and justice. leader support it?” Ms. O’Connell said. political reporter at CP. entirely. Mr. Murray says such a change He further said that Canada has become “While there are Conservative poli- “I’ve been writing for the wire for to working conditions would be a form a lawless nation that has thrown out con- ticians who still insist on debating a nearly 20 years, covering everything from of a lockout. Canada’s economic recovery is green

Sponsored by ECO Canada The organization’s recent report delved into the management skills in young professionals that are no- opportunities that lie within the environmental labour ticeably lacking as more senior team members retire and Canada can be a market, and the gaps that need to be addressed - one take their knowledge with them. “The lack of global leader in the of its key findings showed the environmental high-quality business development talent to help raise workforce is set to grow by 8 per cent by 2029, capital is one of the top barriers for success - training green space despite the pandemic. Over the next 10 years, higher talent in business acumen at the academia level is key. job growth rates are expected in sustainable transportation, cleantech, nature conservation, water “We need a workforce that can establish sales and quality, green building, energy efficiency, and marketing teams, as well as mastering so-called soft renewable energy. skills like managing budgets, writing concise technical reports, giving presentations and managing projects To take hold of this opportunity, a specific set of skills - but we need the proper training in place to make this will be required. kind of talent availability,” said Nilsen. Displaced workers from declining industries also pose a significant “The environmental labour market is still growing, opportunity for upskilling and transitioning to green Kevin Nilsen though COVID-19 has taken its toll on economies and jobs, Nilsen noted. President & CEO, ECO Canada industries. It’s now up to employers, policy makers, aca- demia and our workforce to stay focused on furthering To do this, strategies for deepening the environmental s the world forges on with the the environmental economy as our recovery takes hold,” workforce must be viewed as a shared responsibility Abattle against climate change said Nilsen. among employers, educators, and all levels of and embarks on a new journey to government, to address the necessary skills required to post-pandemic recovery, contin- About one in 30 workers in Canada (620,100) was in a thrive in the green economy. ued advancement in the green green job in 2019, with environmental workers present economy is paramount. And in every Canadian region, and practically every occupa- Educators must ensure they are staying abreast of Canada is in a unique position to tion. Workers come from all sectors including conser- competency requirements for environmental jobs, con- play a leading role in this, with its vation officers, biologists, hydro managers, geologists, sider incorporating environmental courses or electives vast natural resources and talented equipment operators, engineers, and general labour into their programs’ curriculum, and prepare students workforce ready to hold the torch positions. for the increasingly digitized workforce. for a greener future. While this level of job creation is encouraging, it has Where the government can continue to foster Canada’s In 2020 ECO Canada publishedits also left many concerned with an impending skill short- green economy and its workforce is through labour report, From Recession to age with close to 30 per cent of the current workforce market partnership programs and other initiatives, Recovery: Environmental Needs, poised to retire within the next decade. This retirement supporting environmental labour market research and Trends and Challenges in the high is predicted to see nearly 75 per cent of net envi- career profiling, allocating funding for job creation, Decade Ahead (funded in part by ronmental job openings to be in roles related to man- training, and growth, and maintaining commitments to Employment and Social agement, business, finance, and administration. environmental goals. Development Canada’s Sectoral Initiatives Program), revealing that As it now stands, candidates qualified to work in en- When it comes to industry and employers, promoting environmental employment across vironmental occupations are projected to be in short employee engagement and retention, ensuring adequate the country is expected to increase supply through to 2029, particularly in management knowledge transfer processes, fostering employee exponentially in the next decade. occupations, or those requiring a university or post-sec- training and development (including soft skills) and hir- While this is encouraging, ondary education. ing displaced workers from declining sectors or regions collaboration among key players are all key to the workforce’s success. in the environmental sector is Nilsen said this means it’s more important than ever needed to ensure this growing to develop training solutions and career resources to “At the end of the day, a shortage of green talent impacts workforce is armed with the skills ensure qualified workers are available to support the Canada’s ability to meet its environmental goals which it needs to succeed. sector’s growth and build the world’s leading green we are all invested in,” said Nilsen. workforce. Kevin Nilsen is President and The road to recovery CEO of ECO Canada, the “Employers have been telling us that recent graduates organization working with indus- are missing some essential skills such as project manage- Although the pandemic has exacerbated concerns for try, government, and academia ment and financial acumen and therefore need addition- governments and economies, the opportunity to make to build a strong environmental al skills training. We are working with them to develop a green shift towards environmental and renewable workforce in Canada. Here, he plans and hands-on studies to broaden the skillsets of mindsets is a net-positive as Canada begins its journey discusses the opportunity those in the environmental workforce,” Nilsen com- to net-zero emissions. Nilsen concluded: “It’s now up to Canada has to be a global leader mented. employers, policy makers, academia and our workforce in the green space. to stay focused on furthering the environmental Need for business acumen economy as our recovery takeshold.” Agrowing environmental Canada has tremendous capacity for continued innova- labour market tions with a nation of creative thinkers, but key industry players are identifying gaps in the softer business skills To read ECO Canada’s latest labour marketoutlook report ECO Canada has been working required to progress said innovations and commercial- or access other workforce reports, contact us at with industry, academia, and all ize them. [email protected]. levels of government to help grow and support the environmental The report found that it is business development and workforce for nearly 30 years. With a growing demand for green jobs, it works to provide sup- port cross-country to Canadians interested in developing careers and skills in the myriad of envi- ronmentally related fields, and to companies looking to not only fill roles, but grow their business in sustainable ways. Learn More eco.ca 4 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 2021 | THE HILL TIMES News ‘Breathtaking’ childcare pledge to pay dividends beyond recouping pandemic losses:

labour experts Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland present the budget document together on April 19. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

and social benefits are the real He said Finance Canada’s labour market both earlier and porate governance; $470-million The Liberals have reasons to do this,” he said. “For “conservative” estimate doesn’t harder, while their recovery is over three years to establish an people who say it’s not needed, appear to capture the likelihood slower, a backgrounder from apprenticeship service (with an offered a feminist because women are getting back that, with access to affordable Finance Canada acknowledged. incentive to boost diversity in budget, say observers, to work, I don’t think they ap- childcare, more women can A March 2021 RBC analysis construction and manufacturing); preciate the barriers that women choose to work longer hours, and suggested an even more stark and $601.3-million over five years with measures already face.” that there would be growth within reality for Canadian women: an to advance towards a new Na- Deputy Prime Minister Chrys- the sector as well. Bureaucrats estimated half a million who lost tional Action Plan to End Gender- that help women tia Freeland (University Rose- tend to err on the side of restraint their jobs during the pandemic Based Violence. dale, Ont.) made history April in their estimates, he added. hadn’t returned to work as of There are also new funds struggling amid 19 as the first female finance “There’s a whole channel of January, while more than 200,000 for housing, community-based minister to table a budget, itself impact there that it will allow had slipped into the long-term un- organizations providing sexual COVID-19 in the a historic moment not simply more women to work full time. employment, a three-fold increase and reproductive health care, and short term, like rent for the $101.4-billion in spend- When you’re looking at a good compared to the previous year. a plan to collect better disaggre- ing over three years, but for the career progression, you sort of At the same time, Statistics gated data for policy decisions and wage subsidy two-year gap the government have to be working full time, in Canada data suggested that the and establish a National Institute left before releasing the politi- most cases, to work your way up gender gap in participation rates for Women’s Health Research. extensions. cal document. The self-described into better jobs,” he added. between core-aged female and “feminist” budget clocked in at a His organization estimates male workers, or those between Sector ‘running on fumes’ massive 724 pages, and outlined that as many as 780,000 more Continued from page 1 the ages of 25 and 54, has started At $30-billion over five years, up to $135.2-billion in spend- working parents would join the to shrink. In March, the participa- childcare is the largest envelope extension of the wage and rent ing over the next five years, the market, or increase their hours, tion rate, or the share of the popu- in the budget, and at a scale that, subsidies to Sept. 25 from June. timeframe the feds are giving with greater access to childcare. lation that was either employed Ms. Scott said, surprised longtime Those would gradually be reduced themselves to bring the deficit in The policy could provide a boost or unemployed, of women was advocates. It’s “breathtaking,” in July. If needed, they could be check, projecting it will reach 1.1 in employment between 650,000 83.9 per cent, compared to 91.4 said Katie Davey, who sits on the extended into November, depend- per cent of the GDP within those and one million jobs, including per cent for men, according to youth working group on gender ing on the pandemic. five years. roughly 200,000 jobs working in the agency’s labour force survey. equality, an initiative launched Jim Stanford, an economist In a pre-budget presser, Ms. childcare. That’s around where it was pre- by Women and Gender Equality and director of the Centre for the Freeland said the childcare piece “Most women end up bearing pandemic, with the rate at 83.8 Canada. Future of Work, said the long- was a “transformational” and the brunt of the childcare work. per cent for women in January The pandemic saw the mass term toll the pandemic had on “enduring” social and economic And when things get tough, when 2020, while for men it was 90.9 closure of daycare centres, along the labour market is likely to “investment” that will yield “a childcare disappears, as has per cent. StatsCan noted that em- with a shift from in-person to on- take years to be fully appreci- great economic dividend” by happened during COVID, it ends ployment rates among both men line classes, making it harder for ated. He said the feds’ commit- bringing more women into the up being women who leave their and women have been improving parents—more often women—to ment on childcare—the “crown” labour force. jobs and that is the typical reality since September 2020. work the same number of hours, jewel of a budget “infused” with The budget estimates the we have seen,” said Ms. Free- Jackie Choquette, a Liberal or in some cases, to keep working. “feminist principles”—shouldn’t program could raise the GDP by land, who also highlighted other strategist with Crestview Strat- Noting there was an esti- be thought of solely as a re- as much as 1.2 per cent over the promises to help boost women egy, said those trends likely don’t mated nationwide shortage of sponse to the she-cession, adding next two decades by making it entrepreneurs, small businesses, account for instances in which 15,000 early childhood educators that women have long faced bar- easier for more women to fully and low-wage workers. women are able to work because in 2018, which appears to have riers to participating fully in the join the workforce. It suggests the Some of the budget measures of the flexibility afforded by the persisted in some provinces, Ms. labour market. program could lead to the addi- can help in the short term, but pandemic and the strain it’s had Davey said a “first step” will be a “This should not be under- tion of 240,000 workers. many of the measures aimed at on them trying to juggle work and “massive training plan” for those stood as an immediate anti-reces- But Mr. Stanford said that un- women will likely have an impact caring for their children. staffers providing care. sion policy. It will help with the derestimates the policy’s potential farther down the road, said “Are women going back to At a total of $4.1-billion in recovery, but the lasting economic economic benefits. Ms. Scott, with the virus “in the work? Yes. But are they going the next fiscal year, the plan driver’s seat” and still dispropor- back to work in a full-time capac- only adds $2.8-billion to what’s tionately affecting sectors such ity? Not always. They’re working already been committed this COVID relief measures as tourism and hospitality where reduced hours,” she said. “We’re in year, a top-up that Conservative women work. a unique situation right now, be- strategist and Summa Strategies Policy Cost Ottawa estimates some 16,000 cause of the pandemic, a number vice-chair Kate Harrison said Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (extension) $10.1-billion in 2021-22 women have dropped out of the of employers are being remark- made her question if the Liber- Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (extension) $1.9-billion in 2021-22 labour force completely because ably flexible with their employees als are serious about starting a Canada Emergency Business Account (extension for gap-filling programs) Up to $80-million in 2021-22 of COVID-19, compared to the about working from home. Will program that has been a peren- Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care System (to come) Up to $30-billion over five years male labour force expanding by that continue?” nial party promise that isn’t Supporting Indigenous Economies Up to $150-million in 2021-22 91,000. The “hard-fought gains” Also in the budget’s chap- acted upon. “The question is, Supporting Indigenous Post-Secondary Education during COVID-19 Up to $177-million over two years for women are now at risk as ter on “supporting women,” the what are the details going to be Canada Recovery Hiring Program (to come) $595-million in 2021-22 COVID-19 has heightened gender Liberals have highlighted rules Plan for reopening borders $523-million over five years inequities and hit women in the to strengthen diversity in cor- Continued on page 5 THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 2021 5 News

