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News Mark Norman caseNews Liberal caucus News PMO strategy Norman case Further staff could hurt Liberals SNC-Lavalin saga exits over SNC- with swing voters, Lavalin likely, a ‘second proof ‘unsettling’ and say strategists, point’ after SNC- as PMO grapples Lavalin scandal that ‘confusing’ for Liberal to address Liberals politically controversy interfere to help caucus, damages the party the powerful, says BY LAURA RYCKEWAERT especially in suburban and ore than a month since the pollster Greg Lyle MSNC-Lavalin story fi rst broke—and one senior staff and BY PETER MAZEREEUW & two cabinet minister resignations ABBAS RANA rural ridings: Liberal MPs later—the Prime Minister’s Offi ce remains mired in the controversy, he looming trial of Vice-Admiral All Liberal MPs, including Jody Wilson-Raybould and Jane Philpott, and strategists say they expect TMark Norman and his defence further senior staff departures to team’s allegations of political should air their concerns and misgivings inside the caucus, not result. interference in the case could push outside, as it’s damaging the party, says Grit MP Kevin Lamoureux. Continued on page 29

News Legislation Senate Environment Committee eyes

Fort McMurray, Strategy: The Prime Minister’s Offi ce has been criticized over its crisis southern Alberta communications strategy. The Hill First Nation for Times photograph by Andrew Meade “I would expect that there is stops on cross- going to be some further person- nel changes in the Prime Minis- country tour ter’s Offi ce,” said Grit pundit Greg

Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 MacEachern, senior vice-presi- BY PETER MAZEREEUW dent at Proof Strategies. “Fairly or unfairly, in the roles he Senate Environment Com- around crisis communications, Tmittee will spend two days in PM Justin Trudeau held a press conference on March 7, 2019, to discuss the SNC-Lavalin controversy, but more there sometimes need to be some Alberta, and travel to Saskatoon, trouble is on the horizon as former cabinet ministers Jody Wilson-Raybould, top, and Jane Philpott, resigned their changes, whether they’re symbol- Winnipeg, and Vancouver in the top jobs over how he’s handled the crisis and Grit MP Celina Caesar-Chavannes has taken to Twitter to criticize his ic or not, so that you’re sending second week of April as part of leadership style. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia & Andrew Meade the message that the complaints, its study of the government’s the concerns have been heard,” BY ABBAS RANA Liberal MP is urging former bring any outstanding issues to environmental assessment reform cabinet ministers Jody Wilson- the caucus and hash them out said Mr. MacEachern, a former bill, C-69, before heading east Liberal Hill staffer. s the SNC-Lavalin saga drags Raybould and Jane Philpott, and Continued on page 7 Aon with no end in sight, one his other caucus colleagues to Continued on page 28 Continued on page 6 2 MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 | THE HILL TIMES

Prosecution Service has come into question, the agency said in a tweet that its judicial independence was a “must.” “Prosecutorial independence is key to our mandate. Our prosecutors must be objective, Heard on the Hill independent and dispassionate, as well as free from improper infl uence—including political infl uence,” the March 7 tweet read. by Neil Moss It was the third tweet the offi cal Twitter ac- count for the PPSC had sent out. The agency was created in 2006, but only joined Twitter in January of this year. Its fi rst tweet was on Margaret Trudeau to March 6. The PPSC spokesperson told The Hill Times that the tweet was “pre-written.” Tory MP Diane Finley has been appointed to the “The PPSC twitter account launched this National Security and Intelligence Committee of debut autobiographical week; a number of pre-written tweets explain- Parliamentarians. The Hill Times fi le photograph ing a little about the PPSC and its work are scheduled over the coming weeks,” Nathalie The committee is fi lled with both MPs and production, Certain Woman Houle said in an email. Senators who are given authority to review Ms. Houle said the tweet wasn’t meant to Canada’s national security activities and express concern about political interference compile reports. It most recently submitted in the PPSC’s work. a heavily redacted report on Mr. Trudeau’s of an Age, in Chicago on February trip to India. Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer wrote on Twitter of the tweet: “It is very Ms. Finley has been an MP for nearly 15 troubling that Justin Trudeau’s actions and years, representing Haldimand-Norfolk, Ont. Mother’s Day weekend attempts at interference have made such a She was fi rst elected in 2004. In the govern- statement necessary.” ment of former prime minister Stephen Harp- argaret Brian Mulroney was er, Ms. Finley served as the human resources MTrudeau in Ottawa last week and social development minister, citizenship will take speaking at the A story on Jody Wilson- and immigration minister, human resources the stage on Canada School of the and skills development minister, and public Mother’s Day Public Service and Raybould didn’t meet works and government services minster. weekend to University of Ottawa’s The committee had two Tory vacancies share the Prime Minister Series Canadian Press’ editorial after Gord Brown’s death last May, and Tony story of her to civil servants and Clement‘s expulsion from the Conservative life. policy leaders. The standards: CP caucus. Ms. Hill Times photograph Conservative MP Rob Nicholson was ap- Trudeau— by Andrew Meade A Canadian Press story on former pointed to the committee on Feb. 5. Prime Min- justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould that [email protected] ister Justin with a surprise party in Florida last week- used a selection of quotes and paraphrased @neilrmoss Margaret Trudeau will go on Trudeau‘s end. comments from unnamed sources failed to The Hill Times stage at Chicago’s Second City mother and The bash was held at Club-Collette in Palm meet the wire service’s editorial standards, in May. Image courtesy of Playbill the former Beach Florida, according to a Globe and Mail it announced. wife of report. Mr. Mulroney turns 80 on March 20. One “Liberal insider” was quoted ques- Separated at birth, eh? Pierre Trudeau—known in part for her life of The guests included Canadian singer tioning if Ms. Wilson-Raybould was a team glamour in the 1970s and her mental health Michael Bublé and music producer David player in the story written by Hill reporter advocacy more recently, will debut Certain Foster. Mr. Mulroney and Mr. Bublé sang Mia Rabson. Woman of an Age at Chicago’s Second City. Danny Boy together, and Mr. Bublé and Mr. “She’s always sort of been in it for her- “My life for so many years was a reality Foster performed Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help self…It’s never been about the government show,” Ms. Trudeau told The Chicago Tribune. Falling in Love for the crowd. Incidentally, Mr. or the cabinet. Everything is very Jodycen- “Now I will be able to put that on the stage.” Mulroney helped Mr. Bublé’s musical career tric,” one insider was quoted saying in the The autobiographical show will be back in 2000 when he invited him to sing at Feb. 9 story. co-written by playwright Alix Sobler, and his daughter Caroline’s wedding and intro- In an editorial note, The Canadian Press directed by Kimberly Senior. duced him to Mr. Foster, the Grammy Award- wrote that following the internal review, It is being publicized as a “intimate winning producer and record executive who it was determined that the wire service’s staged performance,” which will look at Ms. has worked with Madonna, Michael Jackson, policies around using anonymous sources Trudeau’s “courageous public and private Barbra Streisand, Céline Dion, Whitney was not followed. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew journeys.” Houston, Cher, and Andrea Bocelli. “We will redouble our efforts to ensure Meade and photograph courtesy of Ms. Trudeau separated from Pierre Also at the recent party were billionaires that our journalists use unnamed sources Wikimedia Commons Trudeau in 1977 after a rocky marriage. Charles Bronfman and Ken Langone, U.S. carefully, sparingly and only when circum- Privy Council Clerk Michael Wernick, left, A photograph of her was infamously Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, former stances demand it,” the editorial note read. faced grilling from opposition members of taken while partying at Studio 54 as Pierre tennis stars Martina Navratilova and Chris On Feb. 15, the Prime Minister’s Offi ce the House of Commons Justice Commit- Trudeau’s Liberals were defeated by Joe Evert, and former Washington Post columnist condemned the “sexist” and “racist” com- tee last week. Writer, comedian, and actor Clark’s Progressive Conservative in 1979. Sally Quinn—the former wife of the Post‘s ments of anonymous Liberals in “the stron- Larry David, right, is known for his work “All of my children have been so sweet and longtime executive editor Ben Bradlee. gest possible terms.” on Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm. supportive of what I am doing,” Ms. Trudeau Mr. Mulroney was in Ottawa last week “I really do wonder if we will ever learn told the Tribune. speaking to civil servants as part of the Prime who these sources were. … If they are “My honesty about mental illness has Minister Series, where he talked about his who I’m told they are, it’s a newsworthy helped open a door for real conversation, and disappointment over the failure of the Meech part of this drama,” tweeted Jesse Brown, I think Justin wants to continue that conversa- Lake Accord. media critic and founder of Canadaland, tion…He has put no restrictions on me. His During NAFTA renegotiations, he was on March 7. father couldn’t. Why should he try?” known as the Trump-whisperer, offering Shows will take place at Chicago’s UP Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Comedy Club at Second City each day from negotiation team advice on how to deal with Diane Finley added to May 9 to 12. Tickets range from $45 to $65. U.S. President Donald Trump. He called the Canadian team’s performance during NAFTA National Security and renegotiations “excellent” in his talk in Ottawa. Brian Mulroney celebrates Intelligence Committee of The Hill Times photograph by Andrew th Parliamentarians Meade and photograph courtesy of Gage 80 birthday bash with PPSC sends ‘pre- Skidmore/Flickr Michael Bublé and David written’ tweet stressing Conservative MP Diane Finley was ap- Conservative MP Lisa Raitt, left, pointed to the National Security and Intel- powerfully questioned Mr. Wernick at Foster prosecutorial independence ligence Committee of Parliamentarians by last week’s Justice Committee. Gillian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on March 7. Anderson, right, starred on The X-Files Canada’s 18th prime minister celebrated In the midst of the SNC-Lavalin af- With her appointment the committee has from 1995 to 2002, and 2016 to 2018. his upcoming 80th birthday a little early fair where the independence of the Public fi lled all its vacancies.

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in their private conversations last fall, poli- Trudeau stands up for SNC-Lavalin, ticians like Green Party Leader Elizabeth May are right—Wernick’s head should roll. For those innocent souls who think the PM is sincere in his claims about transparency but not for his cabinet ministers in government, let alone a new way of doing politics, consider the following: this entire mess could be over in a few days if Trudeau agreed to any of the following things. In the context of what Call a public inquiry and dish out all the documents that the Liberal-dominated House happened to Jody Justice Committee declined to demand. Let Jody Wilson-Raybould tell the whole Wilson-Raybould, it story about why she resigned, including looks like prosecutors details from the crucial period between becoming veterans affairs minister and have been turned into leaving cabinet. Let the former justice minister come the tools of politicians or back and respond to testimony from Butts that contradicts her own previous state- corporations—hardly what ments to the committee. was in legislators’ minds in Free cabinet to share with Canadians what Wilson-Raybould shared with them 1998 when Canada passed behind closed doors. Let someone explain, if only in a the Corruption of Foreign generic sense, why the director of public prosecutions ruled out a deferred prosecu- Public Offi cials Act. tion agreement in the SNC-Lavalin case PCO Clerk Michael Wernick told the House Justice Committee that SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. chair now before the courts. Kevin Lynch phoned him on Oct. 15, 2018, to voice his frustration to the top bureaucrat about Whatever SNC-Lavalin may think, the government's refusal to negotiate a deferred prosecuation agreement for SNC-Lavalin. The Hill DPAs are subject to conditions, and those Times fi le photograpshs conditions should be interpreted by judi- cial offi cers, not politicians and corporate revels in giving himself straight As in cabinet aren’t known for throwing it all executives. everything. over on a lark. And Gerald Butts would Someone should remind SNC-Lavalin Last week, both the prime minister and rather holiday in North Korea than vol- that you don’t get a DPA because you want his former principal secretary assured untarily leave the Treehouse as Trudeau’s one, as the company surely does in the Canadians that the SNC-Lavalin scandal principal secretary. current circumstances. The missing part Michael Harris was much ado about nothing—no more As for his explanation that he was quit- in this saga is why, precisely, the director than business as usual, with a small and re- ting so it wouldn’t look like the PM was fa- or public prosecutions (DPP) declined to Harris grettable defi ciency in emotional sensitiv- vouring his old friend in a dust-up between negotiate a DPA in SNC-Lavalin’s case. Ca- ity to reading former justice minister Jody Liberal colleagues, I am sure Katie Telford nadians need to know that before the PM’s Wilson-Raybould’s cues of unease. buys that completely. new AG, David Lametti, changes Wilson- ALIFAX—Politicians love writing their What nonsense. Two cabinet ministers If any contrition was on display from Raybould’s decision—which is very likely own report cards. H gone, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Trudeau and Butts, it was decidedly rhe- the next development is this scandal. And it’s not just Donald Trump who principal secretary out. People who make torical and half-assed. Both men said that It is worth noting that this whole con- they should have seen the levels of trust troversy could not have happened under dropping between the former justice minis- the previous Harper government. That’s ter and the PMO. Apart from that, they had because Harper expressly rejected DPAs in done an outstanding job of standing up for favour of traditional prosecutions in mat- Canadian jobs and Canadian workers. ters touching bribery and corruption. They had actually done an outstanding The Conservatives thought that if DPAs job of standing up for SNC-Lavalin, even were introduced into the system, lobbying if it meant fi ddling with the decision that and politics would determine judicial out- a criminal trial was needed—a decision comes in matters involving serious crime. already taken by the only person consti- Justice would become a fi sh-market domi- tutionally empowered to make it: Wilson- nated by the well-heeled and well-connect- Raybould. ed. No wonder the Business Council of SNC-Lavalin was furious that it did Canada lobbied for DPAs back then. not get a deferred prosecution agreement Instead, what they got was the Integrity (DPA), and took their grievance to the very Framework, and an International Anti-Cor- pinnacle of bureaucratic governance in ruption Unit of the RCMP that ultimately Canada. The chair of the board of SNC- charged companies like SNC-Lavalin Lavalin was able to put a call through to who had been accustomed to thinking of the clerk of the Privy Council to register bribery as a cost of doing business. It was his displeasure with the decision of the under this legislation that companies who director of public prosecutions. were convicted of bribing foreign offi cials That’s a little like former New Bruns- who lost the right to bid on federal con- wick premier Richard Hatfi eld being able tracts in Canada for 10 years. to set up a private meeting in an Ottawa All that changed when the Liberals won hotel with then-solicitor general Elmer the 2015 election. As economist Patricia MacKay while Hatfi eld was the subject of Adams has written, one of the fi rst things an ongoing RCMP drug investigation. the Trudeau government did was to sign an Since Michael Wernick was not taking administrative agreement with SNC-La- other calls about this subject, and even left valin allowing the company to get federal a gala dinner because he didn’t want to be government contracts despite being under seen with SNC-Lavalin executives, how did criminal charges. Lavalin’s chair of the board manage to get Then in 2018, hidden deep in a massive through to him? omnibus bill, the Trudeau government in- Could it have been the fact that Kevin troduced DPAs into law. It was supposed to Lynch was also a former clerk of the Privy be another “tool” for prosecutors to conduct Council himself? Was this the Old Boys their business. Club keeping the lines of communication In the context of what happened to open on behalf of a company facing seri- Wilson-Raybould, it looks like prosecutors ous criminal charges? have been turned into the tools of politi- What was Wernick supposed to do? cians or corporations—hardly what was Give Wilson-Raybould a talking to? Chew in legislators’ minds in 1998 when Canada out the deputy minister of justice? Tattle to passed the Corruption of Foreign Public the PM? Offi cials Act. No wonder opposition parties have It is one thing to legalize marijuana, invited the RCMP to look into this matter. quite another to decriminalize bribery and Asserting your legal rights is one way of corruption. describing what happened here; obstruct- Michael Harris is a bestselling author, a ing justice is another. journalist, and a documentary filmmaker. If Wilson-Raybould is accurate in her [email protected] charge that the clerk made “veiled threats” The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 5 Opinion

quire fewer inspections for leaks, and let companies decide if the regulations are Plugging their methane leaks is the being met. Mexico’s proposed methane regulations are stronger. B.C.’s regula- tions also require fewer inspections for leaks. least oil companies could do on climate Oil and gas proponents often point to our environmental and human rights the greatest and fastest growing source of lobbied for changes that undermine their standards as a selling point for Canadian So the ball is in the federal climate pollution in the country. effectiveness. And now the three Western oil. While this ignores the actual prob- government’s court. It is Oil lobby efforts have continued to provinces want to undermine the regulations lem—what will Canada do about climate bear fruit over the last three years, not for even more. Methane emissions are exempted change?—Alberta and Saskatchewan’s an important test of the environmental protection, jobs for average from the carbon tax federally and in prov- methane regulations would put us below Canadians, or even the coffers of provincial inces. Strong methane regulations were sup- many other jurisdictions. Why should the government’s resolve on governments, but for the narrow interests of posed to be the policy that fi lled that void. rest of us, starting with the people who multinational oil companies. Oil sands crude This is essentially about fairness. Will live adjacent to these sites, pay the price climate change. If the federal gets considered as clean as other crude the oil and gas industry pull its weight in because oil companies won’t fi x their leak- government doesn’t hold the under the Clean Fuel Standard; a signifi cant the battle against climate change, or will ing equipment? exemption on the industrial carbon price— it get away with doing much less? Will So the ball is in the federal government’s line and insist on Western oil and gas has gotten a sweetheart deal on the health benefi ts of reducing methane court. It is an important test of the govern- most regulations to reduce emissions. and associated toxic gases at oil and gas ment’s resolve on climate change. If the fed- provinces grabbing this Somehow, the Pan-Canadian Framework wells be realized? Will methane (the major eral government doesn’t hold the line and on climate change allows emissions from component of natural gas) continue to be insist on Western provinces grabbing this low-hanging fruit, then what the oil and gas sector to grow through 2030, wasted, or will good paying jobs be created low-hanging fruit, then what hope is there while the transportation, buildings, and fi nding and plugging methane leaks? for the harder climate decisions to come? hope is there for the harder electricity sectors are expected to signifi - And yet, Alberta and Saskatchewan in Dale Marshall is national climate climate decisions to come? cantly reduce their carbon output. particular have capitulated to the power program manager for the Environmental Even these federal methane regulations of the oil and gas lobby. Their rules allow Defence. were delayed and weakened after CAPP higher methane emissions per site, re- The Hill Times

Dale Marshall Opinion

here are no silver-bullets on climate Tchange—but dealing with industrial methane is as close to “easy” as it gets. Or at least, it should be. It’s cheap, it will have a noticeable benefi t for health and climate change in the short term, and it will create good jobs in regions where workers are “As an artist, hurting. The net benefi ts of these regula- tions total $9-billion. And it gets even better. Unlike many other climate policies, we already have the copyright is how federal regulations in place without politi- cal grandstanding. But instead of adopting the federal rules, Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia have decided to pro- I make a living.” pose their own weaker regulations. So now the federal cabinet must decide whether the provincial rules will be accepted as — Miranda Mulholland equivalent in terms of their environmental Canadian Recording Artist benefi t. If weak provincial regulations are rejected by the feds, provinces will have to strengthen them, or the federal regulations will apply. This should be a no-brainer. Methane is a potent climate disruptor, 80 times more Now is the time. Simple changes powerful than carbon dioxide. So reduc- tions make a big difference, especially in to the Copyright Act can close the the short term. Reducing methane is also cheap—Canada’s 45 per cent reduction Value Gap for Canada’s creators. target can be achieved at less than $10 per tonne—and off-the-shelf technologies exist already to achieve it. The methane is Stand up for Canada’s creators at: coming from leaking pumpjacks, tanks and valueourmusic.ca other industrial equipment—plug the leaks, fi x the equipment, and reduce wasted methane. On the surface, this appears to be one more climate-related, jurisdictional battle between federal and provincial govern- ments. I could pretend I don’t know the reason why a policy that will benefi t neighbours, workers, and the climate is being watered down. But I know why— the underlying story is about oil and gas companies resisting the only climate policy that is focused on reducing carbon emis- sions from their sector. For 25 years, oil and gas companies, and their lobby arms such as the Canadian As- sociation of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), have successfully worked to forestall Ca- nadian action on climate change. Over that time, carbon emissions from the petroleum sector have continued to grow, making it 6 MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 | THE HILL TIMES News PMO strategy & staff

