Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 A tial pronouncements have little VID-19, analystssay thepresiden- Canada’s responsetocurbCO- have wide-reachingeffectson grabbing suggestions that could BY NEIL MOSS W say analysts have beenrealized, response asfew impact onCanadian have hadlittle pronouncements Trump coronavirus News midst ofCOVID-19 if oneiscalled in to hold anelection regularly on how counterparts provincial Perrault consulting electoral offi Canada’s chief News this minoritygovernment. possibility that oneiscalledin parts regularlytoplanforthe ing withhisprovincial counter- Stéphane Perrault isstillconsult- Canada’s ChiefElectoral Offi the midstofaglobalpandemic, BY ABBAS RANA BY ABBAS THIRTY-FIRST YEAR, NO.1720 Michael Harris Trump makes headline- s U.S. PresidentDonald an electionwillbecalledin hile it’shighlyunlikely that Rose LeMay race-based data on race-based data on aaaUS COVID-19 & leadership Canada-U.S. Elections Canada p.11 COVID-19 p.5 Why we need Whyneed we Continued onpage23 Continued onpage 26 cer cer W ‘a crisis like noother’ COVID-19, say pollsters, management of referendum on Trudeau’s Next federal election a News tional pandemic, veteran pollsters BY ABBAS RANA BY ABBAS will create until this international crisisisover. But it’s never goingback to normal. world to the ‘cusp ofanother great transformation,’ but it’s unknown what changesit Veteran pollster Frank Graves says the COVID-19 global pandemic has brought the order togetitright. will needtoworktogetherin provincial governments,butthey for thefederalgovernmentand lockdown willbeatoughsituation the decisiononwhentoend pollsters. PollsterNikNanossays COVID-19 pandemic,sayveteran minority governmenthandledthe outside RideauCottage,andhis his dailypressconference pictured April14,2020,at Prime MinisterJustinTrudeau, will beareferendumonhow The nextfederalelection photograph byAndrewMeade accountability or pandemic throes ofadeadlyinterna- ith thecountry deepinthe pandemonium? p. 4 ua ie an aanhJtnNtwn Gwynne Dyer Jatin Nathwani Dayna Mahannah Susan Riley Parliamentary The HillTimes C ANADA ’ S P OLITICS and itsimpact on Canadiansafter government managed COVID-19 on how Justin Trudeau’s minority eral electionwillbeareferendum are predictingthat thenextfed- The uncertainty embedded The uncertainty embedded in oil and gas serves up in oilandgasserves up another optionp.20

AND G OVERNMENT N EWSPAPER end how muchdamagethiswill this globalcrisisisover. “We won’t know untilthevery off ers hope for a clean energy transition p.18 COVID-19 crisis COVID-19 crisis Continued onpage 22 T A World War II, say someofthe the country’s biggestcrisissince some slackasitstickhandles door, andcutthegovernment should leave partisanshipat the ernment’s responsetoCOVID-19 Senators the House, say rough stuff should leave committees oversight COVID-19 Senate’s new News bureaucrats and innovation’ by greater ‘risk taking with onecallingfor amidst pandemic, public service performance of Senators laud News the federal public service is winning the federal publicserviceiswinning amidst theCOVID-19 pandemic, BY PETER MAZEREEUW BY MIKE LAPOINTE MONDAY, APRIL 20,2020$5.00 reopen the economy p.15 White House is frantic to White House isfrantic to assigned tomonitorthegov- wo Senate committeesjust second month of self-isolation second monthofself-isolation s Canadiansnow enterthe Toddler inchief the Senate Federal government Continued onpage 7 Continued onpage6 for 2 MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES

Heard on the Hill

by Neil Moss The titles up for the 2020 Donner Prize are The Tangled Garden: A Canadian Cultural Manifesto This just in: Donner Prize, for the Digital Age, by Richard Stursberg and Stephen Armstrong; The Wealth of First Nations, by Thomas Flanagan; Living with China: A Middle Power Finds Its Way, by Wendy Dafoe Prize name books Dobson; Empty Planet: The Shock of Global Author, author: CBC’s Aaron Wherry is pictured on Population Decline, by Darrell Bricker and John Sept. 9, 2019 with National Post columnist John Ibbitson; and Breakdown: The Pipeline Debate Ivison. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade and the Threat to Canada’s Future, by Dennis shortlisted for honours McConaghy. Book cover images courtesy of “Canada, Canadians, and/or Canada’s Signal/McClelland & Stewart, University of Toronto place in the world.” Press, Fraser Institute, Dundurn Press, and James “My great thanks to the foundation Flanagan‘s, The Lorimer & Co. Wealth of First and the judges and congrats to the other Nations; Dennis nominees…a nice bit of news, personally, “The Donner Prize has always shone when everything else is a bit nuts,” Mr. McConaghy‘s a spotlight on books that are exceptional Breakdown: The Wherry tweeted about the honour. works of public policy research,” Donner The CBC senior writer released his book Pipeline Debate Canadian Foundation chair Kenneth Whyte and the Threat on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the lead- said in a statement. “This year is no excep- up to the 2019 federal election. Mr. Wherry to Canada’s Fu- tion, with books on topics that are quite ture; and Rich- told The Hill Times last year that he had a se- literally ripped from the headlines. They ries of interview with Mr. Trudeau that added ard Stursberg will undoubtedly provoke debate. And these and Stephen up to around eight hours, one of which was books refl ect the challenges facing all levels conducted on the prime minister’s plane on Good reads: The winners of the Donner and Armstrong‘s The Globe and Mail‘s of governance and policy. Policy affects us the way to New York City for a United Na- Dafoe book prizes will be announced in The Tangled John Ibbitson was all, and books that probe hard questions, tions General Assembly meeting. anticipated ceremonies this fall. The Hill Times Garden: A Ca- previously shortlisted that suggest guidelines and direction for the Previous winners of the Dafoe Prize have photograph by Andrew Meade nadian Cultural for the Donner Prize future, become essential reading.” included historian Tim Cook for Vimy: The Manifesto for for his book, The Polite The shortlist was selected by a jury that Battle and the Legend; Maclean’s writer he nominees for 2020’s prestigious Don- the Digital Age. Revolution: Perfecting the is chaired by former Bank of Canada gov- Paul Wells for The Longer I’m Prime Min- ner and Dafoe book prizes are now out, This is the Canadian Dream. The Hill T ernor David Dodge, and includes former ister: Stephen Harper and Canada, 2006-; with 10 books earning the nod and offering second time Mr. Times fi le photograph University of Calgary Schulich School of Canadians another enlightening way to Ibbitson of The and historian John English for Citizen of Engineering dean Elizabeth Cannon, Mc- the World: The Life of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, pass their time in the COVID-19 lockdown. Globe and Mail has been shortlisted for Gill University political economy professor The fi ve books nominated for the Don- the Donner Prize. He was also nominated 1919-1968, Volume One, among many others. Jean-Marie Dufour, past deputy minister The prize has been awarded since 1984. ner Prize for best public policy book include for his 2005 book, The Polite Revolution: to the premier of British Columbia Brenda Darrell Bricker and John Ibbitson‘s Empty Perfecting the Canadian Dream. The winner of this year’s prize will be Eaton, and Peter Nicholson, who was a awarded $10,000 at the J.W. Dafoe Founda- Planet: The Shock of Global Population De- The winner of the Donner Prize will deputy chief of staff for policy in Paul cline; Wendy Dobson‘s Living with China: take home $50,000, with the four runner- tion’s annual Book Prize dinner, likely to Martin‘s PMO. be held in the fall. A Middle Power Finds Its Way; Thomas ups receiving $7,500. Although the Donner Prize winner has been typically announced in the spring, this year’s award ceremony will take place in the fall due to the coronavirus pandemic. Bloomberg’s Kait Bolongaro Last year’s prize was won by Thomas Courchene for his book, Indigenous joins the Parliamentary Nationals/Canadian Citizens: From First Contact to Canada 150 and Beyond. Press Gallery Joining Mr. Ibbitson, fellow Parliamen- tary Press Gallery member Aaron Wherry Kait has also been nominated for a book prize Bolongaro of this year. Bloomberg His book, Promise and Peril: Justin is the latest Trudeau in Power, is one of fi ve titles up addition to the for the 2020 John W. Dafoe Book Prize. Parliamentary The other nominations include Adam Press Gallery. Chapnick‘s Canada on the United Na- The press tions Security Council: A Small Power gallery ex- on a Large Stage; Brendan Kelly‘s The ecutive board Good Fight: Marcel Cadieux and Canadian announced in Diplomacy; Tina Loo‘s Moved by the State: an email to its Forced Relocation and Making a Good Life members last in Postwar Canada; and Dave Meslin‘s week that she Kait Bolongaro has Teardown: Rebuilding Democracy from the was accredited previously been a reporter Ground Up. during a meet- with Politico Europe, BBC, The Dafoe Prize—named after the ing last month. Deutsche Welle, and Al former editor of the then-Manitoba Free Ms. Bolon- Jazeera, among others. Press—is awarded for the best book on garo has Photograph courtesy of reported from LinkedIn/Kait Bolongaro Bloomberg’s Elgin Street newsroom in Ottawa since Feb- ruary, according to her LinkedIn profi le. Previously, she has been a reporter with Politico Europe, BBC, Deutsche Welle, and Al Jazeera, among others. In 2017, she was awarded the silver medal from the United Nations Correspondents Association Global Prize on Climate Change for her reporting on water pollution in China. She The books shortlisted for the 2020 John W. also won an award from the World Health Dafoe Book Prize are Teardown: Rebuilding Summit and the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Democracy from the Ground Up, by Dave Reporting in 2016 for her coverage of down Meslin; The Good Fight: Marcel Cadieux syndrome. and Canadian Diplomacy, by Brendan Kelly; Along with Ms. Bolongaro, the Bloom- Canada on the United Nations Security berg parliamentary newsroom is composed Council: A Small Power on a Large Stage, by of bureau chief Theophilos Argitis, as well Adam Chapnick; Moved by the State: Forced as Christopher Fournier, Michelle Hagan, Relocation and Making a Good Life in Postwar Erik Schmitz-Hertzberg, and Stephen Canada, by Tina Loo; and Promise and Peril: Wicary. Justin Trudeau in Power, by Aaron Wherry. Book [email protected] cover images courtesy of UBC Press, Penguin The Hill Times Canada, and Harper Collins Canada Stop the Spread COVID-19 can be deadly. Stay home. Save lives.

Visit ontario.ca/coronavirus Paid for by the Government of Ontario 4 MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion

including, it must be said, Donald Parliamentary accountability Trump. On Jan. 24, the U.S. presi- dent praised China’s “efforts and transparency,” then downplayed the seriousness of the pandemic for almost two months. or pandemic pandemonium? As for the countries that reacted more effectively than Canada, most are close neighbours of China with dense populations, powerful MPs, pictured central governments and a culture We’ll get our in the House for of compliance. No provinces to an emergency co-ordinate, no erratic neighbour to democracy back when meeting on deal with, no vast ocean between this crisis is over— April 11, 2020, them and the contagion. to pass the That doesn’t explain away the along with the daily government's lag-time in closing the U.S. bor- $73-billion der, or the decision to welcome barrage of Quebec wage subsidy home spring break travellers bill. Screen with only cursory screening and Period—but, in all capture courtesy voluntary quarantine. But these of CPAC questions—as with Alberta Pre- honesty, has anyone mier Jason Kenney’s ill-tempered really missed it? attack on Health Canada and Dr. Theresa Tam last week—should wait until the worst is over. And that could be a while, especially if Trump makes good his threat to re-open the northern border. What the moment does not need are tweets from hyper-partisan Conservative MP and fi nance critic Pierre Poilievre (forgotten, but, sadly, not gone). Said Poilievre: “The media is ramping up a campaign to protect Trudeau from accountability Susan Riley Green Party sessions. They know he can’t handle Impolitic Parliamentary tough questions. He left the borders Leader open to 2,000 people from COVID Elizabeth May hotspots and (he’s) giving away our HELSEA, QUE.—In theory, has said even medical stockpiles. No wonder he’s Ca healthy democracy needs the limited hiding from these questions.” a vigorous opposition. In reality, sittings held so Meanwhile, everyone else there’s Question Period. far, involving can be forgiven for hiding from That may be why Conservative about 40 MPs, Poilievre. Leader Andrew Scheer appears to felt unsafe to And, how helpful will it be be having trouble rousing public her and also to Canadians to hear Scheer ac- opinion to his cause. His cause, forced political cuse Liberals, and, by extension, essentially, is more face time staff, cleaners, hard-pressed public servants, of for the offi cial opposition. Or, translators, and forcing people to wait “weeks and as he puts it, more “accountabil- others to come weeks” for assistance? Or to ac- ity.” He has already moved back into work when cuse the prime minister, prepos- to Stornoway with his family, they should be terously, “of using a health crisis from Regina, and has argued for staying home. to shut down democracy?” parliamentary sittings to resume, Screenshot Still, you can understand the preferably four days a week, courtesy of CPAC Conservatives’ frustration. Cabinet involving a skeleton showing of ministers, Scheer groused, “get to MPs from every party. make speeches every day.” Indeed, Near the end of last week, a every politician in the country is on compromise was in play with television daily while Scheer and the Liberals suggesting one live Singh have only occasional cameos. session a week—not the usual The mayor of Toronto gets more air Question Period, but an account- Conservative party leader also no would be suspect, if, as May points But, as weeks go by, Conserva- time. Ontario Premier Doug Ford— ability session, which would doubt realizes that stuttering on- out, opposition parties had not tives, in particular, are becoming whose interventions have been give opposition MPs a chance to line debates lack the immediacy of been regularly, if informally, con- restless. Scheer is posing increas- empathetic and constructive, rather question ministers. This would be the vigorous exchange of real-time sulted by ministers throughout the ingly sharp questions in televised than partisan and combative—has eventually supplemented by on- insults and evasions that distin- crisis—and, often, listened to. She statements. Why was cabinet so become a folk hero in the salons of line sessions which could involve guish the daily Question Period. It notes, ruefully, that Parliament is slow to shut down foreign travel, Rosedale. Federal Health Minister all members of Parliament broad- would be, undoubtedly, even more “working way better than usual.” why did it accept assurances from Patty Hajdu has been candid and casting from their book-lined boring television. May concedes these are extraor- China and the World Health Orga- well-informed; Deputy Prime Min- home studies. The virtual Parlia- Whatever agreement is dinary circumstances and would nization that community transmis- ister Chrystia Freeland calm, and ment could be up and running reached, it is important that op- resist the fi rst sign of government sion wasn’t an issue, and why the forceful with the U.S. when required. in three weeks, say government position parties be given a chance “running roughshod” over its politi- confusion about the usefulness Trudeau has been Trudeau— sources, but Scheer is not keen on to play a constructive role—to cal opponents. But, she says, so far of masks? Why, he wondered the stilted, artifi cial and repetitive— the idea. improve legislation, question that is not the case, adding “I don’t other day, did we send surplus but he has been nothing if not However, the Liberals, Bloc proposed remedies and champion think Canadians will appreciate protective equipment to China in available. And, in place of the Québécois and the Green Party’s forgotten victims, or communi- people and parties that seek parti- February only to be scrambling tendentious “questions” he fi elds Elizabeth May prefer the online ties. Hopefully, all parties will san advantage right now.” at home a month later? Why have in the Commons, he has faced a option in the interests of con- take up the disaster unfolding But will federal opposition other countries—South Korea, Tai- more pointed, less theatrical, daily taining the virus. May has said in the country’s long-term care parties play a constructive role, wan, Singapore and New Zealand, grilling from the media. As have even the limited sittings held so homes. There already are two given weekly exposure? So far, for instance—been so much more his senior ministers and senior far, involving about 40 MPs, felt Commons committees meeting the evidence is mixed. Both successful in containing the virus? public health offi cials. They have unsafe to her because physical regularly online, soon to be six, Scheer and New Democratic Some of these questions, mostly acquitted themselves well. distancing was diffi cult within the to review the fl ood of federal pan- Party Leader Jagmeet Singh particularly concerning Canada’s No wonder Sheer and com- confi nes of the chamber. These demic legislation. Amid the cur- claim credit for pressing Liber- relationship with China, will no pany are feeling left out. We’ll sessions also force political staff, rent avalanche of news, however, als to increase wage subsidies doubt be exhaustively examined get our democracy back when cleaners, translators, and others, they mostly operate in obscurity. intended to help companies retain in future. But to raise them now, this crisis is over—along with the to come into work when they From the government’s per- regular staff from 10 percent to in so querulous a tone, is like daily barrage of Quebec Period— should be staying home. spective, every hour spent in the 75 per cent. Other opposition proceeding with the post-mortem but, in all honesty, has anyone What may seem like offi ce poli- Commons is an hour subtracted complaints have been answered while the patient is still struggling really missed it? tics writ large is vitally important from the hectic business of re- quickly—lightening speed by to breath. Perhaps the govern- Susan Riley is a veteran politi- to Scheer, a traditionalist, who sponding to the crisis, to media Ottawa standards—in the form of ment relied too much on ill- cal columnist who writes regu- likes to be a sword’s-length across questions and to meetings with tweaks to legislation by a public founded advice from the WHO— larly for The Hill Times. the aisle from his main target. The premiers and others. This rationale service running in overdrive. although so did almost everyone, The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2020 5 Opinion Why we need race-based data on COVID-19

in New Mexico “had higher infection rates need to step up now in partnership with With racial demographics than any U.S. county” on that day, accord- First Nations, Inuit and Métis health lead- ing to a story on April in The Atlantic. ers to get this done. We need good anony- on the impact of COVID-19, The pandemic is also touching Indig- mous data on a regional basis, or we won’t enous communities in Canada. Inuit in be able to learn anything from this crisis to we will have the policy Nunavik are facing a crisis with 13 cases benefi t Indigenous health. ability to do something as of April 15. The community of Puvirni- Too many white Canadians in positions tuq is a fl y-in community located on the of power are saying that racial data is not about it. Without the data, east side of James Bay with about 1,800 important. The next step is for thought people and it has most of the cases in the leaders, like Canada 2020, to lead discus- we will not have the policy region of northern Quebec. But there is no sions on the country’s recovery, but with- reliable data nationally to show if First Na- out any data on how to refl ect the needs of ability. tions, Inuit, and Métis are impacted more Indigenous Canadians or Black Canadians than others. There is no reliable data. The village of Puvirnituq in Nunavik, Que., pictured or other minorities. Without our voices. The In Canada, an Ontario provincial senior Feb. 7, 2018, is a fl y-in community located on irony that Canada declares itself to be a leader recently dismissed the idea of col- the east side of James Bay with about 1,800 champion of minority rights is particularly lecting and analyzing racial demographics people and it has most of the cases in the region painful this week. for COVID-19. “Regardless of race, ethnic of northern Quebec. But there is no reliable data Without the clear decisions of chief pub- or other backgrounds, they’re all equally nationally to show if First Nations, Inuit, and Métis lic health offi cers in each province and ter- important to us,” said Ontario chief medical are impacted more than others, writes Rose LeMay. ritory, without the clear leadership of the offi cer Dr. David Williams in The Toronto Photograph courtesy of Commons Wikimedia Pan-Canadian Public Health Network, this Star on April 10). This is, unfortunately, is how it might play out: COVID-19 data another example of the often used “all lives alarming picture of many Indigenous com- continues to ignore race or ethnicity so matter” response which denies the voices munities. COVID-19 is colour-blind, but we’ll never have the information to know Rose LeMay of minorities. Health offi cials might want the impact will paint a clear picture of the for sure how many minority Canadians are Stories, Myths, and Truths to consider how to voice their appropriate social inequalities in our country. impacted, and the country misses the best concern for each patient that they treat, Will the data paint a picture that will opportunity to make real change in health while also respecting the unique needs of be diffi cult to see? Yes, for those who have systems and policy, and Indigenous health TTAWA—With more than 30,000 each patient. It is possible to do both. not seen this picture before. The truth is outcomes continue to lag behind other OCanadians tested or presumed to have It is also possible and necessary for that for Indigenous Canadians, this picture Canadians’ health. COVID-19, we are facing a health crisis Canada to collect racial demographics on is lived experience—it’s not new, it simply Rose LeMay is Tlingit from the West like no other. This crisis will also shine the impact of COVID-19. We need to know has not been documented clearly enough Coast and the CEO of the Indigenous a light on a number of weaknesses and if black Canadians or Indigenous Cana- to encourage change. Reconciliation Group. She writes twice a inequities in our society, some of which are dians are disproportionately impacted. With racial demographics on the impact month about Indigenous inclusion and rec- delineated along racial lines. COVID-19 is colour-blind, but Canadian of COVID-19, we will have the policy abil- onciliation. In Tlingit worldview, the stories Twenty-nine states in the U.S. released a society is not. ity to do something about it. Without the are the knowledge system, sometimes told mix COVID-19 data by race and the data is Crowded housing which makes physical data, we will not have the policy ability. through myth and sometimes contradict- already stark: Black Americans and Latino isolation impossible, lack of clean water, We cannot wait for Indigenous Services ing the myths told by others. But always Americans are overrepresented and im- pre-existing health conditions, and lack Canada to collate COVID-19 data for In- with at least some truth. pacted, and two Indigenous communities of access to health services? This is the digenous peoples. Provinces and territories The Hill Times

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2890.03 - Hill Times AD.indd 1 3/11/2020 2:32:15 PM 6 MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News Senate

Technology review tabled Senate’s new COVID-19 oversight until Senate returns

Canadian Senators Group interim Leader Scott Tannas (Alberta) has proposed assigning Senate Clerk Richard committees should leave rough Denis to study how the Senate can continue to operate during future crises similar to the one gripping Canada now. The Senate and House have been suspended for stuff for the House, say Senators weeks, and Senate committees are only now experiment- ing with how to meet virtually, after the novel coronavirus pandemic forced Parliamentarians into isolation along with the rest of the country. ‘I don’t think it should be CSG Senator Josée Verner (Montarville, Que.) gave notice of Sen. Tannas’ motion outlining the proposal in the gentle. It should be critical, Senate on April 11, during a scaled-down, one-day return of the Senate to pass the government’s wage subsidy bill. it should be relevant, it Sen. Tannas told The Hill Times that he couldn’t get unanimous consent among Senators to introduce and should be useful—it should consider the motion without notice on April 11. “There were a number of people saying, ‘We’ve got not be partisan just for the to direct the administration and the clerk’s offi ce to get on sake of being partisan,’ with this now, that this is urgent, we need to do it now,’” he said, but “There were [also] people who were saying, says ISG Senator Chantal ‘Let them do their work.’” Senate Speaker George Furey (N.L.) sent a letter to Petitclerc, who sits on Senators on April 9 to tell them that the Senate administra- tion “has already begun working on logistical, technologi- the Senate Social Aff airs cal, procedural and security solutions to support virtual Independent Senators Chantal Petitclerc and Yuen Pau Woo, and CSG Senator Scott Tannas say meetings of Senate committees.” Committee. the Senate committees assigned to COVID-19 should be helpful to the government where they can, If Senators adopt Sen. Tannas’ proposal when the and focus on transparency. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade Senate returns, Mr. Denis would have 45 days to put together a report that answers some of the questions Continued from page 1 asked to study two of the government’s “I don’t think it should be gentle. It about the technology and procedural changes that would Senators involved in shaping those com- recently passed bills to bail out Canada’s should be critical, it should be relevant, it be needed for Senators to meet remotely without running mittees. economy amid the crisis, C-13 and C-14. should be useful. It should not be partisan into problems. Two Senate leaders and another Senator The passage of C-13 gave the govern- just for the sake of being partisan,” she Until then, the Finance and Social Affairs Committee, tapped to serve on an oversight commit- ment extraordinary powers to spend said. “It needs to be something that can be as well as the Senate’s Internal Economy Committee, will tee told The Hill Times that the Senate’s money to help mitigate the crisis without used by the government or by the leaders.” be meeting virtually until the Senate reconvenes. Finance and Social Affairs committees parliamentary approval until the end of The Social Affairs Committee has not Internal Economy’s fi rst virtual meeting took place on should avoid duplicating the work or parti- September. The government has already yet selected its chair for this Parliament. April 15. The meeting did not run smoothly; some of the san atmosphere of the House of Commons opened the taps, pledging more than An Independent Senator is expected to Senators on the call couldn’t hear others in the meeting committees that have been given a similar $100-billion in direct spending and tens of take on the job. at times, and the video feed swapped between Senators task. billions more in loans or deferred tax and Conservative Sen. Percy Mockler (New haphazardly. “They’ll take a little bit more of a blood- duty payments. Brunswick), who chairs the Senate Finance Senators on the committee were still able to re-elect Independent Senator Sabi Marwah as the committee chair, less view,” said Senator Scott Tannas (Al- The Senate oversight committees Committee, did not respond to an interview and elect Sen. Verner (Montarville, Que.) and Conserva- berta), the interim Leader of the Canadian should not summon witnesses who have request by deadline. tive Senator Elizabeth Marshall (N.L.) as the deputy chairs Senators Group, which has two seats on already testifi ed before House committees Conservative Senate Leader Don Plett during the nine-minute meeting. each of the two oversight committees. about the crisis, said Independent Senator (Landmark, Man.) declined to be inter- While the Mr. Denis’ report would come too late “Politics are creeping into the House of Yuen Pau Woo (B.C.), who leads the Sen- viewed, but issued a press release that said to help the Senate’s Finance, Social Affairs, and Internal Commons stuff. It’s natural,” said Sen. Tan- ate’s largest group, the ISG, but does not sit “Canadians must be reassured that the Economy committees to meet virtually, it could pave the nas, who will sit on the Senate’s Finance on one of the oversight committees. government is functioning and reacting to way for a quick transition to smooth virtual committee Committee. “We should avoid duplicating, calling this unprecedented crisis in a manner that meetings if a second wave of COVID-19—or another The House Finance and Health commit- those same people and asking for the same is in the best interests of us all. emergency—forces another suspension, said Sen. Tannas. tees are already meeting virtually to scru- information,” he said. “The execution and outline of clear time- “The worst scenario that people thought about—that tinize the government’s response to the The committees should “fi nd a niche that lines for the government’s plan will be key.” inspired us to do something—was that somehow [after] crisis, heeding advice from public health is a little bit more forward-looking,” he said. Sen. Plett has previously said that the this whole hiatus there wouldn’t be a work product there offi cials to shut down public gatherings. “You don’t want to overreact to any Senate’s oversight committees should not that would be in any shape for us to look at, and we The House Finance Committee has policy that was announced last week, which take a partisan approach to their work. would be starting from scratch when we get back,” he already summoned Finance Minister Bill may be defunct already or which may have Senators have also agreed to set up said. Morneau (Toronto Centre, Ont.) twice, been superseded by something else because another special committee to examine the It’s too early to try to sort out a virtual sitting for the most recently last week. He was grilled circumstances have changed,” he said. “lessons learned” from the crisis at some Senate as a whole, however, said Sen. Tannas. by Conservative fi nance critic Pierre “Of course … where there is legitimate future date when the Senate has returned “We’re not going to create a virtual Parliament.” Setting up virtual committee meetings for the Senate Poilievre (Carleton, Ont.) and others over criticism, the committee should offer it, to its normal operation. The Senate is sus- during a pandemic isn’t as easy as it might seem. Not all the rollout of the government’s fi nancial with a view though to fi nd solutions, and to pended until at least June 2. Senators have the same technology in their homes. Some relief measures. The Health Committee improve the interim response to the coro- “That committee is not about oversight, represent remote regions without reliable, high-speed has heard from high-ranking offi cials in navirus crisis,” he said. it’s about lessons learned, and how Canada internet connections. Senators are also spread across the Canada Border Services Agency, and The Senate committees likely won’t can be better prepared for future pandem- multiple time zones. departments of Public Safety, Transport, produce reports any time soon either, said ics and other health emergencies,” said Committee meetings are supported by stenographers, National Defence, and Global Affairs, as Sen. Woo, given how quickly the crisis is Sen. Woo. so the Senate can publish what was said; interpreters, so well as Canada’s chief public health of- changing. “We’re going to be looking at everything Senators can participate in French of English; and proce- fi cer, Dr. Theresa Tam. “Things are moving so fast the whole through a lens of, how do we prepare for dural clerks to represent the administration and help the The Senate committees should be idea of releasing a report seems ridiculous, the next one?” said Sen. Tannas. chair serve as a referee. The stenographers and interpreters focused on transparency, said Sen. Tannas, because it would likely be obsolete the “We’re going to be taking a global view. rely on equipment in the Senate’s committee rooms, and and on pointing out problems with the gov- minute you fi nalize it,” he said. We’re not just going to be looking at the can not easily do their jobs from home in isolation. IT sup- ernment’s response that have been missed government, and looking at what they did port staff would also be required to facilitate the meetings. by the House of Commons. ‘It needs to be something that right and what they did wrong. We’ll be The Senate also relies on a unit of the House of “It really comes down to monitoring looking at other countries. We’ll be asking Commons’ audio-visual team in order to broadcast its what the government is doing. Is what can be used’ some questions of experts about things like meetings, further complicating any solution that would be they’re doing consistent with what they’re However, the members of the Social Af- the supply chain,” he said, citing shortages custom-tailored to the Red Chamber. saying?” fairs Committee—which has not yet met— of medical supplies in Canada as health The virtual meetings of the Internal Economy, Finance, and Social Affairs committees will serve as “pilot projects” The Senate Finance and Social Affairs haven’t decided yet how they will approach care workers try to cope with the pan- the job, said Independent Senator Chantal for the Senate administration to work out the kinks, said committees were struck on April 11 during demic. Independent Senator Yuen Pau Woo (B.C.), who leads the Petitclerc (Grandville, Que.), who sits on a one-day recall of the Senate to pass the “There’s a lot of these areas where I Independent Senators Group. government’s $73-billion wage subsidy bill, the social affairs committee and chaired it think we can really do an analysis and “At some point, if the Senate is still unable to meet C-14. Senators also agreed to set up the In- during the last Parliament. provide some recommendations to the gov- in person, we could potentially apply the new modus ternal Economy Committee to handle Sen- The committee’s work should be “rel- ernment in a way that, I think, the House of operandi to other committees of the Senate. But that’s ate business. The Senate’s other standing evant,” she said, but avoid duplicating the Commons is just not wired to do,” he said. down the road,” he said. committees still have not been established work of the House committees. “It’s just not in their political DNA to “I think it is an urgent matter for the Senate to vigor- for the 43rd Parliament. “At some level, it needs to be a balance spend weeks and weeks and weeks look- ously examine ways in which the Senate can be a 21st Finance and Social Affairs were as- of understanding that the government is ing at all the multiple facets that need to century institution. In other words, have the means to meet signed to examine the government’s under a lot of pressure. We are in a crisis, be looked at. And that’s what we can do, remotely without violating any of the privileges of Senators response to the public health crisis that but they still need to be held accountable. this is a chance for us to shine.” and any of the requirements of our constitution” has put much of Canada on lockdown. Canadians need to know what is going on,” [email protected] The Senate’s Finance Committee was also said Sen. Petitclerc. The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2020 7 Federal government News

of the measures, we’ve never had anything like this. So, how do you prepare for something like this, and how do you prepare a public Senators laud performance service to respond at this sort of speed?” said Mr. Page. “Behind all of these develop- ments, changes to programs, new additions to programs, I don’t of public service amidst think in my lifetime we’ve ever been in an experience like this where we’ve had this much policy development happening this pandemic, with one calling quickly,” said Mr. Page. Non-critical workers volunteering in call centres, says union for greater ‘risk taking and president Debi Daviau Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada president Debi Daviau said she appreciates all the comments innovation’ by bureaucrats about how the public service has performed in the last few weeks. “A lot of CRA employees, not Ont.) made the case for having ate mistakes and that’s not just to do. And to point out where this just our members, lots of them are In the fi nal minutes a higher tolerance for risk in the a public service issue, it’s also a worked as well as where it had [under] PSAC as well, but a lot of public sector. parliamentary issue that we need some side impacts that weren’t our members have volunteered to of a Senate meeting “I made the allusion once that to understand; that in imple- considered in the design.” work in those call centers,” said if the public service was a hockey menting legislation that is this “In realizing that when you go Ms. Daviau. “So they’re actually on Saturday, April team, it would be a team of goal- profound, that is this broad, of big as we needed to, that there non-critical workers. So they 11, Senator Peter ies because it was better not to be this of this magnitude,” said Sen. will be some issues that arise were basically on paid leave, but scored on than to score,” said Sen. Harder. “We have to tolerate risk later and government will prepare they put up their hand to work Harder made the case Harder. “We won’t get through taking and with that, the fact that itself for that, and participate in on the phones, which basically this if we don’t have a full-fl edged people will learn as they as they those reviews and answer ques- entails them giving up their per- for having a higher hockey team, with forwards administer.” tions that arise as a result of those sonal cell phones for up to eight and risk takers, people who are reviews,” said Sen. Dean. “There hours a day in order for them to tolerance for risk in prepared will be a receive calls from Canadians.” the public sector. to see a number “I think it’s incredible actually, goal being Senator Peter of reviews what public servants are doing scored Harder says the besides in this time of crisis,” said Ms. Continued from page 1 because public service is now the auditor Daviau. accolades for its efforts to help the game implementing an general Former clerk of the Privy citizens while the fast-changing needs to extraordinary set of about how Council Mel Cappe told The Hill crisis has strained the civil service’s be won. programs over a short well this Times that Senator Harder is a front-line capacity. And that period of time, with worked, “very thoughtful and insightful Lori MacDonald, senior asso- requires very large economic and what person and that speech refl ected ciate deputy minister of employ- public costs and huge worked that, and I thought that it was ment and social development and institutions consequences to and, and spot on in terms of what needed chief operating offi cer for Service like the their being effi ciently what to be said.” Canada, told The Hill Times that Senate, the and effectively and worked Mr. Cappe also said he wanted before the “tsunami” hit, the gov- House of quickly delivered. not so well. to make the distinction between ernment would have processed Commons, The Hill Times fi le And those decision making ex ante (before roughly 9,000 employment insur- the Auditor photograph are also the event) and the assessment of ance claims a day. General, antici- decisions ex post (after the event). “What happened on Monday, and others pated after “One of the problems is that March 16, we saw a shift whereby who are signifi cant when you look back, you have the the end of the day, we had 71,000 charged events of results, and you know whether claims, and we were shocked and with ensur- this time. it was right or wrong. Looking startled,” said Ms. MacDonald. ing proper And we forward, you don’t even have the “But that was just the beginning.” oversight, learn from information you need on which By March 18, the government are also [them] as to make a decision properly,” was at 87,000 claims from the aware that we learn said Mr. Cappe. “And so people previous day. we need a from, you like Theresa Tam, are making As of April 16, the Canada culture of know, from decisions with an understanding Emergency Response Benefi t re- risk taking previous intuitively about how this is going lief program had received 7.9 mil- and inno- emergen- to go, but not the knowledge of lion applications, processed 7.6 vation in the public service.” cies and crises.” how it will go.” million, and paid out $17.4-billion “I applaud the public servants This is a situation of Former parliamentary budget “And to be judged by how it through the program, according who have taken us thus far in de- ‘national crisis,’ says offi cer Kevin Page said there’s turned out, as opposed to whether to the government’s website. veloping the advice and starting probably nobody better than Sen. they took into account the right Ms. MacDonald said they’ve to implement it, but the imple- Senator Dean Harder to provide comments factors in making their decision built “integrity into the front end,” mentation of what we are passing Senator Tony Dean, who was about how the public service is ex ante, is inappropriate,” said Mr. recognizing “that nothing is ever today will, colleagues, mean mis- the secretary of cabinet and head doing. Cappe, who referred to a piece completely perfect.” takes will be made. People will of the Ontario public service from “He’s a long-time public senior in the Globe and Mail by health “But it is a constant conversa- game the system and we’ll have, 2002 to 2008, told The Hill Times public servant, with a stellar writer André Picard who criti- tion and part of our structure, and I’m sure, sober advice to tell us that this is a situation of “national reputation when he was a public cized politicians for shifting into every day we add components how this and thus should not have crisis.” servant as well as a Senator,” said “full fi nger-pointing and scape- into the programming that we’re taken place,” said Sen. Harder. “With the shadow of Italy in Mr. Page. Sen. Harder arrived in goating mode,” who also said “it doing—both from an integrity In an interview with The Hill front of our eyes, this is a situa- the Senate in 2016 with nearly is dangerously inappropriate to perspective and from a follow- Times following the speech, Sen. tion where the federal govern- 30 years of experience in the fed- kneecap public health offi cials up perspective, in terms of, what Harder said the public service is ment, in particular, had to go eral public service, and a decade and agencies at a time when a does this mean from a risk frame- now implementing an extraordi- big or go home. There were no serving as a volunteer in various pandemic is racing around the work conversation, what does nary set of programs over a short incremental approaches,” said organizations and as a member of world.” this mean for accountability for period of time, with very large Sen. Dean. “When you go big and several boards of directors. “The question is, did you make meeting people’s needs, but also economic costs and huge conse- it works and has an impact, there Mr. Page was the parliamen- your best effort on the basis of to be accountable to the money quences to their being effi ciently are some things that you miss. tary budget offi cer during the the information you had at the that we’re expending?” said Ms. and effectively and quickly There’s no doubt that some peo- 2008 fi nancial crisis, but also said time you made the decisions? And MacDonald. delivered. ple will be overpaid. Some people “nothing compares to this.” in that regard, Dr. Tam is doing a In the fi nal minutes of a Sen- “And that will take some spirit will game the system. The auditor “I don’t think in our life- good job,” said Mr. Cappe. ate meeting on Saturday, April of innovation, some risk taking general will do exactly what we time, the amount of change, the [email protected] 11, Senator Peter Harder (Ottawa, and some willingness to toler- would want the auditor general amount of policy, the fi scal weight The Hill Times 8 MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES

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

Editorial Letters to the Editor Conservative MP Diotte also donating his We should have a $3,750 salary increase this year to charity e: “Some MPs donate their automatic rying out my request for a clarifi cation or an federal pandemic body Rsalary increase to charities in effort to update to your story. help fi ght COVID-19,” (The Hill Times, April I’d ask that you also please add me to your he federal government, the provinces, (MERS) in 2012, which hit 21 Middle East 13). I think it’s absolutely fair game that your list of MPs who have promised to give their Tand the municipalities have been put- countries. People like Barack Obama and Bill paper did an article about MP pay raises and salary hike to charity and further that you’ll ting a war-time-like effort into preventing Gates have been warning the world about a highlighted some who will give the hike to explain that I was simply missed in your the spread of the coronavirus ever since global pandemic for years. In fact, Canada’s charity. But as a former journalist with 30 original survey because you’ve been apprised the World Health Organization offi cially chief medical offi cer, Dr. Theresa Tam, even years in the business, I do have an issue with of new information that showed I too had, as declared it a global pandemic on March co-wrote a federal report on pandemic pre- the story. To my constituents, it looks as if I’m far back as April 1, decided to give my raise 12. Canada is on lockdown, and so far, the paredness in 2006, which was shelved once taking the pay raise when I’ve long decided to charitable causes. That’s important. I don’t federal government has spent, loaned and the urgency was lost. According to The Globe against it and, indeed, publicized that many want to be seen as a Johnny-come-lately, me- deferred $262-billion to help people keep the and Mail, a federal audit in 2010 highlighted days ago. I’m not mentioned in your list or too guy because I was onboard long before economy alive. The prime minister, federal “problems with the management of Canada’s story as one of the MPs donating my raise to your story was published on April 13. ministers, provincial premiers, chief medical emergency stockpile of medical equipment; charity. So I’m conspicuous by my absence As a Conservative who prides himself on offi cers, and most mayors have been holding a 2018 assessment of the H1N1 swine fl u out- on that list and social media has drawn atten- being a fi scal watchdog, this is very impor- daily press briefi ngs to keep people updated. break a decade earlier raised concerns about tion to your story. tant to me and to my reputation. I expect that, The prime minister may not directly an- ventilator shortages; and a 2019 study led You may well say that you only did this as a newspaper that prides itself in accuracy swer every question, but you can ask him by a team of global scientists questioned the story as a type of snapshot by noting some and fairness, it will be equally important to anything, every day. The same goes for top ability of many countries, including Canada MPs who put out news releases or huge posts you to clarify this. federal cabinet ministers and Canada’s chief to prevent, detect, and respond to a major on social media. But I’m afraid that with such Keep up your important journalism work. medical offi cer. They’re available every day to outbreak.” a sensitive issue, the public and all elected I hope you and your staff stay safe in these the media. Behind the scenes, thousands of But as Canada’s federal Health Minister MPs deserve a more thorough process. I have trying times. bureaucrats and hundreds of political staffers Patty Hajdu recently said, “Health systems always found your newspaper exceedingly Conservative MP Kerry Diotte across the country are burning the midnight were never designed for this kind of surge. I fair and I hope you’ll continue to be so by car- Edmonton Griesbach, Alta. oil to do their jobs. Everyone is working hard. think federal governments for decades have All this is what good governments should do. been underfunding things like public health But as each week passes, it’s becoming preparedness.” Feds should have been better prepared for pandemic, clearer that the country was not prepared, Canada does have the little-known and Canada underestimated the strength of National Emergency Strategic Stockpile, but, previous governments can’t be blamed, says reader the coronavirus. We must be prepared for as The Globe recently reported, public health the next one. Canada needs a national body, offi cials weren’t sure what the stockpile e: “Hajdu made a courageous and dan- this Public Health Agency under Hajdu’s led federally, and dedicated solely to fi ghting contained. Canada has underestimated the Rgerous statement last week,” (The Hill Health Ministry failed to suffi ciently stash pandemics, and one that is able to marshal coronavirus. Canada shouldn’t have critical Times, April 6, by Sheila Copps). One of PPE for a pandemic. Previous govern- a more cohesive, co-ordinated response to shortages of medical supplies and testing the core functions of Health Minister Patty ments can’t be blamed, as the federal Lib- the threats posed by these outbreaks. If there equipment. Canada’s health-care system Hajdu’s Health Ministry is being respon- erals have been in power almost fi ve years. are any lessons to be learned here, this is the shouldn’t be struggling to keep up. Canada sible for ensuring that the country as a Give credit where credit is due. biggest one. should have widespread, uniform testing. The whole is ready and has suffi cient emer- Max Bork Canada went through the SARS epidemic federal government and the provinces will gency stockpile of supplies. Unfortunately, Ottawa in 2002-2004, which killed 774 worldwide. need to work even more closely together. A There was the H1N1 fl u in 2009 that killed second wave is expected in the fall. Instead of 428 Canadians. The Public Health Agency of just fl attening the curve, Canada should also A view to the horizon after COVID-19 Canada later issued a report on the need for be fattening its stockpile of medical equip- ou too may have seen the many and a nation, what are we willing to do more ventilators. There was the Middle East ment and test units for another pandemic. Y“before and after” photos showing for the sake of a visible horizon? If you respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus The Hill Times how our collective response to COVID-19 could, how would you organize our politi- has literally given us a clear view to the cal and economic future so the view to horizons of our various cities. Once this is our horizon would still be in sight? over, I wonder if our view to the horizon Ron Robinson will also be over. As a collective, a culture Nelson, B.C. Prime Minister Trudeau off ers an encouraging, spring message of hope, says reader t was very moving to listen to Prime inspiring examples with the Jews moving IMinister Justin Trudeau’s speech last from “slavery to freedom” and from “death to Saturday in the House of Commons. He resurrection” of Jesus Christ for the Chris- made reference to the full Canadian and tians. He also made reference to other faiths sacrifi cial stance to meet the invisible enemy as Hindu and the signifi cance in this strug- of the coronavirus. In particular, he paid gling period. As a joint Hindu-Christian from full respect to the front-line health workers, my parents’ interfaith marriage and, with grocery shop members, transport workers my Reform Jewish wife, I found the prime and, to all citizens obeying the counterac- minister’s direct interfaith appeal in Parlia- tion to the disease. He well indicated that our ment to be most encouraging. It is not often current strength and inspiration comes from that the religious faiths are so formally and our predecessors, such as those Canadians openly placed “side by side” in Parliament. For who fought and gave their lives in the world those citizens not attached to any religious wars. The underlying determination, sharing faith, the prime minister gave the encourag- and compassion among Canadians is our ing spring message for hope, to resolve the ongoing strength. For me, in particular, I am virus to its end. so pleased that he made clear and sensi- Roman Mukerjee tive reference to the Passover and Easter, as Ottawa, Ont. EDITORIAL ADVERTISING CIRCULATION Please send letters to the editor to the above NEWS REPORTERS Aidan Chamandy, Mike Lapointe, VICE PRESIDENT MARKETING AND DIRECTOR OF READER ENGAGEMENT Chris Rivoire street address or e-mail to [email protected]. Neil Moss, Samantha Wright Allen, and Palak Mangat MULTIMEDIA SALES Steve MacDonald DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Leslie Dickson Deadline is Wednesday at noon, Ottawa time, for PHOTOGRAPHERS Sam Garcia, Andrew Meade, and DIRECTORS OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SUBSCRIPTIONS AND LICENSING EXECUTIVE the Monday edition and Friday at noon for the Cynthia Münster Craig Caldbick, Erveina Gosalci, Martin Reaume, Ulle Baum Darryl Blackbird, Lakshmi Krishnamurti Wednesday edition. 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on heavy care. We were given a she passed away, but to this day, Canada’s dirty little secret list to visit, and quickly discov- images of the poor quality of ered the differences in facilities some nursing homes in Ottawa even in a single city. still stings. There were at least three The other thing that stood outstanding facilities, that would out during my mother’s time in is now out in the open pass muster on any nursing institutional care was the untiring inspection. The waiting list to get devotion of staff, many of whom It is also proof positive that The management and stan- into these places was up to three are surviving on minimum wage. When we say we running 13 independent nursing dards of public nursing facilities years. Dealing with demented home systems makes absolutely is a dog’s breakfast. We were given another list that patients is not an easy task, as respect elders, the no sense. Several years ago, my own had immediate openings, and my they can suffer from inexplicable Because of the scarcity of mother had to be institutionalized husband and I scheduled tours mood swings and sometimes, un- time has come to COVID-fi ghting equipment, the because of her increasing dementia. with several of them. characteristic violent behaviour. federal and The fi rst one It is not uncommon for nurses prove it. Giving the we visited was and personal service workers to provincial gov- While we all federal public health ernments have a retrofi tted be slapped, cursed or spit on by claim respect warehouse con- people who have literally lost actually been and reverence agency authority to coordinating veniently located control of their minds. for seniors, beside what I called the workers my international when the time nationally accredit purchases and appeared to be a mother’s saints, because they comes, they brothel motel. cared for her with dignity and nursing homes would domestic distri- often fi nd bution. The stench gentleness, and never lost sight of themselves in of urine was so the fact that she was a person, not be a good start. Incredibly, substandard this is the fi rst pungent when just a patient. conditions we opened the Last year, the Ontario gov- time in the with little history of our front door that ernment rolled back a planned recourse or we recoiled. minimum wage increase. Many of country that we options, writes have actually Patients were these saints saw their wage hikes Sheila Copps. in the sunroom, go up in smoke, while the work- had agreement Photograph from all parties some of whom load did not get any easier. courtesy of were literally Many nursing homes are to cooperate on Needpix.com purchase require- naked as their owned by holding companies, ments. hospital gowns that are focussed on one thing, The federal had come the bottom line. And cutting food government is undone, and and care budgets help get to that Sheila Copps also stepping in to offer updated Luckily, she was in a position nobody seemed to think that their bottom line. Copps’ Corner guidelines for nursing home op- to secure a place in a private fa- dignity was worth preserving. If we learn one thing from this erations across the country. cility that specialized in memory I left the facility in tears, and COVID nightmare, it is that the But guess what. Their recom- wards, a euphemism for people vowed that I would never, never, time has actually come to put our TTAWA—Canada’s dirty little mendations have zero legal au- who no longer retain their memo- never put a loved one into a place money where our mouth is. Osecret is now out in the open. thority. The federal government is ries. that was not even suitable for a When we say we respect While we all claim respect and responsible for guaranteeing the She was thriving for almost dog. elders, the time has come to prove reverence for seniors, when the health of what we eat in Canada two years but in the last four I expressed my concern to it. Giving the federal public health time comes, they often fi nd them- but has zero responsibility gov- months of her life, she went rap- community care and the work- agency authority to nationally selves in substandard conditions erning the health of our people. idly downhill. ers agreed that there were some accredit nursing homes would be with little recourse or options. The COVID death rate in in- The community care experts nursing homes in the nation’s a good start. The number of COVID-19 deaths stitutional care is shining a light who track placement for vulner- capital that were absolutely sub- Sheila Copps is a former Jean in institutions is a clear signal that we into an area that health advocates able seniors suggested it was time standard. Chrétien-era cabinet minister and need to revisit the defi ciency of end- and the children of ailing parents to move her into a public facility Luckily, my mother was able a former deputy prime minister. of-life and continuing care solutions. have known for years. where there would be more focus to stay in the private facility until The Hill Times Fundraisers face tough challenge

AKVILLE, ONT.—We all fi nancial and physical health than Basically, the Liberal will hope China; Enough is enough. Canada We all know how the Oknow how the COVID-19 about the fi scal health of their fondness for their leader will needs a government that will “lockdown” has decimated the favourite political party. translate into donated dollars. stand up to the Red Menace. Send COVID-19 ‘lockdown’ entire world’s economy. So how can political parties Of course, the Conservatives money!” But what’s less appreciated is get around this; how can they can’t use that particular tactic So this now brings us to the has decimated how the pandemic will negatively persuade donors to open up their since for the foreseeable future NDP, which is probably facing the the entire world’s impact on the bottom line for wallets even during trying times? they’re stuck with a lame duck worst of fundraising times; don’t Canada’s federal political parties. Well, I think each party will at- leader. forget even before the pandemic economy. But what’s After all, as long as the virus tack this problem from a different So what can they do? hit this party was having a dif- crisis is in full swing, the Liberals, perspective. My sense is the Conservatives fi cult time raising money. less appreciated is Conservatives and NDP are going First, let’s consider the Liber- will respond by ramping up their Accordingly, the NDP can’t to have an extremely diffi cult als, who in my view will focus always reliable fear-mongering afford to get too cute or nuanced how the pandemic will time when it comes to fundrais- their future fundraising pitch machine. when it comes to fundraising, negatively impact on the ing. almost exclusively on the lead- They’ll start by spooking their they’re going to have to hit do- Yup, even in this time of terror ership of Prime Minister Justin donors about Canada’s perilous nors hard with a blunt message. bottom line for Canada’s I’m talking about mundane issues Trudeau. fi scal state, saying something Hence expect the New Demo- like fundraising. Please, don’t In other words, Liberal fund- along the lines of “Even in good crats to hammer their donors federal political parties. judge me; fi ve weeks in isolation raising letters will say something fi scal times, Liberal economic with a message like: “I know your has likely warped my mind. such as, “If you’re like me, you’re mismanagement led to a series of facing tough times, but so is our At any rate, my point is it’s go- extremely proud of the way Justin massive defi cits and job-killing party. Without your fi nancial ing to be a challenge to convince Trudeau has handled the greatest taxes, now just imagine what support the NDP won’t be able to people, who might be worried crisis Canada has ever faced. His this gang of incompetents will fi ght for you and for other regular about meeting their next mort- calm reassuring leadership cou- do to our economy in bad times. Canadians. Send money!” gage payment, to donate money pled with his quick and decisive It’ll be a gigantic disaster! The Of course, none of the appeals to a political party. actions, helped get us through economic future of our children mentioned above relies on ratio- What’s more, even people who this frightening time.” and grandchildren is at stake. nal arguments. aren’t hurting fi nancially will Then, once donors are re- Send money!” But then again, fundraising is probably be more likely to donate minded of Trudeau’s awesome- Then for good measure, they’ll all about invoking emotions. their discretionary income to any ness, they’ll get hit with this pitch: bash China. Gerry Nicholls is a commu- COVID-19 related causes. “But just as Justin helped us, now Expect an appeal such as, “For nications consultant. www.ger- Gerry Nicholls In short, Canadians will be we must help him. Trudeau needs far too long, Trudeau has pan- rynicholls.com. Post-Partisan Pundit more concerned about their own your money!” dered to his communist pals in The Hill Times 10 MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion Parliamentary accountability need not be a casualty of the pandemic Parliament has survived The House of Commons many crises, over many Speaker’s Parade, centuries. It has evolved to pictured on meet changed circumstances April 11, 20202, and needs. This is one of opening up those times. An adaptive the emergency House sitting Parliament with smaller, but to pass the responsible components, government’s $73-billion meeting virtually and openly, wage subsidy bill. The can both hold the government Hill Times to account and effectively photograph by and effi ciently enact the Andrew Meade legislation that Canada needs.

House of Commons Clerk Charles Robert, pictured on April 11, 2020. The Hill Times photograph by Name Lastname Andrew Meade Opinion

TTAWA—The COVID-19 pandemic is Onot only putting extraordinary pres- sures on medical care workers, govern- ments and economies, but on Parliament and legislatures. These bodies are required Middle Class in democracies to pass necessary legisla- Prosperity tion, provide funding and, most important- Minister Mona ly, to hold governments to account. Fortier, pictured No doubt the present circumstances April 11, require expediency, effi ciency, and fl ex- 2020, inside ibility. But these goals cannot be achieved the House. at the expense of democracy, transparency, The Hill Times photograph by and accountability. As governments are re- Finance Minister Bill Morneau, left, International Trade Minister Mary Ng, Deputy Andrew Meade quired to spend billions of dollars, expand Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Government House Leader Pablo Rodriguez, and create social programs, and make deci- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough, pictured sions over the life and death of millions of April 11, 2020, in the House. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade Canadians, our democratic representatives need to be able to hold governments to ac- count for how they are managing the crisis. to include the leaders of the party who are all the needs of the Canadian Parliament, by the leader of the opposition with the It is now clear that because of the entitled to cast block votes for their entire they provide examples of quickly devel- presence of the prime minister and cabinet requirements of health, travel, and social caucus. Independent members can also oped, imaginative solutions that meet the ministers, the necessary media coverage distancing, traditional, in-person sittings participate virtually in any vote. Believed twin needs and purposes of legislating and would also follow. not only set a bad example, but are danger- to be the fi rst virtual vote ever in the Com- holding government to account. A smaller virtual plenary House for leg- ous, and in a country as large as Canada, monwealth, a vote took place on April 8. Any solution must recognize that all islation, supported by robust virtual com- would disenfranchise MPs who represent The New Zealand House has estab- MPs are equally elected. A means must be mittees, could allow for broader participa- communities at a distance from Ottawa. lished the Epidemic Response Committee found for all MPs, representing all parts of tion and votes. The plenary meeting could Millions of people work from home, with a mandate to hold the government to the country to be accounted for and partici- allow for a rotation of MPs to speak to a and businesses, particularly those based account. Composed of members of all par- pate. The process must be as inclusive of bill, chairs of committees could report and on information, continue to function. More ties where the opposition has a majority of all MPs as possible so that rule changes votes could be done through caucus block importantly, governments seem to have no members, and the leader of the opposition do not become yet a further way to impose votes. If block votes are seen as problemat- problem continuing to meet, make deci- chairs, the committee has the power to greater discipline in determining who gets ic, despite that fact that they are used when sions and communicate their messages. require anyone to attend to be questioned. to “sit”. The decision of participation should votes are taken “on division” technological The same technologies must be leveraged It too, meets virtually and is televised. be up to the various party caucuses to solutions with necessary security, such a to ensure that Parliament does not become A combination of the two is being decide, not merely the leaders. PINs and encryption, could be developed a casualty of the pandemic. considered in the U.K. House of Lords, The two functions of accountability and in time. Countries that share the Westminster which will sit virtually as a Grand Com- legislating need not be performed by the Parliament has survived many crises, system of government, are exploring digi- mittee. As such, it can discuss and debate, same group, using the same process. While over many centuries. It has evolved to meet tal means of legislating and of holding the but not vote. The U.K. House of Commons proceedings will be smaller, this does not changed circumstances and needs. This is government to account. Some have found will sit as a hybrid, with up to 50 MPs in mean that those not present cannot still one of those times. An adaptive Parliament innovative solutions, with none requiring the Chamber and an additional 120 by participate. Those at the meeting do so in with smaller, but responsible components, physical sitting. video. Because of numbers, the 120 will a representative capacity and must be pre- meeting virtually and openly, can both hold For example, the Welsh National As- rotate. In both cases, the rules of debate pared to express the views of their caucus the government to account and effectively sembly has amended its rules to allow it are tightened so that only one at a time members. and effi ciently enact the legislation that to sit virtually, in plenary session, with a can speak without interruption. How vot- Accountability through a specially Canada needs. small number of representatives of each ing will take place in the U.K. has not yet designed committee chaired by the leader Steven Chaplin is an adjunct profes- party participating. The fi rst minister and been determined. In the U.S., the House of of the opposition, and at which the prime sor in common law at the University of others appear, make statements, and are Representatives is working on a remote minister must present a statement and Ottawa and is a former senior counsel in questioned by other members. Where legis- voting system. be questioned, would no doubt provide House of Commons. lation is considered, the group is expanded While none of these necessarily meets transparency and accountability. If chaired The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2020 11 Opinion Canada and Ontario tell Trump to buzz off

Deputy Prime What do the Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured governments of on March 27, 2020, at a daily Canada and Ontario press briefi ng on have in common with the Hill in Ottawa, has been doing a coalition of states most of the heavy lifting for the from both U.S. coasts Liberals these days, told U.S. and the Midwest? President Donald They have all told Trump point blank that Canadians Donald Trump to go would decide when their border with to hell. the U.S. reopens— not Trump. Trump had earlier mused that he would like to see the border with Canada open as part of his economic recovery plan, writes Michael Harris. The Hill Times photograph by Michael Harris Andrew Meade Harris

ALIFAX—What do the Hgovernments of Canada and in the battle against COVID-19 premature boast. Today, “Mission of days is going to be down close problem? He had initially fawned Ontario have in common with a makes Benedict Arnold look Accomplished” usually serves as a to zero.” all over President Xi Jinping for coalition of states from both U.S. like a patriot. He has betrayed sarcastic put-down of any false or The very next day, he boasted his “transparency,” and “great dis- coasts and the Midwest? everyone except the stock mar- exaggerated claim by an ignora- “One day, it’s like a miracle, it will cipline.” Xi, Trump gushed on 15 They have all told Donald ket. Remember his great advice, mus or a liar. disappear.” occasions was doing “really well.” Trump to go to hell. reinforced by his chief economic Which brings me back to Then on March 4, day 48 of Then he pointed the fi nger It was done on Canada’s adviser Larry Kudlow: “Buy the Trump. Has there ever been a COVID-19, Trump said “If we have at former U.S. president Barack behalf by Deputy Prime Minister dip.” more egregious “Mission Ac- thousands, or hundreds of thou- Obama, you know, the fellow Chrystia Freeland. Freeland, who sands of people that get better born in Kenya, for leaving the has been doing most of the heavy just by, you know, sitting around, medical cupboard bare and a lifting for the Liberals these days, and even going to work— some broken testing system. told U.S. President Donald Trump of them go to work, but they get Two things. If the cupboard point blank that Canadians would better.” was bare, why didn’t Trump fi ll it decide when their border with Two days later, with 282 Amer- during the three and a half years the U.S. reopens—not Trump. icans infected, Trump praised he has been in offi ce? And, oh Trump had earlier mused that himself for his epidemiological yes, why did he disband the CDC he would like to see the border knowledge, which of course, team dealing with global pan- with Canada open as part of his is the square root of bugger demics if safeguarding the health economic recovery plan. all. “People are surprised that I of Americans kept him awake at Ontario Premier Doug Ford, understand it. Every one of these night? who has burnished his image doctors said ‘how do you know so Later came the turn of the with the SOS pad of surprisingly much about this?’ Maybe I have World Health Organization strong COVID-19 leadership, natural ability. Maybe I should (WHO). Trump accused the bluntly told the president that have done that instead of running international health body of he doesn’t want Americans in for president.” dropping the ball and getting it Ontario right now. This statement On March 13, Trump was wrong on COVID-19. “So much resonates with Ford’s lingering hoisted on his own petard. After death has been caused by their rage that Trump tried to stop months of denial and naval- mistakes.” With a straight face, a shipment of medical equip- praising over COVID-19, the he accused the WHO of unwisely ment that the 3M company had president declared a National trusting China on its handling of contracted to sell to his province Emergency. How do you go from the virus. to fi ght the pandemic. Now that a nothing-burger to the house So did Trump for two months. border opening has delayed for at is on fi re? With nothing on the But that didn’t stop him from least 30 days. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who has burnished his image with the SOS pad public record up to that time but cutting $550-million of funding As for the U.S. governors of surprisingly strong COVID-19 leadership, bluntly told the president that he his dismissive irresponsibility, it for the agency he so effusively who have banded together to doesn’t want Americans in Ontario right now. This statement resonates with was time for the second stage of praised in January and Febru- reopen their economies when Mr. Ford’s lingering rage that Mr. Trump tried to stop a shipment of medical Trump’s ignorance to take centre ary, along with his bouquets to they, not the president, see fi t, equipment that the 3M company had contracted to sell to his province to fi ght stage: scapegoat time. China. Small fact. WHO declared they too were reacting to what the pandemic. Now that border opening has delayed for at least 30 days. The Here Trump gets points for au- COVID-19 a pandemic two days has to be the lowest point in the Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade dacity, story-telling and just plain before Trump declared a National Trump presidency: his bald-faced stand-up comedy. Emergency. declaration that he, and he alone, The comedy? With Trump threatening to would decide when the U.S. gets For those lacking the quaint complished” moment provided by At one of his rallies, he told adjourn Congress in order to get back to work. Constitution? What gift of cultural memory, allow me any U.S. president than Trump’s that basket of deplorables made his nominees through, with his Constitution? to take you back a bit in time. In rolling bluster on COVID-19? He famous by Hillary Clinton, that order to place his own name on Americans love their foot- 2003, U.S. president George W. produced more undigested nutri- the whole thing was “the new the relief cheques the federal gov- ball. So maybe they have fi nally Bush stood on the deck of the tional matter than a herd of cattle hoax” of the Democrats, another ernment is issuing to distressed understood that they are at the USS Abraham Lincoln just two with the trots. attempt to defeat him. For the Americans, and his renewed as- two-minute warning in the fourth months after the U.S. invaded On Jan. 22 of this year, Trump record, some of those deplorables sault on a free press for allegedly quarter of a close game they must Iraq, and announced the major said, “We have it totally under are now holding mass rallies “brutalizing” him, November just win. fi ghting was over. He spoke those control. It’s one person coming in against the lockdown and social can’t come fast enough. If Trump should retain the words in front of a huge banner from China. It’s going to be just distancing. Let’s hope there is a doctor in White House in a few months, declaring “Mission Accomplished.” fi ne.” The scapegoating? the house, one that doesn’t quack. there is every chance he will fi n- In fact, more Americans died A little over a month later, on First, he blamed China, and Michael Harris is an award- ish his work of deconstructing the fi ghting in Iraq after Bush’s Feb. 26, the president said, “The 15 even insisted that COVID-19 winning author and journalist. Western World. His performance foolish claim than before his cases [in the U.S.] within a couple be called the Wuhan virus. The The Hill Times Sponsored Content by the People’s Republic of China Deepen international cooperation and meet challenges together ecently, when I talked to Canadian scholars and friends from business circle, they all Rexpressed their concerns on the pandemic and they were worried about its impact on the world economy. On these issues, I would like to share with you the following views. Since the spread of the COVID-19 around the world, major international organizations have downgraded their forecasts for the growth of the world economy. Moody’s, S&P and other rating agencies have also issued warnings. The United States and Canada have successively announced interest rate cuts. The world’s major stock markets, foreign exchange markets and crude oil prices have fallen sharply. With the outbreak of the pandemic, the concern of the international community to the global economic recession is rising day by day, it has not only seriously threatened the world’s public health security, but also caused a great impact on the economic operation. International cooperation is needed to contain the spread of the epidemic. The virus spreads beyond borders. At the Extraordinary G20 Leaders’ Summit, President Xi Jinping pointed out that the community of nations must move swiftly to stem the spread of the virus. The outbreak we are battling is our common enemy. All must work together to build a strongest global network of control and treatment that the world has ever seen. We propose a G20 COVID-19 assistance initiative for better information sharing and policy and action coordination with the support of the World Health Organization. China will be more than ready to share our good practices, conduct joint research and development of drugs and A medical worker teaches as patients follow during a traditional Chinese physical exercises session at a temporary hospital in Jiangxia district in Wuhan, Hubei province. Photo/Xinhua vaccines, and provide assistance where we can to countries hit by the growing outbreak. International cooperation is also needed to address the impact of the epidemic on the world economy. In the era of economic globalization, countries in the world are interdependent, and we are a community not only of shared future, but also of shared interests. The beggar-thy-neighbor approach and practices such as kicking someone when they are down cannot help a country stay immune. The outbreak has disrupted production and demand across the globe. Countries need to leverage and coordinate their macro policies to counteract the negative impact. We need to keep our exchange rates and global financial markets basically stable, We also need to jointly keep the global industrial and supply chains stable. We should take concerted actions to provide for people’s basic needs and prevent the world economy from falling into recession. The COVID-19 epidemic affects China’s economy in a temporary and limited manner. The long term positive fundamentals of China’s economy remain unchanged, and so do the factors underpinning high-quality development. The Chinese government has promptly introduced a series of fiscal and financial Zhong Nanshan shares experience with European experts on measures to support enterprises to tide over coronavirus control. photo by CGTN A video conference of medical experts between China and Canada the difficulties, including reduction of value- added tax for small-scale taxpayers, cost cut of electricity and gas for enterprises, and new These policies and measures have effectively purchasing’s logistics performance index(LPI) for China’s adherence to reform and opening- loans with phased preferential interest rate. brought China’s industrial chains and supply march was 51.5%, up 25.3 percentage points up is crucial to the healthy and stable At the same time, in accordance with the chains back to normal. According to the Ministry from the previous month. At present, the phased development of the world economy. China Foreign Investment Law, the Chinese government of Commerce of China’s press release, by April effect of epidemic prevention and control in is willing to make concerted efforts with the has actively helped foreign-funded enterprises 10, more than 76 percent of China’s key supply China has been further consolidated, important international community to overcome the solve their difficulties in resuming work and chain foreign trade enterprises had recovered progress has been made in resuming work epidemic and push the world economy back production. We are also broadening the opening- more than 70 percent of their production and production, and the economic and social to track. up in service industries like financial industry. capacity.The China federation of logistics and operation order has been accelerate. Cong Peiwu, Chinese Ambassador to Canada Sponsored Content by the People’s Republic of China

Construction workers carry material at the site of a hotel project in A medical worker overlooks the makeshift hospital. Photo by Wang Jing/China Daily Beijing. Photo by Feng Yongbin/chinadaily.com.cn

Bank of China donates medical supplies to Canada fighting against COVID-19. The construction of Huoshenshan Hospital. Working together to defeat the COVID-19 outbreak as a community with a shared future

ver the past few weeks, the COVID-19 China has just experienced the hardest times, and resolved it on its own without any thought anti-epidemic battlefield without any preparation pandemic is rapidly spreading around the we deeply understand that, during extraordinary of others. Chinese doctors have quickly of packing the luggage, bringing these countries Oworld and has become a disaster affecting times, individual’s courage, perseverance, and identified the novel coronavirus during the medical supplies as well as sympathies and all mankind. It impacts every corner of the global determination, as well as collective wisdom in flu season and immediately shared genome blessings from the Chinese people. village and respects no borders, races or culture. taking the pandemic as a common concern, abiding sequencing information with their international Having experienced great disasters, we At the moment, the pandemic in Canada by rules and regulations, keeping united and giving counterparts, laying the foundation for follow- deeply understand that human beings living continues to develop, whose increasing number of mutual encouragement, are required. up vaccine and drug development. on the same planet are all blood brothers, and infections adds to everyone’s worry. We relate to China has always put people’s safety and health In terms of diagnosis and treatment plans, only by helping each other can we overcome the difficulties confronting the Canadian people. in the first place, and resolutely implemented the drug use, community prevention and control, difficulties together. The COVID-19 should not be underestimated. most comprehensive, stringent and powerful and public health, China has explored much China interprets the profound connotation of At present, mankind has not yet fully understood prevention and control measures in history. The effective experience, taken the initiative to a community with a shared future for mankind its generation mechanism, epidemic trend, and practice has proved that such a series of actions organize them into various languages, held a with actions. As Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary- route of transmission, and each country has are scientific and in line with China’s reality. number of expert video conferences and press General of the United Nations and chairman of chosen different methods to fight against it, and As an old Chinese saying goes, “A friend in conferences, and actively shared them with the Boao Forum for Asia, has said, what history among them, there is one common point, which is need is a friend indeed”. In our most difficult World Health Organization (WHO) and the bears in mind are not only the advantages of the that all countries will need to make up their minds times, the international community, including international community. Recently, the Red socialist system with Chinese characteristics, but and make greater efforts. people from all walks of life in Canada, has Cross Societies of China and Canada have also also the common responsibility of all nations To effectively control the disease, Canada extended a helping hand to provide support organized a virtual conference participating by working together to tackle the crisis. has launched series of strict control measures, and help. We are sincerely grateful for this, and relevant experts and medical personnel, which On the road to fighting the pandemic, we including closing the border, banning parties, will always keep it in mind. has achieved good results. sincerely hope to work with people from all walks telecommuting, and issuing stay-at-home orders; We will always stick together through In the face of appeals for help from some of life in Canada, to tide over the difficulties and also, many provinces and cities have declared thick and thin and give mutual help. In the deeply-stricken countries, the Chinese expert safeguard the dignity of human life. state of emergency. face of the global crisis, China has never teams hurriedly transferred to the international Cong Peiwu, Chinese Ambassador to Canada 14 MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion

Wahhabist-tinged Islam around Systems in London, Ont., under the world; the incarceration of a long-term contract brokered by No, Canada should not be anyone who disagrees with him, the Canadian government. including senior members of the After the brutal slaughter of Al Sa’ud family; the humanitari- Kashoggi the Trudeau Liberals an disaster resulting from its war had suspended all arms sales to selling arms to Saudi Arabia in Yemen, and, most critically; the Saudi Arabia. So why the change? torture, killing and dismember- Is the kingdom playing nicer? No, Saudi Arabia has been pieces and spreads terrorist ideol- praise for decades thanks to its ment (via a bone saw) of Jamal and all we got from our govern- ogy around the world? oil wealth. Hence everyone wants Kashoggi, a Saudi-American ment was an anodyne statement the major ideological The arms business is an im- to make a deal with it. journalist who had gotten under that Saudi Arabia is not using the portant one. Countries around the But the kingdom has a darker his skin (MBS denies giving the arms to violate human rights. contributor to global world sell weapons to each other side, especially today under the order and has blamed ‘rogue ele- Huh? to the annual tune of $95-billion infl uence of Mohammed bin ments’). The more likely reason is the Islamist extremism (2017 fi gures from the Swedish Salman, or MBS as he is usually So what does Canada do with fact that the Government of Cana- SIPRI), while the globe’s top 100 called, the son of the current such a country? It sells it arms da would have been on the hook for decades. Some arms manufactur- for $14-billion if the deal had believe the country ers made close Saudi Crown remained unfi nished. That and to $400-billion in Prince the jobs it will create at the plant will change its ways sales that same Mohammed in London. But let’s not pretend year (I assume bin Salman that anything has really changed once MBS sits on the this is a larger and U.S. in Saudi Arabia since the original number because President decision in 2018 to suspend the throne. Don’t count of domestic Donald export of the LAVs. me among that lot. sales). Trump, It is simple: Saudi Arabia Some custom- pictured is a neither an ally nor a like- This deal is repugnant ers are ‘legitimate’ in the Oval minded nation as far as Canada is armed forces/ Offi ce on concerned. Yes, it is an important and decent Canadians police services. March 14, regional player and has for years Others are less 2017. successfully convinced the world should say so. savoury. And Photograph that we all need it in light of the then there is courtesy of Iranian bogeyman across the the illegal arms Wikimedia Persian Gulf from the kingdom. trade. According Commons Canada’s move is naked realpo- to the Federa- litik, in essence, so can we stop tion of American pretending that this deal is moral? Scientists (FAS) Saudi Arabia has been the ma- ” illicit arms traf- jor ideological contributor to global fi cking fuels civil Islamist extremism for decades. wars, contributes to sky-rocketing king, and has now ensconced of course. The Canadian govern- Some believe the country will crime rates and feeds the arsenals himself as crown prince. De- ment is lifting a moratorium on change its ways once MBS sits on of the world’s worst terrorists.” spite an optimistic debut in approving new permits for the throne. Don’t count me among Phil Gurski Which brings me to Saudi which he pledged to open up military exports to Saudi Arabia that lot. This deal is repugnant and National Security Arabia. The desert kingdom has the country and push back on after renegotiating some terms of decent Canadians should say so. led the world in arms purchases the austere practices of Wah- a controversial $14-billion deal Phil Gurski is the president of of late, again according to SIPRI. habi Islamic clerics, MBS has to sell light-armoured vehicles Borealis Threat and Risk Consult- TTAWA—Why would any The only country named after a done an about face. Among his to Riyadh. These include the ing and the author of fi ve books Ocountry sell weapons to a dynasty in the modern world has more notable “achievements” light-armoured vehicles (LAVs) on terrorism since 2015. regime that saws its critics into garnered attention and fawning are: a continued export of hateful made by General Dynamics Land The Hill Times

COVID-19 invades and compromises our privacy COVID-19 puts With the necessity of greater At the same time, claims are Fear, trade-offs, and a public Terrorism, 9/11, and foreign cyberspace interactions, the crisis being made that sensitive per- health crisis appear to be over- state spying brought a whole new privacy rights under continues to introduce or enhance sonal information being collected whelming privacy consent and world of security surveillance and more grounds for privacy inva- by authorities remains secure restrictive use of personal infor- screening and powers for security attack. Zoom- sion. and is used only as unidentifi able mation conditions. Some jurisdic- intelligence agencies and a shift Contact tracing, for instance, aggregate information during this tions, like British Columbia, are in what the public could know bombers, COVID-19 is important for tackling the public health emergency, even relaxing privacy rules. Plans for and expect. COVID-19 virus. Using wireless when gathered with facial recog- limited federal privacy act reform COVID-19 with its capabilities scammers, and smartphones to identify people’s nition apps or by drone surveil- are on hold. But newer privacy of spreading or because it could cellphone trackers movements puts potential or lance or thermal cameras. legislation when introduced may be but one emerging pandemic, actual infected people under a But governments using emer- broaden what personal informa- could end up setting newer are gaining ground microscope. Technology apps may gency, quarantine, lockdowns, tion can be collected, used and widespread barriers to privacy tell people too when to self-isolate and border control powers to stored in times of public health protection, too. as Canadians self- and who is not doing this. monitor residents and foreigners emergencies. In the past, personal health Using the video-conferencing are demanding and getting more Right now, those affected information and records have isolate. Zoom tool to stay in touch and to personal information for multi- may not be able to access data been considered a prime personal hold meetings while being kept at purposes saying it is in the public about being traced and have even matter and perceived to be a mat- home can and has led to privacy interest. They want more aggres- less than operative and timely ter to be left free of unnecessary breaches and intrusions, even if sively to search for hot spots and privacy appeal rights. Currently, state snooping or of widespread precautions are taken. incidents of COVID-19 outbreaks extending the uses that personal publicity about health cases. Scam artists are taking ad- and to catch those in isolation information is put to can lead to Controlling the use made of vantage of the COVID-19 crisis breaking home stays. discriminatory practices, more one’s personal health informa- by using personal phone calls They also like to remind third-party interactions and can tion, however, may be shifting and and internet excursions with fake cheaters trying to game the new be part of previously unheard of could become a thing of the past. cures and identity theft on their fi nancial aid systems for wage privacy data breaches. Public interest group monitor- agendas. subsidies that they can run com- Privacy used to refer to ing of the growing loss of health Corporate profi teers are tak- puter checks on people collecting physical intrusions into your privacy and individual privacy Ken Rubin ing advantage with jacked up such assistance. New personal personal home spaces. In a mod- rights is happening. But it’s going Transparency & Accountability prices, by building new-market information data bases are being ern state and economy, privacy to take a concerted effort with profi les, storing new information put in place and new cross checks becomes a balancing act be- the media reporting on privacy on people’s fi nancial health or by are being done. tween personal information pro- violations and breaches to get TTAWA—COVID-19 puts withholding crucial information Front-line fi rst responders in tection and public and corporate anywhere. Oprivacy rights under attack. about their long-term facilities. Ontario get the go-ahead to col- needs under certain regulations. It’s a crisis within a crisis. Zoom-bombers, COVID-19 scam- Enforcement of social isola- lect sensitive personal data from In many jurisdictions, separate Ken Rubin reviews privacy mers, and cellphone trackers are tion for health reasons can lead to labs and medical authorities, but legislative treatment was given matters and is reachable at ken- gaining ground as Canadians unwarranted government actions, without clear guidelines on shar- to protecting individual health rubin.ca self-isolate. fi nes, and snitching. ing and retention timelines. records. The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2020 15 Global

U.S. President Donald Trump, pictured on April 7, 2020, in the White House press briefi ng room. Mr. Trump might actually order the country to reopen on May 1, as he believes that ‘When somebody is the president of the United States, the authority is total.’ But most states wouldn’t obey his command: as New York governor Andrew Cuomo said: ‘We have a Constitution … we don’t have a king … the president doesn’t have total authority.’ Photograph courtesy of Flickr/White House photographer Andrea Hanks

France, Canada and Australia can probably do it next month. Countries like Turkey, Russia and South Africa are more debat- Toddler-in-chief in the able, because they gave the virus a head start, but their medical infrastructure is strong enough that they could think about letting their citizens go back to work by July. However, the United States, White House is frantic the United Kingdom, Brazil, and India are very worrisome. India is doing the right things, but it started late, its medical resources are limited, and the sheer numbers of victims may to reopen the economy overwhelm the system. Brazil has a complete fool in charge, Jair Bolsonaro, and the many sensible other country is having it too. they either had a very high death people in the health-care system U.S. President Donald Trump has an election Everybody knows that you can’t rate early and have now wrestled may be unable to overcome his shut the economy down indefi - it down again—China, Italy and malign infl uence. coming up in six months, and he will lose it nitely, but nobody wants to risk Spain—or responded hard and As for the U.S. and the U.K., if the economy has not recovered by then. a second wave of infections by early and never had a high infec- they both reacted very late to the moving too soon. tion rate, like Germany, Denmark, threat, which guarantees that Dr. Anthony Fauci has doubtless explained Well, almost nobody. The Austria, the Czech Republic, and their casualties would be con- toddler-in-chief in the White New Zealand. siderably above the rich-country that lifting the restrictions on movement on House is frantic to reopen the We should also note two average. Worse, they do not have economy because he has an elec- countries that never closed their the testing and tracking resources May 1 will cause a second wave of deaths and tion coming up in six months, and economies down at all, because in place that would make reopen- he will lose it if the economy has they could test, identify the ing the economy a relatively safe a second lockdown before November, but not recovered by then. infected, and trace their contacts proposition. Trump doesn’t retain that sort of information Dr. Anthony Fauci has doubt- fast enough to break the chains On April 3, the British Health less explained that lifting the of infection and keep deaths low: Secretary, Matt Hancock, pledged for long. restrictions on movement on Taiwan and South Korea. All 100,000 coronavirus tests per day May 1 will cause a second wave three of these groups have one by the end of the month. Half the of deaths and a second lock- vital thing in common. month is gone, and the maximum haps, but in China the coronavi- down before November, but They have the ability to “test, number of tests carried out on a rus does really seem to be under Trump doesn’t retain that sort of test, test,” as the World Health single day has been under 15,000. control—not totally eradicated, information for long. His atten- Organisation’s Director-General, The US situation is harder to but controllable without extreme tion span is not only short but Tedros Ghebreyesus, put it a judge, since there is not a unifi ed measures. selective: he forgets unwelcome month ago, warning countries health-care system but a highly If Donald Trump “reopens” information very quickly. that they “cannot fi ght a fi re fragmented “health care sector.” the United States at the end of Trump might actually order blindfolded.” And they can follow However, nobody has spotted evi- this month, then California and the country to reopen on May up the tests with contact-tracing dence of nationwide preparations a few other states will have been 1, as he believes that “When teams and apps so that not just for extensive testing and track- under lockdown for only half somebody is the president of the the individual who tested posi- ing once everybody goes back to Gwynne Dyer that many days, and some states United States, the authority is tive but the whole cluster of other work, so a second wave of deaths Global Aff airs for much less time or even none. total.” But most states wouldn’t people who had contact with him later in the year is practically Far from being under control, the obey his command: as New York or her can be isolated. guaranteed. COVID-19 virus is killing huge governor Andrew Cuomo said: Any countries that have their Finis Trump, perhaps, but at a ONDON, U.K.—Wuhan, the numbers of Americans (2,405 on “We have a Constitution … we infection rate down AND have high price. LChinese city where it all Tuesday), and the number is still don’t have a king … the president their testing and tracing teams Gwynne Dyer’s new book is started, was locked down for 79 rising. doesn’t have total authority.” ready can start reopening their ‘Growing Pains: The Future of De- days before the restrictions on These two giants defi ne the Elsewhere, some countries economies, although there will be mocracy (and Work)’. This column movement were fi nally lifted last extremes of the ‘lives vs. liveli- are cautiously reopening their a continuing low but steady toll was released on April 15. week. A bit over-cautious, per- hoods’ debate, but almost every economies a bit at a time, but of deaths until a vaccine is found. The Hill Times 16 MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion

U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured June 12, 2018, at the G7 meeting in Charlevoix, Que. ‘Politically, if we plank the curve, Mr. Trudeau will weather the minority Parliament and gain a majority in a few years, citing the need for a strong leadership in the face of rebuilding the economy. If he falters, the hard-liners’ agenda will prove to be the wedge that keeps Canada a divided nation,’ write David Carment and Richard Nimijean. Photograph courtesy of Global Affairs Canada

Where does Canada go post-COVID-19?

s the COVID-19 crisis un- advantage that China might enjoy global crisis, this view seeks to in- and Paul Martin. They grappled Canada’s dependence Afolds, Canada will engage in post crisis is weakened. For them, vest more resources in health and with post-Cold War uncertainties fundamental debates about its the social contract is premised well-being. This is an urgent task, requiring whole-of-government on the U.S. will be future—health care, economic on a self-help system: a strong given the widespread unemploy- approaches and a recognition that strategy, the role of government economy is advanced by the state ment already resulting from the solving a wicked problem requires tested. The idea in the economy, and Canada’s which allows those who are able crisis and uncertainty about labour a high degree of international that Trump would international relations. In many to succeed despite setbacks. markets post-crisis, as social and coordination, political capital, and ways, these debates will not only Economically, we already see economic behaviour changes. shared knowledge. To succeed, consider putting be between differing viewpoints fears of growing government defi - If the virus knows no borders, Canada will need to deliver its on any one issue but on those cits and debt, even though by his- we need better lines of communi- very best diplomacy in support of troops on our border, who look to the past for inspira- toric standards in times of crisis cation through effective multilat- evidence-based policymaking on a tion and those who look forward. they are low. We see an emphasis eral institutions, not nationalism global scale. If America reverts to or that he would order Those who look to the past in on resource-driven prosperity that blames others while advanc- its old ways, Canada will need new many ways see the crisis as an rather than the development of a ing narrow interests. We need allies to fi ght the global pandemic. 3M to stop sending opportunity to promote America’s post-carbon economy. more information and resource Canada’s dependence on the U.S. N95 masks to Canada, security agenda, including U.S. We see the knee-jerk reaction, sharing to combat the virus and will be tested. The idea that Trump President Donald Trump and U.S. exemplifi ed by Alberta Premier deal with the inevitable next wave would consider putting troops on our confi rms that the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Jason Kenney, to slash the state of the pandemic. border, or that he would order 3M to in place since 9/11: tough on Iran, (including thousands of public Like it or not, this requires work- stop sending N95 masks to Canada, ‘special relationship’ Venezuela, and especially China. servants and nurses) because of ing with all governments, friendly confi rms that the “special relation- There are many supporters of this the crisis, even though these are or not, and not using the crisis to ship” is over. Free trade will continue, is over. Free trade will view in Canada who prioritize the people needed to survive the bash opponents or reign in allies— but Canada will look elsewhere for continue, but Canada defence, intelligence, and security crisis. Meanwhile, he uses the seen, for example, in the American reliable partners as it develops its above all else. same crisis to fund pipeline proj- musing of stationing troops along post-COVID strategy. will look elsewhere For them, the crisis is an op- ects or promote tighter integration the Canada-U.S. border. Politically, if we plank the portunity not to rethink Canada’s with the American energy market, This is not just a rhetorical curve, Trudeau will weather the for reliable partners policy mix to deal with a post-CO- as if climate change was some- debate. Since many states will be minority Parliament and gain a VID-19 world but to reassert po- thing that does not matter or as if weakened post crisis, the balance majority in a few years, citing the as it develops its litical hegemony pre-crisis. Long the glut of cheaper oil elsewhere, of power vis-à-vis the U.S. and need for strong leadership in the ago, security surpassed develop- including the U.S., did not exist. China will rest with key states in face of rebuilding the economy. If post-COVID strategy. ment and diplomacy as America’s On the other side, are those Europe and Asia. Will they reject he falters, the hard-liners’ agenda main objective abroad. Call it the who were already challenging the Trump approach to the crisis will prove to be the wedge that “Wuhan” or “China” virus. Bemoan this “narrative” for some time, but and international relations? A keeps Canada a divided nation. the fact that critical supply chains who are now catalyzed and more rejection will partly be a function David Carment teaches in are dependent on China. Blame unifi ed by the COVID-19 crisis. of the extent to which COVID-19 the Norman Paterson School of globalization. Make America even They don’t represent a coherent damages the U.S.’s social fabric International Affairs at Carleton more secure. whole and may never be able to and undermines the legitimacy University. He is the editor of Cana- They oppose problem solving reconcile core differences, but of its leaders because they failed dian Foreign Policy Journal. Richard and cooperation and see CO- theirs is a rejection of the 9/11 to protect these on the margins. Nimijean teaches in the School of VID-19 as a policy tool to drive a interpretation of the world. It will also depend on how China Indigenous and Canadian Studies deeper wedge between states rath- Partly environmentally driven— behaves. Will it assert its author- at Carleton University. They are co- David Carment & Richard Nimijean er than bringing them together. At reduced human activity actually ity, or will it build a cooperative editors of Canada, Nation Branding the core is a need to ensure that works—and partly driven by the infrastructure? and Domestic Politics (Routledge Opinion America—and by extension Can- view that confrontation is coun- Justin Trudeau can learn from 2019). ada—does not falter, and that any terproductive to problem solving a former leaders Jean Chrétien The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2020 17 Opinion

Taiwan’s President measures resulted in only 388 confi rmed Tsai Ing-Wen and WHO cases and six deaths as of April 12 in a Director General Tedros population of almost 24 million. A. Ghebreyesus. Almost The WHO not only ignores Taiwan’s 100 anti-COVID-19 medical expertise, but also its status vis-à- initiatives from Taiwan’s vis China. national government During the current pandemic, the orga- included: screening nization keeps changing how it refers to Wuhan fl ights as early Taiwan, going from “Taiwan, China,” to “Tai- as Dec. 31; banning pei” to the newer “Taipei and its environs”. Wuhan residents on It permitted Beijing to report Taiwan’s Jan. 23; suspending coronavirus numbers as part of its own to- Taiwanese visits to tal, instead of reporting Taiwan’s numbers Hubei province on alone—a confl ation that created headaches Jan. 25; and barring for the smaller nation. Some countries im- all Chinese arrivals on posed travel restrictions on Taiwan along Feb. 6. These and other with China, despite the former’s small measures resulted in infection rate. only 388 confi rmed “Taiwan’s selfless medical workers cases and six deaths and volunteers can be found around as of April 12, 2020, the world. The Taiwanese people do not in a population of 24 differentiate by skin colour or language; million, write Susan all of us are brothers and sisters,” Tsai Korah and David said in response to Tedros’ accusations. Kilgour. Photographs “We have never let our inability to join courtesy of Commons international organizations lessen our Wikimedia support for the international commu- nity.” She added that the WHO head was welcome to visit Taiwan and see for himself. The internationally acknowledged suc- No evidence to back WHO director cess of Taiwan with the scourge of CO- VID-19 might lead to a diplomatic opening. Its government has already concluded a bilateral agreement with the United States general’s accusations against Taiwan to send masks, which could lead to drugs and vaccines going to America for clinical trials. Other governments seem likely to Taiwan, and that the country’s foreign min- Almost 100 anti-COVID-19 initia- follow. The internationally istry had actually stepped up its criticism tives from Taiwan’s national government Susan Korah is an Ottawa-based jour- acknowledged success of of him. included: screening Wuhan fl ights as early nalist and David Kilgour was secretary of Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-Wen and as Dec. 31; banning Wuhan residents on state, Asia-Pacifi c, 2002-2003, and Africa/ Taiwan with the scourge the ministry of foreign affairs have denied Jan. 23; suspending Taiwanese visits to Latin America, 1997-2002, in the Chrétien the charges. Hubei province on Jan. 25; and barring all government. of COVID-19 might lead to Given the fraught situation between Chinese arrivals on Feb. 6. These and other The Hill Times Taiwan and the Chinese Communist Party a diplomatic opening. Its (CCP) generally, including the latter’s manipulation of WHO policies of Taiwan government has already exclusion over the years—combined with APPOINTMENT NOTICE the Beijing government’s serious misman- concluded a bilateral agement of the COVID-19 pandemic, the agreement with the United evidence appears clearly stacked against Tedros’ claims. States to send masks, which President Tsai and her government pro- vided warnings to the WHO as early as last could lead to drugs and December, which, if not ignored, as they were, might have saved thousands of lives. vaccines going to America For nearly half a century, the People’s for clinical trials. Other Republic of China has effectively blocked Taiwan from joining the WHO. Despite governments seem likely to never having exercised authority over the island, the CCP deems Taiwan part of its follow. territory, and forces international organiza- Michael Brennan Sarah Nolan Don Armstrong tions—including the United Nations and its Chief Administrative Director, Government Director of Finance agencies like the WHO—to accept its view. Officer Relations Dr. Bruce Aylward, one of WHO’s top advisers recently evaded and then abruptly he National Police Federation, which represents strategic advice on emerging policy and legislative cut off Hong Kong journalist Yvonne Tong’s more than 20,000 RCMP Members across Canada topics and opportunities, on behalf of member- question on whether WHO would reconsid- and internationally, is pleased to announce the based organizations in Ottawa. Sarah most recently er Taiwan’s status in light of the country’s T exemplary performance in curbing the appointment of Michael Brennan as Chief Administrative served as Lead, Government Relations for the spread of COVID-19. Officer; Sarah Nolan as Director, Government Relations Canadian Nurses Association. According to the reputable Foreign and Don Armstrong as Director of Finance. Don Armstrong has provided financial, accounting Policy Magazine, Beijing succeeded from Michael Brennan brings extensive experience in and tax counsel and services to the National Police Susan Korah & David Kilgour the fi rst outbreak of the coronavirus in association management, is well known as an Federation for four years in a consulting capacity Opinion misdirecting the World Health Organiza- advocate for the rights and well-being of association and joined as Director of Finance in March. Don tion (WHO), which receives comparatively members and as an accomplished leader in the not- has advised small and medium-sized organizations modest funding from it but has somehow for-profit sector. He has nearly 30 years’ experience in across an array of business lines for over a decade TTAWA—The pattern surrounding the become obedient to it on many levels. executive management, including nine years as the including member services. World Health Organization (WHO) and WHO’s international experts could not O CEO of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. He the Beijing party-state’s ongoing infl uence gain access to China until Tedros visited The mission of the National Police Federation is to is currently a Board Director of the Canadian Institute over it continues. Taiwan, a nation that has President Xi Jinping in Beijing at the end provide strong, fair and progressive representation shown impressive success in combatting of January. Before then, WHO uncriti- of Military and Veteran Health Research. Fluently to promote and enhance the rights of our ~20,000 the COVID-19 virus despite its exclusion cally repeated information from party- bilingual, he holds a Bachelor of Arts and M.A. RCMP Members. Our members provide effective from WHO, is now accused of racism by state authorities, ignoring warnings from (economics) from the University of Ottawa. and committed policing services to uphold the the organization’s director general. Taiwanese doctors. Reluctant to declare a Sarah Nolan has extensive experience liaising with laws of Canada and support safer and more livable WHO Director General Tedros A. Ghe- “public health emergency of international key government decision-makers and providing communities large and small. breyesus—an Ethiopian microbiologist and concern,” WHO denied as late as Jan. 22 the fi rst African to hold the position—as- that there was any need to do so. serted that Taiwan’s government not only After China’s pandemic had levelled off, launched a cyber campaign against him, notes the Foreign Policy article, Tedros then but is also the instigator of the racism praised Beijing’s “success.” directed at Africans in general. In sharp contrast, Taiwan has been In a press briefi ng on April 6, the direc- treated as an outcast by the WHO, despite NPF-FPN.COM tor general claimed he had been the victim its exemplary performance in the current of racially abusive attacks emanating from world crisis. 18 MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion

In the tragedy of COVID-19, there is a sliver of hope that we could effect a clean energy transition for the long term. Possibility exists now to turn this hiatus of trust and co-operation into a unique opportunity to redefi ne the role of fossil fuels and its contributions to our national economic output. The time has come for Canadians to demand that our leaders take the climate threat as seriously as the virus and use the existing fi scal capacity to engage public and private capital to fi nance a low carbon energy economy. This requires fresh thinking and bold actions. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

mitments. The sector is all too aware of the “transition risks” that COVID-19 crisis off ers hope arise not because there are insuf- fi cient reserves of oil and gas in the ground—the world’s known fossil fuel reserves are three times greater than what could for a clean energy transition be allowed to emit to the atmo- sphere under a 2°C climate target. Rather, these risks arise from Massive fi scal stimulus pack- Actions now that promote deep revenues over the life of the asset. policy interventions intended to There will likely not ages have become the order of the de-carbonization and distance us Structuring the cost of fi nancing ensure compliance with interna- day and acceptance by citizens from carbon intensive energy will could have crucial implications tional obligations, such as the car- be another chance that governments have a valuable help to “fl atten the curve”; greater on which investments companies bon reduction goals committed to in the near term to and positive role to play in our intervention now will be more choose to pursue and could effec- under the Paris Agreement. lives is one refreshing outcome. effective in the long run dramati- tively change the economic costs The risk-return profi les of deploy billions of Whether it is income support for cally reducing social costs later. of different alternatives in favour organizations exposed to climate- individuals, the need for a strong We identify several options for of the desirable ones. Subsidizing related risks will change as taxpayer dollars to health-care system, education, or consideration. the exploration of geothermal, the physical impacts of climate a deepening of the social safety The bail out of the oil and gas hydro, nuclear—in particular the change, climate policy and the the energy industry nets, it is clear that the present sector with government purchas- emerging small modular reactor competitiveness of new tech- crisis opens the door for a mean- ing shares in distressed petro- technologies, wind solar and bio- nologies undermine the fi nancial without considerable ingful dialogue across political leum companies to prop them up energy now could lead to conse- soundness of the companies in political backlash; aisles that don’t look like chasms. is one. This effectively makes the quential developments of these the sector. As companies dis- For the time being, the venom in Government of Canada, and by assets in the coming decades, close their carbon liabilities, the it is incumbent on Canada’s political discourse has extension Canadian taxpayers, much as public investments in knock-on effects range from di- been neutralized. owners of a large number of com- Athabasca Oil Sands in the last vestment decisions by institution- the Government For over fi ve generations or panies in the oil and gas sector hundred years led to its commer- al investors led by changing con- longer, fossil fuels have played a beyond pipelines. This option has cial development. sumer sentiment, the insurance of Canada to make dominant role in our economic little merit. It keeps us on a trajec- Working together with the sector unwilling to underwrite the the most of this well-being. Weighing against tory of increased greenhouse gas industry, the government could physical risk of extreme events, continued use of fossil fuels is a emissions, entirely antithetical to considering contracting the oil and the collapsing fi nancial valu- opportunity to launch threat to the global climate that achieving the 2030 emissions tar- and gas companies for explora- ations of a company’s stocks. could prove to be even more con- gets. An outright bailout support- tion and development of deep Worldwide de-carbonization us forward toward a sequential than COVID-19. The ing the industry status quo simply geothermal energy options as will remain the core principle sting of climate threat may not be maximizes regret, locks us into a these companies have extensive to mitigate the threat of climate sustainable energy as directly felt as the virus nor as high-carbon future, and passes on knowledge and expertise in change. Given that the energy fast moving, but its uncontrolled to future generations debt obliga- geotechnical engineering. In the system is the dominant contribu- future. and pervasive impacts can be tions, create stranded assets, and simplest sense, this could be a tor to greenhouse gas emissions, worse. forecloses on options for creating procurement subsidy: purchase a dramatic decline by 2050 to In the tragedy of COVID-19, a cleaner energy system. the services of oil and gas to build meet net-zero carbon targets there is a sliver of hope that we Instead, the government could geothermal capacity. can be readily foreseen. All this could effect a clean energy transi- take the opportunity presented by Furthermore, if the govern- will require massive investment tion for the long term. Possibility this pivotal moment in history to ment has the appetite to explore capital once we emerge out of the exists now to turn this hiatus rethink and reshape the Canadian creative options for risk sharing COVID-19 crisis. If we assume of trust and co-operation into a energy landscape by adjusting the with the private sector, thereby that the fi scal capacity of govern- unique opportunity to redefi ne economic incentives around the assuming additional risk, it could ments around the world will be the role of fossil fuels and its provision of funds. For example, incorporate a crown corporation substantially diminished, this is contributions to our national eco- to maintain viability of current (or private corporation with sig- an important time to pay close nomic output. The time has come operations, provide interest- nifi cant government ownership) attention to fl ows of public capital Jatin Nathwani for Canadians to demand that our bearing loans to companies in the focused on geothermal energy and ensure they are directed to Opinion leaders take the climate threat oil and gas sector, but at the same and seed it with scientists and non-fossil fuel-based solutions in as seriously as the virus and use time offer interest free or lower engineers from industry. Entire the long term. the existing fi scal capacity to interest loans to clean-tech energy R&D divisions could brought There will likely not be another ATERLOO, ONT.—Al- engage public and private capital companies with large portfolios into the new corporation to build chance in the near term to deploy Wthough the fi nal pages on to fi nance a low carbon energy of wind, geothermal, solar, small something similar to examples billions of taxpayer dollars to the the unfolding human tragedy of economy. This requires fresh modular reactors or bioenergy. Al- from our energy history like energy industry without consider- the COVID-19 pandemic have yet thinking and bold actions. ternatively, buying bonds from gas Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. able political backlash; it is incum- to be written, the ‘tsunami-scale’ COVID has introduced a new companies while buying shares in Such a bold move would provide bent on the Government of Canada of economic disruption has led vocabulary into our households. hydro-electric companies. Subtle rapid cash infusions to oil and to make the most of this opportu- to responses by the federal and We need to “fl atten the curve” differences in the method of gas companies to manage opera- nity to launch us forward toward a provincial governments that the to avoid the “peak” to minimize liquidity injection can impact the tions while immediately pivoting sustainable energy future. most acclaimed of futurists could stress on existing capacity of the marginal costs of operating differ- Canada’s future R&D to a low Jatin Nathwani is the founding not have predicted even six weeks health system and ensure it is ent assets in an energy portfolio carbon direction. executive director of the Wa- ago. If the adage, ‘Do not let a not overwhelmed. The message is aligning them with policy goals The political impasse that now terloo Institute for Sustainable good crisis go to waste’ has any clear: ‘Act now’ or suffer serious and reinforcing economic incen- characterizes relations between Energy, and he holds the Ontario resonance, this is the perfect op- consequences later. The same tives like carbon taxes. Alberta and Ottawa is a clear sign Research Chair in Public Policy portunity to re-set and re-confi g- template describes the threat of For energy investments, that the oil and gas sector is not for Sustainable Energy at the ure Canada’s energy sector away climate change and the green- fi nancing typically has a high up- aligned with the requirements of University of Waterloo. from dependence on oil and gas. house emissions trajectory to a T. front capital cost with a stream of Canada’s climate change com- The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2020 19 Opinion We need a bold new nation-building strategy

Prime Minister The world will be diff erent Justin Trudeau, pictured April and we will need to be 14, 2020, at his daily press much more strategic and conference much more innovative in outside Rideau Cottage in how we respond. In fact, the Ottawa. Canada will require world was changing even both a vision that identifi es before the pandemic hit, and defi nes though this was not widely the strategic goals of a recognized by our political nation-building strategy and and business leaders. the practical policies to implement the strategy and achieve its goals, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

David Crane Canada & the 21st Century

ORONTO—If we are to successfully Ttransition from the current pandemic to future prosperity we need a bold new nation-building strategy. This is quite dif- ferent from hoping that once the pandemic is over we will go back to where we were The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Germany, for example, is said to be ports such as unemployment insurance before the pandemic hit. That won’t happen. program to keep employees on the pay- planning a fund of a half-trillion euros (though constitutional arguments delayed The world will be different and we will roll is readily available to companies in (almost $750-billion) to support struggling its introduction until 1940). need to be much more strategic and much the tangibles economy, from auto parts to companies and help defend them from In the aftermath of World War II, more innovative in how we respond. In sawmills. But it is not accessible for many foreign takeovers. Canada created the Business Development fact, the world was changing even before of the future drivers of prosperity, our In Canada we have an institution, the Bank, initially run by the Bank of Canada, the pandemic hit, though this was not knowledge-based tech companies or in- Canada Development Investment Corpora- and the Export Development Corp. In 1961, widely recognized by our political and novative start-ups. tion, which could be re-energized to take Canada established the National Oil Policy business leaders. Promising tech companies, such as equity stakes—perhaps preferred equity— to develop Alberta’s oil industry by requir- This will require both a vision that Ecobee, Touch Bistro, Borrowell, Rangle. in promising tech companies that have ing Ontario consumers to use Alberta’s identifi es and defi nes the strategic goals of io, Nulogy Corp., Swift Medical, Think growth potential but lack long-term patient more expensive oil. Later, as research a nation-building strategy and the practi- Research Corp. and Mogo Inc. are being capital. and development became more important cal policies to implement the strategy and forced to layoff employees, after investing CDIC was created in 1982 to manage Canada created the Industrial Research achieve its goals. We will need new ways heavily to build up their human capital, government-owned commercial business- and Assistance Programme in 1962 to to drive prosperity—to build a sustain- and cut back product development at a es—Canadair, deHavilland Aircraft, Telesat, help small and midsize businesses across able economy where Canadian talent and time when they need support. Many of and Eldorado Nuclear—and prepare them Canada develop and adopt new technology. knowledge build Canadian companies that these companies have worldwide sales and for privatization as well as to be a source In 1969, we spun the Medical Research can compete in the world economy and strong growth prospects. They are exactly of advice for the federal government on Council out of the NRC to help develop Ca- build wealth here at home. the kind of companies Canada needs for industrial strategy. nadian capacity in the medical sciences— This new economy is one that recog- jobs and wealth creation in the post-pan- When Newfoundland’s fi sh processing reconstructing it in 2000 as the Canadian nizes intangibles—intellectual property, demic world. plants went through a wave of bankrupt- Institutes for Health Research. In 1978, it branding, marketing, and business orga- Without support for our intangibles cies, CDIC created Fishery Products Inter- spun the Natural Sciences and Engineer- nization, for example—as the drivers of economy and the companies driving it we national to create a viable fi sh processing ing Research Council of Canada out of the prosperity. This is quite different from the will see even more of our Canadian talent corporation. It held and managed the sale NRC to support university and industry industrial economy, based on tangible as- hired away by foreign Big Tech companies of government shares in General Motors research across Canada. sets such as machinery and equipment and such as Google, Apple, Facebook, Micro- Corp. Today it holds government’s shares Today, we need similar creative think- economies of scale. Our nation-building soft, Uber and Amazon to expand R&D in Canadian Hibernia Holding Corp. and ing to establish the institutions and strategy should be one that accelerates and branch plants here to generate wealth for Trans Mountain Pipeline. programmes for the new knowledge-based strengthens our capacity as an intangible their foreign parents. This will weaken our Canadian history shows us we are ca- economy, where intangible assets such economy, and the companies that create own future capacity for the needed wealth pable of nation-building strategies to build as intellectual property and data are the such value. to support our valued public goods, includ- a viable and independent east-west society. sources of good jobs and wealth creation. Yet much of our economic policy today, ing education, healthcare, infrastructure Building the transcontinental Canadian This will require a willingness and abil- leaving aside aspirational rhetoric, remains and a clean environment. Pacifi c Railway was one early example and ity to develop fresh think, institutions and focused on the tangibles economy. With their deep pockets, these same Big the establishment of the National Research policies that will work for the new intan- This can be seen, for example, in cur- Tech companies are also well-positioned to Council in 1916 another. gibles economy. rent business supports to offset the impact buy up promising Canadian tech compa- In the 1930s, in the midst of the Great This may be our biggest economic chal- of the government’s shutdown of much of nies, as they have been doing for some Depression, we created a number of insti- lenge. If we don’t succeed we will become the economy. There is much attention to time. But with the economic collapse from tutions to strengthen Canada, including a poorer and weaker nation. bailing out the airline and oil industries the pandemic shutdown, more Canadian the National Harbours Board, TransCanada David Crane can be reached at crane@ but little to meeting the needs of the future tech companies face fi nancial challenges Airlines (later Air Canada), the CBC, the interlog.com. knowledge economy. and could easily become takeover targets. Bank of Canada, and introduced new sup- The Hill Times

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If we choose to battle the climate crisis in the coming years, community will be COVID and the essential. We need carpooling, people to watch our children when we have to run across town, community gardens for our vegetables. The COVID-19 environment: a pandemic is giving us an opportunity to strengthen our ties with those physically close to us and create an rare opportunity unbreakable system of support, writes Una Šverko. Photograph We must demand of ONTREAL—COVID-19 courtesy of Pexels.com Mmay breed fear, but it the government to also spells opportunity. Mo- Emissions teachers, our employers are all the country. Now is the time to ments like these are ones where People aren’t driving their calling it what it is: urgent. insist on removing subsidies from implement policies for people are listening and change cars or taking public transit. And while we may be fright- big polluters and on raising taxes the good of the people is imminent. But change can They aren’t using planes or ened, we have all been brave on the super rich, changes that will move in two directions—the trains or buses. We are working enough to push through the guarantee an easier transition for who elect them. We better and the worse. We must from home, exercising in new changes, to make do. all and a better quality of life. push for the former. Above all, I ways. We are making do and My conclusion is simple. We must ensure that the believe we must look to ensure willing to do it. cannot return to business as usual. that the changes we make now Economy Cutting emissions requires simi- We can expect a recession, it is It has failed us in every way, isolat- infrastructure we need will benefit us in the years to lar compromises—for the good of true. It has happened before. I hope ing us, teaching us to live unsus- come; indeed, that they will to pull through this ourselves and the world. We might that we will come to realize that tainably, risking our jobs and live- benefit us in the battle against not feel the urgency quite as much this economic system isn’t working: lihoods on the high-stakes games pandemic and to survive climate catastrophe. as we do when it comes to disease, living in a world where numbers in of the wealthy, and prioritizing the the climate crisis are but if we are to trust the science a stock column can make or break interests of the super rich to those Community that explains COVID to us, then we the livelihoods of people who never of us whose work creates the foun- put in place. After all, To get through this pandemic, must trust the science that explains invested a penny. It isn’t working. dations of life as we know it. there are only so many we will need each other more climate change. It’s not even working for the people We need policies to ensure than ever. The people we have ac- who make money from this sys- equality, sustainability, and a bunkers to hide in, and cess to are those who are around Lifestyle tem—when stocks crash, they crash healthy society, and these are us, the neighbours we pass every Things will change. There will with them. There are ways to pull the policies that will allow us to they don’t belong to us. day, the couple on the balcony be shortages, just as there are ourselves out of this—sustainable emerge from this pandemic stron- across the street, the man smok- now shortages of toilet paper, ways. Routes we can take that will ger than we went in. ing on his fi re escape. hand sanitizer, shampoo, canned lead us all out of a recession into a We must demand of the govern- If we choose to battle the tomatoes, and KD. Yet life goes world where the reality that got us ment to implement policies for the climate crisis in the coming years, on, albeit differently. We are will- into the mess no longer exists. good of the people who elect them. community will be essential. We ing to take the necessary steps, For the people losing their jobs, We must ensure that the infrastruc- need carpooling, people to watch to make ourselves a little uncom- now is a time to push for universal ture we need to pull through this our children when we have to run fortable, when there is a tangible welfare. Now is the time to push pandemic and to survive the climate across town, community gardens emergency. What makes this for New Deal-like measures, which, crisis are put in place. After all, for our vegetables. The COVID-19 emergency more tangible than in the United States, were designed there are only so many bunkers to pandemic is giving us an oppor- the climate crisis? to pull the country out of the Great hide in, and they don’t belong to us. tunity to strengthen our ties with Perhaps it is a fear of getting Depression. It created jobs building Una Šverko is an undergradu- Una Šverko those physically close to us and sick. Perhaps it is because the me- necessary infrastructure, paid art- ate student of English literature at McGill University. Opinion create an unbreakable system of dia, the government, our friends ists to create unity and community support. and family, our neighbours, our within neighbourhoods, cities, and The Hill Times

The best party trick is knowing when to leave. Our fossil fuel lega- cy is coming to an end, and better The uncertainty embedded in oil to sidestep the crash and burn and salvage our strength: adaptability. Economic disruption of this mag- nitude creates a tenable moment to reconsider what Canada’s future and gas serves up another option can be. Oil and gas has relied upon government subsidies for years in The government might ANCOUVER—“This pandem- als were elected in 2015, based on directly linked to climate change, order to be viable and keep us on Vic is like the appetizer to the similar promises. Still, Canada governments will implement the market as a competitor, even as consider this a chance— effects of climate change.” funnels billions of dollars every sweeping, dramatic actions to do the playing fi eld pushes us to the This is the latest nugget from a year into oil and gas—it’s hard to damage control. In January and sidelines (looking at you, OPEC an excuse, even—to series of recent dinner conversa- say exactly how much, as we are February, COVID-19 was happen- and Russia). invest in ourselves. tions with my roommate. We have also one of the least transparent ing somewhere else. People were The government might con- discussions about apocalyptic of the G7 nations with providing dying, but not our neighbours. De- sider this a chance—an excuse, To get ahead of the sci-fi books sometimes, but this fossil fuel subsidy information. The nial is our name, preparation and even—to invest in ourselves. wasn’t one of them. (Though the Canadian oil and gas sector saw a prevention are not our game. To get ahead of the renewable renewable energy game. other week I read Kevin Chong’s 78.5 per cent average loss of share In 2017, the oil and gas sector energy game. It’s not a secret that It’s not a secret that 85 2018 novel The Plague—based on values from 2014 up until 2020, and the transportation sector 85 per cent of Canadian fossil Albert Camus’ classic but set in just prior to COVID-19 spreading accounted for 52 per cent of fuels are exported, and those per cent of Canadian modern-day Vancouver—purely to every corner of the earth. Subsi- Canada’s total greenhouse gas companies are owned by foreign for escapism; it had a nice ending.) dies—a.k.a. taxpayer dollars—are emissions. Share values dropped direct investments. fossil fuels are exported, My roommate needn’t remind the reason the fossil fuel industry steeply over the past six years. When this is all over (and it me that, even with the vigilant fo- has survived as long as it has. Those annoying climate activist will be, at some point), what will and those companies cus on a very real, very now global COVID-19—aside from the kids are growing up and studying Canada look like? Will gas and oil are owned by foreign health crisis, Canada continues horrifi c impact on the health policy and political science. One boot back up, spewing GHG into to warm at twice the rate—three and societal norms of the human only has to read the OPEC Wiki- the atmosphere? We could take direct investments. times, in the North—as the rest population—has devastated the pedia page to get a sense of the this moment of economic disrup- of the world. Through the lens of global economy; inactivity is bad historic volatility of oil and gas. If tion to alter the course of our jobs today’s systems, however, an old for demand. No single person has uncertainty is the one thing that and industries away from a pre- climate crisis and a fresh pan- been spared the consequences, we can’t plan for, then investing carious system that puts money demic are second-fi ddle to a brand including in their day-to-day in the wobbly future of hydro- into foreign coffers, corporations, new economic meltdown. How to comfort and safety, or in their carbons leaves Canada (and the and environmental collapse. After rescue it, and what to rescue, ex- physical- and mental-health states. world) at the whim of an industry all, this is just a taste of what’s to actly? Canada’s economic identity It has damaged people fi nancially. that destabilizes its own viability come, an hors-d’œuvre de catas- is so entwined with oil and gas, it’s Necessarily, it has disproportion- with every GHG emission. A vola- trophe, if you will. no wonder the federal government ately affected lower- and middle- tile climate creates uncertainty Dayna Mahannah is a writer wants to put their money where class citizens. This moment in time in the market and minimizes de- and freelance journalist based their heart is. Letting go ain’t easy. alludes to how and when we may mand due to expanding fi nancial Dayna Mahannah in Vancouver, B.C. Follow her on Canada pledged to phase out fi nally respond to climate catastro- insecurity, jeopardized health, twitter: @daynamahannah Opinion subsidies in 2009 and the Liber- phe: during a state of emergency and death. The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2020 21 COVID-19 research News

of CEPI as proof that while there ister, for example, is able to raise the University of Saskatchewan, Reliable funding may be dips and peaks in CIHR’s attention to certain policy issues which studies human and animal funding for coronavirus-related that are based on the mandate pathogens to develop vaccines research, “at no point has there letter he or she is given. and other protective measures, been zero funding” for pandemic “There are always other com- agreed. for coronavirus preparedness. peting interests, some of them “It is always challenging to “The interest from researchers grab the headlines more consis- approach government and other and priorities for funders waxes tently,” said Mr. Clement, citing funders to ask for [funding] when and wanes, depending on what’s vaccine funding for HIV/AIDS the disease is not there and just the current topic, or what’s front and stem-cell research. warn about it,” Dr. Gerdts said. research key and centre, for public health,” Dr. Former Liberal health minister The lab was the fi rst facility in Kaushic said. Allan Rock, who held the role in Canada to get approval to “har- She said the government Jean Chrétien’s cabinet from 1997 vest a sample of the COVID-19 might have been preoccupied by to 2002, said that, by design, the virus,” the government said on in bracing for other issues such as the opioid agency is able to determine for March 23, adding it gave $23-mil- crisis and the legalization of rec- itself how to allocate funding. lion in funding to the centre. reational cannabis over the last “With the creation of the “It’s hard to tell these stories fi ve years. [CIHR], we took it out of the and relate the urgency when it’s future outbreaks, “I’m sure post-COVID, there political arena and put it in the not there, but [COVID-19] just will be more funding in the hands of scientists [to determine] shows how big the impact of pandemic-preparedness area. how health research would be al- these diseases can be.” There usually is, until something located,” he said. “Much of health Since the outbreak spread say experts, else comes up, and different research was funded depending across the world, more than 1,000 governments have different levels on the topic of the day.” Canadians have died and more of priorities that come up in their The agency was founded in than 28,000 people have tested time.” 2000 and replaced the Medical positive for COVID-19. former MPs Research Council of Canada, with Dr. Gerdts said the more spe- Coronavirus research an expanded mandate aimed at cifi c efforts there are focused on improving the country’s competi- emerging diseases, the better, so Data provided by CIHR ‘ugly duckling,’ says tiveness internationally by boost- those who want to focus on “the ‘The broad support showed that dating back to 2002, former health minister ing funding and enhancing the next coronavirus” are not compet- investments in coronavirus-relat- Former Conservative MP virtual network of researchers. ing for funding with a scientist for research is critical ed research, including measures Tony Clement, who was Ontario “When I was there, a pandemic who wants to study the opioid like vaccines, have fl uctuated health minister during the SARS was certainly on the agenda. We crisis, for example. if we’re going to from $100,000 to $3.3-million. outbreak in 2003 and later served were aware of the possibility that Dr. Kindrachuk said he thinks be able to respond During the time of the SARS as federal health minister from there might be a public health he is one of just a few researchers outbreak in 2003, funding was February 2006 to October 2008, [threat]. It was all very theoreti- in the fi eld at his university. rapidly to new $1.4-million in 2002 and peaked wrote in a March 11 Globe and cal,” said Mr. Rock. “I’m somewhat separated at $3.3-million in 2004, before Mail piece that the “hard lesson from other emerging virus people emerging pathogens dipping to $1.4-million in 2005. of SARS” is that “complacency Researchers face around Canada, and that makes Recently, there was a sharp about public health by successive it diffi cult on a daily basis to be like COVID-19,’ says jump in the 2019-20 year to governments, including my own, ‘sleepless nights’ able to collaborate directly with Dr. Alan Bernstein, $54.2-million, in the wake of the contributed to the challenge of For scientists, it can be an people,” he said, adding that since fi rst reported case of COVID-19 in containing SARS.” uphill battle to get their research the pandemic, he has seen efforts the founding Wuhan, China, in November 2019. funded because of the competitive “at the grassroots level, to identify “We need a way for the next nature of applying for grants and teams of researchers” who can president of the pandemic, [when] it breaks out, of limited available funding, said compete for grant money as a being prepared in terms of having Dr. Jason Kindrachuk, assistant team. Canadian Institutes a pool of money ready, in terms of professor at the University of For Dr. Rob Annan, president advancing fundamental research Manitoba. “It has gotten increas- and CEO of Genome Canada, for Health Research. across a broad front, in terms of ingly diffi cult to convince funding there will be refl ections on how having a cadre of coronavirus agencies to be more proactive the money was spent during the researchers,” said Dr. Bernstein. with infectious disease in par- pandemic for months to come. BY PALAK MANGAT “You don’t hire a fi re depart- ticular,” said Dr. Kindrachuk, who While not one of the main & AIDAN CHAMANDY ment the moment a fi re breaks also holds the Canada Research sources of federal research fund- out, right? We have fi re depart- Chair in emerging diseases. ing, the not-for-profi t pitched s the world races to develop ments when there’s no fi re, so we Funding agencies like CIHR, the in $250,000 to help Ottawa in Aa COVID-19 vaccine, and need that in the case of the next Social Sciences and Humanities its COVID-19 efforts, and has governments continue to grapple pandemic.” Research Council (SSHRC), and invested in areas like forestry, hu- with the fallout of a global pan- In response to the pandemic, Natural Sciences and Engineering man health, agriculture, and the demic, Canadian researchers, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Research Council (NSERC) “are environment in the past. Other experts, and former Parliamentar- (Papineau, Que.) announced on facing limitations” in their own contributors include the Canada ians say stable research funding March 11 the government would Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured sources of funding, he added. Research Coordinating Commit- for pandemic preparedness is spend $1-billion to combat the on March 23, 2020, announced last Data provided by NSERC tee, which pitched in $7-million, crucial to respond to the current novel coronavirus, including month that the government is spending showed that it provided a total of and the International Develop- outbreak and prepare the country $275-million for medical research $275-million for medical research on $5.8-million in coronavirus-relat- ment Research Centre, which for the next one. like vaccine development, antivi- coronavirus. The Hill Times photograph by ed research since 2000, peaking pitched in $1.5-million. Dr. Alan Bernstein, president rals, and clinical trials. Andrew Meade in 2018 when it reached $717,000. According to Dr. Annan, about and CEO of the Canadian Insti- Since the outbreak, Dr. Bern- Figures shared by the SSHRC half of Genome Canada’s an- tute for Advanced Research, said stein noted that Ottawa has also Speaking to The Hill Times last indicated that from 2000 to 2020, nual budget, which can climb up proactive and increased invest- provided $40-million to the Coali- week, Mr. Clement said that coro- fi gures ranged from $354,000 to a to $100-million, goes to health ments in research are likely to tion for Epidemic Preparedness navirus research might be “the peak of $3.4-million in 2019. and the other half towards non- bring forward new technologies, a Innovations (CEPI), a Norwegian- ugly duckling of health research, Dr. Kindrachuk commended health-related research. pattern he has seen in years past. headquartered foundation backed in that it is probably underfunded the feds’ efforts to quickly dole “Viral research has not been as “The broad support for re- and co-founded by the Bill and for research compared to some of out research money amid the pressing a concern over the last, search is critical if we’re going Melinda Gates Foundation and the other categories.” outbreak, but said the research say, fi ve years, simply because to be able to respond rapidly to the Wellcome Trust. “You’re always dealing with a community wants to see more other issues had come to the fore,” new emerging pathogens like Previously, Canada contrib- new strain; you’re always dealing sustained funding for coronavirus said Dr. Annan, adding that envi- COVID-19,” said Dr. Bernstein in a uted $10-million to CEPI in 2018, with the unknowns of what the in the long term. ronmental studies on developing phone interview. on top of the $4-million in fund- morbidity is, what the individual “There are a lot of research- clean technology to mitigate the The founding president of the ing given when the coalition was unique characteristics of a coro- ers in Canada that have a lot of impacts of climate change, for ex- Canadian Institutes for Health founded in 2017. The coalition has navirus are,” he said. sleepless nights debating where ample, might have been an area Research, Canada’s fl agship funded teams such as Moderna, “But there’s no question in they’re going to be able to fi nd where governments also focussed agency for health research fund- a Massachusetts-based biotech my mind that, if there had been their next small pot of money their money. ing, Dr. Bernstein said there’s fi rm, which has said a vaccine greater sustained funding for re- in order to keep their research “The more limited [available] a “whole slew of technologies” could be ready for emergency search in this area, it could have programs going,” said Dr. Kindra- funds are, the more those deci- needed for vaccine development, use as soon as this fall. A more made a difference, and Canadians chuk. “I think we need to be able sions impact areas that maybe from DNA sequencing to viral widespread rollout could take at could have been world leaders in to fi nd mechanisms to better sup- aren’t front and centre, and that’s vectors, that were not developed least another year, according to it. … I’m sure you could say the port our researchers in Canada, where you end up seeing prob- due to a lack of funding. the company. same thing about 50 other epide- so that they can essentially focus lems when it comes to research The agency has an annual Dr. Charu Kaushic, the scien- miological threats.” on the science and research itself, for coronavirus,” he said. budget of more than $1-billion tifi c director of the Institute of Funding agencies, such as as opposed to how they’re going —With fi les from Beatrice Paez and is responsible for allocating Infection and Immunity, one of the institute, have much sway to keep the doors open.” [email protected] funding to various health re- the 13 institutes under the CIHR, over where to direct funding, Mr. Dr. Volker Gerdts, CEO and di- [email protected] search studies. also pointed to Canada’s support Clement said, but the health min- rector of the VIDO-InterVac lab at The Hill Times 22 MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News COVID-19 & leadership

The next federal election will be a referendum on how Prime Minister Next federal Justin Trudeau, pictured April 14, 2020, at his daily press conference outside Rideau Cottage, and his minority election a government handled the COVID-19 pandemic, say veteran pollsters. Pollster Nik Nanos says the decision on when to end the lockdown will be referendum a tough situation for the federal government and provincial governments, but they will need to work together in order on Trudeau’s to get it right. The Hill Times photograph by management Andrew Meade way the municipal government Mr. Nanos also said this is the role in the lives of people in the tackled the pandemic. In compar- decision where Canadians would post COVID-19 era. ison, the same survey suggested like to see leadership from the “The kind of skeptical, mini- that only 44 per cent of Ameri- federal and provincial levels of mal government, libertarian ethic of COVID-19, cans approved of U.S. President governments, and expect them to really just kind of went out the Donald Trump’s handling of work together and to get it right. window in the face of this. Ev- the outbreak, while 66 per cent This is a tough situation for the erybody turned to government to supported its handling at the federal government; providing solve [the economic and health is- state level, and 67 per cent their fi nancial assistance to Canadians sues as a result of the pandemic],” say pollsters, municipal government’s work to is raising debt levels higher and said Mr. Graves. “Now that con- ward off this pandemic. higher with each passing week, sensus, which has emerged, and, The survey suggested that if an but sending people back to their particularly in Canada, I think election were held today, 39 per regular work and social activities it’s relatively fragile. It’s strong cent of decided voters would sup- carries serious risks. now, but it could easily dissipate, ‘a crisis like port the Liberal Party, 28 per cent “The problem with the current depending on what happens.” would support the Conservatives, scenario is, who will be the fi rst Mr. Graves said that U.S. 18 per cent the NDP, and eight per to propose stepping down from President Donald Trump’s han- cent would vote for the Greens. kind of the current regime? And dling of the outbreak would be The survey of 1,508 Canadians I would expect that, politically, a key benchmark against which no other’ was conducted between April 9 there’s probably not a lot of poli- Canadians would judge their own and April 12 and had a margin of ticians who would want to be the government’s performance in error of plus or minus 2.5 percent- fi rst to send folks back to work dealing with this outbreak. age points, 19 times out of 20. in isolation when other provinces “The major benefi t, and this is a top-of-mind issue for Canadians Because of the lockdown are not having it,” Mr. Nanos said. obviously a horrible way to look Veteran pollster in January, is now trending down across the country, as of last week, “Managing the transition out at it because the political calculus Frank Graves says in signifi cance. close to six million Canadians had of the pandemic is probably a is sort of the last issue right now, “It’s basically like a rocket, fi led for EI or emergency fi nancial classic situation where Canadians but the Canadian government will the COVID-19 global it’s like a rocket trend line when aid from the federal government. would expect leadership from benefi t signifi cantly from the fact it comes to importance,” said Mr. According to a recent IMF report, the federal government and for that it’s been such a disaster the pandemic has brought Nanos. the global outbreak is a “crisis the federal government to work way it’s played out in the United “Corona is engineered as the like no other” and predicted that directly with provincial govern- States,” said Mr. Graves. “So it’s the world to the ‘cusp perfect runaway issue. What do the Canadian economy would ments, so that this happens in a hard to imagine that this will not I mean by that? You have the shrink by 6.6 per cent this year. way that is in the public good, but produce an advantage for Cana- of another great intersection of people’s health and The report said that the economy that is also orderly.” dian governments.” transformation,’ but jobs at the same time and it affects would grow by 4.2 per cent next Pollster Frank Graves of EKOS Léger pollster Andrew Enns everyone. We always talk about year assuming that the pandemic Research, in an interview with said in an interview with The Hill it’s unknown what issues that drive opinion or ones will fade in the second half of this The Hill Times last week, de- Times that from a political angle, that are close to the day-to-day year and all lockdown measures scribed the COVID-19 pandemic the Trudeau government has an changes it will create lives of Canadians, there’s nothing are lifted. The report also said that as a great transformational point advantage over the opposition really more close to people’s day- the economic consequences of the in history. He said it’s not possible parties in this crisis. They are until this international to-day lives than the coronavirus pandemic would “very likely” push to predict at this point specifi cally dominating the agenda and the crisis is over. right now, and the health concerns the global economy in to the worst what the new normal will be in media coverage of the pandemic and the economic concerns they recession since the Great Depres- the social, economic, or political outbreak overshadowing ev- have,” Mr. Nanos said. sion of 1930s. lives of people around the world, erything else. But, he said, the According to a Nanos Research The Parliamentary Budget Of- as it all depends on the fi nal Continued from page 1 opposition parties can distinguish survey released last week, 48.8 per fi ce said last week that the size of outcome of the crisis. Before the themselves from the government actually do to the economy,” said cent of Canadians said that the the Canadian defi cit will go up to interview, he said on social media by offering their ideas in the Nik Nanos, founder and chief coronavirus was the most impor- $184-billion by next year. that after this crisis is over, the recovery phase when Canadians data scientist for Nanos Research. tant national concern to them, As of last week, there were world will undergo a number of start to go back to work. “And if people are out of work, about 14 per cent identifi ed health 28,205 confi rmed cases of CO- massive structural changes in dif- “I think there’s absolutely room and are underemployed or unem- and economy as most important, VID-19 in the country, and more ferent aspects of life. for opposition parties to start to ployed, it’s never good news for and 5.6 per cent described envi- than 1,000 Canadians had died “The world is on cusp of point out what they feel are wrong any incumbent government—even ronment as the top of mind issue. because of the illness. Accord- another great transformation. For approaches, or they could promote if the government says we did the In mid-March, only about seven ing to Johns Hopkins University, those who think we return to the different approaches to what the best that we could. So, the fact of per cent of Canadians thought that there were 2,016,020 confi rmed status quo, you are out to lunch,” country needs,” said. Mr. Enns, the the matter is they’re going to be coronavirus was the most impor- COVID-19 cases globally, and tweeted Mr. Graves on April 11. executive vice president for Win- judged not just on a response, but tant issue to them. The rolling poll 130,528 people had died. “We are headed for a massive nipeg for Léger Market Research. also on managing the impact on of 1,000 Canadians came out on Meanwhile, Mr. Nanos said structural changes in how we “There you will see, I suspect from the country.” April 14 and had a margin of error that one of the key decisions to live, what we value, the role of all the parties, much, much more Mr. Nanos described COV- of plus or minus 3.1 percentage make at the federal and provin- the state and public institutions, vocal commentary as we start to ID-19 as an issue that is affecting points, 19 times out of 20. cial levels going forward will be border between work and life.” move into that return to work.” the everyday lives—health and A Léger poll that also came when to lift or ease the lockdown Canadians are looking to the Mr. Enns agreed that the jobs—of all Canadians. He said out on April 14 suggested that 76 so that people could go back to government for help navigat- consequences of the outbreak the issue started to appear on per cent of Canadians were satis- work, as an error in this decision ing this complex situation, even will bring signifi cant changes in Canadians’ radar in late January, fi ed with the government’s efforts could result in another severe those who have traditionally been societies around the world, but and between mid-March and now to fi ght COVID-19, while 84 per wave of the virus. It remains to be the proponents of smaller govern- that it’s not possible to predict the it has shot up like “a rocket” in its cent expressed support for the seen in the coming weeks which ment. He said it remains to be precise nature of these changes. importance to people. In compari- provincial government’s efforts, provincial government will be the seen if Canadians will continue to [email protected] son, the environment, which was and 71 per cent approved of the fi rst to lift the lockdown. have confi dence in government’s The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2020 23 Canada-U.S. News

disagreement between Canada on Earth with COVID-19, we’re and the U.S. over impactful poli- not going to let any Canadians cies will lead to negative conse- into the United States,’ that would quences for Canada. be worse,” he said. “I don’t think that’s the case in this situation. I think it’s not Less strain on bilateral so much we have to be worried about the Americans retaliat- relationship as ing against us or punishing us Canada and U.S. look in some way,” he said. “It’s really much more about, ‘How do we domestically prevent the way the Trump ad- While in the midst of the ministration is handling this from NAFTA renegotiations now- making our situation, which is Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia already extremely diffi cult, much, Freeland (University-Rosedale, much worse.’ ” Ont.) highlighted the need to deal Christopher Sands, director of with contentious disagreements the Canada Institute at Washing- behind close doors, high-level ton, D.C.’s Wilson Center, said the Canadian politics, including Ms. fast-approaching U.S. presidential Freeland, have publicly rebuked election on Nov. 3 is infl uencing some American proposals, such Mr. Trump’s desire to see the U.S. as militarizing the Canada-U.S. economy reopen, noting that the border. success of the American economy Mr. Norton said Canadians prior to the pandemic is one of expect their political leaders to his stronger selling points for re- react when Canada is targeted. election. “Canadians, for domestic “It was not to me surprising consumption, insist on what seem that as soon as he thought he to us to be outrageous initiatives could, he would start banging the by the U.S. [to be] contested, drum … to get the economy going combated, taken issue with,” Mr. At times throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump again,” Prof. Sands said. Norton said. “We don’t allow our have been misaligned as the U.S. president has pushed for reopening the American economy as the U.S. president “Justin Trudeau is the oppo- politicians to just ignore outra- prepares for re-election. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade and photograph courtesy of the White House/Flickr site,” he added. “He’s already had geous things that on their face his election, fi rst of all, and, sec- seem targeted in some cases at ond of all, the Canadian economy Canada.” stinks.” “They have to walk a fi ne line Prof. Sands noted that while to not be too provocative with the Mr. Trump needs a strong econo- people that we need help from in Trump coronavirus my for his re-election campaign, the White House and elsewhere in Mr. Trudeau can defl ect blame the administration and sometimes for the performance of Canada’s in Congress, who have helped economy on to the coronavirus to successfully walk back these pandemic. things,” he said. pronouncements have He added that the U.S. govern- Prof. Sands said, as opposed to ment’s push to restart its econo- during the NAFTA renegotiations, my won’t have a large impact on now with the Canadian and U.S. Canada’s economic approach, federal governments managing despite the integrated nature of the effects of the coronavirus pan- had little impact on the two countries. demic domestically, there is less If Canada does face pressure worry about bilateral tension. to reopen its economy from the “The bite politically or bilater- U.S., it is “much more likely” to ally is much, much smaller,” he come from the private sector to said. “I don’t see Trump neces- Canadian response ensure supply chains, Prof. Sands sarily having to respond to every said. Canadian disagreement.” Prof. Bow said the pressure After Mr. Trump announced that Canada will face to reopen that the U.S. was cutting funding the economy will come through for the World Health Organiza- as few have been tion, International Development its social links and not economic integration with the United States. Minister Karina Gould (Burling- “There will be a ton of ex- ton, Ont.) told The Globe and Mail tra pressure on the Canadian last week that the decision was realized, say analysts government because of what’s “disappointing.” happening in the [United] States,” While Mr. Trump’s pronounce- he said, adding that given the ments have led to Canadian reac- reopening of the U.S. economy, Mr. Trump insisted last week interconnectivity of American tion and outreach to U.S. counter- ‘Generally, [Donald restrict the fl ow of much-needed that measures to restrict move- and Canadian media and social parts, experts on the Canada-U.S. medical equipment to Canada, ment across the Canada-U.S. media, “the direction of the debate relationship told The Hill Times Trump] makes and deploy troops along the border, except for essential travel, there, will have an impact on the that it hasn’t had a substantial im- Canada-U.S. border. But so far, could be loosened. debates here.” pact on the federal government’s pronouncements none of the suggestions have seen He told reporters that the “The public messaging chal- effort to curb COVID-19. and they get quietly the light of day. Canada-U.S. border would be lenge for managing the pandemic “[Canada] has become pretty “Most of what [Mr. Trump] “one of the early borders to be re- is just going to be that much more practised at dealing with the walked back because threatens goes away, it doesn’t leased” from the measure, noting diffi cult for the Canadian health Trump administration and its happen,” said Roy Norton, a Canada’s success at curbing the authorities because of the way volatility,” Mr. Norton said. they ... make no sense former Canadian consul general virus, which led to some specula- the Trump administration has ap- Mr. Norton added that while in Detroit and Chicago, noting the tion that border restrictions could proached it,” said Prof. Bow. Ms. Freeland or PMO chief of for America, to say renegotiation of NAFTA and tar- be lessened soon. Mr. Norton said that Mr. staff Katie Telford may have to nothing for Canada,’ iffs on steel and aluminum exports But later in the week, multiple Trump’s suggestion that the pick up the phone to stickhandle being exceptions. “Generally, he media outlets reported that an Canada-U.S. border would be one through an issue with the White says former diplomat makes pronouncements and they agreement was reached to extend of the fi rst to resume normalcy is House, Canada is always in a get quietly walked back because the border measures for another “encouraging” due to the impor- reactive mode with the U.S., to a Roy Norton. they … make no sense for Ameri- month. The restrictions were set tance of cross-border movement certain extent. ca, to say nothing for Canada.” to expire on April 21. to Canada, however he added, the Prof. Bow said while the “A lot of these pronounce- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau U.S. cannot unilaterally decide pronouncements do take up some Continued from page 1 ments, frankly, are less meaning- (Papineau, Que.) told reporters on what will happen with the border. government resources, it is a consequence to the Canadian ful than initially assumed,” said April 16 that it would be “many “I don’t invest a lot of conse- manageable diffi culty. federal government as few have Mr. Norton, diplomat-in-residence weeks” before the measures are quence in what the president said, “It has used up resources that come to pass. at the Balsillie School of Interna- lifted. but, on balance, it’s better that they would have rather used for As the two countries try to tional Affairs and a fellow at the Dalhousie University political he said that than signalling the other things, but I don’t think it deal with the impacts of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. science professor Brian Bow, who extreme opposite, which is, ‘We’re has severely compromised the coronavirus pandemic, there have “We probably vest each of them specializes in Canada-U.S. rela- not going to contemplate opening Canadian response,” he said. been rumblings that Mr. Trump with more consequence than we tions, said there is a tendency for the border with Canada forever [email protected] would be moving to quicken the should.” Canadians to feel that potential as long … as there’s a single soul The Hill Times 24 MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES CLASSIFIEDS

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Call to consult • 613 234 5758 For more information or to reserve your government relations [email protected] • [email protected] and public affairs advertising space, contact The Hill Times display advertising department at 613-688-8841. THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2020 25

In other offi ce staffi ng news, Pierce Collier, who was hired on as an Atlantic regional affairs adviser to Ms. Schulte in December, has been promoted and is now also an issues manager to the minister. hill climbers He’s a former assistant to then- Liberal MP Nick by Laura Ryckewaert Whalen and a former special assistant for Atlantic regional affairs to then- New parliamentary science minister Kirsty Duncan. Anne Dawson is chief of staff aff airs head for Seniors to Ms. Schulte, as previously Pierce Collier is now an reported. Also issues manager to Ms. currently part Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna, Schulte. Photograph of the minis- pictured heading into the House of Commons Minister Schulte courtesy of LinkedIn ter’s team are: for Question Period on Jan. 28. The Hill Times Stephanie Muc- photograph by Andrew Meade cilli, director of policy; Melissa Rumble, director of operations; Michael MacKin- degree in political science and Spanish at non, digital and social media lead; Chike Queen’s University, during which time she Agbasi, policy adviser; and Ophelia John, spent a year studying abroad at Cardiff executive assistant. University in Wales. Headed in the other direction is Nathan Bessner, who until recently had been a Staff changes for senior special assistant for operations in Mr. Mendicino’s offi ce since the start of the Mendicino, McKenna year. Mr. Bessner has since left to join Infrastructure and Communities Minister Catherine McKenna’s team as a policy and parliamentary affairs adviser. He’s also a former special assistant for operations to Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains and a former assistant to Mr. Mendicino as a Toronto Liberal MP. Along with Mr. Bessner, Ms. McKenna recently welcomed Paul Hershaw to her offi ce as a senior adviser for Ontario. Mr. Hershaw has spent the last two and a half years, starting in December 2017, as national fi eld director for the federal Seniors Minister Deb Schulte, pictured in the West Block building on Nov. 21, 2019. The Hill Liberal Party, including through the 2019 Times photograph by Andrew Meade election. He’d been working for the federal party steadily since 2013, previously, he was a Before joining the fi rm, Mr. MacKenzie Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino pictured national fi eld manager for the party, and Plus, Hill Climbers takes spent about a year and a half as legislative after a cabinet meeting in the West Block on has also been a regional fi eld organizer in a look at recent staff assistant to Brampton Liberal MP Sonia Dec. 10, 2019. The Hill Times photograph by B.C., during which time he served as cam- Sidhu, having joined her offi ce from the Andrew Meade paign manager for now Liberal MP Gordie additions in the offi ces of federal Liberal Party’s headquarters where Hogg’s successful 2017 byelection cam- he’d spent about the same amount of time Immigration, Citizenship, and Refugees paign in South Surrey-White Rock, B.C. Immigration Minister Marco as a social media co-ordinator, including Minister Marco Mendicino has a couple of Mr. Hershaw also stepped away to oversee through the 2015 federal election. new staff in his offi ce, including Matthew the New Brunswick Liberal Party’s fi eld Mendicino and Finance Daniel Pollak has been hired as press sec- Paisley, who’s joined the minister’s policy team during that province’s 2018 election retary to Ms. Schulte and started on the job team as an adviser. and is a former campaign adviser for the Minister Bill Morneau. last month. He recently served as press secre- Mr. Paisley was previously working for Nova Scotia Liberals. tary for former Ontario Liberal MPP Steven Mr. Mendicino in his capacity as the Liberal Ms. McKenna’s offi ce is run by chief of hane MacKenzie is back among Parlia- Del Duca’s successful leadership campaign; MP for Eglinton-Lawrence, Ont. He has a staff Adam Carroll, as previously reported, Sment Hill’s staffi ng ranks and is one of ultimately, Mr. Del Duca was elected to lead bachelor’s degree in political science and and also currently includes: Bruce Chead- three recent additions to Seniors Minister the provincial party on March 7, becoming government, with a minor in French, from le, director of issues management; Lindsay Deb Schulte’s team. the fi rst Italian-Canadian to do so. Halifax’s Dalhou- Hunter, director of operations and parlia- Mr. MacKenzie took on the role of direc- Mr. Pollak graduated with a bachelor’s sie University. mentary relations; Claire Seaborn, director tor of parliamentary affairs to the minister degree in political science from Carleton Casey Rich- of policy and legal affairs; David Taylor, last month, after almost three years as a University last year, after which he spent a ardson was also director of communications; Chantalle Au- senior consultant with the public affairs few months as a co-op placement with the recently hired bertin, press secretary; Edward Rawlinson, and government Canadian Medical Association’s inter- on as a special senior adviser; Kate Proctor, senior policy relations fi rm, governmental affairs and advocacy team. assistant for adviser; Madeleine Gomery, parliamentary Ensight Canada, While at university, he served as vice- Ontario regional relations and operations assistant; and during which president of the Rideau River Residence affairs in the Louise Imbeault, executive assistant and time he was a Association, did a co-op placement with immigration scheduler. frequent pres- Transport Canada’s marine policy division, minister’s offi ce. Over in Mr. Mendicino’s offi ce, Cyndi ence at events and volunteered on the Hill. She’s spent Jenkins is chief of staff, as previously and parties in He’s now working closely with Ms. the last year and reported. Also currently working as part and around Par- Schulte’s director of communications, a half plus as Casey Richardson is of the immigration minister’s political liament Hill. Scott Bardsley. a constituency a special assistant for staff team are: Michael Jones, director While at Shiraz M. Keushgerian recently joined assistant to Mr. Ontario regional affairs in of issues management; Olivier Cullen, Ensight, Mr. the minister’s offi ce as regional adviser for Mendicino, start- the immigration minister’s director of operations and outreach; MacKenzie was Quebec and assistant to Ms. Schulte’s par- ing shortly after offi ce. Photograph Marie-Pierre Richard, director of commu- a registered lob- liamentary secretary, Liberal MP Stéphane the June 2018 courtesy of Facebook nications; Kevin Lemkay, press secre- byist for a num- Lauzon. He marked his fi rst day on the job Ontario election. tary; Olga Radchenko, director of policy; Shane MacKenzie is back ber of companies on April 6. Before the election, which ultimately saw Nyagua Chiek, manager of parliamentary on the Hill as director and associations, Before then, Mr. Keushgerian had spent the Kathleen Wynne Liberal government affairs; Kyle Nicholson, senior adviser; of parliamentary affairs including Shop- the last three months working for the Trade unseated by now-Premier Doug Ford’s Lisa Cheskes, director of case manage- to the seniors minister. pers Drug Mart, Commissioner Service and prior to that Progressive Conservative, Ms. Richardson ment; Émilie Simard, issues manager; Photograph courtesy of Aurora Canna- was an assistant event co-ordinator for had been a Liberal staffer at Queen’s Park, Sebastian Clarke, special assistant for LinkedIn bis Inc., Stelco Miss Prêt à Manger, a food and catering where she worked for Mr. Mendicino’s Ontario; Morgan Kelly, special assistant Inc., the City business in Montreal. He has a bachelor’s provincial riding counterpart, then-Ontario for the Atlantic; Eric Gustavson, spe- of Edmonton, United Farmers of Alberta, degree in political science and government MPP (and now Toronto city councillor) cial assistant for Western and Northern and the Christian Labour Association of from Concordia University, and is a former Mike Colle. regional affairs; and Christopher Masotti, Canada, among others. He also acted as vice-president with the International Eth- Ms. Richardson attended Toronto’s executive assistant. a political pundit, in print and on political nic Associations Council, amongst other Havergal College before heading off [email protected] prime-time panels. past experience. to Kingston, Ont., to study a bachelor’s The Hill Times 26 MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News Elections Canada Canada’s chief electoral offi cer Perrault consulting provincial counterparts regularly on how to hold an election if one is called in the midst of COVID-19

likely possibility at this time, considering Elections Canada is that the last election happened only six months ago. The Conservatives are cur- assessing its capacity to rently in the process of electing their new handle a greater number leader. Outgoing Conservative Party Lead- er Andrew Scheer (Regina-Qu’Appelle, of votes by mail system for Sask.) has already announced he won’t lead the party in the next election and will the next election, according stay on until the new leader is elected. The leadership election was scheduled in to a media statement by June, but has been cancelled because of COVID-19, and a new date is likely to be Elections Canada. fi xed in May. On top of that, like other countries Continued from page 1 around the world, Canada is dealing with “The chief electoral offi cers from the the COVID-19 pandemic wreaking havoc various electoral management bodies on the health and economic security of Ca- across the country are speaking regularly nadians. In this context, it’s highly unlikely on how to manage an election in the cur- that an election will be called anytime rent context, and will continue to do so as soon. But Elections Canada has to be pre- Canada's Chief Electoral Offi cer Stéphane Perrault is consulting with his provincial counterparts on the situation evolves,” said Natasha Gauth- pared in case one is called for unforeseen a regular basis to plan for a federal election if one is called in the midst or immediately after the ier, a spokesperson for Election Canada, in reasons. COVID-19 crisis is over. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade an email to The Hill Times, but did not say Late last week, Elections Canada an- the precise nature of discussions. nounced that the agency had formed an “We have been monitoring how the internal working group to plan for the situation is unfolding in other jurisdic- possibility if an election is triggered during tions around the pandem- the world ic. Among through our other things, normal moni- the work- toring chan- ing group is nels (e.g., examining news media Elections monitoring, Canada’s social media capacity to accounts) handle a which have much larger continued number of to operate voters should remotely,” they choose Ms. Gauthier to vote by stated. mail. In the Because of 2019 general the fi xed date election, only election law 55,000 Cana- in Canada, dians living in Canada the next fed- While it’s unlikely to happen in the current political and abroad eral election scenario, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s minority voted by mail is scheduled government could be defeated at any time as opposition and in the for Oct. 23, parties outnumber the governing party. The Hill Times 2015 election, 2023. The last photograph by Andrew Meade general elec- 34,000 Cana- tion yielded dians used a minority government and the opposition mail in ballot. In total, 18.3-million voted in parties outnumber the governing party the 2019 election, and 17.7-million in 2015. which means an election can be called at If an election were held in the midst of a any time if the Liberals lose a confi dence pandemic or immediately after, the number vote in the House. But the House has of Canadians who might choose to vote by adjourned and most of the country is in mail would likely go up signifi cantly. lockdown because of the pandemic. “A viable election where all electors In 2019, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s vote by mail would require fundamental (Papineau, Que.) Liberals were reduced changes to the Canada Elections Act,” said from a majority with 184 seats to a minor- the Elections Canada media statement last ity with 157 seats, while the Conserva- week. “While not excluding adaptations tives increased their seats by 22 more and to the act, the agency’s current efforts are carried 121 seats. The Bloc Québécois won focused on assessing its ability to adapt its 32, the NDP 24, the Green Party three, and approach within the general parameters one Independent MP was elected. To form of the existing regime. Any election in this a majority government, the winning party context will likely involve a combination of needed 170 MPs in the 338-member House. adjustments to voting services, including In order to defeat the government and more electors voting by mail, among other force an election, the three recognized measures.” opposition parties would have to vote [email protected] together to force an election, a highly un- The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2020 27 Events Feature

A shopper, across Canada is a free speakers’ series in cities across the pictured on country featuring Stonewall Riot activist Martin Boyce. Boyce April 8, 2020, is among a handful of surviving Stonewall activists whose contributions have had a signifi cant impact on our communi- wearing a ties. Join us as he shares his stories of uprising and rebellion, covering over what motivated him that night. their mouth lines up to WEDNESDAY, JULY 8 enter Canada Canada’s Foremost Fintech Conference FFCON20—Featur- Computer ing high-growth start-ups and leading industry experts across on Laurier fi ntech sectors including digital banking, P2P fi nance, AI, Avenue West capital markets, Wealthtech, payments, crypto, and block- chain. July 8-9. Speakers include: Robert Asselin, senior in Ottawa. director public policy, BlackBerry; Paul Schulte, founder and The Hill Times editor, Schulte Research; Craig Asano, founder and CEO, photograph by NCFA; George Bordianu, co-founder and CEO, Balance; Andrew Meade Julien Brazeau, partner, Deloitte; Alixe Cormick, president, Venture Law Corporation; Nikola Danaylov, founder, keynote speaker, author futurist, Singularity Media; Pam Draper, president and CEO, Bitvo; Justin Hartzman, co-founder and CEO, CoinSmart; Peter-Paul Van Hoeken, founder & CEO, FrontFundr; Cynthia Huang, CEO and co-founder, Altcoin Fantasy; Austin Hubbel, CEO and co-founder, Consilium Crypto; Patrick Mandic, CEO, Mavennet; Mark Morissette, co-founder & CEO, Foxquilt; Cato Pastoll, co-founder & CEO, Lending Loop; Bernd Petak, investment partner, Northmark Ventures; Ali Pourdad, Pourdad Capital Partners, Family Offi ce; Richard Prior, global head of policy and research, FDATA; Richard Remillard, president, Remillard Consulting Group; Jennifer Reynolds, president & CEO, Toronto Finance International; Jason Saltzman, partner, Gowling WLG Canada; James Wallace, co-chair and co-CEO, Exponential; Alan Wunsche, CEO & chief token offi cer, Tokenfunder; and Danish Yusuf, founder and CEO, Zensurance. For more It’s Earth Day on April 22, hug a tree information, please visit: https://fi ntechandfunding.com/. THURSDAY, OCT. 15 June 26. The Senate was scheduled to break from June 29 and director of technology, CERT; Jennifer McKelvie, To- PPF Testimonial Dinner and Awards—Join us at the 33rd until Sept. 22. The Senate’s possible September sitting days ronto City Councillor; and Christine Rhodes, Central Canada annual event to network and celebrate as the Public Policy Parliamentary are Sept. 21, 25, 28. It’s scheduled to sit Sept. 22-24 and market leader, climate change and sustainability services, Forum honours Canadians who have made their mark on Sept. 29-Oct. 1, with a possible sitting day on Friday, Oct. EY. The virtual event, running Wednesday, April 22 from policy and leadership. Anne McLellan and Senator Peter 2. The possible Senate sitting days are Oct. 5, 9, 19, 23, noon to 1 p.m., is free of charge via canadianclub.org. Harder will take their place among a cohort of other stellar Calendar 26, and 30. It’s scheduled to sit Oct. 6-8; it takes a break Navigating Politics in Uncertain Times—Research Canadians who we’ve honoured over the last 33 years, from Oct. 12-16; it will sit Oct. 20-22; and Oct. 27-29. The Canada hosts a webinar on “On (and Off) the Hill: Navi- people who have dedicated themselves to making Canada November possible Senate days are: Nov. 2, 6, 16, 20, 23, gating Politics in Uncertain Times.” Michelle McLean, a better place through policy leadership and public service. 27, 30. It’s scheduled to sit Nov. 3-5; it will take a break interim general manager, Ottawa and senior vice-president The gala event will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15, at the from Nov. 9-13; it will sit Nov. 17-19; and Nov. 24-26. The of national health and wellness at Hill+Knowlton Strate- Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 255 Front St. W., Toronto. possible December Senate sitting days are: Dec. 4, 7, and gies Canada, will discuss the changing political climate SATURDAY, OCT. 24 11. The Senate is scheduled to sit Dec. 1-3; Dec. 8-10 and during this unprecedented global public health crisis. it will sit Dec. 14-18. We’ll also update you once the Senate Deborah Gordon-El-Bihbety, Research Canada’s president Parliamentary Press Gallery Dinner—The Parliamen- calendar has been confi rmed. and CEO, will explore what this means for health research tary Press Gallery Dinner happens on Saturday, Oct. and innovation advocates now and for the post-COVID-19 24, in the Sir John A. Macdonald Building on Welling- WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22 world. Wednesday, April 22, from 1 to 2 p.m., via rc-rc.ca. ton Street in Ottawa. MONDAY, APRIL 20 Earth Day—It’s Earth Day on April 22. In honour of the THURSDAY, APRIL 23 FRIDAY, OCT. 30 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the organization Earth Day House Sitting—The House has been suspended until Canada is inviting citizens to take simple and concrete Foreign Minister talks Foreign Affairs—Foreign Af- CJF Awards Celebrating 30 Years of Excellence in Jour- Monday, April 20, and the spring schedule is still not actions at home. For the 2020 edition of its campaign, it fairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne will deliver nalism—The Canadian Journalism Foundation Awards will confi rmed due to the global pandemic. It was scheduled is also offering activities and tools to assist municipalities remarks in a video conference hosted by the Montreal be held on Oct. 30, 2020, at the Ritz-Carlton, Toronto, to sit for four straight weeks until May 15. It was then in their role as leaders in the ecological transition. Earth Council on Foreign Relations on Thursday, April 23, hosted by Rick Mercer, former host of The Rick Mercer scheduled to take a one-week break and to resume sit- Day Canada will also announce that its reach is now pan- from noon to 12:30 p.m., via corim.qc.ca. Report. The CBC’s Anna Maria Tremonti will be honoured. ting again on May 25, followed by four straight sitting Canadian and that it will support citizens and organizations Tables are $7,500 and tickets are $750. For more infor- weeks, until its scheduled adjournment on June 23, but from coast to coast in efforts to protect the environment. As FRIDAY, APRIL 24 mation on tables and sponsorship opportunities, contact none of this has been confi rmed yet. The House was also part of this new campaign, Earth Day Canada encour- Ipsos Ask Me Anything COVID-19 Webinar—It looks Josh Gurfi nkel at jgurfi [email protected] or 416-955-0394. scheduled to adjourn again for three months and to return ages citizens to take action for the environment as part of like Canadians will be closing out their sixth week of THURSDAY, NOV. 12 in the fall on Monday, Sept. 21, for three straight weeks. their daily lives. To mark the occasion, the organization is physical distancing by April 24. Ipsos expects public It was scheduled to adjourn for one week and to sit again unveiling a new webpage, entitled #EarthDayAtHome, with opinion to be rapidly shifting but will be in the fi eld ev- Liberal Party National Convention—The Liberal Party of from Oct. 19 until Nov. 6. It was scheduled to break again suggestions for activities to do from home. Each day, for 22 ery week until the situation is behind us. Ipsos is asking Canada announced the 2020 Liberal National Convention for one week and to sit again from Nov. 16 to Dec. 11. days, a suggestion will be shared across Earth Day Canada’s Canadians how they are coping during the COVID crisis; will be hosted in Ottawa, from Nov. 12-15. For more infor- And that would be it for 2020. We’ll update you once the social media, accompanied by the same hashtag. how have they changed their behaviours; what are their mation, please contact: [email protected], 613-627-2384. House calendar has been confi rmed. The Future of Money—The C.D. Howe Institute hosts a views of the health system’s response; and has fi nancial Conservative Party National Convention—The Conserva- Senate Not Sitting—The Senate has also been suspended webinar on “The Future of Money: Is Canada Ready for a aid been suffi cient and arrived fast enough. Join Darrell tives will hold a convention in Quebec City from Nov. 12-14. due to the COVID-19 virus. When it’s scheduled to return, National Digital Currency?” featuring Scott Hendry, senior Bricker, global CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs, on April 24 For more information, please contact 1-866-808-8407. the possible sitting days are April 20, 24, 27, and May 1. special director of fi nancial technology (FinTech) at the at 11:30 a.m. PT/2:30 p.m. ET at www.ipsos.com. The Parliamentary Calendar is a free events listing. The Senate was scheduled to sit April 21-23 and April 28- Bank of Canada; Thorsten Koeppl, professor of economics Send in your political, cultural, diplomatic, or govern- 30. The possible Senate sittings were May 4, 8, 11, 15, 25, and RBC Fellow at Queen’s University; and Virgile Ros- MONDAY, MAY 4 mental event in a paragraph with all the relevant details and 29. The Senate was scheduled to sit May 5-7 and May tand, president and founder of Coinsquare. Wednesday, International Day of Pink—In celebration of the 50th anni- under the subject line ‘Parliamentary Calendar’ to 12-May 14. The Senate was supposed to break May 18-22. April 22, from noon to 1 p.m., via cdhowe.org. versary of the Stonewall Riots/Pride; and the 30th anniversary [email protected] by Wednesday at noon before the It was scheduled to sit May 26-28. The June possible sitting What on Earth (Day) is Going On?—Former NDP leader of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, Monday paper or by Friday at noon for the Wednesday days were June 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, and 19. The Senate was Thomas Mulcair, now chair of the board for Earth Day, will and Biphobia, we are proud to invite you to Stonewall 50 paper. We can’t guarantee inclusion of every event, but scheduled to sit June 2-4; June 9-11; June 16-18; and take part in a webinar on “Climate Change in the Time of across Canada, in Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, we will defi nitely do our best. Events can be updated June 22, 23, it was scheduled to break on June 24 for St. COVID-19,” hosted by the Canadian Club of Toronto. Mr. Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, and Cape Breton, from May 4-21, daily online, too. Jean Baptiste Day; and it was scheduled to sit June 25 and Mulcair will be joined by Dr. Christine Gabardo, co-founder featuring Stonewall riot activist Martin Boyce. Stonewall 50 The Hill Times

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#1 INDIVIDUAL AGENT RE/MAX BRONSON* 1% Remax Hallmark 2018 This unprecedented time has us all working in different ways, The Hill Times newspaper is still publishing twice a week. Print subscribers are receiving their 10,429 per issue papers mostly at their home offices and we’ve had an explosion of readers receiving Decision-makers receive the newspaper twice a week in e-edition. The Hill Times Newspaper e-edition

New newspaper e-edition subscriber numbers: every Monday and Wednesday

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