Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 THIRTY-FIRST YEAR, NO.1716 fallout, say politicos, experts in faceofuncertainty over COVID-19 Canada’s top doctor ‘voice ofreason’ people are craving.’ information that evidence-based us straightforward, stakes. ‘Shegives dramatizing the information without abilitydeliver to fi as a ‘compelling’ emerged Tam has anxiety, Dr. Theresa uncertainty and In a time ofgreat F Feature News A & MIKE LAPOINTE what’s next? never be the same,so Aviation industry will ‘Is it billi every facetoflife, Canada’schief BY BEATRICE PAEZ BY PETER MAZEREEUW gure who has an says heisspendinganun- inance MinisterBillMorneau that hasupendednearly mid theCOVID-19 pandemic COVID-19 &spending fi Hungary: the Hungary: the rst casualty? ons, COVID-19 &public health evenbig Gwynne Gwynne Dyer .13 p. on on economists applaudasCOVID-19crisisdeepens pp. 15-21 enough? contract: Once the pandemic isover, Canada will needanew social in theirhomes, outofstores, and coronavirus haskept Canadians economy asthespreadingnovel money toprop upCanada’s precedented amountofborrowed experts saying that Dr. Theresa politicians, a TV critic, andhealth affair forthehomebound, with ings have becomearitualized public healthofficer’s daily brief- responsibility: mental health iseverybody’s The month we learned ’: C Morneau shellsoutunprecedented ANADA David Cranep.9+ ’ S P OLITICS ister say thespendingisneeded. and aformerdeputyprimemin- parliamentary budgetoffi work, andeconomists, aformer more thantwo millionoutof that’s at play when politicians through thisall-consumingcrisis. of steadilyguidingCanadians Tam hassettledintotherole There’s adegreeofstagecraft

AND G OVERNMENT Advice for MPs in this crisis: cer, Rose LeMay p.7 N EWSPAPER tive, andthat’s nodifferentinthe bully pulpittosoundauthorita- address largeaudiencesfrom the of highertaxes, andpotential make torepay that debt—interms “Every sacrifice you needto photograph byAndrewMeade response. the government’s pandemic one oftheleadingvoicesin on March24,hasbecome pictured arrivingatWest Block offi cer Dr. TheresaTam, Canada’s chiefpublichealth Continued onpage 27 Continued onpage24 The HillTimes T the realtestineyes ofCana- against thispandemic. Hesaid to helpgovernments’ efforts the media, or thegeneral public, tion from rival politicalparties, there’s beenaretreat inopposi- crisis, Mr. Bricker said, because in theirratings inthefaceof ticians areexperiencingabump Hill Times. with The president ofIpsos, inaninterview this time,” said DarrellBricker, how politiciansperformedduring reality is, andstartevaluating and move intowhatever thenew people move pastwhatever thisis, getting intoasituation where probably endureuntilwe start crisis. phases ofthisunprecedented performances duringdifferent fluctuate depending ontheir larity willlast, astheirnumbers to beseenhow longtheirpopu- but pollstersaresaying itremains dling oftheCOVID-19 pandemic, currently risingover theirhan- Trudeau’s approval ratings are talking points honest, drop the straightforward, should be political leaders and successful government,’ in the of hands hopes andfears placing all their ‘Canadians are News BY ABBAS RANA BY ABBAS MONDAY, APRIL 6,2020$5.00 Right now, allincumbentpoli- “It [highpollingnumbers]will and PrimeMinisterJustin he provincial premiers Joe Jordan p. 4 Political leadership Continued onpage 23 2 MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES

Senator Doug Black, pictured on March 23, 2019, speaking at the Manning Heard on the Hill Conference in Ottawa, wants a group of by Neil Moss ‘eminent and highly qualifi ed Canadians’ to make up a council to Senator Doug Black address the post-COVID-19 economic recovery. The calls for creation of Hill Times photograph by Economic Recovery Andrew Meade well as Finance Minister Bill Morneau and Cianfarani announced the cancellation in Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains. an email on March 31. In the email, Ms. Council in post- In the last Parliament, Sen. Black Cianfarani wrote that the trade show has a chaired the Senate Committee on Banking, $10-million impact on the Ottawa economy. Trade, and Commerce. At the last couple of expos, defence companies putting forward aircrafts to re- coronavirus world place Canada’s aging CF-18 fl eet were cen- Pro tem Auditor General tre stage. As the Canadian Air Force waits n order to ensure Canada is positioned to Some forecasts predict that Canada’s GDP Sylvain Ricard to keep on a decision on the new plane, so does the Irebound from the fi scal damages brought will decline around 20 per cent, with unem- defence fi rms for the next trade show. on by the coronavirus pandemic, Alberta ployment potentially reaching 15 per cent. To post for another half year But not all were disappointed to see the Senator Doug Black is calling for the cre- address the economic challenges brought upon event called off. Anti-war advocacy organiza- ation of an Economic Recovery Council. by COVID-19, the government has pledged a tion World BEYOND War celebrated the can- Sen. Black, a member of the Canadian $107-billion emergency aid package. cellation and pledged to continue its efforts to Senators Group, wrote a letter to Prime Min- “The Canadian Economic Recovery work to see all defence trade shows cancelled. ister Justin Trudeau last week calling for the Council would be tasked with developing a Ms. Cianfarani wrote that the next council to be composed of “eminent and highly series of forward-looking insights and pro- CANSEC will take place in 2021 on June 2 qualifi ed Canadians” to address opportunities posals,” wrote Sen. Black, who was appoint- and 3 at the EY Centre. and challenges that will have to be tackled in ed by then-prime minister Stephen Harper the post-coronavirus economic recovery. to the Red Chamber in 2013. “The council Former Hill journo “I am confi dent that Canadians will win would alleviate pressure on government and the battle against COVID-19,” Sen. Black help facilitate a smooth economic recovery.” Amy Castle joins wrote in the letter. “That is why we must “I believe this initiative to be in the best Former auditor general Michael Ferguson, who died position our country to be able to minimize interests of Canada, and I hope you will too,” last year, served in the post from 2011 until his death the Business Council challenges and maximize opportunities in Sen. Black wrote to Mr. Trudeau, adding in 2019. His permanent replacement has yet to be the post-COVID world.” that the council would report to the PM, as named. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade Amy Castle, who has been the Interim Auditor General Sylvain Ricard executive producer Power will remain in the post keeping a careful eye on at CBC’s and Politics government activities for another six months. since Mr. Ricard was appointed to the role on 2013, is joining the an interim basis in March 2019, following the Business Council of death of then-auditor general Michael Fergu- Canada as its new son who served in the role from 2011 to 2019. vice-president of Before taking the job, Mr. Ricard was the communications. deputy auditor general from 2018 to 2019. Ms. Castle From 2007 to 2018, he was an assistant audi- had been with tor general. Canada’s pub- Amy Castle was the The Offi ce of the Auditor General was lic broadcaster executive producer of CBC’s scheduled to release its spring report on since 1991, where Power and Politics since March 24, but the release has been delayed she has been a 2013. Photograph courtesy due to a March 13 House of Commons motion producer in its of LinkedIn/Amy Castle to suspend regular parliamentary sittings parliamentary The until April 20. The yet-to-be-released spring bureau on shows such as CBC Radio’s House Power & Politics report includes three studies on immigration and CBC TV News’ . Studio Sparks removals, student fi nancial assistance, and She was also a producer on , supplying the Canadian Armed Forces. which aired classical and jazz performances. The offi ce is also completing an audit “Amy’s storytelling, writing, and strate- on the Canadian government’s $187-billion gic planning abilities will contribute greatly “Investing in Canada” infrastructure plan. to our efforts to reach a wide range of audi- The AG started the audit following a House ences through a variety channels and new of Commons motion forwarded by the platforms—including our podcast Speaking Conservative Party which was passed with of Business,” Business Council President the other opposition parties’ support. Goldy Hyder said in a press release. Mr. Ricard’s third six-month term began on March 28. Separated at birth, eh? CANSEC joins list of cancelled conventions

Canada’s biggest defence trade show will be put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic. The not-for-public event typically attracts more than 3,000 guests the Department of Na- tional Defence and more than 11,000 visitors in total—slightly over the Ontario government’s Former PMO principal secretary Gerald Butts limit on gatherings of fi ve people. It was sched- took to Twitter last week with a thought: that uled to take place on May 27 and 28. Irish politician Pearse Doherty, left, looks The event has also attracted a number like Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, right. of MPs, including cabinet ministers and Photograph courtesy of Twitter/Sinn Féin and those who sit on the House of Commons The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade Defence Committee. Canadian Association of Defence and [email protected] Security Industries president Christyn The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 3 COVID-19

secure protective supplies for the medi- cal front lines. With a $2-billion purchase Hadju made a courageous and order, Ottawa is locking down supplies, and provinces are even sending planes to secure materials that have been ordered from international sources. dangerous statement last week Their efforts include public bulk pur- chasing and fi nancial support for Cana- dian companies to replace their normal Theresa Tam, Hajdu transmits an aura of cause of the virus. The American newscasts lines of business with COVID-19-fi ghting believability. reported last week that their military has materials to join this war on the corona- The Hajdu admission may be out of been tasked with securing 100,000 body virus. step with her political colleagues but it bags for the dead. Irving is retooling operations to make refl ects what is happening out there in the The United States is also claiming that hand sanitizers. Bauer is switching from real world of hospital, nursing homes and statistics from other countries, specifi cally hockey masks to hospital masks. health delivery across the country. China, have been underreported. Stanfi elds is making medical gowns and The overreaction to Hajdu’s admis- Hajdu debunked that claim during a protective apparel where the company usu- sion also underscores why governments press conference last week, saying that ally focuses on underwear. Canada Goose hesitate to publish modelling projections the World Health Organization is gather- has moved away from their iconic down Sheila Copps of worst-case scenarios. Those projections ing all the pertinent data from multiple fi lled jackets to medical gowns. Copps’ Corner have not been available in all parts of jurisdictions, and there is no evidence that Canadian medical suppliers are part- Canada. China understated its deaths. According to nering with auto companies to speed up Ontario and British Columbia have Hajdu, the current numbers in that country production of desperately needed life-sav- TTAWA—Health Minister Patty Hadju promised or delivered modelling projec- are actually less than what was originally ing ventilators. Omade a courageous and dangerous tions. Some other provinces have not. reported. Transformations take time. Frontline statement last week. And the federal government is trying to But each country is doing its best to workers are scrambling to protect them- Courageous, when she told the country synthesize disparate data from different reassure its own citizens and position its selves by recycling materials and seeking that successive governments had neglected provinces, as some experienced the virus response to the pandemic as in keeping or out any sources they can. Some make their responsibilities by not investing in onset earlier than others. superior to that of other jurisdictions. their own protective masks, and others are pandemic preparation. According to the premier of New Bruns- For the past several weeks, Canadian trying to source protective equipment in Dangerous, because at the end of the wick, all provinces should be collating the politicians from all levels of government whatever way they can. day, Canadians will blame current govern- same information, but that is apparently having been reassuring the country that But they also face a race against time ments when things go wrong. not the current case. we have enough supplies of masks, gowns, and a global hunt for similar products. The general strategy in politics is never Canada’s chief public health offi cer and ventilators to meet the upcoming crush The issue of supply is not just a Canadian complain, and never explain. That is based suggests that building projects too far in facing hospital emergency departments. problem. on the belief that the more information is advance is not useful because it is simply Front-line workers are living a whole “Many governments around the world out there, the more it can be twisted by po- not accurate. different situation. are going to be refl ecting on this issue,” litical opponents to become disinformation. Information is vital in the fi ght to en- A hospital in Ottawa recently told their Trudeau admitted last week. The general rule of thumb in communi- gage all Canadians, but too much informa- medical staff that protective material would Pandemic refl ection yes, but fl attening cation is that less is better. tion could cause panic or complacency. not be available in the delivery ward as the the virus comes fi rst. But these are no ordinary times. American President Donald Trump normal protective devices were being repur- Sheila Copps is a former Jean Chrétien- And Hajdu is no ordinary politician. went from claiming we should all be out posed to fi ght the COVID-19 battle. era cabinet minister and a former deputy In the daily briefi ngs she is clear, concise, celebrating at Easter to suggesting that a The federal and provincial govern- prime minister. informed and not overly verbose. Like Dr. quarter of a million Americans may die be- ments have been pulling out all the stops to The Hill Times 4 MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES COVID-19

As the Member is good enough, but don’t com- of Parliament, pletely abandon your oversight you will be responsibilities. Reach out to dealing with local groups and associations to tragedy, dealing determine if the program objec- with confusion tives are being realized. I have to and dealing with believe that both the departments unfairness, but and ministerial offi ces will be fi nd some balance open to constructive suggestions by looking for that can make programs more ef- resilience, looking fective. Having said that, some of for ingenuity your constituents will get support and looking for they shouldn’t and some will not kindness. Through get support they deserve. This is this crisis, your simply a function of speed and constituents will scale. make you proud to One of the additional benefi ts be their Member of taking the time to educate of Parliament. yourself about actions in support The Hill Times of curve fl attening, and the cope photographs by and recovery program suites, is Andrew Meade the impact it will have on your confi dence when you discuss these things. Your constituents will respond positively to clear and confi dent communication, but being confi dently wrong will serve no public interest. The government leadership needs to understand the new role that Members of Parliament now fi nd themselves in. Canadians are becoming increasingly colour blind and opposition MPs need the same support as government For MPs, focus now becomes how MPs. Information is not toilet paper and there is no advantage in hoarding it. In addition to the remote to help your constituents through caucus meetings going on, don’t hesitate to set up regular contact with your provincial and local political leadership, as well as this crisis, and Maslow’s Hierarchy your neighbouring federal col- leagues. In addition to situational updates, share best practices and local successes. Communicate of Needs is suddenly now relevant progress, there is the very real threat that Canadians may back off their strict regimes as fatigue pandemic breaks out and in a few among other things, leadership. telephone answering machine. sets in, knowing that these ac- In the coming weeks, short weeks our world ends up on We will get through this collec- Think about updating the voice tions are having a real impact will its ear. tively and what now unites us is message daily so that people who be important. there is little doubt From the perspective of a a far more powerful and positive call, can take some comfort in As you know, or are quickly Member of Parliament, or any force than what may have divided your level of engagement. Make learning, MPs need to fi ll mul- that you will see the elected politician for that matter, us in January. In other words, sure that the messaging coming tiple roles and during a crisis, worst impacts that the current situation has caused play partisan politics at your own out of you and your staff is ac- everything is amplifi ed. You will the lack of structure around how peril. curate and consistent with what always perceive that there is our world can infl ict to do the job to be augmented In these times of uncertainty, the experts are saying. Unless you an insatiable demand on your with uncertainty around what the vast majority or your constitu- have relevant expertise from a time and attention, but take upon us, but you will the job now becomes. The focus ents are contacting you because former occupation, your personal some advice from someone who now becomes how to help your they think you can help them. Be- opinion needs to self-isolate for a doesn’t let pride and stupidity also see the best in constituents few months. cloud their judgment. Stress is people and how they through the Conservative As the gov- cumulative and the damage it crisis and MP Michelle ernment con- can do is very real. You and your respond. Maslow’s Rempel tinues to roll staff are working under circum- Hierarchy of Garner, out programs stances of uncertainty and fear, Needs has pictured to address the where negative outcomes are suddenly be- March 27, needs of indi- unavoidable. Being sensitive to come relevant. 2020, doing vidual Cana- stress levels is not a weakness, One clear live video chat dians, as well and neither is asking around for strategy, for on Facebook as employers coping strategies to minimize the a host of rea- during this and busi- negative impacts. sons, is to con- pandemic nesses, your In the coming weeks, there is sult with as with her constituents little doubt that you will see the many people Calgary Nose will look to worst impacts that our world can as possible. To Hill, Alta., you and your infl ict upon us, but you will also Joe Jordan that end, my constituents. offi ce to be the see the best in people and how In the House observations Screenshot conduit. Think they respond. As the Member of are simply one courtesy of about setting Parliament, you will be dealing voice among Facebook up conference with tragedy, dealing with confu- TTAWA—Even in a steady the growing calls with the sion and dealing with unfairness, Ostate, there is very little useful number of appropriate but fi nd some balance by looking literature around about how to be people you offi cials to en- for resilience, looking for ingenu- an effective Member of Parlia- should be sure that your ity and looking for kindness. ment. While your working life engaging with offi ce under- Through this crisis, your con- in Ottawa is governed by House on a regular basis. ing that trusted source of health stands each program, the qualify- stituents will make you proud to rules, or the Standing Orders, Initially, I think it would be a information, or link to trusted ing criteria and the timelines for be their Member of Parliament. meeting schedules, precedents good idea to move away from the sources of health information, both access and support. Make Joe Jordan was a second- and party practices, your con- standard binary political mind- is critically important. Although sure that you have departmental generation Member of Parliament stituency work has always been set, we are no longer in a world your franking privileges have contact information, so that you during both the 1997 Eastern some combination of how your defi ned by clear delineations be- been impacted, use your social can respond to inquiries in a Ontario Ice Storm and the 2002 predecessors approached the tween good, bad, right, wrong, us, media channels to disseminate timely way. Addressing expecta- SARS Outbreak. He is currently job combined with your own or them. These are uncharted wa- information. Given the social dis- tions at the front end will save a senior consultant at BlueSky instincts, values, priorities, and ters and Canadians are looking tancing protocols, your offi ce will you unnecessary problems down Strategies Group in Ottawa. style. All good, until a global to their political leadership for, probably be over-reliant on the the road. In the short-term, good The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 5 COVID-19

is being properly managed at all times. Doing this is a matter of asking the right We need proper documentation questions and then providing the informa- tion, tools, and support employees need to meet their access to information and infor- mation management responsibilities. in these extraordinary times, says For example, are minutes of meetings— even those taking place by teleconference or video conference—continuing to be taken and kept? Are all relevant records— Canada’s information commissioner such as decisions documented in a string of texts between co-workers—ultimately TTAWA—In these extraordinary times, it Canadians have a fundamental right to fi nding their way into government reposi- If the government is to Ois understandable that our collective focus this information. They expect that it will be tories? Do employees have a clear under- as a society is on existential matters of public available to them, and that the government standing of what constitutes “a record of inspire the confi dence health and security. We all acknowledge the will provide it. business value” and that this record must need for our leaders and decision-makers to be Of course, because it is impossible to be preserved for future access? in Canadians that will be able to react quickly to events and make timely implement measures to ensure transparen- As information commissioner, I call required to successfully decisions in the best interests of Canadians. cy retroactively, now is the time for govern- upon heads of federal institutions to set the In such circumstances, access to infor- ment institutions to ensure that appropriate example in this regard, by providing clear navigate this challenging mation and information management may decision-making documentation safeguards direction and updating guidance on how not currently be top-of-mind within govern- and practices are in place. A commentator information is to be managed in this new period as a nation, timely ment institutions, where day-to-day work recently likened the current situation to try- operating environment. Furthermore, I am is focused on rapid decision-making and ing to re-build a plane in midair. In today’s of the fi rm view that institutions ought to decision-making and the delivering on issues of prime importance, circumstances, we cannot forget to ensure display leadership by proactively disclos- proper documentation of such as public health and essential fi nancial that the in-fl ight data recorder, which cap- ing information that is of fundamental support to Canadians, among other things. tures information in real time as the plane interest to Canadians, particularly during both the decisions and any Nevertheless, if the government is to fl ies, is functioning correctly. this time of crisis when Canadians are inspire the confi dence in Canadians that At this moment, while government of- looking for trust and reassurance from resulting actions must go will be required to successfully navigate fi ces are closed, I understand that many their government without undue delays. this challenging period as a nation, timely public servants are working from home, The right of access is a means by hand-in hand. decision-making and the proper documen- and occasionally, using other private which we not only hold our government tation of both the decisions and any result- communications channels such as per- to account, but determine how and why ing actions must go hand-in hand. sonal telephone or computer to avoid decisions were made and actions taken, in Last week the prime minister told Cana- overburdening government infrastructure. order to learn and fi nd ways to do bet- dians that transparency is crucial to being Every day, work previously done within ter in the future. It is only by being fully accountable to Parliament and in maintain- the confi nes of government offi ces is now transparent, and respecting good informa- ing the public’s confi dence. taking place outside of traditional work tion management practices and the right When the time comes, and it will, for a arrangements. of access, that the government can build full accounting of the measures taken and While this fl exibility and creativity an open and complete public record of the vast fi nancial resources committed by refl ect well on Canada’s public service and decisions and actions taken during this ex- the government during this emergency, speaks to its level of commitment, minis- traordinary period in our history—one that Caroline Maynard Canadians will expect a comprehensive ters and deputy ministers must ensure that will inform future public policy decisions. picture of the data, deliberations and policy they and their offi cials generate, capture, Caroline Maynard is Canada’s access to Opinion decisions that determined the govern- and keep track of records that document information commissioner. ment’s overall response to COVID-19. decisions and actions, and that information The Hill Times