Continued from page 4 parent at home with the kids. Among this group—they are fairly happy with their Conservative Party and how fast it’s going to be scaled up,” circumstances. Be it a choice or the situa- Leader Erin O’Toole she said, noting that’s roughly the same tion they’re in. On the other side, just over said on Budget Day cost for the childcare program in Quebec half of parents with kid(s) under six have that his party would alone. arranged out-of-home care,” she said. offer amendments For Ms. Scott, that’s a reasonable Women who have been impacted by the to the Liberal plan, amount, given the early stages would focus pandemic will be the segment of voters including on child on negotiations, with some money likely most interested in seeing a plan come to care, which he said to stabilize the sector that is “running on full fruition, she said, while stressing “it’s leaves parents out of fumes,” given the drop in enrolment and not a unanimous viewpoint or lived experi- the driver’s seat. The added COVID-related costs. ence.” While the ultimate goal is to offer $10 a Hill Times photograph Though the Liberals have performed by Sam Garcia day childcare after five years, Ms. Freeland better among women during the pan- presented more immediate changes, sug- demic than the Conservatives, according gesting new spending could lead parents to public-opinion polling, Mr. Hughes said to see a reduction of up to 50 per cent in the government shouldn’t take that for average fees within 18 months. granted. According to the CCPA, monthly costs “Women, politically speaking, make up were lowest in Quebec at $181 in Montreal, a very important voter base for the Liberal Gatineau, and Québec City, with averages Party of Canada,” he said. “They need to quickly climbing above the $700 mark continue to show that they matter and that across the country, reaching highs in the they’re going to continue to support them.” Greater Toronto Area above $1,200, with — with files from Palak Mangat Toronto clocking in at $1,578. [email protected] Elliot Hughes, a consultant with [email protected] Summa Strategies and former staffer to The Hill Times then-finance minister Bill Morneau, who called the budget a “landmark” document, acknowledged the plan is a starting point. There’s work to be done hammering out agreements with provinces, setting stan- dards, he said, and passing legislation to appropriate those funds. The budget offers “a lot of forward plan- ning, and a lot of trajectory, and a lot of things are needed now,” said Ms. Harrison, adding that addressing skills and training gaps for a changing workforce was a “miss- ing piece” and doubted the hiring credit would have the “desired effect.”

Conservatives need to ‘come prepared’ with own plan The Conservative Party will have to “come prepared” with a fleshed-out propos- al, given this talking point will likely be on the tips of Liberal lips for the next several months, said Ms. Harrison, adding quick movement on this promise isn’t likely until there’s certainty in Parliament. “This is not just benevolent, we’re talking about 50 per cent of the electorate and a sizable portion of that as accessible voters for the Liberal Party,” she observed. Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole (Durham, Ont.) panned the Liberal ap- proach, questioning whether provinces had been properly consulted on an area of their responsibility. “I prefer letting parents be in the driv- er’s seats and giving options to all Cana- dian families,” said Mr. O’Toole, who in his leadership platform suggested the Canada Child Benefit could begin early, near the end of a pregnancy, Ms. Harrison noted. Spring or fall election speculation has been rampant, with the minority Parlia- ment recently crossing the 18-month threshold, the average these short-lived governments typically live. The 2021 budget is widely seen as the last before the next election. According to a January Angus Reid In- stitute report, Liberals held the lead in vote intention, bolstered by double-digit point advantages over the Conservatives among women: by 20 points among women ages 18 to 34, 28 points between 35 to 54, and 15 points among women over 55. The NDP, meanwhile, holds second place among both young men and young women, and the Liberals will have to “watch their flank” among a segment they can’t afford to lose, THANK YOU said Shachi Kurl, president of the polling Ministers Freeland, Bibeau, Ng and MPs across all shop, by email. As for whether childcare is likely to be party lines for the inclusion of a winery support a key ballot-box issue, she said the issue is nuanced, even as there’s “zero doubt” a broad consensus exists supporting program in Budget 2021. The program will help affordable, quality childcare options for parents. “Almost half of parents with a little Wine Growers across Canada Grow Back Better. one under the age of six actually have one 6 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 2021 | THE HILL TIMES News Canada continues to delay decision on COVID vaccines IP waiver

tics, equipment, therapeutics or vaccines Numerous global are well-recognized by all the members,” health and human the proponents wrote on Jan. 15. “It is rights advocates surprising that even after the experience have called on of the last ten months, certain members International Trade are asking these questions. Whereas the Minister Mary Ng same members are applying a sequenc- to support the WTO ing or prioritizing criteria for administer- TRIPS waiver being ing preventive or curative treatment for forwarded by South COVID-19 in their respective jurisdictions. Africa and India. The So, this is beyond our comprehension Hill Times photograph that members are recognizing the issue by Andrew Meade of shortage in supply and at the same time asking questions [about] whether we are facing any challenges in ramping up production.” In a response to an Order Paper ques- tion from Conservative MP Garnett Genuis (Sherwood Park-Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.), Global Affairs Canada said the federal government has not found anything that domestically would limit “the procurement of COVID-19 diagnostics, treatments, vac- cines or other equipment, or which could not be addressed through the use of exist- ing TRIPS flexibilities.” Global Affairs has yet to finalize its position on the waiver six lia, Chile, and Mexico, asked in November The response noted that Canada for greater clarity from supporters of the remains committed “to finding consensus- months after it was first introduced by South Africa and India. waiver on the intellectual property (IP) based solutions” to IP barriers that WTO barriers that member nations have en- members have. Global Affairs said Canada countered in responding to the COVID-19 “looks forward to further discussion” on ing manufacturers’ patent protections over Continued from page 1 pandemic. In January, 10 of the proponents the waiver at TRIPS Council meetings set a limited timeframe. of the waiver responded to the questions. for April 22 and 30. India in the hope of allowing greater ac- Since the waiver was introduced, the “Shortcomings in ramping up the man- cess to vaccines around the globe by waiv- Canadian government, along with Austra- ufacturing of specific COVID-19 diagnos- Continued on page 15

Did you know that musculoskeletal conditions are the number one reason for lost-time work injury?

The combined direct and indirect cost of chronic One in eight Canadians Musculoskeletal pain is pain in Canada is have been diagnosed a key driver of the initial estimated to be between with chronic back pain. prescribing of opioids. $56- $60 BILLION per year.

Musculoskeletal disorders currently affect 11 million Canadians annually over the age of 12. This number is projected to increase to 15 million by 2031. Musculoskeletal conditions place a huge strain on both employees and employers, accounting for 40 per cent of all lost-time claims costing the Canadian economy almost $14 billion due to productivity losses. These figures are pre-COVID-19 pandemic. Emerging data indicates that the problem is getting worse. Action is needed now to keep workers healthy and to mitigate the costs to Canada’s economy as it recovers from the impacts of COVID-19.

chiropractic.ca/about-chiropractic/learn-more THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 2021 7 Hill Life & People New contract keeps distance Diplomatic Circles interpreting definition deemed by Neil Moss problematic by association New consul in Nunavut even more