day the federal government is set assistant Elise Wagner—the is- everybody gets bored. But as long to deliver its 2019 budget, the last sues management team includes as people don’t feel that the full Further staff before the next election. issues advisers Gillian Hanson, story is out there, they’ll keep Whether the government’s Michael Power, Samantha Khalil, asking for the full story, and I circumstances are wholly un- and Chloé Luciani-Girouard, and think you saw that with the Mike exits over SNC- precedented is up for debate: the legislative assistant Sebastien Duffy thing,” said Mr. MacDou- closest comparison in Canadian Belliveau. gall. political history raised is the Last week, it was reported that “It’s pretty cynical, if fairly resignation of three ministers David MacNaughton, Canada’s standard, for governments that Lavalin likely, say from John Diefenbaker’s then-mi- Ambassador to the United States are caught in diffi culty, they just nority Progressive Conservative since March 2016, has been called try to get a version out there and government in 1963 in protest of in to provide advice. then stonewall anything else.” strategists, as PMO Mr. Diefenbaker’s opposition to Mr. MacEachern said Mr. Clow Unfortunately, he said the “Lib- allowing American nuclear war- and his Canada-U.S. team bring erals have seen that every day, heads to be stationed in Canada. “fresh eyes” to the SNC fi le, as virtually, since the original story But strategists who spoke with they would have been wrapped up broke, that every tactic they’ve grapples to address The Hill Times last week said in issues south of the border last tried, other than telling the truth, they’ve never seen a controver- fall when discussions around the hasn’t resulted in this story going sy—and for that matter, a commu- SNC-Lavalin deal took place. So away.” nications and issues management too would Mr. MacNaughton. That said, Mr. MacDougall not- controversy challenge—quite like the one cur- He noted Mr. Clow also brings ed issues management in today’s rently facing the Trudeau PMO. some signifi cant issues management 24/7 news and social media age is (March 6) about how he experi- Compounding this challenge is experience, having been executive “tough,” and made tougher by “an Former PMO enced the events and conversa- the fact the next federal election director of issues management and entire universe of armchair quar- tions in question. is now just seven months away. legislative affairs to then-Ontario terbacks, idiots like me going, ‘no, strategists Ian On March 7, a month after Staff in the Prime Minis- premier Kathleen Wynne from 2013 no, you’re doing it wrong.’” the story broke and one day after ter’s Offi ce have no doubt been to 2015 amid the gas plant scandal. But he said going forward, Brodie and Andrew stories were fl oated that the PMO increasingly consumed by the “There were a couple of very he thinks the government’s best MacDougall say the was considering an apology, Mr. SNC-Lavalin controversy since tough committee studies done at course is to get it over with, show Trudeau held a press conference The Globe and Mail’s fi rst broke Queen’s Park that involved senior more contrition, and clear out best path forward for on the matter in Ottawa, at which the story on Feb. 7. staff, police investigations, and other PMO players named in the he expressed regret for the “ero- “This is all hands on deck in the Brian was part of the team that scandal—“If Gerry Butts had to the Trudeau Liberals sion of trust” that occurred be- PMO,” said Mr. MacEachern. “When was brought in, again, later on leave the Prime Minister’s Offi ce tween his offi ce and Ms. Wilson- you have two cabinet ministers re- after the fact. Wynne was able over SNC-Lavalin, why does is to get it over with, Raybould, but did not specifi cally sign within a month, it’s something to survive that and go on to win Katie Telford get to stick around? let Jody Wilson- apologize. that would be of top priority.” another election” in 2014, he said. Why do Elder Marques and Liberal MP Celina Caesar-Cha- For the PMO, tackling this Mr. MacEachern said he un- Mathieu Bouchard still have roles Raybould testify vannes (Whitby, Ont.), the PM’s controversy is “challenging on a derstands the PMO is now taking there?” former parliamentary secretary, “If the Liberals truly felt there again, and apologize. has also weighed in, in support was nothing untoward about any of Ms. Wilson-Raybould and Ms. of this, they would be inviting Philpott. everybody that Jody Wilson- Continued from page 1 The PMO to date has largely Raybould mentioned in her The Globe and Mail fi rst broke stuck to a general response testimony to justice committee, news that Prime Minister Justin framework: that the Jan. 14 Trudeau would himself appear … Trudeau’s (Papineau, Que.) offi ce, shuffl e that saw Ms. Wilson- and answer questions from his including then-principal secretary Raybould moved out of justice peers about what did and did not Gerald Butts, “pressed” former wouldn’t have happened if Scott happen,” he said. justice minister and attorney Brison hadn’t resigned, that they Ian Brodie, a former chief general Jody Wilson-Raybould experienced the events and con- of staff to Mr. Harper and now to instruct the director of pub- versations raised differently than Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured during a March 7, 2019, press conference professor at the University of lic prosecutions to negotiate a Ms. Wilson-Raybould, and that at the NPT on the SNC-Lavalin controversy. Mr. Trudeau said it's become 'clear' Calgary, said step No. 1 when deferred prosecution agreement the PMO simply wanted to ensure that 'there was an erosion of trust' between his offi ce, specifi cally former principal a crisis like this hits a PMO is with Quebec-based construction Ms. Wilson-Raybould properly secretary Gerald Butts, and Jody Wilson-Raybould: 'I was not aware of that erosion of sorting out the facts of the matter fi rm SNC-Lavalin on Feb. 7. The consulted on the idea of a DPA trust. As prime minister and leader of the federal Ministry, I should have been.' The and making sure your team is in fi rm faces bribery and corruption for SNC-Lavalin, motivated by Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade step—things the Trudeau PMO charges, which could result in it the risk posed to 9,000 jobs in appears to have fallen “short” of, being barred from government Quebec. number of fronts,” he said, as it wider, outside advice, “something with ministerial resignations contracts in Canada for 10 years. The PMO’s tact to date in goes against the positive “brand” that they were not necessarily seemingly taking the offi ce by At the heart of the controversy responding to the controversy touted by the Liberals on the 2015 known for before this,” and which surprise. is whether the Prime Minister’s has been found wanting by many campaign trail, and typically pri- he takes as “a good sign from a “This story has gone on much Offi ce (PMO) tried to exert parti- political observers. vate conversations have repeat- communications perspective.” longer and they looked like they san, political pressure on the non- Following Mr. Trudeau’s March edly been made public. “A bunker mentality will only were taken by surprise at every partisan attorney general. 7 press conference, former PMO “This has been nothing but make things worse, you will con- turn. That’s never good,” said Mr. It’s been a whirlwind of devel- senior adviser for international leak after leak after leak, which tinue to make the same decision Brodie. opments since Feb. 7, with grip- affairs and defence Roland Paris, is challenging when you’re trying because you feel that only you Mr. Brodie similarly said go- ping committee testimony from now a professor at the University to have discussions, knowing that and a certain group understand ing forward, the PMO needs to various actors, from Ms. Wilson- of Ottawa, suggested on Twitter what you say you may be reading what’s really happening,” he said. ensure that the entire caucus is Raybould to Privy Council Offi ce that his former boss might now in The Globe and Mail the next Going forward, Mr. MacEach- in hand, that the full picture of Clerk Michael Wernick, offering be refl ecting on the strategic morning,” he said. ern said his top suggestion to the exactly what happened is known, up new details along the way. advice he’s receiving. Along with Ms. Telford, staff PMO is the need to ensure the that those staff who “overreached Since Ms. Wilson-Raybould “Among the many issues the on the PMO’s communications Liberal caucus writ large “feels are all gone,” that Ms. Wilson- resigned on Feb. 12, the House PM may be refl ecting on, follow- and issues management’s teams consulted and included” and that Raybould is allowed to tell her Justice Committee has launched ing his long-overdue SNC press would be tasked with fi guring out there “are no other issues of this full story, and that Mr. Trudeau a study into the matter (starting conference, is the quality of the how best to respond to the SNC- type going forward.” apologizes. Feb. 13); Mr. Butts has resigned strategic communications advice Lavalin controversy. “People refer to politics as a “She’s going to get to testify (Feb. 18); new Justice Minister he has received in recent weeks. That would include executive team sport, well, start telling the about that sooner or later, it will David Lametti (LaSalle-Émard- I expect he wants stability in his director of communications and team they’re important,” he said. happen eventually, they should just Verdun, Que), deputy minister offi ce in the wake of Gerry’s de- planning Kate Purchase, support- “I’m not blaming staff, but at the go ahead and do it now,” he said. Nathalie Drouin, and Mr. Wernick parture, but seriously…” read Mr. ed by director of communications same time I have seen and experi- “This is going to go on and on have testifi ed (fi rst on Feb. 21, Paris’ tweet. Cameron Ahmad, senior press ence and heard about times when and on until we hear from her in with Mr. Wernick and Ms. Drouin The matter is still far from secretary Chantal Gagnon, and staff—and this goes well beyond total, until we hear from Trudeau appearing a second time on resolved. On March 7, opposition press secretaries Eleanore Cat- the Prime Minister’s Offi ce—were in total, until everybody who March 6); Ms. Wilson-Raybould members of the House Justice enaro, Matt Pascuzzo, and Amreet less than respectful to Members was involved in this is fi red and has testifi ed (Feb. 27), offering up Committee called for an emergen- Kaur, among others. On the of Parliament.” moved along.” a list of 11 names of PMO staff, cy meeting this week to discuss issues management side, Brian Andrew MacDougall, a former Mr. Brodie said the upcoming including Mr. Butts and chief of inviting back Ms. Wilson-Ray- Clow, who headed the PMO’s director of communications to federal budget could help change staff Katie Telford, and details bould—whose previous testimony Canada-U.S. war room through then-PM Stephen Harper includ- the channel on the scandal, if it of the “consistent and sustained” was limited to her time as justice the tense NAFTA renegotiations ing during the Duffy expenses includes “big news,” like a plan political pressure she said she minister due to the limits of the last year, is now executive direc- scandal, said the PMO’s approach for a balanced budget in the next experienced; now-former treasury PM’s Feb. 25 order in council tor of Canada-U.S. relations and so far has been trying to frame year or two, “not 10.” That said, he board president Jane Philpott waiving solicitor-client privilege. issues management, supported the matter as a “disagreement be- thinks the SNC-Lavalin scandal resigned from cabinet (March 4), The House is currently on break by director of issues manage- tween friends” and to “draw a line will be front-and-centre next saying she has “lost confi dence” in until March 18. Prior to this, the ment Leslie O’Leary. Along with and then hope it goes no further.” election. the government’s handling of the committee was set to return to the Canada-U.S. team—adviser “You always live in this hope [email protected] matter; and Mr. Butts has testifi ed the matter on March 19, the same Simon Beauchemin and special that you can stonewall until The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 7 Legislation News Senate Environment Committee eyes Fort McMurray, southern Alberta First Nation for stops on cross- Independent Senators Rosa Galvez, Paula Simons, and Mary Jane McCallum, and Conservative Senator Michael MacDonald are part of the 14-member Senate Environment Committee that is heading west, then east, in April to hold public hearings on Bill C-69, which would overhaul the federal environmental assessment process. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew country tour Meade, fi le photograph, and photographs courtesy of Senator Rosa Galvez and Senator Mary Jane McCallum for committee, also made it a Alberta’s United Conservative tional issues as easily. Sen. Simons practical choice. Party Leader Jason Kenney, and said at the time that “if we only go ‘We want to go to a built up in large part by the oil- Sen. Simons put forward about has been the subject of intense to major cities, we’ll hear from the sands economy—and another in a half dozen possible destinations lobbying and public relations same sorts of people that we would First Nation reserve southern Alberta, he said. in Alberta for the committee’s campaigns by pro-oilsands non- have heard from” in Ottawa. The committee is working to travelling hearings, including the profi t groups, lobbying coalitions, Sen. MacDonald, Sen. Galvez, that is involved in the see if it can hold its hearing in the Enoch Cree Nation near Edmon- and environmental groups. and Sen. Simons are also travel- oil and gas industry, south in the Tsuu T’ina First Na- ton, Edmonton itself, and Leth- The committee has agreed ling during the third week of tion reserve near Calgary. bridge. She said she “pushed hard” to report its fi nding on Bill C-69 April with the Senate Transport people who have skin “We’d like to do that. We want to host a hearing in Fort McMur- back to the Senate by May 9. Committee, which is holding to go to a First Nation reserve ray, and while she would have Two members of the commit- hearings in northern British in the game,’ says that is involved in the oil and gas liked to travel to more communi- tee, Independent Senators Mary Columbia as part of its study on industry, people who have skin in ties, “given our time and budget Jane McCallum (Manitoba) and Bill C-48, which would impose a Conservative Senator the game,” said Sen. MacDonald. constraints, I understand why we Sen. Simons, said during a Feb. ban on oil tanker traffi c off the The Tsuu T’ina First Nation landed on this list.” 5 meeting that they wanted the northern B.C. coast. That commit- Michael MacDonald. is home to the Indian Resource The Senate Environment Com- committee to travel to small com- tee will hold hearings in Prince Council, an Indigenous advocacy mittee will also go east during munities as part of its tour. Rupert and Terrace, B.C. during group that represents numer- Continued from page 1 the fourth week of April—a break Sen. McCallum argued at the the trip, said Sen. Simons. ous Indigenous communities in week for Parliament—to hold time that people in smaller centres [email protected] later that month, according to two Canada with an economic stake hearings on the bill in Saint John, can’t make their voices heard on na- @PJMazereeuw members of the committee. in oil and gas, and which has op- St. John’s, Quebec City, and Hali- After lengthy negotiations on posed Bill C-69. fax, said Sen. MacDonald. whether and where to travel, the The committee clerk has been The committee must still have Status of government bills committee is nearly ready to issue asked to reach out to the Tsuu its travel budget approved by the a press release about its travel T’ina Nation leadership to see if Senate Internal Economy Com- HOUSE OF COMMONS • C-91, Indigenous Languages Act mittee, said Sen. Simons. Second reading: Report stage: Bill C-69 is a sweeping piece • C-5, An Act to Repeal Division 20 of Part 3 of • C-82, Multilateral Instrument in Respect of Tax of legislation, introduced by the Economic Action Plan 2015 Act, No. 1 Conventions Act • C-12, An Act to amend the Canadian Forces • C-84, An Act to amend the Criminal Code Environment Minister Catherine Members and Veterans Re-establishment and (bestiality and animal fi ghting) McKenna, that would overhaul Compensation Act Third reading: Canada’s federal environmental • C-27, An Act to amend the Pension Benefi ts • C-83, An Act to amend the Corrections and assessment process for energy Standards Act, 1985 Conditional Release Act and another Act infrastructure projects, covering • C-28, An Act to amend the Criminal Code green energy projects, oil pipe- (victim surcharge) SENATE lines, nuclear facilities, and more. • C-32, An Act related to the repeal of Section Awaiting first reading: It would introduce new timelines, 159 of the Criminal Code • C-77, An Act to amend the National Defence but also new requirements, for • C-33, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act Act to make related and consequential amend- environmental reviews, and a new • C-34, An Act to amend the Public Service ments to other Acts review body to conduct them. The Labour Relations Act Second reading: bill has been criticized by voices • C-38, An Act to amend an Act to amend the • C-75, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the on the political right and left for, Criminal Code (exploitation and traffi cking in Youth Criminal Justice Act, and other Acts, and to among other things, requiring persons) make consequential amendments to another Act that proposed energy infrastruc- • C-39, An Act to amend the Criminal Code • C-78, An Act to amend the Divorce Act, the ture projects under review be (unconstitutional provisions) Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement evaluated on their impact on “the • C-42, Veterans Well-being Act Assistance Act, and the Garnishment, Attachment, Non-affi liated Senator David Richards and Independent Senator Paul intersection of sex and gender • C-43, An Act respecting a payment to be made and Pension Diversion Act out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund to support Massicotte, right, are both members of the Senate Environment Committee, with other identity factors,” and • C-81, Accessible Canada Act a pan-Canadian artifi cial intelligence strategy which is in the midst of a study on Bill C-69, the most high-profi le piece of for keeping a great deal of power • C-85, An Act to amend the Canada-Israel Free • C-52, Supporting Vested Rights Under Access to Trade Agreement Implementation Act and to legislation currently in the Senate. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade in the hands of the environment Information Act make related amendments to other Acts minister and federal cabinet to plans, according to Independent they are open to hosting a public • C-56, An Act to amend the Corrections and Committee: pause environmental assess- Conditional Release Act and the Abolition of Early Senator Rosa Galvez (Bedford, hearing on the bill, said Inde- • C-48, Oil Tanker Moratorium Act ments, or block projects under Parole Act Que.), the committee’s chair. pendent Senator Paula Simons • C-55, An Act to amend the Oceans Act and the review altogether. Liberal MPs on • C-87, Poverty Reduction Act Canada Petroleum Resources Act The committee has already (Alberta). the House Environment Commit- • C-88, An Act to amend the Mackenzie Valley • C-58, An Act to amend the Access to decided upon a list of cities that “It’s really, really important tee worked with Ms. McKenna’s Resource Management Act and the Canada Information Act and the Privacy Act and to make the Senators will or wish to hold that we hear from First Nations. offi ce to amend the bill more than Petroleum Resources Act consequential amendments to other Acts hearings in as part of their study It’s also important that we hear 100 times last year, but did not • C-92, An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and • C-59, An Act respecting national security of the controversial bill, said Con- from the full range of perspec- eliminate many of the concerns Métis children, youth and families matters servative Senator Michael Mac- tives,” said Sen. Simons. outlined by the bill’s critics. • C-93, An Act to provide no-cost, expedited • C-68, An Act to amend the Fisheries Act Donald (Cape Breton, N.S.), the She said that the proximity of Bill C-69 has also drawn the record suspensions for simple possession of • C-69, An Act to amend the Impact Assessment deputy chair. The committee will the Tsuu T’ina Nation to Calgary, ire of prominent conservative cannabis Act and the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, to spend one day holding a hearing allowing Calgarians to attend politicians including Conserva- Committee: amend the Navigation Protection Act in northern Alberta—probably the hearing, and the Calgary tive Party Leader Andrew Scheer • S-6, Canada-Madagascar Tax Convention • C-71, An Act to amend certain Acts and Regula- in Fort McMurray, a community airport, making it easy to reach (Regina-Qu’Appelle, Sask.) and Implementation Act, 2018 tions in relation to fi rearms 8 MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 | THE HILL TIMES

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

Editorial Letter to the Editor Prime Minister Trudeau missed his Canada could take inspiration perfect opportunity to apologize, period from U.S. environmental rime Minister Justin Trudeau, who Former Treasury Board president Pis still in the midst of the biggest Jane Philpott resigned last week from scandal to hit his government since it cabinet in solidarity with Ms. Wilson- policy preventing algal blooms was fi rst elected in 2015, was expected Raybould, saying she had also lost con- to apologize last week for the mess he’s fidence in the cabinet over allegations put himself and his entire government of political interference in the SNC- o say it has been a tumultuous few of complex, wide-ranging networks of in over the SNC-Lavalin affair, but, un- Lavalin prosecution. Former principal Tmonths in American politics is redun- infl ows and watersheds, most of which fortunately, he did not. secretary Gerald Butts did set up the dant. Division and belligerence are now span multiple American states and cannot The prime minister handled the narrative the previous day before the par for the course in a deeply divided be neatly localized into one jurisdiction. questions well, but he missed the per- House Justice Committee that there American Congress, but while the politi- Sound familiar? fect opportunity to change course. Mr. are possibly two sides to the story, but cal fault lines appear to be ever widening, Here at home, we are suffering from Trudeau tried to put the SNC-Lavalin Mr. Trudeau should have apologized there are still some signifi cant shows of similar ills. Half of perennially algae- scandal behind him, saying it was outright. bipartisanship that provide us with some infested Lake Erie is situated in Canada, caused by a breakdown between his Mr. Trudeau should have more hope for the future. while Lake Winnipeg has long been the staff and former attorney general and strongly owned up to the problem dur- Take a recent piece of bipartisan poster child for Canada’s algal bloom justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould. ing his press conference. He should legislation that ensures federal funding problem. Similarly, Canadian tourism He accepted some of the blame and have apologized to Ms. Wilson-Ray- to combat harmful algal blooms—just suffers due to closed beaches and health promised to do better. But he insisted bould, outright, he should have apolo- signed into law by the president. With warnings, and billions of provincial dol- that nothing unethical or illegal had gized to Ms. Philpott, he should have political theatrics now dominating most lars are zapped up trying to combat the happened, and he did not offer an apologized to his MPs, to his cabinet, column inches, many of these critical issue locally. apology for how he handled the entire and to Canadians for the mess he’s in. environmental stories born from congres- Much like the United States, our series of events. He should have laid People want to see the course corrected. sional collaboration now receive scant algae-infested waters are products of his cards on the table and taken owner- He said he will ask external experts coverage so you will be forgiven for hav- many activities from multiple jurisdic- ship of the serious mistakes that he and to study the policies and practices of ing missed it. tions. Consider, some of his top advisers have made. He cabinet, splitting the role of the attorney Neverthe- for example, the should have shown much more contri- general and the justice minister, and the less, this legisla- Lake Winnipeg tion. This cost him two cabinet minis- role of political staffers who deal with tion matters watershed, which ters and his top adviser. judicial matters, but he did not go far greatly and spans no fewer “Over the past months, there was an enough. should provide than four Cana- erosion of trust between my offi ce and When he was asked straight out if inspiration for dian provinces specifi cally my former principal secre- he was apologizing, he said he was future Canadian and three Ameri- tary and the former minister of justice going to deliver an apology later that environmental can states. and attorney general,” Mr. Trudeau said. day in Iqaluit for how past govern- policy. A federal “I was not aware of that erosion of trust. ments mistreated Inuit suffering from Allow me mechanism in As prime minister and leader of the fed- tuberculosis. Due to a snowstorm, he to summarize. Canada, al- eral ministry, I should have been.” apologized the following day. The new law lowing local Ms. Wilson-Raybould last month Prime Minister Trudeau looks like reauthorizes jurisdictions to resigned from cabinet and accused the he has a set of talking points and he’s the Harmful fl ag signifi cant prime minister and top PMO officials going to stick to them, but if he’s not Algal Bloom fl ourishes of of inappropriately pressuring her in going to apologize then he should more and Hypoxia algal blooms Research and Toxic algae bloom in Lake Erie, pictured Oct. 5, 2011, to the federal her role as attorney general to halt a strongly explain his defence and take a by a NASA Landsat-5 satellite, provided by the United criminal prosecution of SNC-Lavalin. stronger leadership role. Control Amend- government, ments Act of States Geological Survey. Photograph courtesy Commons which could then 2013, allowing Wikipedia/NASA Earth Observatory release funds federal funds to from its coffers be released to combat algal blooms that to tackle it, would be the only logical way are deemed to be of “national signifi - to address this transboundary issue. cance.” Furthermore, it provides funding Furthermore, the new law’s provision for scientifi c research into the causes and for new research and regular assessment impacts of algal blooms, with a complete of the state of algal blooms in the country national assessment required at least is equally necessary in Canada. While every fi ve years. there is some exciting Canadian research This is a clear signal that America is being conducted into what causes algal taking its algal blooms problem seriously. blooms, an allocated federal pot for that From Lake Erie in the north, to the type of science would yield even more Floridian coasts in the south, Americans signifi cant and useful fi ndings. have experienced the economic, environ- As the impact of climate change only mental and health impacts of harmful continues to intensify, algal blooms will algal blooms on their doorstep, and have prove to be more of an environmental decided to take action. hazard in North America. Canada should Often mistakenly underestimated as be proactively safeguarding its abun- mere eyesores, algal blooms can actually dant freshwater supplies by taking algal signifi cantly affect the health of the fl ora blooms seriously and treating them as a and fauna of water bodies, and can prove national issue. harmful to those who drink it or even It seems as though a recent bipartisan inhale its toxins from the air—including success story in Congress could prove to humans. be just the blueprint. Such is the expanse of the United Matthew McCandless States, a federal response is necessary, Executive director given that algal blooms are the product IISD Experimental Lakes Area

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ASSISTANT WEB DESIGNER Ian Peralta www.hilltimes.com Winner THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 9 Opinion Take off the kid gloves, prime minister minister’s messaging. It was the had outside the cabinet meetings Accepting that portfolio inconsistent in losing confi dence Sunny days are here repeat of the kid-gloves treatment themselves are not covered by would have been a challenge, in the government and staying in again. But they are he used when dealing with the privilege, and that includes per- because the route to reconcilia- the government caucus. initial resignations of Jody Wilson- sonal discussions with the prime tion is a long one and unlikely Former prime minister Brian not going to last long Raybould and Jane Philpott. minister or cabinet colleagues. to be completed in advance of Mulroney said last week that They are both still sitting in We also learned last week of the next election. But she could they would not be sitting in his if Justin Trudeau the Liberal caucus. The public line the former minister’s surprising have had a hand in getting rid of caucus. I agree. is that this misunderstanding has refusal to take over important the department. She would have Unlike the party, where they doesn’t get some been papered over and they will work in the ministry of Indig- had a mandate from the prime would be welcomed to work for experienced advice all work together as Liberals. enous Services. minister to work with the Crown- a leadership review to get rid of Sunny days are here again. Some media observers claimed Indigenous relations minister on the prime minister, the caucus is on political damage But they are not going to last that asking her to take that posi- self-government agreements and actually part of the government. long if Trudeau doesn’t get some tion was akin to asking Nelson divestiture. Like cabinet, caucus is in- control. experienced advice on political Mandela to work on apartheid. Having refused, she was of- tended to be a confi dential place damage control. Mandela did exactly that. fered and accepted a position as where people can speak truth to The month-long train wreck He took over a country with the minister of veterans affairs. power unfettered by any limita- facing the government was entire- specifi c mandate to dismantle After she quit, Wilson-Ray- tions. I have sat in caucus where ly of its own making. The leak to apartheid and he went so far bould spent three weeks control- members accused a prime minis- The Globe and Mail did not come as to invite his own jailer to his ling the agenda, assisted by leaks ter of being worse than Hitler. No from the opposition. It came from nomination. from inside the cabinet. When punches are pulled. within the cabinet. Mandela moved quickly on her story started losing lustre, But the presence of these two Just when we thought that reconciliation, understanding that friend and former minister Phil- former ministers is poisonous, as those fi res were dying out, Phil- his people would only succeed if pott quit. it prevents free caucus dialogue. pott fanned the fl ames by quitting all parties were healed. Philpott penned an elegant Other caucus members may cabinet to join her colleague and As Indigenous Services minis- public elegy that she had lost well ask the pair to leave, as the Sheila Copps friend in the caucus backbenches. ter, Wilson-Raybould would have confi dence in government, caucus has now lost confi dence Copps’ Corner Wilson-Raybould continues been perfectly positioned to help without even waiting to hear the in them. to insist that she is under some dismantle the system against other side of the story, as Gerald As leader, Trudeau has to sort of gag order, which prevents which she has fought her whole Butts had not yet appeared be- make tough decisions that can do hen Prime Minister Justin her from speaking. Nonsense. life. She would have been empow- fore the Justice Committee. temporary damage. WTrudeau fi nally came out of As Member of Parliament, she ered to change the lives of all In- A political newbie, she had a A boil must be lanced to heal. the bushes to respond to a month- has 24-hour access to the press digenous citizens. That refusal was stellar lifetime of public service Sheila Copps is a former Jean long barrage of accusations, com- gallery, so all she has to do is call inconsistent with her commitment but little experience in the reality Chrétien-era cabinet minister and munication and misunderstand- a press conference, and speak to change Canada’s relationship of political backrooms. That may a former deputy prime minister. ing were at the root of the prime her truth. Any conversations she with Indigenous peoples. be why she seems to see nothing The Hill Times

2015 federal election to reject Scheer fi nally has a theory for winning him when the 2019 election rolls around. Given Trudeau’s previous Thanks to the SNC- If nothing else, popularity, this was always going the SNC- to be a diffi cult task. Lavalin scandal, Lavalin scandal But now the SNC-Lavalin that’s currently scandal has made the “reject Conservative Party rampaging Trudeau” argument a lot easier. through Ottawa Now, for instance, Scheer Leader Andrew like a wounded can basically run a campaign Scheer has all elephant, that says Trudeau “duped you,” has provided he promised you trustworthy the makings for a Conservative government, but instead you got Party Leader a major scandal; he promised to proactive winning Andrew Scheer promote the middle class, but in- with something stead he’s focused on helping his political campaign. At he’s desperately millionaire buddies; he boasted least in theory. needed for a long about his feminism, but he bul- time: a theory for lied the former female justice winning, writes minister. Gerry Nicholls. The Conservative theme to The Hill Times these voters can be something fi le photograph like “Trudeau doesn’t deserve by Andrew your vote.” Meade Please note, this strategy doesn’t require former Liberal rity pizzazz; hopes his “I’m just a every Canadian who identifi es as ernment that comes to the aid of voters to switch and vote Conser- boring middle-class dad” persona a “conservative” to come out and an allegedly corrupt corporation. vative (though Scheer would obvi- would translate into support; hopes vote for the Conservative Party. In each of these cases, Scheer ously welcome this development). consumer anger against Trudeau’s In other words, Scheer basi- can make an argument for ur- It just requires that on Election Gerry Nicholls proposed carbon tax would turn cally has to squeeze every possible gency, i.e. “Now more than ever, Day, they don’t vote Liberal, i.e., Post-Partisan Pundit voters against the Liberals. conservative voter out of the conservatives need to take the they vote NDP or they just stay But now, thanks to the SNC- woodwork. country back!” home. Lavalin scandal, Scheer has all the And conveniently, the SNC- And, of course, part of that So yes, the Conservative now AKVILLE, ONT.—If noth- makings for a proactive winning Lavalin scandal opens up several Conservative strategy will be to have a sound theory for winning. Oing else, the SNC-Lavalin political campaign. avenues to do just that. highlight Scheer as a conserva- But having a sound theory for scandal that’s currently ram- At least in theory. For fi scal conservatives and tive boy scout. winning and properly executing it paging through Ottawa like a So what would such a theoreti- libertarians, Scheer can say But promoting Scheer and are two different things. wounded elephant, has provided cal Scheer campaign look like? Trudeau’s support of crony capi- mobilizing conservatives can only It remains to be seen if the Con- Conservative Party Leader An- Well, I’d say it’d have two basic talism is a bad business practice be half the battle. servatives actually possess the stra- drew Scheer with something he’s components, one component I’d that will ultimately undermine the After all, there are just not tegic media savvy needed to exploit desperately needed for a long call “identifi cationism,” the other, free market system; for conserva- enough conservatives in Canada to Trudeau’s sudden weakness. time: a theory for winning. “rejectionism.” tives in Western Canada and in get Scheer elected prime minister. As Yogi Berra allegedly once And, yes, up until now Scheer First, let’s consider “identifi ca- rural areas, Scheer can say the This is where the “rejection- said, “In theory, there is no differ- really hasn’t had such a theory. tionism,” by which I mean taking scandal reveals Trudeau as a pup- ism” component of the theory ence between theory and practice. Indeed, all he’s had to date are advantage of how voters identify pet for Eastern-based “Laurentian comes into play. But, in practice, there is.” hopes: hopes Canadians would themselves. elites”; and for social conserva- Basically, Scheer has to Gerry Nicholls is a communi- eventually grow tired of Prime For Scheer and his strategists, tives, the Tory leader can point to convince legions of Canadians cations consultant. Minister Justin Trudeau’s celeb- that means convincing just about the moral shortcomings of a gov- who supported Trudeau in the The Hill Times 10 MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion

They are both dictatorships of that high any more, at least not very long standing. The National compared to the alternative. Another Arab Spring? Liberation Front has ruled Algeria The protests in Sudan may since 1962, with Boutefl ika as its actually succeed in unseating front man for the past 20 years. Bashir, although not necessarily The Syrian and ONDON, U.K.—The slogans The real reason for putting up Bashir came to power in a mili- the military-dominated regime he Lof the ‘Arab Spring’ are being Boutefl ika once again is that the tary coup thirty years ago. And leads. The regime in Algeria has Yemeni civil wars, heard again in the Arab world. various elements of ‘le pouvoir’ both countries largely missed out already made a key concession, “The people want the fall of the (the power), as everybody calls on the original Arab Spring: there with Boutefl ika promising to hold both triggered by the regime,” chant the protesters the regime, could not agree on were scattered demonstrations, a referendum on a new constitu- in Sudan, where almost three any other candidate. But it is an quickly appeased or crushed, but tion and then call fresh elections popular, initially non- months of popular demonstra- insult to the public, and the re- nothing more. (in which he will not run) before violent revolutions of tions challenge the power of gime is frightened by the reaction. As in the Arab Spring, the the end of his next fi ve-year term. long-ruling dictator Omar al- Algerian Prime Minister protests this time are really fu- The regime is hoping that the Arab Spring, may Bashir. He acknowledges the par- Ahmed Ouyahia praised the elled by falling living standards. will be enough to let it stay allels himself, condemning the demonstrators for using strictly A dictatorship that was tolerated in power, and it may be right. fi nally be stumbling demos as “an attempt to copy the non-violent tactics (as in the time while living standards were rising Algerians are deeply scarred by so-called Arab Spring for Sudan.” of the Arab Spring), citing an becomes intolerable when there the terrible civil war of the 1990s, towards an end, but the At the other end of the Arab incident where they gave roses are not enough jobs and it’s get- when Islamists waged a 10-year world, in Algeria, the demos to the security forces policing ting hard to put food on the table. campaign of terror after their im- whole tragic sequence began only last month, when the protests. But, he pointed out, In Sudan this time, it was a cut pending victory in a free election of events is still too President Abdelaziz Boutefl ika, the non-violent pro-democracy in the subsidy on bread that set was cancelled by the military. in power for the last 20 years, demonstrations in Syria in 2011, off the protests, but that was the People remain frightened by fresh in people’s announced that he will run for which triggered a ghastly civil last of many cuts over the past anything that could bring back a fi fth term in the forthcoming war, also “started with exchanges decade. Sudan lost three-quarters that time, maybe even including minds for them to elections. He is 82 years old and of roses.” of its oil income when South Su- too-free elections. so badly affected by a stroke So is the Arab Spring coming dan became a separate country in And nobody else in the Arab want to try again. six years ago that he can hardly back so soon? Probably not. 2011, and the regime can no lon- world is ready to pick up the walk or talk. You couldn’t fi nd two Arab ger afford to buy the population torch just yet. The Syrian and Boutefl ika’s last public speech countries with much less in off with subsidies of various sorts. Yemeni civil wars, both triggered was in 2014, and the most com- common. Algeria is a reasonably Algeria still has its oil, but has by the popular, initially non- mon poster in the street protests well-educated, middle-income been hurt badly by the sustained violent revolutions of the Arab just shows a wheelchair with a country; Sudan is a very poor fall in oil prices since 2014. Spring, may fi nally be stumbling big red X over it. As Algerian country where the literacy rate This doesn’t mean that Suda- towards an end, but the whole writer Kamel Daoud put it, by of- is actually falling. Sudanese nese and Algerians would love tragic sequence of events is still fering a candidate “who is almost are black; Algerians are white. their rulers if there was more too fresh in people’s minds for dead,” the regime is showing its The varieties of popular Arabic money in their pockets. They have them to want to try again. contempt for the young people in spoken in Algeria and Sudan never more than tolerated them, Gwynne Dyer’s new book is Gwynne Dyer Algeria (where more than 30 per are mutually incomprehensible. but the cost of trying to do some- ‘Growing Pains: The Future of cent of people aged under 30 are But they do have two things in thing about the situation seemed Democracy (and Work)’. Global Aff airs unemployed). common. too high. Now it doesn’t seem The Hill Times

Do terrorism sentences in Canada serve as a deterrent? We need longer Public where people ideologically com- Safety mitted to violence in the name sentences for terrorism Minister of an aberrant interpretation of Ralph Islam are being let go to either off ence, now. Goodale, continue their violent ways or pictured convince others to venture down recently on a similar path. the Hill, is I am not calling for draco- the federal nian punishment, just a sober political realization on what terrorism is minister and what threat it poses to us responsible in Canada. We thankfully have for anti- a very low incidence of terror- terrorism. ists and terrorism, but this does The Hill not mean we should dismiss Times the grave nature of the threat Phl Gurski photograph from the very small number Terrorism by Andrew of Canadians who do radical- Meade ize to terrorism violence. These ridiculously short sentences do TTAWA—We have laws for nothing to create confi dence Oa reason, right? Over the will be put to death (capital pun- A recent trial brought this willing to commit to a “deradical- among us. Instead, we have centuries the Western world has ishment). But if people perceive issue to the fore. Pamir Hakimza- ization” program, whatever that is elected to defer to counselling developed a series of traditions that the punishment is light, or dah was bent on joining the supposed to mean. and ‘deradicalization’ despite the such as presumed innocence, the that they will ‘get away’ with their Islamic State (IS), and, according This decision comes on the alarming lack of evidence that need to establish guilt beyond a crimes, it stands to reason that to testimony, was convinced that heels of a similar one where any of these programs work. reasonable doubt, the right to be they will engage in such illegal “all non-Muslims should be another Canadian, Kevin Omar It is time to treat terrorism tried before one’s peers, the right behaviour more often. killed,” and that “Canada should Mohamed, who actually fought with the harshness it deserves. to a defence. Our laws suppos- What then should we make of be under Islamic law.” He was also with the Islamic State, was given Those who have chosen to kill or edly refl ect our values and the Canada’s terrorism laws? These of the belief that “he would be a four-and-a-half year sentence maim for ideological purposes need to protect them from those have been developing over the past fulfi lling the wishes of God to kill (including two-and-a-half years need to be told—forcefully—that who undermine them. To this, few decades, i.e. in the post 9/11 pe- non-Muslims.” His plans to hook for time served) and will also our society does not tolerate these we have to add time-worn moral riod (our Anti-Terrorism Act dates up with the Islamic State were be out soon, despite a National beliefs or these activities. What attitudes such as “thou shall not from December 2001), and suc- thwarted and he was returned to Parole Board assessment that he we are doing now is woefully steal” and “thou shall not murder,” cessive governments have tabled Canada, where he was arrested, represents a high risk (he also inadequate and a slap in the face acts which we believe should be legislation here and there to amend charged with one count of terror- has shown no signs of recanting of the many victims of terrorism, punished in some way. the Canadian Criminal Code, sec- ism, and put on trial. his terrorist views). here and around the world. We We also hope that the laws we tions that deal with terrorist offenc- The Crown sought a six- What message are we send- need longer sentences for terror- have established and the penal- es (sections 83.1ff). There has been a year sentence while the defence ing to Canadians and our allies ism offences—now. ties we have attached to contra- dog’s breakfast of terrorism rulings countered with three-and-a-half when it comes to terrorism? That Phil Gurski is the author of ventions of those laws will act over time, ranging from acquittals years. In the end, he received four it’s okay? That it is not very seri- four books on terrorism, the lat- as a deterrent. Some people will to life sentences. All of this leads to years plus three probation and, in ous? That those found guilty get est of which is An End to the War refrain from killing if they know the question: are we treating terror- light of time served, will be on the a ‘do over’? I am worried that we on Terrorism. that in their country they in turn ism seriously enough? streets this year. He has also been are sleepwalking into scenarios The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 11 Opinion

(Jean Chrétien-Paul Martin), governance and opportunities where I contributed to the demise for the next generation. We need Prime minister should act in of the Liberal Party of Canada, a focus on economic and public and Canadians rightfully elected policy. We cannot be consumed a different party to govern. When by partisan considerations and we place our individual/partisan perceptions. best interests of Canadians needs ahead of the country, Ca- Two senior cabinet ministers nadians have the intelligence to have resigned, effectively a vote Hubris undermined notion of ministerial responsibil- political staff, the public servants recognize our deception. Canadi- of no confi dence in the prime ity. A concept taught but seldom and parliamentarians. As a staffer, ans in the last election embraced minister. Both ministers were the process, the followed in the modern political I made mistakes and I could have “sunny ways” as Justin Trudeau recruited by Trudeau as they era. Lord Carrington, the great done better. I always kept in mind, represented the best of Canada represented the principled and powers of persuasion British parliamentarian was that my actions refl ected on the and the best of a new genera- courageous leadership attributes cited as the example. In 1982, he prime minister. I believe all parties tion of leadership. Liberals were that was sought in candidates. failed the prime resigned from the British govern- involved in the debate surround- elected coast to coast to coast, in- Clearly, the prime minister ment as foreign secretary, not as a ing the SNC-Lavalin fi le genuinely cluding four Liberals in my home misunderstood the personal and minister, and a result of what he knew but rather believed they were acting in the province of Alberta. professional relationship with principled challenge what he should have known or best interests of the country to Under Trudeau, the Liberal Wilson-Raybould and former anticipated. fi nd a solution to a uniquely Ca- Party was no longer just a party cabinet minister Jane Philpott. was presented by the Since the resignation of former nadian problem (notwithstanding but a movement; I was no longer As a self-described feminist, the justice minister Jody Wilson-Ray- the Shawcross doctrine or politi- a member but a supporter. Our prime minister needs to recog- attorney general. It was bould—someone I do not know cal considerations, the primary Liberal Senators, many who had nize that judgment has been nor have I met—I have refl ected considerations were Canadian served the Liberal family for passed and he needs to accept a self-infl icted wound. on the public discourse in our jobs versus ethics). However decades and had institutional that judgment, or any credibility country; it’s better than our neigh- unfortunate or misunderstood, knowledge, no longer needed. I that remains to the words that bour to the south, yet nevertheless the process and deliberations remained silent, as it was time have been spoken by him over only a fraction more tolerable. Jus- have led to the resignation of two for a new leadership. I embraced the last four years will be com- tin Trudeau, in 2015, represented a senior cabinet ministers and to it, as I saw an opportunity to re- pletely dismissed. I believe as post-partisan vision of Canadian disquiet in the Liberal caucus. This enter public life. Unfortunately, Lord Carrington stepped aside in politics and, as a result, recruited government promised a change for the prime minister, the nar- 1982, the prime minister will act a new generation of candidates in substance and style, created a rative so carefully created by his in the best interests of Canadians under the Liberal banner. Trudeau narrative around the prime min- advisers is now in shambles. whether a public statement of had re-energized the Liberal Party, ister premised on transparency, We are at an economic contrition/transparency or step- yet as a lifelong Liberal if I had integrity, and generational change. crossroads in this country and ping aside, allowing the govern- concerns, I judged myself to be Hubris undermined the process, in my home province of Alberta, ment to return to the primary Raj Chahal a political dinosaur and kept my the powers of persuasion failed in particular. I give the govern- responsibility of governing. Opinion views to myself. the prime minister, and a prin- ment credit for tone and numer- Raj Chahal, who is a business- I had the privilege of having cipled challenge was presented ous policy achievements, yet I person in Calgary, was a special worked for then-prime minister by the attorney general. It was a am frustrated with the federal assistant to former prime minister ALGARY—As a student of Jean Chrétien, I believe I have an self-infl icted wound. government whether on pipeline Jean Chrétien from 1994-1998 and Cpolitics and government in understanding of government, In my past, I have been a policy, mortgage stress tests, or a special adviser from 2001-2003. my youth, I was taught the quaint appreciating the commitment of participant in political fratricide identity politics. My concern is The Hill Times

certicate cases of Mohamed Harkat, thrown out by the Federal Court. In its three decades of practice, Arriving to the Hassan Almrei, Mohammad Mah- The intelligence in question—and CSIS has faced, and continues to joub, Mahmoud Jaballah, and Adil the conclusions drawn from them— face, well-documented criticism by Charkaoui to make his fi rst bizarre were simply not up to snuff, even its watchdog, high-profi le judicial point: “these cases should never under a CSIS-friendly regime. inquiries, the courts, human rights wrong conclusion: have gone to court” because “intel- In one of the two remaining lawyers, and advocates, for threat ligence in Canada is not collected to security certifi cate cases, Mohamed infl ation, racial and religious evidentiary standards.” (Moe) Harkat is fi ghting deporta- profi ling, complicity in torture, Civil liberty’s The solution to the mess of the tion to the substantial likelihood and poor management of sensi- security certifi cate regime is not to of torture in Algeria. (Toronto’s tive fi les. Although questioning its forego our courts and use secret, Mahjoub faces similar proceed- existence is a healthy and im- unsourced allegations to throw ings to send him to Egypt). As in all portant exercise, there is a much response to ex-CSIS people out of Canada to face the security certifi cate cases, neither more immediate solution to the substantial risk of persecution and Harkat nor his lawyer were able to problems raised here. Intelligence torture if returned to their home see the “evidence” against him—a is not used as evidence because it country. Instead, the use of evidence fundamental right in democratic doesn’t meet the judicial standards analyst’s PR piece that meets the rigorous standards system—and instead were forced which exist to prevent innocent of criminal court proceedings is to rely on redacted summaries of people from being wrongfully paramount in a country that pur- secret allegations. Moreover, key convicted by the state. That is why the ports to be a democracy respectful conclusions in Harkat’s case had If solid evidence existed in the of due process and the rule of law. previously been soundly rejected by security certifi cate cases above, immediate solution If a compelling case exists against another judge in a parallel case. these men should have been tried in anyone, charge them. Additionally, both the Federal a criminal court of law in the same here is to get rid of Gurski also fails to mention Court and Supreme Court found system they would face if charged that the cards are stacked in CSIS’ that Harkat’s rights had been with any criminal offence. Instead, the security certifi cate favour in such cases: indeed, the violated, because all the original reliance on the low threshold of regime and insist that legislation specifi cally declares “evidence” against him had been il- proof in security certifi cate cases that a judge can receive into evi- legally destroyed by CSIS. The Fed- where no charge is ever laid left dence—and base their decision—on eral Court also expressed dismay them open to dire consequences anyone subjected to Anne Dagenais Guertin anything, “even if it is inadmissible that the spy agency had purposely based on a secretive system in & Matthew Behrens such serious allegations in a court of law.” withheld critical information that which true accountability is absent. Opinion The perverse claim that the only called into question the credibility That is why the immediate solu- be provided an open reason these men were able to enter of two secret informants at the heart tion here is to get rid of the security and transparent n his Feb. 25, 2019, column in The Canada is because the intelligence of the allegations: one had failed a certifi cate regime and insist that IHill Times, headlined, “Security used to subject them to security lie detector test, while another had anyone subjected to such serious hearing marked by certifi cate cases and Canada’s fail- certifi cates was made available had an affair with his CSIS agent allegations be provided an open ure to use the intelligence it collects,” too late is not supported by factual handler. Inexplicably, the court and transparent hearing marked the more robust author and former CSIS employee, history. In reality, four of the men refused to allow either informant to by the more robust protections and Phil Gurski, is advocating for an were accepted as refugees because be cross-examined in either a public standards afforded by criminal law. protections and “intelligence culture” in Canada. of the risk they faced back home, or secret court. That is, if Canada wants to continue In a moment of self-awareness, while another was a permanent Again, despite having the cards calling itself a democracy. standards aff orded Gurski admits that he has “an resident by the time his certifi cate stacked in their favour in such cas- Anne Dagenais Guertin is extreme bias in this regard and was issued. In the meantime, after es, Gurski portrays CSIS as a victim communications and research by criminal law. That many will take issue with my lives ruined by indefi nite detention and, in a strange line of thought, coordinator at the International is, if Canada wants to remarks.” This is a clumsy attempt without charge, years in solitary suggests that maybe intelligence Civil Liberties Monitoring Group to get ahead of the criticism, and his confi nement and brutal house should be used as evidence. But that ICLMG. Matthew Behrens is coor- continue calling itself a extreme bias could suffi ce to dis- arrest, and being tarred by state would then “call into question why dinator of Campaign to Stop Secret credit his piece, but let’s dig deeper. security allegations, three of the CSIS exists,” and he doesn’t want Trials in Canada. democracy. Gurski uses the notorious security fi ve security certifi cates have been CSIS to close down. The Hill Times 12 MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion

5. He didn’t rebut the allega- there was a battery of Cana- Trudeau’s top 10 mistakes at tions that have been made against dian fl ags arrayed behind him. him. In fact, he did the precise Sure, he can wear a pricey suit. reverse. Trudeau confi rmed all of But, with the sound off, Trudeau Jody Wilson-Raybould’s evi- looked like he was irritated that his LavScam press conference dence: that she was pressured to he was being forced to answer give a sleazy Quebec company a tricky questions from the wretch- sweetheart deal. That he and his es in the press gallery. LavScam is a raging ORONTO—How bad was 2. He didn’t take responsibility. offi cials—11 of them, more than 9. He didn’t accept it. The seri- TJustin Trudeau’s early morn- Even if you don’t apologize—even 20 times, over a four-month period ousness of it all, that is. Over and fi ve-alarm fi re; Justin ing LavScam press conference on if you don’t express the smallest in fall 2018—did what the former over, Trudeau gave us every indi- March 7? amount of regret, which Trudeau attorney general said they did. cation that the whole mess was Trudeau brought So bad CTV Your Morning’s didn’t do either—it’s important that Guilty as charged. simply a case of broken telephone. Ben Mulroney asked aloud if the you accept that the proverbial buck 6. He didn’t make us feel he When, in fact, it was about how a squirt gun to the prime minister had made things stops with you. Trudeau (again) gets it. In fact, Trudeau gave us he and his senior staff—not one of worse for himself. said that it’s all Jody Wilson-Ray- every indication that the pressure them a lawyer—repeatedly tried to blaze. He did and So bad Bell Media radio host bould’s fault. “She didn’t come to is getting to him. At one point, the tell the lawyers what to do. The de- Evan Solomon called Trudeau’s me,” he wheezed. Well, actually, she defl ector-in-chief looked up from cision was all Wilson-Raybould’s, said nothing that will statement “a word salad.” did. You just wouldn’t listen. his focus-grouped talking points he said—as long as, you know, she extinguish Canadians’ So bad I intend to replay a tape 3. He didn’t sound sincere. and talked about how he recently made the decision he wanted her of Trudeau’s press conference Justin Trudeau’s greatest strength discovered that his new West Block to make. growing belief that for students in my University of is his acting ability. He is an expert offi ce was once the same offi ce for 10. He didn’t remember the Calgary faculty of law crisis com- at radiating wet-eyed sincerity and his father, Pierre Trudeau, when he cardinal communications rule. Trudeau and his staff munications course as a sterling emotion—kind of like our Lab- was justice minister. Which is: don’t repeat the main example of how not to do crisis rador retrievers, when we come 7. He didn’t provide a compel- allegation against you. Instead, may have obstructed communications. home and discover they’ve eaten ling narrative. People get bom- Trudeau acknowledged, over and Trudeau made many mistakes an entire living room sofa. At his barded by millions of words and over, that there had been “an ero- justice. at the National Press Theatre. Here press conference, Trudeau had all images every day. It’s data smog; sion of trust” between him and his are 10: the conviction of an ISIS hostage it’s hard to keep up. So, it’s critical former attorney-general. He said it 1. He didn’t apologize. After reading a statement prepared by that you provide a narrative—a so much, even The New York Times Trudeau’s offi ce leaked that the his captors. This was a truly his- story. (Because while facts tell, put it in a big headline. beleaguered Liberal leader was toric moment, and Trudeau needed stories sell.) At the conclusion No, Justin, the “erosion of trust” possibly deliberating about an to convince us. He didn’t. of Trudeau’s windy word salad, wasn’t between you and Jody apology for the SNC-Lavalin 4. He didn’t acknowledge the we still didn’t know why he fi red Wilson-Raybould. scandal, we all kind of expected seriousness of this scandal. LavS- Jody Wilson-Raybould. Because The erosion of trust is between one. We didn’t get one. And when cam is a raging fi ve-alarm fi re; she didn’t speak French? Because you and us. Trudeau was asked why, he blink- Trudeau brought a squirt gun to the she was “diffi cult”? Because Scott Warren Kinsella is a former ed, and stammered and looked blaze. He did and said nothing that Brison? We don’t know. Jean Chrétien-era cabinet staffer Waren Kinsella offended. Dumb. Apologies cost will extinguish Canadians’ growing 8. He didn’t sound like a and a former national and provin- nothing, Petit Justin. But if done belief that Trudeau and his staff prime minister. Sure, he used an cial election campaign war roomer. Th e War Room right, they pay many dividends. may have obstructed justice. offi cial-looking podium. Sure, The Hill Times

tual property and investment in intangibles, this matters a lot. In addition, as a result of recent tax Competitiveness of Canadian changes in Canada, the tax rate on new business investment, as Deloitte acknowledges, is just 13.8 per cent in Canada, compared to economy matters a lot for our future 18.7 per cent in the U.S., 25.1 per cent in Germany, 26.6 per cent in We need major not encouraging. This is not good personal income taxes for top in- has the fourth lowest debt-to-GDP Britain and 31.4 per cent in Japan. news for the governing Liberals, come earners, and this puts us at a ratio compared to 12 “peer coun- Likewise, the tax credit for structural changes, though the Conservatives or NDP disadvantage, Deloitte claims. But tries” that include the U.S., Britain, research and development is more have had little, if anything, to offer it is U.S. taxes that are too low, not Germany, France, Sweden, Japan generous in Canada than in the and cultural changes, so far in credible new ideas for a that Canadian taxes are too high, and South Korea, Australia, and U.S. But U.S. business invests a in our economy more successful economy. Andrew as the U.S. fi scal mess shows. the Netherlands. While the federal much greater share of GDP in Scheer’s latest idea is to eliminate According to the latest U.S. U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio is rising, in R&D than does Canadian business. to accelerate its GST on home-heating bills. Treasury fi gures, the U.S. federal Canada it is declining. So it is about more than taxes. We had a big trade defi cit last defi cit for the fi rst four months To be sure, the Canadian tax The competitiveness of the Ca- transition to a year while productivity growth was of the 2019 fi scal year was an system could be made to work bet- nadian economy—but especially knowledge economy fl at. The fourth-quarter economic astounding 77 per cent higher ter, balancing economic effi ciency of Canadian business—matters a growth was disappointing and than for the same period in fi scal and fairness. But the argument lot for our future. So in that sense, based on investments growth this year will slow (to just 1.5 2018, a result of big tax cuts and that our corporate tax rate puts the decision of the Business Coun- per cent, the OECD forecasts). Even major spending increases. The U.S. Canada at a big disadvantage is cil of Canada to spend time and in intangibles such though business capital spending federal budget defi cit is projected not true. If taxes play such a large effort looking at what could be as R&D, software, will rise, the increase is modest. to approach US$1-trillion this year role, why is it that for all the years done to improve competitiveness The Bank of Canada’s decision to while, with rising interest rates, we have had a much lower corpo- could be an important contribu- branding, employee hold off on an interest rate hike was the government is expected to pay rate tax rate than the U.S. we still tion if it can look beyond clamour- based on concerns the economy is US$383-billion in interest pay- lagged behind the U.S. in business ing for more tax cuts and across- training, and too vulnerable to boost rates right ments this year, rising to US$580- investment in productivity-en- the-board deregulation. We need now. And our dollar is on a down- billion in 2020. hancing machinery and equip- major structural changes, and organizational ward path. The potential growth The independent Congressio- ment, research, and development cultural changes, in our economy innovation. rate of the economy is too low to nal Budget Offi ce forecasts that spending and innovation? to accelerate its transition to a generate the wealth needed to sup- publicly held U.S. public debt will As the Deloitte report admits, knowledge economy based on port education, health care and other reach US$16.6-trillion at the end “for many years, Canada enjoyed investments in intangibles such as public goods going forward. of 2019, almost 80 per cent of GDP, an advantage over its largest trad- R&D, software, branding, employ- So what to do? One thing we rising to nearly US$30-trillion, or ing partner from a corporate tax ee training, and organizational can be sure of—there will be more 93 per cent of GDP, by 2029. It fore- perspective.” Until the recent U.S,. innovation. calls for tax cuts despite a lack casts that the federal defi cit will corporate tax cut, our corporate tax In the 2019 budget, federal of evidence that business and rise from 4.2 per cent of U.S. GDP rate was 26.7 per cent while that of Finance Minister Bill Morneau personal tax cuts would mean a this year to 4.7 per cent in 2029. the U.S. was 39.8 per cent; now, the should resist calls for more tax cuts more innovative and competitive Moreover, as Deloitte study ac- U.S. tax rate, at 25.8 per cent, is one for businesses and top executives. economy. “Taxes and regulation are knowledges, Canada is in a much percentage point lower than the While there is room for improve- stifl ing growth,” Canada’s Big Busi- stronger fi scal position overall. Canadian corporate tax rate. ment in lour tax system and David Crane ness lobby—the Business Council General government (all levels) It is hard to believe that this regulatory regimes, these are not of Canada—claims in releasing a net debt in the U.S. amounted to difference will now send invest- Canada & the 21st Century the central issues. Innovation and competitiveness scoreboard, a set about 80 per cent of GDP in 2017; ment rushing from Canada to the productivity, along with radically of eight key economic factors cho- in Canada it amounted to a much U.S.—especially since the qual- changing skill needs are, and that’s ORONTO—As we approach the sen by the consultancy Deloitte as lower 30 per cent. Clearly, Canada ity of our talent, our education where the focus should be. T2019 budget and the next federal critical markers of competitiveness. is pursuing a better tax-and-spend system, and our infrastructure David Crane can be reached at election, much of the economic data U.S. corporate taxes are lower policy mix than the U.S. In fact, as are all higher and in a knowledge [email protected]. fl owing out of Statistics Canada is in the U.S. than Canada, as are the Deloitte study admits, Canada economy, driven by intellec- The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 13 Opinion