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2890.03 - Hill Times AD.indd 1 3/11/2020 2:32:15 PM 6 MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Global

Iraq deserves to be free from Iranian meddling

An Iraqi counter-terrorism service soldier, pictured on Nov. 8, 2016, practises tactical reloads for the M4 rifl e as part of the CTS’ advanced training near Baghdad, Iraq. Since 2003, Iranian infl uence has been a major factor in pushing the country’s instability after U.S. forces removed Saddam Hussein. Despite its vast natural resources, Iraqis continually suffer from extreme poverty and its government has failed to provide opportunities for its citizens to prosper, writes Joseph Labba. Photograph courtesy of Commons Wikipedia

shut down these protests, leading nearly every level, from politics increase its use of force in putting a surprise. The Islamic Republic We need to stand in to thousands of injuries and hun- to social and cultural affairs, down the protests. He told Iraqi has long suppressed rebellion and dreds of deaths. Iraqi protesters securing its infl uence through offi cials, “We in Iran know how to protests with brutal force seeing solidarity with these were heard chanting, “Stop the Iranian-backed militias that have deal with protests. This happened any mass uprising as counter- Persian occupation of Arab Iraq” responded to these protests with in Iran and we have it under revolutionary and threatening to pro-sovereignty while they stormed the Iranian deadly force. control.” its hegemony. groups and the world consulate in Basra, set fi re to the Cables released by an anony- Iran has been infl uential Iraqis from all walks of life are building, and raised the Iraqi fl ag mous source in Iran highlight throughout the Middle East for joining together to stand against must pay closer in its place. the scope of its infl uence in Iraq. thousands of years and since 2003 Iranian infl uence and brutal The protesters have left Iran These communication cables has had the potential to enact control of their great nation. The attention to and scrambling to quickly diminish indicate that Iran has used spies incredible good for the region, international community must and shut down these demonstra- and informants in numerous roles but has chosen to be a destruc- listen to their call for sovereignty, support them during tions. Surprisingly, it is not only and positions, including at the tive, oppressive force instead. Its and strive to reinstate Iraq’s these diffi cult times. Iraq’s Sunni population that is Baghdad airport, taking pictures main focus is to build a caliphate pro-sovereignty groups, as they crying out but also the coun- of American and coalition forces throughout this region and the are Iraq’s key to freedom. Under try’s Shia people. Sunni-backed to keep tabs on them, and bribing world, starting with weak states the umbrella of the Sovereignty protesters may not pose a major political leaders. Surprisingly, like Yemen, Syria, and Iraq. Alliance for Iraq sits the Najafa threat to the establishment, but Iran managed to persuade CIA Currently, Iraq is Iran’s most Brothers, the National Indepen- Iraq’s Shia are the predominant agents to reveal information vital pillar throughout the Middle dent Iraqi Front, and the National base for the political establish- about CIA whereabouts. Such East. Iran enjoys trade with Iraq, Wisdom Movement. These groups ment and for Iranian infl uence bribery, coercion, and corruption benefi tting to the tune of $12-bil- are striving to implement the and since many of these protest- enabled Iran to take over Iraq’s lion annually. This has helped to protesters’ demands and to create ers are Shia, the Iraqi govern- political, social, and cultural af- keep the Persian nation afl oat a better life for the people of Iraq. ment has grown increasingly fairs. while it has endured continued We need to stand in solidarity concerned. According to these Iranian sanctions by the United States. with these pro-sovereignty groups Traditionally at odds with one cables, one message was reported The primary focus for Iran, and the world must pay closer Joseph Labba another, these two groups stand to be from the Iraqi Ministry of though, is to expand its mili- attention to and support them Opinion united to free Iraq with the hope Defense commander of military tary throughout the region. This during these diffi cult times. that one day they will have their intelligence, Lt. Gen. Hatem al- not only increases its infl uence It is time for the world to nation back, rebuild its infrastruc- Maksusi and stated, “All of the among neighbours but also weak- listen. We stand at the precipice ARIS—Since October of last ture, eradicate corruption and Iraqi Army’s intelligence—consid- ens any opposition to its regime. of change and with the Iraqis as Pyear, protests have gained confl ict, and have economic and er it yours.” Referring to the fi ght Iran has effectively used its they press forth to eradicate Ira- momentum in Iraq as its citizens political opportunities that allow against their common enemy, Popular Mobilization Units to nian infl uence in their country. grow frustrated by what they view them to thrive. ISIS, it highlighted a close and gain more political infl uence and Joseph Labba is a Paris-based as a corrupted political leadership Since 2003, Iranian infl uence comfortable relationship between power in Iraq while infi ltrating freelance journalist and political and oppressive outside infl uence has been a major factor in push- Iran and Iraqi offi cials. the military and parliament to the analyst specializing in Middle by Iranian forces. As economic ing the country’s instability after Iranian military general extent that Iraq’s prime minister East affairs, focusing on human conditions have deteriorated, leav- U.S. forces removed Saddam Qasem Soleimani fl ew to Iraq in is hand-picked by Tehran. rights violations that take place ing many younger Iraqis unable to Hussein. Despite its vast natural October to direct Iraq’s Prime The broad protest movements in the region. He works as an secure employment and provide resources, Iraqis continually suf- Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi not witnessed in Iraq since October adviser to NGOs and consults on for their families, the number of fer from extreme poverty and its to step down after several failed amount to an outright rejection of matters regarding state violence. protesters has steadily grown, government has failed to provide promises to improve economic this infi ltration. He holds an MA in International their voices growing louder. opportunities for its citizens to conditions and opportunities. However, the growing pro- Affairs from the Lebanese Ameri- In response, Iranian-backed prosper. Iran has simultaneously Instead, Soleimani put more tests, and the brutal crackdown can University. militia groups have attempted to sought to infi ltrate the country at pressure on the government to that ensued, should not come as The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 7 COVID-19 The month we learned that mental health is everybody’s responsibility

balance includes a knowledge of what is Elder Sam Achneepineskum truly essential, and that certainly includes Sr. is from Martin Falls First land. Nation located on the Albany Not land as in owning land, but land River, smack dab in the middle as in the entity which teaches us. In of northern Ontario. Elder Sam 2020, the lesson the land is telling is so was born and raised in the stark that we can’t help but to listen: it’s northern Ontario wilderness, all connected. Perhaps balance includes and grew up on the land. He an understanding that we are all con- shared with me that when you nected. live a life governed by what We have been reduced to a small life nature provides, one values in our homes, restricted from so many different things than a life lived of the accustomed distractions. We are in materialism and capitalism. struggling with how to cope, and per- He shared about a life and haps some anxiety. Elder Sam and Elders values and knowledge gained by across this land are calm and balanced, learning to adapt to the seasons and are choosing to share their knowl- and weather, ‘a course for your edge to help us all. After all that they survival, and one learns to follow have gone through in terms of coloniza- natural law,’ writes Rose LeMay. tion and residential schools and more, El- Photograph courtesy of Facebook ders continue. Perhaps balance includes stories. Rose LeMay is Tlingit from the West Coast and the CEO of the Indigenous Reconciliation Group. She writes twice a month about Indigenous inclusion and rec- onciliation. In Tlingit worldview, the stories are the knowledge system, sometimes told through myth and sometimes contradict- ing the myths told by others, but always with at least some truth. The Hill Times

So many are realizing that First Nations sometimes call it some- thing else; we sometimes call it balance. mental health is actually a Mental health is a narrow term, too narrow to capture the lived experience of it. Men- ȶȉȦȟ3SZIP(SVSREZMVYW (4:.)Ȧȟ daily practice, and practice tal health is connected to our network of is work. First Nations people, to our physical health, to the land, to our roles in community. What you need to know sometimes call it something First Nations have been through pan- demics before, and we’ve lost thousands else; we sometimes call it and thousands of our ancestors to small- to help you and your pox, fl u, and tuberculosis. The benefi t of balance. story-telling cultures is that we can share the stories of living through the Spanish family stay healthy. fl u, through smallpox in the 1800s. How- ever, these are not stories that are thrown around lightly, as we all did not survive through these dark times. The lesson is • Only visit an assessment centre if you have simply that we are still here—we are still standing. been referred by a health care professional. Elder Sam Achneepineskum Sr. is from Martin Falls First Nation located on the • Avoid non-essential travel. Albany River, smack dab in the middle of northern Ontario. Elder Sam now lives in • Monitor for symptoms after travel. Thunder Bay and supports the balance of Rose LeMay those who ask for his support, based in the • Avoid large gatherings. Stories, Myths, and Truths knowledges passed down to him from time immemorial. • Be prepared, but avoid panic stocking. Elder Sam has been sharing some TTAWA—In March of 2020, the world jokes recently on social media. Some • Caring for those who are ill? Take precautions. Owent into lockdown. We stopped going may wonder if humour is an appropri- out to see friends, many stopped going to ate response in the midst of this chaos, places of work and lost the hallway conver- and Elder Sam simply continues to share • Clean high-touch surfaces regularly. sations with co-workers, and we started to gentle jokes; perhaps balance includes look at neighbours with no small sense of humour. • Order your prescription medication. fear. Elder Sam was born and raised in the Anxiety started to grow. Some started northern Ontario wilderness, and grew up • Practice cough and sneeze etiquette in transit. to feel that “fi ght or fl ight” response when on the land. He shared with me that when the physical body declares there is a threat, you live a life governed by what nature except there is nothing to see to fi ght and provides, one values different things than nowhere to fl ee. That “fi ght or fl ight” physi- a life lived in materialism and capitalism. If you have symptoms, take the self-assessment cal response is a natural and necessary He shared about a life and values and at ontario.ca/coronavirus. Or call Telehealth response when there is a real threat, and knowledge gained by learning to adapt to it gives us the strength and clarity and ur- the seasons and weather, “a course for your Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007) gency to survive through a life-threatening survival, and one learns to follow natural or your public health unit. event. But that same “fi ght or fl ight” re- law.” sponse starts to have some negative impacts Natural law is a phrase that encom- when it continues to run hot in our bodies passes a wealth of knowledge and a way of without a natural conclusion. And so many being in this world, and includes the sense are realizing that mental health is actually a that we have what we need in the land and Paid for by the Government of Ontario daily practice, and practice is work. in our people around us, and in us. Perhaps 8 MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES

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Th e Hill Times is here to cover Canada needs a multi-phase national the biggest story in the world COVID-19 strategy, says Vancouver reader n a letter published in The Hill Times the capacity required to respond more ef- hese words have been overused, but coronavirus story online daily and in our Ion March 30, I advocated for the federal fectively to future virus outbreaks. Tthese really are extraordinary times. Politics This Morning daily newsletter. and provincial governments to begin Another article cited in the Post piece The global COVID-19 pandemic crisis There are a lot of people who con- developing and communicating strate- is by Tom Frieden, former director of The Hill Times means people are dying, the economy is tribute to , including our gies for the next phases of the COVID-19 the U.S. CDC. Mr. Frieden calls for an tanking, front-line health-care workers publishers, editors, news reporters, pro- response, including a gradual return to incident management approach to the need urgent help, the federal government duction team, website people, sales and normal social and economic activity. This pandemic that would include a data col- is spending billions of dollars in record readership sales teams, our editorial car- follow-up letter offers some details on lection and reporting structure to inform speed and rewriting programs on the fl y, toonist Michael de Adder, and our regular what a multi-phase, COVID-19 strategy policy-makers and citizens of progress and the future is uncertain. Strong po- columnists and op/ed writers—Andrew could look like. made toward containing the spread of the litical leadership is critically important Caddell, Andrew Cardozo, Sheila Copps, As the pandemic crisis escalates and virus. Frieden cites a dashboard that was right now in our country and it can save David Crane, Gwynne Dyer, Phil Gurski, populations around the world follow developed for the 2014-2016 Ebola out- lives. We said this last week, but we want Michael Harris, Eric Ifi ll, Joe Jordan, isolation/distancing measures to curtail break and recommends the development to repeat it here again on the editorial Amy Kishek, Rose LeMay, Alex Marland, the virus’s spread, a growing number of of a similar dashboard for COVID-19 The Hill Times page: is here to cover this Gerry Nicholls, Tim Powers, Susan Riley, health experts and commentators have metrics. story, the biggest story in the world, from Douglas Roche, Ken Rubin, Scott Taylor, begun to offer policy recommendations Canada needs a multi-phase national our corner of the world. We are shining Lisa Van Dusen, and Les Whittington— for post-lockdown phases of this crisis. COVID-19 strategy. This strategy should a light specifi cally on how this global some of the most savvy in the country, As noted by this headline recently in The include a reporting framework that would pandemic is affecting Canadian democ- along with the many people in adminis- Washington Post, “Experts converge on inform Canadians of our progress toward racy, Parliament, and federal government tration, human resources, and newspaper plans for easing coronavirus restrictions achieving targets in areas like the number policy. We are trying to have a positive delivery. safely,” a consensus is building around of active cases and the rate of increase, infl uence as we face this awful threat We’ve come up against some fairly the measures that would need to be in transmission rates, ICU capacity, and and we are continuing to cover our beats signifi cant challenges and obstacles since place in order for distancing measures to testing availability. The government, with The Hill Times as a community. We are covering MPs, started in 1989, but noth- be gradually eased. Common features of guidance from public health experts and Senators, staffers, cabinet ministers, ing like the COVID-19 global pandemic these plans include increasing testing and other scientists, could set targets for each the PMO, the PCO, the Treasury Board, crisis. This is uncharted territory, just like tracing capacities, increasing ICU capac- of these metrics. These targets could form Finance Canada, the government, the it is for everyone else in the world. But we ity and setting targets for when social and the criteria for when some resumption bureaucracy, the public service unions, absolutely consider ourselves an essential economic behaviour could resume. of normal activity would be allowed. Indigenous peoples, lobbying, federal service. We may be tired and a little afraid One of the more comprehensive policy Establishing exit criteria for the lock- party politics, public policy, foreign right now, but we’re also united, dedi- documents cited in the Post article comes down phase in advance would safeguard policy, the Parliamentary Precinct, Hill cated, and we have a clear purpose: to de- from the American Enterprise Institute, against arbitrary and premature easing of life, Hill media, and Hill people. liver you the news, opinion, and analysis an American right-wing think tank, with social distancing, particularly as pressure We’re burning the midnight oil to offer about this global crisis. This is a family- input from epidemiologists and health builds to restart the economy. Publishing deeper and better coverage. Our email owned, independent business, whose policy experts from Johns Hopkins Uni- a dashboard of COVID-19 metrics and distribution list has been signifi cantly ex- founders and owners Jim Creskey, Anne versity. The AEI report, National Corona- our progress toward achieving targets panded and both Monday and Wednesday Marie Creskey, Ross Dickson, and Leslie virus Response: A Road Map to Reopen- could be a powerful motivator for Cana- The Hill Times electronic PDF issues are being sent to Dickson, will fi ght for to ing, outlines a multi-phase strategy with dians to continue doing the right things, thousands of more readers. We’re also of- be here for you, no matter what. target criteria for when an American while offering some reassurance that we The Hill Times fering more robust daily coverage of the state could transition from the lockdown are making progress toward a return to phase to partial, then full resumption of normalcy. normal activities. They also propose a Harry Henderson fourth, post-pandemic phase for building Vancouver, B.C.

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e: “Editor’s note: how the coronavirus political spectrum. As a retired federal Rglobal pandemic will affect The Hill bureaucrat, I am most free to fully share Times,” (March 30, 2020). One must admire my views and my experiences through your comprehensive sharing of how The The Hill Times and mostly in response to Hill Times has so needed to adjust its Canada’s rich cultural, racial, and religious operations to the coronavirus pandemic diversity. It is this live diversity of our in order to maintain quality reporting. citizens which serves us to the fullest and May I add how thankful I am, along with which will help us to effectively address fellow writers of the letters to the editor, this critical virus. Yes, we are together. for the openness you allow for us to share Roman Mukerjee our diverse views and experiences in the Ottawa, Ont.

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured March 31, 2020, at his daily press conference outside Rideau Cottage in Ottawa. The Trudeau government should direct Statistics Canada to prepare a full social/ economic/health report on the lives of Canadians from the year 2000 to the present. Much of the data is available within the great data resources of Statistics Canada, but it needs to be put together in one comprehensive report that digs down into detail. Such an exercise would also identify where there are critical data gaps that need to be fi lled, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

ORONTO—Even before the more inclusive. This task force or years, “for a signifi cant number of savers—the growing savings and The Trudeau Tpandemic hit, it was clear we commission should be made of a individuals the changes are spur- retirement problems. needed a new social contract. small, say half dozen, outstanding ring uncertainty, pessimism, and But it also lists challenges for government should While the pandemic brutally Canadians, along with a couple a general loss of trust in institu- social groups or countries—the exposed the shortcomings of our of members from countries that tions” with “an economy that does multiple pressures on low-income appoint an independent society and just how vulnerable have been the most successful not work well for everyone.” individuals; a new era of chal- task force or royal so many individuals and fami- in sustaining and strengthening The focus, it argues, has to be lenging outcomes for the under-30 lies really are, this didn’t start their social contracts. on two fronts: fi rst, to build on the generation; the persistent gender commission to design a with the pandemic. Rather, the Second, the Trudeau govern- gains of the past 20 years through and race gaps; the growing chal- pandemic put the spotlight on the ment should direct Statistics further economic and productiv- lenge of place; and the risk of un- new social contract for underlying fault lines that have Canada to prepare a full social/ ity growth, and investment in sustainable government funding. been there for some time. economic/health report on the technology and innovation, with The OECD, in its report, also Canadians, one that is Too many people are falling lives of Canadians from the year more attention to job growth and fi nds that while life has been getting much more inclusive. by the wayside, not sharing in the 2000 to the present. Much of opportunity creation; second, to better over the past decade, “there growth of the economy—with too the data is available within the tackle the many challenges that is much room for improvement.” In This task force or many in precarious jobs with little great data resources of Statistics individuals face, in particular particular, “insecurity, disconnection, or no protection. Wage stagnation Canada, but it needs to be put those most affected by the weak- and despair affect some parts of the commission should be and high levels of inequality in together in one comprehensive ened social contract. population.” As it says, “despite rising income and wealth are weaken- report that digs down into detail. The McKinsey report fi nds household incomes, little progress made up of a small, say ing the social glue of our country. Such an exercise would also iden- that while high-skill, high-income has been achieved since 2010 with Too many Canadian households tify where there are critical data individuals have fared well, mid- respect to reducing income inequal- half dozen, outstanding are too heavily in debt, with little gaps that need to be fi lled. dle-skill, middle-income workers ity or improving housing afford- Canadians, along with or no savings and maxed out on If we are to have a meaningful have been squeezed out of the ability.” National averages, it says, usurious interest rate credit cards. national exercise to revise and labour market while consumption “often mask large inequalities in a couple of members Housing is too costly or even strengthen the Canadian social and savings outcomes have been how different parts of the population unavailable for too many. contract, we need good data as worse for many-low-skill, low- are doing.” In many countries, most from countries that Too many young people are the starting point. We can debate income individuals. Moreover, of the gains from growth are going burdened with high levels of solutions, but it matters that we young people have fared less well the highest-income, leaving little for have been the most student debt, yet unable to fi nd can all agree on the basic facts than the elderly, women have everyone else. full-time jobs. Too many Canadi- that only a trusted independent seen improvements but still lag Without a new social contract successful in sustaining ans lack the income to save for agency, such as Statistics Canada, behind men, minorities continue that delivers a better life for all, and strengthening their retirement. And disparities in can provide. to face challenges, and rural Canada faces the prospect of a income mean that health and edu- Two recent reports, published areas have fallen behind. more divided and unequal, and social contracts. cation outcomes for those at the earlier this year, provide some It outlines what it calls 10 hence weaker and poorer, society. lower levels of income are well guidance of what we need to look high-priority challenges in In the meantime, the most below those at the top. Too many at. One, from the McKinsey Glob- advanced countries that need vulnerable and lowest paid—the Canadians are dying from alcohol al Institute, spells out the need for solutions. They all sound familiar cashiers in supermarkets and or drug abuse. a new social contact in all of what because they have been with us drugstores, the people fi lling or- So as we work our way out of we call the advanced economies. for some time: ders in e-commerce warehouses, the pandemic, one of our highest The other, from the Organization For workers—persistent those making deliveries of food priorities must be to strike a new of Economic Cooperation and income polarization and wage and other packages to our door- social contract for Canada. This Development, is its ‘How’s Life in stagnation; and work fragility steps—are the ones we are most means two things should happen. 2020?’, a series of measures that and lack of transition supports in counting on to deliver some kind First, the Trudeau government defi ne quality of life. an evolving present and future of of normalcy to our lives during should appoint an independent The McKinsey report—’The work. For consumers—challenges the current crisis. David Crane task force or royal commission Social Contract in the 21st Cen- of affordable housing and the David Crane can be reached at — [email protected]. Canada & the 21st Century to design a new social contract tury’ argues that while many rising expense of and demand for for Canadians, one that is much have prospered over the past 20 healthcare and education; and for The Hill Times 10 MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Politcs