interpretation service during COVID-19, Public Services and Public Services and Procurement Minister essential without ability to travel Procurement Canada Anita Anand (Oakville, Ont.) notes there’s been an “approximate ninefold increase to the North, says Danish envoy in the number of meetings” and increased hasn’t gone ‘far enough’ duration (from an average of 1.6 hours in in protecting interpreters 2018-19 to an average of 3.5 hours now). According to a January survey by the ‘It’s important for us to with measures set down AIIC, 70 per cent of staff interpreters reported suffering injuries from remote have boots on the ground,’ in the new contract for interpretation work. says Danish Ambassador Ms. Gagnon said while the new defini- freelancers, says the AIIC’s tion isn’t a concern right now, as the major- Hanne Fugl Eskjær of the Nicole Gagnon. ity of all meeting participants are remote, she expects virtual meetings will continue appointment of Navarana to be used more frequently post-COVID. BY LAURA RYCKEWAERT The definition set out creates a “loophole,” Beveridge as Denmark’s she said, whereby even if witnesses, who honorary consul in Iqaluit. ew contract terms for federal freelance often do most of the talking, are tuning in Ninterpreters are out, and while one online (during COVID, all witnesses must proposed aspect flagged as problematic participate remotely, while Parliamentar- roviding a voice for an ambassador has been reversed, a definition of distance ians have the option to attend in person or Pstuck in Ottawa as a result of public interpreting that’s been criticized as likely remotely), if a majority of participants are health measures, Denmark named a new Danish Ambassador Hanne Fugl Eskjær, to open up the workforce to greater health in the same room as the interpreter it will honorary consul to Iqaluit last month. pictured on November 15, 2019, says she and safety risks has been maintained. be staffed as an in-person event. Originally from Greenland, Navarana likely won't be able to make her first trip to “Because “We just want Beveridge was appointed by Queen Mar- Canada's North until next year. The Hill Times they’re putting An interpreter is to reduce the grethe II of Denmark to the new post on photograph by Sam Garcia it down in the pictured at work in exposure … in March 5. contract for the a booth during a this case they’re Danish Ambassador to Canada Hanne very first time, press conference not going far Fugl Eskjær told The Hill Times in a phone Ms. Beveridge told CBC North last it’s important in the Sir John enough,” said interview that for Copenhagen, the Arctic month that she is “most excited” about be- that they get it A. Macdonald Ms. Gagnon. has always been a “really high priority,” ing the “bridge” to help Nunavut connect right, and unfor- building on Feb. 16. An April 12 which makes having a representative in with Denmark, as well as with Greenland tunately they’ve Among measures press release the North “important.” and the Faroe Islands. not changed the undertaken by from the AIIC Ms. Eskjær has been Denmark’s top She said she has her leg in both Den- definition, and PSPC to support also flags that representative in Ottawa since 2019. She mark and Canada, with her family still it’s not right,” interpreters during no limits are was previously the country’s Arctic ambas- living across the Baffin Bay in Greenland said Nicole COVID-19, new placed on over- sador and led the department of Arctic Af- while having met her husband in Nunavut. Gagnon, a free- booths and new time for distance fairs and Northern America in the Danish “There’s not so many of us that have lance interpreter sound consoles have assignments, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. that experience,” she said. on the Hill and been installed. The and that when “It’s important for us to have boots on The honorary consul in Iqaluit is one of Canadian ad- Hill Times photograph such events the ground—a person who lives there, nine throughout Canada that help to build vocacy lead for by Andrew Meade go “overtime, speaks the language, who has the local Denmark’s representation across Canada. the International interpreters network and understanding,” the ambassa- They both serve to help Danish citizens Association of are expected dor said of Ms. Beveridge’s appointment. that require assistance, as well as to iden- Conference Interpreters (AIIC), whose to soldier on without regard to any health “I try to cover as much from here, from tify new opportunities for greater co-opera- membership includes interpreters working impacts they may suffer.” Ottawa, [but] it’s not a place that you can tion between Ottawa and Copenhagen. for the federal Translation Bureau. No doubt a reflection of concerns go to easily all the time. So to have some- Ms. Eskjær said Denmark is currently The new contract—via a request for raised, the contract notes “the definition of body there who is there and can assist planning the largest cultural event ever proposals—was posted online April 9. It’s distance interpreting may evolve and be Danish citizens with short notice is really happening outside of a Nordic country, a one-year contract, with an option for the modified during the contract period.” important.” called the Nordic Bridges, which will take government to extend it for an additional A final report from the House Languag- Ms. Beveridge has lived in Nunavut for place in Canada in 2022, including some year. es Committee on the challenges facing the the last 22 years and has experience work- events in Nunavut. At the heart of concern is its definition service is expected in the coming weeks (in ing for Inuit organizations. She currently “For next year, culture will be very im- for what constitutes distance interpreta- a letter Feb. 19 the committee had asked works for the Qikiqtani Inuit Association portant,” she said, noting that both business tion; specifically, that only events “where Ms. Anand to “pause the freelance inter- as the administration director. and culture will be important points of co- the interpreter is in a different location preter contract process” while it completed Ms. Eskjær has yet to make the trek to operation between the two nations. than the majority of participants in a given its work). Further sound quality testing is Nunavut as she became ambassador just Ms. Eskjær said there are strong histori- event” constitute as such. also currently underway by the Translation months before the pandemic hit Canada. cal bonds between Greenland and Nuna- How an event is defined changes how it Bureau, which exists under PSPC. She said the plan was to travel to all three vut, including between families, traders, will be staffed: for in-person events, teams “The minister has chosen a short-sight- Canadian territories before COVID-19 put and cultural links. of two interpreters work up to four-hour ed option that is not sustainable. When a halt to the plans. “We are deeply intertwined in the Arctic shifts, while teams of three work up to the already short supply of freelancers is “I had been really looking forward to as two Arctic nations [that are] living very six hours, but for distance interpreting, burned out, where will Parliament turn to going to the North and visiting a lot of close to one another,” she said. that’s reduced to up to three-hour shifts for ensure it is functionally bilingual?” said Ms. communities and engaging myself, but it Ms. Eskjær said there is also a focus on teams of two and up to four-hour shifts for Gagnon in the press release. was not possible,” she said, noting that a increasing mobility between Greenland teams of three. She also raised concern over a new future visit may be a “little too optimistic” and Nunavut, noting that prior to becom- As part of a suite of health and safety “advance availability initiative” that’s been for this year, but she is hoping to travel to ing an honorary consul, Ms. Beveridge was measures undertaken to protect interpret- set down in the contract, which would give the North in 2022. helping establish links for Greenlandic ers during COVID-19—during which the priority to freelancers who provide their She said having a representative in people in Nunavut. vast majority of participants in meetings availability up to eight weeks in advance. Nunavut is of added value without the “Even before becoming an honorary of the House and Senate, either the main One proposed change the final contract ability for embassy officials to travel to consul, she’s been helping when people Chambers or committees, are taking part has walked back relates to required avail- Nunavut. from Greenland come and visit Nunavut, remotely via Zoom—the Translation Bu- ability hours. Previously, PSPC had pro- “[In] these times, we need to build the she’s been helping setting up meetings. reau has reduced shift hours (to those set posed requiring freelancers to be available ground for future co-operation, and she … Before taking on the position, she has out above for distance interpreting events) to work over a 15.5-hour window (7 a.m. can start doing that already,” Ms. Eskjær helped establish these bonds and helped to reduce the amount of time individual in- to 10:30 p.m.) on a given day. In the final said, noting that talks are being set up with Greenlandic people quite a lot,” Ms. Eskjær terpreters are being exposed to the lower- terms, the service’s previously uncodified Nunavut authorities. said. quality audio that’s transmitted via Zoom. “modus operandi” has instead been set Ms. Eskjær said the Nunavut and The ambassador added that there is a During COVID, not only has audio been down, said Ms. Gagnon, whereby interpret- Greenland link with the shared Inuit letter of intent between Canadian North impacted (in terms of volume and quality) ers are available to work either a day shift background is an important driver for co- airlines and Air Greenland to promote by the virtual format, there’s also been an (8 a.m. to 6 p.m.) or an evening shift (11:30 operation. direct travel between the territories, which increased demand for interpretation servic- a.m. to 9:30 p.m.). Nunavut is 26 kilometres away from could make the honorary consul position es. In a March 29 letter to the House Official “That’s good news,” she said. Greenland—a Danish territory—and the even more important. Languages Committee, which is studying [email protected] two territories share a maritime border [email protected] the challenges facing the parliamentary The Hill Times that is more than 3,000 km. The Hill Times 8 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 2021 | THE HILL TIMES

EDITOR Kate Malloy MANAGING EDITOR Charelle Evelyn PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY BY PUBLISHERS Anne Marie Creskey, DEPUTY EDITORS Peter Mazereeuw, Laura Ryckewaert HILL TIMES PUBLISHING INC. Jim Creskey, Leslie Dickson, Ross Dickson ASSISTANT DEPUTY EDITOR Abbas Rana 246 Queen Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5E4 GENERAL MANAGER, CFO Andrew Morrow DIGITAL EDITOR Beatrice Paez

Editorial Letters to the Editor Affordable childcare in Canada is long Infrastructure investments overdue, let’s not waste this moment onday was a historic day for the looking to strike a deal with the prov- essential to realizing the Mcountry, with the first woman to hold inces and territories to tackle the problem the post of federal finance minister rising “leaving too many children and families in the House of Commons to deliver her behind, particularly low-income and North’s potential: stakeholder first budget speech. racialized families,” with an initial 50-50 he infrastructure policy issue of The mote and northern regions must build the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance split of the costs. Hill Times rightly focused on the infrastructure they require for operation. Minister Chrystia Freeland’s first formal “I make this promise to Canadians T importance of enhanced investments in Through extensive research on how re- financial plan was also Canada’s first today, speaking as their finance minister infrastructure, like roads and reliable mote and northern mining costs compare in two years, after the previous edition and as a working mother: we will get it internet access, but was lacking in discus- to those in the south, we’ve found that it meant to be tabled by her predecessor done,” Ms. Freeland told the Commons. sion on how the government can best costs 2-2.5 times more to build the same Bill Morneau in March 2020 was wiped Judging from the early reaction, support those with the least access in the precious or base metal mine in the North from the schedule by the newly exploding there’s a healthy amount of skepticism country; individuals living in Canada’s (off-grid) than in a centrally located COVID-19 pandemic. mixed in with the breathless excitement North and the industries they depend on. region and, most importantly, that 70 per As historic as the moment was on at the prospect of reaching the summit of As we’ve observed during the pandem- cent of this cost differential derives from April 19, millions of Canadians are also this particular mountain. ic, many northern regions lack adequate the infrastructure deficit. hoping that with a woman at the helm of Ms. Freeland attempted to temper health-care facilities, let alone roads, Strategic investments in infrastruc- the Finance Department, history isn’t go- some of that with her budget speech. railroads, and airports. Northern com- ture are key to the government’s stated ing to repeat itself. “This is not an effort that will deliver munities and industries are often diesel priority to build back better, and prog- The centrepiece of the Liberals’ instant gratification. We are building dependent and limited in their ability to ress is being made, including through the encyclopaedia-sized tome was a $30-bil- something that, of necessity, must be reduce GHG emissions and fight climate introduction of per-capita plus allocation lion, five-year commitment for early constructed collaboratively and for the change. The costs of living and running a formulas for territories, the creation of learning and childcare. It aims to drive long term, but I have confidence in us,” business are consequently proportionate- the Northern Transportation Corridor childcare costs down to an average of $10 she said. “I have confidence that we are a ly higher. If we are to build back better, Initiative, as well as funding key projects per day across Canada by the end of that country that believes in investing in our we must be careful not to ignore the parts such as the Yukon Resource Gateway and timeframe. future, in our children, and in our young of our country—and the people who live the T’Licho Road in the N.W.T. But more “The investment in early learning and parents.” there—that need the most help. can be done and without the right gov- childcare, in building an early learning As the former minister responsible for The mining sector understands these ernment supports, the people who live and childcare system, this is going to be intergovernmental affairs, that confi- challenges because ours is often one there and the companies that operate an enduring investment in making it pos- dence likely has some basis in reality, of the few large employers in remote there will continue to face a significant sible for parents and especially women but in a budget devoid of the oft-asked- and northern Canada. Mines are often disadvantage compared to the rest of the to participate in the labour force,” Ms. for health-care transfer boost and in an located in areas without roads, telecom- country. Freeland told reporters. environment where provincial politicians munications services, or easily accessible Pierre Gratton As the budget document noted: “More are frequently asking for more money, transportation. Frequently, companies President and CEO, Mining than 50 years ago, the Royal Commission supplies, and vaccines to combat the that seek to develop mining projects in re- Association of Canada on the Status of Women in Canada called coronavirus pandemic, there’s always a on the federal government to immediately chance that those negotiations won’t go begin working with provinces and territo- as smoothly as hoped. ries to establish a national daycare plan. A workable, affordable childcare sys- Generations of Canadians have waited for tem in this country is long overdue. Hope- their government to answer this call.” fully, the politics of everything won’t get Focusing on ‘bad apples’ won’t And now, with a chunk of money on in the way of finally making it happen. the table, the federal Liberals will be The Hill Times solve military’s problems, say veteran network chairs e: “Lick is right: drop political postur- gender integrate by the Canadian Hu- Ring, pay attention to the victims, and man Rights Tribunal, Parliamentarians fix sexual misconduct crisis in Canada’s have not provided the military the tools military,” (The Hill Times, April 12, p. 8). it needed to achieve full diversity and Thank you for your thoughtful editorial, inclusion objectives. “Adding women and in which you highlighted the need for stirring” did not work in the past, and will politicians of all stripes to work together not work moving forward. The military’s to address Canada’s ongoing problems problems with sexual misconduct will with military sexual misconduct—in- not be solved by focusing on the pun- clusive of ensuring victims’ care needs ishment of a few “bad apples.” What is are fully addressed. We’d like to add two instead required, is systemic institutional additional points of consideration to your reflection and subsequent change into editorial: that any serious attempt to solve an institution that is trustworthy even the problem of military sexual miscon- if, on occasion, individuals within it are duct will require ongoing independent not. Concurrently, Parliament needs to external oversight mechanisms and that focus on providing the military with the whenever possible, we should all strive to required resources to enable the type of amplify the voices of the women and men external oversight needed to effect these directly impacted by military sexual mis- long overdue changes. conduct rather than having them spoken Karen Breeck CD, MD about or spoken for, by others. Maya Eichler, PhD The current “crisis” has been three Sayward Montague decades in the making. In those 30-plus Co-Chairs, Women Veteran Research years since the military was ordered to and Engagement Network