that it has cleaned house and In his testimony mended its ways, and whether an earlier last arbiter is willing to overlook more week before recent bribery and fraud charges the Commons related to three Montreal projects, Justice or a 10-year ban on World Bank Committee, business that was imposed on Gerald Butts, SNC-Lavalin in 2013. pictured March As for the pensioners that 6, 2019, took Butts and Trudeau worry about so up the refrain, much, their concern rings hollow insisting that in light of the Sears situation. 'when 9,000 When the retail giant declared people’s jobs bankruptcy in 2017, its 18,000 are at stake, retirees lost health and insurance it's a public benefi ts and saw their already policy problem.' modest pensions slashed. De- The Hill Times spite election promises to protect photograph by pensioners by putting them at the Andrew Meade front of the line when companies go under, the Liberals decided federal intervention would be too complicated. As Trudeau said at the time: “We have compassion for the Sears’ pensioners plight. But there are no easy answers.” Meanwhile, the prime minister is willing to move heaven and earth and principled cabinet min- isters to salvage jobs and pensions that are probably not threatened. Engineering industry insiders predict up to 9,000 new engineer- 9,000 people’s jobs are at stake, and Mail, which has been doing ing jobs in coming years as the it’s a public policy problem.” a masterful job, both in news and infrastructure money continues to The prime minister’s best friend business sections, explaining this fl ow. Any professionals or skilled Team Trudeau and former principal secretary complicated story. (With kudos, tradespeople laid off by SNC-La- even touched on his Cape Breton too, to Postmedia and The Toronto valin should not stay unemployed roots—a background he shares Star.) for long. There is more than one with Conservative MP Lisa Raitt, Butts and company would engineering company in the coun- out-played by its the most effective opposition have learned, for instance, that try, including many without SNC- questioner on the committee—to SNC-Lavalin got a loan from Lavalin’s blemished record. recall the painful consequences Quebec’s public pension fund, It is still possible SNC-Lavalin of past company shutdowns on the Caisse de depot, in 2017 for will move head offi ce to London corporate pals Nova Scotia workers and their $1.5-billion to purchase a British and retain Montreal as a regional families. engineering fi rm. As a loan condi- offi ce. Indeed, for the last fi ve Yet Butts’ argument is, if not tion, the company promised not years it appears the company is Minister Trudeau’s offi ce relent- complete fi ction, a dramatically to move its Montreal head offi ce moving that way under its new The government lessly—and improperly—pushed torqued version of events that until at least 2024. It could still Scottish CEO, Neil Bruce. It has former attorney general Jody suggests either cynical calcula- move, of course, but not without purchased two large British sacrifi ced two Wilson-Raybould to get a second tion, or, more probably, that the losing its lucrative stake in On- engineering fi rms, so that it now excellent and opinion on whether engineering people around the prime minister, tario toll Highway 407. employs 10,000 people in Brit- giant SNC-Lavalin should be ex- including Butts—harried, over- As for the prospect of bank- ain, more than in Canada. It has honourable cabinet empted from criminal prosecution committed, shallowly informed— ruptcy, SNC-Lavalin, unlike 50,000 employees worldwide and resulting from bribery and fraud have been played for bumpkins Bombardier, say, is a profi table projects around the world. Once ministers, handed charges in Libya many years ago. by SNC-Lavalin’s lobbyists and business with some $15-billion in the Brexit muddle is resolved, it They would not take her “no” for corporate honchos. Threatening jobs lined up, including several may make sense for headquarters a bludgeon to its an answer, although the fi nal job losses is a well-honed tactic in major projects ongoing in Canada to be centred in one of the world’s decision was supposed to be hers corporate boardrooms and it has and $10-billion in recent revenues. fi nancial capitals. political opponents, alone. been used before by SNC-Lavalin, And, as the largest engineering This is all important context for made itself But when it comes to claims a company with a troubled past. and construction company in the the hysteria about job losses being that, without such an exemption, Asked by Green Party Leader country, it will be a prime candi- promoted by Trudeau and compa- vulnerable to more some 9,000 jobs in Canada could Elizabeth May for any specifi c date for $180-billion in federal in- ny. Sparing SNC-Lavalin criminal be lost, the prime minister and his evidence that jobs are at stake, frastructure projects to unroll over prosecution on serious charges ‘jobs blackmail’ in advisers appear to have relied on Butts told the Justice Committee: the next decade. Some Bay Street will look like a sweetheart deal un- urgent phone calls from SNC-La- “That is my understanding from analysts believe that, in the wake available to simple mortals, yet the Elizabeth May’s valin corporate headquarters and Department of Finance brief- of a criminal conviction in Canada table is being set with the removal several meetings with the com- ings. But I have to say it’s been and a possible ban on bidding for of Jody Wilson-Raybould as attor- words, and made pany’s well-connected lobbyists. a long time.” He then clarifi ed: “ I those contracts, the company could ney general and her replacement a mockery of the By all accounts, the government can’t remember a specifi c study, restructure so that its expanding by the more pliable David Lametti. did no independent checking, yet on a specifi c day, by a specifi c British operation would be free to So much for setting an example to prime minister’s continues to raise alarms about person.” At the same session, a bid on the Canadian jobs. the China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, the impact of a guilty verdict on chippy clerk of the Privy Council, Even so, a court case will be and other international scoffl aws. earnest tributes to the lives of thousands of “inno- Michael Wernick, was asked what lengthy, costly, and distracting. So much for Trudeau’s celebrated cent” employees, sub-contractors, “new evidence” he has that SNC- And a conviction could hurt SNC- respect for “the rule of law” and ‘an independent and pensioners of the iconic Lavalin’s position has worsened. Lavalin’s bottom line, especially if an independent judiciary. And so Quebec-based company. To date, it He cited newspaper reports that it is accompanied by the auto- much for “evidence-based policy judiciary.’ hasn’t offered a shred of indepen- the company share value “tanked” matic 10-year ban on bidding for making.” dent evidence. a few months ago (the result of federal contracts. However, those For this, the government sac- Asked about this at his limp several factors, including prob- rules are being rewritten as ev- rifi ces two excellent and honour- press conference last week, lems in the oil and gas division) eryone remains transfi xed by the able cabinet ministers, hands a Trudeau said, “We have heard rep- and worries expressed by Quebec political drama. bludgeon to its political oppo- resentations from various sources Premier François Legault about For a couple of years, offi cials nents, makes itself vulnerable to including the company itself” ex- Montreal losing another corpo- in the federal procurement depart- more “jobs blackmail” in May’s press “deep concern” that criminal rate headquarters. ment have been tinkering with the words, and makes a mockery of charges may lead the company to Rather than relying on government’s “integrity policy,” the prime minister’s earnest trib- move its corporate headquarters corporate spin and hearsay, it meant to discourage white-collar utes to “an independent judiciary.” out of Montreal to London, in the would have taken someone in the crime. The new policy, expected in All because they naively trusted prime minister’s view imperilling PMO—never mind the govern- six weeks, could allow consider- Susan Riley their crafty corporate pals and the futures of 9,000 employees ment’s army of professional econ- able fl exibility: a ban up to (or less failed to verify. Impolitic across Canada. omists—an afternoon on Google than) 10 years, or, no ban at all on Well played, PMO. Well played. In his testimony earlier last to uncover provocative questions companies found guilty of corrupt Susan Riley is a veteran politi- week before the Commons Justice and contradictory details about practises. The sentence would cal columnist who writes regu- HELSEA, QUE.—It became Committee, Gerald Butts took up the Quebec company. Or, they depend on how convincing an ar- larly for The Hill Times. Cobvious last week that Prime the refrain, insisting that “when could have consulted The Globe gument SNC-Lavalin could make The Hill Times 14 MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 | THE HILL TIMES News Horseshoe shape proven lucky for reduced partisanship in parallel U.K. Chamber, House Aff airs Committee hears

has a low quorum of three people, and is pri- Liberal MPs Chris Bittle and Linda Lapointe sit on the Procedure and House Affairs Committee, NDP MP David marily used for private member’s business. which is studying having parallel House of Commons chambers. Already used in the United Christopherson says the The agenda is set by backbenchers, and it has Kingdom and Australia, parallel chambers tend to focus more on private member's business, and a more informal tone. It is seen as lower in some say Canada should have one after the Centre Block renovations. The Hill Times photograph U.K.’s horseshoe design is a status than the main Chamber, which could by Andrew Meade be due to the fact that no recorded votes take good idea to help shift the place there. in a few meetings, NDP MP and committee (Simcoe-North, Ont.), who has written two dynamic, but Tory vice-chair The room is set up so that MPs sit in a vice-chair David Christopherson (Hamilton recent pieces, for Policy Options and the Ca- horseshoe shape, Mr. Natzler explained via Centre, Ont.) said. nadian Parliamentary Review, arguing for a Stephanie Kusie still isn’t videoconference on Feb. 28. It has plenty of Currently, the plan is to convert the second Chamber. seating but doesn’t feel like one is speaking interim Chamber space in West Block to com- NDP MP David Christopherson (Ham- convinced Canada needs a into an empty room if only fi ve people are mittee rooms once Centre Block reopens, but ilton Centre, Ont.), one of the committee’s parallel Chamber at all. there, said Mr. Natzler said, who retired on some MPs say the interim Chamber could vice-chairs, said the horseshoe shape made a March 1. be kept as the parallel one. The idea of two lot of sense “because we’re trying to change “I do urge you to think of the layout of the Chambers came up in an April 2017 PROC the dynamic” and emphasize the nonpartisan BY EMILY HAWS Chamber, I think it makes a huge difference report on modernizing House procedures and elements of the Chamber. Reproducing the to make people behave,” he added. “I think it making a more family-friendly Parliament. same partisanship levels as the main Cham- he shape of a secondary House of Com- has in Westminster Hall.” Some MPs noted it could allow the House to ber would defeat the parallel Chamber’s Tmons Chamber should be considered if Mr. Natzler was the fi rst witness in rise earlier each day, or could eliminate the purpose in a lot of ways, he said. Canada is to build one, former United King- PROC’s study into the merits of a parallel need for Friday sittings. “A lot of the most productive things we dom House clerk David Natzler told the Pro- Chamber, which is an idea that has been Among the MPs who have indicated do is when we can get all-party agreement, cedure and House Affairs Committee, saying fl oated as Centre Block’s renovation plans an interest in the dual Chamber idea are when we’re not leading with our party the design of the British space seems to bring are formalized over the next year. Centre Liberal Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North, membership but rather just acting as Par- a more informal and less partisan tone. Block closed in January for extensive renova- Man.), who is parliamentary secretary to liamentarians,” he said. “It seems to be that Established 20 years ago, the U.K.’s paral- tions expected to last at least a decade. the Government House Leader, and Deputy lel Chamber, is in a large committee room, The PROC study is expected to wrap up Speaker and Conservative MP Bruce Stanton Continued on page 15 RENT TODAY LEPINE APARTMENTS 2 BED + DEN STARTING AT $3,200

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The new interim NDP MP David House of Christopherson Commons says the Chamber in Westminster West Block, Hall horseshoe pictured in shape made November, a lot of sense is currently ‘because we’re slated to be trying to change turned into the dynamic.’ committee The Hill Times rooms once fi le photograph the Centre Block renovation is complete. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

When asked if a parallel chamber was Sometimes it’s enough to get on the Those bills will likely pass either way due Continued from page 14 worth it if it was simply allowing more time record and show you care, said Ms. Kusie, to the current Liberal majority government, their use of Westminster Hall achieves that for MPs to talk rather than to push through highlighting her work on opposing govern- she said, but her advocacy is still worth it. in large part.” legislation, most MPs said that empowering ment bills dealing with the natural resources “Being heard is important,” she said. “For them to emphasize a couple of times backbenchers or smaller parties is still im- sector, as some of the bills in the legislative [email protected] that how you lay it out has a major impact on portant as all Members are elected equally. process are going to hurt her constituents. The Hill Times the kind of dynamic you have, I thought was a very salient point and I made a note of that,” he added. RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED TICKETS ON SALE

CELEBRATING CANADA’S HIGHEST HONOUR IN THE PERFORMING ARTS

Former U.K. House of Commons clerk David Natzler retired on Feb. 28, the same day he testifi ed to Canada’s Procedure and House Affairs Committee on the merits of his country’s parallel Chamber. Photograph courtesy of the U.K. House of Commons Liberal MP Linda Lapointe (Rivière- des-Mille-Îles, Que.) said she supported the horseshoe shape, while her caucus colleague Chris Bittle (St. Catherine’s, Ont.) said it was an interesting idea, given that he and others went into the study of parallel Chamber idea thinking they would use the West Block Photo: Pierre-Étienne Bergeron Photo: Jon Sturge Chamber as-is. Photo: James White Photo: Jea n-François Gratton “Given what I heard from the [U.K.] clerk, Louise Bessette it may not make sense to have two Chambers Sandra Oh Rick Mercer Lorraine Pintal of 300-plus seats,” he said, adding the commit- tee is looking forward to more study. “I don’t imagine there would ever be 300 Members in the parallel Chamber and debate might be lost if you’re speaking in an empty room,” especially if the quorum is so low. Conservative MP Stephanie Kusie (Cal- gary Midnapore, Alta.), the other vice-chair,

said that while Mr. Natzler’s presentation aggley was interesting, she’s still skeptical of the need for a parallel Chamber, and how it MENTOR PROTÉGÉ Photo: Johan Persson Photo: Vadim Daniel Photo: Cosmos Image might operate, adding that it would prob- Photo: Ann B ably be expensive. “It just wasn’t enough information today” Colm Feore Mavis Staines E. Noël Spinelli Alanis Obomsawin Gop Bartibogue for her to support the idea, she said after the Feb. 28 meeting. While Mr. Natzler said its design had quelled partisanship, she said she would like to review the debates on her own CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2019 RECIPIENTS to make her own determination. The more informal feel is helpful to Join the awards celebration on April 27, 2019 at Canada’s National Arts Centre. nac-cna.ca/ggawards get new MPs used to speaking in front of colleagues, and allows new clerks to be trained more easily, said Mr. Natzler. While Ms. Kusie noted the training ground was PRESENTED BY PRODUCED BY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MAJOR SPONSOR positive, she said she likes the formalities, because as a former diplomat, ceremony means a lot to her. Mr. Natzler said that Westminster Hall sits about 13 hours from Tuesday to Thursday, with WITH THE SUPPORT OF ASSOCIATE SPONSORS MEDIA PARTNER an optional three-hour sitting on Mondays. It has no impact on the speed of the movement of government legislation, he said. Rather, it lets all MPs get on the record about an issue. 16 MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 | THE HILL TIMES Feature Spin Doctors By Laura Ryckewaert

“What do you make of the three byelection results on Feb. 25?”

CORY MÉLANIE ÉRIC ROSIE HANN RICHER COUTURE EMERY Conservative strategist NDP strategist Bloc Québécois strategist Green strategist

e’re proud of all three of our candi- agmeet Singh was elected Member of et’s be honest. If there is one thing ou can’t always get what you want,’ as “Wdates, and their tireless work bring- “JParliament for Burnaby South. He gets “Lto remember from the byelection in “‘Ythe old Rolling Stones song goes, ‘but ing our positive Conservative vision to voters to come to Ottawa, sit in the House and go Outremont (the one that concerns Quebec; if you try sometime you fi nd, you get what you in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec. head to head with Prime Minister Justin I won’t comment on the other two), it is that need.’ And so it was with last week’s by-elections: Jasmine Louras and Jay Shin ran solid Trudeau on his lack of action on things that the population stayed home. the Liberals, Conservatives, and NDP might campaigns, and fought hard in their ridings matter most to Canadians. “Of course the weather in Montreal have wanted to win all three, but they all needed to show that Conservatives will put people “On the doorstep, it was clear. People was awful, especially in the morning, of to win one. The NDP needed to install their em- before government. are disappointed in Justin Trudeau and in course the byelection took place less than battled leader in the House; the Liberals needed “Adding a caucus member like Scot Da- his Liberal government. From the Paradise eight months before general elections, and to re-establish themselves in Outremont after the vidson means one more person on our team Papers to SNC-Lavalin, it’s obvious that of course people tend to participate less in Mulcair hiatus; and the Conservatives needed focused on getting answers on the unwanted, Justin Trudeau and the Liberals are not on byelections than in general elections. But, a comfortable win in their York-Simcoe strong- coordinated, and sustained effort by the people’s side—they’re focused on favours for in the end, almost 80 per cent of the voters hold. Mission(s) all accomplished and nothing prime minister to get the former attorney their friends. stayed home—80 per cent! So why is that? for anyone to be too upbeat or downcast about— general to change her mind, and overrule the “Canadians were clear with Jagmeet that Why is it that less than 10 per cent of the with the notable exception of the Green Party. independent Crown prosecutor to stop SNC- they need funding now to address the hous- population voted for their new MP (who won “We sat out Burnaby South after offering Lavalin’s criminal case from going to trial. ing crisis, they need a universal, comprehen- by a very clear margin)? Let me try to offer Jagmeet Singh the leader’s courtesy. But Deputy “Scot managed to increase the Conserva- sive and public pharmacare program to be an explanation. A simple explanation: people Leader Daniel Green’s outstanding result in tive share of vote over the last election, the able to afford the medications they need, and were not interested in voting. Outremont—he fi nished third with 12.5 per cent 12th instance in this Parliament we’ve seen they need measures to help make life more “In the last year, the political parties in of the vote—was the party’s best-ever result in an increase to our vote share. Meanwhile the affordable. Ottawa fought over Justin Trudeau’s travels, La belle province and confi rms recent strong Liberals have seen their share of vote decline “The byelections also showed that the about buying an American pipeline, about poll numbers (and provincial election results) from 2015 in 13 by-elections. This is because NDP has a path forward in Quebec. The Jody Wilson-Raybould’s resignation. The nationwide. Canadians are coming to realize more and showing in Outremont was much higher federal parties don’t care that much about “The only question that remains: why is more that Justin Trudeau simply does not than commentators and pollsters were ex- Quebec’s interests, don’t seem very preoc- Prime Minister Trudeau continuing to stall on deserve to be re-elected in October. He’s pecting. And it’s a good sign. Jagmeet Singh cupied by Quebec’s priorities. Quebec is not calling a by-election in Nanaimo-Ladysmith? broken his promise to balance the budget, his and the NDP’s Quebec caucus has a plan well served by the federal government. So The seat has been vacant since Jan. 2 when the government has had an endless parade to the to reconnect with progressives in Quebec, why vote? What is the meaning of a vote in NDP’s Sheila Malcolmson resigned to run in a Ethics Commissioner’s Offi ce, and now seri- embody a strong opposition against the cur- a federal byelection in Quebec? Not much. provincial byelection. How much longer will Mr. ous allegations of interference in a criminal rent Liberal government, and offer a vision May as well stay home. Trudeau’s political games deny the citizens of prosecution, Canadians are seeing that Justin to build a better future for Quebecers and “It is our responsibility to reconnect with Nanaimo-Ladysmith a voice in federal Parlia- Trudeau and his Liberals believe the rule of Canadians.” Quebec’s concerns. That is what we are try- ment? What happened to the right to representa- law doesn’t apply to them.” ing to do at the Bloc Québécois.” tion?” GREEN ECONOMY POLICY BRIEFING

Publication date: March 25, 2019 • Advertising deadline: March 20, 2019

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For more information or to reserve your government relations and public affairs advertising space, contact The Hill Times display advertising department at 613-688-8841. The Hill Times Policy Briefing Monday, March 11, 2019 Energy Pricing Carbon

McKenna says Now more than rebates central to ever, government getting Canadians needs to reassure to support carbon farmers their pricing, voices are being heard on climate by Jolson Lim, p.18 change, by ISG Senator From effi ciency to Diane Griffi n, p.24 eff ectiveness: can Canada meet its We are having emission reduction the wrong goals through conversation, we are in carbon pricing? a climate by Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood, p.25 emergency, by Green Party Leader Trudeau needs to Elizabeth May, p.23 show he’s serious about working The problem collaboratively with the with our provincial, territorial partners on carbon tax, climate change, by Philip Cross, p.26 by Conservative MP Ed Fast, p.21

The Hill Times fi le photograph 18 MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 | THE HILL TIMES Energy - Pricing Carbon Policy Briefi ng McKenna says rebates central to getting Canadians to support carbon pricing

Environment Environment but it wasn’t unrelated to climate we have to push back against Minister measures that didn’t put people inaccuracies, and in some cases, Minister Catherine Catherine at the forefront, didn’t necessarily outright lies by the opposition McKenna think about affordability. that it is a tax trap. It’s just ab- McKenna speaks announces new “I’ve spent much time really solutely not true. We’re actually Th e Hill Times plans for climate thinking about what do we do committed by law to give the to action at a press with the revenues. There were money back. And then there’s the conference in different perspectives. You could more insidious one, that climate Ottawa on Dec. about selling her invest it in clean solutions, you change isn’t real. And there are 20. She is selling government’s carbon the carbon pricing can do an overall tax cut. people who still refuse to believe plan around its “But I think we realized that very clear science.” pricing policy and rebate, called if you give the money back, you the Climate empower people and you make What have you learned from other what she’s learned Action Incentive. it clear that while you’ll pay a bit jurisdictions fighting to imple- The Hill Times more at the pump, you’ll get more ment a carbon pricing system? about the politics photograph by money back. We’re seeing it play out in certain Andrew Meade “I think in France, they didn’t American states, in Asia, in Eu- of climate action. take that approach. Life was made rope. What are your observations? “I should say it’s specifi cally be free to pollute?’ And they said, more expensive, as opposed to less. “I’ve been heartened. Since BY JOLSON LIM with this generation of conserva- ‘no, it will mean more pollution.’ “I think it’s also really impor- I’ve been in this role, there’s been tive politicians. When I was grow- “But it depends on how you tant to look at climate action in many more jurisdictions that have nvironment Minister Cath- ing up, the biggest environmental talk about things. So I certainly the broader frame of our govern- brought in a price on pollution, Eerine McKenna is pitching issue I was concerned with was learned that you have to talk to ment. What has our government and that many other jurisdictions to Canadians carbon pricing thinking that our lakes and rivers people in a real way. You can’t said? Our government has said that are looking at it. China has rebates that she says will do would all die out. It was Brian talk in jargon. we’re focused on the middle class more than just offset what most Mulroney who put a price on “I always remember what Jean and those those aspiring to join households will pay as a result of pollution, tobacco, and acid rain— Chrétien told me. He’s been a it. This is about how do you do a carbon tax. and it worked. very good mentor. One of his fi rst things that make life more afford- In an interview with The Hill “But that said, you need to talk pieces of advice, and the most able while taking serious action Times on Feb. 27, Ms. McKenna to people, to explain that it will no important thing from my per- on climate change. (Ottawa Centre, Ont.) said the longer be free to pollute—but you “It’s also important to under- rebate program—called the Cli- can do this in a way that makes life stand putting a price on pollution mate Action Incentive—will help affordable. That’s why we’ve intro- is key to any credible climate empower everyday Canadians duced the Climate Action Incentive plan. But we’re doing a whole and show that her government’s that folks will get at tax time. range of other things. We’re mak- controversial carbon pricing “We negotiated our climate ing historic investments in public policy is transparent. plan throughout 2016 and it was transportation for phasing out The federal Liberals are clear there was going to put coal and making investments in currently airing radio advertise- a price on pollution. We said, renewable energy. Protesters on Parliament Hill from ments in Ontario, Saskatchewan, ‘provinces, go design a system “Canadians also feel and see the United We Roll convoy on Feb. Manitoba, and New Brunswick in that makes sense.’ There were the impact. Extreme heat is killing 18. The Hill Times photograph by an attempt to increase visibility four provinces that had a price Environment Minister Catherine people. We saw fl ooding along the Andrew Meade of the rebate, which they say will on pollution and they were the McKenna walks out of a week Ottawa River and in downtown put more money into the pockets fastest growing economies in the caucus meeting in West Block on Toronto. The impacts are clear, the the largest carbon market in the of most Canadian households. country. Their emissions were Jan. 21. The Hill Times photograph costs are clear, the costs of insur- world, and you’re also seeing Those four provinces will have going down and they also had a by Cynthia Münster ance are rising signifi cantly.” smaller countries like Singapore. the federal benchmark system ap- really vibrant clean tech sector. Mexico is interested. Chile too. plied on them beginning in April. “Unfortunately, you saw new spective, was that Canadians are But public opinion suggests that “But when you look at France, She also spoke about advice conservative premiers come in reasonable, so be reasonable. while Canadians want action on or you look at other places, how provided to her from former and decide that they were going to “That’s what we’ve got, a rea- climate change, when it comes to you develop your policy really prime minister Jean Chretien— make it free to pollute. Cutting cap sonable policy. It’s been used by specific policy proposals, that’s matters. That’s why it was so who she describes as her men- and trade was the fi rst thing Doug conservative governments, liberal where they become more hesi- important for me to have a policy tor—as well as what she’s learned Ford did. As a result, they also governments, and NDP govern- tant. What accounts for that gap? that was very transparent, that we from France’s carbon pricing cut programs that were helping ments. It reduces emissions and “I’ve actually been heartened. were saying we are committed by policy, which set off weeks of support cities, schools, hospitals, you can do it in a way that makes First of all, you see environment law to give money back to people. violent protests and spurred the and businesses to be more energy life affordable and also create the and climate change being on the “I think that’s the key because populist Yellow Vest movement. effi cient and save money. incentives for people to choose top three issues when you do then you can show that we under- This interview has been edited “But you need to be mindful, clean solutions. They can do their public opinion research. That’s stand affordability is an issue and and condensed. and we are, as we develop poli- part but also support Canadian huge. That is a big difference we understand you want to tackle cies that are focused on people. companies which create good from where we’ve been before. climate change in a way that’s With pricing, I worked very hard jobs, so it’s a virtuous cycle.” And there’s been polling recently effective.” with my team and with the Prime saying that most people want or Minister to come up with a policy You’ve highlighted the rebate at least accept a price on pollu- Is Canada, given what you said, that we thought made sense— program as a key part. What are tion, especially when you give the the gold standard when it comes there’s gonna be a price on pol- you going to do to ensure it’s revenues back. to designing an effective pricing lution, that it’ll be no longer free visible to constituents? Rebates system? to pollute, and money is going in B.C. didn’t necessarily lead to “Well look, we have different directly back to people.” increased public support, so how systems across the country—Que- will you make it visible? bec has a cap and trade system The Alberta oil sands, one of Canada’s But how hard would you say it is “We’re really spending a lot of with California, B.C. has a system largest polluters. The provinces opposes to sell this concept to people? The time working with businesses and of direct pricing, and then we the Liberal government’s environmental pricing plan itself is complicated working to get the message out. unfortunately have provinces that plan. The Hill Times fi le photograph and some Canadians won’t have When you fi le your taxes, you get haven’t stepped up. the time to dig deep and under- your Climate Action Incentive. “But yeah, I think Canada in What have you learned about the stand it. It’s also a novel idea here “It’s a very tangible thing, some ways, is a great model, be- politics of pricing carbon in this and around the world. when you realize that when you cause we have different systems country over the last couple of “It’s interesting. Today I was at fi le your taxes, your family of that work. So they show that you years? H&R Block, which is promoting four, you’re going to walk out can have a cap and trade system “I’ve learned that Canadians the Climate Action Incentive be- with $307, and it is more than Flooding in Gatineau, Que. in 2017. that works, or you can have a believe it shouldn’t be free to cause people will get it when they what eight out of 10 families will The Hill Times fi le photograph direct price that also works. pollute. But I’ve also learned fi le their taxes and they actually pay in carbon taxes. “But again, the most important that unfortunately, conservative get money when they walk out “Some lessons that I’ve learned, “I think that is key, that people thing that I have learned, as Jean politicians want to make it free to the door. There was a family of if you look at what happened in need to understand that they were Chrétien said, is to be reasonable.” pollute and it seems to be just an four there and there was a child, France, it is very complicated with going to get more money back. [email protected] ideological issue with them. and I said, ‘Do you think it should the gilets jaunes [Yellow Vesters], “I think it’s also important that The Hill Times CITIES NOW.