Health determine how long we are stuck Minister in this place.” Patty Hajdu, The former executive director pictured of Thunder Bay’s largest home- on March less shelter, Hajdu started fending 20, 2020, for herself at 16, acquiring an along with education both in graphic design Canada’s and public administration, and chief invaluable hands-on experience medical with Thunder Bay’s municipal health scene in harm prevention, addic- offi cer Dr. tion, and homeless issues. That Theresa Tam, broad background has served her Treasury well. Board Deputy Prime Minister Chrys- President tia Freeland—despite sounding, Jean-Yves at times, like a reproving high Duclos, school principal—has nonetheless and Deputy conveyed the requisite calm and Prime focus a crisis demands. Trea- Minister sury Board President Jean-Yves Chrystia Duclos, a quiet-spoken Québec Freeland.The City economist with degrees from Hill Times the University of Alberta and photograph the London School of Econom- by Andrew ics, has emerged from near total Meade obscurity to be cabinet’s leading Quebec communicator. Employ- ment Minister Carla Qualtrough, a lawyer from B.C., has provided, crisp, simplifi ed explanations of rapidly-evolving relief measures. Lately, the second-string is getting airtime. Last week, Public Services and Procurement Min- ister Anita Anand made a strong fi rst impression (for many) as she outlined efforts to buy $60-million worth of masks, 4,000 additional ventilators and protective equip- ment in what she described as an Some cabinet stars emerge in pandemic “all-hands-on-deck” effort. Her poise and confi dence wouldn’t minister-as-potted-plant arrived on tactics and possibly undone PMO, by Trudeau, his personal surprise those familiar with her Canadians are getting in earnest. Ministers, no matter by many missteps in his trun- friends and lieutenants, supported background: the fi rst Hindu how august their title, were to cated campaign. That leaves Erin by the usual gang of hyper-parti- member of cabinet, she is a native their fi rst sustained remain a respectful distance O’Toole, a low-profi le former san political staff. Newly empow- of Nova Scotia with four degrees, exposure to the behind the Great Leader and nod junior minister (veterans affairs) ered in the era of leader-driven including Oxford, a law professor and clap on cue. The old joke— in Harper’s cabinet. politics, loyal to the boss above at University of Toronto before talent, variety, and about Margaret Thatcher, but it With the election of Trudeau, all, this cadre of unelected wonks her 2015 election, with noted applies to Harper, too—is instruc- all that was supposed to change; is in the habit of dispensing lordly expertise in corporate governance weaknesses around tive. After winning a decisive Liberals promised a return to instructions to ministers, often and capital markets. election, the new prime minister collaborative government. And their superiors in age and experi- But, for the most part, Cana- the cabinet table. summons the new cabinet to a Trudeau’s fi rst gender-balanced ence. In all parties. dians do not know much about posh restaurant. The waiter asks cabinet included ministers with That system is under threat their cabinet ministers—except, the PM what he wants: “I’ll have impressive real-world experi- now, thanks to the extraordinary of course, for the ones who get steak, well done,” replies Harper. ence, including Finance Minister circumstances of the pandemic. into trouble. That said, impec- “And the vegetables?” asks the Bill Morneau, head of a large For much of the crisis, the prime cable academic credentials and/or waiter. “They’ll have the same,” he Bay Street pension company; minister has been in quaran- business savvy are no guarantee growls. international fi nancial journal- tine—at fi rst from necessity; later, of success in politics. Nor has this To this day, you are hard- ist and newspaper executive, to set an example—giving daily government’s response been fl aw- pressed to name any Harper min- Chrystia Freeland; former cabinet briefi ngs on his front doorstep less: there are legitimate quarrels ister with the profi le, infl uence veterans like Ralph Goodale and at Rideau College. While there is with details of the relief packag- within the party, or raw ability John McCallum; former Toronto constant communication between es, with many advocating $2,000 to have stood up to an alpha-PM police chief Bill Blair; Afghan war the PM and his cabinet team, he cheques in the mail for everyone, Susan Riley like Harper. The former fi nance veteran and former Vancouver has been physically separated with high-income clawbacks Impolitic minister, Jim Flaherty, while well- police offi cer, Harjit Sajjan, and, and the image is potent. come tax time. And Trudeau, him- liked, often wore the pinched look of course, star recruits Dr. Jane After the prime minister’s self, continues to grate on nerves of a man biting his tongue. The Philpott and B.C. Indigenous remarks—a mixture of fact, with his mannered speaking style, HELSEA, QUE.—It has been theatrically-bombastic John Baird leader, Jody Wilson-Raybould. admonition, and partisan adver- sounding, sometimes like an ama- Cdecades since the era of strong eagerly served as guard-dog to The reins were loosened some- tising—attention has moved to a teur hypnotist. cabinet ministers—men (always the boss, forfeiting any claim to what under Trudeau—ministers long table dominated by a shifting But compared to the circus men) with a profi le as prominent seriousness in the process. The were allowed to speak with media cast of cabinet ministers. Stars down south—the boastful, self- as the prime minister’s and their former environment minister, Jim and trusted to hold their own in have emerged, profi les have been absorbed, vacillating president; own following within the party. In Prentice, commanded respect that Question Period (although still burnished, but, mostly, Canadians the back-biting, mistrust, rival- the modern era, the most memo- many of his forgettable front- supplied with tedious scripts). have had their fi rst sustained ex- ries and open hostilities among rable example is Paul Martin, Jean bench colleagues lacked, but left Some, like exuberant former posure to the talent, variety, and Trump’s minions and his advisers, Chrétien’s fi nance minister, who, cabinet for greener pastures. He environment minister, Catherine weaknesses around that august Canada’s team effort comes as a somewhat impatiently, built his became premier of Alberta, but McKenna, established a lively table. relief and a reassurance. own brand and his own personal died tragically in a plane crash. online presence through social Health Minister Patty Hajdu, It has also been a rare, and army within the Liberal Party, After that, the fi eld was shal- media and were not punished. (At in particular, has been impres- mostly reassuring, inside look at with a view to replacing his boss— low—so shallow that former least, not by the PMO.) sively straightforward and candid cabinet government. It is too bad sooner rather than later. speaker Andrew Scheer, an But, with the exception of in her daily tracking of the virus. it took a crisis of this magnitude Martin did become prime introverted parliamentary pro- Freeland, none—including the She conceded last week that to force government to draw back minister, of course, but it took cedure buff, with an inability to soft-focus, error-prone Morneau— “federal governments for decades the curtain and trust us with some the Liberal Party years to recover rise above partisan point-scoring, commanded a truly independent have been underfunding things hard, complicated facts. from the damage and division he became leader. And Scheer’s ex- role. In the fi rst term, especially— like public health preparedness.” Susan Riley is a veteran politi- left in his wake. pected successor, Peter MacKay, dramatically underscored by the She has also offered measured cal columnist who writes regu- After Martin’s defeat by Ste- is shallow in his own way: light Wilson-Raybould farrago—the hope in her succinct manner: larly for The Hill Times. phen Harper, the era of cabinet- on policy, disastrously tone deaf government was run from the “What we do today will actually The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 11 Opinion Beyond life and death issues presented by COVID-19, is there a social phenomenon brewing?

A man, pictured on March 27, 2020, wearing a protective mask walking past the Bank of Canada Museum in Ottawa. 'A lot of people are afraid of incoming bills that they won’t be able to pay. Is a consumer- and debt-driven life, sustained by ubiquitous marketing, the good life? Is choosing a life that needs to get an emergency bailout or loan deferral to survive a smart and sustainable choice,' asks columnist Michael Harris. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

has been heatedly argued about Airports are wastelands and Why was government, all A lot of people are afraid of We have had the Great for centuries. A lot of busy people danger zones. government, so ill-prepared for incoming bills that they won’t be would counter that their lives are Buying groceries is done with COVID-19? able to pay. Is a consumer- and Depression and the very much worth living. the care of defusing a bomb. Was it government spending debt-driven life, sustained by The truth is, though, most of Parks and playgrounds are priorities? ubiquitous marketing, the good Great Recession. Are us, with the usual episodic excep- closed. If it was, wouldn’t it be better life? we entering the early tions, live unexamined lives. Ac- There is no NFL, NHL, NBA; to have a brilliant, well-equipped Is choosing a life that needs to cordingly, almost all of us labour no Wimbledon, Olympic Games, or health-care system, than a fl eet get an emergency bailout or loan days of the Great under the Socratic judgment. Kentucky Derby; no British Open, of stealth fi ghter jets, massive deferral to survive a smart and The main reason for that is Cannes Film Festival, or even Mick subsidies to energy companies, or sustainable choice? Refl ection? time—or the lack of it. Surviving Jagger in San Diego on May 8. $50-million giveaways to a profi t- Back in the 1980s, the Mac- now, as in all centuries, means In some places, a game of able outfi t like MasterCard? donald Royal Commission recom- working. It usually means that bridge is now an illegal gathering. Why do so many political lead- mended among other things, a everybody, including both part- COVID-19 has wiped out leisure ers explain their unpreparedness guaranteed annual income for ners in most relationships, is at pursuits, just as it has jobs. by claiming that COVID-19 is an Canadians. Wouldn’t that be the economic grindstone trying to So what are people left with, unprecedented event? a better approach than helter make ends meet. besides fear of getting deathly With SARS, H1NI, and Ebola skelter emergency spending and There is not much time for sick and newscasts with one story all part of the planet’s recent millions of people waiting and refl ection. After subtracting the covered from every angle—CO- history, how could we not have hoping for eleventh-hour bailouts normal household chores, spare VID-19? had enough safety equipment on schedules no one really knows time becomes recuperative time— On the short term, there is for medical fi rst responders? Not about? that vacation, or weekend of NFL disentangling that knotted fi sh- even masks. Pandemics are not Is home schooling better than Michael Harris football before the grind starts all ing line that is the application new. anyone thought? Harris over again on Monday. process for a myriad of govern- And when will someone Does online education beat on COVID-19 has wiped out the ment cheques. Once that is done, explain the longtime outcomes of the bus and off to the bricks and Monday syndrome—and all the the wait begins for the hoped lockdowns and social distancing? mortar brand? ALIFAX—Beyond the life other days too. Millions of people for funds to arrive in the mail or These laudable practices Where are the children better- Hand death issues presented are now sheltering in place, either bank account before the cup- obviously suppress new infec- off, better-educated and better- by COVID-19, is there a social by government fi at or recommen- board is bare. tions today. That is why they are protected—home or school? phenomenon brewing? dation. While it is true some still But with places like Toronto in place. But what happens when Are there other ways to spend We have had the Great Depres- work from home, it is far from the announcing 12 more weeks of the restrictions are lifted? Where one’s time than being in thrall sion and the Great Recession. Are same thing as the usual rat race. COVID-19 restrictions; with is the modelling that shows that to the great distraction machine, we entering the early days of the And then there are the hun- Ontario Premier Doug Ford part of the continuum? The virus that endless entertainment, Great Refl ection? dreds of thousands of people releasing bleak coronavirus data will still be there. Why wouldn’t hyper-stimulation, and essential Socrates observed that the who have lost their jobs outright projections; and with the PM the pandemic simply resume after emptiness that goes by the name unexamined life is not worth liv- because COVID-19 cut off their speculating that he may use his that famous curve is fl attened, of modern culture? ing. His point was that if all you companies’ cash fl ow. They are emergency powers to battle the and that becomes the justifi ca- Might reading a good book be ever did was follow other people’s laid off and at home with time on virus right to the front porch of tion for a return to business as a surprisingly satisfying alterna- rules and edicts, you would never their hands, lots of time. summer, it looks like there will be usual? Do the current measures tive, even habit forming? discover who you really were, Normally, this could have been plenty of time for people to refl ect if followed to the letter defeat the Or is whether or not they de- or what you really wanted. You a cornucopia of recuperative time, on things they would normally be pandemic or delay it? cide to close the beer store really would not be living, merely exist- like an extra long, Long Weekend. too busy to consider. And then there are the strictly the big story? ing. But not now. There are a lot of basic ques- personal issues that COVID-19 Michael Harris is an award- The philosopher’s declaration There are no more cruises to tions to think about, some per- and time on your hands might winning author and journalist. is, of course, up for debate—and exotic locations. sonal, some political. engender. The Hill Times 12 MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion The Conservative Party’s competence problem

Conservative It was a politically tone deaf move The problem with this leadership which resulted in headlines such as “Peter candidates MacKay chases a Pyrrhic victory,” and “On ongoing train wreck for Peter what planet is continuing the Conservative MacKay, leadership race a good idea?” the Conservatives is it Erin O'Toole, Ultimately, the party did change its stance; undermines their chief and Marilyn the leadership vote was postponed, but by Gladu. The then the damage had already been done. political comparative Hill Times At any rate, the problem with this ongo- photographs ing train wreck for the Conservatives is it advantage, i.e., the by Andrew undermines their chief political comparative Meade advantage, i.e., the belief that they’re more belief that they’re more competent managers than the Liberals. competent managers than And yes, competence is a key part of the party’s political brand. the Liberals. It all started, of course, back in Octo- For instance, early on in the contest, After all, Conservatives usually win ber, when, under the leadership of Andrew front-running leadership candidate, Peter elections, not because of their policies or Scheer, they lost the federal election to Prime “Missing the Open Net” MacKay, had a because their leaders exude charisma, but Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals, an election couple of highly publicized gaffes. because they can make a reasonable case many Conservatives thought they could win. First off, he admitted he was “not happy” that they’re simply more capable than the Indeed, mere days after the vote, former when his team posted a tweet poking fun other guys when it comes to running the Conservative cabinet minister Peter MacK- at Trudeau’s yoga expenses; secondly, he country. ay likely spoke for many of his disappoint- faced a backlash when one of his tweets The Conservatives were successful, ed Tory comrades when he described the expressed support for counter-protesters for instance, when they compared and loss thusly, “it was like having a breakaway who were dismantling, vigilante-style, a contrasted the competency of their former on an open net and missing the net.” blockade on a rail line. leader Stephen Harper against the alleged Then Scheer added to the party’s woes, While not major mistakes, these mis- ineptness of former Liberal leaders, Sté- Gerry Nicholls when he gave awkward answers to media cues gave MacKay’s campaign an amateur- phane Dion and Michael Ignatieff. questions relating to his personal views on ish vibe. But lately, the Conservatives have Post Partisan Pundit gay marriage. Worse, however, was the party’s contro- looked anything but competent. Suddenly, the party was being branded versial reaction on how to handle the lead- They lost an election they should have as homophobic. ership race after the COVID-19 crisis hit. won; their leaders can’t seem to answer AKVILLE, ONT.—Instead of focus- On top of that, by the end of year, Scheer Initially, despite calls from certain tough questions, they can’t seem to man- ing on the depressing crisis known as O became embroiled in a public relations mess, leadership candidates and from grassroots age party expenses, they bungle their COVID-19, I thought I’d focus instead on after it was revealed he had used party funds members to put off the vote, party brass tweets, and mismanaged their leadership the depressing crisis known as the Conser- to pay for his children’s private schooling. decided, virus or no virus, it was going full race. vative Party of Canada. Eventually, battered and bruised, Scheer steam ahead with the race as scheduled, It’s not exactly an inspiring record, at a Okay, maybe “crisis” is too strong a announced he would step down as leader, meaning, at the same time people were time when Canadians need inspiring. word, but clearly the last six months have but only after the party chose his successor. fearing for their lives and livelihoods, they Gerry Nicholls is a communications been a pretty rough stretch of road for the Yet, the ensuing leadership race did were being pestered with Conservative consultant. federal Conservatives. little to improve the party’s image. fundraising pitches. The Hill Times

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, pictured on May 16, 2018. On March 30, 2020, the Hungarian parliament passed a new law, allegedly to deal with the coronavirus crisis. It declares a state of emergency and allows Mr. Orbán to rule by decree for the duration of the crisis—but it doesn’t say when that state of emergency will end. That will be decided by the man who has just been granted supreme power, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Commons Hungary: the Wikimedia fi rst casualty?

coronavirus crisis as an excuse to coalition defect, he doesn’t really information, but the courts were ‘Never waste the opportunity off ered by a good give themselves absolute powers? have the option of cancelling the already giving his critics mul- Will Rodrigo Duterte take election. Americans’ loyalty to tiple shorter sentences if they got crisis,’ as Machiavelli allegedly said 500 years “emergency” powers to get their ancient Constitution is still too noisy. Why go to this extra around the one-term Filipino too strong to let that happen. trouble when it might even tip ago. So is what we are seeing in Hungary now presidential limit that obliges In any case, Trump probably the EU into expelling Hungary the tip of the iceberg? Will governments in other him to quit in two years’ time? won’t need such extreme mea- as a non-democratic country (al- Will Narendra Modi copy Indira sures to hold on to offi ce. He is though I wouldn’t hold my breath democracies whose leaders have dictatorial Gandhi’s 1975 ‘emergency’ and set already re-writing the script so on that one)? up as the ‘temporary’ dictator of that his heavy responsibility for I once spent a day with Orbán ambitions use the coronavirus crisis as an India? Will Recep Tayyip Erdo an the silent carnage that awaits the in Budapest, when we were both destroy what remains of Turkey’s country is erased in the public’s much younger men. He was a stu- excuse to give themselves absolute powers? democracy to save himself if his mind by his last-minute swerve dent leader who had just got fa- popularity declines further? towards a strong policy of social mous for defying the Communists allegedly to deal with the coro- For that matter, will Donald distancing that averts a much with a fi ery nationalist speech, navirus crisis. It declares a state Trump use the great wave of greater loss of life. Hail the sav- and I had spent the summer in of emergency and allows Orbán American coronavirus deaths iour! the Soviet Union interviewing the to rule by decree for the duration in the coming months and an Which leaves us, then, with the emerging democratic opposition. of the crisis—but it doesn’t say alleged threat of mass disorder question of why Orbán is going (We were introduced by Hungar- when that state of emergency will as an excuse for postponing the to such political extremes when ian-born philanthropist George end. That will be decided by the November election, especially if he already had all the power Soros, then Orbán’s mentor and man who has just been granted his prospects for re-election are he could possibly want. He has later a prime target of his rabid supreme power. not looking bright? already fi ddled the constitution anti-Semitism.) Orbán’s spokesman, Zoltán It’s a toss-up with Duterte, so that his party can win a two- We had much to talk about, Gwynne Dyer Kovács, helpfully explained that who is responsible for so many thirds majority of the seats in and I enjoyed his company. What Global Aff airs “Just as in wartime, a state of emer- murders that he can never safely parliament on only 44 per cent of struck me, though, was that he re- gency could extend until the end of retire. But for the rest, the answer the votes. ally thought like a lawyer. Maybe hostilities. Today, we confront not a is almost certainly no. Hungary is effectively a one- a radical one, and certainly later ONDON, U.K.—“Hello, dictator!” military power, but are in a war-like Both Modi and Erdo an have party state, and the media and the a corrupt one, but a lawyer by Lsaid Jean-Claude Juncker cheer- state to defend our people against created solid blocs of religious judges both serve Orbán’s Fidesz character and by training. ily to Hungary’s leader, Victor Or- a pandemic the likes of which we supporters who practically Party, not the general public. He So maybe what he’s doing now bán, at a European Union summit have not seen in a century.” guarantee their political futures even had a “state of emergency” is just tidying up the law. Hun- meeting a couple of years ago. The “Never waste the opportu- (at great cost to the unity and in place already, declared in 2016 gary was already a dictatorship president of the European Commis- nity offered by a good crisis,” as future prospects of their respec- during the great refugee fl ood in practice. Now it’s also one in sion was only joking, of course, but Machiavelli allegedly said 500 tive countries). They don’t need to of that year (though none of the theory. it was gallows humour. Dictatorship years ago. So is what we are destroy democracy to survive. refugees came to Hungary), and Gwynne Dyer’s new book is was clearly where Orbán was head- seeing in Hungary now the tip of As for Trump, whose “base” is he has never rescinded it. ‘Growing Pains: The Future of De- ing—and now he has arrived. the iceberg? Will governments in too narrow to assure him a politi- True, he can now hand out mocracy (and Work)’. This column On March 30, the Hungarian other democracies whose leaders cal victory in November if other fi ve-year prison sentences to was released on April 1, 2020. parliament passed a new law, have dictatorial ambitions use the elements of his victorious 2016 Hungarians who spread “false” The Hill Times 14 MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion Peace in Afghanistan? Not likely in our time