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the accusers. When I was at the Israel, with all its flaws UN in 2004, a resolution came to the floor of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to endorse a study on women’s rights in the West Bank and Gaza. deserves Canada’s support The report blamed Israel for the lack of freedom for women there, PM. It included comments such territories have made few friends even though their status hinged as “celebrating the ethnic cleans- internationally. In Canada, polls far more on the decisions of their ing of Palestine,” and “(Canada consistently show rising support own governments. and Israel’s) relationship is due to for the Palestinian cause, with I could not support the resolu- manipulation by the Jewish com- about one-quarter supporting tion in good conscience, and munity.” The video was shared by a Israel. But Netanyahu and Likud It is admittedly not easy defending failing to reach my colleagues, former Canadian diplomat who re- are not Israel; the divided elector- Israel these days. Prime Minister sought cover through the minis- fused to take it down when asked. ate is a sign many people of good Benjamin Netanyahu has been in ter’s office. This led to a policy by I followed up by criticizing the faith seek progress. office since 2009 and is an unlikely the Paul Martin government of video on the group’s Facebook And the facts are these: Israel role model for a modern democracy, voting on the merits of any issue Andrew Caddell page. The response was harsh is the only true democracy in the writes Andrew Caddell. The Hill Times concerning Israel and the Pales- photograph by Sam Garcia With All Due Respect screeds by supposed “progressives” Middle East. It is an ally of the tinians, rather than aligning with who attacked me as a “Zionist” West, sharing intelligence and the anti-Israel majority. Subse- and insisted Israel had no right to trading freely. Canada is home thinkable for Canadians. Imagine if quent governments have followed TTAWA—Does Israel have exist. One pseudo-intellectual ac- to a Jewish diaspora of almost there were regular attacks of rocket with a version of this policy. Othe right to exist? It is a seri- cused Canadian Jews who support 400,000 people, many of whom grenades in the streets of Ottawa So, the question is asked ous question, and if answered in Israel of not being “authentic.” are leaders in Canadian society. from neighbouring Quebec. Or if again: does Israel have the right the affirmative, raises many more. It is admittedly not easy de- At the same time, our fading the nuclear weapons in upstate New to exist? Yes. And that is why, de- The recent anniversary of the fending Israel these days. Prime collective memory forgets Israel York were aimed at Canada. spite its flaws, every Government founding of Israel in 1948 prompt- Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has was founded as a Jewish state At its recent policy convention, of Canada has supported Israel ed a relatively innocuous video been in office since 2009 and is an in the wake of the Holocaust. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh bent since it declared independence in by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. unlikely role model for a modern And that it has survived several over backwards to emphasize 1948. Anyone who suggests other- With an election looming, the democracy. Recent charges of wars in one of the world’s most criticism of Israel was not covert wise is an idiot, or worse, a bigot. Liberals and Conservatives will fraud and breach of trust, and his dangerous neighbourhoods. The anti-Semitism. But attacks on Andrew Caddell is retired from battle to win the votes of the Ca- persistent machinations to stay in complexity of relations between Jews and synagogues in Canada Global Affairs Canada, where he nadian Jewish community, who power over four elections in two Israel and Iran, Iraq, Syria, Saudi frequently involve some confla- was a senior policy adviser. He overwhelmingly support Israel. years don’t reflect well on him or Arabia, Egypt, and other Middle tion with Israel, and those attacks previously worked as an adviser However, in a move it presum- his country. East states is like three-dimen- are occurring more often. to Liberal governments. He is a ably thought was clever, a group His Likud government’s con- sional chess. It is no wonder Israel is singled out for criti- fellow with the Canadian Global called Independent Jewish Voices sistent lack of progress in estab- Israel has never been an innocent cism at the United Nations more Affairs Institute and a principal of of Canada provided its own ver- lishing a Palestinian state in Gaza on the world stage. than any other country, which QIT Canada. He can be reached sion of the video, with a script and the West Bank, and the per- The existential threats its is ironic, considering how many at [email protected]. on the screen contradicting the petual expansion in the occupied citizens face on a daily basis are un- human rights violators are among The Hill Times

COVID or not, Freeland’s budget doesn’t shy away from challenging Canadians on their vision for the future

signs of backing away from its tech corps to help people figure Liberals are pushing ahead with provinces, although on childcare, The Liberals are plan to transform Canada into out the software. the dual budget message: COVID the commitment of $30-billion in what many will see as a very Overall, Freeland’s strategy is aid today plus tomorrow’s strategy federal cash over five years might clearly taking different country in the post-pan- an attempted budget for the ages for what they see as a better post- help convince otherwise unen- advantage of the way demic era. meant to change Canada’s socio- COVID Canada. thusiastic premiers to go along. In the most impactful budget economic fabric on a long-term If nothing else, Freeland’s first A similar situation exists with the virus emergency in recent memory, Finance Min- basis. “Budget 2021 is an historic budget will provide the basis for pharmacare, which rated scant ister Chrystia Freeland looked investment to address the specific a Liberal election platform should mention in the 740-page budget has undercut the beyond COVID-19 on Monday wounds of the COVID-19 reces- Trudeau’s minority government document other than notes about to preview the greener, fairer sion, put people first, create jobs, be dissolved anytime soon. And Ottawa’s ongoing work with the neoliberal austerity Canada the Liberals are hoping grow the middle class, set busi- the Liberals are clearly taking provinces on a possible national voters will endorse for the future. nesses on a track for long-term advantage of the way the virus drug insurance plan. fixation that has The budget envisions massive growth and ensure that Canada’s emergency has undercut the Viewed from a progressive, influenced federal spending built on the much- future will be healthier, more neoliberal austerity fixation that environmentally conscious angle, expanded role accorded Ottawa equitable, greener and more pros- has influenced federal govern- Freeland’s budget is a much-need- government spending as it acted as the financial first perous,” a press release accompa- ment spending intentions in every ed, admirable attempt to encour- responder for individuals and nying the budget said. budget for the past 30 years. In age the creation of a Canada more intentions in every businesses during the 15-month- It’s a gamble Trudeau didn’t the face of complaints that Ot- suited to the needs and risks of the old emergency. An exhaustive have to take. So far, the prime tawa is spending too much at a 21st century. But the commitments budget for the past 30 blueprint for progressive, future- minister has been given okay time when the economy may be involved, both financially and psy- oriented growth that will leave marks in the polls for his efforts to on the way to recovery anyway, chologically, may be a lot to ask of years. the federal government with a protect individuals and the econo- the government is taking the Canadians at a time when many $154-billion budget deficit this my during the worst crisis in half position that the hurried return to are still trying to get through the year, Freeland’s policy package a century, and Freeland reinforced budget-cutting after the 2008-09 pandemic with their health and included large-scale spending on the government’s COVID back- recession by the likes of Stephen finances intact. national childcare, seniors’ long- stop for business and workers in Harper slowed the economic This budget could be seen in term care, climate action, inclu- the budget. And the Liberals don’t bounce-back and prolonged the retrospect as brilliant or, alterna- sivity, economic fairness, and seem in any imminent danger pain for everyone involved. tively, a misfire. It may depend business development—as well as from an internally divided Con- As of today, Trudeau is staking to a large extent on whether increased support to survive the servative Party helmed by a leader re-election on the public’s willing- Trudeau and Freeland can con- pandemic. with few non-flexible positions. ness to see the pandemic shock vince the public that developing There are also major invest- So, the Liberals could have fo- as a turning point and buy into green technology and setting up ments designed to push for a cused for the most part in the bud- profound change in keeping with an early learning and childcare Les Whittington more productive, innovative get on providing the financing for the Liberals’ centre-left positions system—while expensive—are Need to Know corporate sector, including new another three or four months of on a host of controversial issues. not only crucial to improving our tax breaks for small business pandemic fire-fighting before turn- And Trudeau is betting a fair bit livelihoods and living conditions, investment and a Canada Digital ing their attention to the recovery. on his ability to work with the but will also pay hefty economic TTAWA—Despite the im- Adoption Program to assist some However, whether Freeland felt premiers. On national childcare benefits in the years ahead. Omediate crunch of the third 160,000 businesses with the cost committed to this budget before and improvements in seniors’ Les Whittington is a regular wave, Prime Minister Justin of new technology while also the third wave burst upon us in long-term facilities, Ottawa will columnist for The Hill Times. Trudeau’s government shows no providing a 28,000-strong youth full force or for other reasons, the need the co-operation of the The Hill Times 10 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 2021 | THE HILL TIMES Comment