HAWT TO VAWT Our wind turbines live on skyscrapers. That means sustainable urban energy sources.

CONCORDIA.CA/CITIES T19-53300 20 MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 | THE HILL TIMES Energy - Pricing Carbon Policy Briefi ng Liberal Party, feds launch The days of free campaigns to get Canadians pollution are over aware of carbon price rebate Our made-in-Canada climate If we don’t start plan, which takes the advice of leading experts on how to reduce taking fi nancial our footprint, will have a historic impact that will lower our emis- In these ads, Mr. Environment It’s not clear yet if responsibility for sions and build a green economy. Trudeau says the Minister Our plan is phasing out ineffi cient carbon pricing Catherine pollution now, the the carbon pricing coal plants that increase rates of policy “makes McKenna childhood asthma, and is seeing rebate will convince polluters pay and speaks to price will continue to major investments in renewables. gives the money reporters in rise and we will be left Canada already has one of the more Canadians to back to people.” February 2018. world’s cleanest energy portfolios “Now, some She says carbon pricing does not holding the bag. but our plan has us on course to support the Liberals’ politicians want pick between achieve 90 per cent clean electric- to go back to the cornerstone policy. the economy ity by 2030. We’ve also regulated Harper years and the the oil and gas sector emissions, when pollution environment. requiring them to reduce methane BY JOLSON LIM was free. We have The Hill Times emissions by almost half. We’ve to do better than photograph by invested in energy effi ciency he Liberal government is push- that—our kids Andrew Meade projects that are helping families ing a broad public opinion and are counting on T across Canada reduce their emis- awareness campaign to get Cana- us,” he says. Prof. Rivers said in his view, sions and save money on energy dians in the know about carbon Liberal spokesperson Braeden there are two fl aws with the costs. We’ve also made the largest pricing rebates, but one expert Caley said similar digital ads will Liberals’ rebate system: access to single investment in public transit says a return at tax time won’t also hit social media in the rest of the rebate is only limited to those Liberal MP Sean Fraser in the history of our country that guarantee a bump in popular sup- the country and pamphlets have who fi le their taxes annually, and Opinion will improve commuting and port for Ottawa’s pricing policy. been distributed to party can- it doesn’t involve the mailing of reduce emissions from traffi c. The federal benchmark carbon didates and volunteers. He said a cheque, something that would Though it is only one feature pricing system will go into effect advertising campaigns will “cer- make the rebate more visible e live in a time of climate of our plan to tackle climate on April 1 in four provinces: On- tainly continue to ramp up” as the compared to it how it will be Wcrisis. change, our decision to put a tario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, October election approaches. found in income tax returns. We’ve known the science for price on pollution seems to get and New Brunswick. Those four The Canada Revenue Agency “There’s potential concern more than a generation, but po- most of the air time. In 2019, it provinces, which constitute al- also recently launched a “compre- that the rebate may not be all that litical leaders over the course of should not be free to pollute in most half of Canada’s population, hensive marketing campaign” to visible, even though consumers history have nevertheless punted Canada. The vast majority of oppose the federal carbon pricing ensure that taxpayers eligible for are getting it, they may not know the issue of climate change to economists with expertise on plan and either refused or failed the rebate know about it, accord- they’re getting it,” he said. the next election cycle, cowed the subject, including last year’s to provide Ottawa with a pricing ing to spokesperson Dany Morin. Carleton University political sci- by the enormity of the task. We Nobel prize winner in economics, plan that met its requirements. He said efforts include direct mail ence professor Jennifer Robson said are aware of the solutions to this have explained that the best thing The controversial carbon levy out to all homes in each of the four there are both policy and political existential problem, and the only we can do to reduce emissions will start next month at $20 per provinces, print, radio and digital reasons for a rebate to be visible. question that remains is whether is to put a price on pollution and tonne of carbon dioxide emis- advertising, as well as highlighting “If people don’t claim the credit we have the political will required return the revenues directly to sions, which translates to adding the rebate on in its 2018 T1 income then the impacts or policy goals to accomplish it. families. That is exactly what our 4.3 cents to the cost of a litre of tax and benefi t package. aren’t fulfi lled,” she said. “Politically I’ve seen the impact of climate government is doing. gasoline. But the Liberals want Environment Minister Cath- of course, governments want taxpay- change play out over my lifetime, Doug Ford and Andrew Scheer to make it known that revenues erine McKenna (Ottawa Centre, ers to notice when there is a new with extreme weather becoming seem content to ignore the gravity from the tax will go to the rebate Ont.) is also on a month-long credit and like to be able to give the more frequent as time goes on. of the situation and would prefer program—called the Climate barnstorming tour to promote the most optimistic estimate of the pos- On the East Coast, I remember to feed misinformation to the Action Incentive—which is worth rebate. She spoke last week at a sible value to those who claim it.” the ice storms of 1998, the im- public about our plan for parti- $154 for an individual in Ontario. climate rally in Toronto and par- Conservative premiers, includ- mense damage following Hur- san political gain. They are quite For a family of four in the prov- ticipated in a climate-focused town ing Ontario’s Doug Ford and ricane Juan in 2003, and just last happy to ignore the evidence and ince, the incentive is worth $307. hall in Mississauga. She’s also vis- Saskatchewan’s Scott Moe, have year the major fl oods in New the experts so they can make it But Nic Rivers, the Canada Re- ited various H&R Block locations strongly opposed the Liberal gov- Brunswick. In Canada’s North, free to pollute in Canada. Their search Chair in climate and energy to promote the rebate. The coun- ernment’s carbon pricing plan. we are watching the retreat of our myopic view of the challenge policy at the University of Ottawa, try’s biggest tax preparer is mount- They say carbon pricing will hike glacial reserves and the degrada- before us demonstrates that their said while rebates should address ing its own social media campaign the cost of living for Canadians. tion of important habitat for some interest is motivated by the next concerns over whether carbon pric- and putting up storefront signage Mr. Ford has gone as far to say of Canada’s most iconic species. electoral cycle, not the next gen- ing is a tax grab, it doesn’t guaran- to alert people of the rebate. carbon pricing will cause a reces- More than 90 people died dur- eration. tee more Canadians will back the In an interview with The Hill sion, although economists gener- ing the heat wave in Quebec and A vast majority of Canadians cornerstone Liberal policy. Times, Ms. McKenna said her ally do not support that claim. Ontario last year. under 40 support putting a price “It’s probably helps, it’s not ex- government has a reasonable Proponents of carbon pric- The cost of inaction on climate on pollution because we know actly clear how much it helps, but and transparent policy that will ing say it is necessary to combat change is too great to ignore. that if we don’t start taking fi nan- it’s certainly not a panacea,” he empower people by returning climate change and is the most From the time I was born until cial responsibility for pollution said. “It’s become a really partisan revenues directly to individuals market-friendly option that can 2008, the property damage in now, the price will continue to issue, although both parties have and households. result in signifi cant greenhouse Canada from extreme weather rise and we will be left holding campaigned on carbon prices in “I think we realized that if gas emission reductions. was typically in the range of the bag. the past.” you give the money back, you A November Abacus Data poll $400-million a year. Since 2009, When I was a kid growing up He said it’s incumbent on gov- empower people and you make found 39 per cent of those polled that number has been over $1-bil- in rural Nova Scotia not far from ernments to make tax rebates as it clear that while you’ll pay a bit support revenues being returned lion annually, reaching a high of the ocean, I never fully appreci- visible as possible, but cautioned more at the pump, you’ll get more and 36 per cent say they accept it. $1.9-billion last year. According ated the incredible opportunities that there isn’t enough evidence money back,” she said on Feb. 27. Only 24 per cent of respondents op- to the National Roundtable on the I had to enjoy nature, and my con- yet to conclude such incentives Ms. McKenna also said there posed the plan. Fifty-nine per cent Environment and the Economy, nection to the outdoors continues can persuade carbon pricing were lessons to be learned from the of Canadians believe carbon pricing costs could reach $43-billion per to shape the person I am today. skeptics that it is a good policy. carbon tax in France under presi- is a step in the right direction. year by 2050 if we do not take As a young Parliamentarian, and But Prof. Rivers noted that dent Emmanuel Macron. There, Prof. Rivers cautioned that one serious steps to reduce emissions. more importantly as a young when British Columbia intro- revenues were used to reduce the issue with polling Canadians’ ap- This fall’s IPCC report on father, I don’t want to miss out on duced a carbon rebate found in country’s defi cit, while in the four petites for carbon pricing is how climate change is helping wake the opportunity implement the property tax bills for rural and Canadian provinces, 90 per cent questions are framed, which can people up to the urgency of the solutions that I know exist if they northern households, valued is returned to individuals and result in different survey outcomes. situation. The world is coming to will give my daughter a chance to around $200, public opinion didn’t households. The tax triggered the “If you say to people, ‘do you accept what scientists have been experience that same connection shift toward greater support. He populist Yellow Vests movement in support a carbon tax, or do you telling us for decades: effective to our planet that I too often took said, however, that support often France, known as the gilet jaunes. want to be taxed on your emis- and serious climate solutions are for granted. depends on one’s political views Protests led Mr. Macron to halt sions?’ people will typically say needed, and needed now. The time Liberal MP Sean Fraser, who about government and taxes. periodic hikes to the tax. no,” he said. “But if you ask them, for debate is over. represents Central Nova, N.S., is The Liberal Party began airing “I think in France, they didn’t ‘should polluters pay a carbon The good news is that we the parliamentary secretary to commute-time radio advertisements take that approach. Life was price?’ they’ll say yes.” know how to make a difference the minister of the environment featuring Prime Minister Justin made more expensive, as opposed [email protected] on this issue and we have time to and climate change. Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) last week. to less,” she said. The Hill Times do something about it. The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 21 Policy Briefi ng Energy - Pricing Carbon

emissions, is now $35 per tonne, with a further increase planned for April 1 of this Trudeau needs to show year, and many more of such increases to come. This would mirror the Trudeau government’s own admission that the na- he’s serious about working tional carbon tax will have to increase well beyond $50 per tonne for Canadians to change their behaviour in order to reduce their carbon footprint. collaboratively with our I have long ago concluded that the prime minister’s “Justin knows best” approach to addressing our national provincial, territorial climate change objectives will only end in failure. Our provincial and territorial governments should be left to craft their partners on climate change own approaches to meeting their climate Yet Environment Minister Catherine McKenna change goals, using such tools as they, in continues to assert that the only tool which is their sole discretion, determine. If they ish Columbia continue to trend upwards. compulsory is the carbon tax. Why single out choose to forego the imposition of carbon The Liberal government’s And for those who are tempted to justify the carbon tax? Is this a triumph of ideology taxes, so be it. Justin Trudeau needs to higher emissions by pointing to a growing over common sense? The Hill Times photograph demonstrate that he is serious about his imposition of a carbon tax economy, a quick reminder that the Paris by Andrew Meade pledge to work collaboratively with our on every province which Agreement commitments are absolute provincial and territorial partners in targets that do not take into account eco- eliminate the revenue neutrality attached addressing the complex challenges of refuses to do so itself fl ies in nomic growth. to the carbon tax and to divert the proceeds climate change. Similarly, the promise of a “revenue neu- into general revenues. The fears of this tax Conservative MP Ed Fast, who rep- the face of Justin Trudeau’s tral” carbon tax has also been broken. With becoming a cash cow have been realized. resents Abbotsford, B.C., is his party’s the most recent election of an NDP govern- Finally, the carbon tax, which was enviornment and climate change critic. stated commitment to ment in BC, one of its fi rst decisions was to initially to be capped at $30 per tonne of The Hill Times ushering in a new era of federal-provincial/ territorial relations.

Conservative MP Ed Fast Opinion

he Liberal government’s imposition of Ta carbon tax on every province which 29 63.5 refuses to do so itself fl ies in the face of Justin Trudeau’s stated commitment to ushering in a new era of federal-provincial/ Cu territorial relations. Like so many of the prime minister’s other broken promises, Copper this one has left Canadians, including our provincial and territorial leaders, per- 30 65.4 plexed. So much so, in fact, that a number of provinces fi nd themselves fi ghting the Liberal government in court. 28 58.693 Zn A carbon tax is only one of the many tools available to governments of all Zinc stripes to achieve their climate change Ni goals. One is hard-pressed to understand why each province should not be allowed Nickel to use the toolkit it chooses, provided that such province meets its stated targets. Yet Environment Minister Catherine McKenna continues to assert that the only tool which is compulsory is the carbon tax. Why single DRIVING TOWARDS A out the carbon tax? Is this a triumph of ideology over common sense? Canadians have every reason to fear LOW-CARBON FUTURE... that the carbon tax will morph into another blatant tax grab by a cash-hungry Liberal AND A RESPONSIBLE ONE TOO. government that will spend the revenues on its own political priorities rather than on the priorities of Canadians. Case in point? British Columbia’s carbon tax. This The Towards Sustainable Mining ® program is driving performance tax was fi rst introduced by then-premier improvement in how mining operations protect the environment and engage Gordon Campbell almost a decade ago and with their communities. Through TSM ®, we are providing the responsibly- was touted as the preeminent model of an effective carbon tax. Unfortunately for B.C. sourced minerals and metals that power electric vehicle technology. taxpayers, it hasn’t worked out that way. ® At the time that the B.C. carbon tax TSM refl ects our commitment to leaving a positive legacy where we operate. was introduced, three promises were In turn, we’re helping businesses and their customers be confi dent in how made. First, the tax would reduce overall their products are made. greenhouse gas emissions. Second, the tax would remain revenue neutral, returning to Learn more at mining.ca/responsible-sourcing/tsm-electric-vehicles taxpayers one dollar for every dollar raised in carbon tax. Third, the tax would be capped at $30 per tonne of emissions. None of these commitments have been met. Greenhouse gas emissions in Brit- 22 MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 | THE HILL TIMES Energy - Pricing Carbon Policy Briefi ng Carbon pricing ‘most cost- eff ective’ way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but not a ‘panacea’ to Canada's carbon price is scheduled to increase until 2022 when each tonne emitted will be taxed at $50. The Alberta oil sands, pictured, accounts for nearly 10 per cent of Canada's carbon emission. The Hill Times fi le photograph meet Paris targets, temperature increase, which will iours. The pricing will impact the about this being a steep change. require Canada to cut emissions smaller, less essential behaviours This will be a small change by some to net-zero by 2050. fi rst. households and not by others.” “The $50-a-tonne carbon To deal with issues such experts say price certainly is not consistent as home heating, Prof. Mabee with those promises,” he said. added, will require “very high” Who’s supporting it? A November Angus Reid poll “We would need to have a more carbon prices. He added that system that is used in Quebec and showed that 54 per cent of Cana- The nuts-and-bolts aggressive, either carbon price or homeowners will resist doing was previously used in Ontario. dians support the government’s else additional policies, to get us much until the price becomes “too behind the Canadian British Columbia has had a carbon pricing plan, which was to that 2050 [goal].” much to bear,” adding the price carbon price since 2008, which up by nine per cent since Canadi- Warren Mabee, the Canada point for change would be in the government’s carbon will hit $50 per tonne a year ans were polled in July, when 55 Research Chair in renewable en- $200-range per tonne. before the federal government per cent of respondents said they pricing plan. ergy development and implemen- “What the low prices do is mandates. Alberta has also imple- opposed the plan. That switch in tation at Queen’s University, said it changes some of the elastic mented a direct price. support was, in part, due to the BY NEIL MOSS that carbon pricing alone won’t behaviours we have,” Prof. Mabee Under Quebec’s cap-and-trade government’s October announce- allow Canada to meet Canada’s said, but the necessary or non- system, the province seeks to have ment of a rebate. n order to reduce greenhouse reduction targets. elastic lifestyles that people have its emission levels nearly 38 per In December, the Cana- gas emissions, Canada’s Liberal “It’s only one piece of a policy, won’t be changed even when the I cent lower than its 1990 emission dian Chamber of Commerce an- government has a direct price on or one part of a prescription. It’s pricing is doubled from the cur- level by 2030. Nova Scotia also nounced their support of the plan. carbon dioxide emissions that not the panacea. It’s not the thing rent framework. has implemented a cap-and-trade The business community advo- will start at $20 per tonne, and in- that’s going to solve all of our “You could keep pushing that system, which started this year. cate said a carbon pricing system crease by $10 each year until 2022 client woes. It’s just one tool,” he carbon price up, [and people] will is the most helpful way in which when it will reach $50 per tonne. said. continue to fi nd ways to make to reduce greenhouse emissions. The Canadian government has Will it meet the reduction He said the government’s pro- their commute to work because estimated that the pricing system targets? jections are “fairly optimistic.” they need the job,” he said. Prof. Mabee added that more Who’s opposing it? Environment Will the direct cost resources have to be put towards The Conservatives have long Minister research and development to opposed the carbon pricing plan, Catherine increase? implement other technologies that and appear to be seeking to use McKenna has Experts aren’t sure what will will be far less emitting than the it as a key issue on which to fi ght pushed the happen to the carbon price after it ones Canadians currently rely on. the upcoming federal election. government’s reaches $50 per tonne in 2022. carbon pricing Prof. Mabee said he didn’t Ontario plan as a have high hopes for much of an Premier Doug signature increase from the $50-a-tonne Ford is one framework to framework. of the most help Canada “Getting a carbon tax up to prominent to reach $200 is going to be so diffi cult po- opponents its Paris litically that I don’t see us getting of carbon Agreement there,” he said. pricing, targets. The Prof. Rivers said if politics saying it Hill Times wasn’t in the mix, the right ap- would lead to photograph proach would be to increase the a recession. by Andrew carbon price to such an extent The Hill Times Meade that it would reduce emissions by photograph as much as is targeted. by Andrew “This is typically seen as Meade “could” cut carbon emission by If the emissions reduction the most cost-effective way to 80- to 90-million tonnes by 2022. estimate throughout Canada is reduce emissions that we have,” “This is really no different Four provinces—all led by In 2016, Canada emitted 704 looked at, Nicholas Rivers said, he said, but with politics being than what happened in the 1920s conservative governments—have megatonnes of greenhouses gas, he thinks the federal govern- an issue, another approach is and 1930s when we decided that refused to adopt a carbon pricing according to Environment and ment’s estimate of how much its to enact other policies that are coal-heated homes just were too plan: Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Climate Change Canada. Under carbon pricing will cut Canadian more politically tolerable, such dirty and too dangerous and we Ontario, and New Brunswick. the Paris Agreement, Canada emissions—when provincial car- as a regulatory framework that needed to move to some alterna- Ontario Premier Doug Ford committed to reduce its carbon bon pricing is included—is apt. will be more expensive but less tives,” he said. “We’re just talking said the plan will be a “total emission by 30 per cent below its “It’s consistent to what we’ve politically costly, like the clean about doing that again.” economic disaster” and lead to a 2005 level of 732 megatonnes by seen in British Columbia or even fuel standard. Canadians, Prof. Rivers said, recession. 2030. what we’re starting to see in Al- A carbon price is seen as less will change their behaviours at Prof. Rivers said Mr. Ford’s as- berta,” said Prof. Rivers, Canada costly, Prof. Rivers said, as it al- varied thresholds. He said there sertion was “at odds” with the past lows emitters to respond “fl exibly” Research Chair in Climate and isn’t a “magic number” at which, decade of how a carbon price has What are the provinces’ to the price, whereas in a regula- Energy Policy at the University of all of a sudden, people will switch operated in Canadian provinces tory approach, emitters are fi xed options? Ottawa, adding there is uncer- to different energy means, but the that have employed it. in the way they can respond. The Canadian government tainty around the number. data shows continuous change as “Provinces are almost fi ght- is giving provinces two ways in But, Prof. Rivers, said the millions of Canadians act on their ing an old battle because lots of which they can meet the climate carbon pricing plan will reduce Will it change behaviour? own thresholds. big industry has already said that pricing guidelines. They can Canada’s emission by only 10 to Prof. Mabee said the carbon “We shouldn’t think of this… carbon pricing is the way to go,” implement the direct pricing sys- 15 per cent, short of Canada’s price would have to be much as a threshold,” Prof. River said. “A Prof. Mabee said. tem that the federal government Paris pledge, as well as a prom- higher to change “more prob- higher price will result in a bigger [email protected] has mandated, or a cap-and-trade ise to help de-escalate the global lematic” carbon emitting behav- reduction, but we shouldn’t think The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 23 Policy Briefi ng Energy - Pricing Carbon We are having the wrong conversation, we are in a climate emergency

energy being bought and sold interprovin- Within Parliament and cially. We must move to 100 per cent electric vehicles, switch to biofuels for tractors, fi sh- media circles, we ignore ing boats and other industrial equipment. Our built infrastructure must be overhauled the urgency of the climate to eliminate waste of energy—and money. crisis. And we must plant trees—everywhere. These steps will create millions of jobs. The IPCC special report on 1.5 degrees C, set out what must be done to hold on to a liveable world. It will require far deeper cuts than what was considered acceptable in Paris at COP21. Among industrialized countries, Canada continues to be a lag- gard. Our target remains unchanged from that put in place under the Harper admin- istration. It is one of the weakest in the world. Even now, thanks to action at the Green Party Leader Elizabeth May state level, the United States is reducing Opinion Greenhouse Gases faster than Canada. So while the Trudeau Liberals try to change the channel on the SNC-Lavalin e are in a climate emergency and furor by talking about the need for climate Wwe are doing nothing substantive or action, the Trudeau administration is utter- effective to confront it. Within Parliament ly failing our children. Canada’s target—if and media circles, we ignore the urgency adopted by every country—would bring us of the climate crisis. to 5.1 degrees of warming. We must rapidly Some Members of Parliament under- ramp up our ambition. Our current target stand the grave nature of the threat. Some of (the Harper target), is 30 per cent below us grasp that when the Intergovernmental 2005 levels by 2030. And even with the Lib- Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that erals carbon pricing scheme, we are not on going above 1.5 degrees C global average track to meet it. The one we must achieve is temperature puts us on an irrevocable course 45 per cent below 2010 levels by 2030. to the disintegration of human civilization, We must pull out all the stops and we should reorient our focus to avoid such embrace a transformational economic an unthinkable outcome. Exceeding our and energy shift. The focus must be total Paris target potentially puts all of humanity and urgent. Even with all countries pull- at risk, as well as millions of other species. ing as hard as they can to achieve the goal Despite the urgency, we continue our normal of 45 per cent below 2010 levels by 2030, routines, as though we are in a status quo many scientists do not believe we can save world. We are facing our own demise—by ourselves. The impact of multiple positive our own hand—and yet we ignore the threat. feedback loops may have set us on an unal- Some terable course will protest to catastrophic that we are global change. talking about But while climate we have even change when a small chance we debate of success, we carbon taxes. have a moral In fact, it is obligation, a the other sacred respon- way around. sibility, to make We ignore every effort to the threat ensure our chil- by having dren- and their the carbon children—and tax debate. the whales and It amounts We are in a climate emergency and we are doing nothing polar bears and to a false substantive or effective to confront it, writes Green Party insects—can Punch and Leader Elizabeth May. The Hill Times photograph Andrew Meade survive. Judy style The clearest pantomime about one small part of the voice for real action anywhere on Earth is overall climate solution. The carbon pricing an astonishing Swedish schoolgirl, Greta debate is a diversionary tactic. Both the Lib- Thonberg. She started a small, seemingly eral and Conservative parties have set their insignifi cant protest. She refused to go campaign course on exploiting carbon taxes to school on Fridays. Sitting alone in the as a wedge issue. The Conservative Party snow, she held a sign, “School Strike for is worse; there is no sign they understand the Climate.” Her movement has grown, the science. The Liberals may understand now numbering in the tens of thousands of climate science; they are just too cowardly children. She has addressed the great and to act on what they know. powerful. In Davos she said: “Adults keep The issues of carbon pricing and action saying, ‘We owe it to the young people to on climate change are easily confl ated. give them hope.’ But I don’t want your hope. Talking about carbon pricing is related to I don’t want you to be hopeful. I want you to climate change, but fails to address the panic. I want you to feel the fear I feel every problem responsibly. Essentially, car- day. And then I want you to act. I want you bon pricing can be an effective part of a to act as you would in a crisis. I want you to response to the climate emergency, but is act as if our house is on fi re. Because it is.” wholly insuffi cient to the challenge. Much, Debating carbon taxes is a distraction. much more action is required. Our house is on fi re. We must eliminate all fossil fuels from Green Party Leader Elizabeth May rep- our electricity grid, enhance the east-west resents Saanich-Gulf Islands, B.C. grid and facilitate clean and renewable The Hill Times 24 MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 | THE HILL TIMES Energy - Pricing Carbon Policy Briefi ng

es, territories, and other willing partners, to help the sector adjust to climate change and better ad- Now more than ever, government dress water and soil conservation and development issues”; it is the minister’s responsibility to pro- needs to reassure farmers their voices vide farmers with the information they need to make their farms as productive as possible given the realities of climate change and are being heard on climate change carbon pricing. I encouraged my colleagues to pass the Agriculture and Forestry I welcome new Impacts of Climate Change and Agriculture also need data on Committee’s report and request carbon Pricing on Agriculture, Minister Marie- projected costs a government response as soon Agriculture Minister Agri-food and Forestry,” a report Claude Bibeau. in order to plan. as possible, with the minister of of the Standing Senate Commit- Sen. Diane Griffi n In the Producer’s agriculture and agri-food being Marie-Claude Bibeau tee on Agriculture and Forestry. says she hopes piece, Norm Hall, identifi ed as minister responsible During my speech in the Senate Ms. Bibeau vice president for responding to the report, in to her new role and Chamber prior to the adoption will share any of the Canadian consultation with the ministers of encourage her to of the report, I referenced an information that Federation of environment and climate change; article that ran on the front page can help farmers Agriculture, said: innovation, science and eco- share any information of The Western Producer on Feb. prepare for the “Farmers are nomic development; and natural 7. Entitled “Carbon tax estimates implementation making their resources. My hope is that the that can help farmers uncertain,” the piece details the of carbon pricing. budgets, and government’s response will give results of an Access to Informa- The Hill Times [carbon pricing] farmers just a little more informa- prepare for the tion request fi led by the Producer photograph is going to affect tion to go on while they’re trying regarding projected costs of car- Andrew Meade them because it’s to plan for the coming year. implementation of bon pricing for farmers. In par- supposed to start We adopted the report on ticular, the Producer was hoping April 1. It’s going Thursday, Feb. 28; little did we carbon pricing. to get some clarity on how carbon Last year, the Senate Agri- to hit us this year, know that we would have a pricing will impact the costs of culture and Forestry Committee and it’s all going to be new costs. new minister of agriculture and fertilizer and rail transportation. was tasked with examining the We have no idea if it’s going to agri-food the very next day. Now The Producer’s request Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing be $300, or $3,000, or $15,000. It more than ever, the government returned a report to the deputy Act as it related to farming. Dan would be nice to have an idea.” needs to reassure farmers that minister of agriculture that Mazier, then the president of the The government has a duty to their voices are being heard and “showed that federal offi cials Keystone Agricultural Producers share any information it has that that their well-being is a prior- have known since 2017 how much of Manitoba, told the commit- can help our farmers, who are ity. I welcome new Agriculture a $10 and $50 per-tonne carbon tee that when the government of price-takers on the world market Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau price will cost producers, down Manitoba started shaping their and who are competing with ju- to her new role and encourage to the specifi c type and region of carbon pricing policy, “everybody risdictions that don’t have carbon her to share any information that ISG Senator Diane Griffi n each farm,” but the report was so knew they had to do their part, I pricing. Statistics Canada and can help farmers prepare for the heavily redacted that those num- guess, and the tax was a mecha- the Department of Agriculture implementation of carbon pricing. Opinion bers remain a mystery. It seems nism, a way we can start doing and Agri-food are well-equipped ISG Senator Diane Griffin that the government has some something.” Climate change is to provide this kind of data. The (Prince Edward Island) is chair of answers as to how carbon pricing affecting farmers, and they know minister of agriculture and agri- the Senate’s Agriculture Com- n Thursday, Feb. 28, the Sen- will impact farmers, it just won’t that measures need to be intro- food’s mandate letter directed the mittee. ate adopted “Feast or Famine: O share them. duced to curb its impact, but they minister to “[w]ork with provinc- The Hill Times