ing and failure, U.S. Canada suff ered casualties whether or not it marines, is the fault of the pictured on during its mission in newbies. After all, Dec. 25, if you cannot rail 2001, in Afghanistan and it is tragic against the ‘gov- Kandahar, that a Western departure ernment’ who can Afghanistan you bitch about? in will not bring peace. As occupa- support of tions tend to cost Operation a lot of money, Enduring both in blood and Freedom. treasure, those Photograph behind them may courtesy of seek an easy way Commons out, if for no other Wikipedia reason than to stem the fi nancial and human bleed- ing. Regardless of Phil Gurski the initial motiva- National Security tions of the deci- sion to enter the scene in the fi rst TTAWA—I am sure that you have all place—benevo- Oheard the Pottery Barn rule, right? It lent aid or violent says, “if you break it you buy it.” In other aggression—there words, if you are responsible for damage it comes a time is incumbent on you to take ownership of when nations the damaged goods. realize it is neces- retreat a scant decade later, or the more re- Secondly, it is probably not a good idea Wars, or, more narrowly, occupations, sary to pull up stakes and head home. cent decision by the Trump administration to put any trust in your interlocutor if that are a good example of this rule. If country In the best-case scenario, the occupiers to quit Afghanistan, the safer bet is that party is also a terrorist group (which the A invades and occupies country B, and gets have succeeded in leaving a well-trained, com- country will not soon become a beacon of Taliban are). These antediluvian Islamist rid of the pre-existing governing structure, petent, and honest group to assume the mantle democracy. Quite the contrary. violent extremists have no intention of the former becomes the new sheriff and of national leadership. More often, I fear, the U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that allowing Afghanistan to keep what little now has to run everything; from the water wheels come off the bus as soon as the last the Taliban have “promised” not to allow ter- ‘progress’ our collective Western presence supply to the dog catcher. soldier boards a Hercules and heads home. rorist groups such as al-Qaida to operate on helped to establish. Terrorists are seldom Those under occupation, often already Afghanistan sure seems to fi t this latter its territory is specious. This “deal” was all honest brokers. upset at the fact they are now under the mould. the more laughable as it was signed without And for us in Canada? We lost 165 tutelage of a new overseer they had no say Whether we are referring to the blight- meaningful input from the “elected” Afghan Canadians—158 soldiers and seven civil- in choosing, will criticize every shortcom- ed Soviet invasion in 1979 and ignominious government. Many people could be excused ians—and a much, much larger number for seeing this agreement as a fi g leaf to to PTSD and other mental (and physical) hide what Trump has always wanted to do: ailments during our 13-year deployment bring U.S. troops home. A recent Wash- (2001-2014). We spent $2.2-billion on devel- ington Post exposé showed how multiple opment assistance during that same time agencies knew that the “progress” being sold frame. All of that is in jeopardy. to the American people was a lie. None of this should be construed as So, what has happened since the pact dismissive of the efforts and intentions of was signed in late February of this year? the Canadian men and women who served Even a cursory glance at English-language in Afghanistan with the armed forces, the Afghan media shows defi nitively that the diplomatic service or the development and “peace-loving” Taliban have engaged in aid sectors. These are good Canadians who daily attacks on Afghan military forces, po- did their utmost in very trying circum- lice services, and civilians. The smaller, but stances. probably crazier Islamic State in Khurasan But it is fair to ask what in the end was has been equally active. There are few achieved. When what we built is torn down signs that any of this will get better soon. as soon as we leave we can be excused for What if any lessons are to be learned questioning the whole initiative. After all, here? First and foremost, a country that it is not for nothing that Afghanistan has decides to send an army to take and hold been called the graveyard of empires. a foreign land may want to think twice be- And yet some would respond that in fore doing so. There are multiple elements the wake of 9/11 we had no choice but to that can and, usually do, go wrong. An exit invade and punish the terrorists responsi- strategy should at a minimum accompany ble for that catastrophic act. Really? There the entry one. Perhaps the choice to occupy was no other way? When Israel was hit by should be a last, not a fi rst, resort. terrorism at the Munich Olympics in 1972 did it invade and occupy countries where the terrorists were holed up? No, it slowly and methodically found them and took them out (I am not advocating extrajudicial assassination: I am just trying to say that sending in an army to run a foreign land is rarely a good idea). The 2011 U.S. Special Forces operation that located and killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden was a much more judicious use of military might. Let’s think very, very carefully before we hit the “send” button on military de- ployments. And let’s not engage in ‘nego- tiations’ with terrorist groups. The great Islamist extremist ideologue Abdallah Azzam (subject of a new and very compre- hensive biography by Norwegian scholar Thomas Hegghammer) famously said: “Jihad and the rifl e alone; no negotiations, no conferences, and no dialogues.” Maybe he was on to something. Phil Gurski is a retired CSIS strategic BASTIENPRIZANTOPTOMETRY.COM terrorism analyst and the author of fi ve books on terrorism. 613.236.6066 • [email protected] The Hill Times AviationThe Hill Times Policy Briefi ng April 6, 2020

Aviation industry will never be the same, so what’s next? Page 16

COVID-19 and aviation: survival, recovery, and innovation

Page 18

The COVID-19 challenge An opportunity pandemic: of COVID-19 or a need to models, to aviation reset commercial predictions, security aviation? and aviation Page 18Page 20 Page 20 16 MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Aviation Policy Briefi ng Slammed by COVID, Canada’s aviation industry looking to federal government for help

Airlines, airports, and Minister of Innovation, Science the aerospace sectors and Economic Development are all facing unique Navdeep Bains, challenges. Some have pictured on Nov. 7, 2017, at the been given direct associations conference in government support, Ottawa. Mr. Bains recently announced while others are measures to help the aerospace asking for targeted industry cope with relief. the COVID-19 global pandemic. The Hill Times BY AIDAN CHAMANDY photograph by Andrew Meade aced with sharply declining Frevenues due to COVID-19, the Canadian aviation industry is taking a major hit. From airlines to airports and aerospace compa- nies throughout the supply chain, all are facing challenges to their bottom line, and potentially their survival. Some targeted govern- ment relief has been announced for certain groups in the industry, The aerospace industry is Asia, including Norway and erwise, if the government does expenses, insurance, and leases. but with grim forecasts ahead, composed of producers of air- Singapore, the Canadian federal not step in, these companies will Fuel prices have also dropped as many in the sector are calling craft and other aviation-related government has yet to announce vanish,” he said. oil prices collapsed because of a for the federal government to do equipment along with those who direct fi nancial support for the “I’m not being apocalyptic. fi ght between Saudi Arabia and more to help. service the machines. It includes airline industry. The $2-trillion You have essentially zero revenue Russia. The IATA study estimates “We need the Canadian gov- the civil aviation, space, and the relief package that became law in coming in for months on end, 51 per cent of airlines costs are ernment to act like the United defence sectors. According to a the U.S. on March 27 earmarked and you’ve got very large in- variable, while 49 per cent are States has, like many countries in joint federal government-industry around $58-billion for the airline debtedness because it’s a capital fi xed or semi-fi xed. Europe, like Singapore, and step report, in 2018 the Canadian industry in the form of loans, loan intensive industry,” Prof. Lee The study estimates that vari- up to the plate and provide the aerospace industry directly em- guarantees, and grants to pay said. “Their costs go down when able costs will drop by some 70 fi nancial assistance that is needed ployed 89,500 people and con- workers. Airlines that accept the they lay people off, but they have per cent in the second quarter, in to safeguard the well being of tributed $13.1-billion to Canada’s relief will be barred from laying multi-billion dollar debts that line with the 65 per cent expected the air transport sector, and even GDP. Canadian suppliers to the off or furloughing workers until have to be paid for the planes that reduction in capacity. Semi-fi xed more expanded, the travel and aerospace industry contributed Sept. 30. Further restrictions are sitting on the ground doing costs, including crew, are expect- tourism sector,” said Peter Cerdá, $7.2-billion to GDP and employed include preventing airlines from nothing right now.” ed to drop by a third, the study regional vice-president for the 70,700 people. buying back shares for a year Indebtedness is only part of said. Americas at the International Air According to a 2016 study by after the loan is paid, and issuing the problem facing the airlines As variable costs are either Transport Association (IATA). the Canadian Airports Council, dividends to shareholders while industry. Airlines have a high dropping or being actively cut, IATA is asking the government airports were directly responsible receiving aid. percentage of fi xed and semi- and planes continue to stay on the for a number of actions, including for 194,000 jobs and $19-billion Prof. Lee said he believes the fi xed costs that cannot be avoided runway as air traffi c is shut down, stimulus spending, suspension of in GDP. The same study reported Canadian airline industry will in the short term, according to thousands of airline workers have NAV Canada navigation fees, de- they were indirectly responsible for need a bailout of some sort. “We a recent IATA study. Cutting been laid off. ferral of the fuel excise taxes and 99,000 jobs and $10-billion in GDP. need to sustain these companies variable costs, such as fuel, is Air Canada has laid off or ground rent for six months, lifting Unlike the United States and so that when the crisis is over, we much easier than cutting fi xed or furloughed over 20,000 employ- of fi nes for transporting inadmis- many countries in Europe and will have an airline industry. Oth- semi-fi xed costs, such as station ees to date, while executives sible passengers, and more. have taken pay cuts. Air Transat Like Mr. Cerdá, The Air Trans- also announced layoffs, totalling port Association of Canada, which about 3,600 people. Executives represents smaller airlines such as have also taken pay cuts. WestJet Porter and SunWing, and the Na- Air passenger traffi c at Canadian airports announced the company laid off tional Airline Council of Canada, about 6,900 people while execu- which represents larger airlines tives also took a pay cut. Sunwing such as WestJet and Air Canada, 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Source: Statistics Canada: Air passenger traffi c at Canadian airports, annual announced layoffs of about 1,500 have both called on the federal people effective April 8. government for direct support. 450,000 The study also points to air- The aviation industry employs lines being “faced with refunding thousands of Canadians and is re- 400,000 sold but unused tickets as a result sponsible for billions of dollars in of massive cancellations result- GDP contribution. It has a “huge 350,000 ing from government-imposed impact on the economy because restrictions on travel” as a major of everyone employed by airlines 300,000 problem affecting airlines cash and airports and within the sup- reserves. ply chain,” said Ian Lee, professor 250,000 “The second quarter liability and MBA director at Carleton for these is a colossal $35-bil- University’s Sprott School of 200,000 lion. Cash burn will be severe. We Business. estimate airlines could be burning Number of passengers Airlines in Canada employ 150,000 through $61 billion of their cash around 60,000 people, according balances in the second quarter,” the report said. Those fi gures are to data from Statistics Canada’s 100,000 civil aviation survey. The airline not specifi c to Canada. The Canadian government an- industry contributes around 50,000 $49-billion to Canadian GDP, nounced airlines will be allowed to offer travel vouchers instead of including an estimated $19-bil- 0 lion from tourists, according to regular refunds, which is a “posi- Pearson - Toronto Vancouver Pierre Elliott Calgary Edmonton Mcdonald-Cartier Robert Stanfi eld - James Richardson the International Air Transport Internatioanl Trudeau - International International - Ottawa Halifax - Winnipeg Continued on page 21 Association. Montreal Setting the Standard for Future Aircrew Training

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Helicopters | Aeronautics | Electronics, Defence & Security Systems | Space 18 MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Aviation Policy Briefi ng

This has led to three critical COVID-19 and aviation: questions about the future of international aviation. 1. When will the impacts of CO- VID-19 subside—and what will survival, recovery, and innovation society look like when it does? 2. How long will it take for people to have the funds and confi dence to begin fl ying again? What is certain is that of the entire aviation sector that rapidly impacted by downturns in the sector faced the 737 Max 3. What specifi cally can be done includes maintenance engineers, the economy. The industry report- accidents in 2018 and 2019, the to ensure the industry survives COVID-19 will change air traffi c controllers, airport pro- ed losses in the early 1990s due to Ukraine Airlines Flight 752 shot the crisis? How can we innovate fessionals, and so many others. the recession and again in 2001 down in Iran, and the emergence during the downturn to craft a the world—what is In 2019, airlines carried 4.3 bil- after the 9/11 attacks; in 2003 fol- of “fl ygskam” fl ight shaming air stronger future? unknown is how we lion passengers, 58 million tonnes lowing the SARS epidemic, and in travel due to its emissions. Each The most pressing need for of freight, and supported 65.5 2008 linked to the fi nancial crisis. of these events impacts passenger aviation is essential, fi nancial can learn from this to million jobs around the world Each of these downturns was confi dence in aviation, and many support through the pandemic, (3.6 per cent of the world’s gross followed by a period of economic industry experts were bracing for and in the coming months as create a stronger and domestic product [Aviation Ben- recovery. an economic decline, as a result. society faces future waves of the efi ts Report]). The indus- virus. Beyond support to opera- more resilient future The tourism The COVID-19 try maintain- tors, it is critical to recognize sector is in- pandemic is ing profi tabil- that this situation also creates together. terconnected testing the ity over the an opportunity to refl ect upon with aviation, aviation sector last decade is and innovate practices within the supporting in new ways. a testament industry. a further The entire to its strength We will overcome this chal- 37 million industry is and resil- lenge, and hopefully build a bet- tourism-relat- being stretched ience. ter future. Key priorities during ed jobs. to a breaking The this time should explore how to The point, and COVID-19 mobilize Canada’s innovation and COVID-19 without pandemic is research infrastructure towards pandemic interventions, it testing the aviation challenges. We have lead- is testing cannot survive aviation sector ing researchers in sustainability, the aviation in new ways. Suzanne Kearns the crisis. cognitive science and engineer- industry in Photograph The entire ing, material science, machine Opinion ways that courtesy of industry is be- learning, automation, cyberse- were unfath- Needpix.com ing stretched curity, and artifi cial intelligence omable at the to a breaking among other areas. We are in a he COVID-19 pandemic has beginning of point, without position to apply Canadian exper- Tchallenged Canadians to adapt this year. In- interventions, tise towards aviation innovations, their way of life. Aviation profes- ternational aviation had been on Looking specifi cally at SARS, it cannot survive the crisis. as important elements of our sionals are playing a vital role in a growth trajectory, with traffi c airlines lost $6-billion in revenues Assuming travel restrictions economic recovery strategy. preserving societal functioning, projected to double in the coming with the outbreak’s economic are lifted after three months, What is certain is that CO- with airlines volunteering to repatri- 15 years. As 2020 began, some impact having a V-shape where 2020’s passenger demand will be VID-19 will change the world— ate Canadians abroad, crew mem- of the most pressing industry the rapid decline was matched by 38 per cent less than 2019, result- what is unknown is how we bers risking exposure to reunite challenges were how to meet the a speedy economic recovery. ing in an impact of USD$252- can learn from this to create a travellers with their families, and demand for aviation professionals Despite the airline industry’s billion [IATA]. Airports are stronger and more resilient future cargo operations playing a vital role and achieve emission-reduction cyclical nature it has maintained projected to lose $46-billion in together. in the supply chain—distributing targets towards environmental profi tability for the past 10 years, 2020 [ACI]. Although previous Suzanne Kearns is an assis- essential medical supplies. sustainability. with a profi t of $25.9-billion in pandemics were followed by a tant professor of aviation at the These critical activities are Aviation has always been a 2019, despite recent tragedies and sharp recovery, they did not cause University of Waterloo. only possible because of the work cyclical industry directly and challenges [IATA]. For example, recessions as COVID-19 might. The Hill Times

to viability; and it demonstrates the levels of cultural shift and The challenge honest public discussion needed in Canada. The government also needs to pay special attention to the North, a vulnerable popula- tion that has been dependent on of COVID-19 to air routes for medical travel, food, and other essentials. The COVID-19 generation is now learning what security profes- aviation security sionals have known for years: peo- ple are bad risk imaginers. Since the Hindenburg, fl ying has been much safer and more secure than The novel coronavirus driving or other modes of public is changing our transport: accidents were fewer, and security incidents were even appreciation of rarer. However, spectacular failures of the system—like 9/11, Lockerbie, The coronavirus is going to require the same quotidian change in everyday risk; it has fl ipped and Air India—made aviation secu- security culture—everywhere from the supermarket, to the airport. Here is rity an especially sensitive object of the opportunity to roll-out touchless technologies for identity verifi cation the question of the public attention. The frequency or and security clearance, get serious about mm wave scanners and other global aviation sector Mark Salter likelihood of large-scale events was ‘at-a-distance’ detectors, and rethink queue management and thus space impossible to predict, and because requirements, writes Mark Salter. Photograph courtesy Pexels.com from surge capacity Opinion the enemy was always learning and adapting diffi cult to mitigate Now, with COVID-19, an- technologies, and new security to viability; and it in the complex space of the airport other low-probability high-impact cultures that have to be commu- TTAWA—Viruses fl y all the without hampering necessary event, the public will have to nicated to the public in authorita- demonstrates the Otime, but rarely have they global travel. Security profession- re-educated about a new vector of tive and clear ways. Enrolling the been as deadly as COVID-19, als, carriers, operators, and regula- unimaginable, undetectable risk: public in a new security regime levels of cultural shift which will change aviation tors did their best to stay on top of the virus. Just as the public had will be the key to regaining trust and honest public security as much as 9/11. The intelligence with new technologies, to be taught to limit and isolate in the sector and reactivating de- novel coronavirus is changing our standards and procedure, but the liquids, manage their carry-on mand, that is depending on how discussion needed in appreciation of risk; it has fl ipped primary way of reacting has been and hold-baggage, and be ready the aviation sector holds up. the question of the global avia- public education: “see something, to divest, the biosecurity regime Canada. tion sector from surge capacity say something.” will require new practices, new Continued on page 21 For Serving Canada in Times of Need, Thank You.

In times of uncertainty, Canada’s airport workers have always risen to the challenge. Thank you for working day and night to bring Canadians home safely, and to ensure our communities continue receiving the essential supplies and services they rely on.

Canada’s Airports are proud to do our part, and we will continue to work closely with government, community officials, and our industry partners for the safety and well-being of all Canadians. Learn more at canadasairports.ca. 20 MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Aviation Policy Briefi ng An opportunity or a need to reset commercial aviation?