O’Toole’s new climate conversion was O’Toole’s aided by the recent Supreme Court of Canada decision which acknowledged the current federal government’s carbon pricing Robbing the regime is legitimate given the magnitude of bold carbon climate change. Though the decision of the court was not unanimous, it was comprehen- sive enough that even allies of O’Toole like Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and Sas- pricing katchewan Premier Scott Moe recognized they couldn’t duck the court’s direction. opposition to Still, O’Toole had to get to a place where he was comfortable accepting and defending the pitch shows role of consumer payment in a Conservative climate plan. Announcing this as he did before the federal budget was also a wise move, as he’s willing it allowed him to mitigate incoming criticism pay for us all from his partisan political opponents that the Conservatives were still lame ducks on climate. Simultaneously, critics from his own in our economy. It also exacerbated troubling to take party, and they will undoubtedly rear their This budget reminds us inequalities that the government readily ac- heads, didn’t have time for much initial fratri- knowledges will hamper the country’s ability to cide because they would turn their focus to the that the human cost of the flourish in the future unless they’re addressed.” Liberal government’s first budget in two years. risks to win The mechanics of O’Toole’s consumer Conversely, the Liberals made sure the pandemic far outweighs NDP have no room to breathe and nothing payment system do seem confusing and will the spending necessary to to campaign on. This home invasion included be subject to ongoing criticism. These per- the theft of childcare (to be fair the NDP gave He may still yet lose some sonal carbon savings accounts are all new restore lives. that up from the days of Jack Layton), national to us, and climate policy experts, I suspect, pharmacare (not advanced in this budget), and caucus support over it. But will diagnose their utility ad infinitum. Also, beefing up sick leave benefits (only applicable O’Toole’s price ceiling for carbon pricing is to federally regulated workplaces). Short of if the Conservatives want to lower than the Liberal system. Nonetheless, a wealth tax, this budget is quite progressive, win an election in the next I don’t think O’Toole will be too fussed over just not very structurally different. an ongoing dialogue of the mechanics of his The Liberals are trying to address struc- decade, these are the sorts approach as he now can legitimately say tural and systemic inequities using the same Conservatives recognize the role consumers structures and systems that produce those of decisions that need to be have in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. inequities. For example, the public service Even if his system is wonky and weird, does not have the range to devise programs made. he can argue that consumers themselves that are intersectional. Those who make deci- will be making the choice as to how they Erica Ifill sions that could determine programming and spend their climate mitigation money. He Bad+Bitchy policies, and intricacies—such as who is and can even point to the fact that different who isn’t included and how to deliver them to environmental organizations have com- disparate communities—are white, affluent, plimented the direction and intention of TTAWA—What a Biden-esque budget; and most likely male. Those who have no idea his plan. That is something not many other Oit smells like America’s Rescue Plan up what equity looks like are devising programs Conservative leaders have been able to do. in here (if you missed that DMX reference, with an equity lens. Nothing could go wrong O’Toole has shown that he is prepared to I can’t help you). here. Secondly, the $30-billion investment in take risks to win. He is not afraid to break The federal budget that we’ve been childcare, the Beyoncé of the budget, requires away from long standing party orthodoxy. waiting two years for dropped on April 19 buy-in from the provinces, and it’s doubtful He recognizes that the Conservatives can’t and, whew, wigs snatched. Firstly, let’s take that this group of white men who have had Tim Powers be static. Many Conservatives won’t like a moment and recognize how historic this the benefit of women’s unpaid labour buoy- Plain Speak O’Toole’s new tack on carbon pricing. He may budget is: Canada’s first female minister of ing their political lives will comply. Unless still yet lose some caucus support over it. But finance, the first working mother to deliver there is renewed thinking as to how this pro- if the Conservatives want to win an election a budget in this country—and one that gram will be developed and delivered it’ll be TTAWA—Erin O’Toole made a bold in the next decade, these are the sorts of deci- focuses on people. How radical. Instead of another Liberal promise broken, which will Omove last week. He became the first sions that need to be made. Standing still on bowing to political punditry from old, privi- do more to wreck Chrystia Freeland’s brand leader of the modern Conservative Party climate was never a realistic option. leged white men who always cry about debt than her grandfather’s alleged associations. of Canada to acknowledge that consum- O’Toole and the Conservative Party and deficits except when the spending lar- But what about the deficit? ers directly have some price to pay for have lots of work to do to be competitive gess reaches big businesses, she bucked a Unlike the aforementioned pundits stuck carbon consumption. He announced this against the Liberals in the next election. neoliberal ideology that has produced some in the ’90s, new thinking has emerged on a few short weeks after a slim majority of But what O’Toole did on carbon pricing of the largest equity gaps in our systems. debt and deficits. Stephen Poloz, appointed party members at the Conservative policy was his first major significant action. He This budget reminds us that the human to the Bank of Canada during Stephen Harp- convention refused to acknowledge that has also made it extremely difficult for fu- cost of the pandemic far outweighs the er’s tenure, “is among the leading economists climate change is real. ture Conservative leaders to go backwards spending necessary to restore lives. This who say deficits can be managed as long as This is a major and significant move by on carbon pricing. So, regardless of his is the difference between price (spending) the rate of economic growth exceeds the in- the Conservative leader. For well over 15 future political fate, he has already set up a and value (investments). And it’s a distinc- terest rate governments pay to borrow.” At a years, the Conservative Party has made legacy. He put the Trudeau carbon tax, the tion with a difference. conference, as relayed in the Financial Post, millions upon millions of dollars fundrais- so-called tax on everything, to bed. There is something in here for everyone Poloz said he’d focus on boosting inflation- ing off the “Liberal carbon tax.” They have Tim Powers is vice-chairman of Summa and something stolen from each opposition free growth of about two per cent and went taken down political opponents who have Strategies and managing director of party. From the Conservatives, the Liberals onto say that were he finance minister, he tried to argue that individuals do have Abacus Data. He is a former adviser to beheaded that party’s first attempt at looking would “spend heavily on productivity-en- some responsibility to bear in paying for Conservative political leaders. human. In producing its own mental health hancing infrastructure, especially childcare.” climate change mitigation measures. The Hill Times plan, the government takes racialized commu- So, what’s the problem? Instead of nities into consideration: “Racialized and Black spending on businesses that use taxpayer Conservative Leader Canadians can also face distinct challenges money intended to save jobs to boost divi- Erin O'Toole, pictured with mental health including structural racism dends and executive pay, the government during a March 23 and inequities in access to care.” And that is a decided to spend it on people suffering press conference lot of the tenor of this budget—inequities—and from a pandemic. For the affluent, that is following the that is the role of government that Conserva- the problem. A Financial Post investigation Conservative Party's tives refuse to acknowledge, much less ad- found that “at least 68 Canadian companies policy convention, dress. They’re still All Lives Matter in a Black have continued to pay out billions in divi- and the Conservative Lives Matter, MMIWG, and Stop Asian Hate dends to their shareholders while receiving Party have lots of world. Without their one-trick pony of deficit government aid.” Here’s looking at you, work to do to be spending as a crutch to hide a lack of political Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. competitive against vision, the Conservative Party seems lost. Seems like it’s the corporations that need the Liberals in the Structural and systemic inequities are the to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. next election. But greatest threat to Canadian standard of living. For those wondering how we’re going to pay what O’Toole did If your work doesn’t have that lens applied to for these measures, we can start by insisting on carbon pricing it, then you’re failing. If we want all Canadians these corporations pay the public back—with was his first major to be able to participate fully in this country, we interest—and move onto raising the corporate significant action, have to remove barriers and provide supports tax rate. We’re all in this together, right? writes Tim Powers. for those who need them. Heather Scoffield’s Erica Ifill is a co-host of the Bad+Bitchy The Hill Times column in the Toronto Star reminds us of this, podcast. photograph by Andrew “The pandemic didn’t just reveal weaknesses The Hill Times Meade THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 2021 11 Opinion U.S. finally admitting Korea- defeat in unwinnable war

U.S. Army Capt. Kevin Canada Mercer, the officer in charge of the 205th Corps Training Team, observes as an Afghan National Army trainer adjusts the site on an M-16 rifle in relations Kandahar, Afghanistan, on Jan. 23, 2008. Without the martial ‘stiffening’ supplied by U.S. special forces and the strong th availability of American air Veterans attend the 65 anniversary of the Battle support, the Afghan security of Kapyong commemorative ceremony in Ottawa forces are no match for the in 2016. Every year, in honour of Canada’s Taliban, writes Scott Taylor. valiant actions at the Battle of Kapyong, as well U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 70 years as Canada’s overall contribution in the Korean 1st Class David M. Votroubek War, the Korean Embassy holds various events to commemorate the sacrifices made by Canada’s The butcher’s bill was steep, with 158 Korean War Veterans, writes Ambassador Chang Now that Biden has pulled soldiers slain, 2,047 wounded and injured, Keung Ryong. Photograph courtesy of Veterans and thousands more veterans suffering after Affairs Canada the plug on the U.S. from the unseen mental wounds of PTSD. military commitment in The dollar figure spent has yet to be bered by the Chinese Army, the Canadians fully tallied, but it is estimated that when were determined—so much so, that the Afghanistan, we can be the long-term treatment of our injured Battle of company commander of 2 PPCLI, Captain veterans is factored into the equation, the J. G. Mills, even requested defensive fire certain that Canada will war in Afghanistan will have cost taxpay- near the position of his own platoon to ers $22-billion. stem the advance of the Chinese forces. In not be missing out on any On the plus side of the ledger, there was the end, the tactic succeeded and afforded not a lot to show in the way of meaningful Kapyong the UN forces in the region valuable time victory parade. progress. to reassemble their troops for the next At its zenith, the NATO-led Interna- phase of operations. tional Security Assistance Force (ISAF), Every year, in honour of Canada’s of which Canada was one of more than Korea and Canada have valiant actions at the Battle of Kapyong, as 50 members, boasted a force in excess of well as Canada’s overall contribution in the 130,000 troops. developed robust ties Korean War, the Korean Embassy holds var- These foreign troops were supported by the built on a solid foundation ious events to commemorate the sacrifices most modern air force that money can buy. made by Canada’s Korean War Veterans. As Despite that overwhelming force, the of mutual respect and the pandemic hit in 2020, this remembrance Taliban continued to resist. remained top of mind for many when the Their continued existence meant that friendship, illustrated Korean government donated thousands any progress, such as the building of of masks to veterans across Canada as a Scott Taylor schools, was temporary at best. in the many bilateral gesture of goodwill, and as an expression of Inside Defence These facts did not deter the war-mon- the Republic of Korea’s everlasting appre- gering cabal of media cheerleaders who developments that have ciation to the brave souls who sacrificed so vehemently opposed Canada terminating occurred since. much so that Korea could be free. TTAWA—Last week, U.S. President our mission to Afghanistan back in 2014. In the 70 years since the Battle of OJoe Biden finally admitted that the war Their argument was that we needed to Kapyong, Korea and Canada have devel- in Afghanistan is unwinnable. Starting see the job through to its eventual victori- oped robust ties built on a solid foundation in May, the remaining American troops— ous conclusion. They harrumphed with in- of mutual respect and friendship. This is roughly 3,500—will begin pulling out of dignity at this “insult” to our martial legacy. illustrated in the many bilateral develop- their bases in Afghanistan. Ludicrous comparisons were made to ments that have occurred since: in 2014, By this Sept. 11, the 20th anniversary of the Second World War and how we didn’t the bilateral relationship was elevated to a the 9/11 terror attack that spawned the U.S. simply pull out of the alliance before Ger- strategic partnership—further strengthen- 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, the last U.S. many and Japan were defeated. ing co-operation in global affairs as well soldiers will be repatriated home. Well, now that Biden has pulled the plug as bilateral relations. And a year later, in The Taliban are celebrating this troop on the U.S. military commitment, we can 2015, the Korea-Canada bilateral Free Trade pull-out as their military victory. be certain that Canada will not be missing Agreement (FTA) came into force, further For the past two decades, the U.S. has out on any victory parade. Chang Keung Ryong bolstering trade and economic co-operation. trained, equipped, and bankrolled the The Americans and NATO have lost the Opinion Building on the momentum generated by Afghan forces. Technically, this force of war. the FTA, the Science, Technology and Inno- nearly 400,000 has been responsible for What is perhaps the worst element of vation Agreement came into effect in 2017, battling the Taliban since 2014. However, this sad saga is that the senior leadership f you were to travel to the peaceful resort providing a framework for fostering closer without the martial “stiffening” supplied by in the U.S. knew they were in an unwin- Itown of Kapyong, a few hours east of the collaboration in cutting-edge technolo- U.S. special forces and the availability of nable war from the outset—and they chose South Korean capital of Seoul, you would gies critical in the 21st century knowledge American air support, the Afghan security instead to lie to the American public. be greeted by weary crowds of tourists—all economy. Indeed, the bilateral relation- forces are no match for the Taliban. This was categorically revealed in a jostling to escape the hustle and bustle of ship between Korea and Canada has made Despite their numbers, these Afghan series of media reports in December 2019. the city, in search of fresh air and lush sur- significant strides over the years, with many military units are ill-disciplined and The Washington Post obtained a set of in- roundings. more promising developments to come. demoralized. They don their uniforms ternal documents compiled by the Special But what is now an idyllic tourist des- So, as we honour the 70th anniversary of seeking to survive in order to collect their Inspector General for Afghanistan Recon- tination for many, was, 70 years ago, the the Battle of Kapyong, and Canada’s gen- U.S.-funded paycheques, whereas Taliban struction (SIGAR), through the Freedom of location of one of the fiercest battles of the erous contribution of troops—which played insurgents are willing to kill themselves in Information Act. Korean War—the Battle of Kapyong. an outsized role in securing peace in the suicide attacks. These documents clearly illustrated that When South Korea was invaded by com- region, I am reminded of the longstanding Analysts predict that the corrupt U.S.- the “new Pentagon papers describe explicit munist forces from the North, and peace on commitment of successive Canadian gov- installed regime of President Ashraf Ghani and sustained efforts by the U.S. govern- the Korean Peninsula was threatened, Cana- ernments (including the present one), in could hold out in some major urban cen- ment to deliberately mislead the public.” da dispatched the third largest contingent providing steadfast support to the Korean tres for, at most, a handful of years. Others Even after the news broke regarding the of troops—after the U.S. and the U.K.—to government’s policy of establishing perma- predict Ghani’s power will be overthrown “Afghanistan papers,” as they came to be Korea, in a co-ordinated effort to push the nent peace on the Korean Peninsula. as soon as the wheels are up on the last known, the U.S. did not immediately cut Chinese and North Korean forces back over Thus, as a new season approaches, U.S. military evacuation flight from Kabul. their losses. the 38th parallel (what is now referred to as and the bitter cold gives way to warmer Canada participated in combat opera- Now that they have, perhaps even the the demilitarized zone or DMZ). weather, I am strengthened in the belief tions in Afghanistan from 2002 until Decem- most hawkish of our military pundits can For two harrowing days in April 1951, that with the co-operation of committed ber 2011. Our troops continued to deploy ask themselves, was Canada’s contribution on a strategic hill on the frontlines of the international partners like Canada, that to Afghanistan as trainers for the Afghan worth it? war, a battalion of 700 Canadian troops indeed a peaceful spring will arrive on the security forces until the spring of 2014. The answer is “no.” (the 2nd Battalion of the Princess Patri- Korean Peninsula. When the mission concluded, me- Scott Taylor is the editor and publisher cia’s Canadian Light Infantry Regiment), Chang Keung Ryong is ambassador of dia outlets began to ask whether or not of Esprit de Corps magazine. fought against a much larger force of 5,000 the Republic of Korea to Canada. Canada’s sacrifice had been “worth it?” The Hill Times Chinese soldiers. Although vastly outnum- The Hill Times 12 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 2021 | THE HILL TIMES News