A job killing facts free-for-all

In a boring sort of way, big Ontario with its cap and trade Job killing carbon tax climate data is already here and program implemented in 2017 only going to grow, and we need had its second highest GDP you say? Prove it with to more thoughtfully collect and growth rate in 10 years at 2.77 per mine that data. We need to better cent, only lower than 2010 when the data I say. understand how policy is perform- the economy clawed its way out ing and where adjustments are of the 2009 recession. warranted. Data mining becomes This is not to say that car- With the growing evidence we have available to us, there needs to be a refocusing increasingly important as gov- bon policy did not impact these of effort to better take stock of actual policy performance. This becomes ernments of all stripes and at all economies, but rather it is unlikely increasingly important as more and more carbon and clean energy policy is levels pile on their own take on carbon policy had a signifi cant implemented by all levels of government across the federation. Collecting and climate ambition, which neverthe- impact. This assertion matches the assessing data is boring, but it will pay dividends. The Hill Times fi le photograph less interacts with the same group learning from economic modelling of emitters and pocketbooks. of current Canadian climate policy tensity gains. In British Columbia, This outcome is not surprising given While we are just beginning that typically shows economic high economic growth added 17 the inability of economic models to wade into the historical record, impacts to be a small fraction of per cent more GHGs between 2007 used for regulatory impact analysis there are at least three conclu- annual GDP expansion. and 2016, totalling 10 Mt in 2016. to adequality represent innovation Dave Sawyer sions worth noting. Second, greenhouse gas (GHG) Total B.C. GHGs are down over and ingenuity. Much more attention Opinion First, it is diffi cult to identify sig- and clean energy policy are driving the period however, offset by high is needed to retrospectively look at nifi cant economic impacts within down emissions. Historical data levels of energy effi ciency and actual regulatory costs. the federation due to carbon policy: points to emission and energy pro- GHG intensity improvements. In With the growing evidence we he hyper-politicization of Over the 10-years that Alberta ductivity gains that are offsetting Alberta, where GHGs are up since have available to us, there needs to Tcarbon pricing has led to a fact applied a $15 per tonne carbon emission increases from a grow- 2007, the historical data indicates be a refocusing of effort to better free-for-all. A church here and a price on the emission intensive ing economy. Between 2007 and emission intensity improvements take stock of actual policy per- long commute there are both fac- and trade exposed sectors like oil, 2016, Canada’s GDP grew 14 per resulted in 38 Mt fewer GHGs. This formance. This becomes increas- ing economic ruin with that carbon gas, cement and petrochemicals, cent while GHGs fell fi ve per cent. just about offsets GHG growth ingly important as more and more tax on everything. Alternatively, GDP growth was 1.95 per cent. This means that Canada’s GHG from more economic activity. carbon and clean energy policy it is all sunshine and rebates with Over the same period, Canada’s intensity per unit of GDP, a leading Without the energy effi - is implemented by all levels of families magically better off with economy grew 1.6 per cent, or 17 indicator of decarbonization suc- ciency and GHG intensity gains, government across the federation. the carbon action incentive. While per cent lower than Alberta. cess, fell 17 per cent. At the same Canada’s emissions today would Collecting and assessing data is this crescendo of polarization will In British Columbia under time, Canada’s economy became be about 90 Mt higher due to an boring, but it will pay dividends. only increase as the federal elec- 10-years of an economy-wide car- more energy effi cient, with the expanding economy. Job killing carbon tax you say? tion nears, we no longer need to bon tax, the economy expanded energy use per unit of GDP falling Third, real world costs are likely Prove it with the data I say. just speculate about carbon policy 19 per cent or 2.3 per cent annu- nine per cent over the same period. much lower than the models predict. Dave Sawyer is an adviser with impacts. With well over a decade of ally. Only Manitoba grew more Canada continues to produce more A recent review by the Smart Pros- EnviroEconomics, an executive in provincial and federal policy imple- over the same period. with less energy, which means perity Institute found evidence that residence with the Smart Prosperi- mentation, we are rapidly accumu- Quebec’s GDP growth was energy productivity is climbing. the actual costs of complying with ty Institute at the University of Ot- lating a historical record helpful for higher in the fi ve-year period Provincially, we see the same environmental regulations are often tawa and a School Fellow with the assessing the real-world impacts of with carbon pricing than the ten trend of GDP growth being offset much lower than what is estimated Carleton School of Public Policy. Canadian carbon policy. previous years without pricing. with effi ciency and emission in- through modelling and analysis. The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 25 Policy Briefi ng Energy - Pricing Carbon From effi ciency to eff ectiveness: can Canada meet its emission reduction goals through carbon pricing?

TTAWA—Often lost in the Canada are projected to reduce optimal solution. In practice, A regulatory wind-down of the Carbon pricing may Ocarbon pricing debate is the total national emissions by 80-90 carbon pricing faces daunting fossil fuel industry or direct inter- distinction between effi ciency and megatonnes (Mt) per year by political obstacles and is fuelling ventions in the market for personal be the most effi cient effectiveness. 2022. Although that marks sig- opposition to climate policy more electric vehicles are more costly Most economists agree that nifi cant progress toward our 2030 broadly. options than a robust, comprehen- path to reducing GHG putting a price on greenhouse gas target of a 30 per cent reduction Indeed, because the sticker sive carbon pricing system. Yet our emissions. But if the emissions is the most efficient in GHG emissions below 2005 price would need to be so high, political and economic history sug- way to reduce the pollution driv- levels, we are still projected to carbon pricing is unlikely to be the gests such regulatory policies have ultimate goal of climate ing climate change. Implementing fall 79 Mt short of the goal. The key to achieving a carbon neu- more public support and can be a carbon tax or a cap-and-trade long-running carbon pricing tral Canadian economy. And the executed faster than a comparable policy is to reduce the system incentivizes households experiment in British Columbia longer we are caught up debat- market-based approach. and businesses to make less- has demonstrated that a modest ing the merits of this excessively The Intergovernmental Panel greatest total volume polluting choices at the lowest price on pollution is not suffi cient contentious policy, the less time on Climate Change has given the possible cost. for driving emissions reductions and energy we have to explore international community just over of emissions given However, the success of our in absolute terms. and promote the many effective a decade to radically transform the real-world political collective global effort to mitigate For Canada to meet its domes- alternatives available to us. global economy to limit the worst climate change is measured solely tic targets with carbon pricing What does a sub-optimal, but effects of climate change. Looking constraints, then it is by the amount of carbon dioxide, alone, studies suggest reaching effective, climate policy look like? ahead, the most effective policies for methane, and other heat-trapping a price of at least $200 per tonne The regulated phase-out of coal- reducing emissions on a meaning- time for a more serious gas that ends up the atmosphere. within the next decade would fi red power plants offers a clear ful scale will be those that directly This means that to be considered be necessary—several times example. Ontario’s shift away target the production and consump- conversation about effective, climate policy must greater than the federal standard. from coal between 2001 and 2014 tion of fossil fuels, especially in the eff ectiveness. signifi cantly reduce total GHG However, Canada’s targets are reduced annual emissions by 34 oil, gas and transportation sectors emissions at an acceptable politi- widely viewed as inadequate Mt with broad public support. which together account for the ma- cal cost—whether or not those given the scale and urgency of To achieve the same outcome jority of Canadian emissions. reductions come at the lowest climate change. If we raised our through carbon pricing would Carbon pricing may be the most economic cost. ambitions to a level commensu- have required a price of approxi- effi cient path to reducing GHG It’s a subtle distinction, but rate with the Paris Agreement, mately $80 to $100 per tonne. emissions. But if the ultimate goal of an important one. There is no such that Canada became a net In another example, British climate policy is to reduce the great- consolation prize for effi ciency zero-emission economy by 2050, Columbia is moving ahead with est total volume of emissions given in a world of catastrophic climate the carbon price would need to a fl exible regulatory approach real-world political constraints, then change. When the climate policy be dramatically higher—$300 calling for 100 per cent of new it is time for a more serious conver- debate becomes overly focused per tonne or more in the coming vehicle sales to be zero-emission sation about effectiveness. on limiting costs, rather than re- decades. by 2040. A carbon price of as Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood is Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood ducing emissions, we risk losing In theory, a carbon price at much as $500 to $1,000 per tonne a climate policy and international sight of the bigger picture. that level would be both effi cient would be necessary to achieve trade researcher with the Canadi- Opinion At present, the patchwork of and effective at reducing emis- comparable changes in the auto an Centre for Policy Alternatives. carbon pricing systems covering sions. For economists, it’s the market. The Hill Times A primer on output-based carbon pricing: there’s probably more consensus than you think

embedded in fossil fuels such as on “emissions intensity” (emis- it is not surprising that many incentives for fi rms to reduce Output-based pricing gasoline and diesel; this is pretty sions per unit of output). Firms provincial policies are taking this emissions by improving their straightforward. The second is a that have emissions-intensities basic approach: Alberta’s carbon performance. At the same time, must be a key part of separate pricing system for large above the benchmark must either competitiveness incentive regula- each system provides additional industrial emitters; this is the purchase credits from high-per- tion took effect in 2018. It was the support to emissions-intensive, that mix if Canada complex part that needs some forming fi rms or pay the carbon fi rst output-based pricing system trade-exposed industries to explanation. Despite the com- price to government. Firms that in Canada and served as a tem- reduce their policy costs without is to strike the right plexity, however, it is interesting are below the benchmark earn plate for the federal system; Sas- undermining the incentives to balance between to see that governments of all credits, which they can sell to katchewan has developed an out- reduce emissions. This approach political stripes seem to be adopt- other fi rms. The existence of such put-based performance standard, to policy design is a feature, not pricing emissions ing similar ways of treating the credits ensures that any addi- a fl exible regulatory approach a bug, and it will ensure that economy’s large emitters. tional emissions reductions have that use the same benchmark- carbon pricing is not a barrier and protecting Economists agree that carbon value, maintaining the fi nancial ing approach as the federal and to vibrant businesses and strong pricing is the most fl exible and incentive to continuously reduce Alberta policies; Ontario recently economic growth in Canada. competitiveness. cheapest way to reduce green- emissions. proposed an approach similar to Meeting Canada’s climate house gas emissions. Other op- Note that an output-based Saskatchewan’s in its emissions targets in a way that is best for tions are certainly available, but pricing system is not the same performance standards; Quebec’s our economic prosperity re- they are more complicated and thing as an exemption for indus- cap-and-trade system offers free quires broad policy that creates more costly for the economy. try, in which case there would be output-based allocations to ener- consistent incentives across all But climate policy must also no incentive whatsoever to reduce gy-intensive, and trade-exposed emissions in the economy, from be designed to protect business emissions. With exemptions, the sectors; Nova Scotia’s cap-and- individual households and small competitiveness. Many large lucky emitters are off the hook trade similarly offers free alloca- businesses to heavy industry. emitters sell their products in entirely, and this forces other tions to energy-intensive and Output-based pricing must be a international markets, competing industries to do more of the heavy trade-exposed sectors; and British key part of that mix if Canada against fi rms that face weaker lifting. In contrast, output-based Columbia recently announced is to strike the right balance climate policy at home. Without pricing maintains the incen- its Industrial Incentive program, between pricing emissions and Christopher Ragan careful design choices, carbon tives for all covered industries to which rewards companies with protecting competitiveness. And Opinion pricing could drive investment reduce emissions, but reduces the low emissions-intensities by re- considering our lively national and production (and the emis- total cost of doing so—thereby ducing the amount of carbon tax debate around climate policy, sions associated with them) to protecting business competitive- they pay. it’s no small feat that govern- he federal government’s jurisdictions with weaker policy. ness. The OBPS encourages large There are admittedly some ments across the country seem T“backstop” carbon-pricing A good carbon price needs to ad- emitters to reduce their emissions differences across these pro- to agree. policy will apply in provinces and dress this concern. by improving their performance vincial policies, but there is Christopher Ragan is the di- territories that haven’t imple- The federal government’s rather than by reducing produc- nonetheless a striking degree rector of McGill University’s Max mented a suffi ciently broad and output-based carbon pricing sys- tion or employment. of convergence with the federal Bell School of Public Policy and stringent policy of their own. tem (OBPS) meets this concern Output-based pricing systems approach. Each puts a price on is the chair of Canada’s Ecofiscal The backstop has two parts. The head-on. The system establishes a make a lot of sense for a trading carbon emissions for big in- Commission. fi rst is the levy on the carbon benchmark for each sector based nation such as Canada. Perhaps dustry and creates continuous The Hill Times 26 MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 | THE HILL TIMES Energy - Pricing Carbon Policy Briefi ng

cans to indirect taxes, they would have framed their arguments to The problem with the carbon tax address concerns about equity rather than an exclusive focus on effi ciency. There is no na- The proposition that a car- The proposition that Prime Minister tional sales or value- bon tax is more effi cient itself a carbon tax is more Justin added tax in the U.S., is highly dubious in practice. Trudeau, refl ecting a hostility A tax on carbon emissions was effi cient itself is highly pictured in to indirect taxes that supposed to be offset by lower Ottawa. The dates back to the income taxes. This almost never dubious in practice. A proposition Boston Tea Party and occurred because the administra- tax on carbon emissions that a carbon the American Revolu- tion of carbon taxes was left to tax is more tion. In Canada, the cash-strapped provincial govern- was supposed to be effi cient itself GST has always been ments, which used them in a tax is highly unpopular. The Harper grab to bolster their own sagging off set by lower income dubious in government was fi nances. Rising overall provincial taxes. This almost practice, elected in 2006 on the tax levels prevent advocates from argues Philip promise of reducing relabelling carbon levies as a never occurred because Cross. The the GST, and polls price on pollution and not a tax. Hill Times show most Canadians The greater effi ciency of a car- the administration photograph by would follow Brit- bon tax regime also is contingent of carbon taxes was Andrew Meade ish Columbia’s 2011 on governments removing all other referendum in voting vestiges of command and control left to cash-strapped against it if given the regulation of carbon emissions, chance. ranging from mandatory standards provincial governments, This would not be surprising to The enmity of Europeans to Economists argue for vehicle gas mileage to clos- which used them in a carbon tax advocates if they had direct taxes has its historical that taxes on consumption are ing coal-fi red power plants. No been more rooted in the impor- roots in authoritarian rulers who more effi cient than income taxes. government is remotely willing to tax grab to bolster their tance of local circumstances in used such taxes to fund unpopu- However, they have not made renounce such regulations simply gaining public acceptance of new lar wars. Given this background, the case persuasively with most to satisfy academic requirements own sagging fi nances. policy regimes. North America it was easier for governments in North Americans. Until they do, for more effi ciency. Nor has any has always been diffi cult terrain Europe to sell consumption taxes they are going to face a wall of government taken steps to extend to cultivate support for consump- to the public, although persis- public skepticism and resistance. carbon taxes to a tariff on carbon tion taxes, of which the carbon tently weak incomes appear to be Pointing to Europe as an example imports; without that, we are impos- tax is the latest variant, while it undermining support for a carbon of the greater effi ciency of con- ing a carbon tax on our exporters, has long been fertile ground for tax to judge by France’s recent sumption taxes is hardly convinc- putting them at a competitive dis- their opponents. ‘gilets jaunes’ protests. ing to a public that associates advantage, while allowing carbon Proponents of a carbon tax In North America, income tax- Europe with bloated bureaucracy, imports to enter without a penalty. ignored a fundamental difference es were introduced to fi nance the low productivity, high unem- The result is a hodgepodge of car- between the tax regimes in North First World War, and then raised ployment, and widespread tax bon taxes, extensive regulations, America and Europe. European substantially to bankroll the Sec- evasion. and subsidies, and high levels of nations prefer consumption taxes ond World War and the Cold War. Economists have ignored the income tax which have not lowered Philip Cross such as value-added taxes (the All these wars had broad public public’s basic perception that carbon emissions or improved tax Opinion counterpart to Canada’s goods support, and so income taxes while consumption taxes may be effi ciency even as they hampered and service tax, or GST) to were at least grudgingly accepted. more effi cient, they are inher- the competitiveness of Canadian income taxes. North America The pronounced progressivity of ently unfair since they lack the industry against U.S. fi rms. pposition to a carbon tax has relies much more on income the income tax system encour- progressivity of the income tax Philip Cross is a Munk Senior Omushroomed in a short pe- taxes while resisting consumption aged public support because of system. If proponents of a carbon Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier riod of time, suggesting it needed taxes, despite the endorsement of the appeal of making the rich pay tax had been more in tune with Institute. little water to sprout and grow. the latter by most economists. more. the skepticism of North Ameri- The Hill Times

Further, the on-farm exemp- control, they have to personally tion for gasoline and diesel does absorb the cost of any carbon tax. Liberal government’s carbon not apply when farmers drive on As Levi Wood, president of the public roads. Ask any farmer if Western Canadian Wheat Grow- trips to depots and other suppli- ers Association, said: “Farmers tax will hit farmers harder ers are avoidable—if they have will fully bear the cost of this a large number of “alternative tax, shrinking our margins even options.” What’s more, farmers further. We have no way to pass in rural Saskatchewan and rural these costs on to end users.” than many other Canadians Manitoba often have to travel The carbon tax will hurt Cana- long distances to reach their sup- dian farmers at every stage of the pliers, making the carbon tax that business cycle—from buying fer- Don’t take my word for it: the alternative options”—no exemp- much more punitive for them. tilizer before the planting season Don’t take my word government admits it themselves tions apply. And it doesn’t stop there. to transporting their fi nal product in their own documents. Propane will not be exempt from Rail transportation is the life- to market. That is why farmers for it: the government To quote a release from the the tax. Farmers need to use pro- blood of farming: rail gets trans- across Canada oppose the carbon admits it themselves Department of Finance: “The gov- pane to heat their barns, to prevent portation of crops to markets. tax, despite the government’s ernment recognizes that particular livestock from freezing to death Railroads will be subject to the attempt to buy their votes with in their own groups or sectors require targeted during harsh Canadian winters. carbon tax, increasing producers’ taxpayer dollars through so- relief from the fuel charge—in par- Farmers also use propane to costs yet another time. called “rebates.” documents. ticular because of the small num- dry grain and other crops after The same issue applies to the The essential point was ber of alternative options they may harvest, or else they will rot. delivery of farm machinery and aptly summed up by Bill Huber, have in the face of carbon pollution Natural gas will not be exempt parts to dealerships. The carbon president of the Saskatchewan pricing… [We] will provide farmers from the carbon tax either. Natu- tax will increase costs for these Stock Growers Association, who with relief from the fuel charge for ral gas is the key ingredient in the suppliers, and they will pass said: “Despite these rebates and fuels used in tractors, trucks and industrial production of two of those increased costs on to their exemptions, producers will still other farm machinery.” the most important crop fertil- customers—that’s one more hit be facing higher costs to run their While exempting diesel and izers in the world—anhydrous against farmers. operations.” gasoline used in on-farm equip- ammonia and urea. Most farmers This shows why a carbon tax I do not expect this govern- ment is a small mercy, the Liberal do not have the option of switch- on farmers is terribly unfair. ment to listen to farmers’ con- government is still fi nding a num- ing to alternate fertilizers. Agricultural commodities cerns. But I want to make it clear: ber of ways to increase the costs Once the carbon tax drives up produced in Canada compete in Conservatives are listening, and if Conservative Senator Don Plett of the food we eat by hitting farm- the cost of producing these key a global market. Prices are set Andrew Scheer is elected this fall, Opinion ers with this massive new tax. fertilizers in Canada, farmers will purely by supply and demand. a Conservative government will The problem is that diesel fuel have the choice of paying more Customers who currently buy repeal the carbon tax. is just one of many necessary for Canadian fertilizers and either from Canada will switch to Aus- Conservative Senator Don he Liberal government’s uses of hydrocarbons in farming losing money charging custom- tralia, the United States, Ukraine Plett (Manitoba) is a member of Tcarbon tax will hit farmers life. For every other necessity— ers more—or simply switching to or others if we cannot match the Senate’s Transport and Com- harder than many other Canadi- which could equally described suppliers in other countries that their prices. Since farmers have munications Committee. ans. as having a “small number of do not impose a carbon tax. to match prices outside of their The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 27 Policy Briefi ng Energy - Pricing Carbon Another messy compromise: carbon pricing in Canada

that did not meet the benchmark Environment Minister As with most fed-prov would have the federal backstop Catherine McKenna, policy development imposed. pictured at the How different are the provin- National Press Theatre in Canada, carbon cial pricing plans, and does it in Ottawa. Climate matter? Sarah Dobson, Brendan policies differ wildly pricing has turned Boyd, and I explore this issue in a from one part of the recently published paper from the country to another. The into a messy School of Public Policy. federal government compromise. We compare the coverage of aimed to smooth provincial pricing plans to the these differences federal benchmark and backstop with its Pan-Canadian using 2015 emissions data. Inter- Framework. Provinces estingly, only two provinces—B.C. had to meet a standard and Quebec—meet or exceed the or have the federal benchmark. All other provincial system imposed. In pricing plans have coverage practice, politics won below the benchmark. What is over policy, writes more interesting, however, is that Jennifer Winter. The the federal government accepted Hill Times photograph some provinces’ pricing plans as by Andrew Meade suffi cient, while others had the Jennifer Winter backstop imposed. Opinion Enter the politics: most prov- inces that voluntarily imple- mented pricing plans were able to sions (three per cent of total) are per cent, 56 per cent, 82 per cent, the implementation of carbon limate policies differ wildly secure preferential treatment and exempt. In Prince Edward Island and 90 per cent, respectively. pricing across Canada. As part of Cfrom one part of the country temporary exemptions. Alberta, and Newfoundland and Labrador, Second, these provinces have the rationale behind the federal to another. The federal govern- Nova Scotia, Prince Edward the major exemptions are for given up control of the revenue benchmark and backstop was to ment aimed to smooth these Island, and Newfoundland and residential heating fuels, 14 per from the carbon tax to the federal level the playing fi eld, we clearly differences with its Pan-Canadian Labrador all have plans with cov- cent and four per cent of total government. As a key reason for have a ways to go. We can expect Framework. Provinces had to erage below the benchmark due emissions, respectively. these provinces’ opposition to the these differences to continue to meet a standard or have the fed- to temporary exemptions negoti- Non-cooperative provinces— federal carbon pricing plan was create political diffi culties and eral system imposed. In practice, ated with the federal government. Saskatchewan, Manitoba, On- the costs on their economies, they plague federal-provincial rela- politics won over policy. These exemptions vary depend- tario and New Brunswick—had fi nd themselves in a situation tions, particularly given Ontario October 2018 saw the release ing on each province’s unique their plans deemed insuffi cient where they are potentially worse and Saskatchewan’s challenges of long-awaited details on pro- circumstances, but are all focused and as a result, have the federal off in terms of overall impact. of the federal pricing framework. vincial carbon pricing policies, on areas of particular concern backstop imposed. This has two While there are political As with most fed-prov policy and the Government of Canada’s regarding the cost increases from key effects. First, in each prov- points to be scored by blaming development in Canada, carbon decisions on whether these poli- emissions pricing. ince, coverage is higher than Ottawa for the tax, it isn’t clear pricing has turned into a messy cies were suffi cient. The provinc- In Alberta, the exemption is the minimum required with the these provinces have won in compromise. es were expected to implement for emissions from conventional benchmark. With the benchmark, the long run. In the short run, Jennifer Winter is an assistant policies with minimum pricing oil and gas production, and ac- coverage would be 58 per cent they also sacrifi ced the chance professor of economics and sci- levels and minimum coverage— count for 13 per cent of total in Saskatchewan, 53 per cent in to negotiate exemptions for key entific director of the energy and percentage of emissions priced— emissions. In Nova Scotia, most Manitoba, 73 per cent in Ontario economic sectors. environmental policy research equivalent to a B.C.-style carbon permits in the cap and trade and 86 per cent in New Bruns- Beyond provincial interests, division at the School of Public tax, called the federal bench- system will be distributed for wick. The backstop increases differential treatment of prov- Policy, University of Calgary. mark. Provinces with a policy free, and industrial process emis- these coverage percentages to 60 inces has created inequities in The Hill Times

