Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 P ‘vulnerable,’ say pollsters third wave making Liberals and anxious’:COVID-19’s are ‘confused News THIRTY-SECOND YEAR, NO.1817 bad mood.” seems moreorlesscaughtin the and confusion. Ithinkeverybody has causedalotofhesitancy health, orvaccines. AstraZeneca conflicting guidanceabout public “They arenotimpressedwiththe Hill Timesinterview withThe. president Frank Graves, inan anxious,” saidEkos Research they’re very confused and country, say somepollsters. tory indifferentregionsof the health guidelinesarecontradic- continues tobeslow andpublic anxious,” while thevaccine rollout are unhappy and “confused and deadly variants, andCanadians of COVID-19 alongwiththemore being hitby aseriousthird wave cally “vulnerable” asthecountry is BY ABBAS RANA BY ABBAS rogue winner goes Peace Prize Nobel Another Climbers p. 14 shortage housing address to How “The publicaren’thappy, Liberals arebecoming politi- rime MinisterJustin Trudeau’s Hill p.22 Continued onpage 19

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N p. 7 ews p a p er of Islamophobia policing faith CRA approach for Sam Garcia photograph by The HillTimes say pollsters. 'confused,' 'unhappy and electorate is as the vulnerable politically could become PM's Liberals hard, the hitting Canada variants the COVID-19 Building. With A. Macdonald the SirJohn 6, 2021,in pictured April Trudeau, Justin Minister Prime industrial return of O I candidates Filipino-Canadian to openpathfor new group aims ‘Enough isenough’: News be adecisive politicalforce for gets underway inearnest. tion races forthe nextelection parties, asjockeying fornomina- action group issendingtofederal that’s themessage anew political federal supportforinfrastructure advocates arecallingforgreater recent Canadianhistory, MPsand News COVID-19 devastated by care system rolein long-term vamp offederal MPs callfor re- BY PETER MAZEREEUW BY MIKE LAPOINTE MONDAY, APRIL 12,2021$5.00 candidates at your own peril: gnore Filipino-Canadian The Filipino communitycould policy most anticipated budgetsin ne week away from oneofthe The p. 15 smacks Continued onpage 17 Continued onpage18 p. 14

2 MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2021 | THE HILL TIMES

a rocker between classic rock, jazz, and “I believe this work will be recognized contemporary pop songs. as an important part of my late mother’s “I am dedicated to continuing Vinyl Tap legacy,” said Mr. Shore. elsewhere despite the CBC’s cancellation this summer. I love sharing the stories Heard on the Hill [and] memories that bind us,” said Mr. The Breach, new media outlet to Bachman in a March 27 tweet. launch this spring by Samantha Wright Allen Aired on Saturdays and Sundays, the There’s a new media outlet coming onto fixture weekend show has been running the scene called The Breach and it’s billing since 2005 headed by Mr. Bachman, who itself as “journalism for transformation.” also was part of Bachman Turner Over- “Canada’s establishment media won’t drive, which released Takin’ Care of Busi- tell it like it is—or how it could be. National ness in 1973. newspapers are owned by billionaires or Renowned Canadian The artist told The Canadian U.S. hedge funds, the CBC has become Press he tried to change the broadcaster’s afraid of its own shadow, and social media mind about ending the show, even deliver- platforms are swimming in ugly clickbait,” ing dozens of handwritten letters, emails, reads its website, which promises to launch Supreme Court Justice and postcards from listeners. this spring. “They notably misrepresent our But, that was to no avail. CBC Music’s most pressing issues, but they leave people senior director Steve Jordan told The hopeless about ever changing them. The Canadian Press that it regularly reviews Breach is a new media outlet that will do headed to Harvard its programming lineup to “make room for journalism differently, telling stories that new voices and genres” and there will be help us map a vibrant and just future.” “more to share” later this year. The outlet won’t have any ads and won’t last week. He ran into Canada’s former UN ambassador Marc-André Blanchard at the have a paywall, but will be supported by read- McGill University Health Centre during Jacques Shore and his late ers’ financial support and subscriptions. The his April 8 visit to get the AstraZeneca mother Lena Allen-Shore pen Breach Team includes Naomi Klein, Azeezah vaccine. Kanji, Amy Miller, Dru Oja Jay, Isabel Mac- children’s book, Sleep, My Baby Donald, Russ Diabo, Moira Peters, Linda Mc- Jacques Shore, a high-powered partner Quaig, Avi Lews, Pamela Palmater, El Jones, at the law firm Gowling WLG in , Martin Lukacs, and Bianca Mugyenyi. is also the co-author of a children’s book, The Breach promises to offer in-depth Sleep, My Baby, which he wrote with his investigations, video shows, and explain- late mother, Dr. Lena Allen-Shore. The ers and will cover Indigenous issues, white book, published by Simon & Schuster, will supremacy, foreign policy, state-sponsored be released on April 20. Islamophobia, the oil and corporate lobby, police, the military, structural racism, colo- Jacques nial land theft, inequality, and big tech. Shore, pictured at Bob Rae’s Annnnnd the Canadian Screen book launch Award nominees are in in Ottawa in Hundreds of Canadians who write, 2014. The produce, and host for film, TV, and digital Justice Minister sits with UN Hill Times platforms have been named as finalists for ambassador Marc-Andre Blanchard, pictured April photograph this year’s Canadian Screen Awards. 8, 2021, as they await their COVID-19 vaccine in by Cynthia There are 141 categories and there are . Photograph courtesy of Twitter Münster some notable newsmakers up for the hon- our of best in their genre this year. “Today was my lucky day. Not only did The Best National Reporter nominees are I get to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine, Christine Birak and Chris Brown, both with but I also ran into Canada’s former UN CBC News: The National, Avis Favaro, for ambassador,” said the 59-year-old minister CTV: National News with Lisa LaFlamme on Twitter. Mr. Shore, well-known in Ottawa’s (who is up for a Best News Anchor nod), and Sporting a sweatshirt, you might not federal political circles, is also one of the Jeff Semple, of Global National. think he was dressed for the occasion. But founders of the Library and Archives the Oxford logo is a nod to his alma mater, Canada Foundation and one of the owners where researchers produced the two-shot of the Club. He says Sitting Supreme Court Justice Rosalie Abella vaccine. the book is a lullaby, which his mother has been named as a three-year visiting In his post, Mr. Lametti encouraged the sang to him and his brother Michael when professor at Harvard University’s law school. public to get vaccinated and said he was they were young. His mother wrote the Photograph courtesy of glad to get the dose of the vaccine. This book and Mr. Shore finished it. Collection, by photographer Philippe Landreville version has had a troubled rollout, follow- ing reports of rare blood clots and Canada The late Dr. shifting its age recommendations for Lena Allen- upreme Court Justice Rosalie Abella eligibility, most recently suspending use for Shore. Shas been named a visiting professor at people under 55. Photograph Harvard Law School for a three-year term. courtesy The prestigious university will be in of Jacques Evan Solomon, left, and his team at CTV Power good company with the 2004 high court Vinyl Tap off CBC air later this year Shore Play and Vassy Kapelos’ CBC Power & Politics crew appointee who in an April 7 announcement Vinyl Tap has tapped out. From the are both vying for the title of Best Talk Program or was described as “world-renowned” for her CBC Radio ring, at least. Host of the long- Series. this year. Photograph courtesy of Twitter decisions and theories on equality, human running weekend show Randy Bachman, rights, and constitutional law who is a wonderful storyteller, says he’s Politics is also in the mix. The CBC “Justice Abella is a brilliant, principled, shopping around for a new home. Power & Politics Vassy Kapelos crew is and impactful jurist who also has had a Starting this summer, the two-hour facing off against CTV’s Power Play’s Evan storied career of public service off the episodes will be on repeat, featuring the Solomon et al at a chance to be named Court, including her transformative work selections of the former The Guess Who Best Talk Program or Series. defining equality rights in employment,” member, reminiscing about his time as CBC Ottawa reporter Joanne Chianello said school dean John F. Manning of Jus- “It is so beautifully illustrated and per- is in the running for Best Local Reporter, tice Abella, whose parents were Holocaust Canadian fect for children in a world today where facing competitors in Montreal, , survivors. singer Randy we so desperately need more peace and and . Early in her 50-year career, she in- Bachman, tranquility each day; especially before Meanwhile, Canadian darling Schitt’s vented the concept of “employment equity,” pictured at sleep. This lullaby reminds us of a moth- Creek continued its final season success, a legal concept to eliminate discriminatory the 2013 er’s most simple message to her child with the most nods—21—for this event. barriers in the workplace that has been Hope Live and the moments of comfort that should Earlier this month the CBC sitcom took used to inform laws and policies in New benefit embrace us at bedtime. The message also home two Screen Actor Guild Awards for Zealand, , , concert in conveys that we have a little more love to the ensemble’s performance during its and the U.S. Ottawa. The share with our fellow neighbors as well. sixth season, and earlier this year nabbed Until 2025, she’ll be expected to lead Hill Times file Underscored with kindness and compas- best comedy series at the Golden Globes. workshops, seminars, and reading groups on photograph by sion, Sleep, My Baby draws the reader Catherine O’Hara, who portrayed matri- dealing with comparative law, human rights, Jake Wright into an open armed cuddle of love,” said arch Moira Rose, won acting awards at and the role of judges in a democracy. Mr. Shore. both shows. A professor and a survivor of the Ho- Winners will be announced by the locaust, Mr. Shore’s mother was also an Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television Lametti’s ‘lucky day’: a dose, a author, music composer, poet, and an advo- over a seven-part series for presentations diplomat, and bragging rights cate for “building bridges,” Mr. Shore said, starting May 17 until May 20. Justice Minister David Lametti had a and she spent her life “spreading themes of [email protected] little company getting his COVID-19 jab understanding and universality.” The Hill Times AN OPEN LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER Canada should be on the FROM CANADA’S LIFE SCIENCES, RESEARCH frontlines of developing AND BUSINESS COMMUNITIES A year ago, Canadians could not have ensure the life sciences ecosystem we built in anticipated how a new coronavirus would so Canada over the past 30 years can grow and and manufacturing new profoundly change and disrupt their lives or be put to work even more effectively for the harm them or their loved ones. benefit of Canadians and our economy. vaccines, therapies and But even before the pandemic was declared To succeed, we need to do both more and the first COVID-19 restrictions came in and less. mid-March 2020, scientists were working on More collaboration to solve for the pandemic other technologies, so vaccines and treatments. Some Canadian today and future health challenges. innovators had already started developing we can enjoy those them and contributing to the global effort. Less uncertain and complex regulations that That’s how the world got the first COVID-19 are blocking our ability to move at the speed vaccines in record time before the end of the of science. everyday moments. year. They promise to be our ticket back to We can achieve this with a coherent life health, socializing with family and friends and sciences strategy. economic recovery. Now, more than ever, we need public and These vaccines are flagships of an exciting private sector leaders to continue to work new era of medical innovation. We are mining Prime Minister, together to address these issues and other genetic secrets to discover not just how to serious challenges. stop viruses but also to create new therapies we can work with you and vaccines for some of our most intractable We applaud your government’s initiatives on illnesses such as cancer, cystic fibrosis and biomanufacturing, but more needs to be done to build a world-class Alzheimer’s disease among many others. to create a competitive commercial environment for the full life cycle of health Canada can and must be a leader in this technologies: from labs to the frontlines new era. life sciences sector to of healthcare. Prime Minister, we can work together – our Building together a world-class life sciences companies, your government and the make this happen. sector will enhance Canada’s resilience in the provinces, Canada’s researchers and health face of challenges and ultimately help ensure institutions, and the patient community – to our health and economic security.

We are asking you to join us to make this a lasting positive legacy of COVID-19. Sincerely, Canada’s life sciences, research and business communities.

Anie Perrault Bob McLay Brian Lewis Carl Viel Charles Milliard David Wojcik Executive Director Chair President & CEO President & CEO President & CEO President & CEO BioQuébec The Canadian Forum for Medtech Canada Québec International Fédération des chambres Board of Trade Rare Disease Innovators (RAREi) de commerce du Québec

Frank Béraud Jason Field Kim Kline Michel Leblanc Pamela Fralick CEO President & CEO President President & CEO President President & CEO Montréal InVivo Life Sciences Bioscience Association The Chamber of Commerce Innovative Medicines Canada Canadian Chamber of Metropolitan Montreal of Commerce

Richard Fajzel Robb Stoddard Rocco Rossi Rory Francis Scott Moffitt Wendy Hurlburt Meaghan Seagrave Chair President & CEO President & CEO CEO Executive Director President & CEO Executive Director Canadian Health BioAlberta Ontario Chamber of Commerce BioNova LifeSciences BC BioNB Research Forum BioAlliance

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Prime Minister Thirteen suburban Justin Trudeau pictured at the Jan. 23, 2020 caucus meeting ridings will be key in Ottawa. The Liberal Party could win a majority battlegrounds in government in the next election if they win 13 next election, say suburban ridings decided by the closest margins in 2019. The former Liberal Liberals won 10 of these 13 ridings in the 2015 election. MPs and pollsters The Hill Times photogram by Andrew Meade the Conservatives 121, the Bloc 32 If an election were seats, the NDP 24 and the Greens three seats. held today, the In the last election, 13 subur- ban ridings were decided with a Liberals would close margin of seven per cent or less. The Trudeau Liberals win most of the 13 Meadows-Maple Ridge in 2015, The 13 Closest Suburban Ridings That Can Win a Majority for Liberals won 10 of these 13 ridings in the but lost to Conservative MP Marc suburban ridings 2015 election but lost all of them Dalton in 2019, said that contro- MP Name Riding Name Vote Percentage in 2019. Of the 13, five each are versies such as the SNC-Lavalin Margin Margin decided by the closest located in and British Co- and brownface/blackface played lumbia, two in Ontario, and one Conservative MP Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, Ont. 1,060 2% an important role in his electoral 153 .3% margins in the last in Manitoba. The Conservatives Conservative MP -, B.C. loss last time. The Green Party’s Conservative MP Cloverdale-Langley City, B.C. 1,394 2.5% picked up eight of those 13 rid- election, say pollsters. vote also doubled in 2019 com- Conservative MP Flamborough-Glanbrook, Ont. 1,652 2.6% ings and the Bloc Québécois five. pared to the 2015 election, which Bloc MP —Saint-Hubert, Que. 2,590 4.3% The riding of Port Moody- became the deciding factor in Bloc MP Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, Que. 2,620 4.5% BY ABBAS RANA Coquitlam was decided by the 2019 in his riding, he said. Conservative MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay South Surrey-White Rock, B.C. 2,618 4.5% closest margin. Conservative Mr. Ruimy lost by 3,525 votes, Bloc MP La Prairie, Que. 3,203 5.2% he 13 suburban ridings that MP Nelly Shin won by 153 votes, a 6.5 per cent margin. As of last Conservative MP Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia— 2,417 5.2% Twere decided with the closest getting 31.2 per cent of the vote, week, Mr. Ruimy was undergoing Headingley, Man. margin in 2019 will be the battle- while the second place NDP the party’s vetting process and Bloc MP Thérèse-De Blainville, Que. 3,498 6% ground ridings in the next elec- candidate, Bonita Zarrillo, got had not been nominated as the Conservative MP -Maple Ridge, B.C. 3,525 6.5% tion, and winning them all could 30.9 per cent, and the third place official candidate. He said that Conservative MP Steveston-Richmond East, B.C. 2,747 6.5% deliver the Liberals a majority Liberal candidate, Sara Badiei, since the last election he’s stayed Bloc MP Stéphane Bergeron Montarville, Que. 4,305 7.3% government, say former Liberal won 29.1 per cent. in touch with people in the riding Table courtesy of Earl Washburn, Ekos Research MPs who are running in the next The riding of Montarville, Que. and has been providing feedback election and pollsters. was decided by a margin of 7.3 to his former Liberal colleagues “In terms of the Liberals being per cent of the vote, when Bloc in Ottawa about what people Since the start of the pandemic VID-19 vaccine and its possible able to form government, they are MP unseated then-incumbent think about the government’s per- in Canada early last year, CO- link to a rare type of blood clot very important,” said former B.C. Liberal MP Michel Picard. formance. Mr. Ruimy said that his VID-19 has been the top of mind called vaccine-induced prothrom- Liberal MP Gordie Hogg, who Generally, downtown rid- party is targeting this riding for issue for all Canadians. During botic immune thrombocytopenia was elected in a 2017 byelection ings of major urban centres like the next election and will be the this time, the Trudeau Liberals (VIPIT), which is having a serious in the B.C. riding of South Surrey- Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver one to watch next time around. have mostly enjoyed a double- impact on vaccine hesitancy in White Rock, but lost to Conserva- are seen as part of the Liberal “I’ve always thought this was digit lead over their rival opposi- Canada. He said that people want tive MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay in base, while rural ridings are con- a battleground riding,” said Mr. tion parties in opinion polls. There one clear and firm approach the 2019. sidered to be part of the Conser- Ruimy. have been a couple of occasions across the country on how to fight Mr. Hogg, who lost the last vative base. The suburban ridings “If the Green Party didn’t where the governing party’s pop- the pandemic. election by a margin of 4.5 per historically have been seen more double their vote counts, where ularity has significantly declined, To make matters more cent of the votes, told The Hill centre-right on the political would those votes have gone? So, including when the WE Charity complicated for the Liberals, Times that he’s recently been of- spectrum, but that has started to I don’t like to call it vote splitting, scandal broke last summer, and reported on ficially nominated again to carry change over the years, as more because I don’t believe in vote when the supply of COVID-19 April 9 that the Commissioner of the party’s banner in the next left-of-centre millennials have splitting. But, like I said, 62 per vaccines was interrupted early Canada Elections is investigating election. He said that he’s started migrated to suburban areas. cent of this riding want progres- this year. However, the Liberal whether WE Charity undertook to hold strategy meetings with his “Younger people are mov- sive ideas moving forward. So Party’s polling numbers recov- any political activity that gave riding association, and is opti- ing out there, they tend to be that’s the opportunity there for us ered on each occasion. any advantage to the Liberals mistic that he will win this riding more progressive, or centre-left in this riding.” Last week, however, a poll by Party in violation of election laws. back. Mr. Hogg described his at least,” said Earl Washburn, In 2019, Mr. Dalton won 36.2 Ekos Research suggested that the The House of Commons Ethics riding and the 12 other suburban senior analyst for Ekos Research. per cent of the votes, Mr. Ruimy Liberals’ popularity had started Committee has already been con- ridings that Liberals lost in 2019 “The suburbs are changing and 29.7 per cent, the NDP candidate to decline again, as a third wave ducting its own investigation into as target ridings for his party and they’re making them more Lib- John Mogk won 23.9 per cent, of the pandemic has hit Canada the WE Charity scandal. opposition parties that will play eral friendly. So, for the Liberals, and Green Party candidate Ariane hard. Pollster Greg Lyle of Innova- an important role in the outcome that’s where their primary areas Jasschke carried eight per cent. The poll suggested that the tive Research agreed that win- of the next election. are to pick up seats to in order to The Liberals have a comfort- Liberals and the Conservatives ning the 13 suburban ridings that “All parties always look at get a majority.” able lead in national public opin- were tied with 32 per cent and were decided by close margins close losses and close wins as Suburban ridings are often ion polls, at least in part because 30.4 per cent support, respective- last time will help the Liberals areas that they have to focus on, considered to be swing ridings of what Canadians see as an ef- ly. The NDP was at 16.3 per cent, win a majority. But, he added that concentrate on those,” said Mr. where political parties focus their fective handling of the pandemic. and the Greens at 8.3 per cent. the governing party could lose Hogg. “Those are the ones that attention. Pollsters and the media It’s expected the governing party The poll of 1,734 Canadians was some seats that they won in 2019, they would naturally see, and I pay close attention to suburbs to could now pick up most of the 13 conducted from April 1-6 and had so they have to look elsewhere to know that Conservatives have determine which way the political ridings that were decided by the a margin of error of 2.3 percent- make up the difference. done the same thing.” winds are blowing. closest margins in 2019, pollsters age points, 19 times out of 20. “If the election were today, the In 2015, the Justin Trudeau “Those are where the swing said. Frank Graves, CEO of Ekos Tories would be losing seats, par- (Papineau, Que.) Liberals won a voters are,” said Mr. Washburn. However, it’s not known when Research, told The Hill Times ticularly in Ontario, and maybe majority government with 184 “Those are the people who are the next election will happen, that the Liberal numbers have in B.C. and maybe in the Atlan- seats, but they were reduced to a most likely to swing one way or what will be the key issues at gone down as people are un- tic, but the election isn’t today,” minority in 2019—13 seats short the other, either a Conservative that time, and what quality of happy for the continuously slow said Mr. Lyle, president of the of a majority government. or a Liberal. That’s how elections candidates the parties will field in rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, Innovative Research Group. “So To win a majority in the have been fought in the last few those ridings. and the inconsistent public health in addition to the 13 or so seats 338-member House, a party needs elections in Canada, and they’ve “There’s a lot of dynamics at guidelines in different regions they need to win from where they 170 seats. The Liberals need to been fought over the suburban play,” said Mr. Washburn. “But if of the country. He said that they stand today, they’ll also need to add 13 seats while keeping the ridings.” [the] election were today, the Lib- are frustrated with hundreds of make up for any losses.” ones they have to get another ma- Former Liberal MP Dan erals would have a good chance contradictory stories about the [email protected] jority. In 2019, they won 157 seats, Ruimy, who won the riding of Pitt of winning most of those ridings.” efficacy of AstraZeneca CO- The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2021 5 Opinion Years later, still looking for clarity on Correctional Service Canada’s prison farm plans