Time for widespread gender- Gender-neutral language has significant benefits, diversity experts say neutral language in federal “The very act of not being in- cluded in policy is discriminatory,” Mx. Cortes-Vargas said. policy, legislation, say advocates Mx. Pichette pointed towards the need to represent everybody who lives in Canada, includ- ing non-binary, agender, and Justice Canada has two-spirit people “as a matter of respect but also as recognition of more recently been their lives.” This broader representation, using ‘they’ as a Mx. Airton said, not only has singular gender- a symbolic impact, but also a practical one in terms of mak- neutral pronoun on ing policy and governance more Executive director of Pride Toronto accurate for the public and Sherwin Modeste said that more a piecemeal basis, professionals. And, if there is no representation of gay men in his world gendered language in a piece growing up would’ve changed his life. but the gendered of policy, they said, then gender Photograph courtesy of LinkedIn becomes less necessary to think nature of the French about in a particular context. comfortable and ready to get out language requires The departments headed by Women and Gender Equality Minister Maryam “Gender, knowing if someone’s there and work, the burden on Monsef and Justice Minister David Lametti say work is being done in a a man or woman, isn’t always society is reduced, he said. Re- study, with a review ‘piecemeal’ fashion to add gender-neutral language to Canada’s policies and relevant and can actually be a dis- specting people’s gender identity regulations, the use of which ‘acknowledges and values human diversity.’ The traction because people use their is critical to alleviating these sorts currently underway. Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade common sense or folk knowledge of long-term impacts, he contin- about what men and women do ued. Practically speaking Hélène with inclusive experts would be or want to inform their decision For him, gender-neutral Continued from page 1 Frohard-Dourlent, a bilingual se- the best approach. making without realizing what language allows for authentic the changes as very progressive nior strategist at gender consulting Their own party is in the they’re doing.’” expression. In his case, having but said it’s something that still firm TransFocus, said one possible process of implementing gender- There may even be an impact been married and lived part of needs to be done federally, “be- strategy is using a median dot be- neutral language in both English on employers, Mx. Pichette said, the “straight life,” he said that if cause federal legislation carries fore the final “e” in a word to indi- and French. The Liberal Party, ac- with government stances influ- he had seen more gay men rep- weight through all the provinces cate both masculine and feminine cording to spokesperson Braeden encing the polices and procedures resented in the world when he and territories.” forms as well as the possibility of Caley, also uses gender-inclusive of businesses. was growing up his life would’ve However, the federal justice other grammatical genders. Anoth- language, with regular policy According to Vandana Juneja, been very different “in a positive department told The Hill Times er method is to rephrase sentences, and document review. The NDP executive director of Catalyst, way.” in an email statement that it has they said, like switching “Alex is and Conservative Party did not a women’s workplace advo- Lawyer Raj Anand, a partner been implementing gender-neu- happy” to “Alex is a happy person” respond to requests for comment cacy group, this type of inclu- at WeirFoulds LLP with practice tral language, albeit in a “piece- thus preventing happy from being on their parties’ approach. sion brings practical benefits to in constitutional law, pointed meal” fashion. tied to the person’s gender. organizations, from enhanced towards the Canadian Charter of “Over the years, the practice “And then inevitably, if you are financial performance to im- Rights and Freedoms and its em- has evolved with the use of ‘they’ committed to neutral or inclusive proved employee engagement phasis on gender equality, noting and its other grammatical forms French, you have to invent some and innovation. that implementing gender-neutral and other drafting techniques in new words and some new end- On a more personal level, for language would also put into ac- the English version of Acts. New ings that are themselves going to Mx. Cortes-Vargas this sort of tion the promise the Charter was acts are drafted using these tech- be more inclusive,” they said. change would make it easier to designed to have. niques. When existing Acts are The problem with this, Dr. navigate systems. For instance, amended the drafters will, when- Frohard-Dourlent noted, is that when they go to the bank or fill ever possible, update the wording these words have to be socialized out forms they have to pick gen- of the provisions that are being to the point where readers will dered slots. changed to reflect existing draft- actually understand them. “They’ll say you have to pick ing conventions,” Justice Canada As for what these terms might one. And it’s like ‘no, I don’t—this spokesperson Ian McLeod wrote. look like, Joel Harnest, co-executive is your problem, this isn’t my In French, a gendered lan- director of QMUNITY, an LGBTQ+ problem’ … I can’t go through and guage, there are grammatical resource centre, said that cues just fill out a form without hav- rules that could affect legislative should be taken from French-speak- ing to negotiate existing in that language, he said. The depart- ing trans folk, who can share the space,” they said. ment is studying this area, with emerging language and phrases. The benefit to changing these the review being undertaken by He also noted that not every- Jade Pichette, Pride at Work systems and writing things into departmental “jurilinguists.” thing should be gender neutral. Canada’s manager of programs, policy would be a reduction of “The use of inclusive lan- While it makes sense for certain says there has been effort made barriers, instead of continually guage acknowledges and values words like husband or wife, he towards gender-neutral language, it having to ask if there’s room for human diversity, and recognizes said that there is still a need for just doesn’t often make the news. them and having to get excep- that individuals have differing gender-based language when “you Photograph courtesy of Jade Pichette tions made, they said. Queen’s University professor Lee experiences, values, beliefs, and need to specifically call attention With gender-neutral language, Airton noted that while making lifestyles,” Women and Gender to or talk about a certain gender Jade Pichette, Pride at Work Mx. Cusmano said they feel seen. French gender-neutral is difficult, it Equality Canada spokesperson experience.” As an example, he Canada’s manager of programs, While it’s difficult to put into still needs to be done. Photograph Maja Stefanovska said in an pointed towards policy around said that there has been a lot words, the impact, they said, is courtesy of Lee Airton email. gender-based violence. of effort already made to move huge and helps to build trust and While she didn’t specify “If we move too fast to this towards more inclusive language, effective collaboration. “When the federal government if they’re being followed, Ms. utopian ideal of a genderless fu- such as changes to the style “Gender identity is real to indi- takes [gender-neutral language] Stefanovska said the Translation ture, we’re not really acknowledg- guides of the Public Service Al- viduals and it has real impacts on on, it sends a huge signal to Bureau has linguistic recommen- ing the reality that those people liance Canada—the federal gov- their well-being,” they said. others, as well as internally,” Mr. dations on inclusive correspon- have to live,” Mr. Harnest said. ernment’s largest public-service Kai Scott, president of TransFo- Scott said. “It’s really important dence in French. Overall though, Liana Cus- union. cus, said the pervasive gendering for employees that work for the While the English side of mano, who is interim president “Some of that work has al- of systems has significant impacts, federal government to see this things generally has gender neu- of the Green Party and uses they/ ready been done, it’s just being with this “systemic exclusion” change, and if it affects them per- tral replacements, like “spouse” them pronouns, said they’re done on a subtle basis, where it adversely affecting both mental sonally, they benefit from it.” for husband and wife, and “they” receptive to the current approach isn’t a news story, where it isn’t and physical health and causing “But then also for those who it for he or she, French’s analogues for changing terminology. necessarily picked up in the non-binary people to wonder if doesn’t impact, they might go, ‘oh are gendered, said Lee Airton, “I think that’s definitely a good media, because we use they/them they’re important enough to be well, why is this happening?’ And assistant professor of gender and place to start, which is to slowly pronouns in our speech natu- recognized in official documenta- then we can have conversations sexuality studies in education at do revisions and then, when rally,” they said. “We will just read tion. “And the key thing is that about the benefits of gender- Queen’s University. drafting new material, to apply through the document without if they have support and they’re neutral language just to bring “It is an entirely different pro- the agenda … I don’t think that even considering it.” affirmed, their social determinants everybody along on this journey cess to create gender neutral law it would be a good idea to rush,” But even though some changes go through the roof, they’re so that’s so important for a variety and policy in French … it would they said, adding that relying on may happen without fanfare, positively impacted,” he said. of people.” be much more difficult, but no people practiced in those legisla- they’re still critical according to Mr. Modeste tied this to the [email protected] less necessary,” they said. tive areas along with consultation inclusion experts. economy. With more people The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 2021 13 News