How do you know when a carbon price works? climate change—endorsed by the carbon tax had no signifi - has committed to reviewing its evaluating the impact of climate Can we track whether economists and environmentalists cant impact on B.C.’s economic price on pollution in 2022—but policies, tracking outcomes and a carbon tax is, in alike. In the other, it’s little more activities and, believe it or not, the details of how this would work reporting them to the public than a tax grab that “does nothing” was even responsible for a net and who would be responsible should be key priorities for the fact, working and for emissions or the environment. increase in jobs. have yet to be ironed out. climate institute’s mandate. While So, which is it? But perhaps oddly, none of The U.K.’s approach provides this may appear to overlap with achieving its desired In other words, can we track the studies reviewing the per- a good model for how to track the auditor general’s responsibili- whether a carbon tax is, in fact, formance of the B.C. carbon tax climate policy outcomes and ties, the role of the institute would results? The answer working and achieving its desired were actually done, or even com- ensure government accountability. be to delve deeper into the data, is absolutely, though results? The answer is absolutely missioned, by the B.C. govern- In 2008, the country established to better understand—and at- (though we could be doing a bet- ment. Rather, they were under- a Committee on Climate Change. tribute—the relationship between we could be doing a ter job of it). taken by independent experts, The committee is an independent, pollution reductions (or the lack For starters, we can look to mostly from Canadian academic statutory body whose purpose is to thereof) and specifi c policies. better job of it. past evidence, like the impact of institutions, as one-off analyses. help the government set and stay If we’re to ensure the success B.C.’s carbon tax, which has been This brings up another important within carbon budgets; monitor of Canada’s climate plan and the in place for over a decade. Various question: who can and should be progress against targets; conduct provincial carbon pricing policies studies have evaluated its impact tracking the outcomes of these research and analysis; and engage being put into place, we cannot on both the environment and the policies? And how often should with stakeholders to ensure this be taking shots in the dark. A economy. One study considered tracking take place? information is shared widely. dedicated body of experts com- whether carbon pollution had While independent analysis is Canada would benefi t from a mitted to tracking and reporting gone down under B.C.’s carbon certainly needed, it’s the govern- similar approach—and may soon outcomes at regular intervals will price and found that, thanks to ment’s job to ensure an evaluation have an opportunity to implement help Canada get its climate poli- the policy, pollution was fi ve per of its policies is undertaken. And one. In the coming months, the cies right—or change course if cent to 15 per cent lower than it this evaluation should happen at federal government is expected we’ve veered off track. would be otherwise. regular intervals, be communi- to announce a new arm’s-length In other words, it can help Joanna Kyriazis & Dan Woynillowicz Other studies looked at wheth- cated to the public, and ultimately body (a climate institute of sorts) to deliver the meaningful climate ac- Opinion er B.C.’s carbon tax changed determine whether the govern- “provide informed advice to gov- tion that a majority of Canadians people’s behaviour and concluded ment needs to revisit or refi ne the ernments and Canadians, identify are asking for. that it had: people drove less, policies it has in place. The Pan- best practices to support ambitious Joanna Kyriazis is a senior or months now, Canadians invested in more fuel-effi cient Canadian Framework on Clean climate action, and develop and policy advisor and Dan Woynil- Fhave been treated to two stark- cars and used less natural gas at Growth and Climate Change provide independent and expert- lowicz is the policy director at ly different carbon tax stories. In home. Finally, research has also does include some commitments driven analysis to help Canada Clean Energy Canada, a think one version, it’s a fair, highly effec- been done on the policy’s impact related to monitoring and report- move towards clean growth.” tank at Simon Fraser University. tive and essential policy to combat on the economy. These found that ing—and the federal government This is an important step. But The Hill Times 28 MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 | THE HILL TIMES News Liberal caucus

The source said that all cause internal division. Also, SNC-Lavalin saga ‘unsettling’ MPs were expecting to go to there are other concerns, such as their ridings in the lead up to how it will affect the Liberal sup- the election from a position of port in the Indigenous communi- strength, but the SNC-Lavalin ty, and among women, which are and ‘confusing’ for Liberal affair has put the government making this decision even more and the leadership on the de- complicated. fensive. “There’s some sympathy caucus, damages the party “You’re not going into this [in caucus], I can’t really name next election from a position names, they have some support,” of strength,” the source said. the senior Liberal said. “You’re going into the next elec- Eight-term Liberal MP Wayne especially in suburban and tion from a potential position Easter (Malpeque, P.E.I.) in an of weakness. If you are from interview with The Hill Times said downtown Toronto, you may he’ll leave it up to the prime min- not [be affected]. But, if you are ister and the two MPs to decide if rural ridings: Liberal MPs in suburbia, and you are in the both should be part of the caucus country, all of a sudden, those anymore. Mr. Easter denied that Conservatives are looking a the SNC-Lavalin issue would that he ever unduly pressured the feel comfortable in approach- little bit more dangerous if you cause any long-term damage for Continued from page 1 former Justice minister. ing him if they have concerns. are an incumbent.” the government, and described “within the family,” as MPs say Last week, Prime Minister But, right after the press confer- A Liberal MP agreed. the whole controversy as a “mis- the public airing of grievances Trudeau held a press conference ence Liberal MP Celina Caesar- “It’s doing serious political understanding” and breakdown by the two departed ministers is in the National Press Theatre in Chavannes (Whitby, Ont.), former damage, how long will it last, I in communication between the damaging the party and leaving Ottawa about SNC-Lavalin and parliamentary secretary to the don’t really know,” said the MP, former Justice minister and the them “confused” over how to deal the resignation of Ms. Wilson- prime minister from 2015-2017, who also spoke to The Hill Times PMO. with it. Raybould (Vancouver-Granville, tweeted a cryptic message rais- on condition that their identity “It’s basically a misunder- “I would really suggest [to B.C.); the prime minister blamed ing questions about her boss’s not be revealed for fear of retribu- standing, nothing illegal done, every member of the Liberal the predicament on a communica- claimed style of leadership. tion. and it goes to the heart of respon- caucus] that if they have issues tion breakdown and an “erosion “I did come to you recently. “As of this point, it has taken sibility of governing [protecting that they bring it to caucus,” said of trust” between his former prin- Twice. Remember your reac- us from potential majority terri- jobs],” Mr. Easter said. Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux cipal secretary and the former tions?” she tweeted, but did not tory to minority territory.” “To blow it up any bigger than (Winnipeg North, Man.), parlia- attorney general. Mr. Trudeau provide details. This MP and others said there that is misrepresenting the facts.” mentary secretary to the Gov- fl atly denied the former justice Ms. Caesar-Chavannes did not are different opinions within He said the government ernment House Leader Bardish minister’s allegation that she respond to an interview request the caucus as to whether or not should leave this controversy Chagger (Waterloo, Ont.), in an faced “consistent and sustained” from The Hill Times, and the both former ministers should be behind now, and move ahead with interview with The Hill Times. pressure to intervene in the Prime Minister’s Offi ce also de- kicked out of the caucus. Some its agenda. Mr. Easter also said “Let’s have that discussion if corruption cased against SNC- clined to comment on the tweet. MPs want Mr. Trudeau to expel no Liberal MP should be wor- you are having issues or con- Lavalin. He said if Ms. Wilson- The story around Ms. Wilson- Ms. Wilson Raybould and Ms. ried about their future electoral cerns. If you don’t want the Con- Raybould had felt pressure, she Raybould’s and the PMO has Philpott from caucus, but un- prospects as the government has servatives, and you want to en- should have reached out to him. been overshadowing the gov- derstand the prime minister’s made and continues to make sig- sure we continue to move forward Going forward, the prime minis- ernment’s agenda since it fi rst dilemma, as doing so would start nifi cant achievements on issues on a lot of wonderful things we’re ter said he has learned lessons on became public about fi ve weeks another controversy, generating such as the Canada Child Benefi t, doing then it’s best that we try to a personal level as a leader, and ago, making national headlines even more negative media cover- infrastructure, Indigenous issues, deal with this within caucus.” will also consider reforming the almost every day, and the Trudeau age. and other policies. The SNC-Lavalin story that “It’s now time to move ahead The Globe and Mail fi rst broke and get on with the business of last month suggested that senior governing,” said Mr. Easter. PMO offi cials and the Privy A Liberal Hill staffer predicted Council Clerk Michael Wernick in an interview with The Hill exerted inappropriate pressure Times that this issue would drag on then-Justice minister Jody Wil- on until the House adjourns for son-Raybould (Vancouver Gran- the summer recess. He said that it ville, B.C.) to force prosecutors to was a “mistake” to let the Justice give a remediation agreement to committee examine this issue, the Montreal-based engineering as now the committee will have and construction giant in lieu of no option but to invite back Ms. its prosecution on allegations of Wilson-Raybould to rebut Mr. Wer- corruption. Ms. Wilson-Raybould nick’s testimony, and then hear declined to do so last fall and in from Ms. Philpott, and other PMO a subsequent January cabinet staffers the former Justice minis- shuffl e was moved to the Veterans ter said she felt pressure from. Affairs portfolio, leaving the per- “This isn’t over yet, it will go ception that the former minister on for a while,” the source said. was punished for not listening to Meanwhile, in her fi rst public PMO senior offi cials. appearance since her resignation, The story is taking its politi- Ms. Philpott headlined the Ottawa cal toll on the government and so mayor’s breakfast in celebration far Ms. Wilson-Raybould, former of International Women’s Day at Treasury Board president Jane city hall. During her speech, she Philpott (Markham-Stouffville, praised Mr. Trudeau for seeking Ont.), and Mr. Butts have re- gender parity in cabinet, which signed. The two ministers re- she said was transformative. But signed expressing their dissatis- she also spoke of the limits of faction in the way the government gender balance, saying it’s not has handled the controversy, and about tokenism and “sanctimo- Mr. Butts left his job by accepting niously” ticking off boxes for responsibility for the “breakdown” representation. in trust between himself and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held a press conference in Ottawa last week to address questions about the SNC-Lavalin Though she declined to take the former Justice minister. Mr. controversy. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade reporters’ questions, Ms. Philpott Butts, in his appearance before used her speech to address her the House Justice Committee, judicial process, including the op- Liberals are taking a hit in public “I don’t know what the PM can motivations for taking a seat with vehemently denied that he ever tion of dividing the role of justice opinion polls. do about this, it’s a tough deci- other decision makers, whether pressured the former minister or minister and attorney general. That is especially nerve-rack- sion,” the MP said. it’s sitting on a board or at the any of her staffers, adding that “I was not aware of that ing for Liberal MPs who repre- But other MPs said Mr. cabinet table. “I’m not at the table his only concern was to do some- erosion of trust, and as prime sent suburban and rural ridings, Trudeau needs to take a decisive because it comes with a generous thing to protect the 9,000 jobs minister and leader of the federal considering that the next election action on this by letting both for- salary. I’m not there for the title. of the SNC-Lavalin employees. ministry, I should have been,” Mr. is scheduled for this fall. mer ministers go from the caucus, I’m not there to build my resume Under the current law, if the pros- Trudeau said. “They’re [MPs] not sure how to as this is causing political trouble or expand my Rolodex,” she told ecution proceeds and the com- In the press conference, the deal with this,” said one former se- for the party. the crowd packed with women. “I pany is found guilty of corruption prime minister also said that nior Liberal who spoke to The Hill A senior Liberal told The Hill want to challenge the status quo, charges, it would be banned for he believes the “real leadership Times on a not-for-attribution ba- Times that one complicating fac- if the status quo is getting in the bidding on federal contracts for is about listening, learning and sis. “They’re unsettled, you’re seven tor in expelling the two MPs from way of helping people. I want to 10 years. Mr. Wernick has also compassion” and he believes in months away from an election, and caucus, on top of the optics, is ask tough questions.” denied in his two appearances creating an environment where things are not rosy. Things are not that both have “some sympathy” —With files from Beatrice Paez before the Justice Committee cabinet ministers, MPs, and staff unfolding as they had expected.” inside the caucus, and it would The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 29 Mark Norman News

“It becomes a second proof point case—or with the shipbuilding the case.’ But I don’t think they’re in a broader argument that’s being competition—come to light. going to do that.” Norman case could driven by the whole Jody Wilson- “The details around this case The government has the power Raybould [scandal],” he said. do not grab Canadians they way in theory to direct the public pros- “It was basically a show- the SNC-Lavalin case does. In ecutor to drop the Norman case down between two shipbuilding fact, it’s very foggy,” he said. using the same mechanism that hurt Liberals with companies. And arguably, the “If you got out of Ottawa and the PMO allegedly pressured Ms. Prime Minister’s Offi ce put their did a few streeters in Kitchener or Wilson-Raybould to invoke in the fi nger on the scale to let one win Brandon or Surrey, I would be sur- SNC-Lavalin case. The act that es- swing voters, a over the other. That’s the argu- prised if you got three or four per tablished the offi ce of the Director ment. Norman, in this case, if you cent who even know about this.” of Public Prosecutions in 2006 made believe that theory, is a whistle- it possible for the attorney general blower … protecting the public Cabinet won’t touch the to issue instructions to prosecutors ‘second proof interest. And the Prime Minister’s or even take over prosecutions per- Offi ce would be seen as having a case, but prosecution sonally, so long as they go through a pattern of intervention to benefi t may have an uphill formal, public process to do so. companies that have done favours Speaking to The Hill Times on point’ after SNC- for them,” said Mr. Lyle. battle: Drapeau a not-for-attribution basis, one Coupled with the SNC-Lavalin Vice-Admiral Norman’s de- former senior government offi cial scandal, in which the PMO and fence counsel has also accused the said that, in theory, Attorney Lavalin scandal that Mr. Trudeau were alleged to have government of political interference General David Lametti (Lasalle- pressured former attorney gener- after learning that lawyers from the Emard-Verdun, Que.) could inter- al Jody Wilson-Raybould to drop Privy Council Offi ce discussed the vene to have the charges dropped the prosecution of that company case with the prosecutors working whenever he wanted. Liberals politically in favour of a deferred prosecu- on it, The Canadian Press reported. Mr. Drapeau, however, threw tion agreement, and Mr. Trudeau’s The Public Prosecution Service of cold water on the idea that Vice- trip to the Aga Khan’s private is- Canada denied any interference, and Admiral Norman’s defence team land—which violated the Confl ict said prosecutors were discussing could use the former attorney interfere to help of Interest Act—voters will have, potential government witnesses to general’s allegations to their by election time, been exposed to explain the concept of cabinet confi - advantage, or that the Liberal at least “three examples now of dence, and other routine matters. government would force prosecu- the powerful, says what you would probably not call A former senior Liberal, in an tors to drop the Norman case. ‘real change,’” said Mr. Lyle. interview with The Hill Times, said “I don’t think he will touch this Mr. Trudeau, his former that in light of the objections raised with a 10-foot pole,” he said of Mr. principal secretary Gerry Butts, by Vice-Admiral Norman’s defence Trudeau. pollster Greg Lyle and Clerk of the Privy Council counsel and Ms. Wilson-Raybould’s Intervening in the Norman case Michael Wernick have all said allegations of political interference would be much different than do- that there was no inappropriate from the PMO in the SNC-Lavalin ing so in the SNC-Lavalin case, he that the Liberal cabinet was put- interference with Ms. Wilson- affair, he has a “funny feeling” the said, because SNC-Lavalin would The PMO wouldn’t ting the brakes on a shipbuilding Raybould’s decision regarding prosecution in the Norman case still be subjected to the terms of procurement contract that had been the prosecution of SNC-Lavalin might not proceed with the case, or a deferred prosecution agree- ‘dare’ to tell the awarded to Davie by the previous on corruption charges. the judge may throw out the case. ment after the prosecution was Conservative government, and abandoned. Dropping the charges attorney general considering an appeal from a rival Vice-Admiral Mark against Vice-Admiral Norman to drop the case, company, Nova Scotia’s Irving Ship- Norman, pictured would mean, in legal terms, letting building, to former Treasury Board April 10, 2018, in him off the hook entirely. says lawyer Michel president and Nova Scotia MP Scott court in Ottawa with Mr. Drapeau also said it was Brison and other cabinet ministers his lawyer Marie unlikely that Vice-Admiral Nor- Drapeau. to let Irving do the job instead. Henein. Vice-Admiral man’s team could get the case Vice-Admiral Norman’s Norman is facing thrown out because of alleged defence lawyers have asked for charges of breach of political interference. Continued from page 1 documented communications trust over an alleged “One would have to show some swing voters away from Prime relating to the case between 2015 leak about the smoking gun … at least a begin- Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Liberal government's ning of evidence that this has in fact Party, says one pollster, by shoring (Papineau, Que.), his chief of possible occurred. It’s too easy to be making up a perception created by the SNC- staff, Katie Telford, now former cancellation of one these kinds of allegations. Whether Lavalin scandal that Mr. Trudeau’s principal secretary Gerry Butts, of the previous or not you’re able to prove it, wheth- team likes to meddle where it Clerk of the Privy Council Michael government's er or not there is any substance to shouldn’t to help out big business. Wernick, and Zita Astravas, the shipbuilding it, that’s something else. I would Some current and former chief of staff to Defence Minister projects. The Hill personally have a lot of doubt Liberal insiders and government Harjit Sajjan (Vancouver South, Times photograph by concerning the involvement of any offi cials are speculating that the B.C.). Lawyer Marie Henein said Andrew Meade political forces, and I’m including in government may wish for the in court last week that the docu- there the PMO,” he said. prosecution of Vice-Admiral Nor- ments had not been provided since In an online poll of 2,122 adults “Once the process becomes Ms. Wilson-Raybould’s allegation man on breach of trust charges to her request in October, and argued by Innovative Research between suspect, it creates an argument for of political interference in her over- be dropped. However, one Ottawa that Mr. Butts and Mr. Wernick March 1 and 4, 60 per cent of the opposing counsel,” the source said. sight of the SNC-Lavalin corruption lawyer with experience repre- should be subpoenaed to appear respondents agreed that the prime “Opposing counsel now can dig charges would be treated as “specu- senting clients in the government before the court and explain them- minister’s actions in the SNC-scan- away at what led up to this pros- lation” were it to be introduced in the and military says the government selves if the documents were not dal “prove that big business get spe- ecution. Was there an exchange Norman trial, and ruled to be outside wouldn’t dare to direct the public provided by their next March 18 cial access to the political system.” of emails? Etcetera. That’s where the scope of the trial, he said. prosecutor to drop the charges. court appearance, The Globe and That kind of sentiment, said Mr. then the prosecution can some- The defence team’s accusa- “At the moment, when the en- Mail reported. The Justice Depart- Lyle, could increase the number of times look at, and say, ‘Can we tions that the government is inap- tire legal system is under not only ment later tweeted that those voters who feel it is time to change really sustain a conviction here?’” propriately delaying the disclo- a magnifying glass, a microscope, documents were not included in governments in the next elec- In order to get a fair trial for sure of evidence to the defence is there’s no bloody way anybody the October request, and that gov- tion. More than half of those who their client, the source said, the likewise a longshot for getting the who is anybody within the politi- ernment documents were being responded to Mr. Lyle’s poll earlier defence counsel has been consis- case thrown out, he said. cal regime would dare even to get provided to the judge handling the this month—55 per cent—indicated tently raising concerns about the However, the prosecutors could anywhere close to it,” said Michel case “at the pace directed by her.” they already felt that way. impartiality of the process. Ms. decide to drop the case on their Drapeau, a lawyer and former Vice-Admiral Norman’s trial “Normally ‘time for a change’ Wilson-Raybould’s allegation that own, if they believe they no longer colonel in the Canadian Armed is scheduled to begin in August, has to get over 60 per cent before senior PMO offi cials and the PCO have a reasonable chance of get- Forces, who is not involved in the while the federal election is it becomes a real ‘time for a clerk tried to politically interfere in ting a conviction, he said, adding Norman case but regularly repre- scheduled for Oct. 21. change election,’” he said. the SNC-Lavalin prosecution might he believes the prosecution could sents Canadian civil servants and Under normal circumstances, At the moment, “there is a lot be used as an example to substanti- have a diffi cult time proving that military members. Vice-Admiral Norman’s trial of uncertainty about whether this ate their claim, the source said. Vice-Admiral Norman had any Vice-Admiral Norman was would be a political non-factor for is a government that you want to “They can say there’s no [politi- criminal intent behind his alleged charged with breach of trust the governing Liberals, but com- have back in power or not. The cal] interference, but we have an actions, which the prosecution over an allegation that he leaked ing on the heels of the SNC-Lava- risk that the Norman trial creates example right here,” the source must do to win a conviction. secret information about the gov- lin scandal, it could be a problem, is that it resolves that ambiva- said. “So, all of a sudden that the Vice-Admiral Norman is not ernment’s procurement process said Greg Lyle, the owner of the lence in a negative way for the [allegation of] PCO-coordination alleged to have benefi ted in any to one of the companies that had polling fi rm Innovative Research government,” Mr. Lyle said. becomes an issue.” material way from the alleged leak. bid for a $668-million shipbuild- Group and a former political However, University of Toronto CTV News veteran Hill politi- “Can they prove a corrupted in- ing contract for the Navy. He has strategist for then-Progressive political science professor Nelson cal correspondent Craig Oliver tent? I never thought that they could pleaded not guilty to the charge. Conservative leadership candi- Wiseman said the Norman case also said during a talkback to begin with,” said Mr. Drapeau. Vice-Admiral Norman allegedly date Kim Campbell and a former may not resonate much with interview on March 4 that, “one [email protected] informed a representative working principal secretary for former the public unless new details of senior person told me, ‘We should [email protected] for the Davie Shipyard in Quebec Manitoba premier Gary Filmon. cabinet-level interference in the pull out of this whole thing, drop The Hill Times 30 MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 | THE HILL TIMES