tional Service Canada’s new prison farm consumption). This will add a 16,200 requests for proposals in 2018 and 2019, But with unsettling evidence program, I couldn’t agree more on this square foot facility generating an ad- available for viewing on buyandsell. point: clarity is precisely what’s needed. ditional 194,665 cubic feet of solid waste gc.ca, for the first 800 female dairy goat now leaking into the public It’s what our advocacy group, Evolve Our and 222,399 cubic feet of liquid waste. kids. Internal documents reveal that both Prison Farms, has been seeking for years. There is also the volume of milking centre procurement attempts failed for multiple domain, CSC is doubling CSC’s letter argues that the claims in washwater (202,686 cubic feet from the reasons, including farmers’ assertions that down on its efforts to Helen Forsey’s article (“Scandal brewing cows, 241,032 cubic feet from the goats), the conditions—such as minimum delivery over feds’ prison farm plan,” March 8) are which “is exposed to high concentrations of 200 kids per contract—were impossible control public perceptions “not grounded in fact.” In fact, I have in my of chlorinated alkaline solutions, acidified to meet. That didn’t stop CSC from pur- possession the evidence that proves Forsey waters and heavy detergents that can harm chasing a bulk dairy cooler with a capacity and the fifth estate, right, and CSC wrong. the environment.” The documents further to store a maximum daily production of I have spent the past five years inves- note that “bacteria in the milk can transmit 9,000 litres of goats’ milk, which, according disparaging any reporting tigating every aspect of the new (and still disease,” yet the distance from surround- to Ontario Goat, would require some 3,200 not grounded in CSC’s own unfolding) prison farm program. Since ing wells and waterways is calculated in goats in active milking (not counting “dry” 2018, I have filed 63 access-to-information metres. does and kids). CSC’s ambitions for their propaganda as being ‘not requests and received thousands of pages Does CSC really expect readers to prison industrial goat farm are detailed, of documents which, despite redactions, believe that its plans for a large goat dairy established, and ambitious indeed. grounded in fact.’ provide the very facts that CSC continues operation are not established, or that the In light of the facts, it is audacious and to deny. development of this program was done ironic for CSC to issue a call for “clarity” CSC denies that “plans were already “with primary consideration given to the (now that the manure is hitting the fan) established for a large goat dairy pro- benefits for participants”? The only benefi- when Evolve Our Prison Farms has spent gram.” The documents I have obtained, ciaries of the prison industrial goat farm years painstakingly seeking the truth and such as CSC’s “Nutrient Management are industry stakeholders, and as Forsey extracting the evidence from underneath Strategy: Corcan Farms (fall 2018-fall points out, the addition of cows is mere CSC’s “heap of verbiage extolling the 2023),” provide precise details of a plan window-dressing. The recent academic benefits of the prison farms,” as Forsey very much established for a large goat report, “Canada’s Proposed Prison Farm put it. dairy operation. Number of goats: 2,200. Program: Why It Won’t Work and What With unsettling evidence now leaking Size of milking barn: 44,000 square feet. Would Work Better,” by professors Amy into the public domain, CSC is doubling Housing conditions: confinement. Size of Fitzgerald and Amanda Wilson, shows that down on its efforts to control public per- Calvin Neufeld manure lagoon: 14 feet deep, 120 feet in CSC’s current prison farm plan will not ceptions and the fifth estate, disparaging Opinion diameter. Five-year material production of benefit prisoners, staff, or local communi- any reporting not grounded in CSC’s own solid waste: 495,803 cubic feet. That’s just ties. Quite the contrary. propaganda as being “not grounded in fact.” for the goats. At a loss for any real defence, CSC Calvin Neufeld, who is based in Perth, e: “Clarity needed on prison farm For the 90 dairy cows, CSC will con- resorts to pointing out that they have not Ont., is the founder of Evolve Our Prison Rprogram, says CSC,” (The Hill Times, struct a separate milking barn to produce yet procured any goats, but this is not Farms. www.evolveourprisonfarms.ca March 17). When it comes to the Correc- milk purely for research quota (non- for lack of trying. CSC issued two public The Hill Times

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Celina Caesar- “It’s just a continuation of a up on her French in case she was Chavannes was pattern of behaviour. So why does called on in Question Period, like appointed as the the prime minister need a parlia- her colleagues (which she never prime minister’s mentary secretary right now, as was), and ultimately drafting up a parliamentary we’re about to roll out into pos- framework in which she offered secretary in sibly another election season. Do to engage in community outreach December you need a literal Black face to go as well as liaise with backbench 2015. When she across the country for you?” MPs and other parliamentary left the role in In a statement to The Hill secretaries who were coming to January 2017, Times, Mr. Fergus said, “It is with her “to ask how to do their jobs,” it remained great enthusiasm and a profound thinking as the PM’s delegate, she unfilled, until sense of duty that I have accepted may have some insight. the March 19 the role of parliamentary sec- She describes the parliamentary announcement retary to the Right Honourable secretary system as uneven, point- that Quebec Justin Trudeau. In my new capac- ing to success stories like the match- MP ity, I will continue to pursue the up of former finance minister Bill would take aims of making our public service Morneau and his then-parliamen- on the role, a even more diverse and effective, tary secretary François-Philippe move she says as well as a Canada wherein Champagne (Saint-Maurice–Cham- ‘seems like one diversity is a guiding light for our plain, Que.). “That was brilliant, more window- country and a reality at all levels I studied that. That should be an dressing piece.’ within government.” exercise in how to do parliamentary Photograph In her new memoir Can You secretaries,” she said, calling the courtesy of Hear Me Now?: How I Found pair “two sides of the same coin” in Celina Caesar- My Voice and Learned to Live their working relationship. Chavannes with Passion and Purpose, Ms. Meanwhile, others were “use- Caesar-Chavannes details a less- less,” she said. “It’s only useful if than-rewarding experience as the your minister has the self-aware- prime minister’s parliamentary ness enough to not be threatened secretary. by another successful person be- Unlike her counterparts Adam ing their ,

Liberal MP Greg Fergus, chair of the Parliamentary Black Caucus, was named as the prime minister’s parliamentary secretary on March 19. The Hill Times photograph by Feds brushing Andrew Meade ‘crumbs’ to , says (Spadina–Fort York, because they’re ultimately think- Ont.) and (Vau- ing, ‘Oh this person’s gunning for dreuil–Soulanges, Que.), who my job.’” were appointed to assist on the The framework she put former Liberal MP prime minister’s self-delegated together was never approved by portfolios of intergovernmental the PMO and she continued to affairs and youth, respectively, struggle with a lack of direction in those early years, Ms. Caesar- and communication from the top Chavannes says she wasn’t given office about what was expected anything to do. of her. Before she was shuffled Caesar-Chavannes “If I have been appointed as to the international development your parliamentary secretary to portfolio Jan. 28, 2017, she was fill some gender or racial gap you asked to attend only two events In appointing secretary, it was “a little bit of a Dec. 3, 2015, and had gone, until have in your government, I do not on the prime minister’s behalf— gut punch.” now, unfilled since her exit from want the job,” she says she told the September 2016 opening of her successor as Parliamentary secretary ap- the position a little more than a the PM during their first meet- the National Museum of African pointments and shuffles are typi- year later. ing about the appointment. He American History and Culture in parliamentary cally a fairly mundane exercise, Mr. Fergus, already the assured her that wasn’t the case Washington, D.C., and the early and this one was no exception. parliamentary secretary to the and asked if she trusted his judge- January 2017 inauguration of the secretary, Celina With a pair of Liberal MPs—Kate digital government minister and ment. She told him no. Republic of Ghana’s new presi- Young ( West, Ont.) and Treasury Board president, adds “I thought, as the first parlia- dent. Caesar-Chavannes (Sudbury, Ont.)— the role to his responsibilities that mentary secretary to this PM, he Ms. Caesar-Chavannes said says the prime announcing they would not also include chairing the Parlia- needed me to tell him the truth, she wants to see what Mr. Fer- be running in the next general mentary Black Caucus. to be his eyes and ears when gus—who she says once told her minister is continuing election, Prime Minister Justin In the wake of a country-wide things were going awry, and this that she was the “Malcolm to his Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) shuffled reckoning on systemic racism, was something I had heard other Martin”—does with the role. a ‘pattern of the team of MPs who assist particularly anti-Black racism, Liberals say,” she writes, adding “I don’t know what the angle cabinet ministers to fill the roles that flared in the wake of the May that it appeared to have been the is on the government side. It just behaviour.’ the outgoing caucus members oc- 25, 2020, killing of George Floyd, wrong thing to say. seems really performative to me. cupied on March 19. a Black man, by police in Minne- Ms. Caesar-Chavannes says in It just seems like one more win- BY CHARELLE EVELYN But amongst those tweaks apolis, Minn., and calls for action the book, which was published, dow dressing piece that I don’t was the addition of MP Greg by the government, something on Feb. 2, she made multiple at- know if it’s going to be substan- hen former Liberal MP Fergus (Hull-Aylmer, Que.) as about last month’s appoint- tempts over the months to turn tive.” WCelina Caesar-Chavannes parliamentary secretary to the ment seemed “performative,” Ms. the title into a real role, taking ev- heard the news that the prime prime minister, a role in which Caesar-Chavannes told The Hill ery meeting and attending every Continued on page 20 minister had a new parliamentary Ms. Caesar-Chavannes started on Times. event she was invited to, brushing THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2021 7 Opinion Addressing mental health will require fresh resolve

shape with the hope that it will mean win- of racialized populations, who were more were put on hold at a critical stage of their Our collective success will ning the race against the spread of new likely to contract the virus—for the same development. Impaired social interactions, variants. socio-economic reasons that create barri- reduced access to schooling, lack of activi- depend on having partners Still, as I assume the helm at the Mental ers to sufficient mental health care. In one ties and routines, and the grief of losses big Health Commission of Canada (MHCC), I study, 37.5 per cent of African, Caribbean, and small, may leave an indelible impres- across every sector, in every can’t help but think about our preparations and Black respondents reported COVID- sion on young lives. This is also borne out jurisdiction, working hand- for the nation’s next great challenge: mus- 19-related financial insecurity. in our survey with CCSA, in which half tering our resolve to address the mental Lower paying front-line jobs and lack of youth aged 16-24 describe their mental in-glove, as we continue health implications of the pandemic, which of paid sick time aren’t just precursors of health as hovering at the low end of the will linger long after we’ve rolled up our greater susceptibility to the virus. They also scale. to leverage resources sleeves for the vaccine. tilt the playing field when it comes to men- Now is the time to ensure that we have While we should always seek to in- tal wellness. And they are compounded by the right kinds of supports for young and expertise to create tervene early to ensure the best possible the justifiable mistrust of the health and people, when and where they need them. improved mental health mental health outcomes, we cannot turn a mental health systems that translate into Endeavours like the post-secondary stan- blind eye to the upcoming post-pandemic social barriers to seeking care that are very dard for psychological health and safety— outcomes. fallout. It will likely be complex and multi- real—if invisible. which helps institutes of higher learning layered and affect different populations in The explosion in e-mental health care— to co-create healthier campuses—are a distinct ways. like the federal government’s groundbreak- huge step in the right direction, but there is Women, for instance, have borne the ing Wellness Together Canada portal—can much work to be done to meet the growing brunt of job losses and have carried the bridge many important gaps, but this way need of all our youth. heavier burden of child care. Among forward on its own will inevitably leave Now, more than ever, addressing men- mothers who remain employed during many behind. tal health is a top priority for people in the pandemic, one third have thought As someone who has been separated Canada, and leaders are being called upon about leaving their jobs. The mental health from close, elderly loved ones throughout to ensure the best possible care is available impacts of these setbacks are as real as the pandemic, I am keenly aware that stay- when and where it’s needed most. the financial losses they bring. To use one ing connected virtually has its limits, and I That’s why the MHCC is working across example, we know from a joint MHCC recognize that some of those same chal- many fronts to address some of these survey, conducted in collaboration with the lenges apply to virtual mental health care. urgent needs. But our collective success Michel Rodrigue Canadian Centre on Substance Use and While statistics may tell us that seniors will depend on having partners across Opinion Addiction (CCSA), that just 28 per cent of “on the whole” are reporting reasonably every sector, in every jurisdiction, working women in households with children under good levels of mental health, they paint a hand-in-glove, as we continue to leverage 13 reported excellent or very good mental distressingly incomplete picture—ignoring resources and expertise to create improved esponding to the physical threat of health during the pandemic, compared to the deep pockets of need in long-term care mental health outcomes. RCOVID-19 is proving to be no easy feat. 45 per cent among men. Before COVID-19, and the profoundly worsening isolation ex- How we address these challenges may From procuring vaccines to booking por- women were already two-and-a-half times perienced by seniors living with dementia. be worthy of debate. That we must do so tals and creating pop-up vaccination sites, more likely than men to experience depres- But perhaps we can have the greatest should not be in question. it’s a monumental task demanding that all sion and one-and-a-half times more likely ability to effect positive change, and bend Michel Rodrigue is president and CEO levels of government act in a spirit of co- to experience anxiety. the cost curve down across the lifespan, by of the Mental Health Commission of operation. Like everyone across Canada, The weight of the pandemic has also addressing the mental health challenges Canada. I am watching this incredible effort take disproportionally fallen on the shoulders faced by young people—whose very lives The Hill Times