ONTREAL—In this midst community could look like. It is What will airline of turbulent and uncertain M probably too early to forecast with The air traveller of the near future will have a very different demographic, times, aviation is reeling from the any great degree of accuracy what capacity be? Will writes John Gradek. Photograph courtesy of Pexels impact of government action to the aviation landscape will be but aircraft orders remain? curtail movement and humanity’s now might be a good time to review apprehension about transmitting what are the driving forces that or even eliminating human contact events”, occurrences of widespread How many stored and acquiring the COVID-19 virus. might shape that future. in an airport environment. Airports disruption that were neither Most in the aviation community Much as air travel changed as a could become fully automated. planned nor foreseen. COVID-19 aircraft will have seen are looking to cash conservation result of 9/11 and the now-familiar Air operators will face a travel- and the fury that it is currently techniques to be able to bridge the passenger screening practices that ling public that has become much unleashing on humanity will most their last commercial gap to renewed air services, only to we now consider normal, this CO- more conscious of their surround- likely be tamed by vaccines current- fl ight? Will there be a face the uncertainty of the length of VID-19 pandemic has made human- ings, the extent of human occu- ly under emergency development. this gap. There have been initiatives ity very aware of the need to manage pancy aboard aircraft and, more The odds of another virus strain continued shortage of by both operators and regulators virus transmission. Whether it is profoundly, the state of sanitization impacting humanity have been to recognize the tradeoffs between the n ow-familiar “social distancing” of aircraft. Easiest of these will be increased, and aviation must take aviation professionals? public bailouts of the industry and paradigm or the survival rate of the aircraft cleanliness, and the work action to reduce its spread, however means to assist in conserving cash. virus on hard surfaces, air travelers that will be required by airlines to far in the future it might occur. The world will be a Try obtaining a refund from a Ca- will be wary of air travel. produce a fl ight experience in a The air traveller of the near nadian air operator for a fl ight that There will be a need for new clean environment. Surface decon- future will have a very different de- diff erent place shortly. has been cancelled. risk management and risk mitiga- tamination practices will become ac- mographic. Social distancing, work- Aviation will be there There is, however, a much tion measures put in place, both tions required prior to every aircraft at-home, and remote conferencing broader perspective that must be at airports and on airliners, that departure. Passengers will need to are our new vernacular. Business but it will be a much taken by the aviation industry, will fundamentally and profound- provide assurances to the airline travel, the backbone of airline ca- its regulators and the citizens of ly change the way we have been that they have met health manage- pacity, will be profoundly impacted. diff erent industry. Canada. Aviation is a key driver of accustomed to air travel. ment directives prior to boarding an Leisure travel will return, albeit our society. Aviation has helped to There will be a need for new aircraft. Service aboard an aircraft with trepidation, and very wary of make Canada the society we have risk management and risk mitiga- will be different, either self-service or hygiene and seating confi guration. cherished, the society that wel- tion measures put in place, both available at seats prior to boarding. What will airline capacity be? comes the world, the society that at airports and on airliners, that Flight attendants will focus on safety Will aircraft orders remain? How reaches out and assists the world. will fundamentally and profound- measures, with passenger interac- many stored aircraft will have seen Aviation supports the 180,000 direct ly change the way we have been tion limited to emergency situations. their last commercial fl ight? Will employees, but also over 1,00,00o accustomed to air travel. Photo- Some may think that these there be a continued shortage of other Canadians whose liveli- graph courtesy of Pexels scenarios might only apply tempo- aviation professionals? The world hoods depend on aviation delivery The air traveller will be seeking rarily while the world transitions to will be a different place shortly. travelers and goods to, from and assurances that processing at an air- whatever a new normal might look Aviation will be there but it will be John Gradek within Canada. There should not be port will be accomplished with due like post-COVID-19. But aviation’s a much different industry. a question on the survivability of regard for virus transmission risks, experience with 9/11, SARS, MERS, John Gradek is a faculty Opinion Canadian aviation, neither within whether it is maintaining a safe all point to these incredulous per- lecturer and coordinator of the the current crisis nor post the crisis distance in human contact, ensur- spectives becoming our new normal. Global Aviation Leadership Pro- whenever that will happen. There is ing that surfaces subject to human Pandemics have tradition- gram at McGill University. a question as to what that aviation interfaces are rigorously sanitized ally been labelled as “Black Swan The Hill Times

our predictions on existing data. In the last week the predictions of the number of cases consistently had a COVID-19 pandemic: models, relative error of less than seven per cent. However, longer term projec- tions have a larger error, so we must take them with a grain of salt. So what have we learned from predictions, and aviation this crisis that can inspire us in the future? Not everything was nega- tive. Satellite images taken from the Let us take this Elliott Trudeau International Airport the data from Quebec with that from atmosphere show that pollution has in Montreal is one of the major China. The interesting feature of reduced around major urban centres. crisis as a source airports in Canada. In March 2019, the plot is that the data from China The Paris Agreement would certainly there were 1,702,708 enplaned/ was shifted by 19 days so that the thank us for this reduction. Although of inspiration to deplaned passengers at this airport. two curves align reasonably well. life must go back to normal after the In March 2020, it is believed that the Shifting by 19 days means that the COVID-19 crisis is over, maybe we continue to work number of COVID-19 cases in Que- data for China originally starting can also learn how to live differently. bec has been affected by inbound from day one was plotted as if it had We can learn how working together together to make fl ights to this airport. The number started from day 20. at social distancing helped us to of confi rmed cases in Quebec is As a consequence of the fairly collectively fl atten the curve and a positive impact Luis Rodrigues currently the highest in all provinces good alignment in the two curves, to reduce the stress on health-care in society and the Opinion of Canada and has experienced a one can use China’s data as a model resources. So let us take this crisis as signifi cant rise after many people to predict the future progression of a source of inspiration to continue environment. We have returned home in March from confi rmed cases in Quebec. Accord- to work together to make a positive imes have changed. The number winter holidays. This motivates the ing to the plot, one can infer that it impact in society and the environ- can do all of this Tof fl ights and the number of peo- analysis of the available data. How will require approximately 45 days ment. We can do all of this while still ple travelling around the world has many days will it take until we for the curve to fl atten in Quebec. It supporting air travel, which is the while still supporting signifi cantly reduced. Businesses, go back to a normal life? Can we could be less if the measures taken safest mean of transportation and the air travel, which is including airlines, are in complete collectively have an impact on our recently by the government help most reliable for long distances. shutdown, and many people are in society by fl attening the curve? to fl atten the curve earlier, which Luis Rodrigues is a professor at the safest mean of quarantine at home after arriving Based on the data from the World already is starting to occur. It is im- the department of electrical and back from spring break. Statistics Health Organization (WHO), one portant to note that a model is just computer engineering at Con- transportation and for March 2020 are not available yet, can make a prediction of the number a model and has limitations. There cordia University and director of but, according to Statistics Canada, of days it will take until the curve are several models of epidemics, but education of Concordia’s Institute the most reliable for the total number of aircraft move- of confi rmed cases fl attens (i.e, no the ultimate test of predictions is al- of Aerospace Design and Innova- ments in March 2019 was 506,637 new cases). The plot above shows in ways the fi t with available data. By tion (CIADI). long distances. in Canadian airports. The Pierre a logarithmic scale a comparison of aligning the two curves we based The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 21 Policy Briefi ng Aviation Slammed by COVID, Canada’s aviation industry looking to federal government for help

Continued from page 16 course, the government is going dent of the Canadian Airports industry here in Canada,” Mr. to continue in the global aero- to focus on those companies with Council, which represents over Gooch said. Mr. Gooch contin- space family.” tive” response “to the industry’s the biggest footprint.” 100 airports in Canada and ued to say that, based on his Some relief has been an- need for relief measures,” the Prof. Lee said a potential is open to any non-Transport conversations with the federal nounced in the form of repay- study said. “Canada, Colombia, bailout should be calibrated to Canada operated airports. government, Ottawa “appreci- ment deferrals. On March 31, and the Netherlands are giv- sustain the airlines during the Requiring airports to pay rent ates that airport rent only goes Minister of Innovation, Science ing a major boost to the sector’s crisis while not enriching stock- to the federal government while so far, and it only helps those and Industry Navdeep Bains stability by enabling airlines to holders. their primary revenue streams airports that pay a signifi cant (Mississauga-Malton, Ont.) ap- offer vouchers in place of cash While airlines have been have essentially collapsed is akin amount of airport rent.” proved a nine-month repayment refunds,” said IATA CEO Alex- getting the bulk of the atten- to “squeezing blood from a stone,” Like airlines, airports also deferral for companies that ap- andre de Juniac in a March 31 tion, airports across Canada are said Prof. Lee. have a signifi cant amount of fi xed plied to the Strategic Aerospace speech. “This will enable airlines also facing massive challenges. “The government really had costs making it diffi cult to mean- and Defence Initiative and simi- to preserve the cash that they The Canadian Airports Council to face the inevitable, they had ingfully reduce expenditures. lar aerospace-specifi c programs, need to keep cargo operations estimates that revenue costs to no choice. Charging rent to the “You can’t shrink a runway. It according to a letter from the running and preserve their ability the industry could be anywhere airport authorities is kind of needs to be cleared from snow. department. The deferral will to be fully operational when we from $1.5-billion to $2.2-billion. meaningless when they’ve got There’s a certain amount of work cover repayments due to the fed- can safely restart the industry,” The federal government has an- zero revenues to pay the rent,” involved in the lighting,” Mr. eral government between April 1 he said. nounced some targeted relief for Prof. Lee said. Gooch said. “There’s just a lot and December 31. Mr. Quick said John Gradek, a faculty lecturer airports that was welcomed by Airport rent is calculated of fi xed costs when it comes to those measures are “very helpful and coordinator of the Global the industry. based on a percentage of gross an airport and maintaining safe from a cash fl ow perspective.” Aviation Leadership Program at On March 30, Finance Min- revenue, Mr. Gooch said. While operations.” The AIAC was also asking for McGill University in Montreal, ister Bill Morneau (Toronto the rent relief is helpful, rents He estimated that airports more aerospace workers to be said airlines should use “what- Centre, Ont.) announced that the would have already been lower could reduce costs by only about designated as essential workers. ever means at their disposal” to government is waiving ground this year because of the steep 20 per cent. On March 30, AIAC received a conserve cash. lease rents from March 2020 drop in revenue from COVID-19. Down the supply chain, the reply from Nicholas Robinson, In an emailed statement to The through to December 2020 for Mr. Gooch said the measure will aerospace industry is also facing director general of civil aviation Hill Times, Air Canada said it did the 21 airport authorities that primarily help larger airports be- huge challenges. Boeing recently at Transport Canada, indicating not directly attribute any of the li- pay rent to the federal govern- cause they pay the most in rent. announced they would be of- that the list of essential aero- quidity on its $7.3-billion balance ment. The government estimates He said for an airport like the fering buyouts to shrink their space workers had broadened sheet to cancelled fl ights related the measure will “provide relief Charlottetown Airport in Prince workforce, that executives would to include parts manufacturers, to COVID-19. up to $331.4-million, refl ecting Edward Island, the savings front forgo pay for the remainder of the distributors, suppliers, and repair While larger airlines have payments in the same period the rent relief measure would year, and that they would suspend and overhaul organizations. some cash in reserve to help of 2018,” according to the press only be around $10,000. Other share buybacks and its dividend. Originally, the list only included weather the storm, Prof. Lee said release that accompanied the an- airports, like those in Kelowna “Major carriers are not pur- parts distributors and supplies, smaller airlines are particularly nouncement. and Sudbury, don’t even pay chasing or delaying purchasing of but the new measure will ensure vulnerable, and that a govern- Most airports in Canada oper- rent, “yet they’re still facing the aircraft,” said Jim Quick, presi- aerospace repair companies will ment bailout likely wouldn’t, and ate as independent non-profi ts same revenue shortfall that other dent and CEO of the Aerospace be able to continue to operate. shouldn’t, target them. authorities on land owned by the airports are experiencing,” Mr. Industries Association of Canada. Aerospace repair companies “I know it sounds harsh, but federal government, meaning the Gooch said. “It has a detrimental effect on account for nearly a third of the it’s much easier to start up a airports pay rent to the federal “So in some ways, the airport our OEMs [original equipment industry’s total contribution to small airline with one or two government. relief really just kind of levels manufacturers] and their supply Canadian GDP, according to a planes than it is to try to set up a “Airport rent is a signifi cant the playing fi eld between those chains. Our companies are very 2019 report. mature airline that has vanished amount of money for airports,” airports that had to pay this concerned about their fi nancial [email protected] called Air Canada,” he said. “So, of said Daniel-Robert Gooch, presi- charge and the rest of the of the future and whether they’ll be able The Hill Times

how the global economy relates focus on resilience, regardless of 12 communities. Outside of an to international mobility. Facing the inciting crisis. The ice storm annual sealift for bulk goods in The challenge threats that are the result of the reinforced the 72-hour rule (every late-July or August, air is the complexity and interconnected- citizen needs to be prepared for only way to transport fresh food ness of contemporary life, just-in- three days of isolation in a crisis). to Canada’s Arctic communi- time production, trans-continental The attacks of 9/11 elicited a new ties—and estimates are that 70-80 of COVID-19 to food production, global capital public campaign—”see some- per cent of households are food markets, all depend on interna- thing, say something.” The corona- insecure in normal times. And, tional mobility—and often air virus is going to require the same because of the lack of hospital transport. Try to imagine how quotidian change in everyday capacity (only 35 beds in Iqaluit’s aviation security many hands touched those kiwis security culture—everywhere Qikiqtani General Hospital), med- on their journey from Italy to from the supermarket, to the ical travel to southern Canada your local super-market. Maybe airport. Here is the opportunity to is an essential mode to provide Continued from page 18 isolation policies choke demand, don’t. We have undergone these roll-out touchless technologies for basic medical and dental care. In and we can only speculate as changes before—even within this identity verifi cation and security addition to thinking about how In the past fi ve years, one of to what the aviation sector will generation. However, while low- clearance, get serious about mm to support major international the primary questions in the avia- look like in six months. How probability, high-impact events wave scanners and other “at-a- airports and national airlines tion security fi eld has been, ‘How much will government be will- like 9/11, can be traced to political distance” detectors, and rethink weather this storm, the govern- will we cope with all this new ing to subsidize air carriers and adversaries, we are seeing more queue management and thus ment must also engage with its volume?’ A general growth in civil airports—and all the attendant non-human threats that require a space requirements. It was always northern partners and make ex- aviation was accompanied by the retail and air-side businesses like different kind of intelligence, sur- tricky to quantify the effi ciency of traordinary efforts to ensure that rapid expansion of a new sector: caterers, fuel farms, mechanics, veillance, and security apparatus. security screening by throughput the North stays healthy. Northern low-cost airlines, that extended and freight-forwarders, and for The January 1998 ice storm rates, but those standards are communities have been fi nding the global network and intensi- how long? To survive the coming across Ontario and Quebec led going to need to be rethought innovative ways to thrive for fi ed air traffi c density along new recession and the threat to the to an unprecedented peace-time spatially, if the new grocery store hundreds of years, but this pres- routes; China, we were told, was aviation sector, governments, air- military deployment in Canada protocol becomes our standard ents a challenge when air travel building a new international air- lines and operators are going to and the need to rebuild large for social distancing. is both a vector of infection and port every six months; Heathrow restructure to incentivize demand swaths of the electrical grid What is true about our need the necessary support for healthy needed a third runway, etc., all of as well as rationalize cost. infrastructure. Threats to public for a robust security response communities. which are supply-side problems. What counts as “public safety cannot always be traced across Canada is doubly true for Mark Salter is a professor of But, quarantines are changing security” is radically changing to human error or bad intention, Canada’s north. For example, political science at the University all that, because the closing of to include a renewed focus on which is why the sector has ad- Nunavut has a population of of Ottawa. borders, and the imposition of public health infrastructure and opted an “all hazards approach” to approximately 16,000 people in The Hill Times 22 MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion

UN Secretary- General António Guterres, pictured Jan. 20, 2018, recently said, 'The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war,' and in one short sentence, opened the door to a new understanding of what constitutes human security. Photograph of the Kremlin

Warring parties must lay down weapons to fi ght bigger battle against COVID-19

In an extraordinary move on March 23, the midst of the Cold War four decades ago, conceived fi xed notions while ignoring or UN Secretary-General Guterres urged warring parties around an all-star international panel led by Swed- rejecting any contrary signs.” the world to lay down their weapons in ish prime minister Olof Palme established Now, in the current crisis, Guterres is António Guterres’s plea to support of the bigger battle against CO- the principle that, in the age of weapons of telling us that continuation of the “folly” of VID-19—the common enemy now threat- mass destruction, no nation by itself can war is jeopardizing the security for all— ‘silence the guns’ would ening all of humanity. He called for an fi nd security. Nations can only fi nd secu- the rich as well as the marginalized. The immediate global ceasefi re everywhere: “It rity in cooperation and not at one another’s Trump administration’s call for $46-bil- create corridors for life- is time to put armed confl ict on lockdown expense. Common security, Palme argued, lion more for nuclear weapons when the saving aid and open and focus together on the true fi ght of our requires an end to arms competitions, country can’t even provide enough masks lives.” national restraint, and a spirit of collective for health workers in treating COVID-19 is windows for diplomacy in His plea to “silence the guns” would responsibility and mutual confi dence. obscene beyond words. create corridors for life-saving aid and Over the following years, the idea of And what about Canada? The govern- the war-torn zones in Syria, open windows for diplomacy in the common security broadened out beyond ment plans to increase defence spending to war-torn zones in Syria, Yemen, Afghani- military measures to include new streams $32-billion by 2027. Why? To appease U.S. Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq, stan, Iraq, Libya and the central areas of of cooperation in economic and social Donald President Trump’s gargantuan mili- Africa. development and protection of the environ- tary appetite driving NATO states to spend Libya and the central areas But the full meaning of Guterres’s ment. two percent of their GDP on weaponry and of Africa. appeal is much bigger than only suspend- Suddenly, in 1989, the Berlin Wall fell. all that goes with it. We can beat COVID-19 ing existing wars. It is a wakeup call to The Soviet Union imploded. The Cold War by spending money on health and develop- governments everywhere that war does ended. In 1992, the UN secretary-general ment measures, not arms. not solve existing problems, that the huge at the time, Boutros Boutros-Ghali wrote a Far better to cut Canada’s planned expenditures going into armaments divert stunning document, Agenda for Peace, in- defence spending by 10 per cent and put money desperately needed for health sup- corporating the ideas of common security an extra $2-billion to $3-billion into the plies, that a bloated militarism is impotent into practical programs for peacebuilding, UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the against the new killers in a globalized preventive diplomacy and peacekeeping. 17-point program centring around huge world. But instead of overhauling the global improvements in maternal health, water All the armies in the world can’t stop security system to provide common secu- systems and sustainable agriculture. But COVID-19. It’s a dark and scary moment rity for everyone, governments lumbered we can’t get there with a continuation of when a bunch of microbes brings humanity on and threw the peace dividend they had “ordinary” planning. We need truly bold to its knees. We’ve come to a turning point in their hands out the window. The Western thinking to beat back the threat posed to Douglas Roche in world history. The old ways of building countries expanded NATO up to Russia’s common security by COVID-19. Opinion security—bigger and better weapons—are borders. Russia invaded Crimea. Arms The Canadian government wants to completely irrelevant now. expenditures shot up. Governments squan- show what it could do on the Security So what do we do when a virus blatant- dered a magnifi cent opportunity to build a Council. Switching political thinking from DMONTON—“The fury of the virus ly crosses borders and ignores strategic world of peace. The culture of war was too the culture of war to a culture of peace Eillustrates the folly of war.” In one weapons systems? More of the same think- strong and the moment was lost. would be worthy of the greatest health short sentence, UN Secretary-General ing that deceived people into believing Three decades ago, the great histo- challenge Canada has faced in the past António Guterres opened the door to a new that as long as we had big guns we would rian Barbara Tuchman and author of The hundred years. understanding of what constitutes human be safe won’t do. We have to overhaul our March of Folly was right when she wrote: Douglas Roche, a former MP, Senator security. Will governments seize the oppor- thinking. “Wooden-headedness, the source of self- and Canadian ambassador for disarma- tunity provided by the immense crisis of “Big thinking” is not just a bromide. It’s deception, is a factor that plays a remark- ment, is the author of Hope Not Fear: COVID-19 to fi nally adopt a global agenda now essential for survival. We have to build ably large role in government. It consists Building Peace in a Fractured World. for peace? a system to provide common security. In in assessing a situation in terms of pre- The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 23 COVID-19 News

having hard time dealing with a sudden spike in the number of ‘Canadians are placing all their patients. Because of Mr. Cuomo’s efforts, USNS Comfort, a 1,000- bed navy ship hospital with about a dozen operating rooms arrived hopes and fears in the hands of in New York early last week to help ease the burden of the New York hospitals. This hospital will treat patients with health issues government,’ and successful political other than coronavirus freeing up medical resources to treat patients with COVID-19. “He’s aggressively champion- leaders should be straightforward, ing the interests [of New York state residents],” said Mr. Lyle, president of Innovative Research Group. “He’s taking on whoever honest, drop the talking points he can take on and getting re- sponse. The hospital ship sailing into New York Harbour, that is a proof point that he’s not just mak- The evolution and ing noise, he is getting results.” In Canada, Mr. Lyle said, the the ultimate outcome key reason behind Mr. Legault’s high approval numbers are that of the COVID-19 he has been seen as aggres- sively trying to halt the spread pandemic will of the pandemic from the start, eventually decide while the federal government was perceived as taking half if Prime Minister measures. He also agreed that Mr. Legault’s communication Justin Trudeau’s and style is effective, and added that he’s seen as a leader in the war the premiers’ rising against COVID-19 who started Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Quebec Premier François Legault, British Columbia Premier taking measures earlier than the approval ratings will John Horgan, and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade federal government and other last, say pollsters, provincial premiers. how long this endures,” said Mr. “Canadians are placing all drew Cuomo is winning adoration “The federal government was who also say the most Bricker. “But [he’s] somebody their hopes and fears in the hands from the U.S. and other interna- seen as being too slow,” said Mr. who has an ability to personally of government, and giving them tional commentators for the way Lyle. “I think that’s the heart of it. eff ective political connect with people in a time of basically not an unlimited man- he’s leading New Yorkers with his Legault is rolling up the sleeves crisis, who’s a leader that people date, but pretty close to whatever clear, decisive public communica- and taking the challenge on head- leaders right now are feel actually gets it.” they have to do to make this go tion style. Pundits are describing on. Legault is clearly seen the the straight shooters According to an EKOS poll, away or solve it,” said Mr. Graves. his media briefi ngs as a “master strongest [leader] compared to Mr. Trudeau, Deputy Prime Minis- “In the most unprecedented class” that are backed up with the rest of the country.” who aren’t using ter Chrystia Freeland (University- economic measures, they’re will- simple and clear to understand Donald Savoie, Canada Rosedale, Ont.), Ontario Premier ing to sacrifi ce, they’re willing power point slides. Mr. Graves Research Chair in public admin- talking points. Doug Ford, and Alberta Premier to follow instructions that you and Mr. Bricker said that Mr. Cuo- istration and governance at the Jason Kenney had the approval would have thought would have mo is communicating his message Université de Moncton, told The of 67 per cent of Canadians of been very hard to implement not and answers media questions in Hill Times that he was in Florida Continued from page 1 their management of COVID-19. long ago, like staying at home. So a spontaneous, non-scripted way when the coronavirus hit Canada dians would be their responsive- British Columbia Premier John they’re altering their behaviour, of talking that an average person and the U.S. He arrived back in ness and timeliness in delivering Horgan, meanwhile, had a 68 per they’re altering their outlook on can relate with, as opposed to Moncton about two weeks ago on their promises. cent approval rating. This poll the country.” delivering talking points and and had two days left in self-isola- In this unprecedented situation, suggested that Mr. Legault had As for Mr. Legault’s unprece- bromides from a podium. tion, as prescribed by the govern- he predicted that, given the way the approval of 95 per cent of dented popularity, Mr. Graves said “He’s really standing up and ment for returning international things are evolving in countries Quebecers. The poll also found it’s because of his plain-speaking saying what the average person is travellers, when interviewed. He around the world, including in Can- that 75 per cent of Canadians communication style in which he’s thinking and connecting well with said if Mr. Trudeau and other ada, governments will likely make thought that the country and the not relying on talking points but him as a result,” said Mr. Bricker. provincial politicians had been mistakes, and it appears unlikely government were headed in the is actually talking the way normal “So they’re all thinking they his students, he would have given that the public will get all the prom- right direction. people talk without a script. needed to have a leader who’s them “A+” in their management of ised benefi ts in a timely fashion. The poll of 2,304 Canadians “They [Quebecers] liked his going to say something in the way the crisis. Prof. Savoie said that, “There’s going to be problems,” was conducted from March 19 to communication style,” Mr. Graves that they would like to hear it.” in contrast to the U.S. politicians, said Mr. Bricker. “Given that March 26, and had a margin of er- said. “He was forthright; he Mr. Bricker said the take-away Canadian leaders took early steps things are moving so quickly. And ror of plus or minus two percent- seemed to be decisive. He didn’t for Mr. Trudeau is that he should to combat the spread of the virus, it’s so complicated, that there’s age points, 19 times out of 20. appear to be overly partisan in try to answer questions with- and he fi nds their communication going to be things that fall down. Pollster Frank Graves of EKOS the way he was presenting things. out using talking points. Since to be transparent, fact based and So, how the governments deal Research told The Hill Times that And I think Quebecers felt that becoming party leader in 2013, being honest to Canadians. with that is going to be a test for some of the results that surprised they were, you know, rallying Mr. Trudeau is known to rely Prof. Savoie said that Mr. them. This will not be perfect.” him were that, although the coun- around their government.” heavily on talking points regard- Trudeau and other premiers are do- A number of recent polls have try was on the cusp of a recession Unlike incumbent political less of the issue. Even some of his ing just as good as Mr. Cuomo. He suggested that Mr. Trudeau (Pap- or even worse, and facing a dev- leaders in this country, U.S. Presi- senior cabinet ministers rarely said that the difference is that Mr. ineau, Que.) and provincial pre- astating health crisis, 75 per cent dent Donald Trump is receiving deviate from the scripted spin, Cuomo is getting the international miers are seeing their ratings tick of Canadians still felt the country poor approval numbers from although some, including Deputy coverage of U.S. networks like CNN up. Among them, Quebec Premier was headed in the right direction. Canadians. According to EKOS, Prime Minister Chrystia Free- and other outlets, which could be François Legault’s approval num- He said that until the COVID-19 only 20 per cent of Canadians ap- land (University-Rosedale, Ont.) the reason why people think he’s bers, which are in the mid-90s, crisis arrived in Canada, people proved of Mr. Trump’s handling of and Health Minister Patty Hajdu doing a better job than Canadians. stand out. But Mr. Bricker said it living in the Prairie provinces— the coronavirus. Mr. Graves said (Thunder Bay-Superior North, “I am not being Pollyanna Ca- remains to be seen how endur- traditionally Conservative terri- it’s because Mr. Trump made a Ont.), are communicating well nadian here, but I really believe ing this lift in approval will be as tory—were especially unhappy bad situation even worse by fi rst right now with Canadians. Mr. that our prime minister and our they’re still in the initial phase with the direction of the country describing it as a hoax, and later Bricker said that during regular 10 premiers are also excellent of the crisis, and the pandemic is because of some of Trudeau making people think that a vac- normal political situations, politi- communicators in the time of cri- expected to drag on. government’s policies perceived cine would soon be available, and cians can get away with talking sis,” said Prof. Savoie, and added He, however, pointed out that against the oil and gas producing then speculating that businesses points, but in a crisis situation, that he was in good health and Mr. Legault’s high popularity provinces, and loss of thousands should be open by Easter. people like to hear authentic com- did not have any symptoms of the appears to be because of his ef- of jobs in Alberta and Saskatch- Politically speaking, he said, munication from their leaders. virus. “They’ve come to bat and fective communication style as a ewan. But, he said, now the par- Mr. Trump’s poor management of Pollster Greg Lyle said that a they’re doing extremely well. … leader and his ability to connect tisan fault lines have diminished the COVID-19 is helpful to Cana- key reason Mr. Cuomo is enjoying He [Mr. Cuomo] has more visibil- with Quebecers by answering signifi cantly, and Canadians are dian politicians as Canadians see popularity is he’s not only com- ity because it dominates the news media questions in a way that an giving almost unlimited support that compared to the neighbours municating effectively, but also CNN and on and on and on. His average person talks. The premier to their provincial and federal to the south, their own leaders are delivering results. New York has audience is so much larger. It’s 15 is also seen as tough. leaders to do whatever they have doing a better job. been emerging as the epicentre to 20 times larger.” “He can’t really take those to do to slow the spread of the In a stark contrast to Mr. of the virus, and all hospitals [email protected] numbers that seriously. We’ll see pandemic. Trump, New York Governor An- and the medical staff have been The Hill Times 24 MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News COVID-19 ‘Is it even big enough?’: Morneau shells Government spending during out unprecedented billions, economists COVID-19 lockdown

How much is being spent? Direct spending: $106.7-billion. applaud as COVID-19 crisis deepens Loans and credit: $70.2-billion from the federal government, plus another $500-billion in liquidity created by the Bank of Canada, Canada Mort- gage and Housing Corporation, Office of the Superintendent of Financial the economic slowdown will also reduce Institutions, and commercial lenders. ‘The ability to carry debt, the GDP and the government’s tax income, Deferred tax and duty payments: $85-billion

said Pedro Antunes, the chief economist for Who is the money going to? and keep those carrying the Conference Board of Canada. Taxpayers costs of debt down low, is a The government should have been -tax filing deadline for individuals delayed to June 1. saving rather than running deficits dur- Cost: unknown** game-changer in terms of ing better economic times, said John Families with children how we manage the deficit,’ Manley, who served as finance minister -$300 extra per child in the 2019-2020 fiscal year, delivered through the and deputy prime minister under Jean Canada Child Benefit. says former parliamentary Chrétien. Cost: $1.9-billion* “I don’t believe in deficits when the -An extra payment of, on average, $400 per single parent or $600 per budget officer Kevin Page. economy is growing. I don’t care what the couple with children to low-income households, delivered through the Goods and Services Tax Credit. debt-to-GDP ratio is. Now you need the Cost: $5.7-billion* spending,” said Mr. Manley, now an adviser Continued from page 1 Finance Minister Bill Morneau, pictured briefing the press in Ottawa on March 18, at the law firm Bennett Jones. “We’d have Those who are unemployed or have lost income distortions that those generate, and inef- 2020. Mr. Morneau has already announced been better off had we been lowering the because of COVID-19 ficiencies—has to be weighted against the debt-to-GDP ratio faster.” -$2,000 a month for up to four months (maximum $8,000) to individuals more than $100-billion in new spending as delivered through the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. massive losses that you’re going to incur the government seeks to contain the economic “I think we’re going to go into a period, Cost: $24-billion if you don’t keep this crisis under control damage from the spreading novel coronavirus. when this is over, of higher taxes and right now,” said Francesco Trebbi, an econo- The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade restricted spending to try to get our house Seniors mist who studies political economy and back in order. But now is not the time to be -decreasing the minimum withdrawal rate from Registered Retirement macro economics—the big-picture func- thinking that through, now’s the time to try Income Funds by 25%. wage subsidy was designed to get money Cost: $506.5-million* to make sure that there’s there’s something tioning of the economy—at the University out the door quickly, not to be airtight to standing when this is over,” he said. of British Columbia, and holds a Canada potential abuse by businesses that don’t Indigenous peoples Canada’s federal debt-to-GDP ratio hit Research Chair. use the money to cover wages. -$305-million to support care for elderly or vulnerable people and chil- 70 per cent in the mid-1990s, and Mr. Chre- dren, food security, mental health, and preparations to mitigate COVID-19 The government is pouring roughly “These are unprecedented times and tien and finance minister Paul Martin’s in First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities. $262-billion into the economy in a variety will require us to pull together as a country of ways: roughly $107-billion of direct Liberal government imposed strict auster- and trust each other as Canadians. So Public health agencies ity measures to chop it back down to size. spending that will be added to the national there will be stiff and severe penalties for -$100-million for an immediate public health response, including testing, They severely cut back industrial subsi- debt; $70-billion in loans; and $85-billion trying to take advantage of this system and surveillance, and preparedness in First Nations and Inuit communities. dies, funding for the CBC, unemployment in deferred tax and duty payments. The of your fellow Canadians,” he said. insurance benefits, military funding, and Homeless people Bank of Canada and other bodies are also The government deserves credit for creating billions in credit and liquidity for transfers to other levels of government, -$157.5-million towards the Reaching Home project, a government moving quickly during the crisis, said initiative that began in 2018 and is slated to receive $2.2-billion over its among other things. the economy. Kevin Page, a former parliamentary budget 10-year lifespan. Canada shouldn’t require the same kind It is sending money to those who have officer who nows head the University of of austerity to pay off the debts incurred Women’s shelter and sexual assault centres lost their jobs or lost income because of the Ottawa’s Institute of Fiscal Studies and during the coming recession, however, said -$50-million crisis through a new program, the Canada Democracy. Emergency Response Benefit, that pays out Mr. Page. Interest rates are much lower “They’re rolling it out as fast as they Food banks now than they were in the 1980s and 1990s, $2,000 per month for four months to recipi- can. It’s not perfection in this environment,” -$100-million meaning the cost of servicing debt is much ents—to the tune of $24-billion, according to he said. lower. the feds. It is sending money to businesses The government is spending its money Businesses “The ability to carry debt and keep -$12-million to double the length of the work-sharing program for that have lost income through a massive in the right way, particularly by subsidizing those carrying costs of debt down low is a employers. wage subsidy program, covering up to 75 wages, said Prof. Trebbi. per cent of employee wages for up to three game-changer in terms of how we manage -wage subsidies of up to 75 per cent of employee wages for up to three “It actually would be my priority, in months, retroactive to March 15. the deficit,” he said. months, at a cost of $71-billion. terms of where the money should go,” he Cost: $71-billion Government spending in the early days It is sending money to families with said. -$65-billion of credit for business, including interest-free loans of up to children by boosting the Canada Child of this crisis can prevent the economic $40,000 for small businesses and not-for-profits, and loans of up to Benefit by $300 per child this year, and slowdown from compounding, the econo- $6.25-million for SMEs. low-income families through the Goods Can we afford it? mists said. The question now, said Mr. Page, Cost: Unknown** -tax payment deadline delayed until Aug. 31, and payment of sales taxes and Services Tax Credit, at a cost of The spending spree will swell Canada’s is whether the government’s bailout pack- and customs duties delayed until June 30. $1.9-billion and $5.7-billion respectively, national debt significantly. age is large enough. Cost: unknown** according to estimates from the Parliamen- Canada’s accumulated deficit stood “Is this package even big enough? To tary Budget Officer. The government is also at more than $685-billion at the end of answer that question you’ve got to get a Farmers sending $500-million to the provinces and the 2019 fiscal year, according to Finance sense of how deep this recession could be,” -loans totalling $5.2-billion to food producers and processors. Cost: unknown** territories, offering tens of billions worth of Canada. The annual deficit in 2019 was just he said. business loans, and more. shy of $14-billion, and the fall economic “If there’s a risk, it’s probably that it’s Banks and mortgage lenders Those programs are being delivered update predicted—well before the current too small.” -$150-billion to make purchases in insured mortgage pools, and make it in multiple ways: by relying on existing crisis—a deficit of $27-billion. That figure Insufficient government spending could easier for lenders to continue to lend to businesses and home-buyers. programs such as the Canada Child Benefit will likely swell by more than $100-billion cause a spin-off mortgage crisis, said Prof. Cost: savings to the government of $441-million over this year and next* by the time the government has finished its Trebbi. The average Canadian household is to deliver some of the cash, and setting up Airports new online “portals” to take applications stimulus spending during the crisis. closer to defaulting on its mortgage obliga- -waiving $331.4-million of rents and fees owed by airports to the federal for some of the other measures, such as the Under the fall projections, Canada was tions now than it was before the crisis, he government from March through December 2020. Emergency Response Benefit. The Canada expected to spend roughly one per cent of said. If people start defaulting on mort- Revenue Agency, under Minister Diane its GDP per year servicing its debt—before gages en-masse, it could cause a negative Medical equipment and research Lebouthillier (Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la- the government’s borrowing and spending chain reaction in the economy. -$50-million for an “immediate public health response,” and another $50-million for personal protective equipment announced on March 11. Madeleine, Que.), is handling the delivery to alleviate the crisis. The Bank of Canada has now cut its -$1.5-billion over two years to the Public Health Agency of Canada to of both the massive wage subsidy and The International Monetary Fund key interest rate to just 0.25 per cent to support diagnostic testing and the purchase of personal protective equip- Emergency Response Benefit. pegged Canada’s economy at roughly stimulate the economy. It can’t cut that ment, ventilators, and other supplies. Conservative Finance Critic Pierre US$1.8-trillion this past fall. rate much further, and businesses will be -Another $500-million for the Public Health Agency of Canada in Poilievre (Carleton, Ont.) has pressed the The Liberals have justified running slow to invest in this environment no mat- 2020-2021. -$275-million for research. government in recent days to tell busi- perennial deficits during what were rela- ter what the interest rate is, he said. That nesses when they can expect to receive the tively good economic times by pointing to means government spending is the primary Advertising and public communication money promised through the wage subsidy Canada’s stable or declining federal debt- tool still available to keep the economy -$50-million on “sustained communications and public education,” program, as layoffs continue to mount. Mr. to-GDP ratio—essentially a measure of the going. including a $30-million ad buy. Morneau (Toronto Centre, Ont.) responded government’s ability to comfortably pay “If you’re asking me, that’s all money the interest on its debt. that should be spent now,” he said of the International bodies and other countries during a virtual meeting of the House -$50-million for international assistance. Finance Committee on April 2 that “it’s not That stable federal debt-to-GDP ratio government’s $107-billion bailout pack- -$2-million in initial support for the WHO. as easy as just pressing a button,” and said will go out the window now, likely jumping age. “Is it going to add to the deficit? For the government was working as quickly as from roughly 30 per cent to above 40 per sure. Do you want to have a country to talk Support for provinces and territories it could. The government is hoping to begin cent, said Mr. Page, who said we can expect about stability of the debt after the crisis? I -$500-million. taking applications for the wage subsidy a significant downturn in the economy as a suppose you do.” *estimate from the Parliamentary Budget Officer. program in three to six weeks. result of the crisis. [email protected] **the government has not released an estimate of the costs it will incur Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papine- The problem is twofold: not only is the [email protected] by facilitating additional loans, or by deferring the receipt of tax income. au, Que.) acknowledged on April 1 that the government spending faster than usual, but The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 25 Asylum seekers News

fi cial ports of entry has long been a political football, with members Feds partly responsible for of the Conservative Party argu- ing that the entire Canada-U.S. border should be seen as an offi cial port of entry. If it were, entry points like Roxham Road treatment of asylum seekers along the New York-Quebec bor- der would be covered under the Canada–United States Safe Third Country Agreement, and those crossing from the U.S. to seek turned back at Canadian-U.S. refugee status would be turned back. The NDP has long called for the Safe Third Country agreement to be suspended, meaning anyone border, say refugee advocates could cross from the U.S. any- where and make a claim. At stake for the Liberal gov- ernment is a reputation it has ‘We should be weary tried to build for Canada as a country that is open for everyone of using a crisis like around the world, which the gov- this to turn our back ernment highlighted through the acceptance of more than 25,000 on our human rights Syrian refugees from November 2015 to February 2016. obligations,’ says “Justin Trudeau was long the anti-Trump when it came to University of Ottawa borders,” read a March 25 story in Politico, which pointed to Prime law professor Jamie Minister Justin Trudeau’s (Pap- Chai Yun Liew. ineau, Que.) tweet that, “To those fl eeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, re- BY NEIL MOSS gardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength.” Mr. Trudeau tweeted s Canada is turning back that statement following Mr. Aasylum seekers who cross its Trump’s travel ban executive southern border, refugee advo- order. cates say the federal government “But in the age of the corona- has a shared responsibility for virus,” the Politico report read, how those hopeful refugee ap- “it’s Canada fi rst.” plicants are treated by the United Ms. Freeland told report- States. ers last month that the decision Canada and the United States doesn’t represent a shift in the jointly agreed to rebuff asylum government’s policy, saying the seekers crossing their respective government will always put the borders, beginning on March 20. health and safety of Canadians “I think it does render us fi rst. complicit,” said Justin Moham- Before the federal government reversed its position, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, pictured on the Hill on March Mr. Mohammed said the deci- med, a human rights law and 18, 2020, said asylum seekers would be allowed to make refugee claims even as non-essential travel to Canada was sion by Canada on asylum seek- policy campaigner at Amnesty barred. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade ers is “unprecedented.” International Canada. He said “I personally can’t think of Canada would either be directly Southwest, Ont.) had previously Ms. Freeland told reports Border Protection spokesper- another issue in the recent past complicit through “serious hu- said that while non-essential trav- last week in French that Canada son said in an email that “each where Canada has taken such man rights consequences” that ellers were barred from crossing will never do anything that goes encounter would be handled on a sweeping measure to limit those asylum seekers will face at the border, asylum seekers were against its obligations to refugee a case by case basis, depending the rights of people to come to the hands of the U.S. authorities, still being allowed to cross, after claimants. on the status of the individual in Canada to seek protection,” he or by being the fi rst link in the which they were going through Mr. Mohammed said the the U.S.” said. chain of events where somebody medical testing and being placed rhetoric isn’t lining up with the University of Ottawa law pro- Prof. Liew said while the deci- is sent from Canada back to the in quarantine housing. practice. fessor Jamie Chai Yun Liew, who sion is damaging to Canada’s United States and then from the “I think that would have “While Minister Freeland has is also a refugee lawyer, said in reputation, the damage has been U.S. to a third country where been the correct balance to said those very important things, her view the decision to not allow ongoing on for some time. “they may face serious human strike between upholding our we actually want to know if it’s asylum claims violates interna- “The pandemic [has] maybe rights abuses.” international legal obligations, happening in practice,” he said. tional law. given the government an op- From U.S. President Donald but also taking seriously, obvi- Ms. Freeland added that “Even in emergency circum- portunity to expand its policy,” Trump’s controversial executive ously, the very important health Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s am- stances, human rights should be she said, adding that while the order barring travel from seven concerns that arise as a result bassador to the United States, is adhered to as much as possible,” change of policy is set out as a predominately Muslim countries of this pandemic,” said Mr. Mo- currently engaging with the U.S. she said. “We should be weary of temporary measure, there is a to the separation of migrant hammed. government. using a crisis like this to turn our fear that it might end up being parents from their children at the Since 2017 around 57,000 A spokesperson for Canada’s back on our human rights obliga- permanent. U.S.-Mexico border, many have people have entered into Canada U.S. embassy in Washington, tions.” The measure barring asylum raised questions about the way through non-offi cial ports of D.C., didn’t respond to questions If, Prof. Liew said, the United claimants is set to expire on April that the American government entry, but the average number of about that engagement. States was doing its part living up 21. Mr. Blair’s offi ce wouldn’t has treated migrants. people crossing the border has Asked if those turned away to its own obligations, it would be comment on whether that date Partnering with the Doctors been slowing since the onset of from the Canadian border will “a different story.” would be extended. Without Borders and the Cana- the coronavirus pandemic, ac- be deported to their country “But unfortunately that’s not “Anytime we [see] the rollback dian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, cording to media reports. of origin, a U.S. Customs and the case. If they were, a lot us of certain refugee rights, we al- Amnesty International Canada Mr. Blair was not available would be more comfortable with ways are concerned that they may released a statement on March for an interview, nor was his the measures that are taking become entrenched and further 30 saying that the federal gov- parliamentary secretary Joël place,” she added. considered part of the norm,” Mr. ernment wasn’t upholding its Lightbound (Louis-Hébert, Article 33.1 of Prof Liew added that an ex- Mohammed said. international obligations under Que.), and Mr. Blair’s offi ce emption should be made for asy- But he added: “the measure the 1951 Refugee Convention. wouldn’t answer when asked the 1951 Refugee lum seekers in the same way that is time bound and we really “People fearing persecution whether there have been any as- one is being made for essential hope the government will see have a right to seek protection in surances from the U.S. govern- Convention workers crossing the border, such the other ways in which this another country and to have that ment that those asylum seekers as foreign seasonal workers. situation can be dealt with that claim adjudicated,” the statement being turned back won’t be No Contracting State shall expel or return preserves the public health im- read. faced with persecution. His of- (“refouler”) a refugee in any manner whatsoever Canada’s open-door peratives, but at the same time Prior to making the decision fi ce referred to the public com- to the frontiers of territories where his life or free- upholds our international legal to bar refugee claimants from ments of Deputy Prime Minister dom would be threatened on account of his race, reputation at stake obligations.” entering Canada, Public Safety Chrystia Freeland (University- religion, nationality, membership of a particular The issue of asylum seekers [email protected] Minister Bill Blair (Scarborough Rosedale, Ont.). social group or political opinion. entering Canada through unof- The Hill Times 26 MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News Media Feds ‘on the hot seat’ for past and new decisions, as journos, staff ers contend with new media environment

to a more-spacious room in the Reporters, ‘Crises have a life West Block on the north side of pictured the street, to balancing questions March 31, cycle, and this one from reporters on the phone with 2020, at those in the room, to, as of March the prime looks like it will 26, prioritizing questions from minister's be long and have journalists phoning in. daily “I think everybody is feeling morning diff erent phases some form of fatigue. I’m sure press every newsroom is doing the conference or chapters,’ says same thing where they’re mak- outside ing sure that their people have Rideau Josh Greenberg, some time to disconnect, some Cottage on a specialist in time off [to] just take a breather, the grounds and I think the gallery staff were of Rideau communications doing the [same],” he told The Hill Hall in Times. “When I talked with [Press Ottawa. The and media coverage Gallery Secretariat chief] Collin Hill Times [Lafrance] a little while ago, I’d photograph of outbreaks and asked him about this and he said by Andrew that there is a rotation amongst Meade infectious disease. gallery staff so that they are not going to get burnt out as well, be- cause you’re talking about seven BY MIKE LAPOINTE press conferences seven days a week.” espite the dwindling numbers Despite it being a fair amount Dof journalists standing face- of work, Mr. Press said he hasn’t to-face with decision makers as heard anyone complaining to him the COVID-19 pandemic pushes as the head of the gallery or say- more people to work from home, ing that “there’s no way we can public offi cials and the media keep this up.” have done an effective job of com- “There’s obviously the ques- and I think it was principally in “These are the kinds of things life will look like in the months to municating with the public so far, tion every so often that has come the media where the that con- that, although we’re in a cri- come.” despite challenging conditions, about: can the government do sciousness was being raised.” sis, these are closer to what we He also said that “crises have a say observers. something different, as far as Prof. Adams the second phase normally have to metabolize as life cycle, and this one looks like In addition to daily updates maybe only one press conference came when the government and journalists,” said Prof. Adams. it will be long and have different by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a day instead of two or three, but public health offi cials began to phases or chapters.” (Papineau, Que.) at Rideau Cot- other than that, there’s nothing give stronger messages and im- ‘Crises have a lifecycle,’ “Given how rapidly the situ- tage, four or fi ve ministers have about kind of fatigue.” pose rules. ation is changing it’s not unex- also been available to the media “I think that in that phase— says public health pected that new questions will and to the public every day for I’m talking about the mainstream communication expert continue to be raised, putting weeks now—an unprecedented Coverage of the media here now—I think by and public offi cials on the hot seat to amount of availability—as the pandemic can be divided large in that situation, the media Josh Greenberg be accountable for decisions they government continues to grapple almost see themselves as part Josh Greenberg, a commu- may have made previously, and with information changing by the into three periods, says of the public health apparatus, nications professor at Carleton for decisions they may still have day, if not by the hour. journalism prof that part of their job is to convey University who specializes in to make,” said Prof. Greenberg. Karl Sasseville, press secre- While the physical approach strong clear public health mes- media coverage of outbreaks and “That is an important and nec- tary for Treasury Board President to coverage has evolved, so, too, sages like social distancing,” said infectious disease risks, said he essary function for news media Jean-Yves Duclos (Québec, Que.), has the coverage itself, according Prof. Adams. thinks public health offi cials “by in a democracy. Sometimes there has been moderating ministerial to Carleton University journalism He said the public health mes- and large continue to do a good are scientifi c answers to these press conferences out of a West professor Paul Adams, said he saging became “deeply integrated” job under extremely diffi cult and questions, and other times the Block committee room on Parlia- would divide the coverage of the into the daily coverage. continually changing circum- science will be limited or unclear. ment Hill for the last three weeks. pandemic in Canada into three In recent days, the third phase stances,” in an email to The Hill For public health organizations For the Prime Minister’s Of- broad periods. kicked in. Times. that operate in a science-fi rst fi ce, press secretaries Ann-Clara The fi rst is “a fundamental “You begin to see a separa- “This is a rapidly evolving framework, that’s a tough chal- Vaillancourt, and Alex Wellstead function of the media” in alerting tion out, to some degree, between international event that has im- lenge to face, as the recent debate have been co-ordinating, thought the public to the dangers; the sec- media and public health offi cials, plications in every region of the over public usage of face masks not moderating, Mr. Trudeau’s ond coming when various govern- and that happens for a number of country, so the challenge of com- illustrates.” daily updates. ments started talking about im- reasons,” said Prof. Adams, who municating timely and accurate “It’s also really important to There’s not a lot of staff mov- posing rules on populations; and noted the messaging is not always risk information to the public, understand that health crises ing around on the Hill or with the third, when we still have that clear and consistent and it differs and of doing so in a way that are more than just biomedical offi cials, with only one staff public health messaging role, “but from jurisdictions to jurisdiction. makes sense whether you live in events. They are also sociocultural member accompanying ministers so many more questions about “Are people who come back Ottawa, Vancouver, Brandon, or phenomenon that are constituted who are both following the rules accountability, performance, and from the States allowed to go for Halifax, is not easy,” said Prof. in and through narrative, and of social distancing and making long-term goals,” he said. a walk or a run? We get different Greenberg. which help us to make sense of sure they are modelling the ad- “By and large, the media acquit- messages in different places and “As the situation becomes our place in the world,” wrote vice the government is providing ted itself well in the run-up to the at different times. Should you be more complex and grim each day, Prof. Greenberg. “The story of to the public. pandemic because there were wearing a mask or shouldn’t you pressure will continue to mount this coronavirus outbreak has to Jordan Press, a Canadian certainly more voices, more stories, be wearing a mask? How long is on health offi cials to strike a be constructed, performed and Press reporter on the Hill and more indications of the degree of this all going to last?” balance in providing guidance responded to as a matter of social president of the Parliamentary threat in the media than there were Prof. Adams said you begin based on the best available sci- practice, so it’s not surprising that Press Gallery, said everyone is coming from politicians or for that to have those inconsistencies, so ence while also responding to news organizations will continue adjusting as best they can. matter, of public health offi cials,” media coverage becomes more public worry and concern,” said to explore new entry points to This has included moving said Prof. Adams in an interview critical and more probing, and Prof Greenberg. “I don’t yet see help make sense of something press conferences from the with The Hill Times. simply less about trying to convey evidence of information fatigue, we have really never experienced National Press Theatre in the “So I think the raising of the clear public health messaging, but that will be a new challenge before.” National Press Building on the consciousness of the potential of “but it becomes harder to do that once we begin to talk about tran- [email protected] south side of Wellington Street the threat was there in the media, because of the confusion.” sitioning back to whatever public The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 27 COVID-19

professor emeritus of psychiatry at ence, it was important to avoid Dalhousie University, said Dr. Tam, overwhelming people with advice Canada’s top doctor along with other public health offi - and information, which Dr. Tam cers, embody the “voice of reason” abides by, often drilling down on and have become a “source of at least one clear message a day, comfort and reassurance.” and “no more than three.” ‘voice of reason’ in In the face of a crisis, Sen. “I think she’s doing as good a Kutcher, who has assisted in the job as can be done in very trying aftermath of crises, including circumstances where the virus is major fl oods in Grenada and Guy- creating a moving target of issues ana, echoed Ms. Bradley’s senti- that have to be dealt with. Given face of uncertainty ment that she’s been a steady, that, she’s doing a credible job,” calming fi gure. he said. “We’ve seen [the govern- “When we’re listening to her, ment] more or less fl ip-fl op over we have the voice of reason, and the issue on whether we should the expert in our living room. appropriately screen airports, over COVID-19 fallout, That is very reassuring. She is the deny fl ights from stricken areas. face of science, but she is also a The government position was physician,” he said. “It’s important it had no impact. I think that’s not to underestimate the psycho- because this is an ongoing threat logical impact of having someone that increased in severity. It’s not say politicos, experts like her come to your living room surprising that some of the mes- to tell you what you need to know. saging changed.” … She encourages, not demands, Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux attracting a fan following as they mission of Canada, said what that we direct our actions based (Edmonton Riverbend, Alta.), his In a time of great shepherd Canadians through makes Dr. Tam a “compelling” fi g- on that advice.” party’s health critic, said having unprecedented times. She has ure, at a time of uncertainty and When asked why Dr. Tam and Dr. Tam take the reins on technical uncertainty and held the role since 2017, taking anxiety, is her ability to deliver other public health offi cers, often health issues has been key in en- anxiety, Dr. Theresa the reins after stints as the deputy information without dramatizing “unsung heroes,” have drawn an suring the public heeds advice on offi cer and assistant deputy the stakes. “She gives us straight- outpouring of support for their the measures that need to be taken Tam has emerged as minister for infectious disease forward, evidence-based informa- efforts, Sen. Kutcher said, “I think to curb the spread of the virus. prevention and control. Canada’s tion that people are craving,” Ms. what we’re seeing is a behav- “It’s refreshing to hear from a ‘compelling’ fi gure top doctor has expertise in “im- Bradley said. “Being able to com- ioural and emotional reaction of a non-partisan voice, even the munization, infectious disease, municate hard, diffi cult informa- relief. Here are people we can prime minister’s press conferenc- who has an ability to emergency preparedness and tion, but doing it with compassion trust. … They understand that es are essentially campaign an- deliver information nouncements,” said Mr. Jeneroux. Dr. Theresa “Public health offi cials can come without dramatizing Tam, in and essentially tell us informa- Canada's tion without that partisan bent the stakes. ‘She gives chief public that often seems to come from health governments or elected offi cials.” us straightforward, offi cer, That’s not to say that public pictured health offi cials in positions of evidence-based on Jan. authority, who are appointed information that 26, 2020, public servants, are immune from delivers a the glare of public scrutiny that’s people are craving.’ briefi ng, extended to politicians. which has While it isn’t appropriate at this phase to be overly critical Continued from page 1 been a ritual viewing of the government’s response to case of Dr. Tam, who has been for many the pandemic, Mr. Jeneroux said, elevated to a national profi le homebound throughout its progression, the as head of the Public Healthy Canadians House Health Committee has been Agency of Canada, said John 'craving' working to get to “the bottom” of The Globe and Mail Doyle, ’s evidence- the measures Canada was taking, television critic. “She does that by based including questioning why borders sitting fairly still, at a desk, with information. weren’t sealed earlier as the virus very little around her, except her The Hill spread to other countries. notes and a glass of water. You Times After much haggling during a are a singular fi gure. There is no photograph Feb. 26 committee meeting, MPs distraction around you,” he said. by Andrew passed a motion that ordered the “In this kind of crisis situation, Meade release of documents to the com- people turn to fi gures of authority mittee, “including briefi ng notes, for a picture of the situation and memos and emails from senior for assurances and for guidance offi cials” that are prepared for the on what to do.” ministers of health, defence, public Dr. Tam’s meticulous, precise safety, and foreign affairs related delivery of information is able global health security,” according and sensitivity, that’s the mix that deep down what kind of strain to the coronavirus outbreak. Ex- to command the public’s atten- to her government bio. makes it so compelling, and so this takes on people who are on cluded from the disclosure are text tion through subtle cues, he said, In the years leading up to the effective.” the front lines, and I don’t think messages, an omission that drew pointing to, for example, how COVID-19 pandemic, she racked When faced with a question it’s a big stretch to say they must pushback from the Conservatives. she routinely calls on people to up experience serving on the from a reporter about whether be working 24-7.” “We went after text mes- “please note” her advice, which World Health Organization’s the public at large should be sages, because we’ve heard that she then relays after a brief emergency committees on Ebola, wearing masks to minimize Responding to a ‘moving they [public health offi cials and pause. “She speaks in complete the Middle East respiratory exposure to the virus, Ms. Bradley ministers] communicate over text sentences, she doesn’t ramble, she syndrome, and the poliovirus, said, Dr. Tam balanced the need target’ messages,” Mr. Jeneroux said. doesn’t go off in a tangent, she positions that she told Canadian to reiterate her advice while not Even when she slipped up, Mr. A request for an interview with sounds like a scientist or expert Medical Association Journal being judgmental. ((Though there Doyle said, she handled her mistake the NDP’s health critic, Don Da- who knows what they’re talking were based on her experience on are a growing number of experts with honesty, pointing to how she vies (Vancouver Kingsway, B.C.) about,” he said. pandemic preparedness and fi eld who have said everyone should admitted in a subsequent briefi ng to was not returned by deadline. While Dr. Tam is a public ser- epidemiology, not as an appointed be wearing masks, Dr. Tam said having “misspoken” about statistics With disclosure of those vant, Mr. Doyle said, she has an representative for the country. wearing one “increases the touch- on the percentage of hospitalized documents, he said, that may help air of a politician to her, given the Seventeen years ago, Dr. Tam was ing of your face” and “gives you a cases for those under the age of 40 in illuminate the extent to which the position “she’s in right now.” also on the front lines assisting false of confi dence.”) a subsequent briefi ng was handled government was operating with “What makes a politician suc- patients at Ottawa’s emergency That type of approach, Ms. with honesty. (Dr. Tam incorrectly the best-available information cessful is [their ability to take] operations centre during the Bradley added, gives people the said that 30 per cent of those who it had from its public health of- people on a journey,” he said. “She SARS outbreak, which led to 44 opportunity to make their own had been diagnosed with COVID-19 fi cials, or if there were any lapses. has that air about her, she’s ask- deaths in Canada, surpassing the informed choice. “With so much in that demographic had been hos- The motion specifi ed that docu- ing people to come together, and country’s COVID-19 death toll control being taken away, it’s pitalized, and later apologized. The ments be turned over no later get through this with her.” of 130 as of April 2. The agency so important to give people that correct fi gure was 12 per cent.) than March 15, but Parliament’s Dr. Tam and the country’s itself was created in 2004, in the choice and feel we’re able to Tony Clement, former Conser- temporary suspension has pushed other public health offi cers have aftermath of SARS. make that decision.” vative MP, who was the Ontario that timeline back. sparked a proliferation of trib- Louise Bradley, president and Independent Senator Stan health minister during SARS, [email protected] utes, memes, and merchandise, CEO of the Mental Health Com- Kutcher (Nova Scotia), who is also said that, based on his experi- The Hill Times 28 MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES CLASSIFIEDS

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nications, also confi rmed that the party helped cover the tuition costs of Mr. Scheer’s children, an extra Conservative Fund plans to housekeeper, and some clothing for Mr. Scheer’s family for campaign and other appearances on behalf of the party. He, however, did not say double OLO annual budget from how much money the party paid for these expenses. “In this instance [the brief- ing], the Fund provided a detailed accounting of spending by the $201,000 to $474,000 for 2020 Leader’s Offi ce,” wrote Cory Hann, director of communications of the Conservative Party, in his email. “Among the details that were because of minority government shared: the party helped cover the cost of an extra housekeeper at Stornoway and the cost of some clothing that the Scheer family wore The Conservative to determine if the OLO misspent proval from the Conservative Fund national council in Toronto about for campaign and other appearances any money. for any expenses under $25,000, its fi ndings of the review that went on behalf of the party. The party also Fund Canada Following the October elec- so Mr. van Vugt had the authority on for about six to seven hours. covered the difference in schooling tion, a number of prominent and to take this decision. Sources also The liaison committee includes: costs between the parochial school provided a high-profi le Conservatives called pointed out that the party regu- party president Scott Lamb; Brit- that four of the Scheer children at- on Mr. Scheer to step down for larly sends binders full of infor- ish Columbia’s Don Nightingale; tended in Ottawa versus the school confi dential briefi ng failing to unseat Prime Minister mation on party expenses to the Newfoundland and Labrador’s they were at in Regina.” Justin Trudeau’s (Papineau, Que.) fund, but directors are volunteers, Karl Sullivan; Northwest Terri- He also said that the party’s to the national Liberals, despite the govern- and could have missed informa- tories’ David Connelly; and New internal audit did not provide council on March 21 ing party’s controversy-plagued tion related to this expense for not Brunswick’s Kevin Price. The party any red fl ags in the accounting campaign. But the Conservative going through all the data, though president decides the membership system and that all expenses were to explain where the leader maintained for weeks that this specifi c expense had been of the fund liaison committee. properly documented. he wouldn’t step down. However, included in the binders. The committee, led by Mr. Mr. Scheer, who was elected OLO spent $925,000 in mid-December, he abruptly Mr. Harper resigned from the Lamb, briefed the national as the Conservative leader in announced his plans to resign fund in January. council on March 24 in a tele- May 2017, is expected to stay in the fi rst 10 months once a new leader is elected. His In December, the national conference meeting. They read on until the party elects a new announcement came the same council also learned that the out the fi ndings of the special leader. The leadership conven- of last year. day media reports indicated that OLO had fi led expenses worth review but did not mention all the tion was scheduled for June 27, the party had been subsidizing about $925,000 to the party— details, leaving out most of the but has been suspended because BY ABBAS RANA the private- dollar amounts of the pandemic. As of last week, school tuition The Conservative for the claimed the new convention date had not he Conservative Fund, the for four of Fund Canada recently expenses. Also, been announced. Tpowerful body that oversees Mr. Scheer’s arranged a briefi ng the councillors Mr. Scheer has not publicly the party’s fi nances, is planning to children. for the national's were not provided addressed the questions related double the budget of the Offi ce of Dustin council's liaison any documents re- to his expenses since this contro- the Leader of the Offi cial Opposi- van Vugt, the committee about the lated to expenses. versy started in December. Prior tion from $241,200 to $474,000 for party’s execu- $925,000 expenses The councillors to the start of the winter House 2020, because in a minority Parlia- tive director that the OLO led by however were told sitting, he described this as an ment, an election could happen at at the time, Conservative Leader that the party paid “internal party matter,” but did not any time, and this would help the defended the Andrew Scheer fi led the difference in get into the specifi cs. leader cover costs of partisan cam- costs, saying with the party after tuition between “I’ll just say these are internal paign events, according to senior in a statement, the federal election what Mr. Scheer party matters and I don’t have Conservative sources. “all proper pro- last year. The liaison paid in Saskatch- anything to add to that story,” Mr. In a confi dential meeting last cedures were committee later ewan and what Scheer told parliamentary report- week, the fund’s chair, Irving followed and briefed the national they paid in Ot- ers on Jan. 25. When questioned in Gerstein, informed the national signed off on council of the tawa. Mr. Scheer the same scrum to share specifi c council of the Conservative Party by the appro- Conservative party on has fi ve children details on this subject, since the over video conference on March priate people.” March 24. The Hill and four go to a Conservative Party prides itself 31 that the fund wants to double He was let Times photograph by private school. as the party of fi scal transparency the OLO’s budget to help cover go from his Andrew Meade The fi fth has not and accountability, Mr. Scheer said: the costs of partisan events. position in the yet started to go “As I said, this is a party with many But he did not provide any wake of the to school. For checks and balances between dif- breakdown of the budget. Accord- revelations for the tuition costs, ferent aspects of the party [and] it’s ing to the party’s constitution, making the arrangement without about $700,000 more than the the party has been paying about being handled that way. So, I don’t the fund has to consult with the informing the Conservative Fund budgeted amount. The party had $18,000 per year to Mr. Scheer. have anything to add on it.” council, the 20-member elected or the national council. Former fi xed a budget of $200,000 for Mr. The national council was told In interviews with The Hill governing body that represents the prime minister Stephen Harper, Scheer for the fi rst 10 months of that the party provided an extra Times last week, Conservative interests of the party membership, then a director of the Conservative last year, but the fi nal tally turned housekeeper and covered some MPs said that they did not know but in this instance, the councillors Fund, led the charge in demanding out to be $925,000, leaving the clothing expenses for the Scheer if the Conservative Fund had pro- were only informed and no con- Mr. van Vugt’s dismissal and, con- councillors concerned about the family’s campaign appearances. vided any briefi ng to the national sultation took place, according to sidering his outsized infl uence in discrepancy. Also, the party helped pay for the council. Some said that if it did sources familiar with the proceed- the party, made it happen, although The national council requested minivan that Mr. Scheer used to happen then the caucus should ings of the meeting. The national several members of the national detailed information from the go to pre-election campaign events also receive the same briefi ng. councillors, however, were told that council publicly distanced them- Conservative Fund, a powerful un- along with security that accompa- “You’re telling me something the planned increase took place selves from this decision. elected body that oversees the par- nied the leader to these events. that I didn’t know,” said Conserva- before the COVID-19 pandemic Sources told The Hill Times ty fundraising and fi nances, about According to some sources fa- tive MP Kyle Seeback (Dufferin- overshadowed the national politi- that Mr. Harper took an aggres- the signifi cantly higher expenses. miliar with the briefi ng, the general Caledon, Ont.) in a phone interview cal agenda and were told things sive stance on the issue because But at the council’s following message from the liaison committee last week. “If the national council could change in the coming weeks. he read “too much” into the execu- meeting in January, Louis Leger, was “nothing nefarious or untoward has been briefed on it, then caucus The Conservative Fund does tive director’s statement, inter- one of the directors of the fund happened,” but there were some should be briefed on it.” not need any budgetary approval preting it as if Mr. van Vugt had who attends the national council’s issues with “poor management” in Conservative MP Bruce from the national council, and the suggested that the senior brass of in-person meetings as a represen- claimed expenses. Sources said Stanton (Simcoe North, Ont.) directors approve the budget on the party, including the direc- tative of the fund, informed the that some members of the national also said he was not aware that their own. tors of the Conservative Fund, council that they could not provide council were unsatisfi ed with the the national council had received For the fi rst 10 months of last had known about the expenses. the specifi c details of the expenses briefi ng saying it would have been any briefi ng. But he declined a year, Conservative Leader An- According to sources, the Con- or the fi ndings of the audit, but did better if the Conservative Fund had comment, describing this as an drew Scheer (Regina-Qu’Appelle, servative Fund, the fundraising not offer any convincing rationale provided detailed information, not internal caucus matter. Sask.) had a budget of $201,000, arm of the party, and the national for doing that. just the liaison committee. “I’m unfamiliar with the devel- but ended up spending $925,000, council did not know about it. The Conservative Fund, In an emailed response to The opments,” said Mr. Stanton. “This is which sparked controversy Some sources, however, claim however, later tasked the party’s Hill Times, a spokesman for the an issue that is something that … and attracted negative national that Conservative Fund’s chair auditor and the accounting fi rm Conservative Party confi rmed we deal with internally as a caucus. headlines that dogged the party knew about this arrangement, but Deloitte Canada to undertake an that the Conservative Fund did So it’s not really something that and its leader for weeks. Conse- others deny that’s the case. audit into the expenses. Upon the conduct a briefi ng for the liaison I’m comfortable talking about.” quently, the fund called for an According to sources, the party completion of the review, the fund committee. Cory Hann, director of [email protected] in-depth review of the expenses headquarters does not need ap- briefed the liaison committee of the the Conservative Party’s commu- The Hill Times 30 MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer has 76 staff on his team, including hill climbers Renze Nauta as director of policy by Laura Ryckewaert and research, Phil Bolduc as director of parliamentary affairs, and Allison Lamb as Nauta leads director of tours. The Hill Times photograph by policy, research Andrew Meade Now working full-time in the OLO, Mr. Working alongside Ms. Sancandi is fellow Housakos, who is the son of Conservative tour and event planner Kelsey Regnier. Ms. Quebec Senator Leo Housakos, had been an Regnier started out as an administrative assis- intern in Mr. Scheer’s offi ce last summer. tant in Ms. Ambrose’s OLO in the fall of 2016 in Scheer’s Mr. Duchesne has been doing research and switched to her current role in 2018. for the Conservative caucus for years, Christopher Mahon has a new title in the starting under then-leader Mr. Harper. OLO this Parliament: previously director of For his part, Mr. Sha has been doing re- tour planning and outreach, he’s now direc- search for the OLO since 2018, having spent tor of stakeholder relations and outreach. 76-member roughly half a year interning in the offi ce Mr. Mahon is a former Harper-era through the Centre for Israel and Jewish cabinet staffer, having been director of Affairs Parliamentary Internship Program operations to Mr. Kenney through his time before being hired on full-time. He’s also in a number of portfolios, from employment previously interned in the offi ce of Alberta to citizenship and immigration to national Conservative MP Kelly McCauley, and defence. Before joining Mr. Scheer’s OLO in Conservative spent the 2019 election monitoring media 2018, he spent roughly two years as an aide for the Conservative campaign. to Alberta Conservative MP Garnett Genuis. Hendrik “Henry” Brakel is now Mr. Karina Rolland continues as manager of Scheer’s chief economic adviser. A former stakeholder relations, a role she’s fi lled for the chief economist and senior director of last two years. Before then, she was working OLO: part two fi nancial and tax policy with the Canadian as business development and marketing direc- Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Brakel fi rst tor with ActiveCare Physiotherapy, while also joined the OLO in late 2017 as a senior eco- volunteering as vice president of administra- issues man- nomic policy adviser. He’s also previously tion for the Hockey Easter Ontario Minor AAA Hill Climbers takes a look agement and worked for Export Development Canada, League Board and as director of the Glouces- at the OLO’s policy and research. Mr. last as an economist focused on Canada, ter Rangers Minor Hockey Association. Kalogerakos the U.S., and Europe. Stephanie Keron is working under her research, parliamentary joined Mr. Phil Bolduc is director of parliamen- as a stakeholder relations adviser. She’s Scheer’s OLO tary affairs to the Conservative leader. Mr. been working on the Hill for a number of aff airs, tour, stakeholder as a policy ad- Bolduc had previously been manager of years, and in the OLO since 2018, and is a viser in 2017. parliamentary affairs and Question Period former assistant to Conservative MP Shan- relations, and caucus liaison Together, adviser to Mr. Scheer since November non Stubbs and former MPs Chris Alexan- and regional adviser teams. they oversee a 2017. He’s also a former senior adviser der and Peter Penashue. team of fi ve pol- to Conservative House Leader Candice Finally, on to the OLO’s slate of caucus icy advisers— Renze Nauta leads policy Bergen, and a former director of parlia- liaisons and regional advisers. N APARTMENT NEAR PARLIAMENT Sean Phelan, and research work in Mr. mentary affairs and issues management to Katie Hillman continues as caucus liai- AHILL—Conservative Leader Andrew Catharine Kava- Scheer’s offi ce. Photograph then-trade minister Ed Fast. son and regional adviser for the Atlantic, a Scheer’s offi ce is packed with plenty of nagh, Matthew courtesy of Facebook Virginie Bonneau, as previously noted, role she’s held since the fall of 2017, after experienced hands, including former Solheim, Laura is now associate director of parliamentary spending that summer as a correspondence Harper-era staffer Renze Nauta, who’s in Smith, and Nik Zylstra—and three research- affairs in the OLO. She was last busy as Mr. intern in the OLO. While studying her place as director of policy and research for ers, Tasso Housakos, Eric Duchesne, and Scheer’s French press secretary and associ- undergraduate degree at Cape Breton Uni- the offi cial opposition team. Shunfu Sha. Supporting them is Chris Grier ate director of communications, and before versity, Ms. Hillman worked in the offi ce of Mr. Nauta joined the opposition leader’s as manager of research. then was a policy adviser in the offi ce under the Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s offi ce (OLO) shortly after Mr. Scheer was A graduate of Trinity Western University, Ms. Ambrose. Ms. Bonneau is also a former mayor, according to her LinkedIn profi le. elected as party leader in 2017, starting out Mr. Grier has been working in the central aide to then-Conservative whip Gordon Aude Cauchard is a caucus liaison and as a policy adviser and later being promoted caucus offi ce since the Harper government O’Connor and a former Quebec regional regional adviser for Quebec. She’s been in the to director of policy and planning. He’d pre- years, previously as director of special proj- affairs adviser in Mr. Harper’s PMO. OLO since 2018, starting as a special assistant viously spent years working in then-prime ects, and last held the title of manager of is- Allison Lamb has been promoted to the to Mr. Bélanger as then-senior Quebec adviser minister Stephen Harper’s offi ce, starting as sues management and research in the OLO. title of director of tour this Parliament, hav- to Mr. Scheer. (Mr. Bélanger is no doubt still a special assistant during the former Con- Mr. Phelan is a former aide to then- ing previously been manager of tour and an important sounding board for the leader servative government’s fi rst mandate, and minister Rob Nicholson during his time as events since November 2018. Ms. Lamb pre- on all things Quebec as chief of staff.) ending in 2014 as manager of appointments. minister of justice and later of national de- viously worked in Mr. Harper’s PMO, fi rst Colin Buschman has joined the OLO as Hill Climbers is diving into the 76-member fence and foreign affairs. He’s been an OLO as an administrative assistant and ending as a new caucus liaison and regional adviser Conservative OLO team in parts, with part policy adviser since early 2016, starting a special assistant for appointments. She’s for Ontario, a role last fi lled by Charlie one having focused on the 19 staff departures under then-interim leader Rona Ambrose. also a former assistant to then-ministers Beldman, as previously noted. since the 2019 election as well as the staff Ms. Kavanagh fi rst joined the offi ce in the Peter Kent and Jason Kenney, who is now Mr. Buschman was previously working most directly supporting to Mr. Scheer as fall of 2017 as a strategic planning adviser. premier of Alberta. for Conservative MP David Sweet, last in his leader, like acting chief of staff Martin Bé- Mr. Solheim previously worked in the OLO Tour and capacity as caucus chair. Before that, he’d langer and principal secretary Kenzie Potter. under Ms. Ambrose as an economic policy event planner worked for Mr. Sweet as the Member of Par- As previously noted, 14 new staff have joined assistant, and had run her parliamentary Léa Sancandi liament for Flamborough-Glanbrook, Ont. the OLO since the election. To be clear, this re- offi ce as the now-former MP for Sturgeon is a new ad- Emily Gilroy is another caucus liaison fers to both staff funded through Mr. Scheer’s River-Parkland, Alta., before that. He joined dition to the and regional adviser for the Prairies. She fi rst budget as offi cial opposition leader—which Mr. Scheer’s team in early 2018 as a planning OLO. A former joined the OLO roughly one year ago and is a was allocated almost $4.8-million for 2019- adviser for policy. assistant to former president of the University of Leth- 20—and through the Conservative research Ms. Smith has been a policy adviser in the Conservative bridge’s Campus Conservatives association. bureau, also known as Conservative Caucus OLO since 2016, starting under Ms. Ambrose MP Rachael Morgan Swan remains a caucus liaison Services, which was allocated a budget of al- just after the 2015 election, in which she ran, Harder, Ms. and regional adviser for British Columbia, most $3-million for 2019-20. The two streams ultimately unsuccessfully, as the Conserva- Sancandi Alberta, and the territories. She’s been work in close co-ordination, as is the case for tive Party’s candidate in North Island-Powell tackled tour in the OLO since the beginning of 2018, Léa Sancandi is one of all the recognized parties on the Hill. River, B.C. She’s also a former aide to then- and event plan- starting off as a digital media liaison before 14 new additions to the OLO This column will focus on the OLO’s chief government whip John Duncan. ning for Mr. switching to her current role a little more since last fall. Photograph policy and research, parliamentary affairs, Mr. Zylstra has similarly been tackling Scheer during than half a year later. During the 2019 elec- courtesy of LinkedIn tour, stakeholder relations, and the caucus policy in the OLO since the 2015 federal elec- the 2019 federal tion, she was a press secretary for the party liaison and regional adviser teams. tion, before which he’d been a senior policy election. She’s also a former administrative in B.C. and the territories. Working closely with Mr. Nauta is adviser to Ms. Ambrose as health minister. assistant to the executive director of the Also wearing the title of caucus liaison, another former Harper-era cabinet staffer, He’s also a former assistant to Mr. Scheer as Christian Embassy of Canada, a non-profi t and video specialist, is Angus MacLellan, Nick Kalogerakos, who now holds the title the Conservative MP for Regina-Qu’Appelle, organization based in Ottawa, and a former who’s been in place since 2016. of associate director of policy and research. Sask., and a former assistant to then-Ontario fund development co-ordinator for Oxfam [email protected] Previously, he was associate director of MPs Bev Shipley and Stella Ambler. Canada, among other past jobs. The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 31 Events Feature Parliamentary COVID-19 grips nation’s capital Calendar The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade May 4 is International Day of Pink

MONDAY, APRIL 6 WEDNESDAY, JULY 8 Deputy Prime Minister House Not Sitting—The House has been Canada’s Foremost Fintech Conference Chrystia suspended until Monday, April 20. It is then FFCON20—Featuring high-growth start-ups scheduled to sit for four straight weeks until and leading industry experts across fi ntech Freeland, May 15. It will take a one-week break and sectors including digital banking, P2P fi nance, pictured March will resume sitting again on May 25 and AI, capital markets, Wealthtech, payments, 27, 2020, at will sit straight through for the next four crypto, and blockchain. July 8-9. Speakers that day’s daily consecutive weeks, until it’s scheduled to include: Robert Asselin, senior director public briefi ng with adjourn on June 23. The House adjourns policy, BlackBerry; Paul Schulte, founder and again for three months and will return in the editor, Schulte Research; Craig Asano, founder the media. fall on Monday, Sept. 21, for three straight and CEO, NCFA; George Bordianu, co-founder weeks. It will adjourn for one week and will and CEO, Balance; Julien Brazeau, partner, sit again from Oct. 19 until Nov. 6. It will Deloitte; Alixe Cormick, president, Venture break again for one week and will sit again Law Corporation; Nikola Danaylov, founder, from Nov. 16 to Dec. 11. And that will be it keynote speaker, author futurist, Singular- Canada’s chief medical health offi cer Dr. Theresa for 2020. ity Media; Pam Draper, president and CEO, Tam, pictured March 24, 2020, going into the Senate Not Sitting—The Senate has Bitvo; Justin Hartzman, co-founder and CEO, West Block for the daily briefi ng with the media. also been suspended due to the COVID-19 CoinSmart; Peter-Paul Van Hoeken, founder virus. When it’s scheduled to return, the & CEO, FrontFundr; Cynthia Huang, CEO and possible sitting days are April 20, 24, 27, co-founder, Altcoin Fantasy; Austin Hubbel, and May 1. The Senate is scheduled to sit CEO and co-founder, Consilium Crypto; Patrick April 21-23 and April 28-30. The possible Mandic, CEO, Mavennet; Mark Morissette, Senate sittings are May 4, 8, 11, 15, 25, co-founder & CEO, Foxquilt; Cato Pastoll, co- and 29. The Senate is scheduled to sit May founder & CEO, Lending Loop; Bernd Petak, 5-7 and May 12-May 14. The Senate will investment partner, Northmark Ventures; Ali break May 18-22. It is scheduled to sit May Pourdad, Pourdad Capital Partners, Family 26-28. The June possible sitting days are Offi ce; Richard Prior, global head of policy and June 1, 5, 8, 12, 15 and 19. The Senate is research, FDATA; Richard Remillard, presi- scheduled to sit June 2-4; June 9-11; June dent, Remillard Consulting Group; Jennifer 16-18; and June 22, 23, it breaks June 24 Reynolds, president & CEO, Toronto Finance for St. Jean Baptiste Day; and it’s scheduled International; Jason Saltzman, partner, Gowl- to sit June 25 and June 26. The Senate ing WLG Canada; James Wallace, co-chair breaks from June 29 until Sept. 22. The and co-CEO, Exponential; Alan Wunsche, Senate’s possible September sitting days are CEO & chief token offi cer, Tokenfunder; and Sept. 21, 25, 28. It’s scheduled to sit Sept. Danish Yusuf, founder and CEO, Zensurance. 22-24 and Sept. 29-Oct. 1, with a possible For more information, please visit: https:// sitting day on Friday, Oct. 2. The possible fi ntechandfunding.com/. Senate sitting days are Oct. 5, 9, 19, 23, 26, and 30. It’s scheduled to sit Oct. 6-8; THURSDAY, OCT. 15 it takes a break from Oct. 12-16; it will sit PPF Testimonial Dinner and Awards—Join Oct. 20-22; and Oct. 27-29. The November us at the 33rd annual event to network and possible Senate days are: Nov. 2, 6, 16, 20, celebrate as the Public Policy Forum honours 23, 27, 30. It’s scheduled to sit Nov. 3-5; it Canadians who have made their mark on policy will take a break from Nov. 9-13; it will sit and leadership. Anne McLellan and Senator Nov. 17-19; and Nov. 24-26. The possible Peter Harder will take their place among a December Senate sitting days are: Dec. 4, cohort of other stellar Canadians who we’ve 7, and 11. The Senate is scheduled to sit honoured over the last 33 years, people who One lone person out on Sparks Street Dec. 1-3; Dec. 8-10 and it will sit Dec. have dedicated themselves to making Canada in Ottawa, pictured March 27, 2020. 14-18. a better place through policy leadership and MONDAY, MAY 4 public service. The gala event will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15, at the Metro Toronto Con- International Day of Pink—In celebration vention Centre, 255 Front St. W., Toronto. of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots/Pride; and the 30th anniversary of SATURDAY, OCT. 24 the International Day Against Homophobia, Parliamentary Press Gallery Dinner—The Transphobia, and Biphobia, we are proud to Parliamentary Press Gallery Dinner happens invite you to Stonewall 50 across Canada, on Saturday, Oct. 24, in the Sir John A. in Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Macdonald Building on Wellington Street. Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, and Cape Breton, from May 4-21, featuring Stonewall riot THURSDAY, NOV. 12 activist Martin Boyce. Stonewall 50 across Liberal Party National Convention—The Canada is a free speakers’ series in cities Liberal Party of Canada announced the across the country featuring Stonewall Riot 2020 Liberal National Convention will be Canada’s deputy chief public health offi cer Conservative MP and deputy leader Leona Alleslev, pictured activist Martin Boyce. Boyce is among a hosted in Ottawa, from Nov. 12-15. For Howard Njoo, pictured March 24, 2020, on his way March 24, 2020, heading into the West Block for the House handful of surviving Stonewall activists more information, please contact: media@ into the West Block for the daily media briefi ng. sitting that day to pass emergency spending measures. whose contributions have had a signifi cant liberal.ca, 613-627-2384. impact on our communities. Join us as he Conservative Party National Convention— shares his stories of uprising and rebellion, The Conservatives will hold a convention in what motivated him that night. Quebec City from Nov. 12-14. For more in- WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10 formation, please contact 1-866-808-8407. The Parliamentary Calendar is a free CJF Awards Celebrating 30 Years of events listing. Send in your political, cul- Excellence in Journalism—The Canadian tural, diplomatic, or governmental event in a Journalism Foundation Awards will be held paragraph with all the relevant details under on June 10, 2020, at the Ritz-Carlton, the subject line ‘Parliamentary Calendar’ Toronto, Ont., hosted by Rick Mercer, former to [email protected] by Wednesday at host of The Rick Mercer Report. The CBC’s noon before the Monday paper or by Friday Media, pictured on March 31, 2020, outside Rideau Anna Maria Tremonti will be honoured. at noon for the Wednesday paper. We can’t Cottage where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Quebec police, pictured on April 1, 2020, Tables are $7,500 and tickets are $750. guarantee inclusion of every event, but we family live and where he has been holding daily briefi ngs stopping anyone from entering Gatineau who For more information on tables and sponsor- will defi nitely do our best. Events can be ship opportunities, contact Josh Gurfi nkel at updated daily online, too. since he’s been in self-isolation since March 12. aren’t essential workers or Quebec residents. jgurfi [email protected] or 416-955-0394. The Hill Times

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