advisers Nicola Langille and Benjamin 2016. Previously, he was working outside Prud’homme under director of policy the country, including as: communications Nicholas Daube. director for the Malala Fund in New York Ana Fujarczuk also recently joined Mr. City, a strategic communications offi cer Lametti’s offi ce as a new issues manage- with the United Nations Offi ce for the hill climbers ment and parliamentary affairs adviser, as Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, as of Feb. 28. a media manager for Oxfam in the U.S. by Laura Ryckewaert Ms. Fujarczuk had previously been and before then as a media and advocacy working in the Indigenous services min- offi cer for the organization in Brussels, ister’s offi ce as a special assistant for On- Belgium. He also previously was a spokes- tario regional affairs and assistant to the person for the World Wide Fund for Nature minister’s parliamentary secretary, Liberal while in Brussels, and for the International MP Dan Vandal. Trade Union Confederation before that. Justice Minister She started in the offi ce in October 2017 Maxime Dea is chief of staff to Mr. under-then minister Jane Philpott and Rodriguez; Simon Ross remains press continued, until recently, under current secretary to the minister. minister Seamus O’Regan. Ms. Philpott resigned from cabinet and her post as trea- Immigration Minister Hussen Lametti hires sury board president on March 4; Public Services and Procurement Minister Carla hires on experienced D. Comms Qualtrough is now also acting as treasury Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship board president. Minister Ahmed Hussen recently wel- director of litigation Ms. Fujarczuk is also a former executive comed veteran staffer Lise Jolicoeur back assistant to then-sports minister Kent Hehr to Parliament Hill, this time as his director and a former Hill assistant to current Sci- of communications. Justice Minister ence and Sport Minister Kirsty Duncan in Ms. Joli- and Attorney her capacity as the Liberal MP for Etobi- coeur tweeted General David coke North, Ont. out news of her Lametti, Nathalie Roberge is director of issues return on Feb. pictured heading management to the minister, while Alexan- 22, writing: “I’m into a Feb. 21 der Steinhouse is director of parliamentary baaaaack!!! House Justice affairs and Izabel Czuzoj-Shulman is a Honoured to be Committee parliamentary affairs adviser. working back meeting in Former PMO policy adviser Rachel on the Hill for @ Ottawa to answer Doran is chief of staff to Mr. Lametti. The HonAhmedHus- questions about minister’s offi ce also currently includes: sen after a 11 the SNC-Lavalin David Taylor, director of communications; years hiatus.” case. The Hill Lise Jolicoeur is back Farzin Yousefian, senior adviser for legal Ms. Jolicoeur Times photograph on the Hill. Photograph and regulatory affairs; François Giroux, ju- is a former by Andrew Meade courtesy of LinkedIn dicial affairs adviser; Célia Canon, commu- press secretary nications adviser; Alicia Castelli, regional to Stéphane Dion during both his time as 2018. Ms. Carver was among the staffers affairs adviser; François Landry, special minister of intergovernmental affairs in Lise Jolicoeur is back on named by former justice minister Jody Wil- assistant for judicial affairs; and Léo New- then-PM Jean Chrétien’s government and son-Raybould during her testimony before man, regional assistant. later as Liberal opposition leader. Parliament Hill as director the House Justice Committee on Feb. 27, Over in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s She’s also a former press secretary to and was described as having been part of offi ce, Lynda Haddoud was recently hired then treasury board president Reg Alcock, of communications to a Sept. 7 meeting with the deputy minister on as a special assistant, working under a former senior communications adviser Immigration, Refugees, and for justice and having helped draft a memo director of administration and special proj- to then-Ontario tourism minister Monique on the role of the attorney general as it ects, Brett Thalmann. Smith on the province’s participation in the Citizenship Minister Ahmed relates to the public prosecution service. Ms. Haddoud had until recently been Vancouver Olympic Games, a former stra- In other offi ces news, Olivier Jarda has working as a Hill assistant to Liberal MP tegic adviser to the Ontario government Hussen. been hired on as a new policy adviser to Peter Schiefke, who has represented Vau- on the 2015 Pan and Parapan American Mr. Lametti. dreuil-Soulanges, Que., since 2015, after Games, a former executive director of ustice Minister and Attorney General Mr. Jarda defeating NDP incumbent Jamie Nicholls communications to then-Ontario Liberal JDavid Lametti has named a new direc- started on the job to be elected with roughly 46.6 per cent of premier Kathleen Wynne, and a former tor of litigation in his offi ce, with Jim on Feb. 28, and the vote. Previously, Ms. Haddoud was ac- director for provincial and municipal Kapches moving over from National De- before then, since tive with the Young Liberals of Quebec and government and community relations for fence Minister Harjit Sajjan’s offi ce to take December 2017, the Quebec Liberal Party. CN Rail. on the role as of Feb. 25. had been working Another cabinet shuffl e took place on Most recently, before returning to Ot- Until recently, Mr. Kapches had been as a lawyer with March 1: Women and Gender Equality Min- tawa, Ms. Jolicoeur was working as a direc- working away as a policy adviser to Mr. Hutchins Legal in ister Maryam Monsef was also made the tor with StrategyCorp in Toronto. Sajjan since January 2018. Before then, Montreal, focused Minister for International Development. With her addition, Hursh Jaswal, who he’d spent roughly a year working for on Indigenous gov- Former international development minister had been director of communications for then-international trade minister François- ernance, language Marie-Claude Bibeau was made Minister roughly the last year, has taken on the title Philippe Champagne as both an Ontario rights, and access for Agriculture, and former agriculture of director of operations in Mr. Hussen’s Olivier Jarda is now regional affairs adviser to the minister and to health and minister Lawrence MacAulay was named offi ce. Mr. Jaswal had already been helping a policy adviser to as assistant to the minister’s parliamentary social services, Minister for Veterans Affairs and Associate to tackle operations since Zubair Patel was the justice minister. secretary. and Aboriginal Defence. promoted to the role of chief of staff to the Photograph courtesy of Prior to joining Mr. Champagne’s offi ce law. He was called As with every change in minister, minister in November 2018. He started out LinkedIn in early 2017, Mr. Kapches was a legisla- to the Quebec bar Treasury Board Secretariat rules set out a as a special assistant in Mr. Hussen’s offi ce tive assistant to Liberal MP Julie Dabrusin, in 2017. 30-day timeline for affected ministers to in early 2016. who represents Toronto-Danforth, Ont. A former Rhodes scholar at the Univer- decide on staffi ng. By fi ling deadline last Michael Miller started on the job as a He’s also a former lawyer with the federal sity of Oxford, where he studied for a mas- week, there was no news of any staffi ng new special assistant to Mr. Hussen the justice department, having represented the ter’s degree in international relations, Mr. moves related to this most recent shuffl e, week before last, moving over from the Crown as counsel in various court cases. Jarda studied law at McGill University and but keep reading Hill Climbers for any treasury board president’s offi ce where As director of litigation, Mr. Kapches also has a bachelor’s degree in political updates. he’d been busy as assistant to the minis- is taking on a new role in the minister’s science and economics from Saint Mary’s That said, in a ter’s parliamentary secretary, Liberal MP offi ce; there was previously no one under University in Halifax. pre-planned move, Joyce Murray, since the spring of 2017. that title in the offi ce. He’s also a former law clerk with the Louis Bélanger Mr. Miller is also a former assistant to In response to Hill Climbers last week, Administrative Tribunal of Quebec and a marked his last then-Liberal MP Arnold Chan, was cam- Mr. Lametti’s press secretary, Célia Canon, former policy associate, focused on climate day as director of paign manager to Liberal MP Iqra Khalid said the creation of the position is “consis- policy, with the Centre for International communications in during the 2015 election, and previously tent with the responsibilities and workload Policy in Washington, D.C. the international spent more than nine years working at expected of the person responsible for pro- That knowledge could come in handy as development min- Queen’s Park as an assistant to then-On- viding advice to the minister regarding the federal government is currently defending ister’s offi ce on tario Liberal MPP Harinder Takhar. management of the department of justice’s its national carbon plan—which would see March 8. As well, Nyagua Chiek recently joined more than 30,000 litigation portfolios.” the feds impose a price on carbon on any He’s set to join Mr. Hussen’s offi ce as a new parliamen- As attorney general, Mr. Lametti is re- provinces that do not introduce a scheme Louis Bélanger has Canadian Heritage tary affairs adviser. She was previously a sponsible for overseeing all litigation for or of their own—in court, with separate court joined the heritage Minister Pablo special assistant in the Liberal research bu- against the Crown or federal departments. reference cases fi led by Saskatchewan and minister’s offi ce. Rodriguez’s offi ce reau on the Hill, having been hired on full- In the 2018 Litigation Year in Review Ontario seeking opinion on whether the Photograph courtesy of on March 11 and time last fall after spending the summer as report from the justice minister (then Ms. federal government’s plan is constitutional. LinkedIn will take over as an intern in the offi ce. A former delegate Wilson-Raybould), it notes that in 2018 the Saskatchewan’s challenge was heard in director of communications. for Banff-Airdrie, Alta. for Equal Voice’s attorney general represented the federal mid-February and now awaits the court’s Mr. Rodriguez has been without a direc- Daughters of the Vote program in 2017, government in approximately 36,000 litiga- ruling, expected by April 1. Ontario’s refer- tor of communications since Guy Gallant she’s also a former youth ambassador for tion matters. ence hearing is expected to take place in left to become chief of staff to the agricul- Plan Canada, and a former delegate at the Previously, Emma Carver was a litiga- April 2019. ture minister in January. UN Youth Assembly. tion and policy adviser in the minister’s Now in the justice minister’s offi ce, Mr. Bélanger had been communica- [email protected] offi ce; she exited at the end of September Mr. Jarda is working alongside policy tions director to Ms. Bibeau since early The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 31

Who runs the world? Girls. Party Central The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade by Emily Haws Partygoers celebrate International

Women’s Day at About 100 guests attended the party, held at the Queen St. Fare. Queens on Queen and lemonade. For those without a sweet About 100 people chowed tooth, there was also a selection of wine down on mushroom and and beer available. Speaking of Queens on Queen, CBC’s margarita pizzas, beef The National host Rosemary Barton was spotted keeping a low profi le before taking sliders, and tacos, along an exit—perhaps she was on her way to record yet another episode of the popular with a signature Queens on At Issue panel. Normally a weekly Thurs- Queen cocktail. day feature, the panel was convened three times this week alone due to the SNC- Lavalin controversy story. ey Party Central insiders, you heard it Equal Voice’s Nasha Brownridge and Overall, the party was mostly women— here fi rst: if the reaction to the venue Paige Kezima. Sharon Nyangweso, Miranda Huron, and Clarecia Christie. H a fl ip from the usual gender composition was any indication, the Queen St. Fare might at parties, but expected. The Crestview become one of the hottest post-work political Strategy group was in full force, and Party hangouts within the Parliamentary Precinct. Central also immediately bumped into Found on Queen Street between Bank consultants Jennifer Babcock and Jason and O’Connor Streets in the Sun Life Clark. Ms. Babcock delivered a speech Building and the former home of Hy’s, with Equal Voice’s Hilary Martin once the it’s pretty much in the centre of the ac- party got rolling. Women Deliver Mobiliza- tion—close to Parliament, various lobbying tion Canada’s Julie organizations, and Savard-Shaw and UN the headquarters of Women’s Stephanie many government Dei also spoke. departments. It’s Staff walked also on the LRT line, around with large if Ottawa ever gets trays fi lled with food, such a blessing. including Big Mac- For talking heads inspired beef sliders Ms. Savard-Shaw noted the fi nishing off their and three types of upcoming 2019 Women Deliver stints at CBC News’ pizza. Party Central CTV News’ Alyson Fair and Rachel Swatek conference in her speech. Power & Politics or loved the margarita CTV News’ Power and mushroom fl a- Play, it’s either vours, but was told across the street or the artichoke slices one block away. were also delectable. Queen St. Fare Many guests also hosted the Queens seemed to be enjoy- on Queen Party on ing tacos on steamed March 7. Crestview buns, but those Strategy hosted the Isabel Metcalfe and Marianne Goodwin. seemed to be a going event, partnering concern and harder to get your hands on. with Equal Voice Ottawa, the European Only one of four CTV Rachels was spot- Union’s We Empower Program, UN Wom- ted—Power Play associate producer Rachel en, and the International Labour Organiza- Swatek, who was chatting with Alyson tion, among others, and attendees seemed Fair, a senior producer on the show. They to think the venue was the perfect balance said they had a bunch of great content for of fun but not too formal. the break week, but that so far it hasn’t The night celebrated International been used, given the turns in the SNC- Women’s Day, March 8, and was in sup- Lavalin scandal. UN Women’s Stephanie Dei. Women Deliver Mobilization Canada’s Julie Savard-Shaw speaks to party guests. port of Women Deliver 2019 Mobilization The scandal seemed to be the talk of the Canada. The party also served to remind party, with Isabel Metcalfe and Marianne politicos of the 2019 Women Deliver con- Goodwin chatting about its most recent ference, which is taking place in June in developments. Vancouver. Another Rachel—Rachel Rappaport, the Party Central wasn’t sure how the press secretary to Minister of Indigenous venue choice would work, given that dur- Services Seamus O’Regan—was there, not- ing the day the mood in the Queen St. Fare ing a colleague was with Mr. O’Regan and is more hipster food court than party hall. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the Inuit While the section cornered off for the party tuberculosis apology, which was delayed to guests was a bit small, the close quarters March 8 due to weather. got the roughly 100 partygoers talking, Others spotted included Famous Five while purple lights illuminated the walls mentee Sharon Nyangweso, Cannabis and a DJ played music that calmed any Council of Canada’s Allan Rewak, TD echo but wasn’t distracting. Bank’s Danielle Takacs, Nutrition Inter- Bartenders were also serving up the fea- national’s Sabrina Grover, and the Equal tured Queens on Queen cocktail, a purple Voice’s Nasha Brownridge. beverage that tasted like lemon candy and Crestview Strategy’s Jennifer Babcock was one of the main speakers of the [email protected] event, which was hosted by the communications company. consisted of gin, blue curacao, grenadine, The Hill Times 32 MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 | THE HILL TIMES

MIGRAINES ARE NOT FOREVER! Newer drugless therapies CLASSIFIEDS Can solve the mystery Information and advertisement placement: 613-688-8822 • [email protected]

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YOUR SLEEP?? • the latest on proposed federal compensation for farmers in supply-managed sectors, given the new NAFTA and CPTPP deals; If someone close to you snores • the effects of trade troubles with China on Canadian crops such as soybeans and We can reduce or stop snoring canola; • the federal carbon pricing plan’s effect on farmers; • potential changes to the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act; and • coming one day after the last pre-election federal budget is released, we’ll run down what’s in it for agriculture.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL OR EMAIL: [email protected] • 613-688-8822 34 MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion

But 24 Sussex Dr. currently is mainly Rediscovering the rent-free vacant except for prime ministerial staff offi ces, kitchen space for his chefs, and a swimming place for his family. Its disre- pair will cost millions to fi x up, though the small house at 10 Sussex Dr. is livable and house next door to 24 Sussex Dr quite unique. A draft $31,808, 2017-18 heritage report obtained under access legislation on 10 The public can now only catch Sussex says it was built in 1867 as a fancy horse stable for its private owners who a glimpse of what this historic were living at 24 Sussex. Then its second fl oor became a privately-owned coach house looks like when passing house residence during the 1940s. After World War II, it became part of the public nearby on Sussex Drive. property on the 24 Sussex grounds. In 1994, I discovered that 10 Sussex Dr. was home to then-prime minister Jean Chrétien’s chef who lived there rent-free. That brought 10 Sussex to the front pages. The late Reform MP Myron Thompson was outraged and said at the time that such a perk should not be granted to a prime The former coach house at 10 Sussex Dr. is now used by the RCMP, writes Ken Rubin. Photograph minister’s staff member with neighbour- courtesy of Google hood housing rentals being then at $18,000 to $24,000 a year. Ken Rubin TTAWA—Many Canadians just desirable house happens to be on the The niceties of the Offi cial Residences Owant to have an affordable, but grounds of 24 Sussex Dr., the home for Act stated that only the PM’s chauffeur Opinion interesting house to rent. One such prime ministers. was allowed to live at 10 Sussex rent-free, though by then Chrétien was being chauf- feured around by the RCMP. Yet a PMO spokesperson cleverly said at the time that the Offi cial Residences Act did not say that someone like a chef cannot live there rent- free. The obtained heritage study only says Inside Ottawa Directory that 10 Sussex became a place to house 24 Sussex prime ministerial staff. 2019 My curiosity about No. 10 though was Edition rekindled as much of the obtained heritage report was blacked out for law enforce- ment and national security reasons. I asked around in late January, 2019 Have Parliament Hill at your what secrets 10 Sussex held before scan- dals erupted in Ottawa. First, the PMO spokesperson said, “We will get back to fingertips, save time while you.” Then, the NCC spokesperson wanted to know why I wanted information on 10 searching for phone numbers Sussex, “You still have not told me what your focus is or what it is you seek; so, and email addresses. truly, I am not feeling sure that I am being helpful. Don’t be shy to let me know.” But he then offered up that 10 Sussex EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT (ends 2019/03/31) is “a small house that is an RCMP facility” and “a workplace” along with two guard 2019 The handy reference guide includes: houses and continues to be “essential to the operations and workplaces of the RCMP • Riding profiles security detail and are used 365 days a year.” • MPs by province An RCMP spokesperson followed up • MP contact details, both Hill and constituency adding that, “The RCMP is mandated to • Committee contacts and membership protect the prime minister and his family • Senators' contact details and committee and the governor general of Canada, as well as their offi cial residences. The RCMP membership currently uses the facility at 10 Sussex for • Current Photos its protective operations as it is located • Prime Minister's Office and Privy Council Office in close proximity to Rideau Hall, where the prime minister and governor general staff contacts currently reside. For operational reasons, • Ministers' offices staff contacts we cannot provide further details on our • Speaker's office contacts security posture as this could jeopardize the security of those we protect.” • Committee charts with current photos So folks, we have confi rmation that 10 • List of shadow cabinet and opposition critics Sussex along with two guard house build- • Key political, government and media contacts ings are 24/7 hangout places for RCMP security shift staff, which means 10 Sussex is no longer home for staff directly on the PM’s payroll. The 2019 edition includes special election Too bad, as this previously well-lived- in coach house and former horse stable tip sheet: should not have ended up as a third guard house at a time when many Canadians lack • The safest seats in the country any protective roof over their heads, let • The most vulnerable seats in the country alone one that is rent-free. • The bellwether ridings The public can now only catch a • Ridings targeted by the AFN glimpse of what this historic house looks like when passing nearby on Sussex Drive. • The closest ridings Ottawa’s current PM, while he is still in offi ce and not in need of a private rental space, has found much better temporary digs across the way at the modest multi- Order Now room Rideau Cottage. www.hilltimes.com/inside-ottawa-directory-2019-edition Ken Rubin cautions that the public may well be denied entry to and information [email protected] • 613-688-8821 about some of the capital’s most desirable real estate. He’s reachable at kenrubin.ca The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 35 Events Feature Morneau to table budget on March 19

National Manning Networking Conference—The 11th Finance Minister annual National-MNC will be held from March 22-24 Parliamentary Bill Morneau at the Westin Hotel, Ottawa. This yearly gathering of will present his conservatives typically features speakers including Calendar fi nal budget MPs, political strategists, and commentators. of the Liberal WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 government’s Progress Summit 2019—Just months before the mandate on federal election, the Broadbent Institute’s Progress March 19 Summit will bring together thought leaders, movement at 4 p.m. in builders, elected offi cials, and frontline activists. March the House of 27-29, The Westin Ottawa, 11 Colonel By Dr. Speakers Commons. will include B.C. NDP Leader John Horgan, author The Hill Times Tanya Talaga, and MoveOn.org executive director Ilya Sheyman. broadbentinstitute.ca/summit2019. photograph by Cynthia Münster SATURDAY, MARCH 30 MONDAY, MARCH 11 Hard Truths and Fake News—A timely bootcamp for users of democracy and defenders of press freedom. House Not Sitting—The House is on a two-week 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT, Carleton University, Richcraft break from March 4-March 15. It will sit for one week, Atrium, 9376 University Dr., Ottawa. Join us March 30 March 18-March 22, will break again for one week, at the Carleton School of Journalism and Communica- March 25-29. The House will resume sitting April 1-12 tion for frank talk and urgent collaboration as we ready and will take a two-week break from April 15-26. It will ourselves for the 2019 federal election campaign. 9 sit again on April 29 and will sit for three consecutive a.m.: Doors open and coffee is served! 9:30 a.m: Begin weeks, April 29-May 17. The House will break again the day with BuzzFeed editor Craig Silverman and a May 20-24, and is then scheduled to sit from May frontline briefi ng on the world of fake news and online 27-June 21, four consecutive weeks before the House misinformation. 11 a.m.: Get a preview of what’s to adjourns and Parliament is dissolved for the October TUESDAY, MARCH 19 THURSDAY, MARCH 21 come in 2019 from academics, pollsters and close 2019 election. observers of the political and digital landscape. Lunch: Budget Day—The federal budget is expected to be Bacon and Eggheads—Thursday, March 21, 7:30 Grab a boxed lunch and hear Fergus Bell of Pop Up TUESDAY, MARCH 12 released after Question Period at 4 p.m. on March 19, a.m.-8:45 a.m. News explain how news organizations around the 2019. “Toxic algae—a growing threat to Canadians,” with Book Launch: Being Chinese in Canada—Douglas world are collaborating to fi ght disinformation. 1:15 Frances Pick. University of Ottawa is a talk presented & McIntyre will launch Being Chinese in Canada: p.m.: Close the day with CBC’s Rosemary Barton and WEDNESDAY MARCH 20 by the Partnership Group for Science and Engineer- The Struggle for Identity, Redress, and Belonging, by timely talk about how we can prepare for the coming ing (PAGSE). Sir John A. Macdonald (SJAM) Build- William Ging Wee Dere of Montreal (Publication date: Liberal Caucus Meeting—The Liberals will meet in campaign. In a lightning round, newsroom leaders will ing, Room 100. Free for Members of the House of March 2, 2019, $26.95 paperback). On Tuesday, Room 025B West Block on Parliament Hill. For more discuss strategies and solutions. Susan Delacourt, The Commons, Senators, Parliamentary Staff, and Media. March 12, 2019, at 7 p.m. Being Chinese in Canada is information, please contact Liberal Party media rela- Toronto Star; Mike De Souza, National Observer; Murad Others $25. Breakfast included. Pre-registration is a deeply personal and political account that examines tions at [email protected] or 613-627-2384. Hemmadi, The Logic; Michelle Richardson, Ottawa required by March 18 by contacting Meghan Johnson cultural identity, systemic discrimination, the head tax Conservative Caucus Meeting—The Conservatives Citizen; Lindsay Sample, The Discourse. The Canadian at [email protected] redress movement and what it means to be Chinese will gather for their national caucus meeting in 035B Committee for World Press Freedom operates with the or 613-868-7437. in Canada. The event will take place at the Atwater West Block. For more information, contact Cory Hann, patronage of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO Goût De France/Good France—Celebrate the sustain- Library, 1200 Atwater Ave. (entrance on Tupper Street), director of communications with the Conservative Party and sustaining sponsorship from the Canadian Bankers able seafood movement at this cocktail reception Montreal. of Canada, at [email protected]. Association. Eventbrite. and four-course Ocean Wise seafood seated meal NDP Caucus Meeting—The NDP caucus will meet The Parliamentary Calendar is a free events listing. MONDAY, MARCH 18 with champagne and wine pairings. Food prepared by from 9:15-11 a.m. in 125B West Block. For more Send in your political, cultural, diplomatic, or govern- chef Laurent Provence of the French ambassador’s House Sitting—The House will sit for one week, information, please contact the NDP Media Centre at mental event in a paragraph with all the relevant details residence, Ocean Wise executive chef Ned Bell, and Le March 18-March 22, and will break again for one week, 613-222-2351 or [email protected]. under the subject line ‘Parliamentary Calendar’ to Cordon Bleu Ottawa. Proceeds support the Ocean Wise March 25-29. The House will resume sitting April 1-12 Bloc Québécois Meeting—The Bloc Québécois cau- [email protected] by Wednesday at noon before the sustainable seafood program. Tickets available online. and will take a two-week break from April 15-26. It will cus will meet on Wednesday morning starting at 9:30 Monday paper or by Friday at noon for the Wednesday March 21, 2019 at 7 p.m. French Embassy, 42 Sussex sit again on April 29 and will sit for three consecutive a.m. in Room 241A in the West Block. paper. We can’t guarantee inclusion of every event, but Dr., Ottawa. $350. weeks, April 29-May 17. The House will break again Annual Reception: Canada’s Credit Unions—Canada’s we will defi nitely do our best. Events can be updated Breaking Barriers, Shaping Worlds: Women and the May 20-24, and is then scheduled to sit from May credit unions and the All-Party Credit Union Caucus are daily online too. Search for Global Order, 1919-2019—The Historical Sec- 27-June 21, four consecutive weeks before the House hosting their annual reception on Wednesday March 20 The Hill Times adjourns and Parliament is dissolved for the October from 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. in Room 410 Wellington Build- tion at Global Affairs Canada is presenting a free two-day 2019 election. ing. All parliamentarians and their staff are invited to conference on the history of women and foreign policy. 2019 Bell Lecture Presented by Senator Kim Pate— attend. Please RSVP to [email protected] It will run 1:30 p.m.-5 p.m., March 21 and 9 a.m.-4:15 Independent Sen. Pate will present this talk on: What Joint Annual Reception—Chicken Farmers of Cana- p.m., March 22, 2019, in the Robertson Room at 125 Should Canadians Know and Do about Criminal Justice da, Egg Farmers of Canada, Turkey Farmers of Canada Sussex Dr. Speakers will explore the roles Canadian Extra! Extra! Reforms During this Election Year? Pate was the long- and Canadian Hatching Egg Producers are hosting their women have played in foreign affairs, diplomacy, and time executive director of the Canadian Association of Joint Annual Reception on Wednesday, March 20 from international development. The primary focus will be his- RReadead the full Elizabeth Fry Societies. She has dedicated her career 6 p.m.-9 p.m. in the Ballroom of the Chateau Laurier. torical, with researchers from several disciplines refl ecting to working with some of society’s most marginalized, Parliamentarians, their staff, and industry friends are on the changing roles of women in shaping global policy. ParliamentaParliamentaryry victimized, criminalized, and institutionalized—par- invited to come enjoy delicious, high-quality Canadian The program is available here. As space is limited, we ask ticularly imprisoned youth, men, and women. Monday, chicken, turkey, and eggs, and share a drink with that you register in advance on Eventbrite. CCalendaralendar March 18, 2019, 7 p.m. Second fl oor atrium, Richcraft the farmers who raise them. RSVP before March 8 to FRIDAY, MARCH 22 Hall, Carleton University. This event is open to the [email protected]. online public. Registration is available online. The lecture is Anniversary Concert—The Friends of NACO is Parliamentary Press Gallery Annual General Meeting— hosted by the Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs pleased to invite music lovers to a concert to celebrate The annual general meeting of the members of the th in the Faculty of Public Affairs at Carleton. the 70 anniversary of Philippines-Canada relations at Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery will be held in the Embassy of the Philippines in Canada. Come and the National Press Theatre, 150 Wellington St., Ottawa, enjoy an evening of music featuring Judy Ginsburg at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, March 22, 2019. The agenda on piano, Kathy Baerg on fl ute, Nathan Bredeson on will include reports from the president and treasurer as classical guitar, and Steve Smith on cello. A buffet well as the results of offi cers and directors elected. reception hosted by Ambassador Petronila P. Garcia will follow the concert. Date: Wednesday, March 20, from 6:30 – 9:30 pm. Tickets are $100 for members, and $125 for non-members. Tax receipts will be is- sued. To order tickets, please send an email to Melina Vacca-Pugsley at EmbassyConcert@FRiendsOfNACO. ca, or purchase online at www.FriendsOfNACO.ca under Events, Embassy Concerts. The Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra raise funds to support the National Arts Centre Orchestra, music and music education. Journey to Running in a Federal Election—iVote-jeVote and the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy (IFSD) at the University of Ottawa are collaborat- ing with Elections Canada to explore the Journey to Running in a Federal Election on Wednesday, March 20 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Speakers include: Kevin Page (president and CEO of the IFSD); Michele Austin (head Certificate & Advanced Certificate in Lean for the public sector of government, public policy and philanthropy at Twit- ter Canada); Allan Rock (president emeritus and profes- sor of law at the University of Ottawa, former Liberal cabinet minister); Elizabeth May (leader of the Green Alpen Path Solutions Party and MP); Ian Wayne (former director of policy Lean Training Centre & Micro Lab and issues management, NDP); Jenni Byrne (former political advisor to the Conservative Party); and John alpenpathsolutions.com/training • 613.680.2953 Kevin Page, president and CEO of the IFSD, Akpata (candidate of the Marijuana Party). Desmarais will be speaking at an event at the University of Hall (University of Ottawa). This is a non-partisan, free Ottawa on March 20. The Hill Times photograph event. Due to limited seating, however, we ask that you OVER 25 YEARS OF GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE by Cynthia Münster register to attend, via Eventbrite. Get the news and information you need to always be prepared

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