Infrastructure p. 6 Putting Prince policy briefing Philip in perspective Andrew Caddell p. 10 Is one the Senator group to loneliest number Diplomatic explore diversity, or a powerful pp. 19-27 Circles p.13 inclusion training position? p. 6 Bad+ Bitchy p.9 THIRTY-SECOND YEAR, NO. 1818 CANADA’S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021 $5.00 News News Feds say too early to talk opening Canada- Has the Hill changed for U.S. border, but experts push for plan women in the BY NEIL MOSS how the Canada-U.S. border will for nearly 13 months to non- mostly supports its continued reopen when public health condi- essential travel with the govern- closure. workplace t’s time for the federal govern- tions permit, say analysts. ment silent on any eventual re- Iment to signal a future plan on The border has been closed opening as the Canadian public Continued on page 29 post-#MeToo? News BY ALICE CHEN n the years since the #MeToo Imovement rocked the globe, it has brought changes that women who work federal politics say range from the good, like open- Duelling Liberal, NDP ing the conversation, to the less positive, such as creating a rift between men and women in the workplace. Parliament Hill was no outlier when it came to the examination of the history and impact of sex- conventions a pre- ual harassment by men in senior positions fostered by #MeToo, election glimpse into Continued on page 14 News Syrian security campaign readiness situation used as guise for not having BY SAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, political will to he recent back-to-back Lib- and NDP Leader Teral and NDP policy conven- Jagmeet Singh repatriate detained tions offered a chance for party each tested pre- brass to test pre-election cam- election messaging Canadians, say paign messages on a captive audi- as they closed ence, say strategists who suggest their respective experts Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 the governing party presented a conventions this “well-oiled” machine while the past weekend, BY NEIL MOSS New Democrats struggled to get with Mr. Trudeau policy proposals air time. ignoring the New s Canadian citizens remain in “Everyone is lining up the Democrats and AKurdish custody in northern framework and the messaging Mr. Singh taking Syria, experts say the Canadian they want to present to voters in credit for boosting government is using the pretence the next federal election,” said the government's of the security conditions on the former Toronto NDP MP Peggy pandemic response. ground to cover up a lack of po- Nash, and the tone made clear The Hill Times litical will for repatriation. photographs by Continued on page 28 Andrew Meade Continued on page 15 2 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021 | THE HILL TIMES Navdeep Bains will help build an effective MP Kenny Chiu and innovative campaign.” was included in The virtual convention, which ended China’s sanctions April 10, was reportedly the largest policy against Canadian convention in the history of the Liberal politicians. In Heard on the Hill Party. The party has currently nominated response, he felt candidates in 133 ridings. Between the Lib- a mix of pride erals, the Conservative, the NDP, and the and melancholy. by Alice Chen Bloc Québécois, more than 250 candidate Photograph courtesy nominations have been announced to date. of Facebook Re-appointments in the Political figures share transportation sector In response to the sanction, announced Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, March 27, the MP told the paper that he who is responsible for 53 portfolio organi- was “overwhelmed” with a heady mixture zations, including Crown corporations, ad- stories of Prince Philip, of sadness and pride upon discovering that ministrative tribunals, and port authorities, he now won’t be able to visit Hong Kong, announced a handful of re-appointments in the place he was born. his sector last week. Ottawa commemoration “Sadness in that it’s my birthplace Transport and the fact that I have been sanctioned Minister from visiting my birthplace would trouble Omar anybody. On the other hand, I’ve been set for April 17 Alghabra sanctioned for my role on the [Subcommit- is pictured tee on International Human Rights] as a Former prime leaving the Parliamentarian. I have immense pride in minister Jean West Block being punished by China for speaking the Chrétien was on Oct. 21, truth,” he said. one of many 2020. The He emphasized his obligation to speak politicians to Hill Times out against the human rights abuses share their photograph towards Uighurs in the country, while also condolences by Andrew noting that he wasn’t sure why the sanc- and personal Meade tions were divvied out the way they were. anecdotes about Several individuals and entities were Prince Phillip included in the wave of sanctions, includ- ing Conservative MP Michael Chong, his after he died “The appointees come from diverse party’s foreign affairs critic, and the afore- at the age of backgrounds, with experience in a number mentioned subcommittee. 