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Editorial Letters to the Editor Lick is right: drop political posturing, pay Don’t call or force a federal election, work attention to the victims, and fix sexual together for the people, says London reader s a concerned citizen, I am writing The Canadian electorate is smart Abecause it is ethically and fiscally enough to see what their elected officials misconduct crisis in Canada’s military wrong to call for an early election. In are doing. And it is time that the elector- the middle of the pandemic, with a ate stands up and says, “enough.” For too regory Lick, the federal military the right thing and clean up the sexual deficit of $381-billion and growing, an long, a majority of our elected represen- Gombudsman, delivered a powerful misconduct crisis in Canada’s military. election is the last thing we need now. I tatives have been concerned only with message to MPs on the House Defence Since Feb. 21, when Maj. Kellie Brennan checked ’s website to being re-elected, their generous pensions Committee last week as they continued told that she had a longtime see what an election might cost. and power. their study of who in the current Liberal and inappropriate sexual relationship The 2011 election cost $290-million, the I call on all Canadians to stand up and government knew what, and when, about with Gen. Vance, other women have come 2015 election cost $443-million (a 53 per cent say, “enough” to join me in demanding the allegations of sexual misconduct forward publicly. Admiral Art McDonald, increase due partly to the longer campaign that the current Parliament complete its against former chief of defence staff Gen- the man who replaced Gen. Vance as chief time and increased voting mechanisms), and mandate to govern in the best interests of eral Jonathan Vance. He asked them to re- of the defence staff, had to step aside on the 2019 election cost in excess of $509-mil- Canada and all Canadians. To this end I member the victims of sexual misconduct, Feb. 24 and is also under investigation for lion (Elections Canada only had 95 per cent call on all Canadians to add their names and to drop the political posturing. sexual misconduct. Admiral McDonald of estimated incurred costs as of July 2020). to this letter and send it the prime minis- “I will make the observation that we was replaced by acting Chief of Defence How much more will the next election cost ter with a copy to their Member of Parlia- are watching the issue of sexual miscon- Staff Lt.-Gen. Wayne Eyre. Vice Admiral us, especially in the midst of the pandemic, ment as well as all of their contacts who duct in the military unfold in the media Haydn Edmundson, commander of Military with all the required COVID-19 mitigation might be like-minded. And if an early and in committee testimony with more Personnel Command in Ottawa, has also protocols that will be needed? Where would election is called, I call on every Cana- concern over political and institutional stepped aside amid a military police investi- that money be better spent—on vaccines, dian to rise up and refuse to vote for any posturing than with fixing the problem,” gation over allegations of sexual assault, helping people who have been laid-off or candidate or party that voted “yes” for an Mr. Lick said. “And yet, the issue contin- according to CBC and the Ottawa Citizen. whose jobs or businesses have completely early election call. wrote ues to play out in the real lives of survi- He denies the allegations. Lt.-Col. Eleanor disappeared, mental health, reforming long that “politics is not a spectator sport.” I vors and witnesses who find themselves Taylor, who was in uniform for 25 years, term care, safe housing and water for Indig- call on all Canadians to get involved, to falling between the cracks of a broken recently quit the , enous people, protecting the environment, or stand up and say “enough.” system and fearful of coming forward saying she was “sickened” by the military supporting the rebuilding of the economy? Inge Stahl because of possible reprisal or career- leadership’s response to the current investi- The list is long. London, Ont. ending moves. gations into top military commanders. “This issue has played out so far with This is not a new crisis, it’s been going conflicting and sometimes incorrect in- on for at least three decades, but it’s time formation. Testimony has changed about to put an end to it. It will take strong and who knew what when, who had author- coordinated political, government, and Reforms needed at Canadian Nuclear ity to act, what should have been done military leadership to get rid of it. The and who is accountable,” he said. “I say military has to be re-conceived. It has be Safety Commission, say activists enough. Enough of the self-protectionism more diverse and inclusive. Lt.-Gen. Eyre and deflecting. Enough political foot- says he’s working on developing a plan anada’s nuclear regulatory agency, the and Mail article in November 2018, re- dragging.” that will focus on culture change. Inap- CCanadian Nuclear Safety Commission vealed that CNSC officials had engaged in He’s right. It’s vitally important that propriate sexual behaviour in Canada’s says it’s the “World’s best nuclear regula- backroom lobbying to exempt small modu- there be due process and that the truth military should be eliminated and this tor” on its website. That “self-image” of the lar nuclear reactors from environmental as- is told. It’s even more important that the should now be a top priority. CNSC’s is inconsistent with statements sessment. A June 2020 briefing session for military and political leaders finally do The Hill Times made in recent years by international peer MPs and media by the Canadian Environ- reviewers, high-ranking Canadian officials, mental Law Association and other NGOs, international nuclear proponents and others. outlined several ways in which the CNSC The International Atomic Energy Agen- was creating “pseudo regulations” to benefit cy recently reviewed Canada’s nuclear the nuclear industry and allow cheap and safety framework. It identified numerous ineffective nuclear waste facilities to re- serious deficiencies including: not follow- ceive approval and licensing. ing IAEA guidance on nuclear reactor de- A recent petition to the auditor gen- commissioning, failure to justify practices eral from our respective public interest involving radiation sources, inadequate citizens’ groups and Quebec colleagues, management systems for transporting entitled “Nuclear governance problems nuclear materials and allowing pregnant in Canada,” noted that the CNSC has a nuclear workers four times higher radia- mandate to protect health but lacks a tion exposures than IAEA would permit. health department. A review of CNSC’s In testimony before the House Natural organizational chart reveals that the word Resources Committee, in November 2016, health does not appear on it. Canada’s environment commissioner We believe the CNSC is in need of seri- said: “the Canadian Nuclear Safety Com- ous reform if Canadians want it to become a mission… was quite difficult to work with world-class nuclear regulator that prioritizes … I would say that the commission was the health of Canadians and the environ- aggressive with the auditors.” ment over the health of the nuclear industry. In April 2017, an expert panel on reform The should address of environmental assessment, in its final re- regulatory capture and other serious prob- port noted that it had heard many concerns lems at the CNSC as soon as possible. about lack of independence at the CNSC. Lynn Jones The nuclear industry publication, Concerned Citizens of Renfrew Nuclear Energy Insider, recently touted County and Area Canada’s “benign regulatory environment” Ottawa, Ont., as a reason for SMR developers to come to Anne Lindsey Canada to experiment with and promote Concerned Citizens of Manitoba “small,” “modular,” nuclear reactors. A Globe Winnipeg, Man.

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not likely as mobile so long-term, loyal voters are important to the Rainmaker made it rain, Trudeau’s victory. New political participants are important for energy and excite- ment. The young generation is got to keep loyal Liberals loyal most likely made up of urban participants who will not carry the day in the case of a tight Such was the Senator’s elec- Such a resolution will give air their perspectives but, in the election. It would be dangerous toral prowess that he is widely some comfort to Bay Street, end, the party will come out united It would be dangerous for credited with the Liberals becom- which is already making noises behind a policy that will ensure Liberals to skew their campaign for Liberals to skew ing the “natural governing party” about excessive Liberal spending. a national strategy for long-term to millennial voters. their campaign to in the last century. And main street will be reassured care and no national consensus on That cohort was a winner in Last weekend’s Liberal con- in knowing that national income the Guaranteed Annual Income. 2015, delivering a solid major- millennial voters. That vention reflected Davey’s rule. support will be available at least Party organizers have been ity to the Liberals. But it is not He always said that the key to through the pandemic. very pleased with the participa- likely to be as effective this time cohort was a winner Liberal success was campaigning The convention will also tion level at the convention, with around. from the left and governing from embrace near unanimity on a more than 4,000 registrants, of The longer any party has been in 2015, delivering a the right. resolution calling for the imple- whom 60 per cent are new mem- in government, the harder it is to The party secured the best mentation of national standards bers. keep everyone happy. solid majority to the policies for a socially progressive for long-term care residences New members are good news, Marijuana legalization is a dis- Liberals. But it is not country while remaining fiscally across the country. but the party also has to be con- tant memory, and that policy will prudent, so as not to scare the There was a time when such cerned about the ongoing support not persuade those new voters to likely to be as effective business community. a resolution would have meant of long-time, loyal Liberals. support the Liberals again. But this century is turning political death in Quebec. I was chatting last week with a Instead, the party will depend this time around. politics on its head. And everyone knows that it former cabinet minister, who was on older people to carry tight rid- In an effort to guide Canada is near impossible to secure a a very active political organizer in ings in rural areas. through the pandemic, the gov- majority government without the past, and he is sitting the next Seniors are usually most likely ernment is spending as widely substantial support in La Belle election out. to vote in large numbers, but the and rapidly as possible. province. In his words, the party seems a pandemic has altered everyone’s So, when it comes to a pre- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lot more interested in recruitment habits. election message, the party will and Quebec Premier François Le- than in involving those who have Trudeau’s covid hotels have have to prove that it can also be gault have been making multiple been around for a long time. also cost support among snow- fiscally prudent. joint announcements in recent That could spell trouble, be- birds who represent up to 500,000 So do not expect a blanket time, so they will probably orga- cause in most elections where the voters. endorsement of a guaranteed nize an opt-out clause to handle Liberals lose, their loyal voters Hopes for majority could annual income, even though this the claim of federal interference don’t necessarily change sides. depend on whether the Trudeau has been on the agenda of many in provincial health matters. They just don’t bother to vote. glow is losing lustre with loyal Sheila Copps progressives for decades. But at the end of the day, the Pollsters have recently identi- Liberals. Copps’ Corner Instead, there will be a resolu- death rate in Quebec cannot be fied that the party is either behind The convention could kickstart tion to cost the plan, and incorpo- ignored and simply assuming that or in a toss-up in 13 ridings which that renewal—or not. rate the views of provincial and more of the same will be a solu- they need to form a majority Sheila Copps is a former Jean iberal Rainmaker Keith Davey Indigenous governments before tion does not make sense. government. Chrétien-era cabinet minister and Lled the party to multiple suc- anything specific moves forward The sturm and drang of a Most of those ridings are a former deputy prime minister. cessful elections. on the national level. convention will allow all sides to rural, with a population that is The Hill Times Political ‘hired guns’ like to keep policies simple

selves one simple question: what Prime Minister John A. Macdonald and even This is why election policies would help us win an Justin Trudeau, phasing out the Canadian military. campaigns are the election? pictured March If the party’s strategists have That’s their litmus test for 30, 2021, on the anything to say about it, none of way they are, i.e., what makes “good” policy. Hill, basically won these controversial and potential- Yes, I know that sounds jaded the 2015 federal ly unpopular policies will wind up often devoid of any and cynical, but keep in mind, election, based on getting much play. strategists are not policy wonks, his winning, rock- Maybe this is why some deeply ‘important’ policy they’re political warriors who star, personality. ideological parties are against want to get their leader elected. His policies went the idea of taking on a political debates. For political What’s more, this “winning largely unnoticed, consultant. Recall the controversy strategists, that’s not is everything” attitude is even writes Gerry that erupted within the Green stronger in freelance professional Nicholls. The Hill Party a few years ago after it a bug, it’s a feature. consultants, whom political par- Times photograph hired noted political brawler War- ties often hire to help them design by Andrew Meade ren Kinsella. a winning campaign message. Of course, political strategists Remember, these “hired guns” aren’t always right and ideo- are judged and evaluated on their logues aren’t always wrong. won-lost record. Consider, for example, the My point is political consul- 2016 Republican presidential tants and party strategists are primary, where Donald Trump en- heavily incentivized to push for a thusiastically embraced the ideas policy formula that first and fore- policy proposal risks alienating 2015 federal election, based on and values of the party’s right- most will work electorally. voters. his winning, rock-star, personal- wing populists and then pro- So, what makes for a politi- The classic example of this ity. ceeded to crush his rivals along Gerry Nicholls cally effective policy? was the Liberal Party’s complex His policies went largely un- with their high-priced political Post Partisan Pundit Well, first off strategists want “Green Shift” policy plan that was noticed. consultants. a policy that’s easy to understand pushed in the 2008 federal elec- At any rate, you can see how Yet, at the end of the day, party and that can be communicated tion. Nobody really understood this perspective of a party strate- leaders will typically follow the AKVILLE, ONT.—With a quickly and concisely: “Tax the it, and the Conservatives easily gist will often clash with views of advice of their strategists, who Ofederal election looming, Rich,” “Cut Government Waste,” branded it as a “tax on every- a party’s ideologues. can prove their case with polling strategists from all the major po- “Help the Middle Class.” thing.” After all, for most ideologues, data and market research. litical parties are currently trying We saw such a concise policy Mind you, truth be told, strate- ideas are everything. This is why election cam- to figure out which policies their in the 2006 federal election, when gists would be happy if they could Thus, I’m guessing there’s paigns are the way they are, i.e., leaders should promote. the Conservatives pledged to run a campaign without promot- something of a schism right now often devoid of any “important” And when I say that, I don’t slash the GST. ing any sort of major policy initia- between the NDP’s strategists policy debates. mean they’re researching which In other words, party strate- tives; they’d much rather focus on and the NDP’s rank-and-file, who For political strategists, that’s policies are best for the economy gists will usually want to avoid the sizzle instead of the steak. at their recent online convention not a bug, it’s a feature. or best for the environment or policy ideas that have lots of de- And yes, this is possible. were pushing for policy resolu- Gerry Nicholls is a communi- best fighting for COVID; what tails or moving parts, since, from For instance, Prime Minister tions that included, nationalizing cations consultant. I mean is they’re asking them- their point of view, a complicated Justin Trudeau basically won the “big oil,” removing all statues of The Hill Times 10 MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2021 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion

Prime Minister ing as an alternative to Justin Justin Trudeau, Trudeau. And that is the danger. pictured As one Senator put it to The Hill recently on the Times, “In the end, the Liberals al- Hill. It would be ways take themselves down with a grave mistake the same thing. Arrogance. The for the Trudeau notion that they can do anything government to and pull it off.” use the current You don’t have to go further weakness in than Jean Chrétien to prove the the opposition Senator’s point. The little guy to indulge in from Shawinigan had a love the fantasy that affair going with the Canadian because you people. In 1993, he took down the have power now, Mulroney Conservatives and won you will always a majority government. He scored have it. The Hill two more majority governments Times photograph in 1997 and 2000. It looked like he by Andrew Meade and the Liberal Party could go on governing forever. And then the arrogance kicked in. At first, no one cared much that Chrétien faced weak opposi- tion from regional parties during his winning streak, the Bloc Québécois, and the Reform Party. But towards the end of Chré- tien’s tenure, bad things started happening. A split in the party became embarrassingly obvious between the PM’s supporters and the supporters of . At times, it was vicious. And then the grand-daddy of scandals came down on Chré- tien’s watch—the ad sponsorship fiasco. It was bad enough that the Liberals were caught funnelling cash to their pals through crown corporations. Against the advice Most dangerous time for of his then clerk of the privy council, Chrétien assumed per- sonal control of the ad-sponsor- ship program. The hot mess was all his, and he left office under that cloud. Most recently, Chré- a government is when tien’s name was linked by Radio- Canada’s Enquete to a secretive international group planning to use Newfoundland and Labrador as a dump site for nuclear waste from other countries. opposition is weak Justin Trudeau’s government has more than once ventured down the slippery paths of ar- served when every Member of have the added problem of cred- that the Liberals plan to do a lot rogance. The WE Charity scandal; That is how the Parliament has some degree of ibility. As much as he tries to talk more social spending, including fi- the summary dismissal of two influence over legislation. away his past voting record in the nally doing something about some cabinet ministers who were later stars have currently The most dangerous time for Harper government, the more he form of national childcare plan. In vindicated by Canada’s ethics a government, whether majority falls victim to one of the funda- that scenario, the NDP would be commissioner; and the withhold- aligned for the or minority, is when the opposi- mental axioms of politics; when reduced to the role of parliamen- ing of documents from a parlia- Trudeau government. tion is weak or in disarray. That you’re explaining, you’re losing. tary helper, rather than a viable mentary committee with every is how the stars have currently Though it has an articulate alternative to the Liberals. right to see them unredacted. The Liberals would be aligned for the Trudeau govern- and capable leader, the NDP’s And even the Green Party, that It is also a form of arrogance to ment. The Liberals would be wise poll numbers are mired at about bastion of principle and integ- believe you can say one thing, and wise not to view this not to view this as unmitigated 17 per cent of decided voters. The rity in the wasteland of politics do another. It was arrogant to take good luck. problem isn’t . He as usual, has hit political white that trip to the Aga Khan’s private as unmitigated good It would be easy for the gov- scores high in leadership quali- water. Published accounts claim island. It was arrogant to go from ernment to swagger a little more ties. that the Greens are being torn the pinnacles of Paris Accord rhet- luck. than usual these days. Their polls The main problem is that the apart by a conflict between its oric on fighting climate change, to suggest that they are majority NDP has been pushed from its new leader, , and the valley of non-performance on bound. Nor do they face a govern- natural political real estate by the party’s national council. key environmental issues. ment-in-waiting in the CPC, but a the gifted elbows of the Grits. Former leader Elizabeth Several reports paint Canada party in free fall. It is hard to portray the NDP as May has been slandered as the as an environmental laggard After choosing the wrong lead- the party that will spend more divider behind the party’s alleged compared to other countries er, many Conservatives are not on social programs, when Justin troubles. How ugly have things in the OECD. The country still following Erin O’Toole. His “big Trudeau is already spending the gotten? There have been pub- has ’s emission tent” is mostly empty. Instead, numbers off the national credit lished reports that the first Black targets and it still subsidizes the the man who wants to grow the card. woman to lead a national party oil patch—despite the promises to base by moving to the centre is When the best you can do by in Canada is the victim of racism. do otherwise. And 61 Indigenous the victim of a whisper campaign, way of criticism of a government May told The Hill Times that there communities in Canada are still Michael Harris in which people are laying odds is that you would spend more, is absolutely no racism in the boiling their water. Harris on how long he can survive in his or would have spent it sooner, it party, and no conflict between It would be a grave mistake for post. One Conservative columnist hardly galvanizes many voters. the new leader and the National the Trudeau government to use recently opined that it was time That is especially true when Council. She also emphasized the current weakness in the op- ALIFAX—The most danger- to beg Stephen Harper to come people are already beginning to that Paul has her absolute sup- position to indulge in the fantasy Hous time for a government is out of retirement. Thankfully, the worry about the massive scale of port. that because you have power now, not struggling to preserve itself in political bat mobile doesn’t run in Liberal spending. With every opposition party you will always have it. a minority situation. reverse. The one notable excep- Once the new budget finally having problems of its own, the The great Romantic Shelley In fact, minority governments tion to that rule is Richard Nixon comes out, after a two-year dr- Liberals seem to be on political once wrote a poem that the PM often produce the best results. and that didn’t turn out very well. umroll, the Liberals may carry easy street. Not to say that the and all his cabinet ministers should After all, compromise and coop- The lesson for O’Toole? You political plagiarism of NDP policy problems they are grappling with read. It is called Ozymandias. eration are not optional, the way don’t edit the Conservative bible all the way to larceny. There have aren’t immense. They are, and Michael Harris is an award- they are when one party has a without consequences. And philo- already been broad hints from will be, for some time. But no one winning author and journalist. majority. Democracy is better sophical changelings like O’Toole finance minister on the opposition side is present- The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2021 11 Opinion This just in: IMF advocates for more active government in post-pandemic world

Finance Minister The global agency, once Chrystia Freeland, noted for its dogmatic— pictured Nov. 23, 2020, on the and at times destructive, Hill. In preparing unbridled free-market her first budget, she would be ideology, is now an advocate well-served by reading the of more active government latest advice coming out of and is making clear the the International Monetary Fund, connections between social writes David policy, economic policy, and Crane. The Hill Times photograph environmental policy for our by Andrew Meade post-pandemic world.

Second, support productivity through But the IMF also makes clear that policies to facilitate job mobility, including governments will have to consider tax training, and to promote competition and increases as we move out of the pandemic. innovation and raise the potential growth This would not only help bring down defi- rate of the economy. cits and debt. Governments will also need Third, boost public infrastructure in- fiscal room to spend more to deal with vestment specially in green infrastructure. inequality, to foster growth and to achieve The risk that the post-pandemic world climate change commitments. will see even greater inequality between It points to the need for more progres- those at the top and the rest of society is a sive taxation, a review of tax deductions David Crane major concern for the IMF since growing that mainly favour the wealthy, a review of Canada & the 21st Century inequality can threaten social cohesion, inheritance and capital gains taxes, greater political divisiveness and is a drag on the efforts to curb the use of tax havens and a potential of the economy. Low-income global minimum tax on corporations. The ORONTO—Finance Minister Chrystia Canadians have been the hardest hit by the IMF is a strong proponent of carbon taxes TFreeland, in preparing her first budget, pandemic and can face major difficulties in which it says are a key tool to achieve would be well-served by reading the latest advancing in the post-pandemic world. lower greenhouse gas emissions. But while advice coming out of the International In its call for the need to address post- it recognizes some countries—Norway, Monetary Fund. The global agency, once pandemic inequality, the IMF argues that France, , and Switzerland—have noted for its dogmatic—and at times de- “governments need to provide everyone wealth taxes it says more study is needed. structive–unbridled free market ideology, with a fair shot—enabling all individuals In the meantime, it says, government is now an advocate of more active govern- to reach their potential—and to strength- should look to closing tax loopholes. ment and is making clear the connections en vulnerable households’ resilience, But the IMF also recognizes that while the between social policy, economic policy, and preserving social stability and, in turn, huge budget deficits that governments have environmental policy for our post-pandem- macroeconomic stability.” As it stresses, run to avert a repeat of a 1930s-style Great ic world. the pandemic has exposed the failures of Depression has been money well spent, tax So climate change, deep-rooted inequal- modern society and highlighted the need increases will be needed so that future gen- ity, and early childhood development are for change. erations are not saddled with repaying result- now among the IMF’s concerns—they all Strengthening access to health care and ing debt. One possibility, it says, is a tempo- influence economic, social, and environ- investing in early childhood development rary COVID-19 recovery tax as a supplement mental progress. “Returns to investment in are important ways to help build a more to personal income tax rates, as well as on early childhood development are especially inclusive society, as is a better understand- “excess” profits earned by companies that large,” the IMF argues. In fact, as the IMF ing of the social determinants of health. So prospered as a result of the pandemic. notes, there is growing public emphasis is helping people get back to work, through Canada has some experience with a per- on social inclusion as a key part of fiscal what are known as active labour market sonal tax surcharge. In the early 1980s the policy. policies, by finding new jobs, through hir- federal government introduced two deficit Perhaps this is because since 2011, the ing subsidies, improved training, public reduction surtaxes—one of three per cent IMF, global agency most responsible for works jobs, and better job search pro- which applied to all taxpayers and another, guiding the world economy, has been run grams. of five per cent, which applied to taxpay- by women, first Christine Lagarde, who Boosting productivity is also essential, ers with incomes of $65,000 or more. In the now heads the European Central Bank, since this is the key to generating future early 1990s, the three per cent surtax was and now Kristalina Georgieva. The new wealth and jobs and our ability to pay eliminated while the five per cent surtax head of the World Trade Organization is for the public goods we want. As the IMF was retained. In Budget 2000, the surtax also a woman. And Freeland is our first economists point out, recessions delay new was eliminated for those with incomes female finance minister. Times are chang- business investment in technology and below $85,000 and completely eliminated by ing and so are our values as we shift from in research and development, weakening 2004 after the deficit had been eliminated. shareholder capitalism to stakeholder future productivity growth. But Canada’s So that’s the fiscal bottom line for Free- capitalism and from excessive individual- future depends on increased innovation land. More spending to address inequality ism to community. and the growth of Canadian companies and create opportunity for the less-advan- In its current advice to governments, with proprietary technology. So that has to taged, to boost productivity and wealth the IMF sets out a useful framework for be part of the budget. creation and to invest in much-needed finance ministers planning for the post- The post-pandemic recovery also pro- infrastructure and the green economy—but pandemic world, with three priorities: vides an opportunity to sustain economic also the honesty to acknowledge that we First, address the inequality that is growth and job creation through major will need to raise taxes as we progress out likely to result from the pandemic by investments in infrastructure, including of the pandemic. The IMF provides valida- expanding social safety nets and ensuring infrastructure that facilitates the transi- tion for all of this. that adequate resources are allocated to tion to a green economy. This would also David Crane can be reached at crane@ health care, early childhood development contribute to the urgent need to move to a interlog.com. and education. net-zero carbon emissions economy. The Hill Times 12 MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2021 | THE HILL TIMES Global

This defence is not available to Abiy Ahmed, who got the Peace Prize just 17 months after Another Nobel Peace ending the ‘frozen conflict’ with Eritrea and 19 months after tak- ing power in Ethiopia. As with the preposterous Peace Prize for Barack Obama only 10 months after he took office in 2009, the Prize winner goes rogue selection committee just jumped too soon. At least Obama did not start Ethiopian a war, whereas in retrospect it Prime seems likely that Abiy Ahmed Minister Abiy signed a peace treaty to end the Ahmed, the 20-years-dormant military con- Nobel Peace frontation with Eritrea because Prize Winner he saw it as a likely ally in the in 2019, war he already foresaw with his waited the own erstwhile allies in Tigray. statutory two (Tigray is an Ethiopean province years before that shares a border with Eritrea.) launching his The war was almost inevitable, genocidal war because Abiy’s rise to power in Tigray last marked the end of a 27-year November. period when members of the Photograph Tigray People’s Liberation Front courtesy of (TPLF) dominated Ethiopia. (Abiy Commons belongs to one of the countries Wikimedia two biggest ethnic groups, the Oromo.) Tigrayans are only six per cent of Ethiopia’s 100 million people, but their fighters outnumbered everybody else in the guerilla army that finally overthrew the Derg dictatorship, so they just naturally slid into the seats of power in 1991—and stayed there semi-permanently. Every other ethnic group was seeking a way to oust the TPLF without a civil war, and Abiy seemed a good choice because he had fought alongside Tigrayan rebels from the age of fourteen and spoke fluent Tigrinya. But that wasn’t enough to reconcile ONDON, U.K.—Ethiopian the defeat in order to bring the and she defended its actions in- Tigrayans to their loss of power, Can I defend Abiy LPrime Minister Abiy Ahmed, more ignorant nationalists in ternationally because she thought of course, and Abiy and the TPLF the Nobel Peace Prize Winner in Congress and the country along that might stop it from seizing both knew it would probably end Ahmed too? I 2019, waited the statutory two with his policy. So he signed a power again. in war. years before launching his geno- ‘peace treaty’ that neither he nor If that was her motive, she Which it has, and the Eritrean understand how cidal war in Tigray last November. his North Vietnamese counterpart failed: look at the bloodbath in Bur- army joined Abiy’s Ethiopian difficult his situation ‘Statutory’ is the right word. expected to last. ma now. Was that really her mo- federal troops in invading Tigray. U.S. secretary of state Henry Cynical realpolitik, if you like, tive? It’s impossible to tell, because The TPLF’s regular forces were was, and all the Kissinger, who won the Peace but they were actually trying to she has repeated the military’s defeated in a few weeks, and the Prize in 1973 for ending the minimize the killing, knowing racist lies about the Rohingya with years-long, maybe even decades- other separatist Vietnam War, even admitted that full well that there was more yet more enthusiasm than was strictly long war against Tigrayan guerilla he only wanted a ‘decent inter- to come. That’s the defence that necessary just to placate the gener- resistance has begun. So have the pressures in Ethiopia, val’ of two years after the U.S. I also offered for Aung San Suu als. But you can see both her and mass murders, the mass rapes, and the fact that he withdrawal before North Vietnam Kyi. She couldn’t stop the army Kissinger as intelligent people try- the looting and random destruc- conquered South Vietnam—which from massacring the Rohingyas, ing to choose the lesser evil. tion that are the hallmarks of started out as a child it did in 1975. ethnic wars. Whereas Aung San Suu Kyi, Now the first videos are ap- soldier, but no, I the Burmese pro-democracy pearing, of Ethiopian troops leader who won the prize in 1991, shooting unarmed young Ti- can’t. Message to the waited almost 20 years before grayan men and kicking their defending the genocide against bodies over a cliff. (Why do they Nobel Peace Prize the Rohingya committed by the always make these videos? Are committee. Next time, government she nominally led they proud of it?) By the end of before the International Court of this year, we will be probably be wait a little longer. Justice. officially calling it a genocide, but They should all remember that won’t stop it. Nothing will, Groucho Marx’s rule: “I refuse to for a long time. join a club that would have me as And can I defend Abiy Ahmed a member.” The Peace Prize Club too? I understand how difficult has some very dodgy members, his situation was, and all the so I went back and looked at what other separatist pressures in I wrote when these luminaries Ethiopia, and the fact that he first won their prizes. (I’ve been started out as a child soldier, but in this game for a long time.) It no, I can’t. turns out that I sort of defended Message to the Nobel Peace all of them. Prize committee. Next time, wait Henry Kissinger wasn’t try- Henry Kissinger, left, wasn’t trying to win a prize. Aung San Suu Kyi waited a little longer. Gwynne Dyer ing to win a prize. He knew the almost 20 years before defending the genocide against the Rohingya. As with Gwynne Dyer’s new book is Global Affairs United States had lost the war the preposterous Peace Prize for Barack Obama only 10 months after he took ‘Growing Pains: The Future of in Vietnam and he wanted to get office in 2009, the selection committee just jumped too soon, writes Gwynne Democracy (and Work)’. out, but he needed to disguise Dyer. Photographs courtesy of Commons Wikimedia and The Hill Times files The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2021 13 Opinion Indigenous partnerships key to conservation goals and sustainable prosperity

added investment, Indigenous nations can When the COVID-19 help Canada emerge from the pandemic as a leader in economic recovery, conserva- pandemic starts to recede, tion, and climate action. the existential threats of This approach is already thriving in Indigenous nations across the country. climate change and loss of More than 25 Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCA) are in develop- biodiversity will continue to ment and dozens more have been pro- posed. These areas will ensure healthy mount. lands that sustain caribou, salmon, and clean water and store massive amounts of carbon in soils and wetlands. More than 70 Indigenous Guardians Programs operate across the country. These teams of trained experts use Indigenous and western sci- At their first official meeting, held virtually Feb. 23, 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. ence to monitor water quality, address President Joe Biden singled out the leadership of Indigenous nations and 'agreed to be partners in climate impacts, and support informed protecting nature, including by supporting Indigenous-led conservation efforts.' Official White House decision-making. Photo by Adam Schultz IPCAs and Guardians Programs form a keystone of economic sustainability across the North. They create good-paying jobs Valérie Courtois and a diversity of opportunities. Northwest of , for instance, the K’asho Opinion Got’ıne hired guardians to partner with federal and territorial scientists on wild- he pandemic has taken a heavy toll on life research last winter. And in northern Tlocal and regional economies across B.C., the Kaska Dena Council is working the country, and this latest spike in COVID with a dozen guide outfitters—including cases will create more uncertainty. But as Kaska-owned companies—on plans for we had into spring, it is time to plant the operating in the proposed Dene K’éh Kusān seeds for regrowth and recovery. The next Indigenous Protected Area and attracting few months will be decisive. Even as we millions of dollars in tourist business. focus on jumpstarts for struggling sectors, They also provide certainty for industry. we must also invest in solutions that flour- When Indigenous nations determine areas ish year after year and generation after they want to protect, they also identify generation. places where development can be consid- We need to take the long view on pros- ered. And having guardians on the ground perity now more than ever, because when creates the conditions for informed con- the COVID-19 pandemic starts to recede, sent. The largest nickel mine in the world— the existential threats of climate change Voisey’s Bay in Labrador—advanced in and loss of biodiversity will continue to part when Innu Nation Guardians became mount. And the impacts of these chal- independent, onsite monitors. lenges—from intense wildfires to health Their success is gaining recognition. impacts—pose significant risks to our na- At their first official meeting last month, tion and our economy. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. Dehcho Guardians working on wildlife trails in Edehzhie. More than 70 Indigenous Guardians Now is the time for bold action. President Joe Biden singled out the leader- Programs operate across the country. These teams of trained experts use Indigenous and western On April 19, the federal government ship of Indigenous nations and “agreed to science to monitor water quality, address climate impacts, and support informed decision-making. will issue the first budget in two years. be partners in protecting nature, including Photograph courtesy of Indigenous Leadership Initiative This is a pivotal moment: an opportunity by supporting Indigenous-led conserva- to spur economic growth today and lay the tion efforts.” And they acknowledged the groundwork for a better future. Canada importance of working with Indigenous investment in Guardians Programs. And and help ensure our grandchildren live in has vowed to protect 30 per cent of lands peoples “in advancing climate solutions scientists have confirmed that IPCAs offer a world rich with wild animals, birds, and and oceans by 2030 and slash carbon emis- and protecting nature.” the most ambitious proposals for achieving fish. They are a gift to the world. And now is sions. It has also pledged to foster equity Meanwhile, a growing number of Canada’s conservation targets. the time to respect and honour this gift. and sustainable development. corporate leaders within Canada have The opportunity is clear. As it maps out Valérie Courtois is the director of the Indigenous nations stand ready to highlighted the role and importance of a post-pandemic path, Canada can generate Indigenous Leadership Initiative and a partner on these goals. We are honouring Indigenous-led conservation. More than sustainable prosperity by partnering Indig- member of the Innu community of Mash- our responsibility for the land in ways that 50,000 people have joined the Land Needs enous nations. IPCAs and guardians will teuiatsh. are good for people and the economy. With Guardians campaign to call for sustained create economic opportunities that endure The Hill Times

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Untitled-1 1 15-05-25 9:34 PM 14 MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2021 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion CRA approach for policing faith smacks of Islamophobia and should alarm everyone It’s time for the CRA is being targeted by a specific other places of worship, faith-based Dr. Abdullah Hakim Quick. An in- simply not religious experts and division in the CRA. Suspicions charities are an important segment dependent investigation by The Star should not be in the practice of to better define of bureaucratic discrimination of Canada’s charity sector. has since determined that inten- critiquing religious tenets with and Islamophobia have been In the aftermath of 9/11, tional mistranslations of this prayer zero contextual understanding and its mandate and confirmed in a recent report by multiple security agencies viewed have been used by far-right groups questionable research methods. the National Council of Canadian the Muslim community and its to discredit Canadian imams. The There are more than 80,000 guidelines for charities Muslims (NCCM) and the Insti- organizations purely through a CRA further accused Imam Said registered charities in this coun- tute of Islamic Studies (IIS) at the security lens, ignoring the essen- Ragheah for having “anti-Western try. Muslim charities in par- and acknowledge . tial work they do and their place attitudes” because of sermons he de- ticular have been some of the top that it is not within its The report exposes the CRA’s within Canada’s social fabric. It is livered to Muslim audiences which contributors to Canadian society pattern of using seemingly benign important to note that Canada’s included questions about basic in past years, making the top 25 purview to be auditing tax audits to shut down charities, Muslim community has been Islamic practices such as avoiding charities list in the country. When apparently in judgment of what is singled out in this respect and the alcohol or gambling. the charity sector is dominated by the religious beliefs and an acceptable form of practising findings of the report expose that Would it be acceptable for religious organizations, this kind one’s faith. An important question bias. The result has been a direc- the CRA to criticize a Catholic of policing threatens everyone practices of Canadians. arises from the whole debacle: why tive within the CRA’s Review and Church’s recommendations to and especially the very valuable is the CRA policing faith at all? Analysis Division (RAD) that puts sacrifice something for Lent? Or a work these charities are doing. It Yes, it is also true that charita- Muslim charities chronically un- synagogue’s celebration of Pass- wastes time, taxpayer money, and ble organizations in Canada must der suspicion and assumes them over by abstaining from leavened it unfairly puts on trial upstand- follow a set of rules in order to to be ever-susceptible to allega- bread? These are common faith ing individuals who are doing operate and that there are specific tions of terorrism and extremism. positions for people practicing everything they can to give back allowable activities for charities This is textbook Islamophobia. these religions which a govern- to the communities they serve. to engage in. However, when it In the process of their audits, ment agency has no business or NCCM has called for the comes to Muslim organizations the CRA launches questionable jurisdiction debating. suspension of RAD pending a the CRA has gone beyond that investigations which include look- The CRA refers to their prac- government review. It’s time for the public interest mandate, and has ing into social media accounts, lec- tice as a “public benefit test,” but CRA to better define its mandate done so by relying on very prob- tures, and other media of speakers it is essentially subjecting Islam and guidelines for charities and ac- Mohammed Iqbal Alnadvi lematic approaches to support and volunteers associated with in particular to a quasi-values test knowledge that it is not within its Opinion their revocation of charities. those charities. They have also that undermines the Canadian val- purview to be auditing the religious In Canada, one of the four man- used “sources” to support their ue we can all agree on despite our beliefs and practices of Canadians. dated categories a charity can fit revocations which are produced, differences—a value enshrined in Dr. Mohammed Iqbal Alnadvi or years, Muslim charities into is the “advancement of religion.” edited, and altered about Muslims our Charter: freedom of religion. is the chairman of the Canadian Fhave raised concerns of in- This means that teaching religious by far-right hate platforms. Canadians of all stripes and Council of Imams and one of the trusive audits. As more charities tenets, doctrines, practices, and In the case of their revocation faiths should be alarmed by these leading Islamic scholars in Cana- have come forward about this culture associated with a specific of Ottawa’s As-Salam Mosque’s revelations. These findings raise the da. He serves as religious counsel issue to the Canadian Council religious way of life is a legitimate charity status in 2018, the CRA question of how equipped a taxa- to the Canadian Muslim Chaplain of Imams (CCI), it has become charitable endeavour. Whether relied on a video edited by a British tion agency is in wading through Organization and the chair of the apparent that a disporportionate operating through synagogues, neo-Nazi group to misrepresent the the complexities of religious tenets Islamic Finance Advisory Board. selection of Muslim organizations churches, guadaras, mosques, or words and even prayers of Imam and practices. CRA auditors are The Hill Times

like automobiles, not constructed How to address the housing shortage like cabins. Canadian builders are building at a furious pace, as evidenced by housing starts, sales which we believe is conservative, ments are not affordable. Heading the federal government can take. of lumber and other materials. Canadians are moving predicts an average price increase into a spring budget and a vigor- The federal government already However, many residential building of 9.1 per cent for 2021, based on ous debate about policy options, spends some $15-billion per year sites still use traditional construc- out of cities, out of continued tight supply and strong we are proposing a new approach on infrastructure, often in response tion materials and methods. We can province and into demand for housing. that will spur development of all to applications from municipalities. help them build faster, more afford- Like politics, real estate markets housing types. This approach takes However, there are few conditions ably and more efficiently. smaller and more are local. The supply and demand a long view of the work that needs attached to those investments when Another tactic is the redevelop- dynamics are unique to each area, to be done, so that any investments, it comes to housing. It’s not enough ment of existing assets, including remote communities. but housing shortages are universal. public policy or action is sustain- to simply invest in infrastructure. office buildings, hotels and store- In fact, very few jurisdictions in the able, laying a foundation for more Impediments such as red tape, fronts. There are significant op- They are taking their world have tackled this problem efficient processes going forward. taxes, charges and nimbyism are portunities to create new housing successfully. Many are trying, For too long, municipal leaders deeply entrenched obstacles. Feder- in downtown neighborhoods that jobs with them and including the U.K., where a federal have been incentivized to block al funds must come with incentives were once unaffordable. Previously need reliable high- government white paper released in new residential housing projects, or conditions to make them effec- inaccessible areas would provide 2020 titled “Planning for the future” infill housing or higher density tive in addressing housing shortag- many Canadians with greater speed internet to acknowledged that persisting developments such as high rises. es and affordability. In exchange for resources and opportunities to undersupply is resulting in increas- They have put into place a variety the city offering up land, permitting be involved in society, a pillar of remain there, long term. ingly expensive housing, underlying of barriers including by-laws, improvements, rezoning to enable CMHC’s Social Inclusion Index. their goal of completely revamping taxes, fees, review committees more housing, or a combination Finally, we cannot ignore that their planning processes. and other impediments that grind thereof, the federal government Canadians are moving out of cities, Our supply shortage has created progress to a halt. The simple rea- would invest into the infrastructure out of province and into smaller and an urgent situation impacting the son for this is nimbyism. “Support needed to build housing units in- more remote communities. They most vulnerable in our society, rent- new development in my neighbor- cluding telecommunications, roads, are taking their jobs with them and ers, new immigrants, and aspiring hood and I’m voting you out”. sewers and water. The result is new need reliable high-speed internet to home buyers across the price spec- The resulting supply shortage housing and better processes for ap- remain there long-term. Telecommu- trum. There are too many Canadians, has become a national problem. proving and building homes as well nications investments, such as those including families, who are home- Predictably, there are now calls as new infrastructure that is needed announced in the Ontario budget, less or living in inadequate housing. to add more regulatory barriers to improve business productivity will help with housing affordability. Millennials, young families, and at a federal level to curb demand. more broadly. This new approach would be Michael Bourque new Canadians need more housing This includes the latest idea to We also have a productivity a significant driver of economic choice, not further restrictions on reduce the capital gains exemp- Opinion challenge. There have only been 1.1 growth. It would also address the financing or new taxes. The focus tion on primary residences. But million housing completions since long-term balance between hous- should be on reducing the significant this would only exacerbate the 2015, which falls far short of Statis- ing supply and demand, while here is a shortage of housing in impediments to timely, affordable situation by creating a disincen- tics Canada’s estimated population tackling urgent social and human TCanada. This has contributed to and sustainable home building. tive to move, which would further growth of 2.4 million over the same needs across the housing spectrum. soaring prices, multiple offers and Governments in Canada have reduce housing supply while period. The federal government Michael Bourque is the CEO disheartened consumers in real es- already spent billions of dollars decreasing household wealth. should prioritize R&D into residen- of the Canadian Real Estate As- tate markets from Maple Ridge to dealing with the pandemic and Curbing demand has proven to be tial construction productivity and sociation. Moncton. Our most recent forecast, some will argue that new invest- ineffective, but there are actions innovation. Homes should be built The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2021 15 Opinion The return of industrial policy

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured March 3, 2021, in Ottawa. There is no reason Canada cannot be a winner in this new global business context provided we aim purposely for the podium, write Kevin Lynch and Paul Deegan. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

for dominance in key technolo- and it recommended a seminal was ratified by prime minister change led to demand shifts The new industrial gies, or the lack of resiliency in modification to long standing Ca- Jean Chrétien and president toward electric vehicles, which global supply chains exposed by nadian content provisions of do- . Free trade in autos Canada did not produce. The Ca- policy going forward COVID-19 generating pressures mestic sales to include a credit for in 1965 had paved the way for nadian auto sector was rocked by should be focused on to re-shore in strategic sectors, exports, thereby opening up the comprehensive free trade across this tsunami of change. or the pivot towards engineering possibility of duty-free exchange. by 1994. The response is to adapt and creating technology greener economies in response to This was quickly followed by Besides a supportive trade re- innovate, as the Canadian auto climate change, governments ev- the 1965 Canada-U.S. Auto Pact, gime, the auto sector has benefit- sector has done for over a century. advantages, building erywhere are once again getting a truly transformational trade ed when leaders such as Maureen Canada has a highly skilled and more involved in the business of agreement that removed auto Kempston Darkes of GM Canada, flexible workforce, great depths of pools of incredibly business. tariffs between our two coun- Yves Landry of Chrysler Canada, technology strengths in advanced Industrial policy in our com- tries and resulted in bigger, more and Ken Harrigan of Ford Canada materials, AI, electric propulsion talented scientists, petitors has gone through many efficient Canadian plants, more worked with Canadian govern- and batteries, and a history of technicians and challenging iterations over the employment in our auto sector at ments to strengthen the Canadian purpose driven industry-govern- years, and smart trade policy and higher wages, and lower prices auto advantage and then pushed ment partnerships—all essential workers, and setting strong Canadian government for Canadian consumers. inside their global companies to designing and building the and industry collaboration have But other countries wanted for a greater share of investment cars and trucks of the immediate up regulatory regimes been the hallmarks of our suc- a larger share of this grow- in Canadian plants. Entrepre- future. And recent announcements cessful responses. As a mid-size ing global car market and put neurial leadership at auto parts by GM, Ford, and Chrysler suggest that encourages economy, Canada has always in place aggressive industrial firms like Magna and Linamar they understand this Canadian needed access to larger markets policies to stimulate their auto deepened the scale and scope of auto advantage in a rapidly and innovation, for our goods, and this usually sectors, particularly Japan and the auto sector in Canada. And profoundly changing industry. experimentation, and has come with some form of trade . Imports flooded into governments, both federal and Regardless of the sector, reciprocity. As we have pain- Canada and, by the early 1980s, provincial, have been supportive, the new industrial policy going flexibility. fully learned, access alone has Ed Lumley, Canada’s interna- particularly when various Ameri- forward should be focused on never been enough—we have to tional trade minister, wanted the can states offered incentives to creating technology advantages, be competitive in our costs, offer Japanese government to agree to attract auto facilities from other building pools of incredibly tal- a compelling product and have voluntary quotas on auto exports locations including Canada. ented scientists, technicians and the protections of a rules-based to Canada. When the diplomacy The last decade has been one workers, and setting up regula- trading system. The history of the failed, Lumley got tough using of challenge for the Canadian auto tory regimes that encourages Canadian auto industry is a clear ‘border actions’ to slow Japanese industry. The bankruptcy of GM innovation, experimentation, and case in point. auto imports, and eventually and Chrysler during the global flexibility. It is not about pick- The first Canadian automobile Japan not only agreed to quotas financial crisis of 2008-09 neces- ing winners and losers—effec- was built by Henry Seth Taylor but also a plan to increase the sitated large-scale government tive industrial policy never has back in 1867. By the early 1900s, Canadian content of the Japanese intervention by American and been—but rather about creating the Ford Motor Company and products. Japanese production Canadian governments to pre- winning conditions for business McLaughlin Buick, which was plants in Canada followed. vent the collapse of the industry and entrepreneurial success in a Kevin Lynch & Paul Deegan later acquired by General Motors, Lumley’s vision was not a and its massive supply base. The disruptive and changing world. Opinion began large scale production world of quotas but a bold leap Trump administration pursued an There is no reason Canada can- near Windsor and , and to free trade. By the mid 1980s, America-first strategy, and encour- not be a winner in this new global Canada was soon the second larg- after another royal commission, aged U.S. industry to do likewise, business context provided we aim n unintended consequence of est auto producer in the world. the new government of prime regardless of trade agreements. purposely for the podium. Apopulism and geopolitics is But wars, protectionism, a limited minister shared Foreign competition surged, Kevin Lynch is former clerk of the return of industrial policy in Canadian market and industrial that vision and entered into ne- including new players from South the Privy Council and former depu- most Western countries. Whether policies in other countries meant gotiations with president Ronald Korea and China. The digital tech- ty minister of Industry. Paul Deegan it is populist “Buy America” poli- that, by the early 1960s, the Cana- Reagan for a Canada-U.S. Free nology revolution shifted competi- is CEO of Deegan Public Strate- cies creating protectionist trade dian auto industry was in crisis. Trade Agreement. With the ink tive advantage in the auto sector gies and former deputy executive walls, or expanding tech export In typically Canadian fashion, on the FTA barely dry, Mulroney from hardware and assembly to director of the National Economic and investment restrictions as the a Royal Commission on the Auto- pursued a broader North Ameri- software and programming. And, Council at the White House. United States and China compete motive Industry was established can arrangement, NAFTA, which public concerns about climate The Hill Times 16 MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2021 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion

The CBTU recently commis- sioned a report estimating the Canada needs tax fairness for skilled financial projections of imple- menting a Skilled Trades Work- force Mobility Tax Deduction that estimates it costs a construction trades workers: a balanced post-COVID worker over $4,000 to temporarily relocate for work. The report, conducted by economic recovery depends on it accounting firm Hendry Warren LLP, also found Ottawa would save $347-million per year by ecently, the Government of expenses such as meals or accom- incorporate a Skilled Trades implementing such a tax deduc- There is no good RCanada announced it was modation connected with travel to Workforce Mobility program tion, putting more Canadians to doubling the federal Gas Tax Fund work sites. into our tax system. Bill C-275, if work, reducing EI payments, and reason for the Liberal transfer through tabling Bill C-25, This same, century-old legisla- passed, would allow for expenses increasing tax revenues. government and this and rebranding it as the Canada tion would permit them to deduct for trades people travelling more The average construction Community Building Fund. those expenses if they were trav- than 80 kilometres to a job site to worker would save $2,532 a year Parliament not to If passed, an additional elling to the same construction be tax deductible. in temporary relocation efforts. $2.2-billion will flow directly to sites to sell supplies and equip- Unfortunately, placement in During the 41st Parliament, a adopt the measures of cities and communities injecting ment or perform professional the order of precedence in the virtually identical private member’s much needed capital into munici- services like accounting. House of Commons makes it un- bill, was defeated on second reading this bill now, level the pal budgets that have been hard This difference in treatment likely Bill C-275 will be debated by the Conservatives. The Liberals hit by the pandemic. may have made policy or bureau- in this session of Parliament. voted with the NDP in May 2014 to playing field and get This same government has cratic sense when it was written. As a result, Canada’s Building support it, including a new MP at on with replacing the shown, time and again, their com- But it doesn’t make common Trades Unions (CBTU) are calling the time, Chrystia Freeland. mitment to creating jobs and in- sense in the 21st Century espe- on the Government of Canada to There is no good reason for million jobs we have vesting in infrastructure—through cially when Canada is resetting adopt and implement this bill. the Liberal government and the Canada Infrastructure Bank, its economy to recover from the Currently, we have thousands this Parliament not to adopt the lost in the pandemic. one-million jobs plan and, hope- pandemic and focus on climate of unemployed construction measures of this bill now, level fully, through infrastructure change. workers in and New- the playing field and get on with stimulus in the upcoming budget. The tax code simply isn’t fair foundland and Labrador because replacing the million jobs we Why then, are the thousands to the skilled men and women of the energy sector’s hardships. have lost in the pandemic. of skilled men and women who we are counting on to build this Yet infrastructure projects in It’s time to get this done. are expected to build this infra- badly-needed infrastructure. Nor B.C. and are facing The April 19 budget would be structure not given equal treat- does the act address the skilled shortages of skilled trades people a fitting time to make this right. ment to deduct work-related labour shortage experienced in at the same time. Sean Strickland is executive di- travel expenses? some jurisdictions, high unem- Until we have a Skilled Trades rector of Canada’s Building Trades National infrastructure proj- ployment in others and the job Workforce Mobility program to re- Unions, an alliance of 14 interna- ects require a highly skilled and creation we need to recover from move a serious policy imbalance, tional unions in the construction, mobile workforce moving from the pandemic. absurdities like this will continue. maintenance and fabrication Sean Strickland construction site to construc- This is why all Parliamentar- So will steep disincentives and industries that collectively rep- Opinion tion site across Canada. Yet, our ians should support a private barriers to the mobile construc- resent over half a million skilled Income Tax Act does not allow member’s bill by NDP MP Scott tion workforce that Canada trades workers in Canada. this vital workforce to deduct Duval, whose measures would needs. The Hill Times

Canadian most targeted group for hate crimes

across the country in 2019, out of In a report The good news is that, despite We may not see the a total of 608 hate crimes targeting released on the worrying number of attacks religion. Of all the religiously moti- March 29, targeting Jews in Canada, the eradication of anti- vated hate crimes in Canada, about Statistics evidence suggests that these are half were specifically anti-Semitic. Canada revealed the actions of a small minority, and Semitism in our Despite the shocking number, there that Jewish do not reflect the attitudes of most lifetimes, but we can may be a silver lining. Statistics Canadians Canadians. A 2019 report from the Canada reports that the number of were the single Anti-Defamation League (ADL) certainly push it to the anti-Semitic attacks spiked by an biggest victims found that only eight per cent of eye-popping 63 per cent in 2017, of religiously Canadians hold anti-Semitic views, margins of society, and a smaller three percent increase motivated hate ranking Canada the second-best of in 2018, but fell 20 per cent in 2019. crimes across 18 countries surveyed by the ADL. where it rightfully However, whether this most recent the country in Of course, while that statistic belongs. fall is a long-term trend or merely a 2019, writes reflects well on most Canadians, short-term dip remains to be seen. Mike Fegelman. the reality is that the remaining Ultimately, regardless of Image courtesy of 92 per cent of Canadians who do whether 2019 was an aberration Pixabay not harbour antisemitic attitudes of the beginning of a longer-term have a duty and responsibility positive trend, the reality is that ed across the town of Burlington, caption “what’s in your wallet?” to ensure that attacks targeting the Jewish community consists of Ont., including on a traffic post. It’s abundantly clear that Jews—and all other groups—are just over one per cent of Canada’s 3. In the summer of 2019, an iden- anti-Semitism in Canada is not condemned forcefully and with- overall population, and yet rep- tifiable Jewish man wearing a limited by geography or intensity; out hesitation. And the Canadian resents a significant proportion kippah reported that he was ver- it exists from coast to coast, and media also has a responsibility to of hate crimes recipients. This bally assaulted by a taxi driver in manifests on social media, in tra- publish news covering anti-Semit- should act as a clarion call for all Montreal, and when he tried to ditional media like newspapers, ic incidents, as uncomfortable as Canadians concerned about the take a photo of the taxi’s licence, on campuses, and on the streets. they may be, so that all Canadi- Mike Fegelman social fabric of their country. As the driver began to punch and Canada’s Jewish population is ans can be informed of this can- Opinion we know all too well from history, assault the Jewish man. strong, vibrant, and growing, now cer which has infected our society the hate that begins with Jews 4. A sukkah (or temporary hut for numbering about 400,000. But since time immemorial. never ends with Jews. the Jewish holiday of Sukkot) that has not stopped anti-Semitic We may not see the eradica- nce again, Canadian Jews Of the nearly 300 police- was vandalized with anti-Semitic attacks, including verbal assault, tion of anti-Semitism in our life- Ohave the dubious distinction of recorded anti-Semitic incidents in graffiti at a rabbi’s home in Geor- physical assault, and graffiti. times, but we can certainly push being the most targeted group for 2019, some notable ones include: gina, Ont. Given that this it to the margins of society, where hate crimes. In a report released 1. An anti-Semitic and anti-Israel 5. The Journal news- report was only for the 2019 calen- it rightfully belongs. on March 29, Statistics Canada riot erupted at York University, paper published an editorial dar year, it does not take into ac- Mike Fegelman is Executive revealed that Jewish Canadians in Toronto, after a group of pro- cartoon with clearly antisemitic count the rise in anti-Semitic propa- Director of HonestReporting were the single biggest victims of Israel speakers were invited to undertones: A man with clas- ganda as a result of the coronavirus Canada, a non-profit organization religiously motivated hate crimes speak on campus. sical anti-Semitic physical char- pandemic, which has included false ensuring fair and accurate Ca- across the country in 2019. 2. Halton Regional Police investi- acteristics, including a large information that Jews or Israel were nadian media coverage of Israel. According to Statistics Canada, gated after a series of antisemitic hooked nose, hiding in a wallet, behind the COVID-19 outbreak, and www.HonestReporting.ca. there were 296 anti-Semitic attacks flyers and posters were distribut- stealing information, under the are benefiting from it. The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2021 17 News MPs call for re-vamp of federal role in long- term care system devastated by COVID-19

A slew of reports Protective Equipment (PPE), and “And no one was paying atten- say that as much as this is getting generation changes to its policy inadequate nutrition provided to tion,” said Ms. O’Connell. “For us, ourselves into provincial terri- framework for long-term care.” has documented the residents due to staffing issues. here, it’s a provincial issue and tory, and we have to skate COVID In an interview with The Hill Liberal MP Jennifer it was frustrating, and even now, carefully, this was an issue that Times last week, professor Tuohy failures of Canada’s O’Connell (Pickering-Uxbridge, it’s a challenge because we know we all cared about.” said she would want to see “a Ont.), the parliamentary sec- where we need to go with this, but Conservative MP Rosemarie significant down payment on the long-term care homes retary for health, told The Hill if we don’t have provincial sup- Falk (Battlefords-, long-term care front, together to deal with the Times she didn’t know what port, we can’t just tell provinces Sask.), her party’s senior’s critic, with a commitment to a broader, was going to be in the budget ‘here’s how you have to do this.’” said the pandemic has highlight- longer-term strategy” in the up- COVID-19 pandemic. released next week by Finance “We have to find the right bal- ed and exacerbated some of the coming budget. Minister Chrystia Freeland ance of creating the policies that are issues that some long-term care “Probably the most effective With the most (University-Rosedale, Ont.), but going to have those outcomes that facilities are facing. way to do that in the short-term is she expected it would continue to we genuinely want, but we do oper- “I think that when we look at through infrastructure and capital anticipated federal fund supports already earmarked ate in a system where we do need things that have been or not been funding, until we have a program for the sector, such as the $1-bil- that provincial buy-in, so it’s been done in pandemic spending in for generating sustained opera- budget in recent lion announced for the Safe frustrating to say the least because the last year, I think the Liber- tional revenue over time, such as Canadian history just Long-term Care Fund announced it’s been so obvious to me and my als actually missed opportunities a long-term care insurance plan,” in the fall economic statement, constituents,” said Ms. O’Connell. to have long-term care facilities said Prof. Tuohy. around the corner, and support for setting national Liberal MP (Hum- or senior residences apply for The federal government could standards for the sector. ber River-Black Creek, Ont.) infrastructure spending,” Ms. Falk tackle staffing shortages through MPs from both sides bilateral agreements with the of the aisle are calling Finance Minister provinces that would aim to bring Chrystia Freeland in immigrants to fill the jobs for desperately and Prime Minister where needed. Justin Trudeau. “That’s a time-honoured ap- needed infrastructure Carolyn Tuohy, proach in Canadian immigration professor at the policy,” said Prof. Tuohy. “Ideally funding and support Munk School of it would be through an overall Global Affairs and federal-provincial agreement so for staffing in those Public Policy at that we start with a premise that homes. the University of there will be common standards Toronto, says Canada across the country, but failing has 'a window of that, bilateral agreements can at Continued from page 1 opportunity to make least start building up the supply once-in-a-generation and some agreement on a kind of and staffing for long-term care changes to its policy common denominator of stan- homes that have been devastated framework for long- dards so we can make it a more over the last year by a COVID-19 term care.' The Hill attractive occupational option.” pandemic for which many were Times photographs by “The places that are bad for completely unprepared. Andrew Meade residents are bad for the workers A recent report from the Cana- as well—they’re workplaces and dian Institute for Health Infor- not just residences,” said Prof. mation (CIHI) that analyzed the Tuohy. impact of COVID-19 on long-term Canada has a relatively large care in Canada within the first six population of people over the months of the pandemic found “Lets’ face it, there are very told The Hill Times that atten- said in an interview with The Hill age of 80 living in institutions that long-term care homes have real challenges in terms of estab- tion to the long-term care issue Times from her constituency of- compared to other countries, said been disproportionately affected lishing what these standards are has brought the Liberal caucus fice in . Prof. Tuohy. “So in a way, it’s not by COVID-19 in Canada, and that in the first place, and we actually together. “The seniors that do live in surprising that we would have the pandemic experience had not need provinces and territories to “To continue to see the amount long-term care facilities, that’s a larger proportion of COVID improved overall for the sector actually agree to them,” said Ms. of deaths happening in these their home,” said Ms. Falk. “It deaths that would occur in long- through the second wave. O’Connell. “It’s not that simple, so nursing homes was absolutely would make sense to me to term care.” “The second wave of CO- I look at the long-term care issue disgraceful, and all of us felt aw- think that these facilities should “There’s a real attractiveness VID-19 in Canada was bigger as short, medium and long-term.” ful to see what was happening have the same opportunities for to the idea” of substituting home and broader than the first wave, Ms. O’Connell also pointed to there to these innocent people infrastructure when it comes to care for long-term care as much reaching more parts of the infrastructure investment as a large who were spending their last housing.” as possible, said Prof. Tuohy. “But country, and resulting in a larger issue in the long-term care file. years in a place that we thought “It will be interesting to see in fact, international experience number of outbreaks, infections “We know that with disease were getting better care than if [the Liberal government] put suggests that if you expand home and deaths in LTC and retirement prevention, people living in con- what they were getting,” said Ms. any of the measures in place in care—that’s a good thing, people homes.,” according to the report. gregated spaces where curtains Sgro. “This is not just a Liberal the budget that opposition critics are getting more care at home— Central Canada is now in the are the walls in these places, issue, this is an issue that people have highlighted for them,” said but it doesn’t necessarily substi- grips of a third wave of the virus. that’s obviously not supportive cared about no matter which side Ms. Falk. tute for institutional care.” The report also found that the for pandemic preparedness,” said of the equation you were on.” What the Liberals want to do “There’s a range of needs for proportion of COVID-19 deaths Ms. O’Connell. “We had a moral responsibil- is quickly train people, accord- which you need to be in facility in long-term care and retirement One of the homes listed in the ity, whether the provinces and ing to Ms. Falk, but “we’re putting to be cared for. There’s probably home residents in Canada, at 69 military’s report, Orchard Villa territories liked it or not, to do them into an environment that a point where home care just per cent, remained “significantly Retirement Community in Pickering, something,” said Ms. Sgro. “This is stressed already with staffing isn’t feasible, and that really is higher than the international Ont., is in Ms. O’Connell’s riding. Ms. is a blight on our country, and it and the jobs that are required for what we’re going to see. It’s a average” of 41 per cent. O’Connell said she was attending a calls on all of us as Canadians that.” good thing to expand home care, Early on in the pandemic, Op- virtual memorial on April 8 for those to protect the most vulnerable in there’s an unmet demand for eration LASER, which ran from who passed during the pandemic. society.” home care, but in other countries April 2020 through July 2020, saw “To be blunt, my experience Hawthorne Place Care Centre, ‘The places that are bad like Germany and Japan, it just the military step into five Ontario has been frustrating,” said Ms. located in and in Ms. adds to care—which is good—but homes “that were in urgent and O’Connell when asked about Sgro’s riding, was another one of for residents are bad for it substitutes only at the margin immediate need of personnel to what has happened in her riding the five problematic homes listed the workers as well’ and it’s not going to be an answer provide humanitarian relief and and in the Orchard Villa facil- in the CAF’s May 2020 report. Carolyn Tuohy, professor to the long-term care that we medical support,” according to the ity during her time in office. “It When asked how that experi- at the Munk School of Global need.” military’s report released in May doesn’t matter if I’m an MP or a ence has shaped her approach Affairs and Public Policy at the “We’re going to need more 2020. parliamentary secretary or any- to this issue, Ms. Sgro said it University of Toronto, recently long-term care beds given the de- The report found that in thing else—seeing your communi- “reminded me of why I’m here.” authored a report for the Institute mographic surge [we’re going to some homes, COVID-19 posi- ty go through this is frustrating.” “We got into politics to make a for Research on Public Policy see], and they’re certainly going tive residents were “allowed to Family members and local difference, and we have a chance (IRPP) entitled “Federalism as a to need to be of higher standard wander,” staff were undertrained politicians were trying to raise to make a difference,” said Ms. Strength: A Path Toward Ending than the older stock that is cur- and unresponsive, there was poor the issues they were seeing in the Sgro. “As I said to the prime min- the Crisis in Long-Term Care” that rently there.” infection control, inappropriate home before the CAF report came ister, we have a moral responsibil- argues Canada has “a window of [email protected] availability and usage of Personal out, according to the Liberal MP. ity to take action, and I have to opportunity to make once-in-a- The Hill Times 18 MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2021 | THE HILL TIMES News

appointment, as was the case for partisan, and operate across the and Winnipeg Ms. Ien, or just doing more to country. Centre are the only ridings in recruit Filipino candidates. The organization isn’t aiming which account for 20 per ‘Enough is Filipino-Canadians have won to sway votes toward one party or cent of the population or more. seats in provincial legislatures and another, said Mr. Saguil, but rather The Philippines has been municipal councils in Canada, in- draw political parties’ attention to among the top source countries cluding , B.C.’s first the Filipino community’s power in for immigrants to Canada for Filipino MLA. Some have secured closely-contested ridings. most of the past 20 years. Still, the enough’: new nominations to run for federal “There’s a lot of pride in our community is a relatively young parties, including Julius Tiangson, community. And when they see one, and many of those who have who ran for the Conservatives in someone putting their name for- immigrated to Canada from the York Centre in a byelection last ward, and when they see a party Philippines have been focused on year, and is running to secure the actively putting someone forward carving out a life for themselves group aims party’s nomination in that riding because they want the support of in a new country, said Mr. Saguil. for the next election. Mr. Tiangson the Filipino-Canadian community, Running for office requires did not respond to an interview then it’s a natural expectation financial resources, and connec- request last week. that they’ll want to rally behind tions with political parties and Federal ridings contain an someone, whichever standard other communities. “All of those average of about 112,000 people. that they’re representing,” he said. things take literally one person’s to open path A perfectly representative House “If I’m thinking strategically lifetime, if not more, to accumu- of Commons would have eight for these ridings, and I want to late,” said Mr. Saguil. MPs from the Filipino community. make sure that there is no margin “That’s what we mean by sys- There are currently none, and of error for the next election, why temic barriers in the FCPA. Other there has been only one in Cana- wouldn’t I be asking the party communities in Canada have had for Filipino- dian history: Rey Pagtakhan, who leadership, ‘Where is our Filipino- generations to accumulate what we’ll represented Winnipeg’s north Canadian candidate who would call collectively this political capital.” end for the Liberals from 1988 to help rally this population?’” said The younger generation who 2004. Mr. Saguil. immigrated with their parents— including Mr. Saguil—or were Canadian born in Canada are now more ready and able to step into the political fray, he said. Mr. Saguil will face tough com- petition for the Liberal nomination candidates in Centre. The riding was created as part of the 2013 electoral boundary realignment. It from a different community, not is currently held by Independent Filipino-Canadians necessarily one of our own,” said MP , who was could rally voters Paul Saguil, another co-founder of kicked out of the Liberal caucus the FCPA who is also running for earlier this year over remarks he in closely contested the Liberal Party nomination in made about some of his fellow Brampton Centre, in an interview Liberal MPs. Mr. Sangha won it Paul Jonathan Saguil, left, Joseph Guiyab, and Grant Gonzales are the with The Hill Times. as a Liberal candidate by double- ridings across the founders of the Filipino Canadian Political Association. They want political “The information is there for digit margins in both the 2015 and parties to start doing more to recruit Filipino candidates. Photographs courtesy country, say the party organizers to now think 2019 elections. All five of Bramp- of the Filipino Canadian Political Association, Paul Jonathan Saguil about very carefully. Know- ton’s MPs are Indo-Canadian. founders of the ing these demographics, why Two other Liberals have start- Filipino Canadian wouldn’t you run a Filipino-Cana- “It’s the same conversation we To be effective, the group will ed a campaign for the nomination dian to activate these populations have when we’re talking about have to show parties the political in Brampton Centre so far: Amin Political Association. in favour of your party?” he said. women in politics. The number of power held by the Filipino communi- Dhillon, a multimedia personality The two men founded the times they need to be asked to run ty, said Romeo Tello, a Filipino-Cana- and former Miss India Worldwide group along with Joseph Guiyab for office, because of the barriers, the dian who has worked on provincial Canada, and businessman Nasir Continued from page 1 last fall, after the Liberal Party attitudes that they face when they and federal campaigns for the NDP. Hussain. whichever party manages to rally appointed former TV broadcaster run for office,” said Mr. Gonzales. “It’s all around having conver- Indo-Canadians are the most it, say two of the founders of the as its candidate for a “If you have a political party sations, and growing a network numerous ethnic group in Bramp- Filipino Canadian Political As- byelection in . That reaching out to you and saying, of people who can move to action ton, outnumbering Filipinos sociation, a new group devoted appointment shut the door on ‘we’d be interested in having you on any given issue,” said Mr. Tello, almost 10-to-one in the city. The to breaking down barriers that an open nomination contest for run for a nomination contest,’ who is not a member of the FCPA. Brampton Indo-Canadian com- have left the community without would-be candidates including Mr. well that adds a lot of confidence Many Filipino-Canadians work munity includes veteran political representation in Parliament Saguil, who later stepped back already to a candidate.” in manufacturing or front-line organizers and fundraisers. since 2004. from another nomination contest In the meantime, Mr. Saguil service industry jobs, said Mr. Mr. Saguil said he has built “The numbers speak for in Don Valley East when Liberal said he wants the FCPA to be able Tello. Filipino women fill many a “broad coalition” of support themselves,” said Grant Gonzales, MPP Michael Coteau announced to fill some of that void left by the of the country’s front-line health already for his nomination bid, a second-generation Filipino-Ca- that he would be running there. parties, providing information and care-giving jobs, as nurses, including volunteers and orga- nadian in Toronto who is serving Mr. Saguil said Ms. Ien’s and connections to Filipino-Ca- personal support workers, and nizers from the Punjabi, Black, as the chief spokesperson for the appointment, as well as other nadians who are thinking about a live-in caregivers. Data released and Pakistani communities, and group. unsuccessful attempts by Fili- run in politics. by the province of Manitoba show Filipino-Canadians from across More than 837,000 Canadians pino-Canadians to secure party The FCPA is still in its infancy Filipino-Canadians have been the country. identified as having a Filipino nominations, played a role in the as an organization, and does not yet infected by COVID-19 at a higher If his odds of winning the ethnic origin in the 2016 census, formation of the group. Mr. Gon- have a network of volunteers and rate than the general population. nomination are long, the payoff about 2.5 per cent of the popula- zales was more explicit. supporters broad enough to move of a victory could be great for tion. More than 100,000 people “That [appointment] drove a votes in swing ridings on its own. It Younger generation Mr. Saguil. The last two elections from the Philippines have been lot of sentiment around how dif- has not yet begun to raise money, suggest that the next Liberal given permanent resident status ficult it is for racialized commu- and does not have paid staff. ready to run: Saguil candidate in Brampton Centre in Canada since then. nities, especially Filipino-Cana- The three founders have Mr. Gonzales wants the FCPA will have a good chance at win- The 2016 Filipino population dians, to get into office,” he said. reached out to leaders within the to follow the path charted by other ning. was bigger than the margin of “We thought, ‘enough is enough,’ community and had conversa- ethnic political interest groups in Mr. Saguil is the deputy head victory in the last election in 37 let’s start more intentionally tions with some people in federal Canada. Jewish Canadians have of TD Bank’s global sanctions federal ridings, including nine of bringing attention to these issues, politics, including Immigration long been represented by effective compliance and anti-corruption the 25 most competitive races, this gap in representation.” Minister (Eg- lobby groups such as the Centre program, as well as a lawyer and according to an FCPA analysis of Both men said they held no ill linton-Lawrence, Ont.) and Green for Israel and Jewish Affairs, and a gay rights activist. MPs from data from Statistics Canada and will toward Ms. Ien, who went on Party Leader Annamie Paul, said the Canadian Jewish Political under-represented communities Elections Canada. to win the Toronto Centre byelec- Mr. Gonzales. Affairs Committee. Ukrainian who have impressive resumes are The group issued a press re- tion. Ms. Ien is Black, and Black Canadians have the Ukrainian often good candidates for a cabi- Canadian Congress. Punjabi Sikhs lease on April 6 calling on politi- Canadians are also underrepre- FCPA will have to net appointment, even as political cal parties to nominate Filipino- sented in Parliament: Black Cana- have become a political force in rookies. Procurement Minister Canadian candidates in winnable dians account for 3.5 per cent of show community can their own right in Canada. (Oakville. Ont.), who ridings ahead of the next election, Canada’s population, but hold only be mobilized: NDP The Filipino communities boasts a resume a mile long, and which could come later this year. five—or 1.5 per cent—of the 338 across Canada do not have some was made Canada’s first Hindu The data analysis was included in seats in the House of Commons. strategist Romeo Tello of the advantages that organizers cabinet minister shortly after the release. Mr. Gonzales said he wants All three founders of the FCPA in those other ethnic groups have winning her first election in 2019, “Parties have attempted to to see the parties make it easier are Toronto residents with Liberal wielded so effectively. Filipino- is one recent example. activate us [in the past], but it’s al- for Filipino-Canadians to run, ties. Mr. Gonzales said they want Canadians are numerous, but [email protected] ways to support another candidate whether that means making an the organization to be cross- spread out across the country: The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2021 19 News

is scheduled to table the govern- Canadians are ‘confused ment’s first budget in more than two years on April 19. This will re- quire a vote of confidence and even though the Liberals don’t have the majority of votes, it’s expected and anxious,’ COVID- that one of the three opposition parties—most likely the NDP—will vote with the government. Prime Minister Trudeau (Pap- 19’s third wave making ineau, Que.) also told his caucus late last month not to expect an election this spring chiefly be- cause of the COVID-19 situation Trudeau Liberals in the country. Pollster Greg Lyle of Innova- tive Research said that the COVID variants could be a very serious Ekos Research pollster Frank Graves potential vulnerability for the ‘vulnerable,’ say pollsters says that Canadians want one uniform Trudeau Liberals. He said that so public policy guideline across all far it has not been the focus of the regions to deal with the COVID-19 media attention because all the pandemic. The Hill Times file photograph attention was focused on the dis- Canadians are tribution of the vaccine, its rollout Conservatives were at 19.8 per and who should be vaccinated tired and worried cent, the NDP 14.4 per cent and first. Also, he said, Canadians gave and they aren’t the Greens 6.7 per cent. In Atlantic a pass to the government when Canada, the Liberal support was at the COVID-19 hit Canada early making distinctions 43 per cent, the Conservatives 21.3 last year because of a majority of per cent, the NDP 14.2 per cent countries around the world were between the federal and the Greens 13.2 per cent. In affected by it. But, since that time, B.C. the Liberals were tied with the the federal government has been and provincial NDP and the Conservatives 24.1 singularly focused on COVID and governments. per cent, 26.5 per cent and 25 per still the variants were able to ar- cent support, respectively. rive in the country. Mr. Graves said that even “Clearly, it’s a vulnerability for though the Liberals and the Con- Continued from page 1 the government.,” said Mr. Lyle, servatives were tied nationally, president of Innovative Research. Mr. Graves said that Canadi- the wide lead in Ontario could “So one of the things that could ans are frustrated with dozens of either deliver a majority or close come up is, to what degree will contradictory stories about the ef- to a majority for the Liberals. To people start to ask themselves ficacy of AstraZeneca COVID-19 win a majority government, the how the heck did the Brazilian vaccine and its possible link to Liberals need at least 170 seats in variant get in here after we had a a rare blood clotting disorder, the 338-member House. In 2019, year of getting ready to stop new which is having a huge impact they won 157 seats, the Conserva- variants from getting in? So that on vaccine hesitancy at a critical tives 121, the Bloc 32 seats, the could well be the sort of thing that time. Canadians are also upset, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals are becoming politically ‘vulnerable’ NDP 24 seats, the Greens three drives time for a change.” Mr. Graves said, about shifting as the country is being hit by a serious third wave of COVID-19 along with the and one Independent. For the and contradictory public health more deadly variants. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade next election, Ontario is seen guidance with different provinces as the largest battlefield prov- undergoing different levels of of 6,416 cases of the virus have of COVID cases in the province, ince because of not only a high lockdowns and some with no been diagnosed per day across but it remains to be seen if that number of electoral seats but also lockdowns. He said that people the country in the previous will happen as a quarter of his swing seats. In 2019, the Liberals want one clear and firm approach seven days, with 31 deaths per caucus public opposed a strict captured 79 of the 121 seats in the on how to tackle the pandemic in day, the agency website stated. lockdown. province, the Conservatives 36 all regions of the country. The same day, 3,215 new cases In a troubling development, and the NDP six. Mr. Graves said Canadians were diagnosed in Ontario alone. according to a Polls conducted before the April are not currently making any Along with the regular COVID-19 report, Canada was on course of 6 Ekos Research poll have shown distinctions on who to blame virus, thousands of Canadians in “matching—perhaps surpassing— the Liberals with a potential com- between the federal and provin- different regions are also being the United States in the number fortable majority government. cial governments and he said diagnosed with variants, includ- of COVID-19 cases relative to its According to a Nanos poll Canadians appear to be compar- ing B.1.1.7 (U.K.) variant, B.1.351 population.” released April 2, the Liberals ing their government’s handling (South Africa) variant and P1 had the support of 39 per cent of the pandemic with the U.S. and (Brazil) variant. In B.C., more Ekos poll shows Liberals, of Canadians, the Conservatives Pollster Greg Lyle says that it’s yet Britain’s more muscular strategy, than 20 players and coaches of 26.9 per cent, the NDP 18 per cent unclear what the ballot question is which is more aggressive with the Vancouver Canucks were sus- Conservatives in and the Greens 7.9 per cent. The for the next election. He says it’s definit timelines. pected of being affected with the poll also suggested that for 44 per too early to predict that the next statistical dead heat cent of Canadians, COVID-19 was “’s talking about Brazilian variant, last week. According to a recent poll by election will be a referendum on having a pint in a pub an April Five COVID-19 vaccines—Pfizer, the top-of-mind issue of concern, Trudeau’s handling of the pandemic. Ekos Research, provided to The while only 12 per cent identified 12,” said Mr. Graves. “People want Moderna, AstraZeneca, COV- Hill Times, the Liberals and the Photograph courtesy of Greg Lyle to hear that. We’re not there but ISHIELD, Jansen— have been ap- jobs and economy, a distant sec- Conservatives were in a statistical ond, as the important issue. they don’t want to hear it might proved and administered in Canada. dead heat with 32 per cent and Since the start of the pandem- be October. And I think it’s hav- The Jansen vaccine is given as one The weekly rolling poll of ic, most pundits have said that the 30.4 per cent support, respective- 1,000 Canadians, released on ing a corrosive impact on the dose while the rest as two doses. Ac- ly. The NDP was at 16.3 per cent, next election will be a referendum compliance levels, the overall cording to the Public Health Agency April 2, had a margin of error on the government’s handling of and the Greens at 8.3 per cent. of plus or minus 3.1 percentage mood of the country. And I think of Canada, 4.5 million or 11.9 per The poll of 1,734 Canadians was the pandemic and what vision it’s also shaking confidence in cent of the population has received points, 19 times out of 20. the two main parties have for the conducted from April 1-6 and had The Liberals took a hit in their government and it’s also possibly at least one dose, 667,983 or 1.76 per a margin of error of 2.3 percent- recovery phase of the pandemic. reducing the willingness to take a cent of the population has received popularity January when the vac- But Mr. Lyle said it’s too soon to age points, 19 times out of 20. cine supply was interrupted but vaccine, all those connections.” two doses, and 3.89-million or 10.16 Regionally, the Conservatives predict the ballot question for the U.S. President Joe Biden an- per cent of the population has re- started to make a steady recover in next election. were miles ahead of the Liber- early March. Before that, the WE nounced last week that he has set ceived only one dose. In comparison, als in Alberta, Saskatchewan and “I don’t think it’s settled,” said the goal of 200 million vaccines the U.S. has already inoculated 19 Charity scandal also turned out to Mr. Lyle. “If the government is Manitoba. But the Liberals were be a disastrous scandal for the Lib- administered within his first 100 per cent of its population. enjoying a comfortable support in seen as doing well, in terms of days in office which will be com- On April 6, Ontario Premier erals. Since then, they have recov- dealing with COVID, the practi- the vote-rich province of Ontario, ered the lost political ground but it pleted April 30. On average, three Doug Ford announced a strict home to 121 House of Common cal implications of that are that million shots are administered four-week stay-at-home order that remains to be seen how the coming Trudeau goes into the election seats, with 41.7 per cent support, days unfold for the Liberals. every day and by last week, about came into effect the next day. The compared to the Conservatives with a stronger brand. It’s not a third of the U.S. population had same day, Quebec Premier Fran- In a minority Parliament, an that people are going to vote who were at 29.9 per cent. The NDP election can happen at any time, received at least one shot. çois Legault also further tight- was at 13.1 per cent and the Greens because they’re grateful, because As of last week, there were ened restrictions in the regions but given the current state of the almost nobody votes in the rear- 8.9 per cent. In Quebec, with 78 pandemic, it appears highly un- 1,020,893 confirmed cases of where the COVID-19 numbers are electoral seats, the Bloc and the view mirror, unless they’re mad, COVID-19 in Canada, according high. In Alberta, doctors called on likely one will happen this spring. and they want to get even.” Liberals were tied at 28.6 and 27.2 Finance Minister Chrystia Free- to the Public Health Agency of Premier Jason Kenney for a strict per cent support, respectively. The [email protected] Canada. By April 7, an average lockdown to slow down the surge land (University-Rosedale, Ont.) The Hill Times 20 MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2021 | THE HILL TIMES News Feds brushing ‘crumbs’ to Black Canadians, says former Liberal MP Caesar-Chavannes

Former “It’s these little crumbs that Liberal they expect to fall off the table MP Celina and we’re supposed to be like, Caesar- ‘Oh, thank you, thank you for Chavannes that.’ And I don’t get that in released combination with Greg Fergus, her memoir in combination with fighting this on Feb. 2. class-action lawsuit [launched by Photograph Black public servants], in combi- courtesy nation with having Black female of Penguin organizations that are fighting Random gender-based violence and saying, House Canada ‘We’ve made a historic announce- ment investment of $2.5-million in dozens of organizations,’ when in 2018, they gave one organiza- tion, Equal Voice, $3.8-million for one program. It seems like they’ve got a lot of crumbs to get rid of on the table and they’re just dusting them on the floor to Black people.”

Because of the historical move- ments of the prime minister’s father, is there a sense of a debt owed within communities, specifically Black communities, specifically immigrant, specifi- cally West Indian communities, that lends itself to this feeling the Liberals’ actions won’t lead to a Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Celina Caesar-Chavannes are pictured at the loss of support? government’s Black History Month event in Ottawa in February 2019. The prime “Oh, for sure. For sure there minister will have to do more to create his own legacy with Black Canadians, is this allegiance, and I think Ms. Caesar-Chavannes says. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia it’s generational, so they have to be really careful, and this will be my caution to this sort ally dying. So, we’re talking 10 to government. It’s not my responsi- of sprinkling of performative 12 per cent of a national hous- bility to make your job easy. And give you the other, you should be allyship that we’re getting from Continued from page 6 ing strategy allocated for Black I don’t think it ever has been.” grateful to us.’ the government when it comes communities. Reference back to The following Q&A with The “It’s an actual lens into to Black communities is that, at Africville and say, ‘Yes, here’s the You talk about not wanting to Hill Times, which was conducted his view of our community. It some point, it’s going to come apology, here is how we’re go- be tokenized or trying to be that in two separate interviews, has couldn’t be more evident. And it home to roost, and it’s not going ing to redress and then address square peg in a round hole that been edited for length and clarity. couldn’t be more evident post- to be enough for you to list up some these issues going forward.’ is Ottawa, in Parliament. And in 2020. This may be a provincial all of these arbitrary little pieces Look at mental health and how interviews, the questions always Now that there’s been a little issue, but the amount of people of stuff that you’ve given to our it has impacted Black communi- come back to why is it this way more runway between the release who are dying from COVID 19 community and say that we’ve ties with a pandemic and racial and what can be done? How do of your book and the reception [you would think] there will be a done this, we’ve done that, be inequality. That is why we need a you feel about having to answer that it’s received, do you feel national data collection strategy thankful. $200-million investment—at bare that question when you are not as though the message is being on disaggregated data related to “I don’t want to sound like minimum. There’s just so many the one who created that system? received in the way that you’d COVID-19, nationally, screw what I’m so disappointed, but I actu- things here that we should see “It’s an unfair question, be- hoped it would. Do you think the provinces want, screw what ally am disappointed. I’m disap- in this budget. An actual reform cause not only did I not create people are hearing the message the municipalities are doing. If pointed that the rhetoric was just to the Employment Equity Act the system … that was a system or are they just kind of giddy that they want to collect data, collect rhetoric, and now they have to that specifically addresses Black designed by someone else who there’s somebody swearing on TV data nationally because these tiptoe instead of being bold and individuals within the federal had limited imagination about [recalling] talking to the prime pockets of Black individuals are transformative the way Trudeau public service.” how you can work or function in minister? (Ms. Caesar-Chavannes being impacted. No. Why? It’s actually could have been. And he a workplace. That doesn’t mean recounts in her book a heated inconvenient, you are inconve- could have set a legacy for him- In your book, you write “Even that it’s consistent. February 2019 conversation with nient for me in winning the next self and not been still riding off I’ve needed to learn the lesson of “The second part to that is I Mr. Trudeau where she told him election.” his father’s coattails of his legacy reconciliation again and again.” didn’t promise Canadians that we she would not be running again in the Black community. He could Have you been able to reconcile were going to do government dif- as a Liberal and would be leaving There have been a couple of have done something substantive, with some of the actors in those ferently. Now, I may have bought caucus, that culminated in her moves, whether it’s substantive or a few things substantive, espe- four years that you were an MP that package, but I wasn’t promot- telling him “motherfucker, who or not, by the government, for ex- cially with recognizing the [UN that led to all of this? ing that package. That package the fuck do you think you are ample, in terms of their justice bill. International Decade for People “Yeah, you know what, I don’t came from the Liberal govern- speaking to?”) “What, C-22? (kisses teeth) of African Descent]. He has not hold grudges, so I mean I’ve rec- ment that said, ‘we are going to do “I don’t think that the message “Again, when we talk perfor- and he continues to demonstrate onciled with them. As to whether politics differently, we’re going to is being received. The message is mative, if the government actu- that he has no capacity to do so. or not they’ve reconciled with be open and transparent and bold. being received as an individual- ally wanted to repeal mandatory Everything is a half step.” me, I have no idea. I don’t have And we’re going to have a femi- ized exchange between myself minimums, they would have done issue with Trudeau, I never did. nist, diversity is our strength, add and the prime minister. What is so when they had a majority. And We’re in minority Parliament I don’t have issue with anybody women change politics approach.’ not being seen is that the way I they wouldn’t have put this no- situation and people are looking in that government. I have issues So, when you don’t deliver on was treated by the prime minister teeth, denture-wearing, C-22-ass over their shoulders constantly with some of the things that they what you sell, whose fault is that? is a microcosm of way the way he bill in there and then put the label with respect to an election, and did. So, when you are hashtag- The salesperson or the person that treats Black communities. There ‘justice’ on it. [Justice Minister] this budget, in particular. So, ging #MeToo, and then throwing actually came up with the slogan? isn’t an intention to recognize us David Lametti should be ashamed would it be that surprising if they Jody [Wilson-Raybould] under And I didn’t come up with any of as individuals, to give us equity. of himself, putting the word don’t make those types of invest- the bus at the same time because it. I just expected that what I was “So, you could stand in front justice on that bill. It still does not ments or announcements? you don’t want to believe her. selling, what I was peddling was of an elected official who got to remove all mandatory minimums “Ontario just tabled a $186-bil- Well, that was the whole point the real deal. And so not only did I the job the same way you did, had that are still unconstitutional that lion budget. So, if the feds are of #MeToo was to believe her, not come up with a system I didn’t to go knock doors and say that still have an overrepresentation going to spend, they have the right? Or criticizing or pushing come up with even the present she owes you something, like if of Black and Indigenous people capacity to do it and do it right. back against blackface or what context in which I was hoping to I didn’t work hard. Well, that’s in our prison population, that will “Post-2020, you’ve got to they are or are not doing for operate in. Neither of those were what he’s been saying to Black not keep Canadians any more or really be living in an absolute Black communities. That’s not a my responsibility.” communities. ‘Oh well, we give less safe. Why not repeal them alternate universe to not take criticism or an attack. I don’t have [email protected] you this, we give you that, we all? this seriously. People are liter- issue with anybody within our The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2021 21 Photo Feature

These days, there are more construction workers on the Hill than MPs, Senators, staffers, reporters, and House and Senate employees because of the pandemic. The rehabilitation of Centre Block, meanwhile, is underway and expected to last at least 10 years. All photos were taken on April 7, 2021. On the Hill The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia

Construction workers, framed by the main gate to Parliament Hill.

A man tries to take a nap by the Parliament Buildings’ west gate on a beautiful, sunny day in Ottawa.

A wider view of the East Block, originally built in 1865, and considered one of It’s closing time. Construction workers, pictured Soaring scaffolding outside the East the world’s finest examples of Victorian walking down the stairs from the West Block. Block’s equally soaring tower. Gothic architecture. 22 MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2021 | THE HILL TIMES

Julia ency assistant to Ms. Schulte as the Liberal Pennella MP for King-Vaughan, Ont., since the fall has joined of 2018. He worked on her 2019 re-election the seniors campaign as a volunteer co-ordinator; in minister’s the end, Ms. Schulte was re-elected after hill climbers garnering roughly 45 per cent of the vote. office. Photograph Mr. Fisher has a bachelor’s degree in by Laura Ryckewaert courtesy of labour studies and political science from LinkedIn Brock University and later studied govern- ment relations at Seneca College, as noted on his LinkedIn profile. He replaces Pierce Collier, who exited at the beginning of the year to become a Tsai-Klassen returns parliamentary affairs adviser and issues manager to Mr. Hussen. Frank Tersigni continues as Ontario re- gional affairs adviser to Ms. Schulte, while to Hill as chief of Leena Walia cover Western and Northern regional affairs, and Shiraz Keushgerian covers Quebec while also serving as as- In November 2015, shortly after the Lib- sistant to the minister’s parliamentary staff to International erals returned to government under Prime secretary, Liberal MP Stéphane Lauzon. Minister Justin Trudeau, Ms. Tsai-Klassen Anne Dawson is chief of staff to Ms. returned to the political side of the equa- Schulte, whose office also includes: Stephanie tion as director of communications to then- Muccilli, director of policy; Shane MacKen- Development environment minister Catherine McKenna, zie, director of parliamentary affairs; Chike where she stayed until the summer of 2017. Agbasi, director of operations; Scott Bardsley, In Ms. Gould’s office, she replaces director of communications; Daniel Pollak, Geoffroi Montpetit, who recently exited to press secretary; Michael MacKinnon, digital become administrator of the International and social media lead; Maria Campbell, policy Minister Gould Organization for La Francophonie, as adviser; Alex Johnsen Howkins, executive reported by Hill Climbers. assistant to Ms. Schulte and her chief of staff; Ms. Gould has also recently welcomed Frédérique and ministerial driver Najah Abou-Akrouche. Julie Delahanty to her office as an acting Tsai- Plus, Conservative Leader director of policy, to fill in for policy direc- Klassen is tor Hanna Button, who is set to soon go on Erin O’Toole has a new press Ms. Gould’s New press secretary for O’Toole maternity leave. new chief Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole has Ms. Delahanty previously worked for secretary: Josie Sabatino. of staff. found a new press secretary, with Josie Global Affairs Canada, including as director Sabatino having recently returned to the Photograph of its Central American Program, director of Hill to take on the role. courtesy of its gender equality and child protection divi- LinkedIn Josie Sabatino sion, and as deputy director of international is back on the women’s equality, and up until January Hill as press 2020, spent roughly five and a half years as secretary executive director of Oxfam Canada. to the Over in Seniors Minister ’s Conservative office, Julia Pennella was recently hired as leader. an issues adviser to the minister. Photograph Ms. Pennella marked her first day has years of previous federal political courtesy of on the job on March 22 and before then LinkedIn experience under her belt, dating back to had spent the last almost two years as a the mid-90s. special assistant and community outreach A former assistant to then-Privy Coun- co-ordinator to Toronto Liberal MP Adam cil president Marcel Massé and an adviser Vaughan, who serves as the parliamentary to his portfolio successor, Stéphane Dion, secretary for housing to Families, Children, Ms. Tsai-Klassen went on to serve as press and Social Development Minister Ahmed secretary to then-industry minister Brian Hussen. She’d served as an aid to Mr. International Development Minister , Tobin, and as a press attaché and writer in Vaughan during the 2019 election cam- A Harper-era cabinet staffer, Ms. Saba- pictured on June 1, 2020, has named a new then-prime minister Jean Chrétien’s office. paign, which saw him ultimately re-elected tino has been working for Spark Advocacy chief of staff to run her office, with Frédérique In 2003, she left the Hill to become to represent Spadina-Fort York, Ont., by in Ottawa since 2019, starting as an account Tsai-Klassen taking over the role as of April 12. a communications consultant for the roughly 55.8 per cent of the vote. director and ending as a senior director. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade United Nations Educational, Scientific, Ms. Pennella graduated with a master’s de- She first began working on the Hill back and Cultural Organization and UNESCO’s gree in political science and government from in 2013, when she was hired as executive as- nternational Development Minister World Heritage Centre. Two years later, Queen’s University in 2019, and while there sistant to the chief of staff to then-industry IKarina Gould has found a new chief of she became chief of communications and served for a time as co-editor in chief of the minister James Moore after interning in the staff for her office, with Frédérique Tsai- media relations in the office of the secre- Queen’s Policy Review. She also has a bach- office over that summer. Ms. Sabatino later Klassen returning to the Hill to take on the tary of the Governor General of Canada. elor’s degree in history from York University. became an issues management and parlia- top job as of April 12. Ms. Tsai-Klassen joined the department of She’s done freelance work for the maga- mentary affairs adviser to Mr. Moore. Ms. Tsai-Klassen previously left the Hill foreign affairs and international trade at zine Panoram Italia, a Canadian publication, In 2015, after the election that saw the in 2017, and until recently had been work- the beginning of 2019, starting as a senior and according to her LinkedIn profile co- Liberals unseat Stephen Harper’s Conser- ing as director of communications for the strategist and later become deputy direc- founded GTA Sanitation Solutions last May vatives as the governing party, Ms. Saba- Canadian Embassy in Paris, France since tor of foreign policy communications and following the outbreak of COVID-19, which tino became a legislative assistant to B.C. early 2019. Owner of Ottawa’s Das Lokal then acting director of foreign affairs and distributes Health Canada approved disinfect- Conservative MP . Kitchen & Bar since 2013, Ms. Tsai-Klassen consular communications. ing chemicals and machinery for workplaces. Two years later, she joined the Conser- vative Official Opposition Leader’s Office Connor Fisher (OLO) under then-leader , has been starting as a press secretary and ending promoted in January 2019 as associate director of within the media relations and issues management. seniors Ms. Sabatino served as a spokesperson for minister’s the party during the 2019 election. office. Now back in the OLO under Mr. Photograph O’Toole, she fills a role recently vacated by courtesy of Chelsea Tucker, who was promoted to di- LinkedIn rector of communications earlier this year, as reported by Hill Climbers. Mélanie Paradis is director of strate- gic communications to Mr. O’Toole, while We provide full service corporate, Mathew Clancy is manager of strategic government and social catering in communications and Axel Rioux is associ- the greater Ottawa- region. ate director of Quebec communications. There are also four press secretaries on Reserve your next event today! staff supporting the Conservative shadow Also in Ms. Schulte’s office, Connor cabinet: Christopher Martin-Chan, Katie Fisher has been promoted to the role of re- Hillman, Alex Spence, and Philippe Refghi. Providing great food, staff and party planning since 1984! gional affairs adviser for the Atlantic after a Tausha Michaud is chief of staff to Mr. year as legislative assistant to the minister. O’Toole. www.goodiescatering.com • 613-741-5643 • [email protected] Before he joined her ministerial office in [email protected] March 2020, Mr. Fisher had been a constitu- The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2021 23 Parliamentary Calendar

ians, parliamentary staff, and decision makers from across the Commonwealth PM’s former national security for this unique conference and network- ing opportunity. The conference will be hosted by the CPA President (2019-2021), , MP, Speaker of the House of Commons. All eligible CPA Branches will adviser to talk about how be contacted with further information and invitations. MONDAY, NOV. 1–FRIDAY, NOV. 12 UN Climate Conference UNFCCC COP pandemic has affected Canada’s 26—The 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 26) to the UNFCCC will take place from Monday, Nov. 1-Fri- day, Nov. 12, in Glasgow, U.K. contact: UNFCCC Secretariat; e-mail: secretariat@ security threat on Monday, April 12 unfccc.int; www: https://unfccc.int/calendar WEDNESDAY, NOV. 24 Daniel Jean, the Writers’ Trust of Canada’s Balsillie Prize prime minister's for Public Policy—This new $60,000 award former national for the best public policy book in Canada security adviser, is sponsored by Canadian businessman will be speaking and philanthropist Jim Balsillie and is part of his new $3-million commitment to the at the University Writers’ Trust of Canada. Three prize final- of Ottawa and ists will be chosen by a jury composed of the Canadian writers and experts in public policy selected Association for by the Writers’ Trust of Canada. Finalists Security and will be announced on Oct. 13, 2021, with Intelligence the inaugural winner revealed on Nov. 24. Studies' webinar More details at writers trust.com/Balsil- liePrize on how the The Parliamentary Calendar is a free pandemic has events listing. Send in your political, affected the cultural, diplomatic, or governmental event threat landscape in a paragraph with all the relevant details in Canada, along under the subject line ‘Parliamentary Cal- with other experts, endar’ to [email protected] by Wednes- on Monday, April day at noon before the Monday paper or by Friday at noon for the Wednesday paper. We 12, 12-1:30 p.m. can’t guarantee inclusion of every event, The Hill Times but we will definitely do our best. Events photograph by can be updated daily online, too. Andrew Meade The Hill Times

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the Threat Landscape in Canada,” discuss- government’s budget 2021 on April 19 at highlight the opportunities for Canada in MONDAY, APRIL 12 ing how the COVID-19 pandemic has 4 p.m. ET. the global race towards realizing these House Not Sitting—The House is sitting affected the national security landscape WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21 emerging quantum technologies. Thursday, in a hybrid format during the pandemic, in Canada. Participants include Daniel April 22, 2021, from 12:15 p.m.–1:15 with most MPs connecting remotely. It’s Jean, former national security and intel- Library and Archives Canada Scholar p.m. EDT. There will be no charge for this scheduled to be on break March 29-April ligence adviser to the prime minister; Dr. Awards—The online awards ceremony, pre- online presentation. Registration: Please 9. It’s then scheduled to sit every weekday Leah West, assistant professor, Carleton sented by the Library and Archives Canada register by contacting Emma Brown, PAGSE for the next five weeks, April 12-May 14. University; Dr. Amarnath Amarasingam, Foundation, and Library and Archives Manager email: [email protected] or tel: THE BOWERY 1 BD CONDO It will take one-week break after that, from assistant professor, Queen’s University; Canada, will be broadcast on Wednesday, 613-363-7705. The presentation will be Quiet, south-facing corner unit on Bay St. Lyon May 17-May 24. It will sit May 25 every Marc-André Argentino, research fellow at April 21, at 7 p.m. (Eastern Time). The Li- in English – Simultaneous interpretation LRT station nearby. $1850/month. Pet-friendly weekday until Wednesday, June 23, and the International Centre for the Study of brary and Archives Canada Scholar Awards available building. Non-smoking. Parking not available. will then break for three months, until Radicalization; Dr. Bessma Momani, senior were created to recognize remarkable THURSDAY, APRIL 29 819-246-8769. Monday Sept. 20. In the fall and winter, fellow, Centre for International Governance Canadians who have made an outstanding the House is scheduled to sit for 11 weeks Innovation; and Dr. Jean-François Bélanger, contribution to the creation and promotion Progress Summit 2021—Building a Car- PROFESSIONAL SERVICES over September, October, November, and postdoctoral fellow working with Dr. of our country’s culture, literary heritage ing Economy to Speed Recover, April 29, December. It will sit Sept. 20-Oct. 8; Oct. Momani. Monday, April 12, 12-1:30 p.m. and historical knowledge. The following 12 p.m.-3:30 p.m. ET, https://www.broad- 18-Nov. 5; and Nov. 15-Dec. 17. Register via Eventbrite. recipients of the 2020 LAC Scholar Awards bentinstitute.ca/progress_summit_2021 The Change Conference: Planning for The New Climate War with Michael E. are being honoured: Margaret Atwood, poet, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2 the Unpredictable Future—”The Change Mann—The Ottawa International Writers’ novelist, literary critic, and essayist; Roch Conference: Planning for the Unpredictable Festival hosts a webinar with climate scien- Carrier, novelist and author; Charlotte Gray, Writers’ Trust of Canada—The Writers’ Future,” hosted by The Pearson Centre, is tist Michael E. Mann who will discuss his historian, author, and biographer; Serge Trust of Canada will announce this year’s still on and running April 13, April 15, April book The New Climate War with Tzeporah Joyal, former senator, art collector, and shortlist for the 2021 Shaughnessy Cohen 20, and April 21. Speakers include Natural Berman, author and international program philanthropist; Terry O’Reilly, broadcast Prize on Wednesday, June 2, for the year’s Resources Minister Seamus O’Regan; director at Stand.Earth. Monday, April 12, producer and radio personality. Tune in on best non-fiction political book in the coun- Transport Minister ; the Prime 7:30-8:30 p.m. RSVP at writersfestival.org. the Library and Archives Canada’s English try. This year’s party will be a digital edition REGISTERED MASSAGE THERAPY IN Minister’s Special Adviser for the Prairies TUESDAY, APRIL 13 YouTube and French YouTube channels. and will be held in the fall of 2021. For THE PARK AREA ; ISG Senators Frances Lankin and No registration is required. The 30-minute more information, contact Julia Yu, events Registered Massage Therapy, Chelsea. Deep Julie Miville-Deschene; Green Party Leader China-Canada Relations: Which Path event will feature the recipients and special manager, [email protected] or 416-504- tissue, sport, therapeutic massage. Same- Annamie Paul; and former Bank of Canada Forward?—China’s Ambassador to Canada, guests. 8222 x241. day, emergency, evening hours. Receipts. governor Stephen Poloz. For further infor- Peiwu Cong, will discuss “China-Canada THURSDAY, APRIL 22 Gift certificates. Covid-19 measures. Contact mation, please contact: Andrew Cardozo, Relations: Which Path forward?” with for- SATURDAY, AUG. 21 249.385.5727 president, at acardozo@thePearsonCentre. mer Quebec premier Pierre-Marc Johnson Invitation to Bacon & Eggheads Vir- 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary Confer- ca or 613-295-1260, or, go to: thepearson- in a webinar hosted by the Montreal Coun- tual Presentation—Dr. Alexandre Blais, ence—One of the largest annual gatherings FOR INFORMATION OR TO cil on Foreign Relations. Tuesday, April 13, l’Université de Sherbrooke, will discuss the centre.ca. of Commonwealth Parliamentarians will PLACE AN AD IN THE HILL TIMES The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Threat at noon. Register at corim.qc.ca. global race towards quantum technologies take place in Aug. 21-27, 2021, at the th CLASSIFIEDS, CALL OR EMAIL: Landscape in Canada—The University of MONDAY, APRIL 19 and Canada’s contributions and imminent 65 Commonwealth Parliamentary Confer- Ottawa and the Canadian Association for opportunities. This presentation will discuss ence (CPC) hosted by the CPA Canada Re- [email protected] Security and Intelligence Studies host a Federal Budget Day—Finance Minister the scientific foundations and the Canadian gion in Halifax. The annual flagship event 613-232-5952 webinar on “The COVID-19 Pandemic and Chrystia Freeland will release the federal contributions behind these advances, and will bring together over 500 Parliamentar-

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