While the Senate of Canada Building has common spaces—a ‘It’s good for the Reading Room, a seating area for the cafeteria and Library of Par- liament branch, and a Senators’ lounge—they don’t offer privacy, political soul’: noted Sen. Munson. The old Kitchen Accord Room is currently an empty shell, and a rep from the Senate administra- historic ‘Kitchen tion told CIBA it could be fitted up “for less than $1,000,” with no new funding required. Alison Korn, issues manager and media Accord’ room to relations adviser for the Senate, confirmed the cost will come from the Senate Property and Services Directorate’s operating budget, and that the “fit up will be be turned into The Senate of Canada Building at 2 Rideau St., pictured Dec. 10, 2020. minimal, consisting of equipment Neither Public Services and Procurement Canada or the Senate administration and furniture.” was able to provide a recent picture of the building's fourth-floor Kitchen “The work will begin once the Accord room. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade pandemic risks can be mitigated Senate prayer, to an acceptable level,” she said in commemorating the space—and Building] and pray and stuff, and an email. the room has been empty since. so I did bring this up a number of Both Sen. Jaffer and Sen. Mun- In December 2018, as Senators times and I’m so happy that Sena- son said they expect the room to meditation space were in the midst of moving into tors Marwah, Marshall, Tannas, get a simple treatment—chairs, a the building, CIBA discussed and Munson really didn’t give up table, soft lighting—similar to the decade-plus effort to renovate the a $30,000 proposal to design a on that and have set up a medita- Centre Block space. The fourth-floor Centre Block building. The Senate museum-style re-creation of the tion room.” “I don’t think we need deco- officially moved into the space original kitchenette to commemo- Sen. Marwah is chair of CIBA, ration or anything … just a few room’s old kitchenette at the beginning of 2019, after a rate its history, a proposal which while Conservative Senator chairs for people,” said Sen. four-year, $219-million effort to ultimately fell to the wayside. Elizabeth Marshall (Newfound- Jaffer, who noted she brings her was demolished rehabilitate the aging building. The search to find a space for a land and Labrador), PSG Senator own prayer rug. “I don’t have any during renovations to Prior to this renovation, the prayer and meditation room in the Jim Munson (Ontario), and CSG expectations except a nice, quiet fourth-floor room had housed a new Senate of Canada Building Senator Scott Tannas (Alberta) spot to be able to meditate.” the Senate of Canada kitchenette where informal side has been ongoing for some time. are deputy chairs of the commit- Sen. Munson, who covered the talks between then justice minis- While a space was originally tee. constitutional talks as a reporter, Building and has sat ter Jean Chrétien, Saskatchewan marked down for such purposes said the question of commemo- attorney general Roy Romanow, in plans for the new Senate build- rating the historic space is “an empty since Senators and Ontario AG Roy McMurtry ing, it had to be reallocated after issue for another day,” but one moved in at the took place on Nov. 4, 1981, the the Independent Senators Group he thinks Senators should take third day of a four-day summit was created in 2016. The building, another look at. beginning of 2019. between federal and provincial which includes the interim Senate Creating a prayer and medita- leaders at the Government Con- Chamber and three committee tion room, he said, is “a respect- ference Centre on amending and rooms (among other things), has able use” for the space, “not to patriating the Canadian Constitu- limited office space, and what mention there’s no wasted space Continued from page 1 tion. That Nov. 4 discussion led to exists is reserved for the Senate in the Senate of Canada Building, in reaction to the Senate Internal what’s been dubbed the Kitchen Speaker, administration, and the and Senators have asked for it, Economy, Budgets, and Adminis- Accord, which, while not a formal leaders of each of the Senate’s and we all need a little time from tration Committee’s (CIBA) April written agreement, outlined the recognized groups. In March day to day to meditate or pray.” 1 decision to approve use of the expectations of the governments 2020, the Senate administration Moreover, Sen. Munson noted room. of Canada, Ontario, and Sas- indicated that the only available that it’s not just the small fourth- vacant space in either 2 Rideau ISG Senator Mobina Jaffer, pictured floor room that holds historic sig- Then-Ontario St. or 1 Rideau St. (which is home with PSG Senator Jane Cordy during a nificance, but the entire building. attorney general to Senate committee rooms and September 2017 meeting of the Senate During its time as a train station, Roy McMurtry, is connected to the old railway Internal Economy Committee. The Hill it was a point of departure for left, pictured station by an underground tun- Times photograph by Andrew Meade many Canadian soldiers heading with then-justice nel) was Room 428, the Kitchen off to war, and has been the arriv- minister Jean Accord Room. CIBA members at Along with the Centre Block al point for many notable figures, Chrétien and the time asked the administration room, since 1991 the Senate has from royalty to Elvis Presley. Saskatchewan to make another effort to find an had a second room for prayer and AG Roy alternative space, but, as indi- meditation: the Father O’Sullivan Romanow in cated on April 1, no other option Room in East Block’s Room 177. the old fourth- was found. Named after a former senator, floor kitchen. A Senate prayer and medita- Sean O’Sullivan, who left the Photograph tion room was first opened in the Red Chamber to join the Catholic courtesy of Centre Block building in the early priesthood, the room remains Library and 2000s, located just under the Red open and a little more than 40 Archives Canada Chamber beside the old Aborigi- Senators still have offices in the nal Peoples Committee Room. building, but work to renovate Sen. Jaffer, who was first ap- parts of its exterior is ongoing pointed to the Senate in 2001 and (and has prompted general com- was part of the effort to designate plaints over noise disruption). “This is not about a specific katchewan in the talks, including the room for such use, recalled For Senators, and staff, having religion, it’s about a space where agreement to include a notwith- “many, many employees” express- a chance to take “a little time from we respect Senators and people standing clause to temper the pro- ing to her a desire for such a day to day to meditate or pray” who work in that building to just posed new Charter of Rights. In space before it opened. is “good for the political soul,” Ontario PSG Senator Jim Munson, meditate, to have a quiet space, turn, the room came to be known “For me, too, I couldn’t find said Sen. Munson, who noted he pictured in October 2018, says being because our work is very long as the Kitchen Accord Room. a place to go and pray” before used the previous room in Centre able to take time to pray or meditate hours, very strenuous, and some- (Brian Peckford, who attended the room was created, she said. Block to meditate. is ‘good for the political soul.’ The Hill times very difficult. And we don’t the summit as the then-premier Having a space near—and in this “I pushed for this, and I was Times photograph by Andrew Meade all have offices in that building of Newfoundland and Labrador, case, directly under—the Cham- looking for a convenient room in and this small office gives us a has disputed the Kitchen Accord ber “was perfect because you the Senate of Canada Building be- “It’s bigger than just one room, place to just go and sit,” she said. “myth,” arguing it was not part of could just run down, pray, and cause there is the Sean O’Sullivan but one room does have historical The small room is located on the formal summit discussions on come back up.” chapel, but that’s in the midst of significance,” he said. the fourth floor of the Senate of Nov. 4 or 5, and, in turn was “not “So when the present Senate a construction zone and very few “Every time I walk through Canada Building at 2 Rideau St. the basis of the agreement.”) building happened, I was very Senators are housed these days in the bowels of the building where Formerly known as the Govern- The room’s kitchenette was unhappy because there was no the East Block,” he said. the trains would come in I think ment Conference Centre (and torn down during the building’s [space] for me,” she said, noting “When you are in the heat of of the smoke filled atmosphere of before that, up until 1966, as renovation, after being dam- that during the Senate’s early a debate and you’re dealing with the premiers around the table and Ottawa’s Union Railway Sta- aged by flooding in 2013 (and the days in 2 Rideau St., she did not issues, there should be an opportu- … it brings back a lot of memo- tion), the building is serving as discovery of asbestos)—a move have full mobility at the time due nity to find that comfort zone, that ries.” the Upper Chamber’s tempo- Senators learned about a year to health issues. “I couldn’t run quiet zone, a place of peace, so to [email protected] rary home during the ongoing, later, prompting discussion about back to the office [in the Victoria speak, to either meditate or to pray.” The Hill Times 14 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 2021 | THE HILL TIMES

hill climbers by Laura Ryckewaert New press secretary on board in Defence Minister Sajjan’s office

the summer of 2020 as an intern in Ms. Floriane Bonneville, who Ng’s office as trade minister. had been press secretary Throughout this, from 2017 until this National Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, pictured heading into the fall Liberal cabinet retreat on year, he was also busy completing a bach- Sept. 15, 2020, alongside Floriane Bonneville. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade to the defence minister elor’s degree in political science, with a minor in history, from McGill University. since January 2020, is now As part of his studies, he took part in an been working for the Trudeau Liberal gov- Until recently, Mr. Drahos had been exchange program during the first five ernment since early 2017, starting shortly working on the Hill for Nova Scotia Liberal a communications adviser months of 2020, studying at Sciences Po after he announced his retirement from MP Kody Blois since the 2019 election, in Paris, France. Mr. Minden is bilingual in journalism. which saw Mr. Blois elected to sit in the to Economic Development English and French, and is also a former Most re- House for the first time with 43.3 per cent Minister Mélanie Joly. fellow with the Canadian Jewish Political cently director of the vote. Affairs Committee. of issues man- Todd Lane continues as director of com- agement to David ational Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan munications to Mr. Sajjan, whose ministe- Infrastructure Drahos Nhas a new press secretary at work rial office is run by chief of staff George and Commu- has joined tackling media requests in his office, with Young. Also tackling communications in nities Minister the public Daniel Minden recently hired, taking over the office is Emily Heffernan, senior com- Catherine safety for Floriane Bonneville, who left to work munications adviser and Atlantic regional McKenna, he minister’s for Economic Development and Official affairs adviser. previously team. Languages Minister Mélanie Joly. Ms. Bonneville, who marked her last spent almost Photograph day in the defence minister’s office on three years courtesy of as director Daniel Minden March 19, is now a communications ad- LinkedIn of commu- officially took viser to Ms. Joly, as of March 22. nications to over as press Bruce Cheadle recently then-Treasury secretary to Mr. Floriane joined the environment Board presi- Sajjan on April Bonneville minister’s office.Photograph dent Scott 12. Photograph is now a Brison. courtesy of communications courtesy of LinkedIn Also now Daniel Minden adviser to Ms. on the minis- Joly. Photograph ter’s communications team is Gabriel Bru- Before then, Mr. Drahos had spent years courtesy of net, who was brought on board as a special working for Mr. Blois’ riding predecessor, LinkedIn assistant for communications on Feb. 1. Scott Brison, starting as a volunteer on Before coming to work on the Hill, his 2011 election campaign, after which Mr. Brunet had spent a few months as an he worked as a part-time student assistant analyst with the Centre de services scolaire in Mr. Brison’s constituency office. He be- de Montréal, a school service centre under came a full-time riding assistant to the MP Quebec’s education ministry. He’s also pre- in 2014 and after the 2015 election (during viously worked for public relations firms which he again volunteered on Mr. Brison’s Mr. Minden’s first day on the job was Mongeau Pellerin, Torchia Communica- campaign) he came to Ottawa to work in April 12, and he starts at a busy time, with tions, Syrus Réputation, and Ryan Affaires Mr. Brison’s Hill office. the minister currently caught in the spot- publiques. Mr. Drahos also volunteered on now- light over misconduct in the military and A former freelance chase producer with Nova Scotia Premier Iain Rankin’s suc- the government’s handling of it. CTV News and reporter with Radio-Cana- Gabriel Brunet cessful campaign for leadership of the Before joining Mr. Sajjan’s office, Mr. da, Ms. Bonneville first began working for is a special Nova Scotia Liberal Party, which culmi- Minden had spent the last seven months Mr. Sajjan as a special assistant for issues assistant for nated in February. working part-time as a communications management in the summer of 2019. She communications Mr. Drahos has a bachelor’s degree in assistant in Liberal MP Marc Miller‘s con- was promoted to press secretary in Janu- to Mr. Wilkinson. classical studies from the University of stituency office in Ville-Marie-Le Sud- ary 2020. Photograph Guelph and a master’s degree in cultural Ouest-Île-des-Soeurs, Que. She has a bachelor’s degree in English courtesy of heritage studies from University College In an email to Hill Climbers, Mr. Min- language and literature from Concordia LinkedIn London in the U.K., for which his disserta- den said he was “thrilled” to be taking on University and a master’s degree in jour- tion focused on “Governing iconoclasm the role of press secretary to Mr. Sajjan. nalism from Carleton University. in Halifax, Canada: An ethnography of “Having studied political science, inter- Now part of Ms. Joly’s communications settler-state governmentality in iconoclastic national relations, and defence policy in team, Ms. Bonneville joins senior com- disputes,” as noted on his LinkedIn profile. both Canada and Europe, Canada’s role in munications adviser Emily Williams, press In other news, Ellen Kuschnik, who had the world is something close to my heart. secretary Catherine Mounier-Desrochers, been on leave, has returned to work in Mr. I’m really looking forward to working with and director of communications Maéva Blair’s office under a new title: previously my new team to promote Canadian inter- Proteau. Sandra Aubé is chief of staff to an issues management and parliamentary est, keep Canadians safe, and build a more the minister. affairs adviser, she’s now a policy adviser respectful and inclusive defence commu- to the minister. nity,” he said. Sabrina Kim is director of communica- Ms. Kuschnik has been in the public Mr. Minden grew up in Unionville, Ont., Staff additions for ministers tions to the minister, while Moira Kelly is safety minister’s office since 2018, starting and his experience on the Hill dates back Wilkinson, Blair press secretary. Marlo Raynolds is chief of as a legislative assistant and assistant to to a 2018 summer internship in Small Environment and Climate Change staff to Mr. Wilkinson. the parliamentary secretary under then- Business, Export Promotion, and Interna- Minister Jonathan Wilkinson has a couple Meanwhile, Public Safety and Emer- minister Ralph Goodale. tional Trade Minister Mary Ng’s office as of new faces in his office, including Bruce gency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair has She’ll now be working closely with Mr. the Liberal MP for Markham-Thornhill, Cheadle’s, who started as a senior special a new aide of his own, with David Drahos Blair’s team of senior policy advisers, Sa- Ont. During the summer of 2019, he spent adviser for communications to the minister having been hired as the minister’s new cha Atherly, Manel Menouar, and Mehalan a couple of months as an intern in then- on April 12. Atlantic regional affairs adviser. Garoonanedhi, under director of policy Toronto Liberal MP Michael Levitt’s office, A former longtime reporter for The He replaces Annie Cullinan, who re- Dan Lindenas. after which he spent almost half a year as Canadian Press, including 25 years spent cently became press secretary to Minister Zita Astravas is chief of staff to the a part-time communications assistant to covering national affairs, energy, and the Jim Carr, the Prime Minister’s Special minister. Montreal Liberal MP Rachel Bendayan. environment as a member of the Parlia- Representative for the Prairies, as reported [email protected] Prior to his work for Mr. Miller, he spent mentary Press Gallery, Mr. Cheadle has by Hill Climbers. The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 2021 15 Parliamentary News

Calendar U.S. President Joe Biden is facing Canada increased Atwood, Gray, Joyal among domestic pressure to honourees at Library and Archives support the TRIPS waiver, Canada Scholar Awards April 21 continues which may push the WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21 the Federal Budget: Where are we go- Canadian ing with the Feminist Foreign Policy?” government House Sitting—The House is sitting in a Gauri Sreenivasan, director of policy and to support it. hybrid format during the pandemic, with most campaigns at Nature Canada, will moder- to delay Photograph MPs connecting remotely. It’s scheduled to sit ate the discussion featuring one panellist courtesy of every weekday for the next four weeks, April per topic: Laura Macdonald, professor, Facebook 19-May 14. It will take one-week break after Political Science, Carleton University that, from May 17-May 24. It will sit May 25 (Trade); Stephen Brown, professor, Political every weekday until Wednesday, June 23, and Studies, University of Ottawa (Aid); Bianca will then break for three months, until Monday Mugyenyi, director, Canadian Foreign decision before the committee as part of this study have Sept. 20. In the fall and winter, the House is Policy Institute (Diplomacy); Peggy Mason, voiced opposition to the waiver. scheduled to sit for 11 weeks over September, president, Rideau Institute on International October, November, and December. It will sit Affairs (Defence); and Angela Keller-Her- “Proponents of this initiative [the waiver] argue Sept. 20-Oct. 8; Oct. 18-Nov. 5; and Nov. zog, former federal Green Party candidate that revoking IP rights would lead to an increase in 15-Dec. 17. and co-coordinator CAFES (Environment). the supply of new vaccines in developing nations, Fiscal Federalism in Canada: Analysis, Wednesday, April 21, 3-4 p.m. Register on COVID however, there is no credible evidence validating Evaluation, Prescription—The University of online at group78.org. this assumption, and we recommend that Canada Ottawa hosts “Fiscal Federalism in Canada: Library and Archives Canada Scholar stand with leading innovative jurisdictions to op- Analysis, Evaluation, Prescription,” a three-day Awards—The online awards ceremony, pre- pose this proposal,” said Pamela Fralick, president of conference featuring Canadian scholars and sented by the Library and Archives Canada experts on a wide range of topics related to Foundation, and Library and Archives Can- Innovative Medicines Canada, on April 16. fiscal federalism, which will be subsequently ada, will be broadcast on Wednesday, April vaccines Mr. Blaikie said he hasn’t found the arguments compiled into a book. Speakers include McGill 21, at 7 p.m. (Eastern Time). The Library coming from industry to be “compelling.” University professor Ken Boessenkool; Carleton and Archives Canada Scholar Awards were He said if the argument is that the waiver won’t University professor Jennifer Robson, and writer created to recognize remarkable Canadians lead to more vaccines being produced, then “no and journalist Mary Janigan. Wednesday, April who have made an outstanding contribution harm is done” when it isn’t utilized. 21 to Friday, April 23. Visit fiscalfederalism.ca to the creation and promotion of our coun- “I don’t think anybody has done a good job of for more information and to register. try’s culture, literary heritage and historical IP waiver The Change Conference: Planning for the knowledge. The following recipients of explaining why it would be really damaging to have Unpredictable Future—Hosted by The Pearson the 2020 LAC Scholar Awards are being this waiver,” he said. Centre, continues on April 21. “Public Service, Mark Warner, a Canadian and U.S. trade lawyer, honoured: Margaret Atwood, poet, novelist, Continued from page 6 COVID and Beyond: Saviour or Burden,” with literary critic, and essayist; Roch Carrier, told The Hill Times that the government’s decision to PIPSC president Debi Daviau; Dave Bulmer, novelist and author; Charlotte Gray, histo- Numerous global health and human rights advo- delay is symbolic of how it operates on the interna- president and CEO of AMAPCEO; Scott rian, author, and biographer; Serge Joyal, cates, as well as more than 55 WTO members, have tional stage without taking firm positions. Marks, assistantships to the general president, former senator, art collector, and philan- backed the waiver. He said Canada’s position could evolve if more IAFF; Senator Peter Boehm, former deputy thropist; Terry O’Reilly, broadcast producer minister Government of Canada. Moderated and radio personality. Tune in on the Library Global Affairs spokesperson Michel Cimpaye support for the waiver comes from the U.S. and the by Kathleen Monk, principal at Earnscliffe and Archives Canada’s English YouTube and reiterated that Canada has not rejected the waiver. EU. In the meantime, its position is simply for more Strategy Group. And from 7-8 p.m., there will French YouTube channels. No registration is “We are committed to finding consensus-based study, added Mr. Warner, a principal with MAAW be a panel discussion “Conversations with required. The 30-minute event will feature solutions to any IP-related challenges experienced Law. Leaders” (30-minute fireside chats) with CLC by WTO Members related to or arising from the “I don’t see Canada acting independently of the president Hassan Yussuff at 7 p.m. and at 7:30 The Parliamentary Calendar is a free TRIPS Agreement in relation to COVID-19, in- p.m. with Green Party Leader Annamie Paul. United States and Europe on this,” he said. “I think events listing. Send in your political, cluding any challenges that cannot be addressed Canada will fall into line as it always does on this Moderated by Pearson Centre board member cultural, diplomatic, or governmental event Karen Mock and Andrew Cardozo. For further in a paragraph with all the relevant details through existing TRIPS flexibilities,” he said. “Can- stuff. We are a follower, not a leader.” information, please contact: Andrew Cardozo, under the subject line ‘Parliamentary Cal- ada is also working with other WTO Members to The Biden administration has been facing president, at [email protected] or endar’ to [email protected] by Wednes- clarify any trade-related barriers in this area, as well increased pressure domestically to agree to the 613-295-1260. For more information, go to: day at noon before the Monday paper or by as supporting the WTO Director General’s efforts to waiver, including from influential members of the thepearsoncentre.ca. Friday at noon for the Wednesday paper. We enhance the WTO’s role in global dialogue with the U.S. Congress and stakeholders. Hot Takes on the Federal Budget: Where can’t guarantee inclusion of every event, are we going with the Feminist Foreign pharmaceutical sector to accelerate global vaccine Mr. Blaikie said Canada should lead difficult con- but we will definitely do our best. Events production and distribution.” Policy?—The Group of 78 and the McLeod can be updated daily online, too. versations on the world stage, noting that he would Group host a webinar: “Hot Takes on The Hill Times hope Canada supports the waiver on its own. NDP MP Daniel “But if our government can’t bring itself to get Blaikie says the there on its own, I would be very glad for Canada to government’s get there because one of our important allies finally delay in finalizing decided to do the right thing,” he said. CLASSIFIEDS its position on Stuart Trew, the Canadian Centre for Policy Al- the TRIPS waiver ternatives’ senior trade researcher, said it has been Information and advertisement placement: 613-232-5952 amounts to a “disappointing” to watch the government’s response ‘no.’ The Hill to a “reasonable” waiver proposal. RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Times photograph He said Canada has been provided evidence from by Andrew Meade the proponents of the waiver, but Ottawa has yet to recognize the need for the initiative. “[The government] is stalling and I think that stalling is a form of opposition at this point given the extent of the emergency,” Mr. Trew said. He said it is “baffling and hypocritical” that Canada isn’t siding with those WTO members who support the waiver, given the difficulty it has had HOUSE FOR SALE REGISTERED MASSAGE THERAPY with its own vaccine rollout. (GOLDEN TRIANGLE AREA- OTTAWA) IN THE PARK AREA Mr. Warner said at this stage of the pandemic, he Potential Real-Estate Sale Development Opportunity Registered Massage Therapy, Chelsea. Deep tissue, didn’t think the waiver would have an impact. in the Heart of Golden Triangle Area- 100 Gilmour sport, therapeutic massage. Same-day, emergency, He said the waiver serves as a “useful device” to Street, Ottawa, Canada 613-762-7431 evening hours. Receipts. Gift certificates. Covid-19 raise the issue of IP to public attention and focus measures. Contact 249.385.5727 The government did not provide an answer on on the importance of getting vaccines to developing CONDOS FOR RENT when it would make a final decision on the waiver. countries. NDP MP Daniel Blaikie (Elmwood-Transcona, But he added the trouble established pharmaceu- Do you have a house Man.), his party’s international trade critic, said the tical companies are having in their own production to rent or sell? Items fact that the government has yet to make a decision shows there is added concern that if the IP for the or products to sell? on the waiver is “effectively a ‘no.’” vaccines are distributed broadly and a mistake is “We need to get vaccine production up and run- made in the formulation of the drug or in the supply Advertise them in The Hill ning globally and these delays are frustrating those chain and quality control, there could be conse- Times' classfieds section. attempts,” he said. “It’s not good enough to say we quences for the original manufacturer. haven’t taken a position.” Mr. Warner noted that when more vaccines are THE BOWERY 1 BD CONDO FOR INFORMATION CALL OR EMAIL: Mr. Blaikie said he is puzzled over what more developed and the process becomes standardized, Quiet, south-facing corner unit on Bay St. Lyon LRT [email protected] the government needs to know as the information is discussions on increased manufacturing will be station nearby. $1850/month. Pet-friendly building. 613-232-5952 already available. “much more relevant,” adding that, historically, Non-smoking. Parking not available. 819-246-8769. The House Committee on International Trade is licensing has been for a past version of a drug and in the middle of a study looking at COVID-19 vac- not the latest model. cines and the India/South Africa waiver. Pharma- [email protected] More at hilltimes.com/calendar ceutical industry representatives who have appeared The Hill Times