99 last week. of fields and are active members in their “If the Chinese government wants to The Hill Times communities. They bring a wide array of dump their rage and anger at someone, photograph by knowledge and expertise to their transpor- they should sanction the entire House of Andrew Meade tation positions,” reads a press release on Commons,” Mr. Chiu told Richmond News. the recent changes. Michael Saunders has been re-appoint- ed for another two-year term as chief ex- Brison to head Nova Scotia ecutive officer of the Canadian Air Trans- Economic Growth Council port Security Authority. He’s been with the Former federal cabinet minister Scott organization since 2008 and previously Brison, who served as the MP for Kings- served in the Royal Canadian Mounted Hants, N.S. from 1997 to 2000 and again rince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, April 17. A national commemorative cere- Police as assistant commissioner. from 2003 until 2019, has been selected to Pdied April 9 at the age of 99. Canadian mony is set to take place at Ottawa’s Christ Also re-appointed were Timothy Clut- lead a group that will advise the province’s political figures were quick to express their Church Cathedral on the same day and terbuck and Debbie Zimmerman as mem- government on economic matters. condolences and to share their own stories will be broadcast live by CBC and Radio- bers of Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge The announcement of the 10-mem- of personal interactions with him. Canada. The day has also been declared a Company, both for four-year terms. One such person was Intergovernmen- National Day of Mourning. ber team was made by N.S. Premier Iain tal Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who Rankin on April 7, reported The Canadian recalled sitting at the prince’s table during Conservatives criticize Liberals Press, with members selected to reflect the an informal barbecue at Rideau Hall about Liberals announce national province’s diversity. 25 years ago, reported The Globe and Mail. campaign committee co-chairs for missing Health Committee Other members of the council include His father, Romeo LeBlanc, was the gover- Announced April 9 in the midst of the meeting Membertou First Nation Chief Terry nor general at the time. Liberal Party’s virtual policy convention, A joint statement from four Conserva- Paul; Matthew Martel, chief operating “I had the chance to sit at Prince Phil- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared the tive MPs was released April 8, criticizing officer of Nova Scotia’s Black Business ip’s table and remember fondly his knowl- party’s next national campaign committee Health Minister Patty Hajdu and Public Initiatives; and Lisa Despres, an executive edge of Canada, his interest in Canadians co-chairs. Services and Procurement Minister Anita at Comeau’s Sea Foods Limited. and in Canada, but the passion with which Anand for not appearing before the Health The council is set to focus on making the he spoke about his service to young people. Committee, but taking time to attend the region a hotspot for start-ups, and will speak That is a memory I will always cherish,” he Liberal Party’s recent policy convention. on policy options and methods for attracting said at a presser. The statement was penned by Con- investment cash. Mr. Brison is currently also Former prime minister Jean Chrétien servative MP Michelle Rempel Garner, chancellor of Dalhousie University. also shared memories of the deceased, hav- her party’s health critic, along with Nova ing met him many times since first getting Scotia MP Chris d’Entremont, the party’s MP serenades his favourite to know him in 1967. One stand-out was critic for intergovernmental affairs and the how the prince would practice speaking Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and soccer team French with him when they were together, fellow Conservative committee members Liberal MP Marco Mendicino took to reported CTV News. MPs John Barlow and Larry Maguire. social media to share his love for a soccer “When I met him and he spoke in “Last week, the Health Committee team, in the form of a song. French with me, I said, ‘Your Royal High- Economic Development Minister Mélanie Joly, unanimously passed a motion for an emer- Later posted to Facebook, he belted ness, you speak very good French for an left, and Liberal MP Navdeep Bains, right, will gency meeting calling on the Health Minis- out Roma Roma Roma in honour of his English man.’ He said ‘I’m not an English be co-chairs for the Liberals’ national campaign ter and the Procurement Minister to testify favourite Italian team, AS Roma, on a Seria man and I was speaking French before you committee in the next